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Viscous Cycle....

by Chopin

"Slap!" The sound echoed throughout the room.

Hanamichi looked up, shocked beyond belief. His hand crept up hesitantly, touching the flaming hot hand print on his cheek. "Why?" He strutted.

" ... ." His companion just stood there silently, eyes boring into Hanamichi like flaming balls of hate.

"I thought we..." Hanamichi deplored the figure in front of him.

"Don't assume. Never assume." Rukawa snapped heatedly, fist clenched. His voice shook with rage.

Hanamichi shook his head sadly. He was used to this --- these 'petty' quarrels between them. Rukawa would get into one of his moods and take offense at the slightest things. Like the misplacement of his walkman, disappearance of his cat... Unable to released the bottled-up frustrations in him, his temper worsen. Hanamichi being the closest to him, ended up being a stress ball. Rukawa would make a biting remark and Hanamichi, unable to take the injustice, served it back--doubled. It would go on and on till the neighbours had enough and reported to the police. Though it may seem to be just a lover's quarrel on the surface, Hanamichi knew better. Rukawa had been rejecting his affections. Whenever he tried to shift their relationship to be more physical, he was well rewarded with a swift punch. Hell, Rukawa had yet to say the three words to him.

"I'll come back later when you've cooled down." He turned the knob and cast one last regretful glance at Rukawa that changed into longing desire. The slender figure leaned against the frame of the window. His silky ebony long hair danced along with the breeze, teasing. The face had closed back up into that stoic mask, unfeeling, uncaring, expressionless. A beautiful mannequin. All his, but maybe no longer...

Hardening on his resolve, he closed the door softly behind him. He had to talk to someone.

~*~

"Mito? Take this bowl of desert. It's for your friend." Youhei's mother called to her son.

"Thanks Okasan." Youhei smiled at his mother's kind gesture. He balanced the bowl on top the stack of clothes for Hanamichi's overnight stay.

Youhei's Mother shook her head and sighed. "That poor boy, yet another rejection."

Bounding two steps at a time, Youhei went up to the guest room. Knocking the door with his foot, he somehow managed to open the door. The room was in total darkness. "Hanamichi?" Youhei called. Plonking the clothes down on the floor, he felt around for the lights.

"Leave it off." A sullen voice rasped out.

Youhei blinked, adjusting his eyes to the dark. Hanamichi was curled up in a small ball, wedged between the corner of the room. The red hair was messed up into tangled locks. An aura of depression and finality wrapped tightly over him.

"Hana, Hana, Hana." Youhei walked towards his best friend, gathering him in his arms, patting his back. "Let it all out. Let it all out."

Hanamichi struggled halfhearted in Youhei's embrace and collapsed against Youhei's firm chest. Leaning his head on the Youhei's neck, feeling Youhei's body heat and the steady rhythmic heartbeat. The tough-guy front shattered by friendship, sincerity and absolute trust.

"He'sgoingtoleaveme. Iknowit. He'sgoingto. He'stiredofme. He..." Hanamichi's words blured by the uncontrollable huge sobs emitted. Bitter-sour tears streamed down, as a deep part of his heart was relentlessly crushed, tormented by the fear that his special relationship with Rukawa would end soon.

Youhei strengthened his grip around Hanamichi's shoulder, trying to give him strength. Stroking Hanamichi's back, he whispered soothing nonsense into Hanamichi's ear, promising to protect him, to get Rukawa back. They remained in that position for a long time. The sobbing boy gave one last sniff and all became quiet. Youhei looked at the sleeping boy in his arms. Hanamichi had a peaceful half-smile on his face, looking almost angelic in the ethereal moonlight shine. Marred by the streaks of the dried tears.

Youhei smiled, wiping off the last tear rolling off Hanamichi's cheek. Memories of how they stuck through thick and thin throughout these eight years came flooding. He remembered Hanamichi risking his limbs and life to rescue him from the notorious, powerful Poison Ivy gang. They were only twelve that time. He saw Hanamichi dying spiritually when his father left him. It took a whole two years to build the pathetic wreak into the egoistic, loudmouthed, arrogant idiot of today. The joyful glow that lit up in Hanamichi whenever he talked about his fox.

'I'll get Rukawa back, old friend.' He sweared silently. Hooking his little finger with Hanamichi's, he sealed his promise. Carefully removing Hanamichi's firm grasp on his waist, he gently laid Hanamichi on the carpeted floor. Wincing in pain, he loosen the cramps in his legs and rubbed them to start circulation of blood. He dragged a pillow and blanket off the bed. Puffing up the flattened pillow, he lifted Hanamichi's head and rested it on the pillow. Covering Hanamichi with the blanket, he bit back a laugh. Hanamichi's two huge feet stuck out, no matter how Youhei positioned the blanket. 'Man he's tall.' Youhei thought enviously.

After fussing around, he picked up the bowl of desert. "Sweet dreams Hanamichi.." He whispered and stealthily left the room.

~*~

" Hello?

" ......."

"I know you are there Rukawa."

" ......."

"Hanamichi is at my place and he cried over You. Every time you two had a trifle, he comes over to my place. This is the 5th time, this month!"

" ......."

"Say Something!"

"What."

"We, need, to, talk."

"About?"

"You and Hanamichi."

There was a sharp intake of breath. "None of your business."

"Yeah, but as long as my pal is Upset, that makes it My business."

"So?"

Youhei finally had it. That cold, heartless Bxxxxxx and to think that Hanamichi praised that fox so highly. " I DON'T CARE WHO YOU FXXX WITH. IF YOU NO LONGER FEEL ANYTHING FOR HANAMICHI. TELL HIM! STOP TORMENTING HIM! YOU
SONFA <censored><censored><censored>..." (1)

< click > "Tu-tu-tu"

Youhei stared at the engaged phone. The words he yelled in anger at Rukawa replayed in his mind. "Oops, I think I blew it. Sakuragi is going to kill me." Youhei moaned, covering his face with his hands. "Baka, Baka, Baka."

<Chopin: lesson1: never meddle with your friend's love affairs. Too many cooks spoil the broth. Too many meddlesome nosy people kill the relation.>^-^

~*~

"Ding Dong! Ding Dong!Dinnnnnnnnnnnnng Donnnnnnnnnnnnnnng!"

"Coming, coming!" Youhei's Mother yelled, running to answer the door, hastily brushing off the specks of floor off her clothes at the same time.

"Hello Auntie!" A spiky hair teen greeted her warmly. Behind him, stood a youth who seemed deep at thought, his face grim and serious.

"Do I know you?" She raised her eyebrows.

"Er no..." Sendoh's smile faltered slightly. " We're here to see Youhei. We're his f..friends. "

"I see, come on in." Youhei's Mother stepped aside and led the two 1.9m boys into her house. With Sendoh's sunny bright friendly smile in full blast, who could fault her for endearing herself to him."Youhei is upstairs. You want some coffee?"

"I'll help you Auntie." Sendoh offered, following her into the kitchen.

Rukawa remained rooted at the doorway, grazing at the long winding stairway in front of him.

~*~

"Ore wa Tensai...Hmmmm..." Hanamichi sang softly to himself. It was one of his ways to lift up his spirits.

Striping out of his jeans and shirt, he reached for a clean set. When the door swung opened.

"Eeeeek!" He screeched, horrified to be caught clad only in his briefs. Diving for the bed, he hastily covered himself with the sheets. His face burning crimson red with embarrassment, he lifted up his head.

"Kaede?"

~*~

The sea waves lapped at their feet, occasionally spraying water at them in mirth. The rising late morning sun cast its splendorous golden rays over the beach. The sea was a beautiful marine blue, stretching on endless to meet up with the cloudless aqua blue sky. Seagulls soared high above their heads, doing acrobatic twists in delight at the wonderful weather. Coconut trees
swayed with the sea breeze, in welcome of visitors. It was pure heaven. Hanamichi stole a glance at Rukawa siting beside him. His insides were all topsy-turvy. 'Kaede isn't the romantic type. Why did he bring me here. Is it that he has something important to say to me? Why now? Why did he and Sendoh come together? Is it ...?

"Sakuragi." Rukawa said softly, interrupting Hanamichi's wanderings.

Hanamichi had a start. A dark forbearing came over him. Rukawa called him Sakuragi. Suddenly he wanted to stick his fingers in his ears and run away. He did not want to know what Rukawa had to say to him. He tried to stand up and stop Rukawa from continuing any further. His throat felt constricted. His limbs had gone all soft and limp.

"Sakuragi. I ..." Rukawa hesitated, unsure of how to break the news to Hanamichi. " I think we should break up."

A white blank appeared before Hanamichi. All senses except hearing left him.

Hazily, he heard Rukawa saying. " It is affecting me too much. I don't like the feeling of being emotionally attached to someone, to be dependent. I am a loner and I like it that way." He paused. "I am tired of fighting too. It hurts me to know the emotional scars every fight left you. The pain in your eyes. This relationship is doing us more harm than good. If we continue any further, I am afraid that we'll hate each other one day."

"How about Sendoh?" Hanamichi managed to croak out.

"He's just a friend. A good friend." Rukawa explained. Standing up, he bent down and lightly brushed his lips against Hanamichi's cheek. "I hope we still can be friends." He smiled and left.

Hanamichi wanted to yell, to shout, to scream, to threaten, to beg, anything to stop Rukawa from leaving him, to prevent yet another of his love ones from leaving his life. He could not, it was as if a spell was cast over him, rendering him immobile.

He watched silently as Rukawa's departing figure vanished into the brightness.

"But I love you." Hanamichi whispered.

~*~

From afar, Rukawa observed Youhei bending down, and led Hanamichi away. Satisfied, he left the his hiding spot behind the palm trees and started his way home. Sendoh followed behind, gazing worriedly at the figure in front of him.

"You love him right?" Sendoh said. It was more of a statement than a question.

Rukawa bit his lower lip and answered carefully. "He holds a special place in my heart."

"Why do you want to break up in that case?" Sendoh asked curiously.

Rukawa turned back and shot Sendoh a freezing cold glare.

"Ok, ok, ok. I won't pry into your personal matters." Sendoh backed away, his hands raised up in surrender. "It won't be easy for you and him."

"Time will wash away the pain. We are, meant to be nothing more than friends."

The End

(1) I apologise for the vulgarity of the Youhei's words. You must understand that he was pissed off by Rukawa and being in a gang really does not help.

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