17Author's Notes: Nami-chan asked me to explain the congenital disorder that Kyoko has. I don't have any medical basis for that but a doctor told me it's possible that a person's respiratory growth became stagnant ever since they were ten years old and because of that, the body has outgrown the lungs and the person won't be able to take in as much air as a normal 16-year-old could. That's what Kyoko is suffering from. That's all! I actually made that up. I hope it makes sense...
Warning: This is my first time to write a chapter which contain such and sorry if it's lame. Anyway, this is the sort of turning point in the story. Enjoy reading!
Disclaimer: The song 'Intimacy' is from the Talk of Corners album of The Corrs.
Chapter Four: Delirium
"Were you able to give it to him?" Kaoru asked. Rukawa had just passed by them, reminding her of her letter.
"Sure did." Kyoko rolled her eyes at the foxy-faced guy without her friend noticing it.
"Did he say anything?"
"He said 'domo'."
With that single word Kyoko saw content in Kao-chan's face.
I just hope she's not expecting anything much from that shithead. If she does, it would hurt her real bad.
Kyoko decided not to tell her best friend about the love letter incident. Not just yet. She has to know first at least why Rukawa did that heinous thing. Was it too mushy? Does he hate Kaoru that much? Or did he reject it because Kyoko was the one who handed it to him?
And besides, she wants to take revenge for her friend all by herself without anyone going against it. Kao-chan would surely object to anything bad that she's planning to do to Rukawa. He did an evil thing to her and to her friend... He has to know she can do something worse.
Trainings are getting harder each day. Each one strives to be the best in Kanagawa. Even the benchwarmers are putting in some extra effort for the team's sake. Even Kyoko's work had become more and more demanding each day. She spends extra time training Sakuragi and Ayako had also instructed her to keep track of each player's health at least once a week. It would definitely not be beneficial to have a sick player a few days before or during the game itself.
During each practice, while the players show off their playing tactics on their practice games, Kyoko formulates strategies for both offense and defense by deriving them from the players' moves. Ayako and Anzai-sensei helps her with it. Sometimes even Gori and Kimi-chan helps out when they're not joining the game. Kyoko has this chance to criticize, modify and reorganize each player's style. The starting members helped out their teammates by sharing their expertise. Mitsui taught them some pointers on making a successful three-pointer shot and techniques on how to be in a perfect shooting position even when guarded. It's not that the other members do not know how but some tips would surely help them out. Miyagi, on the other hand, taught them ways to elude an opponent and effective fakeries. Sakuragi, whose shots are aimed at the backboard, was of course, wasn't allowed to teach his ever-favorite slam dunk though he insisted but Kyoko did tell him to share his high-jumping and fast-running secrets, which he did with added boast. Gori demonstrated some foul-preventing tactics and his ever-famous flyswatter. As for Rukawa, the playing strategies that he taught were highly recommended – by Ayako and Anzai-sensei at least. He gets a lot of criticisms and 'what-if-the-opponent-does-this-and-that' questions with an added hint of sarcasm and cynicism from Kyoko, urging the foxy-faced (and his pride) to justify.
One hot afternoon, while Rukawa was demonstrating something to his teammates, he got the usual 'very constructive' critical questions again. Maybe because he thought it was too much for a girl to do such a thing to a proud ace player like him, Rukawa was forced to ask.
"Why not demonstrate? It would be much clearer if they can see the actual movements." His cold voice rang in Kyoko's ears.
As if on impulse, the blood in her veins wanted to gush out like crazy. Her veins popped out.
"Are you crazy?! You know why she was exempted from her physical education class don't you? You know that she gets tired easily! What if she blacks out? Huh? Huh!" Sakuragi shouted in great objection.
Kyoko stood and pushed him back, telling him that it wouldn't tire her out that much. Kyoko raised a brow at Rukawa. Hn. Try me. She went to the court and grabbed the ball Miyagi passed her. She could see the 'good luck's written on everyone's faces. She played offense because Rukawa was going to demonstrate a defensive tactic, which he said, couldn't be eluded by a tall person. Kyoko was relatively tall. She is about 175 cm, a few centimeters taller than Ryota.
They started. Rukawa blocked with his arms widely spread, as if he was going against a huge bear. Kyoko looked straight into his eyes, not allowing Rukawa to know what her next move would be. He has no idea, she knows. But why is she having this feeling that he can make a successful block? Kyoko tried every offensive move she knows. Turn around, fade away. She ran to a safe distance where she thought she could make a successful toss but Rukawa always makes it impossible to do a shot.
Why is this taking so much time? She asked herself, getting kind of impatient and irritated.
Desperate now because she doesn't like the feeling of someone staring straight at her for that long, she did a daring and dangerous drive towards the ring, hoping that a violent attack would break through the defense. She failed. She tripped over Rukawa's foot and her face almost hit the ground. Good thing somebody held her by her waist. The strong arm that had caught her helped her to her feet. She was about to thank the person but she drew the words back quickly because it was Rukawa. As she stood there, looking angrily at him, his arms still at her waist, he gave her a lecture.
"That attack would either injure the offender or make him prone to fouls."
Know it all! Kyoko slapped Rukawa's arm, which was still unintentionally wrapped around her waist. Rukawa immediately unwound his arm and apologized. Good thing his 'angels' weren't there. Non-members had not been allowed in the gym for the last couple of weeks. If not, Kyoko would have had her hair pulled by those unreasonably jealous girls. Shithead's statement made her angrier than ever. That was too much. She was embarrassed Humiliated. Belittled. Insulted.
I would have been able to break through if he did not stick his foot out on purpose.
She said nothing more. Her feet were heavy as she trudged back to the bench. As she sat down she muttered a barely audible 'you'll be sorry' and inwardly scolded herself for not doing her best.
"You're really mad at him aren't you?" Ayako whispered, sitting beside her.
"I am," she said, throwing another sharp glance at Rukawa. If looks could kill, he would have been dead for a long time now.
"That's just another lover's quarrel. I'm sure you'll get over it. I have this premonition on your relationship with Rukawa and I know you both could go far." The team manager patted her shoulder like an older sister giving a love advice. Kyoko felt the blood rush up to her head.
"What do you mean relationship with Rukawa and who told you that?!"
"Nani? Is it supposed to be a secret? I just heard it from Rukawa's girls… Ehehehe…" Ayako laughed nervously, playing it safe with Kyoko's wrath, which was directed to her. Surprisingly, Kyoko settled down after she said that.
"Why do they say such things about me?" Sighing as she spoke, Kyoko's mood immediately shifted from anger to gloom. Ayako got the hidden message that the gossip wasn't true.
"They're just jealous. I'm sorry you had to know it from me," Ayako told her comfortingly.
Kyoko sighed again. She was quiet for the rest of the practice. Ayako felt bad for her so she approached Sakuragi and Mitsui, Kyoko's closest friends, and told them to talk to her. They did and for the first time, Kyoko opened up on the reason why she hates Rukawa.
"He threw it away like it was just a paper containing his failing exam. I don't believe him. He doesn't know how much that meant to Kaoru…"
"You know why you're feeling so bad about all of these? It's because you're just as unexpressive as Kaoru. Nothing's wrong with yelling at someone sometimes rather than always scolding yourself and taking the blame. The problem is, you have too much control. Let go a little bit. It's nice to be logical and reasonable but sometimes you should do things emotionally rather than logically," Sashi-kun said after being refreshed by a can of soda.
Kyoko knew that. Kaoru had said that to her a couple of times. And they're right. She has too much control. Scenes flashed through her head. Rukawa throwing the letter, the girls calling her bad names, bad-mouthing her around the school, then Rukawa humiliating her in front of the whole team just a few moments ago. Kaoru and Mitsui are right. She has to let go. She was practically steaming now with rage and she raised her glasses. Sakuragi, wanting to have an enraged front liner against Rukawa, added up some more fuel to the fire.
"I knew he wouldn't do anything good. He underestimated you ever since you came into the team…" he said this and that…blahblahblah…against Rukawa.
"He did?!" Kyoko's blood was almost literally boiling.
"Yes! What do you want me to do to him?"
"I don't know… something really humiliating… maybe you can pull down his pants or do something worse…" Kyoko was all fired up. She was possessed by some sort of an evil spirit, a very evil spirit.
So… making her loosen up was a bad idea after all… Mitsui thought as a huge drop of sweat traced down his head.
"Wonderful…" Sakuragi rubbed his hands together in his eagerness to put the evil plan to work. He placed an arm around Kyoko's shoulder and laughed his usual "Nyahaha" laugh.
Before they left, Mitsui asked them to wait for him for a couple of minutes because he forgot to give something to Kogure. While waiting, Sakuragi and Kyoko made fun of Rukawa. Just when they were giggling about Rukawa's boar-like snore, which was reenacted by Sakuragi, Rukawa passed by them and Sakuragi walked slowly with him. Kyoko rose to know what Sakuragi's going to do. She gave him a questioning look.
"Hehe… you did a great job kitsune. I liked that tactic you taught us…" the redhead had a mean grin pasted on his face as he placed an arm over the raven-haired man's shoulder.
"Get off me do'ahou." Rukawa fanned his hand like something foul smelling got into his nose.
Sakuragi gave a signal and blinked then suddenly pulled down Rukawa's pants!
Kyoko was too shocked to move within a few moments. Her mouth gaped open, and then she blushed real hard and quickly turned around.
Did I just see his butt?
Yes, you did. The other side of her mind answered. While justifying for herself that she didn't know Sakuragi would do that, Mitsui came.
"What's with those two?" he asked.
"Leave them be… Let's go home!" Kyoko dragged Mitsui away and left Rukawa and Sakuragi quarrelling like wild cats.
When they got out, Kyoko was heaving for breath and her face was so red like meat. Mitsui gave her time to catch her breath while walking then finally asked:
"You look like you've been raped or you've seen something disgusting…" Sashi-kun's face crumpled a little bit, maybe a signal that he thinks she's overreacting. The thought of herself blushing like she had been roasted made Kyoko pat her cheeks in desperation. She just can't get the thought out of her mind.
For goodness' sake! Why his butt of all butts?
She looked horrible, as if ready to puke. Her face was now blue and her lips had started to lose their color.
"Oooh… Now I know what happened. It was Rukawa's butt exposure. I'm sure that would be a box office hit if shown to the public, especially on girls." Mitsui grinned at the thought.
"Gross…" she shook her head wildly. Now it's getting worse. She's having goosebumps.
"You know… with the way you react, I can diagnose a case of HD…" Sashi-kun said, mimicking a doctor or a nerdy medical maniac.
"And that means…?"
"You have a hidden desire for Rukawa," Mitsui said matter-of-factly just like saying 'I love to eat sashimi'.
"Oh… I s – Whaaaaaatt?!" Kyoko pinched Mitsui's arm really hard, making him yell.
"How cruel of you to tell me that! You don't really have a little understanding about a woman's feelings do you? You know, when a guy pulls down his pants in front of a girl, it's not him who gets embarrassed, it's the girl!"
"But when a girl strips in front of a guy…"
"Then it's either he would enjoy it, or he would not react because you guys are so damn insensitive." Mitsui gagged with Kyoko's words so he shut his mouth and was silent until they reached home.
Damn Sakuragi for this.
She cannot sleep. What would people think when Sakuragi the blabbermouth circulates the news around the school? She called him up earlier that night scolding him for what he had done. Kyoko rolled and turned on her bed. Every position feels so uncomfortable and the weather was unusually humid. She wouldn't have slept if she did not open all her windows halfway. The cold night air drove her to a deep and peaceful sleep.
Kyoko tried to open her heavy lids even halfway. Why does she feel so tired yet so good? She felt as if she was lying on a cluster of white, puffy clouds and she couldn't help being tempted to just lie there and sleep endlessly. The only thing keeping her half-awake is the cold. The cold night air blew against her bare skin.
I am… naked?
As if everything she had asked for came true, something warm wrapped itself around her, but it was definitely not a blanket. Her hand found its way to that something's back, feeling its texture. She felt something akin to… muscles, she guessed. The back was so broad and muscular.
Another person…
A guy to be exact. Kyoko felt too comfortable to even budge. She heard a mellow, relaxing song playing in her ears.
Last night before you fell asleep,
You whispered to me
Was it just a dream?
I'm gonna listen to you close
'Cause your goodnight kiss felt like a ghost
Baby don't move away from me
Baby don't pull away
Everybody's searching for intimacy
Baby come over and lay down next to me…
Carried away by the song, she put her arm around the man's neck. He then buried his head in the curve of her neck and shoulders and started making light feathery kisses down her throat, making her sigh contentedly. Her hand found its way to his hair and ruffled it a little, twisting and twirling the tendrils around her fingers. His hair smelled of lavender and a hint of citrus, sweet yet so manly. The guy started caressing her lightly, his palm tracing down her curves. His hand ended up sprawled on her belly. She can feel the heaving of the man's chest and the warmth of his breath. The man raised his head to find Kyoko's lips and gave it a warm, sweet and loving kiss. Kyoko responded to the kiss, enjoying it. The man, breathless as he is, kissed the back of Kyoko's ear and blew off a tendril of her black, wavy hair. A sweet smile found its way on her lips. Despite his heavy breathing, the man whispered into Kyoko's ear.
"Koibito…?"
She knew the man that she's with wanted to talk to her yet she didn't dare raise a sleepy lid.
"Hmm?"
"Aishiteimasu." He whispered, the sound tickling Kyoko's ear.
"I love you too," she replied as if on impulse.
The man raised his head again to kiss Kyoko. For unknown reasons, Kyoko suddenly became conscious enough to know that she was just in a dream, making love with someone. She thought of an excuse that it isn't indecent to dream about such things.
It's normal to dream about such things in this day and age…
Then a thought struck her. She had read somewhere that when you dream about such things the person you are with would be your life-long partner. Curiosity strikes and Kyoko suddenly got the urge to know who her life-long partner is going to be. Her eyes slowly opened and the blurred image of a guys very slowly cleared up. Her pretty blue eyes shot wide open upon realizing who the guy is. She was worry-stricken but managed to ask:
"Rukawa?"
At least, that was what she was planning on saying. Instead, another word came out.
"Kaede-kun?"
The guy fixed his eyes on hers with such love.
"Hai?"
Kyoko, now having the creeps all over her body, gasped for breath and tried to push Rukawa off her.
"Nooooooo!" She quickly rose, gasping for air.
He still haunts her even in her dreams…