Hi everybody, I'm back with another chapter... :-) Sorry guys but Aida Riko...will be different here but but there is a good reason why Riko is like this. She won't always be bad...(spoiler alert). She will change sides later :-P I couldn't resist mixing roles for the characters... Anywho! ENJOY (hugs and I love you guys too).
P.S. reviews are appreciated (woof woof - Nigou) ;-)
Chapter 11
"Midorimacchi, we will be meeting up at Momoicchi's house afterwards."
"I understand. Thank you for informing me, Ryouta," There was a pause of thoughtful silence.
"Do you think that Seijuro would agree if the Midorima Health Organisation also publicly invested more money into providing more medical privileges for people in the Inferior class?"
"Hmm...I think that is a good move, but Midorimacchi should be careful of getting negative feedback from the Superiors...god I hate those labels..." Kise mumbled in disgust.
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Midorima wearily replied, "I hate them too, Ryouta. It's just an excuse for society to legally discriminate against normal humans who deserve the same human rights."
"It's ok Midorimacchi. We will bring it all down." Kise's optimism bled through his voice and it made Midorima's chest constrict in fond exasperation.
Chuckling Midorima replied to Kise, "Of course. Thank you for that Ryouta. Stay safe, I'll be back"
Kise chuckled at Midorima's soft, embarrassed answers. Midorima was too cute sometimes. "We will! You don't need to do everything by yourself Midorimacchi. If you need any help just call. Be careful and love you!"
With that the phone hung up with a resounding 'beep'. Motionless Midorima sat there staring at the phone in his hands. How come his bond mates always seem to be able to shock him with these loving gestures all the time?
A knock on the door brought him out of his musings and his friend came blundering in.
Takao Kazunari, a student of medium stature and dark raven hair became his right hand man and the second most powerful person in the Midorima Health Organisation when Midorima found him vehemently protesting against the labels and treatment of Inferiors in front of the Midorima Organisation Headquarters.
Takao gave him a double-take and a smirk. "That blush looks good on you, Shin-chan."
Midorima gave his friend a glare that said don't-you-dare-say-anything-else, and asked
"How are the arrangements going in the Shutoku division?"
Takao plopped down on a seat next to him and started spreading the files he brought on the desk. Takao picked up a sheet and passed it on to him.
"Good. Miyaji, Kimura and Otsubo were eager to oversee the operation and they have their best out now giving the offer to our homeless networks to spread."
"Sounds like you have that sorted out well." Midorima gave his friend a smile.
Takao gave his boss and friend a thumbs up in confirmation and a beaming smile.
"So...Shin-chan is there anything else you need? I was a bit surprised at you offering rebellion groups support. The organisation has always supported inferiors with frequent but discrete projects so this was a bit different. Are you trying to express your political stance?"
"Yes and no. This has a bigger purpose." Midorima replied vaguely. He could not give Takao a straight reply because even his mind could not fully predict Akashi's moves. Takao nodded his head in understanding, he knew that there were some things his friend could not express.
Midorima looked over the statistics for the Midorima Health Organisation (MHO) and was glad to see that they have exceeded expectations and are also currently the leading medical and health organisation in the world. Looking up at his review of the documents, Midorima told Takao.
"From tomorrow onward, the Midorima Organisation will stop any partnerships with the government. We will be focusing on projects and investment with alternative groups and communities." After an awkward moment of silence Midorima looked up to find out why Takao did not reply and was met with a pale shocked face.
"Takao...? What's wrong?" Midorima inquired in concern.
"S-Shin-chan...are you alright? God...are you feeling ok?"
Takao was looking at him with a mix of horror, anxiety and fear. It was a look one might expect as an alien or as a shape-changing monster but not what you might expect as an average human.
"Yes, of course."
"B-but doing that is insane! It's never been done before. That-that's a direct public display of disobedience towards the Supreme council!"
Takao was on his feet running an agitated hand across his hair. "It's not that I don't support you, Shin-chan! It's just a very dangerous move!"
"I know, but the repercussions will not be that bad for Midorima Organisation as a whole. We will not suffer much because of our monopoly of the international medical industry. We are the leading and most prominent medical organisation in the world, there will be no shortage of investors or customers willing to use our services and products. We will definitely not run out of people willing to do business with us."
Takao's grip on Midorima's shoulder tightened and it halted Midorima's rant half-way.
"No Shin-chan! It's not the organisation I am worried about, it's you! The opposition and pressure from the Supreme council will be heavy and ruthless. They won't let you do that without retaliating in some way and they will choose you specifically as their target!"
There was fear in his friend's eyes and he gave the gripping hand on his shoulder a reassuring pat.
"Yes...I know."
A pause in Midorima's words emphasized the depth of his awareness of the severity of those actions, "I know...but it can't be helped. I have to do this."
A long moment of silence stretched between them and Takao gave him a resigned sigh.
"I will take care of any protests from the board of directors and deal with any superiors who have any complaints against you in the organisation."
Takao gave his friend an earnest and pleading look. "I will always support you but...I don't understand why...why are you doing this? Are the rumours true? Is it something to do with your bond mates?"
Midorima looked down at his hands and was unsure about how much he could reveal before he endangered his mates, when Takao's next words convinced him.
"Shin-chan...at least as my best friend tell me a little bit. It doesn't have to be much but...just tell me something..."
Midorima sighed and then told him the truth, "Yes...my bond mates are the members of the Generation of Miracles; Murasakibara, Akashi, Kise and Aomine...but it's not only them."
He looked outside the window to gaze at the setting sun, "Our last bond mate is Kuroko Tetsuya. He's an Inferior." His voice trailed of slowly in brittle pain.
"The Generation of Miracles have decided to step into the political world to stop our bond mate from suffering all the time. To stop him from being treated daily as a creature lower than human...we could not bear it anymore so we have decided to take our stance and challenge the Supreme council."
When Midorima looked at his friend he saw sympathy and pity in those eyes. Takao fell onto the chair next to Midorima in a heap of aching weariness and expelled a heavy sigh. Then Takao gave him a half-hearted glare but his eyes were soft and warm with understanding and reflected anguish.
"God...I can't shout at you anymore, Shin-chan. What you're doing is so damn justified...if I were you...I wouldn't hesitate to destroy everything in my path to help my bond mate."
"Sheesh...you don't do anything half-assed, do you Shin-chan." Takao slung an arm around Midorima's shoulder in camaraderie and casually asked, "So...it's not just you doing this too huh?"
Midorima shook his head in reply. "Yeah...thought so. All the Generation of Miracles are doing that too? Wow...the Supreme council is so screwed this time."
Takao's smile was sharp with sarcastic triumphant and Midorima knew that whatever he decided to do from now on, Takao and his team will have his back and support him fully.
"Yes. Withdraw the Akashi Corporation's support from all government joint projects. There will be no further action until I say so. I will be busy so the decisions will be made by my head management team, Rakuzen. Mibuchi Leo will be acting as CEO temporarily until I am finished with my personal affairs."
Without any fanfare or goodbyes, Akashi hung up on the board of directors and all the division heads and turned around to face his waiting bond mates.
"Daiki, have you sorted out what the Aomine Company's actions will be yet?"
"Yeah. The Aomine sports Company withdraws its support from any funding of national sports events such as the World cup and will be diversifying its target market to include inferiors. We will be buy other International sports events to persuade anybody who wants to advertise or participate to give inferiors more equality by making it an event where both inferiors and superiors are able to participate in competitive sports."
"That sounds great." Akashi gave Daiki a smirk (which Aomine took as a beaming smile so Aomine nodded in pleased happiness).
Murasakibara couln't help but worry for his bond mates' companies...
"Will your company be alright Ao-chin? You won't lose too much business right?"
Before Aomine could reply to Murasakibara's worried questions, Akashi reassuringly answered.
"No. None of our companies will suffer from this action. Our monopoly of our own industries are too great to be surpassed. Each of us have international empires that are extremely prominent with a diversification of popular household brands."
Murasakibara pondered Akashi's words for a while and realized that the food brands and franchises in Murasaki Foods Inc. are so mainstream, popular and internationally dominating that it's hard for his company to suffer a big loss. Murasakibara popped another candy in his mouth and realized that it was similar for the Aomine Sports Co., Akashi Banking & Law Corp., Kise Fashion Inc., and Midorima Health Org.
"Hmm...ok. I understand Aka-chin."
Akashi gave Murasakibara a fond nod and asked if he handled his company's reactions yet, to which Murasakibara replied with a "I told Muro-chin the plan to stop helping with government projects and he agreed to sort out the details for me."
Akashi gave them a final smile and an enveloping mental hug before turning on his heel and walking towards the front door of the Council's Headquarters where members of the Supreme Council reside at.
Akashi prepared himself for the manifestation of multiple headaches today as they were led down a long spacious hallway. They were let into a lush, ornate room filled from top to bottom with velvet material and intricately carved furniture.
Akashi sat down in the middle chair on on one side of the long oak table. He was promptly flanked on both sides by Aomine and Murasakibara and waited. After a few short minutes, the door opened to admit a small petite girl in a black mid-thigh skirt, white blouse, a short hip-length black military coat, a beret and black knee-high boots.
Aida Riko was a girl with shoulder length light brown hair and hazel eyes, who could be frequently seen in mock-arguments with other division heads. Most people would describe her as a feisty spirit whose heart is pure in defense of justice, but to Akashi, she seemed a bit too naive- because of the way her father spoiled her- in her defense of justice.
Aida Riko inclined her head in a normal polite Superior greeting and sat down on the opposite side of the table facing them.
"My name is Aida Riko and I am the head of the public relations division in the Supreme council." Aida Riko's steady voice reflected her confident and unwavering bearing.
"My name is Akashi Seijuro." Akashi said and waited until Daiki said in a deep succinct tone, "Yo. My name is Aomine Daiki", followed smoothly by Atsushi's introduction of, "Hello, I am Murasakibara Atsushi."
Their names must have thrown her off-balance because for a tiny moment Akashi saw a flicker of unease cross her face before it disappeared behind a cool, professional mask.
"What are three prominent international power figures doing at the International HQ?"
Akashi's voice rang out clear in the tense atmosphere. "We wanted to discuss our future plans and our participation in government projects."
"Of course, we are always eager to hear from our most influential partners. Are you speaking for all the Generation of Miracles or only for yourselves?" Aida Riko's voice was sweet with false ignorance when it was common knowledge amongst everyone that if one member spoke, they usually spoke for the all of the Generation of Miracles.
"We are speaking for all of the Generation of Miracles."
Aida Riko leaned back on her chair casually but they could still see the sharp flicker or wariness and caution in her eyes.
Akashi steeled himself and he felt his bond mates tense beside him in peparation.
"From now on, we would like to cease supporting and participating in any government projects."
There was a long tense moment of silence where both sides stared each other down from across the table but it was broken by Aida Riko's wild predatory smile and threatening voice, "I...urge the Generation of Miracles to reconsider their stance. We understand and are willing to look the other way if your declaration was made because you did not fully understand the implications of your actions."
"However...if this is a deliberate strike on your part. The Supreme council will be most...displeased."
Through the bond Akashi could feel Daiki's defensive anger at the implied threat. Akashi discretely placed a restraining hand on Daiki's trembling fists, from the corner of his eye Akashi could see Atsushi lay a similar calming hand on Daiki's back.
"Rest assured, Riko. We fully understand our actions and are prepared to 'deliberately' take it."
"I see." There was nothing but frosty anger in her voice.
The door opened with a soft snick and a tall lanky man entered flanked with a dozen armed bodyguards and personnel.
Aida Riko stood up when the man entered the room and gave a sharp military salute.
"You were late to the Council meeting today Riko so I was sent to check on you." Seto Kentaro stated pleasantly, however his dark eyes were on Akashi, Daiki and Atsushi the moment he entered the room.
"Seto Kentaro-sama, I deeply apologize for missing the council meeting but...some unexpected things have just happened and they required my immediate attention." Aida Riko's polite reply was cool but Akashi could hear a hint of trembling anxiety in her tone.
"Unexpected occurences...hmm? I see."
"This is Akashi Seijuro, Aomine Daiki and Murasakibara Atsushi. They have come today to report that the Generation of Miracles have ceased supporting us until further notice."
Seto Kentaro's eyes narrowed in sadistic rage and Akashi felt Atsushi tense beside him in protective readiness. The aura emitting from him was like a writhing, stalking demon. His sharp eyes were intensely penetrating and shone with a cruel light. Akashi immediately knew that this man was part of the sadistic, tyrannical Kirasaki Daichi group and Head of the Human Segregation Division. Akashi had to tread carefully because in those eyes alongside cruelty there was the palpable force of cunning intelligence.
Akashi did not want to linger in the presence of this man any more than necessary...just in case. So as one they stood up and they each gave a respectful nod and turned towards the door to leave.
However, Seto Kentaro's low, dangerous-edged voice stopped them in their tracks.
"So this is the famous Generation of Miracles. I have always thought that your successes and international dominance are the perfect examples of Superior qualities."
"But I never expected such outstanding Superiors to abandon their own kin for a hopeless misleading ideal..." Seto Kentaro's voice was brimming with mocking, patronizing pity.
"Amateurs should beware of getting devoured in a game they have no experience at, or they will find that one day all their precious, precious mates...taken from them by a cruel spider."