PART 9: WHAT'S THE NAME OF THE GAME

Friday Afternoon: Kainan Basketball Gym

"Kitsune!!! You should pass the ball to the Tensai! Not doing the dunk yourself!"

"Do'aho."

The audience who witnessed the insults between the two still-hanging-to-the-basket Shohoku players would not believe that a minute earlier, both of them had just made a double dunk, in which both of them jumped and put the same ball into the basket in the second half of the game. And they still hanging on to the basket while continued with their bickerings. Everyone sweatdropped. They gonna break the basket!

"SAKURAGI! RUKAWA! GET DOWN IMMEDIATELY!!" roared Akagi. "IF YOU DON'T GET DOWN, I'LL GET UP AND…"

After hearing Akagi's threat, Maki quickly tried to pull Rukawa while Jin is doing the same thing to Sakuragi.

There's no way the basket can withstand Akagi's weight…PLUS those two.

Maki sighed. A game with Shohoku was always a very challenging and exhausting one. Not necessary physically and skill-wise, but too many events on court, like the one happened a while ago, just pushing his limits as a player, and as a captain as well. In other words, Kiyota was still having problems with both Sakuragi and Rukawa, his fierce competition in basketball.

Thank God I'm not the referee. The referee looked exhausted. Nobody can stay that sane after a game with Shohoku. Maki thought about it again. Now, that explained Sendoh's behaviour.

Sendoh. Maki looked up and saw Sendoh smiling, amongst the audience. Sendoh is wrong. He couldn't possibly be here. What does it have to do anything with Shohoku then? After guarding Mitsui pretty much in the first half, he knew it wasn't him. The man was a bit rough in his move, although his shoot was nothing short of a perfection. Sakuragi was too loud, and Rukawa was too quiet. And it was definitely not Miyagi and Akagi.

Who?

He searched the audience, trying to find anybody who remotely resemble the mystery man who graced the Kainan gym five days ago. The gym was packed today. Everyone was curious about the homecoming boy, Rukawa, who had done well with the All-Japan Youth Team, and of course, Sakuragi, the better-than-ever self-proclaimed Tensai, who recovered from his back injury ready and roaring to go. Apart from that, it could also serve as an indication of how well the Kanagawa's representatives will do in the Winter IH Championship. Now, if only everybody could ignore the rivalry between Shohoku's dynamic duo…

He was also wrong. There is no way Sakuragi and Rukawa could be at least civilised towards each other, what's with their latest outburst on the court. How would Sendoh knew those two will become Japan's top players… is out of anybody's guess.

Akagi managed to get the rebound, and Kainan immediately went into defensive mode. He passed the ball to Rukawa, who suddenly found himself facing Kiyota, not being able to elude as easy as before. Mitsui was well-guarded by Jin, hence, the limited attacking option. He then passed the ball to Sakuragi, who shoot from outside the Kainan zone. The ball went in. Three points for Shohoku.

"WHAT????!!!" Kiyota exclaimed at the smoothness of Sakuragi's score.

"NYAHAHA!!!" Sakuragi was proud of himself. "One of the skills I got back after the back operation is my shooting skills. I practised it first even while I was in the wheelchair. It's all in this genius's head."

"Shut up doa'ho!"

"Kitsune is just jealous. I'm the greatest!"

Rukawa rolled his eyes. "If you don't shut up, I will ask Sendoh to do the thing he did to you before. In front of everyone."

Sakuragi blushed, but quickly recovered himself. "Kitsune… you won't dare."

"Wanna try me?" Rukawa challenged.

Like a miracle, Sakuragi stayed quiet for the next one minute. A minute of pure bliss before…

"KITSUNE!!" Something was wrong again.

"Trust the two of them to make a mess in Kainan's gym." Jin observed quietly.

"Ha ha ha! That red-hair monkey is challenging the Fox again. Like always." Kiyota announced proudly. He was feeling the sting from Sakuragi's perfect three-pointer. Hmpf!

"hhmm…Why did Sakuragi called Rukawa, Kitsune?" Maki asked, obviously observing the so-called dynamic duo, noticing the nickname Sakuragi gave Rukawa.

Jin shrugged. "Something about the kitsune-like eyes."

Rukawa dribbled the ball, once, twice. Then, with a lightning speed, he charged towards the Kainan zone. Maki faced him, but Rukawa with his speed, made a quick screen-out and did a lay-up. The ball went in.

Sly… like a fox.

Rukawa received the ball again. Shohoku quickly counter-attacked. Rukawa dribbled the ball, again, facing Maki. As an experience guard, Maki expected Rukawa to sneaked into the Kainan's zone and score. But Rukawa's face didn't give out any expression. Maki decided to poach the ball here and then. Rukawa quickly made a backward pass to Mitsui, who finished it with a three-pointer.

Cunning… like a fox.

Maki saw Rukawa jumped really high to get the rebound. He does have the highest jump I ever seen. He quickly dribbled to Kainan's zone. And he can run really fast too. Rukawa scored. He loves to attack in an instant. After he considered every possibilities, plan everything.. But he hide his plan very well. Just like a fox.

A realisation hit Maki. He's sly and cunning... like a fox. Like...that man....

Maki looked at Rukawa again, this time, really looked at him.

The tall figure… Like the man of the night

The long legs…running away with my pride.

The slender fingers… playing all over my body.

The white, smooth, marble skin… delicate to the touch.

The proud blue eyes…can melt even the coldest heart.

The pouty, lustrous lips…taste like cherry.

The cool demeanour…at least that didn't change.

The silky raven hair, fall nicely on his face… damm disguise.

Maki has the urge to push the bangs out of Rukawa's eyes. What the heck. He took a step towards Rukawa, cupped the younger boy's face in his hand, and with his another hand, pushed the bangs out of Rukawa's face. It's…

A punch landed on Maki's left cheek. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Maki blushed when Rukawa looked at him from his cold, ice-blue eyes. The Kainan captain was shocked with the unexpected occurrence, and so was everybody in the gym. But he couldn't stand up, still amazed with this young man and his impromptu reply to his earlier action. He knew he was wrong, but he couldn't help it. The referee blew his whistle.

What is going on??

"Foul!"

"Oi! Senior! Whatever for did you do that to Kitsune??? Grrrr!!!!!" Sakuragi cut the referee short.

"Why Sakuragi, concern about Rukawa?" Miyagi teased.

"Ryota!" Ayako called from the side, waving the paper fan threateningly.

"Aya-chan!" Miyagi blushed.

Sakuragi cringed. Great! Both Kainan and Shohoku have love-struck guard in their team. Both Ayako and Rukawa folded their arms while looking at their admirers. Miyagi was still blushing while trying to stammer some intelligent words to Mitsui while Maki was trying to get onto his feet, at the same time didn't take his eyes off at the messy-hair Rukawa, who was still asking the unanswered question beneath the icy exterior.

The referee blew the whistle again. "I said… foul! " and inwardly rolled his eyes. "White number 4. Red number 11. Here, now!" the referee shouted.

"Violence in the court will not be tolerated. Since this is the first time it happened, I let both of you go with a stern warning. Another offence like this will result in dismissal. Understand?" The two best players in Kanagawa nodded slightly. The referee muttered something about the future of Japan basketball with these two in the team. NOT to mention the red-head.

Not only the basketball players are a bunch of gossipers, junk-food junkies, but they all nuts!

They returned their attention back to the game. Maki was still nursing his soon-to-be-purple bruise. Second bruises in five days from the same man, of course, the first being knocked out by his shoe. Rukawa meanwhile, ignored the referee's warning and returned back to his usual position, with Sakuragi trailing behind, tormenting the Shohoku ace with his I'm-better-than-Kitsune attic.

How could I be so blind? He watched while Rukawa just ignored Sakuragi's comments.

Nobody ever see Rukawa smile.

Nobody ever see Rukawa in make-up.

Nobody ever heard Rukawa speaks smooth English.

Nobody ever see Rukawa so out-of-character.

Nobody ever see that other side of Rukawa.

Apart from me.

"Captain?" Jin nudged him.

"huh? Oh!" Maki smiled. "Ouch! That really hurts." I'm not dreaming.

"I found him."

Rukawa is the thief. The one that stole the Kainan Bird. The one that commanded everyone's attention. The one that took his heart away....

"Oh! Well, Jin, come on now. Let's beat them."

Jin was startled for a while, then, he smiled. For he knew.

-tbc-