guuuuuys you have no idea I was so close from destroying my laptop 'cause my sister unfortunately decided to use it and log me out of my mail which caused me a whole lot of re-uploading and retyping. Anyways, DID I JUST SAW YOU GUYS DOUBLED THE FOLLOW? ASDFGHJKL MEIN LIEBE THANK YOU! Anyhow, WELCOME TO CHAPTER 3. Sorry I gotta make this short 'cause I'll have to run to my class, sorry for the delay, college is a bitch. But no worries, I'm sure as the sun that I wont leave you hanging too long. Actually Chapter 4 is close from getting finished, so maybe by the end of this week i can get to upload it. To everyone who reviewed THAAAAANK YOU, keep them coming I promise to put in here my replies next time, I'm just in a hurry this time. BUT WORRY NOT I have read them all one by one, I mean, taht's how much I love you. Thank you guys again. And sorry if Akafuri is slow in showing, its for the plot, I mean an Emperor and a runaway just dont suddenly meet out of the blue, yes? Oh did I mention...AOKISE and MIDOTAKA are here too, and probably MuraHimu too? LOL so anyways off with the story!

Oh and sorry I forgot to leave the translation notes on the previous chapter thank you Bubbles9595 for reminding Kicchin!

And yeah, I wont be holding you guys for too long, the classroom is calling out to me, and my prof may be in her classic beast mode, who would ever like that? So yeah, CHAPTER 3 everyone!

translation notes:

Shujo: his Imperial Majesty(Emperors)

Heika: His Highness(King)

Chapter 3: Secrets

Three days, Midorima sighed in frustration as he looked around, there seem no trace of civilization in the tall and thick forest of the mountains of Shuutoku. He wondered if this is one of the rarest moment when his older brother actually makes a mistake. There is just no trace of any village nearby and the have been travelling for three straight days. Moriyama had grabbed their horses saying he'd bring them to have a drink in the spring nearby, Midorima agreed saying he'll stay and look for any clue where they should go. Aside from the huge trees and tall shrubs, there was the sound of the bamboos clashing against each other as well, and that was all about it. Securing the arrows in his back, Midorima continued walking around looking at any signs of people, but there was nothing but greenery. He cursed his fate as second child, constantly, perpetually in the mercy of the eldest. There was nothing he could do when the eldest gives an order, and was agreed by the fifth—it seems like whenever Kuroko agrees, that automatically makes it a law that you need to abide by.

Midorima rarely like going out in the woods, it was Aomine's thing, and he hates it. He hates bug bites, sleeping on the ground, or just the thought of having no idea where they were on the face of the planet. He understood that the Emperor would want someone like that boy. Akashi is kind of man who would pull everyone that he deems powerful enough to become an enemy as a friend. Clever, really. But this also caused them, him and his brothers, to come to all sorts of holes and corners to search for this people.

His task, looking for the Hawk Child isn't something one could easily do, he couldn't really blame Akashi for entrusting the task to him. Teiko is an empire with thousand of indigenous people within its tribes, and with those lies secrets that many had probably never heard of before—well not them. When they were younger, the five of them grew up with their mother's tale of mythical creatures and stories she had gathered. In her tribe women especially were carefully thought knowledge that would deem them equal to men, as men were taught the skills in battlefield. In their tribe both men and women go side by side—like the yin and yang. While men do the work, the women guide them by thinking, men represent the body while the women are the brains. For this to happen they were thought arithmetic, arts and basic knowledge of many other cultures. And it was why their mother was knowledgeable of many tales from various places. One of them was the hawk child. As children it was something they thought of like those fairy tales, a fragment of imagination. But they have learned as they grow that there was a deeper meaning in these stories, something real resides in the legends that were passed down from generations to the next.

The Hawk Child was said to be the blessed one. Once there was a great mighty Hawk that circled the sky of Shuutoku, an animal spirit that thought to live under the rule of the Phoenix God. It ruled the skies of Shuutoku. But one great winter, the mighty Hawk could not soar the windy and frosted sky of Shuutoku, it lived in a small cave in the forest area for days, without food or water. It was close to dying alone in the great weather turbulence, until a wandering child came from a neighbouring village, lost as well. The child sat with the hawk in the cave stayed and shared his heat with the almost freezing hawk. He shared his last piece of bread to the bird even if he didn't even have enough for himself. The small body could not stay long as much as the Hawk could, his small body was threatening to fall in the battle with the weather. The Hawk felt his heart go out for the child who gave him a company when during the long cold day, so in exchange for the child's kindness, it gave him and his village a special gift. The infamous—Hawk's Eyes. And the next morning when the sun had finally shone, the hawk was nowhere to be found, and the child returned to his village bearing the gift of the Hawk. However, that was the last of the fragment of the story, for years many people had believed this was nothing but a story, but many people had proven that there was indeed, an indigenous tribe in the mountains of Shuutoku, pass the herds and plains where the bamboos grew tall. It wasn't long when the story about a child from the tribe that bears the real Hawk's Eyes spread.

"Wait!"

Midorima stopped in his tracks as the voice resounded in the forest, a strange male voice. Before Midorima could turn around to see who spoke—"D-Don't look!" the voice said making Midorima stop again. "D-Don't go there." The voice said.

"Why?" Midorima asked. Midorima gripped the dagger in his pocket as he listened carefully waiting for the stranger to make a movement, but the stranger didn't move, Midorima didn't heard any movements. "Who are you?"

"I…I am no one important." The voice said, "There's a boar trap a foot away from you now, if you weren't careful you might have chopped your foot from it."

Midorima was shock as he looked down and realized there was indeed something under the thick piles of grass before him. "You, were you…are you from around here?" Midorima asked. There was a long trail of silence before Midorima finally grew impatient and was to turn his head away—

"I SAID DON'T LOOK!"

Midorima froze, what is with this person, why won't he let him look at him?

"I…I'm not supposed to be seen by anyone," the voice said softer, "If you're looking for the village, you have to follow the stream, at the bottom of it is the village."

"Then at least tell me your name."

There was silence again nothing but the murmuring sound of the bamboos.

"Hawk Child."

Midorima quickly whipped his head as he heard the name but all there was for him was the sound of the faint footsteps scampering away. He…met the Hawk Child, this must be…

Fate

.

.

.

Finally after hours of travelling and following where the stream goes they have arrived to the small village. If it was true that the boy who told him the direction was indeed the Hawk Child, then he must be just here. Or maybe, he had been anticipating them to come to him. Midorima stared at the village before them, they all look at them like they were some strange creature, or as if he grew a new pair of arms in his head. They all wore the traditional clothes in Shuutoku but the liveliness of the usual colors of hanbok wasn't there, it was either brown or white and green, they almost look like they'll blend in the vegetation. Moriyama was walking a few feet ahead of the prince securing his safety at the unknown territory they landed. The stranger didn't lie, there was indeed a village. But it looks almost sad, almost…eerie. The people either shot them a strange look or scurried back to their huts. A few meters away Midorima could see a tall concrete building, from its design he assumes it was a temple. For years it is Midorima's first time seeing a temple that lack any signs of joy, it look pale and was covered almost with overgrown plants and roots. He could hear people whispering about.

Midorima quickly grabbed a bow and his arrow as he felt a very fast and heavy movement coming from the crowd, as fast as he draw his weapon, he found a group of men had surrounded them and were all pointing their spears at them. "Who are you men?" asked one of them. Midorima looked at Moriyama who gave him the let me handle this look. Midorima nodded and drew back his weapon. Moriyama raised both his hands.

"Please, we come here in the name of his majesty, the Emperor Akashi Seijuuro." Moriyama said, "We wish you no harm."

"How could we believe you?"

"If we wish you harm, it shouldn't be just us coming here, yes?" Moriyama said. The people didn't budge and took a step closer to them, Moriyama didn't know these people would be this aloof to a new face. They didn't even recognize Akashi's authority. He looked around assessing them, aside from the strange clothing, the village looked partly normal. Well, if you put those death glares being showered to them, yes, this village would be fairly normal. "Please listen to us we mean no harm we only want to—"

"Stop this at once."

Moriyama and Midorima quickly looked to where the voice came, it was an old man's voice, shaking and hoarse from old age. The men quickly dropped their weapons and bowed their head as they made way to the man who spoke. Midorima and Moriyama watched as the man step in, a young girl with jet black hair in his side supporting him, she wore a variations of green hanbok, while the old man wore a gray hanbok and a green robe over it.

"They are not our enemies." The man said. "Do not waste you energy in such frivolous matters. Forgive our men, we were not informed of your arrival, it must have been shock. You see we don't get much of visitors."

"No." Midorima answered bowing his head, "The blame is on us, forgive our sudden intrusion."

"Do not bow your head to me young Prince." The man said making Midorima perk his head up, he hasn't introduced himself yet. "When you bow your head, you put yourself under someone's dominance, however, I do know for one that you only surrender to your Emperor. That would make you a hypocrite, young prince."

"A-Aplogies." Midorima said.

"Then, shall we take this conversation inside?"

"Yes, thank you for the invitation."

Midorima was puzzled, he did say they weren't informed of their arrival, knowing Akashi as well, he was sure he didn't send any formal foreword to these people, however the way the man spoke to him a moment ago didn't seem like that. How did he know that he is a prince, Midorima looked at his clothes, was he too overdressed for this task, he sure as the sun rises that he didn't wear anything that would reveal his identity. He didn't like looking like a shining metal to a murder(a flock of crows). They silently walked towards the building as the girl assisted the old man's slow steps. Assuming as how the people quickly followed the man, Midorima assumed that he is the leader of the village. Moriyama was now walking in the prince's side as his eyes wandered around looking for any signs of danger. Luckily there seems none. Midorima and the party climbed up the temple and was welcomed by something Midorima didn't expect. It was dark in there, only torches lit the vast temple. The brick floor looked like it had never been thought of to be fix, some bricks were missing, one wrong step and someone would surely end up face first on the floor. The walls had cracks on it and overgrown roots ate it. The pillars had vines in it almost making it like the temple was part of the forest as well.

Walking in the long hallway, Midorima noticed that from the far off wall, a huge painting of a Hawk was plastered in the wall. This must be where the people worshiped their Hawk God, but despite that, the place looks like it hasn't been inhabitated with people for so long. Does anyone even go here to worship anymore? The dust was growing thick as in the floor. He could almost see his footprints.

"Careful of your step mister." Midorima turned his head up as he heard the little girl spoke. Midorima nodded as they continue.

Soon they reached a small behind the worship room. The girl left a few moments as the man asked her to bring the guests something to eat from their tiring travel. The girl left with a bow. The room was plain, the chair was made of wood, and so is the table. The cups though were tattered, if not close to breaking. The small window on the wall allowed barely light in the room. Midorima looked around but there wasn't really anything that could offer him clue to the boy he met earlier. Maybe he's looking at the wrong place, he thought. A few moments after, the girl returned with a cup of hot tea for them. Midorima's eyes widen as he smelled the scent—jasmine, he thought. Kuroko preferred to have this kind of tea prepared whenever they assemble as this means a heated argument, and he say the tea will help them calm down. The scent was stronger though, and more tempting.

"Is something wrong?" The older man asked.

"No." Midorima said.

"Oh, I haven't introduced myself yet, have I?" the old man said, "My name is Shinosaki Takao. I am the village's leader."

"I am the second prince of the Empire of Teiko, son of the late Emperor Akashi Seikaku to the Empress, the Lady of the Seas, Akashi Harumi." Midorima introduced himself, "currently the head of Shuutoku, I go by the name Midorima Shintaro."

"That's quite an impressive title, and this young man?" Shinosaki Takao asked aas he gestured to Moriyama, "I assume he is here to guard the prince?"

"Partially." Midorima answered.

"What do I owe you men the favour then?"

Midorima was about to answer when he brought the cup to his lips and quickl realized the reason why the smell of jasmine was somehow stronger. It wasn't just jasmine, it was wild jasmine, and there was a hint of chamomile as well. It almost reminded him of how their mother brewed tea. "This tea is…" he trailed before sipping the tea, his eyes widen, it tasted better than those prepared in the palace.

"Is something the matter?" Moriyama asked.

"N-No." Midorima said, "I-It's a very good tea, who prepared it?"

Suddenly as if stepping on a landmine Midorima felt the atmosphere in the room dropped. Looking around Midorima looked at Moriyama mentally asking if he said something wrong. Moriyama shrugged. "M-My son." The man said with shaking voice as he warily looked at the girl standing by his side.

"Where is he?" Midorima asked, "That's not every day that I hear a male knows how to brew a tea, not even my brothers."

The man thought quietly before he took a deep breath and shook his head, "He doesn't like going out very much, actually….he isnt allowed."

"Why? Is he ill?"

"Yes, something like that." The man said before standing up, "My daughter shall lead you to your chambers, I assume you'd wish to sleep early, the road must be very tiring."

Midorima narrowed his eyes, something is up with this man. Something he isn't telling them.

.

.

.

The loud waves had been annoying Kagami now for straight three days. He sighed, as he stood there, in few days they'll be docking to the ports of Too, where the Emperor's party will welcome them and lead them to the capital where the Emperor most probably awaits him. In his hand are two letters, one wrapped in an expensive red paper while the other was plain papyrus. A few days, both letters came, one with the strangest way he could say by a strange albino eagle. The papyrus came in with the eagle just right before he fell asleep, the eagle sat on his window pane picking up in its wings. When he saw it he almost fell to his feet at the sight, who wouldn't be when there is an eagle, and a white as snow one on his window with a letter attached to its leg. To his surprise, the letter came from his younger brother, his missing and assumed kidnapped brother.

Aniki,

I don't know if you are at home, but knowing you, I think you are. Please, tell Father I am fine. I was kidnapped, yes but I am fine now. Someone saved me from those people and I am now alright. However, this doesn't change my mind, I still chose not to come home. Brother I know I am not suited for the throne, it should have been you. Forgive me and my selfishness. I cannot tell you where I am going, heading or staying, I need to think if these things. About the throne, about the crown, about my life. I need to know what I really want. For years I have lived under the pretense it will be alright, that you will be there to catch me when I fail, but that is truly not the reality. If I fail, the people will be damaged, the kingdom our father built for years and years will suddenly crumble, I cannot have that. Until then, brother, please don't look for me.

Kouki

He knows what his brother's handwriting looks like, it was certainly from him. Even after long years, he surely knows what the strokes of his characters looks like. And his senses didn't told him that his brother was in any danger, but how can a brother not look for his younger brother? Kagami couldn't sit and relax and not look for him when all that matters was the younger boy's safety. Knowing he was indeed kidnapped wasn't going to make things lighter either. Maybe it was the pressure that pushed his brother to run away, Kagami thought, he coudnt shake the thought that yes, this might be partly his fault, that maybe if he didn't escape a few years ago, then maybe it wouldn't be the matter, maybe Furihata didn't need to live with the responsibilities. Their father will surely said otherwise, well their father will anyways say so to anyone. The second, letter though was from someone quite particular, the very reason of this travel. An invitation.

Prince Kagami Taiga of Seirin Kingdom,

We have been aware of your brother's circumstances. Believe us when we say that we do as well do not wish a war to break in between us. We were informed and we send our apologies to you and your kingdom, we are aware of what happened, but to rest your worries we have indeed found the ship that had been assumed to have taken the young prince and made an investigation. However, we wish that we speak of this personally. In that we invite you to the Crimson Palace, we shall accommodate your stay as long as we could settle in a decision for this matter.

We shall await for your reply, or at least your arrival would suffice.

Phoenix Emperor,

Akashi Seijuuro

Kagami wanted to snap those petty little necks of those who kidnapped his dear brother, however, knowing the letter he received from his brother he at least know he is well. The invitation would probably wasn't to talk about Furihata, but what he want to do about this. War. Thinking about it, most kings and leaders wouldn't take something such as kidnapping the heir of the throne as lightly as to send letters and invite them in the palace, however, perhaps Teiko's Emperor knew he isn't someone who would simply grab his sword and scream at the top of his lungs to charge. As idiot as he is, at the very least he has the capacity to understand the rules in wars. You don't just charge, when he charges, he charges with his men, with the people of Seirin, what is even the probability that his men will survive the war? He might be most of the time an idiot, but he isn't suicidal or the very least insensitive. Though this may change it the way the Emperor would deliver him the message.

His blood boils at the thought of someone tricking his poor little brother into a ship and to an unknown territory. A brother could simply not sit quietly when it is a matter about his siblings. When they were younger Furihata had attached to his side, and that wasn't something Kagami had a problem with. However idiotic his exploits were, for the younger boy, he was the most amazing man around equal to their father. He had always looked up in him—but there he was being everything but amazing, as his brother puts it. He wanted to tell him, he isn't what he think he is. He didn't fit to be the king, he's too hot headed, too impulsive, too emotional about almost everything. While the younger boy was more composed. True, yes, maybe sometimes the boy was too nervous for his own good, but his cowardice gave Kagami options, Furihata reflects the people of Seirin, people whom had realized their weakness under the gaze of the bigger nations. He made decisions as he place himself in the shoes of their people. And he wasn't like that. He had too much confident in his self, he thought that maybe this was due to how he was raised, his mother came from a fairly good background and his father, well nothing just a King. For years he had been secured and kept in the comfort of the palace life, and it was why he thought that he couldn't really be as close as Furihata to the people of Seirin.

But his selfishness led to his brother running away. All those decision led him here, with his younger brother missing and probable war between a young kingdom and the most powerful empire.

"We will reach the ports in a couple of days." Hyuuga's voice said interrupting the thoughts of the crimson haired prince. Hyuuga looked at Kagami and smiled at the thought that despite what he says, Kagami is a very confident leader. He looked even more kingly than his father. He would lie if he say his eight years away from the palace didn't bear fruit. It did bear fruit, a blazing passion in those eyes that smelled maturity and power. "Are you ready to meet His Majesty?"

"The Emperor…how does he looks like?"

"Well I haven't seen him myself, but I heard he is around your age."

"He's an Emperor at eighteen?"

"A bachelor as well," Hyuuga said, "he was crowned just a few years ago, he refused many plan of getting married, and taking consorts as well. He seems focused on his people and Teiko. I heard he is a charming young man, I do remember his mother, the late Empress Harumi, she look very beautiful."

"You met with her?" Kagami asked raising a brow and turning to the minister.

"Yeah, and that's one thing you gotta learn," Hyuuga said remembering his first trip to Teiko before, when Kiyoshi was younger and even before Kagami's birth, the former King was a bit too adventurous and disguised himself as he took a ship to Teiko Empire just for sightseeing. It was then when they met the Empress. Who would ever imagine a royalty, the Empress herself going to the public market to buy reels of silk in preparation of her son's birth—though of course there she had a few of her servants and palace guards. The Empress is extremely beautiful. He could remember her hair that was accented with the gold headdress, skin pale white almost glowing, and her bright scarlet hanfu almost contrasting her long blue locks. She wore the robe of the Imperial Family, with the symbol of the half phoenix in full flight. To Hyuuga's utter alarm, Kiyoshi went up to her and gave her a gift, without checking it she accepted the gift and was very delighted when she opened the box and found a beautiful golden hair ornament. She chuckled quietly and kept it under her sleeves thanking Kiyoshi and telling him that unfortunately the child in her womb is a male, the King—to which the Empress probably didn't know—just said that she might have one in the future and then he could just give it to her. The Empress smiled and gave something in return. "in Teiko, when people speak of her, they speak of her like a Goddess, respect and loyalty as much as they are to their very own land. If you at one point is mistaken of the way you speak of her—even if you're a prince they wouldn't take it lightly."

"They're strange."

"They know that already, and probably because they have accepted that fact, they've become indestructible."

…

The sun was setting but the surrounding looks like its already close to striking midnight. Moriyama brought a basket of fruits and fresh juices that the leader of the tribe had given them for dinner, saying it was the only thing they could give them for then. Seems like the traps they set in the woods didn't caught any meat. Midorima didn't mind, at the palace in Shuutoku, he practically had a lifetime supply of pineapples, and eating fruits for dinner didn't seem like something bad. The room they were given wasn't really as big as he had in the palace, the walls were uneven, and the bed creaks underneath him, it was unfortunately small for his height as well. He could imagine the fifth prince fitting in it but not him or anyone in the family. The room was lit with torches, and the blankets smelled of mold. The second prince wasn't really picky as Aomine would describe him, he could sleep in this kind of bed, its just he didn't like doing this very frequently. Moriyama sat on his bed writing the progress of their task in a scroll. It is what usually is his job. Minister Ootsubo back in Shuutoku is quite keen in keeping tabs on the things that happens around especially when it is a task assigned by the Emperor himself.

It was quiet, and Midorima realized that people in this village seems to sleep quite early, half of the village was already preparing to sleep when it was only sun down. And just like he thought nobody comes to the temple anymore to worship. To that Midorima is still puzzled. Why aren't they coming here anymore? Did something happen?

"What are you thinking?" Moriyama asked as he stopped from writing and raising his head to the prince.

"Don't you think something isn't correct about this village?" Midorima replied.

"You need to be a bit specific with that Prince." Moriyama answered.

"This place, the people as well, it feels like they are hiding something." Midorima answered.

"They are indigenous tribe my Prince, things such as this is normal for them." Moriyama said sighing, "Not seeing people for a long time is normal for them, being indifferent is normal as well—"

"Is knowing that we are going to arrive normal as well?" Midorima said cutting the man's words, "I remember what the village leader said earlier, he said they were informed of our arrival, but who?"

Moriyama shrugged, "Who knows maybe their Hawk God?"

"That's another thing, the dust is very thick in the front entrance, it doesn't look like someone had been going here." Midorima said, "The forest is eating this place already, does it looks like they're still worshiping that Hawk God?"

Moriyama was silenced before he sighed, "Whatever you're speaking some strange language again, shut up until you can speak human, okay?"

Midorima glared at the other. If he wasn't really older than him he would have used him as a target ractice for his archery skills. Standing up Midorima decided that maybe he could gather information about the Hawk Child around the temple. "I'll just go around." Midorima said, "I can lift my own legs, there is no need to come with me." He said as he left the room.

The hallways were dark, the small candles on the walls provided very minimal light. If he didn't know better he'd think he is in a dungeon. The silence was eerie paired with the darkness, his footsteps were the only noise. Soon he was climbing the familiar steps to the main worship room.

The worship room was lit though thanks to the entrance that didn't have any doors, the light outside provided illumination to the room. Midorima stood in front of the painting of the Hawk. Tracing his fingertips on the painting the prince realized something. There was this odd strokes in them. As if a part was painted with a specific stroke then the other part has a different stroke, the color intensity also was varied. It almost looks like it was painted by several people. Inching away Midorima looked at the painting as a whole, a hawk with silver blue eyes, huh. Just like how their mother told them. But what might be the reason why no one has come here anymore? Why is it that they left it this way?

"Isn't it sad?" Midorima almost jumped out of his skin at the voice suddenly interrupting his thoughts. He turned to where the voice came and he was shock to see a dark silhouette standing there. He could barely make out the strangers' features as he stood against the light, but he couldn't be mistaken, this voice…this voice belonged to that boy back at the forest. "No one comes here anymore. You're the first in so many years."

Midorima blinked his eyes as it started to adjust to the darkness, and slowly the features revealed itself, he was wearing a hanbok as well, but his face was covered with a mask. "Y-You are that boy, aren't you, back in the woods." Midorima said. Why is he wearing a mask?

"What is it that you want?" the stranger asked.

"I-I need to speak with you." Midorima said.

"Speak with me?" a dry laugh, "Me? Are you tired of living already that you seek me to speak to of all the people? You probably don't know, then I shall tell you this now. Leave me alone."

"I cannot do that." Midorima answered. "Why, why do tell me to leave, what is it to you that I cannot speak to you or you refuse to tell me your identity?"

"Cruel things befall those who see and speak to me," The stranger said, "nothing good comes to people like you. Now, leave."

"Then perhaps try me?" Midorima said, if he returns without this boy what will he say to Akashi.

"Don't mock the Gods young Prince."

"Oi Midorima!"

The second prince whipped his head to the direction where the voice came, suddenly his eyes met with the scurrying figure of Moriyama. The man approached him panting, "You—damn, I have been looking for you, where have you gone to?" Moriyama said having the urge to smack that green head of his. "You've been gone for an hour, I thought you fell to some cracks around here."

"No, I was talking to—" Midorima realized his mistake and he looked at where the stranger stood but there was no one there anymore.

Frowning Midorima wondered what the people in that village is hiding, and why does the Hawk Child is this indifferent, and what is the meaning behind his words? Mocking the Gods, Midorima laughed internally, that isn't his job it was Akashi's, perpetually challenging fate. Maybe this time he'd do the same, how far can fate try to keep him from meeting that stranger? He bet his life on it—

Not so long.

Midorima didn't fancy this game of hide and seek.

I'm going to see you, and I will unravel the mystery behind that mask—hawk child.