Dragon's mistake

by Star Mirage

The standard disclaimer - Slam Dunk belongs to Takehiko Inoue and etc.
Author's note: Any comments are welcome.

Part 2

"BAM!" Hanamichi executed a powerful slam dunk and heavily landed.

"Oh, Hanamichi-kun! You are such a good player!"

The redhead, smiling proudly, turned to face a girl. "Yeah, I am. I'm a Tensai, Haruko-chan. I'm a professional in basketball!"

Hanamichi decided to keep silent about all those miss-shots that he had before Haruko's arrival. She arrived only five minutes ago and saw one of few successful throws of the redhaired boy. Hanamichi and Haruko simultaneously heard noise and a distinct growl, informing them of the dragon's return.

Akai landed on the large open court, where the redhead was usually practicing. The dragon carefully lowered his strange burden onto the ground. After he counted his mission over, Akai occupied himself with his wounded wing. The dragon pulled out the spear, waved his wing and understood that with such trauma he will not be able to fly for awhile...

Meantime, Hanamichi approached the strange fur heap that was brought by his dragon.

'It is not an animal,' the redhead thought while suspiciously inspecting the meant-to-be-a-gift-for-Haruko thing. 'What is it?'

Hanamichi carefully came near and kicked the strange creature with his foot. A low growl came out of the heap, and promptly, a pale hand shot out from within, intending to strike the offender.

'A hand?! A human hand?!'

In shock, Hanamichi gawked at it, until the punch from the hand landed on his leg.

"Itai!" The redhead exclaimed and jumped aside from the dangerous heap.

In the next instant, it unwrapped itself and there appeared to be... a sleepy man, who has been wrapped up in a black fur cape. It was a handsome, dark-haired, young man with amazing fox-like blue eyes. He yawned and rose in one fluid motion. The dark-haired boy appeared to have the same height as Hanamichi. Having blinked the sleep away, he looked round and frowned...

Hanamichi stared in awe at the stranger. Then glared at the dragon. "What have you brought here?!"

Akai turned aside for a moment from his task, i.e. inspection of the wounded wing, and looked at his owner. "Huh..? Oh! Um... I had no time to be choosey... Well... Does this animal not suit your purpose?"

Hanamichi saw red. "It is not an animal! This is a human! I asked you to bring an animal!"

Thoroughly perplexed, the dragon looked at what he had brought."Sorry, Master. But earlier he didn't look like a human. There was a black fur covering him."

Hanamichi sweatdropped.

"This dragon is the same aho as his owner," the stranger uttered with a low prepossessing voice.

"Teme kitsune!" Hanamichi snapped at him and was surprised at how precisely the nickname "fox" suits this fox-eyed boy.

The stranger sniffed. His face still emotionless.
"Do'aho."
"Kitsune!"

Suddenly, Haruko interfered in their quarrel. She adoringly stared at the dark-haired boy, absolutely forgetting of Hanamichi's existence.

"Oh, hi! Sorry for my friend... He's just slightly perplexed with... your sudden appearance... Umm... He is Sakuragi Hanamichi and he is the owner of this castle... And I am Akagi Haruko. I live in a nearby castle... What is your name?"

The dark-haired boy looked at the girl from top to toe and then responded coldly.
"Rukawa. My name is Rukawa Kaede."

Haruko flushed and smiled. 'He is sooo handsome!' she thought.

Seeing huge hearts in his girlfriend's eyes (through Haruko hadn't even knew that she was *his girlfriend*), Hanamichi become furious. A smoke poured out from his ears. Rukawa looked at the boiling redhead quietly and said. "I don't know where I am now, but send me back."

"Akai, take him back! Right now! Take him back to where you found him!"

The dragon threw an interrogative look at the redhead then at his own wing.
"Excuse me, Master, but I can't do it. With my trauma I cannot fly for a whole week."

Hanamichi clenched his teeth with rage, but Haruko smiled brightly.

"Oh, Rukawa-kun! That is so wonderful! It means that you can stay with us, at least, for a whole week! My brother and I will be very glad if you stayed with us in our castle. It's not far from here."

"No!" Hanamichi exclaimed, frightened with the prospect of having a rival living under one roof with Haruko. "No! He will stay here in my castle! Err... I think that this kitsune will want to leave as soon as Akai recovers. So, will you stay here, fox?"

Rukawa swept him with an inexpressive look and answered.
"Yes. I will."

Noticing a ball, lying on the ground, he quickly picked it up and sent the ball into the ring. "Bam!" The ball faultlessly got into the basket. Wow! The perfect three-point!

Hanamichi's jaw dropped in shock. In Haruko's eyes more intensive hearts begun to sparkle. Both of them, stunned, looked at the retreating dark-haired boy, who went to explore the castle.

'So I have a rival not only in love but in basketball as well,' Hanamichi thought. 'But I am a Tensai! And victory will be mine!'

To be continued...

Japanese Words:
"Itai!" - Ouch!
"Kitsune" – Fox.

© Star Mirage