The Fox Meets the Wolf and All Hell Breaks Loose (is this long title worth it anymore?)
by KOFLeona
Hehe, I decided to start this chapter the same day I ended the previous one. ^.^==having-too-much-fun
This chapter takes a different tone than the rest of the chapters, taking up more of what you saw in Kei's inner emotions during the beginning of the first chapter (ANGST warning).
Well, I hope you enjoy this little, dark look into Kei's mind as she hangs out at the basketball court after school.
Chapter 3 Internal Monologues(don't you love these?)
Kei didn't feel like practicing that day, by herself or with Ayako-san. The team didn't have their first practice until tomorrow, so she could just sit there in the gym, alone. Perched on the upper bleachers, she leaned her elbows against her leg and leaned forward, chin on her hands.
Man, everything has been so crazy lately...The basketball team, new school, and that FREAKY dream. I wonder if it was supposed to mean anything, that dream. It couldn't have had no meaning if I woke up in a cold sweat, right?
I remember seeing myself on the court, in Shohoku's uniform. Then, the uniform turned black and the basketball I held was no longer a basketball, but my father's head. I dropped it with a shriek that never left my lips. The ball rolled away before smiling coldly, disappearing.
In a flash, the scene was back to normal, the basketball still a basketball. Just behind the 3-point line, I aimed to make a shot. The ball went up, but so did the basket. It only seemed to stretch farther and farther into the ceiling, until they both seemed like giants in comparison to me, a flea. The ball never went in, but came straight back at me. I woke up before I was squashed.
What was it all supposed to mean though, father's head, the rising hoop, and the black uniform...
Geez, this was so unlike me, obsessing over some nightmare, but it seemed more than that. I was hiding something from myself, and even I couldn't admit that. That must be what the dream is showing, what I really think.
The only think that instantly triggered in my mind because of my dream was my father, that son of a bitch father of mine. I've felt my highest and lowest because of him. He brought me basketball and a crushing pain I had never thought possible.
I shivered, covering my head with my hands as one memory from a long time ago flashed in my mind. No...I don't want to think about that time anymore! I didn't want it invading my thoughts again, reminding me of what I had to go through, my hell. As much as I didn't want it, it came, and I remembered every single detail as if it were just yesterday...
I was thirteen when it happened, around Christmas. I was in the living room with Mother and the twins(who were 2 then)decorating the Christmas tree with green and red lights, a bright, golden star peaked on the top which grazed the ceiling ever so slightly. I laughed so much then, sometimes without reason, as did my siblings. Mother only laughed along with us.
Then, my father sauntered into the room, a sway in his step and the smell of alcohol mingled in his breath. He was drunk, and my mother, seeing that, finished the last of the decorations and pushed me and my siblings into my room, locking the door.
I knew what this was like, and so, I put the twins into our bathroom, which connected to only our room, as far from the sounds as I could. Then came the yelling.
I never listened to what happened, but that day, I felt that it just wasn't right anymore. Taking a paper-clip, I jacked the lock and snuck out. My father's yells immediately filled my ears. I didn't bother deciphering them through his slurred speech, but only saw him raise his hand to hit my mother, already in tears.
Right then, on some natural impulse I had never felt before, I yelled out in anger and tackled my father, shielding my mother from further attacks. I then remember cold hands smashing against my own face, my mother's pleas ringing in my ears as she tried to stop his assault.
I didn't think about the rest, the bruises, the teasing by other kids, saying I got in a fight with some older kids. I didn't care. I had been marred beyond what I ever expected.
This memory hadn't come back for a while, even though the event itself was only 3 years ago. I have no clue why this nightmare had suddenly triggered that memory relapse since I vowed never to relive that scene, in reality, or in my mind.
Leaning back, neck against the bench behind me, I sighed. What now? Do I really want to go through with this basketball team after that dream? I know father's words will continue to flash in my head because of that memory. I just don't know anymore...
Wait, what am I saying? This is what he wants me to say to myself! This was his intention, to make me feel down and low, to degrade my own self. I shouldn't be limiting what I can do because of him. HE was the hopeless one, the one that would not succeed, I will.
-Next day-
Kei swerved around the corner in a wide arc, left leg outstretched as she made the turn. "Another day at Shohoku," she thought to herself, "And my first day of practice." Crouching down slightly, she hopped neatly over a tipped trash can.
Rukawa watched Kei from his bike, actually not asleep this time (OMG!!!). He saw her jump over an overturned trash can, her skirt flaring up for the smallest of milliseconds. He could feel the faintest of blushes rising in his cheeks before he was rudely interrupted by a smack in the back. "HEY, KITSUNE!!"
Kei turned around after hearing the yell. She began to skate backwards. Who just yelled out? A bit uphill, she saw Rukawa, awake "Thank God!" she thought, and Sakuragi if she remembered correctly. Sakuragi seemed to be teasing Rukawa about something, but she couldn't hear the two.
"Weirdos," she muttered, seeing Rukawa frown at Sakuragi's comment, which made Sakuragi boom out in 'tensai' laughter. Turning around again, she continued to glide down the hill that led right to the front of Shohoku.
Rukawa grumbled at Sakuragi's irritating laugh. "Do'aho..." he muttered.
"Aw, don't be mad, Kitsune! It's perfectly normal for you to look at girls! Even I understand the natural needs of man, and the fact that you need some relaxation, so look away! You seemed to be enjoying yourself too, if I may add!!" Sakuragi commented, knowing very well that he had caught Rukawa. Scratching the back of his head, he started to laugh again. Rukawa rolled his eyes before pushing Sakuragi off his bike and riding off, leaving Sakuragi on the road.
"Don't worry, Kitsune! Your secret is safe with the Tensai!!!" Sakuragi yelled off to a frowning Rukawa.
"Do'aho!" Rukawa muttered angrily under his breath. What if she had heard everything that baka said?
Kei sat back in the library desk, a book propped open on the desk, pen tapping her notebook as she scribbled down dates. Last period was her free one, so she decided to do some of her homework to avoid forgetting it later.
After a while, she began to notice hushed whispers near her. Eyes leaving to tiny text of the science book, Kei looked up to see some freshman pointing and gawking at her. They tensed up, seeing that she had caught them. Scurrying way, she heard them whisper, "Yeah, that's the freak on the basketball team! Poor Rukawa, having to play with her!"
Kei frowned at their rudeness, and they were her juniors! Letting an irritated growl, she returned to her book, now much too complex for her to handle. Slamming it shut, she took out a small black notebook and mechanical pencil. Opening up to a fresh page, she began to sketch out a picture of a vulgar rat perched upon a basketball with mocking eyes. The basketball laid on a pile of bones. She continued to sketch, her face looking as if she was in some sort of a trance.
Head snapping up, Kei heard the final bell ring, it's loud inferno of a noise reverberating throughout the whole school. Taking a deep breath, she put her stuff away in her bag, each move punctuating by sharp, jerky movements. She walked briskly out of the library. It was time for practice.
Chapter finished! I know I kinda ended it abruptly, but I thought that it was enough for now. ^^'
Anyhow, the next chapter should be interesting, if I get it right, that is!
Next chapter- One on One?
by KOFLeona
Hehe, I decided to start this chapter the same day I ended the previous one. ^.^==having-too-much-fun
This chapter takes a different tone than the rest of the chapters, taking up more of what you saw in Kei's inner emotions during the beginning of the first chapter (ANGST warning).
Well, I hope you enjoy this little, dark look into Kei's mind as she hangs out at the basketball court after school.
Chapter 3 Internal Monologues(don't you love these?)
Kei didn't feel like practicing that day, by herself or with Ayako-san. The team didn't have their first practice until tomorrow, so she could just sit there in the gym, alone. Perched on the upper bleachers, she leaned her elbows against her leg and leaned forward, chin on her hands.
Man, everything has been so crazy lately...The basketball team, new school, and that FREAKY dream. I wonder if it was supposed to mean anything, that dream. It couldn't have had no meaning if I woke up in a cold sweat, right?
I remember seeing myself on the court, in Shohoku's uniform. Then, the uniform turned black and the basketball I held was no longer a basketball, but my father's head. I dropped it with a shriek that never left my lips. The ball rolled away before smiling coldly, disappearing.
In a flash, the scene was back to normal, the basketball still a basketball. Just behind the 3-point line, I aimed to make a shot. The ball went up, but so did the basket. It only seemed to stretch farther and farther into the ceiling, until they both seemed like giants in comparison to me, a flea. The ball never went in, but came straight back at me. I woke up before I was squashed.
What was it all supposed to mean though, father's head, the rising hoop, and the black uniform...
Geez, this was so unlike me, obsessing over some nightmare, but it seemed more than that. I was hiding something from myself, and even I couldn't admit that. That must be what the dream is showing, what I really think.
The only think that instantly triggered in my mind because of my dream was my father, that son of a bitch father of mine. I've felt my highest and lowest because of him. He brought me basketball and a crushing pain I had never thought possible.
I shivered, covering my head with my hands as one memory from a long time ago flashed in my mind. No...I don't want to think about that time anymore! I didn't want it invading my thoughts again, reminding me of what I had to go through, my hell. As much as I didn't want it, it came, and I remembered every single detail as if it were just yesterday...
I was thirteen when it happened, around Christmas. I was in the living room with Mother and the twins(who were 2 then)decorating the Christmas tree with green and red lights, a bright, golden star peaked on the top which grazed the ceiling ever so slightly. I laughed so much then, sometimes without reason, as did my siblings. Mother only laughed along with us.
Then, my father sauntered into the room, a sway in his step and the smell of alcohol mingled in his breath. He was drunk, and my mother, seeing that, finished the last of the decorations and pushed me and my siblings into my room, locking the door.
I knew what this was like, and so, I put the twins into our bathroom, which connected to only our room, as far from the sounds as I could. Then came the yelling.
I never listened to what happened, but that day, I felt that it just wasn't right anymore. Taking a paper-clip, I jacked the lock and snuck out. My father's yells immediately filled my ears. I didn't bother deciphering them through his slurred speech, but only saw him raise his hand to hit my mother, already in tears.
Right then, on some natural impulse I had never felt before, I yelled out in anger and tackled my father, shielding my mother from further attacks. I then remember cold hands smashing against my own face, my mother's pleas ringing in my ears as she tried to stop his assault.
I didn't think about the rest, the bruises, the teasing by other kids, saying I got in a fight with some older kids. I didn't care. I had been marred beyond what I ever expected.
This memory hadn't come back for a while, even though the event itself was only 3 years ago. I have no clue why this nightmare had suddenly triggered that memory relapse since I vowed never to relive that scene, in reality, or in my mind.
Leaning back, neck against the bench behind me, I sighed. What now? Do I really want to go through with this basketball team after that dream? I know father's words will continue to flash in my head because of that memory. I just don't know anymore...
Wait, what am I saying? This is what he wants me to say to myself! This was his intention, to make me feel down and low, to degrade my own self. I shouldn't be limiting what I can do because of him. HE was the hopeless one, the one that would not succeed, I will.
-Next day-
Kei swerved around the corner in a wide arc, left leg outstretched as she made the turn. "Another day at Shohoku," she thought to herself, "And my first day of practice." Crouching down slightly, she hopped neatly over a tipped trash can.
Rukawa watched Kei from his bike, actually not asleep this time (OMG!!!). He saw her jump over an overturned trash can, her skirt flaring up for the smallest of milliseconds. He could feel the faintest of blushes rising in his cheeks before he was rudely interrupted by a smack in the back. "HEY, KITSUNE!!"
Kei turned around after hearing the yell. She began to skate backwards. Who just yelled out? A bit uphill, she saw Rukawa, awake "Thank God!" she thought, and Sakuragi if she remembered correctly. Sakuragi seemed to be teasing Rukawa about something, but she couldn't hear the two.
"Weirdos," she muttered, seeing Rukawa frown at Sakuragi's comment, which made Sakuragi boom out in 'tensai' laughter. Turning around again, she continued to glide down the hill that led right to the front of Shohoku.
Rukawa grumbled at Sakuragi's irritating laugh. "Do'aho..." he muttered.
"Aw, don't be mad, Kitsune! It's perfectly normal for you to look at girls! Even I understand the natural needs of man, and the fact that you need some relaxation, so look away! You seemed to be enjoying yourself too, if I may add!!" Sakuragi commented, knowing very well that he had caught Rukawa. Scratching the back of his head, he started to laugh again. Rukawa rolled his eyes before pushing Sakuragi off his bike and riding off, leaving Sakuragi on the road.
"Don't worry, Kitsune! Your secret is safe with the Tensai!!!" Sakuragi yelled off to a frowning Rukawa.
"Do'aho!" Rukawa muttered angrily under his breath. What if she had heard everything that baka said?
Kei sat back in the library desk, a book propped open on the desk, pen tapping her notebook as she scribbled down dates. Last period was her free one, so she decided to do some of her homework to avoid forgetting it later.
After a while, she began to notice hushed whispers near her. Eyes leaving to tiny text of the science book, Kei looked up to see some freshman pointing and gawking at her. They tensed up, seeing that she had caught them. Scurrying way, she heard them whisper, "Yeah, that's the freak on the basketball team! Poor Rukawa, having to play with her!"
Kei frowned at their rudeness, and they were her juniors! Letting an irritated growl, she returned to her book, now much too complex for her to handle. Slamming it shut, she took out a small black notebook and mechanical pencil. Opening up to a fresh page, she began to sketch out a picture of a vulgar rat perched upon a basketball with mocking eyes. The basketball laid on a pile of bones. She continued to sketch, her face looking as if she was in some sort of a trance.
Head snapping up, Kei heard the final bell ring, it's loud inferno of a noise reverberating throughout the whole school. Taking a deep breath, she put her stuff away in her bag, each move punctuating by sharp, jerky movements. She walked briskly out of the library. It was time for practice.
Chapter finished! I know I kinda ended it abruptly, but I thought that it was enough for now. ^^'
Anyhow, the next chapter should be interesting, if I get it right, that is!
Next chapter- One on One?