Influenza

Disclaimer: I do not own Slam dunk, or any of it's characters.
* even though it would be really fun too...sniff *
They all belong to the great Inoue Takehiko.
p/s: for all those who know of the anime Twin Signal, I think you would find
this storyline quite similar...
* evil grin *


The day in school went rather smoothly, for everyone except Youhei of course. During class,
he had to baby-sit Sakuragi. During lunch break; he almost had the life beaten out of him
when he woke Rukawa to ask him to change Sakuragi back. But all he got from all the trouble
was a black eye.

~After school~

Youhei: * runs up to Rukawa *
Rukawa, * puff * I think * pant * you forgot * wheeze * something.

Rukawa just glared at the boy once, before turning to walk away, grinning as he did.

Youhei: Matte! * hold C. Sakuragi up in his hands *

Rukawa: * turns around * Do'aho.

* poof *

The next thing Youhei knew, he was being sat on, by a certain red-head.

Youhei: Sa-sa-sakuragi...get...off...me!

Sakuragi: Ahhh...Youhei, what are you doing down there? * gets off the poor boy *

Youhei: * stretches * It's time for your basketball practice.

Sakuragi: * glances at his watch * Oh no! I'm going to be late again. * runs off *

Youhei: Oi, Sakuragi, one more thing.

Sakuragi: * turns around * What!

Youhei: Just to let you know, you have come down with a very bad case of chicken pox.

Sakuragi: Ahh...See you later! * runs off *

Youhei: 'I wonder if he really got what I said.'

Sakuragi: * at a turn * What did he say I had? Youhei!

Youhei, hearing Sakuragi shout his name, ran away as fast as he could to seek protection
from the fearful red-head.


~At practice~

Akagi: Is Sakuragi here yet?

Kogure: No, but I'm sure he'll be here soon.

Akagi: Kono baka! When he gets here I'll...

Sakuragi: Hey!

* wham *

Sakuragi: Itai....What did you do that for?

Akagi: What time is it?

Sakuragi: 4? But it was not my fault...If that Kitsune there had...

* poof *

C. Rukawa was almost trampled over by Miyagi on the court. Lucky for both of them, Miyagi
was able to stop in time.

Sakuragi: Opzz...

* wham *

Sakuragi: Gomen gomen...

Akagi: Change him back!

Sakuragi: Like I was saying, if Kitsune over there...

* poof *

Rukawa appeared from the smoke, snatching the ball from Miyagi, continued playing as if
nothing had happened.

Sakuragi: Had decided to change me back earlier, I would not be late, or pretend I had
chicken pox in the first place.

Everyone: Chicken pox?

Sakuragi: * nods * Thanks to Youhei...* grumble *

Akagi: * slaps his head * Fine...Ayako, take care of this baka.

Sakuragi: Nani? But I want to play in the game.

Akagi: It's too late, it has already started.

Sakuragi: * grumble grumble *

Ayako: * uses her fan to tap her hand *
Sakuragi Hanamichi...

Sakuragi: Hai hai...basics...

Ayako: Now you're getting the hang of it...
* whacks Sakuragi on the back of his head *

Sakuragi: Itai...Ayako...do you mind....* rubs his head *

Ayako: Gomen...I got carried away again...

Sakuragi: * mumble mumble *

Ayako: What was that?

Sakuragi: Ahh...Iie...I was just talking about how good practicing basics is for me...ahehehe

Ayako: * whack *
Didn't work...

Sakuragi: I can see.


After practice, Rukawa and Sakuragi stayed back as usual to practice. Except this time,
they didn't bother each other. Both just practiced shots on their own, on the two courts.

Rukawa suddenly stops, and walks over to the side of the court, picking up his water bottle
to drink.

Sakuragi, then decides to take this opportunity to get his 'revenge'.

Sakuragi: Oi!

Rukawa: * ignores him *

Sakuragi: Oi! Kitsune!

* poof *

Rukawa was now wet, from the water he had spilled on himself when he changed into, well...
a...ermm...chibi.

C. Rukawa: zzzzzzzzzzzzz

Sakuragi: * snicker *

Sakuragi walks up to the chibi, picks it up and stares at it at eye level.

C. Rukawa: * rubs his eyes *...* yawn *....* then wriggles his nose *

Sakuragi: * starts at the chibi, wondering what it was trying to do *

C. Rukawa: * sneezes in Sakuragi's face *...* stares at the other boy, before going back to
sleep *

Sakuragi: TEME!!

The frustrated boy dropped the chibi onto the floor from where he was holding it.

C. Rukawa: * wakes up *...* rubs his eh hm...before lying back on the floor to sleep *

Sakuragi: * rubs his face with his jersey * Ahhh....I have his liquid on me! * starts
running around as if he was on fire *

C. Rukawa: * wakes up from the noise * * walks over to the other boy, waits for the perfect
moment before undoing the other boy's shoelaces, before walking away to sleep *

Sakuragi fell onto the floor so hard, the floor of the gym shock, vibrating the windows.

C. Rukawa: Do'aho.

* poof *

C. Sakuragi: Hey!

C. Rukawa: * grins evily *

C. Sakuragi: * looks around the place *

C. Rukawa: zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz * drool * zzzzzzzzzzzz

C. Sakuragi: * walks over to C. Rukawa * Ne, * poke poke * Choco...choco...

C. Rukawa: * yawns before he pointed to his bag beside his water bottle * zzzzzzzzzzzzz

C. Sakuragi: * waddles over to the bag *...* throws out everything, until he found his
chocolate *

C. Sakuragi walks over to C. Rukawa.

C. Sakuragi: Arigatou. * sits down beside the sleeping chibi, before munching down the
chocolate bar *

Both chibis stayed in the gym that night, both being too small to open the door to get out.
They could not change each other back either, because Rukawa was asleep and Sakuragi was,
well...Sakuragi.

The next morning...

Youhei: Anybody seen Sakuragi?

Takamiya: Nope.

Noma: Ditto!

Okusu: Same here.

Youhei: I wonder where he went.

The Guntai walked to school, whistling. When they reached school, they saw Mitsui and
Miyagi standing at the school gate.

Youhei: Hey!

Mitsui: Ah...Youhei-kun, Ohayo!

Youhei: Ohayo!

Miyagi: Ohayo!

Youhei: * nods in reply * Have any of you seen Sakuragi this morning?

Both Miyagi and Mitsui started laughing, attracting the attention of the other students.

Takamiya: Both of them have lost it.

Noma: Hai hai...

Okusu: * nods *

Youhei: What's wrong?

Miyagi: Go to the gym, and you'll find your answer.

Both boys continued laughing, as Youhei and the rest of the Guntai made their way to the
Gym.

Youhei: * opens the door * Saku...

The guntai starts giggling at the scene in front of them.

C. Sakuragi was sleeping, using the other chibi as a pillow. At the same time, he was
bursting the bubbles which Rukawa was producing with his nose.

Haruko: Ah, Youhei-kun. Keep quiet, or you'll wake the two.

Youhei: Does anyone have a camera I can borrow?

Haruko: No, why?

Youhei: So we can keep this picture, and use it everytime Sakuragi tries to head butt us.

Haruko: Mou... * starts to shoo the guntai out of the gym, before shutting the doors
quietly behind her *

~*~*~*~*~

* sweatdrop *...don't ask about the last part, the image just came to mind, and, I thought,
oh well, might as well use it...anyway, pls r&r, ne? Arigatou!