" umm..., Kaede, may  i  call  u  Kaede.  That

sounds more friendly don't you think?" asked Sendoh.

He recieved no reply.



      'why is he calling me by my first name, i 

hardly know him..more friendly? We're not friends.' 

Rukawa thinking in his heart.



      "you  may  call  me  Akira.  Why  don't  you 

introduce yourself first  before  we  go  to  your 

problem you been having?". 



      As always there was no reply, Akira was 

shocked. This guy obversely doesn't want to talk. 



      Let's try from a new angle, "So, heard you're

pretty good in basketball,huh?"



      'What does he mean by pretty good, i'm good!!

Not pretty!' ^^.. 



      "Onizuka said you got lots of fans,right?" a 

cheecky smile appeared on Sendoh's face.

      "that does it, i don't need to talk to you 

about me, okay? I'm perfectly fine, tell Onizuka 

that and get off my case!" shouted Rukawa as he 

stormed out of the room leaving a totally bewilded

Sendoh. 



      'that was surprising..storming out like that 

and he says he has not problem," Sendoh smiled to 

himself. 'guess this is not the way to handle him...

hmm..i better do some talking to Onizuka about him. 

Great challange!' and Sendoh always loved challanges

.



= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = 



      "Onizuka!" shouted Sendoh. 

      "oh, it's  you  Sendoh.  What's  up?"  replied

Onizuka.

      "i met your friend already, Rukawa. I must say

it sure is hard talking to him," said Sendoh.

      "Ha, i never heard him say a sentence as long

as ten words. How was it?" asked Onizuka.

      "Umm...i can't really get to him. He doen't 

wants to talk. He just stormed out of the room but 

great Sendoh here will never give up! I don't think 

calling him in again will work. Do you know how can 

i get to him?" asked Sendoh.

      "Sendoh, you  never  change  do  you.. still 

praising yourself. Anyway, the only way to get to 

Rukawa is basketball. I saw him once training by 

himself at a basketball court nearby, the one beside 

the beach. Does that help?" Onizuka suggested

      "hmm...basketball..," Sendoh start grining to 

himself . "Thanks, Oka! Got to go now, cya!"



= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =



      'This must be it, hey there is someone playing

basketball, wonder if that's him?' Sendoh heard 

basketball dribbling sound and of course saw the well

known tall , thin figure at the court practising.



      Suddenly, he stop. A thought make him stop and 

he just stood there and watch the other fellow 

practise. 'he's really good' Sendoh thaught and his 

heart starts to bits faster. The eagerness to play 

with this guy rise.



      "Hey, care for a one on one!"he shouted. 



      The figure turned and stared at him. 



      'what makes him think  i would play with him.'

Thought Rukawa.



      Sendoh seems to read his mind  as  he  said, "

don't look down on me! I could play better than you 

think, if not better than you than definately the 

same,"

      This make Rukawa angries, " than  why  you're 

not in the national team?"

      "wow, 8 words. You really don't say more than

10 words do you.(^^) a good player doen't mean have 

to joined the basketball team. Why don't we make a 

deal? One on one, you win, i'll tell you why i'm not

in the team. I win, you have to tell me your story..

the one you surpose to say the other day, deal?" 

said Sendoh but there was no reply.



      Than Sendoh used the magic word, (hehe.. not 

please) , "afraid?"



      That's it, that is all it takes to start the 

fire in Rukawa. He stared coldy to Sendoh and said, 

"you start."



      Sendoh  grins, as he  took  up  the  ball and

starts dribble it.





∼To Be Continued∼



      How is it? Short, huh? I can't write long fics

if not it will be  too  long  then.  Wants to know 

Rukawa's story? Hehe..