I'm sorry it took me so long to update! Gomen! And this is the final chapter.. Hope you'll enjoy it.

Mitsui stared at the closed door numbly. Had Kogure really left or was it my imagination? Realization hit him when Shima spoke out aloud. "Hisashi, what is Kogure doing here?"

Mitsui pushed Shima away, ignoring her cries and opened the door forcefully. He ran out to the streets and saw Kogure walking slowly with his head hung down. His body shook slightly, crying softly.

"Kogure!" Mitsui shouted.

Kogure froze.

Mitsui gave a breath of relieved and walked towards Kogure. Sensing Mitsui's footsteps were near, Kogure panicked and ran.

"Shit." Mitsui cursed and ran after the boy. The shooting guard caught hold of Kogure easily and he was ever thankful to Akagi for making him running 20 laps during every practice session.

"Let me go!" Kogure wriggled.

"I won't let go until you listen to me!" Mitsui said stubbornly, still gripping tightly on Kogure's arm.

That stilled Kogure somehow. Kogure took a few deep breaths before looking at Mitsui's face. "What do you want?" Kogure asked coldly.

Mitsui was taken aback by Kogure's coldness. Kogure had never spoken that way to him before. He seemed like a completely different person now compared to last week. "Kogure, please listen to me." Mitsui begged.

"I am listening, Mitsui." Kogure said patiently, refused to look at Mitsui.

"This is not a good place to talk." Mitsui announced and pulled Kogure's hand towards his apartment.

"Chotto! If you're pulling me back to see Shima and you seducing each other, you can forget about it. I've seen enough." Kogure fired, trying to free his hands from Mitsui's grip, but in vain. Mitsui was far stronger than he is.

"This has nothing to do with that bitch" Mitsui said angrily as he pushed open his apartment door and pulled Kogure inside.

Shima was sitting on the sofa, enjoying the fruit punch that Mitsui had made earlier for Kogure. Her eyes sparkled when she saw Mitsui entering the apartment, but faded away as soon as she saw Kogure. She placed the drink on the table and waltzed towards Mitsui, unaware that Mitsui was holding Kogure's hand tightly.

"Honey, where have you been?" She licked her lips seductively.

"That's not going to work, Shima. Get lost." Mitsui step aside. It was only then Shima realized that Mitsui was holding Kogure's hand.

"Why are you holding his hands?"

"None of your business. I need to talk to Kogure, So leave." Mitsui said rudely.

"You're not getting rid of me easily!" Shim spat angrily. "I'll see that you…"

"I'm sick of hearing the same thing, Shima. Go ahead and do whatever you want to do. I'm not interested." Mitsui interrupted her. "Get out of here before I kick you out." Mitsui threatened.

"You wouldn't dare….." Shima shook her head as she staggered backwards.

"Oh yeah? Try me." Mitsui sneered. Releasing Kogure's hand, he strode towards her and carried her up when she made no attempt to move and walked to the front door. "Now, Shima, you have 2 choices. Either I put you down nicely and you walked home, or I'll throw you on the floor. I warned you, if you pick the second choice, you'll end up with a sore bum tomorrow." Mitsui said seriously.

Shima realized that Mitsui wasn't joking when he said he'll throw her out. "I'll pick the first one." Shima said timidly.

Mitsui smiled, proud with his actions for the very first time. "Good girl." Mitsui murmured as he put her down slowly.

Shima was still shaking when her feet touched the ground. She ran quickly towards the lift and punched the buttons.

"Oyasumi, Shima!' Mitsui managed to call out before Shima disappeared into the lift.

Mitsui slammed the door shut. "That bitch." Mitsui cursed. He almost forgotten Kogure was there, standing next to him, looking amazed. He shut the door and pulled Kogure to the living room. Pushing him onto the sofa, he quickly disappeared into the kitchen and came out with two cans of coke.

"Sorry, she drank the fruit punch." Mitsui smiled sheepishly as he handed Kogure the can on Coke.

Kogure took it without a word and placed it on the table without opening it. He wasn't interested in Shima drinking the fruit punch. He only wanted to know what Mitsui has to say to him. Kogure sighed as he looked at the Coke on the table.

Mitsui noticed the boy's unhappy face and quickly sat down next to him nervously. Rubbing both of his hands, he pondered how to begin the conversation.

"Kogure…." Mitsui said at last.

"If you got nothing to say, I'll make a move." Kogure announced and stood up.

Mitsui's hand shot up immediately, almost as it was the most natural thing to do. "Please, Kogure, listen to me." Mitsui whispered and pulled Kogure back to the seat again.

Kogure sat down again and looked at Mitsui's nervous face. "Well?" Kogure questioned.

"I… Shima and I… we're not what you think." Mitsui said, finally breaking the ice.

"Not what I think?" Kogure sprang up from his seat in anger. "Both of you are kissing and touching each other, and you tell me that's not what I think?" Kogure almost shouted.

"Kogure, listen! I didn't mean…" Mitsui rose from his seat and grabbed Kogure on the arms lightly, only to be yanked away. Mitsui sighed and stared at Kogure's stubborn face. "I didn't mean to hurt you." Mitsui continued.

Kogure refused to look at Mitsui. He felt cheated, betrayed, fooled. He didn't know what he was feeling now. It was a mixture of everything. He only knew that his heart was pumping so uncomfortably, making him difficult to breath.

Mitsui heart pained when he saw silent tears fell from Kogure's soft, brown eyes. "I was forced to be Shima's boyfriend, Kogure. She blackmailed me into it." Mitsui broke out the truth. He watched Kogure's searched his eyes almost immediately in shocked. "How?" He heard Kogure muttered.

Mitsui sat down on the couch and slowly explained. "I don't know what happen actually. It all started when you confessed that you like me." Mitsui rammed his fingers into his hair as he spoke. "Suddenly, Shima came into the court and asked if you could help her with her work. After you left her place that night, I approached her and asked what she wanted from you." Mitsui choked out again.

Kogure listen quietly. He had a thousand questions that he wanted to ask Mitsui. But, right now, he decided to zip his mouth shut and listened to whatever Mitsui has to say first.

"She told me that she only used you to get me." Mitsui murmured quietly. Mitsui further went on how he was blackmailed into being her boyfriend and how she ended up being at his place. By the time Mitsui completed his story, he hung his head down in embarrassment.

Kogure slumped down onto the sofa. He listened to the story in bewilderment. He could not believe what Mitsui had just told him. He misunderstood Mitsui down, right, top, down and every other possible way he could imagine. "You say that you wanted to protect me, Why?" Kogure heard himself asking after a moment of uncomfortable silence.

"I found out that I fell in love with you." Mitsui answered simply. "Could you believe it? These words came from my mouth?" Mitsui gave a laugh. "Of course, I was shocked with myself too. Never thought I would fall for you." Mitsui smiled sadly and looked up into Kogure's softened face.

Kogure was speechless. "I….I don't know." Kogure answered suddenly.

"Don't know what?" It was Mitsui's turn to ask.

"Don't know if I should believe you." Kogure answered. Kogure moved towards the window and stared at the pouring rain outside. When Mitsui did not argue, Kogure continued, "Mitsui, one minute I feel you're playing some sort of game with me and when I look into those eyes of yours, I don't know where am I." Kogure whispered softly. Kogure was undecided. He was really happy to hear that Mitsui love him, there's no doubt about that. But why does he have the feeling of being fooled?

Kogure heard Mitsui stood up and padded towards him. He continued starring at the dark sky above. Without warning, Mitsui wrapped his arms around him from the back and whispered, "Please Kogure, don't doubt my feelings. I know I have been an insensitive fool and acted like a total jerk back then. But I really love you." Mitsui muffled in Kogure's hair.

Kogure felt his heartbeat pumped harder. He could feel Mitsui's strong arms wrapped around him, his every breath tingles his skin. The shooter held the vice captain in his arms possessively, almost afraid that he will run off.

"You're just pitying me, are you?" Kogure shook off from his arms and gave a bitter laugh.

Mitsui whirled Kogure around and clasped both of his hands onto the boy's shoulder. "I'm not pitying you, damn it!" Mitsui lost his cool. "I really love you, ok?" Mitsui shook Kogure's body, trying to penetrate the message into his head.

Kogure shook his head slowly, tears pouring again. "I don't know, Mitsui. I really don't know what games you are playing." Kogure cried. "I don't want to wake up tomorrow and then realized that it was all a dream, a joke. I don't think I can take it!"

The 3-point shooter felt that he could no longer talk sense into Kogure. Tightening his grip, he pulled Kogure closer and crushed their mouths together. Mitsui forced Kogure's mouth to open and plunged his tongue inside him. Kogure gasped when Mitsui released him awkwardly. "This….." Mitsui whispered hoarsely, "is real, Kogure."

Kogure felt his legs almost turned into jelly the moment Mitsui let him go. Leaning on the cupboard for support, he slowly made his way back to the sofa and slumped down, feeling a wave of excitement all over. He felt that he was electrified by Mitsui a moment ago, waking up his inner senses.

"Believe me?" Mitsui asked, his eyes bore into Kogure's.

Kogure did not reply Mitsui, instead; he stood up and walked towards the apartment door.

The ex-MVP's heart shattered as he saw the boy in front of him leaving. It's over, he doesn't want you. Mitsui thought as he looked away. He couldn't bear to see Kogure leaving him; he's afraid that he might just break down and cry his heart out.

"Mitsui…" He heard Kogure called softly. He turned and saw the bespectacled boy staring at him with his soft cinnamon eyes.

"I don't know if we will work out, Mitsui. Like what you've said, it's not normal. Besides, I'm scared too…" Kogure took a deep breath before he continued "…about what people might think and what you might think. I 'm scared that you'll tell me one day that this is not what you want and leave me alone by myself." Kogure spoke softly.

Mitsui said nothing. Deep down, he knew what Kogure said was true. He badly wanted to argue, but found that he has no strength to do so anymore. Shutting his eyes, he kept quiet and prayed that Kogure would leave his apartment now before he breaks down and cry.

"But…" He heard Kogure continued. "But… I'm willing to take the chances." Mitsui's eyes shot opened wide. Kogure was looking at him, smiling, with tears in his eyes.

Mitsui smiled broadly. He took two giant steps and kissed Kogure on his mouth before hugging him tightly. "You scared the hell out of me, vice captain." Mitsui ruffled Kogure's hair.

"That's for acting like a jerk." Kogure laughed and hugged him back.

Meanwhile, in Sakuragi's residence.

Sakuragi lay down on his huge bed and stared at the wall in front of him. The huge giant poster of Kobe Bryant, a popular NBA star greeted his stare. Sighing, he turned to the other side of the wall and hugged his pillows. He was thinking about a certain rookie in Shohoku High. He doesn't know what has happen to him. Rukawa is suppose to be your greatest enemy, your rival! Sakuragi's inner mind reminded him. So, why do I feel that way? The red head groaned aloud.

"Hanamichi, you in there?" Sakuragi heard a woman's voice called him. It was his mother's. He swung his legs up from the bed and opened the door, asking simultaneously. "What's wrong mom?"

"Someone is here to see you, dear." His mother replied casually.

"Who is it?" Sakuragi asked. He was not in a mood of seeing or entertaining anyone right now. All he wanted to do was jumped back in his bed and think about Rukawa.

"It's a boy. I don't know who he is. Never seen him before." Mrs. Sakuragi muttered and left the hallway.

Sakuragi closed the door and followed his mother to the hall. It must be Nobou kun. He thought. Earlier, the boy asked him whether he has the latest NBA magazine. A basketball fan himself, Nubou has been following the basketball updates on both local and international games. He couldn't get this month's magazine because it was sold out in his area. He took the magazine on the table in the hall and walked towards the main door.

He got a shock of his life when he saw Rukawa stood unsmiling in front of his porch. Rukawa look so amazingly good looking that the Rukawa's fan girls would faint just by looking at him.

"Kitsune…" Sakuragi stammered. "What are you doing here?"

Rukawa's face flushed slightly. Maybe coming to Sakuragi's place was a mistake after all. He took him a whole 2 hours of thinking whether he should go to Sakuragi's place and admits to the red head that he likes him. Earlier, he had called Kogure and the soft spoken boy once again advised him to confess his feelings before it is too late. Rukawa was certain that he likes him, no matter how irritating he can be in the court. Kogure told him that he was positive that Sakuragi likes him too. But truthfully, he doesn't know. He saw Sakuragi peeped at him sometimes, or even smiled when Miyagi teased, but that couldn't prove anything at all.

"I… I wanted to talk to you." Rukawa said uncomfortably. This is so not me

"Err… sure.." Sakuragi said, now feeling uncertain if he had heard correctly. 'What about?"

"Can we go somewhere in private? I don't want to talk here."

Sakuragi realized that they were still standing on the porch and quickly offered. "My room?" he suggested. He saw Rukawa gave a nod of approval, so he stepped aside and allow Rukawa to enter his house.

Rukawa said his greetings at Sakuragi's mom and followed Sakuragi to his room. He noticed the self-proclaimed tensai's room was unbelievably clean. Who would have thought that the messy boy in school has the cleanest boy's room he has ever seen?

"Have a seat." Sakuragi offered. He sat down on his huge bed and waited for the icy prince to voice out.

Rukawa took the seat dutifully and pondered how to say it out. "I…" Rukawa said at last. "I… don't know how to say this." Rukawa admitted.

Sakuragi was puzzled. What games he's trying to play? He almost had a heart attack when he saw Rukawa stood in front of his house instead of Nobou. Never in a million years could he guess that Rukawa, his all time greatest rival will come to his house. "You don't know how to say what?" He heard himself asking.

Rukawa said nothing. He was thinking how he should form the sentence together and break it out in the most appropriate way.

"That I'm a lousy player. "Or that you're no match for me?" Sakuragi joked, trying to erase the uncomfortable ness in the room.

That sentence caught Rukawa's attention. "You could never catch up with me even in a million years, do aho." Rukawa said automatically.

"Hn… You amateurs only know how to talk big. Pros like me are different." Sakuragi snorted.

"Pros like you? You're a pro alright…. Unfortunately not in basketball." Rukawa fought back.

"Tell me Rukawa, why exactly have you come to my house? If you're coming here to tell me how lousy I play or how great you are, you can just go because I'm not in a mood to listen to those crap." Sakuragi said tiredly.

Rukawa's face turned serious once again. He held both of his hands together to control his nervousness before finally cracked out. "I … I know it sounds crazy and you might think that it does not make sense… but…" Rukawa halted. He took a deep breath before continuing. "I think I fell in love with you." Finally, I've said it! He scrutinized Sakuragi's facial expression. His annoyed face a moment ago was completely wiped off, replaced by his jaw dropped, shock face.

Sakuragi had to shake his head a few times to determine if he had heard correctly. "Did… did you say….." Sakuragi blabbered. "Did …you say that you love me just now?" Sakuragi blinked his eyes a few times before speaking out. He looked at Rukawa's serious yet slightly flushed face.

Rukawa nodded quietly. He didn't know what else to say. Sakuragi looked so shocked that he was ready to faint any moment from now. He gazed into Sakuragi's shocked eyes before murmured, "Yes, I did."

"I.. I…." Sakuragi blabbered again. Damn it, how am I supposed to react? Jump up and down in happiness? "Kitsune…..You're kidding me right?" Sakuragi tried to laugh off his nervousness.

"I'm not." Rukawa whispered. Why does that do aho look at me like that? Rukawa thought worriedly.

Sakuragi was at lost of words. He didn't know how or what to reply. He was dumbfounded with Rukawa's statement a minute ago. He likes him, but he never thought that Rukawa would confess his feelings this soon. He always thought that he will be the one who will actually confess to Rukawa and he will be the one to witness Rukawa's shock face as he does so.

Rukawa got tired of waiting Sakuragi to react and took another step by pushing Sakuragi onto the bed firmly, causing the red head to yelp in surprise. He then pounced onto Sakuragi and kissed him firmly on his lips. He pulled back almost instantly and quickly sat on the bed, embarrassed.

Sakuragi touched his lips with his fingers. It took him a while to recover from the shock when he finally smiled. "I told you that you can't beat me, you amateur." Sakuragi grinned. "You even fell for me."

Rukawa's lips curved a smile. "You can never beat me too, do aho." Rukawa said arrogantly. "You fell for me also."

Sakuragi laughed heartily before pulled Rukawa closer for another kiss.

"What do you think happen last night?" Miyagi whispered to Ayako and Akagi.

"How should I know?" Akagi said as he tied his shoe lace. He stood up and did some warm up exercises while waiting for the rest of the four members to arrive.

Miyagi opened his mouth wide to respond, only to be cut off by the sound of the court's door being opened. All eyes averted to the door and saw the good natured vice captain walked in alone. Although Kogure did not say anything, they noticed a slight happiness bore on his face. Miyagi and Ayako ran to Kogure and pulled him towards a corner.

"So, what happen last night?" Miyagi asked worriedly.

"What happen, sempai?" Ayako repeated Miyagi's question. Akagi soon joined them, with his arms crossed as he stared onto Kogure's flushed face.

Kogure gave a smile. "Nothing."

"Nothing?" Miyagi almost shouted. He saw other members stared at him and quickly zipped his mouth, embarrassed by his behavior. "Kogure, don't give me the I -don't- know- what- are- you talking about look" Miyagi almost strangled the bespectacled boy.

Kogure was at a lost what to say when another member came into the court. Mitsui walked in confidently with his duffel bad sling across his shoulders. He smiled as he saw Kogure and walked towards them, giving a wink to his fan girls waving above, including Shima.

Shima stood above with her two friends, and looked at Mitsui. She has not given up hopes on Mitsui yet. Her two friends were bugging her for the details between her relationships with Mitsui. The proud attitude would not allow her to tell her friends that Mitsui had officially dumped her. She gripped the steel bar harder in anger.

"Shima.. What happen between you and Mitsui?" Ana teased. She was not really happy with her friend's relationship with the hottest guy in school even though Shima is her friend. She heard from her brother that he saw Shima stomped out of Mitsui's apartment last night and she couldn't help to be curious of what has happen between them.

"Nothing has happen." Shima gave a proud smile as she flipped her hair.

"Really?" Ana answered sarcastically. She kept quiet and continued to stare below at the team.

Ignoring Miyagi and Ayako, Mitsui went straight to Kogure and pulled the boy to him, giving him a kiss on his lips. "Hey, Kogure." Mitsui smiled. The whole court gave a gasp, including the girls above.

"Well, Shima, if nothing had happen, why on earth Mitsui sempai is kissing Kogure sempai?" Ana burst out laughing.

Shima gritted her teeth before walked out of the court angrily.

"What… what the hell was that?" Akagi asked

"Ryota, did you see that?" Ayako's jaw dropped.

"Yeah, although I think that my eyes had just deceived me." Miyagi whispered, still trying to figure out whether what he saw a few seconds ago was real.

"Hey, congratulate us, you suckers." Mitsui grinned as he turned towards his members.

"You don't need to do that here, you moron!" Akagi shouted. "Why can't you do it when we're not around, for Christ sake!" Akagi growled.

"Aw.. come on, captain… I'm afraid you're not convinced." Mitsui placed his arms around a blushing Kogure as he teased.

Akagi sighed, defeated. He clasped his palm on his face and muttered. "Please tell me you're not in love with this idiot over here, Kogure."

Kogure blushed hotly, but didn't say anything else. "Sorry, Akagi. I…." Kogure started but broke off when Rukawa and Sakuragi came into the court, arguing as usual.

"Luckily we have some normal idiots." Akagi said thankfully.

"Teme, Kitsune. I told you not to tell the teacher that I copied in the mid-term exam! Now, look what have you done? I have to stay back for detention for a month!" Sakuragi shouted as he stormed into the court behind Rukawa.

Rukawa, still calm and ignorant as usual made no comments and walked towards where the members are and threw his bag onto the ground carelessly.

"Kitsune! Why did you do that?" Sakuragi said angrily. "Hey, I haven't finished talking, you cold-heart bastard…."

Rukawa turned to Sakuragi and gave a peck on Sakuragi's lips. "In that way, you can accompany me for my detention class." Rukawa smirked.

"Rukawa, way a go!" Kogure cheered.

"I think I'll cancel today's practice." Akagi announced abruptly. "I think there's a limit for me in a day." Akagi walked off the court tiredly.

"Alright! Let's go for a movie, Kogure!" Mitsui ruffled Kogure's hair. "Hey, want to come along? We can make a triple date!" Mitsui shouted at Miyagi, Ayako, Sakuragi and Rukawa.

"Sure!" Sakuragi agreed instantly.

"You got a detention class to attend, do'aho." Rukawa reminded and pulled Sakuragi away, ignoring the red head's protest. Rukawa halted suddenly and turned back at Mitsui.

"Mitsui?"

"Yeah?"

"You owe us." Rukawa said coolly.

"Got that." Mitsui grinned.

Owari

Finally, this is the last chapter! Thank you to everyone who supported this fic! Huge thanks to Suisho-Foxeyes chan and Asma chan for their support and advices. I'm sorry if there is any grammatical error!

Suisho-Foxeyes: You know what? Your fic rocks too! I can't wait to read that fic of yours. Send it to me when you have time… :^_^ (I'll be waiting for it)

The acolyte: Yeah, I know that hurts. Man, I felt it too!

Anime-luveric: Finally Mitsui kicked Shima out! (yippee!)

Shake-it-buddy: Thanks for all your reviews and your continuous support!

Miyahara Yuuki: Gomen! I totally forgot about that grammatical error! Thanks for pointing it out! (shh… don't tell anyone or sensei will chop my head off for this!)

Rings of Saturn: I HATE Shima too! I tried to write something bad about Shima, but I don't know what I should write. Well, at least she was kicked out! Muahaha..

Thanks to everyone who reviewed this crap of mine. I really appreciate it!