Title: Terror…
A/N: Looks like I didn't manage to upload before Christmas… to those who don't know… I was down with chicken pox!! *sobsob*… but I'm still going for camp… 27-30… I know, I'm mad. And to all the Malaysian form 3s, GOOD LUCK!!! Results coming out on Monday, 30th…. Die, die…
sLL: Yikes!!! Pls, don't stop reading-ne? I'm sorry for making it so…. Complicated, but I;m going to explain stuff as soon as I reach chapter 13/14…half a year early…. Is that possible?
Leviathan: Yup! I love horror flims… *blushes* thanks a lot!!! I hope you continue enjoying, and *grins* continue reviewing.
Kathleen: Gulp… Miyagi and Ayako… *snickers*
Sakura88: Yeah, am continuing… but getting very worried… results are coming out!!! Help!! Your mom sent you to school a year early? Is it possible?
Acye Shade: *gulp* praying mantis… ewwww!!!
Lazuli: Awww…*wearing a sadistic smile, if smiles can be sadistic*come on, they're so innocent… *sweatdrops*
Krappkarmin: Thanks… I know I'm confusing a lot of ppl… I don't know how it turned out this way, but I hope to explain things as soon as I get to chapter 13/14…
Alexia: Uh… I think… I know it's a little confusing for now, but I'll explain it as soon as I reach say, chapter 13 or 14…
Crazy4u: Yeah, I did, but seriously, it's no big deal…. I'm NOT a genius as some ppl think… and do treat me normally kay?? (anyway, I believe I passed with mere luck, I missed the last 5 questions) they're not that bad… right? Well, some could be that bad… Do you really think I can? Not a bad idea. *goes away dreaming of writing a horror novel that b'came a bestseller* *sweatdrops*
Hisashi Loves Yelen: Thanks…. Well… this chapter isn't that scary either…. Gomen….
Chapter 12-Confused
'Okay, okay. Gomen, we didn't know it'd mean that much to you. Gomen, okay?' Sendo asked, trying to break the tension.
'What do you mean you didn't know? Come on!' Maki nearly shouted back his reply. Jin flinched, then looked at him with narrowed eyes, trying to contain his anger and suspicion.
Something is wrong here…
Jin knew that it was very unlike Maki to simply pick fights. Even if he had a reason to fight, Maki would be the last person to start it. In fact, Jin knew very well that it was strange to associate any of them with those two words: picking fights… that was, with the exception of… maybe… Mitsui-sempai, but still, this was weird.
An urge to retort back to Maki, something he had never done before, suddenly lashed out on him, and he nearly flowed with that urge, but caught himself in time. Instead, he walked away from the small group, heading towards Rukawa… a Rukawa who looked that he had just dipped himself into a big bucket of whitewash…
Now, what else can be wrong?
'Jin! Jin! Where are you going? Escaping?' Hanagata asked caustically, loud enough to catch the attention of the rest in the gym. Jin stopped, hesitated, then turned to face Hanagata, slowly, and catching glimpses of worry-clouded faces of the others.
'There's nothing to escape from. You guys suddenly jumped at us, firing illogical accusations, then refused to accept our apology. What more can we do?' He was going to say more, his urge to fight and create chaos getting the better of him, when he heard Rukawa clear his throat softly, trying to capture his attention, trying to signal a stop to all these nonsense.
Jin nodded a little, as if telling Rukawa that that he had received the signal, and then raked his brain for some logical excuse to explain his sudden desire to leave the group. He hadn't wanted to provoke Hanagata and his group of friends to anger… but he couldn't say that now, not with all of them hanging onto his every word.
'Uh… so I just… thought I would um… help Rukawa out. He seems to be having trouble with Ishii,' he blurted out. Almost every single soul in the gym turned their focus onto Rukawa, who quickly bent his head, as if searching Ishii's body again.
Yeah right! Don't try to kid us anymore! You're acting, and we know it!
Sendo and Fujima suddenly jerked their heads a little. Jin, who was already beside Rukawa, inhaled sharply. Rukawa, on the other hand, just remained indifferent.
That mind wave was so… strong, and filled with anger. It's as if several people are thinking the exact same thing, hating us for some reason… Why would they? Sendo questioned himself, concentrating, trying his best to find the origin of the strong and… baleful mind wave, while thunder rumbled on overhead.
'That Rukawa is up to something… What is he doing? Why is he hovering beside Ishii's body for so long?' Maki muttered, getting two nodded in return. Mitsui just looked over to Rukawa, not wanting to assent to Maki's statement.
Rukawa… Mitsui looked away, not saying anything.
Fujima, on the other hand, who was bristling with anger, bit his lips, trying not to blow up at them.
'Let's help them,' he muttered to Sendo, who had a very concentrated look on his face, and was oblivious to Fujima. Fujima frowned. Tapping Sendo impatiently, he pointed towards Rukawa and Jin. Sendo broke out of his trance abruptly, looking at Fujima for five full seconds, trying to comprehend what he was saying, and then nodded.
Fujima then jogged towards them, leaving a startled Sendo, who apparently hadn't interpreted Fujima's hand signs rightly, behind. As he reached, he heard Jin complaining to Rukawa about Maki and the others.
'Rukawa-kun, do you know what's going on?' Fujima questioned, right after Jin finished his complaints. Rukawa sighed, and even though he was infuriated, Fujima smiled a little, inwardly.
We all have definitely changed a little…
'It's ganging them all up, ganging us all up, trying to make us fight each other, wreaking havoc in here,' he answered softly, hardly audible as the thunder seemed so insistent on swallowing his words.
'What on Earth for?' Sendo, who had arrived in time to hear Rukawa's 'explanation' for the so-called quarrel, asked. Rukawa gave him a queer look, and then turned his attention to the gym window. Frowning, filled with curiosity, they followed his suit, looking out to the beautiful landscape of stabbing lightning and green-glistened fields… which, unfortunately was not beautiful anymore.
* * * * * * * *
Sakuragi looked around uneasily, realizing very acutely that everyone was now in groups, whispering. They looked really worried, and that was really eating into him.
It's as if they don't believe in Kitsune and his friends anymore…
Well, serves them right! Part of him huffed.
They don't deserve all the attention in the first place. When they realize that they can't compete with this Tensai, they'll all come to me for help, even that baka Kitsune, and it'll be my show from then on.
And yet, as his eyes moved around, surveying all the groups, his uneasiness grew. Just watching them whispering, throwing looks behind their backs as if they were scared of eavesdroppers…
Who cares? Everybody knows that the baka Kitsune is not compatible enough to handle this. They will come to…
NO! This isn't a game! There's something very wrong in here, and you know it. Whether that Smiley and Kitsune deserves all this attention or not doesn't matter now! We need as many people to stay alive as possible… we need each other… Part of him shouted, cutting away all the immature thoughts about 'Tensai glory'.
Demo…
To Sakuragi, everything was a game, and he was always the winner. As long as Yohei and his companions were there, life was a game; it was supposed to be fun…
'Saru!! Stop looking so helpless!' Kiyota shouted at him, trying to restore the lightness that had disappeared so suddenly. He didn't like the atmosphere that now filled the gym, and he hoped Sakuragi would retort back… fighting with him sometimes released the tension he felt. And Sakuragi did retort, but it was a little different, as if he was doing it without his own realization.
'Don't call me monkey you Wild Monkey!' Sakuragi shouted back, his mind wondering, pondering on thoughts he had never in his life ever explored…
And sometimes, it's better to leave such thoughts unexplored, he thought bitterly.
'Urusei! Baka Saru!' Miyagi said. He stood among the Shohoku starters, which only contained Akagi, and of course with them were his beloved 'Aya-chan' and Kogure.
'Teme!!!' Sakuragi shouted back, this time, his eyes cleared, and his thoughts evaporated. A second later, a hand smashed down on his head, and he muttered…
'Gori…'
'Bwahahahahaha!' Kiyota screamed in laughter. Miyagi glared at him, only to realize that his efforts were in vain. Trying another approach, he said…
'That baka was meant for both of you, monkey!' That was a success, as it stopped Kiyota in the midst of his laughter.
'TEMEE!!!'
Ayako smiled a little. She still could feel sorrow and pain nagging at her, pulling her down, but seeing such simple-minded people made a feel a little better… only a little. And yet, she could see, sense that both of them were a little sad at the lost of their friends too. This was just their way of helping out… and it was working, at least for her.
Mitsui, in another corner of the gym, was staring at the spot where the Shohoku players, no the Shohoku starters were gathered. Part of him wanted to join them, to be part of the laughing group as they teased each other and get on each other's nerves… they looked so happy, so together…
His eyes then roamed over to where the Shohoku substitutes were huddled, and were shocked to see… the anger in them, in their eyes… but their anger completely slipped when he turned his attention back to Sakuragi and Kiyota, who were in the midst of tearing Miyagi up.
'Mitsui… what do you think?' Maki suddenly asked. Mitsui jerked a little, quickly brining his focus to the other three in the group, who were scheming, evil glints in their eyes.
'Uh…yeah, sure,' he muttered, though he had no idea just what he had agreed to. They just smiled, but that same smile disappeared as soon they laid their eyes upon Sakuragi and the rest.
'Baka! A bunch of noisy monkeys!' Koshino muttered, receiving affirmative nodes from Hanagata and Maki. A frown cross Mitsui's delicate features…
Why am I doing this anyway? I should be there, with them all…
Part of him tried to dismiss that thought, but another part, the part he was more familiar with, refused to cooperate. It pushed him to join them. Friends always come first, that was what he had learnt in his gang…
Your old friends… your familiar friends.
Both parts of him fought, not willing to relent, leaving him confused.
Why am I doing this?
* * * * * * * *
'What the hell is THAT?' Sendo whispered, his eyes glued onto the humongous shape, out there. Lightning throbbed overhead, illuminating the thing a few times, only for a few seconds each time. Unconsciously, he heard Rukawa mutter, 'Do'ahou, it's a centipede,' in his monotonous voice.
'It's so… big…' he whispered in awe. It filled the WHOLE field, and yet, Sendo could not see its end. Moonlight gleamed on its skin, giving it a hard, cold…
…eerie…
glare.
Eerie is so right, Sendo thought, his mind whirling. Just being able to see a centipede, to see its huge body segments freaked him out.
'It's the insects isn't it? It's so…' he had meant to say big, but decided against it. It was more than big, it was gigantic, obviously much bigger than he had thought it was. Heck! It was much bigger than he ever imagined it could be.
'So… uh… what are we going to do?' Jin asked, knowing that it was a stupid question, but asking it anyway. At that exact moment, Sakuragi shouted 'TEME!' and they all turned towards the source of voice, and watched the scene, nervous smiles drawn on their lips.
'He may be our last chance,' Rukawa muttered.
* * * * * * * *
'They are acting… it's so obvious!' Sasaoka muttered. He glimpsed bobbing heads beside him, but his attention was focused on the seniors and Sakuragi. And all of as sudden, a ware of fury burst forth from deep within him. A fury so intense that it even shocked him.
How could they?!! We're their teammates!!!! His mind shouted indignantly.
But what he didn't understand was why Sakuragi was in this too. Sakuragi always struck him as a noisy, carefree, innocent, but loyal guy. A guy who would put priority in his teammates instead of… whatever they were planning… teammates, that is, with the exception of Rukawa… but.
His intense thoughts were cut off by the group of Shoyo players, who were grouped up beside them, a few meters away.
'Urusei-na!' Hasegawa muttered, looking at Sakuragi with distaste. His two friends, Nagano and Takano were staring at them with disdain too, and yet… yet, Hasegawa knew, deep down, he wanted to be with them, to be accepted together.
Unconsciously, Hasegawa balled his hands into fists.
* * * * * * * *
I was still standing there, rain falling lightly on me. I didn't move a muscle, but just waited patiently. I knew they saw me, I felt it deep down in my gut, but…
Rukawa Kaede…
You're irritating, but you're just a small fry, and you won't triumph.
And yet, I was getting restless. Condemning them as small fry… not even knowing who… what was the big one…
Where is it??
* * * * * * * *
The moon glimmered in the dark sky above. In the field, that one particular ant smiled inwardly. It had been caught off-guard by Shohoku's sudden burst off… teamwork, but then, it was still going according to plan. There are plenty who still weren't willing to cooperate.
Rukawa... you are a little dangerous… but, sorry for you, the show is still going to roll…
The tiny ant looked at the enormous centipede, amusement written all over its tiny face. And with it, was menace.
There was a patch around it, which happened to be free of any insects whatsoever… free from any living creature with the exception of greenery.
And still, it stood there, waiting with animated anticipation, a plan written clear in its mind. It knew exactly what to do. It was just waiting for the correct time.
You are all so easy to trick. Everything is going as I planned.
It still continues staring at the enormous centipede, a malicious smile on its face…
Just wait patiently, darling. You may be next…
A/N: Well, how was it? I hope I didn't confuse you all further. I'll try to explain stuff be chapter 13/14…. BTW, to those who have been reading Malice in Darkness, I'm really sorry, but I have to suspend that fic for a while…. I just can't continue for the time being…. Well then, see ya!!!