I've finally got the basic plot planned out for the following chapters; hopefully it won't seem too far-fetched or unoriginal! Please R&R for this chapter...
Part 4: Confinement
3:00 PM in the Shohoku High gym:
The ceremony had just ended, and only four people remained to help clean up, Mitsui Miyagi, Ayako and Youhei. Akagi, Haruko, and the rest of the team left earlier.
"...as I've told you, we tried contacting Rukawa in every damn way we could, but he's no where to be found! It's not our fault!" Miyagi snapped exasperatingly.
Youhei snorted. "All that kid does is eat, play ball, and sleep. Just how freaking hard could it be to find him?!"
"Shouldn't be too hard..." Ayako answered. "In fact, he's right there!"
And indeed, there was the object of their argument standing at the gym doorway. He was out of breath, his eyes searching left and right, until they fixed themselves upon Youhei. Rukawa approached him in large strides.
"You...!" Youhei thrust out his arm to point a menacing finger, but the taller brunette unexpectedly grabbed it and started pulling the surprised boy roughly alongside him
"Rukawa, what the hell's going on?! You'd better have a damn good excuse..." Miyagi started furiously.
Without pausing his sprint, he replied curtly "Emergency. Can't talk right now."
"What emergency?! Hey, hold up...!" But the raven head had sped off, dragging poor Youhei forcefully out with him.
Five minutes passed before the protesting Youhei finally managed to twist his aching arm out of Rukawa's grip. He snatched the taller boy's collar and shoved him against a fence.
"Well, Mr. Most-Honored-Guest Rukawa, first you entirely missed my best friend's ceremony, and then you've the nerve to show up suddenly and drag me here without explanation...may I have the honor of asking what the hell's up with you?!" Youhei hissed dangerously through clenched teeth.
Rukawa stared straight back at him, unperturbed. "I followed you to your best friend's house to pay him a visit," he said in his usual toneless voice, "and was informed by the police that Sakuragi's body had been missing the day they brought him to the hospital."
Youhei froze for a moment before letting go; he took a few steps back, disbelief replacing his anger. "What...when..."
"Just who was that woman you saw the other day?" Rukawa demanded. Youhei didn't answer. "Hey..." the tall raven head made a grab for his arm again.
"If anyone knows, it should be you, Rukawa." Youhei replied quietly, without facing him. "She mentioned that she had a grudge against your family."
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Two silent sophomore brunettes sat across from each other on the subway train. The destination residence turned out to be a few stops from the Kanagawa main station. Rukawa asked his mother if there was history of animosity against her or their family; surprised and angered, she abruptly ordered him not to mention such nonsense again. Thus, he contacted his estranged father, her ex-husband, carefully concealing the purpose of his inquiry. His father was reluctant to spill anything at first, but finally relented to the boy's persistence.That woman was most likely a distant relative: Aimi, the daughter of his mother's cousin Kimura Maya; her photo matched the description Youhei had given him. Twenty years ago, his mother and her cousin apparently had a bitter fight about inheritance matters. Their grandfather gladly sided with Rukawa's mother in the end, because Kimura stubbornly married a rumored psychic freak against his wishes. Enraged, Kimura Maya disowned herself from the family and ran off, along with husband and daughter Aimi. Rukawa's father obtained their current address only because one of his acquaintances happens to be her neighbor.
Youhei ran his fingers through his black hair. Why are we doing this? Even if this Kimura Aimi really is the culprit, god knows where she put...or what she'd done to Hana's body...are we supposed to try forcing out a confession or something? Most likely to get nothing but harassment charges. Oh well, it's worth trying to find out than having it bug me for the rest of my life. He eyed the taller boy curiously, who wore his usual unreadable façade. Guess I shouldn't think so badly of him now...he is trying to help, after all.
They finally reached their destination: an ordinary-looking condo in a suburban district. Youhei took a deep breath, and knocked.
The door opened promptly. There stood the same young woman a few days before, except she was dressed in casual clothes. She gave them a greeting smile. "Good afternoon; I was expecting you two. Please, come in..."
Youhei stood there, too dumbfounded to move, until Rukawa brushed right past him. She led them to the living room and offered them a seat.
"As Rukawa Kaede may have told you, my name is Kimura Aimi. My parents have moved overseas and left this abode to me, so no worry about them barging in...."
Youhei lurched forward. "Ms. Kimura, do you have any clue where Sakuragi Hanamichi's body had gone?" he cut her off impatiently.
She took a drink from her tea. "Yes; I know exactly where it is. Don't worry, I've taken great care to preserve it...we still need it for something."
"'We'?" the silent raven head finally spoke up.
"Me and the man who planned all this out. I'm just acting as his assistance." She replied. "Unfortunately, I cannot give away his true identity."
"I don't care what the hell you or your damn accomplice is up to...just be so kind as to return my best friend's body!" Youhei tried to stand up, but was held forcefully down by Rukawa. "Hey...!"
The taller brunette leaned closer to the woman, eyes glinting with solid menace. "Who is this other man?" He demanded quietly.
Kimura gazed back at him calmly, completely unintimidated. "Are you still concerned about your life, Rukawa? Well I can tell you this much; this man, who calls himself 'Aka (crimson)' may have a change of strategy in dealing with you, in which he no longer plans hurt you physically. Don't worry about trying to find him; he'd come looking for you."
"So...'Aka' is behind all of this, huh? What is he, a deity so strong that he has the power and authority to control my fate?"
The young woman smiled. "No, Rukawa...he's just an ordinary human being like you...but given the circumstances he'd been under, he has more right to determine your future than you yourself. And in fact, the two of you may find him to be very familiar...if he ever chooses to reveal himself."
"Okay, aside all this crap we've been wasting time on, let's get to the main point: you'd better give back Hanamichi right this damn moment, or else...or else..."
"Or else what?" The woman challenged calmly. "You don't know where I've secured him. If you report me to the police, I'll just deny that I had anything to do with the theft. Try and do anything stupid to me now, and one of those plenty passerby's outside will dial for the police immediately; as you may notice, this house has an abundance of large windows." She smirked as Youhei tensed with anger, standing there helplessly.
"...or else I'll take your parents' dirty secrets to the police. My father told me all about it, and secretly kept all the evidence they left in our house." Rukawa finished off Youhei's sentence. Kimura spun around abruptly and narrowed her eyes.
"Having been a private detective, father knows of all the illegal activities your parents had done a while ago; he just chose not to reveal it, feeling your family had been bad off enough as was."
"....."
For a moment, his distant cousin bore her eyes intensely into his stony ones, pondering on what her choice should be.
"Good move, Rukawa Kaede. I never expected someone with the likes of you is capable of using such tactics...and I guess dealing with the police on a losing case isn't worth the effort." She sighed, giving in. "This is going to troublesome...instead of returning the body right away, how about we negotiate something else?"
"No way in hell...:" Youhei started heatedly.
Kimura held her hand up. "Not so fast. If I show you where Sakuragi is right now, you may change your mind."
She walked to a large scroll on the wall, and pushed it aside to reveal a hidden corridor leading downstairs. "Come on."
The passage led down to a dark empty room—all dark except for a huge glass tank-like chamber in the very back of the room, emitting a delicate, unearthly glow. Encased in it is a tall and completely naked male figure...with short red hair. Even from the distance they were standing, it was clear the figure was no other than Sakuragi Hanamichi.
As he walked closer to get a better look at the enclosed figure, Rukawa unconsciously caught his breath. Sakuragi Hanamichi's eyes were gently closed and his face peacefully relaxed, as if finally immune from worldly troubles. No hint of that contorting pain remained on the redhead's features. His naked body was crucified into a rigidly straight standing position by some invisible binding, yet the boy's fiery hair was drifting and dancing slowly about his head as if submerged under water. The strange mellow radiance served to enhance the beautiful details of his virile body and contrasting his youthfully innocent face.
As his eyes traced the details of the body, the tall brunette became vaguely aware of a strange, prickling warmth creeping under his skin: through his cheeks, the back of his neck, through his chest, reaching further and further down under his navel...then he felt a dim tightness in a certain spot, much like...
Stop. Rukawa squeezed his eyes shut and dug his nails painfully into his palms. Don't be messing with me, not in a time like this! He told himself. The brunette did not consciously know where that sensation came from, and didn't want to find out, either...not for now.
As the boys wandered to the side of the tank, they noted that the fatal gash was present on the redhead's back, cleaned of all the blood.
Youhei continued to stare with wonder. "Hana...it's really him...?" was all he could murmur.
Kimura stood by, observing the two with amusement. "Just before his life slipped away entirely, I secured Sakuragi's body in that chamber, a timeless dimension where it'll forever remain in its present state; thus, his soul hangs between life and death. It still retains his consciousness, present memories, emotions, personality."
She took out a strange charm attached to a chain and handed it to Youhei. "Your friend will gain the ability to see and hear living things, if you lend him your energy through this amulet. Likewise, you'll be able to see and hear him. Now I'll release the confinement curse, so he can stray from his body..."
Kimura closed her eyes and murmured inaudibly. A strange glowing mist spiralled in front of the tank, slowly taking shape of a tall young man...and there was Sakuragi Hanamichi, with his head slightly bent down, and vacuous look on his face. He wore the same clothes as the day of the accident.
"Hana...do you hear me? Hana!" Youhei called out, tentatively approaching him.
Sakuragi jolted out of his trance, and blinked a few times, the light coming back to his eyes. As he focused them on his best friend, recognition surfaced on his face.
"You're...Youhei." He whispered.
"You really are Sakuragi Hanamichi...? Not some hoax or illusion?"
The redhead scowled. "Hey, whadya mean by that, Youhei! You dare mock the genuineness of the one and only powerful tensai in the world?! I'm gonna...!" Yup, it's him all right; his personality is too unique...Youhei breathed out in relief.
He then threw himself onto his knees. "I'm so sorry...Hana, for ditching you like that; if you want to disqualify me as your friend, I'll totally understand..." hearing the grief and remorse laden in his friend's voice, Sakuragi stopped his rant abruptly. "I just...please just forgive me!"
"Youhei...Youhei, stop it!" Sakuragi couldn't bear seeing his best friend so distressed. "I know I've told you to bow down to the tensai, but not this way! Come on, get up and...!" He tried grabbing Youhei's shoulder to pull him to his feet, but his hand passed right through the brunette's body.
Sakuragi's eyes widened in shock and withdrew from the boy. He blankly stared down at his own palms. It was then he noticed they weren't entirely opaque, like a normal human being's; the tiled floor was vaguely visible through them.
"Hana..." Youhei started in concern.
"I...I am dead, aren't I..." Sakuragi muttered, gloominess lacing his voice. "When we started talking, I thought the whole thing might've just been a long nightmare. But...why can you see me? You never told the tensai about your psychic abilities."
"No, that's not..."
"Where are we, anyways...?" He looked around curiously...and saw himself in the tank.
"...?! Hey! Why is there another me in there...without clothes on?!" He demanded.
"Oh, that's because..."
The redhead then turned and caught sight of Kimura. "Hey...it's that weird lady again..." Then mortified horror crossed his features. "...wait a minute, I'm standing nude in front of a girl?!!" He awkwardly attempted to block her view of the body. "Youhei, you bastard of a traitor! How could you not have done anything?!!"
Youhei sweatdropped, but at the same time, his heart was rejoicing. Hana will always be Hana, dead or alive. "It's futile, Hanamichi; she can't hear or see your soul without this amulet...and don't worry, I think she's unaffected by men." Then his expression became serious. "Now listen; you're wondering what's going on, right...?" Youhei explained the whole situation to the flustered redhead.
"...trapped me here?" Sakuragi repeated in disbelief.
An idea passed through Youhei's mind. I could smash the tank, retrieve Sakuragi's body with Rukawa, and get the hell out of here...or even call the police. But if I do so, will I ever be able to talk to him again? I don't really want to risk it...
As if she had read his thoughts, the woman spoke up. "If you want your friend back right now, you can go ahead and break open the chamber. But his body will start dying, and his soul will immediately be transferred for reincarnation; all his conscious memories and personality built in this life would then dissolve in the process, and the Sakuragi Hanamichi you know will be gone forever."
"..." The brunette was speechless for a minute or so, from doubt or indecision he didn't know. He then leaned very close to his friend and whispered, "Look here, Hanamichi. I'm gonna leave you as you are right now, and see if there's some way to bring you back."
The redhead frowned. "Do you actually think it's possible to?"
"I never did...until that Kimura woman exposed her supernatural abilities to me. As she said, you're not completely dead yet, and if she's able to do all this uncanny stuff, there just might be a possibility. I don't know what she has up her sleeve for you, but I doubt she can make you any worse off than you are now."
"Youhei, I..." he started somewhat reluctantly.
"I need to talk to him, too." A familiar emotionless voice rang out in the darkness, suddenly interrupted their conversation.
Sakuragi grimaced. "Don't tell me...Rukawa's here, too?! Why in hell did you invite him into this?!"
The tall raven head stepped into the dim light, making his serious features visible. "Hand over the amulet when you're done." He requested firmly. Youhei glanced at him curiously. What could he possibly want to say to Hanamichi? Thanks for saving his life? No way, that's just not Rukawa...
"After all I've given up because of him, why can't he let me be?! Tell that fox he's the last person I wanna see now!"
Youhei sighed deeply. "Hana...he was the one who led us to you; without him, I doubt I'd ever get here. I kinda owe it to him, so could you just try to listen to what he has to say..."
Sakuragi glared at his friend. "Other than taunting me and making things worse, what else can he do?" He then looked away. "You were right all along Youhei. I had no idea what I'd be getting myself into...and I did nothing but treat you, the only person who really cares, like shit..." the redhead mumbled.
"Hana...that's not true! You are still my best friend! If you really were treating me like shit...I'd never come here in the first place. If anything, I'm just as bad as you are, for abandoning you when you needed someone..."
The two friends sat wordlessly for a minute or two, not knowing what to say to each other. Then Sakuragi broke the silence.
"...bring that fox in, I guess, and let me get it over with."
Youhei drew in a deep breath. "Be good and wait for me okay, old buddy?" He put on a goofy smile to hide his worry and reluctance to leave.
"Promise you'll come visit again?" Sakuragi asked quietly.
"Never dare to break a promise to a tensai!" They both shared a brief chuckle.
Just when Youhei was about to walk off, the redhead called out. "Youhei...you're any tensai's one and only best friend in the whole world...and you'd better take my word for it."
The brunette looked back and saw on his best friend's face an utterly sincere expression; he quickly turned away again, lest the redhead sees the tears forming in his eyes. "Thanks, Hana...I definitely will." He tossed the amulet into Rukawa's hand as he passed by him.
Rukawa focused his placid eyes onto Sakuragi; the redhead stared back with comparable impassiveness. "You actually went out of your way to visit me, Rukawa? If you're here to express your gratitude, there's no need. It was my own damn choice." The raven head didn't reply. For a few minutes, neither spoke.
"......"
"......"
"What the hell do you want, fox?!" the redhead finally growled impatiently. "Spit out whatever you've got to say, and get the hell out of my face!"
"...so you really are dead, do'aho." Rukawa mused out loud, more to himself than Sakuragi.
"You came all the way here just to say that, huh, you miserable fox? I didn't expect anything less sardonic from you."
The raven head was momentarily silent again. Then, "Why did you give up your own life for me?" He demanded tonelessly.
Crap...just the question I don't know how to answer. "No reason." The redhead replied sullenly.
"Answer the damn question. Why?"
"Geez, I said I don't know! Okay, I did it because I'm a very soft hearted person, and forgot at that moment that you're too much of a selfish loser to even bother with! It was one of those rare big mistakes that a genius makes! Satisfied?!"
"It was a big mistake, you're right about that. I never needed you to pry into my life." Rukawa agreed rather bluntly.
Sakuragi's eyes blazed dangerously with loathing at his words. "You disgusting son of a bitch!!" he snarled, and lunged at the raven head. Remembering too late that he's not able to touch earthly matter, and falling through Rukawa's body face down.
"You are downright repulsive, you know that?!! After what I lost helping you, you can't even display a shred of gratefulness ..."
"I'm being realistic, do'aho. And just what can I do to repay you? List your demands, though I doubt I'll have the ability to fulfill even half of them..."
"Just one very simple demand, fox," Sakuragi hissed through his gritted teeth. "Never. Ever. Let me see you again."
For a minute or so, Rukawa stared at the redhead with an unreadable expression before replying, "Easily done, if that satisfies my obligation to you." Then he turned to walk away.
I knew that fox'll make things ten times worse than they already are...oh shit, I forgot to ask Youhei... "Wait, Rukawa..." The raven head paused. "If you really want to do me a favor...then ask Haruko chan to visit me."
An unexpected feeling of disgust washed over the tall brunette. Now he's turning to her for comfort? Just how pathetically disillusioned can this do'aho get?!
"To be honest, she doesn't give a shit about you." Now why did he even bother to say that? Much less trouble if he'd just comply...
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!!" Sakuragi's fists trembled with anger as the raven head faded from his view. "You're a disease, Rukawa...mocking me like this cause I can't be there to protect her from your malicious abuse! Never mind, just stay out of my sight, and I'd be forever too damn grateful!!"
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Kimura saw the two boys to the doorway of her home. "So we've agreed...you may come by anytime either of you want to meet with Sakuragi's soul, until we figure out what to do with him. I'll keep a spare key hidden out here, in case I'm at work..."
"Not that I expect you to tell me, Ms. Kimura...but just what exactly are you?"
She chuckled. "Just an ordinary human, too...given supernatural powers to bring justice to those who deserve it."
"Bring justice, huh?" Youhei suppressed a derogatory laugh. Yeah, I'll believe that when she somehow brings Hana back to life.
As the two brunettes walked back to the train station, "Rukawa...where's the amulet?"
The taller boy didn't turn to face him. "Hidden under the doormat, along with the spare key."
"I'll take it with me to research on the next time I pay Hana a visit...and see if I can find anything interesting." Youhei then glanced curiously at the silent raven head. I wondered what he and Hana talked about...it couldn't have been pleasant.
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After Youhei and Rukawa had left, Sakuragi found himself back inside the black emptiness. I'm...dead. I really am gone. Never thought it'll ever come, not even when I hurt my back in the Sannoh game...or when those big kids were beating me with a bat during grade school. Hey, take it like the brave tensai you are! He scolded himself. But...that means no more slacking off with the Sakuragi gundan, no more tensai songs, no more seeing Haruko or the team, no more...basketball. Despite all I've lost, maybe I could've met up with Okasan and Oyajii; I miss them so much. But now that weird bitch is somehow trapping me here. And to make things worse, that freaking fox found a way to talk to me, out of all people. Hmph. There's gotta be a way out of here, and I'm gonna find it for sure. I'll break free from this joint, just you wait! Then you'll be sorry... He'd been struggling during the past few days to find a way out, but with no avail.I hope Youhei finds some way to bring me back to life; but even if he does, what if everyone thinks I'm a zombie?! Especially if Haruko chan...! And I so want to see Okasan and Oyajii again. The redhead thought, feeling completely torn. Shit...and it's so damn lonely here all by himself. Don't know if his strong, hyperactive self will last long in this state without going insane. God...if anything, just grant me three TINY wishes; have a close and trustworthy companion visit me soon (no other than Youhei, he thought), convey my sincere feelings to a true love (Haruko of course, he had in mind), and...let me slug that bastard Rukawa one last time for all the trouble he'd caused for me...then I promise I'll never, ever demand a favor from you again!!
Suddenly, a flash of blinding light appeared before Sakuragi, and the emptiness melted...not to reveal the same dark room, but a beautiful, well lit apartment. Huh? I've never been to such a nice place in my whole life. Where am I? Then he heard someone sigh loudly; turning around, he saw a young man with dark hair sprawled on the couch. He's...Rukawa?! Hey fox, what are YOU doing in such a fancy apartment?! Did you bring me here just to show off...! The boy didn't respond, and as Sakuragi got closer, he realized that the raven head stared right through him. He can't see or hear me...? But just a while ago...
He decided to try again. Hey, Rukawa...then noticed the undisguised loneliness on the raven head's normally stony expression. Huh? That cold- hearted fox never looked sad before...
The apartment door suddenly swung open, and in came...a blurred figure. Rukawa immediately sprang to his feet, irrepressible joy suddenly taking over his features, all traces of gloominess gone. He rushed forward and wrapped his arms tightly around whoever that was. "I miss you so much..." he murmured softly, eyes closed contently, nuzzling into its shoulder.
Now I really know something's wrong...that fox will never, ever look excited and happy, even if he's championed the best basketball player in the whole universe.
"....." The figure said something, but its voice was so hazy as well Sakuragi couldn't even tell whether it was a male or female.
Rukawa looked up and frowned openly. "So what if it was just a week? It felt like a damn decade!"
The unknown person emitted a loud hazy laugh. Still frowning, Rukawa dragged the figure to the couch. He pushed him into a lying position on the couch, causing the figure to gasp loudly. The brunette then crept on top of it.
"You're suffering's not over yet, ." The tall brunette rasped, a hint of hunger in his voice. The last word of Rukawa's sentence was strangely tuned out. "I'm going to have you taste the torture you've made me experience this whole week."
The unknown person chuckled fondly. ".....?"
An immense desire of some sort had mixed itself into Rukawa's elated expression, then...a nasty smile slowly formed at the corner of his lips. "No way...I'll be awake the whole night, just you watch." He lowered his head and brushed his lips against the other one's with the utmost gentleness...then all of the sudden started ravaging its mouth with wild passion, violently pressing down harder and deeper...
The redhead suddenly felt an unknown bashfulness creep through him at the sight of the make out. He'd never seen affection displayed that intensely before! Just what could make that feelingless fox act so uncharacteristically lovey-dovey?! Whoever that is, she must be an unimaginably beautiful chick...seeing how he ignores even the prettiest girls in our school. Shit! He always gets all the things no one else can! Just his damn luck... Suddenly, the whole scene disappeared as quickly as it came, returning the redhead back to oblivion. While I'm stuck here as miserable as hell, HE continues to enjoy his undeservedly happy life...
Meanwhile, in the Kanagawa district park...
All by himself in the park basketball court, Rukawa dribbled the ball, jumped to do a flawless lay up...and missed, for the fourth time. He slumped to the ground, letting the ball roll away by itself. So what's wrong now, dammit? You got your questions answered...and the best thing to do for that do'aho is to leave him alone, right? The brunette snapped open his can of pocari sweat and took a long, thirsty drink. Just as I thought, making the trip to that woman's house is just as meaningless.
Inviting that Akagi Haruko to Kimura's house...if anything, she's most likely to cause a commotion, which will leave Sakuragi's friend upset and angry. And as much as he doesn't want to give a damn about that idiot...he's doing him a true favor by not telling her.
So that's it, huh? Everything settled...not. He's missed more than one easy shot in a series of thirty. His normal 11 hour sleeping time shrunk down to a meager 6, leaving him to cope through the day like a zombie. His appetite has decreased by almost a half, hardly enough to sustain himself for practice. And his once-unbreakable self-control was failing him...and he can no longer push that fact into the back of his head; all because of...
Rukawa pulled out and gazed at a shiny object from under his shirt...it was the amulet. He had lied to Sakuragi's friend that day about placing it with the key as he'd kept it around his neck the whole time. For some odd reason, he just...couldn't let it go, couldn't let someone else hold it...
Screw it then; I'm just becoming more and more pathetic, anyways. I'll go against my dignity this once and find a way out of this confusing mess. The raven head picked himself up and started heading down the road that led to the train station.
TBC