Eighteenth chapter! Yep, the day of the game has finally arrived. I think most of you will bean me up for delaying it *pales at the thought* but it's here! So please save your knives and axes for other times. As usual, I hope you enjoy this. : D
Leika: I've prepared my will. Thanks for the advice! As a matter of fact, I'm even dressed in bomb-proof clothes with a bullet-proof helmet on my head. Let the Sendoh-Rukawa war begin! (actually, make that basketball-proof helmet – both guys can aim well!!)
Tiran: Arigato! I will try my best to impress you. : ) *quickly thinks if it's sane to make such a promise*
Kka: stop changing your name!! I'm getting confused!!! ;P So glad you're back. And NO! There will be NO incest! *stares at kka sulkily* what on earth made u think I'll do that? BTW, I took Akima's name from Titan A.E. I didn't know F. Fantasy had one too…
Fiery Ice: Thank you. *beams* Why is it hard for you to get a PC? *scratches head curiously*
Sll: Ya, exams over – happy sikit lar… but now I have to face something even worse – THE RESULTS. I'm thinking about relocating to Perak where my parents won't be able to find me. : ) I dunno if this is too late, but good luck for ur PMR! (that reminds me, tomorrow, I got CUTI becuz of your PMR! Ha ha ha!)
Silhouette Panther: Thank you. : ) BTW, I am really waiting for your updates, good comrade. The holidays are approaching, and I am going to be bored to death. *hint hint* Maybe somebody here could like, write more fics *nudge nudge* and keep me preoccupied… ^___^
Mimi: Thanks. Who am I going to support? That's a TOUGH question. I'll go meditate for a hundred years and tell you when I find the answer, OK? ^__^ I hope you'll read more too. : )
Renei: I like my pen name! Now that exams are over, it fits me! What do you mean ur making a mistake by making a Rukawa-OC-Sendoh story?? *looks scandalized* WHY?? What's wrong with Rukawa-OC-Sendoh? PS: Hey, what's your story anyway? How come you didn't recommend it to me *turns away with a hurt expression* Joking! You don't have to if you don't want to. : )
Frack: Hopeless hentai… ha ha ha! I have to agree with you there!
Yoriko: *still stares at Mr. Hanashi sympathetically* Thanks! Am continuing! *waves at yoriko*
Maemi: Chapter's here! Yeah, I bet Rukawa will be surprised too – imagine that.
Choco no baka: Hello, choco-no-baka-san! When I saw nothingtodo-san, I burst laughing and couldn't stop! Ha ha! The main character's back in the limelight. : ) Missed him, didn't ya? And no, I am not sincere. Thanking the reviewers is just part of my plan to conquer the world! Muahahaha! : ) Heh heh. I've got a brain the size of a pea too, only smaller.
Joy: Good! Both our exams are over! We should celebrate, Joy-san! I'm glad u like the way Akira is in this fic, though he's a bit hentai – but a good one!! Somehow, hentai-ness suits him, don't u think?
Reika Zelon: Wha! THREE stories! You're a champion. Sorry for me mistaking you as Reiko! Your names are quite close! Gomen! Anyway, enjoy this chap!
Sakura Rui: *narrows eyes at Sakura* I think you have plans for Sendoh-san and Akima-san in that devious head of yours… If I were to put them together, I think not only will Rukawa freak out, but also Mr. Hanashi and Mrs. Hanashi and not to mention Sendoh's mom and his team mates and … :D
Aianne: That's a nice way to spell a name. : ) I should name characters in those complicated spellings too! Thanks for reviewing!
Reiko: Thanks. : ) I'll answer your second question: Think of Sendoh in a sort of American way – no boundaries I-am-free guy. He's not exactly the proper, stiff gentlemen. He's a bit carefree and shows his affections rather carelessly. : ) That kiss was just an innocent one. Something your brother would do to you to either a) annoy you or b) charm you. My little brother hugs me, and I simply melt… The other two questions? *bolts* sorry, not available for comment. Find out!
Eighteenth chapter
The place was buzzing with people from all sorts of categories. Grandmothers and grandfathers, who probably had a grandson playing or maybe didn't have anything else to do, fathers and mothers, sitting quietly watching the area and their kids, young people, young couples, those who enjoyed basketball and those who came to watch their friends, little kids erupting with tantrums at the long wait and babies –
What the hell are the babies here for?? Kaede Rukawa snorted, staring around, his eyes carefully searching the crowd. And where the hell is she??
"Team! Gather around!" boomed the captain, with the manageress at his side, ever ready with her paper fan. "Sakuragi! What are you doing?? Come here! No, Haruko cannot sit with us. Leave the poor girl alone. Rukawa! Rukawa!"
With a vicious oath, he turned from his engrossing treasure hunt and grumpily trotted over to where the team crouched to hear the strategy-of-the-day. He vaguely heard his fellow redhead teammate say something about how a genius can win without strategies. "Idiot." He retorted, provoked by the annoyance bubbling inside him (but mostly unable to stop the habit). "Your one and only knowledge of running without using your brain and embarrassing the team can barely score us half a point."
"What did you say??"
"You heard what I said."
"Why, Rukawa, you stupid, brain dead fox %&!*()#&()!^%$#!…"
"Wow, this is a LOT of people." Akima enthused (properly dressed) as she followed her father and stepbrother (whom she jokingly calls: Step-bother). "I would've mistaken it for a concert."
"You haven't seen Shoyo games," Akira laughed. "80 percent of the crowd happen to be their students. And they bring these empty bottles and bring the stadium down."
"I don't see many Shohoku students – not yet, anyway," Akima admitted, wishing she had thought of bringing something to make some noise. "Do Ryonan students come and watch the game?"
"Quite a large number. But they don't create much racket. They just watch quietly and cheer when necessary." Akira stopped when they reached a junction. "You and dad go ahead to the seats. I'll just go over here and meet the coach."
"Aw, does that mean I'm not going to see him get mad at you for being late?"
"Oh, he won't get mad." He winked. "Trust me."
Akima didn't doubt him, but he didn't have to know it. "I know better than that." Patting him on the shoulder, she wished him luck, and after he tried to persuade her about the cheerleading idea again and failed miserably, she left with her father to search for strategic seats.
She saw Ika and her friends, hissed "D.U.L.L.s" under her breath and carefully avoided being noticed. They were dressed in Shohoku's colour and were holding up banners glittering with Kaede's name. Not that he'll notice it, she thought wickedly, and then quickly sobered herself down.
She saw other people she knew, and avoided them too, just to be safe. So much about not seeing many Shohoku students earlier on.
"Dad, you're taking me to the Ryonan side." Akima muttered with some amusement as they approached the blue-clad crowd.
The look of surprise on her father's face was completely see-through. "Oh, really? Wow. I never noticed. Well, the Shohoku's side is at the other end, quite far don't you think? And since we're here already…"
"Honestly, Dad –"
"Look! Great seats! Right up front! Heaven-sent!"
Akima decided to give up. Sooner or later, she would've done so anyway. Besides, the front row over at the Shohoku's side was conquered by the D.U.L.L.s and other girls from the Rukawa Fan Club. She didn't belong there.
Sitting beside her father, she had to smile when he stretched out his limbs in all directions and settled down with one leg over hers and one arm around her seat. Her father used to spread himself out as much as possible when watching TV. He took up so much space that you had to sit at least a metre away to be safe.
The whistle sounded, and growing excited, she sat up straight. "Look! There's Akira!" her father was enthusiastically pointing. "That's him! That's him!"
"I know, Dad," Akima laughed. "He's really hard to miss."
When the names of the players were announced, Akima decided Ryonan didn't need much of their students for vocal support anyway. Most of the crowd roared at their names – especially Akira's – even though she bet they barely knew the players.
Then the Shohoku's players were announced.
Akima sat up even straighter, trying not to scream out loud, what with a hundred and more Ryonan students around her. She saw familiar members of the basketball team, spared a thought at how confident they looked. Then she saw him.
The cheers were just as loud as Akira's, but crazier when his name boomed out. Girls were practically falling over the railing in their mindless screaming and yelling. The only thing keeping Akima from attempting the very same thing was the memory of the 'incident' that caused her to blush and stay where she was quietly.
Did it really happen? Somehow, she felt as though she had dreamed it all. But it was just a mistake. He made that rather clear. Eyes softening, she smiled. He looks so good… even with that frown. Why's he frowning? He was so into this game. Isn't this what he's been waiting for? … such nice legs …
The game started on Ryonan's side. Akima watched with intense interest as her stepbrother and his teammates did extremely fast and excellent passes. "Wow." One of the guys had the ball with him – that's a funny hairstyle he's got, Akima mused – and looked ready to shoot when he did a full 180 degrees turn and passed the ball back to Akira.
"He's going to shoot!" Akima said breathlessly as Akira dashed up to the hoop in complicated movements.
"You bet!" her father echoed as the everybody around them stood up to cheer harder. "Shoot! Shoot! Shoot!"
"Go, Akira!" Akima yelled out together with the rest.
Akira released the ball – it looked like a precise shot – when one big hand came up and blocked it away. The Ryonan side groaned in disappointment while the Rukawa Brigade started their cheering ritual all over again.
Akima's jaw hung open. Devil's butt! Her head screamed at her. Did you see that?? Did you see that??
"Wow." She managed as the ball, possessively held by Kaede, bounced off to Shohoku's side of the court.
"Sakuragi! Ball coming through!!"
SMACK!
The side of the redhead's face (who was busy smiling up at a certain girl at the top seat a couple of seconds ago) turned as red as his hair as the ball bounced off and into the opponent's hands.
"IDIOT!" the captain bellowed as they quickly retraced their steps for defence, almost as scary as the previous captain. "What on bloody hell were you doing???!!"
Tiny drops of tears were shining at the side of the redhead's eyes. "Ouch…"
"STUPID FOOL!"
Kaede didn't even bother to waste his energy to sigh. That was, if anything, typical and absolutely expected. He once again took his defending position, narrowed his eyes as Sendoh advanced forward. So far, he had scored over 27 points, just a point over Sendoh. Not bad, but he'd still like a bigger gap in between, thank you very much.
What's he going to do? Fake, or not fake? Left? Right? His thoughts collided with each other as his eyes jerked along with his opponent's eye movements. Shit, he's gotten much better. Grimly he lowered himself even more and spread his arms further. But then, so have I.
He managed to stand in Sendoh's way when he jerked forward but was caught by surprise when his rival turned the other way round and jumped for a shot. Kaede had trouble finding a curse vile enough for himself as the ball went in and the crowd cheered appreciatively.
Sendoh spared a smile for him before turning to the crowd and waving furiously.
No need to smile, Kaede fumed quietly. I'll wipe it off soon enough.
"Learnt much yet?" Sendoh was yelling out to someone at the spectator's seat.
"Considerably!" Came the amused but excited reply. "That goal was fantastic, Akira!"
Kaede snorted, annoyed that Sendoh apparently didn't seem to care that the ball was going to be sent to Shohoku's side and was still busying himself with that girl he was screaming too. Flirting at a time like this, of all the –
Wait a minute – his mind blanked. I know that voice!
He looked up sharply and when his eyes focused in on Akima, everything else blacked out. She was here, all right. AT the Ryonan side, WITH the Ryonan people, and for heaven's sake, cheering on a RYONAN player. "What the hell-"
"Rukawa! Ball!"
In an incident almost matching the redhead's, the ball whacked his face and went offside. His head reeled, and for a brief moment, he understood what the redhead (who at the moment was too busy laughing) had gone through.
"Rukawa!" the captain cried out in anguish, pure helplessness on his face. "Not you too!"
When his eyes recovered, he saw Akima looking down on him with concern, only he didn't recognise the concern and mistook it for amusement. Damn you! He cursed silently, gathering his senses and dignity. Damn you to hell and back!
The ball was in Ryonan's hands now and once again, Akira scored.
He waved at Akima again, and she waved right back. Kaede could hear the blood hissing in his ears. He glared at Akima, who noticed it and faltered slightly, more out of surprise than fear.
"Swift attack!" his captain was saying. "Rukawa! Get up front, damn it! You think the ball can bounce itself into the hoop??"
He gave Akima another glare, which she received with wide eyes. So you're cheering for Sendoh, is it?, his furious brain lashed out. Well, I'll give you something to cheer about too!
The ball was passed to him. Watch, he directed it unconsciously to Akima, going against two burly Ryonan players and squeezing the ball in between them and into the hoop. It was fast, surprising and outrageously stylish.
The crowd whooped and cheered, and his fans had tears running down their faces.
He straightened himself from his jump and sent a challenging and smug look at Akima. She was staring at him with a face frozen with shock and awe. He could barely keep his ego intact. That's just the surface, Akima. Watch me go into deeper waters. Then you'll have something worth screaming about.
*grins devilishly* Hope you like that. BTW, just a short announcement. I've written another fic called 'Chains'. If you have time, check it out. : ) Ja!