Disclaimer: No, I am not going to repeat myself.
Title: The Sakuragi Cousins
--------------------------------------
CHAPTER 1 : It's a start...
"Ore wa Tensai! Nyahahaha!!" Sakuragi Hanamichi's laugh echoed throughout the court.
"Hey, Hanamichi, nice shot!" Miyagi called, amazed at how Sakuragi had mastered his shooting abilities these past few months despite his back injury. A little more and he could almost surpass all of them in the team. That is if he could try to be more serious about practicing and stop running around bragging and singing his 'Ore wa Tensai' song. But then having Hanamichi like that would mean that hell had finally decided to freeze over.
Hanamichi will be Hanamichi, the new captain of Shohoku basketball team thought with a sigh.
While Hanamichi was, well, being Hanamichi, a certain raven-haired boy passed by muttering what he always mutters every time the redhead does something stupid.
"Do'aho."
"Nani, Kitsune?!"
"Sakuragi-kun! Abunai!" Too late. Hanamichi twirled around just in time for the ball to hit him straight in the face.
The game finally ended. Of course the yellow team, which includes Rukawa Kaede, won over Hanamichi's team, the red team.
"Teme, Kitsune! You're not that good you know! The Tensai will get you next time!"
"It's OK, Sakuragi-kun. You did well today and they only had one-point lead against your team."
Sakuragi suddenly beamed at Ichiro who smiled at him reassuringly. "Eh, honto ni?"
"Hai, Sakuragi-kun."
"Hear that, kitsune?" He glared at Rukawa, pointing a proud finger at him. "This genius can take you down anytime. Nyahahahaha!"
"Do'aho," came the silent reply.
Sakuragi's loud revelry was abruptly cut off as a certain Paper fan of Doom fortunately or unfortunately (depending on whom it may concern) found its way towards his fiery head.
"Stop laughing and start cleaning!" Ayako drew an arm akimbo.
"Eee, Ayako! Why do you keep acting like Gori, ha? Maybe I should reconsider calling you Gori Lady."
*SLAP*
"Watch it, Sakuragi!" Miyagi threatened.
*SLAP*
"But Ayako, I was just--" Miyagi stuttered, almost in tears.
"Go and clean with Sakuragi!" Once again, Ayako's commanding tone never seemed to falter even with Shohoku's new captain. Especially Shohoku's new captain, it being Miyagi.
"Hmph.. Do'aho."
*SLAP*
"You too, Rukawa!"
"Hahaha! Good for you, kitsune!"
*SLAP*
"Hey, why do you have to hit me thrice?!"
After moments of shouting, bickering, fighting and slapping, the others finally decided to leave the three to clean up everything. Ayako threatened them that if they didn't clean the place properly, they'll have serious beating ahead of them.
"Ryota, make sure these two troublemakers don't escape and please handle everything."
"Hai, Aya-chan!" Miyagi nodded enthusiastically, earning pitiful glances from the two sophomores.
Sakuragi sighed just as the door slammed shut. "So much for being captain."
Rukawa inadvertently nodded in approval, still staring at the what-seemed- like-a-lovesick-puppy-wagging-his-tail-at-the-sight-of-Ayako who was none other than their small but terrible captain, Miyagi.
Twenty seconds later...
*poke, poke*
"Oi, Ryochin?"
Ten seconds later...
"Oi, Ryochin, you're drooling on the floor!"
Five more seconds...
"Oi, BAKA!"
*BANG*
"ITEEE!" Miyagi nearly fell facedown on the floor when the mop hit him on the head, shattering his heart-shaped eyes and bringing him back to his senses.
"DAMN YOU, SAKURAGI!! WHY'D YOU HIT ME ON THE HEAD?!!?"
"Because you're drooling on the floor, BAKA!!"
"Who're you calling BAKA, BAKA!!
"YOU, shorty!"
"Oh, YEAH!!"
"YEAH!!"
A fight ensued. Rukawa looked at them blankly muttering 'do'aho', then continued on sweeping the floor.
It was about 6:30 p.m. when they finished their work. Miyagi and Rukawa left immediately while Hanamichi stayed that night. It became a habit of him to stay at court every night after practice, saying that 'The Tensai has to make up for the lost time.' Everyone knew of Hanamichi's little endeavor, but what they didn't know was that most of the time, Hanamichi would play up until the wee hours of the night. How he could manage in the morning claimed to be a mystery even to him.
The only thing that could be heard in the dark was the sonorous banging of the ball constantly hitting the floor, if not the ring or the board. It's been like that for the past three hours, almost non-stop. There would only be very brief pauses after Hanamichi's shots, then it'd be back to loud thudding sounds and high-pitch screeching of shoes as he ran around the court.
Sweat dripped like rain on his face while he kept dribbling the ball on his right hand. He saw himself face-to-face with Ryonan's Mr. Smiley Ace, Sendoh. He swerved to his right then to his left, avoiding an imaginary foe. He twirled around, maneuvering the ball gracefully and swiftly until he moved back and did a jumper.
Three points. The ball went in unhindered, as if it's intelligent enough to not touch the rim. Hanamichi's tired leg shook in impact and he hardly knew that any normal person would have collapse that moment at the strenuous torture he had committed himself in to.
He gasped for air like a fish in shore, his hands on his knees and his shirt wringing wet.
"I'll show them all," he whispered as soon as his breathing steadied.
He straightened up with a determined look, punching a balled fist to the palm of his other hand.
'I'll show them. I'll show them all what the Tensai can do!'
He quickly regained his strength, dashing to where the ball had landed. Dribbling the ball some feet away from the ring, he paused for a while, eyeing the ring intently.
The ring. It was all that he could see for what seemed like eternity. Many times he has seen it. Heck, almost every day now since he started basketball.
As if coming out from a daze, he recognized the sound of the ball getting louder and louder by the second. And then it finally dawned at him. An enigmatic feeling crept into his being, awakening his senses to his entourage; he momentarily felt a sting running down his spine. Without thinking, he took off, blindly heading for his goal. Every sound the ball made as it bounced off the floor sparked waves of memories, counting back from the challenges of Inter High games to the distant beginnings of the so- called genius, Sakuragi Hanamichi.
/"Do you play basketball?"/
He could still remember vividly the look on her face as she said that, a virgin blush tainting her lovely features. And that started it all.
His life that was once worth nothing became relevant again.
Looking back at seven years which had passed, he realized how empty his life had been. It wasn't always like that. It's just that, seven years ago, his life almost crumbled down. Thus he lost his goal, his reason to live that is.
Only seconds had passed and he saw himself nearing his destination, his goal.
He had finally come this far. Pulling it all out, this path which he had gone through, seemed absolutely impossible. He sometimes thinks of how his life would have been if he were not playing basketball. The thought just scares him. He could not possibly imagine life without basketball.
No.
Nothing could tear him away from basketball. Not now that he had finally found something he's worth at. Not now when he had found his dream.
And he would pursue this dream. He vowed to surpass them all. Sendoh, Maki, Fujima, that Gori and especially that Kitsune.
Nothing could stop me.
Drawing all his strength for one last shot, he jumped floating magnificently through the air. He neared the ring for a dunk.
Unless...
*BANG*
His mind raced again. A voice from the past echoed clearly in his mind as he successfully dunked the ball with his last ounce of energy.
/"ORETACHI WA TENSAI!!"/
He fell on his back as soon as he landed, panting viciously. He felt his body shake, drained physically, and that sting on his back came back on a revolt; but he ignored it, just as he ignored the doctor's advice. The words that have been working like magic for Hanamichi throughout all these years of sadness swirled comfortingly in his head. The words that gave him the confidence to laugh off problems and live with his dream.
He opened his eyes and looked up dreamily.
"Oretachi wa...," he said heavily between pants.
"... tensai."
***
It was pass 10 already and a certain fiery head boy walked silently in an almost dark path, saved by dimly lit light post on every turn.
After five minutes of rest, he decided to leave the court and call it a day. How he found strength was out of the question. He was, after all, the genius Sakuragi, known for his indefatigable stamina. But sometimes he also can't help but wonder how it could be biologically possible. ( -_-; is this Hanamichi talking??? oh, wait... it's me... gomen... -_-;;;)
Was it because of his childhood training? He hadn't had any of those for seven years yet it seemed that some of his skills are finally coming back with a kick. Only this time he's using his strength in a different field.
He then headed for a turn, whistling a tune along the way with his duffel bag swaying in his side. He was a meter away from the two-story apartment building where he lives when he saw a black car parked in front of his door. Shocked at the sudden familiarity, Hanamichi stopped in his tracks, hesitating to move and go check out who it was in his apartment.
There was only one way to figure out the questions in his mind and that is to barge straight into his house and give the intruder a thing or two about trespassing.
"I'll show those scums not to trespass in the Tensai's territory," he muttered under his breath while rolling his sleeves and heading towards the apartment. A strong nagging feeling gnawed at him as he was nearing the car and his apartment.
Stopping at his doorstep, he was puzzled to see that the door was slightly ajar. He grabbed the doorknob and savagely banged the door only to be shock as an oddly familiar face greeted him inside.
-_-;TBC
------------------------------
(~_~;;; ok, so here one of those editions. not yet done with the others but i'll work on with it....*sigh*)
Title: The Sakuragi Cousins
--------------------------------------
CHAPTER 1 : It's a start...
"Ore wa Tensai! Nyahahaha!!" Sakuragi Hanamichi's laugh echoed throughout the court.
"Hey, Hanamichi, nice shot!" Miyagi called, amazed at how Sakuragi had mastered his shooting abilities these past few months despite his back injury. A little more and he could almost surpass all of them in the team. That is if he could try to be more serious about practicing and stop running around bragging and singing his 'Ore wa Tensai' song. But then having Hanamichi like that would mean that hell had finally decided to freeze over.
Hanamichi will be Hanamichi, the new captain of Shohoku basketball team thought with a sigh.
While Hanamichi was, well, being Hanamichi, a certain raven-haired boy passed by muttering what he always mutters every time the redhead does something stupid.
"Do'aho."
"Nani, Kitsune?!"
"Sakuragi-kun! Abunai!" Too late. Hanamichi twirled around just in time for the ball to hit him straight in the face.
The game finally ended. Of course the yellow team, which includes Rukawa Kaede, won over Hanamichi's team, the red team.
"Teme, Kitsune! You're not that good you know! The Tensai will get you next time!"
"It's OK, Sakuragi-kun. You did well today and they only had one-point lead against your team."
Sakuragi suddenly beamed at Ichiro who smiled at him reassuringly. "Eh, honto ni?"
"Hai, Sakuragi-kun."
"Hear that, kitsune?" He glared at Rukawa, pointing a proud finger at him. "This genius can take you down anytime. Nyahahahaha!"
"Do'aho," came the silent reply.
Sakuragi's loud revelry was abruptly cut off as a certain Paper fan of Doom fortunately or unfortunately (depending on whom it may concern) found its way towards his fiery head.
"Stop laughing and start cleaning!" Ayako drew an arm akimbo.
"Eee, Ayako! Why do you keep acting like Gori, ha? Maybe I should reconsider calling you Gori Lady."
*SLAP*
"Watch it, Sakuragi!" Miyagi threatened.
*SLAP*
"But Ayako, I was just--" Miyagi stuttered, almost in tears.
"Go and clean with Sakuragi!" Once again, Ayako's commanding tone never seemed to falter even with Shohoku's new captain. Especially Shohoku's new captain, it being Miyagi.
"Hmph.. Do'aho."
*SLAP*
"You too, Rukawa!"
"Hahaha! Good for you, kitsune!"
*SLAP*
"Hey, why do you have to hit me thrice?!"
After moments of shouting, bickering, fighting and slapping, the others finally decided to leave the three to clean up everything. Ayako threatened them that if they didn't clean the place properly, they'll have serious beating ahead of them.
"Ryota, make sure these two troublemakers don't escape and please handle everything."
"Hai, Aya-chan!" Miyagi nodded enthusiastically, earning pitiful glances from the two sophomores.
Sakuragi sighed just as the door slammed shut. "So much for being captain."
Rukawa inadvertently nodded in approval, still staring at the what-seemed- like-a-lovesick-puppy-wagging-his-tail-at-the-sight-of-Ayako who was none other than their small but terrible captain, Miyagi.
Twenty seconds later...
*poke, poke*
"Oi, Ryochin?"
Ten seconds later...
"Oi, Ryochin, you're drooling on the floor!"
Five more seconds...
"Oi, BAKA!"
*BANG*
"ITEEE!" Miyagi nearly fell facedown on the floor when the mop hit him on the head, shattering his heart-shaped eyes and bringing him back to his senses.
"DAMN YOU, SAKURAGI!! WHY'D YOU HIT ME ON THE HEAD?!!?"
"Because you're drooling on the floor, BAKA!!"
"Who're you calling BAKA, BAKA!!
"YOU, shorty!"
"Oh, YEAH!!"
"YEAH!!"
A fight ensued. Rukawa looked at them blankly muttering 'do'aho', then continued on sweeping the floor.
It was about 6:30 p.m. when they finished their work. Miyagi and Rukawa left immediately while Hanamichi stayed that night. It became a habit of him to stay at court every night after practice, saying that 'The Tensai has to make up for the lost time.' Everyone knew of Hanamichi's little endeavor, but what they didn't know was that most of the time, Hanamichi would play up until the wee hours of the night. How he could manage in the morning claimed to be a mystery even to him.
The only thing that could be heard in the dark was the sonorous banging of the ball constantly hitting the floor, if not the ring or the board. It's been like that for the past three hours, almost non-stop. There would only be very brief pauses after Hanamichi's shots, then it'd be back to loud thudding sounds and high-pitch screeching of shoes as he ran around the court.
Sweat dripped like rain on his face while he kept dribbling the ball on his right hand. He saw himself face-to-face with Ryonan's Mr. Smiley Ace, Sendoh. He swerved to his right then to his left, avoiding an imaginary foe. He twirled around, maneuvering the ball gracefully and swiftly until he moved back and did a jumper.
Three points. The ball went in unhindered, as if it's intelligent enough to not touch the rim. Hanamichi's tired leg shook in impact and he hardly knew that any normal person would have collapse that moment at the strenuous torture he had committed himself in to.
He gasped for air like a fish in shore, his hands on his knees and his shirt wringing wet.
"I'll show them all," he whispered as soon as his breathing steadied.
He straightened up with a determined look, punching a balled fist to the palm of his other hand.
'I'll show them. I'll show them all what the Tensai can do!'
He quickly regained his strength, dashing to where the ball had landed. Dribbling the ball some feet away from the ring, he paused for a while, eyeing the ring intently.
The ring. It was all that he could see for what seemed like eternity. Many times he has seen it. Heck, almost every day now since he started basketball.
As if coming out from a daze, he recognized the sound of the ball getting louder and louder by the second. And then it finally dawned at him. An enigmatic feeling crept into his being, awakening his senses to his entourage; he momentarily felt a sting running down his spine. Without thinking, he took off, blindly heading for his goal. Every sound the ball made as it bounced off the floor sparked waves of memories, counting back from the challenges of Inter High games to the distant beginnings of the so- called genius, Sakuragi Hanamichi.
/"Do you play basketball?"/
He could still remember vividly the look on her face as she said that, a virgin blush tainting her lovely features. And that started it all.
His life that was once worth nothing became relevant again.
Looking back at seven years which had passed, he realized how empty his life had been. It wasn't always like that. It's just that, seven years ago, his life almost crumbled down. Thus he lost his goal, his reason to live that is.
Only seconds had passed and he saw himself nearing his destination, his goal.
He had finally come this far. Pulling it all out, this path which he had gone through, seemed absolutely impossible. He sometimes thinks of how his life would have been if he were not playing basketball. The thought just scares him. He could not possibly imagine life without basketball.
No.
Nothing could tear him away from basketball. Not now that he had finally found something he's worth at. Not now when he had found his dream.
And he would pursue this dream. He vowed to surpass them all. Sendoh, Maki, Fujima, that Gori and especially that Kitsune.
Nothing could stop me.
Drawing all his strength for one last shot, he jumped floating magnificently through the air. He neared the ring for a dunk.
Unless...
*BANG*
His mind raced again. A voice from the past echoed clearly in his mind as he successfully dunked the ball with his last ounce of energy.
/"ORETACHI WA TENSAI!!"/
He fell on his back as soon as he landed, panting viciously. He felt his body shake, drained physically, and that sting on his back came back on a revolt; but he ignored it, just as he ignored the doctor's advice. The words that have been working like magic for Hanamichi throughout all these years of sadness swirled comfortingly in his head. The words that gave him the confidence to laugh off problems and live with his dream.
He opened his eyes and looked up dreamily.
"Oretachi wa...," he said heavily between pants.
"... tensai."
***
It was pass 10 already and a certain fiery head boy walked silently in an almost dark path, saved by dimly lit light post on every turn.
After five minutes of rest, he decided to leave the court and call it a day. How he found strength was out of the question. He was, after all, the genius Sakuragi, known for his indefatigable stamina. But sometimes he also can't help but wonder how it could be biologically possible. ( -_-; is this Hanamichi talking??? oh, wait... it's me... gomen... -_-;;;)
Was it because of his childhood training? He hadn't had any of those for seven years yet it seemed that some of his skills are finally coming back with a kick. Only this time he's using his strength in a different field.
He then headed for a turn, whistling a tune along the way with his duffel bag swaying in his side. He was a meter away from the two-story apartment building where he lives when he saw a black car parked in front of his door. Shocked at the sudden familiarity, Hanamichi stopped in his tracks, hesitating to move and go check out who it was in his apartment.
There was only one way to figure out the questions in his mind and that is to barge straight into his house and give the intruder a thing or two about trespassing.
"I'll show those scums not to trespass in the Tensai's territory," he muttered under his breath while rolling his sleeves and heading towards the apartment. A strong nagging feeling gnawed at him as he was nearing the car and his apartment.
Stopping at his doorstep, he was puzzled to see that the door was slightly ajar. He grabbed the doorknob and savagely banged the door only to be shock as an oddly familiar face greeted him inside.
-_-;TBC
------------------------------
(~_~;;; ok, so here one of those editions. not yet done with the others but i'll work on with it....*sigh*)