Knights of Teikou

Genre : Adventure, Fantasy

Kuroko no Basuke is owned by Fujimaki-sensei. May included OOC. Hope u enjoy it minna! ^u^

Chapter 10 : Murderer in Black part 1

-27 November XXX-

The capital city of Teikou Empire, Eclipss

In the middle of the night when everybody was asleep, a figure was running in haste through the empty road. He went up the road, following the path to the core of the city, Teikou Empire. The figure ran with his hands both tied up to behind, a faint blood could be seen from behind his white dirty shirt.

" H-Help…", his voice was so weak, his run was clumsy by how panic he was.

At the front of his eyes, he could see two shadows in soldier attire. He let out a big smile and shouted with all the energy he had left. The two patrol soldiers turned to his direction and approached him.

" H-Help…", the man lost his energy to even stand, it was one of the soldier who helped him to keep standing.

"What happened, Mister?", the other patrol asked as he looked behind the man to see anything coming.

"I-I…", the man even lost his energy to stay conscious, he didn't get to finish his sentence as his eyes closed down completely.

" He fainted…", the soldier checked.

" Bring him to the infirmary in the castle. And ask for three persons to patrol this area. I'll be looking around for anything suspicious.", the soldier nodded and helped the man to walk to the direction of the castle.

The other soldier continued his patrol, both of his hands on the hilt of his sword that hang on his hips. His eyes observe the empty road in cautious, once he heard a noise he immediately turned there. He slowly stepped to the alley where he assumed the voice came from.

He huffed the breath he had been holding in when a cat came out from its place with a fish-bone on its mouth. He turned around again and suddenly a figure wearing a black cloak stood there in front of him. He unsheathed his sword immediately and pointed it to the stranger, " Who are you? And why are you out here so late?"

The person in cloack made no move nor answer, the soldier took a step forward with his sword still pointing out, " Pull down your cloak and tell me where you live, Mister."

The soldier was getting agitated by the silence and swing his sword right at the hood, but the figure caught his hand perfectly, " It would be best for you not to move, Sir." The soldier looked below and saw a sword with its tip right on his stomach but instead of backing down, he ignored the warning and attacked the stranger.

SLASH

" I have warned you.", the figure stepped back and let the body fell down on the ground.

"Haah, I guess the other patrol will soon arrive. It'll be bad if they see me.", the man wiped the blood stained on his sword with a white cloth and put it on the limp body's head. " I shall leave.", he looked up to where the strong fortress stood on. He let out a small smirk and left.

Soon, the other patrol found the body of his comrade and immediately brought him back to the castle for emergency help but it was too late. His comrade let out his last breath there.

-Kise -

I am Kise Ryouta. I was born into a rich and famous noble family. My family has been known over centuries for their beautiful and compassionate heart. Out of my relatives, I have three sisters and a little brother, all of us were born with a good brain and of course good look but people often said that I am the most handsome one out of my family.

I am trained to act polite, neat and clean, by my sisters I am told to put my appearance at the first priority. They always tell me that people first decide on your value from your look. Now that I think about it… The small me was so stupid for believing in that.

The first time I realized about it was when I was at the age of six. As what I have been told to, I am always polite and kindly help the others in need, many people praise me for that. Many girls keep saying how charming I am while the boys admitting me as a handsome and kind boy. I thought all of them liked me, but that's not true…

One time, I overheard those who were supposed to be my 'friends' about how much annoyed they are of my attitudes. They said that I was only trying to please people around me by my beautiful look and charming smile, that I was only doing all of that for fame.

That was the first time I learnt about it but one time was enough for me. I started to doubt people's words and actions to me, drawing a line between me and people outside. I don't intend to change myself because of that though, I am still me. I may be friendly and cheerful to people around me but none of them are inside of the circle I've built on. They are only acquaintances for me, I am acting kind to them because that is who I am, that is what I want. I don't care about how their feedbacks are going to be.

It was until I meet them, Kurokocchi and the other… We only met each other in some formal occasions so we never talked to each other too much out of the formal courtesy. It first started five years ago from our visits to some countries involved in the war to pay our respect and help for them.

I don't know how terrified a war is until I saw it myself that day. The buildings were half-destroyed, most of it were burnt to black. The road was in ruin and full of the remnant of the building. Signs of war everywhere. The smell of blood, smoke, fire and corpse could be smelled into my sensitive nose when I was there. Some of the soldiers were still trying to search through the collapse building for any living there.

I felt ill just to see all of that, I felt ill more just to think how those powerless citizens felt when the war happened. Just when I am living my life leisurely behind the strict and safe wall, people are living in fear. That was the start of it, and the next fateful meeting I had with Seijuurou-cchi and the others completely started my resolution to change my life, to be of help to the country, to be a real knight one day.

We start to train ourselves everyday, each of us nobles are acquaintance to some knights in the Teikou so the six of us often ask for their helps to train us. Day by day, month by month, year by year… Many things happened in these times but finally, we have taken our first step into our dream.

But really, I have never interacted too much with people outside of nobles so I have never had any interests into any of them. But on the first day I was here, I met a really interesting boy. The first impression I have on him is only a pure surprise because I have never thought that out from the six of us there is actually another boy coming from just an ordinary family, who will join the army in such young ages. His appearance on that test completely surprised me and also Kurokocchi and the others.

The second impression I have on him is cool, for him winning his test at ease. His opponent was someone who was bigger almost three times his size, also the differences in their weapons. Hey! It was a wooden-sword versus a real sword! And he won it! That's just awesome!

The third impression I have on him is funny, for him knowing nothing of us. For him, who was clueless about the reason Riko-san stared at him. For him, who is easy-going and eats as much as Atsushi-cchi. For him, who is shy and cute. The fourth impression I have on him is amazing. For him, who can take on a knight. I was truly thrilled when I watched their fights, I really was! I never thought that out from the six of us who come from nobility, there is someone as strong as him.

I want to talk to him more and ask him more about his reason for joining this army, but I never get the chance to. We practice all the time and after we finish, I seldom see him anywhere and if I do, he is always with our other subordinate, Maguchi Hiroma-san. They are almost together everytime I see him. I'm glad that he had got himself a friend and seems like Maguchi-san sincerely regard him as a friend. I still remember how they first knew each other. Hehehe, when I heard Kagami spoke up for him, for someone he barely knew, I honestly was impressed and it rose up my respect for the boy.

' Do all of you by any chance have some sort of relationship with Kagami Taiga?'

The talk yesterday kept on intriguing me until now, I didn't mean to be cold to him just because he knew about us. I'm just afraid… I'm afraid that he might turn out to be the same person those I've seen in my life. I'm afraid that he will treat us differently just because of our status. People outside tent to do that, that's one of the reasons that I never had any friends nor acquaintance out from the nobles. It makes me happy to finally have a friend who is not a noble, who is only a simple boy and treat us as another simple boy.

And when I'm finally found someone like Kagami that had piqued up my interest so much, I don't want to lose this friend. I can't bear to … What Seijurou-cchi said is true, I want to believe in my instinct. That's why I'm going to apologize to him this morning, I have asked Maguchi-san about Kagamicchi's whereabout and you know what he told me? He said he doesn't see Kagamicchi since last afternoon! I can understand for Kagamicchi went back to his room late last night, but how come he doesn't see him in the morning too?

I spared my glance around the field to find a certain dark red-haired boy, this is the only place that I can think of but there is no one there. Maybe I can just meet him at the breakfast later, with that resolution I turned and walked back to the direction of the dining hall.

" Hey.", I glanced at the hand that is on my shoulder, I harden my gaze and looked up to see the person who had halted my steps. I put away my wariness when I saw a man with black-hair and a typical frown that he always has on his face in front of me, a person who has helped me so much to train myself in the past.

" Kasamatsu-senpai!", I instinctively stepped forward and hugged the man who is slightly taller than me. Hahaha, he is eight years older than me but he is only 8 cm taller than me. " Wahhhh, I have been thinking to find you here! I never thought you will come out to find me first!"

Senpai doesn't return my hug like how he usually does, he is still the same senpai that I know although I haven't seen him for almost two years. I released my hug and then he crossed his arms showing out his superior presence. " Kise, how many time have I told you not to do that? I see you haven't learnt your lesson huh."

I chuckled to hear how angry he sounds, "Sorry senpai, I just missed you so much. I haven't seen you for two years, so how do you do senpai?"

Senpai sighed and let go of his hands, he started walking and I followed beside him. " Busy. There're so many things I have to take care of."

I smiled genuinely, " I can understand that, since Senpai are one of the high-seated knights from Squad 7." Kasamatsu-senpai is one of those who are close to me, I have always respected him ever since I'm a kid. He is my role-idol here.

" Let's stop talking about me, how about you? I see you have passed the test, not bad Kise. Congrats.", the words come out without any tone of cheery in it, just like how he usually do. " So, do you have any problems here?", he raised one of his eyebrow when he saw me confused. " You know what I'm talking about."

" Oh, you don't need to worry about it Senpai. I can sense most of them still doubt me, I don't know about the others but we get along well with our squad mates. And those from the other squads also don't take any moves on us."

" You're in Squad 12, aren't you? Captain Hyuuga's team, hm? You'll be fine, he is a good captain. ", Senpai smiled and ruffled my hair messily. I laughed a little and turned to my senpai to say something, but out from my half-closed eyes a flash of dark-red came into my sight.

I must be too surprised since I unconsciously shouted out his name too loudly. Senpai stopped his movement and stared at me in surprise, even some of the soldiers who were walking around took a glance to my direction too. But also does him.

" Who is he?", I could see Senpai was looking at Kagamicchi thoughtfully while the boy himself was still standing at his place and looks troubled whether to approach me or not, Kagamicchi is surely a shy boy. The boy rubbed his neck, a movement he will always do whenever he is nervous I have noticed, he shared a last glance to me and waved his hand a little, then he turned around in slow motion and walked away.

Huh?

" Ah! Wait!", I instinctively pulled Senpai along with me, earning a yelp and some grumbles from the man. I only quicken our pace to chase after Kagamicchi, " Hey, Kagamicchi! Wait!"

The boy finally stopped and turned around, looking confused. " What is it, Kise?"

I am too excited until I almost forgot what actually did I call the boy for, I can't just blurt out apologize suddenly right? " Nothing! Where did you go this morning, Kagamicchi?"

" I…", somehow I could sense a hesitation in his tone, which is rare. Because in this short time I have known him, he has always speak out his thought straightforwardly which is another point that I like about him. He suddenly huffed by himself and looked at me straightly like how he usually does, " Well, I run around here every morning."

Kagamicchi looked up at Senpai, I could see that Senpai is still angry for what I did just now. I know he doesn't like that and now his face looked scarier, I might as well do something before it's too late "Ah, Senpai! I apologize for what I did just now! This is…"

" I know.", Uh? " Kagami Taiga, right?" Uhh? So Kasamatsu senpai already know Kagamicchi? Ah. It must be it, 'The seventh boy that joined along with us' thing that I have heard around.

" Uhm… Yes… Sir.", Kagamicchi added the calling 'Sir' hesitantly, he must be confused who is Senpai but he chose the correct way to address senpai politely. Senpai is not really fond of kids especially the childish, brutal and impolite one.

Kasamatsu senpai hadn't said anything, only putting up his fierce look and looked at Kagamicchi. He looked so serious, I wonder why. " I'm in the middle of going somewhere, so I need to go. It's almost breakfast time, don't come late you two.", he patted my head slowly and mindlessly did the same action to Kagamicchi, leaving both of us alone.

I looked at Senpai's back in confusion, he seemed like he was going to say something back then but he didn't say anything at all, really I can never read what Senpai is thinking. I turn to the boy beside me and he is looking at Senpai too. But immediately I realized something, " Kagamicchi, where are your band-aids? Have you thrown it away?"

" Oh well, the injuries are already healed off so I took all of it off this morning. I don't like using those for too long.", he smiled nervously. But how come what he said is true? Yes, most of them have all left no mark but since I had seen it last night, I can easily point out the scars like the one in his wrist, upper arm biceps and the one that is completely visible is… I raised my hand and touched the slight swell on his face and as I have anticipated, he winced. He didn't wince out any voices but I could see from how his smile wavered for just a second there. He is trying to hide it, I can see it.

" Hey, this one is another thing. It still swell a little but I bet it'll be gone at afternoon.", he pat his swell lightly and turned his back on me. "Don't worry, I will say I got a toothache so no one will be suspicious."

'We won't like any commotion, Captain will ask about what happened'

It just clicked in my mind. He is doing it for us… He even thought of getting rid of all band-aids before anyone see him and question him. How could he…

" Geez, Kise. Stop showing out such face, I can't understand what's wrong with you.", Kagamicchi glanced at me and frowned. I don't know how to express my feeling correctly now, what's wrong with me? I have never had any problems on how to act since I can perfectly act to the others. But now I'm confused, all I know is I'm feeling guilty to him.

" Sorry, Kagamicchi.", I bowed down politely. " I'm sorry for – W-Wahh~", suddenly I am pushed backward, I reacted quickly to keep my balance so I'm not fall down. I immediately snapped my head up, " W-What's wrong, Kagamicchi? A-Are you really that angry?"

A tick appeared on the boy's head and he angrily said out in a low voice but still in high ascent. " Yes, I'm pissed."

" U-Uh? B-But why?", so what I have feared is right after all, he was really angry for our attitudes last night.

"I'm the one who shall ask you what's wrong, Kise. You keep on doing that, apologizing when nothing is wrong and your face always looks so serious and polite when you do it."

"Why are you minding that, Kagamicchi? I'm of course serious when I apologize to you last night, and politeness is what I need to do right? Are you really that mad to me?", I couldn't understand him, he was angry because I apologized to him seriously and politely. Just what's wrong with it?

Kagamicchi frowned so deeply, looking really pissed. I'm more confused than ever. He is different from Tetsu-cchi who is always non-talkative and collected, or Daiki-cchi who is stubborn and cool headed but actually caring and hyper active in truth.

" You don't get it, Kise. I don't need any of your apologize and how many times did I need to tell you that I'm not angry at all?", Kagamicchi's face was still looked serious on me. He indeed didn't sound angry to me but his face looked so angry, he even admitted that he was pissed just now.

" Let me make this clear on you.", he started out with a real serious tone that somehow got all my mind emptied just to listen to him. " I don't care who you are and I'm not doing any of these for your sake. I only do what I want to do, so stop pulling out those acts that is out of your character, Kise."

I could feel his red eyes pierced right through me. His words sounded rude and apathetic at the same time but surprisingly rather than feeling offended or fury, I was astonished instead. " Is this your way of showing your care, Kagamicchi?", I couldn't help myself not to smile when I said that myself.

Kagamicchi jerked in surprise and looked away, hah! I got him. " D-Don't get it wrong, I'm not being caring to you, for me you are only a friend. Come on let's go now, Captain will not like it if we are late." Then he started to walk off with his hands in his pocket, walking carefreely like nothing happened. He didn't even realize that I was still standing on my place looking at him.

'He said only a friend, and that's what only means to him?', I could feel a burst of thrill forming up in my chest. 'He said only…' Does he know that it's not just an 'ONLY' for me?

" Ah.", he suddenly stopped and turned at me sideway. "Maybe it's not only a friend, but also a rival." I could see his smirk for a brief moment before he turned back and continued walking.

" Pfft.", what Akashicchi said was right after all, I was only being anxious over nothing. I should have go on with my first impression on him right? 'Kagami Taiga' is a boy full of surprises. " Wait for me, Kagamicchi!", I ran off to chase the boy so I was walking beside him.

He really looked composed and my~ he's so cool! It only fueled my curiosity over him more, I wonder what kind of life he had been living on outside to make him like this. Is he really coming from only an ordinary family? How can he behave so cool in front of me? I have rarely had this much impression on someone especially someone about my ages, since most of them are only a spoiled or an egoist, except Kurokocchi and the four of them though.

Normal P.O.V

-At the afternoon-

" Kagami! I am so worried about you! You didn't come to dinner last night and I didn't see you in bed this morning! I am so worried you know!", Maguchi shouted at Kagami right when Kagami was just about to get back to the chamber.

" Hiroma, you're calling for people's attention."

Maguchi looked around and realized that some people indeed were glancing at their direction now. Maguchi coughed once to compose himself, " Hey, where do you want to go now?", he immediately followed after Kagami who had started to walk away.

" Bed. I want to take a nap.", Kagami yawned lowly right after he finished his words.

Maguchi stared at him quietly for some reason before he spoke up again, " So where did you go yesterday Kagami?", Maguchi asked, not as loud as before.

" Urr. I fell asleep when I was doing some exercise.", Kagami kept his gaze to the front.

" Fell asleep? So what about your face? And your hands.", Maguchi grabbed and raised Kagami's left hand without any warning. " See? Even if it's not too visible but there are some red marks and a little cut."

" I get these from the exercise.", Kagami pulled his hand back. He was surprised though that Maguchi could realize his injury so easily. Kagami kept his gaze at the front and Maguchi didn't say anything again after that. Getting curious, Kagami peeked to his side and he saw Maguchi was looking at the ground, frowning.

' Hey, Kagami. You have called me my small name twice.'

'Hah? So you called me Hiroma because it's easier to remember? I thought you do it because you regard me as a friend.'

' Kagami! I was so worried about you!'

" Uh? Why do you smile, Kagami?", Maguchi's words caught Kagami off guard.

" N-Nothing.", Kagami turned his redden face to the side, so it won't be seen. " Hey Hiroma.", Kagami didn't turn to look at the boy since he was sure the boy must be looking at him by now. "You don't need to worry about me… And… Thanks.", after saying that, Kagami immediately fasten his pace leaving Maguchi there.

" Ah? H-Hey, wait Kagami!", Maguchi ran after the boy. " If you want to thanks someone, you must say it directly to his face. I'm older than you by the way, so respect. Respect, Kagami."

Kagami was still embarrassed from what he had just said, so he still refused to look at Maguchi right at the face. It was then, that he saw a pale man standing there in front of dining hall. Shoulder-length of messy black-hair and he was wearing the same attire as them.

" Hey, Kagami! Listen to me!", maybe Maguchi's voice was so loud until the pale man suddenly looked at them in surprise. The pale man immediately looked around in panic and ran away. Far from their position, Kagami could see a soldier ran to the man and said something to him. The man then followed the soldier quietly with his eyes still looking around.

"Ah! I'll be taking my leave yeah, Kagami! I have promised some persons to hang around.", Kagami didn't even have time to have a say since the boy had already ran off. Kagami was about to step into the west-tower when he saw the man glanced back at him. It was just a glimpse but Kagami was certain the man glanced back. 'Who is he?', Kagami thought to himself.

~In the evening~

The news about the murder case spread through all the army when the evening came. According to the news, two patrols found a person in danger and one of them helped him back to the infirmary to treat him. The other patrol tried to find anything suspicious but ended up being murdered. He had one deep sword-cut right on his chest and when the other patrols found him, he had already dead. The army had called out some knights and more soldiers to help the patrol.

" No way, I can't believe someone dare to murder a patrol here. I mean where is here?", Maguchi spread his hands around, almost hit Hans who was eating beside him, Hans glared at him for that, " Here is Eclipss! The center where Teikou Kingdom are! That person must be insane!", it was lucky that the noises from the crowd in the dining hall was so loud until Maguchi's shout sounded so low.

Maguchi was sitting across from Kagami and talking about the news with the others in the same table. Even though they were now a regular, most of them still sat together during dinner. And there Kagami was sitting across from Maguchi and he himself was sitting in a row with the other kiseki. (at the corner of the table, beside Kise)

Kagami munched his food," You're right, Hiroma. Normally, the idea of killing a patrol won't come to a citizen's mind. Do you know what it means, Hiroma?", Kagami took another bite.

Maguchi thought and thought while mumbling, " The culprit isn't a citizen. Uh ?", he looked up at Kagami. " Outsiders?"

All the kiseki, Maguchi and even Hans looked at Kagami at the same time, Kagami only frowned, "Why do you look at me? Hiroma said it ,so look at him…" and continued his eating.

" Wow, Kagamicchi. I don't know you are good at these things.", Kise whispered from Kagami's right and he chuckled when a flush of pink appeared on the red-haired's cheeks. Actually, Kise and the other kiseki had been informed about the murder case from the morning and had been assigned a first job to do tonight so they were not that surprised to hear the news now.

Kagami looked up when he saw a shadow towering him and guessed who it was.

" Yo, little Taiga! Finally I can find you!", Shoma smiled cheerfully.

" Find me?", Kagami raised his eyebrow in confusion.

" Uh? None of you tell him?", Shoma looked up at the sweating Maguchi and collected kisekis. Kagami followed his gaze and looked to Maguchi who whispered, " I forgot" and Kise who only smiled innocently, Kuroko and the others looked like usual.

" Hah, I don't care. Hey little Taiga, let's finish our fight!", Shoma smirked and dragged Kagami away by head-locking him. " H-Hey, w-wait.", Kagami tried to get away from the lock but being dragged easily.

Kise and the five kisekis stood up and intended to chase after them, but got called by Hyuuga. " Have you finished your dinner? Now follow me to the patrol's house, you will be separated into groups there.", Hyuuga already walked away without waiting for their answers, the Kiseki had no other choices than to follow him since it was the first and also important job given to them.

'ALONG WITH SOME KNIGHTS AND SOLDIERS, THEY WILL BE GROUPED TO ASSIST THE PATROLS.'

~Meanwhile~

Shoma dragged Kagami to the equipment warehouse and took out two wooden swords.

" Hey, it's already so late. If my captain find out I'm having a spar with someone from the other squad, I'll be dead.", Kagami leaned on the wall as he peeked outside to check.

" Nah, it's okay. I have got permission since two days ago from my captain.", Shoma threw one of the wooden sword to Kagami.

" I have not.", Kagami countered directly but still caught the sword by his hand.

Shoma closed the door and led them to a field, it was a different field from the one Squad 12 usually used. It was a big grassy field with a big ring in the middle and four small rings surrounding the biggest one. The field in the middle was full of scratch here and there, making it looked so old. " Here is the training field for Squad 11, 3, 4 and 7, so you don't have to be afraid to be seen by your squad-mates.", Shoma jumped on to the middle and also the biggest ring. " Go up here, little Taiga."

" I have told you, don't call me 'that' again.", Kagami frowned and climbed up the ring too.

" 'That'? Oh, you mean 'Little Taiga'?", Shoma chuckled when he saw Kagami's frown became more visible. "Come on, a big boy won't trouble over some silly things like that."

" If you really want, just call me Taiga. Without 'little'."

" Hmm~", Shoma made a gesture like he was considering it and then smiled at Kagami, " Rejected."

"Forget it.", Kagami sighed and raised his sword. " So let's start this quickly."

"Hahahaha, I have been waiting for this since week ago.", so the uncontinued match between Kagami Taiga and Kanade Shoma restarted.

-PATROL-

Akashi and Midorima, together with Izuki Shun patrolled together at the west's road of the Eclipss, near the place where the accidents happened.

" According to the victim's statement, he was kept in his home for almost three days without food or drinks. He used a chance to run away late at the night when the culprit went out, then he met our patrols and you already know what happened next.", Izuki explained calmly as he observed how the two young boy's reactions.

" Did he tell us the specification of the villain, Izuki-san?", Midorima asked politely.

" He said he only see him alone and always wearing a black cloak so he didn't know how he looks like. ", Izuki stopped in front of a certain house. " Here is the place he lives, let's have a look inside.", Midorima and Akashi nodded and followed Izuki inside.

Izuki turned on the light inside the house, exposing the empty house. "We have visited this house this afternoon and found nothing, except for this empty chair and a fabric lying on the ground. The others were just an usual furnitures.", Izuki and Midorima went into the living room, where the victim was held in but Akashi went the separate way. He explored the house completely, from the kitchen, bathroom and then the bedroom.

Akashi had a look inside, he didn't touch anything inside since he as a noble still respect privacy. But something caught his interest, a piece of photograph inside a frame put on a shelf. The man inside was someone he didn't recognize.

"Seijuurou!", Midorima ran to the room in hurry. " He has come out."

Akashi nodded and followed him outside, tugging the photo in his pocket beforehand. Izuki was already outside with his contact device in his hand." They are two block from here, let's go.", both of them nodded and ran to the direction of the place. They were just passing a block when a figure in black cloak was seen running toward their direction.

Izuki took out his sword and attacked the person in cloak. The cloak-man dodged to the side fluently, not stopping his run at all. Midorima and Akashi took out their swords and attacked the man too, but the man jumped up and used both of their shoulders as stone-stepping and continued his run.

' H-he just used them as a stone-stepping? Seriously? It'll be bad if anyone see it.', Izuki looked around the houses and saw no sign of people outside.

"Izuki! Where is him?", Kasamatsu with another soldier ran up to him.

" Ah, he ran there!", Izuki turned around and saw not even the shadow of Akashi and Midorima there. 'Ah, I screwed up!'

" Tsk.", Kasamatsu reached for his device on his ear. " Kiyoshi, the villain ran to your direction."

"Got it."

" Be careful. He isn't a simple one."

Akashi and Midorima kept chasing after the cloaked figure, keeping him closely in their sight. The cloaked figure suddenly looked to the right and jumped backward from Aomine's attack. Kise jumped from behind Aomine to give followed-up attack but the man dodged again to the side. He turned around and ran to the different route where Aomine just appeared.

Aomine and Kise immediately chase after the cloaked-figure without wasting any seconds, Akashi and Midorima ran into Kiyoshi in the intersection there. The three of them had the same idea to run through different side to corner the cloaked-figure.

Meanwhile, Aomine and Kise were chasing after the cloaked-figure closely, their distance were getting closer and closer by time. The cloaked-figure glanced back at them and suddenly increased his pace.

" Stop right there!", Aomine and Kise also increased their pace.

Suddenly, the figure stopped running at another intersection. After seeing what was happening, Aomine and Kise slowly stopped their running too. There the cloaked-figure stood at the center of the intersection, with Aomine and Kise behind him. Kiyoshi, Akashi and Midorima at his right; Kuroko, Murasakibara and two soldiers at his left; and four soldiers at his front.

" You have nowhere to run now, surrender yourself.", Kiyoshi took a step forward.

The cloaked figure didn't move and Kiyoshi took another step again. Suddenly the figure dashed forward, the four soldiers took out their swords but once again the cloaked figure could perfectly dodge all the attack coming from the first three soldiers. He didn't have time to dodge the last one and unsheathed his sword in a real quick movement, slashing right on the soldier's chest twice, then sheathed it again. He didn't waste anytime and continued running.

" Tsk! Bring him back now!", Kiyoshi commanded as he chased after the cloaked-figure again. All the six kiseki followed him strictly from behind.

Kasamatsu arrived on the place later and saw the condition, he reached his device again which connected to both the patrol's post and some knights here. " Someone is injured, tell the medical team to be ready. And please inform to the whole army, we are into Security State 2. I repeat, Security State 2."

NIIIIIIIIIIINNNGG NIIIIIIIIIIIIING

" W-What's this sound?", both Kagami and Shoma stopped when the alarm was sounded out. Shoma widen his eyes, " Security State 2.", he immediately ran down the ring and off somewhere.

" Hey! Wait!", Kagami chased after the boy but Shoma suddenly stopped and turned to him, looking unusually serious.

" Go back to your chamber right now, Taiga. Security State 2 means all soldiers must in standby. I will see what happened.", Shoma's voice was so firm, strict and full of leadership, something Kagami never seen from him.

Shoma directly left Kagami there alone, " For him to look so serious, this Security State 2 must be really serious.", Kagami walked further from the field and he could see many soldiers hurrying around. 'Is it about the murderer?'

Kagami decided to follow Shoma's word and went back to his chamber, to wait for further command. When he arrived there, some soldiers from Squad 14 were running out from there in hurry. Kagami then saw Tanaka Ryu, Reino, Hans and some regulars from Squad 12 standing in front of the chamber alone.

" You're right back on time, Kagami. Captain told us to standby here.", Tanaka told Kagami calmly. Kagami could hear Reino mumbling, only Maguchi left.

Kagami tugged on Reino's shirt, " Where's Hiroma?"

" Hiroma? You mean Maguchi Hiroma?", Reino looked around, " Just now after dinner, a lieutenant asked him to send something to the Squad 3. He hasn't come back yet."

" Then Kuroko, Aomine and the others?"

" Oh, I heard they were assigned to help the patrol tonight.", Reino seemed quite uncomfortable either at the mention of their names or the way Kagami address them.

" Uhm, then do you know what happened here?"

" I don't know but I heard that the murderer is found and now all the patrols and soldiers were chasing after him. I just heard too that a soldier is injured.", Reino turned back and talked more with the others.

'So, it's really the murderer. To think it'll become this serious, so he is really outsider. Aomine and the others are there, yet he still can cause this much commotion. Is it only the work of one person?'

" Uhm, where is Squad 3 Reino-san?", 'I need to find Hiroma. I have a bad feeling.', Kagami clenched his fists a little.

" You can stop using honorific –san Kagami, just Reino will do. And I can bring you there.", Kagami looked up at him in surprise. " You wanna find Maguchi, right?", Kagami nodded.

" We'll be back with Maguchi, okay?", Reino said to Tanaka who nodded.

And so, Kagami followed Reino to the Squad 3…

-To be continued-