"What are you kids doing? You-"

Akaya screamed. He would say he didn't, but what else was it? He screamed and ran past the shadowy figure. Where to? Nobody knows.

Kaidoh screamed too. He would deny it vehemently that he didn't, but it was a scream anyways. He was crouched down on the floor, hands over his ears, face to the ground. Yes, he was searching for his non-existent contacts. Of course.

Well, it wasn't that strange that the two screamed. What stood in the stairs looked terrible.

CHAPTER 10: MOUNTAIN TRIP PART 3

"Oishi!" Kikumaru shouted in fear and strangled Oishi, who immediately turned a curious shade of blue and purple. Indigo, was it?

"We were simply listening to a story," Inui said. "Right, Kaidoh?" He smiled menacingly.

The regulars turned to Kaidoh who was still on the floor with his hands over his head, shaking in fear.

Kaidoh hissed. His hiss was shorter than usual, and it trembled.

Momo laughed. "You can't handle a little story? What happened to 'Nothing can scare Kaidoh Kaoru' thing?" Momo said, imitating Kaidoh's growly voice.

"Shut up! I'm just looking for my contacts- and, you're shaking too!" Kaidoh shouted and pointed to Momo's hands. When did Kaidoh get contacts? Inui thought and recorded this new piece of juicy data.

Momo looked down at his hands. "They're not shaking in fear... they're shaking in, uh, laughter!"

"Liar!" Kaidoh angrily shouted back. Momo didn't answer. No one said anything. Something was missing in the room. It was creepy. The kind where you freeze because you have no idea what to do because you're too scared.

They could all hear the storm still raging outside. They could all see the bolts of blue-white lightning piercing through the black sky. It gave a sense of emptiness to the room...

The team looked at each other, then at the body that lay passed out in Eji's arms.

"Oishi!" Eiji shouted.

"You killed Oishi-sempai!" Momo pointed at Eiji.

"I did not, nya!" Eiji shouted uncertainly back. "He's just sleeping!"

"You strangled him!" Momo shouted and pointed at Oishi, who was currently blue.

"Calm down!" Tezuka shouted angrily and thumped the table for good measure.

The fighting teammates shut their mouths and looked over at Tezuka, whose back was ramrod straight. He looked like a god. Kawamura blinked a few times. Was Tezuka glowing?

"His pulse is still there. He's alive," Inui said. "The sword of death came dangerously close, though..."

"It's Fujiko's fault for telling such a story!" Eiji yelled, letting go of Oishi, who wobbled like puppet whose strings were broken.

Fuji said nothing. He only smiled, his eyes closed serenely.

Akaya was hiding in a corner. He was scarred for life now. Huddling against the wall didn't make him feel better at all. What was that monster? Was it the Hook Man? He hadn't gotten a perfectly clear glance at that thing, but one thing he was sure of: That thing was ugly.

Maybe Fuji had sent the Hook Man after him… and then laugh while he got slaughtered.

A tear rolled out the corner of Akaya's eye as he fantasized about the Hook Man.

Maybe 'Mura Buchou sent him to Seigaku because he wasn't useful for the team anymore, on accounts of being a five year-old.

He choked down a sob. STOP IT AKAYA!He thought to himself. He would not cry or show weakness. He had to face his fears. At least, that was what Sanada always said.

The thunder struck once more. When was this stupid storm going to end?

"Something wrong, Seiichi?" Sanada asked his best friend, who was staring out the window of his house.

Yukimura sighed. "I feel like someone yelling out my name."

Sanada looked confusedly at him. Yukimura wasn't the type to have hallucinatory visions.

Yukimura chuckled. "Oh, probably just my imagination. I wonder how Akaya has it." Another chuckle.

"I hope they won't change him into a lazy bum," Sanada said seriously as he closed his math book.

Yukimura said nothing. He sincerely hoped that he wouldn't have to arrange psychological therapy for Akaya. That would be mighty expensive, indeed.

Akaya turned around and took a deep breath. First he had to find out where he was. He had just ran somewhere, and now he was lost.

Wasn't the lodge small? The endless hallways and corridors reminded him of Atobe's mansion, of which he had been kicked out for trespassing once.

"Kirihara?" A miserable voice spoke from the outside. Akaya froze. What was that?! It sounded like…THE HOOK MAN! He stopped breathing and slowly turned to the window. It was dark outside, but he could still hear the rain pounding on the roof.

"Kirihara, what are you…" Akaya screamed (like a man) at what he saw. What he saw was a hat, wavy hair, and a cloak. But what he noticed the most was the silver hook in the person's right hand.

"THE HOOK MAN! AIIIEEEEE!"

"What- NO!" The man shouted, annoyed, and slammed his fist into the window. It swung open.

Akaya fell back as he saw the window… wait a minute, that was a door! In came a big shadow. Akaya squeaked. His breaths started to come as a series of fast hiccups.

"Kirihara, I know that I'm good looking, but stop gawking," A familiar voice said. The figure took off his cloak.

"Rich monkey asshole!" Akaya shouted in surprise.

Atobe Keigo glared at the small child as he threw his clothes on the floor. "What are you doing here?" Akaya asked, calming down now that it was most definitely not the Hook Man.

Atobe sighed as he smoothed down his hair. "My limo got hijacked by a couple of robbers. It was stupid of me not to bring a body guard. Well, they got their asses kicked. Now I'm going to call Kabaji to pick me up."

Akaya opened his mouth to say something, but Atobe had already dialed. Two seconds later, he screamed loudly.

"THERE'S NO SERVICE HERE?! How could this be possible?!" Atobe started to dial every single device he had, but they all ended with the words 'No Service'.

"No! I haven't traveled back in time, have I? What year is it!?" Atobe shouted at Akaya.

"Uh, 20-."

"Forget it. I have my chip so they'll find me soon," Atobe said, sighing in relief as he took out a small black chip from his pocket.

Akaya stared.

Atobe scratched his forehead and smirked, regaining his composure. "Okay, Kabaji I ne… oh, he's not here. Akaya- bring me some hot chocolate, a computer, and warm up the bubble bath." Atobe ordered.

"But… I don't thi-."

"Oh… and I need to talk with Sanada and Yukimura about the money they owe me after you destroyed my precious statues."

"They're not here; I'm with Seigaku."

"What?! NO!"

Author's note: Sorry for the wait. I hope you liked it. Thank you Snowpoppy as usual, for beta-ing.