Hey guys! Thanks so much for the reviews in the previous chapter. Reviews are my sunshine in the rain and lemonade on a hot day and fruit loops in a milk sea of cheerios. :)

Okay, corny metaphor aside I'm here to answer a question some of you asked me. Where is Kuroko? Don't worry about him. I assure you he's safe (despite being in the hands of the enemy and everything) but sorry to say he won't appear until the final chapters. Hope you don't mind the wait. Here's some consolation cookies! *hands virtual cookies*

I'm open to any other questions you guys might have. Just leave it in a review and I'll be sure to answer you ASAP.

There's not much action in this chapter. Just a brief description of their headquarters, some donuts, a pissed off Akashi and a sort-of motivational speech.

I do not own KnB because if I did crazy shit will happen.

CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH

KISEKI HEADQUARTERS

Main Control Room

Wednesday, 9:30 am

One of the reasons for Kiseki's success was their impressive computer system. It was developed by Aida Kagetora, one of Kiseki's former members, and was named as the Miracle System. Its database was connected to everything-the media, cellphone towers, live camera feeds, etc. Anything the Kiseki needs was just a click away.

The system was set-up in the Main Control Room. Rows of computers formed a semicircle at the front of the room. A large display screen dominated an entire wall for when the entire team needed a view of the data. The screen currently displayed a map of Tokyo which was marked with red dots.

Right after receiving Hanamiya's name, Momoi researched everything she could about the suspected leader of Kirisaki. She hacked into the city's real estate records and obtained a list of properties purchased by Hanamiya. The red dots on the map represented the locations of the said properties. There was a high probability of Kuroko being held in on them. And if he wasn't?-well, Momoi was prepared to rummage every single piece of land Japan has to offer.

Himuro and Riko came in the control room, carrying boxes of doughnuts and a large pot of coffee. Murasakibara was right behind them, chewing on a powdered doughnut.

"We have breakfast!" Riko declared, plopping down the box on the large conference table where they held their briefings. After picking a strawberry doughnut for Momoi and a glazed one for herself, she sat down in front of the computers and opened up the system. While Momoi was looking at locations, she busied herself with analyzing criminal records of possible members of Kirisaki Daiichi.

Himuro had his PDA in his hands and was typing on it as he took a sip of black coffee.

"What'cha doing Muro-chin?" Murasakibara asked, powder and crumbs dusting his mouth.

"Don't talk with your mouth full, Atsushi." Himuro handed him a tissue and kept typing with one hand. "I'm monitoring the newsfeed to see if Kirisaki was recently mentioned. The only thing I have right now was a suspicion that they were behind a prison break two weeks earlier. One of the escapees was linked to Kirisaki."

"Muro chin, can I crush him?"

"Remember the last time you 'crushed' someone?"

"I'll hide the body better this time."

"Atsushi. No."

Murasakibara pouted and grabbed another powdered doughnut.

By the time Nijimura arrived Momoi had marked more areas on the map, Riko had narrowed down nine members of Kirisaki and Himuro had found five cases involved with Kirisaki. They were no closer to finding out where Kuroko is, but at least they were going somewhere. He sat down at the conference table and began analyzing their files.

Nijimura looked up at the sound of the door opening. Akashi stepped in, emanating an irritated aura which made everyone in the room shiver, minus Nijimura of course.

The redhead glared at him.

"You said you'll wake me up in fifteen minutes."

"Did I? Oh well, I must have forgotten." Nijimura didn't bother to hide his smirk. Akashi glared harder. "Don't look at me like that, Seijuurou. It was for your own good. Now you're fully rested to stab anyone your cold, little heart desires. I'll even let you borrow a knife from my collection."

Akashi weighed the pros and cons of killing his adviser right them and there. Pros, he can find a new, less annoying, less busybody adviser. Cons, Nijimura will probably return as a ghost and haunt him for the rest of his life.

Akashi settled for kicking him under the table. He smirked in satisfaction at Nijimura's wince. Propriety be damned. Akashi can be petty when he wants to be.

"While you were off enjoying your beauty sleep-" Akashi aimed another kick at him, but Nijimura dodged it,"-we put together a file of Hanamiya Makoto. You were right as usual. He's the son of one of the higher-ups in the government. He was accused of several cases of smuggling, blackmarket dealing and forgery, but Daddy dearest pulled some strings and all cases against him were dropped."

"Do we have anything that connects Hanamiya to Kirisaki Daiichi?"

"We have one," Himuro answered. He slid his PDA across the table to Akashi who picked it up and read the news article displayed on it. "A few months ago the police performed a drug bust in District 5. One of the dealers they arrested confirmed that Hanamiya was their supplier. However, when the police questioned Hanamiya he denied allegations. The case was closed days later due to lack of evidence. More days later the dealer that ratted him out was found dead. He was poisoned and his tongue was cut off-Kirisaki's signature killing style."

A horrifying image entered Akashi's mind, of Kuroko lying on the floor with blood flowing from his mouth. His tongue was missing and his baby blue eyes were dull and lifeless.

Nijimura must have sensed it because he was suddenly squeezing Akashi's shoulder, breaking him out of trance. The adviser wasn't much for words, but his face said everything Akashi needed to hear.

"We'll get him back."

Akashi spent a good part of the morning memorizing everything he needed to know about Kirisaki. Every significant detail was carefully stored away in the recesses of his mind. He was already formulating strategies in his head and techniques he would use to make Kirisaki suffer if Kuroko was harmed in any way.

The doughnuts dwindled as the other members of the team arrived. Akashi paid no attention to them, focused solely on drawing up plans and backup plans and backup plans to the backup plans. At some point somebody placed a cup of tea in his hands and he took a sip from it, the bittersweet taste invaded his mouth and woke up his senses. Any noise was drowned in the background-an argument between Kagami and Aomine, Riko and Momoi typing away, Kise's cry of pain from Kasamatsu's smack and Takao's muffled laughter.

Only when there was silence did Akashi finally look up.

A somber mood had fallen over the table. No one was talking. The only sounds in the room was the typing of keyboards and a burp as Murasakibara finished the last doughnut.

In that instant, Akashi knew how every one of them felt. Kuroko's presence may have been mostly undetectable, but at the very least they felt complete, they felt like a family. Now that he disappeared for real his absence was more noticeable than ever. It was like a gaping wound across pale skin.

Akashi cleared his throat and heads swiveled to look at him. He shared a glance with Nijimura who already knew what was coming.

"I always win so I am always right," he declared. At first it seemed like another proclamation of his ego until he added," Therefore, I am right when I say this: We will get Tetsuya back."

The atmosphere changed in an instant. Desolate looks morphed into one full of hop. There was that certain fire in their eyes, fire that spoke of power and determination. They will get Kuroko back and nobody, not even Kirisaki Daiichi, would stop them.

*beep* *beep* *beep*

Akashi pulled out a sleek, black device from his pocket. Cellphones were tricky in their line of work. They can be wiretapped to allow a third party to listen in conversations and if they make a long call they can be tracked down by the police. It had been Riko's idea to make their own model, one capable of the basic features of a regular phone, but also something virtually untraceable. Each member had their own cellphone which was connected to everyone else's. The only way to contact a Kiseki member was if you were a Kiseki member yourself.

So it was a surprise that Akashi's phone would ring. No one ever called him directly. Akashi made it clear that all reports were to be delivered to him personally. He accepted phone calls only if it was an emergency.

He flipped the phone open and read the contact name.

His eyes widened.

Nijimura already knew something was wrong based on that reaction alone. He peered at Akashi's phone and felt his own eyes widen at what was displayed on the screen.

Caller: Kuroko Tetsuya

And done! :) This was originally longer, but I had to to cut it into two parts. The Kiseki team begins their next mission in the next chapter.

Thanks for all the support minna! You guys are awesome! ;)

Chapter 4: Rendezvous

The time was 3:00 pm.

All of them simultaneously touched the weapons concealed under their clothes.