Author's note:
Hagaki: Deck the halls with loads of homework...huhuhuhuhu...ooh my GOD!!!! Gomen for posting ths late!!!!! It's because of that darn homework!!!!!!!! It gave me never-ending back-aches and head-aches!!!!!!!!! Anyway, here's chapter 9. This is kinda senti, mind you. I even cried (?) while I was writing this ( lie detector bomb will explode any minute!!!!)
Before everything else, I would like to clear something with you guys. Itoe supposed to be INSANE not an AUTISTIC. An autistic is born with that kind of *special gift*. Insane is because of depression. GOMEN!!!!
Anyway, before the bomb explodes, thanks to Raei-chan for the ice cream you give me everyday!!!!! ^.^
KABLAAAAAM!!!!!!!!
Disclaimer: Dr. T is the owner of Slam Dunk. I'm just borrowing it.
Chapter 9: ...and finally DEATH
Christmas is now over and so is the celebrating of the New year. After some time, things came back to normal. Practices everyday, classes everyday, hard-work every day...everything was typical again for everybody..but not for long...
Nobuhiro opened the gym door and did his usual warm-up. After some stretching, dribbling etc., he picked up a letter placed on the bench. He then smiled as he read the label.
" This'll be a great game..."
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" Haa...I got damn drunk on Christmas day..." croaked Mitsui, wiping the sweat trickling down his cheek.
" Me too." Ryota assumed.
" You guys..." Ayako murmured as she shook her head slightly, offering Ryota and Mitsui some water. " You look totally awful that night!!! Specially when you said...."
" Eh? Said what?" Mitsui and Ryota asked in unison.
" Said...said...nah forget it!!! Better go back to your basics! Shame on you that you're still doing basics on your fourth week!"
" Hehe...okay...." Mitsui murmured as he stood up and warmed up.
" Ja, Aya-chan." Ryota bidded as he stood up and followed Mitsui who was walking towards the other corner of the gym (where Rukawa will train them ^.^).
" WAAAAH!!!! Let's STRIP down!!!!! THe one who can go the farthest hic! will win!!!!!" MItsui exclaimed, waving a bottle in the air, letting the red liquor slosh out messily.
" Ah!!!! Mit-mitsui-sempai, dame!!!!" Ayako shouted, still pulling (the raging)Kogure back.
" Aya-chan, join us!!!!" Ryota said, forcing Ayako out.
" Baka Ryota!!!! Stop that!!!!" She exclaimed, letting out her fan and whacked the muffin head.
" Akagi! Rukawa! Help me would ya?!" Ayako asked as she was nearly crying (chibi).
" Oh boy..." Ayako muttered, smiling at herself. Guess she can't do anything about a bunch of guys who are so whacky exept train them hard to be the best of the best.
" Ayako-san! May I talk for you a minute?" Akane exclaimed from the gym door, waving her hands high in the air.
" Haii! Coming!!!"
Ayako ran towards the manager of the National team who was wearing a blissful smile.
" Ayako-san, you'll be happy to hear this!" Akane said exitedly, her eyes turning wide.
" Eh? What's that, Akane-san?"
" They'll finally have their debut as a All-Japan team!!!"
" Honto?!" Ayako said with disbelief.
" Yup!!! Wait for Oda's, I mean, captain's explanation to know about it futher."
" This'll be great!"
" But don't tell them yet! Captain wants it as a surprise." Ayako nodded as she headed towards the manager's bench with a wide smile.
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" Okay, everyone! Stop! Assemble!!!" Nobuhiro shouted, clapping his hands loudly, making the sweaty, out-of-breath members assemble before him.
" Hey hey! Looks like everyone's too tired to hear some really good news!"
" What kind of good news is this?" Questoned Akagi,hanging the towel he was holding on his shoulder.
" We'll be finally...?" Started Sakuragi. Nobuhiro started to nod. "...we'll be finally be out of the basics?"
Nobuhiro smashed on the floor. ^.^
" That's not it!" he said, finally getting up.
" I get it..." Mitsui said confidently. Nobuhiro's face lightened up and he was nodding rapidly.
" Yes...you know it already Mitsui?"
" You finally understood that I am not suitable for pathetic basics, and also knew that I' m the ace of this team. You've decided that I'll finally make my debut! Bwahahaha!!!" Bog!
" That's not it!!!!" Nobuhiro said, knocking Mitsui's head.
" Then tell it straight!!!! What the hell is IT?!" MItsui exclaimed, grimacing in pain.
" Okay, then everyone, listen! We will be having our first game this year! We are part of the 14th Busan games in Korea!"
(hehe)
Delight and amuzement filled the air as everyone rejoiced at the good news. Nobuhiro watched them all smile as the feeling of exitement rushed through their vains. But he had a bad feeling. He felt that he wouldn't see the smiles again. He shook his head and came back to his senses. No, it was just his imagination...it was just nervousness...
Or maybe not...
" Yoshi!!!" Sakuragi exclaimed, raising his hand swiftly at the air. Everyone did the same, screaming their hearts out.
" One more news." Nobuhiro added, silencing everyone. " We had a some kind of voting of who will be the coach, assistant coach, so on. If you have any violent reactions on our votes, please say it later."
" For our coach, it's Anzai-sensei. He quickly said yes before we could finish our explanation to him."
" Yatta! It's oyajii!!" Sakuragi silently exclaimed to Mitsui who was, um..never mind.
" Aka...no...Hijisawa-san will be the assistant coach." Nobuhiro continued, watching everyone's eyes for violent reactions.
" Because of that we decided that Ayako-san will be the manager."
" Aya-chan!" Ryota exclaimed.
" Arigato, Nobuhiro-san." Ayako said humbly with a bow.
" We're sure you'll be a great manager to us, Ayako-san." Masaki said patting her shoulder.
" We believe in you." Toshiro added.
" Haii. Arigato." Ayako replied bashfully. Ryota, who looked like a mad ninja now, was throwing death stares to Masaki and Toshiro who just sweatdropped.
" For this year, let us give the former Shohoku team a chance. I know they won't lead us to defeat. Is that alright with you, everyone?" Everyone nodded happily.
" How about you, Akagi? Mitsui? Miyagi? Sakuragi? Kogure? Rukawa?"
" Eh? Rukawa's with us too?" Said Kogure.
" I said "Former Shohoku team". Of course, Rukawa is included. Why? Do you have any objections?"
" Ah...none."
" Good. Akagi, you're the center. You're also the vice captain. Miyagi, Point guard; Mitsui, shooting guard, Sakuragi, Power forward, Kogure, point guard, and Rukawa, your usual, small forward. Let's practice hard today! we won't let any other countries beat us!"
" YEAH!!!"
Everyone started practicing again.
" Akane-san." Nobuhiro said.
" Nani? (What?)"
" What do you want to see last if it was the end?"
" Eh? What do you mean?" Akane questioned.
" I want to see smiles of joy."
" Captain, you're weird."
" I may be weird, but that's what I want..."
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It was early dawn when Ayako woke up. She decided to have an early visit at the gym. She stood up and looked at her watch. 3:00 am. Guess it was too early. Still, she took a bath, dressed up, and picked her bag. She left a small note on her dad's room, saying that she left early. She cooked her breakfast and sat on the table, and started munching some octopus weiner, which was beside some veggies, a little bowl of rice, and a cup of coffee.
She opened the TV and watched the Early Morning News ( well, that's what I recall ^.^).
~ Flash Report. There was said to be a prisoner who escaped from jail. The prisoner was said to be jailed because of attempting to kill a person. Luckily, the victim was still alive. The victim was said to be Hisashi Mitsui, a national member of basketball team. During December 26,the prisoner killed one man at the same cell and broke his way out of the police station. We warn everyone. This man is already insane, according to witnesses...~
Ayako banged her cup of coffee at the table. surely, that was Tamura!!! He's seeking revenge. Now there was really a reason to go to the gym early. She should inform Nobuhiro ahead before it's too late...
" Nobuhiro-san usually arrives at quarter to three at the gym!!!! I need to hurry before..." an image of blood darkened her sight. She shook her head as she rushed towards the gym, huffing and puffing, at the same time hoping that it isn't too late...
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" Ah...the place is a mess. Well, I need to clean it up since I'm the only one here." Nobuhiro said as he swooped the mop on the floor.
" Why Captain?! Itoe is a good player! Let him join! As a brother, I can't take this anymore!!!" Kiyoshi said, shaking the confused captain continually.
" I'm sorry, but I can't. Good isn't enough for me." Nobuhiro said, trying to hide the troubled feeling.
" Captain! I can't believe this...I DIDN'T KNOW THAT YOU ARE SO COLD HEARTED!!!" Kiyoshi ran outside the gym, not minding a car rushing by...
SCREEEEEEECCCHHHHHH!!!
" Kiyoshi?" Nobuhiro ran outside, panicking. He then spotted his friend/member, lying on the ground, swimming in his own pool of blood.
" KIYOOOOOOOSHHIIIIIIII!!!!"
" If only I had listened to what he was saying, and gave Itoe another chance...It wouldn't reach to this far..." Nobuhiro said to himself. He then stared at the mop he was holding.
" A mop...just like before..."
" Ne, ne Nobuhiro-san! I'll be a great player like you and Kiyoshi-onichan!!!" Young Itoe exclaimed ,looking very excited.
" First, you should mop the floor several times to shine like diamond." Nobuhiro said, picking up a mop and handed it over to him. ( He's still a new member these times...)
"Eh? Why should I do that?" Itoe asked.
" That's part of the training. If you can't polish the floor until it shines like diamond, you won't be a great player." Kiyoshi said.
" AH!!! Is that so? I better be starting!!!"
Nobuhiro started to mop the place before the gym door. If only they could, rewind the time just like a tape. If only he listened...If only this and that. He can't do anything now. It's a throbbing fact that he needs to face...
At that moment, he saw a recognizable man standing at the gym door.
" Ito-Itoe?" Nobuhiro glanced closely to confirm if the man's really Itoe or not. Without second thoughts, he ran to him. He was really Itoe.
" Itoe!! I'm so glad you're out of the- "
BANG!
Itoe shot Nobuhiro on his arm with a PK-Ammo. The bullet pierced through his skin, causing it to bleed badly. Nobuhiro shouted in pain as he knelt on the floor, grimacing in pain. Itoe walked nearer him and aimed the gun at Nobuhiro's head. Just when he was ready to shoot, Ayako came by, running as swift as she could.
" CAPTAIN!!!" She shouted, making Itoe stop. She then looked at the scenery with shock. She barely made it in time. But still, the problem isn't finished yet.
" A-ayako-s-san...?" Nobuhiro questioned weakly, slowly standing up. Ayako ran beside him and helped him stand up.
" Itoe-san. Please stop this none-sense now!!!" She said, hoping that Itoe's insanity wouldn't bear to anything wrong.
" You...you..."
" STAY OUT OF THE WAY!!!" Itoe shouted, shooting her ankle, causing her to fall with Nobuhiro.
" Don't include her here!" Nobuhiro exclaimed, using his left effort to stand up. He tried to take Itoe's gun away to avoid harm, but he was fighting back.
" My brother... died...because of you...all of the things you did to me....will surely go back...to you!!!!"
Itoe was the one who had more advantage because Nobuhiro's arm was shot.
"Hehehe...now say something!!! Say something before you die!!!!" Itoe shouted, finally knocking Nobuhiro out.
He didn't stand up.
" Leu...." His voice was out of range now.
" What?!?" Itoe questioned. " I didn't hear!!!"
" Leukemia. You had leukemia. Your mother told me not to recruit you, even if I wanted to...she said that if you do hard activities like basketball, it could lead to your early death!!!"
" Uso...( That's a lie...)" Itoe said with disbelief.
" It's true."
" Usotsuki!!!!!!!!!!"
He then aimed shakily at Nobuhiro, shocked of what he heard.
" You...you're going to die!!! N-no...I'll finish her first. S-so that when you go to hell, the only thing that you remember is death!!! Painful death!!!!" He said, changing his target. Ayako looked at him with fearful eyes. She then shut them, preparing for the worst...
Bang!!!
She then opened her eyes slowly, seeing Nobuhiro before her. He blocked the shot and was struck at the chest. He slowly fell down as Ayako eyed him, tears falling like beads.
" NOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!"
" Nobuhiro-san! Hold on!! Hold on!!!" She exclaimed, helping him.
" A-Ayako...c-call for help...save y-yourself...and...I-Itoe..." Said Nobuhiro weakly, as blood trickled down from his lips.
" Don't say things in that tone!!! You'll be saved!"
Nobuhiro pushed Ayako away strongly, but not harshly.
" GO!!!"
" I...can't..."
" Go now!!!"
Ayako was forced to hop by one foot towards the door outside. Itoe nearly attacked her, but Nobuhiro reached for the mop and whipped Itoe's foot.
" Aya-ayako-san!!!" Ayako looked back.
" T-Today is the l-last e-episode of m-my f-favorite T-TV p-program....wa-watch it f-for me...okay?"
" Just promise me you'll be there at the 14th Busan games!!!" Ayako said, as tears fell more on her cheeks.
" P-promise..."
Ayako smiled as she continued on...
" G-Guess the m-mop c-couldn't shine t-the floor t-today like d-diamond...."
BANG!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Ayako managed to hop from the gym to the nearest phone booth. There she dialed the number of the first person that came to her mind, Ryota.
" Haii....Ryota desu... ( Hello, this is Ryota)" she heard through the phone.
" Ryota!!!"
" Aya-chan? Oha-"
" Quick! Go here as quickly as possible!!! Bring Akagi and the others with you!!!"
" But, why?"
" Just do it!!!"
After succeeding her call, she lost consciousness...
Afterwards, Ryota, who did as Ayako instructed him to do, rushed to the gym. Just then, they saw her lying at the phone booth, her foot bleeding badly. Ryota quickly carried her and planned to bring her to the hospital, but then, she refused. She said she wanted to see what happened to Nobuhiro.
As they were in the gym, it was dead quiet.
Ayako explained in detail what happened, as she was crying bitterly. Ryota comforted her by telling her it's not her fault, so she doesn't need to cry.
Then, they reached the gym and quickly ran inside.
" I hope Captain's alright..." Said Sakuragi.
"Everyone's hoping." Mitsui corrected.
Just as they were walking, Mitsui felt something under his feet. He instructed Kogure to open the lights. Then, it was revealed. Itoe was there, lying on the ground, with blood covering his face and body. Haruko screamed while everyone was shocked. But what really shocked them was Nobuhiro, lying next to him, with gunshots marked on his body. One thing was confirmed after a few moments...
They're both dead...
=(=(=(
Akane walked from the door, in her usual jumpy mood. She then saw everybody and tried to greet them.
" Minna!!! Ohayo gozaimasu!!!!" She then noticed that their actions are different. " Ne, minna...doushita? (hey, what's wrong?)"
She then dropped her bag when she saw what they were looking at.
" What's th-this?" She asked, her eyes getting baggy.
Akagi went beside her and patted her shoulder.
" He's...."
" Acting, isn't he?" She said with a happy tone, but deep inside, she was worrying badly. "Ne, h-he's a-acting...isn't he?..."
She looked at Sakuragi who just turned away. Then she shifted her gaze at Kogure who avoided showing her his sad emotion. She looked at Rukawa as he turned around, and to Ryota who just bowed his head. She then returned her gaze at Akagi, who looked slightly ready to explain a painful fact...
" No...he's..."
Akagi explained to her slowly what happened. After a moment, he noticed her expression turned into a sad one. He then looked away...
" O-oda...?" She said, as she fell on her knees. " This is just a p-play...isn't?" " Oda? O-o-okiro....OKIRO!!!! (wake up!!!)" She screamed as tears fell from her eyes.
" DDAAAAAARN IIIIIIIIIITT!!!!!!!!!!"
....And finally...DEATH
Author's note:
Aww... a saddy chappy.....
Anyway, there's no much time..... Ja ne!!! see you at the next one!!!!! Let's just all pray for Nobuhiro's soul....