DISCLAIMER: I still do not own Kuroko no Basuke.
THE AKASHI FAMILY
The Akashi family has reigned over Rakuzan since the kingdom was founded all those years ago. Under the Akashi family's guidance, Rakuzan has remained the most successful kingdom in the empire. A very formidable family, the Akashi's are both loved and feared by their subjects. The current emperor is Iwao. Because he is the ninth Akashi emperor of Rakuzan, the public more commonly refers to him as the Ninth.
Iwao married at a young age. His betrothed was a beautiful dark haired woman with amber eyes and milky skin. Her name was Reika. The couple tried for years to produce an heir, but after many failed attempts, it seemed that Reika would never be able to bear a child for Iwao. They consulted the most talented healers in the land, underwent ancient ritual after ritual, and Reiko prayed day and night for a son of her own. Iwao's patience was beginning to wan when, one day, Reiko announced that she was pregnant.
The kingdom had rejoiced.
Seven months later, Akashi Seijuro was born. His birth had come a month early, and the newborn cried and cried for days on end. Iwao had feared for his son's health, but Reika had only smiled and reassured him that the baby was strong. True to Reika's word, the prince grew to be healthy and smart. Little Seijuro inherited his father's charm and his mother's allure.
It was five years after Seijuro's brith that Iwao took in a young boy from the streets. The boy was charming and energetic, with hair of spun gold, and he had a rather interesting talent that had intrigued Iwao. After all, Iwao is a greedy man. He saw potential and seized that talent for himself. Ryouta was around Seijuro's age, but the two boys did not get along very well. The energetic orphan's personality clashed with Seijuro's quiet demeanor. Nevertheless, they both adored Reika, and the emperor's wife was all the more happy to look after another child.
For a while all was well, until the emperor's wife caught a terrible sickness. Bedridden for days, Reika soon succumbed to her illness and died.
Iwao then threw himself into his work.
It was during a trade mission into the mountains of Seiho that Iwao was intrigued once more with the discovery of another talented child. This boy was orphaned, like Ryouta had been, but was by far more interesting. And so Iwao took the child back to Rakuzan.
He acquired quite a few other rare talents over the years, and his court became full of interesting people. It had become quite the little obsession, gathering unique allies who showed potential. Such was the Akashi way, though. He eventually married once again, but only once, to a gorgeous young woman he met by chance on a peace-making journey into the west. The marriage produced no children, which suited Iwao just fine at the time as he had enough young ones to look after.
Ten years later, Teiko is facing opposition from Kirisaki Daichi in the west, and tension is running high within Rakuzan. The Ninth is now old and ailing. Neither his son nor his two wards have married and produced heirs. Iwao knows his days are limited. That is why he has begun pressuring his only son, Seijuro, as his rightful and most able heir, to obtain a wife before his passing.
If only it were that simple.