CHAPTER 2
Unsurprisingly, Akashi's reaction upon discovering that Tetsuya had vanished was nothing even remotely related to relief. He looked at the spot where the bed had been, with Tetsuya safely on it, mere hours before. He was displeased and that was putting it mildly.
He strode out of the room and looked straight at Aomine, asking in a deceptively light tone of voice. "Daiki, where is Tetsuya?"
Aomine knew he was not going to escape punishment for this even though it was not his fault. He tried backing away but found the force of Akashi's magic had him rooted to where he stood. "I don't know. Nobody came in or out of the door, I don't know how he could have left."
Akashi searched Aomine's face – seeking answers the guard was obviously unable to provide. With a quiet exhalation he murmured, "Get Ryouta here, immediately." Aomine raced away as soon as he realized he could, going in search of Kise to bring him to Akashi.
When Kise appeared, Akashi spoke softly. "Tetsuya has vanished. It is unlikely anyone here helped him escape, so I will presume his powers have manifested rather more quickly than is normal. I'd like you to invoke your mimicry skill and find out what happened."
Kise nodded, he'd guessed that was what his leader would want. Normally he might tease Akashi about not being able to keep Kurokocchi in bed but he sensed the lethal rage that was emanating from him and refrained. Instead he went in the room and stood in the spot where he'd known the bed would have been. Closing his eyes, Kise called up one of his powers. He could, for a brief period, borrow a talent from another of their kind and use it as they had done, or add a little tweak for his own purposes. He reached out, sensing a travel skill mixed with a cloaking ability and he was impressed despite himself – Kurokocchi was always surprising.
Nobody spoke while Kise worked, but the tension in the room was incredibly high. When he opened his eyes again he said simply, "Kurokocchi has hidden himself. He can't be found unless we already know where he is. His talent moved him through shadows – he could be anywhere in the world and if he doesn't reach out to us, we won't find him unless it is a happy accident."
Akashi stayed perfectly still. He was incredulous that after going to such lengths to keep Tetsuya by his side he could have lost him just like that. He knew Tetsuya wouldn't approve of what he'd done, but he had never dreamed that Tetsuya would leave because of it. He turned sharply on his heel, tossing a single order over his shoulder as he left, "We must arrange for that happy accident, then. Start looking."
Aomine and Kise exchanged glances. They had no idea where to even start. The world wasn't infinite, but Kuroko could be anywhere. It was doubtful he even had control of his abilities yet, they might spend decades trailing after him from one place to the next without Kuroko even meaning to do it. They had to hope for luck, and quickly. Neither of them were optimistic enough to believe Akashi would remain this calm for long.
Kuroko, for his part, hadn't intended to disappear like this, but he didn't think it was an entirely bad idea either. He needed space. He didn't hate Akashi, but he was having trouble reconciling the price of Akashi's actions. He spent several days simply sleeping, recovering his strength and giving himself time to grieve – for the lovers that would take his place, for his lost mortality, and even for Akashi.
But finally, Kuroko knew he had to leave the safety of his cave. It was, embarrassing though it may be to admit, because he grew hungry. He knew from his years with Akashi and his cohort that he could still eat human food, but it would not assuage his hunger. He needed to find another source of the food Murasakibara had prepared.
He didn't try to use his power, he wanted to explore the area as if he were still mortal. But, he acknowledged that a sleeping robe was probably not the best attire in which to do so. Thankfully the climate was mild, if a little damp, but he would need to find something else to wear. He was looking around curiously when he saw a tall red-haired man with split eyebrows striding along a pathway. Strangely, Kuroko knew immediately this man was like he was – like Akashi and the others were – in a way he had never been able to see before. He supposed it was part of his new powers.
Kuroko hesitated, was it safe to approach? His stomach rumbled an encouragement. Kuroko sighed. It seemed there was no help for it. He began to walk in the direction the other had gone, realizing quickly that he was going to have to increase his pace to keep up with the long-legged stride of the redhead. He lost sight of his quarry at a curve in the road and had just a moment to experience panic when his wrist was grabbed by a strong hand. He was whirled around to face the unsmiling man and Kuroko felt a moment's fear.
He didn't understand the man at first – he was speaking rapidly in a language Kuroko couldn't immediately place. Finally, his ears adjusted and he realized it was English, but much too fast for him to follow. Without any real hope, Kuroko apologized in Japanese, and was startled when his attacker glowered at him before answering in the same language. Feeling a small glimmer of hope, Kuroko tried to explain.
"I am sorry to trouble you. But I am not sure where I am. May I place myself in your care?"
The taller man grimaced. "Only if you stop being so formal. How are you lost? I know what you are, why aren't you using your magic?"
Kuroko shrugged and the gesture was one-part hopelessness and one-part embarrassment. "I'm…new." He didn't know what else to say really.
After a pause, the other man laughed incredulously. "You were transformed? How recently?"
Kuroko smiled self-consciously. "About a week ago I think."
He received no reply to this statement for several minutes and Kuroko was starting to think it may be better for him to leave, when finally, the other spirit muttered, "Come with me." The man shook his head and grumbled, "Practically a baby. I didn't ask for this." before tugging Kuroko along in his wake.
Soon enough Kuroko found himself in a large manor being fussed over by a woman who introduced herself as Riko. Kagami had handed him over with the promise to find him something to wear and to begin fixing a meal. Riko was bustling him toward a bath in the meantime, exclaiming over his appearance and reassuring him that they would look after him.
While Kuroko bathed, Riko took his robe and sent it to the laundry to be cleaned and darned as it had a few small holes from his exploration. When she returned with the clothes Kagami had scrounged up from somewhere, she passed them over the partition so he could get dressed.
Kuroko was thankful and he felt more composed being clean and dressed. When he exited, Riko smiled at him.
"I'm sure you have many questions, Kuroko-kun, and so do we, but let's get you fed. We can figure this out while you eat."
Over the course of the meal, which Kuroko ate eagerly, he realized that he'd stayed in Japan. He was in a small community of people like Akashi, but he'd never met any of them before in any of his reincarnations. They'd dubbed their settlement Seirin and quickly recognized Akashi's name as belonging to Rakuzan.
"It's pretty rare for a human to become one of us and unfortunate that your powers accidentally took you away from them. We can get you back there after you eat if you'd like." This was offered by Hyuuga, Riko's co-leader, who'd been eyeing him a little suspiciously truth be told.
Kuroko tensed. "No, thank you for the offer though. I am not ready to go back. But I will not intrude on your hospitality, thank you for allowing me to stay this long." He started to get up when a hand clamped his shoulder with every intention of keeping him there.
It was the man who'd been introduced as Kiyoshi. He smiled warmly at Kuroko. "Not at all. You don't have to go back if you don't want to, and certainly don't rush off. You need to be around others like you for a while anyway to get your bearings at the very least."
Kuroko smiled a little tentatively, he was grateful for their kindness so far but he didn't want to cause trouble. He was saved another protest when Kagami spoke up, "You might as well stay. At least until you know enough to decide what you want." He got up from the table and was on his way out when Riko called after him.
"Kagami-kun, wait for Kuroko-kun. He'll be your responsibility while he's here."
The fact that the obviously powerful male didn't question her let Kuroko know Riko was far more influential than she appeared. He took his cue and with a quick thank you to those at the table, he scurried after Kagami.
Hyuuga shot an irritated look at Kiyoshi once the pair had left. "You didn't have to offer that. We could have had him back where he belongs in no time."
Kiyoshi smiled and perhaps it was a little sad. "Don't you know who he is, Hyuuga? We've never met him before, but surely you remember the stories of Akashi's cursed soul-bond. For Kuroko to not want to go back, when he's so new he doesn't even know how to find our food, well…can't you guess what's happened?"
Izuki spoke up next. "We'd heard Akashi had set up a tea and coffee shop this time. He must have initiated the transformation and found a pair to take their place without telling Kuroko what he was doing. No wonder Kuroko doesn't want to go back."
Riko hummed her agreement. "He's obviously shaken. We can let him stay here a while, at least until he has some time to process what's happened. I can't imagine what he's thinking right now."
Hyuuga groaned, he knew he was outnumbered here. He tried again anyway. "I can sympathize. But how long do you think it will be before they come looking for him here? They're sure to send messengers to all the communities where Kuroko might seek shelter, don't you think they'll want to know why we didn't send word he's here?"
Riko looked at the door Kuroko and Kagami had exited through for a long moment. "I think Kuroko-kun needs time. He might want to return to Rakuzan when he's had a little while to process all of this. But for now, it does no harm to let him stay. If they come asking, we'll see if he wants to leave. We're not obligated to volunteer anything." And that was that.
While this discussion was happening, Kagami was taking Kuroko to a guest room. He waved Kuroko in ahead of him and stood in the doorway to let Kuroko look around. His sleeping robe, newly cleaned and mended, was folded and waiting on the bed.
Kagami watched him a moment. "Kuroko, do you know how to stop your power from activating like that?" Kuroko had explained over dinner that he'd accidentally transported himself without meaning to.
Kuroko turned and shook his head in the negative. Kagami had thought as much.
"Our powers work when we consciously draw on them, you'll need to practice that too. But asleep …if you don't want to end up zapping yourself all over the place, visualize putting your talent in a box or under a blanket before you fall asleep– whatever image works for you. Just focus on the fact it can't get out. With time, this will be automatic and you won't have to think so directly about it."
Kuroko thought about it for a moment, that seemed logical enough. "Thank you Kagami-kun."
Kagami snorted. "Don't thank me. You're painfully new – you don't even have a magical scent yet, just the barest glow that indicates you're like us. It would be criminal to let you wonder around on your own like this." He glanced around the room. "Do you need anything else?"
"No, I am all set. Thank you." At Kagami's irritated huff in response to his thanks, he offered a lop-sided smile.
Kagami lifted one shoulder. "Don't worry about it. Good night." He left abruptly, as if wanting to ensure he didn't receive another thank you from Kuroko.
Kuroko smiled at his exit. It seemed Kagami-kun was a good person. Kuroko slipped under the covers of the bed and mulled over the complicated situation he was in. He kept thinking about Akashi and wondering what future they could have with this between them. Kuroko knew that Akashi believed he had done the right thing but it troubled him.
His dreams, when they came, were unclear and fitful. He woke up breathing hard and unfortunately, he was not in his room at Seirin. Kuroko looked around with resignation, he'd forgotten to try Kagami's suggestion for keeping a lid on his powers before falling asleep. He recognized where he was at least, he'd travelled to a chalet that Akashi had owned for over six-hundred years. He'd died here, once – a skiing accident. Even so, Kuroko had many happy memories of the place. He didn't think Akashi would approve of the bed in the hallway though. Kuroko hoped he'd be able to transport it back with him, if he managed it at all. He hadn't tried to use his powers consciously yet and he was a little apprehensive about it.
The place was quiet, it felt empty. He was alone. Kuroko exhaled and sat up, absently rubbing one shoulder that had gone slightly numb from the way he'd fallen asleep. He got up and his foot immediately registered the cold floor. Wincing slightly at the discomfort, he pressed onward. It didn't take him long to reach the suite of rooms he and Akashi occupied when in residence and he was gratified to find a pair of slippers waiting for him.
Now better prepared, Kuroko set about reacquainting himself with the house. They hadn't been back to it in several cycles of Kuroko's reincarnations. Even so, it didn't feel abandoned. Kuroko knew that Akashi employed a veritable army of housekeepers and stewards for his various properties, and it would seem the staff here was dutiful even with their absentee employer.
It seemed inevitable he'd end up in the library. He made his way over the fireplace and made use of the supplies that were laid out and waiting. A small cozy fire was soon flickering and he curled up in a chair to watch it. He was getting drowsy again when he heard a quiet question that startled him into alertness.
"Kurokocchi, why did you come here?" He blinked rapidly at seeing Kise there, lounging in the other chair as if he had all the time in the world.
"Kise-kun, how did you find me?"
The blond shrugged and gave a rakish grin. "Not easily. Akashicchi owns too many properties. But you don't have a lot of control over your magic yet, I picked up an echo of it in this country and then guessed. You always liked this house for some reason."
Kuroko nodded. He answered Kise's question easily enough in return, "I didn't mean to come here. I suppose it was an accident."
Kise didn't reply immediately. They both stared at the fire for a while instead. Finally, he spoke up. "He's not happy you're gone, Kurokocchi. Will you come back with me?"
He felt himself tense in rejection of that idea, Kise saw it and made a dismissive motion with one hand. "I don't have to tell him I found you here. But it won't buy you much time in the long run. Eventually, Akashicchi will find you himself. Won't you forgive him, Kurokocchi?"
Kuroko traced an abstract design on the armrest, not wanting to answer, but he did anyway. "Kise-kun…I'm afraid I'll forgive him too easily."
For his part, Kise didn't really understand what Kuroko's problem was. Akashi was too strong to give up his powers, but now he'd found a way to keep Kuroko as well – it seemed to him to be the best outcome. But he could offer something else as well.
Kise looked at him thoughtfully from his place in the opposite chair. "I could make you forget, if you'd like. I borrowed the talent before I came looking for you, just in case."
Kuroko was tempted. He was desperately tempted. It would make things so much easier and he could be with Akashi without guilt. But then another thought occurred to him and stared at Kise with no little suspicion.
The blond quirked his lips at Kuroko's expression. "I won't do it without your permission, Kurokocchi. Even Akashicchi didn't ask me to wipe your memory."
While he felt some reassurance at Kise's words, Kuroko wondered why Akashi hadn't told Kise to do it. It would have made his life easier certainly.
Kise stretched in his chair and shot a look at Kuroko. "You don't understand why Akashicchi did this, do you?"
Kuroko shook his head and rubbed his forearm with a slightly miserable look on his face.
Kise made a small murmur that could have meant anything, as if he was gathering his thoughts. Finally, he spoke. "Did you know that now that you're one of us Akashicchi's powers have improved?"
Blue eyes widened in surprise and Kise smiled, not quite happily though. "He always knew you would be mortal. He didn't have to claim you at all, but he wanted to after he finally met you. It came with a price though – he's been at half-power ever since your first death. He gave up a portion to ensure he could find you. But now that you're not mortal any longer, he gets that back."
Kuroko thought about that for a moment. Akashi could have turned him centuries ago if his only motive was to regain his full powers. He'd mentioned it to Kuroko once, that he'd like to change him, but when Kuroko had been apprehensive about it, Akashi had let the issue drop. Kuroko hadn't realized it was as easy as adding to the memory-restorative tea that Akashi gave him each time.
Kise stared at him, not interrupting but seemingly following his train of thoughts. Finally, he rested his head against one fist as he propped his elbow on the armrest. "Kurokocchi, he has watched you die every single time. Even on those rare occasions when he wasn't with you as it happened, he made Midorimacchi summon a reconstruction so he would know what happened, what you went through. Then he has to wait, sometimes several decades, before you reenter his life. Akashicchi would never admit to being lonely, Kurokocchi, but…he doesn't smile while you're gone."
The words stabbed at him and Kuroko felt his chest tighten. Kise didn't stop though, continuing in a soft, slightly accusing way, "Kurokocchi…please forgive him. If it bothers you so much that he put others in your place, then look for a way to break it. You've got the time now, certainly."
It was the fact this came from Kise of all people – Kise, who laughed and pouted and flitted about like a gadfly at a moment's notice – that made Kuroko question whether he was being unfair to Akashi. He'd just started to open his mouth to say he would go back when he caught a flicker in Kise's golden eyes – a sign he was using a power.
Kuroko blinked forcibly and shook his head, standing in an angry rush. "Are you trying to trick me, Kise-kun? You almost had me. But I'm even more convinced now, I'm not ready to go back." He glared at his sometimes-friend. "Don't follow me, Kise-kun."
Although he had not tried this before, Kuroko guessed that his talent worked a bit in the way of imagining being in a different place. Just as Kise stood – whether to try to apologize or stop him, he didn't know – Kuroko managed to do the opposite of what Kagami-kun had suggested. He envisioned his powers surging forward and he held tight to the memory of where he had been at Seirin.
He felt sick and disoriented, but Kuroko could tell he was moving, travelling somewhere away from Kise and his efforts to persuade Kuroko to return to Akashi. When he landed, it wasn't graceful by any stretch of the imagination, but aside from a banged knee he was relatively unscathed. He hadn't quite managed to end up in the right room though, as the angry yelling from Kagami-kun attested.
Interesting. He guessed from this experiment that he didn't have to imagine a specific place, but perhaps a person would work as well. He apologized to Kagami but it didn't go over as well as Kuroko had hoped when he had to admit he'd lost the bed, too. Kagami's lips were nearly invisible he'd pressed them together so tightly and Kuroko could see he wanted to lash out at Kuroko – apparently Kagami-kun didn't do well with interrupted sleep.
Riko, it turned out, was rather like Kagami in this regard, as Kuroko soon discovered when the irate woman came barreling through the door to find out what was going on. If Kuroko had known Riko better, he'd have suspected that the smile that graced her face to be a sign of bad things to come. He didn't though, and so was drastically unprepared for someone so petite to wrangle him into a painful hold that had his legs and arms stretched uncomfortably taut.
Eventually, Kagami took pity on him and got Riko to release him – but not before several hoarse guffaws were heard. Once free, and after a few pained winces, Kuroko apologized again. Riko glared a moment before accepting his apology and flouncing away to bed, with the demand he meet with her in the morning for training to learn to control his powers or else. Kuroko swallowed in unconscious fear of the or else and was resolved he would be on time and alert to save himself from further torment.
Kagami was still laughing at his reaction when the door swung forcibly shut behind her. It took a moment or two for him to calm down and once he did, he shook his head as if amused.
"Kuroko, you don't want to make Riko angry. She's terrifying. But she'll be able to help you train. It's one of her talents, and she's amazingly proficient. You'll be trained up in no time." He chuckled at some mental image before waving his hand. "For now though, let me get you a bedroll. You'll need to explain where you left the furniture in the morning, that sounds like a story worth hearing when we're all more awake."
His face flushed with embarrassment and probably some traces of pain, Kuroko accepted Kagami's assistance with a quiet dignity that showed how precariously upended Kuroko's life had become.
True to Kagami's prediction, when Kuroko met with Riko the next morning she ran him through a series of diagnostic tests and began immediately questioning him to determine his powers and how to control them. After Kuroko explained how he'd managed to channel his talent into a return trip, Riko shook her head in appreciation.
"It is impressive you were able to return here on your first try, Kuroko-kun. I can't remember hearing of anyone with a talent precisely like that before, you'd make an amazing informant, honestly." She had a brief hope he might stay with them – he'd be an incredible asset. But Riko's scans had revealed more than just his potential for growth, she'd seen quite clearly that he had a significant attachment to someone. She had the advantage of knowing who it was, but this only meant she knew Kuroko would not stay with them indefinitely.
Kuroko gave a small smile. "I can't claim to be a prodigy, Riko-san. I think it was more luck than anything else."
She tilted her head to look at him, a quizzical expression in place. "Kuroko-kun, you do know that you wouldn't be Akashi-kun's soul mate if you weren't very powerful in your own right, don't you? Granted, Akashi-kun's reputation is fearsome even among our kind, but our matches always complement each other, even when one partner is mortal – as you were. I've heard rumors for centuries speculating what type of power you would have when he finally got you to agree to transform…he's been teased about that for so long it seems strange to imagine it won't be used again."
Kuroko looked startled – someone had the courage to tease Akashi-kun, and about him? Then her words clicked, and filled in something Kise-kun had mentioned the previous night. "Riko-san…Kise-kun told me Akashi-kun would have his powers restored to full strength now that I am not mortal. So from what I understand, our powers can be used as a kind of bargaining tool? If I could find the pair Akashi-kun put in our place, could I give up my powers to get them out of it?"
Her expression darkened immediately and she was shaking her head before the last word was said. "Kuroko-kun, the sentiment is lovely, it really is. But you won't save them that way. All you would do is cripple both yourself and Akashi-kun. The spell the two of you were cursed by was designed specifically to attack your weak points. If you want to break it, for good this time, you would have to get the original caster to rescind it. And that type of spell isn't cast by someone that likes you."
Kuroko seemed to crumple a little in defeat for a moment as he remembered the scathing words Hanamiya had flung at them. The elder spirit had been incredulous that Kuroko, a mortal, defied the wishes of one of his kind by not agreeing to the transformation immediately. When Akashi had issued his support for Kuroko's decision, Hanamiya's expression had turned cunning and cruel as he addressed Akashi.
"You'd support this weak creature's whims over your own? Interesting. Let's see how long that lasts." Before either of them had been able to question what he meant, Hanamiya had begun casting his spell. Kuroko remembered the dull pain in his stomach as the words had left his sneering lips. He hadn't understood the curse, but Akashi's expression had told Kuroko it wasn't good.
Akashi had explained that Hanamiya was testing them. He couldn't break their bond entirely, that was something only the two of them could do, but he could make them suffer. They would be reunited each lifetime but only briefly, and only after Akashi restored Kuroko's memories – three cups of tea in no shorter timespan than a month. Kuroko, for failing to take up the gift Akashi offered, would be doomed to die numerous painful deaths and Akashi, because he didn't make Kuroko change, had to lose him over and over again. The exit strategy was simple – change Kuroko into an immortal and then put someone else in their place…or Akashi could join Kuroko as a mortal.
Kuroko rubbed his wrist idly. He didn't think he could get Hanamiya to change his mind about the curse. When he had run into the sorcerer on occasion through his various lifetimes, the mage had been incredulous that neither of them had caved yet, but also highly amused by their suffering at the same time. Kuroko would have to think of something to offer that intrigued the cryptic sorcerer enough to want to rescind their curse to get it. He didn't currently know what that could be. He thanked Riko for her help that day. She'd designed some practice exercises for him and Kuroko was eager to gain better control over his new magic. She'd also made some noises regarding learning more of their history and etiquette, since he would, in all likelihood, be living among them now – whether it was here or at Rakuzan was the only real question.
Meanwhile, Akashi was also plotting. He knew Tetsuya's magic wasn't entirely controllable yet but he was also aware Tetsuya would have reached out to him if he'd wanted to. This silence was deliberate, and not entirely unexpected. Akashi's mind was busily analyzing the problem. Ryouta had told him that he'd found Tetsuya at the old chalet, which Akashi viewed as proof that Tetsuya wasn't going to stay away from him forever - even if he didn't admit it just yet, Tetsuya would eventually return to him.
He'd gone to the chalet and examined the bed that Tetsuya had transported with him. It wasn't the one from Rakuzan, so Akashi knew that Tetsuya had found shelter somewhere after he'd disappeared. The style was simple and well-made, it looked both new and sturdy. The bedspread however, while clean and soft, was clearly an antique quilt. He'd studied the pattern for a long time, committing it to memory in case it was a clue. One thing was certain, Tetsuya had stayed in Japan with his first exit – the style and aesthetic of both the bed and the quilt assured him of that.
Akashi was in his library, looking at a map of Japan that highlighted the other communities that might have taken Tetsuya in. There weren't many, around twelve in total. He could eliminate Too and Yosen, they would have alerted Akashi immediately if Tetsuya had turned up in their midst. Ten remained…that wasn't so many. He would know where Tetsuya had ended up in a matter of days. Akashi could only hope that Tetsuya had managed to return there when he'd run from Ryouta. If not, he'd have to start over. But somehow…he suspected that Tetsuya's goal wouldn't have been stealth so much as comfort. Wherever he had landed the first time had been kind to him, he would want to be among friends again during this upheaval.
Midorima came in while he was looking over the map. His second-in-command pushed up his spectacles – it had been an unending source of amusement among their kind that such a gifted healer could not fix his own eyesight – before he spoke.
"Akashi, we just heard from Shutuko. They haven't seen him, but have promised that if Kuroko turns up there they would send word."
Akashi smiled and crossed off another possibility from the map. Nine left. He'd find Tetsuya very soon indeed at this rate. And after assuring himself that Tetsuya wasn't harmed, he intended to wring his bloody neck for running away like this. Akashi sighed internally. He wasn't truly worried that Tetsuya was hurt, his newly acquired powers would protect him from most potential sources of harm. But he didn't like not knowing where Tetsuya was, and Akashi definitely didn't like that he wasn't getting the chance to convince Tetsuya that what he'd done was for the best.
Akashi surveyed the map with anticipation. He could still fix this, he just needed to get Tetsuya back. Surely after everything they'd endured together, Tetsuya could understand that some nameless couple – people who weren't guaranteed to ever find one another anyway – were worth the tradeoff? Akashi knew it wouldn't be a quickly-won argument, but he had more than enough time now. He just needed Tetsuya to make use of it, and that particular detail would soon be addressed. He looked broodingly at the locations that were marked. Nine remained, just nine. He could be patient a little longer, he'd waited this long after all.
