Chapter 8: Me, You and The Angel

AU: SURPRISE! Veniz and the Shohoku people will make their appearance! YAY! Please bear in mind that the song Free and Easy is not mine but HAMASAKI AYUMI's!

KAINAN (KIYOTA'S CLASSROOM)

Junta-sensei was shocked. He called Kiyota to solve the chemical equation and the board and Kiyota just solved with correctly. Kiyota grinned at him and his classmates. His classmates couldn't help it but to clap their hands in awe.

"Y-You may seat now Mr. Nobunaga" Junta-sensei replied not eyeing Kiyota. As Kiyota returned to his seat, the bell rang. Junta-sensei picked up his papers and said, "Remember your up coming quiz this Friday!" the class groaned upon hearing it but not Kiyota. He simply smiled and nod his head.

"I can't believe you're smiling Kiyota!" a classmate of his exclaimed. Kiyota grinned and said, "Sorry, I just feel I can take any of Junta-sensei's test and pass it with flying colors!"

His classmate smiled and replied, "Of course, you're being tutored one of the biggest geek in campus! Arika Fujisawa!" Kiyota frowned and exclaimed, "I don't like what you've just said! Arika is not a geek!"

Kiyota's classmate smirked and said, "But she is Kiyota! Everyone knows it! She's a geek and top of that a teen-age dirt bag!" Kiyota grabbed the guy by the collar and threatened, "You call her like that again and I'm gonna break your neck! Arika is not a geek and more, she's not a dirt bag! You got me?!"

The guy nod his head looking very afraid. Kiyota let him go thinking, "The nerve of him, calling Arika like that!" as he looked at the classroom door, there stood Jin beaming at him.

CORRIDOR

Jin spoke, "Never thought you'd care for her that much" Kiyota gave him a look and said, "Don't tease me Jin, that classmate of mine was being a jerk and besides he's been very rude"

"I am not teasing you Kiyota, I was being frank" Jin reasoned out. "Of course I would care for her, she's my friend" Kiyota exclaimed. As they stepped inside the cafeteria, they saw Arika seating on one of the corner tables writing something.

CAFETERIA

"Yo Arika!" Kiyota called. Arika looked up and smiled. Jin pat Kiyota at the back and whispered, "See you later pal" and went off. Kiyota sat down next to Arika saying, "By the way, I got something for you" with that Kiyota took out a black case and handed it to Arika.

"What's this?" Arika asked. "Open it" Kiyota replied winking at her. Arika opened the case and gasped. It was a brand new glasses. "K-Kiyota..." Arika stammered in surprise.

Kiyota beamed saying, "Like it? I asked Shi-chan what's the grade of your eyes and those glasses should fit perfectly" Arika looked at him and exclaimed, "This must cost you, your whole allowance. Are you out of your mind?"

"Hey, it's the least I can do you know. I mean Ria broke your glasses and I can see you're having hard time seeing without them, besides, this is all for your tutorial lessons" Kiyota explained. Arika looked at the glasses and said, "But this is too much..."

Kiyota shook his head and exclaimed, "Nothings too much for me when it comes to kindness... now why don't you put them on and let me see, if they look good on you" Arika hesitated at first but oblige. As she put then on, Kiyota smiled and said, "There now... see fits perfectly"

"How can I ever repay you?" Arika asked. Kiyota whistled and said, "There's a practice game between Kainan and Shohoku this afternoon... you can repay me by watching the game"

Arika asked, "Did you say Shohoku?" Kiyota nod his head and replied, "Yup, so how about it?" Arika nod her head and said, "All right I'll go, demo... Veniz Sakuragi studies there right?" Kiyota nod his head and said, "I'm going there for the game not for her"

"Usotsuki!" Arika's mind screamed at Kiyota at the same time Kiyota's mind screamed the same thing at him. Kiyota took out his chemistry book saying, "I think we better start, recess will end anytime soon"

Arika smiled a little saying, "Okay..." she knew that Kiyota deliberately changed the subject.

AFTER 20 MINUTES

Kiyota closed his chemistry book saying, "Well that's for now, so I'll see you at the gym before lunch time" Arika nod her head and exclaimed, "I'll be there, demo... Ria would certainly be there too" Kiyota sighed and said, "Don't worry about Ria, seat beside me and she'll not touch you"

Arika blushed and said, "I'll seat beside you at the bus? Kiyota, that would stir up gossip!" Kiyota laughed and said, "What to gossip about? We're friends and besides I need you to help me on this quiz on Friday, need more practice"

"I can see you're developing good study habits now" Arika replied standing up. "Yeah, you're very contagious" Kiyota replied with a teasing tone. Arika playfully punched him on the arm and said, "Baka!" with that she gave him a smile and left. Kiyota sighed smiling to himself.

KAINAN GYM (BEFORE LUNCH TIME)

Ria and her fellow cheerleaders were getting ready to board the bus. Tanya sighed and said, "Too bad, we're on separate buses" Ria nod her head. As she was about to board, she saw Arika Fujisawa running towards Jin and Kiyota.

"NANI? She's coming?" Ria thought anger building up. Arika smiled apologetically saying, "Gomen ne... Misaya-sensei went overtime" Kiyota shook her head and said, "Nah, we're just about to board the bus"

Jin grinned and said, "Glad you can make it Arika, common, let's get on" with that the three of the boarded the bus. "That filth! She's going to come to the practice game and she's going to seat beside MY Kiyota?! That bitch! I'll have her head, I'll make her pay!" Ria thought through gritted teeth and clenched fists.

SHOHOKU GYM

Shohoku team with it's Captain Ball Ryota Miyagi greeted the Kainan players with the aura of let's-get-this-game-on-shall-we? Hanamichi stared at Kiyota and exclaimed, "Well what do you know, long time no see monkey-head!"

Kiyota smirked and exclaimed, "Heh, looks whose talking you red-head idiot!" Arika who was seating among the bleachers with the other Kainan students thought, "So that's Hanamichi Sakuragi, my he's very tall!"

The Shohoku team went on their side while the Kainan went on their side. Then the doors of the gym opened again. There entered a girl with this gorgeously shoulder length red flaming hair dressed in a cheer leading red and black attire.

"Veniz!" Hanamichi exclaimed. Veniz smiled and hugged brother saying, "Brother! good luck on the game!" Hanamichi nod his head and asked, "Where's kitsune?" Veniz answered, "He'll be here, don't worry" with that she walked up to the Kainan side.

Ria glared at Veniz and gave her a look from head to toe. Veniz noticed this snapped, "Something wrong Ria Masahara? Or you're just being a pest again because we defeated you in the cheerleading competition last year?" Ria clenched her fist and said nothing.

"So that's Veniz... she's so beautiful... no wonder Kiyota fell in love with her not that also, she got some pure poison in her, demo... she looks like an angel... kirei" Arika thought staring Veniz. Kiyota eyed Veniz and said, "Hello there Veniz"

Veniz smiled at Kiyota and said, "Kiyota, long time no see" Kiyota smiled and asked, "So, hows between you and Rukawa?" Veniz replied, "Fine, we're doing great" as she said this Kaede Rukawa arrived. As he walked in, girls from the Shohoku side screamed wildly.

"Rukawa Kaede... wow.... he's handsome" Arika thought blushing. Veniz approached Kaede saying, "Hello there Kaede" Kaede smiled at her and gave her a kiss on the forehead asking, "No good luck kiss?"

Veniz smiled slyly and gave Kaede a quick kiss on the lips and replied, "Ganbatte ne Shohoku Ace!" Kaede smiled and walked up to Hanamichi. Hanamichi gave Kaede a high five and exclaimed, "Let's do well today kitsune!"

Kaede smirked and replied, "You got that Odahou" Jin looked at Kiyota who looked quite awkward and asked, "Daijoubu ka?" Kiyota nod his head as he eyed Kaede and answered, "I'm totally fine"

Rukawa Kaede eyed Kiyota and smirked. Kiyota clenched his hand and thought, "Dammed you, I'll get you on court you bastard!" Arika could feel the tension building up between the Ace of Shohoku and Kiyota. "Kiyota... you must really hate him huh?" Arika thought.

The whistle blew and the game ensued. Arika couldn't help but also to side with Shohoku. Shohoku was an amazing team. Jin smiled and thought, "Shohoku is greater than before, they've improved especially Sakuragi. Soon or later he might be Shohoku's MVP"

Then the girls of Shohoku cheered, Kaede has the ball and Kiyota was blocking him. Arika stood up from her seat, "Kiyota!" she exclaimed. The Kainan side cheered seeing Kiyota giving Kaede a hard time to shoot the ball. "I won't give you a chance Rukawa!" Kiyota replied.

Kaede smirked and said, "You don't stand against me..." with that he saw Hanamichi coming from the other side. He exclaimed, "Yo Sakuragi!" with that he passed the ball to Hanamichi. Hanamichi caught the ball and did a jump shot. The ball went it.

"NANI?!" Kiyota cried. "IMPOSSIBLE!" Sakuragi smirked at him saying, "Ore wa Tensai!" with that he and Rukawa slapped hands. Jin thought, "Even their team work improved. Rukawa and Sakuragi assist each other very well, looks like they've settled their differences and became the best of friends"

Veniz and the Shohoku Cheerleaders did a cartwheel and cried, "GET, GET, GET SHOHOKU!" Arika's eyes widened saying, "Subarashii! Veniz is a great cheerleader, greater than Ria" The game ensued on, Kainan was leading by three points and Shohoku was not even tad nervous about it.

Jin passed the ball to Kiyota, Hanamichi blocked him and so thus Rukawa. "Kuso!" Kiyota cursed in his mind, he then passed it to another Kainan player. He then got the ball again and did a 3 point shot. "BEAT THAT SHOHOKU!" the Kainan cheerleaders cheered.

Arika was clapping very hard. Kiyota did a 3 point shot! Then like lighting she saw Hanamichi rebounding the ball and passing it to Miyagi. Miyagi Ryota then passed it to Kaede who made a three point shot for Shohoku.

"GET, GET, GET SHOHOKU!" the Shohoku cheerleaders cheered. 1st half ended w/ Kainan still leading. Arika went down the bleacher approaching Kiyota as he sat on the bench saying, "Sugoi! Kiyota, you are so amazing out there!" Kiyota smiled a little and said, "Yeah? With that Rukawa and Sakuragi on my way it's very hard to score"

Jin nod his head and said, "Rukawa has improved, if I'm not mistaken he can beat Sendo anytime, anywhere. And Sakuragi... Veniz's brother also improved. He's good, might turn to another Mitsui Hisashi much better I think!" Kiyota wiped the sweat off his brow and exclaimed, "Oh yeah? I'll be the next Maki Shinichi if the very last thing I do!"

Then Ayako clapped her hands, she has this hands free microphone on her head. "Minna-san, let's have it for Veniz Sakuragi along with the Shohoku Cheerleaders dancing and singing to the song of HAMASAKI AYUMI... Free and Easy!"

With that everyone applauded. Arika looked towards the court. Veniz changed into a black tight fitting hipster pants, and a white mid riff tanktop. She has this bowlers hat on her head with her hair tucked inside. She also has this hands free mike on her. The Shohoku cheerleaders where dressed in white jazz pants and black tank tops matching bowlers hats.

Then the music started, Veniz started to dance and sing...

Tokidoki jibun ni toi kakeru
Dokomade ikeba tadori tsuku no

Anata no koe ga shiteru
Makenaide tte koe ga suru
Kimi no shiawase ga boku no
Shiawase datte kotoba omoi dasu

"Sugoi!" Arika exclaimed in awe. Jin smiled at Kiyota saying, "She's still great Kiyota, no one can beat the charm and the prowess of Veniz Sakuragi!" Kiyota could only nod his head. Arika looked at Kiyota and can see that he was in 7th Heaven. She felt the pang of jealousy in her heart, and it hurts but she couldn't help but to admire Veniz. She was an amazing girl!

Hitei suru koto ni tsukarete
Jibun o miushinai sou nara

Atashi o shinjite ite
Itsu no hi mo koko ni iru
Anata no ikiru akashi nara
Atashi no naka ni sonzai shiteru

Konna, konna yogoreta machi de
Anata wa tada utsukushii mono o
Hirotte sukutte soshite atashi ni
Misete kureru hito

The people in the gym were roaring and applauding. Veniz's number was like WOW! Arika was thinking, "She's so amazing. Her voice is so powerful! So beautiful, she just sounded like Hamasaki Ayumi there! I can't believe that Shohoku has someone like her. Now I can see why Shohoku is special, not only because of the Basketball team, because there is someone like her exist, no wonder Kiyota was heart broken when he lost her to Rukawa... she's one girl worth fighting for!"

Anata no koe ga shiteru
Makenai datte koe ga suru
Atashi o shinjite ite
Itsu no hi mo koko ni tachi tsuzukeru

Konna, konna yogoreta machi de
Anata wa tada utsukushii mono o
Hirotte sukutte soshite atashi ni
Misete kureru hito

Tokidoki jibun ni toi kaketa
Dokomade ikeba tadori tsuku no to

When the song ended, everyone was still applauding. You could hear people crying for more. Arika looked at the Kainan team, they were also applauding. Kiyota was clapping the hardest as to what she can see. Her eyes gazed at Ria and her friends. They weren't clapping they were frowning.

Arika smiled to herself and thought, "Obviously, Ria Masahara met her match when it comes to singing and dancing" she then saw Veniz giving her brother a hive five, she gave Ryota a high five. Kaede was smiling at her and gave her a warm hug. Arika knew that Veniz loves Rukawa, she knew that Rukawa won fair and square. But she is troubled to what Kiyota might be feeling seeing all of this. Seeing Veniz again, it's like reviving the pain and the hurt.

2nd Half was on and the tension was greater than before. In the end, Kainan won the practice game with a lead of one point. It was a very close call, thanks to Jin's quickness they were able to win. Ryota shook the hands of Jin saying, "Nice game Jin!"

"Anytime Miyagi, I have to say, you guys will be hard to beat in a real game" Jin pointed out. Ryota smirked and said, "Yeah, that's why you should watch your back. Shohoku will defeat you!" Jin smiled and said, "I'll be looking for that!"

Veniz approached Kiyota saying, "Nice game Kiyota" Kiyota nod his head and said, "Yeah, your boyfriend have improved but that doesn't stop me from defeating him" Veniz giggled and exclaimed, "You are so much like brother. He and Kaede might be best of friends now but it doesn't stop him from saying, he would defeat Kaede"

Kiyota laughed and said, "That sounds Sakuragi all right" he then noticed Arika beside him looking rather uncomfortable. "Anou... Veniz... this is Fujisawa Arika"

Veniz smiled and handed her hand towards Arika and said, "Nice to meet you Arika-chan! I'm Veniz Sakuragi!" Arika smiled and shook her hand, "Hello, I have to say that you sing beautifully!" Veniz blushed and said, "Not really Arika-chan"

"Anou... your kareshi Kiyota?" Veniz asked with a teasing look. Arika blushed ad so thus Kiyota who exclaimed, "No... she's my tutor." Veniz gave him a look and asked, "Tutor?" Kiyota smiled sheepishly and said, "Y-yeah, she's my tutor in Chemistry... I'm quite failing it"

Veniz sighed and said, "Onii-san and Kaede have the same problem so here I am tutoring them in Chemistry too" Arika grinned and said, "I hope they're not such as handful as Kiyota is" Kiyota exclaimed, "Hey I'm not a handful Arika!"

With that Veniz and Arika laughed. "She may be popular and everything, but she's nice. She's different from Ria, her down to earth personality what makes her so attractive to other people... Veniz Sakuragi" Arika thought as Veniz bade goodbye and went off with Kaede.

"Well we better board the bus" Kiyota replied sighing. As Arika and Kiyota walked towards the bus, Arika asked, "How are you feeling Kiyota?" Kiyota laughed and said, "Great! We defeated Shohoku, of course I'll feel great"

Arika gave out a laugh and said, "Usotsuki" Kiyota stopped in his tracks and asked, "What?" Arika gave him a look of concern and said, "I can see it within your eyes that you're not all right. I know your troubled"

"Your right... I am... seeing Veniz again, it just revived the old memories." Kiyota replied not looking at Arika. Arika then aid, "Sou da yo... I guess you haven't recovered from her" Kiyota shook his head and exclaimed, "I have recovered from her! I'm no longer in love with Veniz!"

Arika then demanded, "Then why are you like that? Then why your heart is so uneasy seeing her?" Kiyota then exclaimed, "That's because it's Veniz we're talking about here! veniz whom I fell in love whom I lost over the Ace of Shohoku Kaede Rukawa. It's the defeat Arika! It's the feeling of defeat I haven't recovered from!"

With that a tear fell from Kiyota's eyes. Arika froze upon seeing the tear. "K-Kiyota... gomenasai..." she muttered not looking at him. Kiyota wiped away the tear saying, "Ie... I should be the one apologizing." with that he turned his back walking towards the bus, "Ikou yo Arika... it's late" he exclaimed looking at Arika.

Arika nod her head and boarded the bus with Kiyota. Along the way, the players of Kainan were talking, making jokes while the others slept. Kiyota and Arika was not in the part of any of those. They were silent... not speaking to each other, trying to contemplate of what happened that afternoon.

It was that day when Kiyota met his angel again and it was the day when Arika learned that Kiyota was never defeated not until he met Veniz... whom he loved and lost...

TO BE CONTINUED

AU: Poor Kiyota *sniff* don't worry Veniz will make her appearance again.