After the game: Miyagi and Ayako…

Author's notes: I just realized it, I've gone almost ten chapters revolving around just one day… god I'm such a pathetic little creature. And the day hasn't even ended yet!!! Oh well, this is the next chappy, quite short actually, hope you like it.

~Ayako~

I blew a sign of relief as the session ended. Goodness! This was one hectic day. Surprises just kept popping up! And the biggest surprise of all, I, AYAKO, let Ryouta walk me home! You're loosing it Ayako…

"Weird day isn't it?" Ryouta commented languidly.

I gave a laugh, "Pretty much. But hey, at least we have Sugano and that tall bald boy…"

And weird day it was. I remember that Sugano Hiroshi coming in strong at the start of the first year introductions. He was a tall 6 ft. guy with brown hair and equally brown eyes. By coming in strong, I mean that he was boasting his ass of to the whole team that he was an MVP in junior high. Miyagi just muttered, "that's what Mistui was, and you know what happened to him?" to which Sugano curiously, yet stupidly, asked, "What?", "You'll end up being a toothless, cropped hair gangster!!!!!" which was of course, followed by loud raucous coming out of the throat. I'm sure Mitsui'd love to throttle Ryouta for that, but since he wasn't exactly there… I just used my trusty paper fan.

Another weird occurrence was Sugano's sister Umi… she seemed to know Sakuragi's gundam, heck, she even made a few comments about Sakuragi! Maybe she's one of the numerous myriad infinite innumerable women who dumped Sakuragi? Maybe she's just an old friend? Maybe she's one of the rumored girls who started liking Sakuragi instead of Rukawa? Maybe she's from a secret government agency out to destroy the world by pretending to be baskeball players friends!

You're getting weirder as you get older Ayako.

He looked up, seemingly pondering something "What was his name again? Hitsujiko… You know, now that I think of it Sakuragi might make fun of him…"

"He makes fun of everyone…" and then as an afterthought I added, "Shorty." I teased and poked his arm for effect.

"Aya-chan, you wound me!" he said and pouted dramatically. I grinned at his response. He was stomping like a child, albeit on him it looked adorable.

Sobering, I whispered, "Looks to me like a good year, captain." I found myself surprised at how that simple sentence got out, husky… and a bit seductive. Which I hope Miyagi wouldn't detect.

"I hope so…" but there was an inexplicable hesitation and uncertainty in this voice. I looked at him thoroughly, pondering for a moment on what his words meant. He surely can't have doubts now, can he? He may not be Akagi-sempai, but he'd really make a good captain, but I had to ask:

"Why the glum reply?" I asked.

He peered up at me hesitantly, slouched and put his hands in the pockets of his school slacks, in a soft and a bit uncertain voice he said, "It's just that I can't help but keep on thinking that last year was supposed to be our year, you know? Akagi was the captain this team was waiting for, and with the help of the rookies and Mitsui, I thought we had it in the bag…"

"But…" I asked him, hoping he'd reason something out. I wasn't used to this uncertain Ryouta. I wanted him to smile and say that everything will be okay. But I know better, I know him well enough to know that it really frightens him that he has this responsibility as a captain in leading his team to victory.

"But it wasn't Aya-chan, and the goal seems further out of our reach since Mitsui-sempai, Kogure-sempai and Akagi-sempai aren't here!" he gave me a furtive grin and said, " I guess what I'm trying to say is that I don't think I'm enough of a captain to lead this team to victory…"

Wow, talk about irony, I always thought he could lead any team to victory.

"This coming from you Miyagi…" I exclaimed.

He gave me a shy little boy look and said, " I guess I shouldn't be pelting you with all of my insecurities, huh. I'm sure you have something more important to think about…"

" No, it's not that Miyagi. I mean…" What did I mean? "you are a good captain Miyagi. You might not believe it now, but you have one of the attributes that Akagi had that made him a great captain."

Mischievously he grinned at me, imitated a doctor pondering something, put his thumb and forefinger on his chin, "And what might those attributes be? It surely can't be my height, or is it in looks…." He wiggled his brows at me for effect.

I whacked him in the head with my paper fan. "Baka, not that… I just wanted to say that you two have both the strength and determination to aim for the utmost peak. You don't aim for the best of eight, you aim at being the best of the best. And that determination will make you a great captain, Miyagi-kun."

**OOPS.**

I suddenly felt myself blush, I never call him that! I never call him Miyagi kun, or Ryouta… well maybe not out loud, in private or something. I cast a panicky look at him. Oh no, please don't let him realize that.

Too late, I saw a shy blush, a boyish grin, and a speculative grin in his eye, noting the fact that I called him Miyagi-kun. I suddenly saw it all fade simultaneous to the shouts. I quickly glanced at him, knowing the shouts were coming around the block. Around the block were my house was stationed, where my parents were.

I gazed at Miyagi, not wanting him to see what I've seen a dozen times.

I peered at him hesitantly and then said in the most convincing tone I could muster, "Miyagi, you should go home now, my house is near here anyway. I probably shouldn't trouble you any further." And gave smile, hoping it'd fool him.

It didn't.

"Aw, Aya-chan, a lady shouldn't have to walk all the way there all alone."

It's just one block dummy. Ugh!

"Look you can scurry on along, I'll just go on home." I made shooing gestures with my hand.

"But Aya-chan, it's dangerous out there, you could get hurt, a truck might run over you. Or some guys might harm you. Or a plane might crash right then and there on the ground you're walking on!"

Oooh boy… overly dramatic as ever

I looked around hoping to find a reason that he wouldn't see or hear the cacophony made by two extremely unadultlike adults.

**IDEA BULB LIGHTS*

I may regret this later but here goes…

MIYAGI

"I have cramps."

I felt myself exclaiming, "WHAT?"

I looked at Aya-chan, her eyes where flitting everywhere and she was wearing a pretty blush on her face.

"Cramps, Miyagi. You know…" She gave me a pleading look, and I gave her a confused one.

"ano… you know.. women… cramps… this time of month… go home quick… no need to bother bringing me there." She was stuttering it all out, and it took a while for me to get it.

I looked up at her, then looked at her saucer-eyed "Oh you mean…"

I stopped talking when she gave me a glare. I couldn't help but feel the hairs at my nape prick.

"Uh, yeah sure…" I, obviously embarrassed, looked down at my shoes and scuffled around a bit.

Then I looked at her, looked down again, and felt myself blush a bit, "Uh, yeah sure…" I repeated again, like the idiot I am, "Ja…" and then I turned around, scampered off, in hopes that I don't embarrass myself any further than this.

~~ ten minutes later ~~

I walked along the pavement in a rather busy Kanagawa shopping and food district and stopped at the corner and waited for the crossing light to turn green. My view was a bit distracted though by the sight of a fancy French restaurant slash café on the other side of the street. I wasn't bothered by its appearance or anything, but on what was in it… or rather, who was in it… Dressed in formal attire, I almost couldn't recognize the two people behind the glass window of the restaurant… and they both looked… cozy…

"Hanamichi… Trouvel…"

Author's end notes:

I'm mental… hopelessly mental

Hahahaha, I'm such an evil person… Ayako having cramps!!! :-) neways, nxt chapter would be a little date with destiny…

Although I'm a bit bummed by the fact that ff.net decided to take away the NC-17 fics, which more often than not are fairly decent and even romantic and uplifting. If you too don't want the NC-17 fics taken away pls read this letter and sign in on it, if you'd like.

Dear Friends,

I have just read and signed the online petition:

"Reverse the NC-17 Ruling on Fanfiction.net!"

hosted on the web by PetitionOnline.com, the free online petition

service, at:

http://www.PetitionOnline.com/KEEPNC17/

I personally agree with what this petition says, and I think you might

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signing yourself.

Best wishes,

Celeste D'Antoine