Lost Kitsune

Disclaimer: Standard disclaimer applies. I do not own Slam Dunk, Dr. T does. J

"Baka, Kitsune! What a show-off!" Sakuragi Hanamichi muttered under his breath as he remembered what happened earlier in practice. It's Friday and practice had lasted longer than usual.

Rukawa was being his normal self and ignoring everybody and practicing dunks much to the amusement of the Rukawa Shinentai and much to the irritation of Sakuragi. But what irritated Hanamichi was the way that he steals Haruko's attention away from him.

"Baka! What do they see in him anyway when obviously this Tensai is much better-looking than that pale Kitsune?! Not to mention better in basketball" Sakuragi was still fuming as he was on the way home.

Suddenly he heard a loud crash from behind him. The tall redhead turned around on reflex and saw… Rukawa Kaede sprawled on the street, unconscious, his bicycle, or what was left of it anyway, beside him. Obviously, he was cycling again, asleep and hit the innocent post accidentally.

"K'so! Do I really have to see the Kitsune everywhere I go?" he said his anger rising up again as he turned towards his way home ignoring Rukawa as he lay on the street. After only two steps he turned around ran back to the unconscious Rukawa and hurled him on his back to carry him home.

"Grrr… Rukawa… You owe me big time," he mumbled as he trudged all the way to his home to take care of the still unconscious Rukawa. His conscience couldn't take leaving a helpless person on the street, even if it was his mortal enemy because he remembered what had happened to his father. Besides, even though he hates Rukawa, he is still his teammate.

"Grunt! Man, your heavy!" Sakuragi grunted as he carefully placed Rukawa on his couch. Sakuragi laid him down and cushioned a throw pillow under his head. He looked at the unconscious form and finally noticed a small trail of blood flowing from the fox-eyed boy's forehead. He sighed. He went to the kitchen to get some ice to put on Rukawa's forehead.

When he came back with the pack of ice, he sat down on the floor near the end of where Rukawa's head is. He gently placed the bag of ice on the other boy's forehead. After a few minutes the shorter boy stirred and slowly opened his eyes. "What happened? Where am I?" came the soft mumble.

"Oi, Kitsune, you're awake! You bumped into a post and I saw you and now you're at my house because I don't know where to bring you. I don't know where you live," explained Sakuragi while gently pushing the bag of ice on Rukawa's forehead. "You shouldn't have been sleeping while riding your bicycle. Imagine what would have happened if this Tensai was not around to help you! Nyahahahaha!" the redhead laughingly reprimanded.

Rukawa began to sit up from his position. He winced as pain coursed through his body. His body was full of bruises from the fall. "Kitsune? I don't see a Kitsune around. Thanks for helping me but, who are you anyway?" Rukawa said puzzled as he peered through Sakuragi's chocolate brown eyes, staring at him with his icy blue ones.

Sakuragi's mouth dropped open at what Rukawa said. "Nani!? You don't know who I am?"

"No," came the flat reply.

Sakuragi panicked. He doesn't know what to do with a Kitsune who has amnesia! Stupid Rukawa! Why on earth do you have to cycle without a helmet anyway?! And why am I the unlucky person who has to help you?!

"What are you doing in this area anyway? If I'm not mistaken you don't live here because if you do, I would have seen you," Sakuragi voiced out his thoughts.

"I don't know," Rukawa lamely replied.

"Do you know where you live?"

"No."

"Do you know your phone number?"

"No."

"Who are your parents?"

"I don't know, okay!" Rukawa snapped starting to get irritated at Sakuragi's questions. "The only thing I can remember is that I bumped into a post and everything turned black."

Hanamichi sighed. He was irritated at what was happening. He didn't know anyone to contact to help him with Rukawa. Rukawa kept mostly to himself and nobody really knows anything about it. He sighed again. I can't just shoo him away. He doesn't even know who he is and I'm betting he doesn't know his way around. Well, it was just a light concussion… I hope he regains his memory then…

And even though it was against his wishes Sakuragi stood up, went to the direction of his room and motioned for Rukawa to follow him. Rukawa stood up and followed the redhead uncertainly. He doesn't know if he should trust him or not but finding no other option, he reluctantly did.

"I'm letting you stay over since I can't just shoo you away what with you having amnesia," the redhead began as he climbed the stairs to his room. When he reached the landing, he turned left and straight ahead. He stopped at a door with the name 'HANAMICHI' on it.

So his name is Hanamichi…, Rukawa thought quietly to himself.

Hanamichi stepped inside and motioned to Rukawa to follow. Rukawa, followed him inside and he saw the most disordered room he has ever saw. Clothes and books were littering the floor and the bed. You couldn't even see the bed, if there was any.

Hanamichi sweatdropped. "Hehehe…," he pushed all the things in the bed to the floor and Rukawa saw the bed for the first time. "Sit down."

Rukawa sat on the bed and patiently waited for Hanamichi to continue.

"Well, good thing that my mom is out of town this weekend. You can stay over for the weekend," he walked through his walk-in closet to find something for Rukawa to wear.

"Thanks, I guess," Rukawa mumbled in reply.

"Ah! Here!" Hanamichi emerged from his closet and threw Rukawa a blue shirt and boxer shorts. "There's the bathroom," he pointed to a door beside the bed. "Freshen up!"

"Um?!" Rukawa uttered as he got up.

"Hai?!"

"What's my name?" came the meek question.

"Rukawa. Rukawa Kaede."