Title: Of Shadows

Genre: Slamdunk/Romance/Angst

Disclaimer: Slamdunk and its characters do not belong to me. They belong to Takehiko Inoue.

Author's Notes: Thanks 'Yours Truly'. Your take of chapter 3 certainly left me feeling happy!

Chapter 4: The Other Side

Koshino prowled through the dark corridors with the torches at the sides his only source of light. His fine features were set in a deep frown, rivulets of blood lining a thin cut on the side of his cheek. His footsteps were clipped as he strode on, turning sharply on his heel at a junction and continuing on his way.

Akira Sendoh prided himself on being a very intelligent person who never lost his cool, not even in the face of death. However, as he heard familiar clipped boot-heels on the stone floor just outside his room, he all but scrambled to hide his beloved magazine under his pillow before lying atop of it and feigning sleep.

Koshino barged into the room without as much as a knock on the door, scowling deeper as he saw his captain sleeping. "Sendoh," he said, voice leveled.

Sendoh made a show of stirring from his nap, even faking a yawn before turning bleary eyes on Koshino. Inwardly, he smirked. Koshino looked sexy angry. "Hiroaki?" he murmured, taking care to roll the 'r'.

Koshino stiffened, cheeks flaring into a blush. He looked away, fixing his eyes on the ground. "Aida's back," he said stiffly. Sendoh smiled, nodding amiably. He stretched out like a cat, showing skin before getting out of bed.

"Any news?" he said casually as he made his way to Koshino, taking the chance to run his eyes along the shorter boy's torso as his subordinate stared fixedly on the carpeted ground.

Koshino sighed, finally meeting his gaze as he tossed his wild mane back irritably with a hand. "Aida seemed grim and –"

He trailed off as he realized Sendoh's eyes had narrowed. "Sendoh?" he ventured. Without warning, Sendoh gripped his chin, another hand coming up to still his shoulder. Koshino froze.

"What happened?" His voice was deep and serious. He seemed angry. Koshino stared at his apparent change. Sendoh seemed adamant so he forced his brain to think.

"What?" Nice one, Koshino, he thought wryly.

"This." Sendoh whispered as his hand left his shoulder to thumb away crusts of blood on his cheek.

Koshino blinked. "I got in the way," he answered vaguely, reluctant to tell Sendoh that Fukuda went crazy again and used him as target practice.

The grip on his chin tightened and he saw clear blue eyes narrow once more.

Koshino did not want to panic, but he did. His eyes scrunched shut in fear as he voiced his answer. "Of a door. It splinters."

Sendoh relaxed his grip and Koshino took a deep breath. He almost lost it again as Sendoh suddenly pulled him into an embrace. "I'm going to kill him." Sendoh said ruthlessly into his apple-scented hair. "Where else did he hurt you?" he asked shrewdly. Koshino gulped where he was under the crook of Sendoh's neck.

His throat was dry as he answered. "No where else." How ever did his captain know, he had no idea but he spared it little thought. Other things took prevalence, like the puzzling protectiveness Sendoh displayed from time to time and the sudden embrace he was pulled into. His mind started to reel.

"Promise me you'd tell me if he does something like this again," Sendoh said, tightening the embrace. Koshino spared him a questioning glance.

"I'm your captain," Sendoh defended indignantly. "I will not allow this kind of treatment towards my men!"

Smirking, Koshino nodded before stepping back. Sendoh allowed him to and without skipping a beat, went to put on his boots. That was the routine between them both; Sendoh would get all pissed and cuddly at the same time, only calming down after Koshino had a word with him, usually promising never to do something as reckless again. Then they would act as if nothing had ever happened. Koshino smiled sadly, if he didn't know better, Sendoh cared for him more than he would like to show. However, it was easier to pretend there was nothing between them. It was too confusing otherwise.

He sighed tiredly and leaned against the wall, arms crossed in front of his chest as he eyed his captain, who happened to be taking his time with his black combat boots. He must have zoned out for the next thing he knew, Sendoh was peering into his eyes.

"Gah!" He exclaimed as he jerked back, hitting his head on the wall and body arching upwards. "What the heck was that for!" He said after regaining his composure.

Sendoh shrugged, amusement twinkling in his eyes. "Nothing. You looked spaced out. What were you thinking of?"

Koshino rubbed his abused head, giving him a mournful look. "Other than wondering why the heck you take such a long time wearing those boots of yours, I wasn't thinking at all."

Sendoh raised an eyebrow at that, sparing him a skeptical look.

Koshino snapped. "Look! I've had a trying day and all I want to do is collapse on my bed. Unfortunately, I have loads to do and you're not helping – taking your own sweet time doing who knows what with your boots." He huffed and tossed his hair from his forehead in a proud gesture.

Sendoh was silent for a while. He was rather amused actually, but judging by his subordinate's mood, it was wise not to probe.

"So what about Aida?" he said, opening the door and gesturing for Koshino to exit first. Koshino nodded, stepping through the door as he asked curtly.

"Well, he didn't exactly say anything. However, from the look of his face, I'm guessing it's not good news." Sendoh frowned, walking in step with Koshino along the dark torch-lit corridors. Dreary atmosphere, really.

"Kiyota and he are unharmed," Sendoh said, more of a statement than a question. Abruptly, Koshino jerked his head up to meet Sendoh eye to eye. Then, as if he realized what he was doing, quickly averted his gaze, shaking his head rapidly.

"They're fine," he whispered. Mentally, he wondered why in the world he was whispering. He saw Sendoh's fist clench and eyes narrow at his answer.

"Sendoh…"

"He's targeting you." Sendoh hissed.

Koshino frowned. "What? Who's tar-"

"First Rukawa, and now you."

"What's this have to-"

"Let us hasten Hiroaki, there is much to do."

With that, Sendoh quickened his pace, leaving a bewildered Koshino to hurry after him.


Kiyota and Aida must have been related to the prime apes in their past lives. That was the conclusion Shinichi Maki got the first time he met them both. Three years later, his opinion had not changed. In fact, it simply strengthened with evidence.

"Checkmate," Maki said rather warily as he watched their faces distort into twin looks of shock.

"What the-"

"No way!"

Maki, from his upright position on the hard wooden chair, spared them a smirk before returning his attention to the chessboard.

"Crap!" Kiyota glared at him. "That's really unfair! We just came back from a mission!" Maki smiled rather sinisterly. "We're tired and brain-dead. Besides, we got a real scare from the deranged! Hey Aida, back me up here!" He gave Aida a shove, earning himself an exasperated look from the man who was frantically flipping his Chess for Beginners as if his life depended on it.

Which it did. Or at least, the whites' lives did.

"I'm sure there's something here," he muttered to himself, blatantly ignoring his partner, who also happened to be sharing his chair.

Kiyota rolled his eyes at him before turning back to Maki, who abandoned his chessboard for the entertainment of the hour – namely, Kiyota.

"I request a rematch," Kiyota said, scowling. Maki could just imagine him stomping his feet were not sitting down.

Before Maki could give an answer, Aida railed at him. "No! No. I'm sure I can find a way to win this!" He said rather determinedly. Kiyota stared at him incredulously. Maki felt the urge to sweat drop – something he never did due to the fact that he had to uphold his dark and cool image.

"We have a King, Bishop and two Pawns," Kiyota deadpanned. Aida glared at him before returning back to his Chess for Beginners.

Maki wanted to laugh. He didn't however – after all, he had a reputation to uphold. It simply would not do for tall, dark and dangerous to laugh just because he was being challenged by descendants of prime-apes. Instead, he managed to formulate a coherent reply despite his insides rolling with laughter.

"I have two-thirds of Black left on the board. It is impossible – considering the reverently held book in your hands, to win," he said smoothly. Aida seemed to consider this for a moment (Maki just had to notice that he paid absolutely no attention to Kiyota in the game of chess, other than to argue with him) before his shoulders drooped in defeat.

Kiyota's face light up with glee. Clapping his hands together in front of him, he proclaimed proudly, "We resign!"

Maki smiled, nodding his head slightly in thanks. He rose from his chair, ready to leave to do humorless stuff that was required of him in Umbra when Aida interrupted.

"Wait! I request a rematch!"

It was met with a scowl from Kiyota and a smirk from Maki. "Prepare to – "The wooden door groaned as it opened to reveal a serious Sendoh and a harassed looking Koshino. "Sendoh, Koshino," he switched fluidly, smirk no longer present.

Koshino scowled, as like every greeting he gave, before trying to wrestle – probably for the nth time, Sendoh's iron grip on his wrist. Sendoh gave him a perfunctory nod before turning to Kiyota and Aida, who finally got off that poor chair to salute him.

"I'd just leave," Maki said, knowing full well that a meeting was to be commenced. "Let's hold the rematch some other time," he said, throwing the two a flash of a smirk before heading towards the door.

"Wait. You can stay." It was Sendoh. "I trust you."

And with those words, Maki found himself sitting in the circle on the floor as Kiyota and Aida launched into a report of their findings.


Their report was short and concise. Maki had to hand it to them; no matter how terrible they were at chess, they were very efficient.

"You suspect Fukuda." Maki stated, gaze locked with Sendoh's. His only answer was a nod. Maki frowned. "I don't follow. Why Fukuda? And besides, where was Rukuwa the last you heard of him?"

"He was at Hikari." Aida supplied helpfully.

Maki frowned. "Hikari? That seems to ring a bell."

"It's the birth place of Rukawa," Aida said as he referred to a slim black notebook in his hand. "He went there on Captain's request."

Sendoh nodded when faced with Maki's inquiring look. "It was a retrieval operation."

"Did it succeed?"

"No. As far as I know, he is still there," Sendoh's eyes darkened in anger as he spat out his existence. An involuntary shiver coursed up Koshino's spine. It was at times like these that made Koshino wonder who exactly the real Sendoh was.

Maki's eyes lit up in understanding. "Ah. And you suspect Fukuda over him because?"

"I kept an eye on him while Aida went up North. We had heard a rumor that Fujima and his puppies were headed up North." Maki's eyes narrowed. Kiyota continued on, warily eying the tanned guy by his side. "And it seemed that Akagi was there too."

"When I reached the Northern Plains, it seemed that the whole entourage had already entered the palace. Unfortunately, I did not catch sight of any of them, though some of the peasants did. I decided to lie low for a while. Two days later, I caught sight of Jin and Sakuragi in Shohoku. Sakuragi's clothes were stained with blood. Disturbed, I exited the city and searched the perimeters on horseback."

Maki frowned. "And let me guess…you found Umbra." Aida nodded. "Yes, dead in the snow. I recognized them to be Fukuda's men. And as far as I know, Umbra doesn't have any business in the North, not for now."

"And this led you to believe they harmed Rukawa?" Maki asked, whipping his head around to meet Sendoh in the eye.

"I don't trust him."

"However, your lack of trust in him does not mean you can accuse him as such," Maki stated blatantly. Sendoh's eyes flashed dangerously. Levelly, Maki continued. "Explain to me."

The dangerous aura left Sendoh as quickly as it came. "He would do anything to gain power and I suspect his latest hobby is to pick off my trusted men. Who better to start with than with Rukawa Kaede?"

Koshino shivered involuntarily, recalling their earlier conversation.

"Whatever it is, we shouldn't be too quick to label Fukuda. After all, he might have been helping Rukawa." Maki said, not giving an inch.

"Very well," Sendoh said as he let out a sigh. The tension eased away along with Sendoh's sigh.

"Okay, so all this aside, you're trying to say that Rukawa's in the North?" Koshino frowned. At Maki's and Aida's identical nods, he continued. "But he has no business in the North. And besides, Hikari is at least four days away from the Plains on horseback. Why would he travel there?'

"But what could have brought the gathering at the North? Fujima was there, and so was Akagi. Even the red-head was there, with Jin no less, which basically means that Fujima requested Sakuragi's presence." Aida said, eyes shining in excitement as his thoughts took form.

Koshino frowned. "I don't like this. There's too much inference and assumptions involved. Rukuwa might be someplace else for all we know."

Silence permeated the room as its occupants processed Koshino's words. Maki was the first to break the silence.

"So what do you intend to do?" He asked, throwing the question at Sendoh.

"About Rukuwa, there is nothing we can do now," he said, a calculative glint in his eyes.

"But he might be in danger!" Kiyota argued, eyes wide in disbelief that his captain was ready to abandon his subordinate. "If not so, he would have contacted us long ago!"

"On the assumption that Fujima has him - if they wanted him dead, he would be so long ago. Even if we go there now, he would not be alive." Sendoh said logically. "However, if they did not kill him at first sight, they would not do so now. If Rukuwa is someplace else, he would turn up eventually. He is resilient enough to survive. Meanwhile, our top priority is to find out what Fukuda is up to. Lay low for now." Sendoh said, locking gazes with everyone in the dark dank room. "There is no point engaging with enemies when there is discord within our ranks. The prophesy can wait, and so can Rukuwa, if he is still among the living."

Maki frowned thoughtfully. "I will confirm if Rukawa is there and whether he lives."

Sendoh regarded him for a moment before nodding. "Alright. However, be careful. Our enemies need not know about the weakness that lurks within."

Maki nodded. "I will leave as soon as I am ready." He stood up, brushing dirt from his pants. "If I do not return, do not look for me."

Sendoh nodded in reply. Maki smiled in anticipation. As he headed towards the door, he was halted by Sendoh's abrupt words.

"A confrontation?"

Maki spared him a glance. "Aye." And then he exited.

"What confrontation?" Aida asked curiously once Maki left while Kiyota tried not to look too interested. Koshino however, bowed his head. He knew better than to ask.

At Sendoh's curt, "That is Maki's to tell," and his quick change of subject, he knew he was right.

"Aida, Kiyota, I want you two to watch Fukuda and inform me of any suspicious movements. Also, find out exactly why those men were in the Northern Plains." The two of them nodded before saluting and exiting the room.

Once he heard the door click shut, he focused his attention on Koshino. "Get ready, Hiroaki," he said, the ice from his voice melting away as he rolled the 'r' in the name. "There is unfinished business to be done. We're going to visit the traitor."

Koshino blinked. Usually, he stayed at home base wracking his brains out on strategy.

Sendoh graced him with a smile. "Yes, we. I'm not going to let you leave my sight." Koshino's face took on the familiar expression of doubt. "After all," he whispered, fingering the dried wound on his cheek. Koshino's cheeks flared up in a blush. "What will I do if you end up like Rukawa?"

Koshino had nothing to say to that and so he kept his mouth shut.


HNO3 - Phew... now this was certainly the hardest chapter i've ever written. And for some odd reason, fanfiction dot net had a wrestling match with my com and it took me ages to upload this. This chapter doesn't like me, seriously. Anyway, i hope this chapter isn't too confusing.Sometimes, my inspiration takes my writing ability and runs away with it, leaving me rather...well, i guess empty's a good word to use.

Anyway, iattempt to finish this story, or rather, the first part of the story before the end of August, just so that there'll be some 'semblance of a conclusion. Though...whether i can remains to be seen, ne?

So...um, review?

Yeah.