Chapter 6: The Kiss
I'm extremely, very, horridly happy today everyone! We played in the Under-17 mixed Netball team competition, and we won! We were the champs! AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! I feel like Shohoku when they managed to get into the Inter High. ('',)
Words in italic bold: What the characters are feeling
Words in "..": Characters' speech
Words in bold: lyrics of a song (Disclaimer: Trademark's Only Love. I don't own this song! Wish I did...)
Then it hit Rukawa. Do ahou.... He didn't like to be ridiculed, but he hated to be rejected.
Shioko turned to look at Rukawa. It was rare not to hear any ball bouncing from his side of the court. He was staring straight into space or was he staring at her... He started walking over to her.
Stop.... No....Stop...Teme.. Rukawa tried to stop his legs from going over to her, but to no avail. He stopped directly in front of her, and suddenly understood what it felt when your mouth when dry. "Do ahou..." Rukawa started.
"What...Don't tell me your ball burst and you want my ball?" She eyed him suspiciously. Shioko held her precious Nike basketball closer to her.
Ball? Burst? Rukawa looked down at his pants, and looked at her chest, only to get a smack on the head. "Hentai..." (A/N: There are many types of balls. Heh. Sorry, it becomes a habit of calling certain body parts balls when you're in a perv netball team.)
That perv ji-ji... Shioko thought, and started to grin. So, Mr Shohoku does know how to be perverted. Well, two can play a game... She smiled at him. "I'm sure you don't want your reputation ruined, being the most handsome and squealed over boy in the entire Shohoku, right?"
Rukawa turned chibi and faced his butt to her. Shioko kicked it. He turned around and glared at her. Do ahou...Teme.. Kusou...
"Of course not!" Shioko replied, beaming. Rukawa threw his hands up in defeat and let out a soft sigh. He certainly wasn't getting anywhere.
"Before I forget, what do you actually want?" Shioko asked, clutching the ball over protectively. "Nothing..." Rukawa said, and walked away.
Shioko was surprised. She was beginning to find tormenting the fox fun. Then she heard him mumble something about no more America. "Oi... What do you mean no more America....YOU ARE GOING TO BOMB AMERICA WITH OSAMA? " She asked, pretending to be horrified. He turned to narrow his eyes a her and continued walking.
He walked over to his ball which was on the bench. "Tell me." Shioko insisted. Rukawa sat on the bench, and wiped his face dry with his white Nike towel. She sat down next to him. "You stink..." "Do ahou..."
Shioko took off her headband, and looked at him. "Are you going to tell me or not." When did I become such a busy body...
Rukawa turned to look at her. He had remembered something about Mitsui having a crush on her and calling her angelic looking boy. Teme.. Ask her.. Tell her!! He started...
She nodded, and looked at him. "It's simple. Tell her your girlfriend broke up with you..."
Rukawa nodded slowly, but he why did the initial plan of Shioko being his girlfriend appeal more to him... Teme.. Kusou... What's wrong with me.. His face remained expressionless as he thanked her. But his heart so wanted to ask "If that plan doesn't work, will you..?" But Rukawa so didn't understand. After all, about experiences in love, he was worse than a green horn.
"Broke up..." Rukawa mumbled, trying not to let his parents hear their conversation. His parents were watching some soap opera on TV.
His aunt features softened. "Aww, poor baby!" She patted his back, smiled sadly and said "I will give you till the end of the year. Don't be so sad honey..."
Rukawa tried to look unhappy, again, succeeding in making his parents try not to laugh.
Rukawa Kaede sat on his large king sized bed, thinking and pondering hard. It was the first time in so many years he hadn't fallen asleep after sitting on the bed for five minutes. And he started to get angry. Un fair. Teme. Why did he had to find a girlfriend in order to go to America?
2 a.m and the rain is falling
She looked at the tiny raindrops that pattered against her bedroom window and her phone rang.
Here we are at the crossroads once again
Not again...She thought as she picked up the phone and heard his voice.
You're telling me you're so confused
"I still love you...." But she thought his voice sounded uncertain..
You can't make up your mind
"I don't understand why..."
Is this meant to be you're asking me
"Should we still be together?" He asked softly.
But only love can say, try again or walk away
"I like her...but only as a friend.. "
But I believe for you and me the sun will shine one day
The raindrops.... the flash of lightning... the loud clash of thunder...but the sun would come out again. If she believed....
So I'll just play my part and pray you'll have a change of heart
"Kami-sama..." She said softly, her hand clasped together tightly.
But I can make you see it through
"Trust me..."
That's something only love can do
"I still love you.." Ria told Hanagata over the phone before hanging up.
"Ria..." Shioko called.
Her best friend looked up at her. "Yeah?"
"Let's go. It's three already."
"Huh? Oh! I forgot! My shoes!" Ria got up from the bench and ran to her locker. She took out her pair of Reebok shoes and put them on.
"Your jersey... Isn't that my school's jersey?" Shioko said. Ria's eyes widened as she glanced down.
"Toru...your jersey... Did you happen to take Miyagi's jersey?" Fujima asked Hanagata, tugging at the light green jersey on his co captain's jersey. (A/N: Ria's jersey number is also 7. And she is in Shohoku.)
"What do you-" Hanagata started, and groaned when he found out what Fujima meant.
Fujima smiled. "At least I don't take my girlfriend's jersey!"
"Do you have an extra jersey? Toru must have taken the wrong one." Ria said.
"What were you two doing... How come he managed to get your jersey?" Shioko asked, as she watched her friend's cheek turn a tad red.
"I went to his house after sensei cancelled training the other day, and I took a bath there. He must have taken the wrong shirt out of the bathroom." Ria said, slightly embarrassed.
Shioko grinned. "Tell him hi, and ask him to tell Fujima a hi too."
"Ok." Ria sighed and went out of the locker room with her best pal, still wearing Hanagata's jersey.
Ruriko narrowed her eyes as she saw Ria's jersey. "I believe this is Shohoku Miss."
"Sensei excused me." Ria replied coolly.
"Are you trying to show off your boyfriend?" Ruriko asked, but anyone could detect the hint of jealousy in Ruriko's voice.
"That's my cousin's jersey. Don't you know Shoyo has a girls' team too?" Ria replied, looking at Ruriko.
"Come on Miaka, we have better things to do then to talk to Toru's plaything." Ruriko replied, her nose sticking high up in the air.
"You're just jealous." Shioko said to herself, earning herself a glare from Miaka.
"Toru's plaything?" Ria said, bemused. "He said only Fuji and I are allowed to call him Toru." Ria said again.
"Toru...." Shioko said, grinning.
Rukawa shot a three pointer. It hit the rim and bounced off. He sighed, completely exasperated. Shoot with rhythm. He remembered Anzai sensei's advice. He tried again, and succeeded in failing again. He blew his bangs out of his eyes, irritated.
Shioko, meanwhile, was watching the whole episode. She went up to him. "Oi... I'll show you." She took the ball from him, jumped, aimed for the rim and 'WHOOSH' the ball went in.
Rukawa took the ball from her and tried. It hit the rim again. Shioko stood behind him, and help him to position his hands on the ball correctly.
He felt a chill go up his spine as she positioned him and the ball correctly. ... Whats that thing going up my back...
"No, this hand supports. It goes slightly behind. Yeah, like that." She said.
Shioko felt weird being so close to him. She shook her head slightly, as she shifted his hand slightly. "Try it.." She said.
The ball went in, and it was a silent one. Rukawa looked at her and nodded. He didn't say it, but she knew it was a thank you.
"You see that girl?" A fan of the RKFC (Rukawa Kaede Fan Club) asked another, glaring at Shioko through her eye slits.
"SHE TOUCHED HIM!!" Another yelled. When everyone of the RKFC heard that, there was a stunned silence, and suddenly, there was another club in school. It was the GARM (Girls Against Rukawa Molesters). Their location? Behind the gym doors which had a 1cm gap in the middle. Amazing how desperate this girls get.
Rukawa tried that shot again, and got it in perfectly. He was grateful that she had taught him a pointer, but he, being the proud Rukawa Kaede, couldn't help but feel embarrassed.
"You know, its ok to ask for help sometimes..." Shioko said, a twinkle in her eye.
Psychic... Do ahou... Rukawa thought, bouncing the ball hard.
"RUKAWA KAWAII!!!!!!!!!! Don't touch my Rukawa!" "Yeah!" "You silly bitch! Who are you anyway?" The RKFC and GARM yelled into the gym.
Then "RUKAWA KAEDE! I LOVE YOU!!" Shioko yelled from the gym, and to the RKFC and GARM's horror, she planted a kiss on Rukawa's cheek. Uh-oh... She thought, I'm in trouble... He's gonna kill me!
She.loves.me.She.kissed.me.I.feel.hot. Rukawa touched his cheek lightly, and he did the most un Rukawa-ish thing ever. He blushed. A shade of pink colored his cheeks as he looked at the surprised Shioko.
He's blushing, oh my gosh, he actually turns red. Is he shy? Or is he gonna kill me? Shioko started to worry, but he held his hand out to her. Huh... She held out her hand, and he slapped it.
"SHE KISSED HIM! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!"
Rukawa cocked his head, and threw the keys to her. "Close..." She caught the keys and tossed it in the air. How.come.I.don't.mind.her.kiss.like.I.mind.aunt's.Help.
He sat on the bench for awhile longer, and he turned to her suddenly. "Oi do ahou... it worked."
"Told ya... How long are they going to stay there?" Shioko pointed to the large group outside the door.
Rukawa shrugged, and felt bad. She wouldn't have been caught in this situation if not for him and his three pointers. What's wrong with me....I think I've got a soft spot for that ahou....
"I'm going to get killed for touching you if I go out. So, I think I shall stay here till they leave." Shioko said out aloud to herself. Then a mosquito bit her waist, directly at the spot her father had used his golf stick to hit. That her dad claimed while grinning, was an accident.
She scratched it lightly, and lifted up her shirt slightly to inspect the bite. She had no idea Rukawa was looking. Her wound was a slight purple, and in the center of it was a tiny pink lump, the mosquito's work.
Rukawa saw the wound that decorated her waist, and saw a scar that ran down her back. Then the image of her coughing out blood came back to him. And her father. Now that wound and that scar. But, being the loner he was, he said and pretended he noticed nothing. But this time, he wondered if he should do anything.
Ria reached for her phone lying on her bedside table. 1 message received. Opening. -=*tOrU*=- Read... your jersey is with me. do u have training tmrw... Reply. no... u?
Hanagata sighed. Lately, they hadn't been on very good terms. It seemed to him she wasn't very happy about something. But what hurt him most was that he felt she didn't love him anymore.
"Have you finished your English homework?"
"No..."
"You don't sound very happy..."
"Just tired. I'll see you tomorrow k?"
"Ok."
"Bye."
"Bye." Shioko hung up, wondering what was troubling her friend.
"I don't know. Should I?" Hanagata played with the telephone cord.
"But Toru.. I.. She's a nice girl."
"But, it seems like she doesn't like ma anymore you see."
"Have you tried talking to her?"
"No. She keeps avoiding me."
"Oh... She can't keep on avoiding you Toru."
"I know. But..."
"Toru.. I got to go. My mum wants me off the phone. Like I said...she's a nice girl. I'll see you tomorrow same time. Good night." Hanagata hung up the phone. feeling a bit better.
no... you wanna meet? i ll meet u at e park at 4. good night and sweet dreams. love ya.. Ria looked at the message and sighed.
Ria's reply: k.. love u 2..g'night... Toru, why does it feel like you don't like me anymore? I miss you... Ria fingered the neoprint they had taken a few months ago. Just the sight of Hanagata could take her breath away.. especially when he was wearing his contacts...
Ruriko grinned. Hanagata was online!
rU: hi!
t0rU: hi
rU: ur gf was wearing ur jersey just now
t0ru: i was wearing hers
rU: oh..^^
t0rU: yup
rU: how r u
t0rU: fine xcept i miss her..
rU: oh poor baby..
rU: so how r things
t0rU: gd
rU: u don sound very happy what happened
t0rU: nothing
rU: oh come on tell me
t0rU: i.. think she doesnt luv me anymore
rU: uh oh r u gonna break up
t0rU: if that makes her happy
rU: don worry k..
t0rU: i m tryin not to..
rU: don be so sad!
t0rU: how can i not be. she might even break up with me anytime from now
rU: poor thing..
t0rU: if u c her tmrw.. tell her i miss her loads.... i'll be seeing her tmrw :D
rU: ok...
t0rU: i g2g . bye
I'll tell her you want to break alright... Ruriko thought, a plan forming in her mind.
"What's wrong... ." Shioko asked concerned. She sat beside Ria, where Hanagata had once sat.
"We broke up.." came Ria's reply
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You must be wondering why I added Hanagata and Ria into the story. Just to add some spice! REVIEWS PLEASE!!!!!!!!
