The author is not and never will be a big fan of yaoi nor shonen-ai. So please don't expect such contents in this fan fiction. The writer would also like to thank Majin Yuusuke and Genjo Sanzo for the ideas they imparted.
Disclaimer: The characters depicted in the story aren't mine. They belong to Takeshi Konomi.
Seven Days
It was yet another ordinary Friday in the Seishun Gakuen Junior High Division. Or so the Tenipuri thought as they continued practicing for the upcoming Kantou Regional Tournament. Most of the students had already gone home, others stayed for club activities. The Tennis Club was one of the most popular organizations in Seigaku, and it was also one of the feared teams in their district when it came to the said sport; for the regulars were blessed with extraordinary talent and each had surpassed the normal level of a junior high player.
Then again, we already know that, don't we?
"That's it for today," the powerful and authoritative voice of the club captain echoed in the court. All actions ceased as the strongest man in Seigaku spoke. Kunimitsu Tezuka stepped forward, his sharp eyes scanning each of the members on the courts. "Watch out for injuries. Dismissed!"
"Osu!" the club members shouted in unison, "arigato gozaimasu!" They then broke into groups as they headed for the locker room while the freshmen stayed behind for clean-up.
"Today's training menu was a little harsh," Syuichiroh Oishi, the club vice captain, remarked as he stood beside Tezuka. He glanced at his friend's expressionless face. "Aren't you running the team a little too hard?"
"It must be done in preparation for the upcoming tournament," was all the answer he got.
"I showed the menu to Ryuzaki-sensei this morning," Sadaharu Inui, the data collector, joined the two as he fixed his glasses, a notebook in hand. "She found it quite adequate. Too bad she didn't let me throw in my newest blend of Inui Juice. It is quite tasty," he snatched a plastic cup from a nearby table and poured some of his concoction in it. Oishi could have sworn he saw the bluish-green liquid simmer. "Want to try it?"
Oishi blanched. "I-I'll pass. Shall we save it for next week?"
"A splendid idea," Inui's lips curved into a sinister smile, "I'll make more then."
Before Oishi could mentally scold himself for what he had said, Sumire Ryuzaki, the tennis coach called, "Tezuka, Oishi, come to my office. I have something we need to discuss."
"Hai, Sensei," Tezuka answered as he and Oishi followed suit. The three passed by the remaining regulars as they exited the courts, ignoring the fact that all six of them were in a cluster.
"Heh heh heh," the powerhouse Takeshi Momoshiro grinned as he held up a video tape. "I got it from a shop in the night market down the street. They say it's the scariest movie ever. Wanna watch it?"
"Are you sure, Momo?" Eiji Kikumaru, the acrobatics player, grabbed the tape from the junior and scanned the title. "This better be good. I haven't watched any decent horror films lately."
"The kid who sold it to me said that after watching this, you won't be able to sleep for a week!" Momoshiro continued. He then placed a hand on Echizen's head to gain his attention. "You with us, Echizen?"
"Whatever," Ryoma Echizen, the newest star of the Seigaku Team, shrugged, "I've seen dozens of scary films back in America. This film is going to be mada mada dane."
"Are you sure you can handle it, Ochibi?" Kikumaru teased. He then turned to his left. "What about you, Taka-san?"
"I don't know," Takashi Kawamura said worriedly, a frown marring his brows, "I never liked horror films."
"Don't worry, Taka-san," Tensai Syuusuke Fuji smiled as he held out Kawamura's racquet, "you'll do fine with this." The moment the timid Kawamura gripped onto his racquet, a tremendous change took place.
"Hora, hora, come on!" Kawamura burned, waving his racquet around and around. "I am not afraid! I fear no ghosts nor monsters! Come on, baby!"
"I guess that's a 'yes'," Kikumaru scratched his red head. "And you, Kaidoh?"
Kaoru Kaidoh hissed. "Make sure it's really scary."
"Don't worry, Baka Mamushi," Momoshiro called, "if waking up and facing the mirror doesn't scare you, nothing ever will!"
"Shut up, you muscle-brained powerhouse!" Kaidoh retorted and hissed. "I'm sure you'll be the first one who'll scream like a girl!"
"What did you say, you---"
"Okay, that'll make six of us then," Kikumaru said, ignoring the two juniors as they continued to fight behind him.
"We can watch it in our house," Fuji offered, the poker-like smile still pasted on his lips, "we haven't been using the recreation room lately anyway."
"Great-o!" Kawamura roared, racquet still in hand.
"We better get going," Kikumaru said as he grabbed his racquet, "I have to be home before eight. My nee-chan is cooking my favorite dish tonight." He grinned as he led the way to the locker room.
As Kikumaru was about to open the door, it burst open, revealing Inui's tall frame as he came out, his bag hanging on his right shoulder.
"Ne, Inui-senpai," Momoshiro grinned as he held up the video tape, "wanna hang out with us for a while and watch the scariest movie ever?"
"Domo," Inui refused politely. "But I still have things to do. A new remix of my Inui Juice could help you in your training for the tournament," he smiled sinisterly. Five of the regulars paled, Fuji returned his smile.
"I'm looking forward to it then."
Inui sweatdropped. Then he laughed. "Saraba, my friends!" he waved his hand goodbye and disappeared from their view.
* * *
The Tenipuri had always known that Syuusuke Fuji was one of the richest kids in town. The stone mansion that stood before them was a living proof of that fact as they climbed the few steps leading to the main double doors.
"Tadaima!" Fuji's voice echoed through the halls of the mansion as he led his friends to the massive living room.
'Ah, Syuusuke, okairi," his fashionable older sister called from the second floor as she leaned on the balcony railing. "You've brought your friends over," she smiled.
"Thank you for having us," Kikumaru, Kawamura, and Momoshiro greeted at the same time. Echizen, with his usual detached self, nodded. Kaidoh hissed his greeting.
"Are you going out, Yumiko nee-san?" Fuji asked as his sister descended the grand carpeted staircase, her red silk dress swaying around her long slender legs.
"Yes, I'm dining out with some colleagues tonight," she answered as she kissed her brother's cheek goodnight. She smiled at their guests and grabbed one of the car keys from a nearby shelf. "Shiro-san is driving for me. We're taking the BMW, okay? You boys have fun."
"Come back safely," Fuji waved as the door closed after his sister.
"Man! Fuji-senpai's sister is so hot!" Momoshiro gave a low whistle.
"Oi, Momo!" Kikumaru laughed as he grabbed Momoshiro in a playful headlock. "I saw her first! Stay in line like what Kaidoh is doing!"
"Nani?!" Kaidoh growled, a blush creeping up his cheeks. "Hssss. . . I don't---"
"Aw, come on, Kaidoh," Kikumaru grinned, "it's okay to have a crush on an older woman, you know."
"Eh?! The Mamushi has a crush on Fuji-senpai's sister?" Momoshiro exclaimed. He looked at the poker-faced senior. "Fuji-senpai, please tell your nee-san to watch out."
Before Kaidoh could start retorting, Fuji stepped in between them. "Maa, maa, aren't we supposed to watch a movie?"
"That's right," Kawamura agreed and turned to look at Echizen, "but looks like your nee-san has caught our freshman's undivided attention as well, Fuji."
There was silence as the senpais watched their ochibi stare at the main door. A ghost of a mischievous smile was starting to form on the senpais' lips when Echizen turned back to look at them. Well, save for Kaidoh who stood moodily away from them and Fuji who found Echizen's interest in his sister quite amusing. "What is it?" he asked, a bored look on his face. His three senpais shook their heads in denial.
"Rec Room C is this way," Fuji said after a while and led the way to the second floor. They mounted the stairs, turned left and right on long corridors, and walked toward the end of the hall.
"No wonder you haven't been using this room, Fuji-senpai," Momoshiro wheezed the moment they reached the door that was labeled 'Recreation Room C'. "It's located on the farthest side of your house!"
"Actually, it's the Recording Studio that's on the farthest side," Fuji corrected with that particular poker smile on his face again, "but we have no business there for now." He turned the doorknob open and went inside the room. The cool, acoustically treated room welcomed the group. The three meter by five meter wide screen stood in front of a 10-row cushioned seats which were arranged in a theater-like style. "Grab your seats. The show will start in a few minutes."
Kaidoh, Kikumaru, Echizen, and Kawamura took the fourth row to have a better view on the screen. Momoshiro handed the tape over to Fuji and plopped himself on the seat next to Kawamura. Fuji fed the VCR and dimmed the lights.
The movie rolled as the machine projected it on the screen upfront.
"Should have brought popcorn," Echizen muttered.
"Shhh!" Momoshiro hissed. Then he realized what he had done. "I'm beginning to sound like the Mamushi!" he said horrified.
"Nani?!" Kaidoh growled.
"QUIET!" Kikumaru yelled. Everyone promptly settled down and focused his attention on the screen. The silence that came after it was quite uncomfortable as the movie rolled. The temperature in the room suddenly decreased.
First, there was static. Then the screen turned black and a ring formed afterward. It suddenly cut to a scene where a woman, who was facing a circular mirror on the left side of the screen, was brushing her hair. She was smiling mysteriously. Suddenly, she stopped and looked behind her. Another scene of the mirror, which shifted to the right side of the screen, flashed. It was a quick scene but the girl in white with long black hair reflected on the mirror was noticeable. It then shifted back to the woman who was brushing her hair.
There was something about that scene that was very disturbing. The Tenipuri frowned. The film wasn't making any sense at all!
Japanese characters conquered the screen, moving around until they formed a word. Eruption. An unholy chanting suddenly filled the air, the words were of a dialect that was indefinable. The next scene was of men who were crawling backwards.
As the movie progressed, it became more senseless and peculiar. Still, none of the Tenipuri commented about it. Perhaps if they watched until the end, their questions will be answered.
Then a black orb, which suspiciously looked like an engorged iris, flashed on the screen. Characters that said 'sada' appeared. Then the scene cut to an old well where someone or something was crawling out of it. Before they recognized what it was, the film ended and static took place once again.
The Tenipuri sat staring at the screen for a while. No one spoke. The first one to recover was Fuji as he stood up and turned the VCR off and illuminated the room again.
"That's it?" Kikumaru stood up as well and faced Momoshiro. "It didn't even last a minute! You've been had by that kid in the night market, Momo."
"Demo, Eiji-senpai," Momoshiro answered as he pondered over the film they just saw, a frown formed on his brows, "you have to admit there was something strange about it. I felt my hair stand on end as I watched."
"You're imagining things," Eiji laughed. "It's obvious it was cut from an old Japanese film from the way it looked. I could have done a better movie."
"But, Eiji," Kawamura finally spoke up, rubbing the gooseflesh that covered his arms, "there really was something strange about it. The room suddenly even became a little too cold."
"Maybe it's because of the air-conditioner, Taka-san," Fuji joined in, trying to make light of the conversation. "What do you think, Echizen?"
"That film was definitely mada mada dane," the freshman shrugged.
"Kaidoh?"
"I didn't like it," he hissed.
"See?" Kikumaru said. "It was just a no-good-excuse of a Japane--"
The phone rang. The Tenipuri looked at it as the eerie chime continued to reverberate in the room.
They stilled for a moment. What if Momoshiro and Kawamura were right? Something was definitely bizarre about the film. Nobody made a move to pick up the phone as it continued to ring. Fuji finally walked toward it and lifted the receiver.
"Hai? Fuji Residence." There was silence as Fuji listened to the other end of the line. Then he replaced it back to its cradle. A worried frown creased his forehead.
"What's wrong, Fuji?" Kikumaru asked, suddenly feeling uneasy.
"I don't know," the usually smiling senior gravely shook his head, his sharp blue eyes visible as he looked from one regular to another. "It was odd," his frowned deepened. "The girl on the other end of the line said that we will all die. . . in seven days."