Hey.. Sorry 'bout changing the content all of the sudden...

CHAPTER 1

She's playing silently at the court, thinking how persistent her mother was. Insisting her to stay at Kanagawa instead of coming with them at Tokyo. She felt somewhat disappointed. After five years in America, After staying for five years in a foreign land she had been engulfed in homesickness. Homesickness? Yeah… That's it. She missed Japan terribly. And now, she's here, she's back, she's home again but emptiness still continue to hunt her. It's frustrating…. No… distressing. It's the first time she's been away from her parents like this. It's the first time she longed for them like this. She wanted to see them tremendously. She missed another three-point. It bounced off the ring. Chikuso (…..). Her reverie was shattered by an ugly singing voice. 'Onaji mono onaji kanjikata shite'ru no' (The same entity, feeling the same thing) It said. I think I'll throw up. She gathered her things and walked away. But someone, maybe someone in the company of the person with an ugly singing voice, blocked her way.

"Hey." He said. His voice was low and hoarse.

She then realized he was the one with that ugly voice. What do you want from me?

"Have you seen a tall guy with black bushy hair?"

Is he drunk? He smells. "No.. I didn't see him." I have to get out of here, fast.

Rukawa walked leisurely, his arm wounded but not bleeding. The blood froze in cold just like his blue eyes. Stabbed by a man only meant to destroy him and his love for basketball, he showed no pain. He took them on like a tin can crushed by a large truck. Because of them, he missed basketball practice and left his bike at home. Walking. I hate it. It takes up a lot of time. Better go home. But minutes later he found himself standing on a spot near the public court. His feet had led him there. His body followed and his brain isn't working. His body yearned for basketball for he didn't attend practice just to waste time fighting cantankerous guys who envy him. Envy everything about him. He walked nearer to the public court then he heard someone. "I didn't see him." It sounds like a girl. What time is it? He moved closer, not sure why he was so curious. He saw a guy turn around. "Look there he is!" The guy pointed at him. Rukawa's eyebrows narrowed. By the time he realized that they were the accomplice he took on that afternoon, men encircled him. The girl sat at the bleacher. What's she doing? Then he concentrated at the men circling him. Preparing himself, the guy started an attack. Rukawa fought back his clenched fist crashing into their abdomens. The girl just sat passively at the bench, her zealous eyes now gentler observing the foolish activity that was happening right in front of her, like it was just a show. When it was finally finished, she gathered her things for the second time and walked pass by Rukawa. She was holding a large orange sphere in her hand. Basketball? Then she stopped, remembering how bad Rukawa's arm looked.

"Want me to help you with your arm?"

Rukawa looked at her as if she didn't say anything.

"Okay. Let's put it this way. Let me help you with that arm. Just follow me."

They walked on their way home, the girl walking in his front. They pulled up at last.

"Arre? Aren't I going to help you with that arm?"

He just stood there, not saying anything. Not replying.

Has he heard of a sentence? A phrase? Or word perhaps? She sighed.

"My house." He pointed the large structure at his back.

So he could speak and whaddya know? We're neighbors. "Ok then." She opened their gate. I won't waste my time on you.

Rukawa opened his gate and entered the house. I won't waste my time on you.

The next day, Rukawa went outside and looked up to the house in front of him. The girl's house was dark and it looks like there's no one home. He started to stroll so he could get to school. When he reached the school, girls started to surround him. He continued to stroll to drop his bike off. When he reached the corridor, more girls surrounded him. He didn't mind them as he walked by. He overheard people of the other class talking about the new transferee in school.

"Really? I heard she's really pretty!" The guy from the other class said.

"You only heard? I saw her in person! She was in the faculty room when I dropped by to pass my project! It's bad to say this but it's good thing I passed it late!" The guy named Nagakura, Kenren said.

"I want to see her too!"

"You will. You must."

"The question is when."

"We can fix that. All you need is timing." Nagakura straightened his body, walked a few steps and waved for his companion to follow him inside the classroom.

1 Class B-8.

"We have a transferee." The teacher called her, signaling her to come in.

She stepped inside and stood straight beside the teacher. Her long red hair tied into a neat and high ponytail. Her warm brown eyes revealed excitement.

"This is Chiharu Zen."

It was dismissal. Rukawa, as usual slept over class. Every afternoon, He was always scheduled to go to practice. He silently stood up and continued to the gym. On his way, he saw the girl last night. Her fiery-read hair is very conspicuous. Rukawa didn't mind her and she didn't see him too. She was chatting with Haruko, sister of their team captain. He entered the gym and quickly changed clothes and began practice.

Haruko was chattering on and on. Saying how great and handsome Rukawa is. Saying how cold he was but it didn't matter anyway.

"Who's Rukawa anyway? Girls in my class are talking about him non-stop!"

"I'm one of those girls am I?"

"Kind of."

"That's why were here. You'll see him."

Rukawa dribbled the ball and threw a three-point shot. All the girls watching them practice screamed. Zen covered her ears as the girls on her both sides and back screamed with all their might. She looked at the person they were screaming at and she saw the inarticulate guy last night. She turned away from him, remembering how bad his arm was last night but refused help.

"There's Rukawa…" Haruko pointed at the tall guy with bushy hair, inside the court.

So he's Rukawa. The oh-so-handsome Rukawa they were all talking about. "He's the one you're talking about? He's the war freak and anti-social kind of guy!" She recalled his attitude towards her last night. His frigid attitude towards her last night.

Rukawa clearly heard her, she was saying it loudly, but he concentrated on practice.

Unfortunately, all the others, including the Rukawa fans club heard her. They glared at Zen, burning and melting her with their stare, like a plastic. The three club leaders of Rukawa fans club approached her, their eyes displays serious anger and great aggravation.

"You don't have the right to say something bad about our Rukawa-sama!"

"I don't?"

Rukawa overheard them but still continued practicing.

"Yes, you don't!" The club leader replied angrily.

"Why?"

"Because I said so! As punishment, you have to join!"

Zen laughed aloud "That sure is a real punishment. But I'll drop dead before you convince me." She disgustedly said.

The leader clenched her hands into fist. "Then so be it. Die now." Other members ran towards Zen's direction.

"Did I say something bad?" Zen turned to ask Haruko.

"You said something REALLY bad Chiharu.."

"Oh my god!! Ah!! In this case…"

Haruko looked at Zen questionably.

"In this case…. I'll have to….. RUN!!!!"

Zen ran rapidly out of the gym, thinking of escaping but other fan club members tailed her.

"I didn't know she could run that fast." Haruko said surprised. She quickly turned to watch Rukawa again. Her eyes turned into large pink hearts when she saw him do a slam dunk.

The basketball team started to practice again.

"I'll get you Chiharu Zen..." Club leader Hikaru said to herself. She waved for her two pioneers, Lisa and Kate to begin their cheer. They started creaming "RU-KA-WA RU-KA-WA L-O-V-E RU-KA-WA!"

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"Whew! That was really close!" She said as she finally reached her house. She entered the gate and stopped…

"Darn it!! I forgot my bag at the gym!"

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The basketball team finished practicing.

"Aren't you going home now, Rukawa?" Mitsui asked.

"Iie"

"Ok then. We're going now."

Rukawa didn't reply as he made a dunk. Everyone went home, leaving him aloe in the gym. Practice. Practice makes one's work perfect. It makes one the best. Better among the others. After a minute or two, he heard a strong sound of the wind. A sound as if someone's running fast, removing everything on its way. Zen entered and ran towards her suitcase at the other side of the gym. She turned back and saw Rukawa looking at her. She looked at her watch. 7'oclock pm. She didn't expect somebody would be still practicing at this time. Usually at this time, they would be eating dinner with their family. Chatting on the dining table with your loveones. Tellingthem how awesome or how awful your day had become. Practicing basketball and not eating with your family at this time isn't normal at all. But I am here running away from a fan club and that isn't normal either. She spent the whole afternoon running away from the Rukawa Fans Club and she still felt irritated. She doesn't want to be chased. Way to go Zen! Nice day for a first day! She made friends and so as foes. Foes. Is that the right word to call them?

"You're still practicing?"

"Am I not?" Rukawa answered as he started to dribble the ball.

Zen raised an eyebrow. What an ill-tempered guy. She walked by the door and left. Rukawa didn't mind her, he doesn't mind anybody when Yuhii left him. You'll see Yuhii I'll be better than you. No one understand how Rukawa's mind works. Sometimes it's completely shut off. His mind isn't working at all. No responses, No feelings, nothing. And if it is working, it doesn't make ay difference. Basketball. The only thing in his mind. Nothing else. He shot another three-point.

Zen reached her house at last.

"She's here already..." She said to herself as she entered the house.

"Tadai-ma (I'm home) Utada ne-chan."

"Okairi (Welcome back) Zen-chan."

She quickly ran to the dining table as here sister patiently tried to wait for her. Utada seldom eats alone. She'll wait for her sister or doesn't eat at all. She knows her sister is having a hard time adjusting. I too imouto (sister). I too. Only the two of them can help each other. Only the two of them understands each other.

"Itadakimas…(Let us eat)" They both said in unison, as they tasted the food prepared in the table.

"Oishii desu!(Delicious!)" Zen said as she ate another.

"Zen-chan…Oji-san will be visiting us by the end of the week. He will be staying here."

"Huh? How long?"

"I'm not sure but I think he'll be staying for a long time." She remembered her grandpa taking trips unceasingly. "Or maybe not but this is his house anyway. Oji-san's friend will be visiting too."

Zen continued eating.

"They'll be eating dinner here." Utada said. "I was also informed that his friend would be bringing one of his grandsons."

"Grandson?" Zen asked curiously.

"He lives in Japan. I heard his friend's grandson's very good-looking." Utada said with a little smile in her face.

"Why are you looking at me like that ane-chan?"

"Oh nothing Zen. Enjoy your meal." She said with her chin clinging on her hands. If she'll be fond of that guy Zen will have to forget about Kai. She will have a new life. Utada thought with a slight worry on her face.

It's Thursday. 2 days before their grandpa's arrival. Zen walked to school. She reached Shohoku and entered the class.

"Ohayo Haruko-chan."

"Ohayo Zen-chan."

"What's eating you? Is there something wrong?"

"I'm girl's basketball team member already."

"Wow! That's great! Then why the long face?"

"The seniors already graduated. Most of them belonged to the girl's basketball team"

"No problem about members! There's the boy's team! Every girl will probably join!"

"That's the problem…."

"Huh?" she looked puzzled as she studied Haruko's face.

"Every girl wants to join. Of course, other years that were already in the group cannot be removed but almost all girls from in this school like to join. They don't even have any knowledge about basketball. They're only joining because of Rukawa."

"That's a problem alright…"

"We need members that are good in basketball! GOOD in basketball. We don't need idiots."

A little harsh. Zen thought

Before Zen could reply the teacher entered the classroom

Dismissal. Time for the try out. Zen hesitated. Will I go or not? She was given a paper to sign up. Think before you leap. Do-or-die situation. Sign-up or walk away. A girl took the paper.

"Name?" the girl asked her.

"Chiharu Zen."

The girl wrote something down. "Number 106"

"Huh?"

"Number 106. Wait 'till you're called."

"Great." She sighed. 106 girls. I'm the last. I think. I still have time to think. I'll run away if I change my mind. She tried to sneak a look inside. It was crowded so she really had to squeeze in. Huh? So the boy's team is helping too. Now I know why so many had signed up. There were so many so they haven't got the time to finish it all so the others will have to come back tomorrow. Tomorrow. Yes, tomorrow. Its okay if I don't show up.

The next day:

The teachers had given half of the day for tryouts of different clubs. But it was made clear that these tryouts will only be until twelve noon and the classes shall resume. How considerate of them to give half of the day for club tryouts. Zen thought as she watched the tryout. She decided to stay anyway. She was waiting for about 3 hours and a half. And at last she was finally called. Out of those 105 girls who signed up before her, they only got 12. She could see it was really tiring and enjoyable at the same time.

"It's my turn then." Mitsui said. Ryota had finished with the #105 and went up to his seat.

"hmmmmm…." Mitsui scanned the list. "Last one… #106 Chiharu Zen" Mitsui called. Zen got ready and stood up. Haruko's eyes slowly grew wider when she saw her. Mitsui turned to Zen. He mysteriously smiled as she studied her face, her fiery-red hair and her warm-brown eyes.

"Let's get started #106."

Zen just nodded.

"I'll explain it to you. You have to get through me and shoot the ball. Do you understand?"

"Pretty much said." Zen answered as she started to dribble the ball. "How many times do I have to get through you and shoot the ball?"

"3 times but if I got bored, it would be only once. Just get through me even if you don't shoot the ball its fine."

Zen inched a step calculating her next move. A loose thread. You let your guard down. Wrong move. Zen swiftly got through Mitsui without a sweat and scored an easy lay-up. Everybody in the gym was surprised with Zen. They sat up and tried to watch the game.

"Are you bored?" Zen asked

"No.. Get ready. I won't give you any chance now." Mitsui replied enjoyably.

Zen tried to get through with her next shot. It's true. He wont give me any chance. Kuso…(shit…)

She tried going through but Mitsui tapped the ball out of Zen's grip. He really tightened his guard. Zen was now preparing for her third shot. He became very serious.. Interesting.. What if I shoot it from here?

I know you know what'll happen next so I cut it from here. thanks for the people who reviewed earlier.... happy thanksgiving and Meri Kurisumasu (Merry Christmas)