At the Sakuragi residence, the door-bell rung. Opening the door, Hanamichi was confronted with a smiling girl with dark brown hair and brown eyes. She thrust an envelope towards the redhead urging him to open and read it.
"A Valentine's party?" Hanamichi read out loud.
"Yup," said Enilyn, "So are you going or not?"
Hanamichi scratched his head. He already has a date with Rukawa tonight...
Before the redhead could reply he was forcefully pulled down and kissed. Hanamichi blushed furiously when Enilyn let him go.
"Wh-what was that for?" the redhead demanded.
"Pastles said that I was supposed to kiss you until you agree to come," explained the girl with a goofy grin on her face.
"But I..."
Enilyn kissed him again.
"Ok! Ok!" cried Hanamichi, frantically pulling the surprisingly strong girl away from him.
Enilyn finally let go, pleased (and very happy I might add) with herself.
When the girl left, Hanamichi shut the door and tried to think of a reason to give the girl if he should miss the party. Not more than two minutes later, the doorbell rang again. The person standing on the front door steps was another girl with reddish black, shoulder-length hair and a pair of red glasses.
"Yeah?"
Pastles handed him an invitation. Hanamichi was about to tell the girl that he has already got one when suddenly he was again pulled down for another enthusiastic kiss.
"Rukawa's invited as well by the way," said Pastles before letting the redhead go.
Hanamichi blinked. "Really? Ok, then I'll go if he goes," he said before handing Pastles the envelope back, "Your friend already came by and gave me one earlier."
"She did?" Pastles asked. Then she turned a sly eye on the redhead, "Why didn't you tell me earlier? Is it because you want my kisses?"
Hanamichi glared at the girl, his face burning up again.
"No!" said the tall boy vehemently before slamming the door in her face.
Pastles was taken aback by the redhead's response but she chuckled to herself.
"He's always in denial," she said before she walked away whistling a tune.
Another few minutes later, the doorbell to Hanamichi's house rang again and this time it was a girl with big bunny ears and a stud on her nose. When Hanamichi saw the similiar looking invitation card on her hand, the redhead quickly said, "Yes! I'll go! I'll go!"
Then he slammed the door shut again.
Ruby blinked before she snapped her fingers, muttering, "Dang, it seems like Enilyn and Pastles came here before I did."
Then she shrugged, "Oh well, I'll try Sendoh next."
When she was done giving the invite to Sendoh, Ruby was in cloud nine.
"Boy, won't Linez be jealous that I got to kiss Sendoh," she grinned.
Sendoh who was wiping his mouth from the kiss Ruby has given him a few seconds ago remarked in an amused tone, "Man, she's even worse than Linez."
Back at the house:
"Ah-choo!"
"A cold?" Minako asked.
"I dunno..." said Linez, rubbing her nose.
And so Pastles, Ruby and Enilyn continued with their job inviting the people to the party:
Pastles: *kiss*
Kogure: Uh...*blush*
Ruby: *kiss* *kiss*
Akagi: Huh? *piku*
Haruko: *piku* *piku*
Enilyn: *kiss*
Miyagi: *blush* *gasp* Wahhh!! Ayako! Forgive me!
Enilyn: *piku* Err.....
Pastles: *kiss*
Fujima: *piku* *smiles*
Pastles: *swoon*
Enilyn: *kiss*
Hikoichi: Eh?!
Enilyn: *beams*
Hikoichi: *whispers* Are you an enemy spy?
Enilyn: *sweatdrop*
Ruby: *kiss*
Maki: Did you really have to do that?
Ruby: *nods in a dreamy-like state* If you don't agree to come I have to kiss you again.
Maki: Uh... no, that's alright. I'll come.
Ruby: Dang...
Pastles: *kiss*
Hanamichi: *blush* Hey! You already came here just now!
and it goes on and on....
~~~~~~~
Mitsui was leisurely strolling along the street to no particular direction, enjoying the time alone for himself. True, it'll be better if Min-kun was around but Mitsui couldn't help but feel that Kogure has gotten kind of distant from him now that they has started taking their relationship at a closer level. The 3-P shooter was wondering what was wrong when he came upon Rukawa who was walking the opposite direction.
"Hey Rukawa," Mitsui greeted, "Where are you going?"
"Nowhere in particular," answered the fox-eyed boy, even if it was clear to Mitsui that he was probably on his way to a certain redhead's house because of the route Rukawa was taking.
"One on one," Rukawa said suddenly, "You and me."
Mitsui arched an eyebrow, "You've got a ball?"
Rukawa wordlessly pulled out a basketball from his bag on his shoulder.
Mitsui gave an amused one-sided smile, shrugging, "Fine."
One and a half hour later, Mitsui fell on the ground on his butt, taking deep breaths, sweat pouring over his face. Rukawa was less tired, still dribbling the ball but also looking worn-down nevertheless. Seeing that the senior does not seem to want to stand up again, the fox-eyed boy walked up to Mitsui steadily, the ball still being dribbled making Mitsui envious of his grace.
"Damn, you and your stamina," growled Mitsui.
Rukawa gave a questioning look.
Mitsui sighed, bringing his sleeve to wipe his sweaty brow, "If I didn't stop from playing when I was in the second year I probably would be able beat you."
"No," Rukawa said, "You may come close but I don't think you will beat me."
Mitsui smirked. "Yeah, we can't prove that now can we?" he stated more than asked.
Rukawa shrugged and took a seat on the ground beside but a bit further behind the scarred-face boy.
Mitsui took another deep breath and exhaled slowly, at last able to get his heartbeat to slow down from the exhausting game. He stretched his legs and leaned back on his arms, accidentally touching the other boy on knee but both of them were too tired and already familiar with each other to care.
After a minute of comfortable silence Rukawa spoke up, "What would you have done if you had not started playing again?"
Mitsui, surprised at Rukawa taking the initiative to start a conversation, thought a bit before answering, "Probably just wither up inside and die."
"So basketball to you is..."
"My life," said Mitsui without hesitation.
Rukawa began to look at Mitsui with a new light. He had not been sure what was the main reason the 3-P shooter came back to the team. Remembering the time when Mitsui came to the gym to fight with Miyagi and Hanamichi, the senior did only break down when Anzai-sensei appeared so Rukawa thought that it was probably the coach's acknowledgement that brought Mitsui back to them. But now, listening to the boy say that about basketball and looking at the shine in his eyes, Rukawa changed his opinion towards his sempai.
Then Mitsui smiled and Rukawa was surprised to see how attractive Mitsui is. The unsociable fox-eyed boy does not take the time to note every physical description of another person, except Hanamichi, but sitting there closely with Mitsui, talking about basketball with someone else who loves the game as much as he does, Rukawa can't help but look.
Mitsui's attractiveness comes in a roguish sort of way. His serious eyes makes him look like a person with not much patience but it also makes him look handsome in a dangerous manner and together with that lazy grin he usually displays it makes Rukawa wonder if any of the thoughts on his sempai's head are mischevious or plain malicious.
And that scar just adds up to the whole alluring package.
Suddenly, Rukawa leaned forward and brushed his lips on Mitsui's bottom lip, touching the scar with his fingers when he tilted Mitsui's chin towards him. Mitsui was only too stunned to move, letting himself feel those soft lips against his.
Then Rukawa pushed himself away as if stung and Mitsui stared at those beautiful blue fox-eyes in shock.
"HELLO!"
The two boys turned around in surprise as a girl skipped towards them, her bunny ears flopping up and down with each bounce in her steps. Before they managed to stand up, the girl dropped the invitation card on their laps before bending down to give the surprised boys a kiss.
"Kogure-kun and Sakuragi-kun will be there," said Ruby winking.
Mitsui scratched a spot on his cheek, "Well then I guess I'll be there as well."
Rukawa nodded.
"Ja!" Ruby said walking away.
When the girl was gone Mitsui stood up, followed by Rukawa.
The senior turned towards the kitsune slowly. Although he found the boy beautiful, he still has Kogure in his heart.
"Rukawa...," Mitsui began.
"It never happened," the fox-eyed boy said in a monotone. Then his voice picked up a rather heart-felt tenor, "Hanamichi... he's..."
Mitsui nodded in understanding, "Important. And so is Kogure to me."
"Aa," Rukawa replied.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was already seven at night when the first guest arrived.
Noor in a pair of loose jeans and pink t-shirt with a picture of a big-eyed blonde girl with pony tails, opened the front door and was surprised to see Hanamichi being the earliest one to arrive.
"Hana-kun!" she said happily, "Welcome! I thought that you'd be the one who'd come late."
"Hmph!" sniffed Hanamichi, "You're confusing me with that sleepy kitsune."
Before Noor could say anything else, an excited sound could be heard. Bounding across the room was a bundle of white fur, charging towards the redhead who was not expecting the creature to jump in his arms to lick and nuzzle at his face.
"White Fox!" cried Noor, pulling the small fox away from the redhead.
The fox yapped in protest.
"No," said Noor in a scolding tone, "You forgot what we practiced."
The fox turned on her best puppy eyes on her.
"Change back," Noor ordered, "You can start jumping on the guys later after we've all welcomed them."
The fox seemed to sigh before it changed with a poof into a girl with brown eyes, fading dyed hair, double piercing on both ears and wearing a strappy black top and a long white skirt with slits on both sides reaching the knee.
"Welcome, Welcome," said the girl putting on her best hostess attitude, "Please come in and enjoy yourself."
"Uh, thanks," said Hanamichi walking into the living room.
Slowly other people started to arrive; the Sakuragi Gundan, Akagi, Kogure, Miyagi, Ayako, Maki, Jin, Kiyota, Hikoichi and Uozumi. Noor took her turn in leading them to the living room towards the food and drinks that Hikaru, Kitty Fox, Myn, Ritz and Luv Angel have prepared.
Although all the guests were too young (only half of the people in the party committee were old enough) to have any of the drinks Divon mixes, some of them tried to get some anyway - namely the Sakuragi Gundan.
"Hiyeah!!"
Takamiya went rolling across the floor after having received a kick from Olivia.
"Stay away fom the bar!" warned Olivia.
Yohei, Okuustu and Noma clapped their hands, laughing at their groaning and bruised friend, "Wow! What was that?"
"Kung fu," replied the girl, smoothing back her grey pants and readjusting her sweater.
"Are you from China?"
Olivia arched an eyebrow, "No. Vietnam. They teach Kung fu in school nowadays y'know..."
"Cool! This is the first time I've met a Vietnamese! Hey, can you speak a few Vietnamese words for us?" asked Noma.
Olivia grew embarrased. "Well, uh... I don't know... how to... speak... Vietnamese..." she told them, her voice getting faint.
"You're kidding."
Olivia shook her head.
"Wahahaha!!"
When Olivia's lips trembled, Aota appeared and stood in front of her, planting his strong legs firmly on the floor.
"Who dares to make a sweet innocent girl cry?" he demanded.
"Uh... oh look, there's Hanamichi," said Okuutsu pointing towards the redhead who was busy eating a chicken wing.
The judo king of Shohoku and the defender of sweet innocent girls everywhere disappeared, heading towards the Hanamichi with an annoying (but amusing) persistence in pestering the redhead to join his team.
"Sakuragi! You have to join the judo team!"
"No... ! Arghh! You made me drop my chicken wing!"
BAM!
Aota was out cold with a bump on his forehead as Hanamichi went to the kitchen to get another plateful of chicken wings.
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