Twentieth! Gomen again for the last chapter since it was so short and also because I'm updating one day later than what I promised. Still, this chapter is long enough, I suppose, to make up for that. : )
Nayomi: Akima in skin tight clothes?? You like it?? *starts guffawing on the floor* Yeah, Sendoh 'loves' Akima, but not exactly in the way some of you seem to think it is. : ) Read on for more info!
SLL: WHAT are you doing surfing the net at 2 am??? *looks at Sll's knife nervously* Erm, aah…
Silhouette Panther: Which fic did you continue???
Renei: *nods grimly as renei bashes her head on the computer table* Them? Get married?? Girl, you're looking way too far into the future!!
Sakura Rui: Ha ha ha! Ore wa EVIL and CRAZY too!
Fire-phinx: Am continuing!
Fehrocious: Yes, you ARE ferocious *ignores fehrocious's protests* I pity Sendoh-san. Use the knife on him! Not me!
Avalon: Confront her in the toilet?? Why not? Read on. : ) And this chap it rather long. Hope it's enough for you long-chapter-lovers. : ) I didn't mean to make the last one so short. It just seemed appropriate to stop there. : ) Gomen.
Fiery Ice: PMB is penilaian menegah bawah?? I didn't know. Heh heh! Have fun pretending to study. I always do. : P
Devoted2Mitsui: Thanks! Who's to say who ends up with who?
Reika Zelon: More coming! See what's he'll do!!
Yoriko: Thanks! What's the good luck for???
Sodina: Thank you! You're in suspense?? I wonder why…
Tensaispira: Congrats for surviving PMR (it IS PMR isn't it??) Thank you so much for reviewing. I'm awfully glad you could picture it in your mind!
Maemi: Yo! Yeah, it was a cliff hanger (at least, it was SUPPOSED to be). I hope you liked it! Ha ha! How's ur exams??
Kka: Well, at least you listed down all of your names so I won't get confused! Ha ha! Arigato! *reads more of kka's review and then throws a third wave of banana attack*
Patty g: Thanks! I'm glad you like this story!
Girl_sport17: You hate me?? *voice gets louder* YOU HATE ME?? YOU'E TRYING TO KILL ME WITH YOUR GLARE??
Choco_no_baka: I suggest you let me go. Maybe I'll have a chance to repay you by posting other chapters up! : ) Relax, you're not wasting my time. I like reading your review, even though you lost your President Throne!
Naohmee: Arigato! Were you REALLY in the hospital, or were you pulling my leg? If you were, why?? What happened? Thanks! I like Akira too! *starts drooling uncontrollably*
Twentieth chapter.
She got her business with the toilet bowl done with and unsuspectingly stepped out of the ladies' room when one strong arm grabbed her and pinned her against the wall. "What on earth –" her breath hitched. "Kaede."
His grip was firm and strong, and the look on his face chilled her slightly. She dimly became aware that they were alone in a corridor that no one would likely visit at this time. Suddenly she wished somebody's bladder would cause problems and come save her.
He was scaring her.
Ever since he glared at her during the game, he'd scared her.
"H-hi." She willed herself to relax. It's just Kaede, she reminded herself. Relax. He's not a serial killer and is unlikely to become one in the near future. "Congratulations."
"What the hell were you doing sitting at the Ryonan side?" he demanded, anger bubbling away inside him.
"What? Oh, that." She coughed. "Um, you see –"
"Damn right I saw. Cheering on the opposing team and that no good lover of yours in front of God and country."
She blinked. "Akira?"
He bristled at her use of Sendoh's first name. That itself spoke volumes of their relationship.
"He's not my lover." She tried to push him, but to no avail. "He's my –"
"He had his hand on your ass."
What was the matter with him?? "I had mine on his too," she informed, trying to make him see it was no big deal. "We were just –"
"You kissed him."
It was said in such an accusing tone that Akima wondered if kissing equalled murder. Helplessly, she looked at Kaede and wondered if there was anything she could do to put some senses into his head other than smacking him with a head-butt. "What's wrong with you??" she pushed again. "What's it to you if I kiss him? What does it matter what I do with him?"
He felt the anger pounding in his head. "It matters." He hissed. Before she could sink that statement in, he rushed straight on angrily. "How would you like it if I did that to you??" His hand circled around her to clutch the back of her skirt, his eyes warrior-like.
Her eyes widened at the unexpected assault, and realising that she was dealing with an outraged person who's not used to being outraged, she calmed her tone. "Kaede, stop it. You're scaring me. You're not thinking straight –"
That did it. The way she spoke to him, as if he was being silly and absurd prodded his sensibilities. His bubbling temper now simply spewed over. "To hell with it," he muttered before crushing his mouth down to hers.
For a moment, the dim light hanging over the ceiling ironically blinded her. She nearly toppled over by the sudden imbalance if not for the wall supporting her. It wasn't the gentle, curious and brisk experimental kiss she'd received at his garden. It was hard, powerful and … exciting.
That's what it all comes down too, she admitted guiltily. Exciting.
She put up a brief struggle – it seemed customary under the circumstances – but it quickly dissolved into acceptance and surrender. This was what she'd always wanted, wasn't it?
He promised himself he'd stop. In another second or two. Just another second or two. Then, shyly, cautiously, she started to kiss him back and all thoughts of ending it vanished from his head.
"I can explain," Akima quickly started when he drew back after some time.
"You can shut up," he said mildly, leaning forward to start all over again.
"Okay."
Footsteps, dainty, clicking ones that hinted at high heels, were heading toward them. It went unnoticed until –
"OH. MY. GOD."
They broke off abruptly and stared at the red-clad girl gaping at them from the end of the corridor. Akima's eyes bulged. "Ika!"
Ika Kirani glowered at her, and then turned back and burst into a run, undoubtedly rushing to her pack of friends. Akima groaned. She could practically see the bad omen flashing at her.
"What's she doing here?" Kaede muttered irritably.
"You had a game, remember? Didn't you see the huge banners they'd painfully made for you?" The blank look on his face answered her. "Forget it. I, uh, I better go."
"Wait, I'm not finished with you yet –"
"My dad's waiting for me."
He stared at her. "Your dad?"
"The man who's with me. He's my dad."
He frowned. "But I thought you said –" A sudden realisation dawned on him, and he turned slightly blue. "So Sendoh is…"
"My stepbrother."
He didn't say anything as embarrassment crept it. He was rarely embarrassed and he had trouble dealing with it. "Oh."
She couldn't stop the smile. He looked so confused! "Yeah. 'Oh'."
"What took you so long?" Akira asked when she returned. "Dad's gone to take the car."
She willed herself not to blush. "Nothing." No, no, don't blush! Don't blush!
Akira looked at her and then suddenly his eyes darted at Rukawa, who had emerged closely behind his stepsister and was now busy putting on his red Shohoku jacket. "Don't tell me…" he started, and then burst into a smile. "Oh no. Not my sister and my number one rival!"
"I don't know what you're talking about." Akima said primly.
Chuckling, Akira winked at her. "Yes, you do." He shook his head in amusement. "Heaven protect me."
Despite Akima's angry mutterings, he walked over to Rukawa, smiling impishly. "Good game." He called out cheerfully.
Rukawa looked at him suspiciously, wondering if Sendoh had lost his mind. "Yeah."
"Congratulations."
"Thank you." He nodded. "Your team was good too."
Akira laughed. "No, not that. I'm talking about my sister."
Rukawa stopped in his act of zipping his jacket. Uh oh. "What about your sister?" He said carefully, looking over Sendoh's shoulder and seeing Akima slapping her forehead in distress.
"Stop that act, you nutcase. You've had your hands on her and you ask me that sort of question?" Then, with a painful cry, Akira toppled forward, as a result of Akima's solid kick to his unprotected backside. "Aaargh!"
"Sorry," Akima said with dignity to the blinking Shohoku star, blushing furiously. "I've yet to teach him some manners."
Unable to help himself, he started to blush too. "Hmm."
Ignorant to the aching pain in his butt, Akira chuckled. "I knew it! Both of you have been up to something, or you wouldn't be blushing as if you'd seen each other naked!" He paused, and then formed a huge 'O' with his mouth. "You didn't do that, did you??" Again, he received a kick, this time from Rukawa.
Not losing hope, Akira jumped to his feet. "Where's Dad? I've got to tell him –" He was unable to finish his sentence as both Akima and Rukawa grimly held him down and covered his mouth securely with a handkerchief.