Me: Hi guys, it's me again! Thanks for all the reviews you've been giving me for the past chapter! I'm sorry for taking so long to update! School's been getting filling too and to think I'm running with ideas! XD Yes, Niou can be a complete douche bag but now with Shishido in the picture what is he going to do? Anyway, I don't own Prince of Tennis! I only own the OCs and their techniques!
Kosaji: Yeah I kinda figured that but I guess he had to get out one way or another. Staying in a hospital for too long can drive any person crazy. Your suggestion would actually work! :D It's the incorporation thing that's going to be a challenge but anyway… Challenge Accepted!
Chapter 52 – Exorcism of a Demon
Kiyone found herself walking from her house to the tennis courts, whistling to herself. A happy grin appeared on her face as she trotted down towards the courts while twirling her racquet around. Her cerulean blue eyes cast themselves towards the people walking their dogs around along with some couples talking to one another. Flowers and leaves glistened with morning dew as dogs and cats started barking and yowling. The small Hyotei freshman sighed deeply while smiling bright blue sky. She slowly began to whistle to herself until she heard some yelling over at the alley.
"Hey, give me back my yoyo!"
Kiyone's ears perked up as she headed towards the direction of the yelling, only to find a small kid getting harassed by taller boys as they started tossing his yoyo around. The little kid desperately jumped into the air to grab it but to no avail. Tears started to form in his eyes as he continued to jump tirelessly. Wrinkling her nose, Kiyone immediately stormed towards them while drawing out her racquet.
"Hey, give the kid back his yoyo!"
The teenage boys glanced around fearfully until the tallest one shrugged nonchalantly. "Maybe it's just the wind…"
Soon after, they resumed teasing the boy once again and even going as far as shoving him to the ground. Kiyone rolled up her sleeves and prepared to swing her racquet only to realize what her captain had told her. Shizuru specifically ordered her not to use her tennis equipment as a weapon for violence and as much as possible, simply use logic. However with her height, Kiyone puffed up her cheeks in frustration as to being unable to even grab their attention to look at her. Glancing at the yoyo, she found her lips curving up into an ear-to-ear grin. With one big leap, she snatched the yoyo before tumbling away with it. The boys blinked several times until they glanced at the source of the skidding sound.
"Hey midget, give that back," the leader of the gang snorted at her, storming towards her. "That was our yoyo!"
Kiyone knitted her eyebrows together, gripping the toy tightly in her hand. "You people are meanies~! Yane-Yane and I hate cowards like that!"
The boy roughly grabbed her shirt, lifting her off the ground quite easily. "Who do you think you are? Don't tell me what to do just because you're from some big school!"
Kiyone bristled at the word "midget" as her grip on the yoyo tightened, watching the boys slowly gang up on her. The sandy blonde haired volleyist then noticed a couple of yoyos sticking out of the boys' pockets as a huge grin appeared on her face. Holding up the yoyo in front of them, she snickered.
"You think you can show me how to do tricks on one of these?"
The boy sniggered at her, dropping her onto the ground roughly. "Sure I can," –pulling out a yoyo from his pocket, he sneered at the smaller girl. "You're on!"
Kiyone grinned impishly as she snapped her wrist, placing the yoyo in a sleeping position. The boys' eyes widened with astonishment as she suddenly started walking it on the ground before having it retract back towards her. The Queen of Clovers' grin grew wider as she placed it in sleep position again before throwing it in a whirling motion. It looped around continuously before she flexed her wrist easily to change its position into a triangle, holding the yoyo like a rocking cradle.
"What the heck," the boy instantly drew out his yoyo, swinging it around. "I'm gonna show you that I'm the best in this city!"
More like he's the worst, Kiyone giggled devilishly to herself as she watched him perform a Long Sleeper. His yoyo whirled around in a sleep position while the sandy haired volleyist yawned in boredom. Annoyed, the boy quickly began doing walk the dog and failed in trying to perform the loop-the-loop. With a dissatisfied sigh, Kiyone started whirling her yoyo around with a flick of her wrist causing the yoyo to whirl around to perform the boy's failed trick. The sandy haired volleyist struggled to contain her laughter as the boys could only gape in astonishment, watching her yoyo trail on the ground. Kiyone whirled it around once again as she leapt over the yoyo like a jump rope while it was still in sleep position.
"How the hell does she do that," the boy stared back at her in horror, staggering back. "What in the world?"
Kiyone giggled impishly while continuing to whirl the yoyo around. As it retracted back to her hand, the small volleyist snapped her wrist to throw her yoyo down for a sleep position before rolling it up and down. The harassed little boy could only stare in astonishment as Kiyone continued showing more tricks. She allowed it to creep forward before retracting it and snapping her wrist down once more to have it return to sleep position. With a final UFO trick, Kiyone whirled around the yoyo before retracting it back with an impish grin etched on her face. The other boys stood back in fear as she pointed her racquet at them.
"Since I beat you guys, you guys gotta do everything I say," she sang childishly, wiggling her finger.
The boys gulped as they all fell to their knees, bowing repeatedly. "We're sorry! We won't do it again!"
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
"Thank you, please come again!"
Shiraishi waved politely at the woman who had ushered him out after his quick brunch. The kansai captain stared into the bright blue sky as a smile spread across his lips. Instead of seeing the sky however, he found Kiyone's bright blue eyes staring back at him. He shook his head immediately, pondering to himself on what made his mind wander away that far. After seeing Kenya get a little giddy and asking Oshitari for advice, Shiraishi found himself completely stupefied as to how he could compete now. Kenya clearly had a higher fighting chance since he had Oshitari Yuushi to monitor her but who did he have? He was practically whistling in the dark.
"Now, I want you to go get this kid and me a lollipop! Come on, get a move on!"
"Y-Yes, boss!"
Shiraishi's eyes widened in recognition; he couldn't have heard right, right? The Shitenhouji captain quickly darted through the crowd as he found his way to an alley. Much to his surprise, Kiyone stood there with an arrogant smirk with her foot on top of a small box as she folded her arms while the kids presented her lollipops. Shiraishi resisted his urge to chortle but quickly hid the moment he began snorting in laughter. He slowly peeked out and found Kiyone walking out completely satisfied with a lollipop in her mouth. She then snapped down her yoyo again and casually had it looping around and around while bouncing her head to a hummed beat.
"That was quite a demonstration back there," –Kiyone completely froze as she slowly turned to find the Shitenhouji lying against the brick wall with a questioningly raised eyebrow. "I never knew you could use a yoyo like that. Also, how did you get kids to call you 'boss'?"
Kiyone found her breath completely hitched into her throat. "Um... K – I mean, Shiraishi-san what are you doing here?"
"Just walking around until I found you doing an awesome demonstration with the yoyo," Shiraishi chuckled lightly while ruffling her hair. "You're really different huh, Kiyone."
The sandy haired volleyist grinned impishly at him, holding up a "v" sign. "Being different's better being plain and boring!"
Shiraishi chuckled lightly at the small girl as he glanced at his watch. "By the way, don't you have a match today? I saw most of the Hyotei team members head towards the tennis courts already. I saw Momo with Haruka and Rin. Shizuru had Ohtori and Shishido walking alongside her."
She stared at him quizzically for a moment until realization hit her. "Oh no, that's right! The matches between Seigaku and Hyotei are today!"
Seeing her frantic somewhat curved a smile up Shiraishi's lips. He couldn't help but continue watching her throw a frantic scare somewhat made him laugh. As the sandy haired volleyist somewhat calmed down, Shiraishi raised a hand and called on a cab before opening the door for her. The smaller girl stared quizzically at him first as Shiraishi chuckled lightly.
"Well, we have to get you to your match on time now don't we," he smoothly gestured her to go inside the cab. "Don't worry, I'll go with you."
Kiyone nodded nervously before sitting in the taxi with Shiraishi, twiddling with her thumbs. "Um..."
"Hmm," Shiraishi glanced at the smaller girl as she hung her head with embarrassment, his voice hinting with a bit of concern. "Kiyone-chan, what's wrong?"
The sandy haired girl lowered her head shamefacedly. "...I never rode a taxi before..."
Shiraishi leaned in a bit closer, blinking several times. "Come again, what did you say?"
Kiyone whimpered with a little purse of her lips. "I've never rode a taxi before..."
Shiraishi found her expression adorable but he understood. Hyotei students, being as rich as they are, always had their own car. Although it was not necessarily a bad thing, people would have found that pampering for some people since many choose to walk. Unless you're Atobe Keigo, having a couple of limousines driving you around wouldn't be that complicated to maintain. Kenya's cousin has a car but sometimes he walks from home to school with friends. Shiraishi noticed the crestfallen expression on her face, ruffling her short hair with an assuring smile.
"Don't worry, it's a bit uncomfortable at first but you'll get used to it," Shiraishi smiled kindly, looking out the window. "That's what Kenya told me when I first got into a cab around here in Tokyo."
Kiyone laughed sheepishly, grinning toothily at him. "Yeah, it just takes time getting used to!"
Shiraishi however had other thoughts.
He glanced once again at the Hyotei female as she awkwardly swung her legs abashedly. She started swivelling her head around, observing the speeding cars and buildings. He chuckled lightly; it was like he was watching his younger cousins peek and examine around a new place for the very first time. However, the Shitenhouji captain refused to entertain their questions sometimes. They ended up repeating the questions that he had previously answered. But, Kiyone's huge innocent cerulean blue eyes shimmered differently as she started pointing out the big corporate buildings. However, the Shitenhouji captain carefully re-evaluated his situation. Not that he had low self-esteem but, Shiraishi knew how protective families were of their youngest member. Seigaku was a prime example and knowing how much more vicious women were, Shiraishi found himself completely stumped and terrified.
"Getsugan-chan," Shiraishi scratched his head sheepishly, glancing at the tennis courts next to them. "I hope you don't mind me watching your tennis match today."
Kiyone blinked several times before flashing him a sweet cheerful smile. "Sure, I'm sure Yane-Yane and buchou won't mind!"
"It's not them I'm worried about," Shiraishi murmured inaudibly as he handed the money to the taxi driver, hoping the smallest member of the Hyotei team would not hear.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Shizuru however never thought she would be so jittery during the finals.
The brunette Hyotei captain fidgeted around with her fingers as she walked into the tennis courts. The bright blue sky stared back at her as the birds chirped over her head, flying past her. She inhaled deeply while glancing around the area, seeing nobody around the courts. It resumed into deep silence as she began walking around to calm her jumping nerves. Shishido and Ohtori on the other hand went off to find the narcoleptic volleyist that accidentally wandered off. The sophomore couldn't help but wonder how Jirou had this innate ability to sleepwalk and still maintain a sense of direction.
"He couldn't have gone that far," Shizuru giggled softly, opening her hand to stare at her palm. "Then again, he is Akutagawa-senpai."
However, thoughts like those did nothing to soothe her anxiety.
Her mind whirled constantly over the match between Hyotei and Seigaku. She knew that her teammates had the strength but only in the physical aspect. The seniors knew what they were facing but having Ayane and Kiyone face Jerrard and Ryuuzaki sounded a bit insane. Atobe even had objected to the idea to leave Ayane and Kiyone in their usual Doubles One slot since he knew how powerful the female Seigaku team's doubles team was. Shizuru nonchalantly shrugged it off and Ayane slugged him also. A dejected sigh along with a hapless smile escaped her as she remember her vice captain's determination.
Senior or not, I'm clobbering Jerrard! No one has that honour other than me!
Shizuru giggled fondly at the memory as she cast her gaze towards the court once again. With a deep inhale, she pulled out her tennis racquet before tossing a tennis ball into the air. The Hyotei female tennis captain watched the ball come down as she finally clipping it with her racquet, causing an abrupt spin on the ball. The ball suddenly suspended itself in the air as it started floating to the other side slowly. Shizuru somewhat giggled at the thought of having Fuuka chasing after the ball before letting out a barrage of profanities. If anything, the female Seishun Gakuen red haired captain hated running as bad as Ayane hated having Atobe throwing some grandeur party. Then again, she thought deeply, Atobe always blew everything out of proportion.
"You ready for this," –Shizuru turned around to see Shishido standing before her, leaning against the railing. "I mean, this is the climax of the Regionals. After this, it's off to the Nationals. You can win this; just think of it as your usual run-in-the-mill match except with a higher level of talent."
Shizuru giggled once again but solemnly stared straight into the sky. Her body slightly shuddered from the anticipation of facing Fuuka. Images of her first tournament flashed in her mind; fighting Fuuka made fighting Naomi somewhat, less heartbreaking than it was. The red head and she, despite their differences, fought back to back through every situation imaginable. Shizuru however bit her lower lip before touching her lips again. She immediately felt heat rush up her face as the image of a certain bespectacled male tennis captain form Seishun Gakuen appeared in her head.
This is more than just a match, isn't it – Souma-san?
While deep in thought, someone slapped a cap on her head only to find Shishido smirking. "Well, what are you waiting for?"
She adjusted the cap on her head with a small smile, turning around to see all her teammates before her. Ayane mounted her tennis racquet on her shoulder with a huge smirk while Kiyone jumped onto her shoulders with a childish grin. Hitomi adjusted her glasses before folding her arms with a confident smile. Isane, despite her shy demeanour, stood out as her emerald green eyes glistened with newfound determination. Momo maintained a serious expression before leaning against the railing with a stoic expression next to Zhujiang who tossed back her long pale pink hair with a cocky gleam in her eyes. The black dragon somersaulted in the air for an entrance before landing right next to Haruka.
"I guess you guys really psyched yourself up for this," Shizuru smiled while watching the Hyotei male team pile up behind them, giggling softly. "I see you also brought some moral support."
Atobe raked his fingers through his hair, smirking with his usual holier-than-thou smirk. "Arn~, don't get ore-sama wrong. He's just here to make sure you win the Regionals. It was humiliating as is to lose to Seigaku. But, there's another battle going on isn't there? Not just for the Nationals anymore now is it, Kurenai?"
She remained silent for a moment until Ayane kicked Atobe behind the knees, causing him to buckle over. "Keigo, behave."
Everyone stared at Ayane as if she had grown another head.
"What," the tangerine haired vice captain blinked several times before facing the incredulous stares. "He's gonna continue being a complete piss-off unless I call him Keigo."
The male tennis team looked at a smirking Atobe as Ayane flushed a bright crimson colour. "Oh shut up!"
Momo snickered a bit, standing up from the railing. "I wasn't aware I was saying anything."
"Yes you were," Ayane jabbed her finger angrily at the Shinigami, pouting impishly. "It's the usual – "oh-so-now-it-dawns-on-to-her" expression!"
Momo shrugged nonchalantly, placing her hands in her Regulars' jacket. "That's because it's what I really mean. Looks say so much more than words and sentences."
Shizuru smiled kindly as the wind blew past her, revealing Seigaku standing at the other end. Fuuka stood determinedly as she recalled the time Shizuru battled the current Seigaku captain in the Nationals. A slight frown marred her features as she observed the other teammates of Fuuka show up behind her. The male Seigaku tennis team also stood behind Fuuka as the tension heightened, causing Shizuru to slightly stagger back. Leaves bustled along the blue skies as the sunshine glowed brightly. Shizuru curled her hand into a fist; now was the time. Everything depended on this one match. Their trip to the Nationals would be decided by this match.
"Shall we?"
The Hyotei team nodded fearlessly, following behind the brunette.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Fuuka stared languidly at the opposing team standing at the other side. She folded her arms while feeling the wind brush past her as her crimson hair flew with the breeze. Seeing the male Hyotei team standing behind her and a whole lot more Hyotei students, Fuuka frowned a bit as she saw the Seigaku regulars standing behind her. Enma stared beadily at the Twin Dragon Pair as Rin and Haruka started laughing and showing stuff with their hands. Atoli cast her gaze towards the Breeze Stepper, tipping her cap a bit. Karin gave a business-like smile towards Hitomi as the Mastermind greeted her with the same expression, causing Fuuka to slightly shudder.
I'll never understand how they think.
Fuuka ignored the calculating stares as she found Shibuya Rangiku cheerfully hoping around, yanking Midori's arm for all the Hyotei girls' identities. A dejected sigh escaped her lips as she cast her gaze towards Shizuru. Despite the tension, Fuuka smirked at the appearance of Shizuru's gentle exterior.
A sleeping lion... This ought to be interesting.
"So, you're gonna show who Tezuka-sama truly belongs to, ne, buchou," Vera purred sardonically while tousling the curls in her long honey blonde hair.
Fuuka snorted in disgust, walking towards the court. "Tezuka-kun doesn't belong to anyone but... she needs to know what she's gotten into."
Vera blinked several times as Fuuka stalked off, prompting Sakuno to follow behind her. "Vera-senpai, what happened?"
The honey blonde female scoffed as she snapped her fingers. "Ah, our beloved buchou is going to claim what's hers. Come along now, Ryuuzaki."
Sakuno wordlessly followed after the playmaker as they all walked towards the courts. Soon, students and scouts filled the bleachers along with some reporters and cameramen. Atobe moved towards the bleacher nearest to Ayane and the others to make sure he had a good view. He narrowed his eyes at the other Seigaku vice captain, recalling the rumours regarding her play. Atobe bit his lower lip, pondering for a moment before glancing at Ayane. Was she ready for the emotional turmoil Jerrard was capable of, he wondered – however, this match meant everything to them. She would most likely blow a fuse and probably give Jerrard a few broken bones.
Ore-sama knows one thing: Ayane will never give up. That is the beauty of her personality.
Hiyoshi leaned against the railing, watching Mai and the others line up at the net. His eyes followed Atoli carefully as Mai cautiously shook hands with her. A tingling feeling shot up his spine; Hiyoshi winced slightly as the railing began to tremble. The intensity of the match didn't stay contained long in the courts.
"Arn, can you feel it too," Atobe smirked at his protégé, folding his arms. "If people thought my obsession with defeating Seigaku was bad, consider Souma and Kurenai a class all by themselves. Women after all are more vicious than men. That's why..."
Oshitari smirked with his kansai drawl. "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. They've both been scorned in their own way. Souma clearly is fighting alongside her obsession to defeat Shizuru-chan. Shizuru-chan is trying to break free from the destiny Kotetsu lay before her. Souma obviously has been waiting for the opportunity for Shizuru-chan to open her eyes. Fuuka managed to crush her before but Shizuru-chan rose again in the Nationals. The thing is – will destiny repeat itself? Nobody knows."
"Yuushi, you sound like you got that from a romance novel," Gakuto whined childishly, pulling out his hair. "It's so deep."
"That's because you're too slow," Shishido snarkily scoffed, causing Gakuto to punch him. "Hey!"
"Serves you right for insulting my intelligence!"
"As if you had any to begin with!"
Hiyoshi glanced at Oshitari, raising an eyebrow several times. "When did Kurenai ever lose?"
"Not many people in the female division asides from Souma, Hoshimura, Yukimura and Amakusa can match her calibre," Oshitari stood up from the railing, rolling up his sleeves. "However, Tezuka and Sanada managed to bring her down. Atobe did too; barely though. Obviously, not adding Yukimura to the list of Unbeatables is suicide. That man is a class by himself."
On the other hand, Kiyone's eyes widened at the revelation Hitomi just gave her. "Buchou lost to Souma before?"
"It was the first stain on her perfect record," Hitomi suckled the air sharply, glancing at the court. "Shizuru worked harder than ever starting from the day on. It was also then that Naomi refused to let her rest until she could play an open-shut-door classic match of 6 games to love without even trying. But that's where it all began..."
Momo chuckled darkly, glancing at the court. "So nostalgic, it's probably the déjà vu feeling we get since this is the same court we played on."
Soon, the arbiter announced.
"The Finals match will now begin: Seishun Gakuen (Tokyo) versus Hyotei Gakuen (Tokyo)! Singles Three will now begin!"
Momo sighed deeply to herself before unsheathing her racquet. "Alright, shall we begin?"
Fuuka gestured to Rangiku to begin as the small girl nervously nodded before walking towards the court, twirling her racquet around happily. Watching Rangiku walk away, the Seishun Gakuen female captain folded her arms sternly while watching the freshman go against the Hyotei senior. The whole crowd started chanting even louder as the male counterparts of both teams stood by the bleachers. Rangiku shyly stood in front of the stern faced Sanada Momo as she started twiddling with her thumbs. Seigaku's audience cheered and chanted the strawberry blonde girl's name even louder as she shook hands nervously with the Hyotei senior.
"Um, gambatte, Sanada-san," Rangiku smiled cheerfully, playing with a dust bunny on the floor.
Momo nodded stiffly with a curt smile, clipping her racquet against her body. "Ah, likewise."
However, the Shinigami found herself slightly trembling after speaking with the small girl. Momo examined at her hands for a moment, narrowing at the violent shudder. She glanced at the opposite end of the court while watching the trees dance violently in the wind. Birds started circling around them as clouds slowly began to cover the sun. The Shinigami inhaled deeply before steeling herself, walking towards her end of the court. Seigaku's chanting became louder as Hyotei immediately became silent. The Shinigami glanced at Hitomi as the blonde began searching her data books only to shake her head sadly. Clucking her tongue, Momo stood at the other end of the tennis court.
That girl... Shibuya Rangiku – the Wraith Child of Seigaku. So tell me, I've dealt with demons and I've dealt with corpses – what makes you think you're any different?
"Singles Three: Shibuya Rangiku (Seigaku) versus Sanada Momo (Hyotei) will now begin! Game start, Shibuya to serve!"
She shook her head away from any possible doubt while watching Rangiku bounce the ball. Her chocolate brown eyes carefully watched Rangiku's periwinkle coloured eyes sparkle with mischief. The neon yellow ball bounced up and down as the whole crowd resumed themselves into deep silence. The air around them thickened considerably as even a pin could break through the silence. The Shinigami felt the thumping of her heart against her chest as beads of sweat trickled down her cheek.
"Here I go," Rangiku sang happily as the ball zoomed towards Momo.
Momo immediately went for a forehand as she felt the weight of the shot crash against her racquet. The female Sanada winced at the strain before repelling the shot back at Rangiku who cart-wheeled to return the shot. The tennis ball curved towards Momo as the Shinigami inwardly berated herself for being forced on the defensive. Rangiku's shots easily zoomed towards her while Momo found herself running around to and fro on the court. Swear poured down the senior's face as Rangiku's eyes continued to glimmer lively from her end.
So, I guess I have to make her snap now don't I?
Momo watched the ball pass her before relaxing her stance, letting it crack behind her.
"15 – Love," –the whole Hyotei team stared at Momo as if she grew another head.
Ayane slammed her fist against the bleacher's railing. "What the heck did Momo-senpai do that for? I mean, she had her running around!"
"No."
The tangerine haired buxom vice captain glanced back at Shizuru who watched Rangiku happily jumping around. "It's Shibuya-chan who has Momo-senpai running around. Her eyes are spelling something different about her. It's not as innocent as you think it is..."
Rangiku cheerfully jumped up in the air before going for a smash, forcing Momo to lob once again to deflect. Seeing the ball sail up into the air, Rangiku spun around for a drive volley only to have Momo meet her in the air as well with another drive volley. Rangiku grinned childishly as she continued striking faster without any sense of fatigue evident on her face. The Shinigami felt her legs suddenly cramp but ignored the agonizing pain from jumping as she continued to attack Rangiku mercilessly. However, the smaller girl returned everything with much ease as she jumped around with a gleeful giggle.
"There's something underneath that appearance that's actually giving me the creeps," Isane shivered slightly as Mai remained calculating. "What about you Mai?"
Mai found herself completely speechless as she watched Rangiku repel and deflect Momo's offensive without any difficulty. She twisted her body around, skidded across the court and the whole time – she had this big unnerving smile on her face. The tensai, despite knowing that the smiling tactic worked to intimidate the opponent, found no malice in her smile. It seemed so childish... so innocent as she cast her gaze towards her captain.
"My, my, my, Shibuya's giving her a good run isn't she," Vera tousled the blonde locks in her hair, smiling voluptuously. "I have never seen Momo so – rattled."
Fuuka remained completely silent but saw Momo's dark eyes glinting differently as the young woman zoomed towards the other end, watching Rangiku's movements as well. The former Aries wielder folded her arms sternly while keeping a calculating gaze at Shizuru. Her eyes glanced at the board and then to her watch, wondering how long Rangiku's match would last. She bit her lower lip before casting a glance to Sakuno and Vera, watching them discussing their strategy for their match.
"15 all," –the ball cracked at Rangiku's side as she landed on the ground gracefully.
Rangiku smiled cheerfully with enthusiasm. "Wow, you're really amazing Sanada-san! You really have that kind of power!"
Momo stared at the girl quizzically, smiling slightly. "Ah, thank you."
"Don't be so stiff you know," Rangiku waved her finger in front of Momo with a childish grin. "You're gonna look like Baba Yaga after this whole match is done!"
Momo twitched a bit, remembering much of her Serbian mythology. "Don't remind me."
Rangiku giggled again before earning a nod from the Seishun Gakuen female captain, slowly losing her childish self. "Sorry Sanada-san..."
Momo looked up and found Rangiku looking much more mature than she did a few moments back. From the childish small girl, Shibuya Rangiku's eyes glimmered differently as her posture became more delicate and graceful. Despite her childish height, her aura drastically altered into that of a more powerful one. The samurai backed up a bit, watching the aura around her slowly change. Rangiku's childish smiles and giggles slowly became that of smirking and dark giggling.
"I will have to finish you off. My captain expects me to bring home the gold by eliminating you first."
Instead of a shocked expression however, Momo smirked before lowering her stance. "Good, I don't like playing and beating around the bush either, Shibuya-san."
She's exactly like Shizuru.
Momo glanced at Mai as they nodded on the same thing. Shibuya Rangiku clearly reflected the same expressions, mannerisms and including the same tactic application as their captain back in freshman year. The only thing that separated the two from one another would be the appearance. While Rangiku looked more feminine, Shizuru made it a point to make herself even more masculine than Gakuto. The female samurai darted towards the other end of the baseline as another no-return serve cracked off the girl's racquet. Momo swung far, narrowing her eyes at the girl's ear.
"Burst like sound, Oto," Momo blasted the tennis ball as it vanished, screaming right next to Rangiku's ear.
The freshman girl nearly bolted over only to lob it as it nearly zoomed past her for the point. Watching the ball lob high into the air, the Shinigami jumped up while glancing at the court.
"Uncontainable like water, Sui," Momo threw her weight into the racquet, sending the ball down with an explosive crack.
Rangiku keeled over a bit from the power, watching the plum haired samurai land gracefully on her feet. "Interesting – never thought that would come out so early in the game..."
"You were talking a bit like a monkey a few moments ago," Momo chuckled darkly, folding her arms. "Care to explain why?"
Rangiku lowered her stance once more with a cocky smirk adorning her face. "Underestimation is often key in a battle, Sanada-san."
"It doesn't mean you have to subject yourself into schizophrenia," Momo deadpanned a bit, twirling her racquet around a bit.
Looks like this girl is clearly aware of her personality shift...
As another serve cracked off, the Shinigami quickly eased into her position as she lowered her stance for a light drop shot. Rangiku bit her lower lip in annoyance, watching Momo show no hints of fatigue on her face. She continued darting around the tennis court, returning Momo's suddenly weak top-spin shots until it slowly began to lob higher and higher. As it reached a high enough level, Rangiku stared in shock as the samurai pulled another decoy attack.
How? How can this woman keep up with me?
Rangiku found herself completely exhilarated by the situation, being cornered and toyed around by the older competitor. She had played in the other prefectural games but Fuuka did warn her: this was the Regionals. Everyone would be out for blood but they shouldn't care about those who are trying to usurp their place. They already have secured it, according to her. However, Rangiku found herself involved in a long standing rivalry between two schools: Hyotei Gakuen and Seishun Gakuen. She narrowed her eyes darkly at Momo's quick reactions before swinging for a strong forehand, only to have it completely nullified.
"Gentle like the leaves, Aoba," Momo coldly glared as the ball lightly dropped over the net and rolled right in front of Seishun's Wraith Child.
"15 – 30," –Rangiku stared at the furry neon yellow ball rolling towards her.
On the other hand, the male tennis team watched quietly as the other members of the club did the cheering for them. Looking at the pace of the tennis match, Fuji glanced at Tezuka as his buchou calmly folded his arms while continuing to analyse the flow of the match. The tensai chuckled inwardly to himself, maintaining his usual serene smile before casting a glance towards the Hyotei bench. If anything, Tezuka probably would need to learn a thing or two about earning the courage to confess from Atobe but it would not make Tezuka the man he came to know as his best friend. Running his fingers through his hair, Fuji leaned against the railing before remarking offhandedly.
"She's just right there you know. Everything's placed out on the board; it's just about how you will make your move. Everything is falling more into your favour after all."
Tezuka stared blankly at Fuji, deadpanning as he did so. "That all depends on how you define 'more in my favour'."
Fuji chuckled lightly at his friend, watching Shizuru make gestures to her other teammates. He noticed also the movement of Tezuka's eyes as they slowly removed their attention away from the ball and more to the brunette that calmly viewed the match without making side comments or whatsoever. The aura in the air visibly shifted as the honey haired tensai lifted his head to the air to observe the blowing direction of the wind. The honey haired teen slightly chuckled, earning a quizzical stare from his stoic best friend as he walked back to the benches.
"Saa, I just want to make sure I don't obstruct your view, Tezuka," Fuji chuckled deviously, letting a seam of cerulean peek under his lashes. "After all, even the most perfect scene can be spoiled with a single ink blot..."
Tezuka wasn't sure what he preferred: being forced into maintaining his affection towards the Hyotei captain a secret or having Fuji tease and bother him every time they come across her.
However, Tezuka knew that any reaction he responded with would result to rising towards the bait Fuji dangled in front of him. Knowing this however, the bespectacled senior continued to watch the match analytically as he heard the ball crack back and forth. The crowd worked themselves into a frenzy, cheering louder than ever. Tezuka shook his head until the sound slowly faded away into a deep silence. His vision blurred and everything slowed down instantly as his eyes focused themselves on the brunette that quietly watched her senpai play against the Seigaku freshman player.
"Tezuka..."
"Tezuka..."
Again, he refused to respond. His posture slowly and subconsciously began to relax as a sudden pain shot through him. He winced slightly before gripping his left arm, blinking incredulously on how that suddenly began to happen. He glanced at Shizuru once again before watching the match once more, seeing the Shinigami from Hyotei steal another point and game from the small freshman. Rangiku stumbled onto the ground before watching Momo land deftly on her feet, sheathing her racquet similarly to that of a sword.
"Tezuka!"
The bespectacled male looked up when he found Oishi handing him a bottle of water. "We thought you were thirsty so, we got you one."
Tezuka, silently berating himself for his carelessness, gratefully took the bottle of water before glancing at the match again. He had heard the difference between men's tennis and women's tennis but the match would actually show some application to it. Men would rely on their macho or bravado while women attacked psychologically. His last match with a girl did not exactly turn out more on bravado but the testing of limits and willpower. Shizuru practically overpowered him in terms of psychological warfare but he managed to beat her with a score of 7-5 that day. Souma on the other hand probably remained to be the exception to that rule due to her considerable herculean strength. Among the female tennis players, he recalled deeply, Souma Fuuka had the strongest forehand and backhand next to the Hyotei vice captain and Ishida Chie.
"Game, Sanada: love to one game!"
Fuuka chuckled darkly, watching Rangiku struggle. "Now this is where things get ugly. Although she's not like Sunamyou, Sanada should know she's in for the game of her life... Literally."
Rangiku nodded elegantly, bowing with a small smile. "I guess even I'm not enough to bring you down, huh – Sanada?"
Momo narrowed her eyes skeptically at the freshman. "What are you talking about?"
"Do you not know how we are like, Sanada," Rangiku twirled her racquet around casually before bowing courteously. "For now, I bid you adieu and pray for your safety."
Momo slowly watched Rangiku's smile suddenly become demonic while she stood up with a mocking glint in her eye. Instead of her usual long wavy strawberry blonde hair, her hair suddenly developed more jagged edges as her eyes suddenly altered in expression. Rangiku's grip on the racquet tightened considerably as her stance became much more different from her first one. Her tiny form remained the same but the aura coming out from her body sent the Shinigami to slightly shudder.
"Ah, I see you've met Rangiku and Anastacia," a darker smile met the Shinigami's stolid gaze. "Now we can fight..."
Momo bit her lower lip, watching Rangiku's body take a drastic change. "Are you the true Wraith Child then?"
"Perhaps," she smiled devilishly, tousling the curls in her hair. "I am anything but like Sunamyou from Yuugetsu Chuu. Her wild dog personality is so disgusting. Besides, Rangiku and Anastacia are babies compared to me. Some people are just devilishly talented actors, some may have actually snapped. But I on the other hand, have been sharing this body with two of my sisters for years."
Hitomi lowered her head into her notebook. "Shibuya Rangiku, freshman of Seishun Gakuen and also the champion of the mini-tennis circuits, often times would resort to her switching of personalities to confuse the opponent. However, the matches would usually end up with her opponent being brutally attacked with her remembering everything she had performed. My sources say however she used to go to psychotherapy in order to deal with her multiple personality disorder. However, it does not qualify; multiple personality disorder usually means that the switching of personality would leave gaps in her memory."
"Her mastery over her consciousness even surpasses that of Shizuru," Mai bit her lip, watching Rangiku's attacks become sharper. "Fuuka, assuming her military tactics and intelligence in it, she probably trained and moulded Rangiku to become the best weapon against Shizuru. Shizuru is still a sophomore and Fuuka is moving onto the high school division. What better way to crush an opponent by throwing in someone who is exactly like her?"
"In other words, she's pulling off a Kotetsu," Haruka raised an eyebrow questioningly, seeing more teams pile into the court bleachers. "I see Yamabuki's been dragged along."
Momo concentrated hard on the match until she heard louder cheering. Her body nearly froze; she managed to sneak a glance and there stood Sengoku cheering her on loudly childishly. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes sarcastically but smiled a bit as his encouragement became much louder. She jumped a bit before driving a deep volley into the other corner, forcing Rangiku to run. However, the younger girl tripped over her two feet and crashed considerably onto the ground.
"Game, Sanada: two games to love!"
Momo inhaled in relaxation before walking towards the bench for a timeout. Rangiku slowly sauntered back in a zombie-like fashion whereas the crowds' cheering instantaneously became much louder. The Hyotei Shinigami slumped onto the chair before picking up one of her water bottles, chugging it down wordlessly. The Hyotei team remained in complete silence as they watched their side of the bleachers simultaneously cheer louder when Seigaku decided to up their game.
"So, how was it out there?"
Momo swivelled her head to face her other teammates before clasping her hands together. "She's entirely different but in a nostalgic sort of way."
Ayane blinked several times, scratching her head. "How does that...?"
"It was like the day I played against Mai and Shizuru for the first time," Momo resting her elbows against her thighs, leaning against her palms. "The only difference would be that she's a fusion of both. Not only that, she's very well-aware of the mentalities she's switching around with. Not only having three of that, her personalities work well with another – concealing each other with different moves. For Shizuru, as soon as you know how her mind works – it would be easy to predict. This girl... she's leaving me..."
She's leaving me with no openings...
Momo bit her lower lip while pondering deeply, replaying the past match in her head. The Shinigami found herself completely stumped; Rangiku would instantly contort out of nowhere or her strength would mysteriously shoot up and send her flying. She winced at the pain in her wrist, remembering the strain the last drive volley gave her. Fortunately, the Aoba managed to suppress most of the impact. She glanced at her racquet while tracing the tension of the strings.
"One more shot with that kind of power and the strings would snap themselves like a toothpick," Momo sighed deeply until something cold drenched her from above, swivelling around with a dark glare as her teammates stared in shock. "Alright – whose idea was...? Sengoku?"
The orange haired vice captain of Yamabuki handed her a bottle of water. "Lucky, I finally managed to get your attention!"
Momo twitched furiously, resisting the urge to swat him with her racquet. "You are extremely lucky that my captain has a "no violence" policy on the tennis court."
"Shinigami-chan, don't you think you're approaching this match the wrong way though," Sengoku grinned goofily before leaning on the rails. "If she is someone who can alter herself in multiple forms, why stay consistent yourself? There has to be something beyond the FuuRinKaZan that you can do, right? She may have the power but I bet you know a lot more about her than she realizes, Momo-chan!"
The violet haired female rolled her eyes sarcastically. "Of course there is. I became a Regular for a reason..."
Wait a minute!
Momo let Sengoku's words echo once again in her mind as she replayed the match before her. If Rangiku had the ability to drastically increase her physical capability through psychological methods, why can't she intercept those methods? The Shinigami's expression brightened in realization before she unknowingly grabbed Sengoku by the cheeks and kissed his forehead. Haruka stared in astonishment and Rin resisted the urge to squeal in front of everyone. Kiyone jumped up and down out of excitement while Mai had her usual serene feline smile on her face. Shizuru giggled softly while the whole male team stared at her queerly.
"Thank you, I love you," –with this, Momo returned back to the court while ignoring the incredulous gaze her friends and colleagues gave her.
Sengoku found himself completely perplexed of what his reaction should be. The Hyotei female team stared at him also, wondering what his next reaction would be as well. His lips slowly quirked up as the Yamabuki vice captain placed his hand on his forehead before placing his hands on his cheeks, remembering the warm touch of his Shinigami's hands. He remembered how her expression significantly brightened up after his certain statement. His expression became bewildered at the moment before swooning with bliss.
"Shi-Shinigami-chan," Sengoku unknowingly began to swoon in bliss as he recalled the brief moment in time when Momo actually told him those words. "Waaah, I'm so lucky~!"
Mai chuckled lightly, glancing at Sengoku's blissful expression. "Wow, that was one trip ticket to heaven for him. Who knew she'd actually do that?"
Hitomi glanced at her notebook, completely flustered. "Momo was barely known for public displays of affection. When did this start? I'm missing my data!"
Shizuru giggled at Sengoku's beet red face. "Well, whatever it is – he must've given her the winning card to this match..."
Momo stared down at Rangiku's emotionless form as the freshman swung lightly and aimlessly. Her formerly bright emerald green eyes stared dully at the Shinigami as she tossed the ball high into the air. Without a word, the freshman sent it zooming towards Momo as the violet haired girl pounded it back with a forehand. Rangiku easily returned it with a backhand until she started jumping around and blasting the ball with simple forehands and backhands. Beads of sweat poured down Momo's face as she returned the next shot with a volley. However, what she didn't realize is Rangiku standing right in front of her with the racquet aiming straight for her face.
"Iron Masque," Rangiku glared darkly as the ball zoomed towards Momo's face.
Without anything in mind, the Shinigami instantly dodged the shot before shielding her face with her racquet. The ball collided with her racquet's frame and with a kendo-like strike, Momo brought down the ball with a strong clip. The ball spun weakly before bouncing on the net and rolling on Rangiku's side.
"Love – fifteen," Rangiku nodded before a ghostly smile appeared on her lips.
"Interesting, you have done some research about me," Rangiku swivelled her head away from Momo before walking back to the baseline. "The question is – how far can you go?"
Momo remained silent before positioning her racquet in front of her like a blade, staring steely back at the freshman. "Knowledge is flexible regardless of circumstance."
Rangiku chuckled darkly, staring sardonically back at the Shinigami. "A very amusing response – but I wonder: will it stay the same after you have tasted True Despair?"
Momo narrowed her eyes darkly, tightening the grip on her racquet. "The insolence in your words... I will repay it thirty fold."
"Purple-senpai's getting scary," Kiyone whimpered before hiding behind Ayane. "How do we calm her down, Yane-Yane?"
The tangerine haired buxom vice captain swallowed hard, shivering and trembling fearfully. "I... I don't know."
"She's gonna do it," Mai bit her lower lip, watching in deep anxiousness. "The three parts of the scenery shall let the curtain fall in favour of the victor..."
Momo repositioned her stance as Rangiku sent the ball straight at her face. "Daiichimakume, Kageyoshi..."
The ball soon multiplied while spinning on the ground with intense speed. Fair enough, the ball performed a corkscrew and zoomed straight at Rangiku who immediately blocked it. The shot she caught however vanished from her racquet as the ball lightly dropped behind her, rolling to her feet. Rangiku remained completely quiet however as her eyes emotionlessly stared back at Momo. Wordlessly and voicelessly, she unleashed another no-return serve as it zoomed past the Shinigami without any interference. Momo remained completely stoic however she could not help but wonder how a small person like Rangiku easily sent a shot at that kind of speed. She definitely did not have Ayane's build; the Shinigami mused deeply as she deflected another shot from the freshman.
"What's the matter, Shinigami," Rangiku sneered while slamming the ball hard towards the other end of the court. "You're on the defensive."
Momo remained completely silent as she returned another shot coming from the freshman. Her body trembled violently while trying to maintain her stoic expression. The ball cracked back and forth between them but she could feel her wrist straining and her arm numbing considerably. Everything around her became increasingly silent as the only thing in her line of sight was Rangiku as she attacked even faster than ever.
She knows my movements. What is this... feeling?
"You struggle for recognition among your peers as Sanada Momo," Rangiku eyed her carefully while continuing her offence. "You created the three sceneries and also the Anti-FuuRinKaZan but what does that do? It does not deviate you from the fact that you are born a Sanada. You are insecure; you feel that no matter what happens – you are still tied to the clan, regardless."
Momo hesitated to return the shot, causing the ball to fly out.
"Out, fifteen – all," Momo bit her lower lip anxiously as she glanced at her racquet.
That's it now; you know how it's like to face someone like Kurenai except this one has no sense of mercy and compassion or whatsoever.
Fuuka smiled slowly at the freshman's progress. She never expected Rangiku to develop her third personality this far, considering all the training that they forced themselves to cram towards the Regionals. Shigetsu Kaori had also given her some data she had obtained regarding the Hyotei girls training. Upon reading the notebook and testing the theories, the red head herself could not believe that someone like Kotetsu Naomi would device such a regimen specifically for training to inflict psychological breakdowns. She knew something about Shizuru had been quite off; they were complete opposites of the spectrum but not in terms of degree! Thinking about it, she pieced together how Naomi wanted someone who specifically had the competency to handle that kind of warfare.
Intentionally, Kotetsu had wiped away that sense of honour within Kurenai. Tsk, what a troublesome bitch. Then again, I guess I can say it somewhat backfired because Kurenai's too sweet for that thing.
Fuuka furrowed her eyebrows a bit, glancing back at the notebook that Kaori had handed to her. She followed the exact training regimen stated here in the notebook, word per word. What she did not expect however was that Rangiku's playing style had fit perfectly into the training routine. Karin continued reinforcing it and making sure but now, the Seishun Gakuen captain began pondering on whether or not it was a good idea to implement a crazy training regimen like that.
On the other hand, Momo found herself completely unsure of what to feel.
Rangiku's words continued to echo in her mind while she continued to play. A disgusting feeling rumbled in her stomach at the thought of submitting to the wills of the Sanada council. Her body continued to violently tremble at Rangiku's spot-on revelation while she tried to gather some of her wits and confidence. She could feel each of Rangiku's shots getting stronger. Or was it more that she was getting weaker? The Shinigami could not tell why but her eyes slightly widened as the ball zoomed past her.
"Fifteen – Thirty," –Rangiku calmly stood in front of her with a victorious smirk.
Rangiku paced around with a predatory smile. "The way you walk, the way you talk and even your tennis – it has all been dictated by the Sanada. You claim that you are trying to break free from that but, are you trying to break out really? Or are you trying desperately to gain their recognition as one of the family members of the lower branch of the Sanada?"
Momo slightly staggered back with her sweat trickling down her cheeks. The Shinigami curled her hand into a fist as she recalled the times people had tried to convince her about Midoriyama being not "all there" anymore. Midoriyama had always supported her and watched her back until things between her and Rikkai Dai went extremely wrong. Did Miaka actually know a thing or two about the sisterly bond they had? She shook her head defiantly while recalling Sanada's words.
I'm not speaking to you as the head of the Sanada clan. I'm speaking to you as your cousin, Momo.
Impossible, she bit her lower lip anxiously, staring at the strings of her racquet. Inuzuka could not have gained that information that easily. Secondly, what did Genichirou care about what I did with my life? My ties have been long time severed.
Or could they?
"As a woman from a traditional family living in a modern world, there is bound to be conflict," Rangiku silkily purred while twirling her racquet around. "While other women are allowed to have the freedom in their choices, you are left amongst the chains of history. Your wings have been pinioned; you can only look to the sky in wonder as you try to imagine the feeling of flying. Isn't that what you thought about the Sanada clan, Sanada Momo? Haven't you hated your cousin not because of his potential but because of the freedom he was granted? Unfortunately, you know deep down you can't have it. You are nothing but a little girl condemned to the chains of the Sanada history. While you constantly egg people to move on, it is an irony that you are the one who hasn't moved on yet. "
"You should learn how to keep your mouth shut," Momo darkly whispered with her glare intensifying.
Standing in the bleachers along with his other teammates, the male Sanada watched the psychological warfare planned by the freshman of Seigaku. His eyes widened at the revelations poured freely from the freshman's mouth without any restrictions. How did she gain the ability to see through Momo when only a few people were gifted with that kind of empathy? Clearly, his phoenix had it; although the Emperor wished she could have been the empress. But, Sanada watched his cousin deal with the emotional attacks carefully. For some strange reason, she did not snap or even show the slightest amount of emotion flickering in her eyes. The only thing observable would be her ominous glare and the tightening of her grip on her racquet.
And he found that realization and observation truly infuriating.
However, his infuriation did not stem from the revelations but more on how Momo received the attacks with such calmness and composure. Amongst the two of them, he was the one who supposedly had better control of his temper while Momo constantly would fly off the handle during the childhood. However, he had never seen Momo maintain such restraint on her emotion or her spiteful fury. If there was anything the Shinigami made herself famous for, it would be her spiteful fury. Hyotei's vice captain may have the volume but as an old adage goes: "Beware the silent ones more than those with the bark."
"How long will you stand there," Rangiku tousled around with her strawberry blonde hair. "You should reserve your energy for beating me, not glaring holes."
Momo bit her lower lip as another serve cracked off from Rangiku's racquet. The collision of the ball echoed in her ears as she continued to skid and slide around to prevent herself from feeling the fatigue. She could feel the whole world spinning in her vision but Momo immediately dismissed it as nothing to be of much concern. She continued unleashing top spins and under spins before revealing the Oto in its full glory.
I won't lose... The momentum of winning is on my shoulders...!
As the Oto zoomed towards Rangiku, the little girl easily deflected it as the ball screamed straight back at her with the same speed. It whizzed straight past the Shinigami's ear and sent her keeling onto the ground in shock and daze. Momo forced herself to stand properly only to drop one knee as her vision spun around horribly with colours flashing around. The purple haired female managed to stay awake despite the incessant ringing in her ears but Momo barely managed to maintain a tight grip on her racquet.
How did she do that?
Both Sanada's found themselves completely astonished and admonished to how Rangiku managed to replicate Sanada's technique without seeing it even once. The male Sanada tightened his grip on the railing while watching the match progress gradually into Rangiku's favour. Despite Momo releasing the first scenery, Rangiku had already repelled it without much effort. She smiled slyly at the agonized senior.
"Your technique is nothing special really – it's only powerful when it's aimed properly," Rangiku tousled her hair carelessly, sparing a glance at the struggling Hyotei regular. "It's the same with all your other techniques. You claim they are a deviant to the emperor's but how far apart are they exactly?"
Momo bit her lower lip, curling her hand into a fist. She struggled heavily to stand up only to collapse under the weakness of her wrist and arms. Her eyes widened at Rangiku's strategy while envisioning it in her head, noticing her arms slowly unable to pick her up from the ground.
What Kotetsu did not teach Kurenai is how to attack both physically and mentally without making it obvious.
Rangiku already had all the firepower she needed, Fuuka folded her legs while calculatingly watch the match. She shook her head; Kaori couldn't have possibly known that Rangiku was already this powerful. Her eyes surveyed the court as the other spectators looked with ongoing anticipation and suspense as Momo staggered back from every shot.
"Game, Shibuya: one game to two!"
"God, Sanada's taking a beating out there," Shishido curled his bottom lip, biting hard. "This kid's something."
Atobe folded his arms, watching deeply. "No, she's not. She is only a forewarning..."
They all swivelled their heads towards Atobe as he glanced at the other side. "Seishun Gakuen girls' team has constantly held back their best players in order to prevent other schools from gaining accurate data. According to the last matches, Shibuya Rangiku barely showed up until the finals of the Prefectural matches thus nobody knows that she was indeed one of the regulars of Seigaku. Soon, Seigaku worked up the ambush to bring down Hyotei with something they know they can't beat unless they've gone through hell and back..."
Oshitari furrowed his eyebrows. "They basically replicated the entire Hyotei team... The worst part is – they completely covered all their bases."
"Souma Fuuka's Herculean strength is more her thing, Mouri Enma – rumour holds that she has the best stamina amongst the Seigaku players, Tashiko Midori – holds the record of the fastest response time, Renkeikouji Atoli – Seigaku's Swan, Jerrard Vera – the heartbreaker, Shibuya Rangiku plays as a counterpart for either Sanada or Kurenai. After all," Atobe shook his head bitterly. "No man can ever win against himself. This battle will be a draw at best..."
However, Atobe found a plastic bottle flying towards his face and squarely knocked him on the forehead. He shook off the daze only to find Ayane snorting in annoyance at him.
"Who said I'm gonna let Jerrard crush me," Ayane screeched angrily, jabbing her finger venomously at him. "If it's a battle she wants, I'm gonna rearrange her face so bad – everybody's gonna ask if Frankenstein was the one who gave her a makeover! Besides, what makes you think Seigaku's got the ambush on us huh? You bloody peacock, did all your brains go to your tail feathers! It better have not 'cause I know one thing: I'M GONNA FLOOR THAT BITCH'S ASS!"
Atobe chuckled deeply, glancing at the tangerine haired girl proudly. Amongst the Hyotei regulars, she had the loudest voice and most probably – the strongest drive. He knew that if anyone could break Seigaku's doubles combination – it would be here. With brute force or not, Atobe smirked triumphantly at Ayane's determined smile. Without a word, Atobe raised his hand in the air as the bleachers howled and chanted the loud cheers for Hyotei.
Alright, show them Ayane – show them you are ore-sama's queen!
"Your hubby's doing it again," Kiyone rolled her eyes before sitting on the bench.
Ayane waved her hand dismissively, snorting in annoyance. "Damn, you might as well check if he has ass-feathers! Then you'll actually know where all his brains went!"
"To think this man's your boyfriend and that's what you think of him," Haruka raised an eyebrow questioningly at Ayane. "You're such a tsundere, Ayane."
Ayane grabbed Kiyone by the hair, shaking her uncontrollably and violently. "I AM NOT A TSUNDERE!"
"Waaah buchou, she's abusing me," Kiyone wailed comically before detaching her hair from Ayane's iron grip and hiding behind the brunette captain. "Ground her!"
Shizuru sighed in her palm, exhaling sharply. "Your ability create a commotion even in the most tense atmospheres never ceases to amaze me, really."
"Well, that's what you get for having the two of them together with Atobe Keigo as the subject of conversation," Mai shrugged nonchalantly before remarking offhandedly. "You have quite the spectator looking at you too you know."
Shizuru blushed immediately, snapping her head up. "Hahaha, wh-what are you talking about? Of course everyone's watching!"
"Sometimes a second pair of eyes helps people see better doncha know," Mai chuckled sardonically, grinning from ear to ear. Oh I am so having a kick out of this.
"Mai, I hate you," Shizuru folded her arms, turning her attention back to the game.
"Don't worry I love you too, dear," Mai laughed before ruffling her best friend's hair. "Relax, all this tension's probably making you stiffer than Sanada Genichirou on high blood pressure."
Suddenly, a deafening bang reached their ears as they found Momo plastered against the wall. Momo visibly winced at the pain shooting through her back as she slumped down on the ground, kneeling to maintain whatever consciousness she had left. Nobody had ever sent the Shinigami flying; not even Ayane had that kind of conscience to do such a thing. Sanada's eyes slightly widened with shock as Sengoku lunged for the railing, trying to get a closer look on his favourite Shinigami. Rangiku innocently stood in front of her without even showing any sense of enthusiasm or horror that her opponent just flew towards the other end of the wall.
"How does it feel," Rangiku slowly smiled while twirling her racquet around. "To be destroyed by the techniques you strove so hard to destroy?"
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Sorry for the late update! So much summer class! I hope you liked this chapter – didn't expect Rangiku to get all evil and be aware of it now didn't ya? XD Oh well, please don't forget to review! No reviews = no chapter. :(