CHAPTER 7
"Now for the second event, Kagami Taiga and Kuroko Tetsuya versus Midorima Shintarou and Takao Kazunari!"
Kuroko stands in front of Kagami's horse. His feet is spaced shoulder apart, left foot forward. He holds his shield forward at about arm's length, its face facing to the left. His sword tip is covered by the shield, pointing at the front. Kagami holds his shield up, expecting Midorima's arrows.
Takao is holding his shield with the face forward. His right hand holds the sword hilt, pushing the right side of the shield, while the sword tip points to the sky. Midorima is behind him, bow and an arrow ready in his left hand.
"Sir Kagami, I shall deal with Takao. You may fight Sir Midorima however you see fit. But do not delay things. I get tired easily."
"Remind me to train you to help your breath."
"I will."
The call is given. "First round, begin!"
Kagami steers his horse to the left. Kuroko charges at Takao. Midorima looses his arrow at Kagami, which is blocked by Kagami's shield. Midorima jolts his horse, and the horse gallops to his right. Kagami tries to spear Midorima many times, which is answered by Midorima's volleys.
Kuroko slams his shield to Takao's body, causing him to fall back a step. Takao swings his sword to Kuroko's head, which is parried by Kuroko's sword. Kuroko immediately give Takao a downward strike which is answered by Takao's shield. Takao retreats three steps, then runs. Kuroko gives chase, but he is too slow to catch up to Takao.
Kagami is tired of holding his spear. He decides to rest his spear butt by the stirrups. He commands his horse to trop. Midorima is about to loose another arrow when he suddenly sees Kagami resting. Why is he stopping, thought Midorima?
Kagami considers his options. Taking down Takao now is a given, that he is busy with Kuroko. But Midorima may loose an arrow at Kagami while Kagami is charging at Takao. Takao could be shielding himself or loose an arrow at him, but if he gives Kuroko a chance to strike Takao down, they may be able to cooperate against Midorima next.
Kagami knows what he is about to do. He jolts his horse, and his horse is galloping again. His spear is ready to be lunged at any opponent. He charges towards Midorima, shouting "DEATH!". Midorima jolts his horse, and his horse gallops away from Kagami. Midorima looses his arrow against Kagami. Their chase resumes.
Takao sees that Midorima and Kagami is chasing each other again. Kuroko is still a good distance away. Smiling, Takao nocks his arrow, draws his bow, aims in consideration of Kagami's movement, then looses his arrow. The arrow hits Kagami's helmet. Kagami looks around to see where the dull thud came from. Kagami looks at Midorima.
Midorima points towards Takao, then Kagami's head, then at the arrow on the arena floor. Kagami shouts "Fuck!" raises his hand in exasparation, then surrender. Takao grins at this when Kuroko is behind Takao. Kuroko raises his sword on high guard, ready to bonk Takao.
Takao grins. "I see you...". Takao swings his sword, slapping Kuroko. Kuroko falls. Kuroko touches his left cheek, it smarts. Takao grins as he offers his right hand to Kuroko. Kuroko accepts Takao's hand, and rises from the ground.
"First victory goes to Midorima Shintarou and Takao Kazunari!" The arena erupts in cheers. Their gambles are worth it, after all.
They all walked back to their starting positions. The arena is filled with cheers, as they all now mostly placed their bets on Midorima and Takao. Both teams strategise as they walked.
"Sir Kagami, it appears that my prior assessment is false. Takao seems to be able to see me."
"I don't know about that. I am just surprised that he is confident enough to loose an arrow at me while you are giving him chase."
Kuroko looks away in shame. "I'm sorry."
Kagami scratches his head with his left hand. "Kuroko, how exactly does being your light work?"
"I should be your shadow. That means, I should support you and your attacks, using feints and misdirections. But I can't do that if you are not willing to."
Kagami frowns at Kuroko. "You never asked me. I tell you now, I am willing."
Kuroko looks at Kagami, noticing a bit of anger in his voice. "Then please follow my plan."
"What is it, Kuroko?"
Kuroko looks at Midorima and Takao. "Gallop your horse towards both Midorima and Takao. Make sure to direct all their attention to you. They will break away, hopefully from each other. I will strike Takao down. Then we can concentrate on Midorima."
Kagami readjusts his shield straps. "Then exchange your sword and shield to your bow when Takao is distracted. Kuroko, I want you to strike him down immediately with a single shot. We know you get tired easily."
Midorima looks towards Takao almost stoically. His lips curl slightly upward, betraying satisfaction. "Takao, your ability to see Kuroko is amazing. I thought you were just bluffing."
Tako smiles as bright as ever. "Thanks, Shin-chan. It's not like you to praise me everyday."
Midorima blushes and scoffs. "Qu-quiet! I am just trying to give you your proper reward!" Regaining his composure, Midorima continues. "Now, Kagami may try something rash or stupid. Try not to get knocked out or worse, injured, understand?"
Takao nods cheerfully. "Mm! Shin-chan, please let me see your special ability in this melee."
"It is not my special ability. It is me courting the favour of gods of fate. But for you, it shall be done. In return, shoot Kuroko down. I want him out of play quickly."
Kagami places himself at his starting position, while Kuroko is to his right. Midorima is back on his starting position, while Takao is to his left. Takao nocks his arrow, his bow still relaxed.
"Second round, begin!"
Kagami drives his horse to stand on two legs. "AAAHHH!" Then the horse drops its feet, and charges.
Midorima and Takao is surprised as Kagami charges towards Takao.
"Takao, evade!" Midorima jolts his horse, which gallops to his right. Takao jumps to the left, only to see that Kuroko looses his arrow. The arrow hits Takao by the head. Takao falls to the ground, flat on his back. He lifts both his hands in surrender. The spectators speaks to each other, wondering what happened.
Midorima can't see Takao as Kagami is charging and hollering abuses at him. Midorima looses arrows after arrows at Kagami, which Kagami blocks with his shield. Midorima finally is able to turn around to see Takao's hand still in the air as he jogs back to arena door.
Midorima is angry. How dare that blue-headed salty alcohol merchant shoots down his fri... retainer? Yes, retainer! Now is not the time for definitions! "Behold the true meaning of my title, Sir Kagami!" shouts Midorima as he launches an arrow at the sky.
Kagami chases Midorima through the arena. Kuroko keeps loosing his arrow at Midorima. Midorima considers his choice for two quivers of arrows a mistake, as he now have felt two arrows hit his body. Kagami is charging straight at Midorima when he hears an annoying thud on his helmet. Midorima smiles as Kagami looks around to see where the arrow falls. But then Midorima hears a thud at his chest. Kuroko waves. Midorima understands that has been shot for the third time, raises his hand in surrender.
"Second victory goes to Kagami Taiga and Kuroko Tetsuya!"
The arena boos at the fighters, seeing that their bets lost to those who bet on their other side. Still they remain at their seats, chewing down the seeds and beans.
Kagami returns to his starting position, as Kuroko waits for him. "Sir Kagami, it seems that our strategy worked."
"It feels good, Kuroko. Too bad, they now know that I will surprise them."
"That is what it means to be my light. Although Sir Kagami, I must reprimand you regarding one matter."
"What?"
"Do not fall to hubris this time. That was how you are defeated back in the third round."
"Sorry, force of habit. Now, what must we do?"
"Now Midorima knows that we see Takao as a threat. I suggest we defeat Midorima first this time."
"Agreed. I suggest you enter melee with Takao this time. But if he flees, loose arrows at him."
"Ver well. Sir Kagami, Midorima may take me out first this time. Defend me as much as you can against him."
Kagami nods. Kuroko places behind Kagami's horse this time, a bit of a distance away, so he is not kicked by the horse. Meanwhile, Takao runs back to his starting position as Midorima waits with his horse.
"Takao, I see that you are taken out early."
Takao laughs as he rubs the back of his head. "Sorry, sorry, Shin-chan, the Sixth Spear really is something."
Midorima looks to Kagami. "And now that he has his light, this is already dangerous for the both of us. Takao, you are being targeted by the both of them. They may repeat the same tactic, seeing how it gives them victory."
Takao smiles as he nods to Midorima's assessment. "I don't think so, Shin-chan. They may want to spice things up, and target you instead."
"That may be. But still, be careful. This is my plan. I will charge at Kagami, firing my arrows at him. I want you to aim at Kuroko's head with your bow. Take him out early. Do you understand?"
Takao gives a hard nod. "Mm!" Then Takao places himself to the left of Midorima, holding his bow, already nocked with an arrow.
"Third round, begin!"
Midorima gallops his horse towards Kagami, loosing arrow after arrow at him. Kagami blocks the arrow with his shield, and gallops towards Midorima.
Takao draws his bow at full length to aim at Kuroko only to see that he is gone. "What, where?"
Takao's eyes darts around, trying to locate his opponent. Kuroko is loosing his arrows at Takao. Takao steps to the left and looses his own. Now Kuroko and Takao is stuck in an arrow shooting fight. Kuroko looses his arrow at Takao's head, which Takao evades at the last second by simply moving his head. Kuroko looses arrows at Takao's body, and Takao replies by stepping to the side, then loosing his arrow.
Meanwhile. Kagami and Midorima is stuck in their usual pattern of a horse archer being chased by a lancer. Kagami tries changing his directions, but Midorima is not taking the bait this time. He looses more of his arrows at Kagami, which Kagami answers by changing his directions often while keeping his shield raised. The thud of arrows is maddening.
"When is that green prick going to run out of arrows?"
Kagami spies at Kuroko. He is still in a volley fight with Takao. Kagami considers charging at Takao, but Midorima's arrow is still pelting him. Suddenly Midorima draws his sword and charges at Kuroko. Kagami shouts "Kuroko!" but Kuroko does not turn his head.
Kuroko can hear Kagami's shout, and the hooves thundering towards him. Takao is still loosing arrows at him. Kuroko remembers that their main target is Midorima.
Midorima is raising his sword to attack Kuroko. Kuroko turns his body to Midorima, and looses an arrow. Midorima moved his head, and slides his sword to Kuroko's head. Kuroko can feel the softness of the cotton, spaced with the coarseness of the rope tying it, caressing his left cheek.
Realsing his defeat, Kuroko raises his hand in defeat, just as Kagami manages to touch Midorima's head with his spear. Midorima smiles as his horse slows to a trop and his hands raised in surrender.
Then a dull thud hits Kagami's helmet. "CAN YOU STOP AIMING MY HEAD FOR ONCE?" Then Kagami realises that the move IS legal, and raises his hand in surrender.
"The third victory goes to Midorima Shintarou and Takao Kazunari. Two to One total victory, for MIDORIMA SHINTAROU, AND TAKAO KAZUNARI!"
Takao jumps in joy as he realises that his team won. "Shin-, I mean Sir Midorima, we won!"
Midorima turns to Kagami. "I had a good fight today."
Kagami holds his spear by the left hand, and extends his right hand. "Me too!"
Takao suddenly shouts, "Guest rights! Guest rights!"
Midorima growls at Takao. "Our house isn't ready!"
Takao looks at Midorima with wide eyes. Midorima sighs. " May I offer the both of you guest rights? I would like to chat with an old colleague of mine and his new friend."
Kagami turns to Kuroko, who nods in acceptance. Kagami grins. "We haven't bet anything on our fight, haven't we? Then as your prize, I will cook for both of you a special meal. Although, I would like the permission to use your kitchen."
Midorima turns to Kuroko. "Is he a good cook, Sir Kuroko?"
"An excellent cook, Sir Midorima. I would also like the permission to use your kitchen, there is a drink I would like to prepare."
"Then I will prepare the kitchen. Takao, get our guests here at the tavern this afternoon to my home."
"Yes, sir Midorima! After I clean up our mess here!"
Kuroko turns to Kagami. "Sir Kagami, I will start collecting my arrows now. Please return to the tavern."
Kagami returns to the tavern, and ties his horse at the stable. He removes its saddle then gives it water and oats. Kagami looks to the other horses and added their water and oats as needed. The rest of the company is doing their own thing, selling their own goods, drinking at the tavern, fighting in the lesser compunds of the arena, and sleeping in the afternoon.
Kagami snaps in the tavern until late afternoon. He washes his face, drinks some water, and then gets down to the tavern. There Takao waits for him, waving at Kagami.
"How long have you waited for me?"
Takao smiles at Kagami. "I just arrived, Sir Kagami. Are you ready to cook?"
Kagami remembers his promise a few hours ago. "Ah yes, let's stop at the market. I would like to buy some ingredients."
Kagami thinks of cooking some meatloaf or curry. Spices are expensive, but Takao assures Kagami that they have enough spices at their home, and Midorima only uses them as 'lucky items'. Kagami raises his eyebrow at this, but decides not to question it further. Kagami has bought some grain, fresh and dried beef, and cabbages.
"Mister Takao..."
"Takao's fine."
"Well, Takao, how close are you to Sir Midorima?"
"I am his childhood friend. Hadn't seen him for a few years back when I first arrived here, but it seems he really misses me."
"No wonder you called him Shin-chan."
"Well, you called Sir Kuroko simply Kuroko. Are you his close friend or something?"
"No, we just met. But he had hired me for a mission, and for some reason, we are stuck together."
"Mister Takao, I intend to bring Sir Kagami along my caravan to protect my investments."
Kagami jumps to Takao's back. "STOP SHOWING UP FROM NOWHERE!"
Kuroko is carrying butter, milk, and a small bottle. It smells somewhat sweet.
"We have been walking together since we left the tavern, Sir Kagami."
"I saw him too, Sir Kagami. Well, Sir Kuroko is a shadow."
"Well, make some noise."
"Woot, woot." Said Takao and Kuroko as their moved their arms up and down.
Kagami rubs his forehead. "Not that kind of noise! Well, let's go. Takao, if you may lead the way."
Takao walks at the front, and the group walks to Midorima's house.
