*Achoo!* Damn, i've been sneezing a lot recently...

Ah well who cares, i've managed to somehow managed to finish this chapter by today. Yay~

Guest-Oh you do not know how right you could possibly be. Kuroko is hiding several secrets as well as Midorima, however this chapter only reveals one of them the rest will be told as the story progresses.

Enjoy~

Tired and exhausted. That was the first thing that Akashi thought when he woke from his bed, each step he took he would wobble and this made him feel weak, pathetic. He started seeing black, his breathing was ragged and difficult. Kuroko entered the room to see his king staggering, the dragon widen its eyes as he caught the red head who collapsed, he placed his scale-y claws on Akashi's forehead, feeling it burn up. The dragon lifted the red head and tucked him back into bed before rushing into the kitchen to get something to cool the fever.

"Arra~ Kuro-chin what's wrong?" Asked Murasakibara as he entered the living room while rubbing his eyes. Not long after the group filed in to see a panicked dragon flying about with herbs. "Kuroko-chi what's wrong?" Kise asked. "This is bad. We didn't manage to cure the poison completely when we treated Sei-kun, right now the poison is spreading fast." Kuroko said in a rush as he grinded herbs together.

The colorful group immediately went into a state of panic, asking the dragon if there was anything they could do. Just before the black scaled dragon could answer, a flustered Hyuuga and Kiyoshi rammed into the lodge. "Something is wrong with Riko! She passed out and it doesn't seem like a normal fever!" They said panting.

"Kuroko what does this mean?" Midorima in rabbit form asked as he hopped beside the dragon. "It seems we didn't completely neutralized the poison that those bandits put onto their weapons. No matter how little, even if its just a tiny scratch the deadly poison will flow in their system." "Oi Tetsu! What do we do then?!" Aomine roared. "I don't have the essential ingredient, the main one to make the antidote. So I'm making a remedy to slow down the pois-" A screeching sound interrupted what he was about to say and the group turned to see a hawk pecking on a window.

"Oi this is bad guys! Most of kings/queens have fallen ill!" Takao exclaimed after he was let in "What?! But only Teiko and Seirin went into the forest the other day and got attacked! How did they-" the hawk raised a wing to halt the rush of questions from Hyuuga. "I don't know. Some of them collapsed and the reason is because of food poisoning while one or two of them were ambushed at night! The cause seem to be the same effective poison and since you made an antidote for it, could you make an extra batch for us?" the hawk pleaded.

"A batch? You're intending to give it to the other kings and queens too?" Kagami asked, Takao shrugged. "My king says that if we were going to beat them its not by something as cheap as poison that they succumbed to. Besides, if they could get a method to help others they will, that's the sort of people they are." Kuroko raised his head to meet the determined eyes of a hawk. "A worthy cause. However, the herb I need is hard to find in the mountains. The reason I was able to make an antidote the last time is because we wondered around and managed to pick some up by luck. If you want me to make a batch you need to gather the ingredients first."

Hyuuga, Kiyoshi and Takao nodded. "It is fair. Kaijo and Shuutoku will assist." Takao said. "So will Seirin. Just tell us where we could find them more easily and we'll go there." Midorima looked at an image of the required herb and a sense of familiarity came to his eyes, Momoi went to look and the same happened as well. "We saw a place that has many of this plant growing. We could take you guys there." the eagle elaborated. "Also, you have until sunset to return." Kuroko added. 'say that piece of important information earlier!' the group yelled in their heads.

"Lets make haste! The sooner we get this done, the sooner we'll see our leaders up and about!" Hyuuga yelled in clutch time. The group yelled their agreement as several members went to go with Midorima or Momoi. They brought two-three members from each team while the rest remained to keep guard. If this poisoning was intentional then the culprit could use this chance to take out their respective leaders easily in their weakened state.

The group decided to select members to go and to meet up at the forest's entrance in twenty minutes time. Teiko sent Momoi, Kagami and Murasakibara, Kaijo and Shuutoku sent in Miyaji, Kobori, Hayakawa and Takao. Seirin sent Koganei, Hyuuga and Tsuchida. They met up and was surprised to see Imayoshi, Sakurai, Nebuya and Mibuchi from Touou and Rakuzan waiting at the entrance. "Yo!" Imayoshi greeted as he hopped down from the tree he was resting on. "I figured you guys might know something about this when a bloody group dragged their way past our lodge."

"And what would you want?" Kagami asked. The hyena lifted his paws to show that he didn't mean or want any harm. "Nothing much. We just want to find the required items for the medicine as well so we'll land you our help but in exchange you give us some of the medicine. That's all." the group looked at each other. "Well the more the merrier?" Kobori said at last and since they had no time to waste, the group just agreed and dashed into the forest with Momoi leading them.

They ran past trees and some hopped on them at incredible speed. They soon arrived at a cliff which was not too high. "This is it?" Nebuya asked "Yup, above it will be grassland and there would be what we are looking for." Momoi said. The cyclops smirked as he grabbed the rocks and hoisted himself upwards and began climbing, the others followed suit and they were soon at the top. What they saw was shocking.

In the midst of the herbs lies a huge crow. It was resting awhile ago until the presence of the group awakened him, they had a stare off until the crow deemed that they were trespassers while enlarging its huge wings and screeched. Its stood up and used its talons to make the group scatter, "Was this here before Sa-chin?" "No it wasn't!" Momoi said as she took flight "Takao! You're a hawk right?! Explain our situation to it and make it stop attacking us!" Miyaji yelled. "How am I supposed to do that?!" Takao yelled back. "I don't know! Say 'tweet tweet' and explain it in your language!" "It doesn't work that way!"

The crow went after Miyaji and Takao because they attracted the most attention. "Argh, we don't have time for this!" Kagami yelled as he launched large balls of flames at the crow, successfully drawing attention to him. "Don't use any fire attribute spells or you'll burn what we came for!" Imayoshi said as he dodged another talon. "Split into two teams! One of the teams distract birdbrain there and the other collect the herbs!" Hyuuga ordered still in clutch time since they left. Murasakibara, Nebuya, Hayakawa, Miyaji, Imayoshi, Kagami and Kobori lured the bird below to the cliff as the others plucked herb after herb until their quota was filled up more then enough.

They turned to see the crow twisting and slamming its talons at Kobori and Miyaji who managed to grab hold and would not allow it to budge free. "MUSCLE charge!" Nebuya yelled as he slammed the crow into the wall. The others sweat drop at the naming sense. Just as the crow was about to get up, Hayakawa, Imayoshi and Kagami slammed it back into the wall. Murasakibara stepped forward as the other jump off when he sensed the bird has yet to be unconscious. This time he turned one full round, gathering wind mana while his paw started to crackle with lightning mana and it all gathered into his clenched claws. "I'll crush you for standing in the way. Thor's hammer!" the bear cried as he connected his fist with the crow's guts sending it through the cliff and making it fall into a spring.

"….S-Strong….." Sakurai said out loud while the others stared in amazement at the hole the bear beast opened up. "Now's not the time to admire!" Momoi's yelling snapped the group into attention. "We only have three hours left so we better hurry!" Koganei and Tsuchida yelled to the group bellow.

They soon arrive to see a weary Teiko, Seirin, Kaijo and Shuutoku team. "What happened?" Momoi asked. "As we expected, someone did come to take out the leaders while they were weak. We managed to defend, but they were persistent and in large numbers."

The group of people were anxious while some, namely Aomine were lazing around. The other two were doing their best to provide most of the ingredients for the antidote but the most essential ingredient has not arrive yet. "I hope they come back soon. Knowing that Akashi-chi isn't safe doesn't make me feel well to do anything." Kise said as his ears pressed onto his skull, Nigou, Kuroko's familiar was with the red head and the others will alert them should something happens.

"Let's put our faith in them. After all, they should be reasonable people who should be able to work together in times like this." Kuroko said as he set aside another grinded into powder ingredient "Who knows about that." Midorima scoffed. Aomine who was resting lazily suddenly perked up and growled attracting the attention of the group. Otsubo and Moriyama stopped their card game as they got up.

A group of forty crashed through the door with weapons raised. "it's a good thing that Kiyoshi suggested that we move into one lodge or defending might be difficult." Izuki said as he expanded his wings. "Then its simple." Otsubo started.

"Defend them with your life!"

"I've taken a liking to that short stack even though he threatened me and I'm not gonna see him die." Aomine growled as he stood up straight and cracked his knuckles and neck. The others nodded in agreement and that was the start of this mini war. Otsubo used his arms and crashed them into two of the intruders neck before sending them flying into a small group huddled together. Kise launched yellow flames into a few of them casted water spells so it doesn't go to out of control.

Kuroko casted barriers and provided back up until something in the kitchen rang. "Minna-san, I'm going to change the wet cloth and feed the remedy please hold out." the dragon said as he slinked into the shadows.

"…"

"…"

"Kuroko/Tetsu/ Kuroko-chi!" they somehow managed to chase the rest of them away and with Midorima's barrier none of them got any cuts from the poisoned weapon. This was the scene that the 'herb finding' group walked in on.

"Anyway, do you have the herb?" Kise asked. Momoi handed over the large bundle. Kuroko, Midorima and Sakurai (Whom, Imayoshi volunteered) went to work. They managed to produce more then enough and handed over the first few to Rakuzan-Touou first as they had to travel back, Sakurai ensured that the medicine had nothing in it as whatever he added the other group did as well. Satisfied, the group took off.

The other four kings were given a generous amount of it "Is Mitobe-kun affected by this?" the antelope shook his head. "Hmm, but take some just in case. The rest of you as well, I told the other teams the same, its for insurance." Kuroko said as he himself swallow the antidote after tending to the kings first. "Takao." "What is it Shin~chan?" "Is Yosen and Kirisaki Daichi affected by this?" The hawk shook his head. "I went to them but it seems they have taken care of things by themselves. I did ask them for the antidote but Kirisaki Daichi chased me away. How mean~"

"Well," Otsubo said as he lifted Nakatani. "We troubled you enough, time to go." Kobori took Kasamatsu and they left. Kiyoshi picked Riko up as they left saying they didn't want to impose on the other either.

On the exact same day the tournament resumed, Akashi was completely healed, alive and kicking. The group seemed relived(Though some would not admit it) as he stepped out of the room, looking as proud as before.

"Akashi-chi!" the fox said as he pounced on the red head, he didn't care if he'd get stabbed by scissors, he's just glad that his king is alive and well. "Ryouta." the fox ignored it as he wailed louder. The red head decided to let it slide seeing as they were worried. "Do we not have a tournament to resume?" he asked and the other froze.

"…..Oh right, we do." Aomine said as he stopped reading gravure magazines which he got hooked on recently. "Daiki, what is that indecent material you have?" " A hobby!" the panther said as he threw it into his dimensional pocket. "Ryouta, you clung on long enough." the fox sniffed as he reluctantly pealed himself from the red head. Akashi sighed as the group hurried around, preparing for the tournament.

"Tetsuya." said dragon poked his head beside Akashi. "I hope you still remember what you promised then." the reptile nodded. "Good." the red head said as he went for a shower. The colorful group was soon ready as they walked to the entrance of the arena where the Seirin team was waiting for them. "Slow!" Riko yelled as she pointed at several of them, it seems she's back to normal too.

"Sei-kun, I'm going to leave for now." the red head turned to glare at the dragon. "You'll see me soon. You can still call me to the battle if you require." The dragon turned to Midorima picked the rabbit up, walking to another area. "Arre? Where is Mido-chin and Kuro-chin going?" the group turned to see the leaving dragon. "Don't mind him. He seems to have a surprise for us." 'Amuse me Tetsuya.' the red head thought as he went inside and to his allotted area. "Where is Taiga?" Akashi asked, noticing that the rash tiger is not around "He said he sensed a familiar presence and went to confront it. Either way this thing doesn't start until later." Aomine explained while yawning.

~With Kagami~

"Why are you here Tatsuya?" the tiger asked the black striped white tiger. "Oh, you managed to sense me. You see the chief brought me here and during this period I've contracted with Yosen's queen." "Wait! You mean she's here?!" the red striped tiger asked while sweating profusely.

"Yes she is. Something about being bored and since she heard you contracted with a king she wanted to know who. She's drawing a lot of attention right now as a 'guest'." Kagami gulped, he had left the clan against her 'orders' to stay. Needless to say, she was the last person he wanted to see now. "Damn a lot might happen." the red striped tiger said while Himuro chuckled before leaving "See you later Taiga."

~Kuroko and Midorima~
"Should we really reveal it now?" Midorima asked, Kuroko swiftly replied "He'll find out sooner or later anyway. His used his still awakening 'emperor eye' so I couldn't really say no." the kirin snorted in amusement.

~Back with Teiko-Seirin~

"Oh its starting." Riko stated, the emperor addressed them "The tournament resumes! I apologise for the sudden suspension but certain, ahem 'incidents' had made it necessary. Today, we have three guests to oversee this tournament!" the crowd muttered in suspense as a slender, sliver furred tiger with blond stripes and golden claws came out, her presence made the other contracted beings tense. "Hello! I'm Alex Garcia, chief of the celestial deity clan, White Tiger! Nice to meet ya!" she said cheerfully as gold eyes scanned the competitors.

Kagami and Aomine placed their paws over their heads "Damn its really her…." for the first time, they had to thank the fact that in the past her sight had dwindle slightly so that she couldn't see them trembling. Akashi smirked as a bead of sweat trailed down his chin. "So this is a chief of a celestial deity clan, impressive." which was an understatement, her mana could easily double or triple Akashi's current amount.

All of a sudden something similar slowly approached. Even the crowd could sense that the next one was business. Everyone knew that the chief of celestial deity clans were not to be taken lightly as they support the 'emperor' of the superior beings. The current emperor was doing a horrible job at keeping law, which was why there were many rogues out there and also why many chiefs did not take his side.

A azure dragon walked out, he stood on two claws and a tail that supported his weight. His scales gleamed a sky blue with an aurora-like shine to it, his large wings were folded behind him, his 'hands' were crossed in front of him, the reptile's presence was undeniable. The dragon scanned the crowd with his topaz blue orbs that carried a light purplish tint in it.

Beside him, a jade Kirin walked out. His body had a shape of a horse while his appendages were more of a dragons'. Instead of hoofs, claws stuck out, its scales carried an emerald gleam containing nature energy infused in it. Its gold whiskers move in a seaweed like manner as he looked slightly, slightly embarrassed at the attention on him. Each time he exhaled, small clouds came out as well. The reason why their presence were stronger was because they came out together, otherwise they have the same amount of mana as Alex.

"Domo, I'm the chief of the Azure Dragons. Tetsuya."

"Chief of the Kirins. Shintaro" the two addressed themselves by their first name, hoping that only that specific few recognized them and not all the kings and queens.

"…"

"…"

"EH?!" the Teiko-Seirin team exclaimed in shock.

*Le gasp* I introduced more then i thought i would.

E-Eto i hoped i managed to shock you guys, even if its just a little.

The reason why they're stronger is because this form actually allows more mana to flow through and allows them to use it to the maximum potential.

Please review~