"Is everyone alright?"
The question hanged in the air as they all try to think up of a way to get out of their predicament.
"Aka-chin...everything hurts and we're upside down..." Murasakibara grumbled as he tried to balance himself and grabbed the nearest seat to prevent himself from falling.
"Tsk...My glasses! " Midorima panicked as he tried his best to look for the missing item.
"Here you go, Midorimacchi, good thing it landed on me..." Kise appeared behind the seat of Midorima and gave him the glasses.
"Satsuki! Oi, Satsuki! "
Kagami looked at the source of the voice. Located in front of him were Aomine and Momoi.
"O-oi! She's not waking up! "
Aomine looked uncharacteristically shaken. Well, anyone would be in this situation. Kagami hoisted himself up to see what had happened to the pink haired. He knew a bit of first aid and he could tell that the girl was just unconscious.
"She'll be fine, Aomine" Midorima also assured as he too, carefully went and checked up on the two.
"Are we all complete?" Akashi asked from the very front row. Miraculously, everyone seemed to have avoided a major injury. He became filled with relief knowing that fact. Next, he looked around to assess their next move.
The bus that they were on fell when crossing the mountains and is stuck on a branch of a tree. Said branch seemed to be quite frail and it will probably only be a matter of time for the bus to fall off.
Surely, if they stayed in the bus, it wouldn't end good for them.
Akashi bit his lip.
He had to get everyone out here safely. If he recalled correctly, only their team was on the bus along with the driver.
What to do...? He was broken out of his thoughts when a panicked voice filled the area.
"Has anyone seen Kuroko?" Kagami is sure that he had already looked around wherever he can. He and Kuroko were seated beside each other at the very back of the bus. Yet, there was no sign of the phantom... Kagami looked harder and noticed that the glass behind them had already broke...
Kagami paled.
He examined the remnants of the glass and surely anyone could fall from it during the crash since it left such a big gap.
The red haired ace looked outside the hole only to see more branches.
"Eeh?! Kurokocchi's missing?!" Kise's eyes were suddenly filled with tears as he figured out what Kagami's thoughts were by looking at the hole.
Everyone suddenly paled and frantically examined the place much further.
This kind of reality was still far from their line of thought. They were just teenagers.
A group of basketball junkies.
But, in fact, the sad truth dawned on them. Their life, right at this very moment, is at stake.
It's as if their doom is just looming around the corner.
"I'm here"
When Kagami heard that voice, yes he felt the usual surprise, but now he felt more relieved than ever along with everyone else.
"K-Kurokocchiii!" Kise gasped as he swallowed his tears. Everyone else breathe a sigh of relief.
They found Kuroko on the far end of the seat near Kagami. It's amazing how he can keep his low presence in this kind of situation.
"Tetsu..." Aomine whispered worriedly that came out as a grumble, as he arranges Momoi in his arms.
"This is really isn't the time to exceed our expectations...Tetsuya. Don't make us worry." Akashi releases the breath he didn't know he was holding. His other personality seemed to have been bought out of panic but immediately calmed down. Besides, Taiga was there to scold the other.
"Look! I know you have a low presence but we're in this situation right now! You had us all worried!" Kagami scolded while Kuroko looked at him with a passive face.
"But I just woke up..."
Kagami just sighed because of how valid the reason is.
"What do we do now?" Midorima suddenly asked.
The relief in the teens dispersed as they realized their present situation.
The bus still shifted ever so slightly through the breeze, which would've been calming if it wasn't for the fact that they're stuck.
"A-are we going to die...?"
"Don't ask things like that Murasakibara!" Midorima answered. But even he was thinking the same thing he just didn't want to accept it.
"Did anyone bring any spare mountain gear? A rope for example?" Akashi asked.
"I would've brought one if they didn't tell us not to bring any gear" Midorima spat. He didn't mean too but every single one of them were already panicking anyways.
If only they had somewhat of a gear...
"Ah!" Midorima suddenly shouted incoherently.
"Whaa-...? Mido-chin?"
"Did Midorima finally snap?" asked Aomine.
"Well, he did seem to be talking quite a lot this time don't you think?" Kagami answered.
"This really isn't the time for teasing..." Kise sweatdropped as he murmured at the two.
"To think that I'll spend my final moments with you guys..." Aomine grumbled as he somewhat chants some kind of ritual.
Kise and Kagami looked at the blue haired teen indifferently and was about to retort but got interrupted.
"A gear! I do have a gear!" Midorima literally glowed as he called to the red captain. "Akashi! I do, in fact, have a rope!" the green haired continued as he reached for his bag. Why didn't he remember this earlier?!
Midorima vowed to follow Oha-Asa for his entire life as he found the item he was looking for.
He was taping his fingers around the time of the crash but before that, he placed today's lucky item on his bag. Good thing that he wore his bag rather than place it beside him where it could've fallen off.
"Whaaat? Why do you have a rope?" Kagami asked.
"Oha-Asa's lucky it-"
"Don't ask about it! Let's just get out of here" Aomine cuts in and lifts himself and his childhood friend up "Akashi! Tell us what to do!"
"I noticed that the branch near my window is stable than the others. I'll go outside and tie the rope on the branch so that we could all go down safely. We're lucky enough to have a long rope. One by one, you'll go out through this window gently and down the rope. One wrong move and the bus is good as gone." Akashi firmly stated as he reached to Midorima for the rope and went outside silently starting his plan.
"H-huh? ...Dai-chan?"
"Satsuki! Are you okay? Are you hurt?" Aomine bombarded. He's not usually this attentive to the other but he wasn't that heartless. Truth to be told, he has a soft spot for all of his friends.
"I'm fine Dai-chan...It hurts a little but it'll fade..." Momoi reassuringly smiled. She watches Akashi go outside. "What's happening?"
Aomine explained the situation and the pink haired girl couldn't help but frown.
"Then we'll climb down the tree using the rope. It's Murasakibara's turn for now since his seat is closer to Akashi then next is Midorima and Kise."
"I see..." Momoi glanced at their surroundings. There's really not much to look at except for a bunch of trees "You were always good at climbing trees with your bare hands...right, Dai-chan?" she said trying to lighten the mood as it was already Kise's turn to move.
" (1) Oh yeah, I remember that time when Momoi's hat was stuck and you climbed that large tree like it was nothing" Kagami recalled.
"Eeh...When did that happen, Kagami-kun?" Kuroko asked curiously.
"It was when you were taking Nigou to the vet and we have to help out Kiyoshi-senpai at the beach."
The four of them lightly smiled at the memory.
"Who's turn is it?" asked Akashi outside. He stayed at the branch to overlook the situation between the two places. Murasakibara, Midorima and Kise seemed to have landed safely.
"Satsuki, you go in first" Aomine said casually.
The pink haired girl nodded as she made her way to the window carefully. Once she crossed the rope successfully, Aomine soon followed after.
"You go in first, Kagami-kun" Kuroko spoke.
"As if, you go first. "
"I insist"
"We're at this situation and you're still being stubborn"
"You're the stubborn one, Kagami-kun. I was the one who asked first." Kuroko said as a matter of fact. Kagami sighed. There was just no fighting with this brat.
As Aomine crossed safely, Kagami tapped Kuroko's back lightly as he went his way up to the window. While on his way, he looked down at Kuroko and back to the window.
Why is it that he's getting such a bad feeling about this?
A flash of white suddenly went past Kagami and the bus shook horribly causing him to slip back to his previous location.
Kagami widened his eyes. He hurriedly turned around to where Kuroko was supposed to be.
"Kuroko!"
A swarm of voices can be heard outside the bus as Kagami registered what was happening.
"What are you doing!?" Akashi entered the unstable bus but this time with the rope tied to himself. He tried reaching for the others.
He looked at Kagami who was holding Kuroko's hand through the hole in the bus.
"K-Kagami-kun..." Kuroko stuttered for a moment and breath heavily while his face betrays all the adrenaline he is feeling right now.
He was just looking at Kagami earlier then suddenly a body landed on him and he was pushed to the hole along with it. Due to the impact, it shook up the entire bus. Kuroko grabbed the hand of the stranger but would've fell completely to the ground if it wasn't for Kagami.
Kagami looked like he wanted to scold him so bad but this really isn't the time for that. Also, the grip he has on him is becoming loose. He could hear the others on the other side of the hole, shouting their names while trying their best to think of a way to catch them if they are ever to fall.
"Kuroko, let go of him." Kagami said on a panicked whim.
Kuroko looked at the body he had just saved. The person he's holding is unconscious. He looked at Kagami with soft eyes.
"Don't look at me like that! If you don't let go of him we're all going to die!"
"..." Kuroko stayed silent but never budging with his decision to hold the man firmly.
Kagami glanced at the unconcious man and noticed that it was the driver. Kagami tsk'ed. What's the right thing to even do at this situation?
It's not like he can save everyone, right?
Was he really that kind of a man?...
"But-! " the bus gave out and Kagami never did finish his sentence as he closed his eyes and braced for the impact.
"Kagami!"
He opened his eyes and found himself grabbed, at the right timing, by Akashi, who was supported by the rope in tree. Thankfully, Kagami did not lose his grip to the other two. They all watched the bus broke into pieces while the others on the ground evade the collision.
The three of them climbed down shaken, but safe.
Once reaching the ground, the others inspects them for any injuries. Thankfully, nobody was hurt but all of them were exhausted.
Kagami sat down and breath heavily while closing his eyes. He tried to clear off his mind but he really cannot do it. He was shaken at the fact that he almost killed an innocent, unconscious person if Akashi didn't even pull them out of there.
Would he really take someone's life just to save his? The red haired ace pondered.
He looked at Kuroko, who still seemed taken aback by the event but regardless, still has his usual blank face. Nevertheless, the phantom checked the condition of the person he had saved. Midorima went to his side as well, having learnt a bit of medicine and all.
"It's no good. By the looks of it, he probably had cardiac arrest while driving. Hence, why we're here." Midorima said as he finished examining the person. He frowned. This day is filled with bad luck. His two friends almost died for a deceased person, plus the fact that they're all stuck in this situation.
How unfortunate for all of them indeed.
'He's already dead...so why did we even save him...' Kagami shrugged the dark thought that crossed his mind as he heard the news. He tugged his hair hard. Did he really just think that? Kagami despises himself. As he continued to ponder in his thoughts, he jumped slightly when Kuroko sat down beside him and looked at his face as if knowing what he was thinking.
"Okay okay...I'm sorry...I'm a horrible human person...I just...I did not know what to do...to think...I'm willing to actually do...that... I'm a monster.."
"Don't say that, it's not your fault...Kagami-kun" said Kuroko impassively "Anyone would've shared a similar thought...at that situation."
Kagami stares at Kuroko and wondered how the teal haired remains impassive throughout the whole thing.
Though, he did not miss how Kuroko was looking at his hands with an unnoticeable pained expression. Being with the teen all the time, he was used to this hidden reactions. He tried to fill in the puzzle and it all clicked now in his head.
"You knew..." Kagami trailed off before continuing "You knew his condition...but you still held on to him..." said Kagami. He noticed how the other seemed to be looking far away deep within his thoughts. Kagami didn't miss the slight movement of the other's hands.
The other stayed silent and Kagami took that as a yes. Then, surely, Kuroko's thinking the same thoughts he did just now.
"Look, it's not your fault okay? As you said earlier, anyone would've thought that. Nobody would blame you even if you did...let go...and...you did not thorougly know if the guy is ...you know..." Kagami knew his sentence came out horrible. He never really was good at lifting spirits up unless it's basketball related. He's the type that says what he thinks out loud.
Kuroko still didn't answer and silence filled between the two. Kagami thought that the other might be uncomfortable but as he was about to open his mouth the other finally spoke.
"It felt really cold..." said the teal haired quietly that it silenced Kagami and gave him the goosebumps. He shivered and was about to ask what he meant by that but was cut off by the other teens.
"Hey, Eyebrows. Akashi said to salvage the things that we have left behind on that busted bus. " Aomine casually budged in their conversation. Kagami was ticked off by the nickname but even so he complied by the request along with Kuroko. Digging through the bus, he didn't really have anything useful aside from his dusty bag filled with his shirt and water.
"Dai-chan! Are you seriously going to bring that?! " Momoi grabbed Aomine's bag which contained one certain magazine along with some snacks and a water bottle. The girl frustratingly sighed as Aomine just hummed his way out of their conversation while mumbling that it was a limited edition.
"To think, you have the time to be vulgar, Aomine" Midorima said as he nonchalantly brings out a small human shaped figurine out of the bus. Where did he find it and why was it not broken? One may never know as one should not underestimate the power of Oha-Asa and it's lucky items. Midorima smiled triumphantly while looking at Aomine who looked dumbfounded.
"What the hell is that?!" Aomine shouted "Actually, nevermind, I don't really want to know."
"Midorimacchi, where did you even keep that thing?!" Kise marveled at the green haired. Just a minute ago, all of them were panicking and now, it's as if nothing happened.
"Hmph, I brought with me the lucky items for the upcoming days. We were saved because of it." Midorima adjusted his glasses "Though, this one is already broken because of the impact. It has quite a lot of cracks. I tried fixing it with my tape..." Midorima carried on while nobody really cared to reply as they all gathered around to see what items everyone has, as well as talk about what to do in their situation.
"I tried to contact the authorities as well as informing the others at the lodge, but it seems that the signal here is out of reach." Momoi informed as she fumbles with her phone.
"I did that as well. But, it's probably because of the density of this forest. We might as well wait here for at least an hour. They're bound to notice that something's amiss. " Akashi explained and glanced at his phone's clock. It's almost 10a.m.
"Well, I guess that's really the only way to it." Kise looked upwards to where the road was supposed to be. It was hard to look at due to the tall trees but he did get a glimpse of the fences around the road. If there was a fence, then their fall probably damaged a part of it so someone is bound to see. "Murasakibaracchi! Can you see the whole road through here?" asked Kise as he can't seem to get a full view of the whole road. The yellow haired sweatdropped as he found the purple haired eating one of his chips.
"Hmm? Okay" Murasakibara lazily complied. He looked upwards to see the full view but he didn't find anything new. The teen shook his head.
Kise sighed. He hoped there was some kind of stairway or upper ground that they can climb on. Guess they really have no choice but to wait. He just doesn't like waiting especially for an hour.
"What're we even supposed to do here, ssu?" Kise whined.
"Be thankful that we're even alive at this moment" Midorima commented.
"What would happen to us if nobody came here within an hour, Aka-chin?" Murasakibara mumbled as he looked at the chips in his bag. He only has a few left. If nobody came within an hour, he has to save it. Then again, it really wasn't the time to worry about his sweets. He's not that ignorant at least.
"Well, we could always try to find a clearing so that it can increase our chance of having a signal for our phone." Momoi suggested "Or we could try lighting up some fire or something, create a sign for everyone to know that we're here."
Murasakibara still looked dissatisfied with the answer but even so he accepted it. Akashi nodded in agreement.
"That sounds like something that someone from a stranded island will do." Aomine commented.
"I don't see you giving out any suggestions, Dai-chan" the girl huffed while pouting.
"Ahomine, we are stranded. Maybe not on a faraway island but still stranded." Kagami supported.
"Che, if you're going to support that woman then by all means go for it. Do you even know how to light a campfire? Bakagami" Aomine replied as he lied down against some tree.
"Are you picking a fight?!"
"Well, I just don't see you being smart enough to even light a fire."
"Are you telling me that you can?"
"No."
Kagami looked at Aomine stupidly.
"But I can tell that I'll still win if we ever fight on whose campfire is the brightest." the blue haired teen continued.
"And why's that?"
"Your light's too dim after all"
"What's that got to do with campfires?! Ahomine! All you ever think about is basketball" Kagami complained.
"But Kagamicchi, you always think of basketball too" Kise sweatdropped.
"Hmph, what a bunch of basketball idiots" Midorima added while Momoi laughed at his statement.
"Says the guy who has that..." Kagami looked at the taped figurine near Midorima and sighed "Nevermind..."
"We could always ask Tetsu on who will win between the both of us. But try not to get disappointed." Aomine sat up "Where's Tetsu by the way?"
"He may not show it but he's still shaken by the events from earlier." Akashi chimed in the conversation as he pointed at a certain direction and the lot saw the other teen "He's near the bus in where we decided to lie the other body down"
Kagami shivered as he suddenly remembered what the teal haired said a while back.
"Let's go check up on him then, Bakagami" Aomine prompted as he slung his arms to Kagami and walked lazily to Kuroko's direction.
"You don't have to tell me that! Get off me you heavy oaf!" Kagami slapped the arms away while Aomine just smugly grinned.
"I'll go with you! I'm worried for Tetsu-kun!" Momoi says as she followed the two.
Kagami and the others found Kuroko sitting down beside the body while fumbling with some kind of card in his hands.
If Kagami can describe the scene in one word, it's creepy. Definitely, creepy.
"O-Oi! Don't do that!" Kagami stuttered a bit as he shouted to Kuroko.
"Do what...?"
"That fumbling thing in your hand! Beside ...him! " Kagami glimpsed at the body beside Kuroko and honestly, he doesn't like this kind of stuff. The whole team knew about his tendency with horror.
"..."
The red haired expected Aomine to tease him about it too since he was so obvious but he got surprised when he saw the other trying to hide his shaken self.
Oh.
Kagami couldn't help but suppress his laughter. It's funny because it's not him.
"I know you're laughing Bakagami! It's not funny-"
Kagami laughed along with Momoi.
"Don't you dare! You're shaking too!"
"Aomine-kun doesn't like these kinds of things too Kagami-kun. When I first met him, he started chanting some kind of ritu-"
"Tetsu!"
Kuroko smiled a bit.
"Let's go over to the others" Kuroko stood up and brushed off the dust and took one final look at the body before going.
The other two stopped shaking as they got over to Akashi's place.
"Why do look so shaken up, ssu? " asked Kise who actually wanted to join earlier but got caught up on a conversation with Murasakibara.
"They're scaredy cats, Ki-chan!" Momoi said cheerfully as they all sat down near them. At least everyone is together in this situation.
"Ugh..."
"Momoi-san" Kuroko suddenly called out as he sat beside Akashi and gave the item in his hand. The red captain became intrigued by the item. He shot Kuroko a look and the other understood what that meant.
"Hmm? What is it, Tetsu-kun?"
Akashi gave Momoi the item and the girl scanned over it. Given to her was some kind of business card. She looked at the information written at the front.
'Sudagai Dam Construction...' The card is blurry and damaged around that part. Momoi turned the card over and found a written name.
Momoi's eyes widened. She looked at the two who seemed to be contemplating on what they had discovered, while the other five looked utterly confused as they too looked at the card.
"I found it on the man's id plate." Kuroko informed. This in turn caused Momoi and Akashi to look even more troubled.
"Hey, at least explain it to us!" Kagami demanded. The other four agreed with him. Heck, the other two looked like the world was ending while they have no idea about it.
"Kagami-kun, do you remember what we we're talking about before the crash?" asked Kuroko.
"Yeah, it was about that huge dam that the bus crossed through, right?" Kagami replied as he tries to recall more of the conversation.
"What about it?" Aomine added as he too listened to that conversation in the bus.
"That dam is also a well-known tourist spot." Momoi continued. "I even bought the pamphlets because we might be able to visit there. I told Tetsu-kun and Akashi-kun about it. But..."
Kagami quivered. He did not like where this is headed. This feeling he's having is the same as he was on the bus.
"They shut down the place a few months back since a lot of person have been reported missing in that location." Momoi breathed heavily as she thinks of the correct sentence to say. "Aside from that, the man. The driver...his name is one of the few names that were mentioned missing and...- "
"Quite famous as well since he works at that construction site" Akashi added.
"Huh...it's probably just a coincidence you know. They just have the same name or face or whatever. I thought it'd be such a big deal." Aomine said with a bit of confidence and bravery.
"Just what Aominecchi said!" Kise smiled to try and lighten the mood.
"You guys are probably thinking way too much since we just got over that incident with the bus and all" Midorima added.
"Besides, as long as everyone's here no one's going to be missing, right Aka-chin?" Murasakibara followed.
Akashi smiled a bit "Not on my watch at least"
All of them smiled in relief.
"I hope it really is just a coincidence, Aomine-kun" broke Kuroko.
"Of course it is! Besides, even if he is the missing man, why is it rare for him to be in a bus, driving? Can't he have a job?" Aomine answered smugly. Why do they insist being pessimistic at this time of the day?
Kagami gulped as he somehow had this gut feeling that Kuroko will insist on something that is indeed out of the ordinary. He looked at Akashi and Momoi who, albeit smiling a while ago, knew what the phantom was implying.
"It is quite rare Aomine-kun. Because he is already found dead two days ago."
A suffocating silence hanged through the air as the teal haired finished his sentence.
AN:
(1) This is from the second season, vol.2 featuring Kagami Taiga, of the special cd.
Sorry, was a day late but the chapter length should make up for it TvT still ,sumimasen.
Hmm, well there will be blood but it's not that major I guess xD Let's just see in the upcoming chapter. The story kind of focuses on how they will get away from the situation ahead of them. Like, are they really haunted or something.
Also, as I mentioned in the previous chapter this fic is inspired by the horror game Fatal Frame so there might be some similarities like the layout of the place etc. and yea that's it.
Thank you for the support as always TvT, will see you guys in the next chapter.
Thank you for the reviews as well TvT it makes me happy sniff
Will post this fanfic on ao3 too.