This is close to the last chapter. I'm really sorry it's so short, but the next should be longer. This one was just the ending to the case more or less. The next chapter will be the last for this story.
Disclaimer: I do not own Ghost Hunt or Kuroko no Basuke
Chapter 11: Ghostly Suicide
Mai let out a gasp of surprise, slamming her hands over her mouth followed closely by Masako. They were staring down at one of the other team's 2nd string players. He clutched at his knee, his face turning a sickly shade of green while simultaneously paling. Blood began to pool beneath his body, staining the sealed wood of the basketball court crimson.
The teen's leg had been snapped cleanly in half, the pearly white bone poking through the skin like a needle through fabric. Blood leaked from the puncture, dripping into the pool of blood it had already managed to create. "Oh my god, oh god, my leg," he whimpered through his sobbing screams.
Kyoshi stood at the back of the crowd, a look of horror painting his face. The rest of his team had gathered around the teen, Riko, Kuroko and Hyuga crouched next to him. The teen's captain crouched by his head, holding it still so he wouldn't see what had happened to his leg.
Suddenly, Naru was beside Mai, his voice ringing through the silent crowd, an anchor in a sea of shock. "Someone, call an ambulance now! Ayako, get over here, quick! Let her through!" he shouted, grabbing Mai's shoulders and turning her into his chest just the crowd parted for Ayako to rush through. Naru grabbed Masako's wrist, guiding her and Mai away from the scene.
"Stay here," he told them sternly, depositing them against a wall before rushing back into the crowd.
With shaking hands, Mai pressed her hands over her ears, trying hard to block out the cries of the injured teen. Masako slipped an arm through Mai's, covering one ear with her hand and pressing the other to Mai's shoulder. "Oh god," they whispered together, quietly beginning to hum under their breath in hopes that would help. To a certain degree, it did, but not enough.
What felt like hours later, the gym was finally silent. Glancing up, Masako and Mai found themselves utterly alone in the wide space with only a puddle of blood for company. They stood slowly, looking for any other source of life, but there were none. The silence felt absolutely unnatural, making both of them uneasy.
"Masako, I think we need to get out of here…" Mai's words trailed off as her eyes locked with those green-brown irises Ash wore so well.
He smiled menacingly down at her, his teeth gleaming prettily in the fluorescent overhead lights. "Hello, Mai. So nice to see you again, darling," he purred, leaning forward, his hands wrapped around the handrail of the top level.
"Masako," Mai whispered, her eyes wide and her voice quivering with surging fear, "Run. Don't look back. Just run and get Naru." She stepped out and in front of the other female just slightly, making an attempt to protect her friend.
"No," Masako refused vehemently, stepping around Mai and taking her place beside her, glaring up at the man who had been causing the team so many problem, "If you're staying here, then so am I. I won't leave you to face him by yourself."
"Oh, look, pretty flower, look at what a loyal friend you have. It would be a shame if she were the first to go," Ash inserted, bringing their full attention back to him. His grin widened, sending a shiver skittering down the girls' spines.
"I won't let you kill her!" Mai declared, clenching her fists and glaring up at the man who was no more than a child. He was a year younger than her, and he certainly acted it.
"Oh, but how are you going to stop me? You have no more PK than the average human. You may be a strong ESP user, but you have no protections from the real dangers," he growled sweetly, leaning further over the railing, "You are powerless against me."
"I wouldn't be so confident about that. I'm more powerful than you know," she bluffed, trying so hard to hide the fear the coursed through her body. 'Build your shield. Build your shield, just like Lin taught you. Don't let him get you again. If he hypnotizes you this time, it'll all be over,' she thought, frantically building the shield she'd learned in her defense brick by brick. In a few moments, it was up and set, but she wasn't sure how long it would actually last against his assaults.
Suddenly, Masako shrieked beside her. Mai turned to grab for her, but she had already been lifted into the air. She struggled futilely against the arms wrapped around her neck, crying out.
Behind her, Rei had strung his arms around her throat. He was as small as she was, his topaz eyes poking out from behind her head. Those eyes that used to shine so brightly were dull and void, just like hers had been, but she could see a tiny spark struggling to burst to life.
"You are doing a fantastic job of protecting your friend, pretty flower. I can really see the amount of power you possess. It is of an amazing magnitude," Ash told her sarcastically, rolling his eyes towards the ceiling, "Just give up now and save us all a lot of trouble. Maybe even save your little friend's life."
"Why should I trust you?" Mai spat at him, "You'll probably just kill her the moment I agree!"
Ash shrugged nonchalantly, his face bored. "I have no need for her. She has power, but she is not powerful. I don't want people like that. I need those who have a great reserve of power, such as you and your little family. If you don't care, I could just kill her…" He trailed off, raising his fingers threateningly, ready to give the signal at a moment's notice.
"No!" Mai screeched, her eyes focusing on Masako and Rei floating before her. Even from here, she could see the flame in Rei's eyes growing bigger every moment, his eyes blinking fast. He was coming back to himself. All she needed to do was stall long enough to allow him to return fully. It wouldn't be long. "Fine. Fine. If I give in, if I let you take my soul, will you leave all of my family members alone? Every member of my team," she asked, looking back at him.
Ash pursed his lips in consideration. "Absolutely…" he began slowly, and Mai sagged in relief, "Not! What do you take me for? An idiot? There are too many special abilities and power within your little group of misfits for me to pass up. I will leave the ones who hold no interest for me alone, such as this little girl and that red-headed wench who can't seem to keep her mouth shut."
"I won't do anything for you unless you promise to leave my entire family alone," Mai growled obstinately, her eyes focused on Ash.
"Alright then, I guess the little girl gets to die. Remember, her blood is on your hands," he said. The snap of his fingers rang through the gymnasium. He waited for a long moment, his fingers held above his head. Frowning, he glanced towards the pair that was supposed to be floating in the air.
Rei had set Masako back on the ground, straightening her clothes quickly before allowing her to take off back towards Mai. She hid behind Mai, glaring up at Ash with so much hatred that she could have burned a hole in his forehead.
"What the fuck are you doing?" Ash snarled, glaring over at Rei who blinked back at him angrily, "Do as I tell you! Kill her!"
Rei snarled, squinting his eyes and clenching his fist. "No, I won't do what you tell me to!" he shouted, taking a few steps towards him, "I will never let you soil my hands!"
"You will do as I tell you!" Ash shouted, digging his fingers into the metal railing, making it squeal angrily.
Mai had to wonder how much strength he actually possessed. "Don't listen to him, Rei. You don't have to do what he says. You are your own person."
Rei smiled over at her. "Yes Mai, he won't make me do anything."
"You cannot hold out forever," Ash growled, pushing back off the railing. He held out his hand, cupping something that was invisible to the rest of them. He curled his fingers into the object, glaring at the trio on the floor.
Rei's smile became angry and wide, proud and powerful. "Not if I have anything to say about it."
Ash's eyes grew wide with his surprise. "What? What are you going to do?" he snarled, narrowing his eyes, "What are you planning?"
"Something that you would never expect."
Horror suddenly engulfed Masako's and Ash's faces, their mouths gaping open. Mai glanced at Masako, her smile at Rei's success falling away quickly. "Oh my god, he's going to-" Masako began, cutting off her words instantly as Rei began to rise high into the air.
"What? What is he going to do?" Mai asked frantically, looking between her and the ghost before her, floating above them.
"Don't you dare fucking do it!" Ash screeched, jumping on the railing, glaring at the spirit.
"I promised that you'd never have me," Rei replied calmly, his fists relaxing at his sides, his fingers pressing into his thighs. He pulled them up, pressing them to the middle of his chest, just over the pendant Mai knew rested there.
"What is he going to do?" Mai shouted, staring up at the spirit with more horror than the other two combined.
Masako's voice shuddered out as she whispered, "He's going to destroy himself." Tears streamed thickly down her face.
"No! You can't!" Mai screamed, but it was too late.
Rei smiled down at her one last time, murmuring, "I'm sorry, Mai," before bursting into flames. He was gone in moments, nothing left of him, not a trace.
Mai collapsed to the ground, her mouth hanging open. Masako wrapped her arms around herself, trying to curl in on herself.
Ash's scream of rage rang through the gym. As it died down, Mai realized that he had disappeared all together.
I hope it wasn't terrible. Sorry that it was shorter than the others. This was the last for this case, that's why it was short. The next chapter will be the last, the epilogue, and then I'll be onto the sequel in a couple months, once I finish the rest of my stories and Nanowrimo for this year. See you soon!