YEEEEEES FINALLY I GOT TIME TO UPDAAATE, and you know what's even greater? THIS IS A DOUBLE CHAPTEEER UPDATE! Why? Well school suck, my professor sucks, he was doing shits to us and 3/4 of the class doesn't realize we're being toyed and graded by the agreeableness we seems towards him, and you know how I work I don't agree when I know it isn't right. And since he lost in the battle of will last time during a debate and arguement with me, I ended up in the hot seat in his lists, which is why I think he's purposely doing pop quizzes when I am least likely to be there. So yeah, my coping mechanism is writing so hohoho at least I do something productive LOL. Anyways, to Hinonoona-san, you really made me realize how much I miss the whole Magi series, so I ended up rewatching the whole thing. BTW I ships HAKUMOR and...AND WHEN I READ THE MANGA, OMG OHTAKAAAAAA WHY YOU DO THIS TO ME. Their love story is so heartbreaking. The broken prince fell to the depths of depravity...SO TRAGIIIC. I always loved Hakuryuu's character, since he's so simple, he got this really soft heart, so vulnerable. AND YET *cries more tears*

Anyhow, yeah CHAPTER 9 AND TEN. Please review *puppy eyes* WHO'S EXCITED TO SEE HOW in THE EMPEROR AND THE PEASANT WILL MEET? ASDFGHJKL hmm, can you feel it, a storm brewing in the far off dark corners of the stories. YES the plot gets actually thicker during the course of the BUTTERFLY ARC LOL and the Hawk arc is slowly slipping. SOON we will unveil who owns the butterfly arc. BTW I've been trying to do arc stuffs for this, but I can't really say anything I'm not exceptionally good in it or anything anyways. BUT I WILL TRY MY BEST there will be lots of KOU empire inspired stuffs in there since I cant find lots of references. Lastly before I let you go and have peaceful reading time, I would like to thank every single one of you, I think we just beat my first and second fanfic with the numbers of follows, and were only down to chapter 8! ahahaha so yeah thanks also to everyone who diligently reviews! And for chapter 8's reviewers AJ-san, Smile Ren-san and Hinoonona-san LOL I really wanna reply to your reviews one by one but I am having some stupid allergy attack and my nose feels like waterfalls and my eyes feels like some hot lava shit, so yeah, for now thank you BUT I AM HONESTLY READING THEM and it makes me really happy receiving them, so I hope you guys send me your thoughts too!

SO YEAH you know the drill, READ AND REVIEW! AND WHO KNOWS I might do another DOUBLE CHAPTER UPDAAATE hihihi, btw for the butterfly arc, I have a clue for the upcoming chapter-childhood promises! Without further ado, MY FIRST DOUBLE CHAPTER UPDATE ENJOOOOY!

Chapter 9: Wings At Last

For many years, no one had ever looked at him that way. Eighteen years that no one had ever graced him with a look, no one ever dared to know his name, or even wanted to see his face. Takao Kazunari had always been a shadow standing in the background. Many years passed and the hope to run free at these grass, to smell and feel the wind against his cheeks, to know the vast world beyond the forest that had settle and imprisoned him for many years. Takao wanted this, however…however there was a pain in his chest he couldn't quite shake. There was just this agony that made him hesitate, it made his eyes burn and caused his limbs to shake—Takao Kazunari never shook. His limbs never failed him, up until now. He didn't want to fail Midorima, this is his order, this is what he wants him to do…but he could not find in his soul the courage to swallow the thought of leaving him alone to fight. It wasn't long enough that his ever so trustworthy eyes failed him for the first time and he tripped and his limbs tangled with each other, Takao fell to the ground unceremoniously. Is this the feeling everyone gets when someone protects them, Takao doesn't understand, it doesn't feel nice, it felt agonizing and painful. How can one let someone do this, how can someone just wait? Takao didn't know how one lived through all these feelings.

But he promised we'd meet outside the forest, right? Takao told himself, he tried to convince himself that he will be alright that he must do what the prince told him. The prince told him to run away, he would only bring him trouble, he didn't want him to hate him, not Midorima—not when he promised he'd lift the curse, and for all he know Midorima may be the only one who might know how to lift the curse. But what if—

"There you are!" Takao whipped his head to the direction of the voice, in fear and panic he quickly unsheathed the dagger he received from Midorima earlier and shakily raised it in front of him. His eyes fell to the familiar face, it was the man who was always with the prince. Moriyama, was it? Midorima said it was alright to trust this man, with that in mind the boy lowered his weapon, he noticed the man's tattered clothings, he escaped from the people. "Come on, let's go!" The man said as he approached the raven haired young man.

"H-How about Shin-chan?"

"Who?"

"S-Shin-chan! W-We can't leave him alone!"

"What?"

"MIDORIMA SHINTARO!" Takao exclaimed in panic, "Please w-we can't leave him here, tell me you're g-going back t-to save him!"

"We don't have time for this, come on, you are our first priority!" Moriyama was getting impatient with the stubbornness of this guy. With all honestly he had no idea how Midorima came with this stupid idea. He gave instructions in the last minute, it was now or never, they were forcefully going to get the Hawk Child, the funny part was Moriyama has no idea how the Hawk Child looks like. The only thing he said was the boy will bring his dagger, a unique dagger that only Midorima Shintaro has, the handle was made of gold and had a insignia of the Imperial Family. Moriyama had never seen this boy, he had a small frame, but not smaller than of the Emperor himself, he was tall but not as tall as the ridiculously tall Prince Murasakibara. And his eyes were—strangely…beautiful. "You need to listen if you don't get out of here, our mission, Midorima's efforts will be all in vain!"

"And what of him? Are you going to abandon him?"

"I am not going to abandon my comrade, but we have to get you out of here first, are you even listening! We cannot waste any more time!" Moriyama was reaching the end of his patience, this boy was as good as Midorima when it came with making his composure break. Pulling the boy's arm he dragged him with him.

Takao wriggled, angry, however the anger subsided into a feeling of guilt and helplessness. What could he actually do to save Midorima, what could he do for him, to help him at all? Can he help him fight, or would he only cause him more pain and injury, that was what he was good at anyways—inflicting injuries and bringing death. The first time he ever met someone who was brave enough to look right in his eyes, was the very moment he proclaimed his death. The thought made him froze him…death, what is he going to do if Midorima died there? Can he do it, leave there in the outside world without him? No. Takao knew it instantly, he couldn't. Not without him.

He doesn't need his wings if he doesn't have a sky to soar at.

"What can you even do anyways," Moriyama's words came crushing at the other. It pierced through the fragile soul of the Hawk Child. Moriyama let go of the boy and turned staring right at his silver gray eyes, "Are you prepared to kill for him? Can you kill your own people for him?"

Takao stared at Moriyama, can he…kill…for Midorima?

.

.

Can he do it…for him? Would he willingly take up, bloody his hands, feel tearing of the flesh against it for Midorima, for a man whom he had barely knew?

Takao tightened his grip in the dagger at his other hand, Midoirma, wasn't just a man, he promised he'd give him wings, he promised he'd teach and lift the curse from him, he would free him from all of these. What can he do for a man like him? Oh what would he do for him, Moriyama wasn't stopping him, he was asking and testing his will. Staring at those eyes Takao found himself reading someone's expression for the first time, he wanted him to run now, he wants him to go back and do something. And Takao didn't need his eyes to show him, he turned away from Moriyama and took the fastest run he had ever done in his life.

What was one willing to do for someone else? How far can a person go to save another life, for the first time Takao understood the answer to that question—the possibility is limitless. How far did Midorima took risk just to get him out of the village, just how much is he willing to abandon for this one moment, how far can he go just to savage a broken soul? It wasn't fair, it wasn't fair that he was the only one who was doing this, it wasn't fair Takao didn't understand the context of the word sacrifice—but now he does. Was he willing to stain his hands with the blood of the people of his village, for a single man? The answer—

YES.

Who was he to them, for all Takao knew not even one would recognize him anyways. None of them ever cared that he lived in the darkness for eighteen years, none of them ever cared to look at him, held his wrist, or ask his name. They never searched for the missing son of the village leader, they never asked where poor Kazu-kun went after his mother's death, no one tried to speak to him, or defy the rules just to hear his voice. No one ever came to him and asked him why. No one cared the way the prince did. Takao knew he must be just overwhelmed with all the thoughts, with all the attention the prince had been giving him and maybe it was just him swiftly caving to a foreign feeling, but he would risk it, he would risk this one time against for the chip of change. How far can he go, is the same distance those emerald green eyes would take him. He would have it, he would have all the pain and guilt of the stains of blood in his hands than to live ignorant all his life.

He would kill for him if he called him for it, he would protect him the way he does to him, and he would risk his life just like he is doing right now.

Takao panted as he reached the familiar place, there were unconscious men lying on the ground, some even had arrows pierced in parts of their bodies, Takao looked up and found Midorima was now fighting using a similar dagger he is holding right then. The man's movements were stunningly precise, it was swift and destructive, even with the eyes of someone who had never truly seen a battle before, Takao could say Midorima isn't just a pampered prince. He dodged every attack with precision and speed, though the man looked exhausted he seems to have more fuel than what he seems to have. However, it came—

An image flashed again in his eyes, as Midorima was busy dodging attack one by one, a man would come behind him, a metal stake in his hand, and with one swift motion—spat! Takao gagged at the image—No! he screamed mentally, he started seeing in all red, a hot red anger filling up his system, he felt like he was possessed, the thought of Midorima dying because of him, because he wanted to save him and bring him his freedom psushed him to the edge. What is their right to take Midorima's life away, just because he wanted to free him from this curse, did these people really hated him that much? When Takao saw the figure creeping behind Midorima he didn't waste any time and made a run for it, the people were either busy trying to watch the prince fight or was busy keeping themselves conscious didn't noticed the raven haired figure running to the scene.

The man raised his weapon as Midorima turned towards him, the prince froze—

"Are you prepared to kill for him?"

All Takao understood then was he couldn't lose Midorima, he would die of guilt , anger and shame every single waking day of his life if Midorima is killed right now. Before he knew it he had swing the and stabbed the dagger at the man's neck as he stood there behind him unknown to the other who obviously didn't see him coming. The flesh was hard and the he heard the bone against the metallic material of the weapon in his hand, however he didn't felt any remorse right then. No one dares to try and kill Midorima…in front of him, Takao whispered to himself. He pulled the dagger out mercilessly and saw the red warm blood seeping from the deep stab wound. The man staggered back, groaning and made choking sounds as he attempted to cover the wound. It was futile. The man fell just at Takao's feet. All a while Takao didn't look at the man but rather to Midorima, the man's eyes were wide as they stare right at him—

"Ta…kao."

The name was like a ringing of bells bringing him out of his trance state.

.

Furihata blinked in surprise, he thought the fifth prince had agreed to cover up his identity and gave him a low profile job in the palace, however…the room where he stood alone was…it was big, a bit too big for a freeloader. The night Kuroko agreed to help him, the prince brought him to the palace in secret, with the aid of Momoi they were able to sneak him into the Halls of Women where he was given the task as similar to the women, he was asked to wash clothes, pull the weeds in the yard, and clean the hallways of the outer court. He remember Kuroko's words then—

"Treat him just as anyone who comes here to serve the Imperial Family, he will not be given privilege just because he is of the higher gender."

Furihata who was practically at his mercy knew he has in no way in the right to object. Being fed adequately and given right clothings, this was the greatest treatment one could give to a peasant, a stateless runaway. He was given a room, though it was in the far back of the halls since a male is supposedly strictly prohibited to stay in the halls of women, it was an old unused room, spider webs and dust accumulated everywhere but it was better than a cold naked ground to sleep at. And he was treated just like everyone were, he was punished when he did something wrong, he received whipping in his back whenever he broke some porcelain wares, he understood this, it was to discipline. It was a proof he didn't want to be treated as someone special, this is the path he chose. The marks in his back bled for some days, but they eventually subdued and they would just sting a bit. However, since last night Furihata realized after the ointment Momoi lend him, the burning sensation had died down. Putting the bottle down on the small round table in the center of the room Furihata wondered why the fifth prince had given him the item, wasn't he the one who told the women to treat him with no specialty? Maybe…maybe he did care…strange, at first Furihata thought that night when he met him, he was merely acting all in pity of the shaking brunette frightened to go back to the land he had abandoned, but now when the fifth prince spoke to him he sounded more gentle like he is seeing him more than some pitiful stray rat.

What does the fifth prince intend to do by bringing him there, asking the nurses of the halls of women to teach him about herbs and medicinal plants? Furihata didn't know what to do with that knowledge. The Imperial Palace was the biggest palace he had ever set foot in, he even got lost more than once in the outer court and now a bigger one much grandiose structure—the inner court, only the few are allowed to step in the inner court, that was what Furihata realized when he saw the way some of the women looked at him after Momoi told him the news that the fifth prince had considered him as an apprentice and had asked him to be transferred to the inner court. Momoi gave him a few instructions about the inner court, he was reminded that he is never to step into the Pheonix Court unless called upon by the Emperor himself, or if he is with the fifth prince, the Court of Peace and Earthly Tranquillity is a no-go zone as well, it was the private court of the fifth prince and unless given permission by the Emperor or the fifth prince himself. He was to stay in his quarters until the fifth prince calls for him.

Fuirhata took a deep breath, there was no scent of mold or dust anymore, however, this meant much bigger responsibility, what does being the fifth prince's apprentice even means?

Unknown to Furihata Kouki he would meet the greatest beast in history the next morning.

.

"Shujo," Akashi perked up hearing the voice of the fifth prince in the entrance to his office, he contained a sigh, probably the guards had failed to notice his presence yet again. It isn't really something surprising anymore, when they were younger he usually caught by their youngest brother's trick of suddenly disappearing and appearing—he soon came to realize there was really no rick, he just seems to have this strangely thin presence ever since. It was something that remains a mystery, how did the fifth prince acquired this state.

"Come on in." He said. The door slid open and his brother stepped in facial expression void of any expression. The prince who had always been the most courteous of the four younger siblings bowed his head in greetings before he took a seat. It wasn't a rare view that the prince would come to his office without his attendants, he believed there was no need for anyone who would constantly tail him. After all, most of the time they lose sight of him. "Good day, have you seen the papers I asked of you to look at?" he said.

"Yes." Kuroko answered, "They were…very alarming don't you think?"

The papers the fifth prince is talking about are the documents stating a rising cases of food contamination along the regions. Kuroko was known as the Emperor's most trusted consultant on matters concerning health in the Empire, the fifth prince was taught the art of herbal and traditional medicine by the late Empress, despite having no formal education on the matter of health and sickness, the knowledge passed by the Empress was enough to make him stand in par with the specialist and physicians of Shuutoku. "Yes, I would like something to be done as soon as possible, this couldn't spread to the capital."

"Of course." The prince answered, "Shujo, I am starting to be concerned of your health."

"Please, not this topic again Tetsuya."

"No, Shujo this matter needs to be addressed," the fifth prince sighed, "We are not getting younger, if you do realize a healthy body is essential to rule this Empire effectively."

"My health is in its peak."

"For now that is."

"I am not weak."

Kuroko raised an eyebrow at his statement and shook his head, "I do not understand why you are so stubborn about this."

"If you are implying again that I should have my personal attendant—then no."

"Shujo, please…please do not act like a brat, especially now." The fifth prince said, sometimes the fact that his older brother was raised and was practically given everything he wanted and needed surfaces, and it would most of the time tick the fifth prince. "What is wrong with a personal attendant, I worry about your health and who would ever look at you when I am quite busy myself."

"I can handle myself, women are all personal attendants the palace could offer, I do not need such noisy, earful, handful personnel."

"You don't like women as your attendants because they are noisy?"

"I am…" the Emperor sighs, "You know how much the court is dying to hear me say that I am taking at least a consort, knowing that I have taken in a female attendant, would you imagine the distress that would bring these monkeys?"

"Brother, they are your subjects not monkeys, that is quite rude," the fifth prince said sighing, "I understand what you want to say, they would be scared that you may have started taking interest in women and would again start offering you fix marriages to some unknown women of their family."

"Now that you understand me shall we drop the sub—"

"That is why I have taken it upon me to bring you someone who wouldn't give you that trouble."

The Emperor didn't see it coming, his youngest brother was the least predictable person on the planet, he seems to love surprising people, however, he has to admit, this must be one of the most unpleasant surprises he made. He didn't need a personal attendant, he felt like he was being mocked when somebody else has to do certain tasks for him, he is a man complete and capable, there is no need for an attendant. Kuroko was just a bit too concerned of things that really don't matter, health, he is perfectly well! And someone like him with no tolerance with people—commoners at most—just imagine the hell the poor attendant would be suffering into, well not that he cares about the peasant's feelings but—Akashi internally groaned in frustration, just seriously, why is Kuroko doing all these unnecessary things? "And also, I have trained this attendant myself," Kuroko said with a hint of pride in it, "I have heard that tomorrow you will need to take your monthly tour in Rakuzan whilst Mebuchi-sama is escorting Kagami-ouji's party in their tour, I couldn't let you go on your own, however I…I couldn't be there myself."

Akashi raised a brow at his brother's words, "Excuse me? Do you have something that you were bound to do tomorrow, I was not informed."

"I…Not really, however I have decided to visit the hospitals tomorrow. To investigate of course."

If it wasn't Akashi who Kuroko was speaking to, he had probably had fallen for that lie, however, Akashi has been with this boy for as long as he could remember, he had watched this boy grow up, and not even with that stoic, unchanging expressions in his face he could see the way something flicker in his cerulean blue eyes, however Akashi decided not to say anything about it. One way or another he'll know, he'll know why the fifth prince would let a special occasion pass. Even he had to be in the side lines Kuroko would insist to come, after all they would be out in the open—a sitting duck for the enemies who wish to harm the Emperor. Kuroko after all was never the laidback person, he never settled for the fact that there is no evident harm present yet. He was always the cautious one. With the same thought in mind Akashi had caught it, if Kuroko believed at this attendant that much—that person must not have been any ordinary attendant, there must be something special about—he wondered if he could fight as well, well that's strange, few females born in the capital would know how to wield weapons like the late Empress.

"That is why I have taken it upon me to bring you someone who wouldn't give you that trouble."

Akashi's eyes widen slightly, could he mean…Akashi looked at his brother staring right at his eyes frighteningly identical to their mother—he is exceeding his expectations. Akashi smirked, well…this is interesting, he internally challenged his brother, just how long can your little puppy stay in the palace without breaking down.

"Anyhow," Akashi started changing the topic, "I am sure you have heard of Daiki's journey to the northern kingdom."

Kuroko nodded, "Ah, yes. He had been asking me what would I want to get there. I think he doesn't understand that he is there to forge an allegiance and not to have a vacation."

"You know how Daiki's brain works, you should have known."

"He doesn't have one, shujo."

"Tetsuya, have a little mercy on your older brother."

"If I didn't know him I might have," Kuroko sighed, "however I do. And why Aomine-denka of all, you could have sent Murasakibara-denka or Midorima-denka, Mebuchi-sama is the head of our diplomatic affairs why not him?"

Akashi smiled, "Ah, yes, you were tad bit too young when he first came here, perhaps you no longer remember him." The fifth prince shot him a look, it always irked the prince whenever he emphasizes the almost a decade gap between them, due to this, he usually gets left out in conversation about childhood memories.

"Who are you talking about brother?"

"Daiki with his feeble memory probably wouldn't remember either…however, we have met before. And he made a promise, and I am here to claim that vow, and Daiki is the best person to remind him of it."

"I do not understand."

Akashi smirked…

.

.

"Kise Ryota."

…