Sankyuu minna-san for all the reviews ^^
Hikaru Itsuko: Yes! Hana is confused! I love it when he's confused ^___^ I'm glad you like Makoto ne. Assuming that most people who read yaoi don't like OCs in fear of Mary-sues. (cos I'm like that x_X; I like flaws in people…)
M.S. Renae: Thank you! You don't know what your review means to me ^^; I'm always afraid my characters are OOC with Hana yelling abit too much…
C.Q aka Cresecent Quetzalcoatl (did I spell it right?): Can I call you C.Q from now on? Your name's a bit long ^^; Yes the kitsune has to act fast or else…
Cupid
Chapter 8
It was the date of Shohoku's practice match with Ryonan. Makoto rubbed her bleary eyes to look at her watch. ...erm...? 9 am? She shut her eyes but suddenly sat back up, eyes wide open.
" KUSO! I'M LATE!"
And there was another morning rush. The Shohoku team was supposed to meet in school at 8 in the morning, and then set off together. The match was starting at 10am. Makoto was letting out a string of colourful language into the air, particularly aimed at a certain pub where she worked on alternate nights, as she dashed to the train station.
*************************
"Where is he?" Miyagi checked his watch. They had waited for Makoto till 8.30 before giving up. It was now 9.30, and the team had already warmed up and waiting in the Ryonan gym.
"I guess Aoshima won't get a chance today. Unfortunately, his three-pointers are getting better." Mitsui did some more stretching, already sure that Makoto would not turn up. Everyone paid no attention to Taoka-sensei, who was fuming mad and shouting, " WHERE IS THAT SENDOH?" ^^;
************************
Makoto dashed out of the train station. After a few minutes, she paused. 'What am I doing!? I don't even know where Ryonan High is!!' Unfortunately for her, she had run so fast that she had already lost sight of the train station, and there was no one in sight. She checked her watch again and swallowed hard. 9.30. She dashed around desperately, trying to find someone on the road to ask for directions from. Not looking properly in her panic, she bumped into someone tall. The impact sent her stumbling a few steps back. She looked up, only to be greeted by a smiling boy, much taller than her, that looked even taller because of the spikes of hair sticking out. He was wearing...a Ryonan uniform. 'Help at last!'
" Gomen. I wasn't looking. er...you're from Ryonan High School? Could you show me where is it?"
The boy gave a brilliant grin.
" You're from Shohoku basketball team? Good, let's get going then. We're already late."
With that, he pulled and dragged a surprised Makoto all the way on their run to Ryonan High.
************************
At 10.50, both teams decided that they were going to play without their missing players, when the Ryonan gym door slammed open, revealing an apologetic-looking Sendoh and an almost choking Makoto. ( she was dragged by her jersey collar. what do u think?)
"Sendoh!" The Ryonan team immediately crowded their ace, while Hanamichi went over to the crowd to retrieve Makoto from his enemy. He grabbed Makoto's arm and swung her to his side. (Mak-chan is a little dizzy now ^^ I'm making her look a bit like Kenshin... that's bad...)
" What were you doing with Mak-chan, Sendoh?" Hanamichi growled menacingly as Makoto stood by the side, trying to get a gist of what was going on. Sendoh raised an eyebrow at the mention of Hanamichi's closeness to the boy he had just met outside his house. Somehow, he did not like it very much.
"I kindly brought him here because he asked for directions, Hana-kun."
Makoto blinked. Did she just hear something like jealousy out of this guy whom she assumed was Sendoh? She decided to check later, since she was dragged to Shohoku's side to warm up. She assured Mitsui that she was able to play and took off her blazer, revealing the jersey with a no. 12. It was given to her two days before when it was decided that she was capable enough to play.
They started the play-off very soon. Shohoku had improved much since the IH, and by the end of the first half, they were leading, 56-40. Makoto proved to be useful to the team, scoring a total of 20 points. Taoka-sensei was threatening to pull his hair out when he saw that Shohoku had gotten another potential player. By the end of the whole game, Makoto was dead beat. They had beaten Ryonan by a score of 85-80, but her stamina seemed weak, despite running and practice everyday. She glanced at Hanamichi. He was sweating a lot, but still the loud and energetic boy that she knew. Gulping down her mineral water, she turned her attention to Ryonan's ace.
Sendoh was good, really good at playing. No wonder Hanamichi and Rukawa had such a sense of rivalry against him. But Rukawa seemed to hate Sendoh much more...'Can I use the word 'hate'?' Makoto thought to herself, recalling once when Rukawa was staring hard at Sendoh who was guarding Hanamichi. Then someone tapped her on the shoulder.
"Sendoh?"
"Could I talk to you for a moment, Aoshima-kun?"
*****************************
Rukawa might have been drinking water and trying to catch his breath on the outside, but on the inside, he was burning with hatred for Akira Sendoh. The hentai had tried to make moves on Hanamichi again! And luck was on him this time because he was assigned to guard Hanamichi. Rukawa was furious when Sendoh fouled. He touched Hanamichi, damn it! He hated Sendoh. Pure hatred. He hated the pervert for going into first name terms with his love. He hated Sendoh for staring at Hanamichi at every match they had in the Kanagawa trials. As long as Sendoh had anything to do with his do'aho, he hated it. Why the heck did the do'aho have to respond to the pervert's actions, whether positive or negative? Why couldn't the do'aho just ignore him? And why didn't the do'aho see that he was insanely in love with him?
' He'll never know if you don't say a word. Especially the way you're acting towards him. He's innocent and oblivious.'
Recalling what Makoto had told him, Rukawa gripped his fists in order to control the urge to ram his fist into the pillar beside him. He did not want to be rejected; yet he wanted to let the do'aho know. Then, he saw Sendoh and Makoto walk out of the gym.
'Now what is that hentai doing with Makoto?'
*******************************
After taking a drink at the water cooler, Sendoh straightened himself. Makoto had her arms folded, waiting patiently.
" Ok. Talk."
"Maa, a little impatient, aren't we?"
" What do you want, Sendoh?"
" You're close to Hana-kun?"
"Huh?" Makoto was taken aback by this question. This guy is observant. But what did he want with Hana? And why is he calling Hanamichi Hana-kun?
" Quite close, I guess. We're on first name terms."
" He calls you Mak-chan."
"So?"
" I like Hana-kun."
Makoto paused for a while. After understanding what Sendoh was talking about, her jaw dropped in surprise.
"That way?"
"Hai. And I want him to like me too. That way. I guess we are rivals then. Me, you and Rukawa."
Makoto could hardly utter a word as she saw Sendoh waving goodbye and walking away. Sendoh was one of them too? And he knew about Kaede' attraction towards Hana? Sendoh seemed to have a jealous streak in him, much milder than Kaede's possessiveness, but definitely, it was there.
This was going to get complicated. If she had thought in the right track, then Sendoh would be the greatest obstacle between Hanamichi and Rukawa.
Rukawa was nicely hidden behind a tree. So he's going to go for it? Damn you, Sendoh. If he did not make a move on Hanamichi soon, he would lose to Sendoh for sure.
tbc