WAAAAHHHHHH!!!! gomen, ppl!!! i am sooooooooooo late ^_^; i haven't even arranged this chapter yet, nor is it finish. i find it really hard to write during college. besides i'm having writer's block and my obsession w/ LoTR is slowing me down. to all the ppl out there, i'm really sorry. i'll try to amend whenever i can (whenever that is)....
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Disclaimer: i disclaim you all!!!! Bwahahahaha!!!!!
Title : The Sakuragi Cousins
CHAPTER 12 : Insanity in the Family
He almost hated to go to the gym. There are too many inferior personalities in this school that he's even afraid that they might infect him of their shallow low life perspectives. From the first glimpse of the vicinity, he had disliked it. The boys were dull, nerdy, or despicable thugs; the girls, just the same, were dull, homely, bitchy or annoying; the teachers were extremely stupid. He hadn't met any worthwhile creature other than his cousin. Actually, he's been putting up with all these people only because of his cousin.
Ah, the things he'll do for love. Be hypocritical and disturbingly nice to these people. But despite the agony, it was all-satisfactory. He could watch Hanamichi's every move, be with him to make up for the lost time, and reclaim him from all. Yes, he would reclaim him.
Antoine has always hated everything or everyone near Hanamichi. Not in the sense that he harbors any hostile feelings towards the redhead. On the contrary, Antoine adored him so much, much much more than one could expect. His hate could be traced down to jealousy. Jealousy because somehow Shohoku had occupied a portion in the redhead's life. The fact that he has been in Shohoku for sometime and that it nurtured him seemed to insult the young boy. Commonly people revered certain things which had significantly became a part of their ones, a place, a certain thought or a book contributes to sentimentality. But in Antoine's case, he loathed Shohoku even from the very first moment he had known of it; and that hate passed on to everything related to it, to Shohoku.
He crept in silently inside the gym. A girl whom he had politely dismissed cornered him a while ago, causing him to be a bit late. Hanamichi was warming up, ordinarily cheery and loud. Antoine could see clearly his bright face, so pure and pretty.
Beside him by the door was the gundan. From the inner depths of his consciousness, he felt rage. No matter how much he suppress it, he'd inwardly have that violent rage. It took all his power not to show it. Somehow he has been successful. No one had suspected anything, none of his surmounting hate. All was falsified, his face, his acting perfect. They only thought of him as the silent type.
He hated the gundan. Hanamichi knew that and he had unmindfully tolerated Antoine's irrationality, as always, with the excuse that Antoine had surfacedly subdued it (but otherwise, he would have tolerated it nevertheless). Only they can comprehend the extent of their feelings. Too deep and too fatal to be dealt with.
Unfortunately, he has to bear with the gundan. They were Hanamichi friends. And the more reason for Antoine to hate them. Deeply he was burning with jealousy. He couldn't bear the fact that they've been with Hanamichi for some fucking years. How he abhor them with such contempt! He nearly wanted to slaughter them, though his hands couldn't move, knowing Hanamichi was there. Oh, the days when he could do his will without regarding Hanamichi's feeling. He marveled the days when eleven years ago, Hanamichi's supposed fiancée "accidentally" fell on the thirty-four-flight stair. She woke up days in the hospital and couldn't remember what happened, which was a relief in the part of the Sakuragi's. They knew the culprit and he never gave a damn. He was fairly happy then. He saw Hanamichi's face however and the sadness in his eyes startled him. Hanamichi was never angry with him; nevertheless, he was sad about the situation. That enforced sadness on him nearly killed Antoine's young heart. Consequently, he felt bad about it; bad not in the sense that he was sorry he did it to her, but he was deeply sorry it made Hanamichi sad. For nights he cried in bed, thinking himself awful with Hanamichi's sorrowful brown eyes etched in his head. In those same nights he thought of ways to atone for him. Maybe he could fall down the stairs himself and break his neck? Maybe he could beg and crawl for his cousin's forgiveness? Those were crazy sleepless nights full of childish thoughts that were hysterical in nature. From thereon, he had tamed his rage, thought he could not quell it to non-existence. They seem to get stronger than before, therefore he strengthens his efforts more to suppress it. He hides them all in a mask of familiar civility, haughtiness, or faked brashness.
He watched Hanamichi with full adoration, ignoring the rest of the annoying people. He watched as Hanamichi dribbled, passed, shot, and acted his old self. Hanamichi was noisy as noisy can be. It amused Antoine; the rest cringed and disapproved.
Until the male monotonous tone disrupted the redhead's laughter.
"Do'aho."
"Teme!"
That was one disruption the blond hated the most, almost in well-restrained, murderous inclination. The focus zeroed-in on the raven haired basketball player, Rukawa Kaede. There are two main reasons why Antoine hated him. One is that Hanamichi dislike him. He's his archival. Two, Hanamichi notices him; this reason alone could cause Antoine to hate him severely. It did not matter to him that Hanamichi also dislike Rukawa and most would say vice versa. Only that he couldn't help but notice that Rukawa could stir his Hanamichi even to rage. Antoine could not accept the fact that anyone could hold Hanamichi's attention other than himself. He even calls him, ugh, kitsune! An unworthy no one be named as such is preposterous! Unforgivable! Though he could not blame his dear cousin. No, not in a million years! Antoine could never find fault in him. Never! All the faults fell on Rukawa, and immediately he saw red.
"Break, minna!" Ryota shouted after a laborious practice. Everyone dispersed off the court.
Hanamichi was wiping off his sweat, as he was the last to head the bench when a voice called him.
"Neh, Hana!"
Antoine stood some feet beside him, holding an orange ball in his hand. "Let's play."
Captain Miyagi was gulping down a bottle of cold water when loud, fast thudding was heard, disrupting the relative silence.
Antoine headed to Hanamichi in light yet amazingly quick footwork. He turned around on his side to evade Hanamichi, and passing the redhead made a perfect jump shot that surprised the spectators. After that, things went fast forward. Hanamichi speedily got the ball and ran with that new unbelievable speed since he got out of the hospital, to the other side of the court. But surprisingly, the young transferee claimed to be Hanamichi's equal in speed. They dashed across the court, Hanamichi evading the blonde's tampering hands and mimicking his jump shot to earn himself a point. It was 3-3 as for the score.
Hanamichi smiled broadly, exhaustion fading his mind. Antoine is a great opponent even thought he had only started to play basketball some weeks ago. The blond was not one to care for a sport anyway; he would not care for anything unless it concerned him. Thought Hanamichi also knew that Antoine loathed the game itself, for the same reason he loved and loathed everything concerning him. He didn't know why he could tolerate Antoine's impertinent resentments, but he loves him nonetheless for it. Not in a way that lover's feel but in a more profound context of it. It is unexplainable for him and he would feel, just by looking at his cousin, a love that would want to burst from his chest.
Antoine got the ball. They played like no one's watching, displaying maneuvers quick and awesome to behold. As for Hanamichi, he played incredibly well, like he had played basketball for years. They didn't notice that everyone was watching them.
They defended and attacked vigorously at each other. As of fifteen minutes, the score was still 3-3. With the king of rebound bouncing off and Antoine who dared defy him, unfazed and determined, they ran the court back and forth, sweating yet laughing and smiling often.
The scene presented something pure an unnatural: Hanamichi laughing and talking as he dribbled the ball, and the other responding childishly and cheerily. They were playing seriously, simultaneously enjoying themselves. A child's play it seems to them, yet their movements conveyed a different message: nobody's going to stand against them in court.
There were deep eye contacts, partly for strategic on-the-court distraction, but mostly for something else as their eyes glittered with distinguishable excitement. Antoine dared to break forcefully through Hanamichi's defense, bravely aiming for an in-your-face dunk. Unfortunately, vertical defense is one of Hanamichi's domains. He merely swatted the ball from his hand and their next game continued to the other court. Hanamichi dashed off almost like lightning, and in a split second, with Antoie merely inches behind, he delivered a humble lay-up for a finale.
5-3.
"No fair!" the blond immediately spat out, not even stopping for a breath after the chase. "You're faster than I."
Hanamichi's smile was from ear to ear. "Want a rematch?"
"No way!" He just laughed, not looking exhausted at all. The same goes for Hanamichi who stared up at the hoop pleasantly.
Miyagi and the rest were dumbfounded; it was in this state that Hanamichi saw them.
"Oi, Ryochin! What are you gawking at? It's not like Ayako's naked, man!"
Miyagi snapped out and stared at Ayako.
SLAP! SLAP! said Mr. Paperfan merrily.
"Nyahahahaha! That's stupid, Ryochin!"
SLAP! SLAP! again Mr. Paperfan. You seem to be happy today. :p
Nursing his lump, Hanamichi sat himself on the bench with Antoine tailing behind him, handing him a bottle of Gatorade.
"Here, drink. Are you alright?"
"My skull is still intact so I guess I'm alright." He smiled again at him, a habit that was becoming really unnatural for other people to see.
Antoine looked at Ayako and slightly cursed the bitch to hell, together with the entire carbon-based entity insight. Inwardly, simultaneous with a pleasant outward form, he raged at the maltreatment Hanamichi was getting from these people. The nerve of them! What sort of thinking they have in these parts? Do they always bring down those people who are different from them?
How disgusting!
But they do not matter anyway because from now on, Hanamichi will never be alone. He promise he will give his everything to him. Hanamichi looked up at him brilliantly, with the same fond expression he'd flash for him since then.
***
He walked along with Antoine on a quiet track to home. He had wittingly dismissed the gundan a while ago, but not without questions arising. Antoine had not been with him then, only when he had parted with the gundan did he spot the young boy inside a confectionery shop. Antoine had bought some sweets for their own leisure, including junk foods an other edible stuff. He had also shopped for some clothes and accessories to which he was wont to do. It would be sometime now when he would drag Hanamichi to the awkwardness of beau monde not usual of the present time and society.
They came home and immediately prepared supper. They cooked whatever they could think of, teasing merrily while at it. Thai rice, glazed pork, muffins with strawberry jam and cream, chips from Antoine's bags, cup noodles, sodas, chocolates, and anything they could grab and find. Until they felt bloated and giddy did they stop to quit the kitchen and head for bed.
***
Sound of porcelain vase hitting the floor resounded.
Strands of yellow locks on the floor.
A woman beautiful but with undeniably insane eyes stalked to them.
She hated them.
He could feel it, her violent rage....
Which never came, it never did....
Hannah...
Ezekeil...
Antoinette...
***
Hanamichi woke up, sweat mingling with fear. He groped for Antoine beside him. Beside him lay his angel and devil. Thus the nightmare became a trifle of the mind. He looked closely at the sweet childlike figure. The moon rays glided smoothly on his cheeks. Devil or angel, it did not matter. His tolerance prior to Antoine is greatly alarming to others. The boy could draw him to his very best or drag him to his worst and Hanamichi knew he must have a check on it before it consumes them. He loves the young boy therefore he must see to his welfare.
"Oniichan..." Antoine whispered to him sleepily.
Gently, Hanamichi held his hand and went back to sleep.
***
Terano Maya came like a bad wind from the west, strutting down all the way to Yusenko with her snub nose and bad sense of hairstyle. She was airy and annoying, blabbering out to everyone that she's Vanessa Loswell's cousin.
"Excuse me," came a haughty tone. "I'm Terano Maya and I'm Vaness Loswell's cousin. do you know where she is?"
The student stopped, staring somehow surprised at the orange and pink chiffon tresses cut in Parisian style 'thing' on which the person was wearing. She smiled condescendingly presuming that her kinship awed the student rather than her eye-straining form (though in fact, it was her form and it was not awe that the unlucky student felt).
"Gomen nasai," the student said after blinking off the headache due to the blunt colors. "But I don't know where sempai is."
"Oh, really." Maya cocked a pencilled (and obviously non-existing) brow. "Well then, if you find her tell her Maya, her cousin, is here." She strutted once again after emphasizing the word 'cousin'. After a handful of declarations and questions to some quietly passing students, Maya finally located Vanessa. She was in the Environmental Science laboratory, testing the mercuric level of a sample from the river near a mining facility. It was reported that Minamata cases appeared in the district near the river.
From the instant Maya cooed in, Vanessa felt deeply annoyed. She had always disliked her brainless second cousins (well, not all but the most of them were irritatingly dumb and un-Sakuragi-like). They always act as if they hold the family title. They usually tend to be exceedingly arrogant as if they have every right to do so. What's worst about Maya is that she's such a leech, and she has the tendency to blab things mindlessly. The latter option is the most dangerous and disturbing among her character.
"Well, well, well, dear cousin!" she started. Vanessa felt her right brow twitching.
"Good morning, Terano-san! It's a surprise to see you here." It was Meimei. She was in the lab putting the inputs on the computer data sheets.
"Sutoshi-san, can you please leave the two of us alone?" Maya replied rudely, sounding like a command more than a request. Van was definitely going to snap at her when Meimei cut her to it.
"Ok, if that's what you want." She turned to Van and smiled calmly. "I'll go check out the new species in the Marine Lab. I'll see you later." She bowed to Maya. "Nice to see you again, Terano-san. Please excuse me." Then Meimei left.
"What is it that you want?" Van wasn't about to waste time, particularly not with Maya. She placed the test tube back in the rack and reclined in her seat.
"Is that the proper way to greet your cousin?"
"Can it, Maya. I've other more important things to do."
"And so I've heard." That didn't sound good to Van's ears. "It seems the whole family's busy. Mind if I know?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," she told her squarely. Van swiveled her chair towards the compute and continued Meimei's work on the database.
"Why, the nerve!"
They were always scandalous, Van thought, sighing mentally. She didn't dare look at Maya or else she'll probably laugh out of sheer pity. HA!
"Do you seriously think you can keep your little secret? I'm also a part of the clan and I have the right to know. Vanessa Loswell, your arrogance is exceedingly annoying!"
Look who's talking. Van continued the database as she heard the loud bang of the door. And now she's left to clear the mess. The phone rang beside her and she immediately picked it up. It was some seconds before she began to respond.
"So the species are ok and quite good. That's interesting." A smile flitted on her rosy lips as she listened to the voice of Meimei.
***
"I called for a meeting because I want to inform you of some updates regarding the IH. I hope you've all heard about Yusenko High."
"Eh? What about Yusenko?" Ayako prompted to Coach Anzai. This was strangely new to her.
"So I see. You don't know yet. Very well," he continued to address the team. "Yusenko is preparing their own basketball team and they might join the upcoming IH for the first time."
"Really? We've another obstacle to overcome, don't we, Coach?" Ryota said.
"But they're just new anyway. There's nothing to be afraid of." One rookie commented.
"Probably. But the more we have to be careful still. Since it's a new team, we don't know yet their capacity," Ichiro explained.
Coach Anzai nodded to this. "That is right. Yusenko is actually having something new in their play. They've included both girls and boys in their team. The IH committee had approved of this since last school year given that their entry is only for experimental purpose, and that their wins and loses could not be accounted for."
"Eh? That's really odd. What are they trying to achieve anyway?" Yasuda blurted. The team was really surprised at the news.
"What??!!" Ryota screamed incredulously. "They've got girls in their team! That's just lame!"
SLAP! said happy Mr. Paperfan. "And just what the hell are you coming at?! You forget I'm a girl to!" Ayako was actually puzzled, but her female pride stood out at least.
"It's not really that lame as you think it is, Miyagi-kun," Coach Anzai smiled at his ignorance. "Have you heard about what happened to Shindomitsu of Kobe last week?" Ayako must have been the only one who has heard of it as she scowled at the mention of it. Though in fact, she had only heard that something went wrong with the team of Shindomitsu last week but as to what it is, she does not have a whit of idea.
"They had an early encounter with the Yusenko training team, the team consisting of both girls and boy. There were four girls and a single boy from Yusenko who competed with Shindomitsu."
"How can they possibly defeat Shindomitsu? They were the tenth in the whole Japan last year," Kogure intervened. Akagi and Mitsui were also there.
"Ah, but Kogure-kun, Yusenko won. It was 113-47. The vice-captain of Yusenko was really fantastic," Anzai-sensei dreamily recalled.
There was a collective shock. "He must be one helluva guy," Miyagi muttered.
"Actually, the vice-captain is a girl." Everyone was stunned. "She was extremely good under the basket much like Akagi-kun. In fact, she seems to be as tall as Akagi-kun and also the same built."
Thinking of a girl who looks like that of Akagi made them all a bit green. Coach Anzai was thankful that Akagi didn't pass Yusenko, or else it would be a dreadful thing for the team if Shohoku were to face Yusenko. But then again, there is Sakuragi, he thought gravely. "Though their captain weren't there and they came in unsupported, they proved to be very lethal in court. Therefore, I implore you to get serious in your practice. Yusenko team may not count as point in the actual IH but our integrity and skill as a team lay in their hands."
There was silent nodding from the team.
Ayako resolutely clapped her hands. "Well, minna! Let's get on with practise!"
"YOSH!" Anzai-sensei nodded to them.
"Hey, where's Sakuragi?" Ichiro suddenly asked while everyone dispersed gradually. It was true. The redhead was nowhere to be found.
Anzai-sensei calmly responded. "Don't worry, Mizusawa-kun." He did not know why Sakuragi had kept it from them but he respects his decision. Nevertheless, it puzzled him. He did not know any special details regarding Yusenko. Yes, Coach Anzai had known some of the mild details, yet refused to give anything. Let the boy do his will. "He is excused today." Anzai-sensei said no more.
***
"Tadaima!"
Antoine had asked him to skip practice that day. He didn't want to actually but Antoine's urgent voice made him consider otherwise.
To his surprise, there were boxes in the living room. Quite a lot of them in different sizes. From the distinguishable mark on each boxes, all of these must have come from the same company. Out from the kitchen, Antoine sprung.
"Hello! Surprise! Haha! It just came a while ago."
"What are these?"
Antoine deftly picked up a small rectangular box. "A computer set. It's a new model provided by the Circle. It's for you." Circle is another name for the whole Code 7 unit. Code 7 is not only the seven of them alone. It is a whole unit consisting of support personnel and chief supervisors. The seven of them were just the main, or experimental factor. "Let's set it up."
They carried the boxes to the private den since Hanamichi's room would be too inappropriate for it. Along with the components were instructional guides and computer books. Hanamichi had only known about computers for some short while. Thus assembling it all alone would cause quite a confusion. Thankfully, Antoine who is more or less knowledgeable of the machinery was able to help him, add up the books they have. They got it working not for long. While taking dinner in front of the computer, Antoine gradually introduced the redhead to the net. Hours afterwards, he was exceedingly getting the hang of it. Twilight came and he was linked to an illegal gamer site. It was already noon of the next day when he decided to disconnect from the net.
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-_-;;;;TBC
there will be a chapter 12.5 i guess so hang on..... i'll edit this by that time.