mizzbloom: Thanks for thinking I'm funny. I appreciate that. :) And I love Mitsui too, but Mitsui doesn't like goofs like Kyouren. :(
ayenes: Thanks! I'm glad you like it. :) I also love Sakuragi.. I would love to have a brother like him. Hehe
Chapter Nine
Back to Normal
It was a chilly Sunday morning. Kyouren woke to the sounds of chirping birds as the grey sunlight drifted into her eyesight. But it was the rustling of bed sheets that woke her from her slumber. She peeked at her alarm clock, which pointed at 7:20 AM.
"Haruko-chan.. Why so early?" She yawned, stretching as she sat up lazily in bed. The morning after her accident, Haruko had called to inquire after her. Kyouren had wasted no time in re-inviting her friend to stay the night. The girls had spent all day buried under mountains of books. Though she hated to admit it, Kyouren was behind in her studies. Japanese schools were more rigorous than she was used to, and her limited knowledge of Japanese history and kanji were hurting her. She smiled sleepily at her good-natured friend, who was folding up the futon on the floor. She was already presentable, her hair neatly brushed and dressed in a cream colored turtle neck and jeans.
"Suman Kyo-chan.. My brother's coming home from university today," Haruko's eyes shined vibrantly. "He's staying a whole week."
"Ah, Akagi the Gorilla captain?" Kyouren asked, genuinely excited. He was famous at Shohoku as the giant who led the team to the inter-highschool nationals. From what she had heard from Sakuragi, he was also a raging gorilla on the court. "Is he going to show up at practice?"
"Maybe." Haruko replied, placing her pillow gently on top of the neatly folded blankets. "Anou.. I've got to get going."
"Sure thing Haruko-chan.. Thanks so much for tutoring me," Kyouren said, giving her friend a friendly pat on the back as they headed downstairs.
Nitta-san was already bustling in the kitchen, the smells of soup and cooking rice greeting their nostrils. "Haruko-chan.. You're not leaving without having breakfast?" Nitta-san questioned, glancing at the book bag Haruko was holding.
"Sumimasen Obaasan. Thank you for having me," Haruko bowed politely.
"Please come visit anytime Haruko-chan. And stay for breakfast." Nitta-san greeted, following the two girls to the door.
From the corner of her vision, Kyouren spotted the television blaring from the living room. She glanced at the sofa, surprised to see Rukawa dozing softly on the couch. "Oi, Rukawa.. Can't you see Haruko-chan is leaving?" She barked.
Haruko stopped at the doorway, her heart missed a beat.
"..Sayonara." Rukawa mumbled sleepily, his eyes still glued to the television set.
"See you later Rukawa-kun," Haruko murmured, feeling her cheeks flush red. "And please be careful Kyo-chan."
"Hai hai! See you at practice!"
When Kyouren returned to the living room she glanced in mild surprise at the television set. Kano, number nine in red, sprinted across the court, following his marker with impressive speed. She felt a sudden wave of homesickness as she sat down to watch. It was one of the first televised games Kano had played in.
"Is number nine your brother?"
".. Yes." She replied, a little startled. She had no idea Rukawa knew about Kano. His blue eyes were lazily surveying the game from beneath his long bangs. She fought the urge to brush the locks away and peer into his eyes.
"Hn." He grunted in his signature way. She smiled, recognizing the slight acceptance in his tone. Anyone else would have disregarded it for contempt, but Kyouren was getting better at reading the slight differences in her room mates gestures, looks, and tones. He did have emotions, he just wasn't as vocal as others. Kano was impressive, and Rukawa knew it.
"Minna, breakfast time!" Nitta-san called, and they both zipped to the table, Rukawa only stopping to shut off the TV. The smell of hot poached fish, white rice, steaming odango soup, and the colorful pickles on the table were enough to make anyone drool.
"Itadakimasu!" Kyouren trilled before digging in.
"Kyouren-chan, how does your leg feel?" Nitta-san asked, while serving Kyouren's plate with a healthy portion of her favorite plum pickles.
Kyouren took a pause to stop her chopstick battle with Rukawa for the fish, flexing her leg experimentally. "Ah.. It's a little sore, but the cuts are nearly gone Nitta-san. Daijobu Nitta-san, don't worry," She rushed, returning to her food.
"That was a very silly thing you did Kyouren-chan, running into things with your bicycle like that. I except better of you." Nitta-san scolded, taking a sip of her tea.
"Demo– Rukawa does it all the time." Kyouren protested, while chewing around a bit of rice.
"I don't run into parked cars and knock myself out do'ahou." Rukawa muttered, snatching the last daikon pickle and ignoring the red-faced girl.
"You're a young lady," Nitta-san continued. "It's time you slowed down and behaved like one."
"..lady? More like a bear." Rukawa replied, blowing on his soup.
"Kitsune.." Kyouren warned, her spoon gripped tightly in her hands.
Nitta-san cleared her throat to get her charges attentions, before they initiated in a fight with the utensils. It wasn't the first time it had happened. Really, it was shameful how the two fought over food at the table. Like cats and dogs. Or like foxes and bears, she chuckled. "Which was why I decided," Mrs. Nitta spoke, settling her tea cup gently on the table. "That Kyouren will no longer ride her bike to school."
"Nani Nitta-san?" Kyouren wailed, putting down her rice bowl. "But I'll never make it to school on time walking.."
"You can try waking up earlier, kuroguma."
"Kitsune-otoko, ure sei!"
"Quiet down both of you. Stop interrupting me," Nitta-san barked, surprisingly loud for a little old lady. The two teens settled down, glaring daggers at each other. "From now on, Rukawa-kun will take you to school, on his bicycle."
"Nani? Kyouren yelled, upsetting her tea. Nitta-san hastily handed her a napkin, ignoring Rukawa's incredulous stare.
"Obasaan.." he grumbled, lowering his gaze as the lady patted his hand gently.
"Her bicycle is beyond repair. And besides, she's terrible at riding it," Nitta-san said, smiling.
After a brief silence, in which Rukawa seemed to be thinking, while Kyouren waved her hands in erratic protest, Rukawa responded with a simple "hai,".
"Good. That's settled then." Nitta-san rose from the table cheerfully, to get herself some more tea out of the kettle.
"Are you crazy kitsune? Why would you want to help me?" Kyouren pondered out loud, peering curiously at Rukawa.
He shrugged at her, shaking his head wearily. "Don't chew with your mouth open bear, it's disgusting.
Breakfast ended as noisily as it started, with Kyouren retreating to her room wondering why Rukawa was being civil. She suspected it had something to do with Nitta-san, and the gentle command she had over Rukawa. It was for her own good anyway, so she accepted the fact with only mild resistance.
Little did she know the problems it would create for her at school.
On Monday morning Kyouren woke up late, as usual. She had a million excuses running through her head. She had stayed up late revising her calculus problems and reading over her history lesson to memorize several kanji that eluded her. The batteries had been brained out of her alarm clock. Rushing out of the shower she barely had time to put on her uniform and grab her bag, when Rukawa called from downstairs, "I'm leaving in five seconds."
Nitta-san sighed, as she listened to Kyouren's shrill, mildly profane response. She unpacked Kyouren's bento, adding extra food seeing as the girl was going to have to skip breakfast.
When Kyouren slipped downstairs, grabbed her lunch, and walked outside Rukawa was just about taking off on his bike.
"Oi, matte!" To her relief he paused, she seated herself sideways on the end of the bicycle, where a flat metal slab stuck out from under the seat. It was cold, and very uncomfortable. "How am I supposed to sit on this thing?" She grumbled.
"..do'ahou." Rukawa muttered, flinching as he felt the girls hands timidly grasp the material of his shirt
"Wait wait, take this." She threw her book bag over his shoulder, missing the basket and slapping him in the side of his face. She shrunk back as he aimed her a frosty glare, and without warning began to pedal at an alarming speed. The cold air chilled her wet scalp and her bare legs, her skirt fluttering aimlessly. She felt her teeth chatter in the cold. "Slow down kitsune!"
"We're late idiot." he mumbled, increasing his speed. He flinched as he felt her fingernails dig into his sides. The things I do for Obasaan.
After five minutes, Kyouren felt numb to the passing wind. Her fingers were numb, her legs were numb, she wondered briefly if she could curl her toes. She glanced suspiciously at the moppy head, and dug her nails into his sides. There was no way she was going to let him fall asleep– not when she feeling this uncomfortable. When the school sign came into view she sighed in relief, then promptly felt her head fall into his back as the bike braked erratically.
"We're here. Get off." Rukawa spoke through gritted teeth, feeling the dampness on his back from her hair.
"You baka kistune. I'm nearly frozen." She responded, slipping off the seat and arranging her skirts. Rukawa simply tossed her book bag in her face, and stalked off to chain his bicycle.
"Teme.." She jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She relaxed visibly, seeing as it was only Yohei and the gundan.
"Ohayo Kyo-san.. Was that Rukawa?"
Kyouren looked at the gundan, puzzled. They were staring at her with a mixture of horror and shock. "Hai.. My bicycle broke, so he gave me a ride."
Takamiya pointed at her bandaged legs. "Ora.. Did you get into a fight?"
Kyouren fought a flush, shaking her head. "No.. Just a little cycling accident. Hahaha.." She stopped laughing, noticing something strange. The school grounds, littered with people was unusually quiet. She looked around, wondering what had silenced them, when she noticed a multitude of people were staring at her. Mostly girls.
"... Yohei-san.." she gulped, watching as a group of uniformed girls marched towards her. "What do you think they want?"
"Shimatta! The Rukawa brigade!" Yohei gulped. Kyouren was rudely shoved behind them, as the gundan formed a line around her, their knees buckling slightly.
"Out of the way! We want to talk to that girl!" A tall girl spoke, shoving Noma roughly aside. Three girls walked up to her, their eyes narrowed suspiciously. From behind them a crowd of others listened, scowling at her. "Why were you on Rukawa-kun's bicycle?"
"Excuse me, who are you?" Kyouren replied irritated. The nerve of these girls, asking her questions when they didn't even know her name! The gundan were shaking their heads and waving their arms wordlessly behind them. "Are you crazy?" Takamiya mouthed.
The first girl pointed to herself, "I'm Ru." The second girl grunted, "Ka." And the final girl nodded, "and I'm Wa. We're the three leaders of the Rukawa fanclub."
"Well nice to meet you, I have to get to class." She responded curtly, turning towards the door. In a flash she was surrounded.
"We asked you a question!" Ka spoke rudely, pointing a finger in her face. "Who are you, and why are you riding Rukawa's bike?"
The crowd of girls began to murmur behind them. One spoke out to the others. "Hey, that's that foreign exchange girl. The one that can't read..."
Kyouren reddened visibly, her hands clenching into fists as the girls began to titter. "Hey.. For your information my name is Itou Kyouren and I can read! Just. Not very well.."
"A foreign exchange student..? How do you know Rukawa?" Ka interrupted bluntly.
"I live with him!" She shouted in anger. It was worth it just to see their faces crumple up and tear, until she realized what her words sounded like. Uh oh..
"Naani? Live with Rukawa?" The gundan roared in surprise.
"Iie.. Not like that!" She yelped, her hands raised. "I'm just rooming in their household." She explained to the gundan, who looked scandalized.
Suddenly there was a chorus of shrieks and sighs filling the air. "Live with Rukawa.. How lucky!" The crowd yelled. The three ringleaders were suddenly smiling up at Kyouren, 'Wa' even ventured to throw an arm around her shoulders. "Why didn't you tell us sooner?" 'Ru' said smilingly. "Want to join our fanclub?" Ka asked, "We'll give you priority membership!" A random girl walked up to her, holding out a pink letter enclosed with a red heart sticker. "Hey Kyouren-chan! Would you deliver this letter to Rukawa for me?" She gushed. "Hey mine too!" Another girl shrieked.
The gundan were stampeded by black shoes, as the girls began to surround Kyouren. All she could do was stare, as her arms, pockets, book bags, were stuffed with letters, chocolates, pencils, and other trinkets to pass to Rukawa, and her ears were deafened by shrill girly voices. "Kami-sama save me.." she muttered, wondering how she was going to get to class.
"Oi, what's the commotion?" Mitsui barked out, clapping his hands around his ears as he struggled through the crowd. Miyagi was following behind him, along with Sakuragi.
"Nande.. What are those girls doing?" Miyagi blinked.
Kyouren saw the bright red head moving through the crowd, and she yelled shrilly, "Sakuragi-kun! Heelp!"
The gundan joined their voices. "Haanamichii!"
Sakuragi, Mitsui, and Miyagi parted the crowd, to find the gundan sandwiched on the floor and Kyouren looking nervously around her. "Kyo-chan, what in the..?"
Looking gratefully at the basketball players she gripped Sakuragi's arm for dear life. "Get me out of here." She muttered, and was dragged to class with a trail of screaming girls behind her. Before she could offer a suitable explanation the bell was ringing, and she was pounding down the hall towards class.
"It's all your fault kitsune.." She muttered angrily, removing a pink handkerchief from her hair.
Sakuragi turned to face the gundan, a significantly puzzled look on his face as he raced to class. "Yohei, what was that all about?"
Mito Yohei shook his head, sprinting faster. "I'll explain in class.. Go!"
It was Kyouren's longest day ever. Between every five minute break a new girl would walk up to her with blushing cheeks and a scented letter. "Would you give this to Rukawa for me Kyouren-chan?" She received chocolates, cards, pretty pencils, even ribbons for gods sake. "Why in the world would Rukawa want a hair ribbon?" She yelled for the fifth time, while she sat at lunch. Yohei and the gundan laughed heartily, while eating the chocolates.
"Why is everyone so obsessed with that skinny kitsune.. Don't they recognize a handsome tensai when they see one?" Sakuragi muttered to himself, helping himself to a candy heart.
"Anou, Kyouren-chan.. Shouldn't you be delivering those?" Haruko asked timidly, pointing to the mounds of confections that the gundan and Sakuragi were devouring at a steady pace.
"No way! Who do they think I am.. Rukawa's mail carrier?" She growled, smashing her fist into a stack of letters that flew in every which direction. It was raining outside, so she was sitting at lunch in Sakuragi's classroom. She opened her bento and tucked in heartily, her skipped breakfast fueling her hunger.
"Slow down Kyo-chan.. You'll get indigestion." Noma advised, receiving an eraser to the head in response.
"I can't believe you live with that yaro. How do you stand it Kyo-san?" Sakuragi asked suddenly, talking around a large piece of candied fruit.
"It's not as bad as it seems really." She replied, swallowing a piece of tempura. "He's pretty okay, as long as you don't bother him." Her eyes narrowed on the hair ribbons tangled in her lap. "But this.. This is infuriating!" She roared, flinging the ribbons out the door.
They fell at the feet of Rukawa Kaede, who was strolling the hallway and ignoring the trail of girls who tittered behind him. He glanced briefly at the ribbons, picked them up, and tossed them in Kyouren's lap. "Oi, don't throw your ribbons at me. I don't like bears."
As he walked outside the classroom, Kyouren dropped her chopsticks and choked on her rice in rage. Sakuragi glanced at her curiously. "You still think he's 'pretty okay' Kyo-chan? Want me to beat him up for you?" He asked eagerly.
"Sakuragi-kun!" Haruko cried in disapproval.
"Just take him on in court Sakuragi-kun." Kyouren got out as gulped down her water. "I'll get him for this." She muttered, a dangerous glint in her eyes.
Rukawa was enjoying this. He would have to be deaf, blind, and stupid not to realize what was going on. The crazy screaming fan girls normally plagued him– no matter how much he ignored them, glared at them, and shoved them away. In the course of a single day, they had been deflected off of him in one fell swoop. It was a good feeling, hearing nothing but silence behind him as he walked towards practice. No chocolate, no letters, no handkerchiefs and ribbons thrown at him.
It as going to be a good practice. Captain Akagi was coming to participate in practice. At least, that's what the blushing captains sister had said as he sat down in his seat after lunch. The rest was a blur as he had dozed off, and woken up to see the classroom deserted, class having ended. He hustled towards the gym, hoping he wasn't late. Miyagi made latecomers run laps, and he would rather join in the game.
When he stepped inside the reaction he got made him feel a little funny. Haruko gasped from her seat, and Ayako gave him a round eyed stare, a hand closing over her mouth. The freshmen sweeping the floors were laughing. At him?
"Rukawa, what are you doing.. Stop blocking the door," Miyagi called from behind him, Mitsui following. He stepped aside to face his senpais, feeling puzzled. He was abut to ask them if anything was wrong, when Miyagi suddenly fell to the floor, sputtering in a fit of laughter. Mitsui was nursing a hand on his hip, laughing as tears spilled down his cheeks.
"Feeling pretty today?" Mitsui choked out.
"..Nande Captain?" He asked, touching his face. Had he drooled while asleep?
"Kitsune otoko, Micchy, Ryou-chin..?" Sakuragi questioned, watching the seniors laugh uncontrollably.. "Oi.." Rukawa turned to face him, and he got the same reaction.
Sakuragi's mouth opened wide, and the earsplitting laugh rang out. "Nyaahahahahahaaahahahahaha!
Ryouta stood shakily, putting a hand on Sakuragi's shoulder for support. "Nevermind" he choked out. "Lets head in."
Rukawa stood silently, letting the three players pass him into the locker room, still tittering to themselves. Doahou's.. What's wrong with them? He thought mildly.
"Rukawa-kun!" Rukawa's eyes narrowed, as a girlish squeal erupted. He turned to give his trademark frosty glare, but she didn't even flinch. She was blushing at him and smiling. Had he gotten rusty at deflecting them?
"I can't believe you're wearing my ribbons.." She smiled shyly, and giggled.
..Ribbons?
"Hey sleeping beauty." A cheerful and familiar voice called. He watched as Kyouren walked in, smirking and smiling suspiciously bright.
A sudden thought dawned on him, and slowly he walked into the locker room. He was awarded by another bought of laughter by his team mates, and he looked into the mirror and scowled at the sight that greeted him. His dark hair was separated into several little ponytails, decorated by tightly knotted colorful ribbons.
"Ahahahahahahah! Did you let your mommy do your hair today Kitsune?" Sakuragi yelled, his eyes squinting in glee.
"Do'ahou.." he replied, twisting the ribbons off one by one, and thinking of ways to get back at the cheeky girl.
But Sakuragi laughed triumphantly, undeterred by the insult.
I didn't mean for this to carry on so long.. I'm getting back to the misshapen "plot" in the next chapter. Sorry for the digression. :)
