Fan Fiction |
by Sheen and Smile :)
I started to do some warm-ups and accidentally knocked into a chair. Ouch! I sighed and shook my head ruefully as I saw a new bruise appearing alongside my existing colection of colourful bruises. When Irie Kun wants you to train hard, he definitely means it. I’m only lucky that I suffered only bruises and no other more permanent injuries such as broken bones. I was shaking in my shoes as I walked next to Irie Kun. When we walked into the court, he threw me a quick look. I must have looked as worried as I felt because he was actually decent enough (for the first time) to make an attempt to calm me down.
“It’s ok Kotoko, you’re not alone. With me here, you don’t have to worry.” Although his face as expressionless as his voice, I was so touched by his concern that tears almost came to my eyes. On second thoughts, maybe it wasn’t so much concern as trying to calm me down so that I would perform better, I shouldn’t be so presumptuous. Whatever his reason for, I was still pathetically grateful.
Naoki’s POV
Why wasn’t I surprised when she missed Sudou’s first serve? And if that wasn’t bad enough, instead of gearing herself for his next serve, what did she have to do but spin around immediately and bow to me!
“I’m so sorry Irie Kun!”
“Baka! Focus on the ball,” I gritted out. She decides to have a conversation with me in the middle of a match! God please spare me. A second later, she actually manages to hit Sudou’s next ball, but when she tried to return his serve, the ball fell to the ground after hitting the net.
“Didn’t you have enough breakfast today? Where’s all your energy gone to? Baka!” I gave her a tongue lashing. She lowered her head meekly, but when she turned to face Sudou and Reiko again, her face was set with renewed determination. I secretly smiled to myself. I always knew that the more Kotoko was reprimanded, the harder she would try. What a strange girl! I happened to glance at Sudou and Reiko and this time, I could not prevent the slight smile from appearing on my face. They both looked totally shocked that Kotoko could even block the ball with her racket. I couldn’t help feeling smug – I know I had only trained Kotoko for three days but they should never have underestimated the capabilities of a genius, especially Sudou … …
My smile appeared more frequently as the game continued. After the first two poor attempts, Kotoko actually managed to return the rest of the serves from Sudou and Reiko. Of course, I was watching out for her and whenever I felt that the she would not be able to return the ball, I told her to scram and I would take it instead. This time, she obediently stepped away from the ball. I could see Sudou getting more and more frustrated as it was obvious that Kotoko and I were winning. His hair became more tousled as the game progressed and he was turning redder and redder. Again the game ended on a high note. Sudou had smashed the tennis ball across the court right at Kotoko. Frankly, there was no way I could get there in time. I watched helplessly as Kotoko fumbled and tripped. However, miraculously, as she fell, her racket came into contact with the ball and it rebound (because Sudou had hit it so hard). We all watched in disbelief as the ball barely scrapped by the top of the next … … We’ve won!
Immediately, the crowd went wild. It had been a well-fought match. I heard several loud cheers for Kotoko and turned in surprise. There was a group of familiar faces … … the people from the Manga Club who had wanted Kotoko as one of their main characters. A few of them were actually crying with joy – how juvenile and imbecilic! I walked to Kotoko who was still sitting on the ground, looking very dazzled, making no attempt to get up.
“Not bad.” I raised my voice slightly, wanting Sudou to hear. After all, I still bear a grudge against him for using such underhanded means in an attempt to beat me at tennis. A quick glance showed me that he was now maroon and a muscle was twitching in his jaw. Well, I really hope he wouldn’t burst a blood vessel. I mean we are so far from the city, it would greatly inconvenience us to send him to a hospital. When I looked at Kotoko again, her usual idiotic grin was lighting up her entire face and her eyes were gazing at me with the habitual adoring expression. Sigh … …
Kotoko’s POV
Irie Kun praised me – he actually praised me! This is the first time he has ever said anything approving to me, I’ll treasure this moment forever. My head was still in the clouds when I heard someone saying, “time for another match.” I returned to earth with a bump immediately when I tried to stand up but found that I couldn’t. My left ankle – the one that I had previously injured was hurting something awful. I gasped with the sharpness of the pain – either I had sprained it again or my old injury was acting up. It hurt too much to move. Immediately, Irie Kun was at my side. His eyes narrowed as he saw me clutching at my leg.
“We can’t play anymore. Kotoko’s injured,” he straightened and looked at Sudou. “Let’s go,” he turned back to me. I made another attempt to stand – this time, the pain brought tears into my eyes.
“Irie Kun … … I … … I can’t stand up,” I bit my lip. Immediately, his eyebrows drew together in a dark frown.
“I can’t believe you cannot play a game without injuring yourself,” he commented irritably. I bowed my head at his reprimand, knowing that I was causing him trouble again. I expected him to go and get a stretcher, but my to shock, he simply bent down and picked me up.
“Ouch,” I clung onto him tightly when his movement hurt my foot. He took in a deep breath and frowned even more deeply, but I could tell that he was trying to keep as still as he could in order to avoid causing me any more pain. Although it was only for less than half a minute and I was in pain, it felt like heaven. I timidly placed my arms around his neck, laying my head on his shoulder as he walked out of the court with me in his strong arms. If only this moment could last forever … …
“Here we are,” I called out cheerfully as the cab pulled outside my new home. I smiled at Irie Kun as he stepped out and helped me out of the vehicle. This had to be one of the best days in my life in spite of a swollen ankle. After carrying me to the first aid tent and waiting for the nurse to bandage up my ankle, Irie Kun actually decided to send me home!
“It looks nice,” his voice was expressionless as usual. I couldn’t tell whether he was sincere or just being polite. I knocked on the door.
“Papa, I … …” my jaw fell open as an old man opened the door.
“What did you say?” He was evidently rather deaf because he placed a hearing aid into his ear before turning his head in my direction.
“What … … what are you doing here?” I stammered, too shock to be coherent.
“I rented this place!” He was very indignant. “Don’t play stupid games young lady.” With that, the door was shut in my face. Irie Kun was still standing at the side, there was no change to his expression and his hands were in his pockets. It almost seemed as if he expected that something like this would happen to me. I bit my lip … … what was I to do now? I hobbled to a nearby payphone and tried to call my dad’s restaurant, however, no one picked up the phone. I shook my head as I came out of the phone booth, a defeated expression on my face.
“Come back with me first. Nothing we can do at this moment. We’ll try to get your Dad again later.” I followed him gratefully as he flagged down another cab and we got into it. Thank goodness he was around to help me out. Throughout the entire journey, we were very silent. We both looked out of the window, but every other moment, I would find my eyes drawn back to him … …
We both got out of the cab and then stood transfixed, staring at the building in front of us. I rubbed my eyes again as Irie Kun simply stared. Was this the Irie residence? Why was the building now painted white instead of the original green? The garden had apparently been revamped, filled with rose bushes now. Just then, the door opened and Yuki ran out. I let out a secret sigh of relief. Thank goodness! For a moment, I had thought that the driver had dropped us off at the wrong house.
“Brother, mama … …” before Yuki could complete his sentence, Mrs Irie ran out to meet us, a bright smile lighting up her lovely face.
“Ah Naoki and Kotoko! Good you’ve both come home.” She was actually rubbing her hands in delight.
“Mama … …” Irie Kun began. However, she cut him off.
“Kotoko, I’ve renovated the house. You and your father will be staying with us. I have such a lovely room for you now! Naoki and you will simply have to be together now … …”
“Mrs Irie, but … …”
“Mama, but … …” Both Irie Kun and I were starting to protest.
“No buts! No more buts!” There was a sly look on her face as she suddenly nudged Irie Kun who was looking extremely shocked. “I know you have kissed Kotoko … …”
“Whaaaat? Is that true brother?” Now Yuki was looking at Irie Kun with a horrified expression on his face. As Irie Kun turned to me, I quaked at the murderous expression in his eyes and the muscle twitching in his jaw.
“It wasn’t me, I never said anything.” I quickly whispered to him. His hands were balled up in tight fists. However, my obvious fright must have convinced him that I was telling the truth because all he did was to grit his teeth and walk into the house quickly.
“We’ll be eating at Aihara’s restaurant today,” Mrs Irie called cheerfully after his rapidly disappearing back, totally unconscious of the tension in the air.
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Due to some questions I have received about my stories, below is the complete list :
1) Meteor Garden (A diff POV)[Completed]
www.winglin.net/fanfic/Sheen2
2) The Curse (completed 1 part out of 3)
www.winglin.net/fanfic/SheenT
3) Enter My World
www.winglin.net/fanfic/SheenD
And of course this :)