A/N: Hello,
Sorry about the looong wait for this update I was away for a couple of weeks on a choir trip and then I got sick (again…I'm starting to think my immune system hates me.) Anyway this chapter is slightly longer than a lot of the others so I hope you enjoy.

-Angel


-Chapter 8-

A Warning

Hayakawa twitched in anticipation next to Kasamatsu who had the easily excited loud-mouthed teen gagged as to not give away the Light guards position. The strategist wasn't impressed about leaving the job of mid-battle strategizing to Kise but it was more important his fighting strength on the field was more important he was a general after all. Kobori and Nakamura sat in the tree next to the one Kasamatsu and Hayakawa had taken up residence in observing the battle keenly with a pair of binoculars.

"Anything interesting that I mightn't be able to see on the monitors Kasamatsucchi?" Kise's voice rang through his earpiece in an irritating fashion the blond had been asking basically the same question every 2 minutes since the entire formation had gotten into place. Now nearly an hour later it was starting to get on Kasamatsu's perpetually fraying nerves.
"Nothing's happened Kise-sama." The strategist didn't even attempt to stop the exasperation from creeping into his voice as he replied.
"Ok," The earpiece buzzed signalling that communication had been cut. Kasamatsu sighed rubbing a hand over his face. By now he was wondering if the Water kingdom had even bothered to pay attention to the threat standing on it's borders.

Then a kunai knife covered in ice flew past his head before promptly impaling itself in the trunk of the tree behind. Imayoshi stood calmly a couple of meters away from the base of the tree more knives held loosely in his right hand a sword slung across his back and God knows how many other weapons concealed somewhere on his body.

"It's been a while, ne?" Imayoshi smirked up at Kasamatsu who was trying to briskly undo the ties holding Hayakawa's gag in place. The nuisance fought better when he could yell at the top of his lungs even if it was annoying.
"So you were paying attention." The Light-mage retorted leaping from the tree with ease landing in front of the be-glassed general reaching for the dual pistols fastened at his waist mid fall.
"Why wouldn't I?" Imayoshi tilts his head to the side in what would be an endearing manner had a 5-year-old performed the task. On the notoriously slippery mage it looked creepier than anything.

Instead of replying Kasamatsu fires a bullet straight at Imayoshi's torso sending an intense blast of light magic with the small metal projectile. When his vision clear it doesn't reveal a severally injured and or dead Imayoshi as Kasamatsu had hoped instead unveiling Imayoshi crouched a meter to the right surrounded in an ice shield. The Light-mage groaned glaring at the water-shadow user with a mix of irritation and exasperation.

In the moment of reprieve he tool a quick glance around to survey the rest of the Light guard. Hayakawa was taking on his water kingdom equivalent the two seemingly having a competition of who could yell at the other the loudest rather than actually fighting. Kobori was fighting the quietest member of the water guard in hand-to-hand combat, the pair appeared to be reasonably evenly matched. Finally Nakamura battled the smallest and meekest member of the Water guard the pair switching between defending and shooting long distanced attacks at the other whilst moving around in a circular pattern reminiscent of a tribe dancing around a campfire.

He's brought out of his observing state by a pair of kunai flying past his head one clipping his shoulder leaving a shallow cut in its wake. Imayoshi's dissipated the shield and stands tall brandishing even more throwing weapons. "You never know what might happen when you let your guard down." He drawls casually adjusting his glasses.

Kasamatsu just shoots another bullet of Light energy in reply.

-Consumed by Shadows-

Kagami launched a bolt of fire across the Shadow guard's allocated training room which Izuki dodged without a second thought sending a gust of wind straight back at the fire-mage. The redhead promptly dodge-rolled to the side straight into Mitobe's legs knocking the silent shadow-water mix mage of balance for a second. Koganei stood off to the side watching the carnage with great amusement, Kiyoshi and Hyuuga battled each other in hand to hand combat. Kawahara, Fukuda and Furihata doing some well needed weapons practice at the other end of the rooms against a set of wooden dummies. Riko stood beside Koga leaning against the wall frantically taking down notes.

"You're going to have to get better than that within the next 48 hours Kagami-kun." Riko yelled over the fray as the Shadow guard's ace got toppled by one of Izuki's more powerful bursts of magic. The young woman was thankful for having a wind user on the team it made training for the coming attack easier. Magic typed were unique you couldn't fight one type the same way you fought another it just didn't work she'd learnt that lesson the hard way during her childhood in Daichi.

"I know that." Was the brisk shouted reply from the fire user as he dodged yet another gust accidently setting a training dummy on fire in the process. Mitobe promptly sent a jet of water towards the smouldering item leaving it slightly charred but otherwise unscathed and still very much useable. Koganei chose that moment to leap at his silent companion sending the two into a tumbling mass of spontaneous hand-to-hand battling with some Water and Earth thrown in every so often to mix things up.

"Children." Riko sighed shaking her head in an exasperated yet fond manner. They may have acted like children but none the less they were still her friends and allies. She pushed herself away from the wall turning to leave the training room taking the notes she'd made on the progress of the Shadow guard with he ready to write her reports.

-Consumed by Shadows-

"You know you could always just make it easier for both of us and surrender." Imayoshi drawls slashing at Kasamatsu with his sword driving the Light mage backwards ever so slightly. They'd been fighting each other for what felt like hours and could well have been given how low the sun was sitting in the sky. Imayoshi had run out of projectile style weapons some time ago but the man was no slouch with a sword either matching Kasamatsu with ease.

"That would achieve nothing." Kasamatsu spat aiming a bullet straight for Imayoshi's heart. The man dodged as expected however apparently misjudging the bullets speed as it left a deep trench in his left shoulder the wound bleeding profusely. Imayoshi sent a jet of water towards Kasamatsu sending the Light user skidding backwards as the Water mage took a look at his wounded shoulder.

"And now you go and wound me." Imayoshi flips backwards dodging the next blast of Light magic sent in his direction The notoriously slippery water mage just chuckles shadow teleporting himself to behind Kasamatsu placing his sword at the opposing generals throat.

"I won't kill you because that wasn't the aim of this mission." Imayoshi's breath tickles Kasamatsu's ear as he whispers. "Besides what is an army without it's master. So much less fun to fight." The Water-Shadows mix-mage moves to stand before Kasamatsu not before driving the Light general to his knees with a foot planted in the small of his back. Blood trickles from the edge of Kasamatsu mouth from a split lip and breathing hurts thanks to a large number of broken ribs but his pride isn't shattered enough to allow him to bow his head.

"Though I do suggest you heed this warning." Imayoshi's tone drips with false politeness as he lets his sword slip back into the sheath strapped diagonally across his back. Kasamatsu can only glare having run out of bullets some time ago and in no position or state to fire off large blasts of magic.

"The Water kingdom shall show no mercy should you attack again. No one beats us particularly not you. Light mage." Imayoshi spits the last two words before turning to leave releasing Kasamatsu. Both armies are in shambles no soldier having come out unscathed. Moriyama gathers the Light army back together the mages falling into ranks behind the commander. Kasamatsu watches from where he kneels on the ground as his trusted friend does the job he should have been doing. Though he is pleased to note that very phew mages seem to be missing from the ranks the small amount of casualties will allow them to regather the forces quickly.

"Kasamatsu." He looks up to see Kobori, Hayakawa and Nakamura standing before him all three offering him a hand in getting to his feet. He gratefully took Kobori's offered hand deciding to abandon his all-important pride just for that moment before moving to stand beside Moriyama the remaining Light Guard members falling into place beside him.

The battle was not won but they were not defeated either. Kasamatsu knew the Water kingdom would be back however he also knew they would have at least a fortnight to recover their forces given the Water army had taken a far harder hit.

"Light kingdom. March"

-Consumed by Shadows-

"All the pieces as starting to fall into place." Hanamiya states blandly moving one of the rooks on his chessboard representing the scuffle between the Light and Water kingdoms. There were three chessboards set up in a row. The first representing the Water and Light kingdoms pieces painted blue and yellow respectively. Many of the pieces had moved from their original placement all excluding the kings. The second board represented the Wind and Shadow kingdoms pieces painted green and black. Very few pieces had moved however all four knights were out of the basic line-up. The final board sat completely untouched red and purple pieces clean and shining as if they had not been touched since the day of creation.

"Don't get to ahead of yourself Hanamiya-sama." Seto's voice rang from the doorway as he slipped into the room observing the magister closely for any signs of annoyance.
"Questioning me are you? I thought we established a rule that stated not to do that." Hanamiya moved one of the blue knights within taking range of a yellow knight without even glancing back over his shoulder as he replied to his subordinated warning.
"Yes." Seto slipped into the seat beside the magister watching the elaborately set-up chess game unfold with a critical gaze.

"How's Haizaki going with training the imbeciles?" Hanamiya queried removing his hand from the board for the moment regarding Seto with a laconic gaze.
"Fantastically apparently." Was the younger man's reply as he met Hanamiya's gaze with ease.
"Good, everything is going to plan." The magister smirked moving to stand. Seto stood along with his leader following the man to the door much like a butler.

"This couldn't be any easier." Hanamiya just smiled.


A/N: I'm not quite sure when my plot started getting so complicated but this wasn't supposed to become a mini novel. Looks like it's going to now. Anyway please follow, favourite and review it motivates me to write more for you guys. I apologize in advance if my updates start becoming a month or so apart I'll endeavour to update as often as possible however I cannot promise anything cause you know high school and extra curricular stuff just loves getting in the way of fanfiction writing.

Thankyou for your understanding
-Angel