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The Real Truth 1: Camping Trip
The Shohoku and Ryonan players are organizing a week long, camping trip in the suburban to get away from the busy city life. Anzai sensei and Taoka sensei had both agreed on the trip and they approved of it when Miyagi and Mitsui initially came up with the idea.
Miyagi grumbled under his breath, his lips barely moved just enough for Mitsui alone to hear him, "Baka! I told you not to just barge in like that!! Idiot!" Miyagi gritted his teeth in mock anger.
"Oh, yeah! Who was the one who pushed me in, the first place?" Mitsui retorted while narrowing his eyes towards Miyagi who was by then standing beside him trying his best to make his face neutral in front of their elderly. His left eyebrows twitched and his smile straining.
Well, they didn't exactly plan it was going to include the Ryonan team but since Taoka sensei was there at that particular time and that he over heard their conversation he shamelessly butted in. Just to keep the conversation going and trying not to be rude, Anzai sensei had agree. Both the Shohoku players were restless. Shifted from one leg to another, rocked their bodies back and forth, twiddled with their fingers secretly.
'Darn it! Think! Think, Miyagi!'
'Reason? Reason? Kuso!'
Even Anzai sensei couldn't do anything, albeit he knew Miyagi and Mitsui were a bit perturbed by the idea. He even detected a streak of disappointment on their faces but just got along with Taoka sensei's suggestion.
"Sure why not, I think that's a good idea." Anzai sensei said.
"Great then!" Taoka sensei beamed. "The boys will be very please to hear this!" Anzai sensei just nodded good heartedly.
It would be a great challenge for the Shohoku's players to practice against Ryonan. Anzai sensei just observed his two players with sheer amusement in his eyes. Though no one saw it. He hid it well.
Mitsui said the guys do need some quiet time alone, to sort things out and have fun after all the tiring activities and school. It's holiday nonetheless. It would be a perfect time for them to sharpen their b-ball skills and learn from one another, if that even possible.
Moreover, Hanamichi had recover completely from his previous back strain when they were confronting Sannoh Industry. He has somehow restored his 'monkey-like' attitude once again and brash as usual. The usual quarrel between Mitsui and Miyagi are no longer the cynosure of the club. Totally being ignored.
They have a brand new problem to deal with. Now that Hanamichi is back, the whole team has to drop down on their knees and pray endless. Not that they're not happy to see him back. Heck they're hilarious. He's one of the players they couldn't imagine loosing.
Even
Rukawa has gain back his not-so-usual-more-than-one-word speech.
"Pass Tensai the ball Rukawa!!"
" ... "
"Ru...Kitsune!! I said pass me the ball not your ego, baka!"
"Do'aho"
Hanamichi's ears perked up instantly. "Come again Kitsune?" His voice was frighteningly low, like as if he was controling his outburst.
"..." Rukawa merely shrugged and resume ignoring Hanamichi. He has decided that dribbling ball is far more interesting than hearing that do'aho blathered.
Hana fumed, his hair all standing up. "Oii, Baka kitsune with no ears!!!"
It's quite uncanny really, after Hana came back from the hospital, he's not really obsessed with Haruko anymore. He doesn't get all excited like he used to be when Haruko was around. Somehow Ayako seems to notice that but she just keeps it to herself. Meybe he met someone at the hospital or something. It's now just the usual 'Hi and bye', a few friendly smile every once in a while and buddy to buddy talk. His cheeks are not tainted by pinkish color or the usual bashful smile. It's like as if he's talking with Yohei, another best friend but this time it's a girl.
Akagi, Uzuumi, and Kogure were also invited and they gladly said 'yes'. Being cooped up with University lives as the 'innocent prisoners' does have a certain effect on them, so Kogure and Akagi decided to join in the fun since they're also given 2 weeks off.
As for Uzuumi, he happily decided to make this trip as a good enough excuse to close his restaurant for a week or two. Which of course to his costumers' dismay. 'The best yet in town!' they said. Brace himself for the incoming onslaught.
At Sakuragi's household
"AHHHHHH!!!" The scream was so loud that even some of the neighbors at the far end of the street heard it.
"Sh...SHIT!!" A guy holding a cup of java at a nearby food stall accidentally spilt the hot coffee on his blue jeans. A darker blue spot appeared right in the middle of his jeans, contrasting the baby blue color.
"K'so!!" The guy was more concerned on 'how he's gonna get out of the place without being notice' rather than the pain caused by the hot liquid. Though it does stink but being the macho guy he was, he just act neutral. A few ladies had already started whispering among themselves accompanied by a few laugh, a knowing laugh.
"The heck!!" An old man who was holding a limping fish in his hand hastily dropped it to the ground when the dead fish suddenly erected itself.
"Eh, Um...I think... he has seizure." The fishwife sweat dropped before forming an apologetic grin to the poor old man. She mentally cursed whomever the person responsible.
A few houses suffered extreme damages with their windows, shattered into pieces. How disastrous.
Back to Sakuragi's household
"Arghhh!!! Where did I put that darn thing!!"
"Oniisan!!" No answer.
"Oniisan!!" Still no answer.*sigh*
"BAKA Oniisan!!!"
"NANI!!! What did you call me?!" Hanamichi dropped all his things with a loud thud on the wooden floor and hastily ran towards the staircase. He almost trip on the way.
'So he's not deaf afterall' chuckled "There're people here! I'm off to school!"
Kazuchi's little insult forgotten. "Eh...What people?! Tell them I'm busy and don't forget to go straight to Aunt Siori's right after school!! Ya' hear me squirt!"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever! Um...Baka Oniisan?"
"And don't ever call me that again or I'll have your head!!" he desperately pin point to his younger brother from up stares, glaring daggers.
"Uh...*gulp* Oniisan?" Sakuragi Kazuchi looked up to his brother once more, this time with innocent black eyes instead of his usual jocular ones.
"What is it now?" Hanamichi looked bored. 'He's up to no good again *sigh*'
"Nothing..."
A gleam in his eyes. "Just wanna say bye....*grin* BAKA
"Why!!! That little runt!!" Hanamichi practically jumped down from the second floor and in a matter of seconds he was standing outside his house, door widely opened, furiously searching for Kazuchi. Breathing hard due to the brief, morning exercise. Hana was like a hunting tiger searching for its prey but unfortunately it was too late. The kid was long gone.
"K'so" He cursed silently but forcefully. "I'll get you when you get back, Kazuchi no baka!!!" Hanamichi screamed, loud enough to cause another havoc throughout the neighborhood, assuming that his younger brother was still around but lurking.
"Ehem..ehem...excuse.."
"What do you want!!!" Hana abruptly spun around. His face was all burning, with smoke coming out of his ears, making the unfortunate person recoiled a few steps back.
Hanamichi was stupefied for a moment upon seeing the unexpected guest standing at the front door.
"Um....Ayako?? How'd you know I lived here?" Sakuragi scratch his head in perplex.
Ayako gave him a bored look. "Whatever it is the school should know about you, are recorded in the record files, duh??!! And as the basketball's team manager, I have access to them, especially the basketball players?"
The self-proclaimed red haired tensai smiled in a sheepish demeanor, the light color of crimson crept his cheeks. "Er...hehehe...I knew that, just trying to make you look good by pretending I don't know it?"
A huge paper fan was smacked against his head and instantaneously, he yowled in pain. "Ayako!!?? Why'd you do that for? Sheesh.... I thought that thing is only used during practice??" He carefully rubbed the sore spot and cursed under his breath
The pretty manager made her way inside shamelessly while answering him. "You'll get it anytime I think as appropriate. Now, come in, I want to talk to you."
Hanamichi closed the door behind her with a cynical expression on his face. "Ironic, isn't it? I am the one who should ask you that." Seeing an incoming blow from the infamous paper fan, he ducked, missing the lethal weapon by a mere inch. He let out a huge, relieved sigh and thanked his fast reflex system.
"Sakuragi, quit it, I've got something important to tell you. Now, take a seat while I brief you on it." Ayako made herself comfortable on one of the sofa in the main hall.
With much interest, Hanamichi took a seat too. "Are you telling me that finally Anzai sensei has come to his senses and dropped that kitsune off the official line-up? Man!! This is heaven!!"
Another blow from the paper fan knocked the stars out of his head. "No, only an insane coach would do that" Ayako said in a rather flat tone. "Sakuragi, I'm here to tell you that we're going for a little camping trip. We'll be leaving in 2 days time for a week of rest at a camping spot. What do you say?"
Sakuragi's eyes sparkled with interest. "Oh....where to?"
Again, with a flat expression, she answered. "Even if I tell you, I doubt you'll know the place. Now, are you coming with us or not?"
Sakuragi smiled, thinking of a good time ahead of him. "Of course, count me in!"
Ayako stood up, glanced at her wristwatch and shrugged her shoulders. "Well, I guess that's it. See you at the school gate this coming Wednesday then, 7am....sharp. Any later than that, you'll end up losing the ride, got that? "
"Hai!!"
Miyagi senpai's love interest smiled at him sweetly. "Okay then. Thank you for letting me in, although you didn't offer me any refreshment....."
Sakuragi again scratched his head sheepishly. "Gomen....Ayako-san, slipped out of my mind back then...hehehe..."
Before she closed the door behind her, Ayako peeped in. "Oh yeah, something slipped out of my mind too! About the camping trip.....Ryonan's team is coming along with us, isn't that great?.....bye bye!" She winked once to him before disappearing almost immediately.
Sakuragi stood still in front of the door, the name Ryonan echoed in his seemingly empty mind. Sendoh, Fukuda......SENDOH! Boy, don't I feel lucky today, he silently uttered, a smiled formed on his blood red lips......
The sun slipped into the day and brightened up the sky slowly on this particular Wednesday morning.
He checked his duffle bag, making sure everything is in. Tee, track pants, polos and shorts......oh yeah, definitely that one, check. He contemplated, went to the drawers and took a few more of the essentials, and stuffed them in his bag. Better safe than sorry, he thought. He would never go without ample supply of clean undies.
A glanced at the bedside alarm clock indicates him that it's almost time to go, or he'll miss the bus ride.
He zipped up the bag, and slings it on his broad and firm shoulder. A quick breakfast would do, he decided, and made his way descending the staircase. As he prepared a light breakfast, he kept thinking of the days ahead. He can't help but to smile a little.....that aho would be there, my aho will be there..........
At the camping side
"Then what happened?" Mitsui interrupted, anxious to know. He was almost bouncing off the ground.
"Shut up and listen, Miccy!" Hanamichi swung his head to look at the third year player murderously.
Mitsui scowled, pretending not to notice. "Do'aho" He muttered under his breath. Luckily Hana didn't hear it. Kogure who was in the middle of the two just managed to stay still and sweat dropped. He heard what Mitsui just said and pretended not to.
"He didn't make it. Head separated from body; fingers were cut off even his toes and...and his eyes..." Miyagi pointed to his eyes, leaving his sentence hanging.
"W..wh..wh..what happened to..to..to his eyes?" Hanamichi stuttered behind his opened palms that were partially covering his face. Only revealing his tiny pupils.
"Shhh!!" All the Shohoku and Ryonan members retorted. Hanamichi didn't utter his usual wisecrack replies. He just sat there waiting anxiously for Miyagi to continue as for the others.
"... His eyes, they were..." Miyagi made a quick gesture with his fingers, "...from their sockets"
"Wooahhh!" Someone said.
"S..Shit..." Fukuda muttered quietly from beside Sendoh, loud enough for the person next to him to hear.
"No kidding!" Koshino said in a low, almost whispering voice.
That night was one gloomy night. The wind was blowing furiously, creating a small whirlwind with a mixture of dust and dried leaves moving in small circle. Even the wolfs were howling.
Everyone kept their senses on guard for the slightest bit of movement, sounds or anything. After Miyagi finished with his ghost story, everyone was afraid to even make a moved on to their camp. Preferring to stay close with each other, made their legs half-cramped rather than sleeping alone for the night.
The story was about a headless Japanese swordsman who was killed relentless in the battlefield during an ancient war. He was resurrected or so the said. Always roaming aimlessly during the night in search for other people's head just for the sake of finding his long lost original head. (Angel: Hmm... reminds me of 'Sleepy Hollow') Miyagi depicted it so vividly. Flashing the torch light at his face once in a while. He made the character sounded alive and was actually lurking behind the bushes, ready to shed blood. Complete with scary expression.
"It's true I tell ya'! I read it from somewhere" (Angel: snicker Miyagi? Reads? Miyagi: Another word from you and die! *in a frog-jumping position*) Miyagi said, eventually putting the torchlight aside. He smiled inwardly. Feeling rather contented that he was able to finish conveying the ghost story in one smooth, unfaltered motion. The expression he received from everyone was worth the effort and his torchlight's batteries. Miyagi chuckled inwardly.
Haruko was dead pale and perspiring. She silently hides her face behind Ayako who was biting her nails and breathing hard, clutching her paper fan tightly in hand. Kogure was almost in Mitsui's lap. Miccy would have enjoyed this if he wasn't utterly scared himself. Koshino was still gaping after hearing the ending, blinking from time to time like as if not believing what he heard. Hanamichi was no better, just the exact duplication of an overgrown gold fish. Sendoh...well, Sendoh was smiling? (Angel: Is that a real smile or just a cover up? Sendoh: Both!)
Rukawa however was a different case. Instead of drooling like he always does, he silently regarded the others from a corner. Especially one particular too-absorbed-to-notice-anything someone with red locks. Rukawa was half hiding himself in the shadowy area, under a huge, shady tree.
His bang hung loosely, covering almost 1/3 of his eyes. If it wasn't for the dim moonlite and the falling tendrils, one could easily detect that his usually cold, expressionless eyes somewhat softened, devoid it's pointed edge, less threatening and solemn. They were almost glowing with hidden passion... adoration... longing.
Sakuragi was curled down on the ground imitating a ball, clutching his limbs close to his chest with an eager expression manifested on his face, almost like a lost child. Rukawa's line of vision was focused solely on Sakuragi, the others were just a bleary image, colorless to his eyes.
All sounds muted except for the soft whispers of the wind. Rukawa folded his arms above his chess and slumped back further into the shadow, resting his torso against the colossal tree trunk, ignoring the hard texture of its skin. He continued on inspecting Sakuragi through his bangs.
'Hana...' Slowly, sensuously and deeply.
to be continue
Did you like this one? Huh? Huh? Jaja and Me wrote this!! Tewl us what you think of it k! >_< Icq Jaja (71621458) or mail her your comments!
Chapter 2
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