Author: I own the characters that are NOT from slam dunk…. If they are from Slam dunk, they are property of Inoue Takehiko. Please don't sue me… Also, a foreword, I tend to be long winded when writing my fics, so at least you get the overall picture, as well as the locations/background, and worth your dollar on internets charges! LOL Please do email/review me, and I can update the previous chapters. Thanks!

Words in italics or between slashes are thoughts, words within ^^ are actions, unless otherwise stated, words in brackets are locations usually before each section.

(=^_^=)  Chapter 8  – The Makeover  (=^_^=)

(Kimiko's house, 1st week February, Thursday night)

"I am so glad you could come, Yuki-sempai!"

"Daijobu! I've got some news to tell you, hot off the press! I'm telling you, you just should have been there during practice!"

"Why?"

"Mitsui-san was looking all over for you! He was wondering why you didn't show up today! Talk about being anxious for a date! He even asked Akagi why he wasn't worried you weren't around!"

"N-nani?! H-he was?" blushed Kimiko. "Naruhodo… Akagi-sempai knew anyway about my babysitting job today, so of course he shouldn't be worried I wasn't present today. Yuki-sempai, you should know I don't skip practice unless I'm forced to."

"Hai, I do know that, but apparently, Mitsui-san doesn't." laughed Yuki. "Shall we get started on your make over,  my dear junior?"

"Hai!!!"

-knock knock

"Come on in!" Kimiko's okaasan entered, with a tray full of goodies.

"Hi, Yuki-chan! Good to have you over, helping out my Kimiko!" She smiled. "Feel free to make yourself at home!"

"Domo arigato, Toyowara-san! Don't worry, I will!"

And Kimiko's okaasan left the room to leave the girl's be.

"He's supposed to call later, isn't he?"

"Hai, demo, I don't think he's reached his home yet, ne, Yuki-sempai? By the way, I set up my mobile phone with two earpieces, so you can hear it as well. I really need your help, Yuki-sempai!"

"Hai, don't worry. Ano, what's the time?"

"It's… 10:30pm. Kind of early… Akagi-sempai let you guys early?"

"Yeah, though I don't know why. He said he had something to do, or something…"

/Baka Nori-kun… you're such a sweetie, though you've got such a frightening exterior./ thought Kimiko, smiling to herself. /I'll have to cook you something special for this Saturday./

-Ring! Ring! Ring! (Nokia Tone of the Slam Dunk Opening Theme)

"Oh my god, is that him already? Yuki-sempai, how do I look?"

"Baka junior, he can't see you on the phone!"

"Oh yeah…" ^Sweat drop^ "Quick, sempai! Take the other earpiece!! "

"Moshi moshi, Toyowara desu!" greeted Kimiko.

"Konnbanwa! May I speak to Toyowara Kimiko please?"

"Hai, this is she. Dare desu ka? (May I know who is this?)" Kimiko said coolly.

"Hai, Ano, this is Hisashi, Mitsui Hisashi. From the basketball club?"

"Hai, I remember you." /How could I forget? Is he crazy?/

"Aa. Ano, I was thinking about our… date. Where would you like to go for dinner?"

"A-ano, anything will be fine, M-Mitsui-kun…"

"Alright then, we'll set off tomorrow after school. Shall I meet you outside your class?"

At this junction of the conversation, Yuki was nodding her head frantically.

"H-hai! It should be alright!"

"Yosh! So it's settled then. I'll be waiting for you then! Ja, oyasumi, Kimiko!"

"Hai, oyasumi, Mitsui-kun…"

-click

"OH MY GOD! You were so kakkoi (cool), Kimiko-chan!"

"Honto ni desu ka? (Really?)" Kimiko said, nearly fainting.

"Yeah! Now, onto the makeover!"

Kimiko: ^Sweat drop^ "How can you still be so cool about it, I'll never know, Yuki-sempai…"

The two girls had a great time, trying on whatever Kimiko had in her closet, playing dress-up, experimenting with different colour make-up techniques on Kimiko's face, which initially looked like she had just come from the Moscow circus, the things girls do when they have sleepovers or slumber parties. They eventually fell asleep amongst the mess they had made, since they were exhausted by around 4am in the morning. (L.I.D.[author]: Such a fun party… Makes me wish I had some sleepovers, when I was their age…)

"Kimiko-chan! Yuki-chan! Ohayo! Wake up girls!!" shouted Kimiko's okaasan from below the stairs.

"Shimatta!!!! What time is it already, Yuki-sempai?!?! KUSO!!!!!" cried Kimiko, looking at the clock. /Luckily we packed our bags before hand last night!/ thought Kimiko.

"Mmm…? Nan da? Is it already tim- WHOA!!!" shouted Yuki as she was dragged to the bathroom by a hysterical Kimiko.

"You got to help me get ready! And I mean NOW!!!!!"

Yuki: ^Sweat drop^

And so, after helping Kimiko with her face and hair, off they went in a crazed frenzy to the bus stop. Kimiko was lucky that the weather was kind, and didn't make her sweat so much. (L.I.D.[author]: It's a different story over here in a tropical country, whereby everyday is practically like summer. Hot and humid. ~_~)

Kimiko didn't use make-up at all, but today, with Yuki-sempai's encouragement and example, she would wear light make-up, so that the school authorities wouldn't catch her. Kimiko had put on light foundation, pink lip gloss, a hint of blush, and a little neutral eye shadow to accentuate her eyes along with the spectacles she wore. Boy, what a difference it made to Kimiko's face! she also had her two braids behind her, instead of the usual front placement. She looked much more confident, and prettier, and it made her look like a cute plump baby, waiting to be pinched by her relatives.

Upon arriving at the Shohoku High bus stop, Kimiko and Yuki were met with stares, that made only Kimiko blush, since she wasn't used to getting this much attention. Previously, the majority scorned her, but now, a few of them were looking at her in admiration, for the way she presented herself. (L.I.D.[author]: Sure, there were still the prejudiced lot, but we shall not bother with them, shall we? ^_^)

(In the slipper room)

"Yo, good luck, Kimiko-chan! You know you look good, and I have every faith in you! Ganbatte yo! (Don't give up!) You go and knock him dead!"

"H-hai, Yuki-sempai! Domo arigato gozaimasu, once again!" Kimiko said, with a deep bow.

"Yare, yare, don't thank me yet…" Yuki said, with her hand massaging the back of her neck. "Thank me when he asks you out on a second date!" she added with a wink.

"Yuki-sempai!!! Stop teasing me!" cried Kimiko, blushing hotly, and then rushing off to class.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(=^_^=) Meow!

Japanese word meanings:

Okaasan = Mother

Konnbanwa = Good evening

Oyasumi = Good night

Ohayo = Good morning

L.I.D.[author]: Make-up is a god send. Natural beauty comes within, I strongly believe, though it don't hurt to put on a bit of blusher. ^_^ Don't whack me for promoting make-up, for it's not my intention. Girls will be girls. ^_^