SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 27 goes up and only one review!

SailorStar9: Kakashi (Jounin flinches) What are you doing?

Kakashi: (Blinks, eyes the surroundings warily) You're not going to hurt me?

SailorStar9: (Shrugs)

(Eye watery, Kakashi holds out a hand towards his onetime tormentor. The second their hands tighten around one another, a bandaged fist rams into his face, sending him flying into the wall.)

SailorStar9: (shakes her head in disbelief) I can't believe he's that stupid...(turns her head to the Shinnigami of the Muay Thai underworld) Good job Appachai, have a cookie.

Appachai: (eyes white circles) APA!

Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.

Chapter 28: Golden Combo Returns

In France…

"We're here." Ryo stated, once they arrived at the airport. "Our final destination, France."

"I'm hungry." Jito complained.

"If it's French food, I'll eat double." Ryo boasted.

"If it's rice, I can eat five times as much." Jito bragged.

"The game will be held in 5 days." Mikami cut off the laughter. "Today is day off. Rest your bodies. We'll break when we get to the hotel."

"You're all here." Katagiri voiced.

"Katagiri, did you see Misaki?" Ami asked.

"I asked him to join the team." Katagiri replied. "But he seems to have doubts."

"Misaki's having doubts?" Tsubasa echoed. What doubts? He mused, both cousins looking at each other.

By a pier later…

"Telling me to rest, I can't calm down." Tsubasa took off to the city. "It's FL Tower." He noted as the tower came into view. "It's huge."

"Tsubasa." Misaki stopped in his tracks, seeing Tsubasa in the distance. "Tsubasa." He hurried over.

"Misaki." Both partners on the field met. "Long time no see, Misaki."

"I've been in France for the last 3 years." Misaki started, once they settled down. "I kept up with soccer. But I haven't gone through any formal training. If I join the team, I might drag them down."

"Misaki…" Tsubasa blinked.

"When the both of you first met, you two worked so well together." Ami stated. "It shouldn't have changed."

"Ami…" Misaki turned to the team physician.

"Ami is right." Tsubasa agreed. "Let's play soccer again."

The next day…

"Nice to meet you." Misaki greeted the team. "I am Misaki Taro."

"Misaki, long time no see." Ryo beamed.

"Tsubasa, Misaki, the long awaited reunion." Mikami remarked. "Let me see how you pass."

"Tsubasa and Misaki." Ryo stated, once the reunited duo took the field. "The duo spent 5 years apart."

"Will they still work as well as they did before?" Mamoru wondered.

"Is Misaki that good?" Jito voiced.

"Just see." Ryo grinned.

"Here goes, Misaki." Tsubasa started.

Without a single cue, the pair started dribbling and passing.

"That's fast." Mamoru gawked. "It's been 5 years."

"Passing the ball in that speed and maintaining it." Even Jito was stunned. "Amazing."

"Of course." Ryo agreed. "That's why they're the 'Golden Combo'."

"Misaki, the last ball." Tsubasa made the final pass as they headed towards the goalpost.

"Okay." Misaki made a goal with a header.

"Nice shot, Misaki." Tsubasa beamed.

"Nice pass, Tsubasa." Misaki nodded.

"Alright, you guys." Ryo cheered.

"They're still the best duo." Genzo noted.

"Tsubasa's run has improved." Misugi remarked.

"It's correct to have Misaki come." Ami agreed.

"Now, that's Tsubasa." Misaki stated. "5 years. You gave me a scare. It's hard enough trying to keep up with Tsubasa."

"Me too." Tsubasa concurred. "We'll just have to make the combo work during the game."

"The World Youth Cup begins tomorrow." Mikami addressed the team. "Everyone, you must do well as representatives of Japan."

The next day…

The World Youth Cup officially began with the Japan vs. Italy match as the opening game.

In the locker room…

"Oozora Tsubasa, you're the captain." Mikami told the team.

"Me?" Tsubasa echoed.

"Tsubasa, you've led this team here." Matsuyama reminded.

"We all agree." Genzo voiced.

"And there you have it, the unanimous vote, Tsubasa." Ami grinned.

"You guys…" Tsubasa trailed.

"Tsubasa goes well with the word 'captain'." Ryo beamed once Tsubasa took over the captain armband.

"Also," Mikami added. "And, Misugi Jun, who took the place of a coach, will be participating as a player. There's a time limit. Let's do it."

"We must win the game against Italy today." Hyuuga swore. "We'll make them regret cancelling the game."

"We must win the preliminary against Italy." Tsubasa agreed. "We must win."

On the field…

"Bastard." Ryo cursed, taking after the ball as the Italian players penetrated the defense.

Wakashimazu saved the ball from being headed into the net. "The counterattack begins." He told the team, passing the ball to Tsubasa.

Here goes. Tsubasa bypassed the Italian forwards and feinted the mid-fielders.

"Tsubasa." Soda warned.

"Watch out." Masao cautioned.

Tsubasa was knocked to the ground by the two players marking him, the referee pausing the game, calling for the obvious foul.

"Are you okay?" Sawada asked.

"I'm fine." Tsubasa stood back up. "Not yet. Not yet." He sat back up, having been fallen to the ground by a player's outstretched foot, the referee calling for another foul.

It was not long before Italy pulled its third foul, all against Tsubasa.

"Tsubasa." Matsuyama started.

"They're targeting Tsubasa." Ryo growled.

"There's the chance." Tsubasa stood back up. "We have a lock on the goal from here."

"But they know about Tsubasa's 'Drive Shot'." Ryo reminded.

"So, Matsuyama." Tsubasa started.

Matsuyama nodded in realization and the Japan team prepared for the free kick.

After pulling a bluff on the defending Italian players, Tsubasa ran over the ball, giving Matsuyama the cue.

"Got it." Matsuyama took the shot. "Go. 'Eagle Shot'!"

"Alright, it worked." Ryo beamed as the ball skidded across the grass, only to have Hernandez catch the ball with a hand.

The Italian keeper tossed the ball out to Tsubasa.

I accept the challenge. Tsubasa took on the challenge. Try catching it if you can.

"Tsubasa." Misaki beamed as Tsubasa fired his shot.

"Okay, attack." Ryo cheered.

Hernandez caught the ball with a hand, the force forcing him backwards. Unable to stop the ball from spinning, he stabilized the ball with his other hand, stopping the ball just before the goal line.

"Tsubasa's 'Drive Shot'…" Wakashimazu gaped.

"He caught it." Even Genzo was stunned.

I must beat it this time. Tsubasa swore, heading back.

"Okay." Nita caught Sawada's pass and fired his shot, only to have Hernandez save the ball. "Man!" he cursed.

With the referee's whistle, the first half ended.

On the bench…

"Alright, everyone." Mikami stated.

"It's not working." Ryo sighed.

"And he's even catching Tsubasa's 'Drive Shot'." Masao added.

"'Drive Shot' is not the only thing I've got." Tsubasa reminded. "Our time begins now."

"Yes, that's right." Hyuuga agreed.

"Italy's defense is strong." Tsubasa admitted. "It's now a battle for points. Let's work harder in the latter half."

On the field…

The referee's whistle sounded, signaling the start of the second half.

Sawada was tripped by Italy's slide-tackle.

Making quick passes, Italy skillfully dissolved the Japan's defense line.

"I won't let you." Soda swore as he and Jito dashed forward. "Take that." his slide-tackle diffusing the Italian's onslaught.

Jito got the pass and the two defenders went on the attack.

Hernandez ran out of his post to counter the high pass Jito made.

"Leave him to me." Hyuuga told Tsubasa. "Go save the ball."

"Okay." Tsubasa replied, as Hernandez and Hyuuga fought over the ball in the air, with Hernandez saving the ball. Hernandez let the ball drop the referee called a fourth foul.

Tsubasa jumped into the air to get the ball when Hernandez made a long pass over Tsubasa's head.

"Oh no." Soda gasped.

"Bastard." Wakashimazu cursed, running out of his post as the Italian team diffused Matsuyama and Ryo's defense.

With a rapid pass, Italy scored a goal into the defenseless net.

"They did it." Wakashimazu punched the grass in frustration.

"They have a point." Tsubasa remarked. "Italy is still strong."

On the bench…

"Misaki." Mikami stated.

At the cue, Misaki stood up. I haven't seen you guys in 5 years. I'm afraid I'd drag you down, so that's why I haven't joined you. But I… I still want to play soccer with Tsubasa and the others. And I want to win.

On the field…

"Misaki." Tsubasa beamed when Kazou was substituted by Misaki.

Tsubasa, everyone. Misaki promised. I will do my best. Okay, here goes. He caught Tsubasa's pass.

Omake

You'd Hit It

Naruto had just run into a strange boy on his way to the training grounds.

He looked a lot like Sasuke, actually; or maybe just Sasuke's head on Ino's body.

"Ewugh," Naruto shuddered at the mental image. They would definitely be leaving the lights on tonight.

Thank God he didn't have the Sharingan, at least. There's a blessing. Or any clones active, for that matter.

Still, he might have to strategically offend Sakura later, to kill off the more recalcitrant and uncooperative brain cells that insisted on remembering.

A little something he liked to call, 'Plan 'B'."

(Naruto couldn't recall precisely when he had decided that would be an effective tactic for ridding his mind of unwanted memories; nor why it had seemed like a good idea at the time; nor the frantic objections raised by the Fox. What he could remember was 'Ramen', and 'Orange', and… umm, something with a 'P'…)

While Naruto was lost in… thought, the other boy attacked.

"Chōjū Giga!" he shouted, channelling chakra into his technique.

"AAAARGH!" Naruto screamed, jumping back as far as he could. "WHAT THE HELL ARE THOSE?"

"Oops, sorry," Sai tittered, blushing prettily. "Wrong notebook."

Dispelling the extremely detailed, 10-foot tall, purple… apparitions, Sai stowed away his 'Life Drawing 101b: The Male Nude' sketchpad.

"Can I have a 'do-over'?" the metrosexual boy asked demurely, flashing his creepy eye-smile.

SailorStar9: So I'm looking at the (open source) Narutopedia page on Sai , and as part of his back-story it says:

"Sai came to think of Shin as an older brother and looked up to him. Eventually, his 'brother' died of an unnamed illness, and Sai's Root training suppressed most of the memories he had of his brother. Before Shin's death, Sai was making a picture book that would depict all the opponents that they faced and illustrate the feelings that they shared for each other. Sai's and Shin's portraits are located at opposite ends of the book, and in the centre pages would be a picture of both him and his brother holding hands. He had forgotten that this was his intention, but after bonding with Naruto Uzumaki he remembers and is able to complete the book, causing Sai to give the first genuine display of emotion in a long time: a smile."

What the hell? I thought the whole point was that Sai killed Shin -kind of like the Mist Graduation Exam- and that was why he had suppressed the memory. Has somebody (cough-Kishimoto-cough) gone back and pussified the whole manga?