KICCHIN IS BAAACK! Ohoho so yesterday class started and unfortunately I had a terrible migraine the other day so I wasn't able to update BUUUT do not fret my friends, for Kicchin come bearing the LATESSST UPDAAAATE ohohoho! Btw Kicchin has something to tell you *whispers* remember the guy Kicchin won't shut up about, ahahaha for those who had been following MONOGATARI and Tsubasa No Yume(BTW to those who aren't familiar with those please take time to read them sometimes, those are my first few works) probably knows what I'm talking about, well...we're kindaaaa...how can I say this, *blushes slightly* we're talking again, you know...like before and I hope everything becomes well from that point on. AAAANYHOOOW, back to the topic at hand, ooooh what happened to Kise? And what did Takao see? What's this storm that is brewing in the faaar of corner? And what will Kuroko and Furihata discover in their trip outside the palace? Memories, truths and lies, what's the cloud slowly drifting towards Teiko? To Bubbles9595 sorry for ending it with a cliff hanger, BUUUT *drum rolls* I shall not let you wonder anymore, we shall know now what Kasamatsu saw and Takao had seen with his prophetic eyes. And AJ-san...one word-SURPRISE ahahahaha! Hope you like the updaate~~! cynthiacyvon thaank yoouuuu I'm so glad you liked it! I like the idea of Midorima carrying and being all nice to Takao for a change-its like he's only nice to him when Takao isn't aware of his surrounding. Sorry for making you wait, and I hope you like our chapter updaate! And lastly to XxTealJadexX AHAHAHAHA hopE I didnt make you wait for too looong! And I hope you like tyhe chapter update!
ANNNND THANK YOU GUYS FOR dropping a review or two I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HAPPY whenever my mail alert me that LION is receiving reviews it just makes my WHOOOLE day. And also the same thing for everyone who has been giving LION a fav and a follow, and also to those who are putting Kicchin as their favorite authooor, I LOVE YOU TOO GUYS! Ahahahaha! Hope you continue supporting LION all the waaay! Please dont forget to tell Kicchin what you think of today's update by reviewing! Ciao~~~!
Chapter 19: Obvious Enemy
"Kise-sama…is human too…"
Kise smiled at the other, to be strong…this is the real meaning of it, yes? To be…strong enough to accept people's affection, to accept change, closing his eyes the King took a breath of his new resolve. "Thank you," Kise said bowing his head, "I…have found my resolve." Kise said looking at Leia with eyes sparkling with a new light.
"Then…shall we get to signing the withdrawal of the marriage?" Leia asked.
Kise nodded. The King led the way, Leia watched Kise's broad back, his blonde hair was strikingly similar to the late princess—however compared to her Kise was the one who gathered almost all the features of the late Queen. The Queen was born of royal lineage, unlike Kise's father who was born of a simple and modest birth, and soon became the general who supported and became the Queen's knight. The two inevitably fell in love and with no male heir, their marriage sealed the fate of the throne. Kise's father became the King sharing the power of the Queen. Truthfully, there were tons of others who could have taken the throne other than Kise's mother—if she hadn't married soon someone else would have taken it. Kise's mother had three more siblings, the youngest being the only male. If Kise's mother was a second late from getting married the youngest would have been the rightful heir. However, Kise's father was a man trained to understood things such as this, knowing that he didn't wait any longer and proposed to Kise's mother and held the wedding as soon as possible. The royal lineage is more of battlefield and game of survival rather than a simple game of chess. Those who show threat to someone's position and ideal are eradicated. A bud is nipped before it could have blossomed. And knowing this Kise's father made Kise's mother's position sealed with their marriage.
And there were people who suffered the consequences of marriage, the royal lineage was focused on the immediate family, the rest was left. People had forgotten about them. What happened about them? Leia knows. Kise is indeed a good person, with heart like his mother, a heart that despite the anger from the death of his family couldn't blame anyone but himself. Kise…is a very trusting person, it was as if everyone in his eyes are good people. Did he even asked anyone to dig in deeper about her? Did he even asked what was her father like? What her family like? Kise never asked, he never thought he needed to do so, he trusted her smiles, her chuckles—Kise was that kind of person.
As Kise opened the door to the throne room, Leia could only close her eyes—
It was a ball to celebrate the coming of new year, it was the first time in a long time that her parents asked her to return to Kaijo. She didn't know why all of a sudden she was asked to do so, and the same day she returned she returned she was asked to attend a ball. In the midst of crowd she could see him standing out with his long and golden locks, at first glance anyone could mistake him for a woman, an elegant and beautiful woman. However this man is—
"Heika." Kise turned with a smile, "Please meet my daughter. She just came home from studying from the West."
"Oh…I see, she's a beautiful lady just like Milady." Kise replied, the King took her small hand and kissed the back of it. "It's a pleasure to be acquainted with you."
Leia made a courtesy, "The pleasure is mine, Your Highness…I am Kinzo Leia."
"Lady Leia, is it, right?"
Leia only smiled. He didn't know. Kise didn't know or perhaps never paid much attention to it was what she thought all those time. Or maybe he knew about it but he was the kind of person who never suspected women.
At all…
"What are you saying Mother I cannot agree to that!" she exclaimed, "You know I do not love Kise-sama and that I have promised to be with the man I love, I have promised someone else." That man was a simple theatre actor, a man Leia fell in love with as he was studying in the West.
"Leia what nonsense are you saying? You will not be married to him…he's your cousin."
"Then why did you offered him my hand in marriage?!"
A sly smile slipped in her mother's lips, "We're taking the throne from him," she walked close to her daughter and placed her hands over her shoulder, "All you have to do is do as I say."
Kise didn't know it was plotted long before, long before he even agreed. Leia was the daughter of a the current King's aunt who was married into the Kasamatsu household, however due to the small attention the Kingdom gives to the younger siblings it was barely known. They knew Kise would be struggling, to be so young and be appointed with such big position due to necessity, because there was no one to take it aside from it. Her mother who had been dying to have the throne her sister had even went through lengths—to even hire people to kill the royal family, however Kise was out of hand. No one ever thought that Yuuka would cut her hair and pretend to be the prince, the hired killers didn't know it as well. Kise and Yuuka had a massive difference due to their hair and height but it was completely concealed with the fact that Yuuka cut her precious hair and slept in her brother's room. In the end they weren't able to successfully kill the heir. And that ended them up waiting for a very long time to commence a plan.
Kise had such a beautiful heart just like his mother, and it was what his biggest weakness. Kise was busying making the withdrawal letter. If only there was another way. Leia didn't lie about the man he loved, if they had been born in a different time, in a different family Leia would have said they would have been a good friends. Gripping the dagger under her sleeves she watched as Kise spoke about random things. Kise…had been in love with someone. Leia didn't know this person however the way his eyes lit as he speaks, Kise loves that person more than anything, to have hold unto that feeling for so long. Walking close, Kise didn't even had a doubt, he didn't even showed any signs of suspicion, it almost broke Leia's heart to see him smiling like that.
"What is it Lady Leia?"
"I'm so sorry Kise-sama."
SPLAT!
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Drip
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Drop
Kise staggered back eyes wide staring back at Leia's green eyes. Leia pulled the dagger from the other's upper shoulder, Kise was able to move in reflex causing the attack to land to his shoulder instead of his chest, his long hair was cut in the process causing the perfect long straight blonde hair to be cut unevenly. His hair fell to his face losing it's original shape and clouding the King's vision even more. The blood stained his kimono, his light blue kimono slowly tainted with the color of his own blood. Leia bit her lower lip, it might not have landed in the planned target but the wound was deep enough to be lethal. In a minute or two Kise would collapse from the loss of blood, however he still have a time to attack, knowing this Leia brought the blade close to herself but Kise just stepped away hands clutching his bleeding wound, eyes turned to Leia's questioning.
"W-Why…" he said with a hoarse voice.
"Kise-sama…you trust people too easily."
Kise didn't reply however his eyes started unfocused and slowly Kise fell to his knees unable to keep up his own weight with the numbness in his body from the loss of blood, he couldn't feel his shoulder down to his fingertips, and his ears were filled with muffled sounds, his eyes were starting to be filled with blurry images. "L-Leia…-san…w-why?" Kise didn't understand, why would she do this, why…didn't she just helped him a few moments ago? Why…
"You don't remember do you Kise-sama…or should I say…cousin?" Kise looked up to the blurry image of Leia. Cousin? What does she mean? "Your mother probably never mentioned did she? Her sisters and brother, probably Yuki-sama didn't as well. You see…my mother, if you die today will become the next Queen. You really didn't know?"
"…You…are m-my…cous-s-sin?"
"Yes." Leia said. Watching the other, Leia knew he could still do something, call for help or in his case pick up something or steal his weapon and fight back, yet instead he was asking her the reason. He truly had such a kind heart. Even at this moment he still want to justify her actions. "If…only…we have met in a different manner, and from a different family…Ryouta-kun would have been a good friend of mine."
BLAG
Leia closed her eyes as she saw Kise collapsing on the floor in his side, the world is dangerous for people like Kise. His father was indeed right when he hid Kise away, such soul is too precious for this world. A soul incapable of planting vengeance or malice. Hiding the dagger inside the sleeves of her clothes, Leia turned away as if nothing happened. Walking towards the door she quietly prayed…
That she would somehow fail this mission.
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….
It was Furihata's first time escorting the fifth prince to his duties outside the palace, and hearing what his brother had said to the fifth prince made the servant a little wary, though Kuroko may have said that he and Kagami hasn't established that kind of title for their relationship, it was practically like escorting your brother's lover shopping. Kuroko was fairly modest about the topic, though he does seem a bit flustered, well since he's the youngest among the five imperial princes Furihata thought he might be the least of them who is experienced with this things. Though Kuroko has this almost stone like personality he didn't know his brother's simplicity and audaciousness was all it has to take to break that—or maybe it was just his brother himself nothing more. Kuroko did seem like a picky person but yet he embraced all his brother's rough personality and sometimes a bit too recklessness. The wonder made Furihata wish to see the two together personally, how were they when it was just them, what they talk about? The former prince smiled to himself as they walked through the market together just the two of them for the first time. The first time he had seen Kuroko, Furihata already smelled this scent of hostility from the other, there was just a huge gap between them, Kuroko was just beautiful, graceful, wise and everything but elegance while he was the exact opposite, normal, average and awkward. He thought there would be no chance ever for him to speak or spend a normal day with such person—and yet they were there.
Kuroko isn't really that stoic, he had this time when he gets flustered especially when he mentions something about his brother. Perhaps he was just good with dealing with his emotions. Kuroko is a lot like Akashi in many ways, a bit more…docile in some ways.
"And how about my brother?"
Furihata blinked at Kuroko's sudden question, turning around the prince looked at Furihata. "I asked how are you and my brother?"
"Eh?" Furihata wasn't sure, was there really any progress at Akashi's treatment with him? Well he couldn't possibly tell Kuroko that Akashi confined with him it was after a secret between them. "Well shujo well he's…alright he is—"
"I'm asking about you two, is he treating you well?"
"O-Oh…yeah uhm, yes of course."
Kuroko stopped and raised a brow, "You mean it?"
"Ah…yes." Kuroko stared at Furihata for a few seconds before he turned with a smile in his lips and continued walking. "I-Is s-something I-I did?" Furihata asked concerned from Kuroko's reaction.
"No." Kuroko answered. It was quite shocking to hear that Akashi is actually treating the other with care from the experience a week was the longest time anyone would actually stay in the inner courts, they all complained about the Emperor and his whimsical attitude, his eyes that seems to be boring down their souls, and his superiority complex. The thought made Kuroko smile, somehow these brothers had the same effect to people. The thought made his mind wonder somewhere to a crimson haired to-be-king. He wondered if the coronation rites were going well for him. Furihata's words also made Kuroko's chest feel lighter, he hasn't experience formal courtship and he was unsure if he should tell Akashi this soon as well. Kagami didn't leave any other words which made the fifth prince a bit scared but…if Furihata was saying the truth then, all he have to do is wait and trust Kagami.
"Ah, denka what are we—"
"I told you, you cannot call me that here."
"T-Then what will I call y-you?"
"Tetsuya."
"EEH!" Furihata exclaimed, "B-But i-isnt that a bit too familiar!"
"Its just for now."
Furihata blushed in embarrassment, he knows the reserved culture of Teiko and calling Kuroko by his first name reminded him of a certain someone's order to call him by his name making him blush even darker. "W-Well…then uhm T-Tetsuya-s-san what are we supposed to look for?" Kuroko hummed in contentment, were these siblings such a shy ball? Kagami never called him with his name as well.
"Anything suspicious." Kuroko answered as they continued to walk in the noisy market, Kuroko didn't even need to pull over his hood seeing that no one probably realizes his presence.
"S-Suspicious you say," Furihata looked around, there were lots of things in the market, and for someone like him who was born from a different nation it would be really difficult to say if something was actually out of ordinary. "that's not easy." He sighed. Kuroko didn't say anything and they both walked down the market quietly. It was really lively, Furihata had never been to a market before on his own. His attendants would say it was muddy and there was nothing for him to do there as a prince, Furihata always thought they were wrong…and they were indeed, he was with the fifth prince of the greatest Empire of the century, graceful and beautiful yet he was there in the market filled with bustling people doing his job as the fifth prince. Though until now Kuroko's job as the fifth prince still has no concrete form in Furihata's mind, it was as if Kuroko was Akashi's right hand, but not exactly. And for some reason they let people assume that Kuroko is actually sickly and never leaves the Crimson Palace. It was almost like he was an invisible persona behind the Emperor, even if you see him like this you wouldn't know you just crossed paths with the fifth prince because basically only a small population of the citizens of Teiko actually knows what he looks like.
Kuroko does a lot of things more than what people thinks, he manages the public facilities especially health care units in the capital, while reports from all over Teiko coming from the ministries of health falls in his hands as well, he manages the inner court as well especially the halls of women together with Momoi, which means he handles almost everything that goes on inside the Palace, services for the Emperor goes in his path first before it reaches Akashi. From the kitchen to the attendants. It didn't surprise Furihata anymore by how concerned Akashi is with him, Kuroko needs someone else to think of him for a change.
"A kilo of rice anyone!"
Furihata stopped at a store and found a lot of people all squeezing to get a sack or two of the rice. However something bothered Furihata. Kuroko who realized Furihata was no longer following him turned and walked up to him. The both watched the scene before them. Kuroko wasn't sure what Furihata might be seeing that he isn't. There was no particularly strange in the scene. A stall, customers, and a retailer. "Furihata-kun is something…wrong?" Kuroko asked, slowly the boy nodded and walked up to the store. Kuroko mystified followed the other.
"Can you show me that rice?"
The vendor nodded happily and took a cup full of the rice from the sack and handed the sample to the brunette. Furihata stared at the cup for a second and took a few grains of the rice in his hands. Inspecting the item carefully Furihata was shock…how can this be…here?
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Ten years ago
The young brunette prince sat quietly in the garden alone, it was already time for snacks and Kagami seemed to be nowhere to be found. It isn't something surprising anymore, he always goes out on his own and play, and no one could ever stop him—literally. There was no use telling him not to leave the palace. Furihata didn't mind, Kagami even though he was often outside never forgot about Furihata if there was anything it was as if Kagami had gotten even closer to the younger prince even with their rare interactions. The attendants came with a tray of snacks and settled it on the table before Furihata, the King is busy with affairs of the state after an unknown epidemic hit the kingdom. It has been on going for a week now where especially children, numbers of people had come down with an unknown sickness, causing high fever, throwing up and in some extreme cases the victims die. The source was unknown. There were thousands and numerous possible cause and it was seriously something they couldn't simply pin down.
"Here you go!" The attendant said cheerfully at the young prince. The prince stared at the odd dish before him. A ball off white rice it seems.
"What…is this?"
"Its called Onigiri!" Furihata almost leaped off from his seat hearing his brother's voice right at his ear. Kagami was standing there with a wide grin, clothes as usual filled with dirt and mud.
"Aniue." Furihata greeted. Furihata bowed his head to the older male. "Good afternoon."
"Hm, where's dad?" Kagami asked.
"He is with the ministers, ouji-sama." The attendant answered. Kagami nodded and suddenly grabbed two out of three rice balls and eating them. furihata could only watch his brother and his apetite that could rival of six grown men's. It made him feel full just looking at him. However it was still bad not to at least try a few bites. The brunette prince took the rice ball and took a bite. For reason the Queen and the King had this odd fascination with anything that came from the East which includes the food, it isn't new anymore that they would find something like this in their plates every once in a while.
However after a few bites he found Kagami staring at his hand, blinking in confusion the young mind of the prince concluded that his older brother must not have been satisfied by two small ball of rice and offered his half bitten rice ball. "Would you want some more Aniue?" Without saying anything the crimson haired prince snatched the rice ball from the brunette's hand and ate it whole.
"Would you want some more ouji-sama?" The attendant asked.
"No." Kagami answered quickly, there was a sharp tone in his voice that would make anyone cringed.
What followed that made sense of the prince's reaction. The night came and the brunette started getting a light fever and complained about stomach ache. The King who was always concerned of his children's health didn't waste any time and asked a doctor to see his son. And what revealed to him shocked everyone in the palace. The younger of the two prince's was experiencing the same symptoms of the epidemic. The horror in the face of the King was clear, many had died from the epidemic and there was still no cure due to the fact that the source of what seems to be a severe food poisoning cases couldn't be traced.
"I could not allow this…" Kiyoshi said, the crimson haired prince had yet to witness the first time he had seen his father in such state of anger. The man had always been sunshine and smiles. "Even my son…even Kouki." The king out of anger slammed his fist in his table toppling a cheap vase over and breaking it. Everyone in the room cringed at the sound.
"Do not worry Your Majesty we are doing our best, and it seems as if the royal prince is showing good signs of healing from epidemic, the Gods had favoured him!" one minister said trying to calm the impending storm.
"It was because he didn't eat it."
The whole room fell in silence and Kiyoshi turned to the source of that, he looked at his first born son staring back at him with his crimson eyes. "Taiga…would you…repeat that again, what do you mean?"
"I ate it for him."
The King's right hand, Minister Hyuuga raised an eyebrow at the prince's words. The King walked to the prince and knelt before his son, "You ate what for Kouki?" The king asked smiling, Hyuuga watched the scene unfold, Kiyoshi Teppei never showed anger in front of his sons when he spoke to them. The crimson haired prince looked over at Hyuuga before answering.
"Weird onigiri." The prince said, "It tastes weird so I snatched it from him."
"And you ate it?" Kiyoshi asked and the boy nodded. "You don't feel any…uhm, pain?"
Kagami shook his head surprising everyone in the room, however Kiyoshi and Hyuuga only looked at each other. The minister being a long friend of the King didn't need any words or verbal commands, he rushed outside quickly. Kiyoshi putting a hand over his son's head smiled, "Onigiri? Who gave you that Onigiri?" Kiyoshi asked.
"The servants." The prince replied.
Kiyoshi's eyes darkened, standing up the King looked around and found the servants all looking frightened, "Call everyone from the kitchen." He commanded, without wasting someone ran outside and called the responsible. As soon as the servant disapperead from the door, Hyuuga came back with the palace physician. The man walked towards the king and the prince, "Please check up on him, I wouldn't want to take a risk." The doctor nodded and made the usual check up on the prince.
"He's perfectly healthy." The doctor replied.
Kiyoshi took a sigh of relief, ever since Kagami was a child unlike his weak mother, the prince had an extremely high stamina and potency. When the prince was very young a lot of attempts to his life had been made and every single one of them involved a poison given to the prince which for some reason never took effect on the prince. The worst the prince had was a fever from a poison ivy placed in the prince's milk. Just as they were done, the servants who works in the kitchen all lined up in the room looking terrified. The King turned and looked at the servants, it was unlikely for the King to be mad, and even with the surging feeling in his chest due to the state of his son the king composed himself and with a calm voice he asked, "Who prepared the onigiri the princes ate today?" Four of the servants raised their hands warily. "I appreciate your honesty, however…I want to know what you put in it?"
"N-Nothing out of ordinary Your Majesty." One of them answered.
"I-It's the truth," another said, "all of the things we used were already prepared beforehand, there was honestly nothing out of ordinary."
The king stared at his servants, they had been working in the kitchen for so long and it was a bit strange if they were to have planned this why commence it only now, and many of these servants know that there will be no use of poison to first prince and killing the second prince honestly wont really benefit any of them at all. They must be saying the truth. But then if they are saying the truth then could it be that—"Minister Hyuuga," The king called his trusted minister, "Go and collect the ingredients used for the onigiri…examine them all."
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"Furihata-kun."
Furihata blinked and found himself in a daze, the memory made his stomach churn. Looking at the grains in the palm of his hand the former prince inspected it. He isn't sure yet but…"Something isn't right Tetsuya-sama." He said in an almost whispering tone. Kuroko blinked at Furihata's statement.
"Is this your gut feeling again?" Kuroko asked and the former prince nodded. Facing forward Kuroko looked at the sacks of rice in the corner of the stall. "Get a kilo of that rice, we'll head back."
Furihata's eyes widen, "B-But I—"
"The last time you had a gut feeling, it saved my brother's life." Kuroko simply said. Puzzled the servant still obeyed Kuroko's command. The prince looked at the rice grains in Furihata's palm. Looking at it there is no obvious peculiarity in it however…furihata, Furihata had always managed to anticipate things just by having a certain feeling. From experience Furihata's intuition shouldn't be underestimated. For all he knows, Furihata may know the key to solving the impending epidemic breakout.
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"Heika!" Kasamatsu called as he stormed in the throne room holding a letter he asked to be brought to Aomine. The letter inside shocked Kasamatsu, he knew it would happen, he knew what deep inside the man feel but still—it was a bit abrupt. Opening the door to the throne room, Kasamatsu stepped in without hesitation, he needs to hear Kise's reason for this, he needs to know if he isn't simply doing this out of whim. However what Kasamatsu saw inside the throne surprised him more.
The letter in his hand fell to the floor soundlessly and his eyes widen, his body shook—
"HEIKA!"
Kasamatsu exclaimed as he saw Kise's blood soaked body lying on the carpeted floor, without thinking twice the royal adviser ran to Kise's side and carefully picked up the limp body. His eyes widen as he found a deep wound in the King's shoulder, his long hair was cut harshly and there were strands of his formerly graceful long golden hair. His skin was drastically losing color and the King did not show any sign of consciousness. Panic rose to the adviser's veins, this is bad, if something were to happen to the King he couldn't forgive himself. As his loud exclaimation was probably heard a hoard of the royal guards came barging in with their weapons all of them were shock to find the King in that state.
"Quickly find the one who did this!" Kasamatsu exclaimed. The soldiers all dashed to their way.
Kasamatsu placed his hand on the King's pale cheeks, his temperature is going down as well, "Kise! KIse you have to wake up!" he could care less about formalities later, for now he needs the King to at least regain consciousness, it was more than difficult already for the King to be in such state and to be unconscious would add to the susceptibility of bigger problem for them. The servants all came in panic. "Call the doctor!" Kasamatsu instructed. Half of them dashed out to call a doctor while the rest stayed eyes wide at the scene. Kise was well loved by his subjects and that was sometimes what the King failed to realize, ever since the King returned from that incident years ago, the glow of the palace died down with his innocence.
Among the commotion Kasamatsu heard a familiar voice.
"What's happening?" The angry voice reverberated through the walls, and pushing through a certain dark skinned foreign prince squeezed his way in. He stopped there right at the door eyes widen as he found the royal adviser cradling the bloodied and injured King. Kasamatsu saw how the air around the prince changed, something about the way his fist clenched and his body trembled made the hair in the back of his neck stand to its tips, his brain screamed danger. Shallow and angry breathes, Kasamatsu could see how much he was holding it in, anger. Aomine stepped in close to Kasamatsu and the King. "He…Kise…is he…"
"He's still breathing," Kasamatsu cut the prince, he looked down at Kise's pale body, "I can't move him just yet I am not sure of the extent of his injuries I might make it worst if I move him any further I haave called a doctor."
"…Who?" Aomine could feel it, an empty boiling rage coursing in his body, his muscle ached to punch or hurt something. The sight made him see red, Kise was injured…badly by someone. Kise…of all people…how dare anyone…do this to him? Who would dare? All his rational thoughts were washed away and was replaced by the sight before him, Kise's blood was on the floor, his clothes turned crimson with his blood, and his skin deathly pale, like ash and snow mixing.
"That is not the first priority!" Kasamatsu's voice interrupted his thoughts, looking at the royal adviser Aomine saw something in the man's eyes that took him aback. Worry. No, not just simple worry of an adviser to his King but…something…even deeper. The look Kasamtsu was wearing felt like a pike being stabbed to his chest. His black orbs were just like the same way Kuroko's eyes shone back then…back when he heard about that person. And the way he held Kise in his arms made his gut fall to the floor. The anger that was directed to the person who did this to Kise was swallowed by this thought, "Kise is!"
Kise…Kasamatsu calls Kise by his name—the prince was left speechless. Among the panic and chaos a doctor came in and quickly ran to King's side. Kasamatsu carefully laid the King in the floor in his back. Aomine could still feel the lingering anger in his chest to whoever did this to Kise. He knows it was inevitable for things like this to happen, after all politics is a jungle made for the tough hearted, people are always willing to kill and be killed to earn the crown, but even so, Aomine couldn't simply be alright about this. His fist clenched angrily. And there was something wrong about this setting, Kise surely isn't someone who would have simply been attacked nor would this guy let anyone simply take advantage of him. Kise isn't a simple King. It may have passed other people's eyes but Aomine a trained swordsman could know even by just looking that Kise didn't stop training with his sword, he could see by his posture and his hand. Kise wouldn't be injured this badly that easily…something was clearly amiss. If it was a strong opponent the room would have been more disarray than this and people would have heard them fighting.
"His wound is very deep, he's bleeding out!" The doctor exclaimed exaaming thee wound, "This cut is too haphazardly done it is more difficult to stop the bleeding. From the looks of it whoever did this is—"
"Not good with handling weapons." Aomine finished the sentence, Kasamatsu looked up at Aomine.
"We should take His Majesty quickly and close his wound, it would be fatal if we let the bleeding continue." Kasamatsu nodded and brought picked up Kise carefully in his arms before following the doctor out. However when he noticed the prince wasn't following the royal adviser turned, "Wouldn't you be coming with us?"
"What for?"
"Kise." Kasamatsu knew that the only thing keeping this man in this kingdom is the King, and the only thing that keeps the King intact is this man. If Kise would regain consciousness the best option is to have this man next to him. The prince seemed to have hesitated for a moment, perhaps thinking about capturing the one who did this to Kise, however…that could come later when they have settle Kise's situation first. The prince finally moved and without a word followed him.
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Kasamatsu stood there in the corner as the doctor did his job, however as soon as they laid him there Kasamatsu realized the labored breathing of the King. He was sweating profusely and he was sure that isn't a good sign at all. There was just so many blood and the bed was turning red too. Aomine who was next to him was already gripping the sheath of his sword, the royal adviser could feel the blood lust radiating from the prince. He was as much as concerned as he is. He could only pray for now. Violence wouldn't solve anything, for now it would only make people suspicious of what happened to the King, if they ever found out there will be panic among their subjects and those who wish to take the throne from Kise would take advantage of this opportunity. Kasamatsu ever since had been scared of this day, when he had to keep a straight face as he would watch his King playing tag with Death. No, not just his King but Kise. Kise the boy whom had that bright smile that would shame the sun, the boy who had a bit too much of energy for his own good, the boy whom all his life he swore to protect. At first it came as a duty, then soon it was a calling. It wasn't simple to keep an eye for him since the King was either an idiot or stupid—there was no in between. Since he came back from that incident he was never the same, and it pained Kasamatsu. He changed. The day he wore the crown it was like watching your best friend sign his contact with death. All Kasamastu knew was it wasn't what Kise wanted. However he bravely accepted that and for that Kasamatsu would forever commence his courage and love for the people of Kaijo.
Kise isn't just a king, well at least to him. Kise was his friend, Kise was the son of the late King whose life was entrusted to him even way before they were kids, and Kise…was the sun he couldn't reach. Kise was the sun who perpetually chased the night sky and effectively hiding that from many of the people's eyes by becoming a bright and warm light to everyone. Kise would never look at them the way he looked at his night sky. Never. Kasamatsu couldn't help but cringed at the sight, nothing seems to be helping the King's situation. "The one who did it…I'm not going after that person…tell your men to stop too." Kasamatsu's eyes widen at Aomine's words, turning to the prince like he had grown an extra pair of eye in his forehead the royal adviser was shock. But what surprised him was the way the prince looked like, his hands were still clenched indicating he was still angry but the way he spoke it was as if he was trying his best to be calm.
"Why would I do that are you insane whoever did this must pay with their li—"
"Aren't you surprised?" Aomine said, "Aren't you surprised that Kise was injured this badly without you noticing anything in that room showing signs of a fight?"
"The King is—"
"Could you cut out that shit, I know you know Kise could defend himself." Aomine said harshly, "That was why you didn't stop me back then when I went to him. It was why you let him bathe in the river at the back of the palace alone. You know he could put up a fight, long enough for you guys to notice something at least and come to his rescue if something happened." Kasamatsu was shock, well…he is a prince of huge and known Kingdom, having such a good record in the field of battle it would take more than strength and sword skills to survive in a battlefield, as expected of Teiko's Unstoppable Warrior. However he still has not yet explained the reason for his earlier predicament.
"What do you mean?"
"Kise knew who caused this…and he let it happen."
"What?!" Kasamatsu exclaimed in disbelief. "Why would he—"
"Weren't you listening? Because he knows who did it and knowing this idiot he probably couldn't stop that person thinking he would put that person in danger if he defended himself and if anyone found out. He was protecting that person." Aomine concluded. That was the reason there was no signs of force entry, if Kise's words were true back then, a mile from the palace is securily guarded no unauthorized people would be able to simply slip into the palace and try to kill him. Surely the guards would have seen any suspicious person lurking around and would have apprehended them quickly. And it was in the throne room, before they could have reached the throne room there were so many people they would have passed through. And Kise didn't fight back, surely there was a reason. And the only plausible explanation was it was someone he knew. And Kise being the idiot he was wouldn't hurt that person. Not even if it meant putting his life on the line. Even if they have apprehended that person what guarantee would they have that Kise wouldn't give pardon to that person as soon as he wakes up? And if ever that person was apprehended and due process was given and punishment for the crime was given, if Kise found out he'd go hysterical. "If you take that person and give that person the due punishment for this crime, do you think Kise would be alright once he found out? He'd go mad. You know how he is."
Kasamatsu couldn't help but bit his lower lip, Aomine was right. He was naïve, Kise is indeed like that. To let himself be injured like this…and the state where he found the King…someone…he knew? Kasamatsu's eyes widen as he realized something—
"Who was the last person Kise was with?" Aomine voiced Kasamatsu's thoughts out loud, "When you find the answer to that you will find the one who did this to him, there will be no doubt about that. However, since that person got into the palace Kise surely had let that person in, or at least you let that person in. Either way, the fact that Kise values that person would suffice as the whole. If you kill that person I don't think he would be pleased." Aomine couldn't help but to internally swore and curse Kise, how dare he do this to himself, how can he simply throw away his life for someone else's sake.
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"Fucking idiot."