A/N: Hey it's a new chapter and a longish one at that so pleas enjoy. This probably marks the end of the first 'arc' per say as I've basically finished the set up (minus Murasakibara and the Earth Kingdom. The next section focuses on them and Akashi with appearances from the other four miracles.) On with the chapter.

-Chapter 11-
Sweet Taste of Victory

Kagami recoiled as the tip of a sword sheathed in fire materialised at his throat. Fierce brown eyes stared back at him as a blond teen stepped out of the shadows not removing the sword from Kagami's neck. The redhead could feel the warmth of the flames licking at his skin even though he couldn't burn thanks to being a fire elemental. A feral grin spread across his face as he knocked the blade away from his neck with the guard of his own weapon stepping back a phew paces in the process. The pair regarded each other with fire dancing in their eyes for mere moments before diving into a brutal, all-for-one sword fight.

They dance in a mix of swords, flames and winds. No words are spoken instead predatory growls take over speaking much of the animalistic natures of most mid-level fire mages. Only the highest-level flame users are talented at sophistication. The rest act like animals when put under any sort of pressure. Around the duo battle had ceased. All eyes had drawn to two of the Shadow and Wind kingdom's most powerful fighters surrounded by rings of flame whipped into shape by the tendrils of Wing magic curling off Miyaji's body.

"You don't knock out one of Hawk's surveillance cameras without paying for it, got it shithead?" Miyaji growled at Kagami parrying another one of the redheads blows with ease. The blond commander hovered about 5cm off the ground in an attempt to lessen the height difference between himself and Kagami, or to make himself look more intimidating.
"If I destroyed a camera that makes this 5 times better, now it's only you I'm fighting not some shitty strategist as well." Kagami spat back feral grin splitting his face from ear to ear scarlet eyes burning with the flames of adrenaline. It was no secret that the redhead got riled up for battle ridiculously easily but this was new. Fire burned along the length of his blade wisps of flame licking along his arms. Kagami was 'burning with excitement' as Izuki liked to put it. (Much to Hyuuga's lack of amusement.)

The animalistic growls and grunts of excerption returned with a vengeance after the short exchange. To the observers eye the two were a pair of blurs surrounded by dancing flames. Metal clang against metal as their swords clashed magic swirling around them neither bothering to control their powers. It took too much concentration when in the heart of an mêlée battle to even bother.

"I win Wind bastard." Kagami had Miyaji pinned snarling only centimetres away from the blond mages face sword aimed for the Wind commander's chest. "I'll spare you're life now, don't expect me to be so courteous next time." Miyaji responded by spitting blood in the Shadow soldier's face. Blood dripped from the side of his mouth staining golden blond hair dusky brown, though the fight had not left his eyes. Despite this, Miyaji could acknowledge his own defeat. His sword lay metres away resembling more of a burnt, slightly melted very twisted mess than a katana like it had originally. Scarlet blood pooled around his body dribbling from multiple wounds littered over his body.

"Next time I won't need you mercy idiot." Ootsubo dragged Miyaji to his feet Kimura and himself supporting the blond warrior between the pair of them.
"This isn't over." Ootsubo directs the growled comment towards Kiyoshi who'd appeared somewhere in the middle of the fight. The brunette general just grins back winking good naturedly.
"I never expected it would be." His voice as usual is full of joy and happy-go-lucky attitude but an unspoken threat lingers in the icy glare he gives the Wind general.

With that the Wind kingdom army disappeared as quickly as they came leaving only bodies and lost weapons behind. The Shadow guard regarded each other with weary gazes surveying the carnage surrounding them. Kagami leant heavily on Mitobe the silent Water-Shadow mix-mage holding the redhead up to the best of his ability. Hyuuga, Kiyoshi and Izuki stood huddled together lost in deep discussion one of them occasionally pointing to something in the scenery before breaking apart to face the remnants of the Shadow army.

"Let's head back, we'll do a casualty count and weapon survey upon return. Shadow Kingdom MARCH!" Hyuuga roared turning on his heel knowing the troops would fall into line without being told twice. They march away into the night back towards Seirin and the safety within the capital city. They had one the battle but definitely not the war. Miyaji and Ootsubo had promised revenge and no Kingdom commander took anything like that lightly. Now the game was waiting for the counterattack.

-Consumed by Shadows-

"I see we have managed to win a battle, thank you Riko-san." Kuroko's quiet voice startled Riko out of her state of concentration. She'd previously been looking over the casualty count from the most recent battle rearranging soldiers to create even units once more.
"It wasn't all my doing Kuroko-sama, Hyuuga, Teppei and the others had a lot to do with it." She replied meeting the king's sky coloured gaze. The ghost of a smile played on Kuroko's lips as the slim teen slipped into the seat opposite Riko regarding the strategy and training master closely.
"I understand that. However, the strategist usually has a lot to do with a battle being won." He offered tilting his head to the side in a questioning manner. The brunette had to chuckle at that. Kuroko was emotionally subtle at the best of time and his thanks was greatly appreciated. The young king didn't respect many despite his polite nature leading many into a false sense of security.

"I appreciate your gratitude Kuroko-sama. However, as both you and I know winning a battle does not mean the war is won. We must be on alert the Wind kingdom will be plotting something, Takao-san is rumoured to be the best strategist in Teikou after all." Riko sighed pinching the bridge of her nose to dissipate an oncoming headache. The last thing they needed was to be fighting an incredibly strong kingdom with a ridiculously talented strategist to boot. Particularly after a large death toll in the last battle not to mention the number of injuries the Shadow army was sporting. She just hoped Midorima and his subordinates could hold off initiating anything for at least a month. Surely their prides must be hurt at the very least.

"Understood Riko-san. I shall leave you to your work now." Kuroko stood pushing his chair in silently. "Thank you for the discussion" With that he is gone door slipping shut behind him without a sound. Riko looks wistfully after her king's back. In her opinion he works far too hard for someone who's barely 16-years-old. The poor kid deserves a break that she knows no one can give him.

But for now the taste of victory is sinfully sweet on her tongue and just for a moment she can relax. Soon they'll be back to training and strategizing, paperwork and observation but whilst victory is still satisfyingly fresh there is down time. A calm before the storm as one could say. Little did Riko know at the time the oncoming storm would turn out to be more like a hurricane.

-Consumed by Shadows-

"They're all starting to get caught." Hanamiya grinned licking his lips in the creepiest manner known to man. Haizaki sat reclined in a wheelie chair feet on the desk in front fiddling with a cigarette lighter as per usual. Seto leant against the wall behind the two fire mages flicking a switch blade in and out of it's sheath irritably.

"Basically we've done a good job of setting up the web, blah blah blah. Can we just get to fight soon? I'm bored." Haizaki grumbled glaring at the Magister with icy grey eyes. Hanamiya just chuckled typing away hurriedly at one of the plethora of keyboards littering the desk before them. A lust for power shone in the Shadow-Fire mix-mages eyes, excitement evident by the tendrils of shadow and flame dancing on his skin. It was rare to see the dark Magister this elated, in fact neither Haizaki or Seto long time allies of the crazed man could remember anything like it.

"All in due time Haizaki, all in due time. They're not caught, not yet." The magister cackled grin splitting his face in half with glee. Haizaki just sighed burning the lighter to ash with his fire magic letting the remnants drop to the wooden floor creating a small pile of ash. It was taking to long in his opinion. The king's didn't even suspect they were up to anything. They might as well just move now before anyone starts getting suspicious that way there wouldn't be any fight. Leap in capture the kings, strategists and strongest guard members and be gone again. Easy done, over, no problem.

"I know what you're thinking Haizaki and no that can't happen. We need to lure all the people we need into Daichi before striking. There aren't enough men to capture all the king's at once and once one is caught the others will be on high alert making it even harder for us." Hanamiya regarded his subordinate and military general with a harsh gaze. They ashen-haired teen shrunk away from the Magister at that much to Seto's amusement causing the elder commander to chuckle slightly.

"Soon my Kings, soon victory will not taste so sweet."

A/N: Thankyou so very much for reading and please follow, favourite and review if you enjoyed. So we now know part of Hanamiya's plan and we all know he's more than just a little power hungry. Question for you guys. I'm unsure if I should add pairings or not as I know there are minor ship wars going on. So if I am going to add ships I wan to know no ones going to get offended if I don't use their personal favourite. (I know one a lot of people are going to be sad about is I don't ship Akashi with anyone. I just can't fathom it he doesn't seem like a person who would be romantic okay?)
Anyway please follow, favourite and review if you enjoyed as it encouragesme to write.

Thank you for reading
-Angel