A/N: So me and Yuki made this... so yeah... please do read and review!
Chapter 2
"Unya! This is gonna be a long day!" Eiji exclaimed as he saw the tennis courts.
Everyone couldn't help but silently agree. Despite the fact that there were only two tennis courts, there was obviously a lot of cleaning to do. Huge and moldy rocks were found scattered around the courts. The grasses totally needed some trim. The nets looked like it needed a nice wash. The poles supporting the nets were covered in mud and surrounded by vines. And lastly, the white lines of the courts were already fading.
Everyone gaped at the mess. Except for Tezuka, who just sighed.
"Well, standing here won't do us any good." Tezuka turned to his teammates "Let's head to the shed and see what we could use to clean."
"Hai!"
Mizuki turned around and twirls his hair with a smirk "I shall be assigning you to your respective roles after we check the available items in the shed."
"Hai!"
Ryoma's eyes never left the article that is until Kaidoh and Inui arrived. He immediately shut his book and tucked it in his pocket.
"Fssh. What are you still doing here?" Kaidoh asked
"You're assigned to help Tezuka and the others." Inui said as he pushed his glasses up "Unless you want to help us clean?"
Ryoma just stood up and walked away towards the exit "I just forgot something."
Inui and Kaidoh exchanged looks before shrugging.
oOoOo
The young prodigy walked slowly down the stairs while in a deep thought. He couldn't seem to think of what to do on the current situation they are in. As well as the impending danger his seniors doesn't know.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Ryoma halted his steps and looked behind him. What…?
Thump. Thump.
Ryoma tried to follow the source of the noise. It couldn't be one of his seniors making it. Some of them were outside and the noise wasn't coming from the dining hall either. So… who…?
Thump. Thump. THUD!
He was surprise at the sudden sound and almost stumbled back. His hand unconsciously went to the pocket where the book was and clutched it.
Everything went quiet…
Too quiet…
"Shounen…"Ryoma's eyes widen as he hastily turned around. He was surprised to see the old man, standing behind him with a creepy smile. A droplet of sweat rolled down his face as he gave the old man a small glare. It was weird, he didn't even hear him arrive nor did he sense his presence as he approached him.
The old man raised an eyebrow "Oh dear. What's with that look? You seemed like you've seen a ghost." He chuckled dryly. Ryoma made no reply. "Anyway, it's not good roaming around alone. You might get lost."
"I'll be fine."
The smile on the wrinkled face just widened "If you say so…" slowly he turned around and walk away "But do be careful… you might not know who'll be coming after you." As the old man said this he had already turned to another flight of stairs. Ryoma immediately walked towards the wooden handles of the stairs to check the lower part of it and see if the old man was there… but…
"Gone…" he muttered while looking at the empty stairs. He tried to shrug off the chill he was feeling and continued his way to the tennis courts.
After checking the available tools in the shed Tezuka ordered Oishi to call Fuji and ask him to buy some white paint for the court. Everyone carried the tools towards the courts.
"Since there are two courts your team shall clean the other one, while we'll clean our own." Tezuka told Mizuki who agreed "Of course." He replied.
Meanwhile, Momo and Eiji we're currently removing the rocks in their court.
"Gahh! It's so dirty nya!" Eiji complained as he throws another rock towards the forest, which was found creepily next to the courts. Apparently there was a forest behind the huge summer house.
Momo watched as Eiji did this and nervously said "N-Neh, Eiji-sempai, maybe it's not a good idea throwing those there."
"Hm? Why nya?" the acrobat turned to him questioningly
"Well… w-what if you hit an animal?" Momo asked. Or someone who's not like us?
"Eh? But I don't see any animals though!" Eiji said while peeking through the forests. He narrowed his eyes to see a little clearer in the dark property… then, suddenly… he saw a dark figure pass a little too quickly. His eyes widen as he felt a shiver run down his spine. However, he had no idea why though. He turned to Momo with a nervous smile "I-I think I just saw o-one… b-but it looked kinda' tall…"
The power house player could only look at his senior with a raised eye brow "Ha?"
"Mada mada dane…" The two turned to the prince who had arrived.
"Echizen! Where were you?" Momo throws the rock he was holding and dusted his hands.
Eiji went to Ryoma "You're so unfair ochibi! Slacking off while your seniors work hard!"
Ryoma merely ignored this and looked around "Where are the others?"
"They're off getting the cleaning stuff." Momo replied "Meanwhile, why don't you help us throw away these rocks?"
"Momo! You can't ask ochibi to do that!" Eiji suddenly scolded
"Why?" Momo turned to him questioningly
A playful grin suddenly appeared on the acrobat's face "Because ochibi can't carry heavy things! He's too skinny and small!"
Ryoma glared at the two as they started laughing. Their fun was then disrupted as Oishi and Taka entered whilst carrying some broomsticks and shears.
"Ah Echizen! There you are!" Oishi exclaimed "Where have you been?"
"I forgot something…" Ryoma lied.
"You should start helping then." Taka requested as he handed him a broomstick "You don't want Tezuka punishing you now do you?"
Ryoma tugs his cap before accepting the broom.
"Just sweep away the leaves then after that, you can help cleaning with the nets or poles." Oishi instructed.
"Ah…" The freshman walked off while dragging the broom behind him.
Later on, the St. Rudolph arrived to clean their own court as well as the Seigaku's captain. Tezuka spotted their youngest member and approached him to ask where he had been. Ryoma used the same excuse and fortunately for him, Tezuka let him slide for now.
"Eiji, can you go get some water?" Oishi handed his doubles partner a bucket.
Eiji saluted "Okay!"
Oishi could only smile at his childishness before kneeling down to continue cutting the grass.
Meanwhile at St. Rudolph's group.
"Shinya!" Mizuki called out and Yanagisawa approached him.
"What is it dane?"
The manager hands him a bucket "Go get some water. We need it to clean the poles."
"Why me dane?"
"Just do it!"
"H-Hai!"
The other members watched the exchange with a sigh. He's enjoying this. They all thought in chorus as they saw Mizuki smirk and flip his hair.
"Kikumaru-san! Wait for me!" Yanagisawa called out to the acrobat who slowed his pace.
Ryoma watched the two leave, and was about to go back on sweeping the leaves away when he heard some rustling behind him. He turned to the forest, which was where the sound came from, just in time to see a blur past by quickly.
His golden eyes widen, and he didn't realize he had let go of his broom.
"Oi Echizen."
He let out a silent gasp and immediately turned to Momo who was looking at him curiously and worriedly.
"What's up? You've been acting strange." He pointed out and picked up the broom
Oishi soon joined in as he saw how pale the young prince looked "You look pale. Are you okay?"
Ryom tugs his cup down "I'm fine. It's nothing."
"What's wrong?" Tezuka then approached the trio.
"Nothing." Ryoma repeated before grabbing the broom from Momo and left.
Tezuka turned to Oishi who shrugged and shook his head.
"Ah there's a faucet!" Eiji exclaimed as he pointed at the faucet found beside the house "Come on!" he ran towards the faucet followed by Yanagisawa.
He sets his pail down and grabbed the tap and tried twisting it "Ngh! It won't budge!"
Yanagisawa scoffed "How weak of you dane! Here! Let me do it!"
Unfortunately, it didn't budge either and just made a small creaking sound.
"Nyahaha!" Eiji laughed making Yanagisawa go all red
"I-it's just stuck! Come on! Let's do it together." Yanagisawa exclaimed as he held the tap once more followed by Eiji who tried to calm himself from laughing. The two twisted it as hard as they could.
Creak!
Slowly it turned and with one more twist, they were able to make the water flow down.
"Alright!" Eiji and Yanagisawa exclaimed and did a high-five. But then… as their hands made contact, they felt something sticky and warm between their palms.
Hesitantly they separated them and checked what made it all sticky and…
Eiji and Yanagisawa's eyes widen…
oOoOo
"What's taking Eiji?" Oishi wondered as he noticed his doubles partner's long absence
"Shinya's taking his time." Mizuki frowned and crossed his arms
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!
The others jumped at the sudden screams and immediately stopped what they were doing.
"W-what was that?" Momo exclaimed.
"E-Eiji!" Oishi ran off followed by Tezuka.
"Shinya!" Atsushi and Mizuki soon left.
"Echizen! Let's go!" Momo said to Ryoma who nodded and followed him out with Taka and the other St. Rudolph who also ditched their work to see what happened.
…
"Eiji-!" Oishi was interrupted when the acrobat tackled him to the ground "O-Oi!"
"Oishi nya! Look! L-LOOK!" Eiji suddenly shoved his hand in front of Oishi "It's BLOOD!"
Tezuka and the others soon arrived. Mizuki was shock to see their member on the ground unconscious "Shinya!" They approached him to check what was wrong.
"E-Eiji calm down…" Oishi said pushing the hand away.
"How can I calm down when my hand is covered with-!"
"Rust." Tezuka spoke up.
"E-eh?" The captain tilted his head to the hand, obviously telling him to check it once more.
The acrobat followed and checked his hand, the substance was a bit yellowish and slightly red, somewhat like blood, "B-but… it really was blood awhile ago…"
"Eiji-sempai, you must've been imagining things…" Momo sighed
"You really got us nervous there… we thought something happened to you." Taka said holding out a hand to help him up.
"How is he?" Tezuka approached the St. Rudolph's captain.
"He just fainted." Akazawa replied "He must've thought the rust was blood too. Typical of him."
Ryoma remained silent as he watched Oishi lightly scold Eiji and the St. Rudolph regulars try to wake Yanagisawa up. His eyes narrowed to the faucet that had water flowing out of it non-stop.
Psst…
*He unconsciously turned to the side. Who…?
"Echizen, what's up?" Momo asked his kouhai as he saw him spacing out.
Ryoma was about to reply when he noticed the orange sky The sun's setting…
Momo raised an eyebrow "Echi-"
CRASH!
Everyone was immediately startled by the sudden sound "What was that?" Atsushi asked as he turned to the house.
"Taku, Inui and Kaidoh must've broken something." Eiji said, trying to distract Oishi from scolding him.
But that didn't sound like it came from the kitchen. Oishi thought as he remembered that the kitchen was at the other side from where they were. And judging by how they heard it, it kinda' sounded near. The vice-captain looked up at the window above It sounded like it came from there… His eyes widen as he saw the curtain of the closed window move.
Silence.
"It's getting dark." Ryoma suddenly stated, everyone was once again startled from their trance. The other's must've noticed what Oishi noticed too.
"Alright everyone, that'll be it for now." Tezuka turned to Taka "Kawamura and I will take care of the tools that were left."
"We'll help too." Akazawa and Kaneda volunteered.
Tezuka gave them a grateful nod "We'll continue tomorrow."
"Hai!"
And with that they all went back in the house, with Atsushi and Nomura carrying Yanagisawa in each side.
"What an unexpected turn of events." Mizuki sighed as he puts a hand in and took out his phone. What's taking Yuuta anyway? He wondered before texting the other's number.
"Neh Echizen…" Momo whispered to Ryoma.
"Hn?"
"Are you afraid of the dark?"
Ryoma gave the other a glare.
"A-Ah… well, you just suddenly announced it was getting dark and all… What's up with that?" Momo said defensively.
"Is there something wrong with pointing out something obvious?" Ryoma raises an eyebrow and puts both his hands in his pockets.
"W-well, I- err…"
"Mada mada dane… Momo-senpai." The younger teen yawned.
"O-oi!" Momo sweat-dropped and watched as Ryoma went ahead. Seriously… that kid…
At the dining room…
"I feel tired." Mizuki said as he put down his cell phone and brushed away a stray bang from his eyes. "I think I'll go take a bath in one of the bathrooms."
"Nya! I want to go too." Eiji said as he jumped up.
"Good thing the bathroom is as big as the one we had in the mountain villa we trained at." Oishi said as he also got up.
"I'm too tired to move…" Atsushi sighed. "I think I'll go bathe later."
"Hey, where's Yanagisawa?" Momo asked as he looked around.
"He's in our room with Nomura." Atsushi looked at the clock. "I'm sure he has regained consciousness by now."
"Let's worry about that later and take a bath now!" Eiji pouted, completely forgetting the incident about the faucet and the rust.
"Okay! Let's go take a bath Echizen!" Momo said as he pounded the small freshman on the back.
Ryoma almost fell forward at the impact and he gave a small glare at his senpai. "No thanks senpai. You and the others go ahead. There's something I want to ask Inui-senpai and Kaidoh-senpai."
Oishi gazed worriedly at their younger prodigy. "Are you sure Echizen? I don't like the idea of you wandering about the house later to take a bath by yourself."
"I can join buchou and the others later." Ryoma commented quietly. This eased the mother hen's mind and he nodded in approval.
"Okay. Help Inui and Kaidoh set the table before Yuuta and Fuji arrived." Oishi said before he and the others turned to leave.
Ryoma's golden eyes followed the leaving back of his seniors and when they were sure he was gone, he turned to the kitchen and walked inside.
"Oh, Echizen you're back." Inui said as he lifted a big pot into the stove.
"Senpai, there's something I want to ask." Ryoma said as his eyes narrowed suspiciously. There was a stained window behind Inui and his eyes were somehow drawn to that.
"Sure, what's up?" Inui said and Kaidoh came in the kitchen carrying jugs of purified water.
"Earlier, senpai-tachi heard a loud noise outside." Ryoma said as he unwillingly tore his gaze from the window. "Did you and Kaidoh-senpai drop anything?"
Kaidoh and Inui looked at each other. Kaidoh shook his head and Inui turned back to Ryoma. "No. We didn't drop or break anything nor did we hear any loud noise."
Ryoma's eyes widened slightly before he shadowed it beneath his cap. He was expecting this answer. He looked up at his seniors who were looking at him suspiciously. "Thank you sen-"
The young prodigy froze.
"Echizen?" Inui said as he raised an eyebrow.
Golden eyes were wide as the freshman stepped back. Kaidoh stepped forward and placed a hand on the teen's shoulder.
"Oi Echizen!" Kaidoh said in a loud a voice. The prince of tennis blinked before he shook his head and tipped his cap down.
"I-It's nothing… Thanks again." Ryoma said in a hurry before turning to leave. Inui and Kaidoh stared at Ryoma's back trying to comprehend his strange action.
"Where are you going Echizen?" Inui called out and he heard the freshman say 'bathroom' in a small voice.
Silence.
Neither noticed that behind them on the stained window, a hand vanished after writing a bloody message on the glass.
I don't want to die…
"We're back." Fuji greeted his fellow teammates as he and Yuuta walked into the dining room.
"Fuji, welcome back." Oishi greeted the Seigaku tensai as he and Yuuta put down the heavy grocery on the table.
"What are we having Fujiko?" Eiji said as he placed an arm around his best friend.
Fuji chuckled at his friend's hyperactive attitude. "We're having curry tonight. I'm sure Inui and Kaidoh already prepared the pot?"
"Just as you texted." Inui replied as he came out of the kitchen, wearing an apron. Mizuki, Yuuta, and Atsushi snickered at its pink and heart design. "Mizuki and Atsushi can you carry the groceries into the kitchen."
The two froze. "H-Hai." They had trouble keeping their laughter in as they walked towards the table to lift the groceries but then they're laughter choked in their throats when they realized how heavy the burden was.
"Oh Fuji, you're back." Tezuka said as he and Taka came inside along with Akazawa and Kaneda. The four of them looked dirty probably from getting the dirty tools back into the dusty tool shed.
"Ah, we're back Tezuka." Fuji smiled, Yuuta nodded in respect at the Seigaku captain.
"What took you so long Fuji?" Taka asked as he wiped his sweat with a small towel. "Did something keep you? Was the nearest store out of ingredients and you had to go to a farther one?"
Yuuta and Fuji frowned as they remembered the events that happened in their trip. "No. Actually…" Yuuta began explaining. "It was because no vehicles passed by in the road near here."
Eiji and Oishi looked stunned while Tezuka's expression became calculating.
"Why?" Oishi asked.
"At first, aniki and I thought it was because the summer house was in a strict private property zone…" Yuuta said "But when we finally got to the nearest convenient store…"
Flashback…
"Neh, you kids… I've never seen you before. Are you staying at a nearby hotel or something?" The lady behind the counter asked as she scanned the items they bought.
Fuji smiled politely. "No, actually we're staying at a summer house near here."
"A summer house?" The lady's eyes widened and they could almost hear her think: 'It can't be.'
"Yes, the one down by the Osaka beach." Fuji continued as he nodded.
The lady's eyes widened even more as she dropped the ingredient she was holding. "What? You're staying at that summer house?"
"Why? Is there something wrong with it?" This time it was Yuuta's turn to ask.
The lady exchanged looks with her fellow cashier and her companion shook her head. The old lady sighed. "Just be careful okay? No car passes by there so it's dangerous when you get into… uhm- some trouble."
"Trouble?" Fuji's eyebrow rose.
The lady gulped as she nodded. "I don't know what you kids are doing up there… Maybe you're some sort of psychic group investigating but I warn you… It's dangerous there. It's better to give up and leave."
"Psychic group?" Yuuta repeated curiously.
End of flashback
"So we went to ask some more about the summer house here but no one would tell us anything." Fuji's face was serious, his eyes open and calculating. "The people we ask would either turn pale and run away or else avoid us completely."
"Even the taxi drivers…" Yuuta sighed.
Flashback…
"Where you headed at?" A jolly driver asked with a smile.
"To the summer house down by the Osaka beach." Yuuta said as he and Fuji were about to get in but then the vehicle lurched forward almost throwing the younger Fuji off.
The older sibling's eyes flashed at the driver for nearly hurting his younger brother but then-
"That summer house? No way! I'm not going there." The jolly driver shouted in fear before he drove off leaving the two alone.
"Aniki…" Yuuta said as his eyes followed the leaving taxi. "What just happened?"
Fuji frowned as he shook his head. "I don't know Yuuta."
End of Flashback
"In the end we had to walk back here." Fuji said as he stretched his sore arms. Yuuta slumped by the nearest chair and sighed.
"At least we have enough food to last us for at least a week." Yuuta sighed. He looked at the Seigaku members in the dining room and the two St. Rudolph in the dining room and his eyebrow rose. "Hey, where's Yanigasawa and Nomura?"
Momo sighed as he scratched his head. "Yanagisawa fainted earlier and Nomura's with him right now."
"Fainted, why?" Fuji asked. Eiji began to laugh uncertainly.
"Nya, well we tried to open the faucet earlier and we got some rust in our hands." Eiji started awkwardly. Yuuta and Fuji exchanged looks not knowing how this would cause Yanagisawa to faint. Eiji laughed. "We thought it was blood, nya."
"Oh." Yuuta said and then his eyebrow rose. "Seriously?"
"I also find it hard to believe that Eiji-senpai aka 'Seigaku's best eyes' thought that the rust was blood." Momo snickered. Eiji gave him a glare complete with a pout.
"Let it go Momo." Oishi sighed before the two would start fighting. Whining, in Eiji's case.
Mizuki and Atsushi came back from the kitchen and sat down on some seats as well. "By the way Seigaku, are you sure it's wise to have your data man do the cooking?"
Automatically, every Seigaku member's eyes widened and they turned pale when they realized: Inui was making dinner!
"I saw him mixing some weird ingredients saying something about a new drink…?" Atsushi stated.
"And Kaidoh?" Momo asked hurriedly.
"He didn't look too well. Your data man said he just fell asleep." Mizuki said with a shrug.
"I-I think I'll go check on Inui." Taka said with a sweat drop before hurriedly going to the kitchen.
"Tezuka, should we go wash off?" Akazawa asked the Seigaku captain.
Tezuka looked at his already clean members and then at those who were still dirty nodded. "That would be a good idea."
"Saa… we'll join you too." Fuji said referring to his brother and himself.
"What about Inui-san, Kaidoh-san, and Kawamura-san?" Kaneda asked.
"They can all go to the baths together after they're done cooking." Tezuka said as he crossed his arms.
"Ah wait- speaking of baths, Echizen also-" Oishi began but then he suddenly noticed that the freshman prodigy was not there. "Arre where's Echizen?"
"Nya, didn't he say he wanted to ask Kaidoh and Inui something earlier?" Eiji said with a tilt of his head. "Maybe they know where he is?"
"If you're looking for Echizen, he left in quite a hurry earlier." Kaidoh said as he came out of the kitchen looking faintly green. "Said something about a bathroom…?"
"Hm, but we just came back from the bathroom and we didn't bump into him or anything…" Atsushi commented.
"Well, there are two other bathrooms in the house, maybe he went there." Mizuki said nonchalantly.
"Ah, but the real question is, does he know where they are?" Fuji asked.
There was silence.
Momo whistled lowly. "Echizen sure is brave, wandering around the house without knowing where the bathrooms are." Everyone sweat dropped.
"It's fine, I'll go find him if you're that worried." Inui stated as he went out of the kitchen and took off his apron. "Kawamura took the kitchen duty from me. Too bad I was planning on making you some special juice."
Everyone shivered and the Seigaku silently thanked Taka for saving their lives. Inui took the blueprints of the house from his pocket and sighed.
"Well, what do you think Tezuka?" Inui asked.
"That's a good idea. While you're at it, go and inform Nomura that dinner is about to be served. If Yanagisawa is still out, then tell him to get him some food." Tezuka stated.
"Okay." Inui nodded before turning to the door to leave… But then…
There were collective gasps as the electricity in the house suddenly failed.
"This is bad, nya! Ochibi is wandering around the house in a black out!" Eiji managed to say over the murmurs.
"Something must've happened to the fuse. Fuji go and check it out with Momo." Tezuka said in a commanding voice. "Inui, bring a flash light with you while you go look for Echizen. The rest, find some candles and get your flashlights from your room."
"Hai!" Everyone said before scrambling.
Inui adjusted his glasses before looking at the blueprints.
"Echizen, where are you?"
End of Chapter...
*-In our country's belief when supernatural beings like ghosts or probably earthland beings says "Psst." to get your attention and you twist your head in reaction... something bad will happen to you.
So that adds up the mystery neh? Wonder what will happen... stay tuned...
