SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 42 goes up and only one review!
Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.
SailorStar9: Normally, by this point, I'd have brutally maimed Kakashi in several sordid, crowd pleasing ways. But he's still...attending...to Halibel-sama's Fraccion, and I'm not getting in the way of their Nookie. Let's just say there's a reason Nnoitra's wearing that eye-patch...and it's not entirely because of his hollow hole.
Halibel: Too right, that's for my eyes only.
SailorStar9: To summarize: I won nothing, there, happy now?
Halibel: You review-whore.
SailorStar9: Guilty, as charged.
Kakashi: THAT'S AN OUT HOLE! AN OUT HO-...(sound reaches a pitch beyond human hearing)!
Sun-Sun: Oh my...he was right.
Chapter 42: Battle Against the Rivals
After the narrow draw against Holland, the team returned to their respective club teams for retraining; Misaki headed back to France, Genzo back to Germany and Aoi back to Italy. Tsubasa headed off to Hawaii to train with Masao and his teacher, whilst Hyuuga, Sawada and Wakashimazu went to pay their first sensei a visit in Okinawa.
Time passes...
"Tsubasa." Genzo took the long-distance call from Spain. "I thought the game is almost finished. So, what's the score?"
"I didn't make it." Tsubasa admitted.
"You said you didn't make it?" Genzo blinked. "You idiot!" he scolded. "You made that double hat trick and four secondary attacks. How dare you say you didn't make it? If the opposing goalkeeper heard that, he would be mad and cry."
"Sorry." Tsubasa chuckled. "But I made a promise with you already."
"Even in the Second League, it's still professional." Genzo reminded. "It's not so simple, but it should not stop you getting 10 goals and 10 assists in one game."
"That's true." Tsubasa noted.
"With your condition, you will reach soon." Genzo remarked. "It's a deal for completing the test in one year."
"Yeah, I will make it in the next game." Tsubasa promised.
"That's right, you have to get back to the Major League." Genzo agreed. "I will be the next one." he hung up the phone. "I won't let you score in tomorrow's game, Schneider.", snapping his wrist weight.
"That's the fifth one you broke this month, you know that?" Ami sighed, entering the living room with a glass bowl of salad.
"Sorry about that." Genzo turned to his legally -married wife.
"But that's Bas for you, always have to be the overachiever." Ami joked. "And I think your muscles are complaining. So, shut up and eat." she stabbed a cherry tomato with a fork.
"Yes madam." Genzo grinned, biting into the vegetable.
"Remind me again why I married you?" Ami's eyes twinkled in jest.
"Very funny." Genzo snorted, taking the bowl from her hands and settling it on the coffee table. "And as for the reminder..." he smirked and pulled his wife onto his lap.
What happened next is up to the readers' imagination because anything more will up the rating of this fic.
The next day...
The Gruenbald vs. Routburg match started with Gruenbald kicking off. It was not long before Schneider stole the ball. Bypassing the defenders, he paused before the penalty area.
Wakabayashi, this is a greeting. Schneider fired his shot.
Reading the ball's course, Genzo saved the ball.
"Only a greeting?" Genzo snorted. "You're too relaxed, Schneider. That's why we have to go all out from the beginning.", and sent the ball out from within the penalty area.
With the forwards heavily marked, Kaltz dashed towards the air-borne ball. Taking to the air, Kaltz sent the ball into the Routburg net.
From now on, it's our time to see who's the winner. Genzo mused.
It's my fault. Schneider admitted. I think it's not necessary to greet you with sincerity. But let me return you this present. The game is just starting. I'll give you another one next time. You better get ready. "To take the storm-like shoots." he barked, firing his shot minutes later.
"I won't let you." Genzo dived to save the ball.
"Being defeated by the score makes them more serious." Kaltz remarked, Genzo saving shot after shot.
I won't let you shoot in. Genzo promised, saving yet another ball.
What? Schneider blinked when Kaltz kicked out the passed ball.
"After I got the goal, what I'll do is straightforward." Kaltz grinned. "To stick to you closely."
"Kaltz, I didn't think there would be a day that I would be marked by you." Schneider admitted.
"That's true." Kaltz agreed. "At that time, I also never thought about it, Schneider."
"At that time when we were in the Gruenbald Junior, we were undefeatable." Schneider reminisced. "Kaltz, you sink into the pass too deep." he reminded.
"What did you say?" Kaltz turned to find himself away from the goalpost.
"Batin, move the ball to the goal." Schneider told his teammate.
"I'll leave it to you." Batin made the pass, Schneider and Kaltz charging towards the flying ball.
Come on, Schneider. Genzo readied himself, catching the ball with a hand.
Junquan closed in, attempting to score a goal with Genzo rested his other hand on the still turning ball, the two players clashing head-on into the goal pillar.
The referee's whistle sounded, signaling a foul, before sounding a second time, marking the end of the first half.
After intermission, the second half started.
This is... Genzo realized the change in strategy as Routburg made succession passes. They change the tactic. "What?" he gasped, his eyes following the ball, before noticing Junquan in front of him.
"There!" Junquan spotted a gap and fired his shot.
"Damn!" Genzo dived, knocking the ball off course.
"What will you do, Kaltz?" Schneider inquired, Routburg having earned the corner kick.
"Shut up." Kaltz snapped. "Damn!" he dashed towards the ball.
"I won't let you." Kaltz slid to block off Batin's pass to Junquan.
Spotting the pass to Schneider, Genzo made his move.
"Sorry, Gen-sen." Kaltz muttered, Schneider having evened the score. "It's because that I didn't keep a close watch on him."
"Everyone, the game is just starting right now." Genzo reminded. "We're only in a tie, we have not yet lost. The real match starts right now. What?" he gaped when Gruenbald swapped two players in at once to mark Batin and Junquan. Damn. He cursed, saving a shot. Such a tactic of tying. What we should do in soccer is to try your best to get scores.
"Minba, pass the ball to me." Schneider broke free of Kaltz. "Let me shoot."
"I won't let you get the ball." Kaltz swore as Minba made the pass.
Genzo punched the falling ball off course before Schneider made his shot.
"It's a boring game." Schneider remarked, Gruenbald having cleared the ball. "Wakabayashi, although I expected to compete with you, I never knew why the result would be that. It's a pity."
"Kaltz." Genzo gaped when Kaltz hammered a kick to Schneider's thigh.
"Schneider, you speak too many fine words today." Kaltz barked. "Neither do we want to kick in such a eluded way."
"Stop, Kaltz." Genzo pulled him back.
"Let me go, Gen-sen." Kaltz insisted. "Schneider, a man like you who kicks the ball so carelessly, has no right to say that."
"Stop, Kaltz." Genzo warned. "I know how you feel, just calm down."
The referee sounded his whistle, pulling out a red card.
"I'm alright." Kaltz relented. "Sorry, Gen-sen."
Off-side...
Kaltz sank to the ground, having been sent off. "Sorry, Gen-sen. I caused trouble to the team."
"He doesn't blame you, Kaltz." Ami assured, handing the upset player a sports drink. "Genzo, he knows you didn't mean it."
"You came." Kaltz blinked, taking the can.
"Just came back from the gynecologist." Ami replied. "Guess we'll be holding the wedding sooner than we thought."
On the field...
"Don't give up." Genzo told the team. "Let them know the duel spirit of Gruenbald."
With his encouragement, Gruenbald fought over the ball against Routburg, dragging the game until injury time.
The ball fell underneath Schneider's feet and Schneider prepared to shoot.
Genzo dived, saving Schneider's outside-the-penalty-area shot. "Go!" he kicked the ball out.
The whistle sounded after Domado was knocked to the ground, signaling a foul.
"Move!" Genzo hollered, dashing out of the goalpost. "Go!" he took the free kick.
Off-side...
"Oh no." Ami gaped when Junquan blocked out the shot.
"Gen-sen, get back quickly." Kaltz barked.
On the field...
Taking the chance of the undefended goalpost, Schneider dashed towards the falling ball, just as Genzo hurried back to the goalpost.
I won't give up. Genzo dived towards the ball just as Schneider fired his shot. I must block this shot. His last ditch of effort proved useless when the ball shot into the net, millimeters away from his outstretched hand.
The whistle then sounded, signaling the end of the match and Routburg's victory.
Omake
Behind the scenes of Naruto, Part Seven
Sakura jogged to Sasuke's dressing. It was vital that she spent time with before Ino came back. As the pink haired ninja quickly made her way to where the dressing rooms were she spotted a black heap on the floor. Puzzled, she bent down to investigate. It was Sasuke's older brother, Itachi. He was unconscious and next to him was a shattered flower vase.
Sakura grabbed hold of Itachi's collar and started to shake him frantically. "Hey! Hey! Wake up! Wake up!" Sakura slapped the unconscious guy trying to bring him back to his senses.
Itachi suddenly opened his eyes. "No more rubber duckies!" He screamed.
"Rubber duckies? What the heck are you talking about! I found you having a nap on the floor! Now exactly what were you doing?" Sakura let go Itachi and stood watching him.
Itachi knelt on the floor trying to remember what happened. "Sasuke. He hit me with a flower vase." Itachi said softly as he rubbed his sore head. "He said there was a green polka-dotted kangaroo eating my blueberry muffins!" He exclaimed as he picked himself off the floor.
"Rubber duckies? Green polka-dotted kangaroos? I think you lost your marbles!" Sakura exclaimed.
"My marbles?" Itachi searched his pockets. "Don't worry my marbles are right here!" Itachi opened his hand and revealed to Sakura four shiny marbles. "I still have my marbles! This is Chi Chi, Cha Cha, Chu Chu, and Sasuke!" Itachi exclaimed happily as he lifted each marble and showed them to Sakura.
Sakura stared at Itachi. "Right...well I got to see Sasuke." Sakura turned around and went on her way.
"Wait! If your going to Sasuke's room take me with you!" Itachi pleaded.
Sakura turned around, thought to herself, and shrugged. "I guess if you really want to." Itachi walked to where Sakura was and they headed to meet Sasuke.
Near the upturned food table...
A wet Kiba stood silent next to the messy table. He still couldn't forget his encounter with Shino's machine gun. He had seen his life flash before his eyes, before he was drenched with holy water.
"Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!" Suddenly Gaara ran by screaming his head off.
"Wait for me!" Kankurou exclaimed as he chased after Gaara.
Gaara would have probably ran around the Naruto set the whole day, but as he ran near the food table he slipped on a banana. Gaara fell on the floor face down. Kankurou tried to stop himself but he was too late. He tripped over his brother and landed on top of him.
Kiba snapped out of his trance as Gaara and Kankurou fell to the floor. What the heck was Gaara screaming about? Kiba knelt in front of the Gaara and Kankurou. "Why were screaming?" He asked Gaara.
"The boogieman! He's under Kankurou's bed! He sucked me in! He tried to eat me!" Gaara yelled hysterically.
"The boogieman?" Kiba thought to himself as he helped Kankurou up.
"It was horrible!" Gaara exclaimed as he took Kiba's hand and pulled himself off of the floor.
"Oh my gosh! Maybe it's George!" Kiba yelled happily. "What did you see?"
"Actually I didn't see anything. I was too busy dying!" Gaara shouted wildly. He still seemed affected by the encounter with the boogieman.
"Let's go to Kankurou's room! Maybe the monster is my pet chicken George." Kiba said excitedly.
Worry filled Gaara's face as he looked at Kiba. "Are you sure? I mean it was horrible and scary!"
"Well if it's George then I'll be able to get him out of the bed! Then Kankurou won't be bothered by the boogieman again!" Kiba exclaimed.
Gaara stared at his brother. It was his duty to protect in brother and if that meant playing with the monster under his bed then he would do it. Gaara gulped to himself and nodded.
Gaara, Kankurou, and Kiba made their way to Kankurou's room. They had to find out if the boogieman was really Kiba's pet chicken George.
Some dark corner of the Naruto set...
Neji was still wrestling with the scarf that Shikamaru had made for him. "Get if off of me! Help!" He choked out.
As Shikamaru stood there he seemed to be filled with joy. He watched in admiration as Neji continued to roll on the floor. "I'm so glad that you liked my gift, Neji!"
"Shikamaru! Shikamaru!" Shikamaru turned to see who had called him. A wet Ino and Chouji was approaching him.
"Shikamaru it's time for our scene!" Ino yelled as she went to where Shikamaru was. An annoyed Chouji also made his way to where they were standing.
Ino stopped what she was saying when she saw Neji rolling in the floor. Chouji, Shikamaru, and Ino stood in a line facing Neji. There heads followed as Neji rolled. Left. Right. Left. Right. Left. Right. Finally Ino got back to her senses. "Shikamaru I don't want to know what the heck to did to him, but we got to go to the stage right now."
"Yeah. I mean we've been looking around the stupid stage for you." Chouji grumbled.
Shikamaru stared at Ino and Chouji. "Alright then. Let's go!" The he turned his attention from his teammates to Neji. "Don't worry Neji I'll come back when I'm finished with my scene."
Ino, Chouji, and Shikamaru left the Neji and went to the stage.
Neji was left rolling on the floor still trying to get the scarf off his neck. "Help me! I can't breathe!" Neji screamed with difficulty. He continued to claw at the yellow scarf as he rolled on the floor.
Suddenly two dark figures approached the paranoid boy. "We might as well help him." Neji recognized that voice. It was Hinata and besides her was Tenten. They were both sipping ice mochas. Tenten shrugged, knelt down, and took off the scarf with one hard jerk.
"So what now?" Tenten asked as he stood up. Neji was lying on the floor panting. He could finally breathe properly.
Hinata took a another sip from her straw and contemplated on it. "Wanna slap him unconscious?" Hinata asked Tenten calmly.
"How about not." Tenten replied as she watched Neji on the floor.
Hinata shrugged as she played with her straw. "What are we going to do hypnotize him?" Hinata asked half-serious.
Tenten considered it and turned to Hinata. "How do you suppose we could do that?"
SailorStar9: What will happen on Itachi and Sakura's visit to Sasuke? Is George the boogieman? How will Tenten and Hinata hypnotize Neji? Tune in next time... Well, the anime part is over; next stop, the International Cup and the start of the manga part.