CHAPTER THREE

She stared across the line at her old friend and rival, who was glancing at her in the same calculating way. Well, he would never guess her moves with just the old Emperor Eye. She would just play...in a different way (meaning, she'll play to surprise herself, if that was even possible).

Kiku watched, almost in slow motion, as the whistle was blown and Akashi jumped up immediately, giving the ball a good, hard tap. Just before the tap, she jumped too, faster and higher, so that when the ball was tapped, she caught the tap and landed, ball in her possession.

Mutters erupted from the audience.

"Is that even possible?"

"What the hell did she do?!"

"Woah! That's one hell of a good player!"

She kept going. Akashi had gone into a defensive position the moment he landed, making things just a little more difficult. But then again Kiku liked it that way. Where's the fun when things were easy?

She couldn't see many openings, she must say, he was good. But no openings, was an opening in itself. She suddenly jumped up into a faraway shot - not unlike Midorima's but also slightly more individualised - and Akashi jumped too, his reaction time pretty good. In fact, he might have been able to block that shot, if it wasn't a fake. She landed while he was still in the air, because she had used a special jump of hers. Kiku calls it the 'Gravity Pull Jump'.

She gave a smirk, seeing the redhead's surprised expression. Well, you're not the only one who's improved over the past year.

...

(A/N: I'm sorry, I couldn't be bothered writing all the basketball parts in)

Kiku was breathing just a tad heavier than normal as she went to line up with her teammates after the short but intense ten-minute game. Their team won 19-18, because most of the time it was Kiku and Akashi going one on one, even though they could both tell the other wasn't using their full strength.

"Good game." She said, chin tilted up. "You've improved." It was around ten minutes after the last minigames have finished, and they were sitting around, just chilling.

He just gave the tiniest smile. "So have you."

They regarded each other for a moment longer, then the booming voice of the coach interrupted them.

"Players, gather 'round please. The tryouts have finished and we have decided on the teams." He glanced around coolly at everyone. "So, in the Third String, ..."

"In the First String, Akashi Seijuro, and Tajima Kiku from the first-years. Also the players from last year, Mibuchi Reo, Hayama Kotarou, Nebuya Eikichi, and Mayuzumi Chihiro. Oh, and could the two new students I just called please come to me."

Wordlessly, the pair walked over.

"We need to decide on a few things..." He trailed off. "Well, both of you have the talent to be captain, but..."

Kiku knew what he meant and spoke up before Akashi could say anything else. "I think I wouldn't mind letting Akashi be the captain, if I could help with the coaching."

"That's fine. Well, I'll let you go now, but I'll see you both tomorrow before school for the scheduling." With that, he walked off to join the other coaches.

"Alright everyone. Here's the plan for this year." Coach Shirogane said, eyes darting around to everyone. "We have non-basketball training in the mornings on every day except for Wednesdays, and basketball training in the first gym after school on every day except for Friday. On Monday and Thursday mornings, please wear your jerseys into the training area in the gym. On Tuesdays and Fridays meet up at the pool, already changed."

Everyone nodded. It sounded like a good enough schedule.

"Training starts next week Monday at 6:30am sharp. Anyone late will have training doubled. That is all. You may go to class now."

School was boring as usual, knowing everything that was taught made classes a yawn. You might be wondering, how does she know these things? Where and when did she learn them?

Well, her grandfather owns a rich company that was supposed to be her mother's, but... Anyway now there's no one left in the family to take over the company, except for Kiku. It had been decided that she would be the successor when her father left them and her mother refused to find another husband. Even though Kiku was a girl, her grandfather was harsh and demanding, and taught her many things.

There was academic stuff like Maths, Science, Geography, Japanese, History, and plenty of languages taught to her throughout the years, and also others like Dance, Art and many sports and instruments. She could play the piano, cello, drums, harp and the flute very well, and there were also other instruments in which she knew a little. Kiku was also fluent in French, English, Japanese, Spanish, and was currently learning Latin.

But for this particular reason, she was busy all day, every day, and had pretty much no time to socialise, or do anything else than practise her instruments, study, and also train in some sports.

Kiku became less social, and more sarcastic and cold over the years. She taught herself not to show emotion, and didn't accept help from others. Her mother's death did nothing to hep this situation. The girl steadily built a wall around herself, one of her main sayings being, "If you don't want to get your heart broken, you can just pretend you don't have one."

Which is exactly what she did.

And back to her day... She indeed had many activities, even after basketball.

The girl stood on pointe, daintily skipping across the studio before going into a pirouette and pausing for while, her hands gracefully flitting about. She leapt up into a perfect grand jete before settling down and ending it with her hand held above her in fifth position and her feet in fourth.

Kiku relaxed, her arms falling beside her. "Ballet really doesn't suit my personality." She muttered.

"What was that, Miss?" Said her grandfather's posh assistant, whom she strongly disliked.

"Nothing you need to know."

He sniffed haughtily. "I think I do need to know, Miss."

"Well, I have every right not to tell you." She shot back, still looking calm and dignified. "For one, you aren't my parent, nor my guardian. For-"

"Alright, alright." He interrupted, looking a little panicked. He certainly didn't want her to go into her 'debating mode', oh no way. That would be a nightmare.

As you can see, they got along so very well.

Kiku picked up her things, draping a jacket over her leotard and also pulling on some jeans. She took off her pointe shoes and replaced them with runners. Nice and comfy.

"Would you like me to drive you home-"

"Nah, I'll pass." It wouldn't hurt to walk for a bit. Besides, the sakuras were blooming and strolling about in the pink blossoms could take her mind off some things... And there was also the fact that there was a street basketball court on her way home.

"Your grandfather wants you to have Latin mastered in two weeks, so kindly study, please." He called as a parting statement.

She swung her backpack across her back, grabbed her basketball bag from the tryouts and also her ballet bag, then headed in the direction of her house. Kiku walked with purpose, going through the streets pretty fast and taking a few shortcuts. When she had turned 7 corners, crossed the street 3 times, she finally arrived at the basketball court.

Only to find someone already there.

"Huh?" She stopped. Well, she didn't really feel like playing with someone else or even fighting with the guy for the court. Kiku was too tired for all this, only having wanted to shoot a baskets and listen to the familiar and reassuring swish of the hoop as the ball hit it's target.

She turned away and resumed her walk back to her house, slowing her pace by quite a lot.

After all, when she got home, she had to face endless hours of Latin, homework, and of course a new instrument - the trombone. There was no one waiting for her, with a ready-made dinner. There would be no 'welcome home' and no loving words from her parents. There was just the reminder of that big, fat, ugly truth: her mother was gone and that was that.