Posted: 02/05/13

Thank you to the following for reviews on chapter 3:
iKitsuNeko; R3iga1004; animefan106; isthisparadise; Reid Deathblack; hitomi65; Another observer of the world; guest; Dariahn; mr-raindrops; wasabi cake; Nickirem Aqua Pearl.

This is the last instalment of The Emperor's Singer, another chapter will be added at a later date to let you know when the second part of The Emperor's Trilogy is uploaded. Xxx

Edited: 14/05/14

The Emperor's Trilogy I
The Emperor's Singer
Chapter 4

Murasakibara stood leaning against the wall by the door to the room, observing Kuroko's transition from mortal to vampire. The boy's soft, pained pants were the only sound in the luxurious bedroom.

The only light to enter the room was that which slipped between the gap of the heavy, red, velvet curtains, but it was enough to set Kuroko's pale skin aglow.

Tetsuya was just as quiet during the change as he was in his humanity.

He was laid out on a grand four poster bed, his head resting on Akashi's lap and Aomine seated beside them. The red head was running his hands through the sweaty pale blue hair doing his best to comfort him as the vampire venom burned through his body, changing it as it went.

Aomine similarly offered his own comfort, holding the phantom's pale hands in his own. But this was just as much out of necessity as it was care. Without his hands restraining Kuroko's the boy had clawed at his own flesh in an attempt to find release from the pain that even now was destroying him from the inside.

A long low whine squeezed past clenched teeth and lips and the phantom began to thrash his head from side to side as a particularly strong wave of pain radiated through him. Kuroko's fingernails had already been hardened by the change and they dug into the flesh of Aomine's wrists, tearing at them in a bid for freedom, but his light held on, lips taut in grim determination.

Kise entered the room, light spilling in from the open door frame. The blonde immediately went to rush to Kuroko's side but his arm was caught by Murasakibara who dragged him to his side and against the wall, keeping a firm hand on his shoulder to restrain him if he tried to approach again.

Midorima also entered, shut the door behind him and approached the bed successfully much to Kise's frustration.

"Seirin lost; Rakuzan has been named the champion."

Kuroko whimpered quietly burying his face in Akashi's stomach.

The redhead hushed the boy softly, one hand remaining in his hair while the other trailed down his neck and along his arms, stroking them soothingly.

"Tetsu'..." Aomine hissed, and the boy slowly pulled his nails out of the vampire's skin.

Taking the opportunity the dark vampire changed his grip to hold both the boys wrists with just the one hand and moved them above the boy's head. Leaning forwards, he placed his head on Kuroko's chest, listening to the quick panicked pace of his heart, his own still heart clenched with every beat the other's heart skipped.

"Continue." Akashi instructed the green haired vampire.

"Seirin was off balance with Kuroko-kun's absence, Kagami-san especially. Rakuzan destroyed them easily."

"They never were anything all that special without Tetsuya. Score?"

"187 Rakuzan, 92 Seirin." Midorima stated before falling in line on the other side of the door to the purple haired giant.

The rest of that day and the next passed in a blur with Kuroko slowly losing more and more of his composure.

As the sun set on the third day muffled sobs tore free of the changing shadow's throat and tears streaked the pale face that was buried in the crook of Akashi's neck, soaking the shoulder of the redhead's shirt with warm salty water.

None of the vampires could help but cringed as they watched the cracks in boy's apathetic quality widening before their eyes. The change was taking its toll on him and the last stages were always the most painful. It would not be long now before the venom reached his heart and the change was completed.

Their ex-captain had settled against the headboard with Kuroko curled up in his lap. Aomine was still at their side clutching his left hand in both of his own, his lips pressing to each pale delicate finger and he admired the ever growing contrast between their skin tones.

Akashi had one of his hands entwined in the soft pastel blue hair, keeping the boys head in place, the other held the hand Aomine could not reach.

And they all knew when the poison had reached its target. Kuroko's back arched as his heart stuttered, his mouth falling open but no breath to spare on any vocalisation of his pain.

Akashi immediately lifted the boy from him and turned over, laying the almost-vampire on his back, head on the pillow and body resting above the thick covers and never letting go of his right hand.

Aomine immediately regained his grip on Kuroko's left and the rest of the vampire's drew closer to the bed cautiously.

The boy's heart began to pump at an increasingly fast rhythm as through trying to fit the beats of a life time into those precious few seconds that remained. And then...

Silence replaced the skittish beats.

Everyone held their breath, frozen as still as stone, waiting for someone else to make the first move when Kuroko did nothing.

Losing his patience first, Aomine squeezed Kuroko's hand.

"Tetsu'?" He questioned hesitantly.

Two blood red eyes snapped open.

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