Title: A way to you
Author: mistresscadaver
Disclaimer: Okay, I don't own Slam Dunk... the only person I won here is my OC... please don't sue me coz I honestly don't have any money to pay the owners.
Teaser: He's got no luck with love, she's the same with hers... he's in love with her; she's in love with someone else. And sometimes, the way to her heart is through another one's heart.
Chapter 1: Who's she again?
Ayako could only roll her eyes at the sight of the mono-tonic ice king and red-haired banshee, scream their heads off each other. Another regular day for the Shohoku team.
Ryota finally entered the already noisy basketball court. Sweeping his eyes through the court; everything's almost like before, but something has changed... not with the building, but the team itself. Akagi and their assistant captain; Kogure already went to the university, leaving him the captain and in charge of everything from the players to the game itself. "Okay team! Let's just start the practice."
"But captain... I thought we're going to have the try outs?"
"AFTER our thirty-minute practice, okay?" Ryota snapped. "We can't afford to lose to Ryonan, even though it's just a practice game, we have to be ready at least."
For no exact reason, Ryota seemed to blow his temper more often than before. It could be just pure frustration because it's only almost his first month being captain or he's just nervous about the next game on Ryonan which is about less than a week from now.
Blue eyes calmly looked at the first years. Sendoh walked back and forth, not minding the irritating women in the background cheering for him, even though his not playing.
"Okay... you all know the drill. Tell me your name, your position, what school you graduated from, or your year... or if ever, tell me if it's your first time to play basketball." He said firmly.
Sendoh's changed a bit since he became team captain; he's a bit more serious about basketball. Although he still comes in late occasionally... but it's not a big deal for Taoka; as long as he still shows up and plays as good as he is before.
"Sendoh..."
He turned around and raised a brow on his friend.
"Captain, I mean..." Koshino gulped. "Fukuda's not here yet."
"Not that Koshino...I know he's not here yet..." He smiled. "Just tell Hikoichi to call Fukuda and tell him that one more time that he doesn't show up, I'm going to tell Coach to replace him and just make him a bench warmer."
Koshino nodded. "Man, you really changed."
"It's not that Koshino, but I have to be strong for the team." Sendoh sighed. "Am I starting to sound like Taoka-sensei?"
Koshino nodded.
"Oh..." Sendoh said. "Oh yeah... practice is cancelled today... we just have to see the new players and you all can go and take five."
Koshino smiled. He still remembers what they both had promised each other almost a year ago... when Uozumi just quit basketball.
FLASHBACK
"So what are you planning?" Koshino began. "I mean, you're the captain now."
"I'm planning to give more free time." Sendoh laughed. "I mean they work us to death, it's not like we get paid in the first place that they have the right to boss us around like that."
"Aren't you scared that you'll change?" Koshino said. "Like Uozumi, I mean. He used to be approachable, but after he became captain, I can't even talk to him like we used to."
"I promise you Koshino, I won't, and I'll keep that promise no matter what happens."
"One more thing... I know that it's kind of weird of me to ask, but, what if you met the one for you and the girl doesn't like me?"
Sendoh looked at Koshino; puzzled. "What do you mean?"
"What if your girl friend doesn't like you hanging out with a guy like me?"
"Then I'm just going to have to leave her... friends don't leave each other."
END OF FLASHBASK
"As you all know... I'm Ryota Miyagi; I'm the captain and the assistant captain is that mono-tonic ice king over there, Kaede Rukawa." He said pointing to the dark haired bishounen who's pretending that he's the only one alive in the world. "And our team manageress; Miss Ayako." He said blushing at his last words. "You all know what to do, right? Give me your name, year, and what possition you played before."
"What if the person has never played basketball before?" a first year sheepishly asked.
"Inform me if you had never played... and therefore has no experience of some sort." Ryota sighed slightly scratching his head. It looks like we're going to have another Sakuragi in our team this year, he thought.
"Nyahahahaha!" Sakuragi laughed. "Just follow the tensai and you'll all be fine."
"Idiot..." Rukawa hissed running just behind Ayako.
And again the fight between the banshee and ice king began, only this time it's accompanied by punches and kicks.
"Stop it you two!" Ayako screamed and whacked both of them with her ever trusty paper fan. "If you both won't stop, I'm going to have to make you both leave."
Rukawa glared at Sakuragi while Sakuragi made faces.
"I'm serious, you two!" Ayako threatened.
"Fine... whatever." Sakuragi hissed. "Just call me if it's time to leave. I'll just go to sleep."
The try outs at Shohoku was terrible; at least half of the guys there can't even dribble a ball properly and can't even shoot near the ring itself; in short they're all worse than Sakuragi.
"It must be hard being the captain and all." Ayako sighed. "You're doing great, don't push yourself too hard. It's not good for your health; you should at least let Rukawa handle the others even for a moment, so you could rest."
Ryota smiled and blushed. His Ayako's concerned about his health. "Thanks Ayako... I really need it."
Ayako smiled. Of course I'll help you; you've been a great help to the team, she thought. "It's my job. Besides, I..."
"You what?"
"Oh nothing." Ayako blushed.
Ryota laughed. "When I first saw Sakuragi play, I thought that he was going to be the worst player ever to step in the court... I was wrong. Gosh those men are terrible."
"You're not the only one having problems with them; Sakuragi seems to hate the new recruits. He told me they're too cheeky."
"Tell me about it..." Ryota rolled his eyes. "They think they're great, when they're not."
"Well see you tomorrow Ryota." Ayako stood up and smiled at Ryota. "Three more days before the game. I think we should rest even for a day, so they'll have enough energy at the game."
Ryota nodded.
"Are you going to watch the women's basketball game with Ryonan?"
"I won't miss it... don't worry."
"Thanks..." Ayako smiled. "Can the women's team use the court tomorrow?"
"Yeah... why not? I mean we're not going to use the court anyway."
The women's practice pushed through and boy are they good.
"Who's that?" Ryota said pointing to an unfamiliar looking lady in the court.
"Oh, she's Tokiya Crawford, the women team's new player." Ayako began. "She's really good."
"Really?"
"Yeah, when she was at junior high, she was MVP over the whole of Japan."
"It's a good thing she's here..." Ryota said. "Why'd she transfer?"
"No one knows... all I know is that she's supposed to be accelerated for six years but only wanted to be accelerated for a year."
"She's interesting..." Ryota said. "It almost looks like she's a guy."
"Yeah..." Ayako smiled. "She's a good addition to the team."
"So you're the new player at the women's team..." a voice called.
"So what if I am?"
"I'm Akagi Haruko... nice to meet you."
"You're the red-haired guy's friend, right?"
"Yeah... you mean Sakuragi?"
She nodded. "I'm Tokiya... nice to meet you Haruko..."
"It's nice to have someone who's good in our women's team."
"I heard you're good at playing... why won't you enter the team?"
"I'm too busy with my school work..."
"School work or admiring Rukawa?"
Haruko blushed.
While in Ryonan, things seemed to go according to Taoka's plan. Practice was perfect, the people there were good. In fact, better than they thought. And it may seem that the team would make it to the inter-high this season.
Three days passed quickly, quicker than they thought.
The spectators grew wild as Shohoku entered the court. Some were cheering for Shohoku and some were for Ryonan.
The game started. And the crowd grew silent. The game was just breathe-taking, it was very close, every time the Ryonan would take a lead, Shohoku would soon take over. It was like professional basketball actually. Such great game play from both team.
"Look at their new player... man she's tough." Koshino said. "I haven't seen a woman slam dunk before."
Fukuda's eyes narrowed even more as he gazed upon Shohoku's new player.
"What's wrong Fukuda? You know her?" Sendoh asked.
"Yeah..." He trailed off.
"Well can you introduce us to her?"
"No..."
"He's just selfish..." Koshino sneered. "He doesn't want us to meet the lovely lady so he can have her all to himself."
"She won't notice you even if I introduce you to her."
"Why?" Hikoichi laughed. "She's your girl friend?"
"No..." Fukuda hissed. "I just don't want you to know her, okay?"
"Okay... fine, whatever..."
Ryonan; for the first time was humiliated in their own territory as they lost to Shohoku by ten points. But for some, it didn't matter. It was a game to remember. Because both teams gave out their best.
And in the women's division, the humiliation was even greater. For Ryonan lost to Shohoku 100-65. It just wasn't Ryonan's day.
"Why didn't you tell me you were here?"
"I tried calling you on your phone but it's busy... I tried calling your cell phone, but it's always off, and I tried mailing you but it seems that you changed address coz it always comes back to me. How am I supposed to tell you?"
"Why didn't you enroll in Ryonan, then?"
"How should I know you still study there, I figured that you changed schools when you changed everything from your address to your phone."
"I see you changed your last name... You're using Crawford now..."
"Yeah, I'm using my mom's last name now."
He held her long, flowing blue hair. "You dyed it..."
"I don't like the real color of my hair. It's like mom's... I hate my blonde hair, it bugs me."
Fukuda smiled. "My friends wanted me to introduce you to them."
"Really..." She laughed. "Are they...? You know?"
"No..."
"I'm not interested, then."
"I thought so..." Fukuda laughed. "Even your mom couldn't make you a straight."
She sighed. "You want me to be straight? Give me a date then."
"I'll let you meet someone worth your time... I promise you, you won't be disappointed."
"Who's he, then?"
Fukuda smiled. "Hiroaki Koshino..."
Cold blue eyes swept across the empty court... they didn't tell me that practice was cancelled, he thought.
"What's wrong? Didn't they tell you, practice is cancelled." A lady's voice rang.
( TBC ) IF YOU STILL WANT ME TO CONTINUE THAT IS...