Thank You

Author's rantings and ravings: I hate exams. They can join the Rukawa brigade in hell.

Thank you:

Tensaispira: Waah!! Lucky....i'm not allowed to do that..................



Part 14: Defeat

"Last point!"

Rukawa stole the ball from Kiyota and passed it to Sendoh. He and Maki struggled, Sendoh trying to get free and pass while Maki was trying to stop him from doing so.

"Pass here!" Aya ran towards him, ready for the ball. Fujima followed hotly behind. Suddenly she stopped and jumped backwards.

"Now!"

Sendoh trusted her and threw it. Maki missed. "Get it, Fujima!" he yelled.

Aya saw Fujima running for the ball. Calculating mentally, she ran and jumped.

Catching the ball, she made for the basket.

Fujima followed closely, admiring her speed. She's as fast as me, maybe even faster, he thought. So is her mind and reaction.

She jumped. So did he. The ball was ready to be thrown from her hands, but Fujima saw it and stretched a hand out. He could block it; he will, it's possible...

The ball flew, but...

Rukawa!

He had jumped a little later, and upon receiving the ball from her, slammed it in the basket.

All three fell to the ground at the same time. Maki placed a hand on his forehead. They were beaten...





"Good game, all," Aya said to Maki, Fujima and Kiyota. She held an ice-cold can of soda to her neck. The others were doing the same. They also murmured the same.

A sudden spasm of pain crossed her features and she doubled up, clutching her left arm.

"Aya! Are you all right?" Sendoh said worriedly. Rukawa was already kneeling next to her, gently prying the arm away. The other three stood aside, giving Rukawa all the light he need.

"I'm okay. Don't worry." She assured them. Neverless they could hear her gritting her teeth when Rukawa felt for any abnormalities. He eased up on the pressure he applied on her arm.

"Nothing." He said quietly. Of course there was nothing. It wasn't a physical injury that gave her the pain.

"See? Thanks a lot."

He understood the other reason and nodded inperceptively.





After she took a shower and changed, Aya helped Tomoko set out the drinks. By then it was nine in the evening. Sendoh was still bathing, having watched tv straight after he came back with her.

She was wearing a black but thin sweater, the collar folded down. The jeans she was wearing had two silver white streaks on the front of each pant leg, low-waist cut and a leather string was threaded through and tied together, in place of buttons. Tomoko was wearing a blue blouse, sleeves rolled to her elbows. She wore a plaided skirt which reached to her knees. When Aya commented on her clothes, she blushed.

"You look nicer," Tomoko replied.

"Hahz."

Sendoh bounded down the stairs. He was dressed normally, but...

"You gelled your hair quite a bit more than usual, didn't you?"

He shrugged and grinned. "I bet you both will be a hit in the party."

"Nani?"

He walked over to Aya and placed an arm around her waist. "Heey. Wanna get alone later?" He asked in a seductive tone.

He received a punch from Tomoko, then his foot hurt.

"ONEE-chan! That's MY friend you're talking to!"

"Watch it, pervert."





The people were coming in fast. Aya and Tomoko had to run about, until Aya suggested Tomoko stay at the door to greet the guests. She could handle the rest herself, and anyways if she needed help, she knew where Sendoh was.

Tomoko was fine with the arrangements. After the flow slowed to a trickle, she could help too. And there actually wasn't much to do anyway.

So after awhile, Aya found herself wandering about, seeing people enjoying themselves. There's Sendoh; a faint smell of his brand of gel hung in the air. Let's go see what he is doing.

He was playing Nintendo with three other boys. She looked closer. The game was Super Smash Bros., a game she played often enough back in the States.

Free-for-all. Sendoh was kicking everyone's ass.

"I'll take over the last, fine with everyone?" she asked.

They grunted. Sendoh looked up briefly. "You play?"

"Yoshi is air-walking. Yea."

He looked back at the screen and pressed two buttons. His character, Link, threw a bomb at him and Yoshi flew to the corner of the screen. A flash of light appeared with words from that corner before Yoshi disappeared. The guy controlling Yoshi groaned. "Kuso..." He handed the controller to her. "Good luck, Ayra. He's the pro at this."

Aya held the controller, her hand getting used to it quickly. "Thanks."

"No problemo. Lookin' great." The guy disappeared.







I haven't written any more than this.......because of...*ta-da- DA!*...exams! upload one chappie next week...i think....