Disclaimer: Ya da…ya da…ya da… The usual disclaimer that everyone's annoyed about applies. Slam Dunk does not belong this lazy neko, and it'll never be, 'cos Takehiko Inoue sensei is its rightful owner! But…the OC's are mine and mine only! Bwahahahahahaha~ :D K…so what if this neko's a loony? Hahahahahaha~ :P =^.^=
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REVIEWERS! Doumo arigatou gozaimashita! ^_^
Really sorry about the format of the last chapter readers, but I did try to fix it. Ffnet just didn't seem to allow me to do so! Bad~~~ *sigh* So… Hope this chapter will be okies. ~_~
December Morning Owl ~ Thanks and here's the next chapter.
Iluvenis Telperien ~ Eddie, I know… format problems… dunno why lah, but ffnet just won't let me have it the correct way! So bad ne ~_~
Kka ~ Err… guess you can say Misaki's a pretty boy? ^_^;; But… no comments :P
Sleeping Chocobo ~ Well…what's wrong with Shiroi!? *pouts and reach out sharp claws at Sleeping Chocobo* hehehe… *grins* just kidding :P hahaha~ well… let you in on a little something, I'm classifying Shiroi and co. by colours, so… Shiroi's just one of the colors, it's NOT his real name :P hehehe *grins some more* =^.^=
Rheia ~ Here's the next chapter. Enjoy ;)
Unquestionable ~ Well… Kumori is a boy or girl? You'll find out soon… hehe… AND…This is a non-yaoi ficcy lah :P I kindda decided not to write yaoi fics anymore, cos they're too hard to write!! X_X well…for me anyways ~_~ This chapter will answer your questions lah :P hehehe… cheers~ ^_~
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NB: "…" Character's speech
… Character's Thoughts
(…) See neko's notes…
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Chapter 4 - The Shadow Appeared
Kaede was walking to the basketball gym together with Hanamichi and Kumori. They'd just turned the corner when one junior kendou club member came crashing into them.
"Yano-kun, what's the hurry?" Kumori asked as the junior stopped to catch his breath.
"Misaki senpai! There you are! We've been looking all over for you!" Yano yelped.
"You were looking for me?" The long haired boy raised an eyebrow.
"Hai." Yano nodded. "Genji…Genji senpai wa…he…he…"
Seeing Yano stuttering badly, not getting to the point, Kumori sighed and walked around the corner with Kaede and Hanamichi following, leaving Yano behind.
"Wait for me Misaki senpai!" Yano shouted from behind and hurried to follow the three seniors.
The trio entered the kendou doujou to see all the members gathered in a circle, with Genji kneel-sitting in the centre. His eyes were closed, as if he was meditating. Kumori walked over to the rack where the members stored their bokken and left his bokken, and bag there before going to see what the commotion was about.
"What's going on?" Hanamichi asked one of the kendou members curiously when Kumori had rejoined them.
"Sakuragi senpai! What are you doing here?" That kendou member asked in surprise.
"Nakai, what's going on?" Kumori asked that kendou member.
"Aa! Misaki senpai, you're here." Nakai said, and everyone moved out of their way.
"Genji senpai wants to challenge you to a duel, Misaki senpai." Nakai said once the circle broke and a path was opened to allow the new comers to enter.
Kumori raised an eyebrow at Genji. "Genji-san?"
Genji opened his eyes, jumped up from his position, and pointed his bokken at Kumori. "I want to challenge you to a duel. This time I will win, and regain my pride."
Kumori looked at the kendou captain amusingly. "Honestly Genji-san, do you really think you can defeat me?"
"I have seen you fight in these past months, and I know your moves. This time, I will win." Genji sneered through gritted teeth.
"Sorry Genji, but I'm not in the mood for a fight."
"Are you cowering from my challenge?! I never thought you would back out of a challenge. If you don't want to be labelled a weakling, pick up your bokken now and let us fight." Genji smirked arrogantly.
That does it! He's annoyed me for long enough! Kumori fumed silently. "Yano! Get me my bokken."
Yano abided and went over to the rack quickly to retrieve Kumori's bokken, which was still wrapped in its navy jacket. This is heavy! Way heavier than normal bokken!
The junior had to carry the bokken with both hands due to its weight, but when he handed the bokken to Kumori, the long haired boy just took it with one hand. He did not seem to be bothered by the extraordinarily heavy bokken. In fact, he handled it with ease, as if it's only a feather's weight. He removed the navy fabric slowly, letting it drop to a heap by his feet and narrowed his eyes at Genji.
"If it's a fight you want, then I'll give you the fight of your life!" Kumori said sternly.
He walked into the restructured circle slowly. Kaede put his hand on his shoulders when he walked passed. "You just injured your arm yesterday; it's not wise to have a fight with Genji now."
Kumori smiled at his friend. "Don't worry, he can't harm me. Besides, that scratch is practically healed."
The long haired boy walked into the centre of the circle and stood in front of Genji with a cynical smile curving his lips. "You know Genji; your skills are accomplished as a kenkaku of the competition level, but your self-discipline is non-existent. You are too arrogant and too snotty for your own good, and that's why you cannot move to a higher level in the art. You lack a humble heart. With that, you will never be able to reach the summit of kenjitsu. And that is why you will never be able to defeat me."
Everyone gasped at Kumori's blunt words, except Kaede and Hanamichi whom both had a devilish and degrading smile on their faces as they smirked at the now greened Genji.
Feeling degraded and dishonoured, Genji lunged at Kumori in rage and humiliation. Kumori did not dodge his attack; instead, he swung his bokken to intercept the forceful blow from Genji. A smirk formed on Kumori's lips as he slowly increased the pressure, pressing his bokken harder against Genji's. "This is a lesson I hope you will remember for life, Genji-san."
With that, Kumori released the pressure against Genji's bokken and stepped around him. Genji almost lost his balance due to the sudden lost of the counteracting force from Kumori. He regained his posture quickly and faced Kumori again. He swung and Kumori dodged. The tip of Genji's bokken managed to graze Kumori's shirt, slashing it open to reveal a dodgy sight of Kumori's chest being bandaged.
Although the scene was unclear because of the constant movements, Kaede still caught sight of the bandages. The raven head frowned. Bandages around his chest? What does this mean? Does he have some kind of injury on his torso? Or… He looked again and noticed something not quite normal as he focused on Kumori's exposed throat. There is no Adam's apple! What the!? Are my eyes playing tricks on me!? Unable to believe what he saw, Kaede looked again to make sure that his kitsune eyes weren't playing tricks on him. Bingo! That second glance confirmed that his eyes were in excellent health. What is going on!? Does this mean he's a she? Kaede's eyes had opened so wide due to the knowledge that his cerulean gems almost detached from their sockets. B…but…but…how!?
"Woo hoo! Go Misaki! Make sure you deform his face so badly that no one can recognise him again!" Hanamichi's animated cheers rocked Kaede out of his reverie.
When the raven head looked again, he saw Kumori swung his bokken directly at Genji's right hand, making the kendou captain drop his bokken on contact. He then moved with such swiftness around Genji that no one caught much of his movements. He swung and his bokken hit Genji at the base of his neck, just under his cerebral lobe, making the larger framed student toppled over with pain.
Kumori returned his bokken to his sides and said, "I told you once that the art of kenjitsu is not as simple as it seems. You thought you have learnt my moves, but in fact, you know nothing about my methods and ways of retaliation when facing an opponent. You have much to learn, Genji-san."
"Blast you Misaki!" Genji hissed as he clutched his neck. "I will defeat you one of these days!"
"I'll be waiting for the dawn of that day then." Kumori smirked and bowed gracefully at Genji. He then turned to the kendou members and ordered, "Let's get a start on today's practice!"
"Hai!" The members hollered in reply and scampered to do their routine warm-ups.
Genji got up from the ground then turned to leave the doujou. A couple of seniors came over to help support him with his wavering form, but he shunted them and walked away. The two seniors shrugged and returned to practise.
Kumori watched the scene and sighed silently. When is that person going to learn? He then remembered his two friends and walked over to them. "Aren't you guys supposed to be at your own practice? I would think that without the captain and vice-captain, your team would be racking havoc in the gym by now."
Hanamichi glanced at his watch and yelp, "Shimatta! It's so late already!? We'd better go kitsune!"
"Do'aho." Kaede rolled his eyes at the flustered red head and glanced at Kumori meaningfully before taking off with the red head.
That look Kaede gave him before leaving left Kumori befuddled. What was that look about?
ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ
Practice had finally ended, and Kumori was walking out of the school grounds as he thought about dinner's menu. After that little run-in with Genji earlier, he was starting to feel rather famished. He was walking pass the basketball gym when he heard scurried footsteps and the slamming of doors. Curious, he headed toward the gym and jumped at what he saw. Shiroi! What the hell is he doing here!? He can be thinking about attacking when there are others around, can he?
He watched the events inside the gym behind slitted doors. Shiroi, a man in his early twenties with sharp, chiselled features was smirking dangerously as he walked toward Kaede. The man clad in white stepped toward the kitsune with slow and teasing strides, like a hunter toying with his prey. He pulled out a small hishu (1) and flicked it playfully in front Kaede's cerulean orbs. Kaede's eyes hardened and his features turned colder.
"Maa maa, so this is the heir of the Rukawa Clan," Shiroi eyed Kaede from head to toe and back with a smirk tugging his lips. "Impressive."
"Who are you and what do you want?" Kaede's asked coldly as he watched the man who was almost as tall as he was in alarm.
"I thought you'd know who I am by now…" He tapped Kaede's porcelain-liked cheek with the hilt of the hishu. "You have such a pretty face, young Rukawa."
Kaede's eyes narrowed and slapped the man's hand away. "Who sent you?" His voice calm and icy.
"Oh, no one in particular." The flavour of danger in Shiroi's smile intensified as he spoke. "But I'm sure you know someone who really doesn't like you and your parents have, shall I say, asked for our help to get rid of you?"
"Hiretsukan (2)!" Kaede hissed through his teeth and swung a punch at Shiroi.
The elder man dodged and punched the kitsune's abdomen instead. Kaede let out a silent scream and held his stomach with his right arm, his form slumping slightly.
"That's no way to speak to an elder." Shiroi continued to smile as he started to enjoy toying with the raven head.
Kaede shot him a glare that would send any normal human being scamper for their lives with all the icicles he could muster. But unfortunately, Shiroi didn't even flinch under his glare. Instead, he continued to smile arrogantly and dangerously at Kaede.
All these happened in front of Hanamichi and his gundan who remained in the gym after the normal basketball practice. All five watched the event unfold with disbelief and gasped when Shiroi attacked, while the two men with Shiroi smirked at the handy work of their superior.
"Now, if you will allow me the pleasure, I would like to take your life now and spare you of all the un-pleasantries of life."
With a swift move, Shiroi flipped the hishu he was holding, held onto its hilt and lunged at Kaede with lightning fast speed. Hanamichi also moved to push Kaede out of the way, but someone, or rather something beat him to it. The sound of metal hitting against metal was heard and the clanging sound reverberated in the large gym. The hishu held by Shiroi fell to the ground and he turned to his right, the direction of the interruption. His two subordinates ran to the doors on the right and ripped them open but saw nothing. Shiroi's brows furrowed as he stared at the small needle on the back of his hand as a name came to mind.
"Eeto…nani kotogaaru (3)?" Hanamichi whispered to his gundan in confusion.
Kumori was beginning to panic when he saw Shiroi held the hishu to Kaede's face. However, he soon calmed down and continued to watch the assassin's actions. When he heard Shiroi's announcement of taking Kaede's life, he reached into his belt's hidden pocket and pulled out several needles. As soon as Shiroi advanced on Kaede, he shot out the needles, hitting the blade of the hishu, with one needle hitting the back Shiroi's right hand, making him drop the hishu.
Kumori quickly slipped into the shadows as random thoughts of the gym's layout flashed through his mind, trying to find the best possible way to enter the gym without being conspicuous. When he looked up from his position, he saw a tree and an open window close to the tree's branch. He walked to the other side of the tree and took of his school uniform and chest bandage quickly to reveal a happi like haori that was ivory in colour, decorated with tiny silver stars. With one last movement, he tore a piece resin-like material off his face. Under the short haori lay a well shaped woman's figure and long, well toned legs. The once smooth, well-defined face became one marred with a long scar running from the left brow to the left chin.
The young woman reached for the bokken resting against the tree and removed its navy jacket. She twisted and removed the bokken's hilt; to reveal another black leather covered hilt. She grabbed onto the new hilt and drew out a sheathed bushi katana (4). Dropping the hollow bokken to the ground, she slipped the katana into her belt on her left waist.
She looked up and leapt. Grabbing onto the lower tree branch, she swung and landed atop the branch. She leapt again and landed on the higher branch that was close to the window. She walked along the length of the branch and pried the window to open further stealthily. She slipped into the gym through the window and landed on the landings with feline grace.
"Shiroi-sama, there's no one outside." One of the subordinates said when they returned from checking for intruders.
Shiroi pulled the needle out of his hand and smiled knowingly. "I know you're here, so please come out and don't hide anymore. A·ki·no Mi·ei." He said as he played with the needle in his hand.
A flash of ivory appeared before them. The ivory figure landed in front of Kaede after performing a couple of midair somersaults to break her fall. She half-knelt in front of Kaede and bowed deeply. "Geboku (5), Akino Miei has come late to youkun's assistance, please pardon me for my negligence."
Kaede was dumbstruck at this turn of events. Geboku? Why is this person calling herself a geboku to me? He glanced at the girl's appearance and realisation struck him. She must be a member of Kaku Dou!
Miei bowed again before rising to her feet. She turned and faced Shiroi. Her eyes cold and hard when she looked at the smirking man.
"You are no match for me, Shiroi. And, I do not want to fight you. Musaraki is the one I want, and I know he sent you here to lure me out. So please go back and tell him that I will be waiting for him, and we can settle everything thing between us." She said in a soft, icy tone. "I assure you that he will pay for what he did."
Shiroi shivered at her words involuntarily. Normally he could stand up to anyone's threats, but this girl in front of him was really something else. She radiated the aura of a revenge goddess, each word that came from those ruby lips presented hate to its fullest extent, and this stunned him. She was no longer that carefree girl he once knew. He could feel emptiness in her; the emptiness had replaced the naivety and jollity that had once filled her soul, pulling the sunshine out of her. In addition, he knew who made her into the empty shell that she was now. His brother. Although not in blood, Musaraki was still the brother he respected and loved.
A sad smile crept onto Shiroi's face. "You really do love him, don't you Miei? Even though after what he did to you, you still love him."
Miei pursed her lips. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"That scar. That scar is the evidence of your love for him. He gave you that scar three years ago, and you kept it, although you could've had it removed by plastic surgery. It reminded you of him, that's why you didn't remove it. What's more is if you don't love him, you won't hate him."
"Urusai!" She hissed as she narrowed her eyes at him. "I kept this scar because it reminded me of his treachery, of his immorality! I kept this scar because I want to make sure that I will be the one who see him take his last breath, and I'll use his blood to console my family's!"
"Hahaha! Wake up and face the truth Miei. If you don't love him that deeply, you won't hate him that much. The opposite of love is hate. They only differ by a thin line."
"Shiroi, I assure you that you do not want to anger me further, unless you want your blood spilt." Her voice cooled a few degrees. "Go away now! And tell him this is no longer only Kaku Dou protecting our shujin (6), but also a feud between him and me. Go away before I draw Aoi-Tsuki (7)."
Shiroi acknowledged and nodded. "Wakarimashita. I will deliver your message to him." He turned to leave, calling his men with him.
"Shiroi-sama, demo…" One of the men began, but was stopped by Shiroi.
"This does not concern you or me. Let Musaraki deal with this."
"Hai Shiroi-sama…" The men answered nervously and followed Shiroi out of the gym.
Kaede and the others watched as Miei negotiated with Shiroi. He noticed a bandage on her upper left arm, the exact place where Kumori's injury from yesterday was. Can it be? Can it be him? If it is, then this confirms my suspicions earlier. He is really a she! What's more is she's sent here by Kaku Dou to be my bodyguard, which explains why she was able to save me during those weird mishaps. And that scent! Lavender. The same fragrance I caught off her when she fell on me yesterday! It must be her!
He felt his heart jumped with joy at the thought of her being a female. But he soon frowned as he realised that she was sent here to protect him only. Why am I having these emotional rushes all of a sudden? The thought of her going away after her assignment draws despondency in me, why?
The raven head pondered about his thoughts as he stared disbelievingly at her back. When he heard that she was in love with the Musaraki person, he felt a pang in his heart. At that moment, he realised that he had developed certain feelings for this bodyguard of his over the time that they had been acquainted. A dry smile crept onto his porcelain features.
Great one you idiot! Of all the people, why'd you have to fall for her? A samurai like her will never throw away her honour and become yours. What's more is she's already in love with someone else! But…it wouldn't hurt to try and make her change her mind. His smile lightened at that last thought.
When Shiroi left, Miei turned to face Kaede again. "Youkun, please be assured that my fellow Kaku Dou Shi (8) and I will be on our full alert from now on to prevent you from further harm from Riku Dou." She bowed.
"Anata wa Kaii jii-san no magomusune (9) ka?" Kaede asked flatly.
"Hai, sou desu." She replied in an equally flat tone.
"Excuse me for the interruption, but…what the hell is going on here?" Hanamichi interjected with a more than slightly irked voice.
"Rukawa, don't you think you should tell us what's going on? Especially about whom you really are." Youhei added.
Before Kaede could say anything to the two, Miei spoke. "Please excuse me gentlemen. I have to make my leave now. Shitsureishimasu."
With that, Miei walked out of the gym after bowing once more to Kaede. The group of boys watched her leave silently. When her back disappeared behind the gym's doors, Hanamichi and his gundan began their interrogation on Kaede.
"So…Rukawa? Care to tell us what's going on?" Youhei began.
Kaede let out a sigh and dropped to the floor, sitting cross-legged, gesturing for the others to follow. When they'd seated, Kaede began his life story.
"Man! Who would've thought that the resident narcoleptic of Shohoku High is the heir of the Rukawa business empire? Gees… Guess that's proof for the proverb: 'Looks can be deceiving'!" Hanamichi remarked in disbeliefs.
"Not funny, saru." Kaede deadpanned.
"Baka kitsune!" Hanamichi scoffed.
Youhei ignored the two and asked, "How about that Akino Miei? And what's Kaku Dou?"
"Akino Miei is the granddaughter of the head of Kaku Dou. Kaku Dou is more commonly known as KD Security Corporation, one of the largest security agencies in the Asia region." Kaede replied.
Youhei nodded. "Naruhoto. Demo…what's Kaku Dou's relation to you family? I mean, the girl just called you youkun and herself geboku to you. She wouldn't have used these terms if they weren't necessary."
Kaede raised an eyebrow at Youhei's observances and praised him for it mentally. "Kaku Dou was form about two centuries ago to protect and serve the House of Rukawa. The then head of the Akino family was a samurai named Akino Etsuya. He was almost killed by his adversaries in a fight when my great great great great grand father saved him. From then onwards, the Akino family was sworn to protect and serve my family, and this is the honour of the samurais.
"Until about sixty odd years ago, Kaku Dou served under the head of my family directly, the one called Kawa Shu. But when my grandfather became the Kawa Shu, he tried to dismiss the Kaku Dou, asking them not to think of us as their masters, but the samurais being the samurais, they refused. However, they did come to an agreement that they will continue to serve our family, but in concealment. So they formed the KD Security Corporation and offered body guarding service to those who can afford their assistance.
"We haven't sought out the help of Kaku Dou for a long time, although we do keep in regular contact. I even learnt basic martial arts through them when I was a child. But I guess what's happening now, which is someone's trying to get to my parents and I, is serious enough for my father to ask Kaku Dou for help, and the result is them sending me a bodyguard."
The raven head drew in a few heavy breaths to relief his lungs of exhaustion as he finished his family's association with Kaku Dou.
"And they sent Akino Miei. Who would've guessed that a girl can scare away an assassin…?" Ookusu commented wondrously.
"She's not just any girl aho. She's the best of the best within Kaku Dou." Kaede rolled his eyes at the blonde's lack of knowledge.
"Nani!?" The gundan gasped.
"Akino Miei is considered a legend in Kaku Dou. Not many have seen her; even I haven't seen her before, until today that is. She surpassed everyone around her in both combat skills and intelligence when she was only twelve. True, she's not a male, but she is still the best there is when you come down to a samurai." Kaede shrugged.
"Amazing as she is…but…did you see that horrible scar on her face? Brr… Scary!" Noma said and shivered.
Kaede frown at the mention of her scar. I remember hearing about her parents dying in a fierce battle against Riku Dou… Could that scar be from that battle?
"You guys know what?" Hanamichi spoke and caught the attention of everyone. Kaede raised an eyebrow curiously at him. "Kitsune had just spoken more than ten words in one sentence! Nyahahahahahahaha…"
"Do'aho!" Kaede deadpanned at his team mate's meaningless outbursts.
"Nani!? Teme kitsune! Korosu desu!"
With that last note, the kitsune and akai saru started one of their well known, purposeless fights again, while the remaining members of the gundan sighed and rolled their eyes at their friends' childishness.
Akane の Teahouse…
Konnichiwa mina-san! Ogenki desu ka?
OK. I know I haven't been updating the fic for ages…and, I really have no comments about why I didn't update earlier :P hehe… ^_^;;
Anyways, how do you like this chappy? All fogs of mystery lifted yet? ^_~ If not, then it's definitely gonna come clear in the next chappy. ^_^
Here's the Jap terms I used in the chapter,
(1) Hishu ~ dagger
(2) Hiretsukan ~ bastard
(3) Nani kotogaaru ~ What happened?
(4) Bushi katana ~ warrior's blade/sword
(5) Geboku ~ your subordinate/servant
(6) Shujin ~ master
(7) Aoi-Tsuki ~ Name of Miei's sword. Most swords have a name, so I named hers "Aoi-Tsuki", which means blue moon.
(8) Kaku Dou Shi ~ members of Kaku Dou (隱門使)
(9) Magomusune ~ granddaughter
Okies then… that's all for now.
The Lazy Neko signing off…