1.1.1.1 Chapter VI: " Complications"
" Guess I'll see you home later, won't I?"
" Yup. See ya, oniichan!"
Raiyuu waved cheerfully at Sendoh as he entered their home. Turning back to the two cousins, she shrugged. " So where to now?"
Ishikawa barely heard her question. " Y'know, Raiyuu, your brother is really.something." There was a slight blush on her cheeks which gave a clue to Raiyuu to what that something was.
Raiyuu smirked. " Hey. Hands offa him." She paused as Rukawa finally unlocked the door and stepped aside to let both girls in. " No running after my brother."
Ishikawa smirked back at her. " I didn't say I was going to do that."
" That's what it looks like."
Rukawa intervened. " Tea?"
" No, thank you." Ishikawa mumbled under her breath as she flopped down on their couch.
Raiyuu shrugged. " Tea is fine."
Ishikawa smirked at her cousin. " Last time I heard, you didn't know how to make tea."
" You don't know everything." Rukawa said with such an air that left Ishikawa fuming. She couldn't understand sometimes how.annoying this cousin of hers could sound.
" Anyway," Ishikawa said, turning back to Raiyuu. " I don't like your brother. So don't go getting any ideas."
" Yeah right." Rukawa passed by the two girls as he proceeded to the kitchen. Ishikawa threw a pillow at his head for the unnecessary comment. The only thing he threw back at her was an ice pack and gauze bandages.
Ishikawa sighed and pressed the compress to her head, sighing with relief. " Thanks." All anger forgotten. Raiyuu shook her head. " You guys are weird."
" You only figured that out?" Ishikawa had a glint of mischief in her eyes. " Hey, can I ask how Sendoh-san ended up your brother? I don't get it." touching her head tentatively, she pressed the ice pack to her head again and cursed loudly. Raiyuu raised an eyebrow.
" We're half-brother and sister. My father met his mother, and the rest is history. Or something like that." Raiyuu grinned. " Why do you ask?"
" Never mind." Ishikawa let her hair down, letting it ripple softly around her shoulders. Slowly she wrapped the gauze around her head. " Just asking."
Raiyuu looked at her curiously. " You know how to do that thing?"
" Uh-huh," Ishikawa replied carelessly. " Done it a million times."
Raiyuu frowned. " You get in trouble that much?"
"." Ishikawa offered no answer.
Rukawa entered the room once more, carrying a teapot and two cups of tea. He set it down on the coffee table, pouring tea into the cup. Ishikawa watched him with interest as he offered Raiyuu a cup. " Sure she wouldn't die from it?"
Rukawa scowled at her. " No comment."
Just at that moment, Raiyuu choked on her tea, coughing. Immediately, both Kaedes stood up, watching their friend with both amusement and worry.half- worry.
" What?" Ishikawa asked. " What happened?"
Raiyuu's coughs finally subsided. " You guys crack me up," was all she said.
The two cousins looked at each other for a moment, scowled, and turned away from each other.
~*~
The news of what had happened to Ishikawa had spread like wildfire in Shohoku. People turned to stare as Ishikawa, now known as " The girl who beats up seniors", stalked the halls beside Mizuyuki, also now known as " Genki-ko!" started by Yohei Mito. Raiyuu, also now known as " Ryonan- lover", and Ruona, who was also called " The Ice Chick" would also hang out with them, not half the time, but all the time. The four were now regularly seen together, almost everywhere. Ishikawa was the tough one, Mizuyuki the happy one, Ruona the silent one, and Raiyuu the sarcastic-in-a-weird-sort- of-way one. And everything was well.
For a while, at least.
After school, one week after the first day. Raiyuu was practicing her lay- up shots by the basketball court, a few minutes before basketball club could start. Ishikawa sat by the benches, watching lazily as Raiyuu shot baskets, one after the other.
" Y'know, you should join the basketball team," she commented as Raiyuu shot another perfect shot.
" You're perfect!"
" Say what?" Raiyuu concentrated, and shot the ball. It missed by a mile. " That's an all boys team. What are you talking about?!"
" Oh." The smirk on Ishikawa's face was priceless. " Guess it slipped my mind."
Raiyuu scowled good-naturedly, and threw the basketball at her friend. " Shuttup."
Ishikawa grinned, catching the ball. " Heh."
Ruona shrugged. Sitting by the bench also, she was focusing on her homework. " Quiet." She stood up, slamming her book shut, and calmly walked out of the gym. She passed by Kogure as he entered the gym. He gave her a polite nod as he passed by her, taken aback by the rude greeting she had given him.
" That's a nice friend you have there," he commented to Ishikawa and Raiyuu. He had gotten to know them as they always stayed at the court after school. " Very.quiet." He finished, catching the ball Ishikawa threw to him.
" That's an understatement," Raiyuu muttered under her breath. She laughed as Ishikawa punched her on the shoulder.
Ishikawa looked at Kogure innocently. " Wanna shoot some balls?"
Kogure grimaced. " Err.not really." Recalling the time both girls had gone two-on-one on him.
" Maybe.some other time."
" Like never," Raiyuu said as the other basketball club members filed in the gym. She jumped off the bench, dragging Ishikawa with her. " C'mon, let's go watch from the sides."
" Oh, wait!" Kogure suddenly said. Both girls turned to see him running after them. Pulling a piece of paper out of his pocket, he fumbled with his glasses. " You're freshmen, right?"
" Yeah." Both girls exchanged looks. Why did he ask that?
" So, I'm supposing you know Ruona Tanizaki?" Kogure asked hurriedly. He squinted at the piece of paper, making sure he read it correctly. " The gymnast prodigy?"
" Actually," Raiyuu spoke. " We do know her."
" Why do you need to know?" Ishikawa interrupted. " Just curious."
He gave the two a sheepish grin. " It's a project," he explained. " Interview an accomplished person and ask how his goals were attained, information like that. And it happens I was assigned to her. Is she that good?" he pressed on. "I've heard a lot of good things about her.I was actually relieved she was younger than me.it would be a lot easier.hey, she might even treat me like her older brother.always wanted to have a little sister." he trailed off. " Oh, sorry. What was I saying?" Kogure cleared his throat. " Do you two know her?"
Ishikawa and Raiyuu just stared at him, deadpan. Then they pointed towards the exit.
Kogure frowned. " Excuse me?"
Ishikawa spoke first. " That girl you saw awhile ago?" she said slowly. " That was Ruona Tanizaki."
Kogure's jaw dropped to the ground.
~*~
" HI EVERYBODY!"
People turned and cringed. Others just waved back at her.
" Oi, Mizuyuki!"
" Hi!" Mizuyuki cheerfully waved back at them as she passed by.
" Genki-chan!"
Mizuyuki frowned, and skidded to a stop. " Who called me that?"
Silence. She saw Ohkuso edging towards the entrance of the gym.
" BAKA!"
Before Ohkuso realized anything else, he was on a heap in the floor. Mizuyuki skipped ahead once more, smiling happily.
" Haruko-chan!"
Haruko Akagi turned and smiled at the girl behind her. " Mizuyuki-chan!" She had grown to know and like the girl who sat behind her in Chemistry class. Haruko gave out her most encouraging smile yet. " How are you doing?"
" Fine." Mizuyuki skidded to a stop in front of Haruko. " And you?"
Before Haruko could answer, a shadow loomed in front of them. Mizuyuki and Haruko looked up to see the source.
It was a tall figure, clad in blue. His messy hair covering his dark eyes, he glanced at them for a moment before turning away, dribbling a ball. Mizuyuki had seen him once or twice only, but never talked to him. He was also known as.
" Rukawa-kun." Haruko sighed.
Mizuyuki frowned. " Rukawa who?"
" Oh!" Haruko turned to Mizuyuki. " That's Kaede Rukawa," she said, a blush spreading on her cheeks. " He came from Fujigaoka Junior High. He's in basketball club." she trailed away.
Mizuyuki's brow furrowed as she stared after his retreating figure. " I don't like him."
" Why?" Haruko was surprised. " What's there not to like about him?" she covered her mouth, just realizing what she had said.
Mizuyuki took no notice, though. " He's too.serious. Uptight," she finished. " He needs to loosen up." He's just like Ruona, she observed silently.
Haruko shrugged. " Well.I think he's fine the way he is." she said.
Mizuyuki shrugged. " Whatever." Suddenly, she brightened up again. " You gonna go watch basketball practice, like yesterday?" she had gone last time with Haruko and her friends, since she couldn't seem to find her own friends. It was fun.kinda, except for the fact she was banned from going even within five meters of the court by Haruko's brother. She always had to stay by the entrance. Life was never fair.
Haruko nodded. " I am. Join us again?"
" Okay!" Mizuyuki nodded vigorously. Now I can see what this Kaede Rukawa is made of.
~*~
Ruona settled by the edge of the wall, setting her books in her lap. Honestly, sometimes her friends could be so noisy at times. Sighing, she took in a deep breath. Maybe I'll be able to finish this thing here so I can work on my project at home. She opened her notebook and her lecture book. She got settled to copy the first answer down when a shadow loomed over her. A very big shadow.
Huh? Ruona looked up, squinting against the sunlight.
He was big, with a very muscular and sturdy build. His eyebrows were also knotted together in a frown, his lips curled up in dismay. He regarded her coolly. " Are you a friend of Kaede Ishikawa's?"
Ruona raised her eyebrows. " What would you care?" She slammed her book shut once more, and tried to walk away slowly. She knew danger when she saw it.
But she learnt escape was futile. The moment she tried to step away, people pressed into her from all sides. Huge people, leering at her silently. Ruona frowned. What did they want out of Kaede?
The huge man smiled, seeing the look on Ruona's face. " Let me repeat the question," he said slowly. "Do you know Kaede Ishikawa?"
Ruona frowned. " No," she finally said. " I don't."
" Are you sure?" he said softly. " Maybe you'd want to change your mind." there was something glinting in his right hand. Ruona peered at it closely. Was it.a knife?
Ruona spoke again. " No, I don't," she repeated loudly. " And even if I did, you have no business to do with her."
" That's what you think." The man said sharply. He stepped closer to Ruona, his dark eyes menacing. "Tell me again, where is she?"
Ruona refused to answer. She kept silent, just glaring at the man.
Finally, he spoke again. " Fine," he grunted. " Have it your way." He lifted a huge, meaty hand. Ruona eyed it closely. She could move away if he tried to hurt her-
" Don't lay a finger on her, Hotta," a voice warned. " Your business is with me, not with either of my friends."
Ruona looked up to see Ishikawa standing in front of them, frowning. Raiyuu stood at her side, her arms crossed, eyes narrowed.
Ruona shook her head. " Go away, Ishikawa," she said quietly. " These men are after you."
" I know." Ishikawa replied calmly. Stepping forward, she wagged a finger at the man named Hotta. "Come. Fight," she said simply.
Hotta scowled. " You're in trouble, freshman," he warned. " No one messes with Mitsui and his group." He laughed throatily.
Ruona's mind reeled. Mitsui? Who's.Mitsui?
AN: Hmmm...*thinks hard*
I'm not sure, but genki means something like 'happy', ne?
Ishikawa kinda has an interest in Sendoh...but not quite. Well, I think so. Maybe. Whatever! ^-^ I'm all mixed up. Just ask my friends.
R&R please! Comments? Mail them.
I don't own SD, just borrowing characters.
What was Mitsui's old group called again? And I don't know any of their names, except for Hotta...forgot who the rest were. Hehe, sorry.
" Guess I'll see you home later, won't I?"
" Yup. See ya, oniichan!"
Raiyuu waved cheerfully at Sendoh as he entered their home. Turning back to the two cousins, she shrugged. " So where to now?"
Ishikawa barely heard her question. " Y'know, Raiyuu, your brother is really.something." There was a slight blush on her cheeks which gave a clue to Raiyuu to what that something was.
Raiyuu smirked. " Hey. Hands offa him." She paused as Rukawa finally unlocked the door and stepped aside to let both girls in. " No running after my brother."
Ishikawa smirked back at her. " I didn't say I was going to do that."
" That's what it looks like."
Rukawa intervened. " Tea?"
" No, thank you." Ishikawa mumbled under her breath as she flopped down on their couch.
Raiyuu shrugged. " Tea is fine."
Ishikawa smirked at her cousin. " Last time I heard, you didn't know how to make tea."
" You don't know everything." Rukawa said with such an air that left Ishikawa fuming. She couldn't understand sometimes how.annoying this cousin of hers could sound.
" Anyway," Ishikawa said, turning back to Raiyuu. " I don't like your brother. So don't go getting any ideas."
" Yeah right." Rukawa passed by the two girls as he proceeded to the kitchen. Ishikawa threw a pillow at his head for the unnecessary comment. The only thing he threw back at her was an ice pack and gauze bandages.
Ishikawa sighed and pressed the compress to her head, sighing with relief. " Thanks." All anger forgotten. Raiyuu shook her head. " You guys are weird."
" You only figured that out?" Ishikawa had a glint of mischief in her eyes. " Hey, can I ask how Sendoh-san ended up your brother? I don't get it." touching her head tentatively, she pressed the ice pack to her head again and cursed loudly. Raiyuu raised an eyebrow.
" We're half-brother and sister. My father met his mother, and the rest is history. Or something like that." Raiyuu grinned. " Why do you ask?"
" Never mind." Ishikawa let her hair down, letting it ripple softly around her shoulders. Slowly she wrapped the gauze around her head. " Just asking."
Raiyuu looked at her curiously. " You know how to do that thing?"
" Uh-huh," Ishikawa replied carelessly. " Done it a million times."
Raiyuu frowned. " You get in trouble that much?"
"." Ishikawa offered no answer.
Rukawa entered the room once more, carrying a teapot and two cups of tea. He set it down on the coffee table, pouring tea into the cup. Ishikawa watched him with interest as he offered Raiyuu a cup. " Sure she wouldn't die from it?"
Rukawa scowled at her. " No comment."
Just at that moment, Raiyuu choked on her tea, coughing. Immediately, both Kaedes stood up, watching their friend with both amusement and worry.half- worry.
" What?" Ishikawa asked. " What happened?"
Raiyuu's coughs finally subsided. " You guys crack me up," was all she said.
The two cousins looked at each other for a moment, scowled, and turned away from each other.
~*~
The news of what had happened to Ishikawa had spread like wildfire in Shohoku. People turned to stare as Ishikawa, now known as " The girl who beats up seniors", stalked the halls beside Mizuyuki, also now known as " Genki-ko!" started by Yohei Mito. Raiyuu, also now known as " Ryonan- lover", and Ruona, who was also called " The Ice Chick" would also hang out with them, not half the time, but all the time. The four were now regularly seen together, almost everywhere. Ishikawa was the tough one, Mizuyuki the happy one, Ruona the silent one, and Raiyuu the sarcastic-in-a-weird-sort- of-way one. And everything was well.
For a while, at least.
After school, one week after the first day. Raiyuu was practicing her lay- up shots by the basketball court, a few minutes before basketball club could start. Ishikawa sat by the benches, watching lazily as Raiyuu shot baskets, one after the other.
" Y'know, you should join the basketball team," she commented as Raiyuu shot another perfect shot.
" You're perfect!"
" Say what?" Raiyuu concentrated, and shot the ball. It missed by a mile. " That's an all boys team. What are you talking about?!"
" Oh." The smirk on Ishikawa's face was priceless. " Guess it slipped my mind."
Raiyuu scowled good-naturedly, and threw the basketball at her friend. " Shuttup."
Ishikawa grinned, catching the ball. " Heh."
Ruona shrugged. Sitting by the bench also, she was focusing on her homework. " Quiet." She stood up, slamming her book shut, and calmly walked out of the gym. She passed by Kogure as he entered the gym. He gave her a polite nod as he passed by her, taken aback by the rude greeting she had given him.
" That's a nice friend you have there," he commented to Ishikawa and Raiyuu. He had gotten to know them as they always stayed at the court after school. " Very.quiet." He finished, catching the ball Ishikawa threw to him.
" That's an understatement," Raiyuu muttered under her breath. She laughed as Ishikawa punched her on the shoulder.
Ishikawa looked at Kogure innocently. " Wanna shoot some balls?"
Kogure grimaced. " Err.not really." Recalling the time both girls had gone two-on-one on him.
" Maybe.some other time."
" Like never," Raiyuu said as the other basketball club members filed in the gym. She jumped off the bench, dragging Ishikawa with her. " C'mon, let's go watch from the sides."
" Oh, wait!" Kogure suddenly said. Both girls turned to see him running after them. Pulling a piece of paper out of his pocket, he fumbled with his glasses. " You're freshmen, right?"
" Yeah." Both girls exchanged looks. Why did he ask that?
" So, I'm supposing you know Ruona Tanizaki?" Kogure asked hurriedly. He squinted at the piece of paper, making sure he read it correctly. " The gymnast prodigy?"
" Actually," Raiyuu spoke. " We do know her."
" Why do you need to know?" Ishikawa interrupted. " Just curious."
He gave the two a sheepish grin. " It's a project," he explained. " Interview an accomplished person and ask how his goals were attained, information like that. And it happens I was assigned to her. Is she that good?" he pressed on. "I've heard a lot of good things about her.I was actually relieved she was younger than me.it would be a lot easier.hey, she might even treat me like her older brother.always wanted to have a little sister." he trailed off. " Oh, sorry. What was I saying?" Kogure cleared his throat. " Do you two know her?"
Ishikawa and Raiyuu just stared at him, deadpan. Then they pointed towards the exit.
Kogure frowned. " Excuse me?"
Ishikawa spoke first. " That girl you saw awhile ago?" she said slowly. " That was Ruona Tanizaki."
Kogure's jaw dropped to the ground.
~*~
" HI EVERYBODY!"
People turned and cringed. Others just waved back at her.
" Oi, Mizuyuki!"
" Hi!" Mizuyuki cheerfully waved back at them as she passed by.
" Genki-chan!"
Mizuyuki frowned, and skidded to a stop. " Who called me that?"
Silence. She saw Ohkuso edging towards the entrance of the gym.
" BAKA!"
Before Ohkuso realized anything else, he was on a heap in the floor. Mizuyuki skipped ahead once more, smiling happily.
" Haruko-chan!"
Haruko Akagi turned and smiled at the girl behind her. " Mizuyuki-chan!" She had grown to know and like the girl who sat behind her in Chemistry class. Haruko gave out her most encouraging smile yet. " How are you doing?"
" Fine." Mizuyuki skidded to a stop in front of Haruko. " And you?"
Before Haruko could answer, a shadow loomed in front of them. Mizuyuki and Haruko looked up to see the source.
It was a tall figure, clad in blue. His messy hair covering his dark eyes, he glanced at them for a moment before turning away, dribbling a ball. Mizuyuki had seen him once or twice only, but never talked to him. He was also known as.
" Rukawa-kun." Haruko sighed.
Mizuyuki frowned. " Rukawa who?"
" Oh!" Haruko turned to Mizuyuki. " That's Kaede Rukawa," she said, a blush spreading on her cheeks. " He came from Fujigaoka Junior High. He's in basketball club." she trailed away.
Mizuyuki's brow furrowed as she stared after his retreating figure. " I don't like him."
" Why?" Haruko was surprised. " What's there not to like about him?" she covered her mouth, just realizing what she had said.
Mizuyuki took no notice, though. " He's too.serious. Uptight," she finished. " He needs to loosen up." He's just like Ruona, she observed silently.
Haruko shrugged. " Well.I think he's fine the way he is." she said.
Mizuyuki shrugged. " Whatever." Suddenly, she brightened up again. " You gonna go watch basketball practice, like yesterday?" she had gone last time with Haruko and her friends, since she couldn't seem to find her own friends. It was fun.kinda, except for the fact she was banned from going even within five meters of the court by Haruko's brother. She always had to stay by the entrance. Life was never fair.
Haruko nodded. " I am. Join us again?"
" Okay!" Mizuyuki nodded vigorously. Now I can see what this Kaede Rukawa is made of.
~*~
Ruona settled by the edge of the wall, setting her books in her lap. Honestly, sometimes her friends could be so noisy at times. Sighing, she took in a deep breath. Maybe I'll be able to finish this thing here so I can work on my project at home. She opened her notebook and her lecture book. She got settled to copy the first answer down when a shadow loomed over her. A very big shadow.
Huh? Ruona looked up, squinting against the sunlight.
He was big, with a very muscular and sturdy build. His eyebrows were also knotted together in a frown, his lips curled up in dismay. He regarded her coolly. " Are you a friend of Kaede Ishikawa's?"
Ruona raised her eyebrows. " What would you care?" She slammed her book shut once more, and tried to walk away slowly. She knew danger when she saw it.
But she learnt escape was futile. The moment she tried to step away, people pressed into her from all sides. Huge people, leering at her silently. Ruona frowned. What did they want out of Kaede?
The huge man smiled, seeing the look on Ruona's face. " Let me repeat the question," he said slowly. "Do you know Kaede Ishikawa?"
Ruona frowned. " No," she finally said. " I don't."
" Are you sure?" he said softly. " Maybe you'd want to change your mind." there was something glinting in his right hand. Ruona peered at it closely. Was it.a knife?
Ruona spoke again. " No, I don't," she repeated loudly. " And even if I did, you have no business to do with her."
" That's what you think." The man said sharply. He stepped closer to Ruona, his dark eyes menacing. "Tell me again, where is she?"
Ruona refused to answer. She kept silent, just glaring at the man.
Finally, he spoke again. " Fine," he grunted. " Have it your way." He lifted a huge, meaty hand. Ruona eyed it closely. She could move away if he tried to hurt her-
" Don't lay a finger on her, Hotta," a voice warned. " Your business is with me, not with either of my friends."
Ruona looked up to see Ishikawa standing in front of them, frowning. Raiyuu stood at her side, her arms crossed, eyes narrowed.
Ruona shook her head. " Go away, Ishikawa," she said quietly. " These men are after you."
" I know." Ishikawa replied calmly. Stepping forward, she wagged a finger at the man named Hotta. "Come. Fight," she said simply.
Hotta scowled. " You're in trouble, freshman," he warned. " No one messes with Mitsui and his group." He laughed throatily.
Ruona's mind reeled. Mitsui? Who's.Mitsui?
AN: Hmmm...*thinks hard*
I'm not sure, but genki means something like 'happy', ne?
Ishikawa kinda has an interest in Sendoh...but not quite. Well, I think so. Maybe. Whatever! ^-^ I'm all mixed up. Just ask my friends.
R&R please! Comments? Mail them.
I don't own SD, just borrowing characters.
What was Mitsui's old group called again? And I don't know any of their names, except for Hotta...forgot who the rest were. Hehe, sorry.
