Chapter 19

The minuscule, unsteady swaying underneath Kuroko was soothing and so instinctively familiar that he shifted his balance on to the balls of his feet without even having to think about it. Another gust of wind shifted his balance and Kuroko snapped out an arm and steadied himself against the trunk of the tree. He glanced up the overlaying branches and found the infrared camera carefully concealed amongst a cluster of leaves.

Kuroko leapt, grabbed onto the next branch and pulled himself up onto the base of it. As soon as he was on the branch, he maneuvered his body and reached up to grab it. The metal of the camera was pleasantly warm against the palm of his hand.

"Oi, Tetsu! Need any help up there?"

With one last sweeping glance, Kuroko gave a sharp whistle before he dropped the camera into Aomine's waiting hands. A second later he landed in front of Aomine with a soft thud. Quick as a snake, a blur grabbed Kuroko's arm and steadied him before he could even wobble.

"That seems to be the last of them…why the hell are there so many of these things?"

Aomine's voice trailed off incredulously. An unexpected reply from behind made Kuroko whip around in alarm until his mind registered who it was.

"Ao-chin should know why by now~. Aka-chin's very thorough in everything he does…" Their giant was leaning against a tree, with a large bulging shoulder bag slung across his right shoulder and a large bag of chips cradled in his hands.

"Uwahhh~ Did I scare you Ao-chin...Kuro-chin?"

Kuroko watched in amusement as Aomine gave a hard sigh before he moved towards a deflated, sulking Murasakibara.

"Idiot-" Aomine's reply was exasperated but fond as he reached out a hand to cup Murasakibara's cheek. "Don't sulk over something so small."

Kuroko's smile grew when he saw Murasakibara nod before shamelessly nuzzling against Aomine's palm, and Kuroko let out a choked off chuckle when Aomine's cheeks went faintly pink and his mouth dropped open in stuttered embarrassment. With a small smile directed towards Aomine, Murasakibara stepped back and started walking to where Kuroko was standing.

"Very sly of you to do that, Murasakibara-san. I think that was the first time I've seen Aomine blush…"

Kuroko gave the indigo-haired giant next to him a knowing glance. With a small smirk Murasakibara popped a chip into his mouth before he innocently mumbled "I have no idea what you're talking about Kuro-chin~"

"And stop calling me by my surname! I want Kuro-chin to call everybody by our first names."

Kuroko ducked his head when he felt his chest flutter with affection and he gave a smirking Murasakibara a nod. The arm that draped around his shoulders was a pleasant anchor against the small taints of grief that still line his every thought. No matter how much pain he suffered because of them, there was still a part of him that blamed himself for his parents' deaths. There was also a part of him that had never stopped loving them; but there was also a part of him that hated them and hated his own love for them.

Kuroko felt his heart constrict and his fingers dig painful crescent-red shapes into his palms.

It felt like he was a million pieces of shattered glass and no matter how hard he tried to glue the pieces together, his hands would always come away bathed in blood and the reflection in the jagged, haphazard pieces of glued glass was a distorted mess. Sometimes, he couldn't even recognize himself; all he could see from the glued pieces was something so twisted and vile that he would not be surprised if there was no salvation for the cowardly monster he was inside.

A gentle squeeze from Murasakibara indicated that his bond mate had guessed the thoughts that were overwhelming his mind. A soothing hum permeated his thoughts and Kuroko felt tension leave his limbs.

The feeling of comfort was so strong Kuroko unconsciously sunk against the solid warmth of Murasakibara's body. All the grief and throbbing pain were still there, but its sharp edges were dulled into something bearable. Something that didn't make him feel like he was choking on glass.


There was a thump and a bag full of cameras landed on the table. Akashi picked up a camera and passed it to Kise.

"Looks like it's the new released version Akashichi. I don't think there's a need to update the program."

A contemplative look came over Akashi's face. "That's good but we will still have to go ahead with installing the new sensors. The system can not have any flaws-"

"Let me handle that with Ryouta, Seijuro." Midorima interrupted the soft statement from his spot leaning against a large oak desk.

Kise gave a wide grin before plastering himself against Midorima. "Yep Akashichi~ Just rest and let us handle it before you fall flat from exhaustion~"

The teasing tone was met with exasperated but fond glares from Akashi and Aomine before Akashi sighed.

"I'll leave it to the two of you then, but the matter of patrol partners and rotations still need to be handled-"

"I will handle it, Sei."

Akashi sighed at Aomine's sudden interruption before giving all his bond mates a reluctant nod.

"Shin? Tetsu?" Midorima glanced up, pocketed his phone and nodded.

"We'll take the first shift tonight."

Aomine's relieved smile was a balm against the weariness they all felt. "Thanks guys. I'll organize the rest of the security patrols and make sure the surveillance around the mansion's as fool-proof as possible."

"And I'll be helping Aominecchi!" Kise's enthusiastic reply brought a small, fond smile to Akashi's face. Sometimes Akashi, himself, forgot that Kise could be as perceptive as him.

"Idiot! You haven't rested yet! Let other people handle it-"

Kise flung himself at Aomine with a dramatic wail. "AOMINECCHI! Are you saying that I'm incompetent-How can you say-!"

"Oi! -Hey!-"

Aomine's affronted yelp followed by their bickering voices soothed the last tendrils of anxiousness and tension in the atmosphere. There were fond smiles and chuckles all around, and Midorima couldn't help giving a small exasperated shake of his head at Kise's antics.

Midorima met Akashi's eyes and gave his bondmate a small smile and nod, before he turned around and stopped in front of Kuroko. Midorima adjusted his glasses, before softly saying "Let's go and prepare for our patrol tonight, Tetsuya."

Kuroko met Midorima's deep forest-green eyes, reached out and gently took his hand. The familiar feel of bandages and long slender fingers made his heart flutter, and Kuroko couldn't help giving his blushing bond-mate's hand a small squeeze before gently tugging Midorima out the door.


The light that streamed through the open crack of their door was a soft tint of moonlight-blue that illuminated the bed just enough for the shapes of his bondmates' bodies to be visible. Kuroko slowly pushed himself from the headboard and with silent feet he padded towards Midorima's silhouette. The soft snick of a knife and pings of metal weapons met his ears.

Without hesitation or fear, Kuroko lent forward and picked up a knife from the large collection of guns, knives and weapons strewn across the table. His bondmate barely blinked or jumped at his sudden appearance, Midorima just grabbed a SIG Sauer with an attached silencer and tucked it into Kuroko's thigh holster before running his hands over Kuroko's kevlar vest and rechecking the straps. Kuroko gave Midorima a fond glance before he reached up and did the same.

Satisfied with Midorima's gear, Kuroko settled back on his heels and activated the night vision on his visor glasses. But before he turned to head outside, Midorima caught his arm and a warm, slender hand was laid against the pulse of his neck.

"Be careful and don't strain yourself too much, Tetsuya. Your injury hasn't healed completely yet."

Kuroko nodded and turned so his lips brushed a chaste kiss against Midorima's wrist.

"Please be careful too, Midori-" Kuroko paused: his bond-mate's name stuck in his throat. He could feel the blush on his cheeks but he pushed through the bubbling feeling of embarrassment to mumble out a shy, uncertain: "S-Shintaro-"

When he peeked from underneath his lashes, Midorima's cheeks were dusted slightly red with a blinding, unrestrained smile. It was beautiful and breath-taking, and Kuroko couldn't help the blush that heated his cheeks. He ducked his eyes down because his chest was quivering with so much love; it stole his breath away.

The feeling of a finger tipping his chin up snapped him out of a daze, before warm, slight chapped lips met his. Midorima's hand moved and Kuroko felt fingers run through his hair before cupping the back of his head. The feeling of fingers in his hair and warm lips made him melt, and Kuroko couldn't stop the whimper-moan from leaving his lips. The kiss sent a hot shiver through his body and before Kuroko's mind could short-circuit, Midorima pulled back. With a small smirk Midorima left one last loving peck on Kuroko's lips.

"Thank you. It means a lot to me." Was Midorima's whisper-quiet murmur. The hand in Kuroko's hair slowly trailed downwards and caressed his cheek before it enveloped his hand in a steady but gentle grip.

"We'll check in with the patrol we'll be replacing in a few minutes first, then we'll canvas the area and familiarize ourselves with all the exits and entrances."

Kuroko nodded and took a breath to settle the embarrassment decorating his cheeks. With one last glance towards his slumbering mates, he closed the door with a near-silent snick and watched as the automatic locks engaged, keeping the door securely locked and everything inside safe.

Kuroko turned around and met Midorima's eyes briefly to settle the brewing tingles of anxiety dancing along the bond. There was a gentle hum of -loveaffectionwarmth- from Midorima that melted the small live-wire tension running through his veins. Kuroko shot his mate a grateful smile.

The route they had to patrol was the longest route. It was a route that covered every nook and cranny of the mansion; it covered the most important rooms and areas like their floor and the dining hall. Kuroko remembered how frantically Akashi worked and coordinated with the few refugees he personally provided sanctuary for, to make sure the security was as impenetrable as it could possibly be. Akashi's mansion did not house a lot of rebels, which Kuroko found surprising until Kise explained that Akashi only allowed a small handful of people he trusted most into this mansion, because he didn't want to endanger his bondmates; the most important people in his life.

That was why Akashi provided sanctuary to rebels in other safe houses all over the world with help from Midorima, Kise, Aomine, Murasakibara and other contacts. Those safe houses were maintained and run by an underground network of revolutionaries that the Generation of Miracles were apparently a part of…

Kuroko was in awe at the sheer scale of things that his bond mates have accomplished. He can't help the overwhelming bursts of pride, love and joy that blossom in his chest every time Kuroko thought about all the things his bond-mates have done to help Inferiors. To help his people; his kin.

The thoughts of his bondmates never failed to make him smile. The grief that hung over his thoughts paled in the light of his new-found optimism and delight. The spark of determination muted by the grief from his parents' execution, slowly flickered and sparked back into life.

Kuroko was determined again. Determined to live because now he didn't have only himself to think about anymore. He had people who he had to live for.

The breath he took was like the first breath of fresh air and the fog of grief dissipated, and it felt amazing. The feeling of clarity made Kuroko's vision sharpen, and he finally was able to see the strands of the bond in his mind. The strands of the once shining bond was now a faded and dull gold. Kuroko was horrified to see that unconsciously he had been cutting off their bond until it was brittle and fading. Tentatively in his mind's eye, Kuroko reached for the bond, cupped it in his palms and held it tight to his chest. He screwed his eyes shut and poured all of his love, desperation, gratefulness, regret, grief and jubilance into the bond, and in the blink of an eye it transformed into a golden, shimmering link; stronger and more breath-taking than what it was before.

Midorima's soft inhale drew him out of his observation of the bond, and his eyes snapped up. There was a hint of shock and awe on his bond mate's face, but what made Kuroko blush was the glint of pride and love in those beautiful fern-green emerald eyes.

Kuroko felt a grin pull at his lips and opened his mouth to reply-

Thump!

but the sound of a muffled, barely audible thump stopped them cold. Kuroko slowly reached down and silently removed his handgun from the holster. The cold hard metal of the gun was a comforting, familiar weight in his hand and without hesitation he flicked the safety off and quietly stalked forward. A brisk glance at Midorima revealed that his bondmate was flanking his right and diligently covering his rear.

A hum of reassurance through the bond from Midorima was the signal for Kuroko to advance forward. So, Kuroko cautiously scanned the hallway as they walked, keeping an eye for any abnormal glints or details that could indicate an intruder.

After five agonizingly slow minutes of sweeping the hallways with nothing in sight, Kuroko slowly lowered his gun and reached up to his visor glasses to report the incident, when he felt Midorima tense behind him. A hand grabbed Kuroko's arm and he was yanked back. A searing line of pain blossomed on his cheek and instinctively he pointed his gun in the direction the bullet came from -his mind already calculating the trajectory and tracing it back to the shooter- but before he could fire a shot, his bond mate had already fired off one.

Midorima had an arm extended, his other hand was still holding Kuroko's arm and his bondmate looked like he was considering if he should fire another shot, but the millisecond-fast glint from something shiny caught Kuroko's attention and his body reacted before his mind registered what it was. Kuroko grabbed Midorima's arm and violently pulled them to the side. Kuroko broke his fall with a sharp roll and took cover behind a corner.

Kuroko tilted his head slightly and spotted Midorima in his peripheral, looking rumpled but not gravely injured. A warm thrum of acknowledgement from his forest-green haired mate comforted him, and it allowed him to focus on the shooters.

From his peripheral vision, Kuroko saw Midorima fold his palm into a fist before pumping up twice and flashing his index finger three times. Kuroko sent a sharp, monosyllabic reply through the bond.

'Understood'

It seems like there were two intruders and both of them were armed. Kuroko took a deep breath and tucked his SIG away, then with nimble fingers he grabbed his knives and deftly flicked them open before he settled down and waited…

1...2...3...4...5 -

Now!

Kuroko ducked low and flung himself forward. He used the momentum to propel himself towards the intruder sneaking up on him, and the knife in his hand glinted in the dim moonlight. The intruder dodged the arc of his swing and leapt back. Kuroko snarled, twisted his body to avoid the retaliating blade and blocked the upward arc of the blade with his wrist before striking out with his other arm.

Kuroko's blade missed the intruder's neck by inches. He struck again, lightening-fast and swept the intruder's knees in a move that was so sharp that it left the attacker no time to retaliate. There was a soft inhale, and his opponent threw himself sideways and into a roll.

Kuroko didn't let up. There was no way he was letting this person go. NO way he would let someone who dared break in and threaten his mates' safeties go!

Kuroko snarled and his wrist snapped out. The knife he flung with razor-sharp accuracy landed with a wet muffled thump into the shoulder of the intruder. It was a non-lethal area and judging by his opponent's grunt of pain and subsequent retreat, they were aware of the possibility of being held and tortured for information. With a burst of speed he managed to grab his opponent's wrist and in a blink of an eye, Kuroko twisted the intruder's wrist and slammed him into the wall.

One hand on the hilt of the thrown dagger jutting out of the attacker's shoulder and one hand with a knife pressed against the intruder's jugular, Kuroko barked out a furious: "Who. sent. You"

The man in front of him went stock-still before he broke out into hysterical chuckles. Kuroko felt the rage start to bubble in his throat but before he could twist the hilt of the knife further into the bastard's shoulder, the man's voice threw his mind into panic.

"Well...well. I never expected to see you here, senpai."

That voice. That face...

"Missed me, Kuroko-senpai?" Haizaki Shougo's smirk was as cruel as he remembered. The glint of frustration in his ex-kouhai's eyes turned malicious.

"Everybody thought you were dead. Imagine the surprise if the Supreme Council found out that one of their missing dogs was consorting with filthy rebels-"

"You're as much of a dog to them as I was!", The feral snarl that left Kuroko's lips was garbled and ferocious.

The taunting, cutting smirk and return growl made the bond in Kuroko's mind thrum with electricity.

"So you finally found your bite. Before you were just a mindless mutt; their Phantom-" The vitriol that dripped from the words seeped into his mind, and threatened to drag Kuroko down into the dark abyss of pain, suffering and death.

"I'll never return to them!...I'm not that person anymore-" Kuroko, desperately but violently, spat out.

"Are you sure-" The words were filled with conviction and dark taunting amusement.

Desperation clawed at Kuroko's senses and insecurity started to froth in his lungs. Haizaki must have seen the flash of vulnerability because Kuroko barely managed to dodge the upward thrust of a hidden knife. Kuroko leapt back and immediately clutched his ribs. The line of fire that ran down his right side and the blood seeping through his fingers told Kuroko that the cut wasn't too deep or lethal, but it wasn't something to scoff at either.

Kuroko was about to corner Haizaki again and subdue him, when another figure appeared behind Haizaki, aimed and shot at the large bulletproof windows that line the hallways. The blood seeping through his fingers made him sluggish because before Kuroko could rush forward, the new figure had already emptied a magazine of armour piercing bullets into the window panes and forged a hole big enough for Haizaki to climb through.

Kuroko swore and stepped forward but his left leg buckled and he dropped like a puppet with its strings cut. With shaking fingers, Kuroko tore a strip of fabric and wound it around the bullet wound decorating his left thigh. Then he ran his fingers along the seams of his kevlar vest and slowly peeled it off. Kuroko grimaced and prodded the sluggishly bleeding wound on his side. Haizaki must have aimed in between the seams of the vest, and usually Kuroko would have been able to avoid that trap but the shock of meeting someone from his old life and the pounding PTSD-induced panic that wreaked havoc in his stomach, threw him off-balance.

The soft thumping sound of feet made him perk up and the sight of Midorima made all the leftover tension and pain melt from his body. The reflection of utter relief on his bond mate's face comforted Kuroko.

With a small grimace and a relieved sigh, Midorima limped to his side and gingerly lowered himself down next to Kuroko. A warm weight was plastered against Kuroko's side and he sighed before resting his cheek on Midorima's uninjured shoulder. Kuroko gave a weary sigh and closed his eyes.

The distant sound of approaching feet and the crackle of electricity along their bond made him feel safe, and Kuroko couldn't help a small, tired twitch of his lips when Midorima said in a voice tinged with relief, exasperation and fondness: "I can hear Ryouta and Daiki's voices from here."


Kagami straightened, gritted his teeth in frustration and ran his fingers through his hair before he opened the infirmary door and stepped inside. There, propped up on an infirmary bed, was his assignment's designated partner, Haizaki Shougo.

Kagami placed his clenched fists behind him in a resting parade pose before addressing the figure standing near the window.

"Sir."

"Council member Kagami, I've read your report concerning the infiltration of a possible rebel safehouse."

Seto Kentaro's face was obscured by darkness but his voice dropped several degrees colder. "Your report says that you were not able to identify the identity of your opponent because of the dim lighting and tactical gear they had on…"

Kagami kept his expression relaxed. "Yes that is correct, sir."

There was a noncommittal hum and a rustle of paper, before the General straightened.

"I see. That's a pity."

"-But not all is lost. It seems like Shougo-kun identified his opponent as one of our missing dogs."

Kagami could feel the sweat leave cold trails on the nape of his neck.

"Is that true, Council member Kagami-kun?"

Kagami gave a sharp nod and there wasn't a hint of vulnerability or conflict in his voice. "Yes, it was Kuroko Tetsuya. The Phantom."

Seto Kentaro's lips stretched out in a malicious, hungry smirk.

"The boy must have seen us execute his parents…-Interesting. Very, very interesting."

-'damn it!'-

The voice in Kagami's head made his headache pound. He was there as a witness when Kuroko's parents were executed and a new flame of hatred for the Supreme Council blazed in his heart. Kagami never understood the difficulties Inferiors went through because he was never directly exposed to it, but now his naivety was gone. Now he was able to understand why Riko and why his mentor, Kiyoshi, despised the Council. Why they despised the system so much. Why his brother, Tatsuya Himuro, left his Council seat and entrusted it to Kagami. The burning hatred Kagami had for the Council was slowly growing. Now, he wanted to join in his friends' fight. Wanted to join Kiyoshi and Riko and support the cause because, now, he was sure.

Now he knew, without a single doubt in his bones, that the Supreme council had to be destroyed.


A/N: Wait wait! Oh my goshhh... *eeps* please forgive your absent-minded, disappointing, unorganized author?

Real-life hit me with whammies the size of a 100 tonne boulder so...I kept having so little time to edit through the chapters I wrote and revise the drafts. Yeah...I know...excuses excuses...

But I really am sorry for posting so late and disappointing so many of you :(

I just hope this chapter is good enough for all you amazing muffins.

Thank you for being so understanding and thank you to everyone who have left Kudos, reviews/comments and followed this story!

Hugs and love,

Aydsa

(Reviews, kudos, etc are all amazing and motivating so leave some if you can!)