3rd person pov
When she walked out of the building, clothed in spare Hiruma's football shirt everyone knew who the spare quarterback of Deimon was. Her white hair wet from the shower, sticking to her skin. Her figure not so tall... but extremely proud.
But on the inside, she was feeling helpless and scared. No one beside Hiruma and Kurita knew of her condition. And even Hiruma does not know everything.
Kurita was the first who walked toward her, the first who leaned to her ear and soothed her little back.
„Niah-san... Are you gonna be okay? You hardly recovered from the surgery... I think you should..."
„Kurita don't worry... I will manage... I have the best line man protecting me..." She hugged him and lingered in his embrace a second longer than needed, but continued to the field.
When she passed by Mamori, she stopped walking and whispered in her ear.
...
Niah pov
„Mamori... I don't really know what Hiruma sees in you... but please prove yourself to me in this game and vice versa... If we can work together in this game then we can work side by side forever..."
„I agree... But we have a secret code for relying messages... You will have to learn it trough the game..." She said while looking at me seriously.
„Okay... I think I can manage that..."
„Well... You are kinda still the manager... Of course you will manage..." It startled me...
„I am still the manager?" I whispered but the thought didn't linger. The game started.
…
I don't know when the quarterback idea wore out. When I walked out of the building? Or when I walked on the field. I don't know what was worse... The taunting of the big and crude boys across the field or low morale of our own team. Maybe I made a mistake because I plumped Hiruma into sweet nothingness... Maybe I ruined everything with it.
My realistic mind knew that once I get caught... It is over. Once I get tackled... it's over.
But I had one great advantage... I am small and really quick. I took several pain killers and felt a bit high on drugs right now, but I as sure as hell won't let them win just because we lack a quarterback.
How I wished Tokuchi was here right now. He would do much better in my position, and he also owes me his side of the bargain.
Oh how I wished I did not black out before... and just because of rage.
„Niah-san... We believe in you... I believe in you..." Eyeshield21 said. His small form just a little bit bigger than I am. His small form which holds all our expectations.
„I know you are quick... Niah-san... you can run faster than me. I know you will never get caught..."
„Yea... We won't let them get you!" Kurita roared and the rest of the team composed themselves, fired up by their hopes and beliefs.
I felt myself tear up by their companionship. The boys played like they didn't notice.
Several taps on the back and grins delivered, we exchanged information about several positions in advance. We set up and waited.
…
The first match started with a kick off and we scrambled and did our very best. Of course Oujou was our opponent this time and the whole stadium was probably there to watch just them... But I couldn't let them smile smugly...
I will show them our power. I will show them the friendship we have forged.
…
„Eyeshield21!" Sena scrambled toward me and eyed me warily. I put my hands on his shoulders. The look I gave him was of confidence and utter trust in his abilities.
„We are both not in hundred percent of out power. You lack training... and I lack health..." He tried to usher me to sit, to go back to Mamori but I stopped him.
„No... Listen. Hiruma believes in us. Hiruma and Kurita believe in their dream. I want to help them achieve it. My dreams ended... and you haven't decided on them yet. What do you say ha? We do our best and show them what we're capable off?"
I squeezed his shoulders, desperately sucking response out of his body.
„Okay... But... They will kill us for sure Niah-san... They'll..."
„Of course they will... What do you think we came here for? This is Sparta!"
…
Taking position, hut-hut-hutting and then that slow advance back. Gripping the stitches, the leader thingy between my hands. Inhaling, exhaling... Screams, bumps and then Sena.
Sena running by like there is no tomorrow, gripping the ball and just when I thought he made it... He lost the ball and thank God for Kurita or we would all be roast and toasted.
Then screaming at him for gripping it so casually, showing him several grips I read about and are useful for not letting the ball wander around.
He thanked me and I apologized for scolding him, we bumped helmets and prepared for battle.
And all in good mood. He started to relax despite the constant clashing threat.
And I was in a good mood despite the constant death threat... until I met Shin's eyes. I knew that glare... It was a glare that he realized something.
I was just hoping he didn't figure out something about me. Me being handicapped in any way possible. If he realized it would be a nightmare.
Shin pov
'What the hell are you doing on the field Niah... Just what the hell did you do to that Hiruma guy...'
Agon pov
„What fine legs... Small but lean and athletic... And white..." He mumbled while spying the field with binoculars. He then switched to Mamori and chuckled even more... He was laughing to himself until his twin brother smacked him down his head.
„Who are you mumbling about Agon, for heaven's sake..."
„Just the pest that landed on me earlier, that white lab rat with the rabid dog on her ass... and her little friend on the bench..."
Niah pov
And then we shielded and he dodged. And when Sena ran the lucky run we thought we were invincible. The lucky punch we centered to their very hearts. But I started to get scared.
I got this feeling something will go wrong. Desperately wrong.
We consulted and I motioned to look Mamori on the bench. A frown displayed on her face but she stood and went to wake up Hiruma. I knew I won't be able to walk off the field if I managed to do just what I wanted.
We needed our star quarterback back.
…
„Kurita... How low can you get when shielding?" He looked at me and thought a little, the rest of them quiet and awaiting the answer.
„Quite low I think... Why Niah-san?"
„I... I..." But then I motioned the closer.
When I told them they gasped and the doubting looks told me all about them.
„Sush... Now let me explain..."
…
„The bulk guy seems stupid, the Ootawara-san I mean. He won't guess a thing what's going on and when he will notice, he won't have time to react. Eyeshield21 you will hold the ball like I'm gonna kick it. When I run closer you will hand it to me and I will run..."
„This sounds absolutely insane... No offense Niah-san... But..."
„That's just why it's gonna work. They won't be able to predict it!" Some of the most doubtless boys still eyed me warily but I ignored them.
„All you have to do is pin them. You have to pull them to yourself so they fall down because of their own strength. Understood?"
„Yes..." They mumbled.
„Understood!" I screamed and finally they responded.
„YES!"
„Good... Now let's get over it..."
…
Hiruma pov:
When I woke up I saw bloody for a second. And my jaw hurt like hell. What the hell did that bitch do to me? The game!
„The game!" I jerked forward but this sudden movement sent splinters of pain trough my brain.
„I think you might have a concussion... Lay still for a moment." She moved to look at my eyes, leaning closer.
„Look at me... Now blink. Again..." She smiled and nodded.
„You seem fine... A little disoriented... but I think it's because of the pain." She motioned something closer.
„Here you go... Niah's pain killers. She said she used three of them before the game... I think it's safe you take one or two too ha?" She motioned a glass of water to me but I drank down only one.
„I am not familiar with these pills but they can't hurt can they? Now hurry... I have a feeling that Niah is up to something... She said I go wake you up to prepare yourself..."
I was really curious what the hell is she even doing in the game. She wouldn't be in the game... Would she?
When I walked out I was greeted with a sight I will never forget in my whole life. First, she was wearing my spare shirt and equipment,... which was too big of course.
Second... She was in quarterback position. My position.
„What the hell is she doing there! She can't even throw!" And when they put the ball down on the grass I almost hyperventilated.
„And she will kick?" The last word suspiciously sounded like soprano.
„This is over... This is... I don't know what this is..." But the game started.
She positioned to run and all I could do was stare.
…
Niah pov
I was so nervous I had hallucinations... I think. The bulky guy never looked so broad and muscularly. Kurita never as tall and fat. Sena never as small and wimpy.
I probably had a panic attack but I talked to myself.
„You will get over it... You will deal with it on the other side..." Other side... Other side... Death... Heaven...
„Oh Hell... grant me passage..." and I charged.
The run... like opening a wide space only to feel the wind on my cheeks. Muscles tensing and relaxing under the strain. Long steps, even longer with the distance. Sena tensing, cringing his eyes a little.
Screaming of the crowd in the background. Someone screaming, so familiar voice...
Sena passed me the ball and I continued to run like there is nothing stopping me.
The stride becoming familiar, vibrating trough my body. Ghost form emitting trough my steps. Silence in the vicinity. Silence in my ears.
And I jumped and ran up Kurita, his broad back sweating with struggle, pulling Ootawara backward. The broad man falling just where we wanted him to fall.
Pushing myself forward from the last time, burying my leg in Oota-san's helmet. And flying.
…
Hiruma pov:
It was amazing. Like she charged into battle without remorse. Without fear. Spreading her wings and just fly out there, tricking everyone into safety.
I was laughing but my laugh was short lived. She collided with the person behind, her head striking hard with the person's chest. I thought we were doomed.
I thought we were doomed. But just before she was buried underground she passed the ball to Sena and it was a touchdown.
„A touchdown... 2 points..." But she was buried under Ootawara and several others.
I did not hesitate to run on the field and dig her up myself.
Agon pov:
I never would have thought she will have enough guts to fly the line. What a woman. And she was buried under a ton of flesh so I just felt bad for her. Her pretty face will probably be scarred forever. And I don't date scarred girls. Ever.
Mamori pov:
I was worried because there were a lot of people piled up on Niah-san. We weren't really on good terms with each other but just because we didn't get along I didn't want to wish her hurt.
And hurt it was.
When I scrambled after Hiruma, the last man lying on her was on his feet. Hiruma kneeled down on the grass, Shin beside him.
„What's happening?" Shin said in his collected voice, but a hint of anger was heard in his speech.
„Nothing... She's hurt that's all..." Hiruma said and scooped her into his arms protectively. Shin didn't pry further even though he didn't believe him entirely.
The doctors scrambled behind him and surrounded her when he lowered her on the bench. She was waking up.
She was mumbling under her breath and fighting an invisible enemy.
„Shh... Niah... Niah! Look at me!" Hiruma gripped her chin and motioned her to look at him. A spit of blood lingered down his cheek, her eyes were dilated.
Slowly recognizing him, she gripped his hand viciously and hurled her body on his. Wrapping her arms around him with all she got.
Hiruma pov:
„Don't let them inspect me... I was unconscious... They will know about the pain killers... Hiruma. Stop them..." Her raging breath in my left ear, vicious beating of her heart.
What kind of day is this, for the hell of it? She almost kills me in her wrath and then almost kills herself in saving me. Saving my dreams.
„Okay... Okay... I won't let them." I whispered but leaned her back to sit on the bench. The audience was quiet, silently conversing, guessing, speculating.
When I threatened the medics to leave her alone and the commentator finally admitted she is perfectly fine only disoriented... I pulled her up, one arm of hers around my waist, and supporting her into the building.
When we came into the dresser room I seated her down and inspected her.
„Let me see..." I helped her get my shirt down, all the niceties. I inspected the bruises but didn't stop there. I wanted to see the scar.
„No... Hiruma... No... Just leave me..." She was shivering from pain, her breasts only covered with bra. I pulled her hands apart and eyed the scar.
On the first glance there was nothing wrong. It was healed. But on second inspection, there were some ugly black and blue bruises already forming... which indicates that she suffered an impact on the bone.
„We will talk when I get you home." She tried to protest but I could spank her like a little child if she continued.
„Now get to the shower. You stink." She smiled softly trough the pain and I felt releaved despite myself for seeing it.
„I'm going... Will you..." I stopped with my back toward her, by the entrance.
„Yes... Good luck." I nodded and ran back out, to the team, to the battle, to war.
But deep down in the corner of my mind her shivering body form kept appearing, her white hair and delicate but bruised skin. And my skin boiled from anticipation. I wanted to kill them, I wanted to crush them.
I brushed her blood off my cheek and thought only of victory.