Chapter 12
Akashi felt the bond tremble with snarling rage at the explicit threat, and sending a soothing wave of calm was the only thing he could do to restrain the animalistic anger in Daiki and Atsushi's frames without tipping his hand.
Akashi turned around and kept his body in a relaxed and casual stance. "Kentaro, you must be mistaken. To imply that I have bond mates without hard core proof is...irresponsible on your part isn't it?"
He gave a lazy smirk and said, "Of course, the last time I checked having a bond mate was not illegal."
Akashi saw Seto Kentaro's eyes flash in hatred at Akashi's disrespectful address towards him, but it was quickly masked by the sly twist of his lips.
"Of course Akashi-kun, but I believe that being bonded to...an Inferior is illegal. We do have standards to uphold and tarnishing our very existence..." at this Seto Kentaro's eyes held palpable disgust and hatred.
"With such dirty useless creatures is wrong in every single way."
The red haze that flashed across the bond was so strong that Akashi nearly burst with furious rage and protectiveness, but he grabbed control of the wild snarling bond that demanded he hurt them all, maim them for the humiliating degradation of their mate and forced it down to a bubbling ball of cold, hard fury.
The voice that came out from Akashi's mouth held the words that pulsed united along their bond.
"The most despicable creatures are the ones who are the most empty and pitiful. The ones who have nothing because they destroy everything."
Seto Kentaro narrowed his eyes at the implicit insult. "Interesting observation." The mocking drawl was followed by soft thuds of polished, black military boots on marble floors. With calm, deliberate steps Seto Kentaro crossed the space separating them. Akashi knew that Daiki and Atsushi would not hesitate to act if there was any indication at all that they were going to attack, so he purposefully relaxed his body even more. He knew that his bond mates would not be able to keep their calm and control their reactions so well, so he took it upon himself to do it in their stead. Being raised from young in politically harsh situations made him more aware of all the possible ways to manipulate a situation and this environment is as natural to him as breathing.
Let the games begin, Akashi viciously thought.
"Yes. But I believe it's more...applicable to some than the rest." Akashi's neutrally polite tone was undermined by the mocking glare in his crimson eyes.
Before anyone could blink Seto Kentaro's right hand had snapped out and with lightening fast reflexes gripped Akashi's arm in a bruising hold. Akashi let out a imperceptible grimace at the fingers digging indiscriminately into his arm but he kept his body still in stoic neutrality. His face betrayed nothing, not even a hint of anxiety, only unwavering boredom.
That lightening fast action left everybody reeling and it took everyone in the room a few seconds to comprehend what had happened before all its occupants burst into a flurry of action. Aomine and Murasakibara's faces contorted with shock which turned into rage a millisecond later when they realized what had happened. Aomine barged in front of Akashi and into Seto Kentaro's face and Aomine's left hand gripped the hand that had Akashi's arm in a tight hold, whilst his right hand curled threateningly around Seto Kentaro's neck. Murasakibara had an arm around Akashi's waist, his looming hunched body curling protectively around their smaller mate with his sweeping arm splayed in front of him in warning. The look in both their eyes could have killed and the guards hesitated when they saw their predatory protective stances and the hungry razor-sharp glints in both their eyes.
Aomine's gravelly snarl brought shivers down their backs and their fear propelled them into action. "Let go!"
Seto Kentaro smirked and ignored the palpable threats in front of him and brought Akashi's golden-covered wrist to his cheek. His eyes flickered up and he gave the three Generation of Miracles a sadistic heated gaze before bending his head forwards and leaving a taunting bite on the skin of Akashi's palm.
Aomine snarled and his fingers dug deeper into the Seto Kentaro's neck but he did not let go even if the guards rushed forwards to protect their high-ranking Council Head. As soon as the first two guards got near and swung their batons down to disable Aomine, Murasakibara's eyes flashed and his powerful arms and fists sent them impacting against the far wall in heaps.
The other guards rushed forwards to disable and detain Aomine and Murasakibara when Akashi's voice rang out, "STOP!"
The power in that one command stopped everybody in their tracks. Aomine had to wrestle his protective fury down to a simmering lick inside his mind before reluctantly prying his hand away from the choke hold he had on Seto Kentaro. Tearing his body away, Aomine turned around and protectively flanked Akashi's side. He felt Murasakibara shift aside and he curled an arm around Akashi's shoulders in a clear display of possessiveness and protectiveness. The arm that Murasakibara had around Akashi's waist was a warm weight against Aomine's skin and he reveled in the sense of united possessiveness.
With a flick of Seto Kentaro's hand, the guards retreated and they were left staring at each other warily.
The tense atmosphere was broken by Seto Kentaro's sudden, unexpected remark, "So I see that the rumors are true. The Generation of Miracles are bond mates. That's very, very interesting..."
Akashi coldly replied, completely ignoring Seto Kentaro's previous remark, "We shall take our leave, Kentaro. Please do restrain your...pets next time. We wouldn't want any incidences to get out of hand."
Seto Kentaro's voice dripped with sweet venom. "Yes of course. It has been a pleasure meeting you all."
Akashi turned around sharply and strolled languidly towards the door with Aomine and Murasakibara right on his heels, and they coldly left without a goodbye or dismissal.
The smirk on Seto Kentaro's face was full of violent amusement and after witnessing the scene Aida Riko knew that Seto Kentaro's mind had already made connections and already making up plans to draw them into his spiderweb. Inside her mind she shuddered for them.
His eyes snapped towards her in reprimand, "Riko, if they are here again next time. Do not hesitate to call me. You should have called one of the members of the Kirasaki Daichi to help you deal with something so big like this. Do not repeat your mistake."
She inclined her head in a shallow respectful nod. "Yes sir. I understand."
Then she tentatively inquired, "Forgive my directness sir but your actions towards them were a bit bold. Usually Superiors treat each other very cordially in public settings...were you...trying to test them, sir?"
"Yes, I was and it seems like they have been keeping some secrets. Their change of heart had to come from a turning point. If we find that point, we can control them." Seto Kentaro's eyes flashed with increasing dark excitement.
"I see..." Riko's voice was a hesitant mumble. Seto Kentaro gave a knowing grin and he turned around to leave flanked by his guards.
"I will be with the High Lord so I want no disturbances today." Riko's eyes widened in alarm but her respectful nod covered her unconscious show of fear.
"Oh...and Riko?"
She felt her shoulders and spine tense in growing anxiety but she coolly replied with a "Yes, sir?"
"Send Haizaki Shogo and Kagami Taiga to my office after my meeting with the High Lord."
"There doesn't seem to be much information on the High Lord's inner circle, the Kirasaki Daichi group. Maybe we should focus on other council members, Kise-kun." Momoi Satsuki lightly suggested.
Beside Kise was a girl with long sweeping light bubblegum pink hair. She donned a simple light green sweater that did nothing to hide her voluptuous curves, and a simple dark blue skirt. Kise glanced at her nervous shuffling and put a gentle arm on her shoulder. "Yeah, that's a good idea Momoicchi."
Momoi beamed at him and as she tucked a long strand of hair behind her ear her silver wrist cover flashed in the light. Kise heart constricted at the sight and he thanked the heavens that they managed to find her.
Aomine and Momoi were childhood friends and were raised together in the same household. Momoi was an orphan who had been bought by the Aomine household at the age of two. She was raised and trained to be Aomine's personal servant, but instead a deep friendship developed between them. However, three months after the Generation of Miracles met and bonded, Satsuki was sold to another household without Aomine's knowledge. Aomine was devastated when he discovered her gone and with his bond mates' help, they managed to retrieve her two months into her stay at the Harasawa household.
After knowing her for two years now, Kise would say, without a doubt that she was one of the most amazing, happy and compassionate people he has ever known. He knew that Akashi, Murasakibara and Midorima felt the same and they all shared a fond brotherly affection for her. They would not hesitate to protect her and when Kise looked at her now, he was relieved that they had made the decision to remove her from society's political machinations. Now she was so well hidden and removed that she became their eyes and ears, moving fluidly between the Inferior and Superior class systems and gathering valuable intel from her vast network of connections.
"Kise-kun...are you sure that Kuroko is your bond mate?" Kise's curious eyes met her cautious ones.
"Yes we're sure. Why? Is something wrong, Momoicchi?"
Momoi searched his face for any sign of doubt before she relented and said, "No...it's just that I have heard from my connections that there is 'a phantom' serving the Supreme council and Kuroko's presence and appearance fits this description they gave me..."
Kise sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Gods...we had hoped that you wouldn't dig too far, but that's too naive isn't it?"
He gave her a sad aching look. "Yes...Kurokocchi worked for them before. But, you have to understand that it was not his choice. You didn't have a choice too right, Momoicchi?"
At that Momoi tiredly nodded her head, and her suspicions evaporated. Now, she only felt empathy towards the blue hair boy because she understood what it felt like being mistreated and forced into servitude because of her Inferior status.
After a while, she focused her attention back into organizing all the information they had gathered. The comfortable studious atmosphere was broken by the sound of a rattling door, and Akashi walked in with Aomine and Murasakibara closely surrounding him.
Kise perked up at their arrival and ran full tilt at them with a bright smile on his face. He glomped Akashi and Aomine in a bear hug but his excitement died down when he saw the dark looks in all their eyes.
"What's wrong Murasakicchi? Aominecchi are you alright?..." Before Kise could ask Akashi, Murasakibara lifted Akashi up and deposited him on his lap whilst Aomine spun around and grabbed Akashi's arm.
On the skin of Akashi's arm there were purple and green bruises in the glaring shapes of fingers, and the sight sparked a fresh wave of helpless anger in him. Kise mimicked Aomine's gentle touch and ran his fingers silently across the bruises.
Aomine's eyes held the same haunted and helpless look that Murasakibara's had. "That damn bastard! We can't do anything to them! Damn the rules, I will tear them to pieces for this!"
Kise was fuming. He absentmindedly trailed his fingers forward and his attention returned when his finger tips came back slightly wet with blood. He stared at the bite on Akashi's palm in horror.
A sigh near him brought him out of his churning emotions and Kise turned around and saw Midorima with a first aid kit coming down the stairs.
Midorima gave Akashi's injuries an inscrutable, neutral look, took out antiseptic, cream, some band aids and started to treat them. However, the lingering touches Midorima left on Akashi's arm and palm were full of resigned throbbing agony.
"What happened, Seijuro?"
Akashi reached up his uninjured palm and ran his fingers across Midorima's cheek and Kise's hair in comfort before he replied. "We have already informed the Supreme council that we will not work with them from now on," Akashi's next words were met with a growl from the mute Murasakibara and a silently fuming Aomine.
"But then we had a run-in with Seto Kentaro, the Head of the Human Segregation division and a member of the Kirasaki Daichi group."
Midorima, Kise and Momoi shared an understanding look.
"So you met...him." Kise's voice was flat with disgust. Kise knew that an encounter with any of the members in the Kirasaki Daichi group would not be pleasant from all the warnings his and Momoi's informants have given, but seeing evidence of it was different than hearing it from a third party.
"From now on, they will target us won't they?" Midorima received an acute nod from Akashi. He took his glasses off and pinched the bridge of his nose. The rare sight of vulnerability displayed by Midorima made Kise's heart ache in similar pain so he wrapped a soothing arm around his mate's lean waist.
"If Aka-chin, Kise-chin, Ao-chin and Kuro-chin go anywhere I will come along from now on. No more separation." The sudden random but vehement declaration warmed their hearts. The tight hold Murasakibara had on Akashi showed the depth of his fear and they all moved towards their tall giant to comfort him. In their minds, there was no question that from now on no one would be alone. Everywhere they go their bond mates will accompany them, because if they let each other out of their sights...they might lose sight of one another in this barbaric world of politics.
Hey everybody! Thank you for your amazing reviews in the previous chapter. You made my heart flutter in happiness. I was so happy that it was so well-received :-D
I hope...this chapter is ok though...and I don't bore you. My writing contains a lot of slow build and burn so...yikes...bear with me guys ;-)
PS did you notice more characters getting added into the plot? (Wink wink*)
See you later guys :-)
