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A Different Path Part 6-7 by Cherrie
part 6	part 7	part 8	part 9	part 10
Part 6
A Different Path Disclaimers: Slam Dunk and all mentioned [Japanese] characters are not mine, they belong to Takehiko Inoue-sama. No money is made while making this fanfic. Notes: Developing RuHanaRu shounen ai. Less fights now, thankfully. Be tackling Rukawa's side of the story in this chapter. I decided that maybe he does need a little angst after all. Go figure, ne? ^_^ Chapter 6 - Rukawa's Story The weather was fairly cold as Kaede and Hanamichi walked to class. The air around them was humid enough to warn them of an upcoming shower again, like what had usually been happening the past few days. Various cars have started to clog up the roads and intersection, but neither of the two could hardly care. It's almost as if there was a silent agreement between them that they would always walk together without any mode of transportation but their feet. It wasn't as if the trip to class was any problem to them, for the college wasn't even that far from Mr. Sakuragi's apartment. Kaede shifted his eyes from the road ahead to take a small peek of his companion. Hanamichi was wearing a pair of casual jeans and a black jacket over a white shirt, with his hair properly gelled and combed neatly. He'd admit that the redhead looked fairly less idiotic, as he would usually describe the other, when given the proper attire and a more decent composure. He might probably say that he looked good. This, coming from somebody who can't help but attract almost every girl's attention from over a mile away, is pretty much a very high compliment. A week has almost passed after that day when they decided to stop fighting. Miraculously, they were able to pull the agreement through. Whether it was because they were finally given less space to fight in when Hanamichi moved out for a while, he didn't know. But nevertheless, his doubt that his idea would never work out is slowly waning from his head. Needless to say, he was relieved somewhat by their current condition. And of course, especially the people from the classes where the two of them were luckily bounded to take together. He supposed those certain classes have finally found their peace. Also, their basketball team captain seemed just as relieved. Not that Kaede could blame him. Considering their past fights in class, compared to what they've had during practice, well, let's say the ones during school hours were a blessing. But what truly surprised Kaede was that having Hanamichi as a friend, if that's what one may call his relationship with him now, is not half as bad as one might think. There's more to being Hanamichi's friend than having the right to tease him with the cruel payment of a friendly headbutt, which was exactly what he thought of once as he watched the guy with his friends back in Shohoku. Hanamichi, though not obvious in his physical appearance, is more understanding than any guy Kaede could think of. Well, maybe not as kind as Mr. Sakuragi, or Mr. Anzai, or his uncle, but one would get the idea. There was a time but a few days ago when he had to take an oral test for Anatomy because he needed it to make up for his grades. Aside from the very disturbing fact that it was Hanamichi himself who pleaded with Mr. Waters to give Kaede a chance to make up for the class (and considering their past records with the said teacher, he supposed it was twice as hard as the usual pleas a student might put up with a teacher), he was also the one kind enough to make sure that Kaede wouldn't screw up his efforts. He stayed in Kaede's apartment to make sure he studied well, even stopping to ask him questions about the lesson itself just to see if he knew enough. Though Hanamichi was still as quick-tempered and impatient as he is known to be that time, Kaede could see the other boy's true intentions just as clearly. After that strange encounter with Hanamichi's other side, he could somehow say that he had grown to respect the redhead quite well from then on. But what was completely strange about it was that even if he had always known to despise him back in the past, him looking at Hanamichi in a new light didn't feel half as weird as he might've expected. In fact, the feeling was actually comfortable. It was as if he's had that feeling inside him all along. He still couldn't believe it though. He took a sideward glance again to look at his companion, and sure enough, Hanamichi being Hanamichi, looked back with an annoyed expression. "What?!" came the impatient, yet expected, answer. Kaede can merely shake his head. That certain reaction didn't affect him in any way at all. It was as if he had seen and heard it more than enough to make him used to it. It made him feel as if he's had Hanamichi forever. It was strange, but not entirely unwanted. He had always had the feeling that he was alone. The sudden memory of it made him think of his parents almost immediately. He wondered how they were doing. He did leave them well and healthy, but that was to speak about them individually. He was wondering how they were doing together. That is, if they're still together at all. The sudden sounds of honking car horns and a loud crash seemed like a terrible omen all of a sudden. When he looked up, he realized that he and Hanamichi have stopped and were now staring wide-eyed at the unexpected car crash but a few meters away from them. * * * * * * * * * * Hanamichi looked outside the basketball gym as he watched the rain start to fall. It had grown severely dark because of the lack of sunlight, and they had to turn on the lights of the gym. He watched the misty shower as the raindrops touch the ground one by one, and listened to the chorus of noise they made as they did so. He had always hated the rain. It reminded him too much of his childhood that he couldn't help but letting out a snarl just to keep the memory out of his mind. "Oi, Hanamichi! Tell us again about that car crash!" came the voice of one his teammates. The car crash that happened just that morning had taken place but a few blocks near the college, and almost everybody by then had heard about it. Honestly, Hanamichi could hardly see what was so interesting. So a bunch of cars got ruined because of a broken traffic light, it wasn't like anybody died of some rare disease anyway. Car crashes happen regularly around the world, what makes this one so special? He sighed. "I told you, it was nothing. The traffic light got jammed and three cars met up in the intersection. That's it!" he said almost impatiently, and not even caring if his impatience showed. A mock frown. "You mean nobody got hurt?" "Nobody got hurt. Now quit being a sadistic ass and get the hell away me." The young boy laughed. "All right, all right, I can get a hint. You seem to be in a foul mood, Hanamichi. Take care, you might develop smoke off your ears if you continue being like that." The boy laughed again before finally walking away. Hanamichi sighed again. Well, he suppose he was in a bad mood. He was sure it was because of the weather. Instinctively, his eyes wandered off around the court to look for a certain fox-eyed boy. Though why he's been constantly trying to see where Kaede was every time he remembers to was beyond him. As if on cue, Kaede came to view a few seconds after. He was running towards the open doors of the gym, using his gym bag to cover himself from the rain. By the time he was inside, he checked to see just how wet his bag had been, then patted himself in places to at least dry himself off. "Oi, Rukawa! Where've you been?" asked Hanamichi. He was a bit far from the door, so he had to shout his question out a bit. Whether Kaede heard him or not, Hanamichi wasn't sure. The dark-haired boy seem to be looking at something from outside, but he could've sworn that those eyes were too much in a daze to actually look like they're focusing on something. Maybe he was watching the rain just as he was a while ago. But then again, Kaede looked like he was deep in thought, as if he despised something enough to actually glare at nothing. He supposed it wasn't the rain. Kaede liked the rain, unlike him, as he remembered it. Just when Hanamichi decided that he needed to repeat his question, Kaede turned his head to look at him. The boy just shook his head, as if to tell him that he had no intention of answering. Well, typical Kaede Rukawa. He wasn't surprised. It was Kaede's almost affectionate way of saying "It's none of your business." If anyone would describe the boy as affectionate that is. But wasn't that his point? But Hanamichi supposed that he was fine with it. It wasn't like any answer the boy would give him would change the fact that he was in a bad mood anyway. So instead of bugging Kaede about the truth like he'd wont to do, he decided that letting him keep his little secret would be a better way of avoiding another argument with him. So with that in mind, Hanamichi just turned to a teammate who was giving out balls to the players to practice with. He waved a hand to call him, and asked for a basketball so he could practice himself as well. * * * * * * * * * For some reason, that car crash was unnerving. It's not the accident itself that disturbed him, it was just that he felt that it was some sort of sign. Or as he had thought of it a while ago, an omen. He was never the superstitious kind, but the current situation back with his parents has always been a constant thought with him after he had set foot in the US. Kaede's father was a successful businessman who worked in a famous company who manufactured sports equipment and the like. As for his mother, she was a just as successful journalist who works for a prestigious magazine company in Japan. She was also a novelist who already have two books published. They were both almost always busy, and usually out of the house to attend to their work. As a child, Kaede had always known that the affection between his parents was fading little by little. They fight constantly, and sometimes they were so loud that he could feel their own house shake just because of their voices. Though they never really hurt him, and in fairness they would've been good parents actually, Kaede could still feel the rising tension in their family even as he grew up. He knew that the only reason why they were together still was because of him. They didn't want him to grow up without two parents by his side, they wanted him to be happy as much as possible. Kaede never doubted that his parents loved him. But still, it didn't help that he still watch them fight it out through the years. It was only one day before he went to highschool did the thought of them separating now that he was old enough come to mind. Of course he didn't like the idea, but given the show that he had watched often in his life, sometimes he'd just think that maybe separation clearly was the only way to get rid of their state towards each other. But even though he knew all of these, he wasn't at all excited with the idea. That was why he had called home that late afternoon, right after all of his classes were done. He was only able to check back in Japan twice a year, whenever he finds time to go back. And he was not at all happy to say that his parents' relationship is getting worse every time he gets there. They've tried to get along a thousand times that Kaede had stopped counting, but eventually, they'll go back to being the tigers that they seem to always be when they're together. He didn't get a reply even if he called. He supposed that both his parents were still out. He remembered himself banging the telephone back on its place, cursing once before he turned back to head towards the gym, clutching his bag above him since it has started to rain, just as he had expected. "Oi, Rukawa! Where've you been?" he heard Hanamichi call. Again, he need not think of it strange for him to be concerned, since he's had more surprises from Hanamichi than he could count. And after all, he had other things in his mind. Kaede merely shook his head, hinting that he wasn't in the mood to speak. Thankfully, Hanamichi left him alone and made his way towards the others in the middle of the court instead. Kaede looked out to watch the rain again. Unlike Hanamichi, the rain enchanted him enough to close up his mind from further thoughts, even for only a few seconds. It was as if he slept while he was awake, if that's even possible. If only he could forget about everything and just go on without having to be worried about things he knew would happen anyway, he'd be content. He was afraid to lose something he knew he had to let go, but then again, isn't that what he was supposed to feel? Without another word, he closed his eyes and turned away. He clutched the handle of his bag tightly, and made his way towards the locker rooms to change. End of chapter 6 A/N: Well, it went differently from what I was originally thinking of, but I guess this isn't so bad. This one is shorter than usual, forgive me *bows down*. Thank you to those who reviewed, by the way. Also, I'm sorry if the uploaded chapter 5 wasn't announced. Actually, it was there since last week ^_^' I was trying to delete the translations in this fic and ended up replacing the chapters instead. So FF.net didn't put this fic up as an updated fic. Again, so sorry, I'll try to be more organized in the future ^_^ Finally getting a story on. Now if only I can figure out the ending for this thing... - Cherrie (blackcape@edsamail.com.ph)
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Part 7
A Different Path Disclaimers: Slam Dunk and all mentioned [Japanese] characters are not mine, they belong to Takehiko Inoue-sama. No money is made while making this fanfic. Notes:Here goes the continuation of this SD fic. I found this last night, unfinished and all. It seems as though I've finished the first half last month, I just failed to continue due to the lack of any inspiring muses I used to have back then, or so it seems. Look at this chapter *points and scowls*, I never in my life have created such a poorly written thing in my life! *hides face in shame* I wish there would be more yaoi authors out there again ;_; You guys are my inspiration, can't you see that!? *bawls over*Also, I would've updated sooner, Oct. 17 to be exact, but FF.net told me that they've put my fanfic on hold and I won't be able to update it until Oct. 29 *sweatdrops* I'm so sorry! *kicks FF.net* As if deleting one of my fanfics isn't bad enough! >.< Chapter 7 - When It Comes Out That day's practice went on quite peacefully. One may say that it had been peaceful enough to verge on being creepy. Of course, peace isn't always associated with anything negative, but then again, the world would seem to turn upside down whenever you're with Kaede Rukawa and Hanamichi Sakuragi. "Hey, Alex! You going home yet?" Alex turned back to look at the familiar face of a dark-haired friend, who was carrying his gym bag casually over one shoulder as he stared at him with curious eyes. "What'cha lookin' at?" came his next question and he started walking towards the blonde haired boy. Quickly, he seem to have understood, for his eyes widened in understanding. "Hanamichi and Kaede, eh? You noticed that too?" "Who wouldn't? Practice today was like some hell of a funeral!" Alex scowled as he said this, because he knew that even if his friend laughed as if his statement was a joke, he somehow meant it to be honest. Their team may be used to them not fighting as much as they were before, but "not fighting" doesn't necessarily mean "silence" when it comes to those two. He remembered Hanamichi telling him about his little bet with Kaede that would go up until the next week ends. It made him laugh actually, because really, the first time they met Hanamichi, they could've sworn he was born to make Kaede's life miserable. Well, that spoken in a different tongue of course. Because though they seem to fight a lot, they can get along just as well. For some reason, he noticed that their rivalry outside the court is somehow forgotten when they were in a game. Already, the other schools have grown to fear their team, knowing that there are two distinct Japanese players there who have an exceptional partnership. Partnership. Kaede and Hanamichi of all people. What a laugh. Alex shook his head. He didn't think those two noticed the unique pair they've made out of themselves. Well, considering probably because they were too busy scowling at each other whenever something as short as a break would come in, he wasn't surprised. He thought it was crazy to get along in something and not get along on everything else, but then again, those two were crazy anyway. Or maybe they just had an agreement about basketball just as well. One may never know. "I wonder what's up with those two," came his friend's voice again, and that was when Alex had realized that they seem to be staring for quite a while now even if both Kaede and Hanamichi's forms have disappeared out the gym doors minutes ago. They seemed to have been oblivious trying to figure out what was up. Alex thought for a second. Then in an instant, he had a hand clamped down on his friend's shoulder, his bright grin back on his face again. "Hey, Dale, wanna go for a drink?" * * * * * * * * * * "When you said you wanted a drink, I never thought you meant a drink with these two," Dale, Alex's friend and another team member of their basketball team, said with a bright grin that reflected his taller companion's own. Kaede tried to ignore them. He kept on asking himself why he had allowed himself to tag along these lunatics, in the middle of a street he hardly knew, and in the middle of the night. Well, technically, it was only 10 in the evening, but that's late enough for somebody who's as devoted to bedtime as Kaede was. "Nyahahaha! Why, you didn't think this gifted genius isn't capable of such a simple act?" asked Hanamichi with his ear-crushing voice that had somehow become his trademark during the short time he had spent with them. Not that Kaede hadn't had the nightmare-like experience of standing but a few feet beside him as he spoke before, of course. And by hell, he may have changed his language, but he still calls himself the same way. Tensai, genius, what difference does it make? He'll bet that the redhead would still go on calling himself a genius even if he had to speak Latin. Alex laughed. "No, of course not, Hanamichi. It's just that dear Dale here thought you two aren't the type who'd accept an invitation such as ours," he said, patting Hanamichi's back playfully. So did I, thought Kaede as he continued walking, with but a weary sigh to accompany his confusion. He watched as his breath turned into a light mist from the cold, and he clutched his jacket tighter. "I think our little fox-eyed friend here's getting cold!" announced Dale when he shifted his eyes from Alex and Hanamichi to see Kaede adjust his jacket. "Don't worry, pal, you'll be pretty warm soon." Kaede rolled his eyes. But before anybody else could retort about his lack of manners--not to mention words once again, they arrived at the place they were going to. It was just a small bar a few blocks away from the college they were studying in. Despite the lack of crowds and ear-splitting noise as most clubs should have, Alex assured them that it wasn't always so all the time. They just came in in those few rare nights when people stayed home for reasons unknown to them, and he assured them that drinks in that place was just as good as anywhere else. Of course, Kaede wouldn't have cared less. He wasn't planning in getting himself drunk unlike his three companions, he only intended to stay to see what would happen, and maybe warm himself with a few--with a grave emphasis on few--drinks. He remembered why he had come. It was because Hanamichi, being the irritating challenger that he always was, had taunted him again in ways that he couldn't exactly consider as fighting. He didn't have much choice really, for even if he would've walked out of the gym, he had a feeling he's going to be dragged along anyway. Now, the only question left was whether he'd go with them looking poised and dignified or get himself dragged by them looking as dumb and stupid as they are. That probably summarizes it then. They took their seats in a fairly secluded corner on a table that accommodated exactly four people. Alex and Dale sat together on one side of the table, so Kaede had no choice but to take the seat beside Hanamichi. Alex ordered for all of them, and Kaede could've sworn he heard the word "scotch" with those orders. Not that he hadn't tried it before, but really, it wasn't exactly the type of thing he'd think of as nice. Sure enough, Alex ordered scotch, as Kaede had feared much as it didn't show, and a bunch of other snacks to go with them as well. The blonde-haired boy had just started giving out their share of drinks when an idea suddenly struck him. Either that or some insect was dumb enough to bite off a piece of his skin and made him jump up, Kaede told himself. "Let's play a game!" he declared, holding up his glass. "It goes like this: Each of us will tell two stories, one that is true and one that is not. The rest of us will guess which of the two are the one that is true. Anybody who loses will have to drink up, all right?" Eyebrows shot up, but definitely with interest. "I'm in!" grinned Hanamichi, who was obviously confident with himself, as always. Shortly, Dale nodded as well. Everyone waited for Kaede. "I'm not playing," he stated firmly and looked away. Hanamichi didn't even need the slightest sign from Alex to know what he was supposed to do. He grinned and poked Kaede on the side. "What, scared already?" Kaede graced him with an infamous glare. "Don't you even dare start on that." Hanamichi shrugged. "Oh well, guess it's just the three of us. Don't mind him guys, he's just like that. He knows where he's good at and he knows where he's not. Usually he'd join if he knows he'll win, but whenever he thinks he'll lose..." "What are you getting at?" snapped a now irritated Kaede who sat there glaring at his red-haired seatmate. "You don't expect me to lose to you, do you?" Little did the two notice, but their other companions have grinned and looked at each other, as if they were sure their little game would have complete members. And shortly, after a very mild brawl trickling with sarcasm to hide their little "fight" from their agreement, they started. "Okay, I'll start, since I was the one who proposed the game," Alex said. "First story. When I was three there was a certain block of wood in our backyard. One day, mushrooms started to sprout out of it, and while I played, I thought I heard a voice call out to me every time I get close. I went and asked my mom about it, and she told me that it might probably be little, magical people who lives in mushrooms and other hidden places. Now, second story. I once had a car accident when I was in middle school and was in a coma for quite a few weeks." Alex counted to three, and his companions were to hold up a finger to indicate their choices at the same time so there would be no cheating. Dale and Kaede bet on the first story to be true, while Hanamichi bet on the second. Alex grinned. "Hanamichi, you get the drink!" he declared, holding up a peace sign. "What!?" Hanamichi stood up. "How the hell do you think I'd believe that there are little men on those mushrooms!?" "I knew it was the first story because I've been with Alex since middle school and I swore he was in no coma," Dale said with a wide grin. Hanamichi glared at Dale. "That's cheating! We don't know anything about you two for cryin' out loud!!!" He then turned to Kaede. "And you? How did you know it was the second story?" Kaede just looked away and merely shrugged. "Lucky guess," he said simply. Hanamichi was in the verge of blowing up again when Alex held up a hand to calm him. "Now now, just take your punishment, then it'll be your turn. You can, well, 'cheat' as you put it if you want to," he said good-naturedly as he handed Hanamichi the small glass. Grumbling, Hanamichi settled down and drank it. The expected wince came from him, but his companions seem to believe that he had taken it down well enough. "Okay!" declared Hanamichi. "My turn. I was dumped by fifty girls before I went to highschool. Next story, I had a girlfriend back in highschool who was most probably the prettiest, most beautiful girl I've ever met. But her brother was a big jerk who looks a lot like a gorilla and never really did like me." At this, Kaede snorted and looked away. Alex and Dale blinked up at him, then looked at each other. Whatever they were thinking about, Kaede didn't care. Hanamichi's turn was obviously a give away to him, surely he knew the right answer. Actually, he would've believed that the two stories were true, except for the word "girlfriend" in Hanamichi's statement. He had a vague idea who that girl was though. He never really did like her much. Not that he liked anybody at all, but that's beside the point. Hanamichi then counted up to three. As Kaede had expected, he held up one finger to indicate that the first story was true, while Alex and Dale held up a two. At this, Hanamichi grinned triumphantly, and handed Alex and Dale their glasses. "Drink up!" "WHAT?!" they bellowed at the same time, looked at each other, then back at Hanamichi. "You're kidding!" At this, Hanamichi's grin grew wider and shook his head. "Oi, look at Rukawa's answer why don't you?" he said, pointing at the silent Kaede beside him. And sure enough, the two looked at Kaede with disbelieving eyes. Kaede, in turn, just shrugged and held up one forefinger again to show them his answer. Dale shook his head to wake himself up and spoke. "The 50-girls story against the pretty girl with a terror for a brother? Isn't the second story a bit more realistic?" Hanamichi scowled. "Thanks a lot for pointing that out. But sad to say, yep, dumped by 50 girls. That's a record you know, hehe!" "You seem proud," said Alex, who was between being amused and still doubtful. "But since Kaede seem to say that you were dumped 50 times, I guess we have no choice." He then raised his glass and quickly took the burning drink in. Dale hesitantly followed suit, but he was still in a daze. Probably asking himself if it really were possible, Kaede thought. Alex then said that it was Kaede's turn, because he won the last round. They decided that Kaede should take the turn instead of Dale, because Dale made the same mistake with Alex. Not that Kaede would've cared, he never really wanted to join their game anyway. But just for the sake of not being irritated again, he decided to just give them what they want. "My bike back in highschool was black." He cast them a look that said that was it for the first story. As for the second, he continued. "And once I had a chance to wrestle with a monkey while hanging from a basketball ring." Alex and Dale burst out laughing, and barely heard Kaede count the usual signal. They both held up fingers for the first story, while Hanamichi, who was scratching his head, held up none. When Alex asked him what was wrong, Hanamichi scowled. "His bike wasn't black, it was pink!!!" If Alex and Dale laughed hard a while ago, one won't be able to describe their laughter now. "You...You had a pink bike, Kaede?" asked Dale in between laughs and chuckles. "I had no choice, that's was what was left for me," replied Kaede simply, as if a boy owning a pink bike wasn't anything strange at all. Well, it wasn't for him anyway. "There, see? But then his second story can't be true, because I don't he'd...fight..." Hanamichi trailed off to think. Wait a second, didn't he and Kaede burst into a fight during their freshmen years hanging from the basketball ring? He glanced at Kaede, and in a split second, he could've sworn he saw those blue eyes twinkle under the dark lights. This was all Hanamichi needed to confirm his guess. "Are you calling me a monkey!?" Kaede looked away. "I never said anything." "Yes you did! Who else have you fought with hanging on a basketball ring anyway!?" "How can you be sure it was only you?" "Wait just a second here!" exclaimed Alex, as he held up two hands to stop the two from bursting into another fight again, which was supposedly forbidden. "You mean you two fought while hanging from the basketball ring? As in the ring where we shoot the ball into?" The two just blinked with blank expressions. Hanamichi spoke. "We didn't break it." "Oh sure you didn't!" Dale said exasperatedly, sitting back on his chair with a tired look. "You two never cease to amaze us, don't you?" Alex laughed. "But that's good, we get to know more about them this way!" he said cheerfully, and just handed Dale another glass after ordering some more. They then decided that it should be Dale's turn, so all of them would have the opportunity to "take a gulp" as Alex would call it. They went on for a few more rounds, mostly with Hanamichi losing. Alex made it a rule that the stories should be unknown to everybody, so that the game would be fair. Especially now that he found out that Kaede and Hanamichi's stories can't be classified into anything at all. A few more rounds later, and Alex knew they had to stop. "Er, Hanamichi, are you okay?" he asked, tapping the tired redhead across his seat. "You've had quite a lot of drinks, you know. Maybe we should go now." Kaede snorted. "It's his fault for being too stupid to lose to those simple choices." Despite his dizziness, Hanamichi still found it in himself to retort, "The hell're you talkin' about!? You lost jest's much as I did!" Kaede raised his eyebrows at the obvious tipsiness in Hanamichi's voice. "But you don't see me drunk, do you?" "Drunk!? I ain't drunk! 'm jes' tired!" "You're drunk." "Na-uh!" A sigh. "You've always had a penchant for denying the obvious." "'Penchant'? Whas'sat? Have you been reading the English dictionary behind my back again?" From across the table, Alex and Dale just watched the show with uneasy smiles on their faces. "At least they're back to normal," whispered Alex after elbowing Dale's arm. Dale just shook his head in exasperation. Alex took that as his cue. "Kaede, we think you really should bring him home now." Scowling yet again, Kaede cast the two Americans with a firm glare. "Why the hell would I want to do that?" * * * * * * * * * * He need not bother asking. Sure, he had refused, but the next thing he knew, he was holding the redhead up on his two feet, dragging him back towards the path to their apartment. I must've done something very bad for heaven to hate me so much, he thought over and over. It seemed to have become a mantra to him for some reason. He listened to Hanamichi blabber about inane things for the past ten minutes. By the time they reached the doors of the first apartment, which was now being occupied by Hanamichi temporarily, Kaede could only look up in thanks. Finally, his agonizing burden and threat of deafness will be over. "Na, R'kawa? Y've been very quiet l'tely," slurred an obviously drunk Hanamichi as they went up the stairs. "Do'ahou. I'm always quiet," muttered Kaede. They reached the bedroom that was supposed to be Hanamichi's uncle's room, which was the very same one that the red-haired boy used during his stay there. Kaede walked Hanamichi towards the bed, and bent forward to guide him as he removed his arms and weight from Kaede's shoulder. Hanamichi groaned. "My head feels like shit," he complained. "That's your fault for being careless enough to get drunk," retorted Kaede, who was now on his way out of the room. He intended to leave as soon as he had settled Hanamichi down, but for some reason, he found himself in the kitchen, searching for a glass, which he then filled with cold drinking water. He had heard somewhere that it was advisable to drink plenty of water when you're drowned in alcohol. Though why he was doing this for the redhead, he didn't know for sure. Eventually, he found himself going up the stairs again. He placed the glass down on the table beside the bed without a word, and was just about to leave again when he heard Hanamichi speak. "Y'know, I don't mind the headache," he said, his words a bit more understandable now. "Because even if I got myself drunk, at least I know that kitsune's still the same." Kaede didn't know whether or not the other boy knew he was there. He didn't know if the words were even meant to him at all, just in case Hanamichi did know he was there. But nevertheless, he found himself still in the same place, just by the door. He waited for further words from the other. Just when he thought that Hanamichi was asleep, he turned off the lights, intending to leave again. But just in time when he had turned his back from the room, Hanamichi whispered something, barely inaudible because of its uncharacteristically low volume. "It had been lonely back in Kanagawa without you." But Kaede heard. End of chapter 7 A/N: Special acknowledgement to the book "Memoirs of a Geisha", it gave me the idea for that little drinking game. I think it's a cute game...my opinion anyway. Though I doubt I'd play it, I hardly drink ^^; Finally deciding that Alex's characters is derived from Akira Sendoh, this goes without saying that I'm basing Dale from Hiroaki Koshino. Don't ask, it just went off on it's own ^^; I can't help but notice that it wouldn't be nice for Alex to just butt in between our two main characters without looking like a lonely ass. Let's just say he needs a friend, ne? Whether you'd see anything romantic between him and Dale is yours to decide. To Dee-chan. Wah, you found me! I'm really sorry if I seem to be neglecting my SD fanfics lately. Ehe...I was a bit taken aback when I saw you reviewing one of my other fanfics (and it just HAD to be that one, huh!? *blushes furiously*) ^^; I'll try to do everything again, okay? I'm even planning to continue Study Partners after I'm done with this fanfic but...Huhu, I am in GRAVE need for RuHana, MitKo and SenKosh...*teary eyes* To those who're trying to send me emails, please try the new email I placed on my signed name, okay? I'm terribly sorry if I haven't been doing much these days, I really lack inspiration. It seems that RuHanaRu (together with MitKo, SenKosh, FujiHana, etc.) are dying from the SD world (heaven forbid). *sighs* I guess I'm still depressed about it. I don't exactly read fanfics with OCs, so I guess that's it for my SD fic reading. What happened anyway? o.O - Cherrie [ kurapikasama@yahoo.com ]
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