Chapter 9: Encroaching Reality

Kuroko turned the combination to open her locker with a smile. The past week she had spent with her bond-mates was arguably the best she had ever had. She could still feel their presence in the bonds at the back of her mind. They were open to her should she wish to explore. Kuroko hadn't dared yet, but she kept her own mind walled and guarded more out of habit now, than a desire to keep her soulmates out of her mind.

Opening her locker Kuroko was glad of her decision to keep her mind shielded. Even with walls in place some of her fear still passed through down her bonds.

Her locker had been broken into since she'd last opened it. She kept everything very neat and precise so she could tell when something had been moved or taken. Picking up the book that had been pushed against the locker wall Kuroko felt her heart sink. Taped to the wall behind where the book was there was a yellowed envelope bearing the Council's seal. Written on it in stylised cursive was the word 'Shadow'.

Kuroko suppressed the shiver of alarm the sight of the envelope sent down her spine enough that it did not get through but she could now feel the worry and concern her earlier lapse in control had caused the others. She also got the information that Aomine is heading to where she is. Lightning fast, she stuffs the letter into her bag, making sure it is out of sight. Just in time, as Aomine rounds the corner as Kuroko looks back up.

"Tetsu, what's wrong?" the question is intent, demanding an answer but with e unmistakable tone of concern underpinning his words. Kuroko feels a flush of warmth through her nerves.

"Nothing, Aomine-kun."

Aomine's look of disbelief spoke volumes, and she hastened to elaborate before he asked again or got one of the others to investigate.

"Someone just broke into my locker, that's all."

This does not placate him. If anything, Aomine looks even more concerned as he examines the inside of Kuroko's locker from over her shoulder.

"It's alright, Aomine-kun. Nothing was taken," Kuroko continued, trying to reassure Aomine but fell silent when Midorima appeared behind her. She startled slightly; she hadn't seen him arrive.

"Tetsu's locker was broking into, Shin."

Midorima's eyes sharpened at Aomine's words and he tuned to Kuroko. "Was anything taken?" he asked.

Kuroko shook her head. Then she stared as the two began taking everything out of the locker.

"What are you doing?"

"Moving your stuff," Aomine replied.

"Why?"

"Your locker was broken into. It's not safe. We'll move you stuff into Shin's till we find you somewhere more secure, he has the space." Midorima pushed his glasses up his nose but did not refute Aomine's words. Kuroko could only watch helplessly as the two moved her things across the school to Midorima's locker, her protests falling on deaf ears.

"What happened, Aominecchi?"

The five men were sitting in the student council office instead of being in class. They had all made their excuses to the teachers citing urgent council business. No one had questioned this and Kuroko took separate classes from them. This was fortunate, as the meeting was to discuss the incident that happened with their female bond-mate that morning.

They had all felt the spike of fear, then shields had slammed into place fast and brutally. It had shocked them all. Kuroko was still reticent, still hesitant about their sincerity, but she had been starting to lower her walls. To have all their progress undone so fast was alarming.

"She said someone broke into her locker," Aomine started but was interrupted by Akashi.

"Was she telling the truth?"

Much as none of them wanted to contemplate the idea, it was a valid concern.

"Yes," Aomine answered after a pause. "But I think she knows more than she told us."

"She knows, or has a very good idea, of who it was." Everyone turned to look at Midorima. He pushed his glasses up his nose, uncomfortable with the sudden scrutiny. "I also surmise, seeing as nothing was taken, that our culprit left something for Kuroko to find. Something she did not want us to see."

"But what?" Kise's voice was bewildered and tinged with hurt at the thought of Kuroko hiding things from them.

"We do not know," said Akashi. "And we are unlikely to find out unless Tetsuya tells us." He looked around at his bond-mates, impressing on them the importance of his words. "Whatever Tetsuya is hiding, she is doing so because she either wants to handle it herself, or she does not want to bother us with. Whichever is the case, we will do nothing. We shall give Tetsuya space, and show her that we trust her, and she can trust us." His eyes sharpened and everyone nodded, some more reluctant than others.

"Good. Now, we will meet with Tetsuya for lunch, and we will act as if nothing were wrong and this meeting did not take place."

Kuroko closed the door to her room behind her before slumping against it in exhaustion. She'd been stressed all day, ever since finding the letter from the Council.

She'd been worried about her bond-mates finding out about it, worrying about the new job they doubtlessly wanted her to do, worrying that she would give something away if they questioned her, just worrying about everything. And then she'd been waiting on tenterhooks all lunch for the questions to start. But they never had which had stressed the girl even more. They had kept sending her glances all through the meal, as if hoping she would reveal what had happened but had never touched the topic of what happened that morning.

Now she was in her room, away from where anyone could see her and her bond-mates had already shown that they would respect her privacy. This was her space and they would not enter without invitation.

Sitting at her desk she dumped her bag under her chair and pulled out the letter that had ruined her day. It was a large thing, white A4 envelope filled with paper.

'Better get this over with,' she thought, slitting the envelope and extracting a sheet of thick paper and five slim dossiers. Placing them to one side she scanned the letter containing her most recent orders. Kuroko blanched and threw the paper onto her desk before burying her face in her knees.

Shadow

On behalf of the Council of Governors, your assignment is to discover the identities and locations of those who call themselves the 'Generation of Miracles and eliminate them using any means deemed necessary.

You shall receive the usual compensation for your services, to be provided upon completion of the assignment.

Yours sincerely,

Council of Governors

Eventually Kuroko raised her head. Her eyes were dry, but suspiciously glassy. Nevertheless, she had made a decision. Glancing at the clock she hurried to her wardrobe and pulled on her 'Shadow' clothes: a long-sleeved, black dress with a flared, knee-length skirt, black stockings, and black, low-heeled shoes. Returning to her desk, she gathered the files she hadn't looked through and scribbled a note on a blank sheet of paper. Stuffing it and her orders into an envelope, she left the letter in the middle of the table, marked for her bond-mates to see.

Going to the window, she took a last, long look round her room, she would not be coming back.

"Goodbye," she whispered, before opening the window and fleeing into the city.