Title: A Fear of the Inevitable
Disclaimer: I do not own Eyeshield 21 and even though I want to bring the series back, I cannot - and I am left with my weird imagination. Still, the series remains to be the property of its original creators.
Note: It's been one year, a lot has happened, and even after that much time I still receive requests / comments to continue the story. I apologize if I kept putting off the updates. It's just that the characters just became too vivid, too hard to control that I decided to take a break so as not to be overwhelmed by them. I have the plot inside my head still, but it keeps on shifting and trying out new things and twists. Right now, I'll take the plunge and then let's just see what happens... :)
Same configuration applies. BOLD text are supposed to be said in english. Italics are thoughts. Normal Text are Japanese.
Correction: In an earlier chapter, I wrote about Pathetique being a creation of Chopin, but I was corrected by a reader who submitted a review. I apologize for the error. That time I was listening to a lot of Chopin but I've always loved Pathetique by Beethoven, and got a bit confused with my narrative. Thank you to that reader - I am duly chastised.
Chapter 11: The Comeback of the Devilish Mastermind
Robin, the Assitant Extraordinaire, began checking his list of all the members of "The Team". It is the Ultimate Team, and the needs of the team will be his responsibility starting today. He doesn't know about these people, and aside from the almost encyclopedic knowledge gathered from personal profiles and obscure Japanese publications, he knows no reason why chose them to be part of his GREAT team. Aside from , who looks formidable and has a bit of an impressive background, and Shin Seijuro, the famous Japanese linebacker, he's not quite as impressed with the others. One looks like an overgrown chimpanzee, another is some kind of Sharpshooter who favors cowboy hats, another is a man who works in a laboratory and appears as if he can't last on the field for 5 seconds, and another is a tv model who is not even that tall (for crying out loud!). If there is anything that convinced Robin to call these dubious characters, it would be his unwavering faith and belief in his boss' wise judgement.
On the other side of the boat:
Hiruma popped a gum and brought out an M-16.
"We agreed you will be on your best behavior", Gen commented with an arched brow.
"Shut up, old man, we agreed "during the wedding" and your wedding has passed. This is my party now, kekeke"
The former Deimon Devilbats kicker just sighed.
Right then he spotted his bride, waving at him. She is standing in the middle of a specially erected dance platform at the ship's deck. He then realized it's time for their first dance as a married couple.
"Oh well, I'll just leave you to your devices. After all, this whole event turned out quite well", Gen said distractedly, without looking at his best man, as he whisked himself away into the arms of his lovely wife.
But the said best friend / best man / devil incarnate did not hear any of what he just said for he was looking intensely at an almost familiar figure jumping up and down and waving like crazy near the riverbank.
"Musashi-san! Sena! Suzuna-chan!", Mamori shouted at the top of her lungs. She had seen the ferry boat leaving the dock and ran as fast as she could. She even forgot to get her change from the cab driver, who merrily honked his horn, thinking what a generous client she was.
She finally reached the dock, but the boat has gone on for about 50 yards. So she began shouting like crazy, unmindful of her light yellow skirt riding up her smooth thighs and almost flying away with the wind.
She hoped that the black-haired man, probably a boat crew, would hear her over the noise of the engine and the wind. He even looked at her, seemed to focus for quite a while, but she guessed he couldn't hear her, figured she was some kind of lunatic who wanted to gate crash the party.
"Sena.." her voice trailed. She wanted to cry. She missed the wedding and now she missed the reception too. She looked at the receding boat, at the tall figure who seemed to be still fixated at her, and she sighed.
So much for gate crashing, she thought, and turned away.
The familiar figure at the bay has on a yellow dress, a skirt more like, and a denim jacket, so he guessed that person was a female, and he could hear some intelligible words over the drone of the boat's engines. He even thought he heard the pipsqueak's name. Then a gust of wind seemed to throw her at mid jump and a brown-red mass erupted from behind her, which seemed to scatter with the flow of the wind. The setting sun cast off an almost blinding reflection. He'd know those red-brown locks anywhere.
Hiruma blinked. The figure had stopped waving and jumping. Then she bowed down, turned, and walked away. He wanted to shout out to the bridge at the captain to stop the friggin' boat, but his voice seemed to have abandoned him.
What the heck? he thought. I don't even know if it really was her.
So he looked back towards the riverbank, and saw her walking away. Besides, if the boat did stop, what is he to do? Jump off into the freakin' water and swim until he reaches her and then what? Have some sort of happy (he dare not use the word "romantic") reunion? And has he not forgotten she was already freakin' MARRIED? He let out a burst from his M-16 (which effectively caught the attention of the merry-makers in the ship).
"Tch"
and walked away from the stern.
Mamori heard a short burst of gunfire. She's been around much of those so she could not be mistaken. So she looked back at the boat, but the figure looking at her a few seconds ago had gone and the music from the boat can still be heard palying faintly.
So she continued on and wondered why of all things, she heard sounds of an M-16 firing. And she tried to convince herself it was just her empty stomach growling making her hear some unnecessary things.
On the other side of the boat:
Robin wondered what has pissed off his boss. A few seconds ago, he spotted him speaking to Mr. Takekura, but now he is alone, striding towards him with an unfamiliar expression on his face. Lately, since they arrived to Japan, Robin had seen him show faces he'd never seen before. Truly, it is a privilege for him. But it's also baffling. In America, while doing business, he'd have the usual expression of airy nonchalance, sometimes, of grim satisfaction bordering on a controlled sarcasm. But here, Robin had seen him full of glee, with anger, disgust, even with a seemingly soft light behind his dark, mysterious eyes. And now, he looked at if he'd swallowed a porcupine.
"Er- Mr. Hiruma, Sir - should we start the PLAN?" he asked, following his boss' stride.
"The WHAT? Fuckin' Assistant?" Hiruma spat.
"You know... 'The Plan'? The one you have diabolically conceived?" Robin answered with eagerness.
"Tch. It's only a fuckin' fireworks show. Do it"
And with that, Robin gave the signal to the crew at the bridge who gave his signal to the crew waiting near the bow. In after one full minute, a thunderous roar was heard. The visitors were so shocked that they thought the ship was going down. The music and the dancing stopped and everyone looked towards the sky with horror. Then hundreds of colorful fireworks erupted. Fear was erased and all faces were suddenly mesmerized.
Robin was grinning like a fool, while his boss stood beside the boat railing popping his gum and playing with his M-16. Suzuna was holding Sena's hand, and shouted with glee everytime another set appeared. Her husband studied her with affection. The newlyweds were holding each other, their dance forgotten, their faces a show of happinness (The devil quarterback looked their way and almost barfed on his polished shoes). Monta looked like a 5-year old, mumbling "Awesome - max", while Kurita couldn't decide whether he should be watching the fireworks display or the cake placed on top of the nearest table that he can grab easily now that no one will be watching him. It lasted for 10 minutes. But right after the show started, more than a few sillhouetes appeared standing on the roof of the bridge. And everyone gasped, seeing one of the sillhouettes was some sort of giant - who suddenly appeared to be sticking a finger inside his nostril. Another one was revealed to be a lanky guy, holding a small comb and furiously combing his already over-combed hair back. One figure with red hair stood with dark glasses on his eye, one is a tall man with silvery white hair, and another man in an expensive looking sportscoat who smiled directly at the scene before him.
"It's Eyeshield 21" Sena murmurred.
"Eh? Who? Where? You're Eyeshield 21" Suzuna said as she looked at her husband questioningly.
"Yes. But that person was the first Eyeshield 21" he answered as he pointed towards roof of the bridge.
"Ah.." she gasped.
"They're here" Juumonji commented, and sipped his punch.
"Those are formerly from Ojou, Bando, and that's the original Eyeshield 21", Kuroki added, without looking up, being a serious monk that he is.
"Again, with the serious face!" Toganou lamented, bracing an arm around the former's shoulder. "Why don't we just greet those old friends? Eh?"
"I agree" Juumonji replied, leading the way towards the new visitors.
Hiruma smirked. The brats (who were hardly brats any more) looked like dumbfounded fools. Still, he couldn't help but reminisce about the old days - when they played in the Youth World Cup. His mind started trailing from one memory to another until it ended up where it usually ends up - to a thought about a certain person. Memories were good, but they are also troublesome.
He fired another round which effectively brought all eyes and ears to him.
"Ladies and gentlemen" he greeted with mock respect "the fuckin' party is over" he looked at his newly-wed best friend and smiled evilly, "so we bid you farewell for we have a plane to catch. Kekeke"
Right then, a big cargo helicopter appeared at the sky and signaled that it would land at the middle of the boat, right there at the deck. The visitors ran towards the bridge, men grabbing their hats to prevent them from flying away, the women trying to protect their chastities by ineffectively pulling their skirts down while running to safer ground.
Amidst the chaos, the new visitors have come down to greet their old friends and new teammates.
"I am looking forward to this" Yamato said, as he shook Sena's hand. "It's been a while since we played beside each other. When I heard you have signed up, I just couldn't turn the offer away", he smiled at the younger man.
"I'm glad as well, Yamato-san" Sena answered. "I heard you moved back to America but I have not seen you in the NFL" he voiced his curiosity.
"It was my choice. I played in the university, but I realized I have more passion in teaching" he answered kindly.
"You're a teacher?" Suzuna added
"I teach College Math and coach the Notre Dame University American Football team" Yamato answered.
"So you still play?" Sena wondered.
"You'd be a fool to think that you have overtaken me, Eyeshield 21".
"Fuckin' Assistant, where's the rest of them?" Hiruma asked, as they walked towards the helicopter that is now being boarded by His Team.
"They have advised, Sir, that they will be waiting at the airport. Your personal jet has arrived and is ready to take you and the team back to America"
Hiruma seemed appeased by this answer so he looked towards the big hulk of Kurita trying to board the helicopter. Ootawara is helping pull him inside.
Everything seems settled, he thought, but why do I feel like I'm missing something?
He was the last to board the helicopter, but before they finally took off, he let out a long burst from his rifle, as the people from the boat, waved them goodbye.
After walking for a half hour, Mamori was finally able to hail a taxi. The meter ran too fast, and she thought about her limited resources with melancholy. She tried to cheer herself up by thinking that she'd get to spend more time with the twins that night. The cab encountered another traffic so she decided that she'd walk the entire way so she can save some money and handed her fare to the visibly annoyed driver.
As she was going out, a vendor on a bicycle / cart suddenly materialized on the sidewalk. Their collision was expected. Boiled sweet potatoes rained upon them, as Mamori found herself staring at a puddle of mud.
"Where were you lookin' lady? Are you an idiot?"
Anger flashed in her brain. But being the adult that she was, she constrained herself.
"I'm really sorry, it was my fault" she bowed as she stood up and tried to help the man.
"Damn right it was your fault. And you have to pay these" he demanded, pointing at the 20 or so sweet potatoes scattered at their feet.
There goes the savings from the taxi ride, she thought sadly.
"I'm really sorry" she answered as she took out her wallet. However, she felt her phone vibrate - a call was coming in. It doesn't have a caller ID. She fumbled for a few seconds before finally pressing the 'answer' button.
"Hello?"
"Yow, I see all you people coming in and I am just sooooo happy!" a tall, blond-haired man with a beard greeted as they entered the main entrance of the airport.
At first, they all just stared at him with incredulity, until one, two, three, several other men appeared beside him.
"It's the Youth World Cup all-over again", Yukimitsu exclaimed.
Suddenly, a big blur ran at them, straight towards the big Kurita, and tackled him. As he was a professional, however, it was easy for him do block off the attack.
"Komusubi-kun!" Kurita exclaimed, despite the too-warm a greeting.
"Hnnn"
"We've been waiting for quite some time" said a lean man with a cowboy hat, holding a little girl beside him.
"Papa, who are they?" she piped up.
"They will be my teammates" he answered softly.
"Can't I really go?" she pleaded.
"Nope. Maybe next time, darling" Shien Musanokoji answered his daughter.
Hiruma looked at each and every one of them.
"Hn.. We're almost complete except for one more player" he said with calm.
Everyone else paused from their informal reunion and looked at him. Robin shuffled his lists furiously. He checked every single one of the players he had contacted on his list. He knows they are already complete, except for a running back named Rikku Kaitani who will be coming from the Bahamas and will go directly to New York.
"Would you by any chance, be waiting for me, fuckin' trashes?" a voice drawled behind them.
They all looked at the source at once, except Hiruma, who was obviously expecting him.
There stood the NFL player Kongo Agon, with his fair wife inside one big arm.
"Kekeke.. as always, you are late fuckin' dread"
"Well, unlike you trashes, I'm a celebrity" he retorted in his usual venomous manner.
"It's starting all over again. I feel so chilly-MAX" Monta mumbled.
"Kekeke"
Youichi Hiruma - Quarterback
Shien Mushanokoji - Quarterback
Sena Kobayakawa - Runningback
Daikichi Komusubi - Offensive Guard
Taro Raimon - Wide Receiver / Split End / Cornerback
Yukimitsu Manabu - Wide Receiver Natsuhiko Taki - Tight End / Outside Linebacker
Rikku Kaitani - Runningback
Takeru Yamato - Runningback
Haruto Sakuraba - Wide Receiver Taka Honjou - Wide Receiver
Jo Tetsuma - Wide Receiver
Gen Takekura - Kicker Kotaro Sasaki - Kicker
Hayato Akaba - Tight End
Ryokan Kurita - Center / Lineman
Juumonji Kazuki - Lineman
Koji Kuroki - Lineman
Shozo Togano - Lineman
Shin Seijuro - Linebacker
Makoto Ootawara - Lineman
Kengo Mizumachi - Lineman
Kongo Agon - Wide Receiver / Linebacker
Robin checked his list, finally, he has no more worries. It seemed like called , who was actually an old friend. Preparing for this game, he has watched numerous games from all leagues all over the world. He was familiar with Kongo Agon who was famed a genius player. He has never won an MVP award, however. Not because he cheats, but because he's quite brutal on the field. With him playing, Robin's conviction of this team winning was fortified.
Then a voice peppered him out of the blue.
"So, who's you're Manager?" the self-appointed Cheerleading Captain asked him.
Abruptly, everyone else turned towards him. Even the Devil Captain stopped typing on his laptop.
"Ahaha.. you are very smart MY SISTER!" Natsuhiko Taki appeared and was about to take a split when his own sister punched him on the face.
"Shut up, idiot brother"
"So who is it?" she demanded.
End of Chapter
This chapter took so long, was one year in the making. Sorry for the incomplete introductions of the returning characters. I'll make them appear along the plot because they won't be satisfied inside my head anyway. I had to review my ES21 trivia bank to write this. I wanted to post this, today, October 21, 3PM Philippine time, because my mind cannot focus until I have done so. I have tons of things to prepare for my presentation tomorrow - in front of our Managing Director no less, but I can't let up. I need to publish and I need to write. Chapters 12 to 14 have been drafted. Hopefully, I can publish them tomorrow and in the coming days. It feels good to write again.
