I'm so sorry again! ;~; let's ignore how late this one is...again... I'm sorry I'm trying but don't worry I won't ever give up on this story (hopefully I didn't jinx it (-_-'), like most great authors who disappear do) because I get guilty easily and if people review begging for more than the guilt haunts me until I get the next chapter out *sigh*.

OK I don't own fandom blah blah blah don't own cover picture etc. Warnings: rated M for multiple reasons blah blah blah.

Thx to those who reviewed the last chapter and also those that faved and followed. I'm gonna start responding to reviews from now on since I realize a lot of authors do that and it will help show my gratitude more. I didn't before because I never thought of it. So expect me to reply to reviews XD.

And of course continuous Thanks to my beta SnowHeavens because I wouldn't be able to make this story into what it was without her :).

Important note: the link to the YouTube video I would highly recommend playing it when it's given, to get the whole feel of that moment and all. But if you don't want to that's ok...I guess (-_-")`

Ok now onto story! Enjoy~ I even made it long for my apologies and gratitude! 4,641 words Yay!

"I'm going home to grab some stuff."

I glance up from the book I'm reading to look up at my raven-haired friend. Currently, I'm sitting on my acclaimed couch, or better known as my "bed" for the past two nights.

The first full day at our new "home" after Takao had returned home from shopping was spent mostly on still trying to get a grip on reality and adapt to our current situation (which happened to take the point guard a much longer amount of time than me, since I haven't been in a place I called "home" in many years). Actually, the last place I called home was-

"Akashi?" I snapped back to attention to notice an irritating hand waving rapidly in front of my face. "You got that look again." A face replaced the flying hands staring at me with an irritating amount of worry. Wow, I'm getting really irritated today for some reason. That's never, and I seriously stress the word never, ever a good sign.

"What look?" I asked, sounding bored though my curiosity was spiked. "And what do you mean again?" Have I looked like that before? Whatever that is?

"Yes; the days after I found you, you had that look quite frequently. But it became less and less as the days went on, but now it's back. It's a look that tells me you're not fully there; lost in some dark thoughts or such. You know, that kind of look." He said, creating over dramatic hand gestures as if it was an obvious thing and that I had apparently done over and over.

"Alright, whatever. Let's ignore my strange 'looks' for the moment. Did you say you were going back home? Why again?" I said, shrugging off the uncomfortable topic.

"Oh, right. Well, I guess I just really want to go back and save some of what I deem important items before my mother breaks into my room and destroys it in anger... If she hasn't already."

"Ah, well that's fine. How long do you think you'll be gone? Aren't you afraid you'll run into your mother?" Already half uninterested in the conversation, I pick back up the book I had been reading which I had found in the office (it had quite a number of books that I hadn't already read or hadn't read in a long time).

"First, I'll see (from a distance) if her car is there. Then, if she isn't, I'll go get the stuff. But, if she is, then I'll wander the city or something. And with how long... um, well I'm not sure because if she's there, then I'll have to wait longer to enter the house." Huh. He no longer refers to it as his own. How quick. "But let's say if I'm not back by um... Let's say ten, then something went horribly wrong."

"And by horribly wrong you mean your mother discovered you or something similar?"

"Yes."

So after a 'See you later... Hopefully~' (yeah, good job being reassuring, Takao) he left the mansion, leaving me all alone. Now it wouldn't be that bad if it wasn't the first time I was left alone in the house, but since I was asleep the entire time the raven head had been shopping, it was. That wasn't good.

With no talkative friend to distract me or comfort me with his presence alone, I suddenly started panicking. My heart was racing so fast that my mind couldn't concentrate on the book currently trembling in my hands. Trembling? Should I even be surprised of my own weaknesses anymore?

Sighing loudly, I chucked the closed and properly marked book onto the couch next to me and then started massaging my pounding temples. Relax, Seijuro. It'll be fine. You just have to distract yourself until Takao comes back. But that could take hours!... Might as well look around for something to do, avoiding "forbidden" areas.

After glaring at the broken TV, since that was the most likely best distraction (sadly, evilly glaring doesn't fix broken TVs), I limped slowly towards the entrance room. Ever since we arrived here, I hadn't ever left the sitting room because the only other rooms we used were the office (sadly, no computer there), the bathroom, right next to the sitting room, and the kitchen (but only Takao had been over there). So I quickly crossed the entrance way, avoiding glancing towards the stairs and entered through the dining room into the kitchen.

I wasn't sure why I came to the kitchen (okay, I knew. It was the only other room I allowed myself to go). But I knew I needed to distract myself, so why not make dinner? Even though it was only two in the afternoon. I just needed to think of a recipe that took many hours to cook. Looking through what ingredients we had bought and what spices were already here, I decided to make grilled miso fish with snow pea salad.

~Ghosts~

After an hour or so of slowly preparing, and by slowly I mean like zombie slow, I finished preparing the meal and then put it in the oven. Once I cleaned up everything, I realized I now had nothing else to distract myself with. I started tapping my finger on the countertop in a nervous fashion.

To distract myself, I tried thinking of things that would calm me while chewing on my lip in nervousness. But after a few minutes of getting nowhere, I realized I bit my lip hard enough that it was now bleeding. Licking the blood off, I thought to myself, scowling. This is so stupid. Why on earth am I getting so scared? I'm all alone and what happened in this house is in the past It can't harm me anymore.

Ding!

After almost jumping out of my skin with the sound of the timer on the oven cutting through the tense silence, I quickly turned off the oven, took out an oven mitt, and pulled the fish out of the oven. Shaking the entire time, I tried stilling my nerves and finally a few minutes later, I was able to mostly get my heart to slow it's rapid beating.

Just when I thought I was getting my nerves back in order, a loud CRACK was heard from outside, followed by a flash of blinding light. And just like that, all my efforts became futile with just a loud crash of thunder.

Fuck. This just great, I thought, angry at myself like always for my new constant pathetic reactions. Knowing if I didn't find something to calm myself down soon, I would be forced to give in to the clutches of the oncoming panic attack.

With nothing else I could do in the kitchen, I bolted for the sitting room, feeling the blood pounding in my ears at an unbearable rate. Skidding to a stop before running into the coffee table, I frantically looked around for something. Anything.

Feeling a sharp sting of pain on my right arm, I look down only to notice I had been scratching it so hard (which, for me, was a warning of the oncoming attack), it had started to slightly bleed. Seeing the blood, I felt tears of frustration coming close to overflowing; however, right when I was about to lose it, I saw it.

In a forgotten part of the room, it sat, covered by a dust-covered white sheet. My feet moved, my mind buzzing in a trance, only focusing on that single piece of furniture. Grabbing the cloth, I ripped it away, revealing the slightly aged instrument.

Running my fingers over it's smooth surface, many once good, now more so bittersweet, memories resurfaced. I seated myself on the bench that I pulled out from under it and lifted up the fallboard, exposing the pristine rows of black and white keys.

Having not played one since my mother's death, it took a few moments to recall the correct placement of the hands and what notes each key played. Now what, my mind supplied, it's not like you remember any songs; it was seven years ago, remember?

A gloom of depression planted its seed in my chest as I now knew that playing this instrument, once one of my favorite past times, could not satisfy my need for comfort. Until my eyes caught sight of a basket next to the grand piece of furniture.

Excitement grew once I saw its contents: piano books. Not just store bought ones, but there were also hand-written notebooks filled with personal favorites of its authors. I dug through them earnestly to find a good song that I knew to play to finally relieve that anxious fist of frightened nerves squeezing my heart painfully.

And then I found it. Unsure how it got in this house, but momentarily uncaring, I flipped open a familiar binder filled with many different kinds of sheet music. Upon finding one that had attached to it pleasant thoughts, I placed the binder on the music stand.

Setting up my hands in the remembered position, I started playing the old, familiar tune of my favorite lullaby my mother used to sing to me.

\\*Play*

you tube watch?v=6ELJjz_e7ak - I imagine either Akashi's mother playing this and singing it with a young child Akashi nearby or Akashi singing it (even if it's a female voice) or both as the song plays./

"My precious one, my tiny one, lay down your pretty head.

My dearest one, my sleepy one, it's time to go to bed.

My precious one, my darling one, don't let your lashes weep.

My cherished one, my weary one, it's time to go to sleep.

Just bow your head, and give your cares to me.

Just close your eyes, and fall into the sweetest dream.

'Cause in my loving arms,

You're safe as you will ever be, so hush my dear and sleep.

And in your dreams, you'll ride on angels' wings.

Dance with the stars, and touch the face of God.

And if you should awake...

My precious one, my tiny one,

I'll kiss your little cheek.

And underneath the smiling moon,

I'll send you back to sleep."

My mind now calm, I let a small peaceful smile adorn my face as I let the resonating sound of the final note fade. I think of my mother's serene and calm expression when she would sing this to me, and at the end always ruining the peaceful air by turning to me smiling lovingly and asking if I enjoyed it.

"You were sitting there so silently, I truly thought that this time you would've finally fallen asleep. So since you're still awake, what did you think?"

And every time I answered the same.

"Okaa-san," my young child self would whine, "why do you keep asking me that? I keep telling Okaa-san that Okaa-san's voice is pretty and so is piano. And that I almost always get sleepy, but then Okaa-san stops and asks me same question."

"That's because if you're still not asleep by the time it's over, then that means I must not be playing or singing it correctly, silly."

"Eh? But Okaa-san sings, and plays song perfectly. And why me no sleeping mean it not?"

"Oh Seijuro, you're so funny! What do you think the purpose of a lullaby is?"

"Uh... I dunno."

"It's to put children to sleep and have sweet dreams, and if you're awake when the lullaby's over, that means it didn't work!" She would chirp in amusement.

Of course, then I would have responded with a blank child's stare of 'Uh, I don't understand', and she would then giggle at my supposed adorableness and carry me off to my room to tuck me in bed for the night or an afternoon nap.

Closing my eyes with a contented sigh, I feel glad that my body found a way to ease into peace throughout the song. To continue the serene atmosphere, I open my eyes and flip pages of the binder to a slow song to carry over the mood from the other.

After a while of continuous piano playing, I pause my search of finding the next song to play and glance at the clock seen through the open door of the office room. 8:43, I note, only a little more than an hour left before I was told to start worrying, but even so I couldn't help to be concerned over the still absent raven-haired basketball captain.

But before I could make up reasons for his absence to ease my worries, a sound I thought I'd never hear within this house again sounded.

RING! My body froze stone cold. RING! Not even a breath was manageable. RING! Every vibrating ring of the telephone located in the office room sounded like a devil's chant, telling of the impossibility of escaping the forthcoming death trap.

As the last ring resounded, I waited with bated breath as the mechanical voice noted, "No one is able to come to the phone right now. Please leave a message after the beep."

Please, no one speak. The only people who would, and could, call this house would be if they have the number to this specific mansion and if they knew someone would be here!

BEEP!... Please! Please! Please!...

Just as hope was beginning to form, it was quickly dashed against a rock as a low deep chuckle sounded through the office room, draining the blood from my head, leaving only cold numbness. "You know it kinda hurts me that you wouldn't pick up the phone for me, your own father. What a terrible son you are." Again, the vile voice bellowed in repulsive chortles. "I know you're there, Seijuro. And the fact you're there amuses me greatly. Do tell me: have you had nightmares yet? Because, surely, the echoing cries of the brutally murdered would haunt you continuously while you're there, hmm? Especially when you know quite well what those cries sound like being there when they were created, no?"

I could hear the evil smirk in his voice as he continued digging my grave, "Now, why don't you stay there like a good toy: frozen in place. Or even better, why don't you get on one of the couches, all needy and already prepped like the whore you are? That would be a great thing for you to do to try and make up for your constant pathetic failures at escaping from me, right? Well then, whichever you pick it doesn't matter; I'll get what I want, eventually. So just stay right there and I'll be on my way, 'kay?" And with a final nauseating chuckle, the message ended with a click.

...I don't think I have ever fled from anywhere as fast as I did then. Zipping like my life was on the line (which, for me, this was equivalent), I ran out of that mansion, out of that entire street, ignoring the fact it was pouring out, ignoring the fact I was only in a pair of socks, a pair of dark grey basketball shorts, and a plain navy blue t-shirt. And not noticing the pain from my many now-reopened wounds.

~Ghosts~

9:11 shown the numbers illuminated on the screen of my phone. Man, I'm really pushing my time here. I mentally berate myself while pocketing my phone, before opening my umbrella and picking back up my guitar case, which I had set down in order to check the time on my phone. Hopefully, Akashi isn't worrying too bad about me.

Sighing heavily, I check to make sure my backpack is zipped tight (don't want those important items to get wet). Then, after sighing again at the sight of the pelting rain rivaling tiny pebbles with the speed it's falling, I lift the umbrella over my head and leave the protection of the awning of a random building to continue my trek back to my current living residence.

While walking through this hail-like rain, I think back to earlier this evening when Shin-chan called me. He had demanded me to tell him where I lived so he could stop by and see to it that I was doing everything in my capabilities to become cured from my 'sickness'. Why does Shin-chan think I'm sick? Well, what other excuse would I give for missing two days of school as well as two days of practice?

The day Akashi and I "moved into" our new home, I had called into the school sick, as well as call my vice captain to inform his rather ungrateful self of his temporary captainship. Of course, both then and now, his excuses for calling to check up on me and demand me of my address were for team purposes only and not because he cared or anything.

Ah, Shin-chan's tsundere personality can sometimes be to cute to bear. Especially his "uncaring" reactions to my fake coughs and rasps of pain. Unfortunately for him, I hung up before he broke me with his tsundere hints of him caring for me, and me spilling some kind of hint or information to my actual situation. Like my address, for example. But I'm not sure how long that can last. Actually, now that I think about it, will I ever be able to go back to school, to practice? For sure, if I go back, my mother will find me, right? I shivered in dread at the thought.

Luckily, I didn't stumble upon any close calls with my mother when I went to go get those remaining items that belonged to my dad and brother. The only reason it took so long was because I had to waste time waiting for my mother to leave the house (which I was ever so grateful when she finally did and even more so when I made it away from the house without any issues at all).

Feeling great about my good fortune, I saw the gates to the, what I call, haunted alley of haunted mansions (so it has a long name. Whatever, I'm still working on it. Maybe I can abbreviate it! Yeah! I saw the place that I now call the HAOHM, yeah! What do you mean no? Fine, I'll keep thinking of names). Only barely able to make them out in these thick sleet of rain, I notice something off.

Coming closer to my destination, I see what made the gates look different. The gates were slightly open! What?! I'm pretty sure they closed when I left, if that audible clang wasn't enough of a hint. I had checked!

Deciding it must've been my living mate, I raced through the gates leading to the HAO... ugh, I mean the Haunted Theme Park (there, better?!). Moving rapidly towards our chosen mansion, I notice another thing: the front door was wide open! Now I practically bolted into the house, flung my umbrella and guitar to the side (okay, the guitar I gently, but quickly, placed down by the door), and raced into the living room.

After seeing it devoid of any redheads (as well as other headed beings), I rushed through the entrance way and checked the dining room and kitchen. I also looked around the rest of the floor, but most of the rooms were locked.

Standing in the middle of the entryway, with my hands on my knees, I panted harshly. Where could he be! I exclaimed mentally in distress. One glance to my right, had me noticing the grand staircase and without much thinking on it, I pelted up those stairs.

This floor was huge! I guess that makes sense since this was a fucking mansion and all! But, I mean seriously, there had to be like fifty-some rooms up here, and this was the smallest mansion of the Haunted Theme Park! My God, you've got to be kidding me!

So far, all the doors I had come across to were all thankfully locked. I did not want to see nor explore what were in those rooms (dried blood most likely, what else would one expect from a murder scene?). Finally reaching the end of the other end of the hallway, I came across an unlocked door.

Gathering my courage and starting my mantra of 'Ghosts don't exist', I entered the spooky room. Right after cracking open the door, I run my hand along the length of the wall next to the entryway in search of the light switch, which I hoped to high heavens worked.

Finding it, I flicked it on and slowly inched the door open wider. "Akashi?" I whispered into the dust-and-sheet-covered room. Though, doubting that my friend was in there, I entered the room because you can never be too sure right?

Walking further into the big, but probably small for a mansion, room (which I knew to be a bedroom because of the giant bed-sized, sheet-covered furniture in the middle of the back of the room), I try my best to ignore the dark red stains peeking out from underneath the contrasting white sheets.

Noticing a desk with many picture frames on it caused my curiosity to override my fear (I hadn't been too afraid, if owning a collection of scariest horror movies from around the world might support that statement), I made my way over to it. Just too curious about who had lived here, and even more so their connection to Akashi, had me picking up the largest framed photo, which happened to be slightly cracked on the ground, since large family photos tended to be in a wider frame.

Using my jacket sleeve, I wiped off the thick layer of dust to reveal, I had guessed correctly, a large family all posing for the picture. Most with smiles, some with bored-looking faces, and some grinning widely while attempting bunny ears to the person in front of them. Smiling slightly at a kid doing just that, I continued scanning the faces of a family all most likely dead. Dead in these houses,remember, my mind supplied oh-so-helpfully (Thanks, mind). I groaned from that horrifying truth, but was cut short when I noticed something very specific in this picture, that for some reason my stupid brain didn't deem important enough before, to pay attention to. Well, I deem this pretty fucking important! I scream internally as the clues and hints represented in just this one photo started making everything make sense! I knew I had to get out of here now. Not just this room, but the whole damn Haunted Theme Park!

Placing the picture exactly where I found it, though tempted I was to take it with me (I've watched enough horror ghost movies to know not to mess with people's resting places, especially if it was a tragic end), I turned off the light, shut the door, and raced down the hall and down the stairs.

Going into the living room, I packed up all our (or I guess really my) belongings we had brought here. I even packed a used binder I found on the piano I didn't know was there. In the kitchen, I stuffed the meal Akashi (I'm hoping) made into an extra large zip-lock bag I had brought for this purpose of extra food and stuffed that as well into one of my three bags.

Placing the second backpack (the first was still on my back) on my front, I then noticed Akashi's shoes by my guitar. Did he really run out into this weather in just his socks, not to mention his mere shorts and short sleeved shirt! The fact that my red-headed friend was in that much of a hurry to leave that he didn't even bother putting on shoes made me quicken my pace.

After stuffing the tennis shoes into my sports bag, which I then slung over my head onto my shoulder, I opened my umbrella. Holding it in my left hand, I turned off the remaining light in the house, picked up my guitar, exited that building, shut the door behind me, and walked as quickly as I was capable of. Even once I passed through the gates, the nerves didn't leave me. I knew I had to find Akashi, but leaving that place without a trace had been at foremost importance after realizing just where exactly we had been staying. I didn't ever want to come back there again and I have no idea why Akashi ever did.

He's probably at the bridge, I think to myself, but I know I'd never be able to find my way in this downpour (I swear, the rain is practically hail now) and with all the stuff I'm carrying, and the possibility of the former basketball player not even being there, made me fall into a hopeless void as I tried, with difficulty, to get my grip together.

It's okay, he's probably fine... Shit! If he had ran, then his wounds would have reopened! Oh shit. Oh shit. Oh shit. I chanted, acknowledging the pointlessness of it if I tried to go after him myself. I decided to go to the one person I trusted (I guess, other than Akashi now). Heading to their house was a bit of a challenge in the heavy rain, but after figuring out exactly where I was, I was able to make my way there eventually, only getting slightly soaked (hopefully, it didn't soak too much into my bags).

Standing on their front door step, I hesitated a bit but then sighing in defeat and weary, I set my guitar case down carefully and knocked. It was already 11:32 and so I knew better than to ring the doorbell or to knock too loudly, but come on, I was sure that could have been heard. So bringing my fist up to knock again, I made my knocks a little louder this time; however, right before my second knock, I heard the click of a lock and the door opened to reveal my sleepy and irritated crush grumbling out a "who is it". But upon realizing just who exactly was standing here, dripping wet on his front door step (about time, sheesh. A sleepy Shin-chan is not the fastest Shin-chan), the grumpy, tired expression gave way to one full of renown shock.

"Takao! What are you doing here?!"

Laughing nervously, I answer back, "Uh, haha. Hey, Shin-chan."

~Ghosts~

I sat there for a while in my car in silence after I had witnessed the bane of my existence and yet the reason for it all the same, frantically fleeing through those once-often opened gates, before I speed-dialed a frequented number.

"If you're calling me, that must mean my son followed my expectations." It was more a statement than a question, so I decided to ignore it.

"Aren't we going after him?"

"Oh, don't worry. We will, but it's fun to watch his pathetic attempts at escaping from me, don't you agree?" He chuckled darkly. "I'll have him again eventually, but right now, I'm enjoying our fun little game of chase."

"What if he finds help? What will we do then?" I inquire, already sick of his ways. I wanted my own fun too.

"Oh, don't worry about that. Even if he finds somewhere to stay, though I doubt that, for I made sure he had no ties when I took him home after his petty sports game, he trusts no one. He won't ever utter a word."

I felt compelled to comment on his overconfidence about him not talking but knowing it was pointless wasted breaths, I ended the conversation.

Staring off into the direction my beloved redhead went, I smirked, "Don't worry, Seijuro. I'll save you from your father, but it will cost you."

And fin! That wraps up Akashi and Takao's arc. They'll still interact since they're such cute friends together XD but that's it of it just being them. Yay! that means other characters will reappear next chapter ;).

Also don't expect a chapter within like a month because I'll be going on vacation to visit cousins I haven't seen in 3 years (stupid cousins suddenly decided to move to Italy...I wanna go to Italy too ;_; ) and then right after that I'm starting college and all so idk how long it will take to adapt to the new scheduling and all so yeah. However if I do get a chapter out within a month that would be a nice surprise, ne? But don't expect one!

Reviews would be very much, very much, very much, very much, VERY MUCH, tres beaucoup appreciated! Thanks!~XD