SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 11 goes up and only one review! No one else is reading this fic? And, for those who requested, we will be leveling off on the character bashing.
Kakashi: Yay!
BRATATATATATATATATATA!
SailorStar9: (Nods at Big Boss, who lowers the patriot) Just not too soon. (Smirks)
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
Chapter 12: The Birth of An Explosive Duo
"Wakabayashi…" Tsubasa blinked at the defeated goalkeeper, before it was announced that the match would be decided via extended time.
On the bench…
"Well done, Tsubasa." Roberto remarked.
"Thanks." Tsubasa nodded.
"But you really surprised me." Roberto admitted. "Seeing you using the overhead kick after the ball bounced off that you only saw once. And also, even if it was pure luck, you managed it during a match. You are really impressive."
"To be honest, I find it hard to believe too." Tsubasa confessed. "I tried to copy you during the training, and when the ball hit the bar, I jumped without thinking."
"Yes." Roberto nodded.
"Extra time?" Ryo echoed. "It won't be easy."
"Ishizaki, is your leg okay?" Tsubasa asked.
"Oh, that's right." Masao noted. "The captain's leg got wounded when he cut Shutetsu's pass."
"This is nothing at all." Ryo assured. "I saw worse things than that. Look." He demonstrated a kick, only to wince at the pain.
"Ishizaki!" the team hurried over.
On the field…
"Damn, we Shutetsu, having so many problems." Taki cursed.
"Don't say that." Mamoru chided. "If we managed to contain Tsubasa a little more by playing by the clock, we would have won."
"Sorry, Captain." Teppei apologized.
"Captain…" Mamoru blinked as Genzo stood up.
"It's over." Genzo declared and walked off.
On the Nankatsu bench…
"Seriously…" Ami sighed, the first aid box on the grass as Roberto removed Ryo's shoe. "You'll have to see a doctor for this." She advised, feeling Ryo's ankle, causing the injured player to wince.
"You won't be able to play the extra-time?" Masao wondered.
"Don't say silly things." Ryo scolded. "It's not like this kind of scratch which will make me…"
"You can't say such things." Ami chided.
"It wouldn't be reasonable." Misaki cut in. "You shouldn't force yourself, you may have a sprain."
"Who are you?" Ryo wondered as Ami sat him down once more. "What are you doing?" he exclaimed.
"This is really a sprain." Ami concluded, removing his sock. "You should recover in around 3 days. But you are lucky you don't seem to have a fracture."
"Who are you?" Tsubasa repeated Ryo's question.
"My name is Misaki Taro." Misaki replied.
"But how will we do?" Ami pondered. "Our team is exactly composed of 11 players. If the captain has to go out, we won't…"
"And me, could I replace you?" Misaki requested.
"You?" Tsubasa echoed.
"Yes." Misaki nodded.
"You aren't from Nankatsu either." Ryo reminded. "I never saw you."
"I'm from Nankatsu." Misaki confirmed. "I moved in today."
"You are a new student?" Masao blinked.
"What is this?" Ami muttered. "'The Term of Transfer Students'?"
"Then you are really from Nankatsu, even if you are new." Ryo noted.
"But do you really know how to play soccer?" Ami inquired.
"A bit." Misaki replied. "Well…" he took a nearby ball under his foot and started heading the ball on his head.
"Tsubasa, did you see his ball control?" Ryo was awed.
"Yes, superb." Tsubasa agreed.
"Yes, it's decided." Roberto declared. "Ishizaki's substitute would be Misaki Taro."
On the Shutetsu bench…
"Captain…" Mamoru voiced as Genzo picked up his bag to leave.
"As I said before the match, the bet of this match was to see if Tsubasa could score a goal on me." Genzo stated. "And I lost this duel. Those extra-times have no meaning for me. The match is already over."
"Wait, Wakabayashi." The coach voiced.
"Captain!" the team pleaded.
"Coach Mikami…" Genzo gasped when his trainer slapped him across the face, sending him to the ground.
"I have enough of your spoiled kid attitude, Genzo." Mikami barked. "'The match is over'? Look." He turned to the Nankatsu bench. "Stop being so proud, Genzo. You won't only lose against Oozora Tsubasa. Do you also want to lose to the efforts of your training and to all of Shutetsu who trusted you until now? If this is what you want, alright. But Genzo, I don't ever want to see you again."
On the Nankatsu bench…
"Understand?" Roberto addressed the team. "Follow the formation I explained to you just now."
"Yes." The team chorused.
"Misaki, I'm counting on you to assist Tsubasa." Roberto turned to the new addition.
"Yes, Cooch." Misaki nodded.
"Misaki." Tsubasa looked at his new partner.
On the Shutetsu bench…
"It's true that I lost my duel against Tsubasa." Genzo admitted. "But, first of all, I'm Shutetsu's captain."
"Captain." Mamoru breathed in relief.
"Forgive me, guys." Genzo apologized. "I woke up. We'll win this match. Understand? Starting from now, we'll show them the true soccer of Shutetsu."
"Yes!" the team chorused.
"Okay, let's go." Genzo declared.
On the field,..
Both teams returned to the turf.
Wakabayashi… Tsubasa mused as the whistle came on.
"Come, Tsubasa." Genzo remarked and the match started.
"Tsubasa." Misaki passed the ball to Tsubasa who then fired the shot, only to have Genzo save the ball.
"That was close." Misaki admitted once he and Tsubasa returned to their posts.
"Wakabayashi is really strong." Tsubasa noted.
"Damn, what does that mean?" Teppei cursed.
"After Tsubasa, a new unknown player is making his appearance in Nankatsu." Taki added.
"And, he's not an ordinary player." Mamoru remarked.
That Misaki is rather good. Genzo mused. "Cheer up, guys." He encouraged. "Whoever the opponent is, there is no need to panic. We just need to play our soccer and everything will be fine. Show them what Shutetsu's secret technique is worth."
"Yes." The team chorused.
"Go!" Genzo tossed the ball.
Misaki intercepted the pass Mamoru made to Taki, cutting off the Shutetsu's series of passes. "Tsubasa." He called.
"Yes." Tsubasa caught up with Misaki.
On the bench…
"That's great, Coach." Ryo was amazed. "We are completely imposing our pace in the extra-time. They are fantastic."
"Yes, this is unexpected." Roberto admitted. "But things are turning out good."
"Tsubasa and Misaki." Ryo added. "As long as they are here, Nankatsu can't lose."
"If only I knew that thing would turn out like that, I would have preferred to see you wounded before." Roberto joked.
"That's not nice, Coach." Ryo complained.
At this rate, maybe, just maybe… Ami flipped to the last page of her clipboard, the 'Golden Triangle' battle plan already sketched out.
On the field…
Tsubasa and Misaki had already penetrated the Shutetsu field after making a series of passes to each other.
"Nakamoto, don't look after both of them." Genzo barked. "Focus your marking on only one. Takasugi, Shimada, more to the left. Nakamoto, keep marking Tsubasa like this."
"Misaki, it's your turn." Tsubasa stated, having passed the ball to Misaki.
"Okay." Misaki made the shot, only to have Genzo dive to save the ball.
"It was really a perfect shot though." Tsubasa noted as the whistle sounded, signaling the end of the first-half.
After a five-minute interval, the teams returned to the field, starting with Nankatsu's kick-off.
It was not long before Shutetsu claimed possession of the ball, with Mamoru, Taki and Teppei using their usual combo.
Teppei, gaining possession of the ball, fired his shot, only to have the goalkeeper deflect the ball.
"Damn!" Teppei cursed as Taki took the corner-kick.
Takasugi claimed the ball, scoring a goal; the force of the shot was too powerful for the goalkeeper to block it.
"Captain, there isn't much time remaining." Mamoru pointed out. "What do we do?"
"We keep the ball to let the time pass, the 'birdcage'?" Teppei suggested.
"Is it really what you want?" Genzo inquired. "Won't you have any regrets if we win this way?
"Captain?" Mamoru blinked.
"Besides, that tactic has already been broken." Genzo reminded. "Let's do more than just protecting this goal, let's ensure our victory by scoring another goal." He decided.
"Yes, you're right." The team agreed.
"Tsubasa." Misaki nodded.
"Yes, we will equalize." Tsubasa promised. "Let's go!"
Back in the present…
"So, that was what happened." Ami remarked amusedly. "I was wondering since when did your tenacity for victory shift away from Bas."
"Good thing Coach Mikami gave me a reality check." Genzo agreed. "Otherwise, we won't be as we are right now." He nuzzled her neck, before giving her a love-bite.
SailorStar9: Wait... where's Kakashi?
Wesker: Oh, were you still using him? I had him sent to the lab.
In a dimly lit laboratory, a tall, thin man with long limbs and bizarre spectacles leered down at the remains of Kakashi and held up his surgically gloved, six fingered hands.
Doc: A Vunderfull specimen...let Ze operation begin!
Kakashi corpse: ...
R&R, or no more Kakashi Pwnage.