Thank You

Disclaimers: Aratayashi is mine, and thought I dearly wish it to be, Slam Dunk is not.

Author's rantings and ravings: SORRY!!!the com went bonkers and the file I saved was in there...thank god I saved it somewhere else too...

And I don't know who to pair her up with. ^^ how horrible of me. Just to tell you first, Mitsui is out. xP sorry...but I decided to put him as someone else...equally important...REALLY sorry about the long delay...thanks, reviewers....

Part 3: On the train

She stood quietly, looking out of the window. Mitsui stole a couple of glances at her. She was seventeen, but she looked much older. Maybe nineteen or so.

All of them took the train since Aratayashi's luggage was only a backpack and a fairly light and small suitcase. Other passengers looked at her openly. Mitsui didn't blame them. She looked foreign, albeit a pretty looking one at that. Kogure and Akagi were talking softly with each other and Ayako was sitting on a seat, with Ryota 'standing guard' over her. Aratayashi had declined sitting down, saying that she had sat down all the time during the ride and wanted to stand.

The train stopped and a couple of guys got in, pushing each other in a friendly manner. Mitsui looked at them. They look familiar...

Just then, a tall guy caught sight of Aratayashi and nudged his friend. He turned and seeing her, whistled. Soon most of the group was catcalling at her. She ignored them coolly.

Mitsui bristled at the intruders, but admired her coolness. Finally when one of them yelled something at her, he started to walk towards them. But a hand on his shoulder stopped him. He turned questioningly to her.

She smiled at him and then faced the group. "What did you say?"

They started jostling each other and one of them finally replied cheekily. "I said, want to join us? Blue Hair doesn't seem very sociable."

"Why should I?"

"You look like you could use some company. Can you dance?"

"Does that concern you?"

"I'll pay you if you'll dance for us."

"How much?"

"Depends on your dancing."

"My dancing depends on your money."

One of them with spiky hair whistled. "I like this girl. She knows how to drive a bargain."

"Thank you."

"So that means you will dance now for us?" One of them said hopefully.

She smiled at him. "Some other time. Maybe." She muttered under her breathe in English, "more like never."

Spiky smiled back. "I'll look forward to it."

She just waved back as her group got off the next stop. Mitsui was really fuming by now, and asked Aratayashi why she did not let him beat them up in a violently suggestive tone.

"No need to fight. Besides, you'll be outnumbered." She said matter-of-factly. "Did you know some of them? They were looking at you like as if they know you."

"Who, those boys back there?" Ayako joined in. "They're from Ryonan. One of our rival schools in basketball. The tall person with his hair in spikes is Sendoh Akira, sometimes called Ace's Pride."

"Sendoh Akira." She looked thoughtful at the name.

"Mother!" She flung herself into Mrs. Akagi's arms, yelling joyfully.

"Aya, my little angel Aya," Her mother started to cry, hugging her second daughter in a tight embrace. She kissed both wet cheeks and smiled widely at her new father. "Hello Papa!" She laughed. "Mother! I can't breathe!" Mitsui never saw her so happy before, but then, he just met her...

"We'll be going then, Mrs. and Mr. Akagi. Ja, Aratayashi-san," Kogure called. Seeing them about to leave, she wiggled out of her mother's arms. "Mom, Pa, can I follow them? Please?"

Her mother looked concerned. "But you're tired dear."

"I'm not! Really! Please?" she begged.

The two parents looked at each other.

She sat down next to Ayako on the bench, watching the others play. Akagi and his friends had changed to something more suitable for basketball. It seemed that Akagi, Kogure and Mitsui liked to return to their old high school and play with their old teammates and freshmen.

"Who is the vice-captain, Ayako?" she asked.

"Rukawa Kaede. Pretty cold, but he's a valuable asset to the team." She said proudly, "he's on a par with that Sendoh I told you about."

"You mean, he's the ace of Shohoku?"

Ayako nodded. "See, he's over there, about to make a dunk." She pointed to a dark-haired boy dribbling towards the basket. Aratayashi looked at him, and then her attention drifted to someplace else. She saw a red-head jumping up and down, shouting something about kitsune showing off, then after finding out his name was Sakuragi Hanamichi, she focused on someone else.

fairly long chpt today, ne? Basically, it sucks. Next chpt up sooner than it took for this...-.-"