Knights of Teikou
Genre : Adventure, Friendship, Fantasy
I didn't own Kuroko no Basuke, Fujimaki Tadatoshi-sensei own it! (May include OOC)
Thanks for the support, minna!^^ Sorry if I take long for update, hope u enjoy this chapter too~!
-Chapter 3:-
*snore* *Flip* *snore* *snore* *Flip*
*snore* *Flip*
" Urgh~", in the middle of the dark-room, a pair of crimson red-eyes snapped open.
Many snores could be heard coming from all around him, but it's not what the problem was.
Kagami sat on his bed and glanced around the room filled with the freshmen as him(except 6 certain boys), all sleeping soundly on their own beds.
Kagami scratched his crimson hair with a little dark on the bottom of his hair, " As I guess… I can't sleep."
Kagami then caught the sight of his wooden-sword laying beside him and after a few seconds of staring, he took it and sneaked out from his single-bed. His bed located just beside the window at the right corner.
Moving like a wind, Kagami silently slipped out through the two-winged door and closed it again without making any sound. He sighed then started walking down the silent hall. He wasn't a good memorizer, but at least he had remembered the way to go out from the tower he was in now.
West-wing tower was the tower he was in now, the other three towers were spread around the kingdom. Each were divided according to their squads and there's a public bathroom in every floors to make it easier for everyone of them to get ready before and after training.
Although Kagami didn't know them too well but at least he knew that every man that passed the test with him, were there together with him in the room C, second floor of the tower.
All, except six certain boys who were in the same ages as him.
Kagami didn't think too much about it, he just simply came up with the conclusion, 'They must be in another towers.' Even if he thought that kind of impossible.
Kagami walked out from the unsecured door and glanced up to the still-dark sky. He shivered as the cold-wind hit his exposed-body without mercy. He wore the attire that was given to him last night after dinner. A plain-white shirt that was so thin and a simple knee-lengthed black-pants.
They said the Kingdom made this rule about every soldier wearing the same attire to prevent any social-discrimination. They only wore their armors in some occasion only, like going to war or a mission or maybe a certain conditioned squad-battle (Kagami certain he heard the last one).
" Guess I will run for a while.", he murmured and set off from his place.
Not too far from the west-wing tower, was the south-west tower. Every tower had some seniors and newbie ones inside to make the balance, the arrangement were being done according to the group they were being trained in. The towers themselves didn't look different from the other tower. Stone-walled tower that stood around 150 metres from the ground.
On the distance, Kagami could see a little cave on the wall of the stone-fortress located just behind the south-west tower.
Kagami made a stop in front of the cave, " Uh? What's this cave for?"
He felt extremely curious so he decided to go inside. He was met with two sets of stairs on both his sides. After some consideration, or more correctly by his instinct, Kagami chose the left and started to walk up the sets of stairs that seemed to have no end. He made sure his steps were slow and steady, he didn't know what this cave was or what awaiting him on the top.
He must keep himself alerted. (He completely unaware that he randomly roamed around the kingdom could be problem already) .Kagami didn't want to cause any problems again, geez, he had caused many troubles already even before he started his training here. His mind wandered back to what happened during his first dinner here.
" Ah, you are the megane-Sir th- !", Kagami looked so grateful to see Hyuuga walking to him and he was ready to continue his word when Hyuuga raised his hand and tweaked his left ear up high.
" OO-OU-UU-OUCHH! H-Hu-Hurt! ", Kagami wailed and was ready to snap to the man when the man loosen the tweak and crouched in the same height as himself.
" Bakagami! What did I tell you this afternoon?!", he hissed in a whisper, success in making Kagami quiet down.
" Uh?", Kagami instantly forgot about the tweak and he didn't even realize the new nickname his senior just gave him.
" Look at the fuss you've made! Now everyone will think of you as some unknown kid that barked in without any politeness! And you're late again!", hissed Hyuuga still in a low whisper.
" Uh?", Kagami still quite confused and then moved his gaze to look around the crowdy yet now-silent dining hall.
With those confused stares and some whispers, a realization hit him so hard.
' I had ruined my first impression.'
Kagami moved his gaze back and listened to Hyuuga, " Everyone thought that only six boys are going to join in. Since the start, they already quite dislike the idea of it already. And now there's one more boy, not to mention your clumsy and confused expression just now! Their doubts will absolutely increase."
Kagami started to feel guilty, not totally guilty in fact. It just he was embarrassed only. To tell the truth, part of him felt angry right now. 'So what if they thought bad of me? It's not true at all! He has the same resolution as all of them have!'
But Kagami knew to hold it in bay, he was in the wrong side at first for coming late, once again.
" Baka, I'm not saying this to make you down.", Kagami moved his gaze back at the serious-looking Hyuuga.
" I want you to show them tomorrow.", Kagami's crimson-eyes widen in surprise. He wanted to asked about it but Hyuuga already straighten himself and patted his head. " Don't come late again, baka."
" Now get your food and sit over there!", he commanded loudly.
" Yes, Sir.", despite Kagami's confusion about the last statement, he managed a normal-expression.
' I wonder what the megane-captain mean about that..', thought Kagami silently. 'Hmm… I think he never told me his name too…'
Kagami kept walking up the stairs and finally he could see the end of the stairs not too far anymore. He fasten his pace and out from the dark-canal.
Kagami scanned his surrounding, and he don't need too long to realize where he was.
' The top of the fortress…', Kagami leaned on the inward wall and looked down to saw the ground and towers from behind the first layer of fortress. Then he glanced behind to the wide-path he was on now.
There's also some cannons set along the outward wall with some distances between each of them. ' So… It's for counter-attack when the other empires attack. Well… Attacking from this high using these cannons , surely will help to eliminate the enemy.'
' But…' Kagami's eyes wonder around the city showing below the fortress, a memory of a certain place engulfed in flames suddenly come to his mind. He tighten his trembling-hands that he had unconsciously made into a fist. ' I won't let that happen again.'
Kagami took a deep breath then glanced to right and left, only to find a straight-path stretching out without an end that could be seen. ' I wonder how long this path was. This fortress circling around the kingdom, doesn't it?'
Kagami grinned excitedly and started to jog down the right path, while enjoying the surrounding exposed from his place.
-Kiseki no Sedai-
Every freshmen that joined yesterday were having their early breakfasts in the dining hall. The others hadn't got up since it was still 6 o'clock. They usually had their breakfast at 7 o'clock. The freshmen were having the early schedule for the first day, woke up at 5.30, had breakfast at 6 o'clock, and started training at 7 o'clock.
Kuroko eyed every people who were attending the dining hall quietly, looking for certain someone. Since the hall only consisted of 40 freshmen ,together with them 46, it was easy to look for someone. But he just couldn't find the one he was looking for.
" He's not here.", Kuroko looked in surprise to Akashi who had just spoken.
Akashi then turned to him and smiled, " You are looking for Kagami Taiga, aren't you Tetsuya?"
Kuroko nodded slowly and murmured, " Yes."
" You seems to care enough about him, Tetsuya.", Akashi looked at him questioningly.
Kuroko kept silent for a moment, " He is alone here, Seijuurou-kun. Different with us, he need our help."
Akashi stared into those aqua-eyes for a sec before he smiled, " You don't need to worry about him too much, Tetsuya. I believe he can manage it himself."
Later after they finished their breakfasts, they went to the field where they had been told to gather at. The field was quite huge, two medium arenas in each side of the field. Some archery-used planks laying along the field and a big tree grown in the middle of the field that formed a hill, some a bit smaller trees on the north of the field, forming a little-sized forest.
When the six of them arrived at the field, they could already see someone not too far from the green tree. A crimson-haired boy was doing some push-ups over there. When they walked closer, they could see the figure better and they were surprised to find someone they knew there.
" Kagami-kun?", Kuroko looked surprised to find the boy to be the first one to arrive here.
" Ah.", Kagami stood up and wiped his sweats away with the back of his hand " Oh, hey. It's already gathering time, hmm? ", Kagami tried to slow down his breaths.
Kuroko approached him while the others followed behind him, " You have been doing some exercises here, Kagami-kun?"
" Ah, yeah. Hahaha, I felt so excited that I couldn't sleep at all. So I get up and do some exercises.", Kagami scratched his crimson-hair nervously.
" Ah, they are coming.", Kagami looked at the groups of freshmen coming their way, he went to put his wooden sword down to lean on the trunk.
" Kagami-kun and your sword seems to have a deep relation, hm?", Kuroko asked when he saw Kagami smiled at the sword.
Kagami nodded firmly, " Y-Yeah, he is my first sword and the only sword that I ever had.", he said while looking at his sword sincerely.
Their conversation stopped when Hyuuga came with a brown-caramel haired girl and a tall-muscled brown haired boy. Everyone immediately lined up and Kagami somehow got himself in the same row as the Kisedai, the most behind one after Murasakibara.
Kagami knew from the first sight that the tall man was strong despite the innocent bright smile on his face, but if the girl… She had a quite-petite body and she was wearing a cowboy attire (brown-shirt and dark-blue pencil-jeans)
" Attention, everyone!", Hyuuga shouted so loudly, everyone straighten their bodies and pay their attentions to him.
At least Kagami's row was the last one on the right, so he still could see the three adults from his place.
Hyuuga took a glance around all of them, " Good. Everyone had assembled here.", he nodded in approvement. " Now let me introduce myself formally."
" I am Hyuuga Junpei, the captain of squad 12. Of course all of you must know that in Teikou, the armies were divided into total 5 main-squads. Archery, assault, combat battle, sneakers, cavalry. The combat-battle itself was divided into sword-art and spear. The sword-art was divided again into 5 groups from squad 11-15 and all of you are under my command in squad 12 for momentary.", Hyuuga raised his hand toward his two other companions.
" These two will help me in charge for all of you, included some other peoples… You will meet them later.", Hyuuga then stepped aside and let the smiling brown-haired man took his place.
" Ohayo, minna-san!", greeted the man cheerfully, failed to get any feedback from any of them.
"…"
"…"
" Baka, get on your introduction already.", whispered Hyuuga pissed.
The said man just laughed, " Okay okay… My name is Kiyoshi Teppei, I'm the vice-captain of squad 12. I'm very happy this year because not only that many freshmen join our squad but also because our first-youngest generation ever are here too. ", Kiyoshi shared a glance to the direction of seven certain boys.
He smiled and moved his gaze back, " But since all of you have joined as a soldier, I'm going to strongly remind you that you must resolute yourselves here, one hesitation may even cost your lives.", his sudden change of tone made the others shivered, even the Kiseki no Sedai too.
They already listed his name on one of the people they must be cautious for.
" Hahahaha, don't be so tense minna-san! Let's have some fun in the future~!", Kiyoshi laughed again then stepped aside.
Now it's the girl's turn, " Okay, for introduction… My name is Riko Aida, I'm the trainer in this squad."
" Uh?", all of them were dumb-founded, they were asking themselves whether they heard it wrong or not.
" You don't hear it wrong. Now, skip the talk later. We will start our training. First, strip your shirts.", the girl crossed her hands and smiled confidently.
" UHHH?!", almost all of them shrieked.
" You heard her. Now, do it.", commanded Hyuuga firmly while Kiyoshi laughed " Hahahaha, you scared them Riko."
Everyone of them started to strip their shirts off, Riko walked to the first row from the left and looked at each of them with her eyes calculating.
" What is she doing?", whispered Kagami to no one.
" You don't know her?", Midorima unexpectedly answered him. " She is Riko Aida, the daughter of Kagetora Aida, the famous trainer in Eclipss. It is said that she possessed a skill that enable her to look through anyone's strength and weakness."
" Uh? Really? Wow, that's kind of amazing.", Kagami looked back at the girl surprisedly.
Riko really pointed their weaknesses out one by one, leg-power, arm-power, the tense shoulder and the other problems. She also pointed out some of their good points and by the looks of the men, she had hit the jackpot.
She kept scanning everyone of them and it was not bad until now, some were bad yes, but some were good enough, there's even someone who she thought was quite good.
She finally stopped at the last row full of the young boys and looked at Akashi, 'W-Woah… He's good, more than just good! His muscles don't look tense at all, it wasn't extremely strong but it is well-built for someone his size. And he somehow emits a strong aura as a soldier, or more correctly a leader. Haha, no wonder he is one of the Miracles! I can't wait to see him in action.', Riko smirked and intended to continue to the back before Akashi stopped her.
" You haven't looked at Tetsuya, Miss.", was all Akashi said.
" Uh?", Riko was confused, " Where is -"
" I am here, Miss.", Kuroko said from the front, earning a shriek from the girl. Some of the freshmen were whispering too, since they didn't recognize him there at all.
" O-Oh, so you are Tetsuya?", Riko managed to voice that question out, ' I didn't see him just now.'
" Yes. I am Kuroko Tetsuya, please take care of me.", Kuroko bowed politely.
Riko nodded in acknowledgement and looked at his body, ' Hmm… His body looks like a normal 12 years old boy, even if I can see that he trained hard but his muscles are too average. He is included in the Miracles, isn't he? Maybe he hide something special within himself.'
Riko then walked to the third boy in the row, ' Woah! He is good too! His numbers are high! The aura he emitted is friendly yet dangerous. He will be a good knight in the future.'
Riko walked to the back and gaped at the tanned-boy, " Why are you gaping at me, Miss?", Aomine asked in a tone that tried not to sound annoyed.
Riko closed her mouth instantly, ' Excellent! His muscles were strongly-built, his strength and most of all his speed has completely outrun every numbers I'd seen in these peoples. If he can completely develop his talent, he will absolutely be the number one in his ages.'
Riko walked to the next one, Midorima, 'This one is good too, his muscles are strong, his numbers are all high at every aspect, ah, his accuracy beat the others so badly. Cool! If he could develop this in his swordship , his enemy can be down in no time.'
Riko walked to the next one, Murasakibara, 'Woah, he is huge! He just 12 years old right?! A-And his powers! His numbers are high, even his speed is high too despite his big body. His strength… During the growth, these numbers will absolutely go up again. And if it really happen… His power will be so fearsome!', Riko gulped and continued to the last one.
'Ah, he was the kid last night. I think his name is Kagami Taiga. He had made himself quite famous here, the seventh unknown boy that joined the test in the same ages as Kiseki no Sedai.', thought Riko silently.
Riko looked at Kagami's lean body and her eyes widen.
"…"
"…"
"…"
" Riko?", Hyuuga was confused when the said girl just simply freezed in her place.
When the said-girl didn't give any response, all of them started to turn their attentions to the both of them, which made Kagami more uncomfortable than he was already. The Kisedai was aware of the girl's expression too.
" Riko?", Hyuuga decided to approach her. " Hey, are you okay?", he held her shoulder and Riko jerked a little.
" A-A-Ah, I-I'm okay.", Riko uttered the words then looking back at Kagami.
' No way… He has the same potential as the Miracles! His numbers are high, but it's not what caught me off guard… I don't know why… but looking at him, I got a feeling that these aren't his real numbers for now. I never encountered this case before... It's as if he still has many potentials, waiting for him to unlock it.'
Riko turned around and followed Hyuuga back to the front, she still looked emotionless then slowly the corner of her lips turned up, 'This year will be interesting to train these freshmen.'
" You can put your shirts on again.", announced Riko cheerfully, the three of them then circled on the front, discussing about something.
" Hmm~ Is my body really that bad?", murmured Kagami while putting his shirt on again.
" Uh? What did you say, Kagamicchi~?", Kise turned to him in confusion, his hands were buttoning his shirts.
" Uh? Ah, I mean maybe my body is so bad that she was horrified like that.", told Kagami nervously, his statement reached to Kuroko who stood at the most front. The six of them looked at him surprisedly.
Kise blinked and then laughed, " No way, Kagamicchi! If someone look at your body and stunned, then it means your body is magnificent!"
Kagami blushed hardly at the praise, " N-No, don't say something so embarrassing, Kise."
" Hahhahahha, oh my Kagamicchi~ Your redden face is so cute~!", Kise laughed amusedly.
" W-WH?!", Kagami blushed more, he immediately turned around and hid his face. Kise laughed more when he did so, even Aomine chuckled too.
" Ryouta-kun, you shouldn't tease Kagami-kun like that.", even if he said so but he himself was amused too by Kagami's reaction.
" But Ryouta-chin was right~ I never seen a boy blushed like he did~", Murasakibara said in a bored tone, looking amused too.
" Doesn't he, Atsushi-cchi? Hahaha… Kagamicchi is too cute~!", Kise laughed more.
Kagami snapped back at him with his face back to the normal sun-kissed colour, " Hey, I'm not! And what's with that weird name you are calling me ?!"
" That means Ryouta respect you, baka.", Aomine answered it calmly, with his remarkable smirk on his tanned face.
" What? Respect? For what?", Kagami couldn't get his answer since Hyuuga had finished their discussion.
" Okay, everyone. Now I will explain today's training menu for all of you!", announced Riko cheerfully. " For now, do 100 push-ups and 100 sit-ups. After you finished, run around this field for 20 times and gather back here."
No one moved from their positions at first, " If you don't move now, I will increase it to three times.", Riko announced with a not-so-innocent smile on her face.
" O-Oh, y-yes, Ma'am!", they moved to provide some distances between themselves and started doing their training menu.
Riko smiled in approvement while Hyuuga and Kiyoshi already left to bring the things Riko wanted them to bring.
-Meanwhile…-
" 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100.", Aomine finished his push-ups and glanced at the certain red-haired boy who had started to do sit-ups by himself.
" Daiki-kun, do you want me to hold your feet for you?", offered Kuroko who still struggling with the push-ups.
" No need, Tetsu. You just continue with your menu, I can manage this.", Aomine immediately sit himself and start to do sit-ups by himself.
' Uh? Daiki-kun looked fire-up?', thought Kuroko silently, he then saw Aomine stole a peek to a certain red-haired boy who was doing his sit-ups alone too.
…
" 98, 99, 100.", Aomine finished his sit-ups and glanced up to a certain direction, only to find nothing there. He immediately looked around and found the one he was looking for already started running around the field. Aomine secretly grinned in excitement, he raised up and chased after the boy in a incredible speed.
Kagami was running in a normal pace since he thought of no need to rush. But suddenly someone ran past him in an incredible speed, he was surprised at first but he was certain he could see the said-someone turned around and smirked at him.
' Come and chase after me if you can, Kagami.', was written all over his face. Aomine turned to the front and ran farther from Kagami.
Kagami was caught of guard by him at first but then he realized what was happening, ' Hah! I won't lose!', Kagami held his pressure down a moment before he dashed forward, chasing after Aomine.
Aomine was enjoying his lead before suddenly a crimson-haired boy ran past him. He was sure the boy stole a gaze back at him. Aomine smirked and increased his pace, once again taking the lead. But every times he did, the boy would do it too and took the lead again.
The others had started running too since they had finished their sit-ups, but were aware of those pair of boys that kept passing each other. Kuroko was looking at them too, 'It was rare for Daiki-kun to get work up by another kids.'
When the pair were going their way, Midorima had tried to call Aomine but being ignored. Murasakibara even intentionally halted his course but Aomine just simple circled around him, showing no intention to stop.
Kise had tried to follow after them, but the boys only occupied by each other. They didn't even care that Kise was tailing behind both of them.
Hyuuga and Kiyoshi were back later, holding a large box in each their arms. Kiyoshi's eyes immediately caught the boys who were racing after each other, "Hmm, looks like they have fun over there~", he murmured with his knowing-smile.
NGGGGGGGGG
Both Aomine and Kagami braked themselves at the same time, causing some dusts to fly up from the ground.
" Huft huft huft.", Aomine straighten up and turned to Kagami who was still panting, he was satisfied with the results and smirked happily.
Kagami felt the stare on him and looked up to the tanned boy who was smirking happily, " What?", Kagami asked, quite unsettled with the smirk.
"Naa~ No~thing~", Aomine gave him the same answer as what he gave him the night before and walked away from him.
Kagami didn't avert his gaze from the tanned boy for a minute, then he huffed and looked away from him. 'What's wrong with him? He has been picking a fight with me since the first time we met.' Kagami sighed a little, 'Looks like I'm really sucks in making friends.'
-To be Continued-
(When Kuroko asked Kagami whether he has deep relation with his sword, Kagami chose to use the term 'he' rather than 'it' to describe his sword. That's because Kagami not only look at the sword as a material, but as his partner that had been by his side, he even given his sword a name)
As always thank you for reading, minna-san!^u^ And oh yeah! In case you felt confused, in this story Kisedai-tachi will be OOC since they were being raised in a noble family. And so do everyone and Kagami… I will also include some new character OC in this story too.
Also, maybe in the next two chapters I will make some flashback about Kagami, so please bare with it for a while before the training continue!
Once again and as always, thank you so much for reading minna-san!^^