Thanks to Zonex Krypton for editing this story.

This is a sequel to 'Crimson Crest: Get ready!', but can be enjoyed without reading the prequel.

"Follow the light."

Atsuya raised his head. Just a minute ago he had watched his brother leaving Gouenji's place but now he couldn't feel Shirou's presence anymore. The place where he was now seemed more like a soccer stadium, albeit empty and dark.

The ice striker, however, was more annoyed than confused. "What a stupid joke is this? There is no light here."

"Just look closer." The voice he heard sounded warm and friendly. After Atsuya finally discovered the light, it continued.

"Let's build a new world together."

"I don't wanna." Atsuya was definitely annoyed now. Shielding his eyes from the brightness, he struggled to make something out through the overwhelming rays of light and snapped. "Just let me go back."

The voice got more serious. "That's not possible. You cannot go back so the least you can do is to hear what I have to offer you."

Atsuya remained silent and the speaker continued. "There are two options: You can either die or come with me. If you choose me, I'll give you a new life. A life of your own. Your own body. How does that sound?"

"You think you can do that?" The ice striker sounded amused but the sarcasm was obvious in his voice. "Only in your dreams, I guess."

Suddenly the light became weaker and Atsuya could see a man wearing a white coat standing not far from him. Although it was dark now, the person was obviously smiling. "In fact, you're already alive, just look at your body."

"Oh!" Atsuya looked down to see that the man had not been lying. He had an actual body and not just ANY body. It was HIS body. Atsuya gazed at all the contours and all the grooves of his body. It truly was his very own body. His own flesh and blood. Maybe not his original flash but it was still his own.

He tried hard not to show his shock and slid a nonchalant look onto his face. "Thanks then. I'll be going now, see ya!" The ice striker turned round and started to walk in the direction where he guessed the exit.

For a moment the man was speechless but as Atsuya was walking away, he seemed to regain his ability to talk. "Err … That's not something I do for free. Of course, there is a condition in our contract."

The teal eyed boy declined, a slight smirk spreading across his face. "It's not that I ever asked you to give me my body back. Actually, being with my brother is amusing enough so please don't bother me anymore."

"Well, if you refuse, you'll die. It's as simple as that. I know you are not afraid of that, but what will become of your brother?"

"Shirou doesn't need me anymore. I guess he is better off without me anyway, so just go ahead." Atsuya waved at the suspicious man and continued to go away.

"That might be true, but I'll also erase his memories about you and everything related. So what of that precious friend of his? Hm, Hiroto was his name I think. Without you, the two would never have come together. Can you really tear that lovely couple apart?"

The ice striker stopped. "What are you? A stalker? You really must have had a lot of free time if you observed my brother that closely. I mean, no offense to Shirou and all but you gotta admit it at times. He's dead boring."

Atsuya tried to stall for time by distracting the coated figure but it was obvious that the man knew what his intentions were as he merely smiled and indicated that Atsuya should follow him into the darkness. His shoulders sagging, Atsuya knew that he had no other choice but to obey the man's orders. But the ice striker knew he couldn't just follow this man forever. He had to find a way to escape but before that, this man had to go. Of that much Atsuya was certain.

XXX

"We're finally here", Shirou stated as he and the two Teikoku students stood in front of an old building in which the team Dark Icicle resided for the duration of the tournament. It didn't look very appealing, not to mention that Inazuma Japan's base was far away on the opposite end of the island. It would be impossible to visit their friends between the matches.

Sakuma didn't look very happy, fingering his hair nervously when he replied. "I'm not sure if this was such a good idea anymore."

"Just go home then. They wouldn't want someone like you anyway." Ignoring the hesitation of his teammates, Fudou entered the building with his shoulders thrown back and a slight grin on his face. Shirou and Sakuma glanced at each other before hurrying after Fudou's retreating back.

The players were quite surprised to find a modern facility inside although it reminded them of a hospital. A good looking man wearing a white coat was there to welcome them. "Ah, you must be the former members of Inazuma Japan. I'm Dr. Kageharu Eiji, the coach of the Dark Icicle Soccer Alliance and also the founder of the Dark Icicle Science Institution, which is mainly known as D.I.S. in public."

'It doesn't look much like a soccer institution' Shirou thought wonderingly but he didn't let his confusion become too apparent lest the coated man think he was too stupid to be a member of his team.

After the boys introduced themselves, Kageharu guided them to the training ground. "Normally we wouldn't take in new members that easily, especially not from our foe Inazuma Japan, but I figured I might have some use of you."

Finally, the group reached the soccer field, where the players had gathered at the sideline.

"Just go and train with them." He pointed at the team. "I'll watch and gather your data first, then we can make some improvements to adjust your strength."

"I wonder what that means" Sakuma whispered silently to his teammates.

Fudou was the first to spot a friend among the players. "Hey, other Fubuki! How's it going?"

A shape detached from the group. "It's actually Atsuya", he answered. "I'm not surprised to see you here, but what's with the idiot there?" Judging by the condescending look Atsuya sent him, he obviously meant Sakuma, who stood next to Fudou.

The other boy didn't even look at the one-eyed player, as if he wanted to ignore his presence. "Oh, that's my dog, he always follows me around."

Atsuya laughed. "Yeah, he seems to like you."

"Actually there is someone else here to meet you." Fudou pushed Sakuma away, so that the ice striker could see the boy behind him, who had been unable to move since he had recognized his brother. Shirou stood as still as a statue and was as mute as one too.

"Shirou?" Atsuya whispered. He had never been that surprised before unless of course you counted getting his body back.

It was as if a magic spell lifted when, after hearing his brother talk, Shirou overcame the few steps separating him from his brother and hugged him. "Atsuya! It's really you! I'm so glad to see you."

But the addressed boy didn't seem to be as happy as his twin. "This is no place for you, Shirou. You better go back to Inazuma Japan, where your stupid friends are. You'll just get in the way here."

He quickly escaped from Shirou and pretended not to see his brother anymore. "Fudou, let's go and get some practice before the match starts tomorrow. Finally, there is someone here who can play in my league." And with that, Fubuki Atsuya left his very shocked and hurt twin brother and avoided eye contact with him.

While the others went to kick some balls, Sakuma and Shirou remained at the sideline.

"Seems like it won't be easy for us", the one-eyed boy commented on the scene. "But at least one of us got a warm welcome."

Shirou nodded. "Fudou seems to be happy here with my brother. I wish it would be the same for me though …."

"Don't worry." Sakuma laid a hand on his teammate's shoulder reassuringly. "Maybe he was just too surprised to see you. Tomorrow it'll be better. I'm sure of it."

Shirou watched his brother playing. "It's okay. I'm happy just by seeing him alive, although I can't understand how something like this could happen. But I sure hope you're right Sakuma. For my sake."