Title: Terror…

A/N: Ahem… thanks for all the reviews, and here's chapter six for you!!!!!

sLL: er… Sakuragi? *slaps herself* totally forgot about him.

Lazuli: Nah! I'll never let Rukawa die, well at least for now.

Eliar Swiftfire: Thanks!

Simply Kim: *grins evilly* you like Shiozaki? Or are you just sad that It killed someone.

Chapter 6- Onee-chan

Err… thanks," Jin muttered softly, aware that everyone, every single person in the gym was staring at him. Sendo too was looking at Jin. But then, after a while, he looked away, feeling uncomfortable. He realized that everyone was staring at Kainan's shooting ace. He didn't like it… For some reason or another, he felt uncomfortable. It was unexplainable, but the feeling was there. Trying to avert all their attention away from Jin, he asked,

'Rukawa, what made you do that?' Rukawa looked away, shoving his hands in his pocket, and remained silent. Sendo was thinking of ways to rephrase the question. now, not to divert everyone's attention, not anymore. He felt that he needed to know. He must know why Rukawa actually hit Jin. As Sendo was still thinking, Rukawa answered, eyes at the window.

'I dunno… I thought a sharp shock would do it, and it did.'

Silence again.

Koshino looked at Rukawa hard, as if waiting for more. He just felt that there was more that Rukawa had to say. The young man who was expected to be silent as a rock was extremely needed in their situation. After a moment, Rukawa did mutter another reply. His voice was dropping, as if he was saying it against his will.

'His eyes were blank, scary… like that of…' Rukawa actually swallowed before his voice turned into a mere whisper, 

'… onee-chan.'

Even though his voice was soft, Sendo heard it, and he felt… both of them sensed something different. Something out of place in the gym. Something that didn't belong, contaminating the atmosphere.

Rain trashed against the gym.

Sendo shivered.

* * * * * * * *

I found something. There was something in that boy, Rukawa's mind. But…

Do you feel it?

Do you feel me… Sendo? Rukawa?
It doesn't matter, just a little more.
Just a little more, and I'll have you.

I was thrilled at what I found. I continued prompting Rukawa's mind softly.

Absently, long, thin filaments lightly caressed my new victim. Caressed his face.

Just a little more.

* * * * * * * *

What did he say? His sister?' Fujima looked at Rukawa, the thought still spinning in his mind. Rukawa looked very different now. He looked scared, sad… and lonely?

'He has a sister? But… so what? I mean that has nothing to do with Jin. So why did the attack on Jin have such an impact on him?'

There were so many questions. And yet, there were no answers. None…

But… the fact that Rukawa was different wasn't the only thing bothering them. Fujima sensed that there was something here, in the gym. Something that had no right at all to be here. Something uninvited… and he felt that it was aiming for Rukawa.

A look at Sendo was enough to confirm that fact.

Everyone stirred uncomfortable in the gym. Kiyota looked around nervously. Everyone had shut up again, after the resounding slap Rukawa had given his teammate. He tried to start a conversation, but his nerves didn't allow it..Most of the Shohoku players, he noticed, were still crying sorrowfully for Shiozaki. That was the thing that was making him more nervous.

Uekusa stared at Ryota, who was trying to comfort Yasuda although tears were flowing freely from his eyes. He wondered… all around him, most of the Shohoku players were whispering to each other, finding comfort in others' words. Of all the teams, Uekusa realized, Shohoku seemed to be the most traumatized by Shiozaki's lost. Yet, other teams had lost their members too… Why?

* * * * * * * * *

 'I won't remember it!' Rukawa told himself sternly. He couldn't fight it, however. There was something protruding from the back of his mind…something prompting him…forcing him to remember.

'NOOOO!'

'Oneesan!'

Grotesque memories of his sister's death flashed across his mind. He grimaced, the uninvited mind waves that was bothering him just now, forgotten. All around him, there were sounds of broken conversation. The other basketball players were trying to relieve the tension and their fright by talking.

'Do'aho,' he muttered, almost unconsciously, trying to direct his memories away from his sister, but it refused to go. He was now in another realm, a realm that existed only in his memory, his history. That power was too strong to be defeated, now that he had been caught off-guard. The emptiness in Jin's eyes had taken away most of his self-control and… self-defense. He felt… alone, unguarded.

He saw it again, first the blood, and then his sister. Her blank eyes just staring back at him. Her open mouth, twisted into a silent scream.

 And…last of all, so unimportant at one glance, and yet so prominent…

The cockroaches.

The hundreds… thousands of them, infesting the bathroom.

'Shit! Stop it!' he screamed to himself, shaking his head a little, not at all aware that he was receiving worried stares from the other seven… no from almost all the players. He concentrated with all his power, and was nearly gaining control. But before he managed to push the thing out, chase the power away, one more, only one thought managed to escape the locked up part of his mind.

'Even the police couldn't find out the cause of her death.'

* * * * * * * *  

What are going to do now?
I've got you!

I cackled maliciously.

I felt exhilarated. I found it, his weakness.
Now, your mind is uncertain.
What are you going to do?
What are all of you going to do?
Rukawa is going to be mine soon.

The exhilaration was blossoming in me. I knew what to do. My body cells were changing, rearranging themselves, my body structure reforming

You know, Rukawa, it's such a coincidence.

My exhilaration reached its peak. Absently, I let out another cackle.

I killed her.

* * * * * * * *

'He's losing it!' Mitsui signaled wildly. Everyone's head swerved.

'Rukawa? No! He can't! He has the strongest mind! If he loses…we would be gone!' Takasago kept muttering.

'Rukawa, daijoubu ka?' Sendo asked Rukawa cautiously, acutely aware that Rukawa was sweating and shivering slightly.

Rukawa didn't answer. He just looked towards the door expectantly. He was waiting for something. Expecting something. And yet, he looked…like he wasn't in control.

Hasegawa looked at Rukawa too, terrified.

'Another attack? Now? What is going to happen?' The question twisted itself Hasegawa's head. Sendo could feel the tension in the gym increasing.

Their worried… about Rukawa.

He was the one fighting most, if he lost it now… that was one possibility they didn't even want to think about.  

Sendo didn't blame them for worrying. He himself was scared to death.
The rain continued its steady fall. Lighting flared.

Sendo shuddered.

The lightning had illuminated the rookie's face - which was one of pure devastation.

'Shit! Oh, who cares!' he thought, and tried to enter Rukawa's mind. Then maybe he could see what was bothering - no, scaring Rukawa. He managed to enter easily. Too easily.

He was surprised to know that Rukawa wasn't mentally guarded. But he was stunned by the images circling inside Rukawa's mind.

A girl with long black hair.

Fair skin.

She was lying on her back, in a bathroom, in the bathtub…

A bathtub which was filled with red liquid…

And black bubbles.

Sendo gasped loudly. He fought the urge to throw up and pull himself out of there. That picture… was…

The red liquid was… BLOOD… and the bubbles were… COCKROACHES.

He had realized that there was something very unusual in there when he first entered, with his mind, into the bathroom. The thing that had made him uneasy when he first saw the whole picture - were the cockroaches on the floor, on the wall. Everywhere in the bathroom.

There was so many… far from many, there was so much! They were in all kinds of sizes… And now, he realized that the BATHTUB was filled with cockroaches…and blood.

'What the hell happened in here?' he whispered, feeling the hairs on the nape of his neck rise at the sight and understanding of the whole picture.

Suddenly, another thought flashed across his mind.

'Even the police couldn't find out the cause of the death.'

Sendo shuddered again, feeling that there was something very wrong in Rukawa's past. This had to be Rukawa's past, Rukawa does not have any imagination. And Sendo knew that. 

He also sensed that there was something in Rukawa's mind besides him.

With all his might, he helped to chase away whatever was forcing the rookie to remember this hideous memory.

* * * * * * * *

The thing. The waves forcing him to remember were now gone. But… there was something he had managed to keep from it… and from Sendo. He couldn't let anyone know that his sister's death was not the only thing that was unsolved.

After less them an hour, all that remained of his sister was her corpse.
The cockroaches had been feeding on her.

* * * * * * * *

I snickered, still feeling thrilled at the result I received.

So what if you chase me away? You can't run forever.

I walked towards the gym, taking my time.

You've kept me out, out of the gym with all your determination, but can you still do that now?
Rukawa's not going to fight me, can you all do it without him?

The smile that had been decorating my mouth faded as I neared the gym.

I was worried, a little, it couldn't be denied. Another new feeling.

It was true that I could break through Rukawa… but that didn't mean I had broken the others' determination… their teamwork.

Well, I'll still win.

I got Rukawa, and I will get the rest of you, just wait patiently.

Rukawa, you should be honored, I have broken my usual schedule.
It should be Shoyo's turn now, another second-year, but it's you.

The gym door neared, and with it, my belief and self-confidence returned.

Bye, Rukawa.

The smile returned on my face as I threw the door open.

Threw it open with…Saori Rukawa's hands.  

A/N: Oh, and by the way, Sakuragi might not make his appearance up till chapter 8 because I totally forgot about him, but then, he's still in the gym! And if theirs is still any mistakes, I'm really sorry.