Author: I own the characters that are NOT from Slam Dunk…. If they are from Slam Dunk, they are property of Inoue Takehiko. Please don't sue me… Also, a foreword, I tend to be long winded when writing my fics, so at least you get the overall picture, as well as the locations/background, and worth your dollar on Internet charges! LOL Please do email/review me, and I can update the previous chapters. Thanks!
Words in italics or between slashes are thoughts, words within ^^ are actions, unless otherwise stated, words in brackets are locations usually before each section.
P/s: This fic MAY be in tune with what actually happened in the original anime, but as this is a fic of mine, there MIGHT be parts that will be OOC… But that's what makes it nice, ne? Bwa ha ha ha ha!!!! ^_^
(=^_^=) Chapter 9 – The Present (=^_^=)
(L.I.D.[author]: Please note, before reading on, if you have the song, Crush BY the singer Mandy Moore on your pc or CD, please listen to it later during the fic. Thank you!)
"This is…" stammered Akagi.
It was a shiny silver pendant accompanied with a not-so-thick chain, (for men) which could hold pictures inside, with an engraved logo of an umbrella, with the names 'Takenori' and 'Yumi' under it, etched behind the pendant. Inside the pendant were pictures of the two of them together, on each side. He unlatched it, and put in on his neck. It was a perfect fit.
"I have something for you too, Mi-chan…" smiled Akagi.
"Hmmm?"
Taking out a pink box with red lace, he presented it to her.
"But it's not my birthday, Nori-kun…"
"But this IS your real birthday present, Mi-chan… did you really think all I'd give you for your birthday several weeks ago would be a lousy jersey?" laughed Akagi. "It took a while, but I thought you'd like this better."
(L.I.D.[author]: Yumi's birthday is before Uozumi's and Akagi's.)
Yumi was near to tears, from joy. What Akagi had given her, when she opened the box, was exactly what she had given him! (Although with a thinner chain, meant for girls)
"How…? How did you…?"
"I saw you shopping, enough said. You know how persuasive I can be when I need to find out something." grinned Takenori.
"Ha ha! That I do…" laughed Yumi. /The poor sales assistant at the jewellery shop must have been scared out of his wits! / Thought Yumi, chuckling inside as she imagined a terrified girl at the jewellery shop looking at a gorilla who wanted to buy jewellery. (L.I.D.[author]: Akagi can be frightening when he wants to be, ne?)
"Here, let me help you, anata…(dear)"
"Hai." said Yumi, as she felt the cool metal encircle her neck.
"Now, with that done, let me give you something else too!" teased Akagi, as he proceeded to give Yumi a kiss on the cheek with his lips still with cream.
"Yamete! (Stop)" cried Yumi playfully, half resisting.
By the time they had finished playing, and teasing one another, both their faces got covered with the cake, and the evening ended, on a sweet note.
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(Ryonan High basketball court, after a few days later)
"ASSEMBLE!"
Everyone on the court assembled to where coach Taoka-sensei was.
"Listen up boys! We will be having our first practice game, with Shohoku High School soon, and I want you all to work hard, and beat them! That means that you'll not only have to stay back late, you'll be coming back to school on Saturdays! Is that understood?" shouted the coach.
"HAI!"
/Kuso. How the hell am I going to tolerate it? / Thought Uozumi, clenching his fist. And then he looked up to the bleachers where Yumi was sitting. Noticing Uozumi looking at her, Yumi smiled back.
/I will… Somehow…No matter what it takes…/
Team Ryonan trained very hard, and the day of the match grew near. And on the day of the match, it was a win for Ryonan High, and Akagi was burning with dissatisfaction. Yumi was internally torn to whom she should cheer for, for she was very close to both Uozumi and Akagi. After the game, Yumi called Akagi on his mobile phone.
"Nori-kun, I'm sorry you lost the game…"
"Aa. Don't worry about it!! I'm sure we'll win the next time! Daijobu desu!"
"Hai, I'm sure you will…"
However, the sight of Uozumi approaching Yumi from the end of the corridor interrupted their conversation.
"Nori-kun, I have to go, talk to you soon, all right?"
"Hai, Mi-chan. Miss you…"
"Same here." Replied Yumi as she hung up the phone.
"Who was that?" asked Uozumi.
"Just a pal, Jun-Jun… Omedetou on winning the game!" smiled Yumi. /That was close… God knows what Jun-Jun would do if he knew I was talking to Akagi, the guy he just beaten at the game a few minutes ago! I can't let Nori-kun receive more pain from the loss! /
"Aa. Ano, would you like to join the team for a bite to eat?" Uozumi asked, blushing, pointing to the rest of Team Ryonan that were making their way to the bus that was going to send them for supper after the match.
Yumi smiled, and nodded.
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(At the restaurant)
"Hora, hora! My appetite is so big! I feel like eating a cow!" said a member.
"Ano, I think you mean a horse…" said another member.
Putting in a coin for the jukebox, Ikegami smiled. /About time I push the two of you together, my friend. / And the tune of "Crush" by Mandy Moore began to play in the background.
"Hora, Big Jun, (L.I.D.[author]: Imagine a typical Japanese speaker pronouncing that as: 'Biggu Jun') this song's for you and Yumi-chan." Ikegami snickered, telling his best friend to take notice of the music being played.
For one second, Uozumi only had a look of utter terror. /Did you tell anything to Mi-chan? /
Ikegami only smiled, and shook his head.
(L.I.D.[author]: Please take note of what I wrote beside the lyrics with the ^ sign, to see what happens to them okie? Arigato!!!)
Mandy Moore - title: Crush
You Know Everything That I'm Afraid Of ^Uozumi looks at Yumi, looking over the menu^
You Do Everything I Wish I Did
Everybody Wants You Everybody Loves You
I Know I Should Tell You How I Feel
I Wish Everyone Would Disappear ^Uozumi glared at Ikegami, whom shrugged, smiling^
Every Time You Call Me I'm Too Scared To Be Me
And I'm Too Shy To Say
Ooh I Got A Crush On You ^Uozumi looks at Yumi, eating fries^
I Hope You Feel The Way That I Do
I Get A Rush
When I'm With You ^Yumi then feeds Uozumi a French fry, and he blushes madly.^
Ooh I've Got A Crush On You
A Crush On You
(Uozumi remembers all the antics Yumi and he got into)
You Know I'm The One That You Can Talk To
And Sometimes You Tell Me Things That I Don't Want To Know
I Just Want To Hold You
And You Say Exactly How You Feel About Her ^for Uozumi's case it's a Him? But he don't know about Akagi^
And I Wonder Could You Ever Think Of Me That Way ^Uozumi looks more at Yumi^
Ooh I Got A Crush On You
I Hope You Feel The Way That I Do
I Get A Rush
When I'm With You
Ooh I've Got A Crush On You
A Crush On You
Ooh I Wish I Could Tell Somebody
But There's No One To Talk To, Nobody Knows
I've Got A Crush On You
A Crush On You, I Got A Crush
^Uozumi could only look as Yumi stuffed her face with her burger, being quite cute while eating^
You Say Everything That No One Says
But I Feel Everything That You're Afraid To Feel
I Will Always Want You, I Will Always Love You ^Uozumi blushed at this set of lyrics^
I've Got A Crush
Repeat chorus
(End of song)
While the music was playing in the background, the party was in full swing, drinks were flowing ceaselessly, (L.I.D.[author]: Non-alcoholic though!!!) food was everywhere, and conversation was rampant about the win against Shohoku High. It was a time of happiness for Ryonan High. And it was also, for Uozumi Jun. He had just won a game against Shohoku High, was having a good time, and had Yumi, who was kawaiily eating her meal, his class partner and best friend, was making a lot of noise with the other basketball members, by his side. What else can a giant ask for?
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Several months flew by…
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(24th December)
-Ring! Ring! Ring! (Nokia Slam Dunk Ring Tone)
"Moshi moshi, Kuna desu…" mumbled Yumi answering her mobile phone. /Who the hell calls me up at such an ungodly hour? / Thought Yumi. "Who's this?"
"Ohayo, Mi-chan… Did you miss me as much as I miss you on this beautiful morning?" chuckled a deep male voice. "I'm glad I'm the first to hear your -sweet- voice on Christmas Eve!"
"Nori-kun!!! Hai, I missed you a lot! Huh? Sweet voice, my foot! (L.I.D.[author]: I would have said: 'my ass', but it wouldn't be befitting for Yumi, now would it? :p ) How dare you wake me up from a sweet dream at this ungodly hour!" Yumi playfully scolded Akagi.
"Oh? What exactly were you dreaming about?" asked the gentle giant, amused. "Ungodly hour? It's already nine o'clock in the morning!" Akagi sweat dropped.
"Mmmm…" Yumi mumbled, stretching herself fully to make herself awake, before giving her Takenori an answer. "Just dreaming about what our first Christmas together would be like…" replied Yumi, playing with the precious silver pendant around her neck.
"Hai, so was I…" Akagi admitted slowly. /Thank goodness she can't see me blushing over the phone! / Thought Akagi.
"Demo, Nori-kun… you KNOW we won't be able to spend Christmas together this year…" Yumi said sadly.
"Hai…I know that…" Akagi said sadly as well, playing with the coil of the telephone.
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(=^_^=) Meow!
Mainime-san: ^Sweat drop^ They're both kawaii ne? ^_^ Arigato gozaimasu, and please come back to view my fics again!
Mitsui no Miko-chan-san: It does, doesn't it? I see the both of them for the gentle giants that they are… So, even if a majority thinks they're not good looking, they can sweep me off my feet anytime! (And literally too!) Please come back again soon! ^_^ *hugz*
Nellie-san: Hope you like this chapter! ^_^
Fehrocious-san: *giggles* You'd have to ask Yumi who she's going to choose. ^_~
Yuuki-san: Arigato! Will be going for the actual basic theory test for driving soon! *crosses fingers*