A/N: Hey here's a chapter for you guys, bit later than I intended but I hope it lives up to standard. The next couple of chapters will probably be up within the next phew days as this story is practically writing itself a the moment. Anyway, on with the show.

-Chapter 12-
The Earth Kingdom

Hazel-grey eyes flick open as a bucket of water is dumped on his head. Himuro takes the time to briefly glare at Wei Liu who returns the glance with a somewhat guilty expression. The older water-mage darts away after that taking his bucket with him. Himuro just sighs shaking droplets of water off his hair letting the silky strands fall back over his left eye as per usual. Being a water mage meant he couldn't get wet but that didn't stop droplets of liquid sitting on his skin, hair and clothes without actually soaking in. If things like that weren't such a regular occurrence within Teikou he would have found it strange. Even though he'd had the ability his entire life spending half his time growing up in Acirema there had been very phew with similar abilities often landing him strange stares from others. This resulted in him refusing to go anywhere near water until his return to Teikou.

A quick glance at the clock sitting beside his bed reveals that it's only 6:30am the time he usually get's up by yes, but after getting to bed at 3:00am thanks to the next person on surveillance shift being hours late he was not impressed. Himuro sat up even more droplets of water sliding from his hair to the bed sheets, soaking them through quickly. He sighed standing feet sinking into the plush forest green carpet as he padded towards his closet. Black jeans, open collard button up white shirt and a dark-brown fur lined jacket make up his regular ensemble as second in command of the Earth kingdom. Socked feet slip into combat boots just as he leaves the room shutting the door behind him with a satisfying clunk to come face-to-face with military commander Okumura Kenichi.

The large gorilla-like man stared down the young general frustration planted on his features. "We weren't planning on waking you up but Murasakibara-sama is being problematic." Okumura growled turning away from Himuro to stride away down the corridor towards the military barracks. "I'm going to get the boys training, go deal with it Himuro."
"On it, Okumura." He called after the commander's retreating back before turning in the opposite direction striding towards the Earth king's quarters.

Murasakibara acted like a spoiled brat at the best of times and a spoiled brat that thought they were dying of some exotic disease at the worst. It was truly questionable as to how the purple-haired giant had been chosen as king above his 4 older siblings. So, the 17-year-old might have had powers above and beyond and mono-earth mage seen before but surely some thought must have actually been given to who was best for the position personality wise. Though, as the evidence appeared to suggest that hadn't been the case when the magister had proclaimed one Murasakibara Atsushi king of the Earth kingdom.

Who was Himuro to question anyone anyway? Compared to the kings he was nothing. Sure he'd mastered both the elements of Light and Water at a relatively young age but he wasn't a prodigy, not in the way the Generation of Miracles were. Genius was the title he'd been given when he was little, incredible aptitude for learning and perfecting but ridiculously limited in the places he could reach with his less than desirable potential. Despite what people said hard work meant absolutely nothing without potential, one could only get so far without talent behind their strides.

-Consumed by Shadows-

Murasakibara Atsushi lay sprawled across the couch in his quarters humongous bag containing snacks such as chips, pocky and candy leaning against the armrest his head was rested on. Being 208cm tall meant he was far too large for the couch. One arm dangled off the edge hand resting against the floor, the other flopped across his stomach. Long, dark grey jean clad legs slung over the other armrest feet almost dropping to the floor on the other side. Even after being in the Earth Kingdom for a year the King's sheer height never ceased to astound Himuro. He hadn't remembered anyone in Teikou being so tall before he'd left for Acirema. Now he was the second smallest member of the Earth kingdom leaders aside from Fukui the resident strategist.

"Okumura says you're being problematic Atsushi, what do you want?" Himuro sat in the armchair opposite the purple-haired giant regarding him with a calm yet critical gaze. Murasakibara looked back at his second in command/babysitter languidly grunting in mild annoyance.
"Oku-chin wants me to do paperwork, says Muro-chin can't do all of it." The king whined munching on a stick of pocky as he did so. Himuro chuckled good-naturedly, shaking his head in both disapproval and amusement.

"Okumura does have a point Atsushi, I have my own work to do. I'm not here just to do yours." He explained in a tone usually reserved for those under the age of 5. Murasakibara acted like a child and responded best when he was talked to like one. It had taken Himuro a long time to get used to but once he'd gotten the hang of it slipping in and out of talking to adults and then to Murasakibara was easy.

"But paperwork takes effort," Murasakibara continued to whine looking up at Himuro with the best puppy-dog eyes he could manage without having to move.
"If you do you're work Atsushi, I'll buy you some snacks." Himuro replied sinking further down into the dark purple armchair he was sat in ready and waiting for the long session of reasoning and bribery ahead. Getting Murasakibara to do anything without an empire of snacks on the side, as bribery was literally impossible. He'd tried once and failed miserably.
"New flavours or old ones?" The slightest hint of interest was evident in the purple-haired teens voice as he regarded Himuro curiosity shining in his eyes.
"Anything you want." The elder replied taking a quick glance at his watch. Himuro sighed; if he couldn't get the childish king moving soon he'd have to pull another all-nighter to get both his won work done and Murasakibara's.

"Can't you just do my work but make it look like I've done it? You are an illusion user Muro-chin." Murasakibara spoke sincerely with the logic only a young child could deem logical. Himuro chuckled quietly under his breath grey eyes twinkling with amusement.
"You know my illusions don't work like that Atsushi. I'm far from strong enough to create a copy of myself let alone you." He explained with as much patience as possible. Okumura and the others often applauded him on having the patience of a saint but in reality it had taken a lot of willpower not to yell at Murasakibara multiple times for acting like a disrespectful child rather than the King he was. "Besides, your office doesn't have enough water or light for me to do anything. You forget my illusions rely on elements Atsushi."

"But, Muro-chin…" Murasakibara whines yet again opening a packet of chips and throwing a handful into his mouth afterwards. Himuro schooled his expression into one of complete composure hardening his gaze into a gentle yet firm glare.
"No Atsushi, do the paperwork and I will buy you snacks. Deal?" He spoke calmly boring into the younger male with the most convincingly desperate gaze he could muster.
"Fine." Murasakibara huffed dragging his huge body into a sitting position before standing, grabbing his snacks and trudging out the door slamming it behind him much like a toddler having a temper tantrum.

Himuro chuckled lightly running a hand through his hair before standing. He briefly checked around the room grabbing any snack rappers that hadn't made it to the rubbish bin and chucking them in it before leaving. Wasting an hour plus of every day of his life just to get the giant to do something and only succeeding half the time was starting to get monotonous. At first he hadn't minded but once the paperwork had piled up and he'd been placed into a major military roll the routine was starting to take its toll.

-Consumed by Shadows-

"Sei-chan," The redhead looked up from his paperwork pen hovering above the paper.
"Yes Reo." He queried, tone definite. Heterochromatic eyes glinted dangerously with an unspoken threat of bodily harm.
"Mayazumi wishes to speak with you about battle plans." Mibouchi replied letting his eyes wander over the piles of paperwork accumulated on the Fire king's desk.
"Thank you Reo. I shall go see him now, you are dismissed." Akashi waved the elder mage away with a flick of his hand. Mibouchi nodded watching as the young king stood gliding towards the door. "Oh, and there are some files for you on my desk. Get them back to me before the end of the day." With that the redhead was gone door shutting soundlessly behind him.

"Yes, Sei-chan." Mibouchi called back over his shoulder striding towards the desk and grabbing the pile of files with his name on them before following his king out of the room. Sometimes he wondered if Akashi had a screw loose, in fact he almost definitely did. But Mibouchi was his loyal servant no matter what. It was the way he had been taught since he was a young child. Serve the young master and defend him with your life for not doing so is punishable with death.

A/N: Please follow, favourite and review if you enjoyed it really encourages me to write more for you guys. I'm really excited to write the rest of this 'arc' as Himuro is my favourite KuroBasu character and he's practically the main character in this section. Next time, Mayazumi and Akashi get plotting, Murasakibara really, really hates paperwork and an introduction to the different mage-types strengths and weaknesses.

Thankyou for reading
-Angel