Chapter 2: Emperor's Hand

They also had no way to go back to the gym after that warning, and treated to firsthand experience of how insane the regular members of basketball club were. Ogata thought they were lucky that on the way out of Teikou's premise they met a group of coaches, and one of them was Sanada. The head coach of basketball club, who was an amateur go and shogi player.

Ogata didn't waste his chance to use his reputation to ask about basketball club's schedule. Sanada informed them that he and Akira were welcome to watch their first round of autumn qualifier, which would be held in Tokyo Stadium. Sanada was also kind enough to assure them he would inform both Akashi and Kuroko about their presence next week. The coach also apologized about his players, and informed them it was Teikou's standard policy so there was nothing he could do about it.

Apparently this was not the first time professional players asked for their Akashi, so Sanada was not surprised. But he was surprised they were more interested in Kuroko, the unofficial second in command. He knew know the boy was good at playing game like go though, as that boy was very close with Akashi so they were bound to share things in common.

Ogata didn't give any comment on that.

Next week

Akira had looked up about basketball so he had basic knowledge of the sport. It was a fast paced game, and unlike go, they even timed each attacking turn for twenty four seconds. It was a game where you could hardly took a deep breath in Akira's opinion. It was hard to believe someone who enjoyed basketball could enjoy go too.

The first half of the game took Akira's breath away in different way go did to him. It was so intense and instead of giving pleasant adrenaline rush, it was frightening in a way. Ogata-san even commented the way their captain, Akashi Seijuurou played is like playing shogi. Akira couldn't believe that a strategic board game like shogi or go could be used to play basketball, but Teikou's vicious play was the living proof of that.

Kuroko didn't play, and judging from the way the captain spoke to him in intermission it seemed he was reserved for second half of the game.

It was a milder form of slaughter from the first, but their opponent already had little left in them to fight.

The score was 230-55

Akira didn't even want to know what their opponent felt; they looked hollow and almost dead.

When they tried to greet Kuroko after the match ended it looked like Teikou was the one who had lost and not the winner. Akashi who lead the group and Kuroko who walked behind his teammates had dark look on their face.

"Good afternoon, Touya-kun." Kuroko-san greeted him and Ogata-san as if he was fine after that slaughter called game. "It's an honor to have both of you watching our game; I hope you enjoy it."

Ogata snorted. "I look up about your club, Kuroko-kun."

Kuroko titled his head to the side. "Oh?"

"Two consecutive national championships…" He murmured, "And most of your match ended with your team doubling or tripling score... the most merciful score I have ever seen is twenty points gap. " Kuroko's expression was perfect personification of serenity. "I have never seen such a ruthless game… I don't think even a match of go between amateur and high ranked dan would be that brutal."

"Ogata-san!" Akira was appalled.

"Rather than a game… or a match, I think we're offered to watch a one-sided slaughter." Ogata said suavely, "Isn't that right?"

"Perhaps." A new voice cut in smoothly, it was Akashi Seijuuro, the captain of basketball club. "Kuroko, there's no need to spare your time for this uncouth man."

Ogata bristled, "Hello, bounty hunter… Akashi…"

Akashi raised an eyebrow at Ogata, "Oh… I see, so club presidents were spilling their history with me last week to you."

Akira's eyes widened, 'So, it's Akashi-san the captain who is the bounty hunter and not Kuroko-san?! How come they're basketball player but also such a good player in board game in the same time?'

Kuroko sighed exasperatedly. "I told you many times Akashi-kun… school festival is not a bounty hunting season."

"It's fun." Akashi sighed wistfully, "It's unfortunate I have seen their limit, good enough as pastime…" Akira frowned at Akashi, even though go club of Teikou was small he could see their passion in go. The other club was also the same, but this person treated them as entertainment. "Do you want to say something, Touya-kun?"

Akira snapped his attention to Akashi, and he realized the older boy saw his frown. "They're… playing their best against you, their game is not… for you to pass time."

Akashi chuckled softly, "Is that so? Then…" He glanced at Kuroko, "Would you like to…"

"No, you can't." Kuroko cut Akashi off.

Akira's eyes widened, did Kuroko just forbid Akashi from playing him?!

Akashi smiled at Kuroko mischievously, "I am bored."

Akira was really tempted to defend himself, that he won't back down if Akashi asked a game from him. However one look of warning from Kuroko held him in his place, it was like a wall that caged him. 'This person…'

"Akashi-kun… enough, we still have a meeting." Kuroko said as he turned. "See you later… Touya-kun, Ogata-san."

Akira tensed when Akashi gave him a smirk, "See you… little one."

"Wait! Kuroko-san!" Akira called him and the teal haired boy turned to face the younger boy. "I know you're tired but… after your meeting… uhm…"

Kuroko smiled at that, "I am not too tired, if you don't mind waiting… I will come to your go salon at seven..." He looked away, "It depends on how long the meeting will last."

Akira lighted up at that. "Thank you very much!" His parents won't expect him tonight as both were busy, and as long as he was with Ogata they won't fret.

Teikou Middle School

BAM!

Midorima and the rest of regular team winced in the same time as both Kuroko and Akashi left the room, using different door and slamming it shut in the same time.

Kise sobbed, "Hic! Yadda! I don't want this kind of meeting anymore!" He wailed, "We hardly discuss how our match went! Heck! DO we have to in the first place when we won by triple score?!"

Aomine rolled his eyes. "Tetsu and Akashi… I don't really care but, Akashi was getting more ruthless lately and Tetsu fight him in every turn for unnecessarily breaking our opponents…"

Murasakibara munched on his snack, "It's tiring."

Midorima sighed exasperatedly, "Hh… lately nothing we did is productive, not with Akashi and Kuroko acting like that."

At first it scared them that Kuroko had guts to argue with Akashi, but as time went by they were used to it. However it never failed to unnerve them when the two pass specialists were in each other's throat. Actually not really, Kuroko would always be the one who backed off before the argument escalated. This time it was very close though as both chose to stop before they said something they would regret.

Go Salon

Akira was waiting patiently for Kuroko, it was still thirty minutes before the promised time but he was already excited. Ogata was sitting on chair next to his, intending to watch the peculiar game like one Akira showed him before.

When Ichikawa-san greeted someone who just entered the salon, Akira stood up in excitement but the one who came was not the expected person.

"Touya Akira-kun? I would like to play a game…"

Akira stared at the goban, but he knew there was no way out anymore. They didn't exchange blow, more like for each blow he tried to inflict his opponent had cut the offending limb that tried. This was not defeated, but slaughtered.

Akira wanted to hold his tears but he couldn't, the sob that bubbling on his throat was choking him.

"Konbanwa." A soft voice greeted, accompanied by the sound of automatic sliding door opening. "Ichikawa-san, I have an appointment with Tou… AKASHI-KUN!"

Akira looked up, and regretted it the moment his teary eyes were met by panicked eyes of Kuroko Tetsuya and then back to cold crimson eyes of Akashi Seijuurou. Kuroko took one look at the game they played, not even half-way and Akira was forced to declare his defeat.

"Akashi-kun! I warned you!"

Akashi stood up, "I will take my leave now… do as you wish… Tsuya."

"Sei!" Kuroko called him out, taken off guard by the name. "You!"

Akashi snorted, "It's not my fault, I could have given him a light tap on the head… " Inwardly Kuroko knew Akashi couldn't play Shidougo even to save his life, or rather… if there was one thing Akashi was incapable of doing like normal human being it would be holding back in a game to lose even a little. "But he bared his fangs at me so I cut his head off before he could bite me." He muttered in clipped tone.

"Sei!" Kuroko shouted his name but the red head already exited the go salon. He turned his attention to Akira and the younger boy could see guilt and sadness in his eyes. "I am so sorry… Touya-kun, I… Akashi-kun… Sei..."

Ogata who sat beside them released an exasperated sigh, "I should have known when I heard his surname… Akashi, that's one nasty family."

Kuroko winced at that comment.

"Akira… wipe that tears, if you lose against that kid… it's because in the first place the game is not fair at all." Ogata murmured. "In fact… not even I will shed a tear if that boy beat me… amateur or not."

"Huh?"

Ogata glanced at Kuroko, "Oi… I know who is Akashi, but who are you?"

He smiled wistfully at the Go pro, "I am Kuroko Tetsuya."

It's rushed and short but here is the new chapter ^^