Hello guyssss! OMG Its been so long, I'm so sorry for not updating earlier, I was stuck in school work yet again, yesterday my group was forced to make an organized interpretative dance to perform in less than thirty minutes. Our professor was like 'like hell can you do it' and we're like 'bitch please, we're miracles'. So yeah, I was dying in the corner trying to dance like its not awkward though clearly I am. UGHHHHH why am I dancing I'm major in Psychology what the hell does my professors think we are, jack of all trades? I'm starting to think one of this day they'll ask us to juggle and stuffs. Ahahaha sorry, guys Author-san is ranting yet again, I can't write in peace because of my profs and I needed to wait for Wednesday to come so I can write half of the chapter since that was the only day I have enough time to sleep and be human LOL.

So yeah, wow there were loooots of reviews last chapter and I AM SOOOOOO HAPPY! THANK YOU EVERYONE! The HAWK arc has started! Hmm, what do you think guys, why is the Hawk Child hiding away? What does he mean when he told the second prince that he will die if he keeps talking to him, *drum rolls* ahahaha, read to find ouuut! And what will come out of the fifth prince's meeting to Seirin's prince? OMG so many tensions guys! To SmileRen YESSS THEY MEET FINALLY! ahaha sorry for making you wait for the KagaKuro, but a palace is so big to make this two cuties meet. To AJ-san ahahaha thank you for waiting and I hope you like the update! To Mew'sMeow Thank you for pointing those out, hehehe I'll try my best to improve those part and omg thank you for noticing that paragraph, I didn't notice I pasted that twice, sorry *bows head* And thank you very much for reading! I hope you like the update! To Guest-san OMG thank you for reading them! I'm happy that you enjoy them, and here's an update sorry for taking too long. And to dragonnatsu I'm not sure how to interpret that but I'll take that as a compliment then, Thank you very much for taking time and reviewing! To Bubbles9595 ahaha the Akafuri will come by in the main arc, which means yes, I guess this will be longer than my previous fic MOMOGATARI and Tsubasa No Yume. Ahahaha I've always imagined Kurokoscolding Kagami about his potty mouth in the anime ahahaha, IDK I'm weird LOL. And to JustHangingAround THANK YOUUUUU so much, I've always dreamed of how a would like my palace to look like if I was someone high and all, so since I'm not royalty or stuffs I poured here all those plans, ahaha thank you so much and I'm suuuper glad you like it!

AND SOOO again thank you everyone for making this chapter possible all your reviews, likes and follows are well appreciated(you have no idea how I get random squealing outburst back in our laboratory whenever I see a notification pops out in my mail saying a review, a follow etc from Fanfic came)! So keep them coooming! Thank you and I hope you like chapter 4! The start of the hawk arc.

PS-Fck Nash Gold for calling Akashi a monkey. BUUUUUUUUUUUUUURN lol(ignore me I'm just having a KNB hangover)

Chapter 4: Brave

"They call me Kuroko Tetsuya." The fifth prince said to the young man standing before him. It was his first time seeing someone from the Western Kingdom this close, his skin was tanned just in the right way, not very dark like the fourth prince. He is tall and had broad shoulders and body that was clearly polished and harden from work and in his eyes wore the kind of wisdom someone who had lived a life outside the palace. His eyes are red but not the kind of red his older brother has, the kind of red that was intense like a wild fire in a moonless night, untamed but it radiated a gentleness from within. His weird split eyebrows only made him look angrier than he is, but something about this man is just so captivating, worth admiring. The prince wore a dark blue kimono with intricate details of white lines that somehow formed water ripples in the shoulder part down to the left chest while the rest was plain. "Kuroko is written with the characters of dark and child, and Tetsuya with the characters of sleepless night[1]." He said quietly. The man stared at him before his face turned into confusion, then to surprise, then embarrassment. Kuroko almost found it funny how a grown man, a prince to boot could be embarrass like this for a simple reason that he could not fathom why he is saying such. "What a coincident is it that we meet like this, I assume sleep evades you, Prince?"

Kagami turned around, there was no one, here? Why? Where is he exactly, "Ah, yeah." He said awkwardly scratching his cheek, damn he felt ashamed to admit he thought this guy was a girl a few moments ago. His eyes were the brightest blue Kagami had ever seen, it almost seem to glow in the light of the moon above them. "U-Uhm my name is—"

"Written with the characters of Fire and God[2]," Kuroko finished, he had heard of this boy, the first son and originally the heir to the Iron Kingdom's throne, a child of a deceased concubine of King Kiyoshi, who came from an affluent family, Kagami clan. "Your name however…" Kuroko decided not to go on futher, thinking about it…his name does suite him—big and ego[3].

"W-Well your name is beautiful, I guess."

The fifth prince was surprised though his face remained stoic, it was the first time someone actually flat out complimented him, well it is his name, but still—

"Thank you." He said politely.

"I-I uhm…never seen you around, are you…do you work here?"

Kuroko found the man amusing, so he didn't notice, huh. "His Majesty could say that." He said, well he isn't lying, his title as a prince is a work itself, yes? "I hope your stay is well."

"Uh…I can't say much." Kagami said as he sat there in one of the stools without even asking permission. The fifth prince didn't say anything about it and just let the man do as he pleases, after all he doesn't know, does he?

"Would you permit me, a humble soul to hear the rest of that?" He asked.

Kagami looked at him and sighed, well he could use someone to talk to anyways, "Sure." He said, "You…uhm, take a seat, I guess." The teal haired boy took a sit, hands in his lap with a posture as if a plank is attached to his back.

"What is bothering you?" he asked quietly, for a moment he doubt he'd speak of something to a stranger, but—

"Its just…I'm confused." He said, "I can't damn sleep because I'm so confused of what to do."

"What is confusing you then? Perhaps I could help?"

"No." Kagami said, "I don't want to drag anyone anymore, its enough that my brother was kidnapped just because of my stupid decision on running away. I should have thought of it first. And now…a war."

"Why is there need for a war?"

"Your people took my brother, in the eyes of our citizens surely its not as simple as being suspected of taking something then showing your satchel and confirming the item isn't there. We are talking about a prince, a to be King kidnapped by the men of this Empire. What they did wouldn't be simply resolved because they were punished by your laws, our people would want—"

"War?" the teal haired prince asked, "Is it really the answer to this? Are you sure it is for the best Denka?"

"What would you know?" Kagami said sighing, "What would a commoner know?"

There was silence for a moment, if he only knew…if Kagami knew that the one he speaks of as a commoner, is the prince of the Empire of Teiko, the fifth son of the one of the greatest Emperor in history. However, the fifth prince had something else in mind, "Denka, with all due respect…do not underestimate us commoners. I'd want to remind you that before your father was a King, he was once a commoner. There is a knowledge only us would know. The commoners knows real pain, they are those who truly makes kingdom, not your crown or you."

"Then what do you have to say then."

The fifth prince nodded, he was glad that he would lend him his ears, "A work of single man does not entirely reflect the thoughts of the land. Please do not persecute us just because of a work of a few people, will you kill a whole family just because their father had sinned against you?" he said. He didn't want a war to wage, no, he…he never liked the thought of it. With all honesty, he'd do anything to prevent it. A war killed a friend of his once, a war took him away from him and the ones who loved that boy, he could still remember the boy's mother in the gates of his court crying, begging to help his son. War is never won, in war both is at lost. Triumph is empty.

"But my people want—"

"Is not what is best." The fifth prince said, "You are the one who they listen to, isn't your duty to ensure their safety over everything else? Sometimes people would want something, however it doesn't mean that it is what is right. It is better to be right than to be good, it was always taught to us."

Kagami blinked as the Kuroko's words sunk slowly in his brains. To be right than to be good, he…he is the prince, and it is his duty to ensure that his men would be alright, it is his duty to protect them not send them in some petty war. Even if it is what they want, it is not what is called for. What is called for is for something else. Rather than focusing in matters like war there are so may other urgent things to be done. He is right. Would he kill a whole Empire, would he risk his whole Kingdom to punish a sin done by three people? It wasn't even a sacrifice, it was just plain murder. What would his brother say if he learned of this, what would Furihata say, his brother had turned into a murderer, the man he looked upon…

"Sometimes…we have to choose to be right than to be good, because sometimes what is good, isn't always right." Kagami said as he finally understood, he remembers the late Queen used to say that as well. To do what is right might be much difficult than doing what is good, however, to be right is still better than to do good just to get to their right side. "The late Queen…used to say that as well."

"She must be a very intelligent woman." Kuroko said.

"You're right."

"About what?"

"About everything," Kagami answered, "Thank you…you made me see a bit clearer."

"Its nothing, I honestly do not wish any war as well." He politely said. His eyes found the taller male standing up from his seat and stretching his long limbs. Kuroko smiled, he really does looked a bit more relieved than the moment he arrived. He looks better than he was. The prince sighed before giving Kuroko a toothy grin.

"Would I see you around tomorrow?"

Kuroko stared at him for a moment wondering what he should tell him, maybe it is the right time to tell him that he is the fifth prince? But for some reason something held him back. Would he see him tomorrow, no one ever would notice him, even if they walk pass each other tomorrow if he wouldn't announce his presence Kagami wouldn't know. Maybe he should say no, maybe he should tell him to go now. Maybe he should tell him the truth. Maybe…maybe he wasn't so sure. "I…"

"Would I see you again tomorrow?" Kagami repeated his question, "I- Uhm, I don't mean anything by that j-just uhm…I mean…I just wanted to thank you so…"

"I'd be here…again at this hour."

Stupid

No, the fifth prince mentally scolded himself, why did he say that, he should have said no, he should have told him that he is the fifth prince! What was holding him back? Underneath the table his hands clenched into a fist. How stupid can he be! If Akashi finds out that he is letting someone in and at the middle of the night to boot at through the garden, he'd surely be angry…right?

"I hope to see you then!" Kagami said with a bright smile, something so annoyingly endearing was in that smile. Kuroko wanted him to stop doing that, its not even a-attractive! Well…maybe a little—JUST A LITTLE! The fifth prince scolded his internal thoughts for being so scandalous, he had always been found of the physical features of a Western and he wasn't the one to blame for having such thoughts. After all he was merely admiring his looks, what's wrong about it. He frowned and resisted the urge to scold himself out loud, he is now justifying his actions to himself. Kagami waved his hand as he turned around and slowly walked away. He stood there watching and listening as his footsteps grew fainter and farther from him. He was once again engulfed with the mere sound of the gentle breeze and the sound of his own breathing, calm and quiet. It was the first time, the prince thought. This happened a few times before, but Kagami was the first one, the first one brave enough to come close. Many people who stayed in the guests quarters found out about the secret passage that leads to his court, however all of them upon hearing his voice ran as fast as they could and left. Kagami was the first one brave enough to walk this close and see him.

A brave soul. The Tiger of the Iron Kingdom, Kagami Taiga, sounds like a promising future king.

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Shuutoku

Midorima walked briskly in the familiar pathway, the smell of fresh grass and cool air assaulted his senses. It was getting more boring as days pass, the village were very difficult, they were very keen on keeping to legend to themselves, the village leader would say something about not feeling up to answering their question, using his old age as an excuse. But Midorima had known people who were better at lying than the elder Takao. The hawk child, surely he exist, somewhere. Walking there he hoped, that he'd show again, like the first time. What was the reason no one would speak of him, and what does he meant by those words he said before? Death awaits the one who seek the hawk child, but wasn't he supposed to be the grace the Hawk God gave to the village? It has been two days since their arrival, and after those exchange of words not even his shadow was seen, he wondered, where could he be? Someone was surely hiding him. He surely wouldn't leave the village, right?

Raising his chin up to gaze at the sky that was barely visible from the tall bamboos, he remember when they were children they'd enjoy this kind of peace at once. But now, they were no longer naïve children, even the silence came with something unpleasant. The future was a strange thing, someone like the Hawk Child who sees pass it, he wonders what does it means for the likes of him. Fear? Midorima chuckled, ah, yes, at the end of all those must be death, does someone like the Hawk Child ever fears something like that anymore? It would be strange if he still does. The legend had been around for as long as Teiko existed, it meant that the Hawk Child must have been as old as that—he isn't even a child, to think about it. Midorima closed his eyes as the soft breeze slowly blows against his skin. Just as he did, he felt a piercing gaze towards him. He blinked and turned to where he felt the gaze coming, but he was too late he could only see the ends of those green fabric of the clothing. Green, surely from the village, right?

"Who is it?" Midorima said as he followed the footsteps, his trained hearing could recognize that the footsteps didn't belong to a child, surely, but not someone very tall as well, the footsteps were quick though, light but not light like a feminine kind of light. Midorima quickened his pace when the footsteps seems to be growing fainter, who was it who was watching him? Could it be someone was spying on him? Who would dare?

Thankfully his long limbs let slowly close the distance, he could now see the stranger, a few meters away, he wasn't tall, that was confirmed, however his back was facing Midorima, his hair was as black as the raven's feather, and his strides told Midorima he was used to going around here, he looked almost like flying. He was wearing a black cloak and the hood was pulled down. But he could see the green material underneath it. He's from the village then, but why was he running away, why was he watching Midorima as well?

"Where you going?" Midorima called the stranger, "Make yourself known, right now!" he demanded, however, the stranger didn't stop, he kept running. Midorima clicked his tongue, this was in his disadvantage, he barely know this mountain, and the thick vegattation didn't help at all. He could barely see with all the leaves blocking his view.

"I demand you to stop!" Midorima exclaimed, the stranger was getting in his nerves, what is he trying to accomplish, trying to run away from him? He kept chasing the stranger as the bamboos started to slowly disappear from his sight were replaced with bushes. It wasn't long until Midorima realized, he had gone quite far.

Midorima halted, as he found himself in a strange place. They were standing in cliff, a narrow bridge was the only thing that stood between the side where he was standing to the other, the woods that make up the bridge didn't look very trustworthy, it look like it could collapse anytime, or at any relative weight added to it. He could hear the loud murmurs and the slamming of the water against the hard rocks coming from below that bridge. The cloak clad stranger didn't graced Midorima even a look as he started running to the bridge, Midorima was left stunned there as he found the stranger walked on it like it was a sturdy concrete bridge, he made crossing that ancient looking bridge like it was as simple as walking on a steady ground. What on earth was he thinking? Midorima gritted his teeth, was he mocking him? The stranger was able to cross the bridge without even shaking the thing. Yes, that was it, he was riling him up. The prince scoff under his breath, this is surely nothing, he can cross that too. He got removed his bow and arrows down and anything that may weigh him down before he walked to the bridge.

His eyes widen as soon as he set his foot on the unsteady material, it started to sway. He tried to keep himself from noticing the height from which he might fall from in case this thing cave in to his weight. What was he thinking, of course, it won't cave in…right? He took another step, and another, and another, the rotten wood made cackling sounds from the weight of his steps but he chose not to give it much, rather he turned towards the end of the bridge, there stood slowly turning towards him was the cloak clad stranger. His eyes widen just as he took a step that he didn't notice came in heavier than it should have been, the stranger had turned towards him his half mask covering his nose and eyes—it was that mask… the mask he saw that night. Everything too slow, he heard the loud cracking under his feet then a loud sound, he saw the stranger mouthing something, he seems like he was shouting but everything was muffled in Midorima's mind.

"DANGER!"

Finally the words registered, however, it was too late, Midorima felt a plank disaapearing underneath his feet, then the other giving in with the imbalance weight. Before he knew it, he was already falling…

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SPLASH!

The next thing Midorima remember was water, cold, painful water, he was too disoriented to understand what was happening, or to at least realize he has to swim unless he wanted to be washed to the sea. He remained there holding his breath, eyes shut. It wasn't long until he lost the energy to hold down his breath and his mouth and nose were filled with water, he gagged at the water attacking his throat. He wriggled his limbs realizing he will die if he didn't start doing something, however his movements were panic induced, they were barely helping him. He was running out of time, there was only two options there, either he dies from hypothermia, or he dies from drowning, either way he still dies, which was not on his list of to do today. Suddenly he felt something nearby, then he felt something pulling him by the back of his kimono, he then felt a hand-it wasn't very small, but at least he could say was smaller than his –pulling him by the arm, then he felt being pulled upwards. Then he saw it the corner of his eyes as he was being pulled, a mask was getting washed along in the current.

Before he knew it, he felt the water disappearing around him, as he tilt his head up, he could breathe again! He gasped and coughed out the water he accidentally drunk. He was still being pulled, and he felt too tired to stop whoever, whatever it was. Then he felt the stony river banks against his back, he continued to cough and clear his lungs of the water. He turned to his side and tried to catch his breath. This was the first time, ever he ever felt so close to meeting with death. His clothes felt heavy and icy against his body, he started trembling. As soon as his mind cleared and his heart slowed down he realized, something…or someone helped him. He looked and found a figure lying face down almost at his foot seemingly panting as his back raised up and down. He was wearing a green hanfu, something he hasn't seen around, strange, his green clothings were so vibrant it didn't even look alive, unlike those he sees in the village. Wait…hanfu? No one in the village wears hanfu, they wore…hanbok. His raven colored hair was dripping from the water. Could this be…?

Midorima looked up, and was stunned, the height he fell was no joke, and this guy—

"You…came after me?" Midorima asked in a hoarse voice. The stranger raised his head then quickly crawled over to Midorima, before cupping the man's face in his cold wet trembling hands. Midorima's eyes widen as he was forced to stare right at the other's face. His eyes…they were…mesmerizing mix of blue and silver, almost reminding Midorima of a sea after a storm, his skin is smooth without any hints of freckles or scar, but it was pale, like it rarely saw the sun, then his nose, it looks perfect to his features.

Who…is this guy?

A relief was evident to his face, "Y-You…you are alive, right?"

Midorima didn't know if this man was kidding, obviously he is, but…why…why does he looks like he was scared that he killed him, he didn't push him right? No, he fell, Midorima was sure he fell, so what was that guilt in those eyes?

"Yes, w-who are you?"

This somehow alarmed the stranger, standing up he brought his hands to his face and he quickly turned to the river. Midorima realized what the man was looking for, summing up his strength he stood and pulled him by the arm, "Its gone, it was washed away." Midorima said which didn't help, the stranger shove him away.

"Stop looking!" he exclaimed, "Go away now!"

"Are you him?" Midorima asked not letting go, "Are you that person, the one I met before? Why did you save me?"

"Let go!" The smaller man wriggled from Midorima's grip.

"I will not unless you give me some ans—" Midorima came to pause as he felt the raven haired stranger stiffen against his hold, he found his eyes flashing for a moment which took his breath away, for a moment…it looked like gems.

"They're coming."

He shoved Midorima away, just as he said Midorima heard many footsteps nearby. They were coming climbing down from a muddy slope in the side of the cliff. He saw his rescuer running and hiding in some thick bushes in the corner. Why doesn't he wants to be seen? In a moment he could now see Moriyama with panic in his face as he held in his other hand Midorima's bow and arrows, behind him were a few men from the village one of them held a spear in hand. It was obvious, he'd get a scolding from this…again. The older man ran to him concern turning to a frown and scowl.

"Where have you been?!" Moriyama exclaimed angrily, "You should have at least told me that you were trying to high dive six feet down to a white river that runs practically as fast as Ootsubo would run his mouth if he find out you drowned there! Don't you have any mercy on me at least? The Emperor would kill me, behead me, and that's him being generous if he finds out you drown and I wasn't with you! Next time you plan on killing yourself, inform me, I'll come with you because I'd rather die with you than feel the wrath of your brothers!" Midorima however was more focused on thinking, now that he knows his face, he will know, he will surely see him again. He's not going anywhere. Midorima will bet on it, this day will not end until he hasn't uncover the truth about that strange boy, the hawk child. Why was he hidng from the people, its clear now, something really is wrong. There was more to that legend for sure. "Are you even listening?!" Moriyama shoved his bows and arrows at him, "Come on now, its enough trying to kill yourself for today, prince, let's go back."

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Midorima finally changed in his new clothes, Moriyama did scold him about leaving without him and his habit of disappearing for a bit too long for his own comfort. Midorima however was too bust then wrecking his brains from any hidden information he had about the legend of the Hawk Child. Surely, there was something he didn't know, or missed. If the Hawk Child was a gift to the village, then why…why was he hiding from the people, why was he disguising himself, why was he running away? He saved Midorima…twice now. Why? Despite the things he keeps saying, why…why does he keep saving Midorima? He felt the strange thing burning in the pits of his consciousness, along with the memory of those eyes, those beautiful silver blue eyes cupped with the most delicate black hair. The Hawk Child…is a male young man, about Midorima's age, if not younger. But he was supposed to be as old as Teiko and this village, then…how? Was he immortal too, well that's plausible, yes? After all he was blessed by the Hawk God. Something was amiss, and Midorima was keen on getting answers. This wasn't just because of Akashi's order anymore, this was on his own volition. There was something that drawn him with those silver blue eyes.

Knock, Knock

Midorima turned to the door and found it slowly opening and revealing the leader of the village and his daughter. The man stood there and bowed his head in greeting the prince, a gesture the prince returned politely. His daughter quietly moved to close the door behind them.

"How are you prince?" The man asked as his old and shaky limbs brought him to the side a small stool in the corner of the room where he sat while his daughter stood next to him head lowered in regards to Midorima's high position. "I've heard from your guard that you have made quite a stunt this morning."

"I am fine." Midorima answered, "Thank you for asking."

"I hope I am not intruding your rest."

"Not at all." Midorima replied as he sat on the side of the small creaking bed of his.

The man nodded and hummed before restarting a new conversation, "I do wonder what you were doing in there." The man said. Midorima stopped and thought for a moment, should he tell him that he knows about the existence of the Hawk Child from their village? He stared at the man for a moment reading through his face if his intentions or reaction would cause him any trouble, however, that was not what he found. He blinked twice, was he…still a daze, perhaps still disoriented from his fall earlier? The man sitting there had this strikingly familiar shape of the eyes, and his jaws were almost…quite similar—wait, similar to whom? Midorima scrunched his eyes, the man's face was wrinkled with old age, but his eyes and the shape of his face, if only they were made younger they'd look almost like that, like…him. It was the first time he saw that person's face and it only dawned to him, this man looks somehow similar to that boy.

"I…I was…looking for someone." Midorima found himself saying.

"Someone?" The man asked curiously, "Who would you be looking for young prince? In such place and on your own to add. I apologise for asking but you see, the place where you were heading was an old route back here to the temple."

Midorima was shock at the information, that route…is a route back to the temple, if that boy was running from someone chasing him, a person's logic would bring him to go back to their home, right, and if he was running to that route…which leads to the temple then…could it mean that the Hawk Child is in the temple? But he has been a few days there, he hasn't seen not even his shadow in the place, where could he be going that Midorima couldn't spot him? There was two possible reason, first is the guy could have some kind of ability to fade into the background just like the fifth prince, and the second he was purposely hiding from them. But that's difficult with people like this old man and his daughter all day here in the temple. "Is there something you ought to tell me?" Midorima said breaking the building silence. Yes, there was something surely, someone like that boy wouldn't easily get unnoticed running around the temple in those clothes, those vibrant green clothes.

The old man faked innocence as he smiled, Midorima frowned as he found this not amusing at all, he knows when someone is lying, and the way his hands were slightly trembling didn't escape his eyes. "My, what would we tell you young man?" he said, "Is there anything in your mind?"

"I met the Hawk Child."

Midorima quickly felt the drop of temperature in the room as the atmosphere felt like lead, yes, he hit the mark, didn't he? The man's shoulder tensed and his daughter's eyes widen as she shakily turned to his father. "Is that true, prince?" he said chuckling, "That is just but a myth, a villager must have been playing tricks on you."

"I have never seen him around, I could at least know when I have seen someone before. And I know when I saw him, he isn't just any villager."

"You saw him?"

Midorima turned to the man in the stool, eyes narrowed in him with a hint of slight anger in them masked with his lips pressed into a line, "Yes."

"You must not again…do that." The man said firmly.

"I thought you said he doesn't exist, that the Hawk Child is merely a myth."

"Do not test the Gods, Prince Midorima." The man said, "Heed my words, we wish no one harm, not you or my men, not anyone. Save yourself and follow my words, if it's the Hawk Child you aim in visiting our village, I suggest that you leave. You won't succeed, you'll die, we'll die, you are putting us all in danger."

"Enlighten me about this, what are you speaking of?"

The man however had stood up and shook his head, "I apologise, but there is nothing good that comes with meddling with the supernatural." The man bowed his head and left. Midorima frowned, what are they not telling him, knowing that they do know about the existence of the Hawk Child in their village and yet decides to hide it angers Midorima. The prince didn't understand the reason why would they hide the blessing the Hawk God gave them, and what does he mean with the words that they would die? Why would they die?

When the night fell Midorima couldn't sleep, Moriyama had fallen asleep in his bed, and it was awfully quiet except for the faint noise of the rain outside. In the mountains, the weather becomes very harsh. Midorima knew this however, he wasn't prepared for the cold. Sighing for the umpteenth time, Midorima sat up and lit up a small candle in the side of his bed. He was constantly plagued with the flashback of the earlier incident, whenever he would close his eyes he'd remember that feeling of falling down, that momentary thought that he's going to die. And when he wakes up, he'd remember those silver blue eyes that belonged to the one who saved him, was someone like him really is capable of bringing death? Someone who had such fear towards people, can he do as much as bring them misfortune. If he was anything, he is a scared little bird caged from people, his existence denied. Midorima stood and dressed himself, maybe he'll take a few walks, maybe it would help him sleep.

As soon as Midorima got out of their shared room he felt the cold moist air assaulted his skin, he pulled his robe closer attempting to shield himself from the angry weather. His footsteps echoed in the hallway, he never had a problem with sleeping before, well except for that day he found out about their mother's death—but he practically refused to sleep then. His mother had always held a special place in the hearts of everyone who knew her, she is indeed an incredible woman, after all she had put up to five different personalities and raised them. Midorima wondered, what would she do if she was right here? As Midorima came closer to the main entrance, he found some noise, it sounded like someone is speaking. Slowly as he arrived there, he found the village leader standing there, next to him like the usual is his daughter who was holding a lamp in one hand, and there was a woman crying and holding on to the hem of the man's clothes.

"Please! Please do something!" she cried and sobbed, her clothes were wet and pressed to her lithe body.

"What is happening?" Midorima asked as he came closer, the village leader slightly bowed his head in greeting while his daughter bowed her head in full recognition of him as the prince. "What is wrong?"

"I apologise, we did not mean to disturb you denka." The village leader said. "Its nothing of importance you may return to your quarters."

"She is crying, I see an importance when a woman shed tears." Midorima said, "Is there something I could do to help?" he asked the woman.

The woman's eyes turned to him hopeful. She crawled to Midorima's feet before placing both her hands on the floor and bowing her head against them. "Please!" she cried, "M-My son had wandered off, h-he might be in the bamboo groves, I-I cannot find him, please help me, s-somehow! A-Anything, I-I'd give anything!"

The look in her eyes…Midorima had seen that kind of desperation before, it was painful to watch it all over again. Once when they were younger, the youngest, the fifth prince was only seven years old, he had always been the smallest of them. They were only playing hide and seek until they couldn't find the fifth prince anymore, an hour pass, and another, until it reached the ears of the Empress, she ran out from her court to aid the search. When another hour passed and the fifth prince was still nowhere to be found, she had started crying in the arms of the Emperor. He could never forget the way her eyes shone with anger to herself, for not being there, her guilt and her desperation to find her son. "Stand up," Midorima said to the woman, when she didn't move Midorima took her hand and helped her back to her feet. "Wipe off your tears, I shall help you."

"But Prince it is storming outside, even if you are the prince, the mountains is a terrible place during a storm, I cannot guarantee your safety." The older man said.

"No one could guarantee a person's fate." He said firmly, "If I die today searching for that child or I live, no one knows. When Moriyama-dono wakes up, tell him that I insisted on going."

"Thank you! Thank you so much!" the woman cried.

Midorima smiled at the woman—

"Mother…Mother, it will be alright."

"It is going to be alright." He said.

Without wasting anytime Midorima brought with him a rope and his bow and arrow, with only a cloak to shield himself from the rain, the prince went on to find the lost child. According to the woman's description, the child has brown hair, and his name was Yoshiyo. He ventured outside without sparing a look or two to the temple, he understood that even as the village's leader, still the man is old and his daughter surely couldn't do much in this kind of weather. Midorima was not the kind of person who would simply just sit and watch a woman especially weeping when he knows he can do as much as to look for s child. What could possibly go wrong anyways? The rain is harsher in the mountains, and the ground melted into mud, it was slippery and to someone who is not used to these things surely it poses danger. But Midorima begged to differ. Midorima indeed was a prince, a prince who hated all the dirt and mud, who hated the smell of mould and bug bites, but Midorima is the prince of Teiko. He is the son of the late Emperor, and not a mud or any filth could stop him from fulfilling a simply task. Contrary to many people's thought about the second prince, underneath that stoic façade and that indifference was this.

Many people thought the children born in the palace would be fragile, spoiled but they were no ordinary princes, they were the Miracles of the Empire of Teiko, they weren't simply princes. They were prodigies. They need not almost a guard to secure themselves, they alone could bring an army down, the five of them. A rain, a mud, or a bug bite won't simply bring them down, it could never stop a Miracle.

"Yoshiyo!" Midorima called the boy's name over in over, he wondered if the boy could hear him in this rain. "Answer me, Yoshiyo are you here?"

All Midorima could see was the bamboos, the tall and lean bamboos everywhere. The vibrant green it showed in the morning had disappeared and it turned into a dark maze. Midorima noticed a few bamboos that had been cut, and with all honesty, it looks very dangerous. One wrong slip and that could pierce right through human flesh. Death by a bamboo doesn't sound very appealing. "Yoshiyo!" the prince continued to call. "Your mother is looking for you!" at times Midoirma wondered what has gotten into the minds of children to go out at this hour and ran into the groves, but on the other side he couldn't blame them when they as kids would free the pigs in the pen in the palace's outer court and ride them for fun—yeah, for fun. And sometimes that fun turns to a cat and mouse chase among their attendants and the palace guards. Which brings him here, a boy probably hide away from his mother for fun and ended up caught in the storm.

Midorima whipped his head as he heard a faint sound of sobbing, someone…someone is nearby, "Yoshiyo is that you?" there was no answer, he could hear it. Yes, its surely a sound of cries. Midorima concentrated, surely it's just here if he can hear it despite the rain. Midorima walked towards the source and he knew he was going at the right direction when he heard it getting louder.

The lightning strike and flashes a white light, Midorima stood there staring a sobbing figure in the ground, clothes filled with mud, body trembling and breath fogging up in the air. In his arms was a limp small body of a boy.

TRANSLATION NOTES:

[1]SLEEPLESS NIGHT= For this fanfic I decided not to use the original way on how Kuroko's name is written, the original way his name is written in hirgana テツヤ which means Philosophy. or Morality and Wisdom. But for the sake of the story I decided to use another way of writing his name which is [徹夜] this also reads as Tetsuya, however the meaning means ALL NIGHT, or sleepless night.

[2] FIRE AND GOD - Kagami's last name is written using the characters [火] which mean Fire and [神 ] which means God.

[3] BIG AND EGO- Taiga, Kagami's first name has the same reading as the katakana reading for TIGER, however the characters used for his first name [大] means big and [ 我 ] means ego, all in all the name Taiga means having high regard for oneself.