1 Even Foxes Fall in Love

By: Abyssynian Sword

Chapter 4

A few weeks later, Kaoru received a letter from the TBAA (Tokyo Basketball

Association for Amateurs) She went inside the living room and opened it. The TBAA

wanted to invite her for a documentary of her basketball career. The letter said she is

requested to visit their office to talk with the district's head coach. Kaoru dropped the letter when her mother entered the room. Mrs. Megami picked it up and read it.

The latter frowned. "You know, I don't like you to have anything to do with basketball

anymore." Mrs. Megami said. "But mother, it's just an interview." Kaoru argued.

"I don't care if it's just an interview, it's bad enough that you have basketball for your

gym class, this__" Mrs. Megami said looking at the letter. "This is too much." Kaoru

stood up. "Okaasan, please, they'll ask me a few questions, that's all." Kaoru pleaded.

"And- and no matter how much I wanted to-" Kaoru started. "I- I know I can't play basketball the way I used to- before." She finished lamely. Mrs. Megami exhaled deeply.

She sat beside Kaoru and stroked her hair. "I know how much this means to you but you

must know your condition right now." Mrs. Megami explained. Kaoru sniffed. " I know,

but will you please give me this chance?" Kaoru begged. Mrs. Megami nodded approvingly. "Just promise me you won't stress out yourself." "O mother, thank you."

Kaoru said as she hugged her.

TOKYO BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION FOR AMATEURS

The sign read. Kaoru walked in the big building astonished by the number of trophies and medals on the main hall. She walked towards the receptionist and asked where the office of the head coach is. The receptionist gave her the directions. "May I know who you are?" the receptionist asked. "It's Kaoru Megami of Shohoku High." She replied. "Ms.

Megami, sensei is waiting for you." The receptionist said with a warm smile. "Arigato."

Kaoru replied then she went on the hallway.

Kaoru knocked on the door. "Come in." a voice called. Kaoru entered the room. Inside is a good looking man looking over a stack of papers. "Um- Ohayo Gozaymasu, atashi wa Kaoru Megami." The new arrival said. The good looking

man looked at her. "Ohayo Kaoru, I'm Tokairin sensei, head coach of the TBAA." The coach said as they shook hands. "If you would please-" Tokairin gestured on the chair.

"A-arigato." Kaoru stammered. The coach cleared his throat. "You must be surprised upon receiving our letter." "We saw the video of the practice game your team had with Shohoku and the rest of your games when you were still in Kingetsu." The coach continued. "The coaches are impressed by your performance, if you don't know TBAA

conducts a documentary of selected basketball players every year and you are chosen to be on our documentary this year." The coach finished. "What do you say?" the coach asked. Kaoru was surprised. She opened her mouth then closed it again. "I know you need some time to decide." Coach Tokairin said. "Please come back after one week and let us know your decision." The coach said as he closed his lab book.

Kaoru went out of the coach's office feeling confused. She was too shock to say anything when the coach made the big announcement. But deep down, her heart is jumping for joy. "I've finally got my chance." She said. But she didn't know what to do. TBAA will probably ask her to play with better players to prove her worth.

What if she gets hurt? What will her mother say? Maybe she won't be able to play again.

I have to decide. Kaoru told herself. She was so busy of thinking of excuses while walking on the hall that she bumped into a young man. "Um- gomen nasai." Kaoru apologized. The young man looked at her. "Kaoru, what on earth are you doing here?"

He asked. "Ru-rukawa, what about you? What also are you doing here?" she asked.

Rukawa took a sip of his soda. " So you have been invited too." He said. "Yeah, but I don't know, I'm not sure…" Kaoru's voice trailed off. "I've seen your games in Kingetsu in the video tapes Tokairin sensei showed me." Rukawa said. Kaoru's face turned red. "I didn't know Kingetsu submits those tapes to big basketball associations." Kaoru said. "You play great." Rukawa said. "Um-thanks." Kaoru replied.

"Will you accept their invitation?" Rukawa asked. Kaoru looked on the ground. "I-I don't know, I have to confirm with my mother first." Said Kaoru. "I won't give up this opportunity if I were you, you may not get this chance again." Rukawa said. Kaoru stood up. "Suimasen, Rukawa-kun, I have to go." Kaoru said as she ran out of the restaurant leaving Rukawa totally confused.

Kaoru closed the door in her room. She collapsed on her bed and cried. "Why? Why does this have to happen to me?" Kaoru asked. If she accepted Coach

Tokairin's offer, her classmates and friends will surely be happy to see the documentary.

"But what if-what if- they saw the accident?" Kaoru asked. "What if they discover I have scoliosis?" she contnued. "The junior high star basketball player was just a dream." Kaoru said. "If only- if only-" she sobbed the whole night and finally fell asleep. Kaoru woke up early the next morning. Her eyes are still red from crying. But she've made a

decision: she's going to turn down Tokairin's offer.

The next morning, the students in Shohoku are still talking about the girls' practice game with the basketball team. Haruko is in the middle of a big mob

of students when she saw Kaoru passed by. Haruko stood up and excused herself from her classmates. "Ohayo, Kaoru-san." Haruko greeted. Kaoru just stared on empty space. Haruko placed her hands in front of Kaoru. "Kaoru- dono." Haruko called. "Hai.' Kaoru greeted. Haruko sat on the chair beside her. "What's on your mind?" Haruko asked. "Um, what do you mean?" Kaoru replied. "You seem to be thinking about something really important." Haruko observed. "Nandemonai." Kaoru replied with a smile. "Are you sure?" Haruko asked with concern. "Hai." Kaoru replied.

After school Kaoru went straight to the library. After a few hours, she decided to leave. On her way home, she passed by the park. The night is windy. Nothing can be heard on the streets except for sound of the vehicles on the nearby freeway. As Kaoru walked to the park, she can hear the sound of a ball being dribbled.

"Who could it be?" Kaoru asked herself. A guy Kaoru's age is in the court. He dribbled the ball made a fake then made a successful lay-up. It didn't take long for Kaoru to recognize him.

Rukawa made another jump shot. Two more. He said to himself.

He got the ball again. It went in. But on the last shot, the ball bounced off the ring and it hit the ground. "Darn." He muttered. Rukawa is about to get the ball when he realized that someone already picked it up. "Do it again Rukawa-kun." The person said. "That voice." He whispered. The person stepped forward and the light shone on her face.

"Kaoru." Rukawa said. Kaoru passed the ball to him. Rukawa bended, made an arch and tossed the ball. Swish. "Been staying here all afternoon?" asked Kaoru. Rukawa nodded.

"You really play basketball with a strong heart." Kaoru commented. Rukawa made another shot. "Don't you?" he asked. Kaoru was a little taken aback by what he said.

"Ah- you know, I used to like basketball a lot when I was young but not anymore."

Kaoru lied. "Is that so?" Rukawa made another shot. "I decided basketball's not really

my thing and besides it's not much of a girl sport." Kaoru explained. "So what about the invitation of the TBAA?" Rukawa asked. Kaoru looked on the ground. "Um- I won't accept it." She said. Rukawa made another shot. He got the ball again and glared icily at Kaoru. "Coward." Rukawa told her. "Ah- what do you mean Rukawa-kun?" Kaoru asked. Rukawa looked straight into her eyes. "If you're going to act like that, I guess you don't deserve to be a basketball player after all." Kaoru was so taken aback by his words.

"Ah- I don't know what you're talking about." She said. "Go home and stay in your room if you're not strong enough to live with the ideals of the sport you loved so much." Rukawa snapped. Kaoru's eyes are filled with tears. "I never thought__ I thought__ you___ " Kaoru stumbled for words. "I never thought you'd talk trash like that Kaede Rukawa." Kaoru said as she ran home.

The next day, Haruko went to the hospital for a medical examination. On her way out of the doctor's office, she passed by the clinic of an osteologist. The door is open so Haruko couldn't help but overhear the conversation inside. "I told her she can't play basketball, but now here is another invitation from TBAA, I don't think she should accept it." A woman's voice said. "Kaoru, you know

that you're not allowed to do so much high-impact activity like basketball." Said a male voice. "But can't you give me this chance? I won't be joining any games in high school until I get rid of my back brace and that can take years, but for now please?" a female voice begged. Someone cleared his throat. "We'll see, based on your condition for the next few weeks." The male voice said. "Hai, arigato sensei." Replied the woman's voice.

Haruko ducked behind the hospital benches as the two women got out of the doctor's office. No mistake, the younger girl was Kaoru and the woman is Mrs. Megami. Haruko watched them as they got into their car until they finally left the hosptial. Haruko stood up from where she was hiding. "Kaoru has a back problem?" she asked to herself. "Is that the reason why she's acting so strange lately?" Haruko asked herself in the empty hall.

End of Chapter 4

AN: So, what do you think? Please review. Comments and suggestions are welcome at

mimi_aya_sakura@hotmail.com