Author's Note:
This chap is credited to my good friend ice-chan coz she's the one who made this chappie… I owe you… thnxx…..
Disclaimer: don't sue… don't own slamdunk and yua…..
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' ' = Thoughts
" " = Dialogues
Kaede was on his way home when something caught his eyes. He saw his sister and basketball rival walked in the arcade center. He tensed, ' I don't like this. I DON'T NEED THIS.' He thought and decided to follow Mikako and Sendoh.
Inside the arcade center, Sendoh felt a slight blush as Mikako held his hand and pulled him around to examine the games. He's really starting to like this girl … a lot. 'I can't believe she's related to Rukawa. They're the complete opposite.' He thought thinking about the ever serious and Mr. Everyone-is-baka -except-me Rukawa. Suddenly, he was being pulled again by the enthusiastic Mikako into a small group of people gathering around a girl whose obviously too good for the computer game.
"Wow, she's so good." Mikako whispered to Sendoh.
"Yeah." Sendoh agreed, but his mind wasn't on the game, he's more aware of how close he's standing beside Mikako. He took advantage of her focus on the girl playing. He raised his arms as he faked a yawn. She didn't noticed. Slowly, he let his other hand fall on her shoulder. Closer… hesitating… But somebody pulled the back of his shirt.
"What the – "
He turned around and came face to face with… The Brother. Kaede pulled him away from Mikako to the side of the game machine. If looks could kill, Sendoh would be gasping for breath and lying on the floor by now. He tried to act friendly.
" Hey Rukawa, fancy seeing you here. What's up?" Sendoh asked, smiling.
"What are you doing with my sister?" Rukawa asked back, still glaring at Sendoh.
"I met her and we decided to hang-out. Is there anything wrong with that?" Sendoh asked with a slight frown.
"She's my little sister. I'm responsible for her and she can't go out with some guy without my permission." Kaede answered almost threatening.
Sendoh smirked. "Rukawa, Mikako is not a small child anymore. She can do what she wants without your permission."
"That's where you're wrong." Kaede hissed.
---*---
Natsumi barely noticed the people watching her play, except Shohoku's ace player, Rukawa. 'What's he doing here? Is he watching? No, he looked pissed with that other guy and –'
"GAME OVER"
"Ack!" she exclaimed. The scores flashed at the screen and she was about two points below the highest scorer. Defeated, she bowed her head and felt the need to blame someone. That's when she turned to Kaede.
She stood up and walked towards the two boys beside the game machine. "You jerk!" she yelled at Kaede, who was startled at her sudden appearance. "What are you doing here? Can't you take your fight somewhere away from me?"
Sendoh, who doesn't care as to why Kaede knows the girl decided that it's the right time to escape. Kaede didn't noticed Sendoh and turned to the girl who's been making him confused lately. "What do you want?"
"A lot of things." Natsumi replied. "I want you, pretty boy, to keep your distance. Ok?"
"Pretty boy?"
Natsumi blushed, 'I called him pretty boy?', she thought and then said out loud. "Whatever."
Kaede crossed his arms infront of his chest. " So you want me to stay away?"
"Yes!"
"Why?"
"It's none of your business."
"Interesting answer." Kaede said, amused.
"It's none of your business." She repeated.
They held a glaring contest. No one spoke for a few minutes until Kaede.
"Fine."
"Fine!" Natsumi echoed, then turned around and stomped out of the arcade.
Meanwhile, while Kaede and Natsumi burn each other with their eyes, Mikako was looking around for Sendoh. He suddenly appeared beside her.
"Where have you been?"
He was careful not to glance at Kaede, "Uh, sorry." He smiled sheepishly. "Someone I knew rudely pulled me to one of the games."
"Oh, ok. But let's go back. I want to meet that girl. I heard she's also new in Shohoku." She said already on her way to search the girl.
Sendoh panicked, he remembered that that certain girl was currently talking - er. ... arguing with Kaede.
"Uh, no!" he reached for Mikako's arm, "I heard she was waiting for her boyfriend, so let's leave the lovers alone."
"Well…" she hesitated, looking around for the girl and her 'boyfriend'.
Sendoh switched tactics. "Hey, do you want to go for an ice cream? My treat!"
Mikako smiled, "Ok!"
Sendoh let out a sigh of relief and escorted Mikako out of the arcade.