Sorry for the wait everyone! -bows-
I've been busy for the whole week packing my things 'cuz I'll be staying at my aunt's house starting tomorrow.
Whaa! I would like to thank all of you who took the time to review *Colibrys* *Silvinukas* *ShioriErz* *Scarlet Aki-chin* *estrellita24* *laliiDh* *Killua17* and *mariaelennaella- who comes as a guest that's why I cannot message you back* also to those who favorited and followed. Your supports gives me the motivation and deterrmination to do my best in each and every chapter. So, again thank you! -hugs you everyone-
Warning: Sorry for the lack of vocabulary, grammatical errors, mistakes, OOC!ness and also I don't know why but it seems like I not satisfied of how this chapter turn out. But hope you'll still enjoy this.
Declaimer: only the story and the plot are mine..
After his encounter with the little girl and most of his emotions had settled down. He decided to go to a nearest convenience store to buy some food since he didn't eat that much in the party.
Getting out, He was about to walk straight home when he saw the little girl he had met before, only to see her alone across the street.
He call the girls attention, who only wave back at him in return.
After a minute, he was about to turn around when he saw a rushing van on the street full speed ahead, not intending on stopping but what caught his attention more is the little girl who was now in the middle of the street wide eyes, unable to move.
On impulse, not knowing what to do. He run to the girl, push her aside, only to realize one thing.
Facing ahead, what greeted him is those blinding light and the next thing he knows, darkness consumed him.
.
.
'Tetsuya'
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Chapter 3
A World of Truth
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Once again I found myself waking up in this cold space of nothingness.
Ah, this place, I have always known this place.
..Dark..
So dark
Being trapped in here for countless of times, I can't never forget its own existence...
This deafening silence...
This unsettling comfort...
Leaving you perturb and alone
...but, I don't want to be alone .
.
.
'Tetsuya'
Huh? Who's there?
'Tetsuya'
Where are you? I want to see you.
'I'm here...'
I turn around only to come face to face with a very familiar person who look exactly just like me but what surrounds him is this essence of deep reverence and adoration.
What is the meaning of this? Who are you?
He smiled fondly at me 'I am you...'
What are you saying?
'You'll know soon enough but for now, sleep'
But I'm not slee...py
With heavy eyes, I can't help but oblige the man's wish, only to have open them up again.
This time, what's infront of me is the redhaired man clad on its finest cloth. Standing with regality, he reach out his hand, offering it to me with a gentle smile of admiration.
'Come my love, I've been waiting for you'
What's going on? I can't understand any of this any...more
Again, with this sudden urge of doziness, I close my eyes as darkness dominated again.
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He heard a door shut close, waking him up from his deep slumber.
Disturbed by that sudden sound, he furrowed his brows as he started to open his cerulean blue eyes, only to close them again when all he can see are white dots of misty hue clouding his vision. Wanting to move, he started to stir on his bed only to hiss when he felt a sharp pain throbbing all over his body. Ah! it hurts!
Unable to move, he waited for it to subside, only to have a flashing image of that one tragic event. Eh! That's right! The accident!
Alarmed by this, he snap his eyes open as he began to scan his body to look for any possible injury, only to find a very unusual garment adoring his built.
He was clad in a very simple yet elegant kimono of white and blue, a color that had contrasted his skin, bringing out its radiance along with its admirable silky texture.
Kuroko curiously raised his hand to have a better look of the clothing, staring at it scrutinizingly. Why... am I wearing something like this? I don't even remember having this kind of kimono?
After a minute of closer inspection, he was about to scan his surrounding only to hear a very familiar voice.
"I see you're awake"
Kuroko turned to his side only to see a person standing from a chair with a book in hand. Clearly recognizing that all too familiar red haired man. Huh? Akashi-kun..?
Facing the person, he was about to acknowledge the redhead only to stop when he realized something is wrong. Wait... Am I still dreaming?
There, infont of him is the approaching figure of Akashi, though he might look like him, but upon closer inspection, the bluenette can clearly see that this man is not the person he is expecting to see. For what he knows, this redhaired guy is only a fragment of his dreams, the emperor of his imagination.
Yet, his presence... Why does it feel so real and... Wait! What's this? For the first time he took notice of his surrounding, assessing everything nook and corner of the room. This room, Isn't this the place where the bluenette stays... But, what am I doing he- -
'I am you...'
And like a ticking clock everything started to make sense. Eh? This can't be...No! This got to be a joke...I'm still asleep right? I need to wake up... I need to...
Struggling in his bed, he was about to sit up, only to groan when pain resonated in his body.
"Hey, don't move too much Tetsuya..." said the redhead who was now beside him, worry evident in his voice "Hold on, let me help you"
"Eh? No! Ah, what I mean is you don't have to- -" he was about to protest but before he can even finish it, Kuroko can already feel warm hand sneaking its way behind his waist, strong arm helping him in a sitting position.
"No need to be stubborn" Akashi said as he ruffle his smooth blue hair while taking a sit besides him "So, how are you feeling?"
Kuroko unable to speak, not knowing how to react, was now hesitating on how to approach the emperor, trying to think of a better way of how to explain his current situation.
"Tetsuya? Are you okay? If you're still unwell...Let me call Shi- -"
"Wait Akashi-san!"
Akashi raised his brows, as if confused of the sudden formality of the bluenette "...Now, I think I should really ca- -"
"No! You don't understand!" he blurted out yet hesitant to say the next word "I... I'm not the real empress"
"...Oh, really?" the redhead said, interest creep in his tone "Care to explain it to me?"
"Well, you see... I'm not from this world..."
"And?"
"And... I don't know how it happens but it seems like i'm stuck in here... Also I- "
"Okay, that's enough!" Kuroko thinking that he had provoked the emperor was about to apologize only to give him a knowingly look "I understand..."
"Eh?" Kuroko ask bewildered
"I was clearly joking with you...I just wanted to see how would you react" the emperor only smiled at him
"S-so, does this means..."
He receive a curt nod from the redhead "Yes, I know... But..."
Kuroko who was listening curiously, got confused by the given information. Huh? H-how did he know?
He was about to ask back, only to be caught off guard when he was suddenly pulled into a tight hug by the emperor "I'm glad that you're here now... My Tetsuya..."
Now, it was his turn to be confused of why the redhead had said those words. Wait, what is he saying?
"Ah... Akashi-san? What are you saying?.. I thought you already know that I'm not th- -"
"It doesn't matter... I don't care where you came from... After all Tetsuya is still Tetsuya. So..." Akashi released him from the hug "As long as you are here everything will be alright..."
He was about to reason back, only to hear a knocking sound from the door "Sorry for the interruption your highness but you have been summoned at the main palace"
Akashi letting out a sigh of frustration, shake his head before mastering his diplomatic voice "Tell them to wait for me and please tell my attendant to ready the carriage...You are now dismissed"
"Yes, your Highness" after the short notice, a fading footsteps can be heard
"I'm sorry about that Tetsuya...but I need to go" Akashi giving him an apologetic smile, reached out his hand as he brush his blue locks away from his face that had covered his cruelean blue eyes "My Advisor will come here to check on you. So, just wait here okay?"
Kuroko, gave him a quick nod
"Good..." Akashi, standing up and was about to leave "I'll see you soon my love..." He bent down a little, peck him on the lips and before he know it, the redhead had already left, leaving him dumpfolded and speechless.
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After Akashi had left him and was caught in a very unexpected event, he compose himself and went out of the bed. Feeling his own anxiety raising up again while thinking of his impending situation. What am I going to do now?
He look at his surrounding and started to roam around, trying to find any possible clue or facts that would help him out of his current condition.
He examined everything he sees, from the hanging portrait to the vulnerable things, he open the closet, look under the bed, he even went out on the porch to see the back view of this grand traditional house only to be amazed by it's massive size which was also surrounded by patrolling guards.
He went back to the room, leaned on the wall as he slid slowly on the floor. What am I suppose to do?
Lost in his own thought, only to hear someone entering the room.
"Sorry for the interruption... But I have already knock for a couple of times and it seems like no one is answering so I just entered right away."
Kuroko stared at the person who just entered, surprise evident in his eyes. He did not expect to see yet another familiar face "Midorima-kun?" whispering the name out loud
Eh? He was about to correct himself, thinking that he might said the wrong honorific, but much to his surprise the greenhead only bowed respectfully at him as a form of acknowledgement "Nice to see you well Kogo Heika"
Kuroko grimace by the given title, stood up from the floor while bowing politely as well "Like wise Advisor Midorima"
Standing straight, he observed Midorima who seem to be holding something.
Huh? A lamp? Must be his lucky item... He thought knowingly
"The emperor had ask me to check on you" Kuroko only nodded in response "I'll be examining you. So, if you're ready you may sit on the chair so we can begin"
While Midorima is doing his work he began to think retrospectively.
So, Midorima-kun is here... Well, that was unexpected... Hmm... I wonder if he can help me. He turned to look at the greenhead who is focused in removing the bondage in his body.
Kuroko sigh inwardly before turning his attention back in his lap. No, my priority is to talk to the emperor since he seems to be the only one who knows everything... But where might he be?
"If you're looking for Akashi he's having a meeting with the council right now "
"Huh?" Kuroko turn to face Midorima again, amazed by his intuition "How did you know Midorima-kun?"
"I can see it in your face..." the greenhead said, while staring at his stoic face "No, let me rephrase it, I can just sense it..."
"I know you have question in mind, not that I can answer any of that...So, I think it is best for you to just wait for him and he'll explain"
Kuroko surprised by Midorima who seems to have a knowledge of what had happened. Then, if that's the case is it possible that he knows something?
"Midorima-kun...Does this means you know that I'm..." the bluenette ask cautiously
"Yes, as ridiculous as it may seems... I know that you are not the empress" Midorima stared at him "After all, Akashi had told me everything" not to mention I've been with him in the entire transition. The greenhead said together with his unspoken thoughts.
"...I see" Kuroko said, while deep in thoughts "Midorima-kun... Do you know ho- -"
"Like I said I cannot tell you anything" the green head cut him off before he can finish his question "Okay, We're done... You're good for now, the wound is still healing, just don't move too much"
"Huh? What wound?"
"If you must know, you have been shot by an arrow right here" pointing at his right chest before turning to his material "I need to go now, just wait here and someone will come later to clean and fix you up" gathering his stuff, he approach the door and was about to open it, when suddenly it was burst open followed by a loud striking and worried voice.
"Tetsu-kun! Are you okay? Does it hurt? I've been worried sick you know...I...I...Tetsu-kun!" Momoi was speaking animatedly while holding him in the shoulder, shaking him frantically
Kuroko, who has been shaken, stood still, unable to speak, trap in the pinknette's arms.
"Momoi stop that! He's still recovering...and pay respect to the empress" Midorima warned Momoi, annoyed
Kuroko for the third time, he can't help but be amazed by this familiar people who seems to just appear out of nowhere.
"But...but...I haven't seen the empress for the whole week and the emperor even forbid us to come visit his quarter" Momoi whined
"Well, considering all of you are very noisy...How can a healing man recover if all of you are here!"
"Still! I'm her keeper and it's my responsibility to take care of Tetsu-kun"
"Momoi, didn't I told you to acknowledge the empress and call him by his title"
"Gezz, Midorin you're too formal" Momoi pouted, while putting her hands on her waist "After all, aren't we childhood friends and bedside Tetsu-kun doesn't mind, right Tetsu-kun?"
Both of them turn to the silent bluenette, only to see him smiling fondly at them.
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When Midorima left, Momoi had help him change his cloth while offering a hand, since she told him that it's her duty as his keeper to look after him.
"Momoi-san I can do it myself"
"Nonsense Tetsu-kun, no need to be shy after all we've been doing this for so many time...You should get use to it already"
After a minute of proclamation and insistence, he gave up and let his keeper do the work.
"Now turn around so I can put the obi" he turn his back against the pinknette, feeling her hand sneak in his waist while putting the sash on "There...did I tied it too tight?"
"No, that's fine"
"Good, let me secure it first"
"..."
"Momoi-san..."
He heard the pinknette huff "Mou~ Tetsu-kun, didn't I told you to just call me Satsuki... I mean, I know you're still used to call me with such formality when people around, but you need to be reminded that we're alone now" Momoi said annoyed "Why, want me to call you empress as well?" knowing that the bluenette dislike it.
"No Momo- Satsuki-san please refrain from calling me that" Kuroko not liking the idea of being called empress one bit.
It's already enough that I have to endure wearing this kind of garment and stuck in this world for who knows how long. He thought while sighing. ...So, does this means Momoi-san doesn't know anything ...
"Now, that's much better and glad that we had come to an agreement Tetsu-kun" he turn to Momoi who is now standing infront of him "So what do you want to ask about?"
"Ah, about that, I just want to know how many days was I confined in my bed. Since, it seems like I don't remember that much from the moment I passed out"
A second of silence can be heard before Momoi answered him with hesitance "oh, umm...a week Tetsu-kun..."
Kuroko who can sense Momoi's uneasiness, asked her with concern "Satsuki-san is something wrong?
"Ah, nothing's wrong Tetsu-kun... It's just..." the pinknette sigh, clearly indicating her discomfort "The last time I saw you...you were brought here by Dai-chan... full of blood almost lifeless in his arms..." Momoi shaked his head, getting rid of the unwanted thoughts.
"You made us worry Tetsu-kun...I really wanted to see you but Akashi-kun won't allow us...He was depress for the whole week... he won't even leave your side unless it's necessary...he didn't even bother to sleep or eat..."
"We were scared Tetsu-kun, we thought that you won't recover but..." Momoi unable to contain his emotion, hug him tightly, shaken by the possibility that something might have happened to him "Tetsu-kun~ I'm so glad that you're alright"
Kuroko received Momoi openly in his arms, patting her back reassuringly. Why is this happening?
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He was now on the garden, sitting under a cherry blossom tree. After his heart wrenching encounter with Momoi they decided to have an afternoon tea only to be left alone while waiting for the emperor.
Kuroko was about to take a sip from the cup, when the person itself arrived.
"So, how are you doing my love?" Akashi greeted, giving him a warm smile "I heard you've been looking for me...Why, miss me already?" the redhead said teasingly
Kuroko blush by the endearment, stood from his sit before bowing politely "Good day to you your highness...I just wanted to talk to you about certain matters"
"I see...but, no need to be so formal Tetsuya...You can call me Seijuro, after all you're my empress, right?" Akashi smirk, taking a seat across from him.
Kuroko masking his blank facade along with his monotone voice "Sorry, but I'll be blunt with you your highness...Since both of us know of my current standing, you're the only one who can help me"
"Did Shintarou told you of this?" The emperor ask
"Yes, but he said that he can't tell me anything not unless it comes from you"
"Hn, then I guess there's no use in avoiding this..." Akashi said, "Alright, I'll be straight as well...how much do you know about this place?"
"Huh? What do you mean?" Kuroko ask confused
"The dream"
"Eh? How did you know about that?"
"Well, Tetsuya...my Tetsuya told me about his dreams...about you"
"...So, does this means where the same...while I was having a vision of his life, his having mine?"
"Yes... That's why you're the only one who can help me"
"Why? I don't understand..."
"You know of what had happened to my Tetsuya, right?"
Kuroko confuse at first only to bare a flashing image of the empress lying on the bed, just nodded sadly.
"Do you have any idea of why he died?"
Kuroko furrowed his brows at this, clearly disturbed at the given question, only shook his head. Wait, why is Akashi-san asking me this all of a sudden? He look at Akashi curiously
"I see..." Hearing that distressed tone, only to indicate that the redhead might be hiding something.
Huh? Is it possible the there's something happened to the empress that i'm not aware of?..Then, if that's the case I wanted to know. The bluenette thought
Kuroko look at the redhead determinedly "Akashi-san I might not know of what had happened to the empress but there's something telling me that I should know..."
"That's why in any possible way I would like to help... but in favor of this I would also like you to help me find a way to return to my world"
"Hm, I don't know..."
"Please Akashi-san...I would tell you everything that I know from the time when I had my vision"
"Alright... If you're really that determined, how could I possibly ignore you"
Kuroko smiled warmly at him "Thank you... Seijurou-kun"
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There was a knock on the door before a bespectacled man entered the room, walking infront of the table he bowed respectfully at the person who was currently reading a contract seal.
The man turned to him, gave him a curt nod as a sign for him to speak.
"Here are the documents that you have ask me to look for" handling the scroll and papers to the man "So, did you find anything useful?"
"No, nothing as of now..." the man sigh dejectedly while looking at the paper in hand "The only thing he knows are the time when I'm with Tetsuya"
"So, no leads huh? What are you going to do now Akashi?"
Akashi turn to look at his advisor sternly "You do know, that what had happened to the town village is not a normal massacre right?"
"Yes...it is to lure the empress out"
"That's why not unless I can find who's the culprit is, no one must know about this..."
Midorima nodded in agreement, sensing that who ever dare to defy this order will face a dreadful consequence given by the emperor.
"Then, what are you going to do about him?"
"Who? Tetsuya?"
"Yes, considering that he doesn't know anything about the accident... Remember it was your own desire that had bought him here"
"Oh, did I?" Akashi only smirk at this
Midorima was taken aback by the sudden behavior of the emperor "What are you planning Akashi? Did you tell him?"
"Of course not, why should I?"
This time, he can only stare at the redhead with disbelief "You do know of the consequence right? If he can't go back to his body he'll die!"
"Yes, but he'll live here" Akashi noted
"But not until he fully accepted and decided to live here"
"Well then...I'll just have to make sure that he'll choose the right decision"
"Why are you doing this Akashi?"
"After all, he deserves better... Which is I am the only one who can give that"
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In the other world
On a dim lit room where everything is painted white. There, on a metal bed lays a motionless body- lifeless, cold and pale.
Along with its impending silence, a steady beeping sound can be heard to only indicates that the person is still alive and breathing. But, unknown to many, a seemingly small device was left unattended on a near by table, vibrating continuously as it flashed the caller ID, and with its last beeping sound a name was distributed on the wide screen that read.
26 Missed calls
Akashi-kun
So, how was it?
If any of you had any questions or concerns just ask away, I'll be here all ears! *winks*
Characters' roles:
Midorima Shintarou- The emperor's advisor and the Imperial physician.
Momoi Satsuki- Imperial head keeper and the empress first attendant.
Word used:
*Kogo Heika*- Your majesty the empress
P.S: Everyone, sorry for the short notice but I have to Change the Rating to M for a reason... XD