Seishun vs. Fudomine part 1
"Fudo-who now?" asked Momo as he looked up from the card game he was playing with Ryoma.
"Fudomine Junior High, they're unseeded, they beat Kakinoki in full straight sets." Offered Sakuno, looking at the papers she held in her hands.
"I've heard of them before," stated Ryuzaki-sensei from her place behind the steering wheel of the mini-van. "You said it's being played at Fudomine Junior High right?" asked Sakuno's grandmother.
"Hai" said the girl warily.
"What? You mean they get the home team advantage? Shoot" grumbled Momo, throwing down his losing hand and watching Ryoma take the bar of chocolate from him.
"We-well yes, but … um …" Sakuno looked flustered and looked quickly out the window, trying to act as if she wasn't part of the conversation.
"Calm yourself Momo, A master painter makes art with any brush" said Fuji wisely, folding his arms and looking pleased.
"… What?" asked Momo confusedly.
"He means it doesn't matter where you fight, as long as you know how and you believe you are good enough you can fight anywhere and still win" stated Tezuka, not taking his eyes off the book sat snugly in his lap.
"Why couldn't he just say that and not get all philosophical on me" cried Momo.
"That was a big word even for you Momo-sempai" said Ryoma, watching the trees pass by the window, biting into his newly won chocolate bar.
--------------------------------------
"They're not even here yet!" whined Horio, "This si their school and they have the nerve to be late"
"Ano … Horio – kun" squeaked Sakuno her face turning pale.
"Their unseeded, we'll run away with this victory, easily"
"Horio, I really would be quiet no-"but Horio cut her off again.
" We're too good for people like them" he finished, slapping his hands onto his waist.
"Behind you" sighed Katsuo, his eyes closed and his finger pointing weakly at something behind Horio.
"What's behind … me?" trailed off Horio. His mouth open and closed like a fish for a few seconds before he finally found his voice again. "Fu-Fu-FUDOMINE" and he ran to hide behind Kachiro who laughed nervously at the glare he was receiving form most of the Fudomine team.
"You must be Kunimitsu, I am Kippei, captain of Fudomine, let's have a good game!!" announced the captain sticking out his hand for Kunimitsu to shake. Tezuka took it and the two captains' looked at each other for a few seconds before Tezuka replied.
"Of course"
"Wow, that scared me, I thought tempers were going to flare" laughed Katsuo nervously.
"The Fudomine regulars look strong" said Kachiro admiringly, "that guy looks huge, are they really junior high students, they all look pretty mean, look at the guy in back! He's doing that with his eyes closed!" said Kachiro unbelievably, pointing at the boy at the back of the team.
The boy in question was holding a lead pipe in one hand and was twirling it expertly with his fingers, his eyes closed and his other hand wedged in his pocket.
"Fudomine gives me the creeps" shuddered Horio as he turned away from the team as they walked past. "Ah Echizen?"
Ryoma was sat on the bench drinking a can of Ponta, his focus completely on the drink in his one hand while the other twirled a lead pipe almost absent mindedly and on it's own accord.
"He's provoking them," squeaked Horio, returning to his cowering place behind Kachiro.
-----------------------------------------------------
Taka swung the kendo stick around his head and bought it down with great force at his opponent's head, Tetsu bought his own kendo stick and they met halfway, the force sending shock waves through both their wrists and they stumbled back from each other. Taka quickly regained his composure and began to swing the kendo stick at Tetsu with astonishing speed, Tetsu only just had time to deflect each and every swing but each hit made his knees buckle and his wrists shake.
To Taka's right Fuji and Masaya were exchanging punches whilst managing to keep an eye on their teammates. Fuji swung at Masaya head but he quickly ducked and aimed a punch for Fuji's rib cage, Fuji sidestepped and Masaya got back into a standing position and the exchange of blows began once more.
-----------
"What power!" Tezuka said to Ryuzaki-sensei, referring to Tetsu's skills with a kendo stick. Ryuzaki-sensei nodded her head in agreement.
"I had no idea they were this good…" She glanced over at the Fudomine team who seemed to be talking about the match too.
"Shusuke Fuji in second doubles…that was unexpected" Kippei thought out loud talking to his vice captain Kamio.
"I thought for sure that he'd play Shinji in second singles" Kamio replied, looking at Shinji out of the corner of his eyes, Kippei smiled and nodded towards the match.
"We'll be alright…those guys look like they're having fun."
-------------------(Flashback)---------------------
Six months ago at Fudomine Junior High School…"You 7th graders in the rookie tournament? When did I promise that?" Taunted the coach from behind his desk, a cigarette hanging loosely from his mouth as he stared in disbelief at the group of students in front of him.
"You said if we beat the 8th graders we'd be starters!" Protested Tatsunori in anger. The coach took a long pull of his cigarette and blew the smoke into Tatsunori's face causing the 7th grader to choke.
"Shut up! Go clean the training room!" Snapped the coach as he roughly shunted them from the room and slammed the door in their faces.
"Jerk" Mumbled Shinji as they began to walk towards the training room, which was located on their school grounds. Kamio pushed the door open and at once the air was filled with a hushed silence. The Fudomine regulars all stopped from what they were doing and glared at the group that had entered the room. The captain of the regulars gave a hand gesture and almost immediately all the regulars were standing at his side and looming over the 7th graders.
"What do you lot want?" sneered the captain as he looked to his team.
"We've gotta clean up" Shinji mumbled as he took a step forward but an outstretched hand stopped him.
"What'd ya say…I didn't understand you?" Once more the captain taunted Shinji, lowering himself to Shinji's eye line.
"He said we have to clean up the training room" Stated Tetsu coming to Shinji's defence.
"No one asked you, pip squeak!" Snarled another member of the regulars, glaring at the 7th grader that had the guts to stand up to them.
"So…word is that you went to see the coach this morning, is that right?" Asked the captain, his hand still resting lightly on Shinji's chest.
"Yeah" Mumbled Shinji, his eyes looking at the floor, the captain smirked.
"About becoming regulars? You claimed that cause you beat us that makes you worthy to be Fudomine regulars?" The captain snarled, his voice becoming more and more threatening and his open palm on Shinji's shirt became a tight fist.
"Look we don't want-" Masaya began but never finished as the captain began to bellow at them.
"YOU WENT BEHIND OUR BACKS?!" The captain pulled Shinji in closer to him and backhanded him round the side of the face, sending the smaller boy to the floor with a thud.
"Shinji!" Kamio darted forward and knelt down by Shinji who had one hand on his cheek.
"Learn the hierarchy of the team! Just 'cuz you're pretty good, stupid 7th grader-" He never finished as Kamio darted to his feet and smacked the captain straight in the jaw.
"You'll pay for that!" The captain made another hand motion and the 8th graders descended upon the 7th graders, taking care of them in a moment.
"We don't have time for this, I hear the new 8th grader's gonna join the team…he supposed to be good" The captain said as he glared at the bloodied and bruised forms of the 7th graders.
The door opened and there stood a boy with short black hair and a determined look in his eyes.
"Im Kippei, 8th grade. Step forward if you think you're better then me" There was a stunned silence in the air at the guts of the new kid.
"Who does he think he is?" Complained one of the regulars as he dusted his hands together like he had just touched a piece of trash. There was a scuffling of feet from behind the regulars and they all turned to see the 7th graders had gotten to their feet and walked past the regulars. The regulars stared at them for a moment before they left the room, leaving only this one 8th grader and a group of battered 7th.
"So…you think you're all better then me?" Kippei smiled as he eyed up the battered looking group in front of him. "But from the looks of you I would have to say that the regulars don't seem to agree with your attitude"
"No offence but what do you care?" Stated Kamio as he helped Shinji with his now swelling cheek. Kippei smirked.
"I like you lot. You've got the right spirit for a team like this and the sheer determination to never give up. How would you feel if we challenged the regulars to a fight to decide who will represent our school" Suggested Kippei, to his surprise the 7th graders didn't look to thrilled.
"We? Since when did this become a 'we' thing?" Masaya scoffed, one hand held to the top of his arm, as he looked at Kippei in the same disbelief that the coach had looked at them in.
"I don't like those guys but I like you, simple enough" Kippei shrugged his shoulders as if it was obvious why he had said it. "We'll build our own arena out back, where none of those morons will be able to stop us and we can form our own team, one that will bring Fudomine the glory it so rightly deserves…are you with me?" He took a step forward and extended his hand to Kamio, who looked at the rest of his teammates before accepting the hand.
"Yeah, why not" The atmosphere was cut short as the door behind them slammed shut, someone had over heard everything that they had said.
Outside the regulars were sting on a bench, still annoyed at the nerve of Kippei.
"Captain!" Yelled one of them as he ran from the direction of the training room, a smug grin plastered on his face.
"What?"
"The 7th graders are boy-cotting! And Kippei is the leader! They're gonna build their own court out back and everything!" Explained the regular and he pointed back towards the training room. The captain got to his feet and stared into space.
"Then lets pay them a little visit."
Meanwhile behind the training grounds…"I had no idea this place was such a dump" Shinji mumbled as he picked up rocks and threw them into the bushes, he looked about him to see everyone was either clearing a space or pulling up rocks and weeds.
"It'll be worth it once we're done though" Laughed Tetsu and he and Masaya carried a log off the field.
"Building a court behind campus and forming another fight team?" Shouted a voice from behind them, they turned to see the regulars standing there, arms folded and frightful expressions on their faces.
"Can we help you?" Kippei asked coolly and his grip on the broom he was holding tightened slightly. The captain strode up to Kippei and yanked the broom out of his hands.
"You can help me," Began to captain as he snapped the broom across his knee, "you can take this group of pathetic losers out of my sight an I won't tell the coach that you are breaking the rules"
"And you call us the pathetic ones, have you looked in a mirror lately?" Kyosuke grumbled to Kamio, one of the regulars heard him and took a few steps forward.
"What did you say?" He threatened, Kyosuke gulped as the looming form of the 8th grader blocked his line of vision.
"He said you're pathetic!" Kamio repeated as he stood by Kyosuke's side, a look of disgust on his face.
"Don't rebel against the upperclassman, respect the ranks!" Boasted the regular as he began to glare at Kamio instead. The regular shoved Kamio viciously but to his surprise Kamio just smirked at him.
"You have to earn respect not demand it…moron" Kamio had barely finished the sentence when the regular pounced on him and knocked him to the floor. He wrapped his hands around Kamio's throat and slowly began to choke the air out of him, his eyes wide and his face set in a manic grin just like a wild animal.
"Kamio!" Shouted the team as they attempted to rush to their fallen friends side but they were stopped by any means necessary, they all went to retaliate when…
"Don't fight back!" Kippei yelled as the captain fist connected with the side of his face. Behind them a whistle was blown repeatedly and at once the regulars stopped what they were doing and fell into line, with the 7th graders following suit.
The coach began to pace up and down the line, looking at the large group of students in front of him. Kyosuke whispering to Kamio who was holding both hands to his neck and taking deep breaths, large bruisers had already begun to from underneath his hands. The coach shot them a look and they silenced.
"You little 7th grade twerps started this… now keep cleaning the training room until next spring" The coach spat at the floor by Kippei's feet, Kippei twitched before he shot forward and grabbed the coach around the face.
"Kippei!" Gasped all the 7th graders in shock at the actions of this 8th graders.
"Take a look," Kippei yanked the coach's face round to look at the 8th graders in front of him, "the unscathed 8th graders and the swollen faces of the 7th graders" Once more he swung the coach round to make him look at what he was talking about. "You're not fit to be a teacher!" He let the coach go with great force and he staggered backwards, a look of disbelief on his face at the fact that a student had just manhandled him.
A few days later…'Fight team. Three days detention and disqualification from the fall's rookie tournament' was the sign that had been roughly cello taped onto the training room door. The group of battered kids stared at the sign before they began to walk away.
"You told us not to fight back!" Protested Kyosuke, still in shock at Kippei's actions.
"Shut up! You guys were fighting to!" Kippei cried in defence, the brown envelope he held in his hand swinging by his side. They stopped outside the coach's room and Kippei raised the envelope. "C'mon. Let's go submit this request for a new fight team."
"Wonder if he'll ok it?" Masaya thought out loud as he remembered the events from a few days ago.
"We'll just nag him until he does" Kamio said simply as Kippei turned to look at them.
"Let's go for the nationals!" He gave a small fist pump and the rest of them copied him.
"To the Nationals!"
------------ (Fudomine deserved the five-page flashback! GO FUDOMINE) -----------
"They're not budging an inch, either side!" called Katsuo, biting his nails as he watched the players go at each other. " Fudomine, they're so determined, they're dominating this game, and even their will-power is intimidating."
" Then I guess I have to end it!" declared Fuji, to the surprise of the regulars. Fuji darted forwards towards Masaya who readied himself for impact, putting his feet shoulder width apart and bringing up his fists. Just as Fuji reached Masaya he turned his run into a slide. He slid in between Masaya's legs and pushed himself back to his feet behind him. Fuji brought his knee round and sent Masaya sprawling to the floor from behind.
"What was that?" said Masaya stunned as the umpire called the point to Seigaku.
"One of his best shots" whooped Eiji, cheering. "The triple counter, Tsubame Gaeshi"
"That move countered my finish snake," hissed Kaido, looking a little angry as he watched them begin again.
"Wow" whistled Ryoma under his breath.
"Hmmm, so that's it, He puts all his strength into the run and at a strategic point uses his own momentum to fall into a slide that will carry him a calculated distance, he then uses the last of that momentum to push himself back to his feet. In that moment he regains control and is able to use the exact same power to attack from the place he's stopped. In this case form behind, catching his opponent completely off guard. This is whom we're up against. The genius Shusuke Fuji" announced Kippei, a spark of acknowledgment passing through his face.
"There it is again! Fuji's special move" called a member of the audience and Fudomine's attention snapped back to the game just in time to see Fuji smack an elbow into the back Tetsu's neck.
"With just one shot Tsubame Gaeshi has turned this whole game around" cheered Katsuo, jumping in the air.
"Yeah Seishun's setting the pace all the way" declared Kachiro, clapping his hands excitedly.
"YES! A chance for a break! Let's get this one, it's crucial" roared Taka swinging his kendo stick enthusiastically.
"Masaya … open up the front" commanded Tetsu, pulling up his sleeve and looking determinedly at Taka and Fuji.
"Tetsu?" asked Masaya, unsure of what to do and looking nervously at the bench.
"Hey" yelled Kamio, trying to get Kippei's attention as he pointed at Tetsu.
"Kippei, I'm gonna use that move" Tetsu said, still not looking at his captain.
"You …" stated Kippei looking startled.
-------------------------------- (Yes another frickin flashback!)
Tetsu shoved his arm underneath the tap and sighed in relief as the cool water soothed his aching muscle. He was so focused on his arm that he didn't notice Kippei appear behind him.
"Tetsu- Your arm sore again?" He asked as he gained Tetsu's attention.
"Kippei…"
"Nobody can deflect your switch blade hit but it puts to much stress on your wrist, nobody knows that more then you." Kippei explained as he passed Tetsu a towel and wore a knowing look on his face, "You won't be able to fight anymore. Don't use that strike again!" Tetsu stood up so he was face to face with Kippei and took the towel smirking.
"Heh… maybe I don't care about 'anymore'"
--------------------------
"Kippei, Tetsu's waiting," murmured Shinji, watching Tetsu take yet another glance at his captain while still dodging Fuji's oncoming rushes. Masaya slowly falling back as Taka swung at him with over zealous strikes.
"Fine" declared Kippei causing Tetsu to grin, Kippei raised his finger, "But only once" he said firmly, confirming that it was not up for discussion.
"Heh, NOW you're talking" laughed Tetsu, tightening his grip on his kendo stick and dropping his stance lower to the floor.
"Go Tetsu, switch blade" yelled Tatsunori, leaping from his seat.
Fuji looked confused but it was soon replaced with shock as Tetsu, as he went to lunge forward, flicked the Kendo stick from the normal two handed striking grip into a simple one handed grip with a twist. The handle was now held flat against Tetsu's right wrist and his arm raised itself above his head. With a loud cry he ran at Fuji, a look of pure concentration on his face.
"MOVE SHUSKUE!" bellowed a voice and Taka appeared in front of the smaller a boy.
"Takashi!" yelled Fuji as the two Kendo sticks collided with a crack that seemed to echo about the building. Everyone watched as the battle of strength upped its game. Tetsu and Taka were both sweating and the creaking of the bones seemed far louder than the screams about them.
Tetsu and Taka stumbled away from each other both looking tired and defeated but they still kept their eyes focused on each other.
"Yes! He deflected it!" Cheered Horio.
"No way! He deflected it?" said Kamio, thunder struck.
Tetsu tensed and dropped again into an all too familiar stance.
"STOP TETSU! YOUR ARM" yelled Kippei rising to his feet and glaring angrily at the boy who ignored him and ran at Taka once more. He was about to bring his arm down for another strike when the top half of his Kendo stick fell away and clattered to the floor. A jagged cut showing that the wood had been shattered.
"Wh-what?" stumbled Tetsu looking horrified at the broken pieces of his weapon.
"Game score, 5 to 3, seishun leads" called the umpire. Kippei blew out an angry sigh and lowered himself back onto the bench.
"That crazy fool" he hissed under his breath, watching as Tetsu looked despairingly at the two pieces of his kendo stick.
"The weapon broke before he did" said Kamio, before casting his eyes to Taka who stood looking a little confused about what had just happened but a thin layer of sweat was trickling down the side of his face and the grip on his Kendo stick was slack. " … But by the looks of it, something else broke"
"Yeah, one more time" said Taka, the enthusiasm in his voice obviously lacking. Fuji walked to stand beside him and before Taka knew what his partner was doing the smaller boy had grabbed his wrist in a vice like grip. Taka gave off a yell of pain and the room went silent.
"You were protecting me," stated Fuji as Taka's eyes brimmed with tears and the Kendo stick fell from his limp hand. "Umpire, we forfeit the match" called Fuji pulling Taka away from the Fudomine pair.
"Bu-bu-bu-but" protested Taka, looking back longingly at the arena.
"Quick, get me some cooling spray, you should probably go to the hospital just in case" demanded Inui taking Taka from Fuji's grip and pushing him to the bench. "Hey you, medic, take him to the hospital" demanded Inui as the medic came running to them. "And don't take that off" commanded Inui as he applied a cold compress to Taka's wrist.
"You must be kidding, Seishun loose on forfeit" said Horio in disbelief, clutching his face in defeat.
"What's going to happen?" asked Kachiro to the other two freshmen.
"Eiji?" said Oishi as they walked onto the arena; he got no reply, Eiji seemingly side-tracked. A necklace was swinging through his finger sin a complicated pattern. "Hmmm, our usually unconcerned fellow has gotten serious now, better watch out" said Oishi with a knowing smile, a determined look crossing his face.
"First doubles players step forward."
-------------------------------------------------
"Seishun to serve, Begin"
Oishi ran forward straight at Kyosuke but before he came into contact he spun dodging Kyosuke, heading for Tatsunori where the two collided in a shower of fists. Kyosuke looked stunned for a few seconds before Eiji appeared in front of him a look of focus on his face. Eiji kicked out at Kyosuke's stomach but missed and Kyosuke brought his elbow round to strike Eiji in the face. Eiji bent backwards, bending into a crab. Kyosuke smirked and quickly brought his leg up to kick Eiji in the ribs, but to his surprise Eiji pushed his legs up, pushing him into a handstand avoiding the kick. Eiji quickly swung his legs round in a helicopter motion and caught Kyosuke around the face sending the boy flying backwards. Eiji lowered his back to the floor and rolled his way back to his feet.
"Wow, what was that?" asked someone in the audience over the cheering and whistling.
"Wh-Who is that guy?! How can he move like that?" questioned Tatsunori in disbelief as Eiji and Oishi high-fived, both grinning widely.
"Easy-peasy" winked Eiji holding up his fingers in a victory sign.
"It's getting cold, go start warming up Kamio" said Kippei his focus solely on the match. Kamio got to his feet and left, grabbing something from his bag and leaving without a word.
-----------------------------------------------
"Hoi" smiled Eiji as he back flipped out of the way of Tatsunori's high kick.
"Ho-How does he do that?" breathed Tatsunori, wiping the sweat and blood from his eyes, looking desperately at Kyosuke who was doubled over with his hands on his knees.
"Do-Don't kn-know" coughed Kyosuke, tiredly, massaging his back where a well placed punch from Oishi and bruised his spinal cord.
"Don't get distracted" tutted Eiji, wagging a finger. Tatsunori looked at him strangely before a force collided with his mid-riff and he went flying across the floor. Kyosuke blinked dumbly at the sudden disappearance of his teammate before Eiji smacked him in the face with his clenched fist.
"Game. Set and match. Seishun academy wins. 6 to 2"
"YES! That's why they call them the golden pair, it's one win one lose now" said Horio happily, dancing a little jig on the spot, "we still have a chance to win this."
"The only person who can support Eiji's acrobatic moves is Shuichiro who can adjust to any situation with his wide range of vision, that's the real A-Un technique" said Ryuzaki-sensei proudly, "I hope you two are listening" she turned on Ryoma and Momo who shrank in the seats and nodded.
"Third singles step forward"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This chapter damn near killed us!
CD: im in my happy place, I liked my flashback … I had fun XD
JT: as you can tell CD is one happy person : This took up to 11 pages on word and the word count, we are so sorry lol. Hope you enjoy it R&R please!