The Devil's Shadow

Author's Note: I haven't updated in a week…oops. That wasn't supposed to happen. I was busy on Tuesday (in Green Bay for the Super Bowl celebration. Four hour drive-ugh-but so worth it) and I don't know where the rest of the week went. But I'm updating now, and that's all that matters…I think.

Disclaimer: I own nothing except my character.

The rest of the time up until the game was filled with nothing but practice, and Shadow tried her best to stay out of the way. On the morning of the game, however, she was woken up (again) by Hiruma. This time, however, he didn't bother coming in quietly. He slammed the door open, causing Shadow to fall off her bed.

"Ow!" She looked at him. "What the hell was that for?"

"You overslept." Came his simple answer. Shadow looked at her clock.

"What? No I didn't! The game doesn't start for three hours!" A shout then sounded from somewhere down the hall.

"Shut up! It's too early for this shit!"

"See? I told you." Shadow complained from the floor, where she still had not gotten up from. Hiruma rolled his eyes and yanked her up. "I hate you," she said plainly.

"No, you don't." Shadow was about to respond, but she was stopped by his kiss (as cheesy as that sounds).

"I still hate you." She told him, after she had pulled away.

"You didn't hate me the other day, in the team clubhouse." Shadow's face became a bit red and she turned away.

"Actually, I did. You just made me an offer that I couldn't refuse."

"Really? Because you were saying differently when-"His sentence was cut off as Shadow slapped a hand over his mouth.

"Hey, Kisa is right down the hall. She doesn't need-nor does she probably want-to hear about it." Hiruma grabbed her wrist and pulled it away from his face, but he didn't let it go.

"She's too far away."

"You've been here enough times to know that she can hear anything when she really wants to, kind of like you." Shadow laughed. "So, why did you come this early?"

"You'll see," was his cryptic response. He grabbed her some clothes and threw them to her.

"I love how comfortable you are digging through my clothes." She told him sarcastically. He shrugged and, once again, did not leave the room. "Do you mind?"

"It's nothing I haven't seen." Shadow's jaw dropped and she quickly shoved him out into the hallway, blushing the whole time.

"God, you are so annoying!" She slammed the door, trying unsuccessfully to ignore the laughter that was sounding throughout the house. She knew Kisa had heard, and she definitely knew she was going to get an earful from her later. "I am going to kill you," she said when she finally opened the door.

"She would have found out eventually."

"I can't believe you did that. You said you would never use that against me. You promised."

"And I never will. She's your sister, it doesn't count." He waved away her concerns.

"Why, of all people, did I have to fall in love with the devil?" She wasn't really talking to him, but he responded anyways.

"You weren't given the choice."

"What do you mean?" Hiruma wrapped his arms around her waist.

"I would have done anything to have you." Shadow smiled.

"I knew you were soft, somewhere deep down."

"Only for you."

"You are so cheesy."

"And you are mine." She let out a small chuckle and leaned into his embrace.

"That's right. I'm the devil's Shadow." After a minute of comfortable silence, Shadow felt the need to break it. "Except give up football."

"What?"

"You said that you would have done anything to have me. You wouldn't have given up football."

"How do you know?"

"Because I know you. You love football, and I don't blame you. I wouldn't give up football for you either."

"You don't even play football."

"And your point is…?"

"You're something else." He said, laughing.

"Yes, I am." Shadow suddenly looked solemn.

"That's nothing to be ashamed of."

"I know…" She then brightened up. "Well? Are we going or not?" Hiruma rolled his eyes and dragged her out of the house to the school. "Why are we going to the school and not the train station?"

"You'll see."

"Something tells me I've heard that before." Shadow said sarcastically, knowing full-well that he had said it earlier.

"That sarcasm of yours is going to get you hurt one of these days."

"It hasn't so far."

"You're pushing your luck."

"I think I've got plenty left over."

"And when you run out?"

"Then I guess I'm screwed."

"No, that's already been taken care of." She punched him in the arm.

"Oh my god! You are such a guy."

"Is that a bad thing?"

"Right now, yes." Sometime during the conversation, they had arrived at the school. Most of the players were there, but the few that weren't-Shadow knew-would be severely punished. Shadow did not speak to Hiruma once they got there, but instead, elected to converse with Mamori.

"Good morning, Shadow." She greeted politely, as always.

"Hello, Mamori. Are you excited for today's game?"

"Yes, I brought some food for everyone." She said happily. "I hope they like it."

"If they don't, I'll shove it down their throats."

"Oh, no! Don't do that."

"You worked really hard on it, I can tell. That effort should be appreciated, by everyone."

"Thank you, but I wouldn't mind if someone didn't want to eat it."

"That's why you're such a good person, and I'm not."

"That's not true. You're so nice." Shadow sighed.

"Once you get to know me, you'll think differently."

"I could never think anything bad about you."

"Only because I'm a teacher."

"No, because I know that you're a good person."

"You're a very kind girl."

"Thank you." The conversation might have continued, but the last of the players had arrived and Hiruma was setting them up for punishment.

"Oh god. What is he doing?" Shadow face-palmed. Mamori jumped up, furious at the sight before them. Hiruma had just strapped headbands-with bones hanging from them-onto the poor saps.

"He can't do that!" Mamori cried, about to charge over and argue with him. Shadow quickly stopped her by grabbing her arm.

"Just…leave it. It's better this way."

"How can you say that? That dog could kill them!"

"No. Cerberus is really a sweet dog, and Hiruma would never hurt them intentionally." Mamori hesitated.

"I don't know."

"Please, just trust me." There was another hesitation, but Shadow already knew that she would agree.

"Okay." Then Hiruma pulled out carts and told them all-except for those that were late-to get in.

"Um, maybe you should say something. This is too weird."

A/N: Okay, I have to end here. It's 1:00 in the morning and I have school today. I should really, probably go to bed. The next chapter will be the game and I actually get to use the manga on that one!