Rabies

Spike Of The Dog

  Walking into practice with my bag slung over my shoulder, I was highly annoyed. As the break was nearing its end, Mad Dog was getting on my every last nerve and only one thought crossed my mind as I took a bite out of the fried chicken in my hand. 'That fucking kid is really starting to piss me off.'

  Sure, I was usually one to start shit with the team and random people, but that damn blond just pushed my buttons like no tomorrow. Somehow, everything he did seemed to annoy me. The way he'd always glare or pop off with something irritating or even when he just growled. It was so frustrating because every time we'd get close to actually fighting, the second one of us grabbed the other's shirt, Iwaizumi was there and pulling us apart.

  Chewing as I glared at nothing in particular, I flung my backpack onto a bench and plopped down next to it. I usually didn't have my bag, but I did bring it from time to time. The guys had asked what was in it before, but I never answered and never let them look because inside was actual records of their volleyball practice and books on volleyball techniques and plays. There was also a notebook inside that I'd jot down everyone's progress in after practice, and that was why I didn't let them look in the bag. They'd find out I was actually taking my manager duties seriously.

  Popping the rest of the chicken into my mouth, I crumbled up the little wrapper it had been individually wrapped in and stuffed it into one of the pockets on my cargo shorts. I was late to practice today, but no one seemed to notice as they were all deep into practice and listening to feedback from their teammates.

  "Yamiko! Look out!" I heard Shittykawa shout from my left. Looking, I barely had enough time to raise my hands and catch the ball before it crashed into my face. Growling, I lowered the ball and shot the brunette a glare. "Don't look at me like that! It was Mad Dog-chan!" He whined while pointing to the culprit who was standing stock still with that aggressive look on his face.

  Rising to my feet, I snarled, and the blond seemed to go on alert as I drew back my arm. Pitching the ball back at him with all of my might, it sped toward him in a straight line. The speed kicked up enough wind to toss up peoples' hair as it passed, and the eternally pissed-off-looking male quickly held out a hand to catch it to keep from getting a bloody nose. The impact was loud against his palm, and he hissed in a breath from the stinging pain in his palm.

  Glaring at me as if the look could kill me, I ignored it due to the shock I myself was experiencing. I was surprised beyond belief at how he was able to catch it....especially since he had only used one hand. Looking over at Shittykawa, my angry/shocked expression changed as I grinned sadistically with a glint in my eyes while pointing at the blond.

  "Let me play with him." I demanded, and the brunette's eyes slightly widened.

  "What? You....You wanna play with Mad Dog-chan?" Nodding, Shittykawa just glanced at me, then at the pissed-off male looking at his reddening palm. "Okay...." He said while sounding a little unsure.

  "Come with me, fuck-face. I have a net set up outside!" I said quickly while running by Mad Dog and grabbing the collar of his shirt as I did. He shouted at me to let go, but I ignored him until we were outside. Taking the ball from him, I forced him to stand on one side of the net while I went to the other. The net was here since I would sometimes do one-on-one practice with some of the players after they begged and bribed me with food.

  "What the fuck do you think you're doing?!" He growled at me with his hands in fists at his sides as I spun the volleyball in my hand.

  "You still have no clue who I am, do you?" I smirked and got a blank look as a reply. "I was originally on the female volleyball team, but due to a certain....incident, I was kicked off and forced to become a manager for this team."

  "So? Why would I fucking care?"

  "Well, let's just say I was a fucking good enough player to earn a nickname among my enemies and peers. It's sort of like how you're called Mad Dog." Checking my shoelaces, I made sure they were tied tight and spun the volleyball in my hands again. "So, if you can impress me like Iwaizumi, then just know you've done something incredible." He scoffed.

  "Someone's full of themself." As soon as he said that, I hit the ball at him in a similar fashion to how I did at Shittykawa the first time. Hitting it so fast and so hard that it made the skin it brushed past on his cheek turn pink, it looked like a small friction burn before the ball created a cloud of dirt and dust as it hit the ground. His eyes bulged while his brows were still furrowed.

  "Full of themself, huh?" Smirking sadistically, I watched as he slowly began to move toward the ball to pick it up. The muscles in his arms tensed as he stood back up, seeming to debate on what to do....that or just wondering how the fuck I had done that. He had yet to see one of my more powerful serves, and now that he had, I assumed he understood why everyone wanted to practice against me despite my shitty attitude. His golden eyes looked up at me briefly before he averted his gaze to the ball. Without saying anything, he tossed me the ball and stood loosely as if telling me to try it again.

  Catching the ball, I remembered every spike I had seen him do. His form was crazy, and I couldn't quite wrap my head around it. But his spikes were honestly incredible, and I wanted to know what it was like to be on the receiving end of such an attack. It had to be more exhilarating than just spectating it. 'I wonder what all he can do....' I thought while seeing him observe me so closely.

  Tossing up the ball, I swung my arm and hit the ball over the net again. The tall male reacted in an instant, running to the net and jumping. His body bent back as he wound up one arm. 'Does he think he can fucking spike my ball back at me?!'

  The blond had a fiery glint in his eyes as he curled forward, his arm swinging like a whip, and a loud smack echoed in my ears. His permanent glare was directed at me as he fell back to the ground, his feet landing firmly in the grass as my eyes widened a fraction. 'He....He spiked my ball....' Turning toward the spot the ball had hit, I saw it was out of bounds. 'Still....he spiked it.... Someone like this actually fucking exists?' I thought with giddy excitement. Sure, it may not show, but I always wanted to find an opponent that could keep up with me rather than just getting slaughtered.

  Looking back at the blond with a feral gaze in my eyes, I licked my lips like a starving predator. My fingers twitched and I flexed them- I could go all out with this guy. I could even use my most powerful serves.

  "Oh, you're going to be so much fucking fun." The male paused, slightly confused as he glanced from where the ball was to me. "Nice to meet you Mad Dog-chan, they call me Rabies." His golden gaze narrowed, and I began to retrieve the volleyball. Standing back up while dusting the ball off, I looked over my shoulder at him with a slightly wild, murderous look on my face. "I'll drive you insane before I kill you."