1 Episode One: Consumed by the flame

"Seiji! You don't look so well!" Kira exclaimed as her blue eyes grew wider.

"I don't feel so good either…" he choked as he tried to inhale. His muscles began trembling as he stood under the dark starless sky.

A loud gasp escaped Kira's mouth. "Suiji!" She pointed at his hands.

He looked down at his hands and noticed he was disintegrating, his small remains drifting into the sky. "Ah!" He exclaimed in fear.

"Seiji!!!"

The painless event only lasted a few seconds before Suiji was completely disintegrated, like dust carried away by a gust of wind. 

"Seiji!" His wife, Kira tapped him as she tried to wake him.

He jolted awake from his nightmare that seemed too vivid not to be real. Beads of sweat had accommodated his forehead and he felt his hands trembling.

"Seiji? Are you okay?" She asked. She placed a hand on his forehead. "Oh my… you have a fever!" 

"No-- no I'm fine, just had another nightmare." He relaxed into his pillow.

"Again?" She frowned. She looked at her husband with empathy. 

"Seven night streak, do you think it means something?" He questioned, his attention obviously on his dreams as he stared into nothingness.

Her lips curved into a weary smile as she climbed the bed to hug him in her arms. "You'll be fine, it'll go away… eventually."

"What if it means something bad and--"

"--nothing will happen to you Seiji, we will raise Mei together." She smiled, rubbing her swollen belly clockwise.

He placed his hands on hers and kissed her stomach. "She will be a very beautiful blessing to this world."

"Just like her father." Kira smiled. "Now… it's time for you to get ready for work Seiji Sensai." 

He smirked as he watched her climb down the bed and exit the room.

It was one thing to connect with your students, but another to get married to one of them who was carrying your baby. 

Seiji and Kira weren't planning on making things official, it was even a fling, until Mei decided to draw them together forever as one. 

★★★

It was another Monday morning which meant a whole week of unwanted stress to the workers, well… some. Seiji had found pleasure in his job, aside Kira of course, he enjoyed lecturing the students on science related topics and told himself he would never retire no matter how old he got.

He never joked with the first day of the week, anyday even. He always preferred to look presentable and, if necessary, official, which was always necessary for Seiji. He believed strongly that good looks could take a man to better places.

They were both dressed and ready to head to the school. Seiji opened the door to his Benz for Kira to go in and she smiled. "What a gentleman."

A serene smile appeared on his face as he carefully shut the door.

The drive was only for a short while before they arrived at the school premises. 

Seiji parked his car and hurried to open the door for his heavy wife. "I'm pregnant in the stomach and not hand Seiji." She expressed with a soft chuckle. She climbed down from the car with his assistance even though she refused it. 

"See you in class Kira." He smiled.

She wrapped her hand around his neck and tiptoed to kiss him but he slowly backed away. "What's wrong?"

"I don't feel we should be doing this in public." 

"Are you serious?" She beamed a confused smile at him. "I carry your baby Seiji! Every student here attended our wedding." She chuckled.

His lips curved into a warm smile as he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to him. He tilted his head to the side and pressed his lips against hers firmly, sucking on her lips.

After their lips tangoed for a min, they finally pulled away, allowing each other to breathe. 

"Are you still going to that event tonight?" Kira asked.

"Yes…"

Her one lit up face was overtaken by a look of disappointment, her gaze fell to the ground. 

He held her by the chin and raised her gaze back to his. "You know very well that I wish I didn't have to leave you alone for so many hours--"

"Then don't go, you have the right as a Senpai to do so." 

"I live by the rules Kira and you know that, it is compulsory for every lecturer to be there and you know I must have a perfect streak." He explained with a warm smile on his face.

"Your unaltered integrity will be the death of you Seiji." She frowned.

He chuckled. "Then I will be glad to pass on like that."

She shook her head and picked her bag from the car before leaving for her first class.

★★★

After spending half of the day lecturing his students, he got into his car to leave for the party.

"Seiji, I still don't want you to go." Kira frowned.

"I promise not to stay too long Kira-chan, I promise okay?, my presence there is all that is required." 

"Fine… look cool for once and don't do the seatbelt." She tugged at the seatbelt.

"Safety before anything sweetheart." He smiled. "I love you." 

"Love you too." 

He started the engine and she waved him off.

★★★

The club was decorated with blue lights and loud music echoed through the room. A few of the workers were drinking at a corner, some were making out in darker parts of the room while some in plain sight.

"Seiji!" Shoko smiled as she sighted him.

"Shoko… why would the director throw a party in a place like this?" 

"We don't know but it's fun isn't it?" Her eyes glimmered with enthusiasm.

"No, it smells like puke and alcohol here with a touch of marijuana." 

Shoko shook her head. "Why am I not surprised that you find it displeasing?" He smirked at her. "I saved you a seat next to me, come." 

"Actually, I didn't come here to stay, I came here just so director Denji will know that I attended his party. Speaking of Denji, where is he?"

"Oh, that corner over there, making out with Dana."

He shook his head with a smile on his face, not surprised by what the director was doing. 

He went toward him and cleared his throat as he stood in front of them. 

"Seiji!" Director Denji exclaimed as he noticed him.

"Sorry for interrupting but I'm about to take my leave." 

"Didn't you just get here?"

"No sir! I've been around one of these corners somewhere for a while now."

"Ohh okay, thank you for coming at all." Director Denji smiled.

"Goodnight sir… Dana." He nodded at her.

Dana, who was a little embarrassed, let out an awkward chuckle as she nodded back. Seiji turned around and left after waving goodbye at Shoko.

★★★

A sudden gust of wind entered through the open window in the driver's seat, causing Seiji to shiver a little. He looked outside the window, up at the sky and what he saw sent an eerie feeling down his spine.

The sky was black and starless, just like his dream and he wondered if it actually meant something bad. 

He decided to ease his perplexity by listening to some music so he turned on the radio.

The first channel was playing his favorite song and he felt a little relaxed. "We interrupt this program to inform everyone on the main road to please evacuate instantly as our firefighters are battling a fire in the underground pipelines that leads to the road and…" 

Loud screamings were heard as people started running from the fire that Seiji didn't see. Those who could turn around instantly drove away while those who couldn't abandoned their car and ran on foot. 

The flame had escaped through a drainage and was consuming everything in its path. 

He tried to drive away but his car wouldn't respond, he would at least get far if he ran on foot, his seatbelt wouldn't unhook.

"No no no…" he mumbled as he struggled with his belt. "Help me! Somebody help!" He cried to the pedestrians who were too busy running for their lives. 

Like a hungry beast, the flame consumed his car whole.