Title: Stalker

Author: Wowie

Status: 7/12

Rating: PG-13

Genre: Humor/Mystery

Archive: Ask permission first.

Previously: Someone took the redhead's white jersey as a memento. But the question still remains, who is the stalker?

Warnings: Shounen-ai (Boy X Boy Love) and some mild swearing.

Author's Note: Hehehe, I'm half-through! I think so... sweatdrop actually... I'm not really sure... hehehe... hides

Standard Disclaimers Apply

...

Strike 7: Kitsune's Offer

"Damn it!" Hanamichi went to search the bags of his teammates. He got hold of Miyagi's bag first and started to remove its contents before the owner could protest. The bag was almost empty when Miyagi managed to snatch it back.

"Oi! You didn't have to spill out all my things!" Miyagi snapped, pissed off as he started to pick up his things while clutching his bag with his other hand.

"But who would think of getting this fool's jersey?" Mitsui muttered, looking pensive.

Kogure just shook his head then looked at Akagi.

"What should we do?"

Akagi sighed then said, "I guess we'll have to use the red one instead." He motioned for the others to change their jerseys.

"I'm not going to let it drop just like that!" the redhead exclaimed stubbornly then pointed an accusing finger at Rukawa's direction. "Fox! I know what you want to happen! You stole the genius' jersey so he wouldn't be able to play! Ha! Didn't you think I know you'd do something like this?"

"You always get kicked out of the game so why waste my time, idiot?"

"What?!" Hanamichi was about to lunge at Rukawa when Fujima spoke up.

"I think it would be better if you discuss this after the game," the Shoyo coach-captain said then turned to the redhead. "Anyway, if you want, Sakuragi, you could just join our team so your teammates wouldn't have to waste time to change their jerseys right?"

Sendoh's lips curled on one side, grateful to what Fujima had suggested. He would have liked it very much to have a match against Sakuragi, but having him in their team was like hitting the jackpot in a lottery...

"Hmm... that's not such a bad idea..." Akagi mused, then gave Sakuragi a questioning look. "Well, Sakuragi, what do you think?"

Sakuragi pursed his lips and tried to consider Fujima's offer. The main reason he suggested a practice match in the first place was to show his new ability. So even if he did play for Shoyo and Ryonan, his plan would work all the same. He was in the process of making a decision when he felt someone slap his behind.

"Whoa!" He jumped in surprise and saw the culprit, who was none other than Sendoh, grinning at him. "Sendoh! Who gave you the idea that you could just hit the genius' butt like that?!"

"Because you're taking so long to decide. And what's wrong with what I did?" Sendoh frowned.

"Yeah, I don't think butt-slapping is bad. We do that in our team all the time. Sort of a form of encouragement," Fujima added.

"You... do that... to your teammates... all the time...?" Hanamichi asked slowly. Somehow, the prospect of joining their team started to become a remote possibility.

"Oi, Sakuragi, I think you should just join their team so there won't be any hassle," Akagi said, getting a bit impatient because minutes had passed by and they're still standing there, waiting for the redhead's decision. No one noticed Rukawa walking towards his bag.

"I... I..." the redhead stuttered, obviously confused on what to answer.

Youhei, who was standing with the other members of the gundan and the group of Haruko, was starting to wonder what's going on with Shohoku, Shoyo, and Ryonan's meeting.

He asked Hikoichi, who just walked away from the group.

"What's happening there anyway? Why aren't they starting the game?"

"Well, someone stole Sakuragi-san's white jersey so they are persuading him to just join our team so the other Shohoku members won't have to change their jerseys to red."

"What? But who could have stolen it? Poor Sakuragi-kun..." Haruko gazed at redhead's direction worriedly.

"Well, Sakuragi, we're wasting time here," Akagi crossed his arms over his chest.

"Don't rush the genius!" he snapped, still trying to decide if he should join Shoyo and Ryonan's team. But the idea of his ass being slapped anytime was not really an enticing picture.

Just as he was about to reach a decision, some fabric hit his head and dropped on his shoulder. It was a Shohoku white jersey... that was marked number eleven. Hanamichi stared at it for a while then looked at the person who threw it.

"Fox?"

Rukawa shrugged then said, "Use that for now, idiot."

"How come Rukawa has an extra jersey?" Mitsui asked curiously.

"Well, he ordered another one because this one was stained with ink and he can't remove it. He just got his new jersey from me this morning," Ayako explained.

Hanamichi stared one more time at the stained jersey then his temper suddenly flared again.

"Do you think the genius would even think of using any of the fox's things?"

Rukawa sighed, "So just join the enemy then." After saying this, he gave Sendoh a cold glare then headed to other side of the court to warm-up all by himself.

"Come on, Hanamichi! Decide now!" Miyagi urged.

Hanamichi's face was grim when he replied, "Okay, much as the genius doesn't want to wear the fox's ugly jersey, the genius will do it so that he can stay in the team."

"Okay it's settled then so let's start the game," Kogure said. All of them went to have their warm-ups. Sendoh on the other hand shook his head in disappointment before finally going with the other Shoyo members.

Back at the sidelines, Youhei was still deep in thought. "Hey, Ookusu, do you think the stalker's also the one who stole Hanamichi's jersey?"

"What stalker?"

Youhei and Ookusu looked to who asked the question and saw it was Hikoichi. Takamiya tried to divert the topic by asking him about Hanamichi's decision.

"Well, Rukawa-san lent Sakuragi-san his old jersey so he could still play with Shohoku," Hikoichi replied.

The gundan looked to where Hanamichi standing and saw him wearing a white jersey with a big black stain in front of it. Obviously, the redhead was not very happy about wearing it at all.

"Hey, you didn't answer my question! What stalker?" Hikoichi asked again.

Youhei looked at the Ryonan player who was all wide-eyed when an idea suddenly crossed his mind.

"Hikoichi, I think we need your help."

Hikoichi frowned, "What about?"

Youhei stated all that has happened to Hanamichi yesterday.

"Unbelievable!" Hikoichi exclaimed.

"Hush, will ya?" Takamiya warned.

"Oops, sorry. Hey, do you have your suspicions?"

Youhei whispered something to him.

"What? How can you be sure?" Hikoichi's eyes widened.

"I didn't say we're sure. That's why we need your help in getting some information..."

Hikoichi looked pensive for a while then with a determined look he replied.

"Okay, I'm going to help you guys..."

-Tsuzuku-