2 WEEKS ISN'T THAT BAD RIGHT?

Here is chapter 28, but I warn that it contains a character from later on in the KnB series and that my characterization might be off. You don't need to know the character and there are no real spoilers though.

Chapter 28: Secrets & Pottery

Saturday: May 17, 2038. 4:27 P.M.

Please wait for the system to buffer.

Initializing…

Initializing…

Initializing…

The message in the heart of the room blinked as it loaded, teasing that perhaps Kuroko was the one who had chanced upon the Tower's "Guardian." He waited, concentrating on charging a powerful single-shot spell he didn't often have a chance to use.

Two painfully slow minutes of "Initializing…" later, shapes began to appear, filling up the room; or not quite, as it was more like the room itself was changing, morphing into a different space with artificial (everything is artificial in all technicality but I mean artificial-artificial if that makes any sense at all) lighting. For some time, Kuroko stood, confused, his hands which had been gripping his staff in case of battle starting to lax, and the question of, "what is happening here?" becoming the main centre of his thought. His attack was dispelled. At the back of his mind, he mused that he must have looked terribly out of place looking like he did where he was, Cleric robe and staff and all, but it was pushed away in order for him to try to make sense of the last few seconds.

The room he was in resembled an office–very modernly-styled and unlike the inside of the tower he'd been inside just minutes ago. Several black couches made of leathery material sat around a low coffee table in the middle of the room, along with a potted plant here or there, but for the most part it was a very minimalist design. What bewildered Kuroko the most about this situation was the other occupant of the space, who sat at a sleek, russet work desk nimbly typing away at a computer, focused and glaring so hard that the space between his eyebrows were furrowed.

I'm still inside the game, right?

Well, yes and no.

The stranger–a man who looked like he was in his mid-twenties or so–didn't seem like he noticed the bluenette standing there, holding his breath, and staring, bewildered. After a few clicks of his mouse and a few more seconds of typing, the man rolled his chair back to stand up and stretch, then stepped towards one of the couches and sat.

"Kuroko Tetsuya, I presume?"

At that, Kuroko resisted voicing the exclamation that threatened to leave his mouth. He nodded. The man motioned for Kuroko to take a seat, which he complied to, choosing the one directly opposing the man's location.

Now that they were facing each other, Kuroko could recognize several distinct eye-catching features: incredibly pure black hair, gray eyes (this man's were more of a slate color, not ashy like Haizaki's), a thin, handsome face, and a curiously tacky rainbow-striped tie. He was also very tall, even when sitting. Not as tall as Murasakibara but still well over six feet, at which Kuroko could not help but subconsciously envy. He swears that his problem mostly lay with the fact that he is recently always surrounded by six-foot-something giants who tease him about his stature.

The brunette on the other couch crossed one leg over the other and slouched forward a bit, eyes sharply sizing Kuroko up just as much as he was being observed himself. The way he carried himself reflected that he was confident, and very likely held a high position in his life. He was not domineeringly overbearing like Midorima or heavily intimidating like Akashi could be at their moments; he knew just the right way to present himself, somewhere between unpretentious and commanding while still competent.

He also looked familiar, but he was definitely someone Kuroko had never met before. Surely he would have remembered seeing or speaking with this man in real life. But if they'd never met, then how did he know Kuroko's name?

The man cleared his throat. "I'll assume you're wondering why you're here and where you are," he said, taking a sip of tea from a European-style cup that Kuroko was sure hadn't been there the moment before. While placing it onto a saucer, he added, "We're still in the Kiseki World Online server, but this is a private room accessible only by me and the people I choose to enter."

That was one question confirmed. Now the first thing Kuroko would voice upon entering this room was, "excuse me, but who are you?"

Then the stranger blinked–once, twice, three times–before what was soon realized as a highly-convincing façade broke apart, and he burst out into uncontrollable laughter. When he finally stopped finding whatever Kuroko had said that funny, he replied, all formalities dropped from that point on, "my bad. I didn't think you wouldn't know. Usually people who play this game know who I am, so this is a first for me."

It was beginning to become clear to Kuroko that this was probably someone he should recognize. The stranger's name was right on the edge of his thought, yet he couldn't quite place his finger on exactly who he was until the other began to speak again.

"My name is Ni–"

"Akashi Shuuzou", Kuroko gasped, cutting in as he finally remembered who the man staring at him was.

He was Akashi Shuuzou. "Twenty-three years old. No, twenty-four. Wait… It's twenty-three after all." Kuroko's thought process was somewhat like that, a bit jumbled, after his revelation. He could finally recall where he'd seen this man. He was in those gaming magazines Takao bought that he'd skimmed over, skipping straight to the KWO features, and the news Furihata would put on while he read on the couch, not to mention the various posters and advertisements strewn across the busier part of the city, high above his head on electronic skyscrapers.

He was Akashi Shuuzou. Akashi Industries' heir– the future proprietor of the company. One of the head developers of which whom brought Kiseki World Online to life, having been pulled into the lifestyle of computer science and virtual-world rendering at an early age and becoming an expert in his field.

He was Akashi Shuuzou.

It explained why he gave off the aura he did. What it didn't explain was why Kuroko, of all people, was here watching him stir a few sugar cubes into his tea.

"Akashi-san, why am–"

"I'd prefer if you'd just call me Nijimura."

"Nijimura?"

"It was my mother's family name, plus it's probably confusing for you to know two people named Akashi. Want some tea?"

Kuroko's eyes widened just the slightest. "You know Akashi-kun?"

Nijimura laughed and said, "he's the whole reason you're here. Honestly, he gives me a lot of trouble." It was noted that Nijimura's lips perpetually formed a strangely angry pout, giving off an uncouth, almost thug-like feeling much unlike his usual demeanor. Then again, Kuroko had a feeling that this person's usual self was actually more like this and not the professional, serious man he was while on TV or during interviews. He seemed to know Akashi very personally, which, along with his change of personality, relieved Kuroko's tension to some extent.

"The reason you're here is because I need to pass on a message from him. He's mentioned that you're someone he can trust."

Nijimura quirked a brow and challenged, "Are you?"

"Even if you ask me that, Nijimura-san, I do not know the answer. I have not known Akashi-kun for very long, but he is my friend, and I would like to be someone that he can trust… I am aware he is keeping many secrets to himself." After a slight pause, Kuroko threw out a question as well. "Could you tell your relationship to Akashi-kun?"

"Me? I guess you could say we go pretty far back. We met like, ten years ago. And then there's the fact we're sorta related. He's like a literal little brother to me. Oh, but you'll keep that a secret right?"

"Yes."

"Good," Nijimura smiled, "I can see why Akashi likes you. You're straightforward. He's actually really bad at making friends, ya'know? I'm glad there's someone else besides that really huge food-dumpster, that obstinate 'megane-kun', and the fucking brat."

The cogs of Kuroko's mind whirred, coming up with: "you know Murasakibara-kun and Midorima-kun?"

"And Haizaki! I was their upperclassman back in middle and high school. Even back then they were really un-cute and pissed me off. Especially the brat since he used to do a bunch of idiotic shit and I had to watch him. Speaking of which, where is he anyway? I didn't see him in your guild, so is he skipping out on you guys? He always used to ditch class and I had to beat the shit outta him and drag him back."

The raven-haired man looked angry yet nostalgic recalling his memories. And when Kuroko said, slightly sullenly, "He left the guild just a few days ago," he sighed and replied as if it were expected, "Brat's still causing trouble, isn't he?"

"I think Haizaki-kun is actually a good person, even if he is a bit…"

Kuroko didn't have to finish his sentence for Nijimura to perfectly understand what he meant.

"Yeah, he's an awkward fuck but he's a good kid. Still too problematic though," Nijimura scoffed, then said, "Anyways, we still haven't gotten to why I brought you here. I'm pretty sure I can tell you by now because I have a heart-monitor lie detector attached to you right now and you haven't lied a single time, so kudos to you. Unless you're somehow so good at acting that you can control your heartbeat. I knew one bastard who could do that. Then again, I guess the detector wasn't necessary since Akashi would have seen through anyone's acting at this point and probably wouldn't have asked me to tell you this."

"Wha–"

"Anyways, Kuroko, you're here because I need to tell you some things, and it's probably okay for you to tell the rest of your guild since Akashi trusts them too. I'm surprised Kise is in your guild though. Small world."

This day was just full of surprises. "Do you know Kise-kun as well?"

"Yeah, I dated his sister before," Nijimura said. He added, "But we broke up on pretty good terms so I don't think he'd do anything out of spite. As for that one last cute girl in your guild and the super tan dude, they should be okay too."

Kuroko nodded, wondering if Aomine could keep all he'd learned a secret. Not because he was untrustworthy per say, but he was still kind of an idiot with a big mouth.

"Why did you not just talk to Midorima-kun or Murasakibara-kun?" Kuroko questioned after a small phase of silence.

"Well, it's all really complicated. You sure you won't tell anyone?"

Kuroko nodded, consumed by curiosity at this point. He felt he needed something closer to the whole truth regarding the conundrum that is Akashi Seijuurou, and though he'd already asked many times, the only person who would and could give him the answers straight out was the oddly double-faced man sitting in front of him. He already knew he would not tell anyone else as divulging confidential information isn't something he could ever do, and that all he wanted was be able to understand and, perhaps, comprehend what had been happening lately.

Nijimura accepted the nod and took a large gulp of tea, finishing off his cup, before saying, "I'm guessing you know, but Akashi is actually an extremely important person. He was one of the head developers of this game too."

"He was not just a Beta tester?"

"He was there during the Beta stage. And the Alpha tests. But first he was a programmer slash idea-maker."

"Isn't Akashi-kun the same age as me?–twenty?"

Nijimura chuckled. "Yeah, but he's a genius. A prodigy. He's even better at coding than I am and he only started learning a couple of years ago. We were all in a private elevator school with accelerated courses for basically our whole lives and he finished high school by the same year I did, so during college we were in the same grade. Different schools by that point, but still."

The brunette slouched onto the back of the couch and uncrossed his legs. Though he was convinced by now that Kuroko was trustworthy enough, he continued more gingerly, "I don't know if Akashi expected me to tell you this part but I'm just a decoy. Have been for years," and exhaled with weighted listlessness.

"A decoy?" Kuroko thought, unable to hide the confusion from his normally stoic features.

"We're blood-related cousins–Akashi and I," came the reply, peaceful in tone with acquiescent countenance. "It'll probably come as a surprise to you, but I'm not actually the heir of Akashi Industries. I'm just someone to play the part and keep the paparazzi and any dangerous people occupied while Akashi still attends public services."

"Then Akashi-kun…?"

"Yeah."

"Isn't this something you should keep a secret, Nijimura-san?"

"Well, either way, it doesn't matter much anyways. Akashi's expected to take over publicly some time soon, though I'm not sure when he'll make the announcement. He's barely gone out ever since finishing college, so a couple of months probably wouldn't have made much of a difference to him. Plus he's been locking himself up for work and they've been blocking out all outside communication besides a few of the executives by his command. Geez, we keep going off topic. I never even answered your question or told you his message yet."

"The reason I couldn't send messages to anyone else is that someone disabled the function that lets me contact them. I can't leave this room even though I'm a GM because most of the people playing." he interrupted himself by snickering, "know my face. Wouldn't be good to cause a disruption." A near-smile caught the ends of Kuroko's mouth at the comment directed toward him. "Not to mention I've been stuck with paper jobs and am actually sorta busy."

"Anyways, whoever blocked me from your guild… might've been Akashi… made a lock that's impossible for even me to decipher. I was actually hoping it'd be Murasakibara or Midorima walking in–though you didn't freak out which is good–since a random portal was the only way for me to contact you guys; I can't go out but that doesn't me you guys can't come in, though I had to rewrite some data. Oh, and sorry about floor 6, I accidently deleted it for your guild and had to make something up along the way."

Floor 6? Oh. The Mage's floor.

"Most of the questions were on the spot or taken from a test for a different quest. I didn't exactly have the time to make anything fancy, so sorry about Zimbawbe."

This time Kuroko smiled. Nijimura continued with his lengthy explanations.

"Akashi wanted me to tell "Shintarou and Atsushi" not to worry about him, and that he just doesn't want to see anyone right now. When he sets hit mind to something, he gets stubborn and shuts everything unrelated out because of this weird measure of pride, and he won't talk to anyone face-to-face. Honestly I'm worried about him. He even kicked me out after I finished talking with him. It's like that incident all over again," Nijimura said, the last part more of an afterthought, mumbled.

Kuroko stared. "Incident?"

"I'm guessing since no one told you about this part, I probably shouldn't either. Anyways, just tell the rest of them not to worry and everything else I said and stuff! I'll be trying to get in contact with Akashi and back to you, but, as a warning, I might not be able to. The higher ups in the company, Akashi's father mainly, probably hired someone to block any messages I send because he prefers Akashi in word-mode." He paused to think. "He wants the rest of you to train normally, and be careful since you're still being tracked. But he also said something about recruiting new members, though I'm not sure if that still stands since the Winter Cup rules got changed. Boy, was he angry about that."

Kuroko gave an affirmative nod, not wanting to pry about whatever "incident" Nijimura mentioned. Not from his mouth, at least.

Nijimura grinned. "If you just walk out that door," he said pointing toward a barely noticeable rectangle blended into the white wall, "you'll return to the tower." He opened up a small screen with his fingers. "Murasakibara's almost done fighting the boss."

Kuroko got up to leave, bowing and thanking the man before he walked to the door. He had just turned the handle when he heard Nijimura say, "Oh! I almost forgot."

He turned to see the brunette opening up a window and materializing a medium-sized pot, dull and plain with few designs carved into it. Nijimura tossed it with one hand and Kuroko caught it with two, though just barely.

{Kuroko has obtained: Ivory Urn}

He studied it, but it didn't look special in any way. Neither did the name.

"Here's a little hint for that weapon of yours. Akashi told me not to meddle and let you or your guild figure it out yourself, but it didn't seem like you would since it's been days and you don't seem to be using it now. Anyways, that's just a normal pot made by another player I know. You'll probably realize what it's for soon."

"For my weapon?" Kuroko thought out loud. "Oh… I think I understand now."

"That's good. Let's hope to meet again soon, Kuroko" Nijimura smiled, standing, stretching, and returning to his work desk.

Kuroko agreed, walking through the door and shutting it behind him, the lock sliding into place with a sharp click.

That day, after they returned to their base, Kuroko relayed most of the information he had learned from Nijimura, watching the looks of surprise (to put it lightly) and indignation on his various guildmate's faces.

Aomine and Kise had been stunned upon learning that Akashi was actually the heir to Akashi Industries of all things. They were both made to swear not to tell anyone, even by accident. Or they would be crushed. If one thought about it, it made perfect sense considering his character and the fact he didn't even try to change his name or anything. Everyone knew there was a son as an heir; it was just that everyone thought it was Akashi Shuuzou.

Momoi, on the other hand, had already hypothesized it and wasn't nearly as hysterical as they were. Apparently she, when no one was around, had been squeezing information from their Bowman and Berserker and piecing little snippets together to form some a few realizations, even if she only thought he was related to the famous Akashi family and not a scion. She'd been close, bless her analytical mind.

After hearing that Akashi had been purposely avoiding contact with the outside world, Midorima had offered some words, said his goodbye, and logged off in haste, slightly distressed and somehow irate. Murasakibara only stayed a few minutes longer to listen to Kuroko finish talking about what he'd been told earlier before following suit, saying only to Kuroko that he was lonely, and 'Aka-chin is probably lonely too.'

The next to leave was Aomine ten minutes later, complaining about having to do some paperwork he'd put off for the police academy. Momoi, knowing him very well, accused him of going to play street basketball (she was right) and logged off right after he did, fuming. Every time something weighed on his mind, consuming his thoughts, he'd usually do some extremely physical activity to blow away his tension and get his brain somewhat functional again, and obviously this was one of those times. She had wanted to stay longer to fuss over Kuroko and Nigou with Kise, but someone had to keep the tan-skinned man in check.

For the next twenty minutes, Kise and Kuroko just hung around the guildhall, playing with Nigou and chatting every once in a while. Or, as always, Kise would happily tell of some event that had once happened to him and Kuroko would comment every once in a while, which became a comfortable cycle. They would both log off minutes later, after Nigou did as well, but not before Kuroko remembered something very important.

He placed the urn he had gotten on the table, Kise watching from the side.

"I call upon Thanatos, the ruler of the land of spirits, to lend me his gift–his strength and his wisdom. From the infernal blaze, a deception as if alive, the burnt ashes, scorched and singed, will sprout an incarnation of my dauntless conviction."

He'd written what he'd remembered of that event in a virtual notepad during his rendevouz with Haizaki at the pizza-icecream place.

The last line of the incantation was what Kuroko needed to know.

He pulled out half of what remained from the Phantom's Staff, the item that had been dropped after the flames had incinerated everything, Gaea's Earth. He felt the need to let the ashes slide through his fingers once more, letting handful after handful out of his inventory and into the urn. Kise questioned what Kuroko was doing, but when the Cleric didn't answer, he just watched in silent fascination.

Finally, when all the ashes had settled, the crystal of the Phantom's Staff was manifested in Kuroko's hands, still shining intensely as always. The Essence of Thanatos was placed above the urn, and then he let go.

Instead of just falling, it floated down slowly, burying itself beneath the fine powder, its glow disappearing with it. Kise was more excited that Kuroko and congratulated him for figuring out what to do, going so far as to impart a hug upon him before he had to leave. With a final glance at the plain urn and the ashy soil within it, and thoughts of the gem lying underneath where light could not permeate and eyes could not see, he left the game.

The next day, the seed sprouted.

Thank you for reading~