SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 14 goes up and only one review! No one else is reading this fic?

Major: (Looks at caffeine and sugar-high SailorStar9) Dis isn't good...

Wesker: How so?

Major: This place ist held together by her vill...if she snaps...

Hellboy: Oh...Crap.

Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.

Chapter 15: The Intervention Of The Wild Wolf, Kojirou

"Oozora Tsubasa, Misaki Taro and me." Ryo declared to the rest of the team. "The three of us passed the selections test with flying colors."

"Well done!" the rest of the team cheered.

"You guys did your best too." Ryo added. "There was just too much difference in our skill levels. But it's a pity. As your captain, I understand your disappointment. Really."

"Seeing Tsubasa and Misaki pass wasn't too much of a surprise." Masao noted. "But for you, Ishizaki, it's a miracle."

"More like divine intervention." Ami muttered and wracked Ryo on the head with her clipboard. "Ishizaki, you can't afford to take it easy from here on."

"Huh?" Ryo blinked.

"She's right." Misaki agreed. "We're part of the remaining 30 candidates, but only 15 will be chosen for the team."

"Damn, I forgot that." Ryo gaped.

"It sounds scary already." Masao taunted. "And we can tell you that it would be suicide for us. We really should focus the training on you three."

"Everyone." Ryo blinked.

"It's not a problem for Misaki and Tsubasa, but…" Oda voiced.

"The thing is…" Masao added, the boys turning to Ryo.

"What?" Ryo gaped. "What's with that look?"

"Ishizaki, you'll have to train seriously." Masao stated.

"That's right." Tsubasa agreed. "I think you just barely made it."

"I agree." Misaki concurred.

"You're not cool, Tsubasa." Roy pouted. "I know that I'm not at your level."

"Then, it's decided." Oda stated. "We'll focus on training you, Ishizaki."

"What?" Ryo gawked.

"We have a match this weekend." Masao added. "Every other day of the week, we can focus on your training."

"Time to increase the training weights then." Ami mused.

"Wait." Ryo protested.

"What are you doing?" Masao barked as Ryo dribbled the ball as he weaved through the boys who were standing in line. "It's not over yet."

"Faster!" Oda ordered as Ryo passed him.

"Too slow, Ishizaki." Ami scolded, stopping the stopwatch after Ryo finished his run.

"Ami, don't compare me to Tsubasa." Ryo complained. "Let me catch my breath."

"One minute." Ami relented.

"What?" Ryo exclaimed. "That's it? I don't ask for 10 minutes, but give me at least 5. Please."

"30 seconds." Ami shot back, silencing all arguments as Ryo sank to his knees in resignation.

Kowaii, the boys thought in eerie unison, Seriously Kowaii…

"If I manage to get in the top 15, I'll get to play in the Championships." Ryo stated, after the training regime.

"That's not true." Oda corrected. "Last year, Shutetsu won it all alone. And if we give them Tsubasa, Misaki and Ami…"

"We'll definitely win." Ryo finished. "It's cool, Tsubasa. You'll be able to go to Brazil with Roberto as promised."

"It would be great if it was that easy." Misaki voiced.

"What does that mean, Misaki?" Ryo inquired.

"Junior soccer is getting more and more competitive." Misaki replied. "And from what I've heard, there are many strong teams."

"Really?" Ryo echoed.

"Of course, with your Dad's work, you must travel a lot, right?" Ami realized. "You must have made a lot of friends that play soccer."

"Are you sure you're not exaggerating?" Masao was unconvinced.

"No, really." Misaki was certain. "Take, for example, Kujukuri FC in Chiba. They train at the beach every day to improve their legs. They're really fast and hit in the ball at superhuman speeds. The team from Naniwa FC from Osaka are all really tall and master all kinds of aerial attacks. And Hukata FC from Fukuoka train with adults, so they have a lot of experience."

"Wow, that does seem difficult." Ryo noted.

"And we must not forget," Misaki continued.

"What?" Ryo exclaimed. "You're not done yet?"

"The team of Meiwa FC which has already participated in the National Championships." Misaki added.

"Meiwa FC?" Ryo echoed.

"We have to be wary of their formidable ace striker, Hyuuga Kojirou." Misaki cautioned.

"No problem." Ryo declared. "Tsubasa is the only player to ever score a goal against Wakabayashi. He's not afraid of anyone."

"Kojirou huh?" Tsubasa echoed.

"Yes, but you two have very different ways in playing your positions." Misaki nodded. "Your entire playing style, in fact."

"Meiwa FC, Hyuuga Kojirou…" Tsubasa mused.

"Ishizaki, fight." The boys chanted as they paced alongside Ryo on their way home. "Ishizaki, fight."

"Stop the torture." Ryo muttered. "I've dribbled enough for today. I can't do it anymore."

"As if we'd let you do that?" Masao taunted. "Don't you remember what the coach told us? Befriend the ball."

"There's more?" Ryo whined.

"Ah, Wakabayashi and the others." Tsubasa stopped, seeing the approaching Shutetsu team who were on their way back from the training match.

"Tsubasa." Genzo greeted. "You're going back? Oh, Ishizaki is the only one covered with mud."

"Shut up." Ryo snapped. "I'm training for the tryouts."

"You've always had a big mouth, Ishizaki." Genzo remarked.

"Hey, what's that mean?" Ryo retorted.

"Calm down, Ishizaki." Genzo pacified.

"What is it, Wakabayashi?" Ami inquired, seeing the goalkeeper's sudden change in expression.

"Nothing at all." Genzo replied, hiding the pain in his ankle, having injured himself during the training match. "How about we encourage Ishizaki too?" he told his team.

"They should mind their own business." Ryo complained as the Shutetsu team joined in.

"Well, you were the one who said 'anything'." Ami pointed out.

"You don't have to remind me." Ryo pouted. "I'll show them." He promised. "I will be chosen. You'll see."

Wakabayashi Genzo. Hyuuga grinned, once everyone else were out of earshot. The genius keeper. I will test your strength.

The next day…

After the initial warm up, the boys were divided into two teams to decide on the final 15.

"Good." Hyuuga rose from the bench. "I'll join them too. Is that you, Wakabayashi?" he voiced from behind the goalpost.

"Who are you?" Genzo demanded.

"Meiwa FC, Hyuuga Kojirou." Hyuuga introduced himself.

"Hyuuga Kojirou?" Genzo echoed.

Jumping on top of the goalpost, Hyuuga leapt into the field. "I challenge you, Wakabayashi Genzo." He declared.

"What?" Genzo growled as Hyuuga took off, snatching the ball away Teppei.

"Who is he?" Tsubasa wondered as Hyuuga headed straight towards Genzo.

"Kojirou…" Misaki breathed.

"What?" Tsubasa echoed. "It's him, Hyuuga Kojirou?"

"Captain, he…" Mamoru started as Hyuuga ran past him.

"I accept his challenge." Genzo voiced.

"I knew you would understand, genius keeper, Wakabayashi." Hyuuga continued his run.

"He's running towards the goal." Tsubasa remarked, Hyuuga having pushed the Shutetsu defenders away. "He's dribbling aggressively and with such power."

"Yes." Misaki concurred. "You play technically, but he plays with force."

"Here I come, Wakabayashi." Hyuuga declared, having gotten past Takasugi. "I want to see your genius keeper talent with my own eyes." And fired his shot outside the penalty box.

"Wakabayashi, stop it." Tsubasa shouted.

"It's in." Teppei gaped when Genzo let the ball fly past him, the ball entering the net.

"It seems that my shot has paralyzed you." Hyuuga smirked.

"I can't let him…" Tsubasa cursed.

"Tsubasa." Misaki stopped him. "Don't show him your skill yet. Wait for your time."

"Misaki?" Hyuuga noticed the other player. "Is that really you, Misaki?"

"Kojirou, you haven't changed at all." Misaki remarked.

"Neither have you." Hyuuga added. "Still following your father during his travels?"

"No, this time, I'll stay a bit longer." Misaki replied.

"Good, since everyone's gathered, I'll make my announcement." Hyuuga looked around. "It's my team, Meiwa FC, that will win the National Championships this year. If you're lucky, we'll see each other again. See you, Misaki." He took off.

If you came for to gather information about us, you've failed, Kojirou. Misaki mused. You don't know that we've got Oozora Tsubasa on our team.

"Captain." The Shutetsu players clustered around Genzo, taking off after the goalkeeper who had walked off.

"Get to the hospital to have that ankle checked." Ami advised as Genzo walked past her. "I'm not blind or stupid not to notice you attempting to hide that injury." She added, unfazed at Genzo's glare. "Team manageress' orders." She cracked a grin.

"Only you Mizuno, only you." Genzo smirked.

After practice…

"Hey, Captain!" Masao shouted, noticing the Shutetsu team walking back with the four Nankatsu pre-teens.

"What?" Tsubasa echoed, after the team told them. "You saw Wakabayashi leaving the hospital?"

"It appears that I've lost." Genzo snorted, confronted by the group.

"Is that why you didn't react to Hyuuga's shot?" Ryo inquired.

"No." Genzo corrected. "I don't think I would have been able to stop it anyway. His shot was great."

"Wakabayashi…" Tsubasa trailed.

"My wound isn't that bad." Genzo scoffed. "I'll pay him back during the Championships. And I don't want to shatter your dream, Tsubasa."

"Wakabayashi." Tsubasa beamed.

Back in the present …

"Mataku…" Ami muttered in annoyance as the three teens flopped on their backs in the middle of the field in exhaustion, wet towels already on standby. "Boys, stubborn hotheads, the lot of them."

"I think we bit off more than we could chew." Kaltz breathed as one of the towels Ami tossed at them landed on his face.

"We're gluttons for pain that's for sure." Schneider opined, earning a few looks from his companions. "What? Everyone can make a food joke but me now?" he removed the towel from his face.

"No…" Genzo began uncertainly, sweatdropping as a weak grin stretched across his face. "It's just…we never took you for the type."

"Philistines." Schneider growled, earning a round of chuckles from the group.

"Remind me again why I put up with you three?" Ami joked, arms akimbo.

"Because you love us." Genzo smirked.

Orochimaru: Kukuku…

Wesker: How'd you get here anyways?

Orochimaru: I thought I'd look into your little experiment (Shivers at the monitor) That looks painful

Kakashi: Obito! What are you-THOSE ARE MY PANTS!

Nem-ito: URRRRRR!

Kakashi: YEAAARGHLEPLEGHGHGLARGHLE#&#-!

Orochimaru: ...kinky!

Wesker: You stay away from me freak.

R&R or Nem-ito will come for you!