A/N: Huge THANKS to Savage Kill, Cemre, Mespirt, and Shinome Akira for reviewing!

Disclaimer: I do not own KuroBasu. Except for my OCs and my plot.

I Don't Hate You

Third Person's POV

"Oh! Lucky~ they still haven't started yet." Kise remarked merrily after arriving to the Indoor Stadium, where the historical Interhigh preliminary semi-finals between Seiho and Seirin would be held.

"Looks like it." Kasamatsu concurred, as all regulars from Kaijo have took a spot on the spectator seats. Except for Kise, who was still meandering at the hallway.

Both main players of Seiho and Seirin have arrived on the court prior to the match that was going to commence later on much earlier than usual, as the starters were seen warming up their bodies and practicing their shoots. Despite the fact that there were still lots of time before the match begin, a handful of audience have already file in and claimed the best spots they could claim beforehand. Having already ended the match earlier, Kaijo has decided to come over and watch the semi-finals. Be it to gather data on their opponent that they sworn they would defeat in their next encounter, or simply decided to pass their time with the remaining free time they had after their match.

"Working hard as usual, heh." Kise muttered. While his gaze were roving across the court, he expected to see a certain gray head together with her team. "Hm? She's not there...?"

"Who's not there?"

"Well it's — woah!"

Kise jumped at the voice behind him. Startled. "N-Namicchi?"

As the gray-haired was passing by the hallway that was adjacent to the bleachers, transporting loads containing towels and water bottles to her team, she came across an all-so-familiar ikeman blond male. Needless to say, she knew who it was in spite of the long distance. If the hair wasn't striking enough, the expression those girls wore as they flocked around him and the squealing were enough to sell him out.

She had even mentally prepared to just quietly slip through without him knowing. However, putting Kise aside, wouldn't it be rude for her to ignore her upperclassmen (Kaijo's other regulars) and just pass by without a greeting?

The blondie might not be able to notice her, that doesn't apply to his seniors. If she gets caught for it, her reputation will sure be tarnished! After going through meticulous calculation in her head, she decided the risk was too high to take. She has an 'image' to uphold after all; The benign and respectful – kind of image she has built up for herself over the past two years in Japan.

When Izanami wasn't short-tempered, aggressive, and sharp-tongued, she's very much a Yamato nadeshiko(1) — that is, if she could keep her mouth sewn. She has her good traits, too. For an instance, she's respectful to the elders and seniors.

"Why're you here?" asked Izanami. Her gaze then fleeted towards the blondie's back. Upon meeting Kasamatsu's eyes, Izanami bowed curtly at him and the other regulars, which they reciprocated genially with either a wave of their hand, a 'hello!', or in Kasamatsu's case, a nod in return. Wasn't Kaijo also competing in the Interhigh? Izanami was pretty sure that they were supposed to be having a match now though.

"That's cold, Namicchi! You sound like you don't want me to be here... I came here to root for you and Kurokocchi, of course!" Kise pouted. Disappointed at the lack of enthusiasm from the gray-haired, as the blonde actually made an effort and came straight here soon after his match were ended. Well, other than her and Kurokocchi, he also came to greet an ex-teammate of his, who's team was also competing in the semi-finals at another court at the same time as Seirin. One of the Three Kings of Tokyo; Shutoku High

That's because I really don't want you to be here. Izanami sighed inwardly. Just seeing his face has started to cause her a migraine. Oh, good grief.

"I thank you on behalf of Kuroko-kun and our seniors for your support. Then, if nothing else, you can go already." Izanami thanked the blondie gruffly as she stressed on the word 'you'. Of course she doesn't mind if his teammates stayed and watched. The only problem she has here was Kise, and him alone.

Unbeknownst to how much her scathing comment has hurt the blonde, the next thing she knew was Kise's eyes has turned moist and were glazing with tears. Is he... going to cry?

Bingo. No more than a second, a sobbing Kise Ryota emerged. With so many spectators watching, too.

No. The situation looked more reverse. If it was Izanami crying, people could still passed it as 'a-poor-girl-got-rejected-by-her-crush'. But if it was the other way around... Then it's just weird. Really.

"... Stop crying." She sighed exasperatedly. What would the people think if he cried like a girl now? Wait, what if his fans saw them like this!? She would definitely get chew out on the internet and in real life AGAIN, because she made their god-like idol cried. Just like that day when she snuck into Kaijo High!

She just remembered something unpleasant. Ugh.

"B-But — Hic! You are being so mean, Namicchi! Never once did a girl told me to go away, you know!?"

He should consider becoming an actor instead. Yup. He really should.

Izanami heaved a sigh for the second time. "Look, I'm sorry. Alright? I didn't know that dealt a blow to your pride." She gave up and apologized for the way she had treated the celebrity. She couldn't help it, okay? Her dislike toward good-looking men could never change. Thus the cold shoulder. But, she did tried. Trying to get used to his presence and be more friendly towards him. After all, Kise is Kuroko's friend. Kuroko's friend means her friend as well. Hopefully, at some point, she'd finally be able to accept and treat him without any prejudice.

"Then, could you lend me a hand? These boxes are quite heavy, you know?"

After Kise's histrionic act has calmed down, the blonde finally took in the sight of two boxes on her hands. And it looked quite heavy too. Like what the girl had said.

Being a gentleman he is, Kise's face immediately lit up upon Izanami's request. "No problem!" He replied gleefully as he deftly took the two boxes from her grasp.

"Then, I'll be back. Senpai!" Kise said. After receiving Kasamatsu's approval, the blonde and gray-haired began to head further down the hallway.

"By the way, what's inside those?" asked Kise, as they rounded a corner before descending down the flight of stairs.

"Water bottles and towels." Izanami replied. Laconically.

"I-I see..."

As both of them sauntered down the hallway, an awkward silence hung above them as neither one of them spoke. Even the usual hyper and gregarious Kise has simmer down against this dreary ambiance.

He couldn't allow this silence to drag on any longer.

I've got to say something...!

"S-So, your opponent today will be Seiho. Right? I heard that they're quite tough. Especially their defense." Kise attempted to converse with the gray head, albeit stuttering uncharacteristically at the beginning.

Speaking of Seiho, they were one of the Three Kings of Tokyo and were known for having the strongest defense in Tokyo. They were certainly a team to be reckoned with. And this year, there's an additional member added in their team. What was that first-year shooting guard's name again? Even though Kise had played against their shooting guard before back in middle school, all he could remember was that guy was a pain to deal with. However, Teiko still won in spite of the pinch they were in from his tough defense. Since Teiko were invincible that time.

"Indeed. I had heard about it from our Coach as well." Izanami answered tersely.

Hence, the awkwardness and silence relive once again.

For someone who's boisterous like Kise, this situation was new and unnerving for him at the same time. And for the first time ever, he ran out of topics to talk about. "Namicchi," called Kise, as he sent a side-glance towards the gray-haired. "What?"

"Why... are you standing so far away?" The blonde inquired. Sweat-dropping in the process — Izanami was probably 1.5 meters away from him.

"Just," she shrugged. Still distancing herself away from Kise and has no intention of closing in the gap between them.

"Do you... Really hate me that much?"

Izanami paused in her track at this, the model later did the same as he, too, halted his steps. Kise thought he saw an expression that was akin to 'guilt' on Izanami's face. Too bad, it only lasted for a nanosecond, before she quickly morphed her expression into one of Kuroko's trademark poker face.

Both of them stood in silence, until Izanami unfreeze and sighed for the umpteenth time of the day. "I don't hate you," she confessed, before resuming her walk, "I only hate that face of yours."

Isn't that the same? Kise sweat-dropped again as he tailed after the gray-haired. He always thought that everyone adore good-looking faces, ain't people all wants to look at a face that's pleasing to their eyes?

He really can't get what the girl is thinking at all.

"Since you can't enter the court, I'll carry those from here onwards. Thanks for the help."

Before he realized it, they had already reached the entrance. And what lie beyond the entrance are the courts that were restricted to outsiders. Only authorized officers or competitors were allowed to enter.

Feeling dejected at the short time they've spent together, Kise mumbled lowly. "Ah..." He then passed her the loads, albeit reluctantly. He wanted to talk to her a little bit more though.

After the boxes returned to their rightful owner, Izanami proceeded to the courts where her team was waiting for her. Without looking back.

While the blond male watches the girl's retreating back wistfully, a whirl of thoughts flashed in his mind. "If Seirin win the semi-final, then they'll be facing Midorimacchi next. Huh~" Kise muttered, as he wove his fingers at the back of his head, before strolling away to another direction. "Perhaps, I should go and say hi to Midorimacchi now~"

"What took you so long?" asked Kagami. Dribbling a basketball as he watched the haggard manager put down the packages onto the floor, before fanning herself by flapping her shirt from the heat. "I met Kaijo while on my way back." Izanami answered truthfully as she wiped the beads of sweat off her face. Those water bottles, were they made of lead? She thought she was carrying dumbbell instead of water!

Everyone stopped their activities after they had registered what the manager had said.

"What!? They've already finished their match?" Riko gasped. That sure was fast!

"Are they going to watch our match too?" Kagami asked, as he looked up and scanned the mass of spectators filing in the stadium and audiences who has already seated with his crimson orbs.

Kagami thought it'd be harder to find his target with so many crowds and faces. But it was relatively easy; a striking blond-haired, a piercing in his left ear, (something the redhead could never fathom. Why only pierced one ear?) On top of that, a blue uniform jacket with 'KAIJO' stitched clear and big on its front, was waving his hand ardently at them.

Kagami scowled at the blonde's flashy display. And he doubts that greeting was directed at him. Seeing how their relationship ain't so close to the fact of exchanging waves or fist bump.

Well. Anyhow. Lots of things happened as Seirin advances through the preliminaries of Interhigh ever since the first preliminary match between Shinkyo has ended. Starting after their first preliminary match, they had been benching Kuroko to preserve his misdirection. Or in some matches, they'd preserve him for the entire game. Seirin practically won all matches with just Kagami and the second-years alone. Quite a feat, actually.

The memories with the fourth round of preliminaries struck Kagami the most. In fact, the same could be said to Izanami and Kuroko. Who knew those thugs they've met on the street basketball court back then with Kise, were actually players of Meijo Academy?

"At any rates, our opponent today is Seiho. They're one of the Three Kings of Tokyo. So, don't let your guards down. You guys hear me?" Riko accentuated the bunch with a serious expression. The guys all nodded at this. However, the second years were oddly quiet today. Sure. Today is the semi-finals and whether they get the ticket to the Winter Tournament rode entirely on this match. But, aren't they acting too edgy?

"Last year, we lost to them in the final league."

The first-years all widened their eyes at this new information uttered by Riko. So, that was why the air was incredibly stiff today.

Even though it was pretty obvious by now, Izanami asked nonetheless. "So, this is a payback match then?"

Hyuga blinked at the gray-haired's statement, before a smirk crossed his face. "Well, you can also put it that way," the captain said as he adjusted his glasses, "this time round, we will win. Seirin won't lose to the same opponent twice, after all." Hyuga said. Determined.

This match, is really important. Especially more so to the sophomores, as Izanami, Kuroko, and every other first-years could see their resolve through their gazes alone.

In that case, I'll also do my best to assist them in every way possible as their manager! Izanami thought in a pump up manner. How could she, the manager of the team, stayed down after witnessing such fired-up looks from her teammates!?

"Uwoh-! It's true that your hair is red! Scary! Did you dye your hair or something?" While the warming-up were still on-going, a shaven head approached Kagami and exclaimed. "Captain, is this the only strong guy you said we've to watch out for?"

The captain of Seiho stood beside him awkwardly, as he looked hesitant to reply. "Err..."

Excuse them?

Although it's true that Kagami's hair is red and is indeed quite scary. But, it was still rather rude to blurt it out bluntly straight at his face. No? Not even Izanami has asked such insensitive question to him before. Well. Because, her hair color is also weird. In what position is she to criticize someone else hair or their traits?

Though she had also held her curiosity in for a long time from asking the redhead about the truth behind his unique hair.

Meanwhile, Kagami's expression turned sour. Clearly not pleased at the shaven head's remark and his indirect insult at his seniors.

"I know right!" Izanami piped in, "I thought so too for a very long time. You see how his hair is 2/3 red, right? But if you look at the tip or the underlayer of his hair, is actually black!" She disclosed. A little too exuberant about it as she threw in her own two cents about her years of observation on Kagami Taiga. Rather than to rebuke their opponent's latter statement on how the rest of the other players from Seirin were considered small frys and insignificant.

"Really!? Wow. Wait, what does people call it when you dyed two different colors on your hair? Uhm..." The shaven head tapped his chin. Contemplating. "You mean two tone hair," added Izanami.

He snapped his fingers at the girl's answer. "That's right! Two tone!" Seeing how the two of them have clicked so well together, the shaven head was convinced that the gray-haired would return the gesture for sure. Thus, he boldly attempted a high-five with Izanami.

The girl did raised her hand. Just as their palms were about to make contact, she lowered her hand back. Much to the shaven head's chagrin, as he stumbled and almost trip himself in the process because of her antic. "I whole-heartedly agreed with the 'hair' part," said Izanami indignantly, dropping several pitch down from her tone, "however, I can't have you talked down to us and let it slide like nothing has happened. Can I?"

Though she said that with a smile, the kind of 'smile' Izanami was putting on was a one that sent shiver down to people's spine. The message behind her foxy smile were indicated as such — 'This is a warning, so back off before anyone gets injured.'

A little taken aback by the girl's transition, the shaven head stammered dumbfoundedly. "E-Eh?"

In all honesty, it was a first for the Seirin's to witness their manager standing up for the team. Like how a mother hen would. Despite the fact that the second-years remained passive during the exchange between Izanami and the shaven head. Deep in their heart, they all felt touched and warmed from their junior's action, as a smile were seen tugging at their lips. Now, they know better that this was her way of showing her affection to the team, as well as to the sophomores.

To a certain redhead though, her action wasn't surprising to him in the least. After all, that's how she is.

"Who the fuck are you?" Kagami spat. He was too pissed off at this stranger to even care about speech manners, curses, and whatnot.

"Ah. Sorry! My name is Tsugawa Tomoki." Tsugawa introduced, as he grinned goofily at the fuming guy before him.

Was he really oblivious or was he doing that purposely to grate on the redhead's nerves?

"Tsugawa-kun. It's good to see you again," said Kuroko, as he greeted the shaven head from behind. Startling the soul out of the poor guy. "Wha—!? You're..."

Although the memories were fuzzy, he could still remember fragments of it. After all, in Junior High, his team lost to them; The Generation of Miracles

"You were from Teiko, weren't you?" Tsugawa asked. Though he already know the answer. "Yes," replied Kuroko. Looking as stoic as always.

"And Izana... Who's side are you on!?" Too bad, the redhead wasn't at all interested at the reunion between old foes from Kuroko and Tsu — whatever he's called. He was more agitated at the manager siding up with their opponent and openly attacked him about his hair as if he was invisible! Kagami really suspected which school she attended in.

Izanami dug her ear with her pinky at her childhood friend's roar, before blowing the wax away nonchalantly. "I was just stating the fact."

"Hey hey! Is it true that your hair is two-tone!?" Tsugawa snipped in unceremoniously. Making the anger and annoyance in Kagami's tenfold. "IT'S NOT!"

Just before the redhead could do something regrettable, like, letting his anger take over him and engaged in a fist fight right before a match, Tsugawa adverted his attention to the gray-haired instead and spoke. "Then, why is it that your hair is gray? Are you an old hag?" asked Tsugawa. Innocuously.

Tsugawa's blunt remark has nailed the spot, as Kagami toppled over in laughter in no second. Whereas Kuroko merely turned his back and looked away. The seniors, too, weren't any better as their backs trembled from the chortles that were stirring inside them. This scene was practically a reenact of when 'Dad' from Shinkyo disparaged Kuroko for his small stature!

Except the main lead was different this time.

Feeling the corner of her lips twitched uncontrollably, Izanami riposted. "If I'm an old hag, then you're a frigging monk!" Too riled up in the heat, she almost went and grab Tsugawa on its collar. But was fortunately held back by two of her classmates before the poor guy got assaulted, "wha—!? Let me go! I've got to teach that baldy a lesson or two! I refuse to receive comment and criticism on my hair from someone who doesn't even has any hair on his scalp!"

As Izanami's blood was boiling and busily censuring Tsugawa for his lack of sensibility, who still hasn't gotten a clue why the girl was having such a fit, both Kagami and Kuroko were trying hard to hold back the manager from launching herself at the shaven head. Shredding him to pieces.

"Please calm down. Izanami-san," quelled Kuroko. "Yeah. You're overreacting." Kagami said, which finally grabbed the seething girl's attention. "I'm overreacting, you say!?" hollered Izanami, Uncaring how her outburst has drawn some unwanted attention from the on-lookers situated at the bleachers. Despite so, it didn't stop the manager from taking out her frustration and anger on her childhood friend now.

The reason why Kagami didn't counter back like how he always does, was because he more or less knew why Izanami was acting excessively touchy when her hair was being mentioned.

Since young, Izanami wasn't very fond of that 'uniqueness' of hers. She has gotten tease for countless times at her weird hair color ever since she could remember. And she always stands out like a sore thumb because of it. That eventually leads to her becoming a shut-in once and refused to go to school. That proved how serious it was for the girl that time. Although now she has grown accustomed to the stares and murmurs from strangers and became more accepting of the hair she was born with, it still doesn't change the fact that her hair has become her complex and a taboo to talk about from then on.

Thus, the oversensitive mode.

"Better?" Kagami asked after the long tirade from the gray-haired has lulled. "Yeah," replied Izanami, as she inhaled a deep breath, "sorry. I got too carried away."

"I know."

Now that she's back to herself, Izanami ought to second-guess her impression on this dude named Tsugawa Tomoki again. He might just had officially dropped to her list of nemesis.

On the other hand, the shaven head looked bashful amidst the whole chaos. Scratching his cheek shyly, Tsugawa said. "Uhm... I personally think that monk is quite cool. So, thank you?"

Everyone slackened their jaws at Tsugawa, before bellowing out in sync. "THAT WASN'T A COMPLIMENT!"

Although Kagami was supposed to feel disgruntled and annoyed, but after seeing the feisty childhood friend of his losing her cool much quicker than him, Kagami could only sighed and shook his head. Having forgotten the fact that he was insulted just a minute ago.

Before any accident could have happened, the captain from Seiho finally butts in and thwacked Tsugawa on the head. "Sorry, this punk is very straightforward and always say what comes to his mind. Please pardon his rudeness." If the video record yesterday Seirin has watched serve Izanami right. The senior who has reprimanded Tsugawa was Iwamura. The captain of Seiho.

"It hurts, Captain!" Tsugawa cried, as he cradled his throbbing head. "Shut up! I'm doing this because you've done something worth getting hit for! You think I love to hit people!?" Iwamura chided as he intends to thwack the shaven head again, but was immediately eluded by the freshman's quick reflex.

That was close.

After Iwamura apologized to the Seirin on behalf of Tsugawa's what-appears-to-be offensive remarks, the captain of Seiho quickly dragged the shaven head back to practice. He has had enough of the glaring daggers stabbing all over him from the Seirin's. Thanks to a certain monk, even the captain has to receive ill-treatment, when he hasn't even done anything wrong yet!

After the two Seiho players went back to their practice and were out of earshot, Izanami then asked curiously at the redhead. "Your hair really is not two-tone?"

"Goddamnit. I already told you... IT'S NOT!"

(1) The term "Yamato nadeshiko" is often used referring to a girl or shy young woman, and, in a contemporary context, nostalgically of women with "good" traits which are perceived as being increasingly rare.

A/N: Sorry if this chapter seem like filler instead. However, after the next chapter, everyone's long awaited scene where Izana meet Shin-chan in an official match will be granted! Even I'm looking forward to writing it! ^^
By the way, is the pace in this story too fast? Or, do you want me to slow it down a little? I've a feeling that I'm rushing it too much...

Please review~

P.S. I don't know why, but some readers have dropped this story from their favs/follows... Is it because, I screw the plot up!? I probably did. Right!? If it's not the plot, then I must've screw something else up. No doubt about it. *sobbing hysterically* No good... I'm slowly losing my confidence...
Sorry if I'm being too paranoid. Sorry if I didn't do a good job on writing out the story. Sorry about everything... *sulk at a corner*