Chapter 4: Heaven or Hell
Rukawa's Apartment. Rukawa examined himself in the bathroom mirror. He closely examined his skin, one by one, for scratches and strange bruises. He had no plans to tell Sendoh about the strange creature that was bothering him. Sendoh will be terrified, so he pretended not to notice its presence. His heart began to race once more. He remembered the creature he had noticed for a few days. To calm himself, he washed his face.
Sendoh stealthily peers through the small opening door at him. Seeing Rukawa's anguish hurt him. He is disappointed that Rukawa does not show his fear and apprehension. He couldn't bring himself to talk about the terrifying incident he had every time they were together until now. He dashed back to his bed.
Rukawa: Are you awake yet?
He looked at him, leaning his back against the headboard. Before looking at Rukawa, Sendoh slowly turned his body and stretched his arm.
Sendoh: It's still early. Why are you up? Have you noticed my great looks? Yeah, I can't help myself.
Rukawa: Please do not pick me up after school. I have an appointment later.
Sendoh abruptly sat down, frowning, as if annoyed by what he had heard.
Sendoh: What are your plans?
Rukawa: Tomorrow, I'll tell you.
Sendoh: Why can't I come? Do you have anything special planned for me?
Rukawa: You're talking nonsense once again.
Sendoh devised a plan to address the serious issue of his bruises.
Sendoh: Babe, why are your bruises taking so long to fade? What do you feel?
Rukawa: You seem to have forgotten what you did.
Sendoh: I'm not joking of course. I'm not going to practice later. Let's get a schedule from the priest.
Rukawa lifted his shirt and pointed to his hip.
Rukawa: You didn't mark this part last night.
He pouted. He just wanted Rukawa to talk to him about something that was bothering him.
Rukawa: I feel really bad.
Sendoh: Really? Tell me anything.
Rukawa: I noticed something unusual about my bruises.
Sendoh's face was genuinely worried, and he was focused on what Rukawa was saying. He hopes he grows accustomed to sharing his feelings about everything that happens to him.
Rukawa: I counted it earlier, and it was only ten. To match my jersey number, make it eleven.
Sendoh tapped his brow. Sullenness caused his upper lip to lift slightly. Rukawa raised his eyebrows at him and smooched his pouted lips.
Rukawa: Don't be concerned about me. It's simply due to my low blood pressure.
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Mitsui is walking alone through a suburban street at night. He regretted not being able to invite Sakuragi after seeing his condition. He called Miyagi, recalling that he was leaving for home today.
Mitsui: Come straight to my house, bro.
Miyagi: Are you throwing a party? Why should I bother?
Mitsui: Come on!
When he saw a pickup truck pull up, he started slowly following another man walking alongside the road. He dashed into the bushes to see what was going on.
Mitsui: Fuck this horseshit.
He wanted to help the man but couldn't get out of his hiding place. The pursued man changes direction and walks back the way he came. When they turn to see what happened to the car, he notices that it is still parked where it was, but the door is open. Suddenly, a man dressed in black and wearing a bonnet attacks the man being pursued, knocks him out, and drags his body to the car. Mitsui put his hand over his mouth to avoid making a sound. He was sweating and sat down, scared to death.
Mitsui waited 5 minutes before coming out to ensure the kidnapper was a long distance away. He looked around, but there were no people or cars passing by. He made the decision to leave his hiding place. He immediately went to the police station to report what he had witnessed. He returned home around 8:00 p.m. When he saw Miyagi sitting in front of their gate, he relaxed.
Miyagi: Why do you look like that, bro?
Mitsui: It's a complicated story.
Mitsui awakens while Miyagi is sleeping in the guest room. He noticed the bloody handprint on his body as well as a strange but terrifying man standing in his bedroom. He abruptly removed his baseball bat from the side table. He got to his feet and confronted the shadowy old man who appeared to be inside his room.
Mitsui: Get away from me! I'm not scared of you!
The elderly man retreated into the shadows. Miyagi entered his room a few moments later.
Miyagi: What happened? Calm down, I'll be right here.
Mitsui: It took a week for me to breathe properly. I simply have a lot of fear inside of me.
Miyagi: If you feel afraid, don't fight it. Just let it be.
He shook his head. With his hands, he massaged his eyes. Miyagi's shoes were gleaming black, he noticed. His vision gradually improved. He was perplexed by the clothes he was wearing; dressed in slacks and a black suit with a tie. He noticed wrinkled hands and filthy nails.
Mitsui: Miyagi?
When he turned on the lights, he saw the old man once more. He mistook Miyagi for the person he was speaking with earlier. With a sly smile, the old man stared at him motionless. His right arm moved slowly, and his index finger pointed to the house across the street. He swung the baseball bat at the old man, who vanished. He went in search of the old man who had been bothering him for the past few days. He cast a glance out the window. Inside the other house stood the old man who was always in his dreams.
Miyagi: Mitsui, to whom are you actually talking? What's the matter?
Mitsui: Miyagi? Is that you?
Miyagi looked around the room, even under the bed. He went to the windows and looked outside to see if there was anyone there.
Miyagi: I thought a burglar had broken in. You frightened me.
Mitsui: What I witnessed is true! I'm not hallucinating! I noticed him.
Then Miyagi put his hand on Mitsui's shoulder. As he looked back at Miyagi, the same old man, he felt a pang of fear. On the spur of the moment, his head rolled to the floor, his eyes fixed on him.
Mitsui: What do you want?! Why are you doing this to me?
Miyagi: What's going on with you?
Mitsui retreated quickly. Miyagi approached him by following Mitsui's gaze. He didn't notice anything out of the ordinary in the room.
Mitsui: Dude, an old man is staring at me. I'm not familiar with him. He's been terrifying me for days. He had earlier pointed to the house next to us. I assumed he was the old man who had been standing in front of the window for several hours.
Miyagi: It's 12:16 a.m... Do you believe anyone is present?
Mitsui: What exactly are you on about?
Miyagi: You mentioned seeing the old man in their window frequently and dreaming about him. Let's get started.
Mitsui: All right, let's do it tonight.
Miyagi: Why did you want me here, by the way? Where is your mom?
Mitsui: She's in Singapore on business. Stay here until she returns.
Miyagi: What about Sakuragi and Rukawa?
Mitsui: The kids skipped practice for two days. They claimed to have an appointment.
xxx
Sendoh stood in front of a clinic he found on the internet. The golden coin decor hanging in the entrance was blown away by the was hesitant to enter, but he wanted to give it a shot. He believes that medicine will help him with his problem.
Sendoh: Is it possible to get checked up without having to go through months of therapy?
Dr. Azuma: what are you feeling?
Sendoh: When I have nightmares, I become anxious. My sleep had been disturbed. Every morning, I was also stressed. I was sweating and my heart was pounding in bed. Something bad was bound to happen, I couldn't help but think.
Dr. Azuma: Fear or stress are common causes of anxiety dreams; recent life changes, particularly those that cause uncertainty; traumatic events; insomnia or sleep disturbances; and substance use, including alcohol.
Sendoh: Maybe I'm just stressed. It's difficult for me to handle. That is why I have come. I frequently have a fear of sleeping, as well as a fear of the dark.
Dr. Azuma: Could you please tell me what causes you stress?
Sendoh: I'm not sure if you believe in ghosts. When I first saw it, I assumed I was hungry or hallucinating, but I see it frequently when I'm with my lover.
Dr. Azuma: Please describe your experience in detail.
Sendoh: I see it a lot behind my boyfriend. I sometimes have dreams about it. I never told him. I don't want him to be concerned about me.
Dr. Azuma: what do you see and feel in your dream?
Sendoh: A large creature with golden skin, the head of a wolf but the body of a dragon.
The doctor was taken aback by what the young man said. His pupils seemed to dilate and light up.
Dr. Azuma: When was the first time you saw it?
Sendoh: I've been sleeping in his apartment for a few weeks now. I believe it follows him around.
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Sendoh's Apartment. When Sendoh recalls the strange events, he can't stop mimicking images from his dreams. When he entered the room at night while Rukawa was sleeping, he noticed someone standing in the corner. He held his breath, attempting to calm himself. He inquired...
Sendoh: What exactly do you want?
It responds: Him.
Sendoh notices a wolf's head. His hands, feet, and tail resembled those of a dragon. The man standing behind Rukawa was the one who yelled at him. Rukawa was brutally attacked in his bedroom.
Dr. Azuma: You suffer from a nightmare disorder. Treatment for nightmares is rarely required. If your nightmares are causing you anxiety or disrupting your sleep, I would recommend a variety of treatment options, including medical treatment, anxiety treatment if the nightmares are related to mental health conditions, and medications.
Sendoh: I'll just pass it on to medicine. At school, I'm always busy. Hehehe!
Dr. Azuma: Your follow-up visit here at the clinic is next week.
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Control Room. Ayako climbs the stairs and enters a hidden door behind her father's office closet, leading to an underground. She entered a white room with overhead fluorescent lighting. Monitors behind the massive wall displayed aerial images from every possible angle. Monitors are assigned to specific areas. She noticed a T-corridor with three doorways; one led to where she was, another to an armory room, and the third appeared to be a hall. She hurriedly recorded the location and everything she could see in the room. She noticed an open laptop on top of the stainless table. She took a look at it. She was once again dazzled by what she saw, this time by the four members of their team.
Her gaze was drawn to the CCTV footage of their home from the day his four friends drove her home from the national games. She watched the video. For several minutes, the four of them sat on the couch, straight back, motionless, and unblinking, as if hypnotized in front of her father. When she saw herself coming out of the kitchen, the four resumed their normal behavior. She felt terrible right away, so she rushed to send Miyagi the video she took while walking around the lab room. She accessed the files and videos associated with their profile. She learns that Sakuragi and Mitsui are being watched.
Dr. Azuma: You shouldn't come in here, my daughter.
Ayako remained motionless. She hid her cellphone behind her and pressed the messenger's record button.
Ayako: Dad, what does this mean?
Dr. Azuma: I'm not going to hurt your friends. I will not cause them any harm.
Ayako: What do you need from them?
Dr. Azuma: I became interested in your friends, particularly Mitsui and Sakuragi. They happened to be family members of one of my former coworkers. That is why I research them.
Ayako pointed to the laptop, which was still playing video of the first time the team arrived at their house.
Ayako: What happened to them? Why are you researching them? For what purpose?
Dr. Azuma: I showed them things they couldn't see before. They only need to join my organization to receive a substantial reward from us.
Ayako: You've never met them, Dad. They're not really that shallow. They cannot be passed through tangible stuff.
Dr. Azuma: Sakuragi has joined my group.
Ayako: Why did you include him in this list? What kind of organization? Why are they there?
Dr. Azuma: Sakuragi is Shigure's son, our executioner. Mitsui is the grandson of our founding father, Master Hatori.
Ayako couldn't believe what he said. She clenched her fist around her cellphone. She was already planning an escape from her father.
Ayako: When did all of this start? What are you thinking?
Dr. Azuma: I, too, am a medical psychiatrist who does not believe in supernatural beings. I am confident that science has an explanation for everything that happens around us. But when I discovered Prince Mammon, a deity, he brought all the wealth to us.
Ayako: There are many things that are more important than money. Material things do not have to blind you. Are you content with the life you've chosen?
Dr. Azuma: Money is not a bad thing; we need it. We have power and confidence if we have it. It can provide you with security. We don't walk in fear.
Ayako: Everything is already yours. What more could you want? You even worship the devil for money?
Dr. Azuma: exactly like your mother. I'm sorry, but you need to rest right now, my daughter.
Ayako: You're insane! You've cursed my team? Let me go!
As she was about to press the send button on her back, Ayako swallowed. Her father quickly grabbed her and administered a sleeping pill. She passed out. The doctor was taken aback when her cellphone fell to the ground. He attempted to open it, but it had already been locked.
Dr. Azuma: I don't want to do this to you. Everything I do is for our benefit. I'm going to leave. I have an important person to pick up.
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Mitsui and Miyagi looked around the other house at first, but there was no sign of a CCTV punched a window. He examined the lock. He was successful in opening it. They entered the house through the kitchen window. They took a knife to defend themselves. Miyagi's phone abruptly rang. In his panic, he almost dropped it. He quickly toggled to the silent mode. They looked around as they walked down the corridor. They went through each door one by one. They used a video flash as a light source and recorded everything they saw around them.
They took big steps up the stairs to quickly reach the second floor. They opened the doors but discovered nothing. Their focus was drawn to the door at the end of the corridor. The doorknob was turned down. Miyagi attempted to poke a hole in the wall. Mitsui kept an eye on them. They didn't have a choice. They kicked it with all their might as time ran out. When they opened the door, they were greeted by a strong odor and insects all over the place. Miyagi searched for a switch. He turned it on, but the light bulb had gone out. They discovered a coffin. They took a step back, cautiously walking with their backs to the table. They turned it on. They observed a variety of chemicals and embalming materials. Miyagi kept looking at the items. Mitsui's gaze returned to the casket. It was completely black. A pentagram was drew around the casket.
Miyagi: Mitsui, look.
Mitsui: What did you see?
Miyagi displayed a collection of books, albums, and a parcel bearing his mother's name and address. They collected everything and placed it in a bag. He mustered the courage to lift the lid. He sighed before turning on the light. When he realized the corpse inside was the old man who had appeared to him in his dreams and in his bedroom, his eyes widened. On his eyes was a golden coin. when they heard the sound of a car horn outside. They ran quickly in order to avoid being caught by the house's owner.
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Rukawa's Apartment. Sendoh is troubled whenever Rukawa avoids discussing unusual events. He was convinced that the priest had expelled a child's spirit from the apartment. He couldn't help but be extremely worried when strange bruises and scratches appeared on Rukawa's skin. Rukawa was watering the plants outside his apartment. He was perplexed by his boyfriend's expression; he appeared dumbfounded and deep in thought, leaning against the balcony and looking up. He directed the hose at Sendoh.
Sendoh: Holy cow! What made you do that?
Rukawa: What are you thinking about?
Sendoh: I'm considering which positions we'll take later.
Rukawa: idiot.
Sendoh: I will always lavish you with my affection.
Sendoh removed his top. When they heard the girls' joyful screams, they turned around. Rukawa aimed the hose at the women who were swooning over his boyfriend.
Sendoh: Hahaha! What exactly are you doing?
Rukawa: repellent to pests.
Sendoh: You're just jealous.
Rukawa: Who is envious of whom? I have it as well.
Rukawa removed his shirt. The pests, I mean the girls, screamed even louder as they took in the scenery.
Sendoh: Mr. Gardener, let's go inside. Now is the time to water your plants.
Rukawa: Moron.
They had no idea that someone was watching them from inside a car parked in front of the apartment building.
Dr. Azuma: Kaede Rukawa.
xxx
Rukawa's Apartment. Before leaving the house, Rukawa packed his belongings. When he heard a soft knock on the door, he turned around. He instantly peered outside through the peephole. He paused. He's curious as to what their manager's father is up to in his apartment.
Rukawa: Are you Ayako's father?
Dr. Azuma: Yes. I need to talk to you about something important.
Rukawa let the doctor in, but he was waiting for Ayako to arrive.
Dr. Azuma: She's not coming. Let's get started. I discovered that you are having strange visions. I need all of the specifics from you.
Rukawa: Who said that to you?
The doctor showed his tablet. He played the video of his examination of Sendoh. Rukawa can't believe Sendoh is so stressed and anxious, and they both see the creature he's been hiding. He was filled with remorse. He did nothing to help him. He never saw any indications that he was going through anything.
Rukawa: With me, you have nothing to be concerned about. Please excuse me, I need to get somewhere.
Dr. Azuma: Do you want to put an end to your lover's pain? What about your pals?
Rukawa: What exactly are you on about? Did you really do this to Akira?!
Dr. Azuma: No, son, that ability is already in him. Do you know why you've been seeing strange things the last few weeks? I let you see them because I opened your eyes. As the Prince appeared to you, you are blessed.
Rukawa: What exactly do you want?!
Dr. Azuma: Since you entered my house, I've been expecting our Prince to appear to Sakuragi or Mitsui. Come along with me. I will never cause you harm.
If you join my group, you will receive a fairly substantial reward.
Rukawa: If you don't want to get hurt, get out.
Rukawa shut the door. He leaned against the wall, frustrated that Sendoh had lied to him from the start. He looked at the doctor through the window. He was standing in front of his car, on the phone with someone. Rukawa awaits his departure. He intends to avoid him because he doesn't want to offend Ayako's father.
xxx
Date Night. They dined at an intimate restaurant with a relaxed atmosphere, soft background music, on-brand decor, and enough candlelight to create a tranquil atmosphere.
Sendoh: Are you planning on proposing to me? My parents are strict, but we can sneak away to marry.
As he listened to Sendoh's nonsense, Rukawa's eyes narrowed.
Rukawa: You're right. We'll go to the bridal shop after dinner to get you measured.
Sendoh: Why me? You are incredibly beautiful. I 'm extremely handsome. That is more suitable for you. Later, I'll carry you in bridal style.
Rukawa: Heh.
They sat in the corner, near the glass wall. He felt its presence once more. He shifted his focus to the wall. Behind him, he noticed a reflection. He looked at Sendoh, trying to see if he could see anything now that the demon was with them. He notices no unusual reactions from his date.
Sendoh notices the strange creature behind Rukawa but, as in previous days, ignores it. He didn't want to sour their relationship. A romantic song was playing in the background. He fixed his gaze on him, smiled warmly, slowly stood up, extended his hand, and invited Rukawa to dance.
Rukawa: I'm not good at dancing. I might trip you.
Sendoh: You ride me sometimes, so I'm sure a simple step on my feet won't hurt me.
Rukawa: pervert.
They took a step forward while holding hands. Before they held each other, their eyes met. They hugged warmly while pacing their steps.
Rukawa: Promise me you're not going to keep anything from me.
Sendoh was startled by what he heard. He restrained himself from reacting, preferring to remain calm in order to avoid his nervousness.
Sendoh: I promise I'll be there for you in heaven or hell.
Rukawa: What exactly do you mean?
Sendoh: I just wanna live in this moment forever, 'Cause I'm afraid that living couldn't get any better, Started giving up on the word "forever", Until you gave up heaven, so we could be together.
Rukawa: Have you warned the singer you were going to use his lines to seduce me?
Sendoh: Hehehe. I love you.
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Hello readers! Thanks for giving positive reviews Sabrina Lucifer, Sweetie, Rainbow14, Senrufan and Guests. I have a lot on my plate so it will be late before I can post an update again. Thanks!
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"Angel Baby - Song by Troye Sivan"