Yes, I know, it's been a long time since I last updated. I'm so sorry for that. But here's chapter two!
Note: As I have said before, Taiga is adopted by Teppei, so technically, her surname's not Kagami. Hence, I'll use Taiga in reference to her.
Douzo!
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Chapter 2
The family room was a huge and luxurious room facing the back garden of the manor. It was vast and opulent, and it was filled with heavy wooden furnishings and expensive paintings dating back to the First Reign. The only person in the room that morning was Taiga, her long silky hair tied back with a knot, and the hem of her night gown hung loosely up to her knees. Her feet stealthily walked about, searching for a place to hide.
Taiga crouched low behind the silk covered sofa, waiting patiently until a tall, imposing man came into the sitting room, holding a gazette in one hand. Crimson eyes peered at the doorway, following the target until he sat on a wingback chair beside the fireplace.
For a moment she thought she had heard a rustling sound coming from the outside, but she ignored it when the man had relaxed in his seat.
She felt the cold hilt of her ivory knife, and in a swift motion she jumped from behind the sofa and dashed to the imposing man. But the man, who was more agile than she was, managed to grab her wrist before she could even get close.
"Learn a lesson, Taiga," the man spoke in a very friendly manner. "If your target is a soldier, there is a chance that he already knows the possible places you can hide in his home."
Taiga pouted childishly as the man let go of her hand and she lowered her weapon. "Then you already know I'm not gonna win against you," she said, disappointment filling her voice. "What's the point of all this then?"
The man laughed at her. "The point is that I want to know how you will deal with such hindrances. I've always expected the better of you, Taiga. You are my daughter, after all."
Taiga felt insulted by her own father. "You're trying to prove you're better than me, aren't you?"
At this, her father looked at her seriously. "No." there was firmness in his voice, which was usually heard whenever he was about to lift the spirits of his army before going to a war. "I want to make you better than me, Taiga."
Taiga straightened herself up. Every time she hears her father speak in his commanding manner, she felt like she was stronger than any soldier, like she could win any battle. Her father was Kiyoshi Teppei, leader of the 3rd Regiment of the Imperial Army, and a man more than suitable to become the next Head Knight. And she was his proud daughter.
"My, this game makes me feel like resting for a while," Kiyoshi gave a half-hearted sigh and then patted his daughter's fiery red hair. "Why don't we sit down for a while and have some tea?"
Taiga complied, and together they sat at a round table by the floor-to ceiling windows. It was their relaxation spot, and every morning they have breakfast there as they enjoyed the lovely view of the many flowers blooming in their backyard garden.
The maid entered the room, pushing a cart with a basket full of the finest bread and a tea set, and the scent of the jasmine tea wafted in the air. Taiga ignored the servant, noticing the gazette in her father's hand instead.
"Has something happened?" she asked.
Kiyoshi frowned. "Yes. Another assassination…" He stared at the headlines. There was a picture of a nobleman, old and red-faced and skinny, with an air of haughtiness around him. The general had met him once, during a party at the Imperial Palace; he knew right then that it wasn't impossible to think that somebody would want the man dead.
"Have they any clues as to who did it?" Taiga asked, before sipping her tea.
"None, unfortunately," Kiyoshi replied disappointedly; no matter how hateful someone was, assassination was not supposed to be tolerated. "But rumors say that a certain faction was behind the murder."
"A faction?" Taiga raised her eyebrows, puzzled. "Some sort of guild?"
"Right. The Hidden Order, that's what they call it."
"Hidden Order?" Taiga snorted. "Not anymore."
"The name of the faction hardly matters, Taiga. It's the members of this organization which we should focus on. There's no point in exposing the name of the secret group if we have no idea who formed it in the first place."
"But surely the Cronies must have found out something." Taiga found herself drawn into this conversation. She was not interested in politics, but military works often had its hold on her, thanks to her father. "They've known the name of the group, how come they don't have names or images of its members?"
"That, I don't know," Kiyoshi replied. "But maybe they'll tell us, someday."
"Maybe," Taiga was not convinced. "But I've been noticing some nobles showing dislike towards you, father. I don't think they would tell anything to us soon." It was true; often Taiga goes to various parties at nobles' houses together with her father. She heard a lot of talk about politics, and most of them about not favoring her father for the position of the Head Knight. She could not understand why the nobles think that her father did not deserve the position. For all Taiga knew, her father has the best track record in the Army, and the soldiers of his regiment were well led by him, winning in all battles.
Kiyoshi could only sigh in defeat. "It's unfortunate that politics come first before the welfare of everyone."
"That's life, father, don't you think?" Taiga spoke indifferently. In the world of the elite, power comes above everything else, for all she knew.
"Life?" Kiyoshi looked at her incredulously. "There's more to life than power play."
"What is more to life than that?"
"Well…" the general took a moment to contemplate. "I have you."
Taiga's lips curved into a sweet smile. "You're right."
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"Damn it," Aomine muttered angrily. "I almost jumped out of my hiding spot."
He could not believe what was going on within General Kiyoshi's sitting room. Did the man seriously train his daughter in martial arts in such a realistic way? Aomine almost thought that the girl was an assassin sent by the Empire, and he almost came to the rescue when he thought that the general was in danger.
General Kiyoshi seemed to be a smart and strong man, nonetheless. He was able to defend himself from getting ambushed by his own daughter.
Then again, it wasn't as if the girl made a competent fighter, Aomine thought with a smirk. If she went behind the door and attacked him from behind, she might have stood a chance…
He remained hidden behind the thick rose bushes at the garden facing the room. He peered through the foliage warily, and used his honed senses to listen to the conversation going on between father and daughter. When Akashi had briefed him about the general, there was little information mentioned regarding the girl, save her name.
Taiga, huh. Quite an unusual name for a girl of high social status.
Aomine took in her features, out of habit. He was not the most intelligent person in the Order, but he was good at remembering people. He stared at Taiga's long, fiery-red hair, which would probably reach her waist when untied. Her eyes were a pair of crimson orbs, reflecting a passionate heart and a brave soul. Aomine could not help but wonder if she was indeed General Kiyoshi's biological daughter, because the man barely looked anything like her with his dark brown hair, calm and bright, soulful eyes and thick eyebrows.
If there was anything Taiga got from her father it was probably the strength of character, but that was hardly inheritable.
"Have you decided on what to wear for Capitol Day, Taiga?" Kiyoshi asked.
Taiga shook her head no. "I haven't got time, with all the things I have to do at school."
"You're studying at home, Taiga. I got you a tutor for your own convenience. How come you still have no time?" the general could not believe the excuses coming from her.
"I'll have a dress before Capitol Day, father. I promise."
"Good. I want the whole Empire know of my pride." Kiyoshi always proclaims Taiga as his pride, just the way other fathers would at their sons. "You should wear white – "
"I'll take care of it. You should worry more about yourself." Kagami looked at him with concern. "Do you have something to wear?"
"Now that you're said it," Kiyoshi said. "I have none."
What a klutz, Aomine thought exasperatedly.
"You can be quite a klutz, father." Taiga heaved a weary sigh. Her father simply scratched his head sheepishly and laughed.
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Akashi was waiting in the meeting room sitting on his designated chair at the table, with Murasakibara standing by his side like a silent sentinel. Midorima entered as expected, carrying a roll of parchment and a crossbow.
"How was it?" Akashi asked without a greeting.
Midorima stood on the opposite side and unrolled the parchment, revealing a large area map of the Holy Square.
"Kuroko found this in the library," Midorima said. "It's not like the modern maps of today, but its ancient secrets are of great value to our mission."
Akashi's eyes seemed to have gleamed in delight. "Tell me about it."
The Holy Square was a vast expanse in the middle of the Capitol, spanning more than a hectare of lush green and white marble. On the center was a grand fountain, with the statue of the first Emperor in the middle. It was built to commemorate the birth of the city and the Empire.
Midorima pointed a thin finger at the northern part of the square, where a rectangular edifice stood. "The nobles shall stay there, to watch the parade and the rest of the festivities. A semi-open stage."
"A target range, that's what Daiki will say." Akashi eyed the map meticulously. "Have you any idea where the attacks shall come from?"
"If the assassination's approved by the Emperor, it can come from anywhere," Midorima said. "But with all the people coming on Capitol Day, the closer the killer is, the better his chances of getting the General."
"Won't they try to use rifles?"
"All of the buildings surrounding the square were too far from the stage. Only I can kill someone from such a distance." Midorima pushed his spectacles closer to his face smugly.
Akashi could not suppress a smile. "It's not that I don't believe you, but we can never be too sure about that."
"Right. Then again, the security around the square shall surely be tight, certainly the Empire's Cronies have already seen to that."
"Indeed, you're right." Akashi nodded in agreement. "Let's wait for the others to arrive, so that we can set up a plan."
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Kise, a natural born citizen of the Empire, casually walked around the Holy Square that evening. He had been talking to the people living around the area all day, and he felt like having a drink before returning to the lair.
There wasn't much that he had found out that could be valuable, but a trip to the bar can yield some good things.
The nearest bar was located at the end of the alley, far hidden from the Empire's prying eyes. High taxes have been put upon liquor and other things that owning a bar became an option only to the elite. This one lived on smuggled alcohol, hence the drinks are affordable. Even Cronies come here for some shots, although they tend to blackmail the bar owner if they were asked to pay for the drink.
Kise entered the tavern and was met with groups of poor drunken men, Cronies, and a few flirtatious damsels around. He walked over to the counter and talked to the bartender, a young man whose face reminded him of a cat.
"Whiskey, please."
"Right away, sir." The bartender quickly got to work, getting a bottle of the liquor and a crystalline glass. "Ice?"
"Yes, please."
"You must be new here. Are you a tourist?"
Kise cocked his head to one side. "What makes you say that?"
The bartender shrugged. "I just remember the faces of the ones who come here often. You're not one of them."
"Ah, right…" Kise chuckled softly as he watched the man pour the drink into the glass. "I actually live here, but I rarely go outside at night."
"May I ask why you happen to go out tonight?" the bartender asked in a friendly tone. Kise eyed him for a few seconds, trying to see anything suspicious about him.
"Just an evening stroll," Kise said afterwards. "I felt like getting some fresh air, and a good drink."
"Just a lonely chap who wants to have fun, are you?"
Kise could not help but laugh. "You got it right."
The bartender was supposed to laugh in response, but one of the Cronies suddenly yelled towards their direction.
"This place would have been fine had there been women!" the Crony, a broad-shouldered man with a trimmed beard and a scar across his ruddy face, shouted. He was obviously inebriated and at the peak of his roughness. Kise scowled, sensing trouble ahead.
"Cronies think they can do anything just because they're the lapdogs of the Emperor," the bartended muttered exasperatedly. "This isn't a brothel, you fool."
"Haven't you heard me?! Have you no lovely ladies to give life to this place?" the Crony stood up, almost stumbling after drinking too much. Kise would've laughed, but the situation became too tense in the tavern at that moment. A drunken man shouldn't be angered, especially if he's a soldier.
"Somebody please calm him," Kise told the Crony's companions.
"Calm their captain? I doubt they had the balls to do it." The bartender hissed.
The drunken Crony was clearly out of control, that he harshly grabbed the object nearest to him – a bottle of wine – and swung it aimlessly, making people move backwards against the tavern walls. Only Kise remained unperturbed, eyeing the soldier while thinking of a plan to pin him down.
The captain must have read his thoughts, because his eyes glared at Kise.
"What're you looking at?" he asked.
"You, perhaps?" Kise answered with a shrug.
"HUH?" the Crony threw the bottle towards the blonde. Kise easily dodged it, moving his head to one side. The bottle broke into pieces upon crashing against the shelf full of liquor.
"Seriously," Kise's voice was threatening that even the bartender began to shy away from him. "Calm down."
Then the man began to charge towards him, like a raging wild bull.
Kise stood up, ready to face the drunken beast attacking. The Crony screamed out loud as he was about to punch the blonde in the face, but his movements were quickly halted by Kise grabbing his fist with one hand and his thick neck with the other.
"I already told you…" Kise gripped the man's neck tightly, choking him. "Calm down."
The man choked, and began to cough. His comrades began to draw out weapons, preparing to shoot Kise if he ever tries to kill the man.
"Put him down," one of them said.
Kise eyed him viciously, before letting the man go. The Crony dropped to the floor, coughing and holding his own neck gingerly.
"It's not that I'm planning to kill him or anything," Kise told the Cronies.
The Cronies didn't drop their weapons, cruel bastards as they were.
"That's enough."
Everyone turned their heads to the front door of the bar. A girl stood there, donning the white and blue uniform of the 3rd Regiment army. She looked a little bit older than Kise, though her attire was an evidence of her higher social status. Her short black hair and keen blue-grey eyes reminded him of a bird of prey, forever elegant yet deadly.
All the Cronies stood in their places, frozen in shock. "Captain Kasamatsu!"
"Kasamatsu?" Kise eyed the girl curiously.
"What are you doing here," Captain Kasamatsu folded her arms across her chest and eyed her subordinates accusingly. "Drinking in a place that is known to be illegal?"
She reprimanded the Cronies right away, even going so far as to directly report to General Kiyoshi to remove them from duty. A small army of higher level Cronies poured into the room, arresting the people in the bar. Instantly a chaos occurred, as patrons began to run about in panic, hoping to run away from the captain and not get arrested.
Kise, being an assassin, stealthily ran through a door hidden behind the wine shelf, dragging the bartender along with him.
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I know, I know! This took WAAAAY too long!
Thank you, Chiisaiuki, for persuading me to continue with my fic!
Review, minna?