Title: Terror…
A/N: Err… this chapter is preety long, but I just didn't know where to cut it. I'm really sorry. BTW, it's alright to inform me about all my mistakes. Seriously, I don't mind. And… pls forgive me, but Sakuragi won't make his appearance until the next chapter
sLL: Err… warn?
Adeliney: Are you serious? *jumps up and down* Thank you!!! I'm flattered. Do please continue reading… I hope I don't bore you away…
Shirodachi: Sakuragi's coming up!!!!!!
Kathleen: Haunt me? I think I should stop writing horror fic, I'm starting to freak myself out. Just joking! *hugs her* I loveee you!! Thanks for reviewing!
mental_freak: err… are you serious? My first chapter is short because it's the prologue… but I always thought the other chapters are a bit too long, not to mention this particular chapter!!!
Alexia: Err… I never knew what ESP stood for *hangs her head* . oh, and I realized that I did leave out a lot of other ppl, so this chapter (hopefully that is) has more characters. Err… an insect can't be 'a who' can it? It has to be 'a what'. About the immortal thingy… all of this are figments of my imagination, so… but I'll try to explain more about it in the later chapters if I get any ideas. Thanks for your review!!!
Lazuli: You hate spiders? I'm okay with them… I hate cockroaches even more!!!
Devoted2Mitsui: thanks for the compliment… I don't know how I got the idea to use insects myself…
Krappkarmin: I'll try… if I can… thanks for reviewing!!!
A/N: Hey! I'm feeling pretty frustrated. My brother is 17, and for those in Malaysia, who know what I'm talking about, he just finish his SPM, and now has just dump all his books in my room, and scaring me with all the Physics is so hard… ohhh Add-math… *sighs* . Now I have to clear all the crap in my room…
Well… anyway, I still managed to upload this chap, and I hope that you all enjoy it… oh, and you can cheer me up a little by reviewing *grins evilly* You will won't you? *cackles*
Chapter 8- Teamwork Versus Pride
'Aya-chan, daijoubu ka?' Miyagi asked, eyeing his beloved Ayako, concern clearly written over his face.
Ayako trembled slightly, the vision of the half praying-mantis and the other half of a worm still dancing in front of her eyes, but nodded anyway.
Yet, even after several minutes passed, she still couldn't get a hold on herself. The vision was too… strong, it refused to bug from her brain.
Will it use me next?
Black fear stole into her heart and closed her throat at that very thought. She shuddered involuntarily.
On the other hand, at another corner of the gym…
'Rukawa… that was your sister?' Sendo asked, cautiously. He knew that it was. It was Saori, no doubt. He also knew that Rukawa would definitely not answer his question, but he would make him. Rukawa would have to be able to admit that Saori was dead. Only then could Sendo actually say that they won this round, and Rukawa didn't have any weaknesses; at least concerning Saori, anymore.
Rukawa looked away, at the window, knowing Sendo's intention, but not answering anyway. He couldn't… he always thought that he accepted the fact that Saori was dead… but this time, he could not say that. He needed time to think.
Lightning slashed through the turbulent clouds, followed closely by a crack of thunder.
'The girl in your mind just now… the one in the bathroom… was Saori?' Sendo didn't give up. He stared straight at Rukawa, who was ignoring him.
Rukawa continued staring at the rain, his blue eyes clouded over.
Won't the rain stop?
Even when onee-chan died… the rain…
'Rukawa…'
'Sendo, drop it, okay?' Mitsui asked trying to break the tension he felt between the two of them.
'They won't play the same card twice, now all we have to do is try to figure out how to stay alive for another nine hours or so,' Mitsui continued, eyeing each on of them.
Sendo sighed heavily. Nine hours was a real long time, and Sendo knew that it would be impossible, impossible to beat them, if they all remained in this state. But he didn't voice out his thoughts… it was Koshino who voiced out the thought that they were all thinking at that time.
'That's impossible. We have been here for barely an hour and about two of our friends are gone!! This is not going to work out!' Koshino muttered angrily, though not loudly. He… they did not forget that they were still the ones who were supposed to be leading the rest.
Nevertheless, Sakuragi heard it. He had been quiet for long enough. He couldn't stand it anymore. Not only was that 'baka kitsune' leading all of them, but that idiot nearly led all of them to death. And now they wanted to give up?
To hell with that Rukawa!
We need to get out of here alive! And what is he doing? Staring at the rain which has nothing at all to do with this case!
'This is not going to work out? Koshino, they just condemned us, cursed us! Don't you have any pride? Pride of being a human? That was just an insect! Insect! The one we squish everyday! And you're telling us that this isn't going to work out? We can't lose! Not now! We will win! Tensai(s) don't lose, especially not this one! I won't admit defeat that easily!'
Everyone turned their attention to Sakuragi in amazement. They could see his anger… his will to win burning, and somehow, they felt their spirits rise a little.
Koshino raked his hair back, turning Sakuragi's words over in his head. His words sort of made him a little more convinced that there was a chance. Not all hope is gone… if they could all work together…
'Sakuragi is right. They killed so many of our friends. We can't just forgive them and give in! They talked about humanity… but look at them. They're killing others too… just like what we do,' Yasuda continued. But as he reached the end of his sentence, his voice lowered tremendously. When he finished, he looked around. It was obvious that he lost his confidence and was doubting his own words.
Exactly… just like us. They were right… we do… at least some humans do simply kill others, but do we all really deserve such treatment? All? Even those who didn't do anything to hurt others?
Then, a picture of Shiozaki formed in his head, and he felt angry, infuriated at the stupid insects that did it… killed his best friend.
NO! We don't!
A smile formed on Mitsui's lips as he surveyed Yasuda. He seemed to have gained his want… need for revenge back.
Responsibility. If they all took it up too, if they… if we all worked together, we might, might just survive.
'No, Yasuda. We don't torment others and kill them for the fun of it. We don't look down on them or purposely cause them unnecessary fear… at least the majority of humans are too busy to do that. I admit that not many of us really care about others, but most of us don't have the time nor do they dare to risk their name and riches just to see others suffer. It's not out of good will, but then… at least we don't do it,' Mitsui said, trying to fish out all their confidence and strengths back.
'Come on, let's work together and fight this thing away. I haven't gotten the chance to play basketball against all of you… and I want to. Come on! We can do this! We MUST! Kiyota Nobunaga HAS to prove that he is the GOLDEN rookie! So we have to defeat it!' Kiyota butted in.
* * * * * * * *
I paced up and down, using all my eight legs, my pincers clicking together in fury and confusion. I was a spider now, twice the size of a human. Other insects, mostly cockroaches, were skittering around.
Why?
Why do they…!
I was getting more frustrated.
Suddenly I felt a huge burst of energy from the gym. The barrier was getting stronger. I definitely couldn't enter now, not even with my mind.
Shit!
What the heck is wrong?!
Did they do something?
Are they all really working together now?
The thousands… no millions of insects running around became panicked. They started making weird noises and scuttled along more hurriedly then ever.
We were all one body, and I could feel their fear, blooming inside me. I wanted to send spies… but didn't dare. I was already too hurt.
What the hell happened?
Damn you all!
I made a mistake! I shouldn't have told them anything!
I started pacing again, tension and fear building inside me. Every once in a while, an insect would pop out of me and join the rest. Sure, they don't know how big I am… how to defeat me… but that might not stop them. They will find a way.
I need a new strategy…
I'll get you!
Nobody will surpass me.
NO! I'm the greatest!
* * * * * * * *
Rukawa looked around and felt their determination and strength increasing.
That's also what always happens in our losing games. We console each other and gain strength from each other.
That was what they were all looking for, especially Sendo… even if they didn't realize it, they were. This is how we would be able to beat them all, by teamwork. It was that do'aho who did it. That red-head monkey, stupid as he is, he could do this, change the mood…
But it doesn't work for me…
Suddenly, another memory of his sister came shooting up from his subconscious. This time however, he didn't push it away, but let it come. The memory was so strong that it took total control of him, sparking a fire in him. A fire to vanquish these insects that caused his so much pain.
* * * * * * * *
'Kaede, behind you, be careful… No! Don't kill it!' Saori said to her little brother, who frowned at her shout.
'Why not?' The spider that he meant to kill scuttled along quickly. They both watched the spider, one, sad, the other, nearly reaching out to squish it.
Saori's mind flicked back to everything that had happened to her best friend when she was nine. How her innocent friend's life was ended although she had not done anything at all. How people now a days were so cold-hearted. Six years had passed, and yet, she couldn't get her out of her mind.
A tear fell from her eyes.
'Onee-chan, daijoubu ka?' A small hand wiped her tear away. She smiled up at the five year-old boy in front of her.
'Daijoubu… that spider has a life too. Killing it would be a sin, and that poor spider… I mean, you're killing it, just like killing anything else.' Kaede looked up at his sister, his eyes wide with fear.
'Demo… we kill mosquitoes all the time… and sometimes we accidentally kill spiders and other insects!' Saori just laughed at his innocence.
If only everyone was as innocent as children, there would be much less wickedness in the world.
'No, you see, humans are still more important, much more important then insects and other creatures. If it bothers you or harms you, then kill it! If you need it… then, use it. We eat animals, don't we? We all have to struggle to life anyway. Even insects kill each other for food. All I'm saying is that we shouldn't use our power as humans, who are better and smarter then the rest, to purposely kill others. As for accidents, well, they're accidental, it's not your fault.' Kaede nodded slowly.
'As I said, we all struggle to live… but if something or someone minds its own business… well, why hurt it? Even if you have the power to, don't! This especially concerns our behaviour with other humans. But with them, it's different, even if we're richer, older, better… there's no such thing as I'm more important compared to you,' Saori continued. Her little brother nodded again. Saori smiled radiantly and her brother smiled back.
* * * * * * * * *
'Onee-chan… you are right. I think now I understand better. We are all too greedy. Just because we are strong, we think we can do it. But we should keep our hands to ourselves, and not hurt people who never did anything to us. Yet, this time it did. It harmed you and hurt me… and I'll pay it back!' Rukawa muttered. Saori was kind. She knew the value of a life and the meaning of humanity. And yet…
Suddenly Sendo's voice cut through his thoughts, pushing him back into reality.
'Look, we all have to acknowledge one thing here. This thing is REAL! It's not a figment of our imagination, it's not a game, it's not logical, but it is real! Disbelieve will only widen chances for us to be harmed by it.' He looked specifically at Nagano and Takano when he said that. After a moment of consideration, they both nodded, though reluctantly.
'Okay, now, the only problem left… is how to defeat it… them,' Hanagata said.
'We can defeat it. Tensai is here!' Sakuragi said, slipping a little into his tensai mood.
'Baka! We're asking HOW!' Akagi scolded Sakuragi.
'Yes, yes, how! I knew we would reach this far. I will check!' Hikoichi said aloud. Everyone stared at the boy who could be considered short in the basketball world. He was hardly aware that they were all looking at him, smiles drawn upon their lips.
Rain beat with sudden fury at the building that they were all in.
We are all helping, with or without our realization.
The atmosphere is lighter, good.
Fujima knew, as a basketball player and captain, not to mention coach; he knew that the atmosphere or mood was very important in a game. It was the same here. At least they all understood each other on one aspect –basketball, and could help each other. But there was something that worried hum. The rain. The way it suddenly came down much harder then before suggested that it knew that they were getting stronger.
It's so dangerous in here.
Rukawa looked around, trying to shut all the noise out. It was good that they were feeling better, but he didn't… couldn't really care. There was something that had nearly clicked in his brain before Sendo cut through his thoughts. He thought hard.
We're all too greedy because we're strong…
Then it clicked. Before we can be greedy, we have to achieve at least something first. And when that happens, we tend to be proud of what we achieved… and when we are proud, we tend to overlook the most important thing and become very careless.
By now, all the other voices were merely incoherent blabber to Rukawa. He continued thinking hard. Suddenly lightning slashed through the panoply of clouds, then another, without pause. Thunder reverberated through the low sky and seemed to hammer on the roof of the building.
'Onee-chan… Arigatou.' For the first time since Saori died, Rukawa smiled.
It's scared. Someone has found something.
That thought crossed Sendo's, Fujima's and Jin's mind at the same time.
* * * * * * * *
I stopped pacing all of a sudden.
Something is wrong here.
Something is very wrong in here.
All the other insects around me were running around in a much more hurried… panicked manner. With our super sharp instinct, we could pick up a sense… something was different… in a bad way.
Shit!
What now?
* * * * * * * *
'The only way to stay alive is to defeat it. To defeat it, we have to find its weakness… pride,'
'That's right. It's the only thing we can count on,' Hanagata said, backing him up.
'Kitsune… you talk as if you know everything! Let the Tensai…'
'Urusei-ne baka!' Akagi scolded the red-head, giving him a solid punch on the head at the same time.
'Why can't you listen?' But then, actually, Akagi was pretty glad that Sakuragi was being noisy again. It really helped to release the tension they had all been feeling. He had been so quiet since they arrived to Shoyo that even Akagi himself had worried. Now, he turned his attention back to Rukawa, obviously waiting for more.
But Rukawa didn't continue. He just looked around, waiting for someone to break the silence.
'Pride is not…' Kakuta started softly, but he was drowned by an even louder voice.
'Rukawa, pride is not a weakness…' Kiyota said, in his irritatingly loud voice of his. But he received a punch from Maki which shut him up.
'Urusei! Let him explain.'
'Pride leads to over-confidence. That was why it loss to us just now,' Rukawa muttered, his voice barely heard over the rain and thunder.
'Yeah, it boasts about what it doesn't know. Talk about humanity and immorality… but it was not concentrating on the real reason it was in the gym,' Hanagata muttered. Then it dawned on all of them, the knowledge weighing down heavily on them.
'Yeah, yeah!' Mitsui said, hardly able to contain his excitement.
'I knew it!' Hikoichi exclaimed, earning him an irritated glance from Ryota. Sakuragi opened his mouth to say something, but he was cut short by a soft mysterious voice.
'How?' There was a long pause.
'Sendo-san… nani?' Hikoichi asked, shattering the stillness in the gym.
'How's that going to help us?' Sendo repeated simply.
A/N: Well? Did you all enjoy it? Thanks for bearing with me. As you can see, I tried to cover up my mistake of missing out on lots of the characters… =( hope it wasn't so obvious. If you don't like it… please review and tell me what's wrong. And if you like it… don't hesitate!!!!! I might be expanding the plot a little bit more in the next chapter… hope it'll turn out fine!!