Authors: Chaser
Disclaimer: I own the little people who live in my head. Song by Missing Persons.
Warnings: None maybe some attempted fluff, sap and romance.
Pairings: Roberto x Ran and whatever else happens along the way.
Archive: Too Many Walls -www.geocites.com/daggersplendens/index.html
Notes: Special thanks to Leela who helped create this.
Mental Hopscotch
Camera in hand I ran. I had twenty minutes before the game started and I needed to be there. Unfortunately for me, I had stayed up all night typing up my latest editorial for the school and didn't hear the alarm go off. When I finally woke up to the sounds of my father banging on my door. Rolling off the bed and landing with a yelp and a thump.
Looking the clock as I rubbed the sleep from my eyes I realized that I was late. Cursing I jumped up and began to get ready. I took a quick shower and hopped down the stairs trying to get my shoes on at the same time.
" You want something to eat?" My father asked." Nope gotta run. I'm late. Where's my camera? Have you seen my film? Where did I put my bag? OH crap I'm late!!" I asked as I ran from room to room wondering out loud why I can never find my stuff.
"It's on the couch honey." My father said before I pulled apart the laundry room.
"Oh yeah! I said running into the living room and then out the door.
Since I was late I had to chase the bus for two blocks before it stopped. While on the bus I began to fix my things. Load my camera, make sure it was working properly, and make sure I had my tape recorder and that it was also working properly. Engrossed in my work I missed my stop, not that I really knew where I was going. I wasn't familiar with the Gorin high school area.
The only thing that was good was that I ended up only a block from where I was going, Gorin high school field. I was hoping I would be able to run into Nastu. She said she would get me into the locker area.
When I arrived at the field, the game was already in progress. Waving my reporter pass at the guards I took my place at the sidelines. It was an interesting game. There was a bunch of boys chasing around a ball and bouncing it off various body parts. It made no sense to me but it made for some nice shots. As I avidly took shots of the players in action, I noticed they said the name Mirua several times. Taking it, as he was a star player I decided when I found Natsu I would have her show me who he was.
The game had ended and I found myself looking for my friend. She shouldn't be hard to spot. She was taller than most of the people I knew and where ever she was. I was bound to find the batboy. Sure enough I found them both by the sounds of their everlasting argument.
" That ref is blind! How could he not see that!"
" Could you please keep it down. You're embarrassing me."
"He just let that slide. It was right in front of his face. That senile old goat!"
" Shoma shut up already!"
Smiling I walk up to her. " Yeah you'd think a boy so small wouldn't have a mouth that big."
Natsu turned around and laughed. " Exact…Ran! You made it!"
" Yeah sorry I couldn't meet you earlier I kinda got held up."
" Over slept again I see."
" That alarm clock has something against me. It's evil I tell you, Evil!"
" Maybe you should stop throwing it across the room."
" Nah it likes it. It's evil I tell you!" I said as I snapped a shot of the crowd.
As Natsu laughed at me, Shoma began to bash the referee to another boy I didn't know.
" Come on he'll be at that for a while." She said pulling me through the crowd.
" Is he always like that?" I asked looking back at Shoma, feeling bad for the person he was talking too.
" What…stupid…yeah."
I couldn't help but laugh. Natsu said that with such sincerity it was hilarious.
" So what did you think about the game."
" It was ok I guess."
" Didn't understand it one bit, huh?"
" Yep." I said nodding my head with a huge grin on my face.
Natsu shook her head at me. " Well look I have a friend on the team. I'll show him to you ok. "
" Yay! Now I don't have to look for one. You do love me!" I squealed as I hugged her arm tightly.
" You are so silly! Get off! People are starring. Come on they'll get the wrong idea! Let go! "
" Oh but Natty Hon! You know I love you to piecies!"
" I'm gonna so kill you." she said as we both giggled.
Inside the locker room was total chaos. There were other reporters from the local newspapers everywhere. The players were either talking someone or trying to change without flashing someone. Natsu being the tall woman that she was tiptoed and screamed out someone's name as she waved her hand like a mad woman; while I snapped photos of the players and who ever those other men were. After we pushed past a bunch of old men who smelled like cheap cigars. I came face to face or shall I say face to visor with her friend.
" Roberto! Great game!" Natsu said with a big slap to his back. I'd hate to be him right now. Her hands were huge and she forgets sometimes that she's not hitting a ball. That her smacking you on the back actually hurts.
" Thanks, we won even if the ref is a senile old goat."
" Not you too!" Natsu cried.
" Well he is. " he said as he shrugged his shoulders and thew his towel on the bench.
" Roberto I'd like you to meet my friend Ran. She's a reporter for Taiyo High. She's the one who did all those stories about Justice." He didn't say anything to that comment, so giving him my best smile I said hello. " Oh look there's Justin. I'll catch you later when you're done ok Ran. Bye" she said as she quickly moved towards another player. Roberto smirked as he watches Natsu go into girl mode as she talked to that Justin boy. As if my camera was attached to my face I was snapping pictures of Natsu in her attempt to flirt. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Turning my attention back to this Roberto person I removed my camera from my face and spoke. " Well Hi, I'm Ran Hibiki and I'm doing a sports editorial for my school. If you don't mind, can I ask you a few questions?"
" Sure, I can't see why not."
" Ok, you're name is Roberto what?"
" Mirua."
" Oh…You're that guy they kept talking about in the game!" I said surprised.
" Yeah that's me."
" Even cooler I don't' have to track you down."
" See how nice I am. I was right here waiting for you."
" Yeah ok. How long have you been playing soccer?"
" Since I could walk."
" And what grade are you in?"
" I'm a sophomore."
" So umm… what made you get into playing soccer?"
" My father taught me how to play. "
" Why's it called football when it's not played with 'A' football?"
" Huh?"
" I mean what's the catch?"
" Umm... You only use your feet."
" And that's another thing, why don't you just pick the ball up and throw it?"
" It's against the rules."
" Ok that's a good point. I still don't get it but ok. Now what sets this game apart from say basketball or 'REAL' football? I mean why would people want to see what I think in my opinion is a bunch of grown men playing kick ball. No offense I mean." I asked without looking up.
" Umm…" he started. " Can I ask you a question?"
" Yeah sure, though that's not how it suppose to go but go ahead." I said, as I wondered why he hadn't taken off his hat yet.
" You don't know anything about soccer do you?"
" Huh?" I said looking up at him.
Roberto chuckled. " You really don't do you?"
I was busted. I really didn't know anything about the sport. " Why do you say that?" I asked as I rubbed the back of my neck. " What's to know. You kick the little spotted ball into the net thingy, right?"
Roberto laughed. It wasn't a little chuckle like he'd given me before. Now he was down right laughing like I had said something really witty or funny. " Why are you laughing at me?" I said raising an eyebrow at him. If I could see his whole face I would have sworn he was crying from laughing so hard.
Later as he found his composer again he smiled at me.
" You're funny."
" How so?"
" You don't know a thing about the game yet you're trying."
" Yeah so what." I said placing my hand on my hip. " But neither does anyone else at my school. So stop laughing at me already."
" I'm not laughing at you."
" Well it sure isn't with me and that smirk is a dead give away."
" I'm sorry," he said while still smirking at me. " How about I make it up to you. "
" How?"
" After the game we're having a small victory party. How about you come along and I'll sit down with you and you can ask me any question you like. "
" Victory party? With the other players?"
" Only the ones that won." he said while trying to hide his smile behind the large front of that visor, he had yet to take off.
I gave him this look like I was about to kick in him the shins.
" Okay, okay bad joke. But yeah the others will be there and I'll even get some of them for you to interview."
" And no laughing this time?"
" No laughing I promise. Now I have to go and wash up. Have Natsu show you where the Pizza place is and I'll meet you there."
" Okay and no funny stuff."
" I wouldn't dream of it." Roberto smiled grabbing his towel and bag. " It was nice meeting you Ran."
" Same here." I said cautiously as he walked away.
Before he reached the shower area I called out. " Hey Roberto!"
" Yes."
" Why you doing this?"
" You're cute and I can't say no to a pretty girl." He said and disappeared into the showers.
At those words a smile found it's way to my face. I couldn't help it. He called me a pretty girl. How could I not smile about that? After I caught myself just standing there beaming I went to try and get some shots of the other players I had missed earlier. I must admit though, only about one or two of them looked as cute as he did in that striped outfit.
Finally after I had gotten just about everyone's name and position, I went to find Natsu. She was now talking to some girl.
" Already? That's got to be some kind of record."
" Ha-ha. Come on I need you to show me where the Pizza place is out here."
" Ok but you know if you hungry, they have free food here."
" I'm not hungry."
" What's the miracle."
Sticking my tongue out at her I told her I wanted to go to the victory party Roberto had told me about. Without trying to show the joy on her face she agreed to show me. Though I imagine it was more for her to get a chance to get to see that boy again.
TBC