A/N: What's up? Probably the quickest I've updated a story in quite some time. To be honest, this was going to be the first chapter, but a spur of the moment sort of change told me to let this out at chapter two.

And my reviewers:

Armads: Where the heck are you man? I haven't heard from you in ages!!! If you happen to stumble on this, tell me what you think.

Egyptian Rose: Glad you like what's going on so far, hope you enjoy this chapter as well!

Another quick tidbit, I have a Street Fighter fic up as well, so if you're down with that go give it a look and see how you like it. OK, let's get back to the story!

WARNING: Serenity/Seto romance alert! If you hate this couple, beware!

Chapter 2: Finding a Team

Nathan grew impatient as he watched the game film on his returning players. He only had four returning players, so he wanted to find out exactly what he would be getting from them. What he saw so far wasn't giving him a good impression of his returning talent.

"Hey Tristan, who in the hell is number 49? He looks pretty confused out there."

Tristan fumbled whatever he was writing and turned to talk to his new boss. "That's Joey Wheeler, sir. He was a freshman last year. Quit the team three times during the season. He was pretty good when he actually played; probably scoring about 14 points a game."

Nathan shook his head. "How in the hell did he quit three times? What's his deal?"

Tristan sighed. "I don't know for sure. Each time it was something different. He's come up with so many excuses for missed practices and games that I couldn't keep track."

Nathan said something inaudible, still studying the tape. Tristan took this as an opportunity to continue. "He's an enigma on the court too. Some games he will be calm and play pretty solid. Other times he's just cold and combative. That's when he usually would struggle."

Just then a player stole the ball from the opposing team, took it the end of the floor and made a lay-up. He had strange, tri-colored hair and appeared to be the shortest player on the court.

"Who's number 13?"

"That's Yugi Motou sir. A little undersized, but lots of heart. Not that talented, to be honest, but consistent. Gives all he has every night."

Nathan smiled as he continued to watch the film. "Sounds like someone I know. Is he going to be a sophomore as well?"

Tristan nodded his head, confirming for him.

Just then, the tape showed another undersized boy. He was a little bigger than Yugi, but had the same tri-colored hairstyle. He was making shots with relative ease, even with two players attempting to guard him.

"That's Yami Motou sir, Yugi's twin brother. Gives every bit of effort as his brother, and he's a little more athletic. Excellent shooter. I saw him at practice once; he didn't miss a shot for the entire practice."

Nathan raised an eyebrow, obviously surprised. "Didn't miss a shot, eh?"

"No sir."

"Well, looks like I have my shooter…What in the world? Tristan, who's number 30? What kind of player does something like that?"

The player Nathan was talking about was a tall brown-haired young man. He was obviously the tallest player on the team, and arguably the best built. Unfortunately, his potential was being overshadowed by the fact that he had just shoved his own coach, nearly igniting a brawl on his own bench.

"That's Seto Kaiba, sir. Most people call him a stuck-up prick, and I have to say I agree with 'em. He never comes to practice, and he always gets into shouting matches with me and other members of the staff. We've tried and tried to get through to him, but he keeps on doing things his way."

"Hm….looks like we have ourselves a weed who thinks he's a flower. How did he get along with his teammates?" Nathan asked, already displeased with Kaiba.

"Well, he was pretty aloof to the whole team, but one player really got under his skin: Joey Wheeler. (A/N: Who didn't see that coming? LOL) they absolutely hate each other. I've had to break apart more than one of their fistfights."

Nathan turned off the tape, obviously disgusted by Kaiba's actions.

"We have a lot to fix and not a lot of tools to do it with. Practice starts in less than two weeks, and we need to find a team fast. Our schedule makes it even harder for us."

Tristan looked up." We have our schedule finalized?"

Nathan nodded, then handed Tristan a piece of paper. "Unfortunately, yes."

"Tristan, this is going to be a tough road to travel. Those first four games are going to give us an idea of what we have to do with this team. At Duke, At Gonzaga, At Kentucky, and at Louisville. But the one I'm looking forward to most is At Louisiana State."

Tristan looked up from the paper. "Louisiana State? Why there? I thought you were from Kansas."

Nathan shook his head. "Baton Rouge is my hometown. I've never played or coached a game there…it's something I've been looking forward to for a long time."

Tristan smiled a little in understanding.

Nathan looked down there rest of the team's schedule. "Why do we have to play Gonzaga just three days before we start conference play? Talk about making it tough, those guys are pretty good."

"I see. You can thank our Athletic Director, Pegasus, for that. He loves to make our schedule rather difficult." Tristan was drinking some water he had brought with him to the film session.

"We have to win some of those other games. Navy and Arkansas come here, and we play Army on a neutral site. Mount Union on the road doesn't scare me that much and I think we can play well at Montana. If we don't win some of those games, we're going to be in for a long, long season."

Tristan looked out of the window, over the Domino City skyline. "This is a pretty young team, too. As you know we have nine freshmen on our squad, all should be eligible to play. All the rest are sophomores and juniors. I don't think we'll…"

"Tristan, don't worry. We'll find a way…or make one." Nathan reached into his refrigerator and got a bottle of orange juice.

"Who are those two who fought each other last year again?"

"Joey Wheeler and Seto Kaiba, sir."

"When we set up camp, I have something very special in mind for those two. That's all for tonight, Tristan."

"Alright, see you tomorrow, Coach." Tristan turned to leave, but stopped himself in the doorway.

"Um coach, there's something I want to say. I know more about our players than you do, with all due respect, and I see no reason why we can't start the season 10-0. What this program needs is a leader, and I hope you can be that man."

Nathan was taken aback by those words. I don't get it. What does he see in this team that I don't? What does he see…in me?

"Thanks. Good night."

Tristan nodded his head, and then closed the door.

Tristan may be right about these young men, but I can't lead this team…they have to find a leader amongst themselves…

Nathan sat on his sofa and turned on the evening news. The school helped him move into a new apartment, which was very close to the campus. He drank another swallow of his orange juice as he watched the local news.

This is either going to be a disaster of a season or a great season…

Domino City Campus

Alexander Hall

Seto Kaiba sat outside the entrance of his dormitory. His cold blue eyes were fixed merely on the pavement, he thought of what had occurred earlier today. Today, he had set his eyes on the most beautiful young woman he had ever seen. The only problem was that she was something that he hated immensely. Something he hated more than anyone who had ever challenged him on the basketball court. Something he hated even more than his step-father, who had beaten both he and his younger brother until he passed away. No. I can't love her. Seto thought to himself, trying to force this newfound emotion to go away... How can I fall in love with a Wheeler?

Flashback

Earlier that day:

Seto was sitting in the library, typing away on his laptop. He had already completed most of the work given to him by his instructors and professors, which would allow him to concentrate on basketball later on in the semester. As he was putting the finishing touches on an English term paper, something caught the corner of his eye. It was an image he would rather forget.

Humph! What's Wheeler doing here? I didn't know the mutt could read; much less find his way to a library. Wait…who's that with him?

"And dis is da library. This place is huge! There are lotsa quiet spaces, too, so that you can concentrate on your studyin', Serenity."

Joey's sister, Serenity, had decided to enroll at Domino University so that she could be closer to him and his friends.

"Dis place here is tha reference section…here you can find all sorts of stuff..."

"Like mutts who don't know how to be quiet in a public place." Joey turned to see an all-to familiar sight. The trench coat. The arrogant smirk. The cold blue eyes. Yep, it was him.

"Kaiba, what are ya doin here?" Joey demanded his tone definitely not one you would use with a friend.

"Succeeding in life…something you obviously know nothing about." Joey wanted to go over and punch Seto in the mouth, but Serenity was holding his arm, frantically shaking her head at him.

"What da hell is that supposed to mean Kaiba? You call sittin around typin on dat computa all day success?"

At this, Kaiba merely grunted. "Calm yourself, Wheeler. You don't want to make a scene in front of everyone do you?"

"Whateva. Anyways…we got a new coach. Some guy outta Kansas." Joey was still a little riled, but he decided to actually be civil with Kaiba…for once.

"I'm amazed someone actually took the job. To think, someone would actually coach a mutt like you." Kaiba gave his trademark smirk. He loved taunting Joey, mostly because of the reactions he got out of him.

"Go to hell. I got a call from Tristan, we start practicing tomorrow, about six in the afternoon. If you see the rest of da gang, let em know will ya?"

"Sure…" Kaiba looked over at Serenity. It appears that the mutt's sister has grown up... rather nicely at that. What the hell am I saying? She's a Wheeler for God's sake! Why am I looking at her like that? Indeed, Serenity had grown up. She was several inches taller than the last time Seto had seen her, and had cut her long brown hair a little shorter. But, the hair wasn't exactly what Seto was looking at. Seto was gazing aimlessly when his eyes made contact with hers. Suddenly his heart started to beat at an astounding rate, and Seto could have sworn it had gotten several degrees hotter.

"KAIBA!" Joey's voice brought Seto out of his trance for a moment.

"Huh?"

"Where are you, dreamland? I've been trying to tell ya for the past five minutes dat we're gonna meet the freshman tomorrow."

"Sorry, Wheeler, I'm a little slow with my translation of puppy. Please forgive me." Seto had on his trademark smirk again.

"You won't be able to translate a damn thing afta I beat da crap outta ya!" Joey rushed at Kaiba, who was able to get up from his chair and move out of Joey's way.

Just as Seto and Joey were about to come to blows, Serenity stepped in between them.

"STOP IT GUYS!"

Both young men stopped as she tried to calm them both down. "Joey, you know he says things like that to get you angry! Stop letting him bait you like that."

She then turned her attention to Seto. "And YOU, why do you have to be so cruel to my brother? What did he ever do to you?"

Seto looked directly into her brown eyes. "He was born."

Serenity suddenly lost her patience. She gave Seto a fierce backhand with her right, stunning not only Seto and her brother, but herself.

Seto didn't understand what was going on inside himself. He had just been assaulted by his rival's sister, and he wouldn't raise a finger. Why? It wasn't because he was afraid of Joey; he knew that much about it. Then a strange thought popped into his mind. Maybe he didn't fear Serenity, maybe he actually cared about her.

An awkward silence had settled over the three.

Serenity broke it, her voice clearly shaking.

"Maybe you should consider not being the meanest person on the planet…let's go Joey."

Serenity and Joey turned to leave, Seto just glaring at them.

Most people…I could give a damn about what they think of me. Hell, I almost expect people to hate me now after first contact. But…something about her is different…not even Mokuba, bless his heart, makes me feel this way. She said something to me and I actually felt pain…What the hell is wrong with you, Seto? She's a Wheeler, nothing more. Get your focus back on your work...

Seto sat back down and tried to work on his project, but to no avail. He couldn't stop thinking about her, and pounded his fist on his laptop keyboard in frustration.

Dammit, this is pointless! I have to do something to take my mind off of her!

Seto packed his things, and headed to his dorm bound and determined to forget all about this silly Wheeler girl and get on about his business.

End of Flashback

Love is a tricky emotion, however, and Seto would soon realize how trick of an emotion it is to get rid of.

NEXT TIME: Yes, friends, next chapter we're talking about PRACTICE! (If you don't know who Allen Iverson is, disregard stupid attempt at joke) Nathan and the gang meet up for their first practice and they discover some talent from their newcomers. Plus, Ishizu overhears a rather interesting conversation between Pegasus and the University Board of Directors.

Until next time:

BIGLOS…OUT!