Chapter I: Icy Encounters
To all those who reviewed:
Fiery-Ice: Thanks! ::bows meekly:: One really should read Anne Rice... I've read several of hers and they're all so interesting! ::nods emphatically:: Try to check it out for yourself! (Besides, one gets more adjectives from her writing.)
renei: To my dear sister, thanks for reviewing ::sob sob::. It makes me feel more confident about my own writing skills. [yeah, right... I'm such a liar] Anyway, good luck too with your devastating love triangle!
Leviathan-hikaru-finalfantasy: Thank you! I recommend that you read the Vampire Chronicles... they're all fantastic (The books are Interview with the Vampire, The Vampire Lestat, Queen of the Damned, Tale of the Body Thief...and lots more! Just tell me if you want more titles!) Ummm, can you give me tips on how to make my dialogues more life-like? I guess I'm just too fast for my own good... ::sigh::
idiotic_moron14: Sowee... totally forgot about you there...::sweatdrop:: I promise this will be one fic that I'll finish! ::holds hand out solemnly as if stating a vow:: Keep reading, okay? I'm happy that you like Shizuka... based her a bit off "Kira", you know...
micchan: I like Sendoh too! That's why I made a fic about him! 'Cause I absolutely adore him! ::eyes turn into hearts:: Okay. ::snaps out of trance:: That's way too bimbo-like for me. Anyway, thanks for saying that you like my fic!
kawaii imouto: My dear imoto, you have no right to question me. I am, after all, a year and three days older. ::glares at kawaii imouto:: However, I will consider your advice, and I'll try to slow down things a bit. That okay with you?
sLL: Okay, here's the update you asked for! I hope you don't mind if Sendoh isn't hentai in a story... I just thought that he really wasn't like that and people just made their own assumptions about him. ::smiles sheepishly::
Jo-sen7: Yes, ma'am! I'll do my best! ::raises arms and does an army salute::
maemi: As you say! I promise that I will complete this fic no matter what it takes me!
aianne:): Glad you say that it's interesting! ::beams widely at aianne:)::
Leananelle: Really? You like Kawasaki Shizuka? I'm so joyful! ::starts jumping around the room like a maniac:: No, really, I am! That's because this is the first time I've ever done a fic with an OC...Thanks for the support!
supergal88: Here's the next chappie! Hope you like it!
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Sendoh Akira
I mused over silently over what I had just told her.
"We're having a game today against Shohoku, so I need to practice for a while... wanna come?"
That was what I had said?!? I sighed in exasperation at my own self.
You barely know the girl, and you're already asking her to come to a basketball game? You think she's that lame to obey you? What does she know about you anyway? And vice versa? Absolutely nothing. For all she knows, you might well be a hentai boy...
That annoying little voice in my head spoke tauntingly, as if reminding me of a few people's reactions when they saw me smile. They acted as if I had leered, when I was SMILING.
That was stupid of them. It's my habit to grin, and I look better that way, so I do it. There's absolutely nothing wrong with smiling.
I tried to get rid of those wandering thoughts in my head and focused on the game at hand. One mistake of relaxing would make Shohoku tighten their grip. Ryonan had to be careful.
I dribbled the ball and shot a few lay-ups. Then I did some three pointers.
Swoosh! Went the ball as it easily slid inside the net. Flawless! But I wouldn't get carried away anymore. There would be no underestimating Rukawa and the redhead Sakuragi. They might be freshmen, but Rukawa certainly had experience and Sakuragi had his eagerness to learn.
I did some more practice, then my other teammates started arriving. I slapped high-fives with them and said, "Let's do our best here, shall we?"
I was greeted with a chorus of "Yeah!" then we began to stretch in preparation for the game. Then we did drills like doing laps around the court, lay-ups from the left and right hand, free throws and jump shots.
Finally, it was time for the scrimmage to start.
This is going to be fun...
Kawasaki Shizuka
I honestly don't see what's so exciting about basketball. I've read a whole book on how to dribble, pass, shoot, defend, be aggressive and similar things to that, but I still don't get the point why so many people come to watch.
After all, it's only a group of people sweating like pigs on the court. And they don't even run compared to soccer. I've done soccer already, and you've barely been on the field for five minutes yet it already feels like someone poured a whole bucket of water all over you. Plus, you use your legs. It's not as easy to use your legs than to use your hands. People who play soccer are most definitely better than people who play basketball are.
It's too bad Spirit Week for the first day only applies to the teachers... it would have been hilarious to spot all of those ignorant people don stupid costumes like Minekura-sensei. They'd all look like idiots. Everyone of them. Maybe I should bring a camera tomorrow and submit it to the school paper...
I stopped thinking about it and looked at the court for a moment from the top bleacher on which I was sitting. Thankfully, I hadn't forgotten to bring my glasses, so I had no problem seeing what was going on. Sendoh-san was effortlessly visible, his hair being all spiky and the optimistic smile retained. He was dribbling the ball on the other side of the court, and I could see him subtly signaling to his teammates. They all nodded, and soon a point was scored.
This time I squinted at the scoreboard. It was 81-68, Ryonan leading at the second half of the game. I could see that Sendoh-san was an essential part of the team, but all this observing was making me feel bored, so I returned to the book I was reading.
It was so interesting... Anne Rice was an author deserving of all the good comments. This time, her story was about a vampire named Thorne who had been alone for a very long time in a cold, wretched cave and found solace in Marius, yet another of the old vampires. I was only one-half through with the book when somebody shouted from the court.
"Kawasaki-san! Are you watching or reading?"
That voice... it's incredibly familiar. Could it be...Sendoh Akira?
Sendoh's Fan Club
Who the hell is Kawasaki-san?
light dawns on them
It's that bitch who doesn't pay attention! So how come she is called by OUR Sendoh-san when WE'RE the ones always supporting him?
She'll pay for this!
Sendoh Akira
I know, I know, it was pretty much drastic to yell in the last minutes of the game, and there was a slight possibility that the Shohoku players would take this opportunity to score, but I didn't care anymore.
She had shown up, yes, but for God's sake, she was reading! It made me feel unsettled, especially since I was the one who had requested her to come. That's why I had bellowed in front of all the spectators and other players.
I swiftly passed the ball to Uozumi, and while running, I saw a pretty and petite girl with jet-black hair tied neatly into a braid and spectacles drop the book she was holding, then glance at me for a moment. This action somehow encouraged me more than the cheerleaders screaming their lungs out with their pompoms and all.
Just as I reached the other side, he passed back the ball to me. As usual, Rukawa was on my tail. But this time I wasn't going to take it easy anymore.
I did a fake, which deceived him, then ran inside the court and did a jump shot. As the ball moved towards the ring, everyone waited with bated breath. At last, a gentle swoosh was heard as the ball went in.
The buzzer then sounded. My teammates and I exclaimed, "Yeah!" then we went to the locker rooms to change into our uniforms again. Afterwards, the Shohoku players shook hands with us.
Sakuragi Hanamichi
We lost! Grrrr... But this time it's not my fault. I was guarding Fuku-chan better than before. That stupid kitsune! It's his entire fault! He let Sendoh escape... which proves I'm a better basketball player than he is! Nyahahahahahahaha!
Kawasaki Shizuka
They clasped the other team's hands, and I saw him whisper something to a redhead, while the seemingly freshman flinched. I wondered what he might have said to make the guy so upset.
Then several pairs of hands grabbed my wrists and I was dragged away from the bleacher. I tried to fight them and held on to the stable wood and my latest book, but something was put over my nose and before I could push it away, I fell into an uneasy sleep.
Sendoh Akira
I scanned the bleachers for a sight of her, but her seat cushioned only a backpack and the book was torn into pieces. What did this mean? Then I caught a glimpse of a pompom near her vacant perch. A cheerleader?
I ran back to the remaining Ryonan students who were busy congratulating their team on their victorious game.
"Hey, did you see the cheerleaders with pompoms?" I asked anxiously. One of them nodded.
"They were going towards the girl you shouted at. You know, Kawasaki, right?" Cold blood ran through my veins. I thanked him and frantically tried to think of somewhere one would be well hidden.
The storage room? The freezer? Where?
I ran to the storage room. I opened the door, and saw nothing but empty crates and boxes.
She isn't here...which leaves only one place. The cooler.
I hurriedly sprinted to the freezer, and yanked its door. I was astonished to see her sleeping form on the icy floor, with no shoes, and skin slowly turning blue.
This is definitely not good. What do you do when someone's suffering from pneumonia? What do you do? Shit, shit, shit!
Okay, Akira, keep calm. You're supposed to be already 17, not a whiny boy who doesn't know what to do. Think! If you're cold, what do you do?
You keep yourself warm! That's it!
I took off my Ryonan jacket, covered her with it, and deftly scooped her up in my arms. She looked so fragile then, so unlike the girl who had outwitted Minekura-sensei. I then noticed that the temperature knob was turned to the lowest degree. I knew that this was one of those nasty tricks that the cheerleaders usually did for competition, but this was ridiculous!
I was busy pondering the strange event when she woke up.
Kawasaki Shizuka
I opened my eyes to see a concerned pair of amethyst eyes hovering above me. My vision was a bit fuzzy, since I wasn't wearing my glasses, but I could think of only one person who had those eyes.
"Sendoh?" I managed to whisper. He nodded solemnly, then spoke.
"Are you all right?" I nodded, and tried to raise my hand, but I couldn't. I winced.
"I don't think so. You were in the cooler for a very long time, so your body is very stiff. Where do you live?" I told him my address, and we set off for home. Then I remembered.
"Wait... I forgot my bag, my glasses and my book." His eyes twinkled in comprehension.
"Okay. Stay seated on the bleachers and I'll go get it for you." He carried me to the gymnasium, then set me down gently on the bleachers.
Sendoh Akira
It was a strange feeling, carrying someone for a long time. I hadn't expected her to be so... light. It was as if she was just a part of me, not extra weight. And it felt somehow right. It felt warm and comforting, sheltered and snug.
I rushed to her former seat, where I saw her bag. It was in bad shape. The cheerleaders must have been the ones to carelessly slash the leather, and all the textbooks, notebooks, pens and paper were gone. The book was in pitiful tatters, and the lenses of her eyeglasses were mercilessly broken. Nevertheless, she had requested her things, so I had to bring them.
I would usually expect that an ordinary girl would cry at the loss of her belongings, and wallow in self-pity for days. But Kawasaki Shizuka...she was different. I never could determine what she was going to do.
When I reached her and presented what I had found, her eyes glazed over, and this time I thought she would really sob. But she didn't. That was when I understood that she didn't believe in showing other people her feelings.
For her it was a weakness.
So I sat next to her, and quietly told her, "Cry on my shoulder if you wish. I won't scorn you for doing so. Everyone has to let out what they're feeling."
Kawasaki Shizuka
How am I supposed to do any schoolwork now? My spectacles are in ruins, my favorite pocketbook is nothing but torn paper and all my materials are missing.
"Do they hate me that much?" I looked into his eyes and saw a mixture of puzzlement, sympathy and... anger? I never thought he would be capable of getting angry. He always seemed to be the calm and collected one, the happy-go-lucky person. Not an angry individual.
And then it hit me. A horrible feeling that made me want to freeze up. Sadness. This had never happened before. Not until today. I felt empty and hollow, as if my life needed something more.
I needed a friend.
And he...was that friend.
Sendoh Akira
She suddenly clutched my shirt, and silent, shattering sobs escaped as I embraced her tightly.
Perhaps, this was what had been lacking for her.
She...had needed a friend to lean on.
A/N: I'm sorry if from the look of it things took a dramatic turn... you can flame me if you want. ::cowers:: I don't mind. Please just tell me your honest opinion.
I have a question for all the reviewers:
Q: Is Sendoh hentai or not?
A) Yes
B) No
C) Maybe
D) I have no idea...
E) Who cares?
Please answer, so I can find out what the majority thinks of cute little Aki-chan. ::yanks chibi-Sendoh's cheeks as hard as she can while he cringes in pain:: Feedback is appreciated.
-Rei:)