Chapter 11

Mizuka had her ear pressed to the door and cringed when she heard what sounded like a scuffle going on outside. She hoped Atobe and Sengoku were okay. She had tried to flick on the lights before but realized the electricity was out. From the dim moonlight shining through the window, she could just make out the furniture.

Two bunk beds were on opposite walls, a small desk, a chair, and a window. The room sure looked a lot smaller than hers since she only had one bed and a desk with two chairs.

She straightened up when she heard voices through the door.

"My room is 212!"

That was Atobe. That means they were looking for his room. They would definitely find her in here if she tried to hide under the bed or in the closet. Her heart ached when she heard Atobe cry out in pain. She hated that she couldn't do anything to help him.

"This isn't your room!"

She stared at the window. It was the only way.

Oshitari ran a whole loop around one side of the courts. He stopped by the doors to catch his breath. Where could Mizuka be?

"Ahn, I thought your practice was finished?"

Atobe!

He quickly turned only to see Niou. Damn him. He should've caught it. Atobe wouldn't have said that.

"Niou, now isn't the time," he huffed out and opened the door.

"Are you looking for Mizuka?"

Oshitari halted and looked at him again. Niou's usual trickster smirk wasn't there but he actually looked worried. "Why do you ask?"

"I hear a lot of people are looking for her," Niou said. "I think she may be in danger."

He didn't have time to consider the trickster. Atobe had paired up with him and hadn't said anything bad about him.

"She is in danger."

"Oshitari!" Sengoku ran up to him. "Atobe's in trouble."

Oshitari sucked in a breath. He had to be there for Atobe. "Niou, find Mizuka and keep her safe."

Determination flashed in the Niou's eyes before he nodded and they split ways.

Atobe took another punch to the gut when he tried to wrestle them as they scanned the names of dorm 212. He was partly glad that the lightning took out the lights since it made it harder for them to see the names on the dorm.

"It says his name here. His room is 210!"

Tono gave him another punch to the gut that had him coughing and gasping for air. Someone gripped his hair and made him look at Tono. "Well, aren't you the liar? Weak and pathetic as well."

"Ten against one," he rasped. "You can hardly call that fair."

Tono laughed. "10? We have well over that," he leaned in close to Atobe. "And each one of us are going to take turns cumming in your bitch."

Atobe smashed his head against Tono, rejoicing at the sound of him crying out rather than the pain on his forehead. Tono stumbled back and held his nose. Instead of delivering another jab, he ordered them to enter his dorm.

Atobe's heart skipped a beat as they opened the door, expecting to see Mizuka standing helplessly there but he glimpsed the empty room before a couple of them rushed in and searched the room.

No. They can't touch her. If they touched her he would kill them. He didn't care. The ones holding onto him must've sensed his anticipation because they tightened their grip on him. It felt like forever even though he knew that only seconds went by. Eventually they emerged from his room and without Mizuka.

What?

Where was she?

"She's not here either."

"WHERE. IS. SHE."

Tono jabbed him in the gut for each word, making him cry out for each one. The last one electrocuted him, making his knees give out as he slumped down. He was suddenly dropped to the floor and he lay there sucking in little gasps of air with his throbbing stomach. The floor felt so cool against his head he didn't care if he was lying on it. He felt like if he got hit in the gut again he would throw up. He couldn't hear anything, the ringing in his ear and his breathing clogged his hearing.

Hands grabbed his arms again and he tensed his arm, readying to throw out a punch. His eyes slid up to have Oshitari's serious face swim into view. "Oshitari..." He panted out. His other arm was grabbed by Shishido. "Shishido..."

"Sorry, Atobe." Shishido said as he put his arm around his shoulder and helped him up.

"What for?"

"For being too late."

When he could finally focus, he noticed that they weren't the only ones there. Sengoku, Ootori, Mukahi, Hiyoshi, Kikumaru, Oishi were there too, standing between him and Tono's crew. Sengoku had come back.

Atobe pulled his arm off Shishido and stepped his way to the front and faced Tono. "It's over. Get out of here."

"You think we're going to stop just cause your pansy crew came and saved you? We know she's here. We'll find her."

What was wrong with them? When there was enough of the red light projected on some of their faces, he could see the crazed shine in their eyes.

Tono went face to face with him. "It's pussy hunting time."

It was harder than she thought. Especially since her clothes were soaked.

Mizuka held onto the window ledge by her fingers and hung there for what seemed like an hour. She had just enough time to climb out the window and hung on her forearms just so she could slam the window shut before she grasped the ledge with her hands. Her fingers were beginning to feel frozen, her arms burning. She had heard them entering the room and some yelling. She hoped Atobe would be okay. The wind didn't help either since it blew her hair and clothes frozen. She didn't want to risk pulling herself back up just yet. How long was she to wait for?

"Now, just what are you doing all the way up there, ahn?"

"Keigo!" She gasped.

"Pupina."

Niou. She hadn't spoken to him at all during her stay at the camp. She'd seen him from afar but she didn't want to be near him after what he had tricked her into a kiss that one time at the beach. Atobe did pair up with him for doubles but that was only because he could replicate her brother's skills. She still couldn't trust him.

"Go away."

"What are you doing?"

"Just hanging around."

"I can see that."

The cloud must've went past the moon since the she could see the glow of white shining at the window.

"What are you doing?" She asked.

"Just hanging around."

She pushed down the irritation that went through her. "Go. Away."

"So, how are you going to get down?"

"I'm climbing back up."

"Let's see you do it."

Her fingers burned as she tried to pull herself back up, wanting to prove to him so bad that she could do it. She managed to move up a couple inches, her stiff arms aching. That was all she could do before she stretched herself back down with a sigh.

"I want to stay here." She said at the same time he said. "You're stuck."

"I'm not stuck."

"Yes, you are."

Then, her fingers felt like a drop of water fell on them. She craned her head up and could just barely see the edge of the room dripping water down onto her fingers. Oh no. She could feel her cold fingers sliding from the ledge.

"If you want me to help-"

"Niou!" She exclaimed. "I'm slipping! I'm slipping!"

"Push off! Push off!"

Her fingers were just on the edge before she slid her feet up against the wall and pushed off at the last second. She didn't even have enough time to scream as she watched the window get farther away from her. Her back slammed against something hard, knocking the breath out of her and she heard Niou cry out, "Gotcha!" Before they tilted back and she saw the flash of dark clouds as they tumbled down the hill.

It was all up to him whether or not they were going to fight. Atobe knew it. He had to control his anger and emotions and get them under control. No matter what they said about Mizuka, he couldn't let it bother him because their first priority was finding her first. He couldn't let them get to her first.

He had to let Tono and his group leave and look for her since they weren't evenly matched. Mukahi wouldn't be able to handle himself and Kikumaru and Oishi as well. Definitely not Oshitari. There was nothing he could do to stop them. When they were out of sight he ran into his room and to his window. Mizuka had to have gone out the window.

He opened the window and peered out. Leaves littered the ground from what he could see. He didn't know if he should feel relieved from not seeing Mizuka's body lying there. As long as the others didn't have her, she was fine. Right? He felt a hand grasp his shirt from behind.

"Atobe?" Oshitari's worried voice sounded behind him.

He pulled himself back in and shut the window. "The only place she could've gone is out the window."

Oshitari opened the window to peer out for himself before shutting it and staring back at Atobe. "That's a far drop."

"I know."

"Atobe, we have to find her before they do," Sengoku said. His quick search of the room with Shishido lasted less than five seconds.

"If they touch her, they're dead!" Shishido punched his fist into his palm.

"Let's not resort to violence," Oishi said. "What about the coaches? We haven't heard anything from them yet."

"Oishi, Mizu-chan is all by herself right now. We can't leave her alone!" Kikumaru said.

Looking for Mizuka was their best option. They split up in groups and he had Oshitari and Sengoku with him. Oishi and Kikumaru were going to see what was up with the coaches. Shishido, Ootori, Mukahi, and Hiyoshi were the last group.

"Keep this between yourselves," Atobe said. "I don't know what's gotten the other players so riled up but they shouldn't be acting this way regardless."

"Try not to fight." Oishi added.

"No promises." Shishido said. Ootori shot him a worried look and he sighed. "Fine. No fighting."

It was freezing. Dark and freezing. Everything was spinning.

Mizuka rolled onto her back and felt it get worse. She opened her eyes to see the tree trunks spin and closed it again, waiting for the spinning to stop. A hand grabbed her shoulder and shook her and she let out a soft moan and pushed it away.

"I can't let you die here," Niou said.

That cracked a smile out of her and her dizziness subsided. "I'm not dead." She opened her eyes again and sat up, blinking away the headache.

"Come on," he held out his hand for her to take and pulled her up. "It's not safe to stay out here."

"Is it safe anywhere?"

Niou chuckled. "Well, you're cold and wet so being inside is the most obvious choice."

Her arms and fingers felt the burning of finally letting go of the ledge. She really wouldn't have made it if it weren't for him. "Thank you." She murmured.

"It's the least I could do," he said and started towards the campus.

She noticed the limp in his gait. "Are you hurt?"

"Yeah, you're kind of really heavy," he said before sticking his tongue out at her. "Puri."

"What were you doing out here anyway?"

He stopped at that and turned to look at her, his face solemn. "I was looking for you actually. This camp has gotten out of hand. You need to get out of here."

For him to sound and look that serious without any of his stupid Puris. The camp had really gotten out of hand. She just hoped Atobe was okay. If Atobe got hurt, it would be her fault.

"Thank you."

Niou was good at sneaking around. Even with his limp, he walked quietly. She only wished she could do the same.

Mizuka followed behind him as he peered around the corners first and listened before going down the hallway. They had somehow made it inside without anyone catching them. Voices down the hall made them halt quickly and her shoes squeaked and Niou hid them inside one of the rooms, pushing her down with him just as shadows moved across the window of the door.

Niou waited a couple more seconds before grabbing her arm and leading them out of the room. They passed through the first floor lounge areas and up the stairs. Where was he taking her?

He stopped at one of the dorm rooms and pushed her inside ahead of him. The room only had one bunk bed. Who was he roomed with?

"I'm going to find Atobe," Niou said.

The feeling of being left alone suddenly overwhelmed her that she grabbed Niou's arm when he headed for the door.

"What's wrong?"

"How long will you take?"

"I don't know where he is so it might take some time," he said and added more gently. "I'll try my best, Mizuka."

She nodded and felt him squeeze her arm before he left.

"Atobe, maybe it would be better if we split up?" Oshitari suggested. "We might find her faster."

"No, we stick together. I don't want any of you being caught by them," Atobe said.

Outside had much better lighting than inside. Atobe had to blink a couple times to get used to the moonlight. The shitty red lights inside had been starting to hurt his eyes.

"I think the window faced the east end." Sengoku said.

Atobe studied the moon and agreed and started the way to the side of the building where the trees were more crowded. He stopped in his tracks when he thought he heard extra footsteps and turned to see some of the older players following them. They couldn't look for Mizuka like this.

Oshitari glanced back at the other players. "It seems like we've got a tail."

"I'll distract them," Sengoku started but Atobe grabbed his shoulder.

"No, nobody is going alone. We have to stay together."

"But, Mizuka." Sengoku gave him a pointed look. "We can't leave her alone either. She might be wandering around by herself or worse, already taken by them and we would have no clue. Atobe, if we split up we would have more people looking for her instead of just two groups."

"He has a point, Atobe." Oshitari shrugged.

"Mizuka isn't dumb. She's not going to wander around by herself," he said then thought for a moment and shook his head. "No, you're not going by yourself. If they catch you, they will beat you."

"Like they did to you?" Sengoku said quietly.

Both boys eyed Atobe's hand that went to his abdomen. It still throbbed and ached but he tried to ignore it. "More so the reason not to go off alone," he said and added at their intense staring. "I'm fine."

"We'll stick together," Sengoku conceded.

They circled back around and tried to lose the players tailing them to no avail until they finally broke into a sprint. Atobe darted back inside and ran into the bathing house. Sengoku pushed Oshitari through first before sliding in behind him.

"I hate running from a fight," Sengoku growled and rolled back his shoulders when they heard footsteps coming their way.

"Atobe!" Shishido burst through the entrance with Ootori, Mukahi, Hiyoshi, and Niou.

Atobe scanned his teammates, none of them seemed to be limping or leaning on another and finally looked at his recent double's teammate. "What are you doing here?"

"Atobe, Mizuka is in his room," Shishido panted out and stood in front of Niou. "He found her outside your window."

Atobe meant to head there straight away but Sengoku stopped him. "What?" He said in irritation at the orange haired player.

"Atobe, you're being followed. I think we all are. It would be best if we avoided the room and waited until the lights came back on? I think the only person safe enough to go back would be Niou."

He held in his sigh. He really wanted to be with her but he hated that Sengoku had a point. Oshitari was already nodding his agreement and Shishido shook his head and threw his hands up.

"Fuck these players. We should just go and beat them up instead," Shishido said.

"Shishido-san, you will get kicked out of the camp," Ootori said.

"So what? They beat Atobe up!"

"They did not beat me up." Atobe stated firmly. "They just kept attacking..." he paused as the realization came to him. "They won't go for the face so there isn't evidence."

"Those bastards." Hiyoshi said.

"I think we should just continue to 'search' for Mizuka and lead them in circles," Sengoku said.

"That seems like the best idea," Oshitari said.

Atobe had no choice but to agree.

All this waiting was making her nervous. How long had it been? Five - Ten minutes? Fifteen?

Mizuka sat on the bed and stuffed her hands in her pockets. Atobe would be okay. Sengoku would be okay. Everybody would be okay. The lights would come back on. She jumped when the door opened and the dark figure of Mizuki ran in.

"Mizuka! They're coming for you. They found out about this room!"

The hair on her neck stood up as fear ran through her at the thought of what they would do to her. She raced out after Mizuki only to slam into his back when he suddenly stopped just down the hallway.

"What is it? Why'd you-"

She felt pain at the back of her head and darkness filled her eyes. Her legs gave out and the last thing she saw was the floor rushing up to her.