Disclaimer: I still don't own them, but I never stop praying that someday I Will --- like everybody else. Heheheheh... J

Author's Note:

                Keep the review coming… Arigato minna-san.

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(inner thoughts)

Ten Sakura Tree

Chapter 9        The Challenge

The day of the game against the Academy came. Sakuragi and Youhei was ecstatic about the event. They sure can't wait to see all of their former teammates. They didn't saw all of the team during their visits due to the fact that some of them are in vacation or having a competition in different places.

All the basketball players are already assembled in the gym doing their warm-ups when Haruko arrive together with the visitors. All the players waited for them to emerge but all they see was two people – a female and a male. The strangers approached the Anzai sensei and Akagi. While the other gathered at the back of their captain and coach.

"Good afternoon. We are from the Academy which two of your players challenge. I am Kieta coach of team Angels." a female spoke to introduce herself as a form of respect.

"And I am Rei coach of team Phoenix." He added to introduce himself as well.

Everyone was agape hearing that the two are the coaches of the teams. The girl seems to be a 12 to 14 years of age but she is sure pretty and attractive while the boy seem to be a 16 to 18 years of age just like the girl, he too is very handsome and attractive.

"Hohoho… nice to met you two… I am Anzai the coach of this team." Anzai returned the favor of introducing himself.

"Ahh... and I am Akagi Takenori the captain and this is Kogure Kiminobou the vice captain." Akagi was snapped from his reverie when Anzai-sensei spoke. Kogure bowed to be acknowledged. Kieta returned a smile to them while Rei scanned the area and spotted his target.

"You… aren't you Rukawa… I am challenging you in a one on one match." Rei declared while pointing on Rukawa who was standing at a corner.

Kieta was shock by Rei's action. She knows him as a silent and controlled type of guy… and now why would he just challenge his brother's koi.

"Rei-chan!" in shock for his action. "Gomen, he is not himself today. You see we just arrive from Tokyo. So I think he got JETLAG" emphasizing the last word to warn Rei that she didn't like what he is doing right now. All she got was a sigh and an apologetic eyes saying {I lost control, sorry… won't happen again}

"Ummm… so where are your players?" Kogure interfered to broke the tension that stated to surrounds the gym

"Oh… the others are on their way here. We just arrive early to settle some things. I think our teammates will arrive 30 to 40 minutes from now. I hope it is okay with you guys?" Sakura informed while seeing Rei in a corner talking to somebody in the phone. "I think Rei called them to hurry up." She returned her gaze at the vice captain and gave him her sweetest smile.

The tension returned when Rukawa spoke agreeing in the challenge that was slapped in his face. Rukawa never backed down from any challenge. At the exact time Rukawa spoke, the ever late Sakuragi and Mito arrived. As usual, they got a fist from Akagi and a fan from Ayako for being late for the nth time since they returned. The punishment received by the two latecomers made the two visitors paled and open-mouthed.

(Didn't they know who they are treating like shit. Gosh, why are they treating those two like a mere… mere players.) Rei became crimson that rivaled Kieta's flowing crimson hair in anger by the insult his former teammates received. Rei was about to speak up when Kieta hold his arm as a warning not to intervene in their affairs. Rei immediately unclenched his fist as a form of surrender and heeding Kieta's warning. This action from the two visitors didn't escape the observing eyes of the silent rookie.

Rei and Kieta walked to Kogure and asked for the place where they can change. He led them to the changing room for them to suit up for the challenge game.

Rukawa was already warming up when Sakuragi approached him.

"Ne, Kitsune, why are you so burn up?"

"Da'ho!" Ignoring his koi and continued on what he is doing. Sakuragi just shrug his head and left his rather moody koi.

Sakuragi and Mito went to a corner and was about to start their basic training when the two strangers emerges together with Kogure in their full basketball uniform.

"Kieta… Rei… I'm glad you're here. I never thought that you will be here this early. I mean I though the rest of the team players are away on vacation or personal competition. Don't tell me you flew back here for my challenge?" Sakuragi inquired upon reaching the visitors. Meanwhile Youhei was hugging Kieta and tapping Rei.

"We just did." Kieta answered after Youhei let lose of his hug then hugged Sakuragi, who is patiently waiting for her hug.

"I can't believe at long last we'll see you two play. By the way Kieta, where is Yumi-chan? And also the rest of the team?" Youhei exclaimed

"Yumi-chan will be here any minute now… so will be the others." Kieta answered

The four continued chatting, obviously not minding the people who are present wondering how the hell did Sakuragi and Mito know the two visitors. Rukawa on the other hand was still silent but his mind is going berserk, thinking who give the visitors the right to hug his koi especially that Kieta girl… KIETA? (Damn… she was the one who called the day before yesterday informing his koi about their arrival. That bitch… she came here to steal his Hana-kun… I won't allow you bitch. And that airbag… I won't allow you take my Hana-kun with you… HE is MINE… MINE ALONE.)

"Ahem… I think we have already cause a commotion. I think they are wondering why the hell are we talking as if we know each other for ages." Kieta spoke in a very low tone so that the other players won't hear it.

"Umm… I think you are all… ummm… wondering. Why… they know us that well… you see they happened to… ummm." Kieta was stammering trying to figure out a good excuse for their behavior. She looked at Rei for help but just like her, he is out of words to make an excuse.

"Challenged all the best players of the Phoenix team and made an impressive move that nobody even dare did in front of the Phoenix top players and It happens that the Angel team official are there doing a business work." A smiling brunette girl answered to rescue her friends in time by making a valid excuse. "Oh... by the way I am Yumi... and with me are Rieka, Yusuke, Yuu, Meiha and Kou. We are with them. Gomen Kieta and Rei for being late."

Ah…. Everyone was satisfied by what the new comer said except Rukawa. The four was relieved, that was a narrow escape –too close for comfort.

"Are they the whole team yet? If not can we resume the planned one on one with me and Rei?" To the awe of everyone, Rukawa talked and insisted on the delayed challenge.

"They have not yet all arrived." Incoming voices was heard. "I think here they are now… I think we have to cancel the challenge yet. We have to start the exhi…" Rei was cut-off when the cause of the voices appeared and they happened to be caused by Sendoh and his team.

"What are you doing here, Sendoh? I thought you'd fetch me after our practice. You seem early." Youhei immediately approached his boyfriend to get some answers. "And why are they here?"

"No, I am not here to fetch. We are here to watch an interesting game. You see Hikoichi's sister sent him a letter containing a game of a lifetime against her team and the Phoenix." Sendoh explained to the clarification of everyone present in the gym. "And for your information we are not the only one. Shoyo and Kainan teams are here, though the later one got only few players with it."

"What?! You're kidding right?" Shock is an understatement to the reaction of Youhei.

 "I hope so, You-bun… but I am not" Shoyo and Kainan players appeared and bowed to Anzai sensei for respect.

"Anzai-sensei, I am sorry if I have to bring all my teammates here. You see just like Hikoichi, I too received a letter from my other siblings coming from the Phoenix and Angel teams. It contained an invitation to allow us watch the game. I hope it won't bother your practice." Fujima the standing captain and coach of Shoyo explained. "About the Kainan players, umm.. you see…" Fujima blushed and was out of words how to explain the existence of the other team.

"It is alright with us, Fujima. The game hasn't started yet because some of the players haven't arrived." Akagi spoke to break the uneasiness that Fujima was feeling.

Rei silently walked in the court and signaled Sakuragi to pass the ball to him. HE started dribbling once the ball was passed to him and shot a perfect three-point shot. Rukawa walked and stood in a defense position a feet away from Rei.

The two started the ball challenge; everyone was silent for the intense game the two are displaying. Both did their best not to make the other score or even elude their defense.

Sakuragi was silent and nervous. Rukawa must not lose to Rei, if ever Rukawa would lose at least not a bug difference against his score.  Big consequences will be faced by their partnership. HE glanced at his sister for help but like him, she is as helpless as he is. Rei is after all belong to a higher position than both of them do. HE can't just pull Rei out of the game without making the other one jealous with envy and anger towards Rei. (Ahhh… Kitsune, please hang-on. I'll find a way for you not to be crashed by his "anger"... Damn you Rei, someday I'll get you. You'll pay dearly for torturing my Kitsune and me.)

(I'll win this game… You'll see who you are messing with.) Rukawa remained focus and determined on the game to win. Up to that point no one scored for the last 5 minutes of the game. The audiences held their breath for the intensity of the game. It was a spectacular game that last them a lifetime – their decision of coming to Shohokou did paid off with this game. What more if the game against the best of Japan's teams would play?

"Rukawa sure know how to play his game." Sendoh stated upon seeing the fire reflected in the silent ace' eyes.

The rest of the players of the two team arrived just in time to witness, how Rei scored a point. Rukawa was shock how he did that move.

"Stop the game, this instant. The players are complete and we can start the game already." Kieta announced in a calmed voice that made the people aww... in unison for halting the game. "Angel team, change in your uniforms. I'm just giving you ten minute to suit up and return here."

"Phoenix team, change in your uniforms too. Ten minutes. Go." Rei instructed his team with calmed voice like he didn't play at all.

"You lost hot shot. You are not worthy of Hanamichi. You can't have him. You have no right." Rei stated it to Rukawa in a whisper as he pass by him. Rukawa paled by Rei's blunt words about his relationship with his koi and his unworthiness to him.

Everyone observed a thick cloud surrounding the two coach of the competing team. Kieta's face was unreadable and calmed so as the face of Rei. Sakuragi and Youhei know what it meant. Kieta is disgusted by the way Rei played. The later one knows it too. Everyone was agape and didn't understand what was going on.

"Gomen, Kieta it won't happen again." Rei spoke in a low voice and head downcast.

"Why would he ask for forgiveness for scoring? That girl must be crazy for acting weird. Just because Rei scored against Rukawa, she has to stop the game. I get it Rukawa happens to be her crush." Kiyota voiced out his analysis that made everyone, who are listening sweat dropped for a stupid conclusion.

"Please do give her some credit. Kieta is not that type of coach. You see, Rei didn't play seriously with Rukawa, which made Kieta upset. Rei think less of Rukawa's skill as a player and that is against our rules. That is why she ordered the game to end because it is pointless and in the end Rukawa will just be insulted." A blue haired girl clarified to Kiyota and smiled.

"Kim, you're stunning as ever."

"Arigato, Onee-chan. I have known that for ages. Courtesy of you of course." Kim hugged his brother, who happens to be Fujima Kenji.

'Now that everyone is here and has changed. Let us start the game." Kieta announced.

"Angel Team, let's kick some Phoenix butt." Kayla, the captain added.

"Guys,  let's show them how real basketball is played. The academy way that is."  Spike, captain of Phoenix, stated with an evil grin while eyeing their opponent. HE winked at Sakuragi and Mito, as if saying – Let's see who's butt gonna be kicked.

~ OWARI ~

Author's Note:

                I am sorry but the challenge part… I don't know how to make it. So I just cut it short. Gomen…. Hope you  can forgive me… You can also give me some great ideas and suggestions about the game. I'll include it in my next chapter. Thanks minna-san

So I'll expect it in my reviews… that means don't forget to review…  J