Disclaimer: Don't own them sorry… :) Although I'm introducing a character soon…
Rating: Haven't you guys noticed I always rate R? Just to be safe… so people won't piss me off for under-rating… or whatever idiotic thing…
Warning: I already warned you guys in the previous numbers ne?
Notes: I'm sorry to disappoint you guys— but this fic isn't a yaoi… of course— I'm only telling this to those who love shonen-ai things… :)
Pairing: see for yourselves… I already gave you a hint that it would be a love triangle…
Yey! The third chapter! You can kill me now!!!…
So everyone… here's the story… a little plot development here and there… and a little basketball game…
3: You Were The One
It was a beautiful Saturday, not a dark cloud in sight.
Haruko Akagi walked to school early that morning. She knew that since there would be a practice match between Shohoku and Ryonan, her brother would expect her to come as early as the team...
She knocked on the locked double doors of the gym and almost gasped when she saw Rukawa (he opened the door for her…).
"Rukawa-kun… what are you doing here all alone?" asked Haruko as they both entered the gym.
"Practicing," muttered Rukawa, ignoring the way his heart was beating faster.
"Oh." Stupid me… of course he was practicing…
He took the ball, ran to the other side of the court and made a three-point shot.
Haruko clapped. "Do you want me to help you practice?"
Rukawa only regarded her blankly.
"I mean… I could be your opponent…"
"… do you know how to play?"
"Of course!" exclaimed Haruko, jumping up and practically skipping towards where Rukawa stood, "I'm not that good though…"
"Hn," said Rukawa, avoiding her beautiful brown eyes that were so full of energy.
Rukawa had the ball and Haruko was the defense.
Rukawa knew that he should have been a bit careful but he couldn't help it… he imagined that it was Sendoh himself— the person who always guarded him— who was guarding him at that very moment.
All hell broke lose.
Haruko ignored the way shivers went up her spine every time her body made contact with Rukawa (while she was defending…). She reached for the ball, as any guard would do, but when she made contact with the ball, she was elbowed by Rukawa.
She instantly fell, feeling a bit foolish and hurt.
Rukawa took one look at her and immediately got out of the trance. Oh shit…
He extended his hand, tried not to make a big deal out of it (when she touched his hand) and led her to the benches.
"I'm sorry…" unexpectedly, this statement came from Haruko, "I couldn't be a good enough player to play against you…"
Rukawa was surprised, but he didn't show it. He never knew anyone who got hurt— yet apologized for it… He looked at the girl in his arms (he was helping her walk ne?) and suddenly got all defensive. You're not supposed to fall for anyone, remember?
"Just rest," muttered Rukawa, letting her sit on one of the bleachers.
"Thank you," muttered Haruko, feeling her face redden.
"Hn," was the only reply she got. You thank me for the pain I caused?
Akira Sendoh really loved morning jogs.
While he was jogging, he saw the casually-dressed Haruko heading for Shohoku. He wanted to call out but, upon seeing her preoccupied expression, he just followed her.
He then realized she was headed for Shohoku High and immediately stopped right outside the gate. He felt like he would be intruding if he came before eight o'clock.
Five minutes, he thought, running towards his house to grab his basketball things, food, water and extra clothes.
There was a knock on the gym's double doors.
"I'll get it… you sit," muttered Rukawa in a voice barely above a whisper.
Haruko could only nod. Sure she wanted to open it… she felt horrible for having interrupted Rukawa in his practice… She looked toward her left and saw that the newcomer was—
"Sendoh…" muttered Rukawa, coldly staring at the Ryonan ace.
"Hello," said Sendoh with a smile, "is this a bad time?"
Rukawa didn't respond.
Haruko limped toward both the aces. "Hi, Sendoh-kun…"
Sendoh-kun? Rukawa repeated in his head.
"Oh hello Haruko-chan…"
Haruko blushed. She obviously felt pleased (yet embarrassed at the same time) when she heard Sendoh call her Haruko-chan.
"You're a bit early ne?" she said as she motioned Sendoh to come in, unintentionally forgetting Rukawa was with them. She opened the doors wider so they won't have to be interrupted by knocks… (by they, she actually meant Rukawa…)
"Was out jogging and passing by… what happened to you?" asked Sendoh, putting his right arm around Haruko's waist as support and letting her put her left arm on his shoulders.
"Uhm…" muttered Haruko, starting to blush, "I couldn't guard Rukawa well enough… so I sort of— fell…"
"I see," for a moment Sendoh's expression turned grim, but it left as soon as it arrived, "just be careful next time ne? You wanna eat?"
Haruko blushed even more, but she noted that Sendoh didn't seem to notice. She then remembered about Rukawa. "Let's ask Rukawa also ne?"
Sendoh nodded, still smiling innocently, "why not?"
"Rukawa… you want to eat?" asked Haruko.
Rukawa took one look at Sendoh, then Haruko, and turned away, continuing his practice without another word.
"I guess not…" muttered Sendoh, his eyes glinting with amusement. Hmm… I smell something here— could it possibly be?
Takenori Akagi arrived at about eight fifteen. He knew that the practices were supposed to start at nine… but as captain, he wanted to be earlier that the rest.
He could hear running and dribbling in the gym.
Must be Rukawa, he thought with a small smile. He should have anticipated that the Shohoku ace would come earliest. He's always been such a dedicated player…
He could hear voices coming from the gym. He recognized one as Haruko's… but the other one was so faint he could barely hear it.
He entered the gym and looked around.
Sure enough, there was Rukawa and Haruko… and then, Sendoh…
"Hello, sorry to intrude," said Sendoh, "I guess I should be leaving now eh?"
Please stop him brother… pleaded Haruko with her eyes.
"Practice won't be starting until nine," said Akagi simply, going into the locker room.
"Was that a 'stay'? or a 'go away'?" Sendoh asked Haruko, looking at her puzzlingly.
Idiot, muttered Rukawa to himself, Sendoh got to her first…
He stole glances toward the couple seated on the benches— Haruko, the girl, and Sendoh, Ryonan's ace and biggest rival.
He knew that it was too late to win her heart now.
Then he mentally slapped himself for ever thinking that he wanted to win her heart at the first place. You're not supposed to let distractions hinder you…
Don't get too attached, he muttered to himself as he made a three-point shot, girls are distractions…
Sendoh was listening to whatever Haruko had to say, but sometimes, he just felt like his body had suddenly gone cold and then he noticed that it was Rukawa's stare that caused such a phenomenon.
Interesting, he thought in amusement as he looked at Rukawa's strange behaviour from the corner of his eye.
"Haruko-chan, are you and Rukawa a couple?" he asked in a small voice so that they could be the only ones to hear.
"Of course not," she blushed, "what made you think that?"
"Nothing…" he smiled widely, "so, do you think fishes would eat chocolate sandwiches— or peanut butter?"
"They don't wiggle ne?"
"Of course not… they're not worms…"
"Do you have practice, Sendoh-kun?"
"Nope… we always rest before the game… We practice the days or nights before…"
"Oh. So… now what?"
"Why don't we fish?" suggested Sendoh, "it's almost nine o'clock anyway… and I'd feel like an intruder if I stayed here while the Shohoku team practiced…"
"Okay…"
Rukawa glanced as Haruko and Sendoh made their way to the team's quarters. He managed to look inconspicuous as he pretended to practice, all the while looking at Haruko, who was hugging her brother.
He saw Sendoh approach and felt a pang of anger— or jealousy— register. He just wanted the Ryonan ace to go away.
"Rukawa," muttered Sendoh, smiling a bit impishly.
"Hn," replied Rukawa, holding the ball with one hand, while he waited for Sendoh to continue.
"You still have your chance," he said before walking away again, "ja… ne?"
Rukawa looked at Sendoh's retreating form and thought about what he had just heard. I still have my chance? With… what?
He sure as hell wasn't talking about basketball…
— end of 3—
Hm… Sendoh gives Rukawa a chance… how would Rukawa deal with the situation?
Minna-san, review time desu!!
