Author's Note: My first fic after 7 years. I thought of trying my hand again at writing. I certainly hoped I've matured as a writer. Tell me what you think, flames or otherwise. Thanks! RuHana again, obviously

CHAPTER 1: THE PREDICAMENT

It all started innocently enough. It was a typical after-class practice for the Shohoku Basketball Team. It was a typical weekday afternoon perfect for practice, with the sun shining, birds chirping and leaves rustling in the breeze. Said team is also acting innocently enough with Ayako wielding her terror paper fan and bonking those unfortunate ones who happen to do certain things not compliant to her liking. Miyagi Ryota, newly appointed captain of the basketball team, is busy making heart-shaped eyes and blushing furiously at Ayako, while the target of his stares is pointedly ignoring those lovesick expressions. Just let me reiterate that Ayako is not dumb, far from it, but she is also insensitive enough to not give a damn. Kogure (visiting from Kanagawa University) and Mitsui are huddled in a corner, sharing small talk. They just announced their being lovers last week, albeit a few hundred dropped jaws and stunned silence. However, the team quickly adjusted to this revelation and learned to accept such fact. They also learned to give the two spaces from time to time. Hell, they've only been together a measly week. Give them a break! Sakuragi Hanamichi, the loud and annoyingly adorable redhead, is in the middle of the court practicing his supposed talent for dribbling and slam dunking while erupting to his 'Ore Wa Tensai' song much to the exasperation of his teammates. If it was not for the fact that his voice is like ten sharpened nails scratching a polished blackboard, then it wouldn't be so bad. But that is not the case, as his voice is enough to cause spine-tingling sensation nowhere near pleasurable. Akagi, who has volunteered to watch over the team to keep those troublemakers in line, is giving his famous head bashes by the bucket to the so-called tensai who have explicitly disregarded his instructions to practice his footwork along the perimeter of the court. "Baka! Basketball is not for slam dunks only!" There goes another head bash which would leave Hanamichi cursing and nursing his steaming head bump. That's the fifth one for that day and the Sakuragi Gundam, a few feet from the gym doors, are currently holding a betting game as to who could predict the number of head bash Sakuragi will receive from Gori after that practice. Ookusu and Takamiya are currently out of the running, betting a measly 3 and 4, respectively. The Rukawa Shinetai is crowding another corner, surprisingly devoid of high pitched screeches, whenever Rukawa Kaede, their self-appointed demi-god, was within 10 meters of their existence. You see, Rukawa Kaede returned to Shohoku after the season with the All-Japan Basketball teams much to the delight and reinforcement of his cheerleaders. They are no doubt practicing another of their puke-inducing and teeth grating Rukawa cheer that sounded suspiciously like this.

Ru-ka-wa! Love you; miss you, Ru-ka-wa!

Rukawa! Love us too, RU-KA-WA!

It's enough to make a devil out of any saint.

Akagi Haruko, as the new assistant team manager with her friends is quietly watching the progress of the practice. But let us not withhold the fact that Akagi Haruko gives more than the usual stares towards the Super Rookie (in this case Super Sophomore) of Shohoku High. 'Rukawa… You're still kawaii.'

However, if one would look closely, it was not a typical after-school practice after all. Not at all. If that someone happens to be looking at a specific someone for a specific period of time, then that person would have definitely noticed. Rukawa Kaede, resident narcoleptic kitsune and Ice Prince is AGITATED. Agitated might be too lukewarm a word at this point. Rukawa Kaede point blank is disturbed, a little undecided and the horror! Rukawa is feigning basketball practice. It seems that he is planning on doing something, only to retreat when that something is seconds from happening. If one would look more closely, said agitation and disturbance to his normally stoic façade is somehow connected to a certain red-head monkey laughing to himself a few steps away from a certain fox. If one would look a lot more closely, akin to increasing focus in a microscope, Rukawa Kaede seemed to be forcing himself to shorten the distance between him and the do'aho. Only to widen it again at some point if a teammate accidentally wanders to a less than comfortable distance from the two of them or if Sakuragi Hanamichi is in the danger of noticing his rather odd behavior. This goes on and on, eating away most of practice time.

Study the do'aho.

Feign concentration while dribbling.

Few steps to shorten.

Now quick! Large steps to widen. 'Tsk. He might notice. No one is that crude.'

Feign dribbling again.

Repeat cycle.

Repeat cycle again until near comatose. Such awkward behavior did not escape Ayako-san's hawk-like scrutiny. For Rukawa's benefit, it would have escaped her notice if it happened a few times. But we're talking a huge chunk of the practice time here. It was bound to be noticed. And perhaps, Rukawa was hoping IT would be noticed.

'What is Rukawa doing?' Ayako thought. Deciding to put an end to the hullabaloo of Rukawa, Ayako spoke up. "Rukawa? Daijobu ka?"

Rukawa jumped slightly at the innocent question. A move that would be passed up by a non-observing entity. But not to Ayako. Rukawa nodded without looking at Ayako but the basketball he was holding. "Hai, sempai."

"Do you want to take a rest? You won't be missing much since we've only got ten minutes more of practice. I'm sure your beat."

Rukawa shook his head and cursed inwardly.

'Kuso! Only ten minutes more. I haven't got much time.'

The cycle commenced again without much success for Rukawa Kaede. However this time, the red-head do'aho finally, (FINALLY!), took notice. "Oi! Baka kitsune! What the hell are you looking at? You want a piece of me?"

'Yes.' Rukawa thought, almost drooling at the question. 'You don't know how much.'

This particular remark did nothing to the almost crumbly self-confidence of Rukawa when it concerned the red-head. With a sigh, Rukawa decided to just drop plan A of his mission and move to plan B. At least then, if given the go-signal, it would only serve to push through with the mission no matter how risky. Because at least then, he would have an audience and he wouldn't have much choice lest he risk appearing foolish. But Rukawa Kaede is never foolish. After giving the much appropriate reply of "Do'aho" to the redhead's question, Rukawa turns his back and proceeded to where Akagi was standing.

"Rukawa! Teme! Do not ignore the tensai!" Sakuragi marched towards Rukawa to give him the bodily harm he deserved. Rukawa promptly ignored the steaming do'aho.

"Sempai. I have something to say." Rukawa gravely stated. Akagi, at this, wrinkled his head in confusion. Rukawa is not much a talker to begin with and an announcement out of the blue is out of his character. It might also be outside his universe. Again people, let us not forget that this is not your typical after-school practice. How many timed do I have to remind you?

Although thoroughly bewildered, Akagi clapped his hands to catch everybody's attention.

"Minna! Gather round!"

After everyone formed a circle around them, with the regular onlookers and visitors also curiously waiting for what was going to be said. Anything that comes out of the mouth of a non-talker must be important and worthy of attention. And so it goes. History was about to be made.

'Kuso…' Rukawa cursed inwardly. Now that he was given the chance, he suddenly lost his ability to speak. Rukawa shuddered uncontrollably. 'Shit.' Rukawa dropped his gaze to the basketball he was clinging, finding it infinitely more interesting than what is was a minute ago.

Tense silence ensued as the audience waited for the so-called announcement. A few more minutes elapsed and… nothing. Everybody looked at everybody else while sporting identical sweatdrops.

Sakuragi Hanamichi, being the impatient and hot-headed person that he is cannot stand the fact that the limelight was on Rukawa again.

"Teme! Fox! Why aren't you speaking? You're wasting the tensai's precious time!"

At the sound of his redheaded do'aho, Rukawa twitched and came out of his stupor. He shifted his gaze at Sakuragi to a level that is not accepted as comfortable. Sakuragi blinked and swallowed hard as he held the icy gaze for he saw something flashed across the fox's eyes rather than the usual dose of loathing and superiority. 'Nande? Why is the fox looking at me in that foxy way?'

Kogure, noticing the unusual sparks between the two rivals, but not really comprehending started to stepped forward with all intention to break up the fight. However, Ayako pulled him harshly to the side. She smirked. "Let them be. It's about time, ne?" She said cryptically, leaving Kogure wrinkling his eyebrows in confusion.

Hanamichi forced his pitiful mind away from the mesmerizing gaze of Rukawa and snorted. "Yaro! Why are you looking at me like that, fox? Are you craving for some bodily harm?"

Hanamichi sputtered and shakily pointed at Rukawa to his teammates. "Lo-look! He's looking at the tensai with his stupid foxy eyes! Look!" He grabbed Yasuda by the neck and forced him to look at Rukawa just to prove his moot point. Miyagi came to Yasuda's rescue. "Yamette Sakuragi! Yasuda can't breathe!"

Apparently, that does it. Rukawa closed the distance between him and the do'aho, grabbed both side of his face and looked him into his eyes. Cobalt blue eyes mesmerizing chocolate brown ones. Sakuragi sported a look of utter disbelief, his lips opening and closing without making any sound like a fish out of water.

"I like this one."He then turned to his stunned audience who is looking more shocked and astonished by the minute. Jaws dropped everywhere and a couple of those cheerleaders fainted, conclusively from shock. "Thought you should know." He dropped the redhead, grabbed his gym bag, and stalked out of the door like he owned the whole world. He left a dumbfounded Sakuragi frozen at his spot, not quite believing what just happened, willing it to be a realistic nightmare.

'Good. That's out of my system.' Rukawa thought as he conveniently walked away from the gaping party.