Teenage Rebellion

Disclaimer: I don't own Eyeshield 21 in anyway and no money is being earned off this story.

Summary: At the end of his freshman year, Sena's father gets transferred to USA. If that's not's the worst change in his life, Sena's mother demands that he stop playing American Football. A new life in America means a new start, but is it worth it without his friends, teammates and American Football? Sometimes you have to fight for what you want, and that's a lesson Sena learnt well with the Deimon Devil Bats. SenaxShin

EDITED - 2012

Sena panted as he entered his home. Calling out his presence, his mother walked to the greet him. She stood frozen at the sight before her. Sena gulped slightly before greeting his mother. She stared Sena down, not saying a word at his appearance. Sena merely lowered his head and headed up to his room, sighing at the storm that was brewing. It was obvious from his appearance that he had played but he couldn't regret getting on the field and playing. Feeling the challenge and the thrill and the pure joy at simply playing football. And this was something Sena couldn't let go. He couldn't fight to stay with Deimon, but he could still fight got play the sport he loves. Dumping the kitbag onto the floor, Sena entered the bathroom with a shower in mind followed by a quick meal and bed. The meal being slightly awkward as his mother refused to talk to him. Sighing, Sena fell asleep with a smile on his face for the first time.

Sun shone through the open curtains and onto the bed, waking up the footballer before the alarm could even ring. It was Saturday but there still was training, not anything close to Deimon's hellish training, but training nonetheless, followed by personal training. Groaning, Sena got up wearily and glanced at the clock. It was over an hour before he usually got up! Moaning, he fell back in bed but sleep had been lost to him. Grumbling, Sena got up and got ready in his training kit. It was still 30 minutes before he had to get up, Sena decided to e-mail home. Japan would always be home to him.

Sena booted up his computer and logged onto his e-mail. He spent the next ten minutes writing a detailed message to Hiruma and the team about the game and how he finally played. He told them of Hyperspeed, his new technique that even Hiruma would be proud of, and the other new techniques he was working on. He told Hiruma happily that he read through Nasa'a plays and drove the other team's coach crazy. Finally, he sent well wishes and how he wished he could be back there with them; and he signed it. Before logging off, Sena couldn't help but send an e-mail to Shin as well.

Konichiwa Shin-san!

Arigrato for the training plan you helped me draw up! It really helped. I finally played for the first string yesterday, and against Nasa. Panther is as fast as ever, and getting faster I think. We won though, and I must say that I will enjoy playing against you when I come back to Japan to test my new skills. Thank you so much Shin-san, without you I wouldn't have improved as much as I have. I miss our matches and training. How is your training coming along? I understand how you feel when you said that you want to get stronger. I want to, too.

Anyways, I must go. I have training now. I hope you have a good day and that your training goes well.

Your friend,

Sena.

Quickly sending it off, Sena grabbed his kitbag (with clean clothes) and hurried to the kitchen to grab something to eat. Sena froze in the doorway as both of his parents argued heatedly. They stopped when they noticed Sena's presence. An awkward silence fell over the kitchen as Sena dropped his kitbag to the floor.

"I won't quit," Sena said quietly looking at his mother, "you took me away from Deimon and my team, but I won't quit. I love it too much mum and I wish you could see it. For once in my life, when I'm on the field, I don't feel insignificant and useless. I'm apart of something and I can hold my own. I can play Football better than most and I know you worry about me. They can't hurt me if they can't catch me, and sometimes I will need to take the hit for the team, but I'm fine with that. Why can't you be too?"

Mihue couldn't meet her son's gaze, not while knowing that she caused the pain there when she forbid him from doing something he loved so much. But the maternal part of her demanded that she stop this 'football nonsense'. Sighing at his wife's silence, Sena's dad smiled at his sin and motioned for him to take a seat at the table. Breakfast was then a quiet affair. Thanking his mother, Sena got up to leave. Picking up the kitbag as he left the kitchen, his father's voice stopped him.

"Do they know you're Eyeshield, Sena?" he asked. Sena turned and smiled. Nodding slowly, he answered, "Yes. They finally know but I think I've earned the respect of some players before that." The smile Sena got back matched his. Shouting a soft goodbye, Sena left the house, Sighing in relief, he secured his bag and took off in a dash, not full speed, for his school.

Slowing down to a jog, Sena gulped at the sight of his school gates and had the urge to run away. There was this ominous feeling, just like when he was about face Shin. With half a mind to run away, Sena took a deep breath and entered the school grounds. Walking onto the field, Sena looked around only to see it deserted. Laughing to himself, Sena remembered he was at least 45 minutes early for practice. Shrugging, Sena dropped his bag by the clubhouse and went for a warm up run around the field; why waste the time?

When the coaches and the captain arrived to prepare for the practice they were met with a somewhat astounding sight of Sena doing basic footwork exercises at lightspeed. Max was the first one to snap out of it, seeing as he had seen something like it before, and called out to Sena. Sena's head snapped up as he finished his run, blushing at the sight of all the coaches staring at him. Seeing Max wave him over, Sena slowly walked to them, head down with embarrassment. He hadn't thought the coaches would come early and berated himself for not thinking.

"Hey Sena," Max called out to him as he approached the group, "what are you doing here so early?"

Blushing badly, Sena could only mumble out the excuse of not being able to sleep and deciding to get a head start on his personal training. Staring at the little running back, Coach Nickle felt a little dread at asking what the personal training was. Rather, he cleared his throat to hold everyone's attention. Looking at the lithe footballer, he sighed and could only say, "Sena, I would like to apologize for not giving you a chance. I know we explained it to you but that is not an excuse for not seeing your true potential as a coach. We, I, should have at the very least allowed you to try out like all the others and trained accordingly."

Sena cringed but smiled. He shook his head and bowed. "I understand. Your actions were is the best interest of the team. There is nothing to forgive." Sena said simply. Max shook his head at the younger player as he excused himself to continue his training.

It was within the next half an hour did the rest of the Hawks players drift towards the pitch for practice, only to be met with the unusual sight. Sena had set up the tackling dummies, and proceeded to hit them again and again with lightspeeed tackles. Panting, he took a short break before throwing himself, literally, at his training. The first string just stood there watching the true Eyeshield 21 in awe. The rest of the strings stood there with their jaws on the ground.

A whistle broke the air, calling for attention. Everyone turned to Coach Nickle, waiting his instructions. "We got really lucky with the last match. As we have seen, we have a long way still to go. Now, we have a free week followed by the Golden Mustangs match. So, the training for today is an obstacle course, of sorts. String by string will run in, and from then, we will work on weak areas of each player from the data collected. First string, you're up first."

The course was set up behind Coach Nickle, using a good part of the field. First up was footwork which lead into picking up a ball and running the 40 yards. Then the ball was passed to the allocated area. Then another 40 yard run and receiving a ball. Last but not least, various tackling dummies and ending with one lap around the field that had to be sprinted. Players milled around, eyeing both Sena and the course, no one wanting to approach either. Finally, Max started the course, moving swiftly as he was averagely skilled in almost all of the areas. Seeing that no one else would go next, Sena took a deep breathe and charged in.

The practice left all the strings panting, including Sena. It had been harsh, nowhere near the Death March, but still on Deimon harsh. And at that Sena had to smile. Seeing the boy smile, the coaches stared befuddled. They knew that the practice was no joke as it was harder than anything they ever did before. Sena gave a breathy chuckle before picking himself up. Stretching, Sena noted how much his legs burned and decided to forego the extra jogging around the field for a longer jog home. Plus, he needed some time to just think. And jogging cleared his head for him.

The jog did help Sena think, as he aimlessly ran through the streets of the somewhat still unfamiliar town. Inside Sena's mind was pure chaos. Old responsibilities versus new one. Panther's offer was still in the back of his mind. And strangely, Shin was firmly lodged in there as well. Sena also knew that the clock was ticking on the American football season to start in Japan, and there was the little fact of the Hawks actually winning the league and going to their nationals.

Finally stopping by his house, Sena panted harshly and stared ahead. He was nowhere near calming all his thoughts, and glancing at the house, he gulped. There was bound to be some sort of confrontation. He just knew it. Bracing himself for the inevitable, Sena entered the house. Peering around, it seemed that Mihue was not at home. Sena could only sigh in relief as he went to his room to try and do the homework. He was never really an academic.

Several hours later, Sena opened his eyes groggily as the buzzing woke him up. 'Cellphone' Sena thought sleepily as he groped around for the illusive object. Sena could slurr out a "Hello?" as he answered.

"Kekeke, already talking like a yank, Fucking Chibi!" came the devilish voice, immediately jolting out Sena out of his sleepy haze.

"Hiruma-san!" was all Sena could say as he bolted upright, papers falling around.

"That's right fucking Shrimp. Now explain to me what this Hyperspeed is!" came the order.

"Um...Hiruma-san. Hyperspeed isn't exactly 40 yards in 4 seconds. I kinda...played Panther. Hyperspeed is a technique I was working on for a while. It tricks the chaser into believing that I'm running faster that I actually am. Hiruma-san, it's an illusion. It's all in the footwork, well mostly. My top speed is 4.08 seconds for 40 yards right now. But I can't keep that top speed for a whole match. I could do three, maybe four runs at best at that speed."

There was a moment of silence that caused Sena to start to sweat. "Shrimp!" came Hiruma's voice, "Kekeke! That is fucking brilliant! Don't use it too much or fucking people will understand the fucking illusion."

Blushing, Sena shyly muttered out "Thanks" and "of course, Hiruma-san."

"Sena," Hiruma's serious voice cackled over the phone, "I've been working on it. Expect to be back home within two months. It's the best I can fucking do for now" he grumbled out. Sena's jaw slackened. There was nothing the blonde devil couldn't do.

"Listen up, Fucking Chibi!" Hiruma yelled over the phone, grabbing Sena out of his thoughts, yet again. 'I've got to stop drifting off like that,' Sena thought as he answered, "hai!"

"Now, I'm flying some plays over to you right now, they should arrive in the next five minutes. These plays use the objective..."

Frowning slightly, Sena picked up his discarded pen and notepad from earlier and began taking notes diligently. He was the next Captain after all and he couldn't let his team down. It all boiled down to that little fact. The Deimon Devil Bats were his team, the team that he helped create and that grew from the ragtag bunch. Friends, and teammates, brought together. They were the one-in-a-million team. And his responsibility lay there.

Dinner was a silent affair. Sena glanced at his tired father, he could see the lines in his face. Frowning, Sena chewed and swallowed his bite of food, before asking, "daijabou, outo-san?"

He was given a tired smile at Sena and replied, "hai, things have been a little bit busy at the work. There is a new client, who is a pretty big one. He wanted me to be personally in charge of his accounts. He's Japanese and demanded I handle his affairs. There is a lot of work and I don't know the team I'm working with, not like the team I had in Japan."

Sena nodded in understanding, before smiling slightly and merely replying, "Then get to know your new team, their strengths and weaknesses. It about building up a new team with no time, right dad?"

Seeing the nod of response, Sena shrugged s a small smile graced his lips as he pulled on experience from old memories, "Then take a day off and spend the time getting to know your new team. We did that with the Devil Bats, through training. Your team cannot function without knowing about each other. Rather work of a smaller project or take the day working out the team dynamic. You can't work a machine if you don't know the parts. "

Sena's dad chuckled, "Football wisdom?" he had to ask. Sena laughed and nodded. "Well, I am the next captain," Sena replied jokingly.

The conversation was cut short by the quiet voice of Mihue, "You're not giving it up, are you Sena?"

Steeling himself, Sena met his mother's gaze and replied with a firm, "No."

Sighing, Mihue set down her cutlery and stared down at Sena. Sena gulped but met her gaze firmly. "You've grown," Mihue said softly after a few moments, dropping her gaze. "I guess that means that I'm not needed to protect you anymore."

Sena smiled at his mum, "I have grown, but I promise to try to not make you worry."

Sena's dad chuckled at Sena, diverting his attention. "Sena, I doubt your mother will ever stop worrying!"

Monday morning came with a ningling sense of dread that played in the back of Sena's mind. There was something... something that made him fear the day, but for the life of him he could not remember. There were no tests, projects or assignments that day, or that week for the matter. He did not have a bully to face, or dodge, or run away from. Being on the football team helped him in that aspect. Plus, there was no way Max would allow any bullying of his players...

'Oh shit,' Sena thought as his eyes widened in realization of just why he dreaded today. Running away, football, and the match. 'Everyone at school knows who I am!' And he had the feeling it was going to worse than the time in Japan when he announced his identity as Eyeshield 21; especially with no Hiruma and Mamori-nee to protect him. Sena gulped and got ready with reluctance. And for some reason, he could hear the funeral march playing in his mind.

He ran to school like he always did; only slightly panting at he reached the gates. Swallowing harshly, Sena walked forward and tried to keep his head down as much as possible as he did in middle school.

The moment he stepped into the hallway, a hush fell in the immediate area. Slowly the whispers started and Sena walked quickly to his locker. The stares burnt him as people pointed and whispered. He could already hear what they were saying.

The short Japanese kid is the Eyehshield 21!

He's the fastest man on Earth!

He played with the Japanese Football team and won the Youth World Cup!

He's too small to be a football star! He should join the track team; much better suited for his built.

I swear! I saw it myself at the match last weekend. He's unstoppable!

He runs like lightening; not even Panther could keep up!

And all it did was make him nervous. Sena hurriedly grabbed his books and made his way to homeroom, despite being almost ten minutes early. Anything to get away from the stares! 'How did Shin and them deal with it!' was all Sena could think as he found refuge in the classroom. He took his seat at the back of the class and awaited the day to begin. Logically, if it began faster it would end faster.

In the end, it as Mark that actually approached Sena. This happened after the teacher finished up in homeroom. Mark had promptly walked towards him, with Sena immediately slouching in his seat and staring at the desk.

"Um, Sena?" Mark asked Sena hesitantly. Sena sighed and steeled himself as he raised his head to meet his classmate's eyes. "Could I... Well, I was hoping…" Mark stumbled, before swallowing and finally saying, "Could you please sign this football!"

And Sena stared at the said football in shock. 'Well,' Sena thought to himself, 'this is a first.'

Sena collapsed into his seat at lunch, garnering worried looks from his friends. He stared at the food in front of him and stabbed a chip viciously and ate it. All the while, he didn't look up from the table as he mumbled in Japanese to himself. "No wonder Agon is always in a bad mood. And why Shin never speaks to people. All you do is encourage them! They become rapid! How did Sakuraba survive? Rapid fan people. And the staring! I would they rather try to recruit me like that did back in Deimon. Why are they making a fuss anyways? They didn't back home when they found out who I am. And it's not like I was the only one that won the cup; they whole team won it. It was all our efforts and dreams and skills. Stupid Americans..."

His friends shared amused looks as they were not oblivious to what was happening around the school and the rumors that were spreading like wildfire. The Hawks had the Eyeshield 21 playing for them.

"It's okay Sena," Max said with a small smile when the younger boy's head snapped up at his voice, "Things will die down. You're just the latest gossip. Give it a week and they will leave you alone."

Sena groaned and his head hit the table. A week! He wasn't going to survive.

Review!

Amira D.