Title: Cults and Crime Organizations
Disclaimer: Slam Dunk is not mine.
Pairing: Senru
Brief Summary of what had happened so far:
Kaede is the son of a leader of a cult, while Akira has to inherit a crime org. As the son of the leader, Kaede has to inherit it, too, and he shall receive his powers when he turns fifteen. Akira hates to inherit the organization, so he ran away.
He stayed at Kaede's place for two days (?). This is the time that they realize they like each other (and took a lot of chapters in this fanfic, too). However, Touya, Kaede's father, found out that they had feelings for each other. He fought with Kaede in order to 'prevent history from repeating'. Akira went away, and his plane crashed…
Important Note: In case you were wondering about their dinner last night… At first, it said that Touya ate dinner alone, and then a few scenes later they were eating. They ate dinner two times that night… (We always do that.) Actually, it's more like a midnight snack…
Chapter 9:
The full moon can be seen clearly in the middle of the forest, but the only thing that Akira can see is his savior fighting with the wolves. He can not remember how long he had been staring at him. He moved so graceful. He looked like he was dancing even though he is fighting with the wolves.
Then, the man jumped and grabbed wolf from the distance. He grabbed a knife and killed it. After a while, all the other wolves retreated.
Akira sat up and gasped. It was the most beautiful fight scene he had ever witnessed in his whole life. Then, the man with the dark hooded coat leaned over him.
"The next time you are being attacked by wolves, just look out for the leader. If you kill him, all the other wolves will retreat."
Akira can only nod with his mouth open wide. He can only gape at the man in front of him. He has a nice body, just like the body of a fighter. The only thing he can see is the man's eyes… blue foxy eyes…
He gasped. This dream is too familiar. And those eyes… they remind him of "… Kaede?" He did not control his mouth from saying the name of the one he loved. However, when the man put his hood down, Akira realized that he was in Okinawa, not in Kanagawa.
The man looked at him, surprised. "Huh? How did you know that my name is Kaede?" Akira smiled as he rubbed his nape. "Um… You're eyes reminded me of someone… I thought you were him."
The man shrugged. "My name is Suzuki Kaede. Anyway, you look like you have nowhere to go. Were you aboard the crashing airplane?"
Akira nodded. "Yes… but…"
Suzuki smiled at Akira. "Were you able to get your clothes?"
Akira bit his lip as he shook his head. Suzuki shrugged. "You can stay at my house if you want. I live alone, anyway. You can help me, right?"
Akira smiled. "Yes… Suzuki-san. Um… Suzuki-san… can I ask you a favor?" Suzuki shrugged. "As long as it has nothing to do with money, maybe I can help."
Akira smiled. "Can you not tell anybody that I came from the crashed plane?"
Suzuki shrugged. "Sure."
0o0o0
Touya gasped. Akira was planning to go to Okinawa, right?
His steps are the only things that he can hear, since Kaede seemed to have turned the TV off. He rushed to the living room. "Kaede!"
He was greeted by a Kaede staring at the television. There were no more sounds as the news showed the names of the people who were aboard the crashing plane. Touya gasped as he saw the name "Sendoh Akira" one of the dead people.
He should be happy… but he isn't.
Why? He had this feeling that Akira is still alive. And he knows that Kaede can feel it, too.
Touya bit his lower lip. He had been tested too, when he had just received his powers. His father told him to leave Sakura.
Yes, he passed. But there was a weird feeling lingering in his heart: a feeling that he has nothing left to feel.
'Will this be the start of Kaede's hell?'
0o0o0
Kaede gasped. "No…" a weird voice escaped from his throat. He can't believe the TV. There is this deep feeling in him that is saying that Akira is still alive. He is just out there, waiting to be rescued…
He took a deep shaky breath. 'Akira is not yet dead…' This thought echoed in his mind, over and over again until he got irritated with it.
Then, he felt a heavy and firm grip on his shoulder. "Let's go now, Kaede. It's near midnight."
There was still this deep confusion in his mind, but he followed his dad. He can sense that everything else will go wrong if he will fight with his father now.
'Yes, nothing will go wrong tonight… because Akira is still alive.' Another thought repeated itself over and over in his mind again. Kaede can only curse it under his breath.
"Stop it, my head is aching." He growled to the voice in his mind. It was very soft. He did not want his father to hear it… but heck, no sound in this house can escape his father's ears.
All Touya do can curse in his mind. He can answer his own question now: Yes, this is the start of Kaede's hell.
0o0o0
Akira bowed his head a little so he can go inside Suzuki's house. It is just a small cottage: The living room and the dining room is in one room. The kitchen is separated by a divider. Then, a little room, not bigger than thirty-six feet squared, is separated by a simple door.
"This is my small house. Make yourself comfortable… I live alone here. You can stay as long as you want, just make sure you're going to help me."
Akira nodded gratefully. "Thank you, Suzuki-san."
Suzuki shrugged. "Yeah, you've thanked me a hundred times a while ago… you don't even know where you're going to sleep. I only have one bed, so you're going to sleep at the floor."
Akira smiled at him. "I don't mind sleeping on the floor, Suzuki-san. Thank you for letting me stay."
Suzuki grumbled again. "Hadn't I told you that I hate being thanked over and over again?" Akira smiled sheepishly as he rubbed his nape. "Oh… sorry."
"OK… we better sleep now. It's near midnight already. Come, follow me in the bedroom…"
0o0o0
As if the plane that Akira rode crashed to the Pacific Ocean isn't enough, Kaede had to be faced with another problem. All the people of the cult were staring at him. Maybe they heard from Fujima-san of what happened…
Or maybe they have the perception of what will happen.
Whatever it was, Kaede is now feeling irritated. True, he never cared if all the girls were staring at him… lusting for him publicly, but this is another case. Being stared upon by blue-eyed people wearing dark-hooded coats, to the point that you can see nothing but their eyes, is hard enough… And being stared upon warily by them is the worst thing Kaede ever experienced publicly.
They all made way as he and his father, who were late, by the way, walked to the altar. It seemed that all of them were talking in their minds. Kaede can hear them. They are speaking all at once, and it's making his head ache.
He closed his eyes as he followed his dad to the altar, but the feeling of being stared upon suspiciously and the voices in his head did not fade away. He wanted it to disappear… but…
Soon, they reached the altar. Kaede opened his eyes as he stepped up the altar. His father decided that he should participate in an offering ceremony that night. Their next victim is a nine-year old girl.
Kaede can still feel the anger for his father that he felt when they offered a boy for the new year. He himself can't believe that he will do this to a girl tonight.
He wanted to back out. Then, he felt heavy eyes all over him again. True, heavy eyes were already staring at him since he arrived at the lake, but they got heavier… and angrier. It felt like they were saying: Do that ceremony now or you're not going to get out of here alive.
Touya felt it, too. He cleared his throat. All the members stopped staring at Kaede. Kaede can sigh lightly…
"Kaede, do this now, if you don't want Akira to really die."
Kaede did not hear any voice through his ears, but he knows that it came from his father. He turned to his father, who was looking at him intently, as if daring him to run away.
But then, there is this thing that was bugging him- telling him that Akira is still alive. What his father said only confirmed this. He should be happy, but he isn't… he knows that the cult can torture Akira if he will not follow their commands…
Kaede turned his back to his father… He only memorized the first few lines of the curse… And truth be told, he definitely does not want to do this at all. Who wants to kill a girl?
"Kaede!"
Another firm command from his father was thrown to his direction. His shoulders jerked in surprise as he heard his father's voice. He bowed his head and nodded.
He wore the dark coat that was set for the ceremony that night… For the heir of the cult to wear. His hands were trembling as he wore it.
He then cleared his throat. He turned to the direction of the altar table, just to see an innocent looking girl lying on it. The girl's eyes are closed, and there were tears trickling down her cheeks. She is trembling…
Kaede stared at her. All she can feel for the child is pity. He can't possibly kill her!
Kaede was too busy looking at the child that he didn't notice that his father is going to his direction. Touya grabbed Kaede's shoulder and whispered in his ear.
"What the hell are you doing? Start the ceremony now! We're five minutes behind schedule!" Touya said as he stared at Kaede's eyes. They were filled with pity for the child.
Touya held on Kaede's shoulder harder. "Look, Kaede. Akira is still alive. If you don't do this damned thing… He's going to die."
This took Kaede's attention. Touya saw this. "So what, Kaede? This girl's life or Akira's life?"
Kaede stared at his robe and a knife with weird signs. Akira or the girl?
He tightened his grip on the knife. He turned to his father and nodded.
0o0o0
All he can feel is the nervousness and the guilt. But what can he do? He is just a beginner in the cult: he can't run away, they're going to catch him, he can't protect himself… How can he protect the child and Akira?
The weird chants now began, forcing Kaede to do what he was supposed to do. He can still remember the first few lines…
At first, the weird words that he was saying sounded weird and awkward, but when he came to the part that he barely knew, it came out like a flow. It felt like he already memorized this part of the cant. It felt like he wasn't controlling his mouth already.
He raised his arms and looked up the sky, just like how his father does. Everyone continued doing what they were supposed to do, and it actually looked like it was all rehearsed.
They raised their hands to the sky, and then bowed, their arms still in front of them. When they raise their heads, their arms move counter clockwise and stops for a few seconds… And will repeat again.
Even the movement of their mouths were all the same. It was freaky.
Kaede got powder from a bowl, which was lying next to the child. He threw it to the child in a graceful move. The child coughed a little. Then, the process was uncontrollable…
Kaede wanted to stop… But he can't.
It felt like he wasn't controlling his body.
Kaede gasped inwardly as he watched his arms move weirdly… it just won't stop. He struggled to stop speaking the weird language… but he still won't. His eyes can only open wide as he watched his body move. Wherever he looked, he can only see the same thing: men looking so evil, with dark hooded coats and cold blue eyes, doing the same thing over and over again…
It actually scared him.
Then, everyone stopped chanting. They all knelt down in one fluid motion. They put their arms around them, just like they were hugging their own body.
Kaede watched in horror as his hand grabbed the knife and stabbed the child in the abdomen. The blood spilled to his face…
His mouth chanted again… and all the cult members continued doing the same movement over and over again. And then, their chanting faded…
Kaede gasped inwardly. He had stopped chanting, too, and his hands were scooping inside the girls body… Everyone stopped as Kaede took his first gulp of human blood.
His hands were still in the scoop position, but only sloped, so to let the blood of the girl flow to his mouth. The first drops trickled to his pale cheeks, but his hands adjusted itself so the drops of blood will fall to his mouth.
Kaede wanted to push his hands away, but he can't. He wanted to step backwards so he can not take the blood, but he can't. He wanted to shut his mouth so he can not drink the blood, but he can't…
He felt warm liquid trickle down his cheeks as his mouth came contact with the iron-taste of blood.
This was the time when he felt that he can control his body again. He stumbled backwards as he tried to push his hands away… In this vain attempt to stop the blood from flowing to his mouth, he tripped, causing him to fall to the hard, cemented floor.
His father, who was at his back, caught him before his back can touch the floor. Kaede was still in a shock when his father whispered to him.
"Welcome to the real cult, Kaede."
0o0o0
Akira groaned as he felt constant tugging at his shoulders. When he opened his eyes, he saw familiar looking blue eyes.
"Wake up, sleepy head. I promised to let you stay here as long as you help me." A firm voice said. That was when he remembered: he was in Okinawa, not in Kanagawa. He was in Suzuki Kaede's house, not in Rukawa Kaede's house.
He yawned as he stretched his arms. "Good morning, Suzuki-san!"
Suzuki crumpled his nose. "Good morning too, Akira. You can eat your breakfast now. Then don't forget to brush your teeth. I'll be waiting for you outside." He said as he stood up and went outside.
Akira pouted and placed his palm before his nose and mouth. He exhaled. "Hey, Suzuki-san, I do not have bad breath!" He shouted to the man outside. Suzuki shrugged.
"I know… Just brush your teeth."
Akira shrugged as he tried to stretch his whole body. He hurried to eat his breakfast, namely an egg and coffee. He then went to the comfort room, where he saw 2 tooth brushes at the counter. There was one with the name "Akira" pasted on it.
Following his instincts, he got the tooth brush with his name on it.
After a minute, he went out of the house. There, he saw Suzuki standing beside a lamp post. Suzuki greeted him with a nod. Akira greeted him with a smile. "So, where are we going, Suzuki-san?"
Suzuki shrugged. "Do you have any clothes other than the ones you're wearing?" Akira stared at the T-shirt, jacket and jeans that he's wearing. He sighed. "I used to. But it was at the plane."
Suzuki gave him the 'like duh' look. Akira 'ooh-ed'. "Suzuki shrugged. "Do you have any money? I can accompany you shopping if you have, but if you have none, I'm afraid I can only buy you a shirt and underwear. Money's tight…"
Akira shrugged at him. "I have my wallet, Suzuki-san. Don't worry." As they walked their way to the main town of the island…
They did not notice that there was a pair of red eyes looking… observing them.
0o0o0
There was rain that day, and the temperature is perfect for anyone to sleep. Anyone, that is, except the ones who are so mortified and guilty that they can't even close their eyes, for the fear to see the face of an innocent girl he had killed.
His hands have gone sweaty. He had been awake for more than twenty-four hours already… He knows he has to sleep, but the guilt he has inside just won't let him. The feeling that he had killed a child with his own hands…
He tried his best not to let the sobs escape from his lips, but they are too strong…
'How can dad live like he isn't doing anything immoral everyday… When every week he kills an innocent child?' This question repeated itself over and over again in his mind.
Suddenly, a black, soft thing climbed its way to his lap. He looked at it, and saw none other than the kitten, Fuyu. Fuyu continued climbing at him, struggling to climb Kaede's white shirt. After quiet a while, he reached his master's face.
"Are you hungry, Fuyu?" He asked the kitten. The kitten did not respond to him. He did not purr, or anything. The kitten just licked his face.
Kaede smiled at him. "Come, let's get something downstairs."
Kaede got the kitten at his chest and made his way downstairs. There, he saw his dad reading the newspaper. He served the cat its breakfast, and sat in a chair.
"You weren't able to get any sleep last night." His father said. Kaede did not mutter a word. Touya shrugged. He placed the paper aside and turned to Kaede's direction. "You have to get a nice sleep today… we're going to do something tonight."
Kaede bit his lip in order to prevent it from shivering. He closed his eyes in order for his tears to stop flowing… but they just won't.
"Dad…" He croaked. He wanted it to be his usual monotone, but it just won't. Touya just stared at his son. "How can you live like you are a nice man, almost admired by everybody, when you kill innocent children every week? How can you face people?"
Kaede can't prevent his anger from his dad from flowing now. "How can you live like that when you actually kill innocent people? I wouldn't be surprised if you were the one who killed my mother because you're a monster!"
Touya gasped at his son. "Kaede! What are you talking about?"
"What am I talking about? Dad! The cult! How can you guys do this?" Kaede said as he stood up from his seat. His eyes are burning blue, demanding an answer.
Touya just sighed. "Are you feeling guilty of what you did last night, Kaede? It's normal at first. But after quiet a while, the guilty feeling will disappear."
Kaede stared at his dad, unbelieving of what he had said. "How can you do this? You are a monster! You are the worst person I know!" He stood up, and went upstairs.
After a while, Kaede got down with a bag. He grabbed the surprised Fuyu, who was eating.
"Kaede! Where are you going?" Touya asked, suddenly standing up from the sofa. Kaede stopped, and turned to him with a piercing glare. "I'm going to a place where I don't have to kill anybody!"
"Kaede!" Touya exclaimed. He ran after Kaede outside, but Kaede is faster. After he realized that he can not catch Kaede with simply running, he outstretched his arms with his hands opened, like stopping a car.
Kaede felt something strong pulling him back. When he turned his gaze to his dad, he saw a faint smoke shaped like a hand pulling him back to his father. It came from his father's hands.
There were a considerable number of people outside then. There were two elderly couples, three children playing, a housewife on her way to the grocery and a group of teenagers in around Kaede's age. Wherein, by the way, Sakuragi, Ryota and Mitsui are.
"Let go!" Rukawa shouted to his father back, which caught almost everybody's attention. They can not see the smoke that came from Touya's hands, and Touya is definitely a distance away from Kaede… So it is definitely weird for Kaede to say 'let go'.
Kaede closed his eyes and widely spread his right arm. A bright light came from his hand, which the other ordinary people around him saw as a faint light.
The light made it's way to his father's abdomen, pushing him a few meters away from where he really stood.
Kaede saw this opportunity to run.
0o0o0
Sakuragi gasped. Miyagi's eyes bulged and Mitsui almost peed on his pants. "Did you see that? There was a light that came from Rukawa's hand." Mitsui gasped as he leaned closer to his friends.
Ryota and Sakuragi nodded. They were all speechless.
Just then, Rukawa Touya regained his consciousness. He cursed when he realized that he just fainted.
There were numerous gasps that came from the people who saw everything. Then, Touya glared at all of them. "What the hell are you looking at?"
He challenged everyone as he raised his eyebrows at them.
Everyone ran to different direction.
0o0o0
A/N: Ninth chapter is now done. Not as long as my other fanfic chapters, but at least it's in the usual CACO length already…
There…
Thank you to all those who reviewed last chapter. I really appreciated it.
Hope you liked it. Thank you for reading. Please review.
(P.S.
Jam: I did not understand the e-mail ad that you gave to me... can you give it again (with the domain name)? Thank you! Glad you want to be my friend
Blufox: Now this chapter is the usual length of my chapters here in this fanfic. That's why I can update fastly here... and why it takes me ages to update my other fanfics like Crazy Love Webs, which takes twenty-four pages...
Huey: That driver isn't a member of the cult... Let's just say that there are a lot of psychic people in the world, and he is one of them.
