AAAAAAAND WE ARE BACK AT LIOOOOOOON! I told you guys I'm super excited to write the main arc of LION and I mean it, also I'm updating this because tomorrow I have to go back to the school and I miiiiiight be busy in the following days BUT I PROMISE I WILL UPDATE AS FREQUENT AS I CAN, cross my heart, pinky swear! BTW guys, you might wanna check out the new anime called Bungo Stray Dogs-yeah, it's awesome. 2016 is blessed with amazing anime line ups, yeah, I mean, SUPER LOVERS, Bungo Stray Dogs, Magi: Sinbad no Bouken, this year is GOLDEN. Anyhow, OMG CONGRATULATIONS TO US, YES, US, because you guys made it possible, to everyone who supports LION, Thank you sooo much because we've reached 200 REVIEWS! I have honestly NEVER in my wildest dream thought we'll reach pass 150 reviews but we reached PASS 150 reviews and we're on 200 and countiiiing!

We've reached the most important arc of LION, this is where your biggest question since the meeting of the Emperor and the brunette attendant will be answered. This part was actually the only concrete image that I had when I first constructed LION, yes, actually I didnt know HOW I would start LION all I know was how I want the middle arc would be. BTW since we're approaching in the greatest event for the story, here's some trivia about the story, the title LION is pronounced as "LEE-O-N" its a Japanese pronunciation of the English word. I'll let you guys know more about the concept of the story as we go on.

BTW, in the last chapter I described Kise wearing a kimono for the ceremony while the Aomine wore the military uniform. The reason for that is...well, shallow, I just like imagining Kise in a kimono, he looks really feminine for me(I'm veeery sorry). Also Kaijo is found in the North, Eastern Kingdoms and Empires are more influenced of Chinese, Korean and Japanese clothing and tradition while Western Kingdoms were more like European countries, Northern Kingdoms are MIX of both.

Anyhow I must thank our reviewers Ern Estine 13624, Yayoi, Guest, Jealousofevryone, SilverWhiteDragon, Bubbles9595(omg me too, school WILL be kicking my butt soon too TT 0 TT I can feel ittttt), ShinYuu-tachi and FionaEve-chan and everyone who gave LION a fav and follow! Thank you so much for waiting patiently for every update.

Hope you like today's update aaaand REVIEW PLEASE *winks*

Chapter 31: Struck by Lightning

The anger bubbled quickly in his system, his fist trembled at the familiar face. Even after the long time he had not seen him, despite the fact that he had changed his hair color he would surely never mistaken him for someone else. Even after many years the anger had never subdued, he could hear his other consciousness growling inside him, his golden eye throbbed and fire swelled in his chest. The party walked in, beside the vile and petty excuse of a life was a tall man, he looked like a westerner, the way he dress gave away as well. He walked with extreme arrogance and pride, his chin lifted looking at everyone straight in the eye.

Screech

Akashi turned around as he heard the loud screeching of a chair behind him. To his surprise he found Kise standing, eyes wide and hands trembling as they were pressed on the table. Aomine looked up at Kise confused, then towards the incoming party, it was only then Aomine's midnight blue eyes flared with anger.

The man stopped a few feet away from Akashi before giving away a sickening smirk. Without words of recognition from the Emperor, the prince walked towards the table of the newlyweds. He smiled and made a curt bow to the two, sarcasm dripped in his movements and Aomine had to stop himself from flipping the table and punching the man right in his guts. His body trembled with anger and Kise's frightened reaction didn't help. The dark skinned prince quickly pulled his consort back out of pure concern.

Raising his head, the prince placed a hand over his chest and the other in his back, "Forgive my tardiness, Your Highness." The blonde said smirking, "My father, the King, could not make it, but I do assure you that he is dying to be here. As his heir, I came here in behalf of him to congratulate you."

"Thank you." Kise meekly replied.

"Please accept our gift."

Akashi placed all his strength as he tried to calm the beast inside him, his golden eye was burning and flaring as the familiar man stepped and walked pass him with a knowing smirk, in his hands was medium size wooden box. Akashi watched as Kise's face turned grim as the man walked towards the table, obviously wary of the faux brunette's movements. When the man placed the box in the table and looked at Kise for a moment before fleeting grin painted his lips.

The man opened the box and revealed an expensive vase cushioned with silk, the item was a porcelain pear shaped vase painted with intricate design, in the middle were two koi fishes forming a perfect circle, surrounding them were pale pink myrtles with bright yellow primroses mixed with them. Kise lifted his eyes from the gift, no amount of present could make his chest calm down in the presence of the chief adviser of the prince of Jabberwock.

He met the man on a few occasion and those were when the proud Kingdom of Jabberwock insisted to form an alliance with Kaijo, the chief adviser had his ways of bending people and none of it was pleasant. Kise cringed at the words the man used back then, 'force into submission' he felt chills run in his spine, he knew just when he looked at his eyes that this man was the kind of man who would do everything that he could to get what he wants, his eyes were the eyes of a cold blooded murderer. Kise was sure that if he had seen the faces of the men who took the lives of his family he would like the man's eyes.

"Haizaki."

Kise blinked as he heard Aomine spoke, his tone low, laced with fury. How did he know him? Had they met before? Kise turned to look at Haizaki and his face turned to its usual arrogant smile.

"Congratulation, brother."

Kise's eyes widen—brother? Didn't Aomine only had four siblings? Aomine gritted his teeth and a low growl erupted in his throat which shocked Kise, Aomine was perfectly calm a few moments ago until Haizaki and Prince Nash walked in.

"As far as I can remember you had been stripped of that right."

Akashi's voice resounded. Kise turned his eyes towards Akashi who was obviously trying to compose himself, however something about him made Kise feel like small animal compared to the other, to a smaller framed male. And more importantly, what does the Emperor mean by that?

"Oh, please we are here to celebrate." Nash said, "let us put dispute away for now, yes?"

Akashi pressed his thin lips in a line as he tried to compose himself. As much as he hates to admit it, this is his brother and his consort's wedding, as the eldest brother he should be the one calming the other down. Akashi shifted his eyes to Mebuchi who nodded in agreement. He must be wary of his acts outside the palace, he shouldn't let such thing as a concubine's son rile him up.

Turning away Akashi left without speaking anymore, he would be wasting his words, and his anger wouldn't ease Aomine's either. He must put a few distance with them, surely Kise would find a way to calm down Aomine.

"Come Reo, we shall return to our seat."

Mebuchi nodded quietly as he turned and found the Haizaki eyeing them, and slowly smirking.

"I cannot believe it." Mebuchi said, "After he was exiled he dared to find shelter in someone else's Kingdom, and to be a Chief Adviser to boot."

"He is vile like that, what is even more surprising?" Akashi said as he sat again to their table.

Mebuchi held his words back, he almost slipped a word about the incident years ago. The minister looked towards the couple's table, Kise was holding Aomine's arm and gently pushing him back to sit down. Kise wouldn't know about Haizaki's relation with the princes of Teiko, when Kise came to the palace, he stayed in the court of the Empress where it was tightly secured, women were the only ones who were permitted there except for special cases with the consent of the Empress and the Emperor—in the current case, the fifth prince's permission and the Emperor himself.

Haizaki was a concubine's son who was conceived only to appease a dispute, and unlike his brothers the concubine's son grew up to be everything but pleasant. He was more handful than Aomine, he disrespected authority and had so much pride in himself. He wanted the throne more than anyone else, his hunger for power and control made him unsuitable for any position or title in the Imperial Family. He never found favour from the Emperor and he saw the Empress as a great wall from achieving his goals, the woman unbeknownst to many was the real reason why the then crowned prince and now the Emperor was able to trick death. The woman was the daughter of the head of the Kuroko clan, the clan that had protected the borders of Teiko from slaughtering every single enemy, a clan filled assassins, it was merely natural that she could be able to detect every single ill movements. She was the greatest opponent for Haizaki, the only one that stands in the way of him obtaining the crown, as long as she can protect Akashi, he wouldn't be able to kill the prince as well.

When the Empress was found dead, there was simply only one soul in the whole palace who dare lay a threatening finger on the kind woman, however, there were no proofs. Usually, this time the crowned prince would be an easy target, however…every single one who went to test this were found dead the next day with a limb or two missing—it was then when the rumor about the shadow that protects the chosen one of the Gods spread, an invisible force lurking in the dark protecting the man who were thought to be chosen by the Gods to rule. When Akashi ascended to the throne, he exiled the concubine's son together with his mother with the accuse of threatening the life of the crowned prince.

As the Emperor then, Akashi could do this but Mebuchi knew the truth as much as anyone in the palace was, but none of them were as daredevil as the young Emperor himself who banished his own brother.

"Emperor Akashi Seijuuro."

Mebuchi's reflex quickly made him reach for the small knife inside the sleeve of his clothes, however a hand stopped him, it was Akashi himself. Mebuchi calmed down and found himself looking at the blonde prince of the Kingdom of Jabberwock. The aggressive and prideful kingdom made a prince exactly the same as itself. It wasn't a shock that such kingdom would cradle in its arm a murderer.

"Prince Nash Gold," Akashi returned the gesture and looked straight into the man's eyes. "Have you gone bored of socializing?"

"Ah yes." The man said, "I hope you don't mind me joining you."

Akashi frowned, however there was no need to decline for him, "I do not." he said quietly before looking up at Haizaki who was behind the prince.

"It must be a joy for you, yes?"

"It goes without saying." Akashi replied simply.

"And how about you?" Nash asked.

Mebuchi turned to Haizaki trying to figure out what was behind the prince's word from his own adviser but the faux brunette merely smirks.

"I am well." Akashi answered, "And I hope your father is, as well."

"Oh, yes, he is." Nash said before propping his elbow on the table and crossing his leg over the other, "I heard some dispute with you and Seirin a few moons ago, what happened?"

"I didn't pegged you to be someone who joined in idle talks such as rumors."

"But was it merely a rumor?"

Akashi turned his eyes to the prince staring at his golden eyes, they were mocking and undermining him in a way that made his blood curl. The Emperor frowned, such dauntless challenge he is posing with his eyes.

"There is indeed a dispute, it was resolved a however."

"Was it?"

Akashi snapped at the man, "What do you mean by that tone?"

"Nothing." Nash shrugged, "Ah, such daredevils don't you think, those who dare to bring those slaves into your own land, I assumed you were at rage then."

"I do not see the point of this conver—"

"Let me tell you something here Emperor." Akashi almost cringed at the sarcasm dripping in his words. Akashi watched as Nash leaned in, "Where did you think the prince of Seirin went?"

Akashi smirked, "Oh so you were interested in his whereabouts? Was he the one you peg for?"

Nash laughed out loud, "Oh yeah? Who would have thought you have humor as well."

"What do you need, Nash Gold?"

Nash stopped laughing and smiled sinisterly, "Doesn't it strike you strange that despite capturing the perpetrators and the victims none of them were the infamous prince?"

"He could have simply escaped. He isn't our main concern."

"Your main concern was to dodge the war, yes?"

"Of course."

Nash tipped his chin, "But what if I told you that I hired those men to bring me slaves?"

Akashi's eyes flared at the man, "You…"

"It wouldn't be your concern would it, whether or not I gather slaves from all over the world, they weren't your people anyways?" Nash's grin grew bigger. Despite Teiko's large empire, it still abided by the common rules among every single one, they couldn't meddle with internal affairs of other kingdoms unless they become part of it one way or another. Slavery still runs as legal trade of goods in some kingdom—rare but still true—in this case, the kingdom of Jabberwock. In Teiko slavery is punishable by death for the Empire believed that the Gods were their only Lords. "But you see, I was really excited to get a glimpse of that special good they should have brought for me."

"Seirin will have your head."

Nash laughed, "Oh they wouldn't know would they? And besides, what could they do?"

"You belittle them too much."

"Oh, don't get me wrong," Nash said as his tone got more serious, "I don't think Seirin can do anything, but that was when that wild tiger stepped in the throne."

"Wild…tiger." Akashi was baffled, there were few people who could sense a spirit animal that people possesses, special people. In was rare that people were born with the gift, those who train as priests and monks were taught and it takes long time to finally achieve a certain level that they could glimpse into the person's spirit animal. Akashi wasn't born with it he acquired it from the consciousness inside him, and despite the golden eye being present the day he was born, Akashi could only catch small glimpses of them, unlike those like the Hawk Child. But what about Nash Gold, was it merely a way he was comparing the young King of Seirin to a wild tiger, was it merely a coincidence…or does he…was he like that?

"Its really frightening you know, that Tiger sure was made for the throne." Nash said with a grin, "However, if it wasn't for him, what would Seirin be?"

"You are pulling a dangerous thread."

"Oh I know right, but I couldn't risk the thrill, you know." Nash said and shrugged his shoulders, "And imagine having such pet in your lap, a former prince, wouldn't that be a nice pet to keep?"

"No."

Nash stared at Akashi for a solid second before exploding into fits of laughter.

"Are you mocking me?" Akashi said with venom dripping in his voice, there was only much he could stay civil.

"Oh, no, no," Nash said putting both his hands up in resignation, "I'm actually helping you."

"Don't you da—"

"There were only few people on the ship excluding the men I paid, formerly a part of your naval army by the way," Akashi glared at Nash, "they send telegrams to me whenever one is added in our collection, it was to keep tally and make sure they don't cheat me. Then they sent me a telegram telling me they caught a brunette kid, the morning after, Seirin released news that their prince was taken by a ship."

Nash smiled and leaned towards Akashi, "You see, they docked in Too and they sent me the last telegram and told me the goods were still complete."

"As I said the prince might have escaped before."

"Oh don't be like this." Nash said before leaning in his seat, "Do you think a small guy that was managed to get hauled into a ship by one man could escape the eyes of more than two people? Of course you don't, I know you know. I know you feel it, its whispering to you."

Akashi's eyes widen, he…how did he…Akashi stood abruptly and knocked his seat down, he stared at Nash Gold, he had never met anyone who…Nash Gold turned to Akashi and both his golden eyes glisten.

"One plus one is two, don't make it hard for the both of us when we both know the answer."

"Cut to the chase."

"I heard that there were unimaginable things that fell to my hired men after they were caught." Nash looked up at Haizaki and the two exchanged looks for a moment before returning to look at Akashi. Akashi felt a growl escaping him, he could only hold on to the beast inside him.

Haizaki had found out before that it was Kuroko was the one who slew anyone that he sent to kill Akashi. Everyone were made to believe from the start that Kuroko was a frail and delicate boy, it was what the Empress used as an excuse to avoid people outside the main family to be familiar with the face of the prince. Unknown to them, the excuse was merely made for he was being trained to fulfil the duty his mother may not be able to if duty calls for it. The anomaly of his face made him difficult to recognize, and due to his usual quiet demeanour his presence seemed to diminish. Haizaki was the only one to know outside the main family. But he never again dared to challenge the shadow.

"And what of it?" Akashi snapped back.

"The shadow punished those men, and freed the captives." Nash said, "All of them were given back to their families, all of them freed but one…the prince. So you see I have two scenarios in mind," Nash his index finger, "one, is that he was rescued along with those kids and the shadow merely didn't recognize him, but that would be strange because as I heard, the shadow that sought after them was thought to be absolute and thus it would be strange if the spirit of your land under your own command would not tell you that the prince was among them." Nash raised another finger, "Or two, he wasn't rescued, rather he managed to get away during the time before the shadow came for them, but the shadow is absolute, right so he wouldn't manage to squirm his way out…so it could it that the shadow…is hiding the prince."

"Nonsense!" Akashi's voice was loud and it caused the whole party to partially turned to them. Akashi could feel the drumming in his head, the growling, the angry fits of the beast inside him. Kuroko wouldn't be wrong, Kuroko would not betray him. Nash Gold is merely provoking him. But something was growling trying to escape from him.

"Then…what do you think happened to him?"

Akashi staggered, Nash Gold's gold eyes were staring right at the depths of his soul, he wasn't asking him but the one inside him, the one that owns the Emperor eyes.

Akashi gasped as he felt a stabbing pain in his golden eye.

"Shujo!" Mebuchi quickly held Akashi's shoulder as the man seemed to momentarily lose his balance and clutch his left eye. Mebuchi glared at the two, "What have you done?!"

Nash didn't answer and merely looked at Akashi. The Belial eyes worked and were able to get through the slumbering consciousness in the golden eye. He could see in the way those red eyes were filling itself in confusion.

"I…I should've known…"

Akashi blinked, he turned around, he was surrounded with darkness, an invisible floor underneath his feet. He looked up and found a strange sight. He had merely caught glimpses but he had never spoke to him like this. A man who looked exactly like him was standing facing the invisible wall, he was wearing a tattered white yukata, a clothing for prisoners. The air was tensed and heavy and he could almost taste the other's rage in it.

"What are you…saying?" Akashi asked as he walked closer.

The sound of chains echoed and Akashi found himself being held by the other. His red eyes stared back at those raging golden eyes.

"W-We shouldn't have…I shouldn't have been fooled."

Akashi stared at those raging eyes as the invisible walls were suddenly filled with images of the face of a certain brunette. He loves him, Akashi said thought quietly, perhaps he was the reason why he fell for the brunette, because the brunette gave him peace and it made him feel safe, it made him feel sane. But now tears streamed down his eyes despite being drowned in rage, and somehow Akashi felt the pain, and the same tears stream down his eyes.

"Is he…what did he…"

The golden eyed Akashi closed his eyes, "But I loved him…so much."

Akashi lifted his head from his mirror image and everything was flooded with light, truth flooded the both, he could hear the other's voice in his head, details he refused to look at flashed before his eyes. Hot tears stream in his eyes, he slowly closed them as he felt the searing pain like a sharp knife dragging in his skin very slowly, he had been in denial, perhaps he chose to ignore them unconsciously he was too drunk in the peace the brunette gave him.

He chose to ignore…the fact that Furihata Kouki was not usual, he was afraid to admit that he was perhaps being betrayed by his own brother, by the man whose smile made him feel alive again.

The day Furihata Kouki came, it was odd, he had never heard before that Kuroko had taken an apprentice or an attendant, he would surely know after all it was rare that Kuroko would take anyone from the outside into his court especially not a male, he was known to govern the Halls of Women and before then he never heard of a male residing in. The first time Furihata touched him, his fingers lacked the callouses attendants would usually bear from the doing chores and learning them every day. Furihata walked differently as well, he knew how to speak to people who had higher rank than him in a way no other attendant would have. He was clumsy, a trait that would surely had him beheaded before if he indeed was an attendant.

Akashi was merely refused to admit the fact that Kuroko was the one who probably initiated this, he refused to believe that his own blood brother, his beloved brother whom he protected with everything, his beloved brother that even in his sleep he wonders if well would betray him. And perhaps he didn't want it to end as well, the serenity and warmth he was wrapped in the presence of Furihata Kouki.

"But…it was just a dream." A bitter laugh escaped the thin lips of the golden eyed Akashi, he cupped the other's cheeks, his hands trembling in both anger and pain. "In the end, its just really the two of us…did he even love you? Did he even love us at all? Or was it a farce? Was his kindness…was it to deceive us, just like what the others did? Was he any different?"

"I…I don't know."

"Can you feel it, can you feel this pain at all?"

"I do." Akashi answered his voice breaking, "But I don't understand this pain."

"You do."

Akashi shook his head, tears were still streaming in his eyes, it was as if he was cut open and was soaked in vinegar, however what didn't made sense was the way it was. Tears had died from the golden eyes of his mirror image, the golden eyes were narrowed glowing and were ablaze. If they felt the same way why was he angry?

"Let me…avenge this pain."