7th hell
Part 3
Sakuragi Residence
11:45 AM
Sunday
*ring*ring*
"Moshi moshi. Sakuragi desu."
"Oi, do ahou. Where were you last night? I called you up and no one's answering the phone."
Questioned a very irritated Rukawa.
"Oh it's you my dear Kitsune!" Sakuragi greeted him cheerfully. "I was with the gundan! We ate
dinner at Danny's! Go ask Yohei if you want" He simply answered.
"And where's your mother? Why didn't she answer the phone?"
"You know mom, always working overtime!" He replied "By the way Kaede, why being over-protective
all of a sudden?" Purred Sakuragi in the phone.
"Hana, turn on your TV and watch Channel 9."
"But it's a news channel Kitsune! You know I don't watch the news!" whined Sakuragi
"Now Sakuragi!" demanded Rukawa.
/He called me by my surname. He is serious/ "hai hai..." Made his way infront of the TV holding
the phone.
"... another shocking news showered Kanagawa. The famous Basketball coach "Anzai-sensei" as
everybody calls him, was found dead last night at 11:45 by his wife..."
"Shit!" Sakuragi almost fell on the floor as he was bombarded with the news.
"... caused of death was believed to be similar to the death of also a recent murder victim
Kogure Kiminobu. Police official now are giving out warnings that a Serial Killer might be
present here in Kanagawa."
"Hana, meet you in Akagi-san's place in 20 mins. Hurry up." Rukawa hung up.
"ha..hai..." Sakuragi then rushed to join Rukawa.
Akagi residence
12:30 PM
"Oi Gori!!! Opened up!!!" Sakuragi banged Akagi's door.
"Hanamichi! Calm down!" Miyagi tugged Sakuragi away from the door fearing that the red head
might tear down the door any minute now.
Akagi found out about Anzai-sensei early this morning before the news came out. Mrs. Anzai
called him up and related to him what happened. The whole neighborhood nearly woke up as Akagi
fainted at once, and shook the whole house.
When he recovered, he immediately called up all his teammates saved Mitsui. Now the whole
Shohoku Basketball team is infront of Akagi's house, seems all of them felt like dying.
"Come in..." Akagi answered the door.
"..." Sakuragi is stunned. He saw his captain's eyes and it rivaled the color of his hair.
"I know by now you know, what happened." Akagi started. And feeling the tears again threatening
to fall down. "Mrs. Anzai called me up this morning, around 5 am I guess... She told me
everything..." he paused to take a deep breath "She saw her husband lying in their living room
and blood was everywhere. She came home only check up on him because she wants her husband to
have adecent meal. Ever since their daughter gave birth to their grandchild, she hadn't had the
time to serve her husband." Akagi is now on the verged of tears. "If only the bus she's in
didn't had a flat tire! She could've at least seen the murderer of her husband! Instead she
found him... he found him..." Akagi couldn't go on anymore, he broke down. He doesn't care
anymore if the whole team sees him like this, he can't help it. He just needed to release the
pain.
Nobody spoke. Haruko hushing his brother. Most of the heads are bend down. Loud and soft sobbing
is the only sound present in the room at that very moment. Until...
*ding*dong*
"Haruko, will you please answer the door?" Somehow Akagi was now able to control his emotions.
"Hai, onichan"
Haruko opened the door only to find Ayako looking like she walked under a bus and got hit by a
train. "Ayako-chan!" Haruko immediately hugged the person in front of her.
Noticing who's on the door, Miyagi promptly got up and reached for Ayako. Ayako released herself
from Haruko's hug, and tucked herself in Miyagi's arms.
"Oh Ryota! Why is this happening to us?!" she cried "I just went to Anzai-sensei place and..."
"Hush now, Aya-chan." Miyagi cut her off "You don't have to tell us right now."
"No Ryota! I have to. I fear that the next one will be one of us! I don't know why but I feel
it!" she insisted.
Miyagi led her to the available seat in the couch and let her continue.
"She told me that there was another number written in blood on the floor. The number 2. Also
another letter is written, K, but written before K was another letter or word they did know, it
got smudged up and became unreadable." She paused to catch her breath. "She also told me that the
neighbors there didn't notice anyone with him last night. And that his favorite hat was
missing." She sobbed quietly in Miyagi's arms.
Silence again occupied the room. It was only broken when Yasuda spoke.
"Anou, Ayako-san, Akagi-sempai... how is Mitsui-sempai? Does he know about this?" asked the
trembling sophomore.
"No!" Akagi stood up, grim face, eyes burning. "He still doesn't know about this! I've talked to
his parents and both us agreed not to let him know about this, not yet."
"Doesn't he have the right to know, onichan?" Though terrified of her brother's current state,
Haruko still inquired.
"I know! I know!" cried Akagi. "But, one loss he can't barely endure, what's one more?! It'll
drive him insane!"
Park
3:22 PM
After their ordeal at Akagi's place, Rukawa and Sakuragi aimlessly wondered through the park.
They sat down beneath a Sakura tree, soft breeze running through their faces. If it be a normal
day, this scene will just be simply romantic. But romantic was the least of the mood present in
the company of those two right now.
"You know what, Kaede?"
"hnn..." came as a reply
"When you and I first got together, I just felt that I'm the richest man in the world." He
recalled the days, weeks and months that they have been together. Image of Rukawa's smile for
him stayed with him, /he smiled for me/. He never thought that he could make him his and better
yet, make him smile. "I could not forget the day that you told me about your friendship with
Koshino and that smiley pervert Sendoh! I was really shocked! Totally shocked that you have to
punch me to get my senses together." Sakuragi continued. "But what do you think I felt when you
mentioned your past relationship with Fujima?"
"Felt? Stupid I guess..." he replied flatly.
"I'll ignore that insult for now Kitsune. Anyways, I was flabbergasted! I teased you for a week!
And I never could have dreamed that Rukawa Kaede the ice king, blushing like mad! If only you
could see your face that week! Priceless! Really priceless!"
Seems the air between the two seemed to change for the better but that didn't stay for long,
since silence again befall.
"Kaede, why did this have to happen?" A sadden red head asked, disturbing the stillness of the
moment. "Why did it have to be them? I thought I found happiness then... then this had to happen?
It hurts, Kaede, hurts so bad!" Sakuragi choked back a sob, attempting to restrain the tears from
building up.
"Hana," Kaede moved closer to Sakuragi, concern now sketched in his face. "I know the pain,
Hana, the pain of losing someone. It's unbearable."
"Kaede..."
"Listen, Hanamichi. " Rukawa faced the horizon as he talked. "I was never really this cold,
stoic, the Ice King or whatever you guys call me, I was once a happy boy. But since I lost my
mother... I was never the same."
Sensing Rukawa will not say anything anymore, Sakuragi placed one arm around Rukawa and held
him close. They stayed that way for a while, watching the changing colors of the sky.
Shoyo Highschool Gym
5:00 PM
Monday
"Fujima... "
"Oi! Fujima!"
"Kenji!"
"Fujima Kenji!"
"HELLO?! EARTH TO FUJIMA KENJI!!!!" Hanagata shouted at Fujima to get his attention, hands
swaying in front of his bestfriend's face. "We are in a middle of a training here you know."
"Oh, Toru. Gomen nasai... anou let's take a break minna." A startled captain told Toru and his
teammates.
Hanagata approached his disturbed friend. "You're still thinking of him aren't you?"
"Him? Who's him?" Fujima, asked, surprised.
"C'mon, Kenji, you know whom I'm referring to?" Hanagata saw the puzzled expression on Fujima's
face. "You know, tall, dark haired? Kitsune like eyes, wears no. 11 jersey and plays for
Shohoku?" he emphasized.
"Yes. Him" sighed Fujima, looking down.
"He's happy now, you know, happy with his, to quote him, 'do ahou'." Hanagata laughed.
"I know Toru, but I can't help worrying about him. Mind you, I got over him a long time ago but
he's still my friend, he's dear to me. And now, with everything that happened to Shohoku. I just
can't help but feel affected." Explained Fujima.
"You're right, Kenji." Hanagata said with a thoughtful look on his face. "Losing a teammate is
tough enough but their coach, that's just the pits!"
"But, you're right. We're in training right now. I'll just worry about this later."
Kanagawa Beach
9:00 AM
Wednesday
"Tell me again, what are we doing here?" an annoyed Mitsui asked his teammates. "And where is
Anzai-sensei? You told me we will meet him here?" he glared at Akagi.
"You'll know soon, Mitsui..." Akagi replied nonchalantly
"And pray tell why are you all looking like you're going to a funeral?" Mitsui pushed on.
"Mitsui-san... anou... here they are..." Miyagi pointed at Mrs. Anzai and her company.
The team bowed in front of Mrs. Anzai.
"Mitsui-kun..." Mrs. Anzai looked at Mitsui straight in the eyes.
"What's going on Mrs. Anzai? Where's Anzai sensei?" He glanced at the urn that Mrs. Anzai dearly
holds. /I know something is wrong. Something is definitely wrong.../ His heartbeat doubled up as
she came near him.
"You are like a son to him, do you know that Mitsui-kun?" she told him.
"Huh?" Fear is slowly creeping up to Mitsui's face.
"He's so proud of you when you decided to get back at the team. He tells me that story everyday
of his life." Pain is evident in her eyes as she continues.
"We didn't know how, when to tell you this. We are truly sorry if we deceived you, we know how
much you cared for him." Her voice quivered as she talks. "Your Anzai-sensei, passed away
Mitsui-kun. He was -"
"KILLED!" shouted Mitsui as he crouched down, punching the sand in his frustration. "I know it!
It's him! I saw the front page news in the newspaper last Saturday and but Dad snatched away the
newspaper before I could read it." Standing up facing his teammates, eyes burning with pain and
agony. "All of you lied to me! You told me everything's fine! That, it's not him!" He pointed
and screamed at them.
"Mitsui-kun, please get a hold of yourself." Mrs. Anzai hugged the downfallen Mitsui. There he
just cried and cried in her arms. "First it was Kogure, my Min-kun! Then now it's Anzai-sensei!
Oh god, please... no more..."
When Mitsui subsided, Mrs. Anzai let him go and placed carefully in his hands the urn that she
holds.
"Here, Mitsui-kun... I know he would want you to do this."
Mitsui stared at the urn in his hand. He then carefully opens the urn that contained the ashes
of his beloved second father. Then sprayed them at the open sea.
"Arigatou... sensei... Ariagatou."
As the ashes falls on the salty water, the sun reflected them like stars that seem to forever
glitter in the endless sea.
Outside the Fujima Residence
9:00 PM
"Darn it! Where are my keys!?" Fujima exclaimed to himself. "And what a day for the doorbell to
broken." He looks flushed, obviously just came home from practice. He's now literary locked out
of his house, not just from the door, but from the gates. He then suddenly turned around as he
heard footsteps nearing him.
"Who are you?" He squinted through the darkness, noticing a tall figure in front of him. Even
the lamppost beside their house isn't working properly. He then, through a lot of squinting
recognized the person before him.
"Hi there...!"
---
"Honey, could you see what's the noise outside?" Mrs Fujima asked his husband. "And where is
that boy of ours? It's late!"
"C'mon, honey, you know how boys are..." Mr. Fujima laughed as he clicks open the switch to their
front lights then walks to the door.
"KEEEENNNNJJJJJIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Mrs. Fujima ran towards the front gates of their house to see what made his husband scream with
such terror. There she saw the white colored gates of them, now covered with blood.
Part 3
Sakuragi Residence
11:45 AM
Sunday
*ring*ring*
"Moshi moshi. Sakuragi desu."
"Oi, do ahou. Where were you last night? I called you up and no one's answering the phone."
Questioned a very irritated Rukawa.
"Oh it's you my dear Kitsune!" Sakuragi greeted him cheerfully. "I was with the gundan! We ate
dinner at Danny's! Go ask Yohei if you want" He simply answered.
"And where's your mother? Why didn't she answer the phone?"
"You know mom, always working overtime!" He replied "By the way Kaede, why being over-protective
all of a sudden?" Purred Sakuragi in the phone.
"Hana, turn on your TV and watch Channel 9."
"But it's a news channel Kitsune! You know I don't watch the news!" whined Sakuragi
"Now Sakuragi!" demanded Rukawa.
/He called me by my surname. He is serious/ "hai hai..." Made his way infront of the TV holding
the phone.
"... another shocking news showered Kanagawa. The famous Basketball coach "Anzai-sensei" as
everybody calls him, was found dead last night at 11:45 by his wife..."
"Shit!" Sakuragi almost fell on the floor as he was bombarded with the news.
"... caused of death was believed to be similar to the death of also a recent murder victim
Kogure Kiminobu. Police official now are giving out warnings that a Serial Killer might be
present here in Kanagawa."
"Hana, meet you in Akagi-san's place in 20 mins. Hurry up." Rukawa hung up.
"ha..hai..." Sakuragi then rushed to join Rukawa.
Akagi residence
12:30 PM
"Oi Gori!!! Opened up!!!" Sakuragi banged Akagi's door.
"Hanamichi! Calm down!" Miyagi tugged Sakuragi away from the door fearing that the red head
might tear down the door any minute now.
Akagi found out about Anzai-sensei early this morning before the news came out. Mrs. Anzai
called him up and related to him what happened. The whole neighborhood nearly woke up as Akagi
fainted at once, and shook the whole house.
When he recovered, he immediately called up all his teammates saved Mitsui. Now the whole
Shohoku Basketball team is infront of Akagi's house, seems all of them felt like dying.
"Come in..." Akagi answered the door.
"..." Sakuragi is stunned. He saw his captain's eyes and it rivaled the color of his hair.
"I know by now you know, what happened." Akagi started. And feeling the tears again threatening
to fall down. "Mrs. Anzai called me up this morning, around 5 am I guess... She told me
everything..." he paused to take a deep breath "She saw her husband lying in their living room
and blood was everywhere. She came home only check up on him because she wants her husband to
have adecent meal. Ever since their daughter gave birth to their grandchild, she hadn't had the
time to serve her husband." Akagi is now on the verged of tears. "If only the bus she's in
didn't had a flat tire! She could've at least seen the murderer of her husband! Instead she
found him... he found him..." Akagi couldn't go on anymore, he broke down. He doesn't care
anymore if the whole team sees him like this, he can't help it. He just needed to release the
pain.
Nobody spoke. Haruko hushing his brother. Most of the heads are bend down. Loud and soft sobbing
is the only sound present in the room at that very moment. Until...
*ding*dong*
"Haruko, will you please answer the door?" Somehow Akagi was now able to control his emotions.
"Hai, onichan"
Haruko opened the door only to find Ayako looking like she walked under a bus and got hit by a
train. "Ayako-chan!" Haruko immediately hugged the person in front of her.
Noticing who's on the door, Miyagi promptly got up and reached for Ayako. Ayako released herself
from Haruko's hug, and tucked herself in Miyagi's arms.
"Oh Ryota! Why is this happening to us?!" she cried "I just went to Anzai-sensei place and..."
"Hush now, Aya-chan." Miyagi cut her off "You don't have to tell us right now."
"No Ryota! I have to. I fear that the next one will be one of us! I don't know why but I feel
it!" she insisted.
Miyagi led her to the available seat in the couch and let her continue.
"She told me that there was another number written in blood on the floor. The number 2. Also
another letter is written, K, but written before K was another letter or word they did know, it
got smudged up and became unreadable." She paused to catch her breath. "She also told me that the
neighbors there didn't notice anyone with him last night. And that his favorite hat was
missing." She sobbed quietly in Miyagi's arms.
Silence again occupied the room. It was only broken when Yasuda spoke.
"Anou, Ayako-san, Akagi-sempai... how is Mitsui-sempai? Does he know about this?" asked the
trembling sophomore.
"No!" Akagi stood up, grim face, eyes burning. "He still doesn't know about this! I've talked to
his parents and both us agreed not to let him know about this, not yet."
"Doesn't he have the right to know, onichan?" Though terrified of her brother's current state,
Haruko still inquired.
"I know! I know!" cried Akagi. "But, one loss he can't barely endure, what's one more?! It'll
drive him insane!"
Park
3:22 PM
After their ordeal at Akagi's place, Rukawa and Sakuragi aimlessly wondered through the park.
They sat down beneath a Sakura tree, soft breeze running through their faces. If it be a normal
day, this scene will just be simply romantic. But romantic was the least of the mood present in
the company of those two right now.
"You know what, Kaede?"
"hnn..." came as a reply
"When you and I first got together, I just felt that I'm the richest man in the world." He
recalled the days, weeks and months that they have been together. Image of Rukawa's smile for
him stayed with him, /he smiled for me/. He never thought that he could make him his and better
yet, make him smile. "I could not forget the day that you told me about your friendship with
Koshino and that smiley pervert Sendoh! I was really shocked! Totally shocked that you have to
punch me to get my senses together." Sakuragi continued. "But what do you think I felt when you
mentioned your past relationship with Fujima?"
"Felt? Stupid I guess..." he replied flatly.
"I'll ignore that insult for now Kitsune. Anyways, I was flabbergasted! I teased you for a week!
And I never could have dreamed that Rukawa Kaede the ice king, blushing like mad! If only you
could see your face that week! Priceless! Really priceless!"
Seems the air between the two seemed to change for the better but that didn't stay for long,
since silence again befall.
"Kaede, why did this have to happen?" A sadden red head asked, disturbing the stillness of the
moment. "Why did it have to be them? I thought I found happiness then... then this had to happen?
It hurts, Kaede, hurts so bad!" Sakuragi choked back a sob, attempting to restrain the tears from
building up.
"Hana," Kaede moved closer to Sakuragi, concern now sketched in his face. "I know the pain,
Hana, the pain of losing someone. It's unbearable."
"Kaede..."
"Listen, Hanamichi. " Rukawa faced the horizon as he talked. "I was never really this cold,
stoic, the Ice King or whatever you guys call me, I was once a happy boy. But since I lost my
mother... I was never the same."
Sensing Rukawa will not say anything anymore, Sakuragi placed one arm around Rukawa and held
him close. They stayed that way for a while, watching the changing colors of the sky.
Shoyo Highschool Gym
5:00 PM
Monday
"Fujima... "
"Oi! Fujima!"
"Kenji!"
"Fujima Kenji!"
"HELLO?! EARTH TO FUJIMA KENJI!!!!" Hanagata shouted at Fujima to get his attention, hands
swaying in front of his bestfriend's face. "We are in a middle of a training here you know."
"Oh, Toru. Gomen nasai... anou let's take a break minna." A startled captain told Toru and his
teammates.
Hanagata approached his disturbed friend. "You're still thinking of him aren't you?"
"Him? Who's him?" Fujima, asked, surprised.
"C'mon, Kenji, you know whom I'm referring to?" Hanagata saw the puzzled expression on Fujima's
face. "You know, tall, dark haired? Kitsune like eyes, wears no. 11 jersey and plays for
Shohoku?" he emphasized.
"Yes. Him" sighed Fujima, looking down.
"He's happy now, you know, happy with his, to quote him, 'do ahou'." Hanagata laughed.
"I know Toru, but I can't help worrying about him. Mind you, I got over him a long time ago but
he's still my friend, he's dear to me. And now, with everything that happened to Shohoku. I just
can't help but feel affected." Explained Fujima.
"You're right, Kenji." Hanagata said with a thoughtful look on his face. "Losing a teammate is
tough enough but their coach, that's just the pits!"
"But, you're right. We're in training right now. I'll just worry about this later."
Kanagawa Beach
9:00 AM
Wednesday
"Tell me again, what are we doing here?" an annoyed Mitsui asked his teammates. "And where is
Anzai-sensei? You told me we will meet him here?" he glared at Akagi.
"You'll know soon, Mitsui..." Akagi replied nonchalantly
"And pray tell why are you all looking like you're going to a funeral?" Mitsui pushed on.
"Mitsui-san... anou... here they are..." Miyagi pointed at Mrs. Anzai and her company.
The team bowed in front of Mrs. Anzai.
"Mitsui-kun..." Mrs. Anzai looked at Mitsui straight in the eyes.
"What's going on Mrs. Anzai? Where's Anzai sensei?" He glanced at the urn that Mrs. Anzai dearly
holds. /I know something is wrong. Something is definitely wrong.../ His heartbeat doubled up as
she came near him.
"You are like a son to him, do you know that Mitsui-kun?" she told him.
"Huh?" Fear is slowly creeping up to Mitsui's face.
"He's so proud of you when you decided to get back at the team. He tells me that story everyday
of his life." Pain is evident in her eyes as she continues.
"We didn't know how, when to tell you this. We are truly sorry if we deceived you, we know how
much you cared for him." Her voice quivered as she talks. "Your Anzai-sensei, passed away
Mitsui-kun. He was -"
"KILLED!" shouted Mitsui as he crouched down, punching the sand in his frustration. "I know it!
It's him! I saw the front page news in the newspaper last Saturday and but Dad snatched away the
newspaper before I could read it." Standing up facing his teammates, eyes burning with pain and
agony. "All of you lied to me! You told me everything's fine! That, it's not him!" He pointed
and screamed at them.
"Mitsui-kun, please get a hold of yourself." Mrs. Anzai hugged the downfallen Mitsui. There he
just cried and cried in her arms. "First it was Kogure, my Min-kun! Then now it's Anzai-sensei!
Oh god, please... no more..."
When Mitsui subsided, Mrs. Anzai let him go and placed carefully in his hands the urn that she
holds.
"Here, Mitsui-kun... I know he would want you to do this."
Mitsui stared at the urn in his hand. He then carefully opens the urn that contained the ashes
of his beloved second father. Then sprayed them at the open sea.
"Arigatou... sensei... Ariagatou."
As the ashes falls on the salty water, the sun reflected them like stars that seem to forever
glitter in the endless sea.
Outside the Fujima Residence
9:00 PM
"Darn it! Where are my keys!?" Fujima exclaimed to himself. "And what a day for the doorbell to
broken." He looks flushed, obviously just came home from practice. He's now literary locked out
of his house, not just from the door, but from the gates. He then suddenly turned around as he
heard footsteps nearing him.
"Who are you?" He squinted through the darkness, noticing a tall figure in front of him. Even
the lamppost beside their house isn't working properly. He then, through a lot of squinting
recognized the person before him.
"Hi there...!"
---
"Honey, could you see what's the noise outside?" Mrs Fujima asked his husband. "And where is
that boy of ours? It's late!"
"C'mon, honey, you know how boys are..." Mr. Fujima laughed as he clicks open the switch to their
front lights then walks to the door.
"KEEEENNNNJJJJJIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Mrs. Fujima ran towards the front gates of their house to see what made his husband scream with
such terror. There she saw the white colored gates of them, now covered with blood.