Knights of Teikou
Genre : Adventure, Fantasy
Kuroko no Basuke is owned by Fujimaki-sensei. May included OOC because of the background. Hope u enjoy it minna! ^u^
Chapter 11 : Murderer in Black – part 2
Maguchi was just finished his errand in Squad 3 and was now walking back to his own chamber. " Just now, the alarm was sounded twice so we are into Security State 2. Something had happened outside.", Maguchi mumbled. " I need to go back quickly."
Maguchi stopped walking when he saw a shadow passing at the front, he was confused what it was but then another shadow came out, the different was that the shadow fell down. Maguchi immediately ran to help the shadow which was no other than a soldier from Squad 7. " H-Hey, you are injured.", a deep cut on the soldier's right arm.
" I-Ignore it, take my sword and chase him. He is intruder, quick!", the man pushed his sword forcefully to Maguchi. " GO!"
" A-Ah, o-okay.", Maguchi clumsily ran to where the intruder just ran off to. The soldier huffed and laid down on the ground, even though the infirmary was near but he already lost too much blood until it was hard for him to move.
Maguchi kept running without direction. "W-Where did he go?", Maguchi stopped and looked around, worse he didn't see any other soldiers around so he couldn't ask for help. He finally found the shadow which ran into a cave at the fortress, Maguchi immediately chase after him.
He was just about to turn inside the cave when a sword suddenly appeared and slashed him on his cheek, Maguchi immediately raised his own sword to defense himself.
Kagami and Reino found an injured soldier on their way to Squad 3. They immediately helped the soldier up but the soldier stopped them and kept trying to pull out his energy to raise his hand upward. " I-intruder. Quick.", he pointed out to his front weakly.
" Reino, bring him to the medic quickly! I'll chase the intruder.", Kagami stood up but Reino grabbed his wrist.
" It's dangerous, Kagami. We shall call for reinforcement."
" Yes, you call it after you treat him. ", Kagami said plainly, then ran off without listening to Reino anymore. Reino sighed and immediately helped the injured soldier up.
" W-Where did he go?", Kagami looked around while running. He didn't know how the intruder looks like, he also had no clue where he exactly ran off. 'But since he intruded Teikou, he must be skilled. So he shall know that Teikou's guard at the front door now is stricter because of SS 2. So the other way…'
'The other way... The other way…', Kagami's red orbs then caught the sight of the cave that he had been visiting every morning. He followed his instinct and ran there, when he took a turn there he was met with the sight of Maguchi sitting on the ground with his back on the wall, a cut on his face and some blood flowing down his forehead.
" Hiroma!", Kagami immediately shook the body slowly and luckily it was useful as Maguchi opened up his eyes slightly. "K-Kagami.", Maguchi grabbed the shaking hand weakly.
" Don't speak. I'll help you first.", Maguchi held Kagami's hand down.
" I-I'm alright, I think I was hit to the wall so I got unconscious. I'm still feeling dizzy. Ah! I-Intruder! H-He run there.", Maguchi pointed to the stairs at their front. "Chase him, Kagami!"
Kagami nodded, " Be careful, Hiroma.", he patted Maguchi's shoulder once and immediately ran up the stairs. Maguchi blinked and after processing what the younger boy just said, he stifled, " You are the one who shall be careful, Kagami." Maguchi took a deep breath and tried to stand up by the help of the wall. ' I must inform Captain about this.'
TAP TAP TAP TAP TAP
Kagami skidded to a stop right when he stepped out from the dark stairs, three guards were scattered around the place unconscious, blood shred all around. Kagami felt his body shaking by the sight of it, Kagami heard a low whimper and turned to his right. A person was hugging his knees and shaking, with two bodies lying around him, like the others blood was shred all around.
" Hey, are you alright?", Kagami approached the man and touched his shoulder lightly.
The man raised his head and Kagami was surprised to see the pale man he just met this morning. The man grabbed Kagami's hands with an enormous strength, " H-Help. H-He come."
" H-He? Who? And why are you here? Who are you?", Kagami honestly wanted to pull his hand away from the man's grip as his instinct was telling him to but he kept his position.
" S-Someone try to kill me! Help! You are Teikou's soldiers, right?!", he suddenly grabbed both Kagami's arms with enormous strength that it hurt Kagami. " Help me!"
"H-Hey, c-calm down.", Kagami tried to pry the hands off but failed, the strength was too much. "W-Where is he? And is he the same person who killed all of them?"
The man looked down on the ground and nodded, his whole body was shaking but his grips didn't get loose at all.
'S-Something is wrong.', Kagami thought as he tried to get away from the iron's grip. " H-Hey, let me go first."
" Ah, sorry.", the man pulled his hands away from Kagami.
Kagami rubbed his arms to ease the pain, the man had left marks over the place he just gripped him. " W-Where is the man that wanted to kill you?", Kagami looked around and saw no one. ' It's not logical, he killed all the guards yet leaving him here? If he really is the murderer, he will at least kill him before leaving but he is fine.', Kagami couldn't see any injury on the man at all.
He took two steps back and pointed his wooden sword to the man who looked up in surprise, " What are you-?"
" Who are you?", Kagami asked firmly, both his red orbs looked at the man sharply.
" W-What nonsense are you spurting about? I'm a citizen! The victim! You shall protect me! Not pointing your sword at me!", the man looked frustrated and pushing his body forward to the pointy-sword.
" Stop lying! I repeat who are you?!", Kagami's voice must sound intimidating since the boy freezed then swifted back. The man kept looking at Kagami desperately but Kagami didn't waver at all. An audible 'Tsk' came out from his mouth and he looked down, " So this is the Generation of Miracles, huh?"
" Hah?", the next second after Kagami said that, the man pulled out a sword he had been hiding below one of the bodies there and attacked Kagami in a high speed. Kagami immediately took four steps backward from the man.
The man stood up and none of the frustration or desperation shown on his face anymore, he was smirking right now. " So this trick didn't work on you. I think kids in their twelve are innocent and easy to trick, so the rumors are all real."
'Rumor? Is he talking about Kuroko and the others?'
" Hey Mis-", Kagami's words stopped when the man continued again.
" The rumor that spread around the world, the appearance of six prodigies from Teikou. I thought that it's not that big deal since it is merely a rumor and no one have ever seen all of you in the real war-ground. So what with the title your King give you? Your King must be blinded to give you those title, the six prodigies must not be a threat to any kingdoms! That's what I think at first…", the man smirked again. " But seems like you are worth of my time."
Kagami widen his eyes as he realized something, " So your intrusion here is just to prove your theory?"
The man nodded, "The news about yours appearance shake the world, I must see for myself whether you are a real deal or not. A threat or only some useless nobles kids."
Kagami clenched his fists tightly, his eyes never left the man. " So you killing our soldiers are just for this trivial thing?"
" What? I only intend to slip inside and see you guys, they attacked me first… I only defense myself so far.", the man laughed so nonchalantly.
Kagami took a deep breath to hold down his anger in bay, "That black-cloak murderer, he is at your side too?"
" Correct. But now that Teikou have moved out so many persons to chase him, it'll be bad if he is caught so I should take my leave too.", the man turned and Kagami immediately used this chance to attack him.
The man blocked Kagami's attack easily, " Hoo, a wooden sword.", he pushed Kagami away. " Take one sword on the ground, kid." Kagami ignored those words and attacked again, each of his attacks were all blocked and dodged easily.
" I said—", the man used up more power in that swing and sent Kagami flew away. " Take a real sword now."
Kagami got up on his feet again and attacked again without any words. Slowly the smirk on that man's face went away, he was having a hard time now blocking all Kagami's attacks. He dodged Kagami's attack and used that chance to attack Kagami back, only scratching Kagami's face as the result. Kagami in the other hand immediately swing his sword at the man's waist.
The man coughed out and stepped three steps to the side, holding his waist. ' W-What power is this.', he looked up and saw Kagami attacked again. He dodged to the side and attacked Kagami, ripped the sleeves open and slashed onto the skin. Kagami ignored the cut he got and quickly attacked him on his stomach, making the man coughed up air again. The man gritted his teeth and aimed his sword right on Kagami's chest but Kagami managed to block it from the side and pushed the sword so it only cut Kagami's chest vertically.
Blood started to form out from the cut, luckily Kagami managed to change the sword's trajectory so it didn't cut deep. Kagami ignored the wound and countered right at that second, clean hit on the man's lower arm upward. Kagami was just about to aim for the chest next but the man already kicked him away on his chest. Kagami fell three steps backward while the man held his arm tightly.
'Shit. How come he hurt me this much by only a wooden sword? So this is what a 'Generation of Miracles' is capable of. I must be serious or else…', he approached Kagami, swifting his sword in hand. He raised his sword upward and stabbed it downward on Kagami's body but Kagami had seen through it and rolled to the side. He stabbed the man's left leg from his position, some of the blood even spread onto Kagami's face.
The man shrieked in pain while Kagami rolled again and stood up. The man smirked and attacked Kagami again, Kagami started to get more cuts from him but he also had landed on some clean hit too.
" HAHHHHH! " "HAAHHHHHH!", both of their swords clashed and trembled strongly by different forces.
" So the rumor is indeed right, but I'm not just a simple citizen, prodigy!", he pushed away Kagami's sword and aimed right at Kagami's heart.
CLANG
" W-What?", he was surprised since Kagami still managed to block it at that small amount of time. It was then that he realized the look on Kagami's face, those sharp red eyes hadn't faltered even once since they started this.
Both of their swords clashed again and an audible 'crack' was heard followed by the cracking on both the steel sword and wooden one. The man was surprised and immediately kicked Kagami again, he used that split second to spin the sword around but Kagami already took the first move and hit his wrist, followed up by the stomach then up to the chin.
The man hissed and stood his ground but before he could do anything, Kagami jumped forward and swing his sword on his right shoulder hardly, until the man kneeled down by the force. Kagami then slapped him on the face with the wooden sword.
THRUST
Kagami looked down to the sword that was stabbed to his left waist, the sword was pulled out and Kagami coughed out some blood and his body fell behind. The man stood up by leaning on his sword, he coughed up some air again and felt his whole body hurt. 'S-Shit.', he looked up at the boy who tried to stand up despite of his wounds.
" I should admit you're good but you forget the difference between our weapons."
Kagami finally got up, his wounds were incredibly hurt but he kept his body gesture firm. He heard the man mumbling something but he was careless about it, he attacked again. That man could block and dodge every attack Kagami gave since the boy's movemont had become clumsier because of the wound.
He suddenly was reminded of his goal here, if he ended up injured here, it would be hard for him to run away. ' I had reached my goal now, I should retreat immediately. If I was caught, it would be a really big problem.'
" Pay attention, Mister.", those words of Kagami caught him off guard and the next thing he saw was red-hair flashing across his sight and he was hit on the stomach by the side of the sword and it was so hard until he flew backward and hit the wall hardly.
Kagami panted and coughed out some blood again, his vision became blurry and now his body started to sway to the sides. He thrusted his wooden sword on the stony ground to keep him right on his feet. " Uh?", Kagami was getting slight confused when he saw the blurry image of the man tied up himself with a rope and tied another end to the boomerang near him.
" W-What are you doing?", Kagami took a weak step forward.
" I have reached my goal here, it is nice meeting you too, prodigy.", Kagami took another step forward, " S-Stop r-right *cough* * cough* "
The man smiled up a little bit, " You should just lay down, kid. I don't want you to die here. You are as amazing as what the rumor said. ", the man climbed up onto the wall, still looking at Kagami. " Since I have given you so much credit, it means I have labeled the six of you as a threat to the other kingdoms, we will be putting an eye on you. "
The reinforcements pooped out from the stairs," I wish to see you again, prodigy.", he let himself fell behind, the rope tied to him kept spinning for a long time until it went tense. " Chase after him! Tell the guards, intruder running to-", all of them immediately act upon the condition, one alerting the guards about the running intruder, some helped the injured and most ran down the stairs again.
" Hey, you al-", Kagami didn't have time to hear that sentences finished as his vision became dark and he lost his strength to keep standing up anymore.
-Meanwhile, before Kagami's encounter with the intruder-
The other groups were still chasing after the cloaked man, he minimize his move completely as he just focused more in running. From Teikou, they had tried cornering him twice but he always chose to break through one side with weaker people, he dodged all attacks from them mostly and only used his sword occasionally, not to mention his speed of using the sword was so fast.
And then the cloaked man stopped at the border of the residence area and shopping district, he was being surrounded completely now. At the front, Squad 14 and from behind Kiyoshi and six prodigies. The six prodigies, along with Kiyoshi didn't waste more time for talking anymore and attacked the cloaked man directly. The cloak-man took out his sword and took on the seven of them, of course after just few minutes he was already outnumbered. So he used a chance to take out a small bomb and threw it on the ground. The smoke filled the district and a soldier suddenly fell down on the ground.
" S-Sleeping gas! Don't breath!", someone from Squad 14 alerted all of them while closing up his nose.
At the corner of Kiyoshi's eyes, he could see the cloaked man already ran away again but then Murasakibara jumped from the side and pinned him down on the ground. Surprisingly, the man was strong enough to stand up again with Murasakibara hugging him like that but he was having a hard time to break free from him. Kise, Aomine, Akashi, Midorima and also Kuroko, all of them immediately attacked from different side. Kiyoshi had started running to at this point.
Kiyoshi's eyes widen in fear as he saw the man took out his sword and stabbed Murasakibara's hands. He broke free from Murasakibara and blocked Aomine's attack then grabbed Aomine's hand with his another hand and threw him to Akashi. He spinned around to avoid Kise's attack and grabbed his shirt from behind and threw him to Midorima.
But he couldn't dodge nor block the last one, coming from Kuroko since he didn't sense any presence from Kuroko at all. He looked down to Kuroko who had stabbed him from the side, his expression could not be seen because of the cloak. But the cloaked man immediately slashed Kuroko right on the face, Kuroko raised his arm that held the sword and used it to shield his face. He then kicked Kuroko away and sheathed his sword. He immediately continued his run, some soldiers from Squad 14 chased after him. Kiyoshi stopped to see the prodigies' wounds.
" Kuroko-kun's wound is severe, we must treat him now. All of you, help Kuroko-kun and Murasakibara-kun.", Kiyoshi commanded as he talked out through his contact device.
" B-But !"
" No but anymore, Aomine-kun. All of you had done well, let Squad 14 and 7 do the rest.", Kiyoshi called out three soldiers to accompany the six of them for treatment while he continued his chasing.
BZZ BZZ
Kiyoshi stiffen when he heard the news coming in from his contact device. Then in front of him, the path was clouded by a thick smoke which Kiyoshi assumed was another smoke bomb from the cloaked-man. The fact that he had a sword and bombs and that skill, it was all proofs that he is a trained person from outside.
Kiyoshi stepped inside the smoke but crashed into another soldier, the situation was too messy too. 'At this rate, he will get away.' When the smoke disappeared, Kiyoshi immediately ran down to the main gate.
28 November XXX
Eclipss - King's Castle
" So our sides suffered so much casualties just because of two intruders?", a stern, bass voice spoke from the golden-throne.
" Yes, my Majesty. We lost sight of the two intruders last night, until now we are still securing the main gate and also putting on more guards in the districts.", a 38 years old knight with brown short hair and some beards along his chin, bowed down as he reported the situation.
The room was wide and luxurious with six large pillars lined up on the center of the room, some stone statues were also put in between the six pillars. The right and left of the room were made of window at the middle part and a blue curtain hang on both sides of the window. A large double-winged brown door with a dragon carved on it and walking through it at the end of the room, stepping up two steps of the long and high stairs, a golden throne claimed its place elegantly.
Now two knights were attending the place, facing the King in regard of the accident happened last night.
" Why not call for Squad 11's assist?", the King asked calmly.
" My apologies, my Majesty, we thought it was just a simple murder also, we didn't expect the intruders to be so skilled for they can run away with the chase of Squad 14, 12 and 7 behind them.", the knight looked at the King while keeping his right hand in front of his left chest.
"That's what you ought to get for looking down on something. I heard those six young kids also joined into the chase?"
" Yes, my Majesty and two of them are wounded."
The King rubbed his chin and hummed, " Please pass my words to the captains of Squad 7, 12 and 14. If something like this happens again in the future, don't call out too many man-powers. 'Too many cooks spoil the broth', please keep that in mind."
" Yes, I'll surely pass it on to them, my Majesty.", the knight bowed down again.
" And then Nijimura Shuzo-kun.", the other knight presented there stood straight from the call. "I want you to conduct a pursuit group and depart right now. Please tell the conditions to all our divisions that stand at the other countries out from Eclipss, make sure they keep an eye for any suspicious suspect. Also as always, send over my regards to everyone of them."
" I get it, my Majesty. I will accomplish the task you entrusted me.", the young and handsome knight smiled confidently as he put his hand on his chest and bowed down as respect.
The King chuckled and nodded, he turned back to the other knight " So Dregar, aside from the one you have mentioned, how about the other injured ones?"
" Aside from two kisekis, 8 soldiers died from yesterday's accident and 11 injured. From those eleven who are injured, there is a young kid who suffers the most severe injuries comparing to the others. He had been put under an operation for hours and was moved to the private room just an hour ago."
" Young kid?"
" Yes, my Majesty, he is the seventh young kid who joined this year's army at the same age as kiseki."
Both the King and Nijimura raised their eyebrows in surprise. " Oh? I never heard of this before…", the King smiled and hummed again in amusement. " Interesting, do you know what his name is Dregar?"
The knight named Dregar Ascilia, was silent from King's question. " Dregar?", the King called again in confusion since the knight never ignored his question. Nijimura looked at the superior knight curiously.
Dregar raised his head and looked straight at the King, " My Majesty, the seventh kid name is Kagami … Taiga."
The King widen his eyes while Nijimura was confused what was wrong from it, " A Kagami? Are you sure, Dregar?"
Dregar nodded and the room was silent after that, Nijimura was confused by the sudden silence and exchanged gaze from Dregar to the King. 'Just who is this Kagami Taiga? The King seems to mind the name 'Kagami', even Dregar-san also accented the word 'Kagami.' ', Nijimura stopped his own guess as the King suddenly laughed.
The two knights presented in that room looked at each other then back to the King. The King was smiling, " It must be a fate, to think a 'Kagami' will appear again in this kingdom and as a soldier nonetheless.", the King looked out through the window as he recalled some memories in the past.
The King kept his positions like that for quite some times before he turned back to the attendances there, " Dregar, make sure all those injured get a thorough treatment."
" Absolutely, my Majesty.", Dregar bowed down again.
The King smiled contently, " Okay. You two can go back now. Ah, and as usual thank you for your hard works, Dregar, Shuzo."
The two knights smiled and bowed down for the last, " We are glad to be of your service, my Majesty." Then the both of them left the room quietly.
Once the two of them went out from the room, the King sighed and stood up from his throne. He walked elegantly to the window and looked out through it, to his kingdom and country.
30 November XXX
Kagami opened his eyes limply and met up with the white ceiling. 'That … dream… again…', Kagami thought wearily, his eyes were staring blankly upward and he could still feel hot all over his body also those noises from the dream were still ringing in his ears.
" Uh? Kagami?! You're awake!"
Kagami spunly moved his blank gaze to the side and a familiar man with quite thick eyebrows and also quite long brown hair came into Kagami's vision.
" Hey, Kagami. Do you feel hurt somewhere?", the man stood up and leaned on the bed, his dark eyes were looking at the younger boy in worry.
Kagami needed few seconds to process the sight into his mind, " K-Ki-yoshii…-san?", he weakly mumbled.
A relief washed over Kiyoshi's worried face, he was relieved that the boy finally woke up but at the same time, he was hurt to hear such weak remark from the boy.
" K-Kiyoshi-san…", Kagami's weak call took Kiyoshi out of his own somber and then Kiyoshi smiled cheerfully. " Thanks God you are awake, Kagami. You sleep so long until I'm so worried."
" H-How long…"
Kiyoshi tried to ignore the fact that those red orbs that used to shine brightly were now so dull and continued to smile, " Two and half a day. The others who were injured have all been discharged, mostly one day after they got in. Haha, you have been sleeping straight for two and half a day, Kagami."
Kagami turned his gaze back to the ceiling limply, "H-How many…"
Kiyoshi thought about the question for a sec and answered, " Along with you, thirteen are injured Kagami.", Kiyoshi only smiled, his words couldn't contain anymore cheerfulness.
" No, Kiyoshi-san. Not only the injured one…", Kagami weakly mumbled.
Kiyoshi widen his eyes in surprise as Kagami's question sink into his mind, the sound of bird chirping crossed the room they were in now. "13 injury and 8 dead.", Kiyoshi said plainly.
No one talked for a while as they were own into their thoughts. Kiyoshi never once moved his gaze away from the boy in front of him, covered in a thick bandage on his forehead and to his chin, another bandage along his whole right arm, down to his wrist; under the cover another bandage on his chest and a big rectangle cotton wrapped under a thin bandage on his left waist, the most severe injury out of all.
The fact that the kid managed to survive from such injuries, really soothe Kiyoshi down. That night when he returned from his fruitless chase, he checked on the injured ones and accidentally heard of a soldier in the brink of his death because of too much blood loss and the severe wound. Kiyoshi asked the nurse out of courtesy but when he heard Kagami's name, he was completely shocked.
He immediately rushed to the emergency room and met Hyuuga there. He still could remember the sight he saw from the tiny window on the door; behind the green curtain, the shadow of many persons surrounding a bed. Kiyoshi sat on one of the long chair and never left that spot; some nurses running out and in, shouting in panic making Kiyoshi's wait felt so long.
Almost 7 hours or more, the main doctor walked out from the room; it was a success but the boy's condition was so weak so it was not time to be relaxed yet, he had said. And it used up two and a half days for the boy to wake up; Kiyoshi was aware of how weak the boy must be feeling now.
" I'm sorry, Kagami.", those dull eyes turned to him, not surprised at all only a blank dull eyes. It only increased the brown-haired's guilty more, " I should have done something. I'm sorry. I can't protect any of you. Sorry.", the knight looked down and clenched the white cover tightly.
Kagami only blinked and limply said, " What are you talking about, Kiyoshi-san?", Kiyoshi looked up at him almost immediately. "You can't blame yourself. You are on duty with Kuroko and the others, right?"
" B-But still, I should have done something. Seeing you almost lost your life like this, no matter what, it's our responsibility!", Kiyoshi clenched the cover again.
" It's our responsibility.", Kagami repeated plainly, surprising Kiyoshi. It was simple and straightforward but it hit Kiyoshi right at the jackpot. Kiyoshi loosen up his grips and then Kagami turned his gaze back to his up-front, once again silence filled the room.
" But I think I can understand your feeling, Kiyoshi-san.", Kagami remembered how he felt when he saw Hiroma also the ones on top of the fortress injured like that.
" Kagami, you…"
" So how is the chase, Kiyoshi-san?", Kagami looked at Kiyoshi again, some light started returning to his eyes, even though it was still dull in Kiyoshi's eyes.
Kiyoshi shook his head, " We have sort out peoples in search for them. They are skilled so we believed they must be intruders from the other kingdoms."
" They are, Sir.", Kagami stated firmly.
" Uh? Kagami?", Kiyoshi looked at the boy in confusion.
" I'm sure they are, Sir. And their objectives here are merely to see the rumored 'Generation of Miracles'. To test whether the six of them are a threat or not.", Kagami weakly said.
Kiyoshi was surprised to hear such information. "How do you know that, Kagami?"
"He told me. Kiyoshi-san, how is Kuroko and the others? They went with you that night, right?", Kagami's voice was still spun.
Kiyoshi smiled wearily, " Kuroko-kun and Murasakibara-kun were injured, but it's not life-dangering. And during your sleep, they had recovered mostly."
Kagami's eyelid dropped a little, 'So even they were injured…'
Kagami stared at the knight who had ever been his hero in the past, that weary smile that didn't suit him at all, " Kiyoshi-san, you look so wear out."
" Ah? Am I? Hahahaha…", Kiyoshi rubbed his neck and laughed so 'forcedly' in Kagami's perspective.
" Are you waiting here for days?", Kagami's dull eyes seemed to stab through Kiyoshi's eyes. They were staring at each other for a few seconds before Kiyoshi chuckled, " Of course not, Hyuuga keep telling me to go back at night. I just stay here from afternoon."
' And until night.', Kagami finished the knight's unfinished sentences in his mind. Aside from Tatsuya and his mother, he had never has someone in his life who would be so worried over him, to stay by his side so long waiting for him to wake up.
Kagami smiled as he felt warm inside, " Thank you, Kiyoshi-san."
"Uh?", Kiyoshi was stunned and then a smile that Kagami had been wanting to see was there now. " Take a rest now, Kagami.", he pulled the cover up to the younger boy's shoulder and he saw that the boy had closed his eyes by now. " Get well soon, Kagami…"
-To be Continued-