Author's Note!
Leave a review and Don't hesitate to point out the mistakes. :3
*Italics are thought lines. ^_^*
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, events portrayed in this story is used fictitiously or products of the author's imaginations.
The Strategist Empress. Copyright © 2016 by Cordelia Michaelis. All rights reserved.
Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Kuroko No Basket and One Ok Rock. I only own the Plot and the OC.
A big thank you to absolute-right for the review! Been talking to you for a long time since we've first interacted! This Chapter is dedicated to you and your ever loyal support! Thank youuu~ (I had to finish this. I ABSOLUTELY HAD TO!)
Chapter 20
The time for the Winter Cup preliminaries came and all the teams qualified are all gathered together to see who will win and be the next Champion for this year. Surprisingly, my dad's the one who suggested that he will be present throughout the season. I stopped walking towards the stadium and let my hair cover my eyes. People passed by me as my flashbacks happened right before my eyes.
The first time I used my skill was before I left Teiko. Seeing the group break down the bonds, I tried it. I'm the one at fault for the rift of our friendship. If I hadn't manipulated them, they wouldn't be the person that they are now. Looking down from the balcony of the first string gym where a fight between Akashi and Murasakibara took place, I thought to myself as I told them of what they were capable of. Aomine was starting to distance himself from my cousin and his partner which greatly affected the latter, making him unable to function properly. Midorima and Murasakibara fought before they realized that they were in the wrong when Kise and Aomine fought for something shallow.
My eyes held the pain from the cause of my ignorance, a slip of the tongue. I turned my back from the chaos as the tears started flowing down my face. I quietly made a plan to bring them back together but seeing my cousin is better than me, I decided to use him as an excuse to fix things as well. I brought out my resignation letter and I read it silently.
To the Head Coach and Captain Akashi,
I'm sorry to inform you that I, Yamamura Yuki, will be resigning and properly hand off the position of Head Manager for the Basketball club to Momoi Satsuki for various reasons.
Sincerely yours,
Yamamura Yuki
Head Manager
I quietly sniffed and walked away from the railings and proceeded to erase the evidence of me crying. I resumed my usual expression when I met the group, the business face of Yamamura Yuki, to which Akashi is the only one who can understand that side of Yuki. I went down and normally discussed Momoi about the data before I called it off.
"Yuki-chan? Are… you all right?" Momoi worriedly asked me.
I replied, "I'm a bit dizzy. I'll be going ahead and don't forget to double check the data that you've obtained, alright?" With that I bid them goodbye and as soon as the door closed shut behind me, I sprinted towards the Head Coach's office and left the letter there, along with my withdrawal from Teiko. No more and no less explanation was given. My decision was final and whether or not they accept it, they just need to know that I'll be gone… Gone for the surgery of my shoulder and for rehabilitation purposes.
"Not that they will know of my surgery." I mumbled before finally leaving the office, hassle-free, not even bumping the almighty Emperor himself. I ran towards the gates where my brother was waiting for me and I just had to look at the school where my fondest and worst memories are connected. Bidding a final goodbye, I disappeared from their radar and never returned to Japan until after the complete treatment.
I opened my eyes and sighed before I continued walking and the flashbacks kept replaying in my head.
Kuroko and I kept contact throughout the two and a half years that I'm gone. We've exchanged mails almost every day and the mails get more and more gloomy and dark as the Generation of Miracles kept getting better and better. He was crushed and I occasionally went back to watch their games from afar. I kept comforting him time and time again, even going as far as showing myself, bandaged and all, to them.
"You monsters! Did you have to rub it in their faces that you are better than them?" I yelled in their faces as my cousin held me back from killing them. My eyes showed a blazing violet color, indicating that I'm pissed as hell. "I regret encouraging you to be the assholes that you are now. Besides, I'm the worst one out of the bunch." I bitterly laughed as I calmly said those empty and dull words. "But mark my words. You'll be surprised as to how far I can manipulate you. I've already realized my mistake. Now, you patiently wait for yours because I'm sure you'll feel the pain that I felt."
I shrugged Kuroko's hold off of me and I turned my back on them. My eyes showed determination of crushing them.
I continued walking down the street, my natural hair color, a bright cyan blue color, flowed behind me, the cold was freezing my body as I thought of the start of the year. The first time I've executed my plans. Tetsu probably caught my drift during my last visit. I thought. From Seirin's footwork and training regimes to the practice matches, I carefully crafted my art of manipulation. Riko must have sensed it from before and I could never hide anything from her. She did hit me for manipulating them but if it was to be better and have a chance of defeating the Miracles, then she'd agree to it.
Remembering all those memories brought me back to the past. I shook my head as I walked towards the players' side of the stadium and got in front of our locker room. I heard voices before I slammed the door open. "I'm home~!" I yelled casually, scaring the first years and as well as the regulars. "OI YUKI! DON'T SCARE US LIKE THAT!" Hyuga yelled as he clutched his chest.
I shrugged off my coat and replaced it with my jersey. "Sorry, sorry. Though, I'll apologize if this is beyond your image of me as well." They looked at me curiously and some even with a hint of "I-think-she-has-gone-nuts" look. "I've been manipulating you guys from the start. Tetsu knows this and he willingly did what I told him to do. Riko-chan also knows this and lets me do as I please. At least my method isn't as dirty as my older brother's manipulation method. If it is to make the team stronger, who are you to complain? Then again, I did this without your consent so…" I did the deep bow as I said, "I humbly apologize for using you as my puppets in order to defeat the Miracles."
They were shocked. Kiyoshi immediately ruffled my hair as I looked up at the tall giant. "There's no need to apologize, Yuki-chan. You did what was best for the team as well as trying to fix them."
Hyuga had a tick mark as he heard my reason and eventually hit me in the end. "Idiot. I thought you are smarter than all of us combined?!" I looked at him in pure shock. "You made this team stronger, Yuki. Don't ever think that this is all just a joke to you! We may not be willing to be called your puppets but we did this for the sake of the team. You helped us become who we are despite of where you are born from. You chose to throw that life away for the one revenge you need to take."
He stopped and took a breath before he continued, "Besides, Kuroko told us why. It was because of the prediction of the future that they will become great and they have talents that soon blossomed and that made them the monsters that they are today. Yuki-chan, as your Captain, you don't need to regret the decisions that you've made. Forget the past and focus on the now, the present. We still have to beat Touou for the first round." He changed topics to avoid me from crying but the tears came anyway.
I cried in front of the team and Kuroko had to comfort me. I looked at him and nodded before I showed them my violet eyes, "I'm sorry for that unsightly show. I'm fine and Thank you, Hyuga-kun." I dried my tears and said, "I'll do the leading. Daisuke will be in on this match against his brother. Daiki won't appreciate this but I need to manipulate the situation in our hands but I'll leave the decisions to the point guard and the captain."
The speaker went off and the teams were called to the opening ceremony. "I'll meet you guys there." I said and quickly took off to where my father is quietly standing. "Yuki, come. The Yamamura heirs should be present. Makoto won't be joining us but he'll watch the game."
The opening ceremony started and the teams were presented. Cameras were all around the court and my dad spoke a few words of encouragement to the teams. I quickly eyed the teams with the Generation of Miracles, and saw Akashi smirking at me, Midorima had his fiery aura on, Murasakibara lazily looking forward while no doubt complaining to when he could eat his snacks, Aomine yawning and looked at me with concern in his eyes, Kise was happily smiling to the cameras and then gave me a small wave before all of them straightened up as my dad finished his speech.
"Ne, Onee-chan, don't you think it's weird that all of your ex-team mates will battle out against each other?" Jirou subtly whispered and I side-glanced at him before I subtly replied, "Well, no."
I gazed at my ex-teammates and smirked while Jirou raised his eyebrow in question. "Because I'm the one who planned all these events to happen."
"Kagami still hasn't come back and the opening ceremony is already finished." Coach fumed and I approached the team before patting Chiaki who was calming her down. "It's fine, Riko-chan. He'll be here before our game starts in the afternoon." I assured the brunette and I whispered to Chiaki on what she has to do before she seriously nodded and continued to calm her down when my phone and Kuroko's phone simultaneously vibrated. We flipped our phones and I clutched the phone tighter.
"Riko-chan. The Emperor is summoning us." I said in a monotone.
"HA?! DID I NOT TELL YOU NOT TO WANDER AROUND BEFORE?!" She yelled but she saw my eyes and immediately calmed down. "Fine. Just be back before the game starts." We both nodded and Kuroko and I immediately went our way, knowing Riko, she probably sent someone to keep an eye on things.
Furihata was shaking. He was never in an intense atmosphere before. Right in front of him was our former team mates. The Generation of Miracles. Aomine was spinning the ball on his finger as he sat on the stairs, Midorima was holding a pair of scissors, Murasakibara was munching on his snacks, Kise was whining as usual.
"Where is the person who called us here?" Aomine grumbled.
"You know him, nanodayo. He always takes his time." Midorima snipped his scissors as he pushed his glasses up.
"Eh?! Midorima-cchi! Why do you have scissors?" Kise looked at the scissors like it was going to cut him to pieces. "Besides, it's dangerous to walk around while you have that." He reasoned out.
"It is my lucky item, nanodayo." Midorima curtly replied meanwhile Murasakibara lazily tried to open his snack but it wouldn't so he asked Midorima. "Mido-chin, Can I borrow your scissors~?"
"Why?" The green-haired male asked and the purpette frowned as he replied, "I want to open my snack." The green-haired male glared at the other and refused causing the purpette to ask Kuroko but Kuroko doesn't have any so the purpette just frowned.
"Bara-kun." I said and the purpette looked at me and his snack was opened while I held a silver knife with my right hand. "You are most welcome." His eyes shone with delight as he can freely eat his snack without hindrances. "Thank you, Yuki-chin~" I nodded and simply stashed away my knife before glaring at Aomine as he was about to speak.
"Shut up, Mine-kun." I muttered before I faced Furihata's shaking form. "It's all right, Furihata-kun. It's the normal atmosphere between these guys." I pointed my thumb at them without looking which earned me a yell from all of them. I sighed before I turned back with my violet eyes and they shut up. I turned and walked towards the stairs and went up them before I stood in the way of a certain Captain.
"I'm sorry for the wait. Daiki, Ryota, Shintaro, Atsushi, Tetsuya and Yuki. I'm glad you all came…" The red head said before focusing his gaze to my teammate who was shaking like a Chihuahua. I rolled my eyes before I focused my gaze on the incoming person behind us. "But there is someone who doesn't belong here." He said with menacing eyes. "Excuse us but we need to talk without you."
Kagami appeared behind Furihata and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder before he introduced himself. "Don't be like that. The more, the merrier right? You must be Akashi, the Captain of the Generation of Miracles, aren't you?"
The hetero-chromatic eyed male merely smirked before he went down the stairs to which I followed and placed myself beside Furihata. "Shintaro, may I borrow your scissors?" Akashi asked the green-haired male while the latter simply shook his head and gave the scissors to the redhead. "My hair has been bothering me for the past week." He reasoned out as snipped his bangs off before he could say another word, I scoffed.
"No one contests to you, is it not, Seijuro? Even with your parents, no one defies you, no one defies the Emperor… But that won't work on me, isn't it?" I cocked an eyebrow at the male before quietly raised my knife between Akashi's eyes. "Say one more word and I'll shove this knife between your eyes." He simply stared at me before he turned back and walked away.
"Oi, Akashi! What is this meeting for?!" Aomine yelled at his retreating figure.
"I want to clarify something but seeing your faces, I don't need that confirmation. You all remembered our promise. Now I'll best be on my way. The next time we see each other, is in the courts." He said while he retreated back to the stadium and I immediately dragged the other red head and the brunette before calling out to my cousin, "Come on, Tetsu. I'll need to talk to this Bakagami."
They all thought the same thing. Yuki wasn't the same Yuki they knew and that she changed during the span of weeks before the Winter Cup Started.
I shoved Kagami down and looked at him in the eyes. "Kaga-kun. I'll explain this briefly as possible." My eyes changed to violet as I continued my explanation. "I'll have Tetsu explain the rest but this is what you are expected to do. Mark Aomine but you have to let Daisuke play against his brother. This is between them as well. If you see an opportunity, crush that man's ego. Tetsu knows what to do but if it all goes according to plan, then we can win this."
He blinked and blushed at the close proximity of our faces before he nodded and I gave him a forehead kiss as a gift. "You'll understand that I am the worst one out of them… Eventually."
I instructed Chiaki on what she can do and I nodded before I told them. "I'm not going to play in this game. I'll stand beside my father during the whole game since I promised him that I will only play unless I have to. Daisuke is my proxy. And good luck."
They couldn't believe it. Seirin won against the second runner up of the Inter-High games. I maintained my poker face as I placed Daisuke back on the bench as he was exhausted from going all out on his brother. I placed a cold towel on his eyes and pat his back. "Good Job, Daisuke. You deserved a break."
"Man, that was intense. I'd like to have another one on one with him again." The ocean blue haired teen said while he grinned. I ruffled his hair before I rolled my eyes and looked back at his twin who was doing the fist-bump with Kuroko, in which his arm was slung around Kagami's shoulder as he was being supported by the redhead. The scene brought tears on my eyes and Momoi and I looked at each other before we smiled.
"I knew you were going to be a great strategist in your own way." I said while I crossed my arms against my chest while the pinkette simply smiled at me before she blushed and replied. "I'm not that great compared to you."
I shook my head at that. "People are different in terms of talent, Momo-chan. I'm just sugar coating my title as the Strategist Empress. I am truly called as a Manipulator but I guess that is insulting to some so it was later renamed as Strategist."
She smiled again as Aomine drug his sorry ass back to his team where Momoi offered him his towel. "It's okay, Dai-chan. There will always be next year." He simply stared at the floor and I rolled my eyes and grabbed his jersey. I pulled his face down my level and kissed his cheek, earning both of us blushes and glares from the other males. "You did well. I'll see you tonight at my apartment." I let go of his jersey and walked towards Akashi who was silently fuming at the scene that I made.
"Let it go." I told him and he exhaled.
"You were supposed to be with me, Yuki." Akashi replied and I shook my head.
"You should know that what we have is a brother-sister complex." I retorted. "And besides, our arranged marriage was already cancelled when we both agreed to simply use our bond as siblings to unite our company. More or less, make another branch from both."
He smirked and leaned his forehead against mine as he asked, "Do you like Daiki?"
I stared at his hetero-chromatic eyes while his team curiously watched our interaction. "Yes. Yes, I do." He only ruffled my hair in return before he glared at his teammates for 'checking me out'. They looked away and focused on the next matches. Our interaction ended and I went back to my team and my smile faded as I had two more targets to feel the pain of their consequences.
Aomine couldn't believe that he lost against the new partner of Kuroko, the Phantom sixth man of the Generation of Miracles. He was currently on my sofa staring off to la-la-land. I gently placed the cup of hot chocolate on the table in front of him before I left him to his thoughts again. I was happy that Aomine tasted his first ever defeat from a Miracle outside the Miracles. I've accepted Kagami as one of the prodigies worthy to be called the Generation of Miracles. I sighed before placing my used cup on the dishwasher.
Aomine has a lot of things to think about. I thought as I washed my hands and proceed to go to my room but the tan man was out of sight. I rolled my eyes as I figured where he would be and lo and behold! He was under my duvet facing away from me and his tall frame covered the entire bed as he thought long and hard. I think it is time that I tell him the truth…
"Mine-kun." I gently sat behind him and proceeded to lean against his warm back as he sat up behind me, not quite looking at me either. I sighed and continued as I stared at the ceiling. "Do you know why I'm the worst one out of all of you?" He didn't answer but his silence was enough for me to know where his thoughts are going.
I continued, "It is because I had all of you on the palm of my hands. Controlling you… No… Manipulating all of you from the start like puppets. My ability to make you do what I want is a curse. You've seen how my big brother, Makoto-nii, use that uncanny curse of ours. He and I are no different, the same fate and the same curse." By now, silent tears fell from my eyes as I leaned my head on his shoulder.
"I hated what I can do. People call me the Analyst, the Strategist, the Manipulator, the Puppeteer but really, I am a person who can see data as a stepping stone for the future, easily predicting what will happen next, what to expect and how to manipulate it. I easily deceived you guys and that made me realize… the first mistake I've ever made was the rift between us." I quietly sobbed, trying not to let the other teen notice and I successfully did. "I made the mistake of telling you of your abilities and predicted so far as to breaking our bonds. I hated myself, Mine-kun."
He slowly turned his head sideways only to see me wiping my tears away and he immediately gave me a back hug for comfort. Tears kept falling and a few minutes passed as Aomine gathered his thoughts before he reassured me. "It was all by one mistake, Yuki. Don't beat yourself up." I shook my head, not quite believing his words. This is Aomine we are talking about.
"You know, those years of losing contact with you were the hardest years on us. Especially on Akashi and…me" He mumbled and I scrunched my eyebrows in confusion.
"What?"
He sighed as I asked him and he took a deep breath before he replied. "Akashi became a closed off person, a different Akashi while I missed your constant nagging." He smirked before a tick mark appeared on my head as I rolled my eyes at him.
"Oi, Mine-kun." He grinned before he turned me towards him and he rested his forehead against mine.
"I missed you." He mumbled and I didn't quite catch what he said so I asked, "Pardon?"
He simply shook his head and tenderly kissed me all the while turning his body and fell on my bed, dragging me with him. I was now situated on his chest and he pulled the duvet over us and he said, "Sleep, My Empress. We have a long day tomorrow. For better or for worse."
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Next chapter will be fun and a surprise will be ensured!
This is Cordelia Michaelis signing off~