Darkness Descend

by revenanttrickster

Vampire AU. It all started when Kuroko Tetsuya, an ordinary teenage boy with a weak presence, caught the interest of one powerful vampire named Akashi Seijuurou. (AkaKuro)

14. Night 14: The Executioner's Memoire

Disclaimer: Kuroko no Basket is owned by Fujimaki Tadatoshi

Pairing: AkaKuro

A/N: Okay, Aomine's past was something I did not expect. So this is a 23K monster chapter. Ugh, it's so long and I'm tired. I tried to shorten it but Aomine just won't listen to me!

Thanks to my reviewers: Akakuro Seiya, ShinseiShinwa, CC Britannia, kh07gl, KurokoTetsuya101, Tamani, XienRue, Alyce Ochoa, Blukang Blarak, Dark Cat Food Lover, Purpley97, Girl-luvs-manga, Moonta11, Shiro-chan1827, Hasuki-chan, BlueBird22, Tsukinawa Mei, Korunakuroko, Silvinukas, xx-BrittCullen-xx, AnimeXAdventurer, Alexiella, MonkeyDL, manna95, Kasu97, NKloveNK, AyakiStory, Korin Hunter, Kuro13Dead, bioman, ShiroNekoIsMe, xXoAnonymousoXx, Prince-ZuChiRu, jilnachtaugen, Purified Sins, akahana28, Rolancia, Icestar2012, Gashanomad, Avonberryi and 4 Guests. Thanks for the favorite and follow alerts, too.

Warning: Violence ahead. I tried to tone it down. But well, just in case...

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Fourteenth Night: The Executioner's Memoire

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"You really need to work on your stamina Tetsu," Aomine said before taking a swig of his water.

He decided to take a break during their warm-up outside when he noticed Kuroko was close to fainting after puking his gut out. He sometimes forgot that Kuroko wasn't a vampire like them and was more prone to exhaustion unlike him. Aomine glanced at Kuroko, who was lying down on the grass with a towel on his face. "You okay Tetsu?"

"I'll be fine Aomine-kun," Kuroko mumbled, fatigue evident in his voice. "I just need to rest for a minute."

"Don't push yourself Tetsu. You should take it easy, no one's rushing you," Aomine advised to which Kuroko only hummed in answer.

Kuroko's weak stamina aside, Aomine knew he was steadily getting stronger. Not enough to beat a vampire but he was getting there. Plus, Kuroko was ingenious and resourceful enough to worm his way out of trouble.

Truth be told, Aomine didn't know if Kuroko's decision to learn how to fight was coincidental to the problem they were facing right now. Akashi told him that he still hadn't found that vampire's hideout but his leader was securely chipping away their enemy's reserves and it was only a matter of time before Akashi would find them.

And probably kill them before they got their hands on Tetsu. Akashi wasn't the only one who has this deep impulse to protect Kuroko.

Aomine's thoughts halted when Kuroko shifted and sat up. "Got enough rest Tetsu?" he asked, sometimes Kuroko was too stubborn to admit that he wasn't fine and insisted on continuing their training. Good thing Aomine was stubborn, too.

"Yes," Kuroko sighed and took the bottle of water Aomine handed. "I've been meaning to ask but isn't Kise-kun joining us?"

Aomine shrugged his shoulders. "He will, later," he answered. "He's meeting up with another coven."

That seemed to catch Kuroko's interest. "There's another vampire coven here other than yours?"

"No, this is our territory," Aomine shook his head. "They're just visiting. It was supposed to be me but I don't wanna meet them."

Kuroko tilted his head to the side. "Why not? You're not close to them?"

Aomine snorted. "If I went to see them, I won't be able to go back home."

"But why do you need to meet them elsewhere?" said Kuroko. "If they're visiting, shouldn't they just stay here in the mansion?"

Aomine stared at Kuroko's curious sky blue eyes. Akashi is going to kill me for this, he thought. "It's because you're here Tetsu. And Akashi doesn't want any vampire to know about you even from the covens that we trust."

"So you're saying I'm your coven's biggest secret?" Kuroko said, raising an eyebrow.

"Not a secret, really," Aomine amended. "Akashi just wants to protect you. The less people know about you, the better. Just until…" he faltered when he realized he almost spilled the beans.

Kuroko narrowed his eyes at him. "Until what, Aomine-kun?"

"Just until Akashi deemed it safe," Aomine finished, not a lie but not the entire truth either. "You do know that Akashi is well-known in the vampire world, right? So everyone will be curious about you and Akashi doesn't want to put you in the spotlight."

"I see," said Kuroko. "There's also viewing me as Akashi-kun's weakness to consider."

"Yeah," Aomine agreed. That's exactly what's happening right now actually, he silently added. Kuroko was too sharp for his own good. Aomine stood up and stretched out a hand to help Tetsu up. "Anyway, we should head back and continue your training."

If Kuroko noticed Aomine's obvious ploy in ending their topic, he didn't show it and just took the offered hand. They jogged their way back to the training room and Aomine let Kuroko decided what they should do next. Normally, they have a schedule in training Kuroko and it was supposed to be Midorima's turn that day but he was swamped with work (and Aomine didn't know what it was since Midorima was tight-lipped about it) so it fell onto Aomine instead. He didn't mind, he liked teaching Kuroko anyway and it kept him out of boredom.

"Let's just spar Aomine-kun," Kuroko decided.

Aomine rolled his shoulders, getting ready. "Okay, with or without weapons?"

"Without."

"Got it."

And as soon as he said that, Aomine launched himself to Kuroko and he inwardly smirked when Kuroko dodged him at the last minute. It seemed their lessons were working and Kuroko was getting used to sparring in vampire speed. But it still wasn't enough though. Aomine wasn't serious yet and wasn't using his full speed.

Aomine continued in the offensive sometimes subtly maneuvering his body, giving Kuroko the chance to counterattack. His speed increased bit by bit until Kuroko could catch up and counter. At times, he would stop for a moment when he hit Kuroko too hard but Kuroko just waved his concern off. Aomine also noted that Kuroko stuck too much to standard moves that he and Kise taught so it was easy for him to predict what Kuroko would do next. But there were times that Kuroko's strikes and defends were unusual and completely stealthy that always made his guard up.

Aomine made a mental note to tell Kuroko to be more random and unpredictable in his moves. It worked best for Kuroko.

Aomine brought his fist down to Kuroko, who successfully evaded it and grabbed his wrist, hitting his pressure point. He winced at that but forgo the sting as he punched Kuroko hard on the stomach. He watched as Kuroko's body hunkered, unconsciously shielding his stomach. Aomine immediately stopped and crouched down to look over Kuroko. "You okay Tetsu?" he asked, worried that he went overboard.

"I'm fine Aomine-kun. Stop asking me that every time you hit me," Kuroko answered as he straightened up. Kuroko ignored Aomine's helping hand and looked at him with a knowing glint in his eyes. "And I don't appreciate how you keep holding back Aomine-kun."

"I'm not holding back," Aomine denied, lying through his teeth.

Kuroko continued to stare at him with his impassive gaze. "I won't get stronger if you keep doing that Aomine-kun. I can't beat a vampire since I'm human and far weaker than any of you. But I still want to have a fighting chance against one. I know you're stronger than this Aomine-kun. Even Akashi-kun said you're the best fighter in the coven."

"I know that, okay?" Aomine said, scratching the back of his head nervously. "It's just I can't use all my power Tetsu. I might lose control and…I don't want to hurt you."

Kuroko sighed. "Aomine-kun, if I fought a vampire, would he hold back?" he asked rhetorically. "The answer is simple, it's a no. They will kill me or even drank me dry and I refuse to pathetically die like that. Think of it this way Aomine-kun; once I get used to sparring you in full power, no vampire would ever come close to me. You're fast, strong, powerful and have natural battle instinct. Train me Aomine-kun like you would train yourself. And I guarantee you, I will get stronger."

Aomine's eyes widened in surprise at Kuroko's words and strong conviction. He saw Kuroko's resolve firsthand before but he was blown away by how serious Kuroko was. It wasn't just to prove his worth to Akashi and the coven but to earn his place equally to them.

"Heh. Fine, I give up," Aomine grinned widely and dangerously as he went into fighting stance. "Remember Tetsu, you were the one who asked for this."

Aomine didn't wait for Kuroko's answer as he quickly struck him; not giving Kuroko an inch of opening, continuing his relentless attacks.

(Later, Aomine made a mental note to at least control his strength because the promised punishment he got from Akashi was utterly horrifying.)

xXx

Kuroko hissed in pain as Akashi disinfected the wound on his left hand; the cotton soaked with blood as Akashi threw it away and replaced it with another. He watched as Akashi meticulously worked in treating his injuries. He flinched when Midorima bandaged his right arm too tightly. He didn't make any protests however and just kept his mouth shut since he could feel Akashi and Midorima's wrath bubbling on the surface and enveloping the whole room.

Kise was beside Midorima, who assisted him and handed whatever Midorima asked. Kise also comforted Kuroko by patting him on the head whenever he grimaced in pain. It was the only thing that didn't hurt though he was suffering a headache right now. Murasakibara was the only one on the couch but for once no snacks were present in his hands, keeping a careful eye on Kuroko.

"Sorry again Tetsu," Aomine mumbled dejectedly as he knelt on the floor, his head bowed down in regret.

Akashi glared at Aomine. "If you're this repentant then you shouldn't have gone all out."

Kuroko opened his mouth to defend Aomine but he beat him to it. "But Tetsu asked me to spar him in full power."

"The key word is spar. You didn't spar Aomine. You fought Tetsuya like he's a vampire when he is obviously not."

Kuroko saw Aomine cringing when Akashi emphasized any words. "Akashi-kun, please don't get mad at Aomine-kun. If you want to blame someone then blame me instead. Aomine-kun only did what I asked of him."

"I heard what you said to him Tetsuya," Akashi said as he went back to treating his wound. "And you do have a point. But the fault still lies on Aomine. He could have control his strength a little better. How can you train properly when you're this injured after a spar?"

Kuroko paused at that. "You mean I can't train anymore?"

Akashi narrowed his eyes at him. "You need to heal so you need to rest for a few days, a week at most. When you're feeling better then you can resume your training." He then turned his fierce red eyes at Aomine, startling him. "I'll be your sparring partner until Aomine learns control. Understand, Daiki?"

"Yes, sir," Aomine resignedly muttered.

"Wait, Akashi-kun. I'm fine. I can still train," Kuroko said. He couldn't just stop just because Aomine overdid it in their sparring session and he still felt like he had lot of things to learn.

Midorima poked Kuroko's left wrist and he couldn't hide his wince. "Your wrist is sprained," Midorima observed with a disapproval frown on his face. "And the gashes on your hand are too deep. You won't be able to use your left hand for a while. It's a good thing your ribs weren't cracked except for the bruises. In other words, you are in no condition to continue training Kuroko. And it's also part of your training to know when your body needs rest."

"But—"

"Just do what Shintarou says, Tetsuya," Akashi cut off while wrapping Kuroko's left hand with a bandage. "It's for your own good."

Kise nodded in agreement, giving Kuroko an encouraging smile. "That's right Kurokocchi. You don't need to learn everything all at once. It's not like we're in a hurry or anything so it's okay to take a few days off."

"I'll cook your favorite dishes Kuro-chin," Murasakibara added, probably bribing him.

Kuroko inwardly sighed in defeat. He couldn't say no once they all ganged up on him like this. "Fine," he acquiesced.

"Good," Akashi said after bandaging Kuroko's left hand and stood up. He leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on Kuroko's forehead and gave him a tender look and warm smile before striding towards the door. "Aomine, follow me." Aomine instantly stood up and trailed after Akashi but not without giving Kuroko an apologizing look before closing the door.

Kise moved forward and helped Kuroko to stand up, volunteering to accompany him to his room to rest while Murasakibara suggested bringing Kuroko's dinner to his room. Kuroko was close to voicing out his objection but with one sharp look from Midorima, he shut his mouth.

Midorima moved to the door first, saying he needed to check on Aomine. It wasn't lost on any of them what that meant and Kuroko prayed to all the deities he knew that Akashi wouldn't be too hard on Aomine for his punishment. He perfectly well knew that he couldn't stop Akashi anyway but at least he wouldn't kill Aomine. Probably.

Kuroko sighed when his tired, beaten body touched the soft bed, ignoring how Kise fussed over him. But he was grateful Kise was there since he apparently misjudged his strength and was close to passing out when he was changing his clothes if Kise hadn't intervened.

"Are you sure you don't want to eat more, Kurokocchi?" Kise asked as he placed the plate of baked salmon, with only a quarter of it eaten, to the side.

"Yes," Kuroko answered in a sigh. "I'm really tired and I just want to sleep."

Kise nodded and carefully covered Kuroko's body with the comforter. "I'll tell Akashicchi you're sleeping then."

Kuroko gazed at Kise. "Do you think Aomine-kun will be okay?"

"I think so," Kise answered. "I mean Akashicchi's punishments are harsh but they're not life-threatening or anything. We can take what Akashicchi dishes out. Most of the time."

Kuroko's lips curved in a small smile. "That's not what I meant but I'm glad to hear that. I mean, that was the first time I saw Aomine-kun looking so guilty. I don't want him to beat himself up over this. It's not entirely his fault."

"I really can't answer that, I'm not Aominecchi," Kise said with a sigh. "I am mad at Aominecchi just like everyone else but I know that it's not entirely his fault. I just didn't expect him to be this hard on you. Kurokocchi is Aominecchi's favorite person after all and he really likes you. The same goes for the rest of us so seeing you get hurt by someone we trust is conflicting. But I'm sure it's a thousand worse on Aominecchi."

Kise smiled and brushed Kuroko's bangs away from his eyes. "Aominecchi may sulked for a while but don't wait for him to be okay. When you have enough of Aominecchi's brooding, just give him a stern talking or give him your famous rib jab; that should get him out of his mood. If it's Kurokocchi, I'm sure it'll work out."

"Thank you Kise-kun," Kuroko smiled, feeling at ease for the first time.

Kise returned the smile. "You're welcome Kurokocchi. Good night."

"Good night, Kise-kun," Kuroko whispered before closing his eyes and sleep swept him away to dreamland.

xXx

It seemed like Kise was right.

Aomine was in a mood to sulk apparently. And what was worse was that Aomine was also hiding and keeping his distance from Kuroko.

It was plainly obvious and even Kise and Murasakibara couldn't hide their snickers when Kuroko appeared for breakfast with Akashi and Aomine hastily ran away from the dining room at the sight of him. At least in that few seconds, he saw Aomine appeared alright after Akashi's punishment (he didn't ask Akashi what he did, it was better if he was ignorant about it).

Since Kuroko wasn't allowed to train, he decided to go to the library with Kise following him like a lost puppy. Kise almost run him over when he suddenly stopped upon seeing Aomine in the hallway. Kise let out a boisterous laugh while holding his stomach at Aomine's deer caught in the headlights look before he opened the nearest window and jumped from the second floor without a second thought.

Kuroko was starting to get annoyed at that point.

Aomine refused to have lunch with them and Kuroko's irritation didn't escape the coven's notice. (And he wasn't stupid enough not to know that they were betting how long Aomine would last, even Akashi joined up with them. He made a mental note to lecture them later.)

At his incensed mood, no one wanted to stay with Kuroko lest they get caught in it so they left him alone. He was on the hallway and was walking towards the garden, partly to calm himself down and another part to look for Aomine. He would heed Kise's advice for him last night.

Kuroko paused when he saw Aomine walking ahead of him, it seemed like they had the same idea to get some fresh air. And before he could think about it, he sneaked behind Aomine. The vampires were getting better in sensing him even with his weak presence but once he was serious and concentrated, they had a hard time tracking him (except Akashi for some reason).

"Aomine-kun," Kuroko called out.

Aomine looked back when Kuroko called his name as if automatic only to flinch back when Aomine saw his pissed off expression. Kuroko knew his aura was a bit dark, too. "T-Tetsu!"

Kuroko frowned at Aomine. "How long do you intend to ignore me Aomine-kun?" he asked. "I'm not mad."

"Liar!" Aomine yelled in complaint, pointing at Kuroko's angry face. "You looked pretty mad right now!"

Kuroko sighed, his annoyance dissipating. "Just like I said, I'm not mad. But I'm also not happy that Aomine-kun is giving me the cold shoulder."

"I'm not giving you the cold shoulder," Aomine mumbled, scowling as he uncomfortably pocketed his hands. "I just…I thought you didn't want to see me after what I did to you yesterday so I made myself scarce. I thought it was for the best."

Kuroko stared at the despondent look on Aomine's face. He was really guilty for giving Kuroko his injuries. "I know you feel guilty about what happened, Aomine-kun," Kuroko said. "But I'm not blaming you for it. The same goes for the others as well."

Aomine stared at him disbelief. "Do we even know the same coven?"

Well, okay, Kuroko may be laying a bit thick on there. But he knew the coven wasn't really mad at Aomine just like Kise said. They were just disappointed in him since out of all everyone—except for Akashi—Aomine was the one who Kuroko was close to. And they were positive that with Aomine, Kuroko would be in good hands.

"How long are you going to keep ignoring me?" Kuroko asked but didn't wait for Aomine to respond. "It's a lost cause Aomine-kun. We live in the same house and we're bound to see each other even if you try to run or escape unless…" he faltered and stared at Aomine, who looked uncomfortable. "…Unless you're going to leave?"

Aomine blinked at Kuroko's words before shaking his head and waved his arms in rebuff. "I'm not going anywhere! Where did you get that idea from?"

Kuroko shrugged but he was silently relieved for that. "You're insistent in keeping your distance Aomine-kun. It's not my fault that I came to that conclusion."

Aomine blew out a big breath while his hand rubbed the back of neck in awkwardness. "I'm not going to leave you or the coven," he said. "And it's not like Akashi would permit me to leave because I was hiding from you."

"So you do admit that you were hiding from me."

Aomine winced at the reminder but didn't object since it was true anyway. He gazed straight in Kuroko's eyes. "Are you mad at me?"

"Of course not," Kuroko shook his head. "I did ask Aomine-kun to spar with me seriously. So would you please stop sulking? I will really do get mad if you keep doing this Aomine-kun. It's not funny."

Aomine snorted. "Looks like the rest are having fun with this," he grumbled in annoyance. He then shouted as if wanting the whole coven to hear. "No one won, you idiots! And Kise, I'll kick your ass later for starting this bet!"

"Asshole," Kuroko heard Aomine angrily muttered under his breath, probably from Kise's response which Kuroko couldn't hear. "And damn it, I can't believe Akashi won."

Kuroko wasn't surprised at the last statement. He already had an inkling of what the result would be when he heard Akashi joining in. "Never mind them Aomine-kun. They're just bored."

"So they're using me for their own amusement?"

"Well, you are acting quite childish. Can you blame them?"

Aomine only frowned at that and then sighed. He gazed at Kuroko with a despondent expression on his face. "So we're okay now?"

"We've been okay from the very start Aomine-kun," Kuroko said with a smile. "You're the one who got this absurd idea that I'm mad at you."

Aomine rubbed the back of his neck as he averted his gaze from Kuroko. "Yeah, yeah, I know that," he said and tried to change the subject. "So what were you going to do anyway?"

"Getting some fresh air," Kuroko answered. "You were, too, Aomine-kun?"

Aomine cleared his throat. "Uh, yeah, you could say that."

Kuroko raised his eyebrow in amusement. "You were trying to evade me, weren't you?"

"A-Anyway," Aomine hastily tried to steer away the conversation, "what are you going to do outside? I mean, don't you have something to do?"

Kuroko shook his head. "Did you forget that Akashi-kun forbade me to train? I'm feeling a bit restless so I wanted to go outside and relax."

"But Akashi only forbade you to train physically. What about your lessons with Midorima? He's teaching you about vampire related things, right?"

"Yes, he does," Kuroko nodded. "But Midorima-kun said he was busy with something and ordered for me to rest for the whole day."

Aomine furrowed his brows at his answer. "I'm getting curious as to what Midorima is doing but whatever," he said with a shrug. "Do you really want to learn something Tetsu?"

"Yes, please."

With his hand on his chin, Aomine seemed to think it over. "Well, there is something I can teach you that won't require physical strength."

"Really, what is it?" Kuroko was used to having a busy day that doing nothing was getting him bored out of his mind. "And please, don't say pranks."

"It's not a prank," Aomine said and then paused. "Although you can use it for pranks but that's not the point." Aomine's face and grin were full of mischievousness. "This lesson is perfect for you, Tetsu."

Kuroko didn't know what to feel about that.

xXx

"Just a little more," Aomine muttered and when he heard an audible click, grinned in triumph. He turned to Kuroko. "And that's how you pick a lock."

Kuroko wasn't staring at Aomine's accomplished face but rather the dark menacing aura behind Aomine. He watched as Midorima whacked Aomine with a thick hard bound book, glowering at him. "Don't use other people's room for your amusement, Aomine!"

"Damn it," Aomine cursed, nursing his head. "The hell was that for Midorima!"

"You have the gall to ask!"

"But yours was the perfect room," Aomine protested with a scowl. "Kise and Murasakibara's room are always open. Akashi and Tetsu's are out of the question."

Midorima's left eye twitched in concealed anger. "There are a lot of locked rooms in the mansion. Unoccupied."

"Yeah, but where's the fun in that?"

"Aomine!" Midorima yelled, enraged.

It fell on Kuroko's shoulders to stop the argument between the two vampires (Midorima could be childish at times), telling Midorima that they were sorry for intruding on his work and persuaded Aomine to use the other rooms for their lesson.

Aomine only glared at Midorima's door when he slammed it shut after one last lecture at Aomine. "Tch, that tsundere!" Aomine grumbled.

"Midorima-kun does have a point."

"Whatever."

Kuroko glanced at Aomine walking beside him, who was scowling in irritation. Out of all the things Aomine could teach him, picking locks was the last thing on Kuroko's list but knowing Aomine it wasn't that surprising. The only thing bothering Kuroko was Aomine seemed too knowledgeable about it almost to the point of obsession. Kuroko had to slow Aomine down in his lessons from picking an ordinary lock, how to free oneself from rope binding, taking inventory of escape routes when captured and other extreme situations.

The only common denominator was all that of them dealt with a capture and flee scenario.

Sure, Aomine briefly explained how to infiltrate locked or heavily guarded places but he put emphasis on always learning and devising plans how to get out of it. There must be a huge reason for Aomine to be like this.

The only conclusion Kuroko could come up with was that Aomine was captured before and freed himself but not without acquiring mental scars or psychological trauma. Aomine being well-versed in those concepts could also be a side-effect; of not wanting to be trapped and go through it all again.

"You seem to know a lot about this, Aomine-kun," Kuroko mused, softly treading on dangerous grounds. Aomine could shut him off and Kuroko would be fine with it. A subject this sensitive should be dealt with sensibly.

"Because when I was a kid, I got captured and tortured and lost my humanity."

Before Kuroko could blink at Aomine's confession, he grabbed Kuroko's shoulders and steered him forward.

Kuroko sensed the slight inflection in Aomine's voice and tone and he was tempted to look back just to see Aomine's face but he got this feeling that he shouldn't so he let Aomine directed him to the garden. Aomine let Kuroko go and headed straight to one of the trees, patting the grass next to him for Kuroko. Kuroko sat to Aomine's left and the both of them looked up as orange and brown leaves showered their surroundings.

Kuroko was nervous and apprehensive because he knew Aomine was finally ready to talk. He wasn't ready for this and didn't expect it but who was he to stop Aomine. All he could do now was to listen to Aomine's story.

"I was an orphan, you know," Aomine started and Kuroko gazed at him, quietly listening to Aomine. "I really don't remember much about my parents since they died when I was too young. My mom's sister—my aunt—became my guardian. I loved living with her and her husband as well as her three daughters which I treated as my older sisters. I even made my first friend. And then one day, without any warning, my normal happy days were taken away from me…"

xXx

"Wow!"

Aomine grinned widely as he surveyed the vast wild green field in front of him; one hand on the bark of the tree as he stood precariously on its thick branch, not minding how high he was from the ground and could fall off anytime. When he heard from his aunt that he was moving from Japan to Italy, where his aunt's family lived, he was ecstatic. He didn't like having to live with his grandfather since he was too strict and didn't allow him to go outside and play.

His aunt said they were at the edges of Tuscany, whatever that meant. All he could grasp was the wild beauty surrounding him. He could also see his uncle's horses wandering around and some goats and sheep, too. But his eyes traveled farther to the tall mountain and the lush forest beneath it. He told his uncle that he wanted to explore it but his uncle only ruffled his hair and said that he could when he grows up.

In his child mind, Aomine decided. He loved this place.

"How many times do I have to tell you to stop climbing tall trees, Daiki?"

Aomine looked down and saw Alina-nee—his aunt's middle child. Her wild and unruly brown hair got tangled up due to the wind but she ignored it, her hands were on her hips and her green eyes glaring up at him. Aomine saw a basket full of strawberries at the ground near her feet and his eyes sparkled at the sight.

Aomine tune out Alina's lectures about safety and danger. He already heard it enough times that he practically memorized it as he climbed down the tree. He jumped down when he was close enough to the ground amidst Alina's shriek of surprise. He ran to the basket and took out a handful of strawberries and was close to eating one when Alina grabbed his wrist.

"No, Daiki," Alina said, waving a finger on his face. "You'll upset your stomach again if you eat this."

"But I want to eat! I'm hungry!"

"You can eat this after dinner. You don't want Mamma to scold you again, do you?"

"Now, Alina, you can give him one. Mamma would not mind surely."

Both Aomine and Alina whirled to the direction of the voice and saw Elena, the oldest of the sisters and in Aomine's opinion, the prettiest person he knew. Her platinum blonde hair swayed at her back while walking towards them, her bright blue eyes twinkled in happiness. "Buon pomeriggio, il mio fratellino," she greeted him, crouching down to pat his cheek affectionately.

"Buo…Bon…pomegiri…" Aomine pouted when he couldn't greet Elena back in Italian. He still wasn't used to the language even after months of trying to learn it. His aunt only laughed cheerily when he complained about it and said that he would learn it soon enough. He could understand a little but speaking it was hard.

Elena only gave him a sweet smile and caressed his hair tenderly before switching to Japanese. "We told you before, did we not? You can use Japanese to talk to us."

"No," Aomine shook his head stubbornly. "I'll learn Italian."

"You spoil him too much Elena," Alina spoke, crossing her arms over her chest.

Elena only chucked at her sister. "I don't think you can say that Alina. I do remember having someone slipped Daiki a bowl of soup and bread when Mamma barred him for dinner because he ate too many apples."

Alina's whole face turned a shade of red. "That was not me!" she protested. "It was…it was a fairy! You know, like a brownie!"

"There is no such thing as fairies especially brownies Alina-nee," Aomine objected which only cause Alina to splutter. He paid no heed to her and tugged Elena's skirt. "Elena-nee, where is Liliana-nee? I haven't seen her since this morning. Did she go to the town today?"

"Yes, she did," Elena answered. "She went to accompany Papa. But I'm certain they are back now, just in time for dinner."

At the word dinner, Aomine got excited. "Are we going to eat now? Are we going to eat now? I'm hungry, Elena-nee!"

Elena laughed and hugged Aomine to settle him down. "We should head back then and see if Mamma prepared a feast for us," she suggested and Aomine nodded in compliance, taking Elena's outstretched hand as they walked hand in hand with Alina at his other side, carrying the basket of strawberries.

"By the way, Daiki, where is that friend of yours?" Alina asked with a teasing smile. "You know, your sweetheart."

Aomine's lips twitched into a grimace. "Satsuki is just a friend, Alina-nee."

"She's your only friend, Daiki," Alina rebutted. "I know perhaps it is because she is also Japanese like you. But you should play with the other children from the town as well. Satsuki needs to have friends aside from you."

Aomine frowned. "I don't want to. I don't need other friends if they harass Satsuki. And Satsuki only needs me. She doesn't need other friends."

The two sisters shared a knowing look and smile as they watched Aomine scowl at the thought of his friend having other friends than him. To distract Aomine, Elena suggested for them to sing as they made their way home. Aomine grinned as he listened to his sisters' wonderful voices and sometimes joined them when Alina forced him.

If Aomine knew that it was the last happiness he would experience, he would have done everything to protect it.

When they were near their house, Aomine shook off Elena's hand and sprinted fast towards their home in excitement. He unceremoniously opened the door, shouting for his aunt and uncle and Liliana's name. The grin on his face froze at the brutal sight that greeted him.

Aomine stiffened as he took the horrific scene in front of him. His auntie's body was on the floor, her hazel eyes lifeless and her dress was covered with blood. He dragged his eyes to his uncle and found him face down on the floor, blood still seeping out from two punctured wounds on his neck, the same as his aunt. And lastly, his Liliana-nee, clawing her hands to the arms of the man, who grabbed her neck, letting her dangle off from the floor.

Liliana saw him and her violet eyes pleaded for him to run away. "…Dai…ki…" she choked out, silently telling him to get away from there but Aomine was rooted on his spot as if his body no longer knew how to move.

"Daiki!"

That seemed to break Aomine from his immobility as he whirled around to Elena and Alina. "Run!" he shouted, panicked. "Get away from here!" But he was too late as three men suddenly appeared and grabbed his two sisters. He ran towards them but he was taken by the other man. "Let me go!"

Aomine stilled when he heard Liliana's mangled scream inside the house and turned towards her. His eyes widened when he saw the man nibbling on Liliana's neck—no, not nibbling—he was sucking. The man was sucking his sister's blood. He heard a loud cry of anguish, piercing through the air. He would later found out it came from him. "Stop it! Stop! Let her go! Don't kill her!" The man restraining him clamped his hand to his mouth, muffling Aomine's cry and shout.

He yelled and bawled when the man dropped Liliana's lifeless body to the floor, his arms reaching out to her. He punched and kicked all his might to the man holding him but it was no use, it was like fighting a huge wall.

"You're like a wild animal, kid."

Aomine paused and glared at the man, who just killed his Liliana-nee. He blinked in shock when he noticed fangs behind the man's mouth. He didn't notice the hand on his mouth removing as he said, "Who...who…no, what are you..?"

The man in front of him smirked. "We're called vampires, kid. And you're going to be our next meal."

xXx

Aomine huddled alone on the corner of the dark chamber away from the other captives, flinching whenever someone touched him. He didn't like to be touched; it reminded him of those evil creatures and what they did to him. He wanted to go back home and he cried at the reminder. There was no home anymore, his house was in flames the last time he saw and probably burnt down to the ground now. Auntie and Uncle and Liliana-nee were now gone, his vision assaulted by their grotesque bodies on the floor of their house.

He also remembered Alina-nee's petite body being thrown like a rag doll after those vampires drowned themselves in her blood. And Elena-nee…His Elena-nee…They treated like their plaything and Aomine was forced to watch it all. He trembled in fear when he recalled Elena-nee's last embrace for him, shielding him as those creatures viciously beat her body while being protected beneath her.

Aomine was numb all over, everything was a blur. And then, a hand took hold of his, it was so warm and reminded him of home. He looked up and saw that familiar pink eyes he thought he would never see again. He unconsciously reached out and pulled her towards him, to ground him from this nightmare. He didn't know if it was a dream or just his imagination. But Satsuki's warmth felt too real and he could smell her sweet flowery scent.

And then everything came crashing down.

Aomine remembered where he was. Why he was being kept. Who kept him imprisoned there. And used him like a cattle.

No. No. No. Not Satsuki. Not Satsuki. Anyone else but Satsuki.

This mantra kept playing in his head but he kept his hold on her tighter.

"Dai-chan…"

Aomine refused to cry, to shed more tears but something warm and wet poured out of his eyes and trailed on his face. He was so tired of being so helpless. He felt Satsuki's small arms wrapped around his back. He knew he should be the strong one between the two of them but for now he didn't care. He mumbled her name over and over again as if a prayer.

It was in that instant that Aomine vowed to protect her. He swore on his life.

"They got you, too," Aomine mumbled in Satsuki's hair once he calmed down. "Are you alone?"

Satsuki somewhat nodded her head and Aomine gritted his teeth, knowing what that meant. His hold on her tightened as he consoled her with his presence, protecting her from the pain and grief. No wonder she looked so lost and her body shook with fear and confusion.

"What do they want?" Satsuki asked. "Are they punishing us because they enjoy inflicting pain on others?"

"That's part of it, I think. But the main reason why they are here is because of some treasure hidden inside the village."

"Treasure?" Satsuki repeated. "You mean that artifact. The one, according to the rumors, will give you immense power?"

Aomine nodded. "That's the one."

"But are they not strong enough? They're not…They are not human like us, aren't they?"

"They said they're vampires," Aomine answered. "I saw them drink blood from…" Satsuki must have sensed who he was talking about as she burrowed closer to him and buried her face onto his small shoulder, his shirt getting wet as tears spilled from her eyes. "Whatever the case, unless they get their hands on that artifact they won't let us go."

"Even if they found it, will they let us go?"

"I don't know," Aomine murmured. "I hope so."

Their hopes were crushed though when those creatures' search for the artifact proved to be futile and Aomine and Satsuki watched as the prisoners' numbers diminished. Their favorite seemed to be Aomine as they forced him to watch them tortured the others before drinking his blood. He didn't ask Satsuki what they do to her but he got the feeling that they only drink her blood. His whole body quaked in anger at the thought and made his blood boil. Aomine then warned Satsuki to keep her distance lest they used her to torment him and he couldn't let that happen. He couldn't let Satsuki get hurt because of him.

That proved to be futile when time passed and only ten of them were left with Satsuki as the only girl. Aomine heard those bastards talking when they thought he passed out after sucking his blood. They planned to use and sell Satsuki. It took a lot in Aomine to control and suppressed the rage consuming him as he listened to their plans. He couldn't let that happened. He would rather die than let them get their dirty hands on Satsuki.

Aomine knew he only had short time left and only a half-baked plan to execute but it was better than the alternative. He didn't care if he was tortured or died for Satsuki's sake. As long as she was safe and far away from this nightmare then it would be worth it. Satsuki was worth it. He would protect her no matter what it took.

It was hard for Aomine to make preparations. From what he could make out, those vampires could hear from probably miles away and their vision was the same as well. He didn't know if they had more abilities aside from that but it didn't hurt to be more careful. He was vigilant and it helped that Satsuki memorized the house's layout. She did have that talent of memorizing things easily.

Satsuki offered her help when he told his plan and he was grateful for it. Aomine swallowed the bitter regret of deceiving her. He wasn't saving both of them. He knew that only one of them would escape and he would do everything for it to be Satsuki.

With the arrangements done, Aomine didn't hide his closeness with Satsuki anymore. He would treasure the short time that they were together. He drew out a reluctant promise from Satsuki to live her life to the fullest. Satsuki was worried when he said that and made him vow to survive, to not die. Aomine swore his vow but in his mind he let out a silent apology to Satsuki for lying.

He knew the vampires would notice their close relationship and he wasn't failed when they dragged him and Satsuki outside to a small field. He heard their taunts and jeers for a long time that he became immune to it. His calm composure rattled them, of course until they pulled Satsuki by her hair.

"Let her go," Aomine hissed, trying to reach out to her but he was restrained by the vampire keeping him. "She has nothing to do with this."

"Oh, but she has everything to do with this," said one vampire while touching Satsuki's hair and face. "She seems to be very important to you. Is she your friend or a lover? I couldn't blame you, she is pretty. We're only waiting for her to grow up until she was ripe for the taking."

Aomine growled and hissed, shouting curses to them. His breath stopped and then coughed up blood when a vampire punched his stomach hard. He sank down on his knees as he clutched his stomach as he slowly looked up to stare at Satsuki. He nodded his head once and that was enough. The vampire holding Satsuki screamed when Satsuki stabbed his hand with a small knife hidden in her dress.

"Run Satsuki!" Aomine shouted as he grabbed the vampire's feet behind before it could follow Satsuki.

Satsuki faltered, keeping an eye on him and the vampires. "Dai-chan…"

"Just go!" Aomine yelled and that seemed to snap Satsuki as she ran to the forest.

"Do you think you can run?" one vampire asked, calm despite the fact that one of their captives was running for her life. "We're faster than you puny humans!"

Aomine grinned as he wiped the blood on his lips. "I know we cannot outrun any of you but I sure as hell know I can stop you from going after her."

"With what? By fighting us?"

There was an advantage in being underestimated and he was glad that none of the vampires followed Satsuki yet. He lugged himself to a barrel while holding his stomach as he kept an eye to the vampires. He should hold them off to give Satsuki some time. "I know what your weakness is."

One vampire raised an eyebrow. "We don't have any weaknesses."

Aomine only gave them a smirk before kicking the barrel and the pungent smell of oil filled the air. He took out the match in his pants and lit one. The vampires realized what he was about to do and dove towards him but they were late as he dropped the stick to the oil, instantly igniting a fire until it rapidly swallowed dried grass and surrounded them with an inferno.

One vampire grabbed Aomine by the throat as the acerbic stench of smoke overflowed. "You damn brat!" the vampire cursed. "All of you put out the fire and then follow the girl!"

"We can't! The fire is spreading too fast and the forest will probably be swallowed up by it as well."

The vampire clucked his tongue but gave Aomine a smug sneer as he dropped him to the ground and Aomine coughed up for air but it was hard due to the smoke and on top of that, he was gradually losing consciousness. "A valiant effort, kid but it seems your heroics were all for naught. Your friend might have gotten away but she can't run from this fire."

Aomine only coughed again as he covered his nose with his hand. Let those vampires think what they thought. That forest was his and Satsuki's playground. They knew it like the back of their hands, there was no way Satsuki would get lost. And besides, he already instructed her to hide in their hideout—a hidden cave. No one but them knew about it, the fire wouldn't catch Satsuki there. She only needed to stay there for a day or two before seeking help. And then, she would be safe.

"We need to get away from here," Aomine heard one vampire said. "This place will be burnt down soon."

"Fine, grab the kid. He had a lot of paying to do."

Aomine felt being hauled off. He didn't where they were going or even what they were going to do with him. Darkness was taking over his perception. His only saving grace was that Satsuki was now safe.

When he woke up, Aomine got tortured—punished—tormented—and suffered within every inch of his life.

But for Satsuki's sake, it was worth it.

It was so, so worth it.

xXx

Numb. Isolation. Pain. Dark. Loneliness.

Satsuki. Hope. Satsuki. Hope. Satsuki.

Aomine kept repeating Satsuki's name in his mind. It was the only thing that kept him sane and his only hope to not give up. To just succumb to the darkness. But he wouldn't die. He couldn't die. Not yet. Not here.

They have to pay first.

And Aomine would kill them.

Revenge sounded terribly sweet in his mouth.

Aomine opened his eyes when the door opened and light shone through in his prison but he was weak and tired and hungry and exhausted so he kept his body in a fetal position. He learned how to endure the pain. A necessity if he wanted to continue living. He would scream and shout the first few times but he realized his screams motivated them more. So he learned to be quiet. He would let out a sob, a whimper or two but he wouldn't scream. That challenged them but Aomine refused to break down until they gave up.

"…sure…want…kid…"

Aomine heard one of them but he was losing consciousness and couldn't follow the conversation.

"…use…him…"

Aomine found himself being picked up like a rag doll. There was no point in fighting when he was this drained. And if they tried to kill him, Aomine already had a plan just in case. Observing these bastards proved to be useful especially when they disregarded his presence.

Aomine was thrown to the ground and inwardly winced at the painful impact on his tailbone. He could hear the vampire ordering someone but comprehension slowly left him. And then, he felt water gliding down his parched throat, he took a mouthful and drank with all his might until he choked and gasped. He opened his eyes and saw a middle-aged woman holding a cup of water near his mouth. He opened his mouth to ask who she was and where he was but the woman shook her head.

Aomine carefully sat up with the woman's helping hand and whirled towards the door when it was abruptly opened. He saw one of the vampires and instinctively closed off his emotions. The vampires watched him and said, "Clean up, kid. It's time to pay your dues." And with that, the vampire left after giving the woman a pointed look.

Aomine didn't know what that meant but he silently watched as the woman handed him a bucket full of water and a towel. The woman didn't say anything and only pointed to the clean clothes on the table near the bed before leaving the room. Although tired and confused, he didn't pass up the chance to get clean and dressed in fresh clothes. It was a slow process but he did it anyway just in time for the woman to come back.

The woman scrutinized him before motioning for him to follow her. Aomine could feel his body was close to its limit but he moved onward and trailed after the woman. He blinked when they stopped at a double door and the woman knocked before opening it. Aomine saw all the vampires lounging on the chairs, drinking ale. One of them waved the woman off and he was left alone in a room full of vampires. His heart beat loudly against his chest and he knew the vampires could perfectly hear it.

"Do you know why you're here, kid?"

Aomine glanced at the vampire he saw earlier. "I heard it was because I have to pay my dues," he whispered, still not use to talking after so many years of not using his voice. How he could have any debt was absurd. It wasn't like he owed anything to these bastards.

"You know we could have killed you or drained you of blood, right?" said one while smoking a pipe of tobacco. "You're the only one alive so we think it's time we make use of you."

Aomine didn't respond though he was worried on what they would do with him.

"How are old are you, kid?"

"How should I know, it's not like I have a calendar in my cell."

One of the vampires smirked. "Talking back now, huh? It's been nine years since we took you, kid. Do some bloody math unless you can't count."

"Sixteen," Aomine mumbled, shocked that so many years passed since he was in this hell. "I'm sixteen."

"You sure we can use this kid?"

"Well, he does clean up nicely. We could use that; if he dies then he dies. We can find other baits."

Aomine curled his fist tightly as he listened to the vampire's plans for him. So his role was bait? Bait for what exactly, humans or…?

His assumption was right when they hauled him off that night and began their plans. His days in a new role as bait started as he attracted vampires left and right and lured them to a trap. He didn't know why his captors killed vampires as well but he didn't question it and instead observed carefully. He made several attempts of fleeing but they always found him which resulted to punishments and his task got more and more hard. Until that one night when he almost got killed by his vampire mark and saved himself by staking it in the heart with a stray piece of wood from a broken chair.

Aomine's captors were fascinated when they found out and took him with them for their vampire hunt. It was in this time that he acquired the skill to be a vampire hunter. He refused to acknowledge that he learned something from these bastards and it wasn't like they taught him anyway. It was purely because of his instincts and studying them that he was still alive. Well, that and his iron will to survive as well as his promise to Satsuki.

Their motive in including him in their hunt and even revealing the knowledge of killing vampires; this weigh heavily on Aomine's mind. He wondered every single day and night for years but no answers came up. Weren't these vampires worried that he might use what he learned to them? But considering how they belittle humans, they must have thought that Aomine stood no chance against them if he did try. In a way, it was true but these vampires didn't know he has a few tricks up his sleeves. All he needed was the right opportunity.

And indeed an opportunity came up.

But he failed.

Aomine only smirked when a vampire gave him so many lashes. He was used to the pain that this punishments didn't hurt anymore. His attempt of killing them may have failed but it was a success in a way as he dwindle their numbers to a half and only four of them remained. The vampires were shocked that a mere human got the best of them and locked him up in a dungeon, trying to make him suffer for days and days. But he couldn't forget that exhilaration thrumming sweetly in his body when he killed most of his captors.

The vampires noticed their punishments weren't working on Aomine and in their sick twisted mind they came up with something that would afflict great sorrow on him. Aomine felt that bad sensation in the pit of his stomach when he saw the vampires smirking evilly at him. And after so many years, he screamed and screamed when they sucked his blood, draining him until he was close to death. Fleetingly, he knew they wouldn't kill him because they were going turn him to something he hated with every fiber of his being.

They were turning him into a vampire. Just like them.

Aomine choked on the blood passing in his cold lips. He didn't want to swallow it. He could not. It would be the point of no return. But the blood passed through his throat before he blacked out.

And then there was only fireicefireiceheatcoldheatcold

Aomine's body was burning inside. He thrashed and tossed at the awful sensation in his body. He didn't even notice that he broke free of his restraints until he was on the floor, his body hunched protectively as he shouted for help, roared for the agony to stop and bellowed out his anger to those bastards.

He didn't know how long it lasted and thought he died when he felt strangely at peace.

Aomine blearily opened his eyes and was surprised when his vision was crystal clear, crisp and sharp. He sluggishly sat up and he stared down at his hand, he could feel this immense power pulsating inside of him, waiting to be unleashed. He put a hand to his face as he let out a hoarse laugh, getting louder and louder until it turned to a guffaw of sorrow and grief. He was still laughing when the steel door opened and saw a vampire.

It was all instinct. It was as if Aomine's body was on auto pilot as he launched himself to the vampire, his hand grasping its heart. He clutched it in his hand before savagely snatching it from its body. He crushed it with his hand, blood spraying over him as the vampire stared wide-eyed before crackling to dust.

The vampires heard the commotion and Aomine wasted no time as he used his burst of speed, meeting them halfway. Even with his now boost of strength, Aomine was still a baby compared to these vampires who lived for years and years and had more experience than him. But he was more driven as he fought back and kicked one, the door splintering open and Aomine followed the vampire as he put it on a headlock and twisted its head viciously, hurling the severed head to the burning fireplace and kicking its body onto it as well.

Startled, Aomine choked when another vampire grabbed his throat and slammed him to a wall. He grabbed the vampire's arm and twisted it angrily. He kicked the vampire hard and leaped to follow it when at the corner of his eye; he saw a glint of metal and jumped back before the sword could touch his neck. He evaded and dodged the swings of the blade while he searched for something that would help him but finding none.

Having no choice, Aomine grabbed the sword's blade swinging his way and let out an incensed hiss when he felt the pure silver burning his hand. He braved through the pain as he clutched onto the blade and punched the vampire on its solar plexus. He spun the sword and grabbed the hilt and before the vampire could blink, he swung the sword in a huge arc, decapitating the vampire.

He panted and then looked up when he saw the last vampire scream, lunging at him. He dropped the sword and took the vampire head on with a whirl of punches and kicks. He coughed up blood when the vampire pitched him onto the floor. He fought off the vampire above him and with a tilt of his hip, their positions changed. Aomine pinned the vampire's hand. He doesn't know why or how but the stinging of his fangs was overwhelming. With no second thought, Aomine brutally bit onto the vampire's neck, drinking and sucking its blood ferociously.

The vampire underneath him turned and flailed, trying to fight him off but with blood leaving its body, it was no use. Aomine continued to drink and drink, sating this uncontrollable thirst. When he knew there was no more, he sat back and got off the vampire. He silently watched as the vampire's corpse quickly crackled and burst into ashes.

After some time, Aomine straightened up and with his now sharpened hearing; he swiveled to his right and found three women—maids? captives?—huddled behind the wrecked door, shivering in fear and alarm. He must be a horrible sight with his clothes and body all drenched in blood, his fangs prominent on his face as he licked the trickle of blood on his face and the walls splattered with dark red blood, its tangy scent filling the whole room while the floor had ashes and dust of the dead vampires scattered around.

Aomine once heard about newborn vampires being mad with thirst for blood and would go on a killing rampage if not controlled. The three women shook as he continued to stare at them as if knowing what he was thinking. But he didn't need their blood. He didn't hunger for blood. It was like his desire was fulfilled, his thirst for revenge finally quenched. With one last glance at the women, he turned to the door and slowly made his way out of that haunting house.

Aomine thought that with his vengeance done he would feel free.

But he only felt hollow.

xXx

Aomine blinked, snapping out of his memories as he felt Kuroko's hand atop of his. He turned his left hand over and intertwined their fingers. Kuroko shifted closer until their shoulders bumped and even though Kuroko didn't say anything, Aomine knew Kuroko was comforting him in his own way.

At Kuroko's presence, for once, Aomine didn't feel alone or solemn whenever he thought of his past. He was not that helpless and lonely boy anymore. He was much stronger now. He had a coven that he considered as a family. And now, he had a best friend that accepted all of him.

Aomine decided to continue with his story. There were still a lot of things to tell after all.

"After that, I fought a lot," he said, carrying on. "Those days…years were like a blur, I don't really remember much of it. There was only this high I get when I won or beat up someone and that heady smell of blood when I drink. And then I met this one stuck-up vampire aristocrat and hired me to be his bodyguard. I refuse at first but that guy was stubborn and in the end, I accepted the job since I was getting bored anyway."

Aomine sighed. "He was my first client and the job was easy enough and I killed the vampires trying to assassinate him. He referred me to some wealthy vampires he knew and that's when my career as a hunter started. Those first jobs were sloppy since I wasn't discreet and only wanted to fight or kill vampires. So one of my former clients advised me not to be a just brawler and said that I will only die earlier that way. I ignored his advice but I guess it was warranted when in one of my jobs, I messed up and was close to dying."

Aomine looked down at Kuroko, who had his cheek rested on his shoulder and Kuroko's grip on his hand tightened. "That was the first time that I got scared of dying. It was a good thing that client who advised me found me in time and helped me. I thanked him and then asked him if he knew someone who could train me. He did and that's when I knew that even with my vampire abilities I was still powerless and weak. I trained and trained until I grew stronger. I accepted jobs again but this time I was more careful and vigilant.

"My jobs increased but they weren't hiring me to be their bodyguards anymore, they hired me as an assassin. I was already known as a vampire hunter but it was only that time that I got the nickname of 'The Dark Hunter' since I always kill my marks in the darkness of the night. I was okay for a while, I like my job and I'm getting paid handsomely as well."

Aomine sighed, preparing himself for this part of the story. "And then one night, in the middle of my job, I met this girl," he continued. "She was a troublesome little thing. I tried everything to get rid of her but she just continued to follow me. It didn't help that she was connected to my client at that time. But as days grew and turned into weeks of her pestering me, I came to like her presence. In a way, it was because she sometimes reminded me of Satsuki with her stubbornness. I trusted her. I let her in. I told her everything…"

"What happened?" Kuroko asked, his voice so quiet that it was almost carried by the wind.

"She betrayed me."

xXx

"What are we doing here, Livvie?"

Olivia only gave Aomine a secretive smile. "I have told you countless times. It is a surprise."

Aomine frowned but continued to follow Olivia through a dense forest. They were in his client's—Olivia's distant relative and uncle or something—summer house, overlooking a crystal clear lake. Olivia insisted upon his company even though Aomine initially refused. He only agreed to come when his client asked and would treat it as a favor. He watched as Olivia proceeded too hastily. "Slow down, Livvie," he cautioned, "before you trip again."

Olivia disregarded his warning with a giggle. Aomine's scowl went deeper as he sensed the apprehension in Olivia's laughter, whether because of this surprise or another matter entirely Aomine didn't know. But he had a bad feeling about this and the dread pooling in his stomach wouldn't go away either. He was more anxious as they continued on. It also didn't help that the night was slowly falling, swallowing the golden light of the sun. Aomine always welcomed the night especially since he was a vampire but for once he wanted the day more. He didn't know why.

Aomine would know a few hours later.

"Are we there yet, Livvie?" Aomine asked. "Evening has arrived. Your butler would worry if we do not come back soon."

Olivia didn't answer as they stepped out to a clearing full of wild flowers illuminated by the crescent moon. "We have arrive, Daiki."

In any other time, Aomine would be awed by the sheer natural beauty in front of him but his mind wasn't on the view. His eyes trailed over their surroundings, behind the trees before falling onto Olivia. "Livvie, we need to go back," he said but his voice gave him away as fear and tension seeped into his tone.

"Do you know that I love you, Daiki?" Olivia asked. "I would have done everything for you."

Aomine swallowed down the betrayal clogging his throat. "I know, Livvie. I know."

"You know," Olivia repeated and then her expression morphed into incredulity. Her beautiful face marred by the hunger in her blue eyes and even those golden locks Aomine liked to ran his hand through were like tiny ropes binding him where he stood. "You knew and yet you won't grant me that one request. So we can be together forever."

Aomine closed his eyes and when he opened them, they were devoid of any emotion. "There are more to being a vampire than what you're seeing, Olivia," he said, his tone cold. "Or are you blinded by what you want to see?"

"See? What are you going on about Daiki?" Olivia shook her head, her hands trembling as she reached out to him but Aomine leaped back. "I can see everything. Being a vampire is wonderful. You are stronger, faster and your senses are far superior to a mere mortal. And you said before that you are wealthy as well. Drinking blood is an unfortunate outcome but I can live with that."

Aomine curled his fist as he controlled his tumultuous emotions. "Do you hear yourself, Olivia? You sound like those vampire whores you hate so much."

"I am different from them! They do not know the importance of being a vampire!"

"And you do?" Aomine spitted. "You said that you love me but did you really mean that? From what I'm hearing, you only love me because I am a vampire. And I thought you like me in spite of that but it turned out to be the complete opposite."

Aomine saw anger flashed in Olivia's eyes briefly before quickly changing to false sympathy. "I know why you hate vampires Daiki since it was the reason for the slaughter of your family but—"

"Enough of this," Aomine hissed as dove towards Olivia, taking the wooden stake hidden in her bodice and stabbed the vampire lunging at him from behind right through the eye. He whirled and stabbed the vampire in the heart.

"Daiki!"

Aomine ignored Olivia as he evaded another vampire, grabbing it by its head and slammed it down on the ground. He severed its head by one hand and threw it to an oncoming vampire. Distracted, the vampire didn't sense Aomine behind him as he speared it through its heart. He spun around when he heard Olivia screamed and found another vampire holding Olivia with a knife pointed to her neck.

"You know, when this girl came and offered 'The Dark Hunter' to us, I thought it was a joke. It got more hilarious when she said she wanted to be a vampire in return," the vampire said. "But here you are and I almost hurled myself at the melodramatic scene earlier."

Aomine deigned no response and took a step forward. The vampire clucked his tongue. "Uh-uh. One more step and I'll make a bloody fountain out of this girl's neck."

"Daiki, help me!" Olivia pleaded.

Aomine knew it was just an act, a ploy, a trap. But he was tired of being played around.

Aomine threw his stake to the vampire, who swiftly dodged and Aomine used the chance to sneak behind the vampire, catching the stake he threw mid-air and pierced it through the vampire. Olivia turned around and he saw the disappointment in her face as the vampire's ashes scattered around before shifting to a relief one.

"Oh Daiki, you save me!" Olivia said. "Don't believe what that vampire said. He was lying. I would never do that to you. And you were right, vampires are cruel."

Aomine paid no heed to her rambles. He knew she was grasping at straws. He picked up the fallen knife from the ground. He didn't feel anything when Olivia hugged him. "Daiki, I—" she stopped, her eyes widened in surprise. She looked down only to find the knife embedded through her left chest, blood quickly soaking her pink dress. "…W-What…?"

"I know greed when I see it. I am very familiar with it," Aomine explained, gently laying Olivia's weak dying body to the ground. "This would not be your last attempt and I fear for you. I told you before, remember? Vampires are cruel. You would have put yourself in danger for something not worthwhile. You would also put your uncle in the same danger. He doesn't deserve that. He is a good man. Perhaps his only flaw would be his blind love for his family."

"…S-So you…killed…me…" Olivia choked, coughing up blood. Her once vibrant blue eyes faded to cold wrath.

"Your blood is in my hands. It is my greatest sin. I will never forget it," Aomine vowed.

Olivia didn't seem to hear him as she faintly muttered. "…I…hate…you…"

Aomine closed his eyes as he listened to Olivia's staccato breathing, getting fainter and fainter until there was no more. He didn't move even when he sensed two vampires joining him, knowing it was Olivia's uncle and surprisingly his teacher.

"Oh, no...Oh, no," Aomine's client mumbled. "Mr. Aomine, I am so sorry. I warned her and I thought she heeded my advice. I was too late…I was too late…"

Aomine slowly opened his eyes and saw his client, kneeling beside Olivia's body while crying. "Oh Olivia," his client murmured, weeping. "My dear, sweet Olivia, why? Why didn't you listen to me?"

Aomine didn't know if he was in a state of shock but he couldn't seem to say that he was the one who did it. He was the one who killed Livvie. He felt his teacher's hand on his shoulder as if comforting him. "It is better this way, Aomine."

Aomine didn't notice he was crying until he looked down at his bloodied hands and saw the drops of tears there. "You said that not all vampires are evil and ruthless and after meeting you and some of my clients, I agree," he mumbled. "And only now do I understand; humans aren't that good either. Some are cruel, too."

"I am sorry you found out this way, Aomine."

Aomine only cried.

xXx

"Ah, but don't get the wrong idea, okay?" Aomine said with a hollow laugh. "It's not like I was in love with her or anything. It's just that she was the first person I trusted after turning into a vampire. Sure, I have some of my former clients that I get along with but it was purely a business relationship and nothing more."

Kuroko's heart went to Aomine. It must have been hard living without someone to rely onto, to share happiness with or just someone to be with him. For Aomine to live with his guard up and to be distrustful of others, always fighting and killing others; it must have been a lonely life. The Aomine he was hearing was vastly different from the Aomine he first met and knew.

Kuroko was glad to have met the current Aomine. But, there was a tiny part in him that wanted to meet the past Aomine just comfort him and to be with him. To be his friend. But that was just a wishful thinking on his part.

"After that, well, you could say I got more jaded," Aomine continued, unaware of Kuroko's thoughts. "I didn't trust anyone nor did I even try. I put a wall around me, kept anyone away from me and ignored those who tried to get close."

If that was the case, then… "What about Akashi-kun?" Kuroko asked. "You said before that you heard about Akashi-kun and tracked him down."

"Yeah, I did," Aomine nodded. "I was getting bored and I heard from my client about Akashi, about him being the strongest vampire in the world. For the first time, I felt this exhilaration so I tracked him, just to find out if it was true. And it was. You know, up to this day, I've never once defeated him. Akashi is that strong and powerful."

xXx

Seijuurou Akashi.

That name kept repeating on Aomine's head as he tracked that vampire. He heard rumors about the Red Emperor but this was the first time someone gave him his full name. He had thoughts of hunting the Red Emperor before but jobs got in the way and whenever he tried to follow the Emperor's trail, all he could find was dust.

But he got a huge lead this time and he was not going to let this opportunity passed. He always wanted to fight the Red Emperor, just to test if those rumors about him being the strongest true. There were also unbelievable tales surrounding the Red Emperor, too. That was his second agenda: to find out if the Red Emperor—Seijuurou Akashi—was the same as him. And if they were then it meant he was going to need Akashi's help whether Aomine wanted to or not.

Well, after they fight, of course.

Aomine couldn't help the grin on his face at the thought since this was the first time in a while that he felt unsure of his victory. In a way, it was a humble feeling. It seemed that he always was best suited to be the challenger.

Still…

Aomine's smile vanished from his face as he slowed down to a stop and walked slowly towards the edge of the cliff, looking down at the green pasture on the horizon. A thick forest was beneath the cliff and with his keen vision, he saw some cottages far away and he knew a small town was near.

It had been almost two centuries but this place hadn't changed all that much.

Aomine let out a bitter and humorless smile.

Out of all the places in the world, why did the Red Emperor chose to stay in a small town in Tuscany? That very same small village where everything ended and began for him?

Aomine sighed and pushed those dark and painful memories away, locked in a chest on the darkest corners of his mind, never to be opened. He didn't come here to reminisce.

Without a second thought, Aomine jumped from the cliff. He had some investigating to do and the best place for that was to go to the town specifically bars. And also, maybe because he wanted to have a good time.

The trick when it came to a town this small was that outsiders were a welcome diversion for the residents so if you were someone hiding or escaping from someone, it wasn't a perfect place. And if you were the one doing the hunting, you had to deceive all these people that you're one of them, to blend with them.

And for Aomine, that was easy.

It wasn't like this was his first clandestine mission. He was used to it and as painful as it was to admit, he did lived in this town for a while (okay, that was centuries ago but semantics) so it shouldn't be hard to mingle with the townsfolk. (But it was also because of that reason that it was hard.) In any case, at least now, he could speak Italian fluently.

Finding someone as his unknowing accomplice was easy so when he saw a drunkard stumbling on the street, Aomine chat him up as they made their way to the bar. No one gave Aomine a glance when he stepped inside with his companion. He listened to the drunken man as he waved for the waitress to serve them. (Her interested look wasn't lost on him. Plus, he knew waitresses heard all kinds of stuff so he might see her later.) Aomine didn't have to wait long enough for the man to pass out so he used the chance to eavesdrop on the conversations going around with him.

Aomine knew he didn't need to go this far to search for Akashi. He discerned that the Red Emperor was in this village. And every vampire knew that Akashi was affluent enough so it wasn't a farfetched idea that the Red Emperor was staying at the best inn this town could offer.

But what interest Aomine was the reason why the Red Emperor was staying there. Seijuurou Akashi was an enigma but he wouldn't do anything without a purpose or so Aomine's teacher told him anyway. Regardless, if there was something going in this town that even caught the Red Emperor's attention then perhaps Aomine could poke around, too.

With that in mind, Aomine took his ale and joined the other patrons, drinking the whole night away. In retrospect, if he knew what would happen the next day, he shouldn't have gotten drunk.

When Aomine imagined his first encounter with the Red Emperor, he didn't expect it to be first thing in the middle of the bloody morning while nursing a hangover (he might blended a little too well with everyone from the bar last night and almost used up the bar's wine stock and why in the world did he paid for it?). He only groaned when a cup of coffee was placed on his table while waiting for his breakfast (he was staying in the same inn as Akashi).

Aomine looked up to say thanks to the server only to froze when he saw a man sitting across from him, a few inches shorter than him while impeccably dressed in his white buttoned up shirt and black waistcoat. His flaming red hair and crimson eyes were too perceptible in the morning light. Seijuurou Akashi gave him a polite smile over the rim of his cup as Aomine continued to observe him.

"You know me," was the first thing Aomine remarked and probably not the smartest thing he should have said on their first meeting. But, damn it, he was not feeling well and he was famished for food.

Seijuurou Akashi gently placed his cup down as the server came back with Aomine's breakfast. "I'm certain every vampire have heard of the Dark Hunter," he said when the waiter left. "You are well known after all. And I always come to a point to know those that draw my attention. You are a fascinating vampire, Daiki Aomine."

Aomine half-heartedly listened to Akashi as his concentration was centered on his food; it was the only thing that could cure his hangover. (He didn't even know vampires get hangovers though his teacher said that it was just him.) He didn't offer the Red Emperor breakfast either, he always knew that he wasn't polite. "Don't talk about me like I'm a thing," he said.

"I'll keep that in mind," Akashi responded which only caused Aomine to scowl but he resumed eating anyway.

Aomine took a sip of his refilled coffee and sighed before turning to face Akashi again, who was busy reading the newspaper while waiting for him to finish his breakfast. "Do you need something from me?" he asked.

"Perhaps the accurate thing to say is that you have a business with me isn't that right, Mr. Hunter?" said Akashi while casually flipping a page, not even looking up at him. "I knew you were following me for a certain time now."

"And you seemingly chose to stop here so we could meet?"

Akashi looked like he was fighting the urge to smile as he folded up the newspaper and put it on the table. "Why ever not? If I remember correctly, this is your hometown, is it not?"

Aomine inwardly bristled at the comment and he gritted his teeth, trying not to show any outward reaction but he knew he wasn't fooling anyone least of all the vampire in front of him. He made sure no one knew of his past so how the Red Emperor could know about it was highly suspicious. Apparently, those rumors about the Red Emperor weren't an exaggeration. Seijuurou Akashi was a formidable opponent.

"My motive isn't that important. I just wanted to see if you're as strong as everyone says so I tracked you so we could fight," Aomine told a quarter of the truth. He had a feeling that Akashi would know if he was lying.

Seijuurou Akashi stared at him as if weighing his words. "As interesting as your offer is, I'm afraid we will need to postpone. There is an important matter that needs my immediate concern and entertaining a guest isn't high on my priorities. However, if you really wished for that match, then you will have to wait until my business here has concluded."

"I don't mind waiting," Aomine said as he leaned back on his chair. "But your 'business' won't be concluded until the fortnight. The Rosa coven is currently on Palermo but they're probably on their way here now as we speak."

Aomine didn't connect the dots until he heard one of men last night about some people asking for the mystical treasure hidden inside the village—the very same artifact that the vampires who captured him centuries ago were trying to get. That artifact or treasure was considered a folktale by the townsfolk passed down from generation to generation though most of them didn't believe it since no one ever saw it or even knew where its exact location was. Previous ancestors tried to dig up every single land on the town to no avail.

Aomine subtly asked to describe the people asking for the artifact, his first thought that it was the Red Emperor so he was surprised when it wasn't. Judging by descriptions he got, he figured that it was a different coven—the Rosa coven, to be exact. That coven was known for their avarice to power and their center of control was Italy.

As he heard from the grapevine, the Council endeavored to keep the Rosa coven under control. The Council decided on it after a fire incident in London that resulted to a few casualties and the worst part was that they were all humans. The Council should have them eliminated but that was just Aomine's opinion. And with the Council's edict, they must have sent the Red Emperor to give the Rosa coven a last warning or to catch them or execute them; maybe all three.

Akashi raised an eyebrow at him, evidently impressed. "You deduced that they will settle in this outskirt town when Florence or Siena is an apparent choice as well."

Aomine couldn't hold his snort. "It's not like we're here on a leisure trip," he commented. "And since you seemed to know all about me, I'm positive you know why they picked this village. The Rosa coven isn't that surreptitious when it comes to their greed."

"Your reputation precedes you, Daiki Aomine," Akashi noted. "Nevertheless, do you choose not to do anything? I figured you would have more conscience than that. Would you have the villagers to suffer the same fate as you are? But perhaps the outcome is not all that bad. You came out strong, did you not?"

It took a lot of willpower for Aomine to restraint himself in attacking the Red Emperor in broad daylight and with witnesses present. "Do you always antagonize your guests like this or am I that special?" he groused, raging silently.

Seijuurou Akashi only gave him an amused smile. "Forgive me, I was merely assessing you," he said to Aomine's confusion.

"What does that mean? Testing me for what?"

"I have heard of stories about you and your infamous temperament," Akashi explained. "But it seems those are deeply embellished. You would have attacked me if it was true."

Aomine's left eye twitched. "I'm this close to attacking you right now."

"Yes, I could see that," Akashi agreed. "And yet, you would try to control yourself even if I carry on antagonizing you, as you said. With this in mind, I have decided."

Aomine cocked an eyebrow at the Red Emperor to continue.

"I would you like you to work with me, Daiki Aomine."

xXx

Seijuurou Akashi was insane.

That was the conclusion Aomine came up with after what happened this morning. As if he would willingly say yes to Akashi's offer after his relentless provoking. But still, Akashi was right. He didn't want to repeat the tragedy of two hundred years ago. But what could he do?

The Rosa coven wasn't bloodthirsty as the vampires that held him before but they were ruthless enough to kill everyone in this town. And due to its obscure location, the village wouldn't get immediate assistance and the Rosa coven only needed one night for their plan.

Unless…

Aomine halted in his steps and blinked when he heard shouts of joy as a group of children passed by him. He watched wistfully as they disappeared from his sight before sighing. Being in this town was dredging up memories he really didn't want to remember. He resumed his walk until his feet led him to a small bookstore. He guessed there was no harm in checking it, it might have some information he needed.

It wasn't hard to work out that Akashi knew what the Rosa coven's motives were and the whereabouts of the artifact they want. He still wondered why Akashi needed his help when the Rosa coven was a trivial enemy for the Red Emperor. Lost in his thoughts, Aomine didn't mind where he was going and bumped into someone. "Uh, sorry," he muttered, not even looking at the person he collided into.

"Hmph, you are rude as the rumors say."

That stopped Aomine in his track and looked back to find a man a bit taller than him, staring at him in a condescending way with his green eyes behind framed glasses which also matches his hair color. With the Red Emperor in the vicinity, Aomine knew who this vampire was—Shintarou Midorima, a companion of sorts to Seijuurou Akashi and a renowned vampire doctor.

"Did your boss order you to follow me or something?" Aomine frowned at him, ignoring the looks they were getting from a couple of customers lingering around and probably the owner, too, who was manning the register. "I already said no."

Midorima scoffed while pushing his glasses up his nose with his left hand and Aomine fleetingly wondered why his fingers were bandaged. "Do not flatter yourself," he said. "I didn't come here for you. It was merely a coincidence that both of us are here. In fact, I find it strange to see you in a bookstore. You are not known for your intelligence after all."

Aomine's left eye twitched in irritation. Seriously, what was up with these vampires? Did they make a point to annoy and insult anyone they meet? If that was the case, then it wasn't surprising to know why the Red Emperor had many enemies.

"I have no time for this," Aomine sighed in exasperation before turning his back to Midorima and started perusing the books there specifically those related to the history of the town.

"You won't find anything in here."

Really, Aomine had never met vampires that grate on his nerves like this. He deigned Midorima no response and took out a children's book that he noticed at the corner of his eye. It was thin and has a lot of colorful drawings but he was more focused on the contents which were poems and nursery rhymes; most were famous but there were also some old local ones.

"Why are you interested in that?"

Aomine gave Midorima a side glare. "Don't you have more important things to do? What I do in my free time is none of your business."

"I am just curious as to why Akashi finds you noteworthy and as to your significance in this case," Midorima grudgingly explained. "For Akashi to seek help from someone is notable enough. But meeting the proclaimed Dark Hunter, my expectations were too high it seems."

Aomine wanted to beat this obnoxious vampire. Really, he was so tempted to do it. But he knew it wouldn't do him any good or worth his effort. "To be frank, I don't particularly want to know why your boss finds me fascinating nor do I care what your thoughts are of me. To compromise, why don't we just ignore each other? You go on your merry way with your boss while I do my own thing. It's as simple as that."

Shintarou Midorima regarded him in a cold manner before turning around and left the bookstore without a word. Aomine blew out a breath as he returned his attention back to the book on his hand. He walked towards the register to pay for it but not without asking the owner some things before leaving, putting the book inside his coat since it was small enough to fit.

Instead of going back to the inn, Aomine veered to the opposite direction towards the field. He nodded to the farmers he passed by in greeting and was surprised when a woman flagged him down. It turned out that the woman was the wife of the drunkard man last night and gave him a small basket of apples as thanks for bringing the man home. He smiled to her as he accepted the gifts. He almost forgot how hospitable the people were in here. It made him a bit enraged at the thought of the Rosa coven reaching the town.

Continuing his stroll, Aomine blinked as he slowly chewed an apple when he noticed something flaming red at the far-off distance. He concentrated as he squint his eyes and he was right. Seijuurou Akashi was there, sitting in a boulder and watching the sheep cloister around while waving a walking stick to guide some wandering sheep back.

What in the world was the Red Emperor doing? Did Akashi become a shepherd or something?

But still, Akashi seemed to have his guard down which meant that this was a good time to test his strength. Just because Aomine refused Akashi's deal, didn't mean he would forget the main reason why he was there. He would fight the Red Emperor one way or another.

Aomine hid behind a tree and placed the basket of apples down before shrugging off his coat and rolled up his sleeves. He closed his eyes as he focused and as soon as he opened it, he was gone in an instant. His eyes glinted sharply as he suddenly appeared behind Akashi, his right hand reaching out to the vampire.

His eyes widened when a stick blocked his hand before he could touch Akashi. Undeterred, Aomine aimed a kick only to be thwarted again by the stick. Aomine didn't care about being too obvious now and just relentlessly attacked Akashi but each and every time he was stopped by the stick. And the worse of it all was that Akashi wasn't even looking behind him and still watched the flock of sheep.

"Bloody hell!" Aomine cursed before aiming one last punch at Akashi and cursed again when the vampire swatted his hand with the walking stick. "I'm going to destroy that stick."

Akashi turned his head to look at him with an amused expression on his face. "The stick has done nothing to you, Mr. Hunter. It is merely an instrument," he said. "Now, to what do I owe the privilege of your company, Mr. Hunter? If I distinctly remember, you turned down my offer."

"I said it before, didn't I?" Aomine said, frowning. "I wanted to fight you so when I saw you here all alone, I took the chance. But it seems like the rumors are true. You are good."

Akashi nodded at the compliment. "How gracious of you, Mr. Hunter," he said. "That is a high praise coming from someone famous and of your caliber."

Aomine didn't know whether Akashi was serious or not. The stories of the Red Emperor's strength seemed to be the truth but for his personality, Aomine wasn't sure. Akashi was right about him and his explosive temperament but it paled to the rumors about the Red Emperor's ruthlessness, coldness and cruelty. Although, now that he met the Red Emperor, he wasn't as bad as everyone made him to be and Aomine was a good judge of character. Oh, Aomine knew there was something dark about Seijuurou Akashi but he seemed to hide it well enough and his outward persona didn't seem to be false.

"You're strange," was the only thing Aomine could say.

Akashi's mouth twitched in a small smile. "I should say the same thing, Aomine. May I call you, Aomine?" he asked rhetorically before gesturing his stick to the direction where Aomine came from. "And are you certain in abandoning your belongings? The children seemed to revel in them particularly those apples."

Aomine whirled towards the tree where he left his things and seeing a bunch of children emptying the basket of apples, he ran as fast as he could (or as slow as he could lest he would reveal what he was). One of the children saw him and ushered the rest to escape but not without taking the basket of apples.

Aomine couldn't care less about the apples, what important was the book he bought inside his coat. He clucked his tongue in annoyance when he picked up his dirty coat, brushing off the dust and was grateful that the children were more focused on the food. He checked if the book was still there and sighed in relief when he saw it.

"That book seems to be important."

Aomine put the book back in his coat and draped it on his arm before facing Akashi. "What are you going to do about the Rosa coven?" he asked instead of answering the question. "They will rummage this town, even burn it to the ground, to find what they were looking for. Why don't you just give it to them?"

"What made you think that I have what the Rosa coven wants, Aomine?" Akashi returned. "It is possible that I could be looking for it as well which is also one of the reasons why I requested your help since you are from here and know everything there is to know about this town."

Aomine conceded Akashi's point. "That is true but if you know about my past, it also suggests that you have the means to know about that artifact. And I know you're clever enough to piece even a sliver of clues together."

"I may have underestimated you, Aomine. You are sharp and probably cunning as well," said Akashi with a hint of smile. "I'll be honest, I do know where the artifact is located but I do not have it as you have guessed."

"If you know where it is, why don't you just take it?"

Akashi shook his head. "It is not as simple as you think."

Aomine opened his mouth to ask but was interrupted at the arrival of Shintarou Midorima, who gave him a suspicious glance before looking at Akashi. "It is time for dinner Akashi," he said. It sounded simple and casual but Aomine could sense a hidden meaning underlying it. Maybe when Midorima said dinner, he meant as in drinking blood?

Akashi nodded and faced Aomine. "Would you like to join us Aomine?" he asked and the two of them ignored Midorima's choke of surprise. "We could continue our conversation at dinner."

"Alright," Aomine shrugged. Guessed there was no harm in it. He didn't get the sense that Akashi was out to get him; only his cooperation.

The three of them traveled back to the inn in silence as no one wanted to break the awkward tension in the air. Midorima reserved a table a little far off from the crowd for some semblance of privacy. Since Aomine presumed the Red Emperor was paying for the food, he ordered a lot and paid no heed to Midorima's disapproving looks.

Aomine happily dug through his food while patiently waiting for Akashi to resume their talk. But it seemed like Akashi had no intention of doing so. "Akashi, artifact," he reminded, not caring that he was being impolite.

Midorima glared at him. "Do you not know the word patience, Dark Hunter?"

"Don't you know that you're cutting in our conversation, Doctor?" Aomine returned, glowering.

"Shintarou, don't be rude to our guest," Akashi said after dabbing his mouth with a napkin. "As for our previous discussion Aomine, before I answer your question there is something I would like to know."

Aomine gave Midorima one last glare before facing Akashi. "What?"

"The book that you have in your person; it is connected to the artifact, is it not?"

Aomine blinked and tried to remain emotionless regardless of the intense stare he was receiving from the Red Emperor but he knew it was a moot point lying to Akashi. "How did you know?"

Akashi broke off his stare as he reached out for his wine, taking a careful sip. "I did say I know of its location but there was something not adding up. A missing piece you could say. My informant tried her best to scrounge more information but she hit a dead end."

"And you thought that missing piece was in the book?" Aomine presumed.

"Forgive me for being presumptuous, but it is not in your nature to be protective of a children's book as you have displayed this afternoon Aomine," Akashi continued. "Nor are you sentimental to purchase that kind of book to reminisce about your past."

Aomine let out a humorless chuckle. "I give up," he said. "And you're right, that book is indeed linked to the artifact, specifically an old local rhyme."

"And what is this rhyme you are talking about?" Midorima asked, joining in.

"Why don't you tell me the location and I'll tell you about the rhyme?" Aomine countered.

"And give you the advantage to this case, surely not," said Midorima. "We could find that old rhyme in no time."

Aomine shrugged indifferently. "Suit yourself," he said as he sipped his wine which only made Midorima frown. "By the way Akashi, why are you interested in the artifact and the Rosa coven aside from it being the Council's order?" he asked and jerked a thumb in Midorima's way. "And even Midorima called it a 'case'."

"Shintarou prefers to read mystery novels nowadays," Akashi explained with a small smile, not surprise that Aomine knew about the Council. Aomine guessed it was to be expected, they both done deeds and favors for the Council after all. "And I'm doing this as a favor for a friend."

"Some friend that is, is it your lover?" Aomine asked and then whirled to Midorima when he choked on his wine and even Akashi tried to hide his laugh with a cough. "What? Did I say something wrong?"

Akashi still looked amused. "I assure you, Aomine, that friend is definitely not my lover."

Aomine was curious but he swallowed down his inquiries, there were more important matters at hand. "So what are you going to do now? Midorima here doesn't want me to know the artifact's location and I refuse to give up my only lead."

"If your estimation is correct then we still have more than a week to prepare before the Rosa coven arrives," said Akashi as he met Aomine's eyes with a challenging gaze. "Why don't we play a game to pass the time, Daiki Aomine?"

xXx

Seijuurou Akashi's idea of a game was something Aomine did not expect.

And clearly, he was at a disadvantage.

Akashi finally consented to fight Aomine every single day before the Rosa coven arrived. They agreed to settle it in the field where no one could see them. There were three rules: (1) Aomine may use any weapons he wished or none at all; and (2) Akashi would be armed with only a walking stick.

The second rule sounded arrogant at first but Aomine kind of understood why after three days of fighting Akashi. Akashi knew that when Aomine first heard of the second rule, he wouldn't use any weapons and would fight Akashi bare handed (it was his specialty after all) to make it a bit fair. The way Akashi fought and that nostalgic feeling Aomine got when they spar was the same as when his teacher was training him.

Whenever their match began, Aomine would start off with light punches and kicks to warm-up and he noticed Akashi would do the same, following his pace. And when Aomine got serious, his attacks becoming harder and wilder; Akashi would get that intense focus in his gaze and Aomine was reminded that Akashi was also a vampire and a dangerous one at that. He didn't want to admit it but if this Akashi already made him wary, what more if the Red Emperor showed his full vampire side. A scary thought, that one.

As for the last rule: (3) the winner would ask questions and the loser will answer truthfully. It wasn't hard to guess who the winner and loser was.

Aomine should be angry since he was the one coughing up information after information but perhaps it was fair enough. Akashi agreed to fight him but instead was teaching and training him and the Red Emperor was a good mentor, maybe even better than his teacher. (He made a mental note not to ever tell his teacher that.) And besides, their objective of saving the town was the same so he was fine with divulging info.

"So did you find the artifact?" Aomine asked after requesting Akashi for a break. After his third lost, Aomine told the rhyme to Akashi and said that Midorima would handle the rest.

"Not yet but we are close," Akashi answered. "But I commend the villagers for being ingenious enough to hide the last clue in a nursery rhyme, passing it to their children to safeguard the artifact forevermore. If you don't mind me asking, if you knew the rhyme was the last clue, why didn't you tell it to your abductors?"

Aomine almost choked on his own spit. "Talk about putting me on a spotlight," he muttered. "I was a child who just witnessed his family's murder, found out that vampires were real and was taken away to be tortured. Do you think I have the chance to think about some nursery rhyme in that situation? And if I did remember, I wouldn't tell them even if they threatened to kill me. I couldn't let them win."

"Forgive me, I did not mean to be insensitive," Akashi apologized. "I was merely curious."

Aomine was silent for a while. "It's fine. Just don't ask again," he warned, silently telling Akashi not to pry for more. Akashi might know all about the facts of his past but Aomine would never tell anyone about what he endured.

Akashi took his cue and changed the subject. "Shintarou told me they were close to unearthing the artifact. They should have it in a matter of days."

"Why can't you just leave it alone? It seems to be in a safe place. If you take it, someone will know that you have it and hunt you."

Akashi pondered it for a moment. "Perhaps you are right but it is simply matter of time before that artifact will be discovered and might be used for evil."

"What are you going to do with it anyway?" Aomine questioned. "You said you're doing this as a favor to your friend which means you're going to give the artifact to that person."

"You are correct," Akashi nodded. "If that artifact is in my hands, my enemies and pursuers will increase and I need to avoid that. But if it is with my friend, then it will be protected and no one, not even a supernatural, will be able to take it from her. She is powerful after all."

This was the first time Aomine heard Akashi compliment someone. "Is she a vampire, this friend of yours?"

"No, she is not," Akashi said with finality and Aomine could take a hint.

Aomine glanced at the walking stick that Akashi used for their fights and after eyeing Akashi, took it from beside the vampire. He had a passing idea that the stick was magical since it didn't break, not even a crack was present when he used all of his power in his hits and strikes. But it seemed to be just an ordinary twig of wood which he found odd since something this breakable would have been destroyed by just a flick of his finger.

Aomine was about to ask about it but froze when he looked up at Akashi and found his eyes blazing in fiery red, staring at the stick in Aomine's hand with a contemplative look. After a while, Aomine finally found the will to shake off Akashi's pressuring aura. Whether Akashi was doing it intentionally or not, Aomine didn't know.

He cleared his throat and that seemed to snap Akashi, the tension in the air dissipating as sudden as it came. Trying to return things to normal, Aomine asked. "When will I meet this elusive informant of yours? You said she's with Midorima in searching for the artifact but I never seen anyone with Midorima whenever I met him."

"It is her wish to remain anonymous and I will abide by her request," Akashi answered, his tone neutral as if he just hadn't dominated Aomine with just his aura. "You will meet her in due time."

"It's like you're saying we'll see each other often after this," Aomine noted.

Akashi tipped his head at him. "That is only natural. We are friends, are we not?"

"It's really odd hearing the Red Emperor say that," Aomine stated which only caused Akashi to be amused. He already got burned once in trusting another person but it wasn't like Akashi was asking for his trust, only his companionship. (And they both knew that their 'friendship' was a fragile thing that could be severed at any moment.) He guessed it wasn't so bad to have friends like the Red Emperor. It may come in handy. "Perhaps it is nice to have friends once in a while rather than enemies."

It was when a week had passed that Midorima and Akashi's informant finally got the artifact and Aomine just stared at it for long time, turning it over and over again in his hand. He was interrupted when Midorima cuffed him on the head and said that he was being ridiculous which got him irritated and then that turned into a scuffle.

Akashi stopped them before it got worse and after motioning for Aomine to hand it, hid the artifact—a golden medallion inside his coat pocket. It was so small and average-looking that Aomine had a hard time processing that that artifact was the cause of his family's death, his sufferings and pain; and the root of why he got turned into a vampire.

Aomine wanted to destroy it so that no one would experience what he endured. But he knew it wasn't the artifact's fault, it was just an item—a magical one but still a thing. And there were more objects like it that many would want no matter who and what stands in their way. He just had to trust Akashi that the medallion would be protected and kept safe.

Aomine inwardly laughed at his last thought. He once said that he didn't trust Akashi but it turned out there was a small part of him that actually did. Akashi wasn't all that bad; he was nice and polite. Midorima said that the only time Akashi got mad or ruthless was when someone got on his bad side. So the only thing Aomine had to do was to always be on the Red Emperor's good side. Seijuurou Akashi was an enemy he didn't want to have.

The next day, due to Akashi's informant, they found out that the Rosa coven arrived earlier than expected. Aomine was thrilled and was even excited at the prospect of a good fight but saying it was anticlimactic was an understatement. When the Rosa coven saw Akashi, Midorima and even Aomine waiting for them at the edge of the town, they got scared and readily agreed to Akashi's warning never to return to that town again and to lie low before the Council ordered for them to be eliminated. With Akashi's connection and even the Council, the word spread that Akashi got the artifact and handed to a guardian for safekeeping.

Aomine slumped down to a chair when they got back to their inn after dealing with the Rosa coven. "I still can't believe they easily tucked their tails between their legs and hightailed out of here."

"Be thankful for this fortunate chance, Aomine," said Midorima, glaring at him. "Think of the villagers that would get in the crossfire if they resisted."

Aomine glared back just as coldly. "I know that."

Akashi clapped his hand once to get their attention before their argument got heated. "With this case settled and the artifact on its way to its guardian, I have some announcement to make," he said before turning to face Aomine. "Daiki Aomine, I want you to join my coven."

"Huh?" was Aomine's reaction after processing what Akashi just said. "Are you drunk Akashi?"

Akashi shook his head and gazed straight into Aomine's eyes, showing how serious he was. "I am earnest in my offer, Aomine. I admire your skills as the Dark Hunter but I came to enjoy your company as well. Add to the fact that you seemingly ease your way to our good graces without any conscious thought. And if you join my coven, you will meet stronger people to fight and I assure you that you will get powerful as well."

Aomine rubbed the back of his neck in discomfort, not knowing what to say to that. "Did you also agree to this Midorima?" he asked Midorima, who was quiet through it all and not a least bit surprised.

"He did," Akashi answered instead. "Shintarou is not good at expressing himself but I know that he respects you."

Aomine sighed. "I appreciate the offer Akashi. Really, I do," he admitted. "But I'm not joining your coven. I don't have any plans in joining any coven even yours. It's a personal matter. I hope you understand."

"I knew you'd refuse," Akashi nodded, smiling slightly. "I just had to try."

Aomine was relieved when Akashi easily backed off. He really didn't know what would happen if Akashi insisted, all he knew was that it wouldn't be pretty. "I thought you're going to force me in some way or another."

Aomine didn't get to fight the way his body shivered when the air around Akashi changed and Aomine was made sat still in his chair. "I could easily force you, of course," Akashi said with a smirk that made Aomine trembled in subjugation. And was it just an illusion of light or did Akashi's left eye turned golden? "But it wouldn't be as entertaining when you join my coven willingly, Aomine Daiki. And you will. I can see the entirety of the future; it is only but a matter of will to change it. Do remember that, Daiki."

After that, Akashi and Midorima said their goodbyes with the reason of having to report back to the Council.

Aomine decided that the Red Emperor was a scary enemy to have.

And he hoped to never meet Seijuurou Akashi again in the immediate future.

xXx

Fate, on the other hand, had different plans for Aomine though.

Aomine blew out a contented sigh after drinking his green tea. He took a stick of dango as he observed his surroundings, people walking around leisurely; men wearing their hakama while the women in colorful kimonos and some children running around. He could see young people as well; students to be precise, boys in their school uniform likened to that of a military one and girls in a hakama tied just below their bust line with a kimono on top although he was keeping more of an eye on the military officers loitering around dressed in their uniform.

Being in Japan was like being transported into another world. He'd been to other countries in Asia though he mostly stayed in the Western part of the world so he should be used to the cultural differences. But Japan was different ever since the Tokugawa shogunate ended and the rising of the Meiji government, it was like a blend of western and eastern cultures.

Truth to be told, Aomine didn't remember anything in his childhood before he went to Italy so it was like visiting Japan for the very first time. He had once thought of going back to Japan but the country isolated itself and foreigners were forbidden to enter. He could easily slip inside if he wanted to but decided against it since he didn't have anything to go back there anyway so he held it off until now.

"Fancy meeting you here, Aomine."

Aomine choked on his dango when he heard that familiar voice beside him and turned on his right to find Akashi Seijuurou sitting and calmly taking a sip of his tea while dressed in a dark hakama contrasting his bright red hair and the opposite of Aomine, who wore his white buttoned shirt and black coat and pants. That scene was like a déjà vu since it was the same as when they first met.

"Akashi?" Aomine asked, surprised.

Akashi tipped his head to him. "It's been a while Aomine."

"What are you talking about? The last time we saw each other was five years ago. That's only a short time."

"A lot could happen in those years Aomine," Akashi countered.

Aomine raised an eyebrow. To Akashi, maybe there were but to Aomine nothing much happened unless you counted his jobs and even he was starting to get bored of it. "Anyway, what are you doing here Akashi?"

"I am Japanese, the same as you are, Aomine," Akashi answered. "Why shouldn't I visit my own country?"

Aomine frowned at that. Yes, it was obvious they were both Japanese judging by their names, even Midorima, but he thought Akashi grew up in a different country like him. But what did he know, it wasn't like he knew about Akashi's past (even if the other vampire knew all about his) and they weren't that close to share backstories.

"There must be another reason for you to be here," Aomine assumed. "You're not the kind of person to go to another country for a simple reason. And besides, I don't believe in coincidences. You must have known that I will be here as well."

Akashi's mouth twitched in a small smile. "I forgot how sharp you are, Aomine. And you're assumption is correct. There is a reason why I am here in Japan"—he turned and faced Aomine with a serious expression—"and that is you, Aomine Daiki."

"Huh?" was Aomine's eloquent response. His eyes widened in shock. "What do you mean by that? What do you want with me?"

"I'm doing a favor for a friend—"

Again? Aomine thought.

"—and she said that she was ready to finally meet you," Akashi continued. "Do you remember my informant who helped us from before?"

Aomine nodded. "Yes, you said she wanted to hide her identity and that's why I didn't get to meet her."

"That is right. And now, she is ready to meet you face to face."

"But why me?" Aomine asked. "Why does she want to meet me? I don't mingle a lot with female vampires and only know a few. And if I remember correctly, they don't have any connection to you. Wait, is this informant of yours even a vampire?"

Akashi's eyes shifted to some emotion Aomine couldn't decipher. "Yes, she is," Akashi answered quietly. "I know this is sudden but I would appreciate it if you would find the time to meet her."

For Akashi to came all this way to Japan just because his friend asked to meet Aomine, that was very uncharacteristic of Akashi in Aomine's opinion. There was no merit for Akashi to do this. Or maybe there was?

Aomine sighed. "Fine, I'll meet her," he agreed. "Just tell me when and where."

"Now would be a good time as any unless you have other things to take care of, Aomine."

It was true that Aomine didn't have anything to do but sightsee. Still, this was too abrupt and unexpected. In any case, he was curious as to who this informant was and guessed that there was no harm in it. Aomine took the last two dango stick, eating the other one as he stood up. "Lead the way, Akashi."

Aomine followed Akashi down the street up to a lavish ryokan and as soon as they stepped inside, the okami greeted them (with more enthusiasm in Akashi's case). Aomine almost forgot to take his shoes off in the genkan since he wasn't used to it yet. The okami seemed to know what Akashi wanted and led them to a private receiving area and told them that snacks would be brought to them soon before departing.

Aomine haphazardly sat down on the zabuton while Akashi was more proper. "So where is this informant of yours?"

Akashi didn't get to respond when the shoji door slid open and a room maid came in with a tray full of tea and mochi. Aomine just ate but he wouldn't pass up the chance to eat more and happily took a sakura mochi as the maid left them. "Aren't you going to eat Akashi?" he asked when he noticed Akashi was just sitting there and then shrugged when Akashi only shook his head.

Aomine paid no attention to how Akashi was being too quiet and patiently waited for the informant to arrive. He reached for his tea just in time for the shoji door to slide open again and he looked up only to freeze on his seat at the sight of that person greeting him. Aomine dropped the cup of tea in his hand and didn't even notice how Akashi caught it just in time.

"No," Aomine whispered, still gawking at her. "That's impossible. This is all just a dream."

"Aomine—" Akashi started.

"No!" Aomine stood up and turned to Akashi in both anger and despair. "This is just a cruel joke, right Akashi?"

"Dai-chan…"

Aomine stood completely still at his once nickname he thought he would never hear again especially by her. He closed his eyes and shook his head as if that would erase the sight of her in front of him. And without any conscious thought, he jumped down from the window and sprinted as fast as he could, not giving a damn where he was going or that he was just in his socks.

Aomine willed the memories of her away, of his beloved childhood friend, the one person he swore to protect at the cost of his life, and the one who he mourned so much when he couldn't find her, more so than his family. But no matter how much he did, they flashed in his mind against his will.

Aomine stopped when he couldn't take it anymore and dropped on his knees as he shouted in frustration, anger and tiny relief and punched the ground in defeat. He didn't care that he scared all the animals away or that rain started to softly drizzle down, soaking him and the trees around him. He put a hand on his face and wasn't even surprised that tears fall uncontrollably from his eyes all the way to the ground.

Aomine paused when he didn't felt the rain pelting on him anymore and raised his head up only to find Akashi standing in front of him, holding an umbrella over them. "You knew," he murmured and as if digesting his own words, he abruptly stood up. "You knew and didn't tell me," he hissed, fiercely glaring at the vampire.

"It wasn't my place to tell you," Akashi quietly responded. "And it was Momoi's decision to hide her identity from you."

Aomine gritted his teeth and angrily grabbed Akashi's collar, the umbrella fell from Akashi's hand and the hard rain poured over them. "Akashi, you bastard!" he yelled. "It was also my right to know. Do you know how long I've been searching for her? Do you know that crushing pain of grief when I couldn't find her? Do you know how utterly hopeless I was when I lost her? That all this time I've hated myself when I gave up finding her…That sometimes I regretted letting her go…" His voice broke at the last part; that one thing he always refused to acknowledge as tears gathered in his eyes and trailed over his cheeks.

"I don't know Aomine," Akashi whispered, staring right at him. "I had never felt all those emotions since I have never lost someone that way. But you were not the only one who was hurting all these years…centuries. Momoi felt the same way but she never lost hope for the two of you to reunite again. But she was scared, Aomine. She was utterly terrified."

Aomine's hold on Akashi's collar loosened as he took a step back. "What are you talking about? Why would Satsuki be scared?"

"She was scared of you, Aomine," Akashi confessed. "She was scared that you would react this way, that you may not want her anymore. She was afraid to know that you hate her."

Aomine shook his head, trying to deny what he just heard. "I won't…I would never do that. I can't ever hate her." He felt all the strength in his body went away, drained to the core as he weakly leaned back onto a tree. "I just don't understand…She wasn't supposed to be here. I risked everything, even my life, so she wouldn't go down this path. So why…why…?"

"I can't answer that," said Akashi. "Only Momoi can answer all your questions."

Aomine knew that.

But he couldn't. Not yet.

He wasn't ready.

Everything felt too raw and painful and he wasn't in the right mindset to listen.

Akashi must have an idea on how Aomine felt and said, "You don't have to see Momoi today. You can inform me when you are ready to face her again. I'm sure she'll understand."

Aomine didn't have the strength to respond as if his energy was sapped and slid down on the tree, his head slumped down. He heard the squelching sound of footsteps against the wet grass by Akashi walking towards him. Akashi just stood beside him and Aomine was thankful for it as the quietness of the rain poured around them.

xXx

Aomine watched the reflection of the full moon on the water and a soft, cool breeze swept by as he placed his arms on the railing of the wooden bridge and rested his face over them. He didn't move even at the sound of footsteps getting close to him, already knowing who it was. He was the one who asked to meet there after all.

Aomine felt Momoi stopped a few feet beside him, not too far off but not close either. After thinking things through in the past few days, he had a lot of questions to ask and he wanted to know but at the same time scared of finding out.

He turned to look at Momoi, who was looking at the river quietly, and now that he was calm and thinking rationally, he finally noticed that she grew up beautifully. He almost laughed when he remembered how he used to tease her that she was ugly when she really wasn't. Momoi was dressed in a red kimono adorned with sakura petals and her (long, he guessed) pink hair was pinned at the top of her head with a hana kanzashi. Momoi was beautiful but it was marred by the shadows of pain visible in her eyes. Whether it was due to him or what happened to her, he didn't know. But he guessed he would find out now.

Aomine opened his mouth to ask how she was doing, trying to make small talk, but what he blurted out was, "Why are you here?"

Momoi seemed to know what he really was asking as she answered, "It…It was my choice. I was a given a chance and I took it."

"Why in the world would you want this?" Aomine asked and he couldn't quite hide the bitter tone in his voice. "Did I…Did I fail?"

"No!" Momoi immediately replied, shaking her head resolutely. "You didn't fail, Dai-chan. I know how much you gave up in saving me. It tore me apart. I tried living normally, for your sake, because it was the last thing you asked of me. But I can't…"

Aomine's eyes softened at Momoi's tears and he wanted to reach out to her, to touch and console her but not yet. Not yet.

"You were always on my mind, Dai-chan," Momoi whispered in anguish. "I thought you died back there but I heard rumors. About what you did to those vampires. Other people didn't get it but I knew the truth. I knew that it was you. I was happy to know that you were alive. I didn't get it at first…"

Momoi finally shifted her gaze from the river to him. "Only when I asked myself how you did it that everything started to make sense. You didn't just give up your life to save me but you sacrificed your humanity as well. You turned into a vampire, Dai-chan. I realized that you got turned unwillingly because I know that being a vampire was the last thing you wanted to be. You'd rather die than be one of them, be one of those monsters. I mourned for the Dai-chan that I lost. I thought everything was over. Then, one day I met a vampire…"

"Was it Akashi?" Aomine asked. He understood the role of that vampire.

Momoi shook her head. "I won't meet Akashi-kun until decades later," she answered. "Anyway, I think it was obvious what my initial reaction was. I was petrified and couldn't move. I knew I was going to die when the vampire stepped closer to me. But he didn't try to bite me or even hurt me. He only asked if there was an inn nearby where he could stay. I was close to telling him there was none even if my parents, the ones who adopted me, were owners of an inn but my mother came by and heard his question and directed him to our inn. I was scared. I thought he was going to slaughter me and my family. I didn't sleep that well the first night.

"But days passed and he didn't do anything and instead was even helping my parents and some of our neighbors. Even so, I didn't trust him and thought it was just a ploy to get our trust before killing us. One day, when I was alone picking some flowers, he confronted me. He said that he knew about me knowing that he was a vampire and asked why I didn't tell anyone. But, I mean, how can I tell anyone? No one would believe me and I told him so. He asked how I knew vampires and that made me snap so I yelled at him, about my past, about you, about those vampires who abducted us and what they did to you and me."

Momoi laughed bitterly. "Even until now, I still don't understand why I did that. When I was done shouting at him and realized what I just did, I was mortified. But he did the strangest thing and laughed. I was angry. How could he laugh at my misery? But he was crying while also laughing and mumbled something about twisted fate which I didn't understand then. He then begged for me to learn more about vampires, to show that not all of them were bad as the ones I knew."

"So you gave him a chance," Aomine deduced.

"Not at first but eventually, yes," Momoi explained. "He taught me all I need to know about vampires, their habits, straightening up some myths, how to kill one, about the Council and the inner workings of vampire politics. It was like he was preparing me to be a vampire. And he was. He asked me if I wanted to be one."

Aomine gripped the railings, this was the part he dreaded hearing. "What made you decide to do it?"

"It was you, Dai-chan."

Aomine paused and turned to fully face Momoi, who was staring at him with her eyes full of determination. "Me?" he asked, shocked.

"I told you that I yelled him about our past, right?" said Momoi. "He knew about you. You weren't famous yet. You were just a brawler but they were keeping an eye on you."

Aomine's eyes widened when he put the pieces together. "That vampire, he's part of the Council," he stated. "Don't tell me, his name was…"

Momoi smiled when he got it. "Why do you think he advised you to be more careful and not to die?"

Aomine let out a chuckle or two before doubling over in laughter as his sight blurred with tears. "You turned into a vampire so we could meet again? You're crazy Satsuki. So stupid…so, so stupid…"

Aomine felt Momoi's hand on his arm and he couldn't hold it any longer so he gathered her in his arms. He hugged her tight, inhaling her nostalgic sweet scent as they swayed on their feet, just feeling each other's presence as he cried and cried. "You're an idiot, Satsuki," he murmured, sniffing a little. "Why do you have to follow me?"

"Because you're Dai-chan. You can't do anything without me."

Aomine let out a relieved laugh as he buried his face to the contour of Momoi's neck. "I'm sorry, Satsuki…I'm so sorry…"

"I'm just glad we're together again Dai-chan," Momoi whispered in-between her cries.

Momoi continued her story after they calmed down and told Aomine how her earlier years as a vampire had been. Aomine was glad that nothing bad happened to Momoi and was relatively safe. She also told him about her first meeting with Akashi and how she helped the Red Emperor. She became some kind of informant to Akashi after that and even to the Council. Momoi apologized for telling Akashi about their past but Aomine waved it off and said that he didn't mind it anymore. They both reminisced and told each other's stories. Momoi knew that Aomine wasn't revealing all about him but it looked like she was fine with it.

"So are you part of Akashi's coven?" Aomine asked. They were sitting on the railing of the bridge after they hid when the patrolling police passed by.

"No," Momoi shook her head. "Akashi-kun and I are just friends or like business partners."

"So you're a loner like me?"

Momoi was quiet for a moment before smiling at him. "No, I'm in a different coven."

"Oh…" was Aomine's reaction. "Are you…Are you recruiting me to join your coven?"

Momoi laughed. "Of course not! You're not going to like my coven anyway," she said. "I'm just here to see you. My leader convinced me to meet you since I was putting it off for years and he had enough of my sulking. When we were in our village, I really wanted to see you even just a peek but Akashi-kun forbade me and said you'll be able to sense me."

"So you asked Akashi so we could meet?"

"Yes," Momoi nodded. "I cashed in my favor from that artifact in our town. Akashi-kun accepted it and told me that he was on his way to meet you."

Aomine inwardly grimaced when he heard that. What did Akashi want with him, seriously? "How long are you going to stay here?" he asked since Momoi had to return to her coven. "A year or two?"

"Not that long," Momoi answered with a sad smile. "Just a few months."

Aomine blew out a long sigh. "So I guess we have to make the most of those months," he said, grinning at Momoi.

Momoi returned it with a sweet smile.

xXx

Aomine watched as the ship boarded by Momoi sailed away until it swallowed by the horizon. The last few months with Momoi were the most fun and happy that Aomine could remember. They toured around the city of Edo, tried all kinds of food and experienced new things. Still, he dreaded the day Momoi would leave since he felt that he wouldn't see her ever again. But Momoi put a stop to it and told him ways how to contact her or her coven. And the sure way for him to see her would be…

"So have you said your farewell, Aomine?"

Aomine spun around and found Akashi behind him, also watching the sea. "You're still here?" he asked. He thought after telling Akashi that he and Momoi were fine that he would leave. But then, he recalled that Akashi wanted to see him as well and perhaps backed off for a while so he and Momoi could spend time together. "What do you want?"

"Direct to the point, I see," Akashi mused. "I still want you in my coven Aomine."

Aomine sighed. He was right, it was about this. "Was getting Satsuki to meet me part of your plan to persuade me to join?"

"Not really. I was doing it out of the goodness of my heart"—Aomine snorted at that which Akashi chose to ignore—"But yes, part of the reason was that as well. If you join my coven, you can meet Momoi anytime you want. You still could even if you refused but the chance of that would be lower."

"Manipulation isn't the right way for me to join your coven Akashi."

Akashi shook his head. "I'm not manipulating you. I'm just showing the advantages of joining my coven. And it's no different than forcing you to join and I do not want that. Trust is the foremost thing in a coven. I trust you, Aomine and I also want your loyalty."

"You're asking too much Akashi," Aomine said. "Fine, I'll think about joining your coven but in one condition."

Akashi tipped his head to the side, considering it. "And what is this condition?"

"Teach me how to control my powers," Aomine answered with a feral grin.

Akashi was silent for a moment as if thinking about it. "I'll make a counteroffer. I'll teach you about your powers if you join my coven."

"I refuse," Aomine said, grinning. He knew Akashi would say that. "I want to know more about my powers before I decided to join you or any coven. This is one of the reasons why you want me, right? I know that vampires like us are rare. And if I join you, your coven will be more powerful."

"I won't lie and say that I want you not because of your reputation. Those are added benefits," said Akashi, unfazed and regarded Aomine with a sharp glint in his eyes. "But being a loner won't do you any good in the long run, Aomine. You're going to need a coven sooner or later whether you like it or not."

Aomine crossed his arms over his chest. "But why you? I have invitations from other covens. I could join one of them. What makes your coven different?"

Akashi only smirked at his question. "The answer you seek truly lies in you, Aomine. What made you decide to outright reject their proposals but hesitant in answering my offer?"

Trust Akashi to hit the nail on the head on that one and pinpoint the exact thing Aomine was uncertain about. "I'm still set on my condition. Teach me and I might just join your coven."

Akashi stared at him and reading his determination and resolved, sighed. "Alright, I will teach you but only about controlling your powers."

"There's no need for that," Aomine said with a smug smirk. "I already know how to control it. What I want is for you to teach me techniques in using it."

Akashi paused before shaking his head. "You are not what I expected Aomine. You are more talented than what I assume."

"So…?"

Akashi nodded his head in agreement. "After this, I assure you, Aomine. You will join my coven."

Aomine only smirked in reply.

xXx

"…And after years of teaching me, I finally joined Akashi's coven. We went to a lot of places, met a lot of people, both humans and vampires alike and even enemies. Then we met Murasakibara, you already know his story. And I met a blond idiot called Kise," Aomine said, the tone in his voice a lot lighter than when he first started.

Kuroko stared up at Aomine when he gazed down at him, a grin on his face. "And then almost a century later, Akashi kidnapped a person named Kuroko Tetsuya. And here we are."

Kuroko wanted to say a lot of things to Aomine but he didn't know where to start or even if Aomine wanted to hear what he had to say. Aomine didn't need his pity or his praise for overcoming so many obstacles and hardships in his life. So Kuroko opted to say the words that he felt right.

"Thank you, Aomine-kun."

Aomine blinked at Kuroko in surprise before doubling over in laughter. "What are you thanking me for, Tetsu?" he asked, a hint of smile on his mouth. "I just told you the story of my life."

"Exactly," Kuroko said. "Thank you for trusting me with your story Aomine-kun."

Aomine stared at him for a moment, a lot of emotions flashed in his eyes and Kuroko couldn't read all of them. Aomine gave him a somber smile before leaning forward to rest his forehead onto Kuroko's shoulder.

Kuroko ran his hand through Aomine's hair, unknowingly humming a nameless tune and paid no attention to how a part of his shirt was getting wet.

xXx

Akashi stared.

Discreetly, of course. Unlike the rest of his coven who were unabashedly watching Kuroko and Aomine.

Akashi was in his office so he didn't hear the whole thing expect for the last part when he opened his window and heard Aomine's voice telling Kuroko how he joined the coven. He tuned them out as he wanted to respect Aomine's privacy and he knew it was only meant for Kuroko's ears. He was sure the others were the same and busied themselves.

Aomine and Kuroko were close and Akashi was certain they have a special bond. Different from the one Akashi wished to pursue with Kuroko but still a strong bond nonetheless. But those two seemed closer than before as if all the pretenses Aomine had were taken away. Aomine opened up his heart and let someone in and Kuroko accepted all of it and Akashi was sure Kuroko would treasure the trust Aomine gave him. At the very least, Akashi was happy for Aomine.

Akashi hid his smile behind his wineglass when Midorima kicked Kise under the table in warning when Kise was close to acting out when Kuroko fed Aomine a slice of meat since he was almost full and couldn't finish his portion. Under any circumstances, Akashi would be jealous but he let it go since Aomine deserved it. (Although, he would remind Kuroko not to make a habit of it later.)

With dinner done, Kise wasted no time and pulled Kuroko towards him with a glare thrown at Aomine. Aomine brusquely kicked Kise from behind, not caring that Kuroko witnessed the whole thing. Akashi waved his hand off before another scuffle commenced and Kise took Kuroko's hands, chattering all the way. Aomine trailed after the two until Akashi stopped him.

"Daiki," Akashi called and Aomine looked back, blinking at him in question. He stared at his best warrior and he could see that Aomine seemed more stable and calm. There were still shadows in Aomine's eyes and he knew those wouldn't go away no matter what but there was acceptance there, too and that was enough.

Aomine fully turned around. "Akashi?"

Akashi shook his head and let out a small smile as he stepped forward and patted Aomine on the shoulder before continuing on, following Kuroko and Kise. He didn't to say anything; there were no need for words as he knew Aomine would get it.

At the sound of footsteps catching up to him, Akashi didn't look at Aomine as he said. "Thanks, Akashi."

Akashi only smiled at those words.

Kuroko might just be a miracle worker after all.

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Q&A CORNER!

Q1: Is his [Kuroko] stamina going to get significantly better in his human form or it won't improve until he becomes a vampire? (CC Britannia)
A: Kuroko's stamina will improve a little as a human. And when he turns as a vampire, he's strong physically but not as strong as an ordinary vampire but his psychic powers gets stronger, even better than Akashi's. You could say his weak stamina is a side effect.

Q2: You said Kagami wasn't part of Akashi's coven but If I'm not mistaken I remember Akashi saying he didn't want to get other covens involved. Did Akashi underestimate the enemy or something? So other covens have no choice but to get involved? (CC Britannia)
A: In Arc II, right? The others covens won't get involved since Akashi ordered it. The other covens will be introduced in Arc III.

Q3: Will Kuroko hate Akashi's old mate? Or will there come a time in which Kuroko will have to team up with him to save Akashi or something? And will Kuroko at least punch his face or say something like 'Akashi-kun is mine so back off!' to him? (kh07gl)
A: To clarify, Akashi's ex wasn't his mate, there's a difference. Mating is kinda like marriage (and there's no divorce/annulment) in the vampire world. To your question, Kuroko won't hate Akashi's ex. I want to say more but, you know, spoilers.

Q4: What's so special about the ring?/What's it purpose?/Does it have to do with Kuroko's heritage? (KurokoTetsuya101/Shiro-chan1827/BlueBird22)
A: I took the liberty of revising the question since they're all too long, hope you all don't mind. The ring's sole purpose is for protection. For whom or what, it's up to you guys to guess. And yes, it's connected to Kuroko's ancestry.

Q5: ...When will we get some action? I love the bonding don't get me wrong, but the lack of blood sucking and action is getting to me XD/Is there any action will be going on anytime soon? (KurokoTetsuya101/Moonta11)
A: Just 2 chapters and we'll get to Arc II.

Q6: Do you make it a point for Nijimura to show up and play a role in this fic? (Tamani)
A: Yes, of course! I love Nijimura-senpai. He'll show up pre-Arc III but his role is more important in Arc VIII.

Q7: Kise-kun, what is your first impression of Kuroko's parent? (Alyce Ochoa)
Kise: I love them! Miyako-san looks like Kurokocchi but their personalities are so different that it was weird at first. But I came to like her since she's so cheerful, like me! And I finally know where Kurokocchi got his personality from. At first, I was kinda intimidated by Ryuuji-san but he has this calming presence that reminds me of Kurokocchi so it was easy to get along with him, too. I can't wait to see them again!

A: I have a side story planning to publish, titled "Witching Hour". Kise's (and even Murasakibara's) visit will be included in there. It's composed of extra stories that I can't include in the main story, mostly about the other characters. There's also deleted scenes, outtakes, backstory of the other characters and such. I don't know when I'll publish this, probably after Arc II. But please look forward to it when it comes.

Q8: ...Will there be any problems before Kuroko's birthday? If yes, will they make it in time to visit Kuroko's parent on 31th? (Alyce Ochoa)
A: Yes, there will be problems. Actually, that's Arc II. Arc II will lasts up to the middle of December (we're now in the middle of Nov). And yes, they will make it to Kuroko's birthday.

Q9: When will Kuroko's mother like Akashi? After what incident?/Btw, is Kuroko's mother still have a long way to accept Akashi? (Alyce Ochoa/Shiro-chan1827)
A: Well, it's not like Kuroko's mother hates Akashi. She does at the beginning since Akashi took Kuroko away but she already accepted it. She's just protective of Kuroko since he is her only child after all (you could say it's also a hereditary trait). Actually, she has no problems if Akashi and Kuroko get together and will support them just as long as Akashi loves and treasures Kuroko. Even if Kuroko is tight-lipped when it comes to Akashi in his letters, she could sense that something is going on between them (it's a mother's instinct).

Q10: It is rather embarrassing but will there be any sex scenes coming soon? (Purpley97)
A: Yes, but nothing explicit. (That scene is full of metaphors. Just kidding...well, okay, maybe not.)

Q11: Is Kuroko not human?/Is Kuroko a [insert mythical creature here]? (KurokoTetsuya101/Girl-luvs-manga/Moonta11/Shiro-chan1827/BlueBird22)
A: Again, I revised the question since that was it all boils down to. Kuroko is obviously not an ordinary human. Your theories are good but only one hit the right mark. (I won't say who ^_~) You'll find the answer in Arc II.

Q12: ...Maybe it [ring] is simply a clue to something bigger as Akashi was suggesting? (BlueBird22)
A: It is. Kuroko's father knew that Kuroko will tell the story about the ring and that Akashi will get the meaning why Ryuuji sent him the ring.

Q13: What is Kise's gift? Will this be revealed next chapter? (BlueBird22)
A: I could tell you now but I want it to be a surprise. Sorry, but it won't be in the next chapter. You'll find the answer at "Witching Hour" (as explained in Q7).

Q14: What is this about Akashi cheating in later arcs? (BlueBird22)
A: I don't know yet either. It hurts when I think about it.

Q15: Will Kise or others GoM members except Akashi develop feeling for Kuroko? And also...will there be some conflicts for Kuroko or something like that? Will there a confession for Kuroko from GoM except Akashi? (Tsukinawa Mei)
A: I've compiled all the questions, 'kay? The GOM are not in love with Kuroko nor would they develop any feelings for him. Kuroko is important to them and they only love him like a family. So sorry, no romance.

Q16: Will there some accident kissing scene? (Tsukinawa Mei)
A: Between Kuroko and the GOM, right? I was resolved in having only Akashi to kiss Kuroko. But now, you're making me rethink that idea. Accidental kiss, huh...*daydreams*

Q17: Is Kuroko going to have a really good sense of what's going on based on his 'gut feeling'? Because all the guesses he makes are correct when he trusts his gut. (Korunakuroko)
A: Most of the time, yes. But well, there are times that Kuroko's gut feeling will lead him to trouble. And it's not just because of his gut feeling, Kuroko is really observant and he's smart enough to deduce things so most of the time his guesses hits the mark.

Q18: It seems quite obvious that Kuroko will fight eventually, so may I ask if Kuroko is the type that is okay with the idea of ending a life? Or would he be more of the type to immobilize, or in better words, refrain from killing his enemy? (AnimeXAdventurer)
A: Kuroko is the latter; he doesn't want to take someone's life. Still, that doesn't mean Kuroko's hand will be clean. There are times when he needs to kill but no one innocent.

Q19: ...Will you update this story on a regular basis (ex. monthly, every two months, etc.) or is it more, when the chapters are ready to be released? (AnimeXAdventurer)
A: A little of both. I always try to at least update one chapter once a month and will published it when it's ready to be released.

Q20: ...What kind of job does Akashi have? He doesn't get rich magically, right? (Alexiella)
A: No, he doesn't and I haven't specifically stated what Akashi's job is yet. He's a businessman but not an ordinary one (and he invests a lot). He has human representatives as a stand in since he can't show his face in public. They're all loyal to him since their families have been serving Akashi for almost a century.

Q21: Are you having fun writing this? And do you have any specific methods you use to motivate yourself when you don't feel like writing? (manna95)
A: Yup, I am. If not, I won't be continuing this. Not really, unless you count my mantra of "I need to at least finish 1 chapter this month" that kept replaying in my mind. But seeing everyone's reviews and even questions pumps me up.

Q22: ...When will Kuroko get one of his nightmares? (Kasu97)
A: It was supposed to be before Arc II but since many are asking for more action, I decided to put it on Arc II instead. It will have more impact that way.

Q23: So is the ring going to have more significance during the remainder of the story? (Kuro13Dead)
A: Hmm...I don't know yet, can't say for sure. Maybe.

Q24: I remember Midorima saying "i hope you will make the right choice this time or that incident will happen again" did someone hurt Akashi-kun's feeling that Midorima or maybe even other GOM became warry abt. Akashi-kun being in a relationship or is it even abt. Relationship? Or a person close to them esp. To Akashi-kun and became a traitor, perhaps? A former lover? (bioman)
A: Answered on Chap 5's Q&A: Question #9. Follow up questions are on Chap 6: Q #1; Chap 7: Q #11; Chap 9: Q #6 & #8; Chap 10: Q #4, #13, #20; Chap 11: Q #5. Oh, and please do take note of the message at the end of Chapter 10's Q&A regarding Akashi's ex.

Q25: I was wondering if you would be incorporating their basketball skills into their fighting, I kind of saw it with Midorima being the sniper at the orphanage, but will it happen with the others like if Kuroko is great at redirecting bullets or something? (Guest)
A: Answered on Chap 10's Q&A: Q #24.

Q26: Is the bad guy a character from the manga or an OC? (jilnachtaugen)
A: He's a KnB character.

Q27: ...I found out about "night terror" and it sounds pretty much like what Kuroko shows except for the fact that his are related to memories but it reminded me a lot about him and I had to ask, Is that what Kuroko has? (Kasu97)
A: I had to research this to figure out what you meant. You mean the movie, right? I haven't seen it yet so I can't be sure but I don't think they're similar.

Q28: ...If you're on chapter 20 and that already… Why don't you update it all at once...? The suspense is killing me. (Rolancia)
A: Those 20+ chapters aren't in chronological order so I can't post them even if I wanted to and all of them aren't finished yet since I might change/add scenes later. I'm a slow writer, yes, so please bear with me because sometimes writing is too hard. And out of everyone, I'm probably the most frustrated since I can't update as fast as I like and I really, really want to share the story to everyone. Please be patient with me, that's all I ask.

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NOTES:

1. So Momoi showed up in this chapter even if it's a flashback. I knew she'll appear in Aomine's past but her role changed from the one I planned. I didn't include the part where they first met. I'll put it in Momoi's past instead. Although I don't know if that's on DD or Witching Hour.

2. The vampire who turned Momoi and the one who advised Aomine is the same vampire. He's a KnB character and he'll show up on the second half of Arc III. But he's not Aomine's teacher, that's a different vampire. They're both part of the Council though.

3. I'll clarify it before I get questions: The medallion/artifact isn't that important though it still represents some significance, being a magical item and all. That would be on Arc VIII.

4. Akashi's friend and the guardian of the artifact is a KnB chara. She'll appear between Arc III and IV. (It was supposed to be before Arc III but I changed my mind.) And just like Akashi said she isn't a vampire. You can guess but I won't tell who she is ^_- (there's like only a few female chara on knb so it won't be that hard to guess). Just like with Akashi's ex, I'll ignore questions about her.

5. Olivia: That part was supposed to be long since I wanted to show what Aomine saw in her and how their friendship blossomed. Unfortunately, I hit a wall and I can't seem to move on aside from the part when they first met. So I decided to just show the betrayal scene instead. It may seem out of place though in my mind it makes sense, sorry about that.

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A/N: So...next is Kise. I want to finish that chap on his birthday but I don't know if I can make it in time. (I know I won't) Kise's past won't be as long as Aomine's... I hope... Hahahaha... ha... ha... OTL imdoomed!