Chapter 20: Rakuzan Versus Touo

She was up early and in the kitchen the school provided. She had gone to a grocery store that opened early and got what she would need for her tea, the team's rejuvenating lemons and drink, the baked goods she knew she would need for Atsushi, and items for her first aid kit. She was currently brewing her tea while the lemons marinated, and the pastries baked. Her bag was on the counter. Her first aid kit restocked, the marinated lemons sitting in it with her basketball shoes and a pair of clothes to change into after the game. She was in her sweats, her uniform under her clothes.

The timer went off and she dumped her tea into the thermos. The team's drink was almost done, and she could smell the pastries. They were almost done baking.

"I figured you would be here, Kagome-sama," Himuri said as she entered the kitchen. She had a clipboard on her.

"Just getting ready for the game," Kagome said as she pulled the pastries from the oven. It was a batch of her strawberry cheesecake tarts, some blueberry muffins, and some chocolate chip cookies. She placed them on the cooling rack as she poured the team's drink into a different colored thermos. She looked at the time and placed the pastries in the empty container. Once that was done, she placed it in a container with ice before placing it in her bag and zipping it up. She pulled it onto her shoulder and walked out of the kitchen with Himuri. Hiroshi was waiting with the team at the gate waiting for the bus to show. Reo was quick to take her bag from her and start up a conversation. She smiled and laughed with him. She sat next to Akashi on the bus and just continued to talk to Reo. Nebuya was sleeping and Hayama was looking through a magazine. Himuri sat next to Hiroshi and he was grumbling about the whole situation.

When they arrived, they made their way to the locker room. Reo made the area for Kagome's use and she moved into the area, Himuri fussing over her. She waved her off. She knew the game before theirs was underway. She was slowing her breathing and steading her heartbeat. She was nervous to see Daiki. She opened her eyes when they were told it was time for them to warm up. She moved with them and looked at the basket. There were many that were confused over a girl warming up, until there were murmurs from other teams, saying who she was. Some became disheartened. How could they beat Rakuzan now?

He looked over to see her on Rakuzan's team. His heart ached at the sight of her, and he knew now who she was betrothed to. He sighed and dunked the ball, making his call out. It was received and answered by Kagome. She delivered a full court shot into the basket Touo was using to warm up with. They looked at her and she turned away. There was a hush through the auditorium. It was a clear warning that Touo would have to give it their all if they had a thread of hope to win.

They went back to the locker room after their warm up, waiting for this game to come. She was doing everything in her power to keep her muscles warm and her mind focused. Their game would start soon.

"Game time," Akashi said, and she stood. Himuri grabbed her bag and walked out with them. The coach was with him. She pulled her sweats off and did a quick warm up before they got in a line and they bowed. The game started.

She moved into position and Nebuya was quick to tip the ball towards her. She quickly moved down the court, staying ahead of Touo's players. Daiki was right next to her and she easily passed to Hayama. He dribbled down the court and easily passed back to her. She shot the ball. It went in and she turned back towards the other end of the court. She could hear Daiki traveling down the court and easily turned to confront him. He was going as hard as he could, and she was right there with him. She blocked him, and Akashi started down the court. He passed the other Touo players before easily scoring. She already knew she was covering Daiki. He was going as hard as he could, and she could already see the added strain the quick game play put on his knees. The first quarter ended quickly, and they drank the drink she provided and ate a few lemons as Akashi spoke to them. She kept her eyes on Daiki. He was trying to hide the pain he was feeling.

"He will go out sooner than expected," she said off handedly. "It will be an easy game after that." They nodded as the game was called back into action. She watched as he went to shoot but his knees gave out and he couldn't get back up. The ref called a time out and she looked to Hayama. He went and grabbed her first aid kit and she knelt next to the fallen ace.

"Kagome-sama, Sesshomaru-sama won't…"

She glared at him. "Do you think I care?" She shocked him with a bit of her power before taking her first aid kit out. He was silenced. He would be sure to tell Sesshomaru about this.

"Kagome?" He looked at her as she pulled things from her first aid kit. She easily ignored him and applied the paste to his knees before wrapping them.

"You pushed yourself too hard," she commented. "It would be unwise for you to continue, that is if you could even stand after this." She finished wrapping his knees and stood when she was done. Two of his team mates pulled him onto their shoulders and dragged him back to the bench. He hung his head as the game picked back up. They were as good as defeated now.

Momoi looked at Daiki and the team helped her get him to a doctor's office. She was in the office with him, their team sitting in the waiting room.

"Whoever wrapped his knees, knew what they were doing," the man commented. "The paste numbed the pain and uses herbs that aid in healing. The way they wrapped his knees makes sure that the pain is minimized and moved away from the foot. Ice your knees and rest are all I can prescribe until the swelling goes down. Try to rest and come back when the swelling goes down, so I can determine how bad the damage is." He grumbled and took the prescription that was handed to him. He would fill it on his way home.

"So?" The team asked.

"He needs to rest," Momoi said. "He can't give a definitive answer for Daiki's knees." They nodded. It was a hit to their team, but they were also out of the finals.