Dragon's mistake

by Star Mirage

The standard disclaimer - Slam Dunk belongs to Takehiko Inoue and etc.
Author's note: For those who commented this story: Thank you very much for all your comments and letters! I hope you'll like this part too. :) It's short; still it was fun to write it.

Part 3

Standing on the balcony in a gathering dusk, annoyed Hanamichi was watching as his fox-eye-guest played on the basketball court not so far from redhead's position. Four days have passed from the moment of Rukawa's arrival at the castle, but Hanamichi felt that he already was willing to strangle his unexpected guest.

That silent by appearance kitsune gave him a lot of trouble! First of all, in the first day of his arrival, Rukawa found and occupied the best bedroom in the whole caste. Yes, the master's bedroom. However hard he may try, the redhead was unable to drive that stupid kitsune out. And so Hanamichi was forced to settle in one of the guest rooms. Moreover, Rukawa behaved as he owned the place. He poked his nose into every room in the castle, walked any place he wanted and used any item he found interesting… Also, to Hanamichi's utter irritation, Rukawa played basketball much better than the redhead himself.

There was only one plus in that situation: Haruko-chan began to visit Hanamichi's castle every day. Although there also was a minus: the girls eyes, filled with adoring hearts, were turned to dark-haired player only. In her presence Hanamichi couldn't put up a fight with Rukawa as it become habitual between them. Still, as soon as the girl left to her home, the redhead snapped at his guest. Rukawa just silently glanced at the fuming redhead, and walked away with superciliousness clearly seen in his deep-blue eyes.

Hanamichi frowned when Rukawa scored yet another perfect three-pointer. How he can to be so accurate in the surrounding twilight?

'Stupid kitsune,' Hanamichi thought with annoyance.

It was 1st of April. The redhead's birthday. So Hanamichi arranged a small party in his castle. His closest friends (like Youhei and Oda) and neighbor (Ayako and Kogure) already have arrived and have been enjoying themselves in the big hall behind Hanamichi's back. They were either dancing or eating, or drinking, or doing some other things that usually can be done at the party. The sounds of music were heard ever on the balcony where the redhead was standing.

Haruko-chan was one of the first guests who arrived to the castle. She brought a big bouquet of flowers and a new orange basket ball as a present. Ever her older brother, Lord Akagi Takenoti, promised to come to the party with his friends and workmates a bit later after finishing his work at the imperial palace. That huge gorilla-looking man was the security chief officer at the palace of Emperor Anzai…

And only that stupid kitsune ignored the party. As soon as the first guest have arrived, Rukawa took a basket ball and went to the court in the castle yard to have his own training.

"Stupid kitsune!"

o 0 o

"Perfect! Just perfect!"

Sendoh lowered the binoculars and smiled happily. Standing on top of the nearest to the redhead's castle mountain, for the last half an hour he has been watching a tall dark-haired guy who was playing basketball at Sakuragi's castle play-court.

"My informants were right. An amazing basketball player has been visiting that redhead's castle."

That guy was the best player that Sendoh ever saw in the whole life. Sendoh was enchanted with the ingenious style of that boy's play.

"That's my ideal partner!"

Sendoh turned to his big black dragon that patiently was waiting nearby.

"Let's catch that beautiful prey."

The dragon bowed his head, allowing his master to jump onto his neck, and quickly shot upwards into the darkening sky.

Hanamichi still have been standing on the balcony, when some movement caught his eyes. He looked closer and saw that firstly a small black dot flying in the sky quickly became a big dragon with a rider on top. The dragon made several circles above Hanamichi's castle, as if looking for a place for landing. But, as quickly as arrived, the dragon dived and swooped up Rukawa Kaede from the playing court. In a moment, the dragon with his burden disappeared in the dark sky.

Hanamichi just blinked. For several long moments he was in stupor, trying to comprehend what happened before his very eyes. Shocked with boldness and impudence of the kidnapping, he just stood there, looking at the sky. Then he smiled.

"Stupid kitsune… Well, one problem less. The master's bedroom once again will be mine! Isn't that the happiness?"

To be continued...

© Star Mirage