I'm not particularly a great fan of Rukawa Kaede, but I'm thinking on doing
a story on all the Shohoku guys. Kind of like a series. The first one was
the Akagi/Kogure fic (non YOAI!!!) I strongly suggest you read that one
before you get any strange ideas. I'm thinking of calling this the Kimi ga
Suki da to Sakebitai series. If the reviews are good, the next one will
probably be an Ayako/Miyagi fic.
Synopsis: Rukawa meets a girl who's his match both on and off court. Just when he realizes that he's in love with her, he sees her with Sendoh. Then, when the green eye of jealous clouds Rukawa's eyes, he does something that'll have him regretting it for the rest of his life. This contains Rukawa bashing; I would not suggest that you read this if you're an avid Rukawa fan. Really, trust me, you do NOT want to read as to what I have done to him, however if you choose too, please be gentle in your R&R. ASDA. Please don't sue me. I've really got no cash. Seriously.
1 Kimi ga Suki da to Sakebitai-Rukawa
Regrets
The days were going on as usual for Rukawa Kaede. Get up, wash up, sleep, eat, sleep, ride his bike, sleep, crash into Sakuragi, sleep, go to class, sleep, go for break, sleep, end of school, go for basketball, kick Sakuragi, become the ace of Shohoku, beat Sakuragi, show off his skill, ride his bike, sleep, go home, sleep and sleep some more.
But today was special. Today someone was going to show and kick Rukawa's butt. Unfortunately Rukawa didn't know that. Or should I say fortunately? Heh, heh, heh.
Classes were going on as usual and Rukawa was sleeping through all of them as usual, when someone knocked on the door and actually managed to wake him up. His teacher, upon seeing him awake said, "Wow, someone managed to awaken the great Rukawa Kaede. Amazing. Rukawa, since you're awake, why don't you open the door and let the person in." Rukawa looked at his teacher and actually got up and opened the door. He glared at the person on the opposite side and said, "Omea o Kororsu." The person on the other side glared back at him and said, "You'll have to beat me first."
Rukawa's eyes narrowed and became slits as he said, " Anata ore wa taosu." He was startled, least to say, when the person replied, "yeah? Like hell you will."
Rukawa's teacher coughed behind him and Rukawa was forced to let the person in. The teacher smirked and introduced the person to the class. The person walked up behind him and wrote her name on the board.
She had jet-black long hair, with a rather long and messy fringe that covered her eyes. She was taller then your average Japanese girl and had lighter than moonlight skin. She had large but slit shaped black eyes that seemed to pierce right through you. She definitely looked like someone you didn't want to mess with.
"Class, this is your new classmate, Psyche Barton. Miss Barton, why don't you tell us more about yourself?" Psyche looked her teacher's way before turning to the class and saying, "My name is Barton, Psyche Barton. My father is Akiyama Barton, head of Barton industries. I am French-Japanese by birthright. I play basketball in my free time and I have never been beaten before." Rukawa looked at the obvious challenge and stared hard at the new comer. Obviously she had no idea as to whom she was challenging. Well, he'd show her.
"Yes, I know who you are Rukawa-san. I'm am quite well informed as to who you are. And I can beat you if I so choose to. So maybe I'll beat you or maybe I won't bother with you at all. It all depends. You can't be much of a challenge to me can you? Oh well, maybe you'll surprise me. But I don't think so." Rukawa's teacher intervened before he could reply saying, "Well, since you can actually keep Rukawa awake, I'm putting you in charge of keeping him awake during lessons." Psyche looked at her teacher and said, "Actually what you want me to do is to make sure he passes his classes right?" her teacher nodded and Psyche said, "I think I can do that, though I don't see why you'd want too."
"Well, the fate of the school's basketball team is in his hands so we have no choice. Is that an empty seat next to Rukawa? Well, why don't you take that seat then Miss Barton and let us go on with class." Psyche nodded, moved to her seat and said to Rukawa, "Anata ore wa taosu."
After school, Rukawa was seriously pissed. Not only had he been shown up during lessons, which he was actually awake and listening to, he had lost to that baka Barton onna during gym class where they had to do basic gymnastics.
//flashback//
"All right class, today we will be doing basic gymnastics." Said Rukawa's gym teacher, Yuy sensei, "Do anyone of you have any gymnastic experience?" he asked, seeing Psyche's raised hand he said, "Ah, you do miss? What is your name?" Psyche stood up and said, "My name is Psyche Barton. I have competed at national and international levels and have four national and two international medals." Yuy sensei looked at her and said, "Well, can you show us some moves?" Psyche nodded and moved to the beam.
Psyche stood a foot away from the beam and raised her hands. At Yuy sensei's nod, she ran towards the beam, executed a perfect double front flip and a triple mid air spin before landing perfectly on the beam. She turned around and back flipped twice on the beam before turning around again and doing a one handed cartwheel and a no handed one. To finish off, she cartwheeled once, front flipped twice and landed as she came out another triple mid air spin.
Yuy sensei stared with opened wonder, while Rukawa quietly seethed. Yuy sensei looked over the class and said, "Ah Rukawa, you have quite good hand and body co-ordination, why don't you try the vault? In fact, I want the girls and boys to spilt into to two groups and form a line a few feet behind the vaults. I want you to sprint towards the vaults and jump over it, just like you would playing leap frog. Okay?"
The class lined into two lines and took turns to leap over vault. Most of them made it over the vault, with Yuy sensei calling out tips, and then it was Rukawa's turn.
Rukawa squared his shoulders and took to a sprint towards the vault. As he neared it he stretched out his hands and prepared to do a front vault when he tripped and fell on his face. Behind him, Psyche too up a sprint, leapt over him and completed a full frontal double vault.
As Rukawa picked himself up, Psyche turned to him and said, "Anata ore wa taosu. I win."
"Chikusu." Was all Rukawa could say.
//Flashback end//
That Barton onna was really getting on his nerves. He had to prove that he was better then her, but how? Maybe…mm…yes he would do that. No one in Shohoku high could beat him on court. He would really prove to her who was the real winner then.
He made his way to the basketball court and thought of ways he could that onna near the courts so that he could challenge her. When he heard cheers coming from the courts.
"Barton! Barton! Barton!"
"Ike Ike Barton!! Ok Ok Barton!!"
"Gambatte!! Psyche!! Gambatte!!!"
Rukawa slid the door open and realized that all the spectators were inside cheering for that baka Barton as she single handedly dribbled her way through Miyagi and Mitsui and scored a three pointer so neat that even Rukawa had to admit it looked better than Mitsui's.
Psyche dribbled her way pass Sakuragi and passed the ball to Haruko. Haruko dribbled towards the hoop and tried a simple lay up but was blocked by Miyagi. Miyagi only had had the ball in his hands for a few seconds before Psyche stole it from him and scored again with a lay up. Then, as Mitsui was making his way across the court to score, Ayako stole the ball from him, and Akagi called time. The score was sixty to fifty-five. The girls won by a five-point margin.
Psyche was all smiles as she high fived her impromptu teammates. And even Rukawa had to admit, when Psyche smiled, she could be beautiful. He walked up to Akagi and said, "What happened?" Akagi looked down at the Shohoku ace and said, "That Barton girl walked in and exploded when she found out there was no girl's basketball team. Then Miyagi and Mitsui said something about girls not being able to appreciate the game, and fired up Barton and Ayako and Haruko. So they set up a three on three. Sakuragi, Mitsui and Miyagi on one team, Barton, Ayako and Haruko on the other. The score's sixty to fifty- five. The girls' win. That Barton is a really good player. She has good hand and eye coordination. She reminds of Sendoh actually. Too bad she's a girl, if not I would want her on the team."
Psyche turned around and saw Rukawa, she walked to him, flipped her long black braid behind her shoulder and said, "I heard that you're the best the player on this team…"
"That Kitsune is NOT the best player on the team! The TENSAI is the best there is! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!" both Rukawa and Psyche turned to him with their eyes narrowed down and said, in perfect unison, "Damare Duaho," turned back to each other and glared at each other as Psyche issued the challenge Rukawa had been waiting for.
"Let's see if you're really as good as you say you are. I challenge you to a one on one and if you're man enough, you'll take me on."
Rukawa's eyes narrowed as he said, "I will defeat you." He was really fired up when Psyche smirked and said, "yeah right. First one to two points wins."
Since Rukawa was a gentleman, he suggested a jump ball with Akagi as referee. Akagi threw the ball high into the air, blew the whistle and the match began.
Since Rukawa was the star player, everyone expected him to get the ball, but they were surprised when the shorter Psyche got the ball instead. In a flash, she was across the court heading towards her goal. Then Rukawa suddenly appeared out of nowhere. He wasn't going to let her off that easily. He snatched the ball away with a flick of his wrist and headed to the other end of the court. Then as he jumped for a three pointer, Psyche appeared and saw her smirk as he knocked her down, causing Akagi to blow the whistle on him and calling his foul.
Psyche made use of her free throw to gain a one-point advantage over Rukawa and as the game resumed, Rukawa was fired up into putting his one hundred percent into the game.
Rukawa made it across the court easily but was stopped short as Psyche reached from behind and stole the ball from him. She raced across the court at twice the speed that Miyagi could have managed and as she was about to shoot, Rukawa appeared intent on blocking the shot. Then, Psyche smirked, took a step back and shot a three-pointer fade away.
Rukawa, distracted by the ball, did not realize that he was leaning to far forward to land on his feet and fell on top of Psyche instead. Rukawa landed heavily on top of the light frame girl, causing the air to coming forcefully out of her.
Psyche felt the air in her being knocked out by the falling weight of Rukawa Kaede and gasped as he landed on top of her. She blushed when she realized that he was looking down at her, worriedly, as she tried to catch her breath.
"Psyche!" shouted Ayako, "Are you all right? Rukawa you baka get off of her!!!" Rukawa blushed as he pushed himself off Psyche, and found himself being worried about her as he had fallen on top on her, all seventy five kilos of him.
"Huh? What? Oh." Rukawa took his time to get of Psyche and didn't bother to help her. He didn't need too. Mitsui, Sakuragi, Akagi and Kogure were already by her side checking to see if she was okay.
"Hey are you all right?" asked a worried Kogure.
"Yeah, he didn't like break anything did he?" asked Sakuragi.
"Are you able to stand?" asked Akagi.
Psyche nodded and attempted to stand, but because she hadn't really caught her breath and balance, she stumbled as she tried to walk and fell against Rukawa's back. Rukawa turned around and caught her before she could fall to the ground.
Psyche looked up and smirked saying, "I win." Rukawa stared at her and said, "Yeah, fine what ever. Let's get you out of the way first. I need to start training." Then he carried her over to the benches, placed her next to Ayako and left to practice his three pointers.
"The nerve of that guy!" said, Ayako, as she tended to Psyche, "Sometimes I wonder if he thinks before he acts. Are you all right?" Psyche nodded and said, "I'm sorry to have bothered you." Ayako looked up and said, "Pish posh, at least you're all right." Psyche pushed herself up and said, "I have to go now. Since I can't get any practice here, I might as well go home." As she walked out the door, Psyche heard Rukawa say, "walk down the street pass the fifth lane turn left and you'll find what you're looking for."
"Hmm…ryokai." Was all Psyche said before she left the building. And left Rukawa wondering if she had followed his advice and went to the place he knew that she was looking for.
"Four hundred and ninety-nine…" panted Psyche, "five hundred. Finally."
Psyche sat on the court breathing hard. Rukawa was right. It hadn't taken her long to locate the place Rukawa was talking about, and she had been practicing by herself for a full four hours. Doing her full routine of twenty laps round the court, two hundred jump shots, one hundred lay ups and five hundred three pointers. It was pretty much the routine she had kept to since she had started playing on the national scale back at her old school and sector. Unknown to her, three people were watching her from the sidelines, waiting for the time to approach her.
Sendoh watched the black and sliver uniformed girl as she continued her training.
"Dark Stars…hmm… I wonder which team is that." Said Hikoichi, "I must check on that." Next to him, coach Taoka said, "That's the top girls team in the whole of Japan. They've won the inter-high for girls twenty years in a row and have never lost. Last year, they topped the score charts with a record breaking hundred and fifty points, out of which number eleven scored sixty percent of the points. And the rest of the points had her assisting the shots." Hikoichi nodded and checked his book writing down everything that Taoka sensei had said saying, "Yo check-kyo!"
"Sendoh…Sendoh?" Turning to the boy next to him, Taoka realized that Sendoh had already left and was making his way to the girl who was wearing the eleventh Dark Stars jersey.
"Psyche?" asked Sendoh as he made his way to the panting girl. Psyche looked up and suddenly threw the ball at Sendoh saying, "think fast." Sendoh caught the ball and laughed as he threw it back to his childhood friend. Psyche laughed and said, "It's been a while Akira." Sendoh smiled and said, "I've missed you all the same. Are you too tired out or are do you have enough energy to take me on?" Psyche smirked and said, "If I can beat Rukawa, I can beat you. But can I take a rain check on this one? I am so seriously pooped." Sendoh nodded and sat down next to her and said, "I didn't know you were back in Japan."
"Yeah, well I came back last year. I tired to find you but couldn't," replied Psyche. Sendoh looked her before shrugging his shoulders and said, "Never mind, anyway what are you doing back here?" Psyche looked up at sky before replying, "Well, I have some business here before I leave, but it could take a while that's why I signed up for school here, and left the Dark Stars." Sendoh put an arm around her and hugged her saying, "Well, since you're here why don't you come over to my house for dinner? I know my parents would love to see you again and I can pretty much bet that since you've no one to cook for you, you're going to have instant dinners again right?" Psyche laughed and said, "You got that right. I'm still looking for place for to stay. Got any place in mind?"
"Sure. But first let's get you home to get changed and then you can come over to my house." Said Sendoh. Psyche nodded and tried to get up, but fell back to the ground clutching her knee. Sendoh looked at his friend worriedly. Psyche tried to smile through her grimace, but failed and found Sendoh bending down to pick her up.
"Akira," said Psyche, "What are you doing?" Sendoh looked Psyche calmly in the eye and said, "First I'm going to put you and the bench. Then I'm going to pack your things. After that I'm going carry you home where I can bandage your knee for you." Psyche smiled and said, "You don't have to carry me Akira. I can manage. Really. See?" trying to prove her point, Psyche tried to stand up, but failed again as she fell to the ground in pain. Sendoh smiled, shook his head, bent down picked Psyche up and carried her over to the street where they caught a cab and went over to Sendoh's house.
(About two weeks later)
Psyche got off the bike and smiled at Sendoh. Since the day she had injured her knee, Sendoh had not allowed her to walk to school and insisted that he be the one to send her there even though it meant that he had to wake up half an hour earlier to do so. And he made he made sure she was never late, though he always was.
Sendoh smiled at Psyche and said, "It'll be a cold day today and you didn't bring a jacket." Psyche looked at him and said, "How do you know that it'll be a cold day? The weather's just fine." Sendoh looked her and said, "Call it fisherman's intuition, if you like, but I'd rather that you take my jacket today. I don't want you to catch a cold especially with your leg like this." Then he shrugged off his jacket and handed it over to Psyche.
"But if I take our jacket, then what about you?" asked Psyche, "I can always borrow one from the guys." Sendoh shook his head and said, "I have another one in school, I think. Anyway, it's better if you keep it for now. I'll fell better too." Psyche nodded and slipped on the jacket without another word.
"You know," said Psyche wryly, I could be sued for treason for this." Sendoh smiled and said, "If that's the case, then you can transfer over to my school." Psyche laughed and said, "Yeah right." Then she leaned over and kissed him lightly on the cheek before running off to her class waving as she went.
Sendoh touched his cheek where Psyche had kissed him and smiled. It had been along time since she had done that. He shook his head and smiled sadly to himself. There was already another in her heart and Sendoh hoped that he could trust him enough with her. But if he did anything to make Psyche sad, he would have a lot to answer for. Then Sendoh turned and left, wondering if the surprise he planned for that night was going to work.
Rukawa watched from the corner of the street. That Sendoh! Always in his way. Just when he was about to confess to Psyche about how he felt, Sendoh had to appear in the picture. But there was no way that he was going to lose this time. He couldn't afford to.
"Sendoh, ore wa taosu."
Psyche entered her classroom to find that everyone was crowded round her table. As she walked in for a closer look, she realized that a bouquet of beautiful white champagne roses and white tiger lilies backed up by lush green ferns was on her table.
Psyche picked up the bouquet and took a deep breath. Whoever it was that sent the flowers obviously knew that her favorite combination of flowers were white roses and lilies and the bouquet was simply exquisite. Then, the girls in the class gasped as Rukawa came from behind, said, "Happy Birthday" and bent down to kiss her on the cheek.
Psyche blushed as she looked up at Rukawa and looked at him curiously. Though their relationship with each other as friends and rivals had improved tremendously, she never expected that Rukawa would feel that way about her so quickly.
Rukawa looked down at Psyche and smiled at her. Then he turned her around and tilted her head up towards him. Just as he was about to lean down and kiss her on the lips, Sakuragi popped his head through the door and said, "Hey! Happy Birthday!!" Psyche turned her head at last minute and smiled at Sakuragi, as Rukawa's kiss landed on her cheek again.
Psyche looked up at Rukawa in surprise as he kissed her again. But before she could say anything, their teacher walked through the door and declared the beginning of class.
Before basketball practice, Psyche stood to one side, beckoning Rukawa to her. Rukawa dropped the ball he was holding and jogged over to her.
"Yes?" he asked. Psyche looked at him before saying, "Look Rukawa, I know that we're good friends, but I…"
"What's the matter?"
"I think you're going to fast for me and besides…" said Psyche, as her sentence trailed off.
"Besides what?" demanded Rukawa. Psyche looked up at him and looked away before shaking her head and saying, "It's…nothing. Don't worry about it. Now, let's get to practice shall we?" then as she walked to the court, she turned around and said, "You know, I like when you smile. You look really nice when you do." And Rukawa immediately smiled at that.
For the next three weeks, Rukawa kept on following Psyche and doing everything she told him too. Hey, he even kept awake in class to pass his exams with aces so as to please Psyche. He was so happy spending time with her that he could be seen smiling most of the time. If fact he was so was pleased with himself for landing himself such a beautiful girlfriend, that he even smiled at the Rukawa shinetai. Something that he usually would not do. Hell, he'd even go out with them if Psyche wanted him to. The only thing that Rukawa didn't do that Psyche wanted him to do was to leave her alone. She'd tried all sorts of methods trying to get him to leave her alone. Lately she had sounded slightly vexed with him, but he blamed it all on the thing Miyagi called, "Playing hard to get."
Rukawa spotted his 'girlfriend' at the gate. She must've been waiting for him. Well, he wouldn't want to disappoint her by not turning up. Then, he saw her lean forward to kiss someone before turning to walk back into school.
Rukawa ran up to her grabbed her arm and demanded, "Who was that?" Psyche shook of his arm and said, "we'll talk later. We're already later for practice." Rukawa's eyes narrowed as he grabbed her arm again and said, "No. we'll talk now." Psyche pulled her arm away again and said, "We will talk later. Now we have to get to practice." Then she turned and ran towards the courts. Rukawa watched her back and chased after her, determined to find out who she had kissed.
Psyche raced into the gym, hoping to get away from Rukawa. She was getting seriously pissed off with him. She had told him countless numbers of times of leave her alone and that they were just friends, but Rukawa wouldn't listen, he still insisted that they were a couple when they weren't.
"Hi guys. Sorry I'm late." Said Psyche as she entered the gym. Then, just as she was about to pick up a basketball, Rukawa grabbed her arm again. Only this time was a lot rougher then before. And this time he wasn't going to let her off this easily. He had to find out who it was that Psyche had been with and he wasn't going to rest until he found out.
"PSYCHE! Who were you with just now? TELL ME NOW!" shouted Rukawa, while everyone else stood in stunned shock. Rukawa had never raised his voice before. Even before Psyche joined them. He was usually the cool one, the one in the most complete control over everything he did. Now that cool guy was actually on the verge of losing control.
"Rukawa, I told you that we'd talk later all right?" said Psyche exasperatedly, she could not take more of this.
"No, Psyche, I want to know who that guy was and I want to know now." Demanded Rukawa. Handling her more roughly now.
"Rukawa…" said Psyche threateningly, "Let go of me now, or you will regret it." Rukawa shook his head stubbornly and said, "No, if you don't tell me who you were with just now, you will be the one who's going to regret it."
Shaking her roughly, he demanded, "What kind of a friend would you be so close to as to hug and kiss him?" Psyche looked at him and said, "I'll tell you later…when we're alone." Rukawa shook his head and said, "I want you to tell me now!" Psyche looked at him in shock, he had never dared to take up that tone with her before, so…he must really be serious then. Psyche took a deep breath and said, "Fine, since you want to know. I was with Akira just now…"
"Sendoh Akira?" said Rukawa, "That idiotic point guard?"
"Who are you calling idiotic?"
"That stupid Sendoh…what is it with you and him anyway? I mean, he isn't worth your time. He's just a piece of…"
"I hate it when people say things about other when they don't really understand that person. I find it detestable," said Psyche, "Akira happens to be one of my favorite people."
Everyone was stunned into silence; never had they expected Rukawa to take such a tone with Psyche. Things were indefinitely getting more interesting.
"You mean you LIKE that stupid smiling idiot?" shouted Rukawa.
"Who are YOU calling a stupid smiling idiot?' shouted Psyche, "Akira happens to the most understanding, kind and caring person I have ever known. He's way smarter than you and is a better basketball player than you'll ever be Rukawa Kaede." Rukawa took a step back. He was stunned. He knew that he had been trading on thin ice when he had called Sendoh names, but for her to take it to this extant… Little did Rukawa know that he had just touched the tip of the iceberg.
"Listen and listen good Rukawa Kaede," said Psyche, "I NEVER loved you. Yes, I liked you as a friend and as an opponent, but that's IT!! I NEVER liked you the way you liked me. If Akira hadn't told me about how you felt just now, I probably wouldn't have even noticed. You want to know what we were talking about just now? Well do you? Well Rukawa Kaede, you will never get a second chance, because just now, Akira proposed to me and I agreed. I AM getting married to Sendoh Akira and you can't do anything about it! And you to me Rukawa Kaede, after all you've said about my fiancé, aren't worth a thing. I will never look at you the same way again."
"How can you say that?" said a shocked Rukawa, "After all the times we spent together. Are you telling they didn't mean a thing? Is that what you're saying? Don't I mean anything to you?"
Psyche looked him and pushed his hands before saying, "I'm sorry Rukawa, but…to me, those things and places we went and times we spent together were like the ones you'd spent with a friend. I really didn't know that you felt that way until just now."
Psyche looked at Rukawa's eyes, saw the tears, and looked away saying, "I…I…I'm sorry Rukawa…but I love Akira. I really do…I can't change that. And you can't change that either." Rukawa stepped backwards towards the door, shaking his head and saying, "no…no…it can't be…how could I have lost to that…that …NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Then Rukawa ran out of the gym with his tears following freely from his eyes and flying away from his face as he ran towards the unknown.
Everyone stood stunned as they watched Rukawa run away from the courts to only god knows where and crying while he did so. Everyone was too stunned to move until Mitsui said, "I'm going after him."
Synopsis: Rukawa meets a girl who's his match both on and off court. Just when he realizes that he's in love with her, he sees her with Sendoh. Then, when the green eye of jealous clouds Rukawa's eyes, he does something that'll have him regretting it for the rest of his life. This contains Rukawa bashing; I would not suggest that you read this if you're an avid Rukawa fan. Really, trust me, you do NOT want to read as to what I have done to him, however if you choose too, please be gentle in your R&R. ASDA. Please don't sue me. I've really got no cash. Seriously.
1 Kimi ga Suki da to Sakebitai-Rukawa
Regrets
The days were going on as usual for Rukawa Kaede. Get up, wash up, sleep, eat, sleep, ride his bike, sleep, crash into Sakuragi, sleep, go to class, sleep, go for break, sleep, end of school, go for basketball, kick Sakuragi, become the ace of Shohoku, beat Sakuragi, show off his skill, ride his bike, sleep, go home, sleep and sleep some more.
But today was special. Today someone was going to show and kick Rukawa's butt. Unfortunately Rukawa didn't know that. Or should I say fortunately? Heh, heh, heh.
Classes were going on as usual and Rukawa was sleeping through all of them as usual, when someone knocked on the door and actually managed to wake him up. His teacher, upon seeing him awake said, "Wow, someone managed to awaken the great Rukawa Kaede. Amazing. Rukawa, since you're awake, why don't you open the door and let the person in." Rukawa looked at his teacher and actually got up and opened the door. He glared at the person on the opposite side and said, "Omea o Kororsu." The person on the other side glared back at him and said, "You'll have to beat me first."
Rukawa's eyes narrowed and became slits as he said, " Anata ore wa taosu." He was startled, least to say, when the person replied, "yeah? Like hell you will."
Rukawa's teacher coughed behind him and Rukawa was forced to let the person in. The teacher smirked and introduced the person to the class. The person walked up behind him and wrote her name on the board.
She had jet-black long hair, with a rather long and messy fringe that covered her eyes. She was taller then your average Japanese girl and had lighter than moonlight skin. She had large but slit shaped black eyes that seemed to pierce right through you. She definitely looked like someone you didn't want to mess with.
"Class, this is your new classmate, Psyche Barton. Miss Barton, why don't you tell us more about yourself?" Psyche looked her teacher's way before turning to the class and saying, "My name is Barton, Psyche Barton. My father is Akiyama Barton, head of Barton industries. I am French-Japanese by birthright. I play basketball in my free time and I have never been beaten before." Rukawa looked at the obvious challenge and stared hard at the new comer. Obviously she had no idea as to whom she was challenging. Well, he'd show her.
"Yes, I know who you are Rukawa-san. I'm am quite well informed as to who you are. And I can beat you if I so choose to. So maybe I'll beat you or maybe I won't bother with you at all. It all depends. You can't be much of a challenge to me can you? Oh well, maybe you'll surprise me. But I don't think so." Rukawa's teacher intervened before he could reply saying, "Well, since you can actually keep Rukawa awake, I'm putting you in charge of keeping him awake during lessons." Psyche looked at her teacher and said, "Actually what you want me to do is to make sure he passes his classes right?" her teacher nodded and Psyche said, "I think I can do that, though I don't see why you'd want too."
"Well, the fate of the school's basketball team is in his hands so we have no choice. Is that an empty seat next to Rukawa? Well, why don't you take that seat then Miss Barton and let us go on with class." Psyche nodded, moved to her seat and said to Rukawa, "Anata ore wa taosu."
After school, Rukawa was seriously pissed. Not only had he been shown up during lessons, which he was actually awake and listening to, he had lost to that baka Barton onna during gym class where they had to do basic gymnastics.
//flashback//
"All right class, today we will be doing basic gymnastics." Said Rukawa's gym teacher, Yuy sensei, "Do anyone of you have any gymnastic experience?" he asked, seeing Psyche's raised hand he said, "Ah, you do miss? What is your name?" Psyche stood up and said, "My name is Psyche Barton. I have competed at national and international levels and have four national and two international medals." Yuy sensei looked at her and said, "Well, can you show us some moves?" Psyche nodded and moved to the beam.
Psyche stood a foot away from the beam and raised her hands. At Yuy sensei's nod, she ran towards the beam, executed a perfect double front flip and a triple mid air spin before landing perfectly on the beam. She turned around and back flipped twice on the beam before turning around again and doing a one handed cartwheel and a no handed one. To finish off, she cartwheeled once, front flipped twice and landed as she came out another triple mid air spin.
Yuy sensei stared with opened wonder, while Rukawa quietly seethed. Yuy sensei looked over the class and said, "Ah Rukawa, you have quite good hand and body co-ordination, why don't you try the vault? In fact, I want the girls and boys to spilt into to two groups and form a line a few feet behind the vaults. I want you to sprint towards the vaults and jump over it, just like you would playing leap frog. Okay?"
The class lined into two lines and took turns to leap over vault. Most of them made it over the vault, with Yuy sensei calling out tips, and then it was Rukawa's turn.
Rukawa squared his shoulders and took to a sprint towards the vault. As he neared it he stretched out his hands and prepared to do a front vault when he tripped and fell on his face. Behind him, Psyche too up a sprint, leapt over him and completed a full frontal double vault.
As Rukawa picked himself up, Psyche turned to him and said, "Anata ore wa taosu. I win."
"Chikusu." Was all Rukawa could say.
//Flashback end//
That Barton onna was really getting on his nerves. He had to prove that he was better then her, but how? Maybe…mm…yes he would do that. No one in Shohoku high could beat him on court. He would really prove to her who was the real winner then.
He made his way to the basketball court and thought of ways he could that onna near the courts so that he could challenge her. When he heard cheers coming from the courts.
"Barton! Barton! Barton!"
"Ike Ike Barton!! Ok Ok Barton!!"
"Gambatte!! Psyche!! Gambatte!!!"
Rukawa slid the door open and realized that all the spectators were inside cheering for that baka Barton as she single handedly dribbled her way through Miyagi and Mitsui and scored a three pointer so neat that even Rukawa had to admit it looked better than Mitsui's.
Psyche dribbled her way pass Sakuragi and passed the ball to Haruko. Haruko dribbled towards the hoop and tried a simple lay up but was blocked by Miyagi. Miyagi only had had the ball in his hands for a few seconds before Psyche stole it from him and scored again with a lay up. Then, as Mitsui was making his way across the court to score, Ayako stole the ball from him, and Akagi called time. The score was sixty to fifty-five. The girls won by a five-point margin.
Psyche was all smiles as she high fived her impromptu teammates. And even Rukawa had to admit, when Psyche smiled, she could be beautiful. He walked up to Akagi and said, "What happened?" Akagi looked down at the Shohoku ace and said, "That Barton girl walked in and exploded when she found out there was no girl's basketball team. Then Miyagi and Mitsui said something about girls not being able to appreciate the game, and fired up Barton and Ayako and Haruko. So they set up a three on three. Sakuragi, Mitsui and Miyagi on one team, Barton, Ayako and Haruko on the other. The score's sixty to fifty- five. The girls' win. That Barton is a really good player. She has good hand and eye coordination. She reminds of Sendoh actually. Too bad she's a girl, if not I would want her on the team."
Psyche turned around and saw Rukawa, she walked to him, flipped her long black braid behind her shoulder and said, "I heard that you're the best the player on this team…"
"That Kitsune is NOT the best player on the team! The TENSAI is the best there is! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!" both Rukawa and Psyche turned to him with their eyes narrowed down and said, in perfect unison, "Damare Duaho," turned back to each other and glared at each other as Psyche issued the challenge Rukawa had been waiting for.
"Let's see if you're really as good as you say you are. I challenge you to a one on one and if you're man enough, you'll take me on."
Rukawa's eyes narrowed as he said, "I will defeat you." He was really fired up when Psyche smirked and said, "yeah right. First one to two points wins."
Since Rukawa was a gentleman, he suggested a jump ball with Akagi as referee. Akagi threw the ball high into the air, blew the whistle and the match began.
Since Rukawa was the star player, everyone expected him to get the ball, but they were surprised when the shorter Psyche got the ball instead. In a flash, she was across the court heading towards her goal. Then Rukawa suddenly appeared out of nowhere. He wasn't going to let her off that easily. He snatched the ball away with a flick of his wrist and headed to the other end of the court. Then as he jumped for a three pointer, Psyche appeared and saw her smirk as he knocked her down, causing Akagi to blow the whistle on him and calling his foul.
Psyche made use of her free throw to gain a one-point advantage over Rukawa and as the game resumed, Rukawa was fired up into putting his one hundred percent into the game.
Rukawa made it across the court easily but was stopped short as Psyche reached from behind and stole the ball from him. She raced across the court at twice the speed that Miyagi could have managed and as she was about to shoot, Rukawa appeared intent on blocking the shot. Then, Psyche smirked, took a step back and shot a three-pointer fade away.
Rukawa, distracted by the ball, did not realize that he was leaning to far forward to land on his feet and fell on top of Psyche instead. Rukawa landed heavily on top of the light frame girl, causing the air to coming forcefully out of her.
Psyche felt the air in her being knocked out by the falling weight of Rukawa Kaede and gasped as he landed on top of her. She blushed when she realized that he was looking down at her, worriedly, as she tried to catch her breath.
"Psyche!" shouted Ayako, "Are you all right? Rukawa you baka get off of her!!!" Rukawa blushed as he pushed himself off Psyche, and found himself being worried about her as he had fallen on top on her, all seventy five kilos of him.
"Huh? What? Oh." Rukawa took his time to get of Psyche and didn't bother to help her. He didn't need too. Mitsui, Sakuragi, Akagi and Kogure were already by her side checking to see if she was okay.
"Hey are you all right?" asked a worried Kogure.
"Yeah, he didn't like break anything did he?" asked Sakuragi.
"Are you able to stand?" asked Akagi.
Psyche nodded and attempted to stand, but because she hadn't really caught her breath and balance, she stumbled as she tried to walk and fell against Rukawa's back. Rukawa turned around and caught her before she could fall to the ground.
Psyche looked up and smirked saying, "I win." Rukawa stared at her and said, "Yeah, fine what ever. Let's get you out of the way first. I need to start training." Then he carried her over to the benches, placed her next to Ayako and left to practice his three pointers.
"The nerve of that guy!" said, Ayako, as she tended to Psyche, "Sometimes I wonder if he thinks before he acts. Are you all right?" Psyche nodded and said, "I'm sorry to have bothered you." Ayako looked up and said, "Pish posh, at least you're all right." Psyche pushed herself up and said, "I have to go now. Since I can't get any practice here, I might as well go home." As she walked out the door, Psyche heard Rukawa say, "walk down the street pass the fifth lane turn left and you'll find what you're looking for."
"Hmm…ryokai." Was all Psyche said before she left the building. And left Rukawa wondering if she had followed his advice and went to the place he knew that she was looking for.
"Four hundred and ninety-nine…" panted Psyche, "five hundred. Finally."
Psyche sat on the court breathing hard. Rukawa was right. It hadn't taken her long to locate the place Rukawa was talking about, and she had been practicing by herself for a full four hours. Doing her full routine of twenty laps round the court, two hundred jump shots, one hundred lay ups and five hundred three pointers. It was pretty much the routine she had kept to since she had started playing on the national scale back at her old school and sector. Unknown to her, three people were watching her from the sidelines, waiting for the time to approach her.
Sendoh watched the black and sliver uniformed girl as she continued her training.
"Dark Stars…hmm… I wonder which team is that." Said Hikoichi, "I must check on that." Next to him, coach Taoka said, "That's the top girls team in the whole of Japan. They've won the inter-high for girls twenty years in a row and have never lost. Last year, they topped the score charts with a record breaking hundred and fifty points, out of which number eleven scored sixty percent of the points. And the rest of the points had her assisting the shots." Hikoichi nodded and checked his book writing down everything that Taoka sensei had said saying, "Yo check-kyo!"
"Sendoh…Sendoh?" Turning to the boy next to him, Taoka realized that Sendoh had already left and was making his way to the girl who was wearing the eleventh Dark Stars jersey.
"Psyche?" asked Sendoh as he made his way to the panting girl. Psyche looked up and suddenly threw the ball at Sendoh saying, "think fast." Sendoh caught the ball and laughed as he threw it back to his childhood friend. Psyche laughed and said, "It's been a while Akira." Sendoh smiled and said, "I've missed you all the same. Are you too tired out or are do you have enough energy to take me on?" Psyche smirked and said, "If I can beat Rukawa, I can beat you. But can I take a rain check on this one? I am so seriously pooped." Sendoh nodded and sat down next to her and said, "I didn't know you were back in Japan."
"Yeah, well I came back last year. I tired to find you but couldn't," replied Psyche. Sendoh looked her before shrugging his shoulders and said, "Never mind, anyway what are you doing back here?" Psyche looked up at sky before replying, "Well, I have some business here before I leave, but it could take a while that's why I signed up for school here, and left the Dark Stars." Sendoh put an arm around her and hugged her saying, "Well, since you're here why don't you come over to my house for dinner? I know my parents would love to see you again and I can pretty much bet that since you've no one to cook for you, you're going to have instant dinners again right?" Psyche laughed and said, "You got that right. I'm still looking for place for to stay. Got any place in mind?"
"Sure. But first let's get you home to get changed and then you can come over to my house." Said Sendoh. Psyche nodded and tried to get up, but fell back to the ground clutching her knee. Sendoh looked at his friend worriedly. Psyche tried to smile through her grimace, but failed and found Sendoh bending down to pick her up.
"Akira," said Psyche, "What are you doing?" Sendoh looked Psyche calmly in the eye and said, "First I'm going to put you and the bench. Then I'm going to pack your things. After that I'm going carry you home where I can bandage your knee for you." Psyche smiled and said, "You don't have to carry me Akira. I can manage. Really. See?" trying to prove her point, Psyche tried to stand up, but failed again as she fell to the ground in pain. Sendoh smiled, shook his head, bent down picked Psyche up and carried her over to the street where they caught a cab and went over to Sendoh's house.
(About two weeks later)
Psyche got off the bike and smiled at Sendoh. Since the day she had injured her knee, Sendoh had not allowed her to walk to school and insisted that he be the one to send her there even though it meant that he had to wake up half an hour earlier to do so. And he made he made sure she was never late, though he always was.
Sendoh smiled at Psyche and said, "It'll be a cold day today and you didn't bring a jacket." Psyche looked at him and said, "How do you know that it'll be a cold day? The weather's just fine." Sendoh looked her and said, "Call it fisherman's intuition, if you like, but I'd rather that you take my jacket today. I don't want you to catch a cold especially with your leg like this." Then he shrugged off his jacket and handed it over to Psyche.
"But if I take our jacket, then what about you?" asked Psyche, "I can always borrow one from the guys." Sendoh shook his head and said, "I have another one in school, I think. Anyway, it's better if you keep it for now. I'll fell better too." Psyche nodded and slipped on the jacket without another word.
"You know," said Psyche wryly, I could be sued for treason for this." Sendoh smiled and said, "If that's the case, then you can transfer over to my school." Psyche laughed and said, "Yeah right." Then she leaned over and kissed him lightly on the cheek before running off to her class waving as she went.
Sendoh touched his cheek where Psyche had kissed him and smiled. It had been along time since she had done that. He shook his head and smiled sadly to himself. There was already another in her heart and Sendoh hoped that he could trust him enough with her. But if he did anything to make Psyche sad, he would have a lot to answer for. Then Sendoh turned and left, wondering if the surprise he planned for that night was going to work.
Rukawa watched from the corner of the street. That Sendoh! Always in his way. Just when he was about to confess to Psyche about how he felt, Sendoh had to appear in the picture. But there was no way that he was going to lose this time. He couldn't afford to.
"Sendoh, ore wa taosu."
Psyche entered her classroom to find that everyone was crowded round her table. As she walked in for a closer look, she realized that a bouquet of beautiful white champagne roses and white tiger lilies backed up by lush green ferns was on her table.
Psyche picked up the bouquet and took a deep breath. Whoever it was that sent the flowers obviously knew that her favorite combination of flowers were white roses and lilies and the bouquet was simply exquisite. Then, the girls in the class gasped as Rukawa came from behind, said, "Happy Birthday" and bent down to kiss her on the cheek.
Psyche blushed as she looked up at Rukawa and looked at him curiously. Though their relationship with each other as friends and rivals had improved tremendously, she never expected that Rukawa would feel that way about her so quickly.
Rukawa looked down at Psyche and smiled at her. Then he turned her around and tilted her head up towards him. Just as he was about to lean down and kiss her on the lips, Sakuragi popped his head through the door and said, "Hey! Happy Birthday!!" Psyche turned her head at last minute and smiled at Sakuragi, as Rukawa's kiss landed on her cheek again.
Psyche looked up at Rukawa in surprise as he kissed her again. But before she could say anything, their teacher walked through the door and declared the beginning of class.
Before basketball practice, Psyche stood to one side, beckoning Rukawa to her. Rukawa dropped the ball he was holding and jogged over to her.
"Yes?" he asked. Psyche looked at him before saying, "Look Rukawa, I know that we're good friends, but I…"
"What's the matter?"
"I think you're going to fast for me and besides…" said Psyche, as her sentence trailed off.
"Besides what?" demanded Rukawa. Psyche looked up at him and looked away before shaking her head and saying, "It's…nothing. Don't worry about it. Now, let's get to practice shall we?" then as she walked to the court, she turned around and said, "You know, I like when you smile. You look really nice when you do." And Rukawa immediately smiled at that.
For the next three weeks, Rukawa kept on following Psyche and doing everything she told him too. Hey, he even kept awake in class to pass his exams with aces so as to please Psyche. He was so happy spending time with her that he could be seen smiling most of the time. If fact he was so was pleased with himself for landing himself such a beautiful girlfriend, that he even smiled at the Rukawa shinetai. Something that he usually would not do. Hell, he'd even go out with them if Psyche wanted him to. The only thing that Rukawa didn't do that Psyche wanted him to do was to leave her alone. She'd tried all sorts of methods trying to get him to leave her alone. Lately she had sounded slightly vexed with him, but he blamed it all on the thing Miyagi called, "Playing hard to get."
Rukawa spotted his 'girlfriend' at the gate. She must've been waiting for him. Well, he wouldn't want to disappoint her by not turning up. Then, he saw her lean forward to kiss someone before turning to walk back into school.
Rukawa ran up to her grabbed her arm and demanded, "Who was that?" Psyche shook of his arm and said, "we'll talk later. We're already later for practice." Rukawa's eyes narrowed as he grabbed her arm again and said, "No. we'll talk now." Psyche pulled her arm away again and said, "We will talk later. Now we have to get to practice." Then she turned and ran towards the courts. Rukawa watched her back and chased after her, determined to find out who she had kissed.
Psyche raced into the gym, hoping to get away from Rukawa. She was getting seriously pissed off with him. She had told him countless numbers of times of leave her alone and that they were just friends, but Rukawa wouldn't listen, he still insisted that they were a couple when they weren't.
"Hi guys. Sorry I'm late." Said Psyche as she entered the gym. Then, just as she was about to pick up a basketball, Rukawa grabbed her arm again. Only this time was a lot rougher then before. And this time he wasn't going to let her off this easily. He had to find out who it was that Psyche had been with and he wasn't going to rest until he found out.
"PSYCHE! Who were you with just now? TELL ME NOW!" shouted Rukawa, while everyone else stood in stunned shock. Rukawa had never raised his voice before. Even before Psyche joined them. He was usually the cool one, the one in the most complete control over everything he did. Now that cool guy was actually on the verge of losing control.
"Rukawa, I told you that we'd talk later all right?" said Psyche exasperatedly, she could not take more of this.
"No, Psyche, I want to know who that guy was and I want to know now." Demanded Rukawa. Handling her more roughly now.
"Rukawa…" said Psyche threateningly, "Let go of me now, or you will regret it." Rukawa shook his head stubbornly and said, "No, if you don't tell me who you were with just now, you will be the one who's going to regret it."
Shaking her roughly, he demanded, "What kind of a friend would you be so close to as to hug and kiss him?" Psyche looked at him and said, "I'll tell you later…when we're alone." Rukawa shook his head and said, "I want you to tell me now!" Psyche looked at him in shock, he had never dared to take up that tone with her before, so…he must really be serious then. Psyche took a deep breath and said, "Fine, since you want to know. I was with Akira just now…"
"Sendoh Akira?" said Rukawa, "That idiotic point guard?"
"Who are you calling idiotic?"
"That stupid Sendoh…what is it with you and him anyway? I mean, he isn't worth your time. He's just a piece of…"
"I hate it when people say things about other when they don't really understand that person. I find it detestable," said Psyche, "Akira happens to be one of my favorite people."
Everyone was stunned into silence; never had they expected Rukawa to take such a tone with Psyche. Things were indefinitely getting more interesting.
"You mean you LIKE that stupid smiling idiot?" shouted Rukawa.
"Who are YOU calling a stupid smiling idiot?' shouted Psyche, "Akira happens to the most understanding, kind and caring person I have ever known. He's way smarter than you and is a better basketball player than you'll ever be Rukawa Kaede." Rukawa took a step back. He was stunned. He knew that he had been trading on thin ice when he had called Sendoh names, but for her to take it to this extant… Little did Rukawa know that he had just touched the tip of the iceberg.
"Listen and listen good Rukawa Kaede," said Psyche, "I NEVER loved you. Yes, I liked you as a friend and as an opponent, but that's IT!! I NEVER liked you the way you liked me. If Akira hadn't told me about how you felt just now, I probably wouldn't have even noticed. You want to know what we were talking about just now? Well do you? Well Rukawa Kaede, you will never get a second chance, because just now, Akira proposed to me and I agreed. I AM getting married to Sendoh Akira and you can't do anything about it! And you to me Rukawa Kaede, after all you've said about my fiancé, aren't worth a thing. I will never look at you the same way again."
"How can you say that?" said a shocked Rukawa, "After all the times we spent together. Are you telling they didn't mean a thing? Is that what you're saying? Don't I mean anything to you?"
Psyche looked him and pushed his hands before saying, "I'm sorry Rukawa, but…to me, those things and places we went and times we spent together were like the ones you'd spent with a friend. I really didn't know that you felt that way until just now."
Psyche looked at Rukawa's eyes, saw the tears, and looked away saying, "I…I…I'm sorry Rukawa…but I love Akira. I really do…I can't change that. And you can't change that either." Rukawa stepped backwards towards the door, shaking his head and saying, "no…no…it can't be…how could I have lost to that…that …NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Then Rukawa ran out of the gym with his tears following freely from his eyes and flying away from his face as he ran towards the unknown.
Everyone stood stunned as they watched Rukawa run away from the courts to only god knows where and crying while he did so. Everyone was too stunned to move until Mitsui said, "I'm going after him."