The pain.

It was everywhere.

It ran deep into unfathomable depths of her being. . .

And when did she get so poetic all of a sudden?

  The brown-eyed girl grimaced, as she felt almost every part of her body throb with pain.

  Her head seemed to spin. Her neck was stiff. Her arms ached. Her fingers were numb. Her stomach and thigh muscles were cramping up. Her shin was bruised. And her knees were wobbly with fatigue—

  “Oi! Are you finished daydreaming?” came the annoying voice she had long condemned to everlasting hell. “You still have 15 rounds to make.”

  Why did the damn voice had to remind her?

  Marina’s eyes narrowed.

  The murderous gaze was her answer to that arrogant look he was giving her. She didn’t dare answer back, lest he’ll add more to the agony.

  Everyday seemed to be Torture-Marina-Akagi Day for him. . . since he never runs out of new and innovative ways to. . .torture her. And it worked perfectly well, alright… It had only been a week but her body had long been screaming bloody murder and she’d had enough. . . torture to last her till kingdom come.

  The soreness that ran through every fiber and sinew of her poor wretched form served as the painful reminder of that.

  She ignored everything as she continued to set the world record for stationary dribbling. He’d wanted her to do it in extended hours, claiming that her dribbling skills are way beyond poor. Quoting what he had said: with that kind of skill, she’d be better off drowning herself back in that pool.

  Marina cringed. Was she that bad?

  ‘Certainly, not,’ a voice inside her head said, trying to salvage what was left of her tattered dignity.

  He was just using everything to get back at her. He was so carelessly using the word ‘training’ in place of the word ‘torture’, thus making it subtle and perfectly legal in the eyes of everyone around them.

  But Marina Akagi knew better.

  She could see perfectly well through that solid frosty mask of his. . . how he schemes and plots her slow painful death…

  Marina shook her head in remorse. What did she do to deserve this?

  Well, ok. . . she did poison ‘somebody’, not just once but several times. . . and she’d cheated in a big time exam and she’d slapped and punched the hell out of a few. . .

  She cringed at the numerous evil deeds that she had done.

  But, of course, she did everything with a perfectly ‘valid’ reason… and surely they weren’t enough for her to merit such misery.

  “Hey, Mari-chan,” a gentle voice called out to her, interrupting her thoughts. “You ok?”

  Definitely not.

  But for Haruko’s sake she decided to smile. “Yeah, perfectly fine,” she said weakly, making an effort to straighten up. But the reproachful look her oh-so-great buddy was giving her stopped her from doing so. She bent her knees once again, resuming the monotonous task of dribbling, at the same time, trying to pry out her buddy’s guts with a mere look.

  Haruko frowned. She’d never seen sweet old Marina look so angry and. . . disgruntled before.

Kaede Rukawa really had a way with things.

Haruko blushed, as she cast a shy glance at the tall raven-head, practicing on his own while still keeping an eye on his fuming charge.

He looked handsome as ever through all that sweat and that obvious tired look on his face.

Haruko sighed.

Ever since the Buddy-Building activity had been announced, she had felt all giddy and restless. Every cell in her body had yearned for him to be her partner. Despite the fact that she knew that that wish would be impossible, she had still hoped and prayed, telling herself that she will forever be envious of the lucky girl who had caught his fancy.

She never would’ve guessed in a million years that the lucky girl would turn out to be her cousin.

Marina’s growl interrupted her thoughts, and soon enough it was silenced by that nasty look on Rukawa’s face.

Haruko frowned. Looking now at the supposedly ‘lucky’ girl, major doubts had formed inside her head.

Apart from that scowl that seemed to have been permanently fixed on her face, her cousin had looked bone-weary and harassed. Haruko knew that Rukawa dedicated so much determination and stamina in all aspects of basketball, but she never knew that he’d also pour out everything in this new activity.

She wondered what the reason was, though.

Maybe, he just does his best in anything that he sets his mind upon. . . well, his studies could certainly need that kind of attention.

It was either that or he didn’t want to be embarrassed by her cousin’s poor performance or. . .

Haruko raised an eyebrow.

. . . he genuinely cared for the girl and wanted her to improve. . .?

Haruko held her chin. She ‘had’ heard that he was the one who had saved her from drowning. . .

If that happened, she honestly didn’t know what to feel…

Seeing the two openly exchange murderous looks, Haruko had to scratch out her third theory.

Nah.

Too Un-Rukawa-like.

A totally absurd idea.

She went back to the other side of the court where her own buddy was humming that special off-key song of his.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

After a few seconds of exchanging vile, unspoken messages with the blockhead, Marina grudgingly straightened up, her face having a hard time deciding whether to be happy for escaping the previously tiresome position or whether to be angry for being designated to do another absolutely mundane task.

She started to jog around the court, doing that 15 rounds he had recently ordered.

“And put on some spunk while you’re at it!” Rukawa surprisingly hollered as he disapprovingly took note of his charge’s slumping shoulders as she. . . ‘tottered’ around the court.

Kaede grimaced.

‘Honestly, anyone can do better than that,’ he thought, shaking his head in disgust, as he watched her pathetic ‘dash’ in action.

This charge of his really needed all the help she can get…

Kaede’s eyes flashed with determination.

And he was willing to give it to her.

In full force. . . whether she liked it or not.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“H-H-Haruko-san,” the hesitant voice said, “I think its time to go.”

Haruko shifted her gaze away from the couple now bickering about the advantages and disadvantages of doing 50 sit-ups then looked behind her shoulder to where her own buddy stood.

Buddy? What was she talking about? It’s the other way around actually. She was the trainer and he was the trainee.

“Alright, Sakuragi-kun,” she said with that ever-present smile. “Just let me say goodbye first to my cousin.”

“Ok, I’ll be waiting for you outside,” Hanamichi said, blushing.

He’d never felt so lucky in his entire life. This new activity with the female team was like the stroke of luck he had been waiting for from above. It sounded absolutely ‘romantic’ and it gave him the chance to spend all his afternoons with his one true love.

This evening, he and Haruko-san will be going home together.

Like boyfriend and girlfriend.

He sighed, as he literally floated to the gym’s exit, with one thought in mind. . .

I love ‘Body-Building’.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

From where she lay on the floor, Marina watched the familiar  rubbershoe-clad foot purposely strode towards her direction. She tensed her upper body and then, slowly touch her forehead up to her knees.

 “45,” she counted aloud, then unceremoniously laid back down with a loud thud, her hands splaying at her sides.

She repeated the strenuous move.  “46,” she counted louder, making sure everyone around the court could hear her.

‘C’mon! Four more sit-ups to go!’ she encouraged herself, unmindful of the disapproving look a certain raven-haired boy was giving her.

“Mari-chan,” Haruko called out, crouching down at the panting girl. “I’ll be going home now. Are you sure you don’t wanna come along?” she asked, her eyebrows knitting in concern. “Oniichan will be mad again if you don’t.”

They both nervously looked at Rukawa standing not far away, his back to them.

Marina was so tempted to accept her cousin’s invitation and end all this pointless suffering, but then. . . she knew better. She knew that Rukawa had extraordinary hearing, being the kitsune that he was. And that he had some ‘spare eye’ hidden behind that unruly mop of hair. How else would he know she had been cheating with the count of her exercises when she was sure he had his back to her?

‘And if she abruptly went home now or much less even ‘suggest’ leaving. . .’ Marina thought, ‘who knows what horrible ‘activity’ he’ll add to her training tomorrow?. . . It was terrifying enough as it is.’ She thought, shuddering.

She had to summon every ounce of will power to do what she did next. She declined the offer.

“Sorry, Haruko-chan,” she said shaking her head. “I am training my way for the… ‘Olympics’, and thus you must not interrupt me like this,” she said, matter-of-factly.  Well, this training certainly felt like it…The mock seriousness in her voice earned her a raised eyebrow from the young man.

 “And as you can see, I am ‘straining’ myself like some beast of burden in the most ‘inhuman’ way,” she grumbled pointedly towards his direction, adding emphasis to the necessary words and making sure he heard everything.

And sure enough, Kaede cringed.

Haruko chuckled nervously. She knew where her cousin was getting at. . . and she didn’t want to get herself involved in one of their notorious squabbles. But. . .

Marina winked at her. “Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.”

“But—!”

Marina interrupted her. “It’s alright. I can handle him,” she said in a whisper.

After a few minutes of hesitation, Haruko nodded. “Ok. I’ll see you then in a while.”

“Ok, bye.”

Haruko had to crouch even lower to bestow a light parting kiss on her cousin’s flushed cheek, before she got to her feet. But as soon as she had her back turned towards the couple, their previous bickering resumed.

“Oi. What nonsense do you think you’re doing?” came the threatening voice that could only belong to Kaede Rukawa.

“What do you mean ‘nonsense’?” It was Marina.

“Those don’t look like sit-ups,” came his disgusted voice. “You look like a ‘straining’ sack of potatoes. Do it all over again,” he commanded.

“WHHAAAAATTT!!!!”

Haruko cringed. She was thankful she was nowhere within the vicinity of the gym now.

Poor Rukawa… But he deserved it.

That scream probably had his eardrums splitting.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Hours after her cousin had left, she was still there.

But she was thankful, and after managing to accomplish everything he’d ordered, she felt like she could do anything. Even jump off a 50-storey building. . .

She frowned. Ok. . . she wasn’t ‘that’ crazy yet. . .

Marina resumed the task at hand, refusing to be intimidated by a small chore like this.

Mop.

He had told her to ‘mop’ the whole freakin’ basketball court’s floor till it shone like gold.

Hell. . . she wouldn’t be surprised if he asked her to ‘turn’ it into gold.

But, honestly she would prefer the latter to what she was doing now.

She grimaced when she dipped the dirty mop into the murky bucket of water.

Boy, if her mother and father could see her right now, they’d send the blockhead here straight to jail, without due process whatsoever—

“Hey, you forgot a spot here.”

Marina gnashed her teeth together.

He was just so goddamn good in pissing her off, she thought evilly, as she watched him lounge around, savoring that absolutely cool and refreshing can of energy drink in his hand.

She could almost feel the blessed thing soothing down his burning throat. She fervently hoped she’d get to savor it sometime soon because her own throat was way beyond burning. . .

And she also hoped that she’d get to shove the whole thing, can and all, down his accursed throat.

She wanted to cry. She wanted to strangle him for being such a jerk. . .

She took a deep breath instead and concentrated. She’d finish this and she’d get as far away from him as possible.

The mere thought of finally escaping him made her smile.

She rushed over to where Rukawa stood, tapping his foot impatiently over the dirty spot she’d forgotten to clean. Mop in hand, she angrily swiped at the nuisance, including his pristine white rubber shoes in the process.

“Hey! Watch it!” he said jumping a good feet away from her reach. “This is a Jordan series!”

She smiled sourly at him. “Sorry, master. . . Couldn’t help but admire it,” she said sarcastically. Though inside, she mentally rolled her eyes. ‘Puh-leeez, those shoes looked so ugly!’

She was about to comment on how stilettos and heels would look better on him when he yet found another spot for her to clean.

“Before you get all smart on me, clean this first,” he said flatly, pointing to the spot which had suspiciously looked immaculate awhile ago.

Marina narrowed her eyes.

She had an absolutely evil idea forming inside her head on how the dirty spots seem to pop out endlessly. . . Maybe they were popping out. . .on purpose.

But she absolutely refused to believe that they had a mind of their own.

She had yet to confirm her theory and catch the culprit red-handed as she obligingly came over next to him. And as she did, she saw that smug look graze her buddy’s foxy face as he continued to stare at her.

 Why wasn’t she surprised?

“What are you lookin’ at?” she snapped in irritation.

“Nothing. Don’t mind me,” he said almost innocently. “I’m pleased there is one thing you’re good at.”

‘Being my slave. . .’ he silently added, entirely pleased with himself.

Marina rolled her eyes. If he was referring to her utter obedience to his whims. . . he had another thing coming. She wasn’t just going to let this pass. That’s for sure.

But whether what she was doing was stupidity or not, she hated the sight of dirt and grime. The thought of all those germs getting to her feet makes her insides double over in revulsion.

And so she cleaned them away… out of her own free will.

Kaede watched her diligently swipe at the spot he’d ‘purposely’ dirtied. But it was obvious from the look in her eyes that she was getting on to his little joke. He looked over at the clock. 7:30 pm. Then he frowned.

It was still too early to go back to his apartment and his heart always sank at the thought of having to spend the rest of the evening alone.

Surely, she wouldn’t mind spending a few more hours here at the gym. . . with him. . .

But she was almost finished with her chore and that determined but elated look on her face told him that the ‘wonderful’ afternoon…well, at least for him… would soon come to an end. He had to think of something fast.

Then he saw it. The thing behind her. . .

Kaede’s eyes gleamed evilly.

Quietly. . . stealthily. . . like a thief in the night, he tiptoed behind her. . . It only took a force of 1 Newton to tip the bucket over with a slight nudge of his foot.

He watched with glee as the dark murky water spilled over the entire half of the court.

It was truly evil. . . entirely wicked. . . But he couldn’t help it.

“Ok, I’m finally done with this—,” Marina said abruptly turning around. Though she wished she hadn’t when she saw the dark sea of polluted water envelope the court like an ugly blanket. It was obvious that her efforts had gone to waste.

“NNNOOOOOOO!!!!”

Kaede had to bite down the insides of his cheek to keep the chuckle at bay as he watched her, through his peripheral vision, pull viciously at her hair in frustration.

Her eyes turned into dangerous slits as she turned to face him. “You. . .”

But Kaede put on his most innocent look and merely shrugged his shoulders. “Oops,” he said, completely devoid of emotion

He mentally smirked. He hated to burst her little bubble of happiness. . .

But it looked like Buddy-Building will be extended for a few more hours.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Marina shivered when she splashed her dirtied face with the ice-cold water running from the faucet inside the women’s changing room.

She’d never felt so filthy in her entire life.

Nor as tired.

Nor as stupid.

She angrily yanked at the knob to turn the thing off. Then she turned her sights on her soiled clothing, tugging viciously at the hem as she brought it above her head.

“How dare he,” she fumed aloud as she struggled to pull her shirt off.

In the span of a week, her opinion of the notorious ace basketball player had changed drastically. All the respect she’d felt for him had been drained from her system, leaving only the loathing and the anger.

“How could you even ‘think’ you ‘liked’ him,” she scolded herself aloud, as she stomped over to where she remembered previously throwing the red and black duffel bag in frustration. She heard his footsteps as he came closer. And she wouldn’t be surprised if he threatened to leave without her.

Marina quickened her pace as she pawed through the contents of the duffel bag on the floor, intent on finding that fresh new top before blockhead finishes freshening up himself.

But as the seconds passed and as she burrowed deeper in her search, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

CD player. . . NBA magazines. . . Oversized white shirts. . .

She frowned. ‘Who put all this stuff in here?’ she fumed angrily at the thought of someone going over her things.

Her eyes flashed dangerously as she dug deeper into the bottomless bag.

Black armband. . . Sweaty navy blue shirt. . . and. . . smelly socks!

Damn.

Where were her stuff?

Her eyes narrowed. Whoever did this to her bag was gonna pay. Dearly.

Her hands suddenly came in contact with a soft wooly fabric.

Funny, she didn’t remember bringing along something of this texture. She felt the soft ‘garterized’ item once again. . .

Her eyebrows met in curiosity. Wait a minute. . .

Marina’s eyes widened, as realization hit her like a ton of bricks. . . She had lived long enough in a men’s world to figure out what this. . . thing’ was. . .

She dreaded confirming her theory but she had to know what other horrendous surprises were in stored for her. . .

Her hands trembled slightly as she brought the ‘garment’ up for inspection.

Indeed, it was garterized.

It was white.

And it had. . .

Marina’s face wrinkled in disgust and fascination.

. . .polka dots!

Amid the horror, her brain still had the guts to function. It was telling her that the thing looked. . . ‘nice’. . . and that. . .

“I want one!” she exclaimed aloud, hoping that the lingerie shop had a female counterpart for the item in question.

But suddenly, the door of the changing room opened with a loud bang. “What do you think you’re doing?!”

They both froze.

Kaede suppressed the urge to squeeze his nose to impede the incoming nosebleed as his brain registered the fact that a certain brown-haired girl was pawing through the contents of. . . his duffel bag. . . wearing only her underwear.

He stared in greater horror as he recognized the. . . ‘item’ she was holding up for inspection.

In mere nanoseconds, he crossed the distance between them and snatched the offending item from her hands.

“It’s not mine,” he retorted defensively as he turned his back to her, afraid to be in close contact with such. . . ‘generous’ display of flesh.

“Oh, really now,” she drawled, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “I should’ve known all along that you were—!”

“What are you doing here anyway?” he asked flatly, still turning his back to her.

She put her hands on her hips. “I’m stripping, isn’t it obvious?” she said, rolling her eyes, covering herself with his towel. If she was dying inside in mortification, she was definitely never going to show it to him. She retained her cool, straining to keep her voice low and even, though inside, all she’d wanted to do was to lash out at him at the top of her lungs. “And what’re ‘you’ doing here—?”

“The women’s changing room is in the ‘other’ side,” he said grimly, refusing to display the turmoil inside his head and wondering how someone using the facilities for already a week would commit such a fatal error. “Do aho.”

“Oh.”

Realizing her mistake and the current state that she was in, the brilliant blush that spread across her face would’ve put a ripe red tomato to shame.

She snatched her discarded top then bolted for the door.

“Don’t take too long,” he called out to her retreating back. “Or else I’ll leave you to fend for yourself. . .” It was a miracle that didn’t come out as a squeak, he marveled.

And, of course, he didn’t mean what he said. It was already 9 pm and the streets could get quite dangerous for the likes of her.

Marina rolled her eyes. “Of course. . . but in one condition. . .” she said, looking back at him, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

Kaede glared at her. How dare she impose ‘conditions’ on him? But he listened nonetheless.

“You’d have to lend me that absolutely. . . ‘adorable’ underwear sometime.”

"Why you. . .’ Kaede thought evilly as the bright red blush spread inevitably across his face.

To be continued. . .