Knights of Teikou
Genre : Adventure, Fantasy
Kuroko no Basuke is owned by Fujimaki-sensei. May included OOC because of ages and environment. Hope u enjoy it minna! ^u^
Chapter 14 : Errand Days (2)
27 December XXX
~ Eclipss ~
"Captain! I have finished sending all the materials the infirmary needed to!", Kagami ran and stopped right in front of his squad captain, Hyuuga Junpei.
"Ah, Kagami! You have finished it?", Kagami nodded. "Good, now I want you to go to this man to the west in the side town. Show him this letter and tell him I am the one who send you, he will give you the thing and you must absolutely bring it to me safely.", Hyuuga gave the young boy a roll of letter with his seal, the seal of Squad 12, and also a business card with the name 'Hawasaki Imuto' on it.
"Hah? Again, Captain?!", Kagami complained almost instantly.
"Heh?", Hyuuga glared at the young boy. "You got any problem with that?"
"Y-Ye-", before Kagami could properly answered, Hyuuga already hit his head not-too-lightly.
"You should be grateful that I entrusted such important task for you, just get going now and you will understand what I said just now, you Bakagami!", Hyuuga waved his hand nonchalantly. "Remember to bring 'it' safely to me, okay? Directly to me, remember!"
"C-Captain!", Kagami looked at the large clock buried unto the ground, which showing the time nine at the morning. Three hours before the end of the training. "I have to hurry!"
"Hmm. Oshal's shop… I never came across this shop before.", Kagami mumbled as he walked in the wave of the people in the shopping district. The address here is W-Street No.166. 'If I remember it right, the street here is named by the wind direction. (West, North, South and East)'
Kagami walked to the west of Eclipss, Eclipss had total three main gates. (North, West and East). The North Street was the most crowded area, full of people selling goods, while East and West Street were less crowded and full of inn, bar and special shops.
162, 164, 166? Kagami looked up at the florist shop in front of him now. Up on the glasses door was a black-steel which hanged a plat written "Shiila's" in it. Kagami looked at the plat again then down to the small card he held in hand, then to his right and left.
"A-Ah. Excuse me, Sir.", Kagami called out to one of the man which happened to pass by. "Did you know this Oshal's shop?"
"Hah? Oshal? Never heard of it.", the man answered angrily then left. Kagami stared back at the florist shop in front of him. 'What is this? Captain gave me this card, right? But the address is not right. Oh! Or maybe they have moved away?'
With that guess in mind, Kagami stepped into the shop. A soundly bell could be heard when Kagami pushed the door open. There were many kinds of flowers around the shop, arranged neatly and nicely. The fresh fragrance from the flowers gave out the soothing atmosphere. Wow. Kagami looked around the shop in awe. His eyes wandered around and stopped to the counter where a man in his twenty was standing with a light-blue apron that had their shop's name on it.
"Welcome, can I help you?", the man had his short blonde hair tied into a ponytail and had that friendly aura surrounding him.
"Excuse me, Sir. I'm looking for this shop.", Kagami approached the man and showed him the card. "It's written with the same address as this shop so… I don't know."
The man looked at the card then back to Kagami. "What business do you have with this shop?"
"Urr, I am asked by my captain. Ah, I mean the captain of Squad 12, Hyuuga Junpei, to pick up something."
"Y-You are a soldier? You look too young in my eyes. How old are you?", the man whispered in surprise.
Kagami frowned, he had become used to this question already. "Yes, I am and I'm 12. So Sir, do you know about this shop?"
"Wait, what is that something that your captain asked you to take might be?", the man asked almost immediately.
"I have no idea so have you heard of this shop before, Sir?", Kagami did not like the way the man was looking at him and interrogated him.
"How do you prove that you are really working under Captain Hyuuga's order?"
Kagami narrowed his eyes and instead of answering, he snatched the card back which surprised the man. Kagami turned and started to walk toward the door.
"Hey! Is that how you treat an older person, young lad?", the man asked in a non friendly way.
Kagami stopped and glanced back at the man, his look also did not friendly at all. "You are not the person I need to find so I have no obligation on telling you about the detail of my task. I only asked for your help but I see you have no intention to help me, so… Excuse me.", the soundly bell rang again as Kagami stepped out from the shop.
The man was dumbstruck by the boy outburst before he laughed, "Such a fiery young lad, ain't he?", he sighed. "I only wanted to confirm whether he is really coming under Hyuuga-san's order but seemed like I have made myself suspicious instead.", he walked into the door behind him, walking through the small alley then arrived in front of a door with the plank 'Oschal's shop' in it.
He opened the door to reveal the room full of different kind of swords displayed on the side. He approached one of the swords that he had finished forging just last night, made according to how his customer wished it to be.
He opened the violet case and revealed a shiny platinum big sword. "Now what to do?"
'Geez, where should I go now? Maybe I should go back and tell Captain Hyuuga.' Kagami was too deep in thought that he did not realize the crowd in front of him.
It was when Kagami got out to the main street that he realized that so many people were crowding at the sides of the road. "Uh? What happened?", he mumbled to himself.
"Oh! Kagami-lad!", Kagami turned and saw the middle-aged man who was a butcher in the shopping district. "Ahahaha, going on errand again?", the days Kagami spent in doing all these errands had made some people in the shopping district to quite know him.
Kagami nodded and looked around again, "What is this commotion about, Uncle?"
"Ohh, this. The King from Seraph Kingdom is coming to visit our King. Seraph Kingdom is our neighbor country and has been a close ally for Teikou since generations before. Their king and our king are good friends too, people said." The noise suddenly became loud again and when Kagami looked at the street, there were a group of soldiers traveling on foot coming in.
The soldiers were wearing black uniforms with green insignia of Seraph on the back while the knights wore the mails. Two of the soldiers at the most front were holding the symbol of Seraph Kingdom. Behind the group of twenty soldiers, there were eight soldiers and two knights individually-riding on horses in front of the luxurious horse-carriage behind them. There were another two knights riding their horses and twenty soldiers travelling on foot behind the carriage.
Kagami looked at the group of soldiers passing by him in awe, they were all strong looking. Kagami's attention moved to those who ride on horses, especially at the two knights approaching. One of them was fierce-looking while the other one was smiling at them confidently.
Kagami's gaze accidentally met with the fierce-looking knight that Kagami just mentioned. He could feel the strong aura emitting from the knight just from the gaze. No surprise though, there was their King behind them. Of course they would ask the strongest troops to escort their King.
Kagami and the knight were still staring at each other when suddenly a hand grabbed Kagami's shoulder. Kagami tensed and turned to the one surprising him. "Uh? You are the owner of the florist shop just now, aren't you?"
The owner nodded and huffed to slow down his breath, he had been running to catch up with Kagami. "Come here for a sec.", the man pulled Kagami back to the alley again, leaving the crowd. Kagami did not get to see how the knights behind the carriage looked like.
"Hey! Where are you bringing me?"
The man pulled Kagami along with him, back to his shop. "Show me the seal from Hyuuga-san.", he said sternly.
Kagami raised his eyebrows in confusion, he did not get why this man was so persistent in looking at their captain's seal. Don't tell me…
"Yes, you are right. I'm the owner of Oscal's shop you are looking for, Hawasaki Imuto.", the man showed the emblem of a big hammer, which was the same as the one on the card.
Kagami widen his eyes in surprise but then he narrowed his eyes at the man, "Then why didn't you tell me just now?"
Hawasaki Imuto sighed and opened the door behind the counter, "Follow me." Kagami followed him into the door. "Like you see, at the front I'm the owner of the florist shop but actually my job before was…", he opened the door with a plank of 'Oschal's Shop' on it.
Kagami looked at the new room around him in awe ,"A weapon seller?", he guessed.
"No, but I'm a black-smith.", Hawasaki answered plainly.
Kagami looked at the swords displayed around. "So you make all of these?"
Hawasaki smirked and stood in front of Kagami, hands folded behind him. "Let me introduce myself again. My name is Hawasaki Imuto, I am the best black-smith in Eclipss!", he smiled smugly.
Kagami blinked, there was this one question that he could not help but asked, "If you are the best then why do you hide your shop here? And people around here do not know about your shop either."
Hawasaki's smile faltered and he sighed, "Actually being the best black-smith is only my own self-proclamation." He walked toward the counter there and sat down. Kagami followed behind him quietly. "My father was a famous black-smith before, well-known around the continent but because of his fame, he lost his life."
"Uh?"
"During the war five years ago…", Kagami tensed at the mention. "My father lost his life five years ago. I have been watching my father forging weapons ever since I was very young, that's why I have learnt some things about forging even though I have mostly forged swords only. Hehehe…"
Kagami looked around again, "Then are you the one who's in charge of the kingdom's sword supply?"
Hawasaki shook his head, "No, the kingdom has their own forging teams. As I've said… My father lost his life because of his fame as a black-smith. I… ", he clenched his fists tightly. "I don't want to end up like my father. I am too coward… So I hide myself here.", he whispered lowly.
Kagami looked back at the man, the expression full of regret and sadness… It reminded him of how he felt five years ago when he lost Tatsuya's father which had become a father figure for him.
"Then why do you continue? If you're afraid, you should have just focused in your florist shop right?"
Hawasaki smiled grimly, "Well… Indeed, I'm thinking about that too. But I…", he grabbed one of the hammer that was close to his position now. "I… still love forging the most.", he said in a soft voice, his eyes showing how much he meant it.
"That's why… Even though I never showed it to the public, I still continue doing this at secret. And Hyuuga-san happened to be an acquaintance of my father before, that is why he knew of me and this place. He also knows of my reason and trouble, that is why he gives me the occasion to make his sword sometime without revealing me to the others.", Hawasaki stood up and walked to one corner of the room, right to the violet case.
"That means the thing Captain told me to take is…?", Kagami's gaze tailed on the man's back.
"Yes, you are right.", he opened the violet case and took out the platinum big sword with both his hands.
Kagami's eyes widen in admiration as he walked closer toward the man, Hawasaki handed the sword to Kagami and the first thing came to Kagami's mind was 'Light'. It was surprising how light this sword was when it was this big sized.
"You can try it.", Hawasaki said.
Kagami looked up at the man then back at the sword in his hand. He swung the sword lightly making some slashing voices. His eyes then caught the sight of a pile of papers. "Do you use that paper?", Kagami pointed.
"Uh?", Hawasaki took a piece of the paper up. "Oh, no. Why?"
Kagami smiled and positioned the sword up, "Then can you throw it upward by the count of three?"
Hawasaki nodded hesitantly, "One… Two… Three!", he threw the paper up and when it started to float down, Kagami swung the sword down. SLASH Hawasaki's eyes widen when he saw how the paper was cut into two pieces cleanly, he could also feel the gust of wind from his position.
"Wow…", both of them said at the same time.
Hawasaki picked the pieces of paper while Kagami observed the sword in his hands, both of them looked at the object in their hand in awe. "This sword is cool! Even though the body is big but it is light and sharp and it's easy to swing around.", Kagami said while swinging the swords lightly. "You're amazing…"
"A-Ah? Ah, well…", Hawasaki scratched his cheeks shyly and looked back at the piece of paper. He honestly did not think this was all merely the sword's cause to do this.
"What's your name again?", Kagami looked up at the man.
"H-Hawasaki Imuto."
Kagami grinned, "The best black-smith, hm? I think you shall continue, Imuto-san"
"Uh?"
"It's a waste though that your talents are kept hidden like this…", Kagami mumbled to himself. "Oh! Can I entrust you to make my sword for me too in the future?"
"Huhh?!"
Kagami grinned and stood up straight, "I haven't introduced myself too, right? I am Kagami Taiga from Squad 12 and I'm going to become the strongest knight in Teikou."
Hawasaki widen his eyes in surprise, "S-Strongest knight? A kid like you?!"
Kagami nodded, "That's why… Until the day I come to you for the sword, please continue honing your skills, Imuto-san. I'm looking forward for your masterpiece in the future.", Kagami put the sword back into the case and closed it. He hung the case on his shoulder and looked at Imuto. "So this is the thing that Captain Hyuuga wanted, right? Oh, right! Here.", Kagami took out the letters Hyuuga gave him and gave it to Hawasaki.
Hawasaki sighed, "Isn't it too late for you to give me now? You're supposed to give it to me first before I give you the thing."
Kagami laughed nervously then remembered something, "You're right, Imuto-san. Why did you tell me this much? You said you don't want public to know you, right? Then why did you tell me and even tell me about your father too…", Kagami mumbled the last part.
Hawasaki was silent, he did not know too. At first, he was suspicious of him. Well, he was always really sensitive when it came to people mentioning Oscal's shop. And Hyuuga had never ordered anyone to come take his orders in his place before which was more the reason he was suspicious of Kagami. But the fact that Hyuuga asked Kagami to come must be because he can be trusted right?
Hawasaki scratched his cheek again, "I don't know. But since Captain Hyuuga ordered you to come, then I-I can trust you, right?", he looked at Kagami unsurely.
Kagami stifled, "You are supposed to make sure first before letting me know, right?", he then looked up straight at the man. "But don't worry, I won't tell anyone about you. As exchange, I will be waiting for your masterpiece okay, Imuto-san?", Kagami smirked cheekily.
Hawasaki stared at Kagami for a moment, the boy was similar in a way but also way different from him. Both had a goal but the difference was that Kagami had the courage to do it while he did not. The boy in front of him was so young but he did not falter at all, it quite made Hawasaki feel envious at him. If only I had a quarter of his courage…
"Okay then, Kagami. That's a deal.", both of them handshake.
Kagami was now walking back to the fortress with a violet case hanging on his shoulder. On his way, he was thinking about the man he had just met. Hawasaki Imuto. If he thought about it now, weren't they alike in some way with each other? Both losing something very important in the war five years ago and then both became scared of the thing they once loved.
After his first kill five years ago, Kagami was actually hesitant every time he held his sword up especially when he was practicing with Tatsuya. Tatsuya had questioned him about his odd behavior but Kagami hid the truth from him. It was after quite a long time with Tatsuya's accompany and the reminder of their goal that Kagami had stopped thinking much about it, as long as it was not a real sword.
But now that Kagami had realized that he would not be able to survive the way he was right now, he was starting to try overcame his fear and trained with the iron sword. During the training, he had tested it out and the result was better than before in which he did not let go of his sword at all anymore. It was a big improvement for Kagami but he knew that it was far from enough. Because of his hesitation, he could not move as well as he was when he was holding a wooden sword. The agility and strength were way too weak compared to when he was using the wooden sword.
His meeting with Hawasaki Imuto today had just strengthened his resolution to overcome his fear sooner. He wished that the other man could do the same too though… Kagami believed that Imuto was someone who had the potential if he tried to.
Once Kagami reached the fortress, he immediately looked for his captain who was talking with the other soldiers. After Hyuuga noticed him, he dismissed the soldier and turned to eye the other boy and the violet case.
"Captain, this is the thing you have ordered me to take.", Kagami handed the case dutifully to his captain.
Hyuuga hummed in approval, "You did not peek into this case, did you?", he asked.
Kagami was silent for a sec before he answered a bit hesitantly, "I did not peek but I was shown what was inside."
Hyuuga raised his eyebrows at that, silently complementing why Imuto had showed Kagami what he had been trying to hide so desperately. "Alright then, you are dismissed."
Kagami nodded and saluted to the captain before leaving to practice at his usual spot. Hyuuga was looking at his running back, feeling something off with the boy but nah, he probably over thought it.
-Meanwhile, at the King's Palace—
"My Majesty, King Hyakushi and the companions have arrived in the Palace.", Dregar opened the two-winged doors of the guest room and stepped into the room.
The guest room was elegantly designed with a round table in the middle of the room and a set of seats around, the roof of the round table was glasses-craved so that the light could shine through the room. Dregar put his hand on his left chest and bowed down when he was near the places where the King and his children were sitting at.
"Really?", the King of Teikou stood up from his seats, beside him stood one young boy and girl, each bearing the same figure as the King Himself. Sun-kissed skin, amethyst eyes and platinum-gray hair in which the childrens' were darker shade than their father's.
It was not long after Dregar's report that the king of Seraph, Hyakushi Ryuza and his second heir, Hyakushi Shira came into the room elegantly with the four knights accompanying the King and Prince followed behind them. After them, some high-seated knights from Teikou who escorted the guests there followed into the room.
"Ryuza!" "Kozo!"
The King from Teikou and Seraph, both of them were wearing a big smile as they approached each other and then hugged each other firmly.
"I hope you are doing well this year as well, Kozo.", both of them released the hug but still holding each other shoulder's firmly. As the two of them exchanged some words, the knights from Seraph stood a line at the right while the knights from Teikou stood at the left side.
"I bring my smallest son, Shira here. He is turning twelve two days later and he wished to visit Emeraldine this year.", King Ryuza said.
Shira stepped forward and bowed humbly. "Good day for you, Shirogane Oo-sama."
"Stand up, Shira. The last time I saw you was when you were two, you have grown into such a handsome lad.", Shirogane Kozo smiled as he gestured to his own children.
"Good day for you, Hyakushi Oo-sama.", both of them said in the same time as they bowed down in synch.
"Oh, please do stand up! Rika, Ruka.", Ryuza helped both the children up. "If I do not remember it wrongly, the two of you are of the same ages as Shira, aren't you? Please get along with him during our stay here.", Ryuza smiled.
"Our pleasure…", both of them smiled.
"Come on, let's sit down and talk.", Kozo moved to sit at one of the luxury seats in the room. His children each took a seat beside him while the guests took the seats facing them.
"I'm sorry that Eiji and my Queen couldn't come to welcome you. Both of them are staying out of Eclipss currently.", Kozo started.
"Oh oh, it's okay Kozo. I only brought Shira with me too."
Both of them continued their talk before Ryuza brought up one of the topic he had wanted to ask. "Actually, I'm curious to see your Generation of Miracles, Kozo. The news about them was famous around my kingdom too. Hahaha, I wished I could get a chance to see the six of them but I heard they are out on missions right now?"
Kozo turned to look at Dregar who took a step forward and bowed as he reported formally. "What King Hyakushi said is true, my Majesty. The six of them are currently not present but I have sent out the letter to ask Akashi-Seijuurou dono to come back as you have wished.", after he finished, he stepped back to his position.
"Akashi Seijuurou? I guess he is one of your Kisekis?"
Kozo nodded, "He is a splendid warrior and I have big expectation on him for this year New Year Festival at Emeraldine."
Ryuza raised his eyebrows in interest, "Oh? Do you mean what I'm thinking you do?"
Kozo smiled knowingly, "I have registered him along with some of my knights to join the tournament that will be held in Emeraldine four days later."
Some of the knights there were surprised by the news, even Ryuza too. They knew what tournament Kozo had mentioned. The Royal Battle held by Emeraldine in regard of New Year Eve, where well-known soldiers chosen from each kingdom were going to join as representation of each Empire. It was held only as friendly match in between kingdom but secretly it was also a battle of fame in between the folk's eyes, to determine who was the strongest out of all.
"Are you sure he can survive there? He is a fresh lad, isn't he?"
Kozo's smile didn't falter, "As I said, I have big expectation on him. This will be a good experience for him too."
Ryuza stared at the confidence emitting from Kozo and laughed, "It's interesting! I'm looking forward to the tournament this year! Oh, and how about the other five kisekis? Aren't you going to register them in too?"
Kozo hummed as he thought again, "No, I think it's still too early for the other five."
Ryuza smirked, So it means the kid from Akashi family is competent enough?
And so the two Kings and also friends continued spending the day talking to each other.
~Kranea Village~
The sun had set down and now the moon and stars were spreading across the night sky. The situation in this village was lively during day and also night time. It was a fine village, the villagers were kind and friendly and there were some inns in this village which the travelers used to stay in for.
The last time he saw this village, it was ruined and burnt. After five years and coming back here, he would not realize that this place was once that ruined village he had visited five years ago. It had restored until this good.
"Hey, there you are. What are you looking at?"
Akashi turned his head and looked at the man who was now standing beside him, "General Nijimura.", Akashi greeted. Nijimura nodded and leaned out of the window to have a look at the lively street under them.
"This village is amazing, isn't it? It has restored this well during these last five years since the last time it was ruined in the war.", Nijimura waved to one of the grandma down there.
Akashi smiled, "Indeed, they are strong in their own way. They overcame the misery and restarted again from zero."
Nijimura spared a glance to the boy beside him who he had known since the boy was small. The boy was raised under a very strict environment and was demanded of perfect achievements in almost everything. Even though the boy did not show it but he could see that he was pressured by all the expectations his father had forced onto him. That was also one of the reasons which made him admired this young boy beside him, for he dared to stand against his father and insisted of his desire to join the army. He let go of his luxury life as a noble and involved himself into this life-endangering duty.
"You were here when the King visited this village five years ago, correct?"
Akashi nodded. Nijimura used this time to stare at the boy from the side. He was too young yet his eyes shone that brightly, full of resolution. Being the one who was mentoring the young boy whenever he was free, he was really proud of the young boy and his other five friends.
Nijimura smiled and ruffled the younger boy's hair, earning a surprised look from Akashi. "The dinner is ready, after dinner you should go to rest, Seijuurou. Tomorrow at dawn, we will be continuing our journey. Our King has summoned you back."
"It's okay, General Nijimura. I want to stay here for a moment, please go first without me.", Akashi looked back at the lively situation down there. He wanted to remember this scenery well for this was what he wanted to protect in the future.
Nijimura smiled and did not move from his place. "Nahh~ I also feel like staying here for a little while.", so both of them spent the night looking at the lively village.
-Meanwhile, in one of the woods to the South of Eclipss-
"It is raining.", Aomine murmured as he sneaked one of his hands out from the shadow of the big-tree so that the raindrops were falling onto his palm.
"No worry, newbie. Sakurai is really good at concealing his traces, the others will do fine with him there. If the situation is bad, he will make a safe retreat with the others. We must stay at our spot as we have been told to.", a tall and quite muscular young man with short light blond hair commented from where he was sitting cross-legged.
Aomine looked at the middle-ranked knights behind him and nodded, "I understand, Wakamatsu-san.", he replied politely before looking back, into the dark woods.
Wakamatsu sighed and stood up, he approached where Aomine was standing, "If you understand then don't just stand here, newbie.", he grabbed Aomine's shoulder and pushed the boy backward, "It will be a hassle if you suddenly get sick when we are in the middle of the ambush or worst enemy territory.", he then sat cross-legged on where Aomine was standing before.
Aomine held back the urge to scowl, damn adults for looking down on him, "Sir, I am not that weak to be sick over something like this.", he said calmly. All those years of living in the noble's family had taught him how to control his emotions and keep a calm mask.
"Go get some rest. This is an order, Aomine.", Wakamatsu said sternly without looking away from his front.
Aomine scowled for just a sec before going back to his neutral face, "Alright, Sir.", he said before retreating back closer to the tree and leaned on one of the sides. There were three other soldiers aside from him and Wakamatsu staying under the tree's thick shade.
There was a report from one of the villages in the south under Teikou's flag about the activity of the mercenaries who were threatening the folks' safety, so Aomine together with five soldiers under the lead of the middle-ranked Wakamatsu Kousuke and high-ranked knight Sakurai Ryo were given an order to investigate it and solved the problem accordingly.
They had used for about a week, splitting around the villages to find out the information about the mercenaries and their location. Due to one of the villagers' information, he had last witnessed the mercenaries taking some girls by force into the woods. So they went to the woods to look for them and when the day was turning dark, they decided to camp out. After the short dinner, Sakurai brought two of the soldiers with him to patrol around while the others stayed.
Aomine closed his eyes and allowed himself time to rest while he waited for the next orders.
-28 December XXX-
-Eclipss-
-IN THE TRAINING GROUND-
A boy who was wearing elegant and expensive clothes was walking with a knight by his side and six soldiers following on their backs. There was an insignia of Seraph's Kingdom printed on his silky cloaks which swayed under the blow of the soft morning winds. The boy had walked around some of the training fields in Teikou and finally stopped on one of the fields where groups of soldiers were gathering and training in, he watched them silently from uphill.
"Prince Shira, are you tired yet? Do you want to take a rest now?", the knight asked in concern.
The boy the knight had just addressed as Prince Shira, the second heir of Seraph Kingdom, shook his head. "I want to watch them.", he said quietly and the knight bowed in compliance as he stayed faithfully beside the small prince and watched what his prince was looking at.
Today Kagami was not called by Hyuuga for any errands so he could join the morning training which he had missed for days. As usual, Riko was the one who gave them the training menu and it was as hellish as always but Kagami personally was feeling content with the harsh training because he had been aching for this for so long. Though there was one obvious thing he had realized in the training that day and it was that all those freshmen who had joined the army around the same time as him were getting better.
CLANG
The iron sword Kagami was holding seconds ago had just been knocked away and was now on the ground.
"Ha! I finally get my revenge! Taste it, errand-kid! I'm better than you now!", Kagami's sparring opponent today laughed smugly.
Kagami stared at the man surprisedly, he knew that man. He had sparred with him in the past and he had won it but the man now was clearly different than he was the last time they sparred. Kagami couldn't not to admit it but the man had had an improvement.
"Don't lack off! Continue!", Riko shouted to the whole group who had been formed into a pair to spar altogether.
As the sound of swords clashing at each other continuously ringing around him, Kagami picked up his sword and restarted his spar. But out of sixty matches he had, he had never won once that day. He was completely defeated that morning.
"Hey, are you alright, Kagami?", Maguchi settled down on a spot beside the red-haired boy who was now laying on the grasses with one arm on his eyes, closing it.
"Yea, I'm alright.", Kagami answered not-spiritedly.
Maguchi frowned when he noticed the lie in those words, "Hey, aren't you supposed to be happy that you did not have to do any errands this morning? You got to join the training!"
"…"
Maguchi sighed, "I don't understand.", he murmured lowly, more likely to himself.
Kagami lowered his hand just a little bit so that he could peek to the side and watched Maguchi, and once he did, he placed his hands back to close his eyes, "I'm happy I got to join the training this morning.", Kagami said.
"And then…?", Maguchi inquired as he turned to the boy.
Kagami was silent just for a short moment and then sighed, "I was frustrated. It has only been a few weeks I missed my training and everyone have improved so much. I completely lost to someone I have won once before. I… I feel like, I'm so... left behind."
"Well… Even though we might be struggling in the training menus in the beginning but once we get used to it, of course we will become better. And Miss Riko has said that the best way to get improvement is through experiences.", Maguchi said nonchalantly.
"Yeah.", Kagami said tiredly. "She is right. You are right."
Maguchi looked at the boy again before looking up on the sky, "If you really feel like you are losing to the others then the only way you can take is to get better, right?", he said bluntly, making Kagami flinched for a sec. "I mean, you are someone who will do that, aren't you Kagami?", Maguchi looked back at the stilled boy, "Then why are you feeling down?"
Kagami lowered his hand and let his gaze met with the other boy's, he sighed and sat up from his position. He messily ruffled his own hairs and yelled in frustration, surprising Maguchi and some whom could hear Kagami's yell.
"H-Hey, Kagami? Just what is wrong with you today?"
Kagami turned to see confused Maguchi and grinned a bit nervously, "Sorry, I was just being too frustrated that I lost so much."I forgot what has inspiring me into sword-play, wow, it scares me a bit that I could feel this down. Kagami huffed to himself. Before to him, losing meant a new goal and that was to win it next time but ever since that night when he had lost to that man, he had started to realize that 'lost' was not an easy word to bear.
Maguchi looked at the boy weirdly, "I don't understand the way your mind is working. If I were you, did not it mean that I would be frustrated all the time?"
Kagami chuckled, "Don't say it like that, I'm sorry.", Kagami laughed a bit when he saw Maguchi heaved a sigh, "Oh, by the way, did not you say something about Miss Riko talking about experiences? Did I miss something?"
"Ah, no. It was just few days ago when Miss Riko and Captain Hyuuga explained to us the way the ranking-system works in Teikou."
"Ranking system?"
"It's sort of like that. So it is like this…", Maguchi leaned down and pointed his finger onto the grasses and drew an invisible diagram, "Everyone start as freshmen and get a training from a squad for about two months. After that, we graduate from freshmen into soldier then we can continue staying in the squad to train or applying for different positions."
"Different positions?"
"So for example, we can apply to be transferred into different squads and after one year training in the squad, we can apply to join the order of ranked-knights or even General.", Maguchi said. "That way, you can be given missions and you can gain as much experiences by learning it yourself."
"Wow, so it's like that. I thought we get our missions from our Captain.", Kagami said.
Maguchi hummed, "Well, Captains can also get us a mission but our chances for getting experiences are higher if we are to join the ranked-knights or General's orders. Because Captains are mostly training the soldiers and they rarely leave their posts randomly so basically, they do not participate in out-missions much."
"Oh, I see. So we need to decide who we are going to follow?"
"In a way, you can say so. But there are also some cases where you are invited into an order… Of course, if you are invited, it is a really big honor especially if the one who invite you is a high-ranked positioned one."
"There's also something like that?"
Maguchi nodded, "We have a real-life example near us, the Kiseki no Sedai."
"Wha-? Kuroko and the others?", Kagami was surprised.
Maguchi nodded again, this time in a bit excitement, "You did not know, Kagami? I heard ever since they joined the army, some superiors had approached them to ask them to join their order but they still followed the freshmen training and waited until Captain Hyuuga deemed them a pass to be a soldier. After the intruder thing happened one month ago, they had officially made their decision into which order they were joining. That's why they do not join the training in the squad anymore and have started participating in the mission out from the kingdom now."
"Wow… Do you know who they are all joining under now?", Kagami asked in curiosity.
Maguchi nodded in more excitement. "I have heard some of it! Kise-sama is invited by the high-ranked knight from Squad 7, Sir Kasamatsu-Yukio."
"Kasamatsu-Yukio?"
"Yup. He is just in his twenties and yet his accomplishments and name have already been so famous. He is one of the high-ranked knights in Teikou."
Kagami hummed, Have I heard that name before?
"I don't know much about the others but I heard Aomine-sama has transferred into Squad 11 and joined directly under Captain Imayoshi's order. Unlike Captain Hyuuga, even though Captain Imayoshi is a captain but he actively participates in the out-missions and most the missions the Squad 11 gets are always out-missions."
"Squad 11, huh? Cool, so Aomine join the strongest squad.", Kagami hummed.
"Hehehe…", Maguchi snickered mischievously. "The most amazing one is Akashi-sama though!"
"Akashi?"
Maguchi nodded excitedly, "He was invited into General Nijimura's army!"
"General Nijimura? Who is he?"
Maguchi was only gaping at Kagami in shock for a moment before suddenly he shouted in surprise, "UHHHHH?!Kagami! You don't even know who is General Nijimura?"
Kagami shook his head, "Is he someone very famous?", he asked curiously.
"Of course he is! Before the name of Kiseki no Sedai came up, he was the most promising one in this generation. The youngest man to be promoted to be a General in the ages of 17, he is the General Nijimura Shuzo!", Maguchi proclaimed excitedly.
"Become a General in the ages of 17?", Kagami asked in awe.
Maguchi nodded in awe too, "Amazing, right?! He joined the army in the ages of 16 and became a knight in a half of a year, then one year after that, he was promoted to be a General. He is amazing, right?"
Kagami nodded continuously, agreeing with Maguchi. He had not heard about that man but from Maguchi's story, that man sounded really awesome. And Akashi was invited by that man… And not only Akashi but everyone was all starting their own path, not only the kisekis but also his squad mates.
Only him… Only he who was still sticking at the same spot.
-30 December XXX-
Kagami was given another errand this morning but this time he was not doing this alone. Today he did this errand with a boy from Squad 1, Furihata Koki. He was an ex member in Squad 12 but he had transferred to Squad 1 three years ago. Kagami remembered seeing the boy once in the training one month ago and he had learnt that whenever Furihata had the free time, Captain Hyuuga gave him a special pass to join the training in Squad 12.
Today they were doing so many requests at once so they were going to the shopping street with a horse-cart with Furihata riding the horse and Kagami sat beside him, checking the lists.
The first stop was near the North Gate, there was a small plain herb stand which was laid on a carpet on the side of the road. The owner of that stand was an old-man with his small grand-daughter. They came from Eclipss and traveled from town to town to sell herbs, usually they would stay at one town for around a week or two before moving again. Kagami acquaintance with them one day when he was walking around the streets for errands, he approached the stand out of curiosity because the old man looked very sick in Kagami's eyes and his grand-daughter was only 9 and the two of them were sitting under the sun's ray. After talking to them, Kagami learnt that they were travelling and since then whenever he got a chance, he would always pay a visit there and buy some things from them.
After finishing there, they continued to another herb-shop which was much bigger and more complete than the one just now and the shop had a building. In there, Kagami bought the rest of the herbs that were not sold in the shop just now.
"The requests from infirmary are done, all its left are food and some wood materials. Ah, Furihata-san, please turn right after this, okay? I remember there is a material shop there, if we can get the woods there then we don't need to go to West Street anymore."
Furihata glanced behind to see Kagami who was still busying checking over the lists. "You are surprisingly familiar around the town huh, Kagami?"
Kagami looked at the older boy and rubbed his neck nervously, "Because I've been running errands around here for almost a month, that was why I'm getting familiar with the routes around." Now that Furihata told him, he thought that he really needed to thank the errands his captain told him to do that make him familiar with the town.
"Oh right, Squad 12 often get those errands to do.", Furihata turned the horse right.
"Hm? Does that mean that each squad get their own task?", Kagami never heard about this.
"Yes, of course. Not all squads are given extra task aside from training and missions but like Squad 12 are entrusted with good errands from the army and sometimes the nobles, they are the one who keep supplying them. Squad 1 and 2 are entrusted with escort, for when the noble or important persons are going out to another town, we are the one who will escort them. That is why every soldiers in our squads should know how to ride a horse and have a good foot-work that can walk for a long miles. Aside from Squad 1 and 2, Squad 4 and 7 are entrusted with escort too as a bodyguard, for them must have a good analyzing, quick-sense to danger and can adapt to any situations that might appear during the journey."
Furihata and Kagami stopped in front of the material shops, Kagami showed the owner of the shop, a big-muscled black-skinned young man, the lists and helped them to move the materials into the cart. After paying the owner the money, Furihata and Kagami continued their journey to the East Street.
"Say, Kagami. How much do you know about squads in Teikou army?", Furihata stroke the horse sometime during the ride.
"I only know that it is divided into five main-squads. The combat-battle is divided into two division, sword-art and spear. The sword-art squads are from Squad 11 until 15, right?", Kagami looked at the boy from behind in interest.
Furihata chuckled, "That's too basic, Kagami. You should know more about the army as a soldier. Ah, where should we stop later?"
Kagami looked through the lists again, "Oh, stop right there!", Kagami pointed at the front of a fruit stand. He jumped down from the saddle, he was getting used to riding on a horse now.
"Oh, Kagami-boy! Need some fruits again?", the auntie wearing a red bandana greeted lively.
"Yes, Auntie. Here, I need two dozens of apples and I want to order ten dozens of it, then…"
Furihata watched as Kagami collected one by one the things written in the lists, he could tell that the boy was new from how he kept on checking on the lists and the way he checked it just too panic in his eyes. But he could also tell that the boy had been doing these errands for quite some time from how he interacted with the folks around. And maybe because of the young age and how clumsy Kagami was, the sellers from the other stands would approach him and helped him to get the things quicker.
After some time, finally they got all the things needed into the cart and now they were on their way back to the fortress.
Along the road back, Kagami kept rubbing the horse's body in big curiosity and excitement such as a kid. He had never rode a horse before so this was the first time he had ever ridden one, he could not help but feel excited. "Say, Furihata-san… Weren't we talking something about squads just now? Can you tell me more about it? Urr, please?"
Furihata chuckled, "So yes, our army is divided into five main squads like what you have known. Squad 1 and 2 is for Cavalry."
"Only two? But the sword-art has five squads?"
"Don't only look at how many squads, Kagami. Squad 1 and 2 each has over thousands soldiers in it."
"Uh? Thousands? I only see around hundred peoples in Squad 12 during training."
Furihata laughed again, "There's of course more to it, much much more, Kagami."
"Uh? What do you mean, Furihata-san?", Kagami leaned aside to see the boy's face.
"Be patient, be patient, lad. I'm trying to explain it to you now.", Kagami nodded and silent down but he still kept his gaze on the boy's face. "So… As I have said, Squad 1 and 2 are the cavalry, the reason they are only divided into two squads but with so many soldiers under it, is that because it is easy to train the cavalries and you don't need extra skills in it so basically you don't need extra management in it. That's why it's only divided into two squads despite their overwhelming numbers. After we are taught the way to ride a horse, we are directly engaged into missions such as escort and patrol."
"Patrol? But I heard the one in charge of patrol is the Squad 14?"
"No, we aren't patrolling inside the city. We traveled across our territories in a group. So far, I've only traveled to Teikou's west territories."
"Oh? Then it means you have been to many kind of places?", Kagami asked in full excitement. He only knew some villages in the north.
Furihata chuckled and nodded, "After that Squad 3 until Squad 5 is for the archery. Squad 6 is assault. Squad 7 until 10 is for combat battle-spear. Squad 11-15 is for combat battle-sword art."
Kagami nodded as he absorbed this information, "So basically, the more the squads it means the more their skills are really being looked over and trained?"
Furihata nodded, "You can say so. Teikou considers that combat battle hold a really important key among the other keys and must not be looked over, that is why the one who have the most squads are the combat battle. The second is Archery and then Cavalry."
"But then the assaults only have one?", Kagami asked confusedly, he somehow felt that he forgot the other one.
"Squad 6 is an exception, for Squad 6 only consists of a little amount of selected soldiers that are good at all aspects such as physical, cavalry, archery, spear and sword-art. This Squad is specially trusted by the King and assembled to ensure the safety of the royalty only.", the horse they ride had came into the residence area.
"Then Squad 6 members are like the strongest in Teikou?", Kagami could feel his heart started to beat excitingly, to know that actually there was someone stronger than Shoma and the others.
Furihata furrowed his eyebrows, "We have never regarded it as the strongest. Indeed, they are trained at every aspects but it doesn't mean that they are the strongest. Like I said, Squad 6's sole purpose is to protect the royalty. They are the royal guards, the private squad under King's service. The training part in every aspect is only like the requirements because you know right? Royalty is really important and they would not trust their lives on some amateurs."
Kagami nodded, he still thought that he forgot something, "Is there more?"
"The last one is Squad Zero."
"Uh? Squad Zero?", Kagami leaned more to the front.
"Squad Zero is for the last main squads, Sneakers or you can also say Spy.", Furihata whispered.
"Spy?", Kagami did not know why he whispered too but he just followed how the boy did it.
Furihata nodded, "As their names stands for, their duty is to gather information for the kingdom. Its number is unknown and who is in there, nobody know. I have never really met even one of them but one thing that I knew about them is they are extremely dangerous, there is also another name to them, 'Assasins' . You will not know how but suddenly you are dead."
Assasins… So there are people like them too in Teikou.
Furihata chuckled nervously, "But that's only a rumor, nobody knows the truth except of course our King."
"Then just now you said about the numbers of the squad?", the fortress gate had come into sight at the front.
"In Teikou, there are generals who led their own troops separately and a main general who watched over all the squad captains. Every squad has one squad captain and one or two vice-captains, below it have four high-seated commanders. The role of the high-seated commanders is to lead the fairy amount of troops at our bases outside of Eclipss.", Kagami widen his eyes and Furihata chuckled, "So basically the troops you saw here isn't all the man power that Teikou had, instead we only has a little amount of troops housed here because of the small place. Don't forget that we hold the title of the 'strongest one', Kagami."
"So the highest position in Teikou is the general?", Kagami asked.
Furihata nodded, "First everyone start as a soldier then you promote to be a knight position then promoted again into a general. There is a solo knight who works alone and there are also knights who own their small group of henchmen but the most number they could form was fifty, and a knight is still under the General's authority. A General is the highest position in the army, Our King gives the generals the authority to have their own castle and manage their own group of army, a General also has the authority to promote a soldier into a knight."
"Uhn, Furihata-san? How about a squad Captain? How does it compare with a General?"
"Captain Squad is basically a General in the first place but they are all chosen by the King to be in charge of the new soldiers and the training. The Captains mostly focus in training the soldiers but there are some who still participate actively in the missions such as Squad 7 and 11."
"I see.", Kagami nodded and then looked again at Furihata from behind, "Then… How long have you been in this army, Furihata-san?"
"How long…-kah?", Furihata hummed. "Four years."
"Four years? Then from when you're 15?", Kagami asked.
Furihata nodded and then smiled, "In the past, it is the minimum age for soldiers. But you know that this year is an exception for the seven of you."
Kagami hummed to himself, "You said you were in Squad 12 before right, Furihata-san? Then could I ask... why did you move to Squad 1?"
Furihata's smiled turned quite sad which surprised Kagami, he wondered if he asked something that he should not. Furihata kept his sad smile on for a while before he answered, "I stayed at Squad 12 for one year but there was not any improvement on me and I was so frustrated by it. I once considered signing out from the army but then Captain came to me and asked me whether I wanted to move to Squad 1. He said that if I did not shine in one path, then why not try to shine in another path? I thought about it so long… Then I decided to move squad and see? I'm doing very well now. I'm glad that at least someone like me can help the army."
Kagami observed the sad-expression the boy had then down to the hands that were holding the ropes tightly. So there are also peoples like Furihata-san in the army who wanted to give their best but could not. It must be frustrating, right? If that's me… I must be very frustrated. But Furihata-san is not… As long as he can help the army, even if it's not in the way he wished it to be, he keep on continue forward. That's… cool.
How about me? Furihata-san try his best for the country's sake, Akashi and the others also. I think most of the soldiers here too. But how about me? I always thought that I am ready but... Am I that 'ready' to pledge my live entirely for the country?
Then they arrived in the fortress…
"You can go back now, Kagami. I can do the rest by myself.", Furihata offered.
"Uh? Is it okay, Furihata-san?", Kagami asked unsurely.
"Yeah… I am free now by the way, you still need to join the training, right?", Furihata smiled.
Kagami considered the offer for a moment then he hopped down from the horse, "Then I'm sorry for the trouble, Furihata-san.", Kagami bowed politely.
"Uh? Don't, don't, Kagami. It's okay.", Furihata said in panic, he was not used to someone being this polite to him, either younger or older. It made Furihata remembered the last mission he had when he met Kuroko Tetsuya-sama who also treated him politely despite their different status as noble and commoner. It was after Furihata met Kuroko that Furihata knew that not every noble was arrogant and proudful.
"No, Furihata-san. Thank you so much for today, I have learnt so much from you today, Furihata-san. I'm looking forward to work with you again.", Kagami grinned a bit.
Furihata's mouth opened and he inhaled deeply before he smiled sincerely, "Yup, I'm looking forward for it too, Kagami. Thank you for today too. You need to do your best okay, Kagami?" Don't be like me…
Both of them smiled before Furihata continued, "Now go, Kagami."
Kagami nodded and both of them bid good-bye…
Today, Kagami got to join the training half-way and he still lost all the spars that day. He was still very frustrated and was agitated… too much, and it ended up with him moving worse than he already was.
-In Kagami's usual training spot-
"Haaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!", Kagami sighed loudly while rolling on the ground in frustration.
He was so frustrated… There were so many things in his mind that he could not think clear. Just what was he doing now? He wanted to be stronger, he wanted to improve as quickly as he could, he wanted to quickly catch up with the others.
But why…? Why he felt like instead of improving like he had wanted to, he was becoming worse?
-To be continued-