Sooo… This one is kind of long :I ….More info at the end!
This chapter features the oneshot:
Repent Your Mistakes
Being in a foreign land after so long was tough enough, but it was worse when there was nobody else quite like him. Today again he wandered through town, easily overhearing every other person whispering and gossiping about his unusual hair. He couldn't help that his mother was a ginger and his father had black hair, and it's not his fault those colours decided to blend in the most unhelpful way possible.
It was a well known fact that you could tell a witch or warlock from their hair colour.
Black, brown, blond and red weren't unusual, even grey and white were acceptable. It was when someone could pick you out of a crowd that it became suspicious. Kagami was a tall, angry looking foreigner with red and black hair, and he did not get along well with people. It really was a wonder that they hadn't burned him at the stake already. But he was also a warrior, and a damn good one at that, and he wasn't about to leave the people he'd been training with for half his life for something like this. Not that they would let him.
"It's the best option you got," his teacher, a rather voluptuous woman by the name of Alex Garcia, pushed the beans towards him, "they wont do anything permanent."
"I don't need it!" The red-head refused for the umpteenth time. "I'm not hiding my hair just because none of the guys around here have it, red hair is normal back home and it's normal to me."
"We're not saying it's not normal! But we can't have you get pissed off at every other person who stares at your head."
Alex looked like she was going to get pissed off in a moment, but before that, the beans were snatched by a rather charming looking man who hadn't yet grown out of his boyish heart-throb looks. Himuro Tatsuya, Alex's only other student, had a much more understanding look on his face reserved for stressful situations like this.
"You don't have to take them, but at least keep them somewhere in case you change your mind. It'll be a lot less hassle."
He handed the beans to Kagami who, after a long moment of looking like a child avoiding his medicine, reluctantly took them and stuffed them into his pocket. Alex sighed from relief and patted her students on the shoulders as thanks.
"I'm still not gonna take them… but how does it work anyway?"
"You crush them in water." Alex waved her hand. "Don't make it too thick or too runny, the more you can soak into your hair the longer it would last. I'd say you'd be able to have brown hair for about… 7 days with that many? Then it'll start washing out, and you'll need more."
"They grow from weeds from a dangerous area just by the village anyway, so it should be no problem for you to get more." Himuro chimed in, Alex following with an accusing point.
"Be careful of salt water! That stuff'll wash the colour right out. Also, be careful of who sees you. I got permission just for you but those beans aren't meant to be used for this, anyone who catches you would probably assume you've got a reason to hide your hair colour."
"My reason is the people who would accuse me anyway…" Kagami grumbled, stuffing the brown beans into his pocket. All this trouble, just to not be seen as something he never was…
"Anyway, now that that's done," Alex pushed a map into Kagami's chest, "We've got our first job. There's been a minor disturbance just out by the farms, go check out the forest and get used to the place while you're there."
With a scowl on his face and a stomp in his step, Kagami grabbed his broadsword and grouchily made his way out the front door with the beans safely in his pocket. Once the door was closed, Himuro sighed.
"I hope he at least finds someone he gets along with."
"Why did we settle here again?" Alex eyed the man to her right.
"Because you said you couldn't be bothered to walk anymore…" Himuro smiled awkwardly.
Down the road, Kagami hurried through the street at slightly faster pace than he would've liked. He told himself he didn't need it, that his hair was his hair and he didn't care if anyone thought he was weird. But even so, he was keeping his eyes down and had an uncomfortable sprint in his step, secretly watching to see if anyone stopped walking in front of him just to look at him like usual. He hadn't been here all that long but he was already impatient with all of it.
"Stupid people of this stupid place, stupid travelling mercenary job, should've travelled the other way…" Though if he ended up in a place with mostly blond people then he would really be in a bad spot. He was kind of lucky this place was filled with mostly black and brown haired people.
It took him a short while to find his way to the farms, but once he got there an old woman tending to her cows noticed his soldier get-up and approached him right away.
"It was just a few days ago," she looked towards the woods edging off the side of her field, "I saw something glowing like it was on fire. Aint never seen a fire like it, was all sorts o' green an' blue. Hasn't happened since, but I can't shake this feelin' that somethin' out there caused it."
"And… You're sure it wasn't just a dream?"
"How dare ye, scoundrel!" Kagami earned himself a bonk on the head. "I know what I saw, it was in early evenin an' all. I dare say it went further into the wood then you'd be willin t' go."
Kagami hissed at his sore head and brought his hands up.
"I was just asking! And I'm gonna do it!" He would probably do it even if it wasn't his job since now he was curious. "Thank you for your help, the mercenaries happily extends their services, yadda yadda I'm gonna go find the thing."
"Make sure ye find some manners after ya'll are done." The old lady huffed and went back to her farm, leaving Kagami rubbing his head and examining where he was going to go next.
The woods next to the old lady's field were certainly something; it was more like a forest. He'd never seen the other end, so maybe it really was, and she'd said it was deeper than she'd ever wandered before.
Kagami felt a grin creep up on him. An adventure in the dark forest with something lurking in a place nobody else had gone, this was the spark he'd been looking for since he'd gotten here.
….
He was definitely right about some things.
The wood looked much more like a forest the deeper he went, so much so that the sun began to get blocked out by the trees. It got to the point where he was almost completely in shadow save for the dotted skylights here and there. Another thing he was right about was the mystery of the place. The thicker the trees, the darker the surroundings. The darker the surroundings, the more Kagami honestly wondered where the heck he was going. Something in the back of his head began to mutter something about how he wouldn't be able to get out if he got any further, and then the rest of his brain quickly punched that little bit unconscious.
He was no wimp, and he certainly wasn't cautious.
Still, he was beginning to think that there really was nothing to find here… until he heard it. Somewhere ahead of him was the sound of water. It wasn't quite a waterfall, but it was definitely along that line. Come to think of it, it had rained just that night, but he didn't know there was any streams this close to the village.
After following the sound he began to smell something. It was a familiar smell, the smell of fresh-water, but it was also kind of sweet which made it potent all the way to him. He smelled it coming from just behind two thick trees, and when he leaned his head past them his eyes widened.
A huge pond, like something out of a fairy tale, surrounded by giant trees covered with thick green moss that spread in cracks along the stone and dirt ground that led to the pond. The trees hid most of it in shadow, but there was a lage gap where they could not cover the pond and the light collided with the light blue water to brighten up the whole area. It was, in a word, beautiful.
It was also boring.
"What the heck…" Kagami walked past the trees, kicking a pebble into the water. "Was this it? Blue fire my ass…"
"Don't dirty the water please."
Kagami almost fell over backwards from the sudden line, but his reflexes carried him into a ready stance instead. His hand on his broadsword, he was ready to slice the feeble looking man in front of him.
With pale skin and a blank expression, the person stood still, unafraid of the red-head even considering the situation. His body was almost completely covered with a long, pale blue cloak and the white cloth garments underneath. He had light blue eyes that reflected the dancing light of the pond and short black hair that danced along his ear-line. Kagami gulped down his nervousness and regained his composure.
"What the hell, what is someone like you doing out here?"
"The better question is, what is someone like you doing out here?"
Kagami frowned at the question, and suddenly felt self-conscious again. He covered the top of his head with one hand and waved frantically with the other.
"It- It's not what it looks like! I'm just a normal guy, I'm not trying to cause trouble or anything."
"No, it's alright." Kagami froze up, but the stranger calmly ran his hand through his own hair. What came through his fingers was a layer of dark grey, some strands lighter than others. "We're in the same boat."
Kagami straightened up, suddenly looking at the stranger with the same curiosity that others had of him.
"Grey hair? You don't look old…"
"I believe it's from stress." The stranger turned away, beginning to walk around the pond. "I didn't come to a place like this because my life was too peaceful already after all."
Kagami suddenly felt a little bad and followed along.
"Right…"
He watched the stranger stop by a large tree and pick up a stick, turning back to Kagami, only to pass by him once again. Kagami raised a brow but still followed.
"You're a soldier, aren't you?" The shorter male commented. "I saw them when I visited the village, that's what I meant before about 'someone like you'."
"Ah- well yeah…" Kagami brushed his uniform down. "Apparently there was a disturbance here a few nights ago. Somebody saw a blue, greenish fire from the woods."
"A fire?" The stranger blinked back at him. "Wouldn't that be dangerous? This place is full of wood."
"That's what I thought."
Kagami would've pointed out how obvious the stranger's statement was but already said something that would work against his favour in that regard.
"Anyway, I didn't see anything strange for the last week so it was probably nothing around here."
"The last week? How long have you been here?"
The stranger hummed, reaching the stick into the pond to carefully manoeuvre the stone that Kagami had kicked earlier out of it.
"About 2 months."
"2 months? Here?"
"Well, I wanted to live in the village but…" The stranger picked up the stone and stared at it. "With my hair, I kept getting these looks. In the end, I just decided to avoid it all…"
Kagami watched him, suddenly feeling an odd connection to the guy. With that in mind, he reached his hand out.
"Kagami Taiga."
The stranger looked at him, glancing at the hand before tossing the stone away and shaking it.
"Kuroko Tetsuya."
"Tetsuya huh? Sounds girly." Kagami smirked, trying to pass off how freakishly close to his brother's name that sounded.
"And yours sounds like a bad pun. I don't suppose you're going to roar at me for being in the way of your investigation, are you?"
"Not unless you're hiding anything from me."
"I wouldn't dare."
Kuroko tightened his grip on their handshake and Kagami could've sworn he saw the man smile.
Before he could think of anything, a sudden sound really did send him tumbling backwards.
"Bark!"
"GUWOGH!"
Kagami stumbled back, running to the nearest tree and hiding behind it. Kuroko watched him in absolute wonder.
"Bark! Bark!"
More came and Kagami hissed, seeing something move in the shadows opposite him. A tense moment later, a tiny little dog jumped out from the bushes, yipping and barking as he ran to his master.
"Hello there Nigou."
Kuroko picked the dog up as it ran around his feet, holding it up to his face. It responded with a happy bark and used tremendous effort to manage to lick his master's nose from a foot away. Kuroko laughed and shifted him to one arm, wiping his nose and then rubbing the puppy's belly.
Kagami watched them, growling to himself. Not that he was feeling left out…
"He won't bite." Kagami looked back as Kuroko addressed him. "He's very young but very friendly, I found him while I was travelling to the village."
"If you found him that recently then you don't know what he might do!" Kagami barked. "Just… keep that thing away from me!"
Kuroko looked at him oddly and rustled 'Nigou's ears.
"I suppose… you're afraid?"
"N-No shit…"
Kagami looked away in embarrassment, but was surprised to her a light laugh.
Kuroko covered most of his mouth, but a smile peeked out from the edge.
"It's quite a situation. I would have thought Nigou would be scared by you, not the other way around."
"Tch…" Kagami composed himself and backed off slightly. "Whatever, I did what I came here to do. You just… have a nice day, or, whatever…"
"Are you leaving already?"
Kagami turned back to see Kuroko and Nigou's matching faces of the sad puppy dog eyes. It gave him chills.
"How do you look so similar…?" He shook his head. "Yeah, I am. What, you gonna miss me?"
Kuroko paused for a moment, staring at his dog who stared at him back.
"Yes, I think I will." He fixed his dog's position so that he could give him a pat on the head. Nigou whined lightly and moved his head to his hand. "You are the first person I have been able to speak to in a long time, and I don't think anyone else would understand why I stay so far away. I think that I will be more lonely now that I know you are gone."
Kagami felt a little weight grow in his chest at that last line, which made him wonder if the other was doing that on purpose. Whether he was or not, Kagami knew he was falling for it either way.
"Well, in that case…" The redhead rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. "I guess, I'll come again when I have some spare time."
Kuroko looked up at him, almost surprised. Then he smiled.
"It's a promise. I'll look forward to your next visit."
….
And it was a promise. Contrary to what Kuroko thought, as he remarked when Kagami came to visit the next afternoon, Kagami kept his word and visited despite his fear of the canine the stranger kept.
At first he refused to approach the pond again, seeing the dog patiently waiting by his master, but after he came back the next day he at least stepped out close enough that he and Kuroko didn't have to yell to hear each other. With not much to do in the quiet village and mediocre jobs coming and going, Kagami found himself visiting Kuroko almost every other day. He had told his 'brother' and teacher about Kuroko, but they didn't seem too fussed about meeting a creepy man in the woods as long as Kagami kept himself safe. A week past, then another, and after three weeks Kuroko finally convinced Kagami to sit with him and his pet. Nigou wasn't so bad, if not slightly hyperactive for the redhead's liking. Still, after a full month passed by, Kagami found himself happy by the stranger's side.
Kagami didn't have many friends, in the end it had always been him and Himuro as they grew up. Something inside his head told him that Kuroko was his friend, one of the best he'd ever had, but he refused to acknowledge it. He was a mercenary after all; sooner or later he would have to leave. He would leave this village, and Kuroko, behind.
Unless… No, he couldn't ask Kuroko to come with them. That just wasn't how things were.
"Kagami-kun?"
The redhead jumped out of his daze, blinking a bit as the light on the pond stained his vision.
"Sorry, what were you saying?" He turned to the shorter male next to him, who stared back with slight worry.
"I didn't say anything." Kuroko frowned. "You were out of it for a while, is there something bothering you?"
Kagami paused, looking back to the pond as he briefly considered discussing what was on his mind.
"Nothing really," he ended up saying, "just had a tiring day. What were we talking about before I went out of it?"
"You were telling me about your home, and why you were a mercenary."
"Oh- yeah, that's right."
"You said that you came from a rather large city, but joined the mercenaries rather than the army because of the freedom."
"Well in a nutshell…"
"And also because your teacher is the one who taught you as you grew anyway, so when she decided to travel, you and your brother decided to accompany her and continue learning. Is that the sum of it?"
"Yeah, actually that's all there's pretty much to it. I've been thinking of going it alone for a while but, well, I'm kind of comfortable here. Go with the flow, you know?"
"That can be dangerous thinking, Kagami-kun."
"You think?" Kagami raised a brow, but Kuroko seemed to leave it up to interpretation. After a moment of thought, Kagami decided to ask what he'd been wondering for a while. "So… what about you? Where did you come from, and why did you stay here?"
"Where I came from…" Kuroko closed his eyes for a moment and mused before responding. "It was a very high-up place, with constant treacherous weather and terrain. There were rough streams and high winds, and lightning strikes would frequently set the nearby woods on fire."
"Geez-" Kagami frowned. "That sounds… interesting."
"It was. My home was a dangerous place, but I was constantly surrounded by highly skilled people so it never really bothered me. I was very happy there, until recently…"
"What made you leave?"
Kuroko sighed.
"One day, someone decided that we were better than everyone else. That mentality spread like wildfire, even my closest friends became… Anyway, in the end I would rather live a peaceful life than watch things get worse. Perhaps one day I'll find a way to change things for the better too."
Kuroko watched the space in front of him, expression filled with a determination Kagami had never seen before. Watching him somehow got him pumped up in a weird way, like he wanted to see that ambition come true no matter what.
"You're a weird guy, Kuroko." Kagami smirked.
"Thank you." Kuroko smiled back.
They stared into each other's eyes, a bond forming between two men with a moral passion in life. Though, it wasn't long until Kagami remembered something more important in his mind.
"By the way, where's Nigou? Wasn't he just here?"
The redhead looked around the pond, not catching sight of the puppy. Kuroko's chuckle caught his attention. He pointed to Kagami's hand.
"He fell asleep under you."
Kagami raised a brow and looked to his hand. Then he froze up. He'd been casually petting a calmed down Nigou, trying to get over his fear, when his mind had wandered off. Now Nigou was asleep, and his hand was resting on top of him, and if he moved it he might wake up and oh hell why did this happen.
"It's fine." Kuroko patted his shoulder, seeing his discomfort. "Don't panic or you'll hate the feeling. Isn't he just comfy?"
Well, Nigou's fur was soft, but Kagami still wasn't happy with this situation.
"He wont, you know, do anything if he wakes up, will he?"
Kuroko shook his head.
"He never would have bitten you anyway, and you know he doesn't scratch. Besides, you really are getting better at handling him."
"You think?"
"Definitely. I don't know if you've noticed, but Nigou gets sad too when you leave now."
"Too?" Kagami laughed jokingly.
"Yes, too."
Well he didn't expect a serious response.
Kuroko looked towards the pond with a smile.
"Even if it's only you, I really look forward to you coming here. It'd been so long since I had company that wasn't Nigou, I wasn't even aware that I was lonely. I never really get bored of you at all. But maybe that's because it's just you…"
Kagami felt something on his wrist and noticed Kuroko's hand moved closer to him. He gulped and awkwardly shifted his attention away.
"O-Oh yeah? Well, I guess it's the same for me too." He tried to calm his voice and took a deep breath. "It's hard to find understanding people around here, and I've never met anyone like you. It's really kind of like a fated meeting, huh."
"That's what it feels like, doesn't it? Something so out of the ordinary. You're the most honest man I've ever met…" Kuroko's hand dragged across the redhead's fingers, warm skin moving smoothly past his knuckles. "I really feel safe when I am with you…"
Kagami jumped. He didn't need to look – and couldn't look – to see that Kuroko's hand rested softly on top of his. His heart raced, he could feel something surging in chest and his lungs felt slightly tight. It reminded him too much of something uncomfortable, nervousness, the heat of a losing battle, guilt of leaving his born home behind, he couldn't focus on what was in front of him.
"Anyway!" Kagami shot up, stumbling away from an awakened Nigou and surprised Kuroko. "I-It's getting seriously late, huh? I guess the nights are g-getting shorter, or, something."
He tried to gulp down his nervous stutter but his heart wouldn't calm, the awkward silence between them really didn't help. Kuroko stared up at Kagami's back, glancing to his own extended hand before dragging it back to himself in defeat.
"Yes, they are. It is a shame, since you…" Kuroko tried to speak normally, but he had less will to talk, "won't be able to visit as often…"
"Yeah, since there's, uh, no light source around here."
There wasn't a light source anywhere in the forest. Huh? What did Kuroko use then?
"Yes, none."
It was clear Kuroko couldn't think of anything else to say. A surge of guilt took hold of Kagami's chest.
The redhead turned, suddenly energized.
"Then!" His volume started off out of his control, and he took a moment to temper it. "Then, I'll just have to come in the mornings instead."
Kuroko was surprised. He stared up at the redhead for a long, silent moment, before looking away, slightly nervous.
"O-okay. If you want to…"
Kagami watched him, the guilt gone but the other feeling coming back with a vengeance. He couldn't take this pressure; he wasn't used to it at all.
"A-Anyway, I'll be going now. Seeya later."
Kagami turned, quickly heading off the same way he always did. Behind him he thought he could hear Nigou's whining as he scampered off towards his master, and Kuroko's sombre, unsure words.
"Goodbye, Kagami-kun…"
He closed his eyes and blocked everything out.
From then on, Kagami's mind had been preoccupied since that evening, and by the time he got home the sun was almost set and he didn't feel a second pass by. The feeling from his chest was gone, but the overall feeling of uncertainty had stayed. It must have shown when he went inside, because as soon as he entered the place they were staying Himuro stopped in his tracks to greet him and just stared with wide eyes.
"Hey…" Kagami sighed, putting his sword and armour away.
"Hey there." Himuro replied, a curious smile playing on his lips. "Rough day?"
"Kind of."
"You look like you saw a dead body on the way back."
"A different 'Kind of'."
His brother took the hint and just smirked to himself as the redhead finished packing away and headed off to their shared room. He sat on the bed in silence, assessing how he was feeling, and concluding that he didn't feel any better.
Kagami groaned loudly and smacked both sides of his head. Then he did it again, and again.
Idiot, idiot! He'd acted like a total idiot! But why did he care? What was up with this whole thing? It was just stupid! A misunderstanding, for sure.
Something, anything, must have been said wrong. Somehow this has got to make sense…
"Having fun?" Himuro's voice chimed from the door.
Kagami looked up with an exhausted expression.
"I'm just suffering…"
"Did your new friend hurt your little feelings or something?"
"S-Shut it!" Kagami barked, flustered, and then controlled himself. "No, I just, did something super embarrassing in front of him, that's all…"
"Details?"
"No."
"Come on, you can't just tell something like that and keep it from me~" Himuro approached him with a grin.
"I'm not telling you."
"Then I'll just ask your friend."
"Heck no!"
Himuro was a lady-killer; if he showed him to Kuroko then the guy would definitely like the dark haired smooth talker more. Not that that was the only problem. The main problem was that Kuroko might make it weird. What with the whole… hand… thing.
"Tell me!" Himuro took another step forwards.
"No!"
"Tell me~!" And another step.
"No!" Kagami sat back.
Himuro began to laugh as he grabbed the other's jacket, "Tell-" but froze. He looked at the sleeve his left hand grabbed, and rubbed his fingers together. "What's that?"
"Wha-?" Kagami frowned at the sudden change of tone and looked down.
He hadn't noticed before, but his sleeve had some strange powder covering it. It was sparkling in the dim light almost like it was some kind of metal. Himuro raised his hand that was dusted by it to the near candle flame and watched the light dance on his palm.
"What do you think it is?" Kagami took a good look at his sleeve. The powder somehow seemed familiar.
"I think I have an idea." Himuro reached out for the jacket. "Give it to me."
Kagami obliged, and Himuro held the sleeve up to the flame. Before Kagami could object to burning his jacket, Himuro put the sleeve into the fire and watched as it exploded in an array of blue and green flame. Himuro backed off as soon as he could, taking the jacket with him, and the flame quickly stopped. After a quick inspection he held up the jacket with a perfectly intact sleeve.
"Lumin powder…" Kagami blinked, his mouth agape.
"Definitely." Himuro nodded. "We've got to tell Alex."
….
Lumin powder, a relatively well-known substance to anyone who had studied strategy. It could be used to blind, distract, and anything else you could think of, but not many had seen it in use. The two facts that almost every soldier knew was that it caused flame that could not burn, and that it had to be enchanted with magic.
The only ones who could use magic were witches and warlocks.
Navigating the forest at night was useless, even with lanterns, so first thing in the morning the three mercenaries were off. They stopped by the church to warn the priest of their suspicions, and assured them that they were going to solve this. Then they hurried to the woods, gear in hand and Kagami leading the way.
The redhead hadn't slept well at all. Despite forcing himself not to think about it, he didn't feel right about all this. He wasn't even sure what was wrong, he just felt… numb about the whole thing.
"Kagami."
It seemed Himuro could tell something was wrong, as he came up beside his friend and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine." Kagami lied.
"You haven't said anything since we left. I mean, apart from directions." Himuro frowned and jumped over a large root. "I heard you turning in your bed early morning too."
Kagami knew it was useless to lie. He didn't think it was worth saying, or that the other two would understand, but he didn't feel like wallowing in his misery.
"I'm not sure about this." He admitted. "When I met him, he always seemed normal. He never did anything or tried anything, I don't know if I can believe Kuroko's really a warlock…"
"Would you really be able to tell at the time if you're being affected by a spell?" Alex called from behind him. "Maybe he did something to you without you even realising. He could have been experimenting on you while giving you the image of a normal conversation, or been luring you in to make you feel safe. You'd be surprised what magic can do to you, trust me."
Kagami glanced back at his teacher and almost tripped over another root in the ground. He caught his balance by grasping a tree, and looked at the hand that held him up.
"Luring me, in…"
That feeling when it happened, could that have been it? Was that why he had felt so strange when Kuroko had touched his hand?
"Kagami." Himuro tapped his arm and pointed forwards.
A light blue colour showed through the trees.
"Yeah, that's it." Kagami replied, slightly quieter now.
The three separated into a line to surround the pond from their side, Kagami in the middle and the other two a few trees away. He looked at both of them, and stepped out of the tree line. Alex soon followed, and Himuro stayed behind, readying his sling shot.
On the other side of the pond, admiring a single flower growing from the vines on a tree, Kuroko stood unaware with a light smile gracing his expression. Kagami looked to Alex, who looked to Himuro, and then broke a stick under her boot to get attention.
Kuroko jumped slightly and looked over, seeing Kagami first. His smile grew wider.
"I didn't think you would really…"
It didn't take long for Kagami to realise that Kuroko had seen this scene before, because as soon as the other saw the other person he looked like he was ready to run.
"Kuroko, this is my teacher, Alex." Kagami gestured to her, trying to keep Kuroko where he was.
Kuroko looked sceptical, but didn't make any movements to get away. Instead he donned his usual blank expression.
"Kagami-kun has told me a lot about you."
"Same here." Alex smiled, her friendliness a lot more convincing than her student's. "Nice to meet you."
She brought out her hand as if expecting a handshake and Kuroko paused. After a moment of nothing suspicious happening, he began to walk around the pond towards the teacher. As soon as he stepped into shot it took less than a second for the slingshot to go off and the leather bag to hit Kuroko.
Water sprayed all over his head, and the shorter male stumbled back in shock. Kuroko grasped his head, trying to catch his breath, when he felt something run through his sleeves. His head jerked up and he saw black, ink-like water covering his hands. He looked up, seeing Kagami's shock, and could only stare at him with wide eyes.
"Salt water." Alex smiled, taking a rope out of the large bag she'd brought with her. "It washes the colour right out."
Kagami was speechless. One minute Kuroko stood as he had always known, with black hair and dull expressions. The next was a new person, light blue hair and fear in his eyes.
"How did you know?" Kuroko finally got back to his senses, running his hands through his hair to see how much of the colour was running out. He checked in the pond and was unhappy to find that the entire right side of his head had changed to his natural colour, only the left still had bits of black and grey.
"One of my students found lumin powder on his sleeve after visiting you. Considering how suspicious you were already, it wasn't that hard."
"Lumin powder?" Kuroko seemed surprised. "When did I-"
Kuroko frowned to himself in deep thought. Suddenly he realised something and looked at his own right sleeve, then looked at Kagami. His expression changed into something bitter and he looked back to his hand.
"So that's how it is…" He closed his fist slowly. "It looks like I was careless once again."
Alex took a step forwards and Kuroko jumped back, about to run into the trees behind him when an arrow suddenly beat him to the punch. He stopped just before running into the arrow that was buried into the tree in front of him.
"Don't move!" Himuro came out of the trees with a bow and arrow, beginning to circle around the other way to Alex, never taking his aim off the warlock.
The blond followed suit, holding the rope at the ready and closing in on her prey. Despite his shock, Kagami gripped his sword in preparation for the target trying to make an escape.
Kuroko could do nothing but back off, stumbling in between the two closing in, unable to think or speak. There was nothing he could do.
Just as it looked like Kuroko was about to give up, Himuro stepped in line with the trees behind his target. A bush rustled and quickly a figure jumped out and chomped down onto Himuro's arm with a growl.
"Dammit!" Himuro swung arm wildly, the puppy holding on for dear life until he managed to smack the dog's head into the nearby tree.
With a whimper Nigou fell to the ground, Kuroko reached out to him.
"Nigou!" He yelled, only to be caught off guard by Alex's tomahawk to the back of the head.
She'd used the blunt end to knock him out with perfect precision, and just like his pet, Kuroko hit the floor, consciousness fleeting. All at once it was over, Kuroko was down and this was the end. Kagami ran over to join them, just in time to see Alex stuff his once-friend into the bag she brought with her.
"Let me." Himuro offered – only to get his hand smacked by his teacher.
"I'm not that weak!"
"But your back-"
"Don't talk to me like an old lady!"
While the two bickered, Kagami tentatively checked on the dog. Nigou didn't look injured, to Kagami's reluctant relief.
"What are you gonna do with that?" Alex caught Kagami's attention.
"Ah…" He paused. "I'm gonna take it back."
"Fair choice. Don't want it to turn feral and attack people that come in the forest."
"Yeah…"
Since when had he grown this close to a dog of all things?
….
Everyone in the village that knew how to use a bow and arrow had shown up for precaution. Just outside the village stood a large mound of wood and a pillar that was saved just for these occasions. The priest and his disciples stood at the ready with the flame, the helpless villagers watching from as close as they were allowed (which was pretty far away).
In his own space between the pillar and the people, Kagami stood next to a tree with a chained dog whimpering at his feet. After checking that the dog wasn't a danger to anyone, a medic had said that Nigou looked fine after the injury, but would probably end up putting him down after he injured Himuro. Kagami had a feeling that the only reason Nigou was released was so that he could watch his master's punishment. The puppy lay about a meter away from him with the chain tight around his neck, just barely awake by the looks of it. Alex and Himuro stood guard at the pyre, Kagami wondered if they had let him stay back because of the connection him and the warlock used to have.
Because now his friend was tied up there, high enough to see everything that stood against his kind. They'd stripped Kuroko of his clothes and only given him rags from the waist down, as well as washed all the false colour from his hair. Now he was stuck like a twig, his hands at his sides bound by the rope that kept him in the middle of the pyre. He hid his reluctant face from the world, pale skin with light blue eyes and light blue hair. If he wasn't a warlock, he would be picture perfect for an angel instead.
"He who has gone against God, repent!" The priest began, a chorus replying with prayer. "He who has betrayed God's design, repent! Who has fallen to the devil's grace, repent!"
The villagers and disciples of the church prayed in harmony, only Kagami the other mercenaries stayed silent. On the pyre Kuroko raised his head, expression becoming more and more bitter with each passing prayer. He was muttering something to himself, and Kagami could only imagine how much hatred he must have for the people he saw right now. Although, despite thinking that, Kuroko somehow still looked calm. He didn't seem to look at anyone with any spite, he didn't even watch Kagami to look for any guilt. All that covered his expression was regret.
Kagami wondered what it was that Kuroko had wanted to do if he had more time.
"God's flame will burn your sins, and you will return to him whole!" The priest lifted a large stick with 'God's flame'. "Repent your sins magic user, give yourself back to the rightful deity."
As the chorus built higher and higher, the priest tossed the burning stick into the bundle of sticks that made the base and the flames began. It barely took a minute for the entire base of the pyre to become engulfed in flame. The heat licked at Kuroko's feet, and as he saw Kuroko flinch Kagami felt nerves kick up in his own feet.
He could barely watch – so many feelings started to gather in his chest.
They were going to kill Kuroko, weren't they? Was that what Kagami had been avoiding thinking about? Yeah, they were going to kill Kuroko.
He'd done nothing wrong. Kagami was sure of that. But Kagami had made this happen. For what? Because this was the way things were?
Kagami felt the weight of his sword on his belt and bit his lip.
He could end this right now if he wanted to.
The flames grew higher and higher, Kuroko tucked his legs up instinctively as the pyre itself started to burn. His face was the picture of misery, closed eyes refusing to see his own demise.
Right next to Kagami a noise resounded.
Bark!
Kagami looked down, seeing Nigou fully awakened, and Kuroko looked up to see it too. The dog pulled at his chains, desperate to get back to Kuroko.
Bark! Bark!
"Nigou…?" Kuroko watched, seeing Kagami reach to tug on the chain. But he couldn't do it, Kagami couldn't make up his mind. Kuroko clenched his fists. "Nigou…"
Kuroko gripped the ropes. He took in a deep breath and steadied his heart beat.
All of a sudden it seemed like something welled up within him, and his mouth opened with a voice that echoed through the crowds.
"LIBERA"
The ropes on one hand snapped. Much to the crowd's despair he slipped the hand through and raised it to the sky.
"NIGOU"
He brought the hand to his mouth and whistled a loud, resounding whistle that pierced the ears of anyone close enough by.
Kagami watched in wonder, just barely catching a glimpse of the light growing at his feet before something blasted forwards from just in front of him. It caused such a sudden light that the redhead was blinded for a long moment.
By the time he managed to get his vision back, everything had changed.
Everyone in the path towards the pyre had been knocked to the side, all the people brought to the floor from whatever force had pushed its way through. The pyre itself was gone, or rather, knocked so far away from the burnt ashes that the only thing that showed it would have been part of it were the still burning flames on one end. In the pyre's place stood a beast.
It was half as tall as a building with skin that didn't seem tangible. It stood with a wolf-like body with black and white ethereal fur that flowed from it like flames, its blue eyes as piercing as its sharp teeth. Atop its back sat Kuroko, proud on his perch staring at the sky before him. He patted Nigou's back and stroked him gently, giving a sweet smile as he spoke.
"Thank you, Nigou…" His voice was light and tired. "Next time we'll find somewhere better. And… I won't make any more mistakes. I promise."
The giant wolf creature looked back at its master and whined, licking the pale man who laughed gently in response.
Kagami watched the scene, dumbfounded. If it wasn't for the realisation that he was the only one left able to act he would've watched it forever. But that realisation came, and before he could think about it he was running towards the creature.
"Kuroko!" He called out, skidding to a stop a few meters away.
He drew his sword, probably against his better judgement, and met Kuroko's gaze with his own.
He stood there, heart pounding in his ears, as Kuroko watched him with a certain tired grace.
"I haven't given up." Kuroko said to him. "Kagami-kun, I'm going to keep on living and keep learning. I hope that you do the same."
Kagami felt his shoulder relax and his form become loose. He knew he didn't want to fight anymore. Nigou leaned down his head to him and Kagami wasn't sure to pet him or run away. In the end he just stared into Nigou's eyes, who stared right back. Then the wolf began to turn away.
"Goodbye, Kagami-kun."
Kuroko gave one last look before kicking Nigou's side, and the wolf happily obliged to run off faster than any animal Kagami had ever seen. The last sight he saw of Kuroko was with his back to him, wind in his hair, freedom before him.
Somehow the ending left him feeling emptier than he had ever felt before.
He reflected.
Maybe he would go it alone for a while. There was a lot about this world he still didn't know. Maybe one day he would meet Kuroko again. He wandered what he would do on that day.
Maybe he would head for Seirin. He heard that village was getting into something interesting lately.
Soooooo this one is long u Why is it long? Because I was adding to this one when I should have been working on the other oneshots u;
That being said, the next few might be given every 2 days rather than every 1 (soz!)
Still hope you enjoyed! I'm pretty proud of this one; if I had the time I would probably have made it a whole series.
See you lovely people next chapter~
...
Update: I wont be able to access my computer for the next 3 days, oops :S But I promise I will make it up to you, so see you later!