Knights of Teikou
Genre : Adventure, Fantasy
Before the story... I have read the reviews from all of you. First of all, as always thank you for the reviews, everyone.
And to answer some of your questions... I have written it on the summary that this story focused on Kagami so yes, this story is Kagami-centric. And to be honest, from my point of view as the author, I do not think I have made 'Kagami very strong and the Kisekis only strong' because as what I've said in every chapter before going into the story, that there will be OOC due to the ages and environment. I do not intend to make Kagami very strong... yet and the same goes with the kisekis. If I should said, right now... In the aspect of skills, the Kisekis win over Kagami but the reason why they do not bring their all is that they haven't had the real-experiences in the field yet. The kisekis were only training in their environment when they were still living as noble so they still haven't had the real experiences where they get to bring out their potential correctly. They are learning. And Kagami, he has had that life-or-death situation once and it makes him more capable of bringing his skills correctly.
And... The way Kagami and the kisekis are right now, to be honest, is still losing to the ranked-knights in Teikou. Like the squad battle with Squad 11, Kagami could fight on par with Shoma because that Shoma was not taking it seriously, he was having fun sparring with Kagami. And even if they might be on par from the look of it but while Kagami was completely focused in it, Shoma could smile and smirk during their battle so even if they are on par, the difference in skill is still there. Midorima and Murasakibara could win against Sagi (the leader of the team that time) was also because Sagi did not give his all. If it is a battle to death, I dare say that Kagami and the kisekis will lose.
In Murderer in Black too... Kagami could inflict some injuries to Dean because Dean looked down on him in the beginning and did not focus since the start, the second was that Dean also did not plan to kill Kagami because he was only there to see the capability of Kiseki no Sedai and mistook Kagami for it. And then, the reason kisekis did not get to do much was because they were chasing the man. I think there will be difference between fighting one on one directly and running to catch and fight and the numbers could be an advantage but also disadvantage.
Hehe, so I hoped it cleared your misunderstanding. I believe every factor could play an important part in someone's life and things are only starting for Kagami and the kisekis, what they are going to do after this is the important part. But thank you for the review and question, hehe... I hope it answers your question. ^^ And this is still Kagami-centric so most of the story will be about Kagami.
And about the beta-reader, hehe... Actually I knew that my grammar is really bad and I actually had tried to find someone to beta-read my story but it did not go well so I am now only writing by myself. I'm so sorry if my grammar has made it hard for all of you to read. And thank you for your suggestion!^^
And for the other reviewers and readers, as always... Thank you ^^
Kuroko no Basuke is owned by Fujimaki-sensei. May included OOC because of ages and environment. Hope u enjoy it minna! ^u^
Chapter 13 : Errand Days (1)
26 December XXX
- Eclipss -
Eclipss, the capital city of Teikou Kingdom, was as lively as usual. Many tourists liked to visit this place to have a look at the goods sold there, especially since it was near the end of the year, many good things were being sold in this time of year. Some of them were also going to see the New Year Celebration in Eclipss but some of them were only stopping in this city to have a short visit before leaving for the White City, Emeraldine.
White City was what people called those countries which stood independently without relying under either kingdom. They declared themselves out of any war the kingdoms might uphold, protecting and living by themselves. White City was also sometimes known as one of the event-organizers which usually held a big royal battle to gather all the kingdoms into a fair and friendly matches and it had been working well until now.
Emeraldine was one of those cities, it was a famous metropolitan city and the city where most of friendly matches had been held so far. Every year, they would hold a big festival to celebrate the start of the new year. They welcomed anyone from any countries to join in the festival with them without an exception. It was the most waiting moments for most of the kids and even the adults.
"Have you ever gone there, Kagami-kun?", the elder woman asked as she handed the change to the red-haired kid.
"No, I have never gone there before Madam. I have ever heard about it though.", Kagami smiled as he put the change into his pocket and looked at the list of goods he was told to buy.
"Wah, that's a shame, Kagami-kun! You should have asked your parents to bring you there before you joined the army, it is every kids' dream to go there with their family.", the elder woman smiled warmly.
Kagami grinned, "Thanks for the suggestion, Madam. I'll go there if I have the occasion to. See you, Madam.", Kagami waved his hand a little and left with all the things he had bought in his hands.
He was having a problem to pass through the road while bringing so many things in his hands. The shopping streets had been more crowded recently, he could caught the talk about Emeraldine all around him. They are all going to that 'Emeraldine', huh? Sound like it really is famous.
'You should have asked your parents to bring you there before you joined the army, it is every kids' dream to go there with their family.'
Tatsuya and Auntie have already moved from here so that's no way for me. Moreover, I'm in the army now. I don't have time to think about that, was what the red-haired kid convinced himself to be. But truth to be told when that elder woman suggested him to go there with his family, the first thing he thought of was his family, he meant the real one that he had before he met Tatsuya. He wondered if they had ever brought him there too.
Kagami greeted the gatekeeper when he stepped back into the fortress. Almost a month had passed since the intrusion, until now there were still no trace of them at all. The news about the intrusion was kept as a secret from the outside because it was a big taint in the Teikou's name for it was said to be the strongest kingdom in Greek.
Some things had changed too after the intrusion. They changed the Squad that handled the patrol and now the citizens were completely restricted from going into the fortress, not even the first layer was allowed anymore. They had also put up more soldiers to guard the borderline of Eclipss and the other countries around, that was only for the first week though and they stopped it after that.
"Captain!", Kagami ran to his captain while trying to keep the goods he bought balanced. "Captain, I have bought the things in the list."
"Good, now send it directly to the requesting-household.", Hyuuga waved his hand carefreely and intended to leave just like that.
"Hah? Uh, w-wait, Sir. Y-You said sending it directly, b-but I…"
Hyuuga stopped and turned to give a creepy smile to the younger kid along with his glare, "Of course you are the one who is going to do it, or are you telling me to do this small errand, hah? Me, your captain?!"
Kagami gulped, "N-No… B-But, Sir…"
"Stop but-ing, Kagami. Now quickly get your errand done, kid. You're wasting too much time for this small errand.", and the captain just left him like that.
Kagami sighed and continued his walk to where the second layer of the fortress was. He had never gone behind that layer nor did he ever thought of passing it but it should be okay, he just needed to send these to one of the nobles who had requested it.
"I'm sorry, I'm Kagami Taiga from Squad 12, I'm sending an errand. Can you tell me which way I should go to?", Kagami handed the list that had the family's name on it.
The gatekeeper took the note and told Kagami the route he should take, "Alright. Thank you, Sir."
"Do you need any help? You seemed to be lack of hand there."
"Ah, no need Sir. I can manage this. Thank you. Going straight, second left, first right right? I have remembered it.", Kagami adjusted the goods he held and then started walking into the second layer of the fortress.
The first impression Kagami had when he took the first step was 'It's a noble street indeed.' It looked completely different from the shopping district or the residence area of Eclipss. It wasn't only built of concrete stone and laid on a line that made it looked all the same. There was a big park right when he stepped into the place, it was really big and had one big fortune at the middle.
Going straight was the houses of the nobles, it varied in sizes and models. Each of them had a big land and all of the buildings were luxurious. There were some shops along the way and no need to mention again that it was all luxurious. The things they sold were not some cheap stuffs, they sold high-classes clothes, foods, art and jewelry.
It is totally different from the outside. Is this fair?, Kagami found himself wandering about that question. He didn't mean to doubt Teikou or else but looking at such different places gave him that thought. He had heard that the Nobles were highly respected as they were the one who supports the Kingdom and sometimes also gave a hand to the countries in need.
It's not my place to give any comments, I shouldn't stick my nose into something that's not my business. Kagami followed the instruction the gatekeeper had told him and arrived in front of a luxury house colored in marine blue. Kagami saw a sign with a writing of 'Fiore' just beside the big bronze gate. He struggled to take his paper out to check and yes, he had got the correct address.
Kagami pushed the doorbell on it and not long after that, a woman in braid came and opened the gate for him, "I'm here to send these goods you have requested for.", Kagami showed the paper to the young lad.
"Ah, I see. Can you help and send it to the kitchen directly? I'm kind of busy right now. You can go along the building and then get in through a red door, if you please.", Kagami nervously nodded and stepped into the luxury yard. The yard was full of grasses and flowers that were cared thoroughly, leaving a way from the gate straight to the main house and two other way toward the left and right of the house.
"You can go into that direction.", the young lad elegantly pointed to the right side of the building. Kagami nodded and walked into that direction. As long as he walked, he didn't see anything out of order. The wall of the house was in marine blue and totally cleaned off any dirt or taints. The plants were placed in a proper line and were cut into a beautiful shade. The stony road below him was graved with an elegant pattern.
After some walk, Kagami found the red door he was told and pushed it inward with his body slowly. "Uhm, excuse me?", there was no one in the kitchen to reply him. Kagami put down the goods on one of the counter and looked around the kitchen in astonishment.
"Amazing.", Kagami moved to the washing sink on his left and then to the drying rack beside it. He turned back to see another two long counters separatedly, each of it had some utensils hanged above it tidily. Kagami walked to the right side of the kitchen where all the stove, oven, heater were all put into proper place. Kagami opened one of the racks near the drying rack and saw many utensils inside. "Complete.", Kagami's eyes shone in awesomeness.
He turned and saw a big round-cornered refrigerator at the corner beside the third counter and opened it out of curiosity. Once again, he found himself feeling awed by the things inside the refrigerator. His eyes shone brightly and unconsciously his hand started to move and he retrieved three eggs, some vegetables and some meat from the refrigerator.
He put all of it down and ran to the goods he had brought into the kitchen and took out some loaves of bread and tomatoes. He opened counter and counter to find a frying pan and a spatula that he wanted. He put the frying pan on one of the stoves along with the spatula, then he searched for plates and knifes.
He took a two-stepped ladder there and put it down in front of where the stoves were, then started working in his quest.
-Ten minutes later-
"Where did Yoma go to? I'm starving! I will tell mom and dad to fire him.", a certain kid with silky black-hair walked around his big house in search for his chef but couldn't find the person in charge. It was almost ten and there was no breakfast prepared for him at all, he was hungry and angry now.
His last chef was the best chef he could ask for but he was too old and sick to take care of the family's meal now so he resigned from the job. His family had been looking for a new chef since then but none of it could suit their only son's taste.
Their parents didn't have any problems in any of the chef but their son always complained about their foods. It was until a young chef named Yoma filled the job, it wasn't any good as the last chef that their son had wanted but he didn't complain too much about the food anymore so Yoma had been the family's chef for almost two months now. It wasn't an easy job because he should be keeping up with the picky taste and all requests from the young Fiore, not to mention that Yoma himself was a clumsy and careless young chef.
He coincidentally walked by the kitchen and he heard some noises coming from inside, he smiled for a brief moment and pushed the silver-door open slowly. He expected the young chef of his to be busy in the kitchen to prepare for his breakfast while worrying of his master's wrath.
But instead of the tall-lean and busy figure, he was met with a shorter figure who was putting some bread and layer of vegetables on a plate while sometimes turned to the frying pan and flipped the foods around with his spatula fluently. There were already some sandwiches finished there and it smelled… good.
The young Fiore just stood there until the figure turned off the stove and put the fried meat on the bread he had put before. Putting the frying pan down, he took the fried egg and put it on the meat before for last, he put the bread on it.
He put the finished sandwiches together with the others one in a big plate. "Done.", the figure put his hands on his hip as he looked at his work contently. He lifted the plate of sandwiches and hopped down from the small staircases, then he realized that there was actually someone watching him there.
'Ah! I forget that I'm supposed to only send these goods. I couldn't stop myself when I saw such a complete and amazing kitchen. Urr, I guess I need to apologize?'
"S-Sorry, I…"
"Are you the new chef that my Dad hired? I didn't even say anything yet and he already fired Yoma without informing me first.", the boy pouted and then looked at Kagami coldly. "You are young, younger than Yoma. Why did my Dad hire you? You are almost the same age as me, can you even cook?"
The boy looked at the sandwiches that Kagami was holding, "Bring it here, I want to taste it. If it's not good, I will tell Dad to fire you right now and just hire Yoma back." The boy took a seat in front of one of the long counter, didn't bother to look at Kagami even one glance.
Kagami was hesitant, he regretted it for using their belongings without any permission but the boy's attitude somehow got into his nerves. He put the sandwiches he prepared in front of the boy.
"It looks simple, did you use something different to make these?", the boy asked arrogantly.
"I only used eggs, tomatoes, cabbages and meats to make these sandwiches. What else can I use to make a sandwich?", Kagami frowned, he didn't like the way the boy was talking to him.
The boy glanced at Kagami disapprovingly, "How can you make something this simple for me? Do you think something as simple as this can fill my stomach? Heh, haven't you heard? I'm picky for your information. Many chefs have tried to prepare an extravagant meal for me but I fired most of them.", he looked back to the sandwiches served in front of him. "I can't believe my Dad fired Yoma for someone like you.", he picked one of the sandwiches and took a bite unwillingly.
"Yeah yeah, I get it. Someone as noble as you won't like something as simple as these. I didn't cook it for you in the first place.", Kagami moved to pick the plate up, away from the arrogant boy and onto his own mouth but suddenly his hand was grabbed by the boy.
Kagami was going to say something but the look on the boy stopped his intention, the look reminded him of how he looked when he first tried to make sandwiches when he was eight. "D-delicious.", the boy muttered as he took another sandwiches from the plate.
Kagami pouted, "Geez, that should teach you to not belittle foods." But the boy was too into his eating and gave him no reply. Kagami himself took one of the sandwiches, "Itadakimasu.", he mumbled to himself and took a bite.
"W-Woah.", Kagami looked at his own-made sandwiches surprisedly. 'I-It's really delicious. I think it come from the meats. Oh yeah, I took the meats from their refrigerator. They must be using high-qualities ingredients for their cooking. Wahhh, so delicious~'
Kagami quickly finished the first sandwiches and continued to the next one.
"Hey, how come you are eating my breakfast? This is supposed to be my breakfast, isn't it?", the boy pulled the plate away from Kagami.
"What? I think you misunderstood something, kid. I'm not your chef.", Kagami crossed his hands in front of his chest, looking superior.
"What did you call me?! How dare you call your master a kid! You are as young as me!"
"Uh-huh, I don't know it, why don't you tell me your name and ages then?"
"My name is Albet Fiore, I'm turning ten this year.", the boy proclaimed proudly while taking in another sandwiches happily.
Kagami smirked, "It makes you younger than me, Albet.", Kagami turned and walked to the red-door where he had got in from. "I'm sorry for the intrusion, I'm only sending the errand into your house. Tell your chef that I put it there", Kagami pointed at the goods he put onto the counter and looked back to the confused boy. "And try to respect the others more, Albet. Even though you hire them, it doesn't mean you can look down on them. Bye.", Kagami walked out from the house.
He put his hands in his pockets and hadn't arrived at the main gate when Albet suddenly grabbed his arm, apparently he had run to chase after him. "Y-You really are not a chef that my Dad hired?", Albet panted while looking up at Kagami directly, the sign of arrogance was no longer there.
"Yes, I'm not. I'm only asked to run this errand.", Kagami looked down on the hand that was grabbing him but seemed like the boy didn't care about it at all and asked, "So you are a soldier then? This area doesn't allow any commoners to step inside aside from the noble and the army, so you are a soldier right?"
"Yes, I am one.", Kagami answered simply.
"How come? You look very young, how old are you?"
"I'm twelve."
"Twelve? Ha? But I didn't hear about any of this, I only heard that six prodigies coming from here are going to join the army. I don't know there is another one joining at the same young ages as them."
"I do join though."
Albet furrowed his eyebrows confusedly, "Why don't you stop being a soldier and come being our family's chef? I will tell my father to pay you high salary every month! You will be living a wealthy and peaceful life here, it is better than being a soldier where you have to risk your live, isn't it? You are only two years older than me, you can be my playmate! ", Albet tiptoed and leaned to Kagami excitedly.
"No, I'm not going to take that offer Albet.", Kagami tried to pry the small hands off his arms but Albet only leaned more closer to him.
"Why? Living here is much more fun than in the army, right?"
Kagami frowned as he started to feel uncomfortable for the continuous questions, he sighed and crouched down onto the same height as the other boy, "Listen, Albet. Maybe for you, living here is much more fun. It's your thought, your idea so I won't say anything. But for me, being a soldier is what I've been dreaming of. You know it, right? A dream? Something that I have been chasing for… Doesn't matter how much dangerous it might be, doesn't matter how much money you offer me, I will keep on holding my dream."
"Uh?", Albet loosened his grip a little then Kagami released his hand completely and patted the shorter boy gently. "You are young, Albet. Try to have a dream and once you have it, run for it. Make it comes true.", the red-haired boy grinned. "I guarantee you that when you do, you will feel much much more fun than you are now."
"Young master Albet?", the two of them turned to see a tall and lean chef with a box of cake in his hand. "Uhm, who are you may I ask?", he looked at Kagami suspiciously.
"Ah, I'm sorry. You requested to buy some goods, didn't you? I already put it in the kitchen for you.", Kagami handed the list he had been given to, to the young chef.
"Oh, yes! Then you are from the army? Thank you very much for your help!", the young chef smiled warmly, making the red-haired boy surprised.
"A-Ah, y-yes… You are the chef in this house, aren't you?", Yoma nodded eagerly. Kagami turned to the shorter boy and patted him again, "He is a good chef, show some gratitude and be more respectful to him."
Albet only pouted while Yoma was confused at Kagami's friendly gesture. "I have done what I'm requested to so I'm leaving now.", Kagami bowed politely and then taking his leave. Both Albet and Yoma looked at his back and until the boy was far, Yoma turned to his young master in panic.
"Young master, I'm so sorry that I'm late. I have been waiting in a long queue to buy your favorite sweets. I'm so sorry, you must be hungry right now, right? I will serve it for you now."
"No need, Yoma. I have had my breakfast, a very decent one.", Yoma was surprised to see how content his young master looked. "Ah! I forget to ask for his name! Yoma, do you know his name?"
"His name?"
"Yeah! That boy just now! Do you know it?"
"Uhm… I'm very sorry, young master but I don't know it."
Albet pouted and walked away, leaving the young chef standing there confused. He stopped suddenly and turned to Yoma who was more surprised, "Next time, I won't tolerate your lateness again Yoma."
"A-Ah, I-I know. I will not repeat the same mistake, Young Master! Thank you for giving me another chance!", Yoma beamed happily and bowed down.
Albet frowned one sided, "The cake in your hand is from my favorite shop around here?"
"Yes it is, Young Master! You have mentioned about it to me recently."
"Alright, I want it as my dessert at the lunch later.", Albet turned around and started to walk again, this time Yoma followed behind him after saying a loud 'Yes'.
"Thank you, Yoma."
"Huh? Young Master?", Yoma swore he just heard the young boy mumbled a thank you to him but he never received any thanks from the boy before. I must have heard it wrong, right?
"Oh yes, Yoma. I would like some sandwiches for my breakfast tomorrow. I'm looking forward for it, okay?"
"S-Sandwiches? Are you sure, young master? But if I remembered it correctly, you don't like those kinds of food, don't you?"
"Yeah but starting from today it changed.", Albet smiled.
Kagami walked along the road with his hands in his pocket, he observed his surrounding quietly, either right or left he would always see luxury houses. The attitude that the boy named Albet Fiore gave him had just proven what he guessed.
The difference environment gave away different opinion, idea and characters.
And that's why I say that I will not fit in here. The rest of Kagami's walk was smooth since Kagami afraid he would cause some troubles if he just stayed longer there. He almost ran when he saw the gate connecting the noble's residence and the army, even the gatekeeper was confused when he saw the smile Kagami had when he approached them, as if he had been dumped for years and finally could find a way out. Too much.
Kagami immediately joined the training that he had missed since morning because of his errand. It was not his first time being told to run an errand by his captain though, he had started to get these errands after he was out from the army's small hospital.
He had wanted to join the training directly right after his check-out from the hospital last month but seemed like his captain and also Riko-san didn't approve of it. They had told him to rest properly before coming back into the squad and so restricted him from joining any training. But knowing Kagami, even though he was told not to, he kept on doing it secretly in the forest near his field.
His captain had caught a wind about it and had started to give out simple errands for him to run such as sending a message, buying goods, helping citizen. Whenever he got his errands done early, he would be given another one until he almost missed up the whole training in the morning.
And today he arrived at half past ten, just one and a half hour to go before the lunch. Good.
0-0
"Hey, Kagami… So how did your errand go? I heard it is only buying some goods but you used up almost all morning for it.", Maguchi smiled as he walked beside Kagami toward the dining hall.
"Yeah, not an easy one. I will try to avoid that kind of errand from now on.", Kagami frowned.
"Uh? Seriously?! T-That bad? Ha-ha… But it's not your first time being told to buy goods, right?", Maguchi laughed awkwardly, he was expecting the red-haired boy to say that these jobs were easy as always while complaining how he would get it done quicker to join the training together with them.
"Yes but now not only buy it, I'm told to send it directly to the requesting-house."
"Uh? Y-You mean, you go to the noble district?", Maguchi shouted out in surprise.
Kagami looked up at the boy confusedly, "Hiroma, you never go there before?"
Maguchi shook his head quickly, "Of course no! No commoners are allowed there."
"But they said except the noble and the army.", he remembered Albet told him so.
"Yes, but even the army can't go in there randomly. You need to have an acceptable reason to go there and up until now, I never get any errand to go in there."
'Ah, that's right. Hiroma had his first errand when Teikou was intruded.'
Now that they had all become a regular soldier there, not a freshmen, they had started to participate in different kind of missions they were given to. Not to mention that the year was nearing its end meant there were more works needed to be done. Some of them had also been moved to the other cities because they were lack of people and some of them were still in the Eclipss doing the usual training menu.
'It has been a long time since I saw Kuroko and the others…', since that intruder's accident, he had never seen the six of them. He heard that they had started to participate in some missions separately. They got to go with some high-classes knights and traveled out from Eclipss. Kagami didn't know the detail of the mission but he knew that it wasn't an easy work just like what he had been having recently.
Until now, Kagami hadn't seen any of them back yet but Kagami heard from some of his fellow members that they had been doing great in their mission. Heh, no surprises, he was sure that they were doing well by their own, because they are strong.
Both Kagami and Maguchi had just finished their lunch and were now going to the field. Kagami had asked the other boy to accompany him practicing. On their way, someone suddenly called out to them, or more correctly to Maguchi. "Maguchi! Captain Hyuuga called you!", both of them shared glances to each other.
"It's okay. I'll be waiting in the field.", then Kagami continued his walk alone while Maguchi followed the other boy. 'So even Maguchi is going to start his first mission already.', being called at this time could only mean errand or mission so it wasn't hard for Kagami to guess it.
SLASH SLASH SLASH SLASH SLASH
"Ouu, practicing in secret again, lil' Taiga? How about big brother accompanying you?", Shoma leaned on to one of the tree carefreely.
"Oh, it's Shoma. You have come back from your mission?", Kagami lowered down the iron-sword he was holding as he looked at the older boy who had been accompanying him there since his check-out from the army's clinic The boy had just appeared suddenly one day there, proclaiming that he happened to see him walking here and since then always dropping by the forest whenever he had time. He would just sit there observing the younger boy and sometime teasing him for anything.
But one week ago when Kagami was doing his routine morning jogging, he had seen him wearing the knight's armors, ridding on a horse along with the other soldiers who wore different uniforms as the one Kagami wore and out from the gate. He hadn't seen him since then.
"Haha, I've just come back from it and heard about your outrageous accomplishment in helping the army." Shoma mocked and sneered when he saw the obvious frown on the younger boy's face. "I see you're still getting these errands in your hands. Haha, I'm afraid that you will be promoted into an errand boy forever if this is to continue, lil' Taiga."
Kagami frowned and just continued his swinging-practice. Shoma chuckled more and continued observing the younger boy in front of him when he realized something different about the boy. "Hey, you are practicing with an iron sword? How rare… You usually go with your wooden sword, right?"
"…"
"Hey, ignori-"
"I have started to think…", Kagami suddenly spoke seriously. "Maybe the reason I lost that night was really because I was using a wooden sword.", there was a long pause came after that before he tried to continue, "So I think…"
"PFFT…", Kagami stopped as he looked at the other boy who was now holding his stomach while stifling and not long after that, the boy burst out laughing.
"Hahahaha, what's with that damn serious face? Seriously?! You have just realized it now? Hahahaha… I can't believe it. What has been in your mind up until now, Taiga?", the boy wiped out a tear from his eyes as he composed himself and looked up right at the younger boy there. "Answer me, Taiga. Why do you think we go out into a war using armor, sword, lance, bows, horse and etc?"
"To… defend ourselves?", Kagami answered hesitantly.
"That's it!", Kagami jerked at the sudden loud answer. "People try to win the battle in front of them, they use up the best they could have to gather more advantages to their sides."
Shoma unsheathed the iron sword from his wrist and approached the still-boy, he raised his sword and swift it smoothly beside the boy's bare neck in an instant. Kagami could feel his whole body stiffen as he felt the pressure coming from the knight, "See? If I just move my sword a little, you will be dead, lil'Taiga… ", he pushed the sword a little into the tanned skin and a tick of blood came out from the slice. "A wooden sword can't harm people as much as a real iron-sword.", he whispered in a low dangerous tone.
Kagami's instinct reacted and he quickly grabbed the blade of the sword with his bare hand, Shoma didn't retreat his sword and only smirked at the reaction he got, "Your hand's bleeding, lil'Taiga. Do you really think I will cut you here?"
Kagami glared at the boy seriously, "Who knows…"
Both of them stayed like that until Shoma snickered and pulled his sword back, "Hahaha, you are so funny, Taiga… To think you will glare at me like that. I'm only trying to tell you just how seriously important a weapon is… Don't forget that you almost lost your life on that night, it shall teach you by now."
Kagami touched his neck with his other hand and saw blood on it, "Yeah, and I'm almost dead by your sword just a seconds ago."
"Hahahahha, heyy! I only pushed it a little bit, it's by far from dead. Here…", Shoma took out his handkerchief and handed it to the boy.
"For what? As you said, this is only a tiny slice…"
"Not for your neck but for your hand. You gripped on my sword too hard.", Kagami looked down to his palm and indeed, blood was flowing a little too much.
Did I really grip on it that hard? I didn't even realize it…
Kagami took the handkerchief from the young knight and pressed it on his palm, his red eyes glanced at the young knight secretly, I know he won't really cut me but his pressure told me different and my instinct reacted to it… He's not someone to be taken easy…
"Saa saa, now that your little mind has woken up from I don't know where. Pfft.", Shoma snickered at how the boy was glaring at him. "Let's have a spar again, now using a real sword.", he smirked and raised his sword up in position.
Kagami raised his eyebrows and looked at the older boy straightly, "Don't you have anything you have to do? You have just came back, right?"
Shoma sweat-dropped, "Ah, well. I have to report something-…", he mumbled to himself. "Hmm, okay then. I will get it done real quick, wait for me lil'Taiga.", he sheathed his sword and turned around.
"Hey!"
"Don't run away, lil'Taiga~", Shoma smirked then started to run out from the little forest.
Honestly, Kagami was confused by the older boy. He kept on bothering him ever since the squad battle, made him wondered why really. If he only wanted to find an opponent to spar with, there were many in his own squad? Right?
Kagami sighed and resumed his sword-swinging practice. He did not have time to play around. 'I have to get stronger. Stronger.', he swung the sword harder. 'Stronger!'
-To be continued-