Author's Notes: HAPPY RUSEN DAY! Wow, two-year hiatus. So sorry! Well, I'm living without my own compy, so imagine that. I'm typing this at a cafe. . Mind you, this is half-cooked, meaning I wrote this within a week of posting, beta-ed only by my younger sister.
It might be better for first time readers to read (the earlier chapters of) my fic at my website (link on profile, I think) because the formatting is better there. I think. Oh well.
Anyway, two years is time enough, so I won't keep you. Thanks for those who waited and my sincere apologies to you. Cheers!
The Ninth Task: Unlucky at Cards, Lucky at...
Ayako gave up watching the gym doors anxiously for any sign of four of Shohoku's playing members. It was five minutes before the sign of classes, and she doubted that any of them will show up.
All the other members of the Shohoku basketball team were accounted for. Akagi called in sick, Rukawa came early, and everyone else was present.
Ayako knew that Mitsui, Miyagi, and Sakuragi were not the most reliable members of the team, but she knew all of them loved basketball sa much and were all determined to be the best , for their own reasons. She was particularly disappointed at Kogure, who, as Vice-captain, she expected to show up in the absence of Akagi.
She didn't worry about their safety. It was impossible to harass those boys. But she knew there was something strange going on. It all began some weeks ago, when Sakuragi and Rukawa (sworn enemies) started hanging out. Then Kogure and the most troublesome duo, Mitsui and Miyagi.
Of course, the incident at Danny's was not to be forgotten. It was the strangest thing she ever saw.
But now is not the time to go back there, and Ayako is not the person to discuss it. And so we shall quietly exit the scene.
Rukawa was alone at one end of the gym, practicing his shots. He too was aware of the significance absence of noise in the gym, and he was comfortable and happy that he will have a long, peaceful and productive practice. ALONE, as he always dreamed.
Team Shohoku reserved the gym for morning practice that lovely Thursday morning, but most of the playing members were absent, so Anzai-sensei left and Ayako made them do drills.
It was Rukawa's Christmas. (Er, yes, you are still reading the same fic.)
Twenty minutes passed.
Thirty.
Forty.
Forty-five.
And then Rukawa was bored. He was bored playing quietly alone, shooting hoops, dodging air. He was too accustomed to hearing the annoying voices of Captain Akagi, Sakuragi, Miyagi, and Mitsui. And he was too bored to deny it.
How lonely, the life of Rukawa.
He shot a (supposedly inviting) glance at one of his fellow freshmen at the bench, but said fellow freshman was so scared shitless of Rukawa that he looked away and acted as though cheering for his teammates was more interesting and productive than playing with Rukawa.
/Ch. That's why you're a benchwarmer, chicken./
"Two minutes until bell!"
"This is all your fault, Mitsui!"
"MY fault? Who did not set the alarm clock? Who took thirty minutes in the shower? Who--?"
"It's that stupid kitsune's fault that we slept late!"
"We're almost there!"
"Uhm, guys, I think we took a wrong turn."
Miyagi skidded to a stop, followed by Mitsui, Sakuragi, and Kogure. Instead of Shohoku High School, they found themselves at a dead end. With a dead rat to emphasize the dead-ness.
"We are so dead."
Everyone turned to Kogure, who was slowly backing away.
"Shortcut, huh?"
"Er, sorry."
Sendoh Akira was not enjoying the lovely Thursday morning. Nor did he enjoy the lovely Wednesday night.
He was troubled. Troubled as a teenager could be. And without sleep too, as a troubled teenager should be.
/I mean, it's OK, right? It's not like it's permanent or something. It was just a random thought. I am not regularly fantasizing about Rukawa./
Sendoh was not reassured. He remembered the time when Rukawa slept over, and...the other times, and he was sorely troubled. He got out of the train looking like a sleepless, troubled teenager. It's amazing he didn't forget to style his hair.
Give it up, said the more competitive part of his psyche. It doesn't matter if you fantasize about Rukawa; just beat him.
/But does THAT matter? I don't even know why I want to beat him./
Well, because of me, stupid. You are Sendoh Akira. Whatever happens, Rukawa Kaede will not equal you in basketball. THAT'S what matters.
Still not feeling reassured but touched by his mind's loyaltym Sendoh went to school with three-quarters of a smile on his face.
The morning passed quickly, and soon it was afternoon. Nothing much happened to the chosen citizens of Kanagawa.
Anzai-sensei cheerfully dismissed the basketball team early, to the delight of everyone, most of all those who missed the morning practice.
"Lucky for you Akagi's sick," Ayako scolded, giving each of the absentees a farewell gift of a Special Fan of Doom Hit. She glared reproachfully at Kogure. He pretended not to notice and followed Mitsui and the rest outside.
"Yeah, right, and we had to deal with her wrath most of the afternoon," Sakuragi complained.
"I had to face her wrath for most of the day," Miyagi said, feeling for lumps on various parts of his head. "Damn, I might get a tumor."
"Oh no, she might have hit your pituitary gland! You're doomed to be short forever!" Mitsui joked. Naturally.
Miyagi pretended to reel. "Uuuuh...my memory...I...who are you?"
"That is so lame, Miyagi, coming from you."
"Rukawa!" Mitsui called to the sleep-cycling boy a few yards behind. "Still alive?" In response...well, there was no response. Duh.
"Wonder if he's gonna get a driver's license," Miyagi said.
Kogure looked at his watch. "Do you think Sendoh's there already?"
Mitsui watched Rukawa's reaction. There was a slight, almost invisible movement of eyelids. He smirked.
"I heard Sendoh's dating someone," Mitsui said casually, watching Rukawa's movements from the corner of his eye. There was a slight, almost invisible trembling of the hand. He smirked again.
"Why don't you steal the girl from under his nose, Rukawa? That would piss him off, more than these stupid challenges of yours," Miyagi suggested.
"Great, then Haruko will be mine!" Sakuragi gleefully roared.
"I don't know, she'll probably kill herself before she considers you, Sakuragi," said Miyagi.
"TEMEEE!"
"I don't think Sendoh's dating anyone, Mitsui," Kogure said. "Where did you get that anyway?"
"Around," replied Mitsui. "Yeah, maybe it's wrong. Oh well." He saw a slight, almost invisible relaxing of the hand.
Mitsui grinned.
By afternoon, Sendoh had forgotten whatever it was that troubled him. He radiated a somewhat relaxed, carefree and victorious aura. Unfortunately, he transferred his negative feelings to those around him and he left the Ryonan gym half full of tense and confused people.
He reached the CC Park (name concealed for privacy reasons) at sunset and found the Shohoku people unknowingly terrifying people with their presence. Kogure waved at him. "Know a place where we can play undisturbed?" the Shohoku Vice-captain asked.
"Sure. Behind that arcade, Tanaka Pizza. They have tables outside," replied Sendoh.
"Perfect. Hey, Rukawa, let's go," Mitsui said. He followed Kogure and they talked about...basketball stuff.
Miyagi and Sakuragi were behind them, talking about...basketball stuff.
Sendoh and Rukawa were last and they were...not talking.
Mitsui bent down to tie his shoes. He planned to eavesdrop on Sendoh and Rukawa's nonexistent conversation. Sendoh and Rukawa went past.
Mitsui and Kogure resumed walking.
People stared as the six boys sat around a table outside Tanaka Pizza. Girls giggled and Sakuragi thought the giggles were directed at him.
"Sorry, girls, my heart has been captured by the lovely Haruko Akagi," he said to anyone who dared to approach.
Mitsui and Miyagi coughed.
"Today we play cards."
Rukawa tried not to smile. Not much effort, great success. He was a master of solitaire and Japanese poker. He came up with the task.
Sendoh tried not to smile. Great effort, average success. He was a master of Western card games.
"Rules are simple, Kogure said. "I will deal cards face up. When you have the same value, like, King, you say the name of your high school. First to say it gives his cards to opponent. Less cards at the end of the game wins," Kogure explained. "Hehe, just learned it last week."
"Geek," muttered Sakuragi, Miyagi, and Mitsui simultaneously.
Rukawa and Sendoh remained composed. They looked at each other with their interpretation of a serene poker face.
Kogure started dealing. Ten of diamonds. Three of diamonds. Three of--
"Ryonan." Sendoh gave his cards to Rukawa. Kogure dealed again. Card after card fell, and eyes were alert.
Jack of clubs. Nine of clubs. Ten of hearts. Ten--
"Shoho-"
"Ryonan." Sendoh smiled brightly and gave his cards to Rukawa. Rukawa scowled microscopically. /Still early,/ he thought.
Six of spades. Eight of diamonds. Four of clubs. Ace of spades. Ace--
There was an almost simultaneous utterance of "Shohoku" and "Ryonan". It was not clear who finished first, so the Impartial-Judge-Who-Was-Too-Busy-Shooing-Girls-Yuck-Cough-To-Watch-And-Listen made a decision. With a fantastic exhibition of his pearly whites, he shoved the cards towards Rukawa, who wanted to protest, but who thought, "Still early," so he kept quiet.
Jack of diamonds. Six of diamonds. Seven of clubs. Se--
"Shohoku," said Rukawa, a split second before Sendoh's tongue reached the roof his mouth. Rukawa smugly pushed the cards towards Sendoh.
Almost half of the deck, twenty-one cards to be exact, had been dealed. Rukawa felt sure of winning.
Four of hearts. Jack of spades. Two of spades. Nine of diamonds. Six of hearts.
Sakuragi and Miyagi talked about Haruko and Ayako. Mitsui watched Rukawa's and Sendoh's expressions. Kogure patiently dealed the cards.
Five of diamonds. Two of diamonds.
Sendoh remained alert. The pile of cards on Kogure's hand was thinning. He looked at Rukawa, who was confidently closing his eyes for a victory nap.
Only four cards left. Rukawa was not expecting a change anymore. Sendoh still did not give up. He was expecting a miracle.
Queen of spades. Seven of spades. Four of diamonds. Four of spades.
"Ryonan."
Rukawa could not believe it.
TBC
AUTHOR'S NOTES 2: Orait! The next chapter will hopefully come before Christmas or so. Building momentum. Thanks again and I hope you will still enjoy. One or two chapters left, minna!!!!!!
