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 28 – Mitsui's Back All Right!   (=^_^=)

(L.I.D.[author]: Got the title from a Backstreet Boys song… NYA HA HA HA HA HA!!! )

The practice game between Ryonan High and Shohoku High was approaching soon, and Team Shohoku had to get their act together. On the day of the practice game, the team boarded the train bound for Ryonan High. Kimiko then instructed the team to warm up by doing a 'virtual sit' on the train, which was re-enforced by a fierce Akagi.

"All right! 1 minute's up!" cried Ayako.

"Thanks for keeping the time, Aya-chan!" smiled Kimiko, as she checked the members as to whether they were cheating from the exercise or not.

"Kimi-chan, MUST we do this on the train?!?" Kogure mock complained, looking at Kimiko.

"Kimi-kun, of course we do! We don't want to lose to Ryonan High, do we?"

Kogure: ^Sweat drop^  (L.I.D.[author]: Hee hee!)

At Ryonan High, they were greeted my several murmurs, as well as Ryonan High's coach, Taoka-sensei. Soon in the locker room, it was time for the jerseys to be distributed, and it was a mess, as Sakuragi fought for his 'right' to be a starting member with a jersey. But it was soon solved, thanks to Anzai-sensei and Kogure. Kimiko gave Kogure a thankful look, which was returned with a dazzling smile.(L.I.D.[author]: Wai! Dazzling smile by Kogure! LOL)

Thus, the game began between Ryonan and Shohoku. It was a trying time for Team Shohoku, and Kimiko and Ayako cheered with all their might, however, they lost. (L.I.D.[author]: Gomen, I don't have the strength to type out every single detail of the game! *sad*) Akagi got injured, and Sakuragi made a laughing stock of himself by making stupid fouls, like 'travelling'. But he had proved his usefulness, in passing to Kogure to enable them to catch up to Ryonan High. Kimiko was happy that Sakuragi had done his best, for he had truly worn out his own shoes. After the game Kimiko was sad, but knew that soon, that Team Shohoku would have their day. She had faith in them.

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(One of the cooking meets)

"Ne, Kimiko-chan, how's things with Kogure-sempai?" nudged Natsumi, stirring her bowl of batter.

"Huh? What about it?" Kimiko said, not taking her eyes off the oven.

"Don't play coy with us, you can tell us…" winked Aki. "To think you told us your basketball guy pals were only 'friends' last year! Hah! In the end, one of them is your boyfriend!"

"So yo!" piped Yumi.

"Tell you guys what??" Kimiko sweat dropped.

"Have you guys kissed yet?" asked Natsumi, flashing her pearly whites.

"So yo! So yo!" chimed Aki and Yumi.

"I'm not going to tell you guys…" Kimiko retorted, shaking her head.

"Mou!"

-Ding Dong!

"Ah, Kogure-sempai has come!" squealed Aki. "Our official taster!  He he he!"

"Mattaku! (Goodness!)" Kimiko said, shaking her head again.

Kogure entered the kitchen, and smiled at the ladies. "Hello, everyone!"

"HELLO!"

"Ah, Kimi-kun, would you come over here for a second?"

"Hai!"

Kogure then walked over to where Kimiko was, and suddenly, she kissed him on the lips, right in front of everyone! Natsumi, Aki and Yumi were astounded, and their mouths open and closed like goldfishes.

"I'm didn't tell you, for I was going to SHOW you guys!" winked Kimiko mischievously. Kogure just blushed, and nearly fainted.

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Practice was tougher now, and the team knew they had to do it, if they wanted to be champions. Days passed by, and one day during practice…

"Ah, Ryota-kun!! Welcome back!" greeted Kimiko, smiling at the muffin head.

"Arigato, Kimiko-sempai!!" smiled Ryota.

Kimiko went over to Ayako, and got the latest news about what happened between Ryota and Hanamichi. Apparently, Ryota decked Hanamichi, for he thought that Ayako was going out with Hanamichi behind his back. Kimiko laughed out loud at this. "No way!"

Ayako nodded, and sighed out loud.

"He's got it bad for you Aya-chan!!" giggled Kimiko.

"Not funny, Kimiko-sempai!" grumbled Ayako, grinding her teeth, nearly crumpling the paper fan.

As expected, Ryota and Hanamichi were at each other's necks, and to everyone's astonishment, the two became fast friends, much to Ayako and Kimiko's relief. (L.I.D.[author]: Kimiko had no idea why Ryota landed in the hospital, for no one wanted to tell her about Mitsui's involvement.) However, Kimiko soon fell sick, and stayed at home to recuperate.

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However, soon, things were going to turn ugly.

/What are these guys doing here? / Thought Yohei, looking at the groups of gangsters heading for the basketball court.

Mitsui, was accompanied by his gang, and headed for the basketball court. A fight ensued, and it was bloody. Ryota, Hanamichi, and the others got beaten up. However, Kogure then recognised Mitsui, since he couldn't initially as his hair grew longer. (L.I.D.[author]: it would be helpful if you had the manga or VCD to see the fight, but I shall go on when Kogure begins to talk. :p)

"I'll kill you all!!!" shouted Mitsui.

"Bastard!" said Yohei, punching Mitsui again in his gut.

"Enough. Stop this." Said Kogure, appearing behind Yohei, to which Yohei complied.

"Get lost, you!" shouted Mitsui, slapping Kogure on his right cheek, causing him to lose his glasses onto the floor.

Picking up his spectacles, Kogure continued; "Mitsui, you should have matured by now…"

The gang members began to panic, and tried to pry the door open, and were greeted by the frightening sight of Akagi Takenori. Akagi walked up to where Mitsui was, and ordered the gang to take off their shoes.

"Mitsui…" Akagi said, and then began to slap him repeatedly.

"Mitsui, he's a basketball member as well, like us…" mentioned Kogure, to the astonishment of everyone who did not know about Mitsui.

Kogure began to then tell the tale of Mitsui, of how he was an MVP in junior high.

"Don't say anymore, Kogure, about irrelevant things, or I'll kill you as well!" threatened Mitsui, but was held back by the strong Sakuragi.

Kogure continued his story, reminiscing about their first year in Shohoku High, telling them about Mitsui's dreams, and about Kimiko. And how bad Akagi's basketball skills were, earning him a threat from Akagi in gorilla mode. (L.I.D.[author]: ^Sweat drop^) Kogure continued about Mitsui's injury, and how he had never stepped foot into the basketball court again after he could not join the team in the competition, as well as Kimiko's absence from the club.

"You didn't come here to beat Ryota up, and take revenge on him for being what you wanted to be, you missed basketball too much, and Kimiko-sempai as well, didn't you?" berated Ayako, her fist trembling beside her.

"Mitsui, your leg is all right now, isn't it? If that's the case, let us all play basketball together as a team." Said Kogure, giving out his hand to Mitsui, who promptly pushed him to the floor.

"You're a fool, what do you mean by 'let us all play basketball together as a team'? Stupid! To me, basketball is nothing! I came here, only to beat up Ryota! I will not let you all mention irrelevant things, and basketball is just a naïve school activity, to which I have no interest it at all! Besides, Toyowara and I have broken up a long time ago. Kogure, why can't you let me be?!!!" shouted Mitsui.

Kogure fixed his crooked spectacles that dangled form his face in a crooked fashion, and glared at Mitsui, grabbing him by his uniform collar, very angry. Mitsui was shocked at Kogure's anger, and it showed. Kogure's fist trembled with more anger, and he shook Mitsui's being, with his teeth clenched and eyebrows twitching. Miyagi, Sakuragi, or Akagi had ever seen Kogure as angry as this.

"Didn't you say you were aiming for the championship? Didn't you say you wanted to be the best in the country? HUH?!?! Didn't you say you wanted Shohoku Basketball to become strong?" shouted Kogure angrily. "Didn't you also say you would love Kimiko-chan forever? Was all that a pack of lies??"

Mitsui recollected what he had said to Kogure, during their freshmen year, as well as what happened between him and Kimiko. On her birthday, especially.

"You're a gutless coward!! Mitsui, you stupid idiot, you never had any determination, what right have you to say that you wanted to be the best?! What right have you to say that you loved Kimiko-chan, the way you broke up with her?! I know, you only know how to blow your own trumpet, don't you?!"

"Kogure…That was a long time ago, it has got nothing to do with me!!!!"

"You have no right to say it's got nothing to do with you!" said Kogure, tightening his grip on Mitsui's shirt. "I'm not the same as Akagi, to an average person like me, being the champion was never even a dream for me… But, those dreams have somehow seeped into my mind… When I saw you and Akagi practice, and when I started playing basketball, I got a very good and strong feeling…"

Mitsui just stared at Kogure.

"But when you left the basketball club, my dreams vanished as well. I had to reply on Akagi and Kimiko-chan. And when I was about the give up on my dream, Rukawa came in, as well as Miyagi…"

"You forgot about me, the Tensai!" shouted Sakuragi, who was silenced by an irritated Akagi. (L.I.D.[author]: ^Sweat drop^)

"With the practice game against Ryonan High, even though we lost, we lost by only one point!"

Silence reigned over the court, for several seconds, before…

"How many times must I tell you in order for you to get it through your skull!?! Say something!!!"

"You idiot!" shouted Mitsui, pushing Kogure to the hard wooden floor again, though more roughly. "What have your dreams got to do with me? Or Toyowara for that matter? I've given up on her and basketball a long time ago…"

"It's me, open the door…" said a deep familiar voice. It was Anzai-sensei!

Memories flashed before Mitsui's eyes, all the happiness, the sorrow, and the pain, about Kimiko and basketball all came crashing down, and he burst into tears. In the end…

"I want… I want to play basketball!!!!!!!" cried Mitsui.

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Soon, everyone was playing on the court again, and the court door slowly opened, revealing a very masculine Mitsui. His hair was short now, and he wore a white t-shirt with its sleeves rolled up to his shoulders. (L.I.D.[author]: *drools!* NYA HA HA HA!!!) Everyone stared at him as if he had grown an extra limb, disbelieving the change in Mitsui. Anzai-sensei only did his usual 'ho-ho-ho-ing". For now, everything was back to normal.

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(=^_^=) Meow!

WHAT an anti-climax… LOL Anyway, hope you liked this chapter anyway! This one of the three chapters I will be dedicating to Mitsui-kun on his birthday, so keep watching for it! Happy birthday, Mitsui Hisashi!

Mitsui: Arigato, LID-chan… *kiss!*

LID: *swoon!*

Replies!

Archmyst-kun: Thanks mucho! ^_^ I'm glad you had the patience, and have had a pleasant journey while reading my 27 chapters, plus one! LOL Mind you, this fic concentrates on Mitsui, and Kogure, so, there will not me much on other characters, for they are there for the scene. :p There will be more twists, so kee on tuning in! ^_^

Charon-chan: Thank you so much! ^_^ Yeah, I'm happy that I finally made it to where SD begins in the series and manga, so I have less stress. LOL And yep, Mitsui's the boss! Argh, you're another one who laughed after reading the 'shine' part! LOL Well, that's my sense of humour for you! ;p

Demented Ding-chan: It is all right, as long as your review. ^_^ *Looks at you as to what you interpreted what Mitsui said.* What the?? He is not gonna turn into a godzilla king kong! LOL ^Sweat drop^

Icko14-chan: LOL Yeah Akagi's butt is nice ne? LOL!!!! Glad everything's all right for you noe! ^_~ BTW, try to keep your email space free in case I send you updates ne? ^_~

Ghostwriter-chan: I see. What exams do you have? Need help? ^_^ LOL same here, gotta love his arse. :p Keep it real, tomodachi! ^_^

Madiha-chan: Thanks! ^_^ Enjoy this chapter please!

Super rookie-chan: You guessed right! And read the author's notes, dearie. ^_^

F5C-chan: Yep, fight in the gym. Enjoy! Methinks will be a three parter for Mitsui's birthday.

SyiveSe-chan: Yeah, and read this chapter quick! ^_^

Fehrocious-chan: LOL yep, Sakuragi's one piece of work! ^_^ *lokks at the dialogue between Akagi and Kogure, and sweat drops* LOL!

Lady Harlequin-chan: Will start work soon on our fic, I feel my muse SLOWLY coming back! LOL ^_^