Wow sorry for the delay guys. This chapter is short mainly due to writers block and having to go back over the manga to decide what's included and where. Anyway enjoy this short thing whilst I work on the next few chapters.

Time: An hour maybe

Pairing: Shin/Sena, Ikari/Sena

Author: Sinthetic Angel

What on earth is the world coming to?

Chapter 9 - Welcome back

Ikari wanted to scream. He wanted to throw his head back, raise his arms to the sky and roar out his frustration until his throat was sore and his voice was practically non existent. Unfortunately he couldn't, what with the chains that were really starting to chafe his shoulders and the cramped locker. Whose idea had they been anyway? Oh right Takami's but that was besides the point. He needed his freedom to save Sena from the rampant beasts known as fan girls. If he roared his rage at their behaviour then he couldn't save Sena because then they would know that he was hiding, rather successfully, in Ootawaras locker. If that happened then he'd be dead meat and unable to help Sena. Those fan girls were vicious, especially if they knew you knew Sakuraba.

Chancing a glance he smiled as he saw the coast was clear and carefully stepped out of the locker. He did not want to imagine his fate if he was heard, even if he was glad to get away from that funky smell. He successfully navigated the changing room and peeked in to the gym. The fan girls had apparently followed Sena, yet again questioning him on Sakurabas whereabouts. Some, mainly those who had been able to attend the last game, glared at Sena and occasionally darted forwards to deliver a punch or a kick. It was funny and quite….humiliating. The male populace of Ojou were oblivious to Senas alter ego but hurt Sakuraba and the SFC, or Sakuraba Fan Club, would hunt you down and unmask you in minutes. Not even hiding behind Shin could save you. Sena had tried and Sena had failed, Shin somehow turning it in to a training exercise.

Ikari shook his head as one girl delivered a rather painful looking blow to Senas shin. Of course if they'd done that to him then they would be dead meat, verbally of course because there was no honour in hitting girls, but Sena was a bit soft. Anyway most people, Ootawara included, had the sense to duck and cover when they saw the current Crazy Ojou Ladies Team following Sakuraba down a corridor to his class like some crazed honour guard. So it was with morbid fascination that Ikari watched Sena attempt to work out and instead get beaten to a pulp by a bunch of girls. He was so engrossed in his midday entertainment he didn't hear the door open or the person approach him from behind.

"You're not going to help him Ikari-kun?"

"Guy code rule four Sakuraba-san. No self respecting male EVER needs help against a bunch of girls."

It took Ikari a moment to register who he had spoken to and who had in fact spoken to him. When he did realise he span, eyes wide to face the tall receiver. He couldn't believe he was out already. His arm was still in a sling but he did look better and he wasn't wincing every five minutes. He wouldn't be playing in a game any time soon, that was for sure.

"You're out of hospital?!"

Sakuraba merely nods his head and laughs rather sheepishly.

"Yes, thanks to Sena-kun and some positive words from him I was able to speed up my recovery and get out sooner than planned. By the way……why is he being beaten up by girls? Why isn't he running away?"

Ikari raises an eyebrow in surprise. So Sena had actually gone to the hospital and cheered Sakuraba up. He hadn't expected it to be so soon what with practice and homework and being stalked by fan girls to find Sakurabas location. Sena must have worked something out with Takami after the whole team went to visit the tall receiver. However, after being on the same team for three months Sakuraba should know how Sena worked…..shouldn't he? The patience and complete and utter cluelesness in the taller boys face was a resounding no. This wasn't something guys discussed though! This was feelings and males only understood two of them in Ikaris professional opinion. Hate and Anger. It all basically boiled down to those two anyway if you looked at it rationally. He wasn't really sure about Sakuraba though….he was too pretty to be a guy and he probably explored his feelings with every sign of enjoyment but Ikari was just not ready for the mushy crap.

"He's angry you got hurt and the girls getting him is his punishment because…..because….because it was in no way your fault and Sena should have stopped in time?"

"Oooooh so he's feeling guilty and taking the blame is his own punishment."

"Right….I'm gonna stick to angry here Sakuraba-san."

Sakuraba laughs and then pales, the girls finally noticing him and stopping their assault on Sena. It looked like Sena was getting rescued after all.

"SAKURABA-KUN!"

Sakuraba took off as fast as he could, careful not to jar his shoulder as the fan girls streamed past. Ikari had to flatten himself against the wall to avoid being trampled and as soon as the coast was clear he hopped in to the gym. Sena was looking relieved yet violated. It soon turned to worry though as he watched Sakuraba retreat.

"Don't worry Sen, I'm sure he'll out run them."

"Y-yeah…will he be fit for the Naga match?"

"I doubt it. Now unchain me so I can work out with you."

Sena smiles despite his worries and unchains Ikari, allowing the delinquent to spot him on the bench. Ikari liked these times, just him and Sena hanging out together. With joining the team and all the practices they'd had, it was getting harder and harder to hang out together, just the two of them. So it was with great enjoyment that Ikari spotted Sena. There was something niggling at him however and that was the strange feeling he got whenever he brushed Senas hand as he took the bar from the boy on his last repetition. Had he been kidding himself? Even Takami had commented that Ikari seemed to be glaring at Shin and Sakuraba more as they showed interest in Sena. Was it possible?

As Ikari handed Sena a set of dumbbells and there hands brushed once again he turned away and sneered. He couldn't believe it, he had a crush on his oldest friend, possibly more than a crush. Shin was going to kill him.