In the Shohoku gym, the basketball team ended practice 
with the usual bickering between the two troublemakers of the 
team--Hanamichi and Rukawa.

	"WHY didn't you pass the damn ball to me, you stupid 
fox." Today, his fire was provoked even more so by what Haruko
told him this morning. He felt like hitting, slapping, and 
beating Rukawa into pulp.

   	"Do ahou." Ignoring the aggravated Hanamichi, Rukawa 
continued mopping the floor oblivious to Hanamichi's hostile 
demeanor.

	"Hey, I'm talking to--"

	Yohei again interrupted the would-have-been brawl. He 
had seen the sparks fly between the two, and he sprang swiftly
from the side to stop them. He disregarded the furious look on
Sakuragi's face.

	Sigh. Relax Hanamichi.

	Yohei pulled his best friend back and gave him a look 
that said 'didn't you remember what I said earlier this 
morning?'

	Hanamichi, recognizing that look, became pacified and 
continued his cleaning.

	Yohei walked back to the side, watching the cleanup of
the first years. Haruko was anxiously watching them cleanup, 
too.

	"Yohei-san, do you know why Sakuragi-kun is so tense 
today? It seems as if he deliberately wanted to pick a fight 
with Rukawa-kun." Haruko blamed Hanamichi as her face knitted 
into a frown.

	How dense can you be?

	"Well, it's nothing much, I guess. Maybe it's just 
the pressure of wanting to beat Rukawa, that's all," Yohei 
said with a noticeably constrained smile. Of course Haruko 
being Haruko, she was the exception; she did not find 
anything wrong with the smile.

	I don't know what he sees in you---what am I thinking?
? Haruko is Hanamichi's love. I shouldn't be thinking these 
thoughts. He sighed.

	They all waited patiently for the basketball team to 
leave.

	"Haruko, let's go home." Akagi was the first one out 
of the lockers.
	"Um.. ah.. well, I have to go to Satou-san's house 
today." Haruko made up an excuse so that she could stay and 
wait for Rukawa. She was determined.

	She would not leave without telling Rukawa how she 
felt today, and that was final.

	"Satou-san? Don't come home late too late, okay? If 
it's really late, call home so I can come over and pick you
up." Always the loving brother, Akagi would never let anything
happen to Haruko.
  	"I will remember." Haruko's cheeks pinkened at that
little white lie.

	Akagi nodded at Yohei, and he left.

	Soon everyone filtered out of the lockers except for
Hanamichi and Rukawa. Byes and see you laters were heard all
over the gym. And then, Hanamichi and Rukawa both stepped out 
of the lockers. Four people were in the gym now.

	Rukawa, as usual, got ready to leave and set out to 
do so. He didn't even acknowledge Haruko as he passed by her. 
Being ignored by him was one thing, but confessing her love 
to him was another.

 	She took a deep breath and followed Rukawa outside. It
was now or never.

	Hanamichi clenched his fists tightly and shy of 
running, he bounded after her. Before he got anywhere, a hand 
stopped him from moving.

	"Yohei!"
	"Wait, let her confess first. We'll stand a couple of 
feet away and watch how things go. When she's in tears, you 
can then take after her, okay?"

	Yohei was always cool and smooth, just like ice.

	"Un." Albeit reluctant, Hanamichi agreed to Yohei's 
logic and trodded after
the two, keeping some distance between them.

			---------------------

	Ignoring the girl who was following him, Rukawa walked
his bike outside the school gates. He might be obtuse, but he 
could tell when someone is tagging along, ie., the queer girl 
following him.

	He's leaving, he's leaving!! I have to confess.. I 
have to confess...

	"Rukawa-kun, hold on!" Haruko reached for Rukawa.

	Rukawa turned around and glared at Haruko, then at the
offending hand tightly grasping his arm. Haruko didn't know 
how to react. Horrified, she dropped her hand and in a gesture
of pure reflex, clutched her hands to her chest.

	"What?"
	"I--Rukawa-kun, I--" Haruko couldn't bear to look into
those fathomless, deep, frigid eyes.
	She cast her eyes onto Rukawa's chest. He's wearing a 
white Shohoku shirt, why does hear wear white shirts all the 
time?
	"I have to go." Rukawa was aggravated, and he didn't 
want to deal with anyone right now.

	Haruko, say something! hurry, he's going to leave! The
tumultuous thoughts clamoring about were making it difficult 
for her to form any words, never mind sentences.

	Rukawa stared at nothing behind Haruko. Wait, who is 
that? The figure slowly approached recognizable distance. The
figure materialized and was now only 20 paces behind Haruko. 
Sendoh!!

	Sendoh was here.

	Sendoh was well aware of Rukawa. But when he saw the 
girl with Kaede, he felt fear. His heart did a flop and 
plummeted to the ground.

	Okay, take a deep breath and talk to Kae---

	"Rukawa-kun, I LIKE YOU! I want to go out with you."
Haruko's outburst was louder than she expected. Her eyes were
wide with unshed tears and her soul was bare for Rukawa to 
see.

	Rukawa did not see or feel her emotions. His eyes 
were on one person.

	Sendoh's features must have mirrored his heart, for 
his face contorted as if he was suffering from something akin
to pain. Kaede..kaede....his heart, his mind chanted these 
words. Heartache. He's not mine anymore, but the pain is all 
too real.

	Why are you here? You wanted to end, you wanted me to
be normal. I'll be normal, I'll show you I can be normal. 
Sendoh, I'll show you.

	"Okay."

	Shock. That was on Haruko's face. He..he..Rukawa-kun
said.

	"uh.." Haruko could not believe her ears. He said 
yes, didn't he, but why is he still so cold?

  	NO! NO! NO! Sendoh's face vaulted as he heard Rukawa
utter the one word.
	No..Kaede! No!!

	Sendoh looked dispairingly at Rukawa and found Rukawa
confronting his gaze steadily. I will not crumble in front of
you. I am normal. You will see.

	With the grace and agility of a feline, Rukawa 
suddenly pulled Haruko to him and kissed her. He used all 
that Sendoh has taught him on his victim.

	Mercilessly, he pressured Haruko's lips to open and 
ardently kissed her.

	Sendoh, I'm normal, are you happy now?

	And just as quickly, he released Haruko, but laid her 
head on his chest in a tight hug. His eyes contended Sendoh's
eyes once more. His eyes were full of challenge, but Sendoh's
eyes reflected agony. Agony wrung from the heart.

	Rukawa should not feel pain, but he did. The moment 
he saw the pain on Akira, he knew that he would never break 
free of his hypnotic presence.
	Never.
	Kaede.

	Sendoh turned around and ran.


∼To Be Continued∼