A/N: I realized that the whole Kasamatsu being almost chosen for the seventh seat may be a bit confusing because of how I worded it since it was only a year ago that Haizaki was abdicated from it. What I meant was that Kasamatsu was changed not long after the first few vampires (Murasakibara, Midorima, Aomine, Momoi, Haizaki) and then later Kise was changed (so that's why he doesn't know about Kasamatsu). And when Haizaki was kicked out (a year ago) then the debate went up for who would take over and though Akashi thought about Kasamatsu he chose Kise because of his magical abilities. Hope that clears some stuff up for you guys.

ALSO IM SO SO SORRY IN ADVANCE FOR THE SLIGHT SERIOUSNESS/ANGST I PROMISE IT'S NOT GOING TO BE TOO ANGSTY OF A STORY!

The fire was crackling behind his seat on the dais as Akashi stared at the shogi board. There was no one across from him, but there were pieces on the board in the middle of a play. Momoi quietly entered the hall and took up the empty seat. "Speak Satsuki, it is unlike you to be hesitant in saying what is on your mind."

She pouted a bit looking every bit innocent but there was intelligence behind that façade that no one could deny, "Why did you put Kagamin under Dai-chan's command for training?"

Akashi didn't look up from the board, "Now Satsuki, is that the right question to ask?" While she was thinking over her next question Akashi reviewed what happened earlier that day.

Akashi could tell that the reluctant acceptance that Kagami would be under Aomine's control put a sour taste in his mouth, if his expression was any indication. He knew that they both were unhappy with the situation and he couldn't help chuckling to himself. If only they could see what he could, but then again, where would the fun in that be?

Before anyone could say anything Murasakibara whined, "But Aka-chin I told him to come into the Cooking Unit after drills tomorrow. Is Mine-chin going to take him away from me?"

"No that's fine Atsushi. Change of plans Taiga, after you finish with the Cooking Unit then you will report to Daiki."

"Where will I be reporting to him?"

"I will give you the same clearance as Kazunari and Yukio but for Daiki."

This seemed to displease Aomine greatly, "Akashi please tell me you're not giving this baka access to my room." Kagami's eyes twitched at the name-calling but he somehow refrained from jumping across the table to strangle him.

"In fact I am Daiki. Are you questioning my judgment?" Aomine pursed his lips, looking fully put out but didn't respond. "Very good, now here is the portal location." Akashi quickly did the same for Kagami as he had with the guys before him, pulling out his see-through pad to pick the right location.

"Oh don't look so down Aominecchi~! That'll wrinkle your face," Kise smiled brightly.

Aomine just glared and gave a noncommittal grunt before snapping back, "What like the wrinkles on your face?"

Panic was clearly shown on Kise's face and he screeched, "Where? I don't have any wrinkles right Momoicchi!?" He frantically pulled out a mirror from his own space pocket and quickly searched for any dreaded wrinkles while the rest who were used to his dramatics ignored him. Kagami though, looked positively startled that a guy could reach such high-pitched noises.

"Is that all Akashi…sama?"

"Almost Taiga. Be patient," Akashi turned to the pure bloods next to him. "I would like to speak to Taiga alone, only Tetsuya and Satsuki are allowed to stay." Midorima, Kise, and Aomine glanced at Akashi curiously, obviously wondering what he could want with a new recruit that couldn't be shared with them. Atsushi just didn't care, and simply grabbed some sweets and another vile of blood off the table before departing along with the rest of them.

"What is it you want?" Kagami spoke bluntly; he didn't like this entire running around type of speech. If you were going to ask someone something just do it.

Leaning in Akashi stared at him for a few moments, making Kagami squirm a bit. "You are one of the few returnees from the New World, and even fewer of those that were in the military let alone that I can trust without a inkling of a doubt."

"And…?" He trailed off, not exactly sure where this was going. And Kagami had no idea what he had done to gain Akashi's trust.

"I want you to tell me the exact conditions of the New World. Kise was there a year ago before he had succeeded to the seventh seat but after that I had them pulled because of the war. Tell me everything you know."

Kagami gulped, he may be an idiot (though he'd deny it till his dying day) but he heard the underlying threat. If he didn't tell him everything there would be hell to pay. He didn't really know where to start. Thankfully Momoi had a suggestion, "Why don't we just ask him questions that we want to know and have him elaborate? We could be here all day otherwise." Akashi nodded and looked toward Kagami.

"Uhh, well what do you wanna know?"

"You were in the military before, so you know when the fighting started and why. So as Satsuki mentioned, elaborate."

Kagami sighed and looked to the side, a faraway look in his eyes. A frown was etched deeply into his face as he started to talk. "It all began around a year and a half ago. The two factions, the Ishiyama and Gushiken, were still at peace. I grew up in the capitol of the Gushiken faction; it was there that my now adoptive mother who was the General of the military forces took me in. So from an early age I was subjected to sword training and drills along with the soldiers. I wasn't officially a soldier until I was fifteen, which was unusual even there, since the wartime draft hadn't started yet. Because of my connections to the General I personally knew King Mikami, he was a gentle man but that was all before he came."

"Who?" Kuroko asked. Kagami didn't even have the energy to flinch in surprise.

"He went by the name Zenchou. I have no idea where he came from, but he suddenly showed up out of nowhere a year and a half ago. He somehow gained the trust of the King despite the warnings Alex, who was the current General at the time, gave him. Zenchou he… he poisoned King Mikami's mind. I don't know how, and I don't have any proof, but I know it was him." Kagami gripped the handles of the chair so hard they started to crack.

He squeezed his eyes closed as if in pain and continued, "It didn't show at first but within months the once sweet, gentle hearted man became spiteful and paranoid at nonexistent threats. Alex and I… we tried to keep him sane but there was nothing we could do. Eventually he fell to the poisonous whispers of Zenchou. Around half a year ago we had a friendly envoy from the Ishiyama faction that was trying to patch up the quickly failing relationship but Mikami would have none of it. He went into a fit of rage and had all of the emissaries murdered, which started the war between the once peaceful nations."

Kagami looked up at Akashi, the fury in his eyes was seen easily, making his ruby red eyes burn like the morning sun. "If I ever get my hands on him, I'll kill him. He destroyed families and a peace that had lasted for a hundred years, and I don't even know why."

"By the way your speaking it seemed that the war started half a year ago is that correct Taiga?" Akashi's voice was strangely soft but he paid it no mind. He was already too deep in his memories. Kuroko shot Akashi a look; he had thought that the war had started not long ago. It seemed Kise's predictions were wrong for once. Though it didn't look like Akashi was shocked by this news at all.

He nodded, "Yes that's right. But the war hadn't really started yet, it was more of the skirmishes and small battles, that didn't make it any less bloody though."

Kuroko shot Kagami a slightly startled look, which any other time Kagami would have been thrilled to have drawn out from the seemingly emotionless man, "That would mean that you have seen battle already Kagami."

Momoi was devastated, "Poor Kagamin. No wonder you fought so well against Aomine-kun. But why did you leave after fighting so hard for another couple months?"

Kagami spoke through his bangs, his head hanging slightly, "I only stuck around that long because I had grown to love the people there, and it was the only home that I had ever really known. But as the war raged on and my surviving friends dwindled to none it made me doubt what my purpose there was. Why was I fighting a war that held no meaning to me? Why should I give my life for a kingdom that no longer held my trust? I was so angry and upset that I did the worst thing I could have. I went to King Mikami and tried to ask him to stop the war, to get him to realize what was happening to him, to his people."

The others didn't ask any questions, just waited patiently for him to continue. Kagami's left hand let go of the arm of the chair to grasp on his pant leg as a single drop splattered on it, a few more following after. He continued with a shaky voice, "Alex had followed after me to try to protect me from the King, because thinking back I know that she knew what would happen when I questioned his orders. His paranoia knew no bounds and he accused me of being a traitor and sentenced me to death. Somehow Alex talked him into letting her have the punishment after I was taken away. There must have been some last drop of his gentle soul for Alex because she was like a daughter to him. He only had his men slash her eyes with a cursed dagger that no magic would ever be able to heal instead of death. I didn't know until I was released later that day what had happened. Thankfully Alex had foreseen that we would leave the country and sent out a request to transfer to the Old World a few weeks before this happened. We quickly packed everything and fled the New World, because though we were released we knew it wouldn't be long before a wanted poster would be displayed." He drew in a deep breath before exhaling unsteadily, "and, well, here I am."

Kagami waited for his tears to dry before looking up at the three people across from him. The next words were spoken so bitterly it hurt even their dead hearts, "and it was all my fault. I should have seen what Zenchou was doing earlier. I could have… well I could have done something for fucks sake!"

Satsuki was by his side and pulling him into a hug before he even knew what was happening. Kagami wasn't a man that was known for being weak or crying, but he allowed himself a moment of self-loathing before retreating from her warm embrace. His face was conspicuously blank, as he looked Akashi in the eyes. "Is there anything else you want to know Akashi?" He purposely left off the –sama, but Akashi was gracious enough to let it go because of the pure suffering that was shown on his face.

"After your training with Daiki, every other day you will report to Kuroko for magic training. That is all." With that Kagami pulled himself from the chair and went through the portal Kuroko put up for him his shoulders slumped as if he had the weight of the world resting on them.

Akashi was pulled from his thoughts as Momoi asked her rephrased question. "What I meant was, why Dai-chan specifically? Why not someone else? Some would say that having Dai-chan train him would be the worst way to bring out his talent and that others would be better. Which brings me to my next question. You put Kagamin in magic training under Kuroko, not Kise whom is the best overall magician among us, excluding yourself of course. Why?"

He merely smirked, "That's better." He paused for a moment before answering her question with a question. "What does Kuroko know in magic that Kise does not?"

Momoi was not stupid, she knew that he completely omitted the answer of the first question. But she relented, if Akashi did not want her to know, she certainly wouldn't find out until he wanted. "Kise is not a specialized magician unlike us, he is an overall magician whereas Kuroko is focused on one type," Momoi looked up to see if she was correct but Akashi gave nothing away. "Kuroko's specialization is in gathering information that I cannot get, by means of spying through stealth and misdirection. He is very knowledgeable in ancient and unheard of magic's and…" she paused, her eyes widening. "You think that…? At least this explains how he was able to keep up with Dai-chan, more than just his experience in the war."

Akashi only looked up at her with pride; it wasn't just anyone that could think along the same lines as him. She released a breath, "but that would mean…" He nodded and she slumped in her chair. "This could change everything."

"Indeed it will Satsuki, and we will be prepared, but one thing will remain unchanged. I will still be absolute," and with that he moved one of the pieces on the board with a finality that could only be done by someone that has complete confidence in what they were doing. The sound echoed across the room and Momoi couldn't help the goose bumps rising on her arms. "Kagami Taiga is the catalyst. Whether he knows it or not his actions will change the world for better or worse."

After that gut-wrenching talk Kagami's head was permanently in the clouds of previous memories. His feet just carried him automatically back to the Soldiers Quarters and into the area where he shared it with the other Seirin platoon. It was already late in the afternoon but people were already getting ready for bed, they had early morning drills after all. The others waved at him and Hyuuga stepped next to him, "Hey Kagami we…" he trailed off when he noticed that Kagami didn't even pay attention and passed by to get ready for bed.

Hyuuga instantly went to Kiyoshi, "What's up with Kagami? I know we joked about Akashi killing him but I didn't know he could kill someone without them actually dying! Kagami look's like he's somewhere else." The rest of the platoon gathered around the two whispering third years to join in, they too had noticed something was wrong.

"Yeah, it looks like his soul was sucked out," Izuki said to the annoyance of Hyuuga.

"This is not the time for your stupid puns Izuki!" Hyuuga snapped and slapped the back of Izuki's head. "And that was just awful anyways!"

Kiyoshi mused to himself, "I don't know it was pretty funny."

Hyuuga groaned at the look of happiness of Izuki's face, "Don't encourage him, please."

"What should we do? I've never seen Kagami like this before, or that's what Mitobe says," Koganei translates as Mitobe nods next to him.

"Y-yeah, Kagami's always helped us out but we never seem to be able to do anything for him," Furihata put in. They all nod and turn their heads to look at Hyuuga who just groaned.

"Why are you looking at me?"

"You're the vice-captain, so you should be the one to figure it out," was the collective answer.

"That's just stupid, you Kouhai's are the one's that should come up with something!"

"Oooh, clutch time Hyuuga's coming out." Kiyoshi smiled, "He should be able to come up with something!"

"Aida!" Hyuuga lets out suddenly. To which all of them jump up and look around for said girl.

"Where? If she see's us messing around when we're supposed to be sleeping we're so dead!" Furihata shivers at the thought.

A stress mark appears on Hyuuga's head, "No you baka's! I meant Aida's the solution to our problem."

"Ohhh…" They all said, "We don't get it."

Koganei nods, "Yeah I mean the only thing she could help with is give him extra training to take his mind off things." They all snorted at that because it was somewhat true.

"I think the last thing Kagami needs is extra training, he's already doing triple. Maybe he needs to relax more then? We should see if Aida would let him off perhaps. He has been doing exceptionally well these past two weeks. Now the only thing that it comes down to now is whose going to ask her…" this time all eyes looked in Kiyoshi's direction.

He looked surprised, "Eh? Why me?"

"You're the one dating her," Izuki supplies. "You know maybe take her out for a midnight romantic stroll and pop the question. But the question about Kagami getting time off… not about you know, marriage or whatever."

"Where the hell did that even come from?" Hyuuga mutters. "But that aside, he does have a point." Kiyoshi sighed a bit but accepted that he wasn't going to get out of this.

Sunlight shone through one of the windows of the Sleeping Quarters onto Kagami's face. Damn sunlight too bright… wait sunlight? Instantly he shot up, how come no one woke him up? He was so damn late! Kagami got ready the fastest he had ever, all the while dreading what Aida would do once she got ahold of him. While sliding his shirt on he ran out of the door to the area where Seirin was finishing up their routine. "Captain Aida I'm so so sorry! I really didn't mean to sleep in late and…"

She put a hand up to stop his rambling, "I know."

He blinked, "…you know?"

"Yes I know," she smiled at him. "You've been working hard these few weeks and the rest of the guys asked me to give you a reprieve for this morning because you had a meeting with Akashi yesterday. And I'm guessing that he gave you a punishment enough as it is."

Kagami looked behind him, wide-eyed at the rest of the platoon who were smiling at him. "Wow, I can't…" Face slowly morphing into a beautiful smile, "Thank you so much."

Hyuuga, still blushing, cleared his throat. "Well don't want a Kouhai like you to get ahead of us in training now would we?" They shook their heads.

"Alright everyone enough slackin'. Get back to work! Just an hour more!" Aida yelled out, and everyone else got back into positions. "Kagami you can go rest some more, but this afternoon you'll have to work like the rest of them."

"Oh, actually I meant to talk to you about that yesterday. It seems that I am also helping out in the Cooking Unit from now on, so I'll have to leave early everyday."

She sighed but nodded, "anything else?" Damn Murasakibara already takes Mitobe, now he was taking Kagami too?

Kagami tried not to scowl but it was hard, "Uhh yeah… I guess after eating I'm supposed to report directly to General Ah-Aomine."

It was Aida's turn to be shocked, her mouth hanging down a bit before snapping closed. "Well… wasn't expecting that. I guess you should get headed toward the mess hall then." Aida looked at her watch, "it seems you're already late. Mitobe already left 10 minutes ago."

"FUCK!" He shot off towards the mess hall and Aida couldn't help laughing, he was as helpless as ever. Which meant he was feeling better, she couldn't stop wondering what it was that caused him to be so devastated from what Kiyoshi told her last night.

Kagami was finally given leave by Murasakibara to leave and he had never been out of the mess hall faster. For how lazy and childlike the guy was, he sure was a slave driver. He had barely had a moment to stop and rest before he was onto the next task that was given to him. Though when he realized where he had to go next his feet slowed, he really didn't want to see that ganguro bastard. Knowing that he could go to his room to get him made him want to puke in his mouth he discarded that idea right away. He would just have to go to the training place Aomine usually went to before him then.

The only problem was, he had no idea where that was. Thinking really hard, he could only think of a few people that might know. The first was that blue haired vampire, Kuroko, but he threw that away. God knows how he'd find him anyways. The second was Akashi, but no way in hell was he asking him after last night. So that only left one person, Momoi. Though he had no basis for thinking they were close other than that she tried to stop Aomine from dueling with him and that they had been whispering to each other yesterday. Kagami shrugged, might as well try, I mean how hard would it be to find a pink haired vampire?

Kagami ate his previous words; it was in fact, very hard to find a pink haired vampire. He had wandered all around the area, and double-checked; the only place he hadn't looked was the restricted areas of the mansion. Groaning in frustration he finally decided to ask around, since he was so close to the Envoy Unit he decided to pay Kise and Kasamatsu a visit.

Going in the building he took a couple turns before asking where Kise's office was. When he got directions he followed them to a set of double doors that were to his dismay, bright gold and very ornately decorated. Just when he opened the door he didn't have even a second before a flash of gold flew at him and flattened him to the ground. "Urghh… what the hell?! GET OFF ME." Kagami shoved a crying Kise off of him. The only one in the room that could have thrown Kise was sitting down at a desk trying to be calm. Kasamatsu had obviously gotten tired of Kise already.

When Kise saw he cushioned his fall stand up he jumped back into his arms, "ah Kagamicchi~! Kasamatsu-senpai's being cruel, save me!"

He promptly shoved him back to the ground, "No."

Kise pouted and fluttered his eyes, "But-,"

"No."

"Kagamicchi," Kise whined.

"Kise stop being an idiot. We have work to do," Kasamatsu glared at the blonde who was still on the ground. "Come in Kagami, what is it you needed?"

"Actually I wanted to ask if you knew where Momoi would be."

Kise's eyes sharpened onto him, "Why would you want to know that?" He smiled brightly, "Ooh, is it true love~! Aominecchi would be sad to hear that." Kagami glared at him.

"It is definitely not to ask Momoi out. I just wanted to ask her a question." Then he paused, "wait, why would that Aho be sad about that?"

Kasamatsu asked what he wanted to ask Momoi before Kise could comment further about Aomine. To which Kagami responded, "well, I'm supposed to report to Aomine but I really don't want to go to his room to get him and I don't know where he usually trains."

"Oh you don't need to ask Momoi about that silly! He always trains next to my regiment at the lake near the white willow tree." Then Kise muttered under his breath, "Not like he ever actually trains."

"Huh. Okay, thanks Kise."

"No problem Kagamicchi~," Kise called after him.

"Stop calling me that dammit!" Kagami shouted before slamming the door behind him. He could still hear Kise whining to Kasamatsu about something all the way outside before a distinct crash was heard and it was silent for a couple minutes. Shaking his head he headed towards the white willow tree. He found it easily by spotting the blue colored soldiers and looked around when he finally arrived. It was obvious that the blue haired vampire was not there yet, even though he was sure that it was at least ten minutes after their designated meeting time.

Kagami regretted waiting for Aomine, it had already been an hour and he still wasn't there. Where could that baka be? Does he not remember that I was training with him today? Sighing, he gave in to the inevitable. He was going to have to drag that bastard from his room after all.

Aomine in truth did remember he was supposed to be training Kagami at this time. Did that make him any more inclined to go along with it? Hell no. Aomine didn't even train for himself, so there was no way he was going to train some lowly soldier like the red haired spitfire, as amusing as he was. So when Kagami didn't show up to his room demanding to be trained he shrugged it off and looked for something to entertain him.

He was getting a little restless from being in bed all day so he finally shrugged the covers off and stretched his lithe body. Aomine was getting quite thirsty, he could feel the burning feeling deep in his throat telling him he better get some blood soon or otherwise there'd be trouble.

Ever since tasting that single drop of Kagami's blood his thirst had rocketed to epic proportions. The taste had exploded in his mouth when it had touched his tongue, so much so that if he had stayed in his presence any longer he probably would have taken him right there. It didn't help that the guy was practically clueless to the effect he had on him. He had to leave and thankfully Akashi let him go, he hadn't retreated per say, more like a tactical withdrawal. Just thinking about it made his throat burn, and had awakened another part of his body to his dismay.

Aomine called in one of his blood slaves to satiate him for now. They technically weren't 'slaves'; Aomine didn't like forcing people into things, it was much more fun watching them submit. The people, or girls in his case, that gave blood willingly to him were all one's who had volunteered. Most of them were people who thought that giving blood would lead to sex. Which they were mostly right, Aomine did have needs. Plus blood and sex was really hot and made for a wild night.

When his favorite came in he was delighted, Mai-chan had a great body and one of the sweetest blood he'd ever tasted. But for some reason his body didn't react like it usually did when he saw her enter in only a short, almost see-through yukata. "Hello Aomine-sama," she said sensually, while drawing closer to him where he sat on the edge of the bed.

He was in no mood for games tonight, so she on the bed and under him instantly. "Oh, skipping right to it then?" She simpered and bared her neck to him. Aomine quickly dipped down to bite into the soft flesh, blood slowly filling his mouth. A sigh came from the woman beneath him, and he spent no time ripping the clothing off of her and throwing it to the side.

She wrapped her legs around him and pushed the top of his yukata down to feel the skin. He gripped one hip and her left thigh and finally released her neck to place open-mouthed bites all down her throat. Aomine had just bit into the soft mound of flesh when a choking sound was heard from his left. Not letting go he looked up to lock eyes with a beet red Kagami, who seemed to be opening and closing his mouth in shock. He retracted his fangs and slowly licked the blood that trickled from the wound before letting Mai-chan go and rising up onto his knees. "Mai, leave." The lust in the woman's eyes cleared and morphed into confusion but the tone in his voice stopped her from disobeying and she quickly picked up her tattered clothes and left.

Aomine's body was still thrumming from the rush he got off of her blood. His eyes were narrowed predatorily; he noticed every movement that Kagami made. Kagami retreated for every step that Aomine took towards him until he bumped against the wall. He cornered the nervous looking red haired human with a lazy smirk, arms trapping him in. "Kagami, you better have a reason for disturbing me. I was kind of busy." He leaned in to lick slightly at his neck where he could feel his blood pumping faster than before, "Unless you want to take her place?"

Kagami's intake of breath made Aomine's inner demon purr in satisfaction. He just loved the chase, he loved watching them try and fight his advances. Aomine slotted his body against him but couldn't hold back his fangs from sliding out when a slight moan escaped from the man against him. Fuck if that wasn't the most arousing moan he'd ever heard. It made him want to draw more of them out.

One hand went to cup Kagami's still blushing cheek, "Hm…? What do you say Tiger." His azure eyes darkened to almost black, as he looked at those half massed red eyes and flushed face. Aomine's deep, husky voice whispered in Kagami's ear, "Don't worry, I'll make sure that you have fun too. The things that I would do to you… you would be spread out beneath me this instant whimpering and begging for more while I grind against you. I would make sure to lick and suck every inch of your delicious body as I took you."

Kagami was now breathing very hard in his ear as Aomine brushed his fangs against his skin, causing his hair to stand on end. "Did you know Tiger, that giving blood can be pleasurable? All you have to do is say yes…" He lightly sucked on Kagami's pulse and flicked his tongue across it, bringing another involuntary moan from him. Aomine pushed his lower half against Kagami, clearly showing just how much he wanted him.

Something must have cleared in Kagami's head, because Aomine was pushed back very quickly. "No way in hell!" Kagami panted, still somewhat out of breath and he kept a good amount of space in between them. "What the fuck got into you? And put some damn clothes on, you're practically naked!"

Aomine just snickered, "don't pretend like you weren't looking."

Kagami glared at him but his face was still pink, "I definitely wasn't looking. Who would want a scrawny, ganguro bastard like you?"

All the playfulness left and Aomine growled, "Scrawny? I'm lean, thank you very much. At least I'm not short and dumb."

That comment caused Kagami to explode, "SHORT?! I'm only two centimeters shorter than you, you aho!"

"You didn't deny that you were stupid though," was all that Aomine responded with while sliding his arms into his yukata and tightening the sash. Kagami sputtered a bit before shutting his mouth and just settled for glaring daggers at him. "Now why did you come in my room?"

"I waited for an hour at your usual training ground and you didn't show up, so I went looking for you. Which was apparently a huge mistake."

"Yeah well I was busy."

"I could see that. Now let's go, we still have time to get some training in." Aomine just yawned.

"Yeah yeah. Get ready to get crushed."

Kagami snorted, "Like that's going to happen. Just wait, you'll be crying before the sun sets."

A/N: So hopefully that last part made up for the fact that there weren't many AoKaga interactions in this one, but i really had to put some of that stuff in there, its kind of important. Don't worry next chapter it'll be the main focus! Reviews are love :3