Hi guys I'm back! Sorry for the wait, I thought I'd get this out before my Week of Abject Misery began (four papers, two presentations, I wanted to curl up in a little ball and cry). But now it's over, and exactly one week today, my exams begin. So here's something to tide you over, because I don't think I'll be getting anything out until they're over. I should reappear in about 2 and a half to 3 weeks though.
My lovely reviewers: zephy rose, I don't think it's wrong to cry over Eyeshield's 'death', Sena did and he didn't even really know Eyeshield. xDarklightx, I'm glad you like it. I tried not to make it too sappy and it seems I succeeded. kagome midnight fox, thank you many times over for the compliments :) Krinya, so many times a character's voice has annoyed me so much that I ultimately just stopped watching a number of animes. So, no, I haven't listened to Akaba's 'fuu' but I know where you're coming from, and had I thought of it, Hiruma probably would have said something. Mrbiq, I'm glad you loved it, I did my best for the adorableness :) shanagi95, you sound a little overwhelmed by my, what was it, 5? 5 consecutive updates :P Talia Gea, Thank you for compliments and reviews! I manage the seamlessness by reading the manga as I go (of course, sometimes I wind up ten chapters ahead of where I am in the story and have to backtrack). It's more accurate to say that I was really annoyed by Akaba thinking he can be Eyeshield 21 without being a running back and it just kinda grew from there. Losing Eyeshield was really sad, but as for Demon, you'll just have to wait and see ;) Also, I think I should apologize to your mother for turning you into a pile of goo :P Finally, Guest, here's more!
The blond was pleased to see the melancholy begin to wear off the first year in the passing days, especially after the awards ceremony where said first year took one of the two Best Running Back awards along with Riku. The fat ass took one of the five Best Offensive Lineman awards and Hiruma was oddly proud to see that Habashira had managed to snatch up a Best Linebacker from the Ojou dominated Defensive Best Eleven. Shin easily took one of the other Best Linebacker awards (the third one going to Kakei) in addition to becoming the new Tokyo MVP.
In the end, Hiruma didn't mind giving up Best Quarterback to Shien. After all, it wasn't like their battle was over. There was still the Kantou Tournament to prepare for.
The team was given a brief reprieve from training between the awards ceremony and the lottery drawing to relax a little. During said reprieve many interesting things happened between the Devil and his ace.
Hiruma was officially introduced to Sena's parents as team captain, upperclassman, and friend. Mihae absolutely loved him, and the blond had a feeling that as long as she did, Shuma would too. She let the boys go up to Sena's room only after requesting that the boy's door remain open at all times (which hadn't ever happened before) and fixing the blond with a 'look' that made him think yes, a mother always knows.
The brunette was also invited over to his captain's apartment for the first time. It was a simple two-room place which seemed to surprise the kid (he said something about towers, broken windows, and lightning) but the whole evening seemed to go over pretty well. Of course, the blond wasn't sure he wanted to know how Demon had managed to spike his drink with the tiniest bit of aphrodisiac without said blond's notice, but the following activities made up for Mihae making them leave the bedroom door open.
Before long though, it was time for the Kantou Tournament lottery. Of course, no kind of relationship on earth would save Sena from being late to the meeting point (both he and the monkey suffered death by bazooka) but everyone was too excited for the tournament to care. After all, the lottery itself was a gathering of all the best players in the Kantou area.
The lottery started almost immediately after Deimon arrived (the fat ass was still nervously greeting his Taiyou counterpart, Banba) and first up was Tokyo 2nd Place, Seibu. Riku drew the mini football with the number two on it, putting them in Block A. While the kids got all excited about this could possibly mean (which was nothing right now), Hiruma was almost instantly suspicious of the player who drew for the SIC (Saitama, Ibaraki, Chiba) District representative, Hakushuu. The teen had a slick air about him, and had managed to take his numbered ball all the way back to his table without anyone asking what number he drew.
And then he approached Sena about trading places on the board.
Of course, as the entire team had just been congratulating the brat on drawing a number in Block B, number five, all of Deimon rejected this idea and the Hakushuu student hastily backtracked. What was interesting was, the moment Ojou drew a slot in the same Block B as Deimon, Hakushuu told Sena to forget the idea and promptly turned in his number.
Upon return, Hakushuu introduced himself as Marco, the Suave and Dangerous Italian Man and quarterback for the Hakushuu Dinosaurs. He offered both Sena and Monta colas as he made small talk about his actual name, Maruko Reiji, sounding too girly (both kids had hung out with Hiruma for far too long to drink anything given to them by such a shady individual though. Kekeke…)
Their conversation was cut short by the announcing of the Kanagawa representing and nine-time regional champions, the Shinryuuji Naga.
Please, please, please let the glint of recognition in Agon's eyes not be directed at Sena. Please.
Nope, Agon and Sena had met before and Agon clearly had not forgotten. Fucking dammit!
So the fucking dreads subtly pitched his numbered ball at kid's eye with enough force to smash the cola bottle in Marco's hand, which it did once Sena dodged. To make matters even more of a mess, the numbered ball that nearly blinded his ace was number six.
Deimon's first match was against the undefeated Shinryuuji Nagas. Against Agon.
And it became even more of a disaster because, as Agon once again weaseled his way out of trouble (again), Demon had surfaced. The only good thing about this situation was that everybody was so busy panicking about their first match, that everybody missed the alternate persona. Needless to say, the team was suddenly much too restless to sit still for the rest of the lottery. They left quickly and the blond got Demon to explain how Agon knew him.
"It was back during the Spring Tournament, before I was rational. Do you remember taking us to the finals? I can't really remember why Mamori and The Original left but we ran into Agon. He flirted with her but she turned him down." Hiruma figured Agon's reaction from that point. "The Original didn't like that so, poof, out I come, and we have a miniature showdown. It wasn't long enough for anything to really happen, but I remember the feeling of him. Pure, unadulterated evil. Not to for a purpose like you, not angry like me, just straight up I'm-a-crush-you-into-the-dirt-for-no-reason-but-wanting-to evil." Hiruma remembered that day, noting that Demon had come out for no apparent purpose. He should've known the fucking dreads had something to do with it. "Don't worry about us Yoichi, we're okay. I'm really fucking pissed right now, but we're okay." The brunette gave his captain one of his cockier grins. "All it is is one more reason to kill them, right?" The blond grinned back, agreeing.
Of course, that didn't mean he wasn't about to not declare war on Agon the next day, especially when an amateur reporter called to unknowingly give him the perfect opportunity.
Almost nothing pissed Agon off more than his little dates being interrupted.
If Hiruma was the type, he would have felt bad for the girl. She obviously had no idea whom she had been dealing with prior to the blond's arrival, and judging by how she was still in her seat with the two of them present (as opposed to running screaming for the hills), she still didn't have a clue.
Not that it really mattered; she was a complete non-entity to Hiruma. Sitting there clueless, an almost visible question mark above her head, as the pair verbally dueled. There was little rhyme or reason behind Agon bringing up the past except to break Hiruma's composure, but everyone knows that psychological warfare is the blond's favourite game. So back and forth they went even as they answered her questions with their frighteningly similar yet clashing answers.
Hiruma wanted to burst out laughing at the girlfriend question and seriously considered telling her the truth (the kind that's obedient and male, with a little Multiple Personality Disorder thrown in to keep it interesting), but figured Sena would want to be there for that so settled for another truth (a girl I can use).
Eventually, Agon got bored and left, but not before reminding Hiruma one more time that the dreads essentially got Kurita kicked out of Shinryuuji on purpose because if there's one thing he hates it's guys who need to put the effort in.
Wait until he gets a load of Yukimitsu. That will be a show. Kekeke…