Here is the next chapter! I've been sick so it's a bit late. Please review, would love to hear what my reader think (criticism too!). I've been trying to make chapters longer. It hasn't been going too well. I mean, they're longer but what I fill it will isn't the most exciting. Whatever, I'll let you read now :)

Disclaimer: I don't own KnB

Chapter four

Difficulty of decisions

"Gomenasai! I got caught up watching the basketball training!" Asuka cried, bowing repeatedly.

"Well don't make me wait for you outside the school!" Aomine snapped.

They entered the school, Asuka taking in her surroundings. It was a crisp and bright place, looking far more professional than Seirin, though much older as well. It didn't have the newly painted white wall of Seirin, nor the recently built classrooms. The Tōō Academy gym though, was undoubtedly huge, far larger than Seirin. Asuka watched as the basketball team did drills. In all, there were eleven member, three first years, four second years including Aomine, and four third years.

"Asu-chan! Ki-chan!" Momoi called, waving from her place next to the coach.

"Hey!" Asuka called back.

She walked over to Momoi with Kise as Aomine grudgingly joined the rest of his team. Even with his improved attitude, Aomine still tended to skip when he felt like it.

"How's it looking?" Asuka asked.

"Well enough, we're really pushing the team." Momoi said.

"Who are the regulars?" Asuka asked.

"Dai-chan, Yokumo kun, Sakurai san, Nashiwa kun and Wakamatsu kun. After graduation, we'll need two new starters though since Wakamatsu kun and Yokumo kun are leaving." Momoi said.

"We have the same problem," Kise stated, "After all the third years graduate, we'll have a lot of trouble. All the regulars are third years. Oh, I forgot to tell you, I was appointed captain for next season! They decided really early."

"That's good. Want to go eat out to celebrate?" Asuka asked without looking at him, completely focused on the team

"What's with that unenthusiastic tone." Kise sulked jokingly.

Asuka gave him a small smile then returned to watching each player. From the recording Kise had sent her, she could tell that the team hadn't truly relied on Aomine. The seniors could very well pull their own weight. However, what would happen after they left? Would Aomine get bored again? It seemed both Seirin and Tōō had experienced their prime years together, the best players all being in the same year. Now with them graduating, the remaining team was much rougher and need a lot of work.

Coach Harasawa came to stand beside her and nodded towards the boys.

"Izumi san, why do you want to join these boys? I must inform you that there is a girls team." he said. Asuka nodded but faced him, holding eye contact.

"Coach Harasawa, I believe I can keep pace with them. I want to play in the boys team because it's my only chance to play with my friends again." Asuka said.

"Ah, that may be, but you must understand this is not a place to socialize. I understand you are good, but then wouldn't you help the girls team? You may be skilled, but I hate to say that realistically, it's not that special even with your permit. Many professional women players are far better than some professional male players. If you want to play basketball with men, you'll have to be the best, better than the best male player." The coach said with no sympathy.

"Let me show you. It may sound arrogant, but I am prepared to be the best, to work harder and prove myself." Asuka declared.

Harasawa nodded and indicated for Aomine to come up.

"Aomine, please have a match with Izumi san. Team, we will be having a one on one match, clear the court." Harasawa instructed.

Asuka stood up, tied her hair back and took off her jacket. Maybe joining Seirin would be easier, maybe she should just give up convincing the Tōō coach when she wasn't even sure she wanted to go to the school. No. None of that mattered, for Harasawa had challenged her on something she'd been questioning too. She was born a girl, it was expected she do what a girl was meant to do. If she wanted to play basketball, then she should've just joined the girls team. She wasn't so special. Yet that's exactly what she was. Asuka was gifted with the physical capacity of a boy because no matter how you argued, the strongest female couldn't match up to the strongest male. Asuka had that potential though. She didn't give a damn if some people didn't accept and acknowledge her skill. Besides, she didn't even care about something so distant. She just wanted to play basketball with her friends, the ones who supported her, who inspired her art.

Aomine surveyed his old friend, who he hadn't seen play for three years. The one who'd beaten him back in Teiko. He may have boasted how he never lost but they all did. If none of them lost, then that would've meant they never played each other. What he'd meant when he said he'd never been beaten was referring to official matches. Asuka had beaten him many times, as many times as he'd beaten her. They were evenly matched, or at least they had been back then. Asuka looked up into his eyes. She hadn't grown as much as he had so he had a brief moment of smugness as he looked down. It would have just been embarrassing if she'd grown taller than him, especially after teasing her about being short all the time. She was actually quite tall for a Japanese girl.

"First player to eleven baskets win." Harasawa said, tossing the ball in the air.

Aomine jumped, his hand reaching for the ball, grabbing it and going into a run. Asuka hadn't jumped and Aomine didn't get to take three steps before she was in front of him.

"Why didn't she jump?" Momoi asked in surprise.

"She knew her height disadvantage meant there was little chance she could get the ball. Asukacchi instead made sure Aominecchi couldn't advance. It means she's confident in her skills to steal the ball." Kise replied, impressed by his cousins judgement.

Aomine grinned and maneuvered the ball, spinning and passing it in an elaborate pattern through and around his legs. Asuka didn't slow and fall behind. She blocked him, keeping up with every move. Aomine did a double fake and crossed over to the left. Asuka stepped back slightly and struck out, stealing the ball. She zoomed past Aomine without stopping. He ran beside her, gritting his teeth. She wouldn't stop darting around.

Damn, she's going with her Usagi style.

The rabbit style, quick, jumpy and sensitive. Even as she ran, Asuka jumped side to side, suddenly held back then ran to the side. It might have seemed funny or even plain stupid to some, but in a one on one, it made it hard to keep one step ahead. It meant there was no rhythm, nothing to follow. All Aomine could do was react as best as he could, but that, was Asuka's game. In a match of fastest reaction and response, Asuka took the title of best. When she suddenly halted for a second and speed towards the right, Aomine was still caught up with sprinting forward. It was irritating. Like a rabbit, Asuka shied away, trying to cover as much ground as possible without facing her predator. Aomine grinned, he knew her too well. Aomine sprinted to keep pace and when she tried dodging, he blocked her with his arm.

"Come on Asuka, face me properly." Aomine said.

"I am, yeah?" Asuka smiled.

Aomine was taken aback as Asuka spun, making a crossover. This isn't the Usagi style! Aomine faltered as Asuka drove past him forcefully, like a lion going for the kill.

"Art's not all I've been improving on. My style changes are much more fluid now." Asuka grinned, making the shot.

Aomine cursed, stuck, unable to react. Why hadn't he moved? He glared at Asuka as she bounced the ball, breathing. She was changing her pace yet again. It felt like when Akashi looked down on him, commanding with his presence.

"Don't get ahead of yourself, Izumi!" Aomine yelled.

She made a quick break for it and Aomine guarded her. Don't think it's that easy. The mood was intense. Kise leaned forward as he watched, studying the match keenly. They were both on par with each other. He gaped in amazement as Aomine stole the ball and ran, ran so fast Asuka couldn't catch him. Again and again, the two players took turns scoring. Asuka never allowed Aomine to get in rhythm, changing up the pace every so often. It was tiring just to watch. He was sure Asuka wasn't bothering trying to predict movements. It was her flaw as well as her greatest strength. Reaction. Just like when she'd played Kagami and Kuroko, she didn't care that Aomine's basketball style had changed from when she'd last played against him. She reacted without fail. It was the reason why she could beat him. He was formless, but she didn't need form. Her skill did not rely on knowing what was next, but picking it up with unbelievable speed. Asuka jumped for a dunk, Aomine matching her, his height giving him an edge. The spectators held their breaths. If she made it, it would be her win. Aomine won the jump, knocking the ball from her hands. Everyone let out their breaths but then Asuka did the strangest thing. In the split second Aomine had taken to knock the ball away, Asuka flipped. Without landing, she backflipped, catching the ball before it had moved two centimeters and shot. Aomine was already on the ground, completely unaware that she was still moving. The ball flew with precision, hitting the backboard and scoring.

"What-" Aomine started then was cut short as Asuka landed flat, her hands barely making it to support her weight, preventing her face to smash into the ground.

"Ouch, that really hurt!" Asuka cried.

She curled into a ball, hugging her arms. Aomine grunted and walked over to her.

"What the hell was that?"

"A flip." Asuka said as though Aomine was an idiot.

"I know that! I mean, I've never seen someone flip in basketball." Aomine snapped.

"Yeah, well you haven't seen everything."

Asuka got up painfully and swung her arms around in a windmill to loosen the muscles. She stretched and walked over to Harasawa. He sighed.

"Izumi san, I see that you have potential and will consider it." He said.

Asuka bowed and thanked him. She picked up her things and smiled at Aomine who was sulking at his loss.

"I had the upper hand there. Remember you haven't seen me play in three years but I've seen you play, yeah?

"Oh Izumi, have a rematch with me tomorrow. I'll beat ya." Aomine grinned.

"Sorry, I'm actually visiting Okasan with Otosan tomorrow." Asuka promised.

Aomine's grin immediately dropped. He searched his brain for something to say. Kise guided Asuka away for the next part of the school tour while the basketball members flocked around Aomine, asking about the new girl. Mistaking his reaction for disappointment at being denied, Asuka quickly added, "But we'll definitely play again soon!"

Aomine casually shrugged and raised a hand in acknowledgement. After touring the art department, Asuka still didn't know what to do. She wanted to play with Seirin, with their teamwork that Teiko had so lacked. She wanted to play with Kagami, and help him become strong enough to beat the generation of miracles in a one on one. Then on the other hand, Asuka longed to talk with Momoi again, to beat the crap out of Aomine and help him love basketball again. She wanted to be there as the Tōō basketball team got better at teamwork.

"Have you decided?" Kise asked.

"No, I don't know what to do." Asuka admitted.

"Maybe think about what your goal is?" Kise suggested.

Her goal? Asuka considered it carefully. Her one wish was to play with the generation of miracles together once more, before her year was up. The feeling of adrenaline and excitement of being on court with her friends, Asuka wanted to experience it again. For that to happen, she just needed to wait for the time to come. Other than that was just spending time with friends and enjoying her time. Tōō appeared to be much more serious than Seirin which had a dynamic mix and happy atmosphere. Still, Asuka had been cut off from Aomine for three years and it was her chance to make up for the lost time.

"I suppose I'll think over it." Asuka sighed.

Ok this is the last chance to correct me. I've read the extra game manga and it seems to be set shortly after the winter games. This means it's winter (as the name states). In japan, I think they only have three terms. Now I'm not sure how America or anywhere else does it, but here there's four so I thought I'd mention it. This means this fanfic is set before term three, therefore, the third years (Hyuga, Riko ect) haven't graduated. Is this right? I have an obsession of keeping things canon so please confirm!