The team that was once drove apart by their differences was now gradually coming together, their strengths that was their downfall years back would come to be their greatest ally in the fight to dominate the court. Drenched in sticky sweat and struggling to breathe, this was the outcome out of every hard-hitting session to get everyone in sync with each other. After all, aside from Kuroko and Kagami, whom worked together as shadow and light, everyone else had grown rusty in this specific team since their Teikō days.

That didn't stop them for long…

Day after day, the 'Vorpal Swords' as they named themselves, grew faster, stronger, unbeatable. Even to the girl with the crazy super-human abilities, there boys were monsters in the human form. How she has been keeping up with them was beyond her knowledge. But in the end, it was her strict training regime back home that allowed her to keep up with them time and time again.

Back pressed up against the wall, chest pulling an pushing in and out heavily whilst she ran a clean cotton towel across her warm, damp skin. The shadow of a figure arrived by her feet, her grip now removing the piece of cloth from her forehead and around her shoulders. The shadow belonged to Kise, who held out a water bottle for her.

She gratefully took it, chugging down the cool liquids it contained.

Salvation…

Once she stopped to take a breather. She realised that the blond was settled beside her, allowing her to speak in a leisurely way to the cheerful man. If anything, the two quickly became pretty good friends, something that wasn't that much of a surprise due to their opposite, yet strangely similar personalities. He was frequently happy, upbeat and generally great around large groups of people, in contrast with her down-to-earth, quiet self.

"You guys are incredible, you know that?" She said, piquing the copy cat's attention, his golden glance emphasising a keen sense of flattery from her compliment. In fact, it wasn't an exaggeration that he began tearing up.

"Kiyocchi…" He bubbled out in a wail, comically wrapping his long, muscled arms around her, forcing her into a tight hug that was squeezing the life out of her.

"K-Kise, I can't breathe."

He let go of her as fast as he hugged her once he heard the struggle in her voice, an apologetic yet sincere look smothering his tearful expression.

"Sorry, but you're amazing too! I wouldn't have imagined someone else other than Kagamicchi could jump that high." He said, the tears now replaced by a certain twinkle in his shining orbs. Just the enthusiasm alone brought along a light giggle, but that cheerful moment quickly dulled down like an over-used blade.

Up ahead, she noticed Kuroko speaking with the pink-haired manage. The conversation was probably to do with the incoming match within the week. They were probably discussing helpful tips and strategies.

So why did she feel so empty deep down?

This girl had everything going for her; Smart, pretty, a great personality. She even had a faultless figure. Sure, Kiyo knew well that her own wasn't terrible at all, and she worked hard to keep it that way. She was assured that Kuroko wouldn't be as shallow as to like someone just for that, so why was she feeling insecure all of a sudden? Was this the feeling of jealousy?

"Kiyocchi?"

A concerned voice called out her name, however unknown to her, the voice calling out to her had tried numerous times yet with no response until now. When she realized that she was staring at the two ahead, she quickly adverted her glance to the blond who was lightly shaking her shoulder.

"Are you feeling okay, Kiyocchi? You were spacing out back there…"

"I…I'm fine… Just…." Kiyo began, hesitance clear in her tone. There was no turning back now. "… Are those two dating by any chance?"

Kise blinked in response.

"No, I…" But that was when he pieced all the broken pieces together, an excited grin widening from one ear to the other. "… Kiyocchi has a cru- "

Before he could continue, she quickly placed her hand over his mouth to silence him. It was a good thing that his fan girls weren't around to see this at least, otherwise her fate would be sealed by a sudden rampage of angry women.

"Don't say it out loud." She hushed him quietly, her eye painting a detailed picture of embarrassment and fear. The girl couldn't help but get worked up over the idea of dating, yet the painful reality was that she barely had her feelings in check, so how could she even figure out how to confess?

With her hand now leaving the boy's lips, she found her knees hunched up to her chest, her face nuzzling in between them. A defeated ground followed after.

"I don't even know anymore. There's so much that I want to say but I can't… What happens if he finds out about who I am, and he hates me?"

"He wouldn't hate you… To tell you the truth, he likes when people are honest. Just be yourself and open up about yourself. I mean. It can't be all bad."

A strained laugh escaped her throat. Oh, the irony, she thought. She kept telling herself that, and every time, it leads to memories of bloodshed and death.

"Heh, you'd be surprised. I've done some things that I've regretted, things that aren't so easily forgiven."

"We all have, Kiyocchi, but we all have to move on at some point. Besides, even if you aren't able to tell him through words, then perhaps after we win, you can sneak a quick kiss." Kise added with a suggestive wink, the girl's blush hardening on her face.

But her mouth gaping open with only soft squeaks coming through in a panicked protest was the exact reaction he was looking for. As much as he was the happy-go-lucky goof in the group, he was still sly and cunning, which brought her into an awkward situation, thanks to Kise.

But what was that situation you may ask?

"Hey everyone, Kiyocchi has something she'd like to say!" He called out in his usual chopper tone, leaving his current spot in case the red-head decided to get back at him. Frankly, she was sure to do so in the near future but in the meantime, she had to deal with the curious glances of several sweaty guys.

The nervous put in her stomach dropped quicker than before, a sickening feeling growing more by the minute.

Damn it Kise…

"So, I uh…" Kiyo began, her voice growing an octave higher in pitch, followed by numerous grunts as if she was desperately trying to clear her already dry throat.

"Sorry… But there's some things that I need to confess, things that around here, would make me seem like some sort of crazy woman. Though, it's been long enough so I'm trusting all of you to not freak out, nor tell anyone about this… But… I'm a ninja from another world…"

She finally told them. It was vague, but she told them. Yet the weight on her shoulders didn't go away. The majority gave worried, pale expressions, with the exception of Akashi and Aomine whom were unsure on the statement. Kuroko remained blank on the matter.

"Show us…"

"Huh?"

"Please… If you're telling the truth, then you have proof, right? You can trust me, no matter how crazy it sounds." One of his rare smiles arrived on his face, a comforting sight for the rigid girl.

Thank you, Kuroko…

Even if it had been near enough a month since she had last used her abilities, the hand gestures she utilised moved in a fluent motion, as if each sign was integrated into her brain and would remain. In other words, it was purely instinct by this point.

Her movements stopped at a certain hand sign, though to their confusion, nothing happened. At least nothing in front of their eyes. Behind them, an identical clone of the kunoichi strolled behind the blond, lightly tapping his shoulder twice.

"Hm?" Kise hummed, fairly sure that it was just one of his teammates. Je turned his head to the familiar red-haired beauty, the confusion sky-rocketing. His head turned back and forth between the two identical figures.

That was when it hit him…

He bounced back, any form of fatigue or muscle strain disappearing within the blink of an eye, a shot of adrenaline shot into his heart and veins. Why was he seeing two Kiyo's?

Why was he seeing doubles!?

The momentary terror caused by the duplicate arriving out of nowhere brought a victorious sneer, amused by the fact that she managed to get back at him faster than she expected. And so easily… Talk about pretty revenge.

Though back to the topic at hand…

"This is what we call a shadow clone, a part of me that has a mind of its own. It's basically like my twin but our chakra source which allows me to do this and much more, is shared between us."

"Interesting… I could tell there was something about you, though I didn't expect this." Akashi admitted, observing the clone closely.

"So… Those circumstances…"

"I was given an assassination job in which I went through training for. My parents died in the line of duty, so my teacher was the only one I could rely upon for emotional support." Kiyo resounded to Aomine's uncertainty, though out of all that, it was the female's unphased personality to such a heavy topic that surprised him the most… But if she has moved on, then it was all good.

"So, is there anything else you can show us, Kiyocchi?" Kise added, the initial fear now turning into awe.

"Well… Nothing else that isn't destructive…" She mumbled in thought, though doing any demonstrations was out of question if she wanted to remain blended into this world.

"Actually…"

The word was mentioned, and the clone disappeared, though what was left behind was another Kise. From head to toe, from the eyes to the voice, she nailed it to a point.

"That's amazing" Is there by any chance you can take my place at work? Just for a few days," He begged, on resulting in her shaking her head in refusal. If anything, as much as the guy probably needed a break from everything, and aside from the crazed girls that no one would want to deal with, she was self-conscious enough to know that any mistake would ruin his career, or bring herself out into the open, something that she couldn't risk.

"Meanie, Kiyocchi."

The puffed cheeks and childish façade was just that, a façade. But it didn't stop her from giving a sympathetic smile as an apology. Perhaps she'll have to make it up to him with some baked goods or something…

"Anyway, you know my secret now, and I may not know about this world but all I ask in return is for you to trust me like you have over the last month."

"Please…" Her head was bowed down to the ground as she asked for their faith in her. Though, rather than any words, she was welcomed to a single pair of squeaky shoes, and a large hand giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze,

"We can't give you something you already have. Besides, I told you, didn't I? I like you already, given how we have the same idea about tall, dark and boresome over there." Kagami commented about Aomine, whom merely shook his head in disbelief.

If one dangerous red-head wasn't enough to scare him, they now had two…