Nineteenth chap!! Firstly, my apologies to all those who expected more game action. Gomen! I didn't see fit to put in any more stuff about the game – well, okay, actually, I had run out of ideas. :P And I'd also like to apologise for the length of this chapter – it's incredibly short, but I'll make it up by posting the next chapter in less than four days. Is that all right?? *looks at her readers anxiously*
Mimi: You really think Sendoh will fall for Akima?? Why is that? *question marks start popping* Aww, you're so sweet, defending all three hearts… *am so touched* T_T *notices that mimi laughed at the end of her review and wonders if mimi meant what she said…*
Ashes of angels: *watches grimly as ashes-of-angels hits Sendoh* Don't stop. : ) Yeah, you gotta hate Sendoh for making Rukawa look weaker! Grrrr! But you gotta love him for that too! *sighs*
Tiran: Thanks! Your most favourite?? *blinks* Whoa…*is stunned till speechless*
Choco_no_baka: You know, I'm getting fond of your nickname. : ) You conquered the world?? Already?? Oh, gosh, President of Earth with a name like Choco-no-baka!!! (He he) I hope you'll get influenced by me again and type more!!
Sakura Rui: Ha ha ha! Imagine that!
Maemi: Thanks! And good luck for your exams – hopefully, I'm not too late in wishing you that!!
Fiery ice: Thanks, fiery ice! I understand the siblings problem (I live with FOUR of them). But I usually win! Ha ha ha! Nway, yeah, I'm from Malaysia. How'd you know??? What does PMB stands for? Peperiksaan Menengah Brunei?? How come you're in Brunei? Did you move there?? *questions start pouring out of nothingtodo's mouth that her fingers cannot keep up to type it out…*
Fehrocious: Whoa… just like your name, you ARE ferocious! I can't believe you read all eighteen chapters at one go! *mouth drops open* Congratulations!
Renei: No, I'm not offended – just angry. (Kidding!) Ha ha! If you don't mind me asking, what's wrong with your sendoh-oc-rukawa??
Girl_sport17: No problem. Actually, now that exams is over and I only have two more weeks of school, I'll probably be updating a lot sooner than usual. : ) I doubt Kaede will have trouble impressing Akima.
Rukawa Joycie: *nothingtodo waits for Rukawa Joycie to finish damning her* Ha ha! Actually, to be honest, I did miss you, but what did you want me to do? Stalk you down and demand why you haven't been reviewing? I bet I'd scare you half to death! You know, I can't tell from your review if you were happy with the chapter or not *looks at Rukawa Joycie in puzzlement* And I CANNOT believe you reviewed word for word! Ha ha! The reason why I haven't read Hear My Heart is because I wasn't aware it was up. Gomen! BTW, better get your versions typed out … : )
You know, I have a feeling that after reading this chapter, you'll be fuming at me – for reasons you'll find out soon enough. Heh heh! Write your own version about this too, okay? PS: Yes, I took the scene from the Shoyo game *blushes guiltily*. And NO, the ending of chapter 18 WAS NOT MEANT TO BE VIEWED THAT WAY! *signs Rukawa Joycie into a religious school* Ha ha ha! The funny thing is, now that you mentioned it, it does sound dirty, doesn't it?? Ha ha!
Rei Tomiyama: Hi. Thanks. : ) Tell your sister I'll check chapter two of NJA2 and see what I was talking about. I'm a forgetful person really. :P
Frack: You seem to be supporting Kaede in this… *Akima glares at Frack*
Dark Angel Revived: You're kka, right? You changed your name again! Waaaah! *nothingtodo goes crazy and dances around the room* Who will win?? Who knows?? *nothingtodo kicks D.A.R for thinking about incest* There you go! Ha ha!
Tensaispira: Yep, on with the next chapter! Thanks for keeping up with this story!
Sll: Congratulations for escaping out of PMR alive and breathing. : ) I heard there was a controversy over the Literature paper… Nway, you'll do fine. Everybody'll say they sucked, but walla walla, when the results come out, they get straight A's. : ) *notices that Sll has fallen asleep* never mind.
Patty g: Thanks! Am updating! Are u reading??
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"Dad, are you sure about this?" Akima asked nervously as they made their way onto the court after the forty-minutes of play ended. "What if they kick us out? We're not supposed to be down here. We're supposed to be leaving."
"Relax, Akima. I'm a good friend of Taoka. That's the Ryonan coach, in case you don't know." Mr. Hanashi confidently led her onto the polished floor where the basketball players were still hanging around, resting while their managers (or manageress) either congratulated or consoled them. "I'm sure he won't mind. Besides we need to say something to Akira."
Spotting them, Akira crawled his way exhaustedly out of the group of players and went over to them, smiling with sweat rolling down his neck. He took one look at Akima and managed a smile. "You're trying hard not to look pleased, aren't you?"
Akima managed a smile back. "In a way, yes, but I wanted you to win too."
Akira shrugged. "I thought we had it, but that Rukawa had to do a slam dunk and change the tide." He looked down at the floor for a moment, and then surfaced with a cheerful grin. "That kid sure got talent in him. Damn, he's improved a hundredfold."
Akima stole a glance at the Shohoku team which was still celebrating. She could distinctively recognise the redhead's laughter (it's one of a kind). Then, she spotted Kaede sitting exhaustedly on the bench, his neck wrapped with a towel and a bottle of ice cold water stuck to his dehydrated mouth. He's so terrific… Shifting her attention to her stepbrother, she said: "You were so great, step-bother." She whipped out a towel and set out on a task to wipe the sweat covering his face and neck away. "I'm so proud of you I could actually see myself kissing your hands in admiration."
Akira laughed. "In the next few games, you'll be kissing my feet. But for now," He leaned down and offered her his cheek. "This spot will do. Come on, give your hard-working brother a show of appreciation."
When Akima raised her hand, he quickly backed away. "Aw, not that butt-slap."
"No, I was just trying to pull your head down so I can reach you." She pulled his face down and smacked him on the cheek he had offered earlier.
"Since you're so into getting kisses," their father started, eyes twinkling devilishly. "Let me give you one too, son."
"No thanks, Dad. I'm a big guy now. Dad. No, dad. No!" Akira struggled when Mr. Hanashi grabbed him. "Akima! Help! Stop him! Dad! Stop!" There was a pause. Then – "Aaaaargh! I've been purified for life!!"
The peals of laughter from the Ryonan side that reached Kaede's ears sizzled in the heat of anger that he was producing. He saw it, all right. That Akima wiping off the sweat from Sendoh's body and kissing him in front of the world as if they're married or something.
We won and that girl is laughing around with the enemy, Kaede thought sourly. What the hell? Has she forgotten what school she's from? Has she forgotten where her loyalties lie? Has she forgotten HIM??
"I need to go to the ladies'" he heard Akima inform the man she was with as she finally let go of Sendoh's face, still laughing. "Wait for me."
Sendoh's face was still sour after that undoubtedly embarrassing scene with that man, but it quickly turned mischievous when he slapped Akima's backside affectionately. She returned it just as powerfully. Kaede's eyes narrowed, his grip on the bottle tightening.
On impulse, he got up and followed Akima.
What's Kaede gonna do?? *starts whistling and walks off happily, leaving her readers sharpening their knives behind her* I have to say, this is one heck of a cliffhanger! Muahahaha!