Fifteen boys shot free throws in the old gymnasium, gurmbling and groaning about the bad
quality of the basketballs they threw. It was obvious that they were the JV team by the aforementioned poor
quality of both their basketballs and also their uniforms, which on a whole, were filthy. One boy did not
complain however, he simply waited his turn and shot. He lined up on the three point line and closed his
eyes before shooting. To no one's surprise it went in. One of the boy's stated, "Oh boy, there goes another
three pointer for Takeru. Whoop de doo." Daisuke shouted, "Aah stop your moaning Seiko, at least he
makes the shots. If you made as many shots as you said you did, you'd be on varsity." Seiko simply rolled
his eyes and chased after a ball, ignoring the bearer of Courage. Meanwhile Takeru concentrated on
nothing other than basketball, while answering a few questions from his admiring and envious teammates.
"So Takeru, how come I can't shoot like that? I've been playing for the same amount of time, well?" Takeru
smirked over at his questioner, "I don't know, Haruki, maybe if you stopped eating so many donuts you
could jump high enough to get the ball in the net. But with all that blubber its amazing that you can still walk!"
The entire team laughed at that, as Haruki was about as fat as a bean pole. "Yeah, Haruki maybe you
should lay off those cookies!" "And cakes too!" Haruki mock-scowled and replied good naturedly, "Maybe
you should take your own advice Hiroshi, I've seen those love handles in the showers!" "Why were you
looking?" The team headed towards the shower room teasing each other mercilessly.
Outside the gymnasium Hikari Yagami waited patiently for her best friend and her boyfriend. She
glanced at her watch, but it was getting too dark to see, and as she reached for the glo button she spotted
someone behind her in the reflection. Witholding a gasp she slowly walked towards the doors to the gym
when she noticed the figure followed her. She walked a little more quickly, and almost cried when the figure
also sped up. Hikari sprinted for the door only to feel icy hot panic curl down her stomach when a hand
clapped down over her mouth. As she struggled against her attacker, she sensed him fight for a purchase
on her mouth, and finding an opening she bit down on the hand till blood ran down. "Geeze Hikari, maybe
you should get that lockjaw checked out or something, cuz man that smarts!" said an all too familiar voice.
Hikari whirled on her "attacker", "Ishida Yamato! If you *ever* scare me like that again, I'll have
Dais drop kick you into the next century, you understand?" She glared at him for several minutes before
hugging him fiercely, "When did you get back into town?" Yamato grinned, "About five minutes ago, I just
got off the bus, we have this week off because there's a convention being held on campus, something
about all the teachers testing to get certified again. Anyway, it only happens every couple years and I
figured since I have about ten days of break I should come back home for a visit." Hikari smiled and asked,
"Does Takeru know?" Yamato shook his head and winked at her mischieviously before whispering
something to her. Hikari laughed, nodded and both made their way to hide behind the doors of the gym that
Hikari had been sprinting so desperately for only moments earlier.
Finally the doors burst open and Takeru and Daisuke emerged, clean and in a change of
clothes. Just as Takeru was about to ask Daisuke a question, two pairs of arms slid out from the shadows
and blinded their unsuspecting victims by covering their eyes. Daisuke smirked, knowing there was only
one girl who could ever not wear perfume and still smell beautiful but played along rather cheesily, "Oh my
goodness, I hope we're not being kidnapped Takeru!" But Takeru was not listening, he was frozen in an all
to familiar position. Claws of terror raced up his spine as he instinctively raised his arms to cover his head
and trembled as he waited for a blow which was not going to come. When he opened his eyes he saw that
Hikari and Daisuke were staring at him, along with Yamato who had a suspicious gleam to his eyes.
"Takeru? It was just a joke, stop shaking!" Takeru looked up at Hikari who was also peering at him
confused, "Heheh, pretty good one, you really had me going there!" His lame laugh and excuse satisfied
none of his friends but he distracted by making a big deal about Yamato visiting and no one noticed his
skirting around the subject.
"Yamato," Takeru whined in the relative privacy they shared as they walked home together, "How
come you didn't tell me that you were coming! You scared me half to death back ther-" He trailed off,
remembering he did not want to discuss this with Yamato. Takeru hated being a burden and did not want
Yamato to feel like a bad brother because of something as trivial as his bad reaction. Takeru remembered
the helplessness and sorrow he had felt when Yamato had been depressed, and now that it was over and
Yamato had gotten through that difficult period, Takeru saw no need in reminding him of it; he never thought
that there might be something wrong with himself. But there was something wrong with Takeru, he had
started to feel empty and of no value, but not wanting to trouble anyone he kept these feelings to himself.
Yamato looked sharply over at his little brother, remembering the look of absolute terror in those
stormy blue eyes when he had turned to face his 'tormentor'. "Yeah? What was that all about? You were
shaking, Takeru!" Searching for an answer, Takeru finally said, "Uh.. it was nothing. You just scared me,
that's all." Yamato stopped walking and said, "You weren't just scared, you were terrified. And don't think
that by using that cop out answer you can pull the wool over these eyes. I was your age once too."
Resuming their trek, both boys mentally shuddered in remembrance of that time. Takeru snapped, "I
know!" and followed with a gentler, "I know, Yama, its just I've been stressed from school..." Yamato raised
his eyebrow as he saw through the obvious lie, and wondered what could've caused the extreme fright
mirrored in his brother's baby blues. Suddenly Takeru stopped dead in his tracks and exclaimed, "Yama!
The apartment is a mess! I almost forgot, I have to clean it. Go to Tai's house for an hour and then come
home!" Takeru gave his brother a quick hug and ran off shouting, "Its nice to see you, Yamato! I missed
you, come back in one hour and bring your appetite!" Yamato simply watched him run off wondering what
his little brother was hiding from him.
-_-_-_-
Takeru worked feverishly to get the apartment clean. He grabbed all the empty beer cans and
bottles, and shoved them in the recylable bin, they would have to be taken down later with the trash bags.
He picked up all of his father's dirty laundry and forced it into the overflowing hamper, thinking 'Look its
Mount Everest'. He picked up books that had been thrown at him, and all the other little objects his father
had chucked at him during his worst moments. Once Mr. Ishida had found a small pamphlet called, 'Are you
an alcoholic?' and beat Takeru so badly he couldn't go to school for two days. Takeru had put it somewhere
visible because he remembered reading that a drunk could be shocked into reality if faced with the
absolute truth. It hadn't worked so well with him.
Sighing, he put the pizza into the oven and started washing and drying the dishes that had been
so neglected. He walked back into the living room and almost fainted from the noxious odor thar remained
after his best efforts at airing out the room. Taking up a scrub brush and carpet cleaner he scrubbed
furiously at various vomit stains that stank up the room. As he worked his way through the many spots
around the room, he came to one spot where the stain was a deep reddish brown and grimly remembered
its history. Mr. Ishida springing up after Takeru caught him with a prostitute, his temper rising as the
intoxication fed his anger while he took up a small paring knife, the girl grabbing her clothes and running out
the door, a brief struggle and a stabbing pain in his left arm. Echoes of black. Waking up in a bright
hospital bed, hearing his 'worried' father feed the sympathetic doctoes a concoction about a gang
attacking, and somewhere Takeru had felt some of his hope falter. Takeru looked down at the stain and
saw he was scrubbing fruitlessly, for the stain remained. He moved a small table over the spot and sniffed
again. The rank smell was not so bad this time but it was still present. Taking up a can of air freshener he
sprayed the room thoroughly, until he was satisfied. Going back into the kitchen he tended his dinner and
waited for Yamato to come.
quality of the basketballs they threw. It was obvious that they were the JV team by the aforementioned poor
quality of both their basketballs and also their uniforms, which on a whole, were filthy. One boy did not
complain however, he simply waited his turn and shot. He lined up on the three point line and closed his
eyes before shooting. To no one's surprise it went in. One of the boy's stated, "Oh boy, there goes another
three pointer for Takeru. Whoop de doo." Daisuke shouted, "Aah stop your moaning Seiko, at least he
makes the shots. If you made as many shots as you said you did, you'd be on varsity." Seiko simply rolled
his eyes and chased after a ball, ignoring the bearer of Courage. Meanwhile Takeru concentrated on
nothing other than basketball, while answering a few questions from his admiring and envious teammates.
"So Takeru, how come I can't shoot like that? I've been playing for the same amount of time, well?" Takeru
smirked over at his questioner, "I don't know, Haruki, maybe if you stopped eating so many donuts you
could jump high enough to get the ball in the net. But with all that blubber its amazing that you can still walk!"
The entire team laughed at that, as Haruki was about as fat as a bean pole. "Yeah, Haruki maybe you
should lay off those cookies!" "And cakes too!" Haruki mock-scowled and replied good naturedly, "Maybe
you should take your own advice Hiroshi, I've seen those love handles in the showers!" "Why were you
looking?" The team headed towards the shower room teasing each other mercilessly.
Outside the gymnasium Hikari Yagami waited patiently for her best friend and her boyfriend. She
glanced at her watch, but it was getting too dark to see, and as she reached for the glo button she spotted
someone behind her in the reflection. Witholding a gasp she slowly walked towards the doors to the gym
when she noticed the figure followed her. She walked a little more quickly, and almost cried when the figure
also sped up. Hikari sprinted for the door only to feel icy hot panic curl down her stomach when a hand
clapped down over her mouth. As she struggled against her attacker, she sensed him fight for a purchase
on her mouth, and finding an opening she bit down on the hand till blood ran down. "Geeze Hikari, maybe
you should get that lockjaw checked out or something, cuz man that smarts!" said an all too familiar voice.
Hikari whirled on her "attacker", "Ishida Yamato! If you *ever* scare me like that again, I'll have
Dais drop kick you into the next century, you understand?" She glared at him for several minutes before
hugging him fiercely, "When did you get back into town?" Yamato grinned, "About five minutes ago, I just
got off the bus, we have this week off because there's a convention being held on campus, something
about all the teachers testing to get certified again. Anyway, it only happens every couple years and I
figured since I have about ten days of break I should come back home for a visit." Hikari smiled and asked,
"Does Takeru know?" Yamato shook his head and winked at her mischieviously before whispering
something to her. Hikari laughed, nodded and both made their way to hide behind the doors of the gym that
Hikari had been sprinting so desperately for only moments earlier.
Finally the doors burst open and Takeru and Daisuke emerged, clean and in a change of
clothes. Just as Takeru was about to ask Daisuke a question, two pairs of arms slid out from the shadows
and blinded their unsuspecting victims by covering their eyes. Daisuke smirked, knowing there was only
one girl who could ever not wear perfume and still smell beautiful but played along rather cheesily, "Oh my
goodness, I hope we're not being kidnapped Takeru!" But Takeru was not listening, he was frozen in an all
to familiar position. Claws of terror raced up his spine as he instinctively raised his arms to cover his head
and trembled as he waited for a blow which was not going to come. When he opened his eyes he saw that
Hikari and Daisuke were staring at him, along with Yamato who had a suspicious gleam to his eyes.
"Takeru? It was just a joke, stop shaking!" Takeru looked up at Hikari who was also peering at him
confused, "Heheh, pretty good one, you really had me going there!" His lame laugh and excuse satisfied
none of his friends but he distracted by making a big deal about Yamato visiting and no one noticed his
skirting around the subject.
"Yamato," Takeru whined in the relative privacy they shared as they walked home together, "How
come you didn't tell me that you were coming! You scared me half to death back ther-" He trailed off,
remembering he did not want to discuss this with Yamato. Takeru hated being a burden and did not want
Yamato to feel like a bad brother because of something as trivial as his bad reaction. Takeru remembered
the helplessness and sorrow he had felt when Yamato had been depressed, and now that it was over and
Yamato had gotten through that difficult period, Takeru saw no need in reminding him of it; he never thought
that there might be something wrong with himself. But there was something wrong with Takeru, he had
started to feel empty and of no value, but not wanting to trouble anyone he kept these feelings to himself.
Yamato looked sharply over at his little brother, remembering the look of absolute terror in those
stormy blue eyes when he had turned to face his 'tormentor'. "Yeah? What was that all about? You were
shaking, Takeru!" Searching for an answer, Takeru finally said, "Uh.. it was nothing. You just scared me,
that's all." Yamato stopped walking and said, "You weren't just scared, you were terrified. And don't think
that by using that cop out answer you can pull the wool over these eyes. I was your age once too."
Resuming their trek, both boys mentally shuddered in remembrance of that time. Takeru snapped, "I
know!" and followed with a gentler, "I know, Yama, its just I've been stressed from school..." Yamato raised
his eyebrow as he saw through the obvious lie, and wondered what could've caused the extreme fright
mirrored in his brother's baby blues. Suddenly Takeru stopped dead in his tracks and exclaimed, "Yama!
The apartment is a mess! I almost forgot, I have to clean it. Go to Tai's house for an hour and then come
home!" Takeru gave his brother a quick hug and ran off shouting, "Its nice to see you, Yamato! I missed
you, come back in one hour and bring your appetite!" Yamato simply watched him run off wondering what
his little brother was hiding from him.
-_-_-_-
Takeru worked feverishly to get the apartment clean. He grabbed all the empty beer cans and
bottles, and shoved them in the recylable bin, they would have to be taken down later with the trash bags.
He picked up all of his father's dirty laundry and forced it into the overflowing hamper, thinking 'Look its
Mount Everest'. He picked up books that had been thrown at him, and all the other little objects his father
had chucked at him during his worst moments. Once Mr. Ishida had found a small pamphlet called, 'Are you
an alcoholic?' and beat Takeru so badly he couldn't go to school for two days. Takeru had put it somewhere
visible because he remembered reading that a drunk could be shocked into reality if faced with the
absolute truth. It hadn't worked so well with him.
Sighing, he put the pizza into the oven and started washing and drying the dishes that had been
so neglected. He walked back into the living room and almost fainted from the noxious odor thar remained
after his best efforts at airing out the room. Taking up a scrub brush and carpet cleaner he scrubbed
furiously at various vomit stains that stank up the room. As he worked his way through the many spots
around the room, he came to one spot where the stain was a deep reddish brown and grimly remembered
its history. Mr. Ishida springing up after Takeru caught him with a prostitute, his temper rising as the
intoxication fed his anger while he took up a small paring knife, the girl grabbing her clothes and running out
the door, a brief struggle and a stabbing pain in his left arm. Echoes of black. Waking up in a bright
hospital bed, hearing his 'worried' father feed the sympathetic doctoes a concoction about a gang
attacking, and somewhere Takeru had felt some of his hope falter. Takeru looked down at the stain and
saw he was scrubbing fruitlessly, for the stain remained. He moved a small table over the spot and sniffed
again. The rank smell was not so bad this time but it was still present. Taking up a can of air freshener he
sprayed the room thoroughly, until he was satisfied. Going back into the kitchen he tended his dinner and
waited for Yamato to come.