I've promised this girl a long, long time ago that I'd do her insert. Please, I'm so sorry if it took me this long! Aishiteru Steff-sama!
SD is not mine. But this fic is, so don't take it away from me, okay? It's only so little a tribute I can offer to the glorious SD.
The Bachelor… Rukawa's StoryChapter 6: The Mitsui no Miko
"Meet her in the basketball court, the last one on the far right. I'm sure you'll like her. She's very much… you…"
I sweatdropped.
Great.
Just what I needed.
A date with a female version of me. Rukawa Kaede, the one and only super rookie and ace of Shohoku – and the all-around jerk-off.
*-*-*
I got off my bike, duffel and basketball in tow. Sendoh literally dug around my bedroom for my jerseys and basketball. It seems that she was a sports buff like me.
I looked around. Only one basketball court was occupied, so I assumed that it must be her. I saw her shooting hoops, and from a distance, I could tell she was really good.
"Phew." I sighed in relief. Maybe this time around, the first time in Rukawa Kaede's life, he might actually get along with members of the opposite sex – like what all males should normally do.
She caught sight of me and stopped playing. I figured that was my cue.
Okay, don't screw this up…
I offered her my hand. "Uhh, Rukawa Kaede. You are…?"
She took it and flashed me a bright smile. "Mitsui no Miko. Hajimemashite."
So far, so good.
"Do you want to go for a drink or something? Maybe some lunch, perhaps?"
In response (I think), Mitsui no Miko tossed me her ball, which I promptly caught. "I was kinda thinking of challenging you to a one-on-one… I mean, if that's ok." She gave me her most eager look.
"Wh-what? I haven't been playing basketball lately… I was actually considering about giving it up," I bluffed.
Her face crumpled. "But I'm sure you can handle an amateur like me! Sendoh-san told me you were once called "super rookie"! That's why I figured you would jump at the chance at a one-on-one since you are so good at it. Besides I might learn a technique or two… PLEEEEASE?"
Puppy dog eyes. How I hate puppy dog eyes.
"…"
Oh, what the heck…
*-*-*
"SuGoi, Kaede-kun!"
I sighed. What was supposedly an innocent date turned out to be some basketball amateur training camp…
She handed me the ball. "I think I'm ready for a one-on-one now."
"Are you sure you don't want to go out for ice cream or anything?"
"Nuh-uh."
She flashed me a bright smile.
Blah.
As if the sun wasn't shining bright enough already…
"Fine…"
*-*-*
I wasn't keeping score, but I guess I was sort of leading big time, because I could sense her getting more and more frustrated and tense. Her shots suck, her defense wasn't tight, and the sunny smiles were all gone. For the ninth time since our game, she stuck her tongue out at me and gave me a fierce glare.
I kept myself from shrinking under the weight of her looks.
Why was she getting serious and everything? Doesn't she realize I'm making this already easy for her? I mean, my obvious fakes, my slow dribbling pace, and the intentional missed shots I don't even bother to rebound… what more does she want me to do? Drop the ball and hand it to her?
She missed another lay-up, a string of curses coursing out of her mouth like there was no tomorrow. Geez, I didn't know people actually incorporate those kind of words into conversations... (A.N.: I won't even bother to put them up here because ff.net might boot this fic… heehee)
My eyes widened in disbelief…
… Maybe it was time to call this off before she gets more violent…
I tapped Mitsui no Miko on the shoulder. "Umm, so what do you say about that drink, huh? Mitsui no Miko-san?"
She turned to me, her face horrifyingly purple.
Errrr…
Then she just exploded. "I don't know why the hell you're so unfair to me? Don't you realize I'm not as good or talented as you are in basketball? Why don't you give me a goddamn break??!!"
More curses.
Some fun date this was turning out to be…
"Here I come, @$$!*&#!"
She came charging at me – which even heightened my nervousness – kinda looking like this lion hunting down its prey. And, boy, the fire in her eyes cannot be mistaken.
And then she knocked me down.
"Oi, do'ahou… that was a foul. Offensive charging."
"SHUT THE F***ING UP YOU KITSUNE FREAK!"
And then it came.
POW
Right in the kisser.
But this time around…
*-*-*
I woke up and his face was the first I saw.
"Kaede, are you okay? You were out cold for a while there."
"Where am I?"
"The hospital. Someone dropped you off here, saying he found you lying on the basketball court with your lip busted."
"Hell, it still hurts."
"It's gotta. Listen Kaede, I'm really sorry about… you know…" He smiled sheepishly.
What the hell. It wasn't totally his fault anyway. The girl was a freak…
"Do'ahou…"
He smiled again.
And I don't know why, but I felt my heart skip a beat… must be the busted lip. Still hurts.
But as he continues flashing the stupid grin at me, I couldn't help but smile back at him. Just a small smile.
*-*-*
A.N.:
- Steff-sama! I granted your wish! See, I told ya you would get your hit! And I don't know how to tell you, but I had so much fun writing the punch part… hope you're happy now. ^^;;
- Sorry for the small SenRu hint at the end of this chapter… you' figure it out eventually… (I'm so evil… O.o;;)