Title: A Dirty Basketball

Disclaimer: If I owned SD, I'd be filthy rich right now and I'd not have to go through fanfics if I wanted to realize this story, y'know.

Pairings: Umm, at the moment, uncertain. But this is not yaoi!

Time Setting: After Shohoku lost to Aiwa. Oh, wait! After the Interhigh was concluded. Yup, the champs are here. Of course, they're my creation. And here, the teams are still complete.

Fictional/New Character: A whole team, actually… Okay, a whole school. This includes the particular person I created, Aki Sendoh, Akira Sendoh's, umm… cousin… hehehe!

POV's: many, maybe most of my lead characters will have their own share

Summary: Mitsui comforts Aki's loneliness caused by Rukawa's and Sendoh's absence (out with girls). He also confesses "deeper feelings" for Aki, other than lust. ) Aki does not answer.

Chapter 9: Withdrawal and Revelation

NoRMaL PoV:

"Good morning everyone! A bright, sunny Monday, ne? How're you all – " Mitsui stopped abruptly. "Where's everyone?"

"It's not like we're many here. Akira and Rukawa-kun are out,"

"Out where?"

"Out – dating – I guess,"

"Dating? Whom?"

"Dunno,"

"Hmm… Whom could they be out with? A! Maybe Wayne and Ashton!" Aki nearly dropped a glass vase.

"W – Wayne and Ashton?"

"Yeah. Why not, ne?"

"I – I dunno. And don't care,"

"I see,"

"…"

"You're jealous,"

"?"

"You're jealous,"

"Whaatt? Why would I be jealous?"

"Why're ya blushing?"

"Argh! I hate you, Mitsui Hisashi!" Aki sat down on the couch and stared angrily at the table in front of her. Mitsui sat beside her, staring at her. They remained silent for a few minutes.

"I saw you yesterday,"

"!"

"I mean, I saw, and heard you,"

"Heard me?"

"Your – confession"

"…"

"It's not like I was eavesdropping. I accidentally overheard,"

"Yeah, right," Aki stood up, but Mitsui pulled her back down on the couch by the arm.

"I said I didn't mean hearing it," Aki just stared at him, face quite expressionless. "But anyways, I know what it's all about, so, there you go,"

"There you go what?"

"I heard it. I heard every part of it,"

"…"

"And I didn't like it,"

"?"

"Don't look at me like that," Mitsui said as he placed a hand on Aki's confused face, gently turning it away. "Listen. It's not all that simple, telling someone you love them. So let me do it my own way,"

"…"

"Sendoh didn't answer, right?"

"Hn,"

"You know why?" Aki shook her head in response. "You wanna know why?" Aki shook her head again. "You have to know why," Aki shook her head for the third time. "Why don't you want to know?"

"I don't need to know,"

"You're being selfish,"

"You heard what I said yesterday. I wasn't waiting for an answer. I just wanted him to know. I don't care about what he thinks. I'm not being selfish. I'm just being myself," Aki got up from her sitting position and knelt on the couch. She placed both hands on Mitsui's jaws, bent down over his face and kissed him, a fast one. Mitsui placed a hand on her waist, trying to push her away. She got off and sat again, staring at the floor. "You wanna know why I did that?"

"?"

"You wanna know why I did that?"

"No,"

"Why?"

"'Coz I'm afraid of your answer. You might say you were just playing with me or something,"

"See?"

"See what?"

"You should understand then,"

"It's a different case!"

"No, it's not,"

"…"

"…"

"What about Rukawa?"

"?"

"What do you think about him?"

"…"

"Listen. I like you. But I can't move,"

"Why?"

"You'll know soon,"

"I like Rukawa. I love Akira,"

"You're confused,"

"…"

"Why're you asking why I can't move?"

"You're my friend,"

"Big brother, more like,"

"I haven't answered,"

"Well, don't"

"?"

"I don't need your answer,"

"…"

"Someone else does,"

"Who?"

"I said, you'll know soon,"

"I'm not a very patient person,"

"Well, you better be," Sendoh and Rukawa appeared at the doorway. Aki blushed at the sight of the two.

"Why should I be?"

"Because some things in life are just worth waiting for,"

"Like what?"

"Like – love?"

"Says who?

"Says I,"

"So?"

"Says the three of us,"

"Who're you to – " Aki did not proceed with her sentence. She got up and went to her room.

aKi'S PoV:

It's not as simple as that. They should know. Why – Why are they confusing me? They're playing with me. This should stop. This is all a big mistake. This is why I hate summer. It's the most boring season. And it's when everything just goes wrong. Damn it. I shouldn't think about this anymore. Vacation's almost over. I have to study.

NoRMaL PoV:

No one was able to talk to Aki properly after tha day. On mornings and afternoons, she was either with the sports committee doing work, or at classes, taking advanced subjects and extra lessons. On evenings, she would be too busy on the computer typing who knows what loads of stuff, or she'd be locked up in her room, burying herself in books and research papers. She rarely joined the three boys at dinner, and rarely saw them, too. She'd be out early in the morning, and in very late at night.

"Aki," Aki turned to him. "Are you alright?" It was a moonlit night, and Rukawa stayed up late in the living room, a book propped up on the table. He really wasn't reading. He was just waiting for Aki to come in.

"Y – Yeah. I'm fine," Aki made a fake smile. She wasn't fine, and Rukawa just seemed to know it.

"Sit down,"

"…"

"You're not too busy to hang around for a few minutes, are you?"

"…" Aki sat down quietly.

"What's the matter?"

"…"

"I'm not used to asking too many questions,"

"…"

"I should be the one staying quiet,"

"… N – nani?" Aki blushed in surprise. Rukawa placed a hand on her cheek and leaned in close, very close.

"There. You finally spoke," Rukawa said, not bothering to widen the gap between their inch-apart faces, and not taking his eyes off Aki's, which were staring back, quite confused.

"Ru – Rukawa-kun,"

"Why won't you talk?"

"I – I,"

"…"

"…" Aki quietly leaned her head on Rukawa's shoulder, face down. "I don't know what to say,"

"?"

"I'm sorry," Aki got up and went to her room.

End of Chapter 9: Withdrawal and Revelation