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 Internet 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 18 – Winter Christmas Log Cake  (=^_^=)

"Hi, Kogure. Akagi." Greeted Mitsui as he pulled a bar chair over.

"Hai."

"Aa."

"Kogure, that's a very nice pendant you gave my Miko-chan! Where did you get it?" asked Mitsui with a raised eyebrow.

"Ano, I got it downtown, at Lacey's, Mitsui-san."

"Must have spent quite a tidy sum, ne, Kogure."

"Erm… Akagi chipped in, since we both wanted to get something special for Kimiko-chan."

Mitsui looked at Akagi, and was answered by a nod from the giant.

"Kimiko-chan is a special friend to the both of us, and since I already got her a Shohoku High Gym bag, I thought Kogure should be the one to give her the pendant. Do I look the type to give a girl jewellery?" asked Akagi.

Mitsui had a wry smile, along with an understanding sweat drop on his head. /Glad I got my doubts cleared! Whew! /

"Aa. Just wanted to know where I could get such nice jewellery, that's all. Arigato, Kogure, Akagi. Ja! Gotta keep my promise to my Miko-chan for a dance!" waved Mitsui.

After he left, Kogure heaved with a puff smoke in relief. Akagi just nodded. "Don't you ever scare me like that again, Akagi!"

"………"

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Weeks, would of course, turn into months.

Mitsui found out a lot about Kimiko, and found that they had quite a fair bit in common. They had the same taste in music, food; both wanted Shohoku Basketball to be the best in Japan. They dated regularly, with Kimiko's parent's approval, and had a wonderful time in each other's company.

Of course, Kimiko's cooking guntan, Aki, Yumi and Natsumi, were all over Kimiko, teasing her about her boyfriend, and continued on with their cooking meets. Speaking of which, the club now grew, to more than 20 odd members, ever since Kimiko had the help of Mitsui for publicizing the club.

Aki, Yumi and Natsumi: "You are so LUCKY!!!!"

Kimiko: ^Sweat drop^ WHY???

"You're boyfriend happens to be the MVP in basketball, and here we are… Stuck in the kitchen with all girls! Why don't you ever introduce us to those basketball players???"

"Soyo!! Soyo!!!"

"I did, and all you guys could do was stutter and blush…" Kimiko said, shaking her head, and tapping her foot annoyingly. "It's not as if they're going to eat you up!"

"How would you know?"

Kimiko: ^Sweat drop^

"Who's eating whom up?" asked a deep male voice, his head popping up from the kitchen door.

"Mit-chan!" smiled Kimiko. "Mattaku! Wait outside onegai! You're not getting any goodies yet!"

"Sonna!" moaned Mitsui, as he disappeared back outside, from the kitchen door.

Aki, Yumi and Natsumi: ^Sweat drop and whisper^ "I hope he didn't hear us…"

Yuki and Kimiko were also hard at work, making sure the Shohoku High Basketball Club was doing their best.

However, something was about to change, for the worse.

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(Late March)

During a practice game with the team, Kogure and Mitsui were on the red team, wearing 14 and 13 respectively. And Akagi was in the yellow team, wearing a number 10.

The heat was fierce, for the loser had to do 100 push-ups. In all the excitement, by accident, Akagi fell onto Kogure, and nearly flattened him. Then, the most unthinkable happened. Whilst Akagi and Mitsui were competing under the basket, Mitsui made a quick dash for the basket, and tripped, hurting his leg in the process!

"No!!!" shouted Kimiko, going over to Mitsui's side immediately.

Mitsui was sent to the hospital immediately. Kimiko was at the hospital the whole night, and waited for Mitsui to come out of the doctor's room.

Whilst Mitsui was in the hospital, Kimiko visited him everyday, along with Akagi and Kogure. As much as Kimiko tried to dissuade Mitsui from going back to the basketball court, he refused. So one day, when everyone expected Mitsui to be in the hospital, he showed up! Mitsui then proceeded back into practice, much to Kimiko and Yuki's disapproval. But when he later on shot a three pointer, his knee acted up again! Mitsui's leg was then cast, and he had to use to crutches. Poor Mitsui! On the day when the competition was held, Kimiko, Yuki and Kogure could only look on as Mitsui exited the court where the competition was held. After that incident, Mitsui never returned to the basketball court again.

(L.I.D.[author]: sorry for the summary, coz I'm having writer's block, darn it!)

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As the days went by, as time does, slowly, but surely, all wounds must heal. That was not the case for Mitsui Hisashi. Even though Mitsui's leg healed, his emotional being continued to bleed. Mitsui, in anger, forbade Kimiko to be the manager anymore for the Shohoku High Basketball Club, and Kimiko, wanting to please Mitsui, gave up her place in the club, although Yuki, Akagi, and Kogure updated her often. Kimiko still loved basketball, but could not bear to see her beloved Mitsui hurt, so she complied with what he said. So instead of going for basketball practice, Kimiko would go to nightclubs accompanied by Mitsui, to sing part-time and keep her busy, since singing was her next passion to basketball and cooking. It worked out fine, and Kimiko actually enjoyed herself. Her parents didn't object to it, since they knew Mitsui was around to protect her if anything happened. So thus, Kimiko got into the routine of going to school on weekdays, followed by singing at clubs. The weekdays were reserved for Mitsui and Kimiko's dates, as well as the cooking meets, which Mitsui did not object Kimiko from going to. Mitsui and Kimiko liked to dance, and dance they did, at discos, sometimes, during their dates, having a marvellous time.

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-Ring! Ring! Ring!

"Moshi moshi! Yamamoto Residence!" greeted Yuki.

"Yuki-sempai! Moshi moshi! Kimiko-chan desu! Genki desu ka?"

"Genki! How are you getting on?"

"I'm fine… You know how I still miss basketball, don't you?"

"Hai, I do know. But what have you been doing in your spare time?"

"Oh, singing at clubs, here and there."

"Clubs? Isn't it dangerous?"

"Oh no, not at all. Mit-chan accompanies me and sends me back home after the gigs. It's ok, keeps me busy, and pleases Mit-chan." smiled Kimiko over the phone.

"I'm glad the two of you are getting along fine. Why doesn't Mitsui come back?"

"Hai… that we are… Ano, it's kind of hard to say… I've tried persuading him, but he's adamant about not going back."

"So ne. Ever since Mitsui quit, there have been several quitters. Akagi-sempai is angry, because of their lack of determination. But the three of us, Akagi-sempai, Kogure-sempai and I are giving it our best!"

"I'm glad to hear that. And I do hope that next year there will be more new comers…"

"Hai. Hey, I've got to go, talk to you tomorrow ok?"

"Hai! Oyasumi, Yuki-sempai!"

"Oyasumi!"

-Click

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Kimiko's relationship with Mitsui was going great. They went out on dates, were protective of each other, hugged and kissed, and overall, a normal couple. One thing though, was that Mitsui never visited Kimiko when she was sick, for he had this thing about germs. It hurt Kimiko that Mitsui never visited her, but the hurt soon vanished when she saw Mitsui again when she was well again. Mitsui was slowly growing out his hair; much to Kimiko's amusement, but her amusement soon vanished when Mitsui told Kimiko he wanted to quit school…

"What? You want to quit school? Why?" Asked an angry Kimiko.

"Because it's boring, and I want to hang out with my friends…"

"But what about your education? Are you going to just throw it all away?!"

"……"

Kimiko and Mitsui continued arguing about his education, until it got so heated up, the both of them ended up not talking for 2 days. In the end, Mitsui gave up, and apologised to Kimiko. Evidently, being with Mitsui taught Kimiko to open up, and be more vocal about what she wanted. But it was not enough to tear her love for Mitsui away to stand up to him. Sometimes Kimiko won, sometimes Mitsui won the arguments. This time, Kimiko won, and the both of them made a solemn vow, that both of them would enter University together. So, when Mitsui got tardy, Kimiko had the 'license' to pull Mitsui's ear and force him to study for important quizzes and exams.

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Now, it's December, and Kimiko and Mitsui had a quiet Christmas at Kimiko's home. It's been slightly more than nine months since Mitsui asked Kimiko to be his girlfriend. With all the joy, sadness, and pain, the two had experienced, Mitsui loved Kimiko more than ever. But, he was reluctant to give his whole being to her. In his mind, all sorts of thoughts ran through his mind, as he stared up into the dark starry night.

/Who comforted me when I was down? Who made me laugh, when I was in a bad mood? Who stayed all night when I was in the hospital? Who cared enough about me to worry about my education? Who listened to me, yet gave a good fight at important issues? Who stands by me when I need them? Miko-chan. My Miko-chan. I don't deserve her. / Looking at the calendar, Mitsui sighed. /I thought I could I could have her, and throw her away when 1 year has passed. It's been only nine months and eleven days since that day, and now, I can't imagine my life without her. What an ass I've been. Miko-chan's been supporting me all the while, and I know she loves me. I've said I love her, and I do, but when February comes around…/ Mitsui shuddered.

"Are you cold, anata (dear)?" asked Kimiko, looking at Mitsui. "Would you like a blanket?"

"Nope. All I need is you, come here, you!" chuckled Mitsui, grabbing her hand, pulling her next to him, onto the wooden swing outside Kimiko's balcony.

"Whoa!" laughed Kimiko. "Someone's feeling happy tonight!"

"Yep, and that person's name happens to be your Mit-chan!" grinned Mitsui, nuzzling his nose on her cheek.

"Hai, hai!" giggled Kimiko, as she held Mitsui's hand, playing with the ring on his finger.

"Hey watch it, that ring's my darling next to you, sweetheart!" exclaimed Mitsui, kissing Kimiko's ring on her hand.

"Glib talker!"

"Yeah, that I am, so whatcha gonna do about it?"

"This!" cried Kimiko, as she proceeded to pinch Mitsui's cheeks.

"Itai! Ha ha!"

"Give up?"

"Never!" cried Mitsui, pinching Kimiko's cheeks as well.

And so, the pinching match began, and they played through the night, and kissed under the mistletoe when they passed through the kitchen door, which happened to be many times.

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(=^_^=) Meow!

Super rookie-san: Thank you! Please do come back again soon! ^_^ *bows*

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Lady Harlequin-san: *grins at Lady Harlequin* Ha ha, I know, nice locket, isn't it? ^_^ I do read your fic, and it's fabulous! ^_^

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Fehrocious-san: *Evil TENSAI laughter!* YES!!! YES!!!! CHOOSE!!!! Who will you choose? Mitsui? Kogure? WHO WILL IT BE??? BWA HAHAHAHAHA!!!!! ^_~ Hey, I would have done that option, if Kogure and Mitsui were real MEN!!!!! YUM! One in the morning, and the other at night! Whooo!!!!! ^_~ Come back soon! ^_^

Doujin-san: Akagi's a good friend to Kogure, ne? ^_~

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Ghostwriter-san: LOL And Akagi… He's a sweetheart ain't he?

Cherry Blossoms Kaorin-san: Hi! Welcome back! ^_^ *hugz* Do try to come online every other day then, if not everyday… LOL And about your question about the bad guy in my fic, Toyama, he's made up by me. ^_^ And Mitsui knows Kimiko's finger size, since as a couple, they do hold hands, right? And since Mitsui holds Kimiko's hand, he should be able to roughly gauge her finger size, or he could do the easy thing… Ask Yuki for her size! LOL Girl's do share that kind of information. ^_^ I will continue! Arigato! ^_^

Demented Ding-san: Thanks for your support through email! And I replied you back on what you think I should do with Toyama! Ha ha ha!!! Arigato! *hugz*