The Fox Meets the Wolf and All Hell Breaks Loose
by KOFLeona
Wa~i, chapter 5 is here!! ^^
I know the last chapter may not have been too angsty, but it's still a bit different from my other chapters. This one here will be a lot of lecturing on the upcoming season from the one and only Akagi(GORI!!).
Oh, I also want to clear up the chapters b/c after looking back just now, I realized that everything is all f-ed up!!!! THIS is chapter 5, ok? ^^ OK!
Chapter 5 One on One?
Kei checked her watch briefly. It was just almost time for practice and she was not going to be late. Jogging into the locker room, she changed quickly into her Converse sneakers, gray t-shirt, and baggy black shorts. She shook out her muscles, cracking her neck, as she came out into the gym.
At that exact moment, she saw one of her 'team mates', Sakuragi was the name, fly through the air, in a way, and slam dunk the ball into the hoop. It all looked kind of effortless, which made Kei even more determined. She HAD to work on that shot, for her own sake, not her father's.
Her eyes widened suddenly as she felt something whizzing at her, directed right near her head. "Whoa." she muttered, reaching up to feel the familiar rubbery bumps against her palms. "Basketball?" she thought, bringing it down to her vision. It WAS a basketball, which meant someone had chucked it at her. Seeing Sakuragi, she smirked and whipped it back at him, likewise. He caught it one-handed.
"Hey, not bad! For a girl, that is!" he said haughtily. Kei frowned for the smallest second before smirking again. She didn't even notice Rukawa come in, but only walked over to Sakuragi, arms folded across her chest.
"I do my best, even if it happens to be better than others," she retorted, aiming her comment right at him. He vein-bulged.
"Was that supposed to be a diss??!" he growled. Kei only shrugged, taking the basketball from him, walking away a few paces to the 3-point line, and casually lobbing it up and into the hoop.
"It might've been a diss, maybe not," she coolly replied, knowing she was getting Sakuragi angry, not that that was a hard thing to do.
"Ok, Miss Tough Lady!" Sakuragi caught the ball after it bounced a bit. "Think you're so good, how about to one on one with me, Sakuragi Hannamichi, Tensai of the Kanagawa District?" he challenged, pointing right at her. Kei cocked her head to the side before walking to the bleachers.
"I~ think I'll pass, -Tensai-," she retorted with her trademark smirk once again, dismissing the situation with a wave of the hand.
Rukawa, off in the back, smirked ever slightly himself. He was impressed at her ability to anger Sakuragi in that way. He looked over and saw Kei calling over to Sakuragi, name calling and being a smart-ass. He then frowned for two reasons. She was giving him a lot of attention. Then again, why would he care? It was just Miyazaki...
"OK!! JUNIORS!! RETURNING PLAYERS!!! YOU ARE ALL HERE FOR A PURPOSE!!! TO WORK HARD AND HONOR THE NAME OF TEAM SHOHOKU!!!! ANY QUESTIONS!?!" Akagi barked out. Kei and the other new players, not used to this, flinched. "I EXPECT 100 PERCENT EFFORT FROM ALL!!! IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW GOOD YOU ARE, YOU'D BETTER WORK YOUR HARDEST, OR YOU WILL BE CUT!!! UNDERSTOOD!?!?!!"
"YOU LOST ME HALFWAY THROUGH, GORI, SIR!!!!" Sakuragi yelled out with almost as much volume. Kei flinched again as she saw Captain Akagi punch Sakuragi right on the head, a giant, pulsating, pink bruise rising up. Sakuragi clutched his head, whimpering.
*Author's Note- Ehehe, I made the bruise sound like a pimple! O.o
"There will be no slackers," Akagi finished up. There was a brisk clapping at the doorway, where Anzai-sensai stood, his jolly, Santa-Claus face beaming like usual under the small spectacles.
"Very inspiring, Captain Akagi!" he commented, walking up to the group. He looked at them all, new and old members alike. "A good roster you have this year, Akagi, especially the inclusion of a female member!" he stated, referring to Kei. Looking around, she noticed that she was, indeed, the only female and shortest, about the height of that Miyagi guy.
"Yeesh, does everyone have to look like I'm some Panda bear at the zoo!?" she thought. Akagi caught everyone's attention with a cough.
"Anyway, we are all equal here, you got that?" Akagi finished. Rukawa scoffed in defiance. Akagi glared at him, but continued to talk to them about their schedule. "Practice is every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday after school. If you are going to be late or absent from practice, contact either me, Haruko, Ayako, or Anzai-sensei! However, I suggest avoiding not coming to practice at all costs!" He continued on for a while, a lot of them getting a bit tired from the lecture. Who knew Akagi could make such a long speech?
"Now, we have an hour and a half left of practice. Run ten laps around the gym, then we'll see what we'll do." Akagi instructed, much to the dismay of most of the new players.
"Come on Captain! This is basketball, not track team!!!" one of the freshmen protested. Akagi raised an eyebrow at him and the kid was about to speak again before Kei stepped on his foot.
"Don't push your luck!" she muttered to him. Face red with pain, he nodded. She glared at another kid who gave her a weird look. Akagi looked on impatiently.
"Back to business, ten laps around the gym, and be sure to be able to stand up after, we're getting straight to work, shape up you slackers," he ordered, slapping Sakuragi on the back. Or, more accurately, whomped him a good one across the back, causing Sakuragi to bite his tongue.
Kei and the others nodded and began the run around the gym. The new players, and Sakuragi decided to sprint ahead, leaving the former players and Kei behind in a brisk jog. "He is going to be hurting..." Kei muttered, seeing Sakuragi finish a third lap, breath already falling heavy.
Kei finished along with the rest of the team, Sakuragi and the other rookies, dragging themselves through the last lap. Akagi smirked at their gung-ho spirits, though it was a bit silly of them.
"I hope you're all nicely refreshed, because I am, and I'm sure this group here is too," Akagi said, gesturing over to Kei's group.
"Now, in order to evaluate what we all need to work on, we're going to play a nice, FRIENDLY match," Akagi informed, stressing the word 'friendly', especially at Rukawa and Sakuragi. "Sakuragi, Rukawa, assemble teams."
Sakuragi and Rukawa walked up front, and they made up 2 teams from the thirteen people there. One person would have to sit out. Kei hoped she wouldn't have to...
Kei watched Rukawa as he made another flawless dunk...from her seat on the bleachers. Yup, she was the one who was going to be left out of this little match. "Sexist pigs..." she thought to herself, remembering how the last choice for Rukawa to make was between her and Keitaru, and they chose Keitaru, the haughty bastard freshman. She smirked slightly seeing him get the ball, only to have Miyagi steal it from right under his nose.
"It seems like I'll never get my chance..." she thought, leaning forward, her arms propped on her knees, chin resting on her palms. "Guess I'll just learn some techniques from watching," she mused, continuing to watch.
The continued for about fifteen minutes. Kei was supposed to be a substitute for anyone who got too tired, but Kei figured that most of the people just didn't want to sit out and let her take over.
Kogure looked over at the girl sitting on the bleachers. She looked kind of sad. Who wouldn't be? Making the team only to be snubbed by almost everyone else there. It must be rough, to have everyone act so right towards her, just because she was a girl...
"I'll take my break now," Kogure called out, walking to the bleachers. Everyone gawked. Was he seriously going to take a break and let Miyazaki play!? They watched him walk over and exchange a few words before they high-fived and she came over to take his place on Sakuragi's team.
"Hey, I figured you'd be itching to play, Miyazaki!" Kogure said to Kei with a grin. She nodded with a smirk before they high-fived. Taking a deep breath, she walked over to Sakuragi's team.
"Don't tell me you're having a girl play on your team, you'll lose for sure!!" Keitaru yelled across the court. Kei glared at him.
"Miyazaki, you cover Keitaru over there," Sakuragi said. She shrugged.
Kei stared at Keitaru, ball in his hand. He had no idea how short he'd last. Leaning forward, she began to blend his moves into hers until she was sure she could get the ball away from him. Thmp, thmp, thmp- Quick as a flash, the ball was in the air and into Kei's hand. She immediately passed to Miyagi without hesitation, resulting in a neat lay-up and a win for their team.
"Phew! That was invigorating..." Kei thought as she wiped her forehead. "Haven't played a match that intense since going against Kyota," sje mused.
"Kei!" a voice called out. That was...Yukari! Kei turned around to see Ayako and Yukari at the bleachers and giving thumbs-ups. She returned the gesture with a wink before turning to go to the locker room before coming face to face-or rather, face to chest- with Rukawa...again. (Rukawa is 6' 3" in the fic, so he's about 8 inches taller O.O)
She looked up at him, no starry-eyes or faint marks, but with comical annoyance. "You just pop up everywhere, don't you?" she asked rhetorically before walking past him.
"Do'ahou..." he muttered before starting to practice on his own.
"Thanks!" Kei called over her shoulder with a smirk. She didn't swoon, there was no need to...
This chapter is rather short, I know, but hell, I wanted to. The thing is, my next idea wouldn't exactly fir in with the current situation. The next is called Musing to Myself from Kei's POV. This one, is kinda angsty, but also kind of sweet. Gawd, I'm getting too sappy...must be the Ryo-oki plushie my bro gave me.
Also expect some outside of B-Ball in the next next chapter, Nobunaga Comes to Town! ^^
by KOFLeona
Wa~i, chapter 5 is here!! ^^
I know the last chapter may not have been too angsty, but it's still a bit different from my other chapters. This one here will be a lot of lecturing on the upcoming season from the one and only Akagi(GORI!!).
Oh, I also want to clear up the chapters b/c after looking back just now, I realized that everything is all f-ed up!!!! THIS is chapter 5, ok? ^^ OK!
Chapter 5 One on One?
Kei checked her watch briefly. It was just almost time for practice and she was not going to be late. Jogging into the locker room, she changed quickly into her Converse sneakers, gray t-shirt, and baggy black shorts. She shook out her muscles, cracking her neck, as she came out into the gym.
At that exact moment, she saw one of her 'team mates', Sakuragi was the name, fly through the air, in a way, and slam dunk the ball into the hoop. It all looked kind of effortless, which made Kei even more determined. She HAD to work on that shot, for her own sake, not her father's.
Her eyes widened suddenly as she felt something whizzing at her, directed right near her head. "Whoa." she muttered, reaching up to feel the familiar rubbery bumps against her palms. "Basketball?" she thought, bringing it down to her vision. It WAS a basketball, which meant someone had chucked it at her. Seeing Sakuragi, she smirked and whipped it back at him, likewise. He caught it one-handed.
"Hey, not bad! For a girl, that is!" he said haughtily. Kei frowned for the smallest second before smirking again. She didn't even notice Rukawa come in, but only walked over to Sakuragi, arms folded across her chest.
"I do my best, even if it happens to be better than others," she retorted, aiming her comment right at him. He vein-bulged.
"Was that supposed to be a diss??!" he growled. Kei only shrugged, taking the basketball from him, walking away a few paces to the 3-point line, and casually lobbing it up and into the hoop.
"It might've been a diss, maybe not," she coolly replied, knowing she was getting Sakuragi angry, not that that was a hard thing to do.
"Ok, Miss Tough Lady!" Sakuragi caught the ball after it bounced a bit. "Think you're so good, how about to one on one with me, Sakuragi Hannamichi, Tensai of the Kanagawa District?" he challenged, pointing right at her. Kei cocked her head to the side before walking to the bleachers.
"I~ think I'll pass, -Tensai-," she retorted with her trademark smirk once again, dismissing the situation with a wave of the hand.
Rukawa, off in the back, smirked ever slightly himself. He was impressed at her ability to anger Sakuragi in that way. He looked over and saw Kei calling over to Sakuragi, name calling and being a smart-ass. He then frowned for two reasons. She was giving him a lot of attention. Then again, why would he care? It was just Miyazaki...
"OK!! JUNIORS!! RETURNING PLAYERS!!! YOU ARE ALL HERE FOR A PURPOSE!!! TO WORK HARD AND HONOR THE NAME OF TEAM SHOHOKU!!!! ANY QUESTIONS!?!" Akagi barked out. Kei and the other new players, not used to this, flinched. "I EXPECT 100 PERCENT EFFORT FROM ALL!!! IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW GOOD YOU ARE, YOU'D BETTER WORK YOUR HARDEST, OR YOU WILL BE CUT!!! UNDERSTOOD!?!?!!"
"YOU LOST ME HALFWAY THROUGH, GORI, SIR!!!!" Sakuragi yelled out with almost as much volume. Kei flinched again as she saw Captain Akagi punch Sakuragi right on the head, a giant, pulsating, pink bruise rising up. Sakuragi clutched his head, whimpering.
*Author's Note- Ehehe, I made the bruise sound like a pimple! O.o
"There will be no slackers," Akagi finished up. There was a brisk clapping at the doorway, where Anzai-sensai stood, his jolly, Santa-Claus face beaming like usual under the small spectacles.
"Very inspiring, Captain Akagi!" he commented, walking up to the group. He looked at them all, new and old members alike. "A good roster you have this year, Akagi, especially the inclusion of a female member!" he stated, referring to Kei. Looking around, she noticed that she was, indeed, the only female and shortest, about the height of that Miyagi guy.
"Yeesh, does everyone have to look like I'm some Panda bear at the zoo!?" she thought. Akagi caught everyone's attention with a cough.
"Anyway, we are all equal here, you got that?" Akagi finished. Rukawa scoffed in defiance. Akagi glared at him, but continued to talk to them about their schedule. "Practice is every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday after school. If you are going to be late or absent from practice, contact either me, Haruko, Ayako, or Anzai-sensei! However, I suggest avoiding not coming to practice at all costs!" He continued on for a while, a lot of them getting a bit tired from the lecture. Who knew Akagi could make such a long speech?
"Now, we have an hour and a half left of practice. Run ten laps around the gym, then we'll see what we'll do." Akagi instructed, much to the dismay of most of the new players.
"Come on Captain! This is basketball, not track team!!!" one of the freshmen protested. Akagi raised an eyebrow at him and the kid was about to speak again before Kei stepped on his foot.
"Don't push your luck!" she muttered to him. Face red with pain, he nodded. She glared at another kid who gave her a weird look. Akagi looked on impatiently.
"Back to business, ten laps around the gym, and be sure to be able to stand up after, we're getting straight to work, shape up you slackers," he ordered, slapping Sakuragi on the back. Or, more accurately, whomped him a good one across the back, causing Sakuragi to bite his tongue.
Kei and the others nodded and began the run around the gym. The new players, and Sakuragi decided to sprint ahead, leaving the former players and Kei behind in a brisk jog. "He is going to be hurting..." Kei muttered, seeing Sakuragi finish a third lap, breath already falling heavy.
Kei finished along with the rest of the team, Sakuragi and the other rookies, dragging themselves through the last lap. Akagi smirked at their gung-ho spirits, though it was a bit silly of them.
"I hope you're all nicely refreshed, because I am, and I'm sure this group here is too," Akagi said, gesturing over to Kei's group.
"Now, in order to evaluate what we all need to work on, we're going to play a nice, FRIENDLY match," Akagi informed, stressing the word 'friendly', especially at Rukawa and Sakuragi. "Sakuragi, Rukawa, assemble teams."
Sakuragi and Rukawa walked up front, and they made up 2 teams from the thirteen people there. One person would have to sit out. Kei hoped she wouldn't have to...
Kei watched Rukawa as he made another flawless dunk...from her seat on the bleachers. Yup, she was the one who was going to be left out of this little match. "Sexist pigs..." she thought to herself, remembering how the last choice for Rukawa to make was between her and Keitaru, and they chose Keitaru, the haughty bastard freshman. She smirked slightly seeing him get the ball, only to have Miyagi steal it from right under his nose.
"It seems like I'll never get my chance..." she thought, leaning forward, her arms propped on her knees, chin resting on her palms. "Guess I'll just learn some techniques from watching," she mused, continuing to watch.
The continued for about fifteen minutes. Kei was supposed to be a substitute for anyone who got too tired, but Kei figured that most of the people just didn't want to sit out and let her take over.
Kogure looked over at the girl sitting on the bleachers. She looked kind of sad. Who wouldn't be? Making the team only to be snubbed by almost everyone else there. It must be rough, to have everyone act so right towards her, just because she was a girl...
"I'll take my break now," Kogure called out, walking to the bleachers. Everyone gawked. Was he seriously going to take a break and let Miyazaki play!? They watched him walk over and exchange a few words before they high-fived and she came over to take his place on Sakuragi's team.
"Hey, I figured you'd be itching to play, Miyazaki!" Kogure said to Kei with a grin. She nodded with a smirk before they high-fived. Taking a deep breath, she walked over to Sakuragi's team.
"Don't tell me you're having a girl play on your team, you'll lose for sure!!" Keitaru yelled across the court. Kei glared at him.
"Miyazaki, you cover Keitaru over there," Sakuragi said. She shrugged.
Kei stared at Keitaru, ball in his hand. He had no idea how short he'd last. Leaning forward, she began to blend his moves into hers until she was sure she could get the ball away from him. Thmp, thmp, thmp- Quick as a flash, the ball was in the air and into Kei's hand. She immediately passed to Miyagi without hesitation, resulting in a neat lay-up and a win for their team.
"Phew! That was invigorating..." Kei thought as she wiped her forehead. "Haven't played a match that intense since going against Kyota," sje mused.
"Kei!" a voice called out. That was...Yukari! Kei turned around to see Ayako and Yukari at the bleachers and giving thumbs-ups. She returned the gesture with a wink before turning to go to the locker room before coming face to face-or rather, face to chest- with Rukawa...again. (Rukawa is 6' 3" in the fic, so he's about 8 inches taller O.O)
She looked up at him, no starry-eyes or faint marks, but with comical annoyance. "You just pop up everywhere, don't you?" she asked rhetorically before walking past him.
"Do'ahou..." he muttered before starting to practice on his own.
"Thanks!" Kei called over her shoulder with a smirk. She didn't swoon, there was no need to...
This chapter is rather short, I know, but hell, I wanted to. The thing is, my next idea wouldn't exactly fir in with the current situation. The next is called Musing to Myself from Kei's POV. This one, is kinda angsty, but also kind of sweet. Gawd, I'm getting too sappy...must be the Ryo-oki plushie my bro gave me.
Also expect some outside of B-Ball in the next next chapter, Nobunaga Comes to Town! ^^