Chapter 5: Marriage
Chapter 5: Marriage
Kuroko's eyes snapped open, the profusion aches from the several joints of his body and burning urges yearning passionately for fresh blood was stuck like a thick lump in his throat. Staring into the clear orbs of the devil's red and yellow heterochromatic eyes, it had taken Kuroko seconds before his brain had finally registered the events had taken place last night.
"Akashi-kun." Kuroko stared into Akashi's clear orbs.
"Good morning, my beloved wife." Akashi graced Kuroko with a smile. Kuroko's body had suffered a time disorientation, feeling the extreme tiredness in the mornings and hyperactivity of being wide awake in the evening. It had been three days since the ceremony. It was hell. Kuroko felt the extreme dryness in his throat, his genesis of the transformed cell from a vampire's poison was yearning for the fresh blood as he stared quietly at Akashi's neck.
Akashi chuckled. "If you need blood, there's no need to hold back. Afterall, you're no longer human, Akashi Tetsuya." Akashi took Kuroko into his arms, persuading and encouraging Kuroko to satiate the hunger of a vampire. The hunger of a vampire was said to be capable of driving devils and humans alike insane.
A newborn who has no clue of the world of vampires do not defy their masters. A clueless Kuroko had felt the extent of his personal control diminishing, the unbearable feelings of the burning sensations driving and overloading Kuroko to the extent that nothing could be described in words. Kuroko penetrated his newly sharp fangs deep into Akashi' neck, feeding on the life- force of the red essence. Kuroko had retracted his fangs and took a clearer view of himself.
"How are you feeling, my love?" Akashi had smirked, earning a punch in his gut. Ignoring the pain, Akashi pulled Kuroko into a kiss.
Kuroko turned away. Faint rosette colors of the blush had painted Kuroko's pale cheeks, shying from the devil master in embarrassment and denial.
"You can't run away, Tetsuya." Akashi gently fingered the pale skin of his neck, slowly trailing to the seal Kuroko's pale skin now bear between the spines of the nervous system which was located at the back of his neck. "This seal is the mark of the Akashi clan, Tetsuya. The world will see you as my kin, someone who has abandoned humanity, a traitor of their kin."
Awakened as a vampire, Kuroko can no longer return to the human lands, Akashi had made sure of that. Akashi's seal had marked Kuroko, binding him to the Akashi clan, cursed by the blood of the devils, Kuroko had been snatched away from the grasp of humans. Kuroko was taken and pulled nearer to spiritual beings, was carefully nurtured far reach away from the evil filth of humans, a small spark had begun between two extraordinary individuals. Akashi had put his trust in Kuroko, believing he was someone who would become his life partner, just like the elders of the Akashi clan had prophesied. Kuroko's arrival in the lands of Teiko had connected the fate of destiny. Kuroko who was carefully raised by the people of Teiko, Akashi had made sure he would be unable to survive outside of Teiko, sealing Kuroko's will and motivation to leave Teiko one day, transforming Kuroko's affectionate love for him into romantic love. The result was being engaged and married to the almighty Akashi Seijuurou.
Time was necessary for Kuroko to readapt into the environment, readjusting his biological clock, getting used and controlling to his newly gain powers, Akashi had assigned Aomine Aomine and Kise to be his instructors, just like before. One of the few reasons Akashi had selected them as Kuroko's instructors were... both Aomine and Kise had too much time on their hands. Murasakibara had once teased them for doing nothing and playing basketball all day on days Akashi had departed for the human lands for business as the devil master of Teiko. Akashi had also ordered data specialists, such as people like Kise who are infiltration veterans making sure Teiko is always victorious. Kise belongs to a squad where it consisted of members who specialize in gathering information and infiltration. Kise was the leader of that squad.
Kuroko pulled open the curtains, granting permission for the sunlight to enter the bedroom. Akashi winced; Kuroko flinched slightly as he felt the uncomfortable feeling of dislike against the sunlight. Akashi stood behind Kuroko and closed the curtains.
"Are you trying to kill the both of us?" Akashi sighed. "You swore an oath to the masters of spirits. You are already a vampire. Don't you know vampires are weak against sunlight? You will forever live within the shadows of darkness, for eternity." Akashi wrapped his hands around Kuroko's slim waists, pulled him into another deep kiss. Kuroko's protests of 'mmphs' were drowned into the oblivion of pleasures. With the curtains flowing behind them, a vampire couple kissing in the darkness were illuminated by the shallow colors of the sunlight had made them looked like as if they were pulled out from a painting. It was a fascinating sight.
"Call my name, Tetsuya." Akashi smile fondly with Kuroko in his arms. "You do realize we're now both 'Akashi-kun', y'know?"
Kuroko had flushed and turned away in pure embarrassment. Faint roseate colours were painted on his pure delicate skin. "Sei-kun. I'll call you that just for us. You're still Akashi-kun."
The devil master was satisfied. Kuroko was willing to capitulate, he had abandoned his origins and his existence now belongs to Teiko, bounded and chained to the Akashi family. For the people of Teiko, Kuroko was an invaluable addition of their family, an individual who possesses the vast knowledge of humans, including their way of life, cultures, origins, values and beliefs. Kuroko also possess the detailed knowledge of manifestation of evil, their motivation of personal goals and the worst of all, their conscience which had accompanied the extent of their greed.
Teiko celebrated the couple's union of becoming together as one for seven days and seven nights. The gallant figure of the absolute overlord and the elegant figure of the vanishing expert. The empire was flourished with happiness and joy, rich with capital and resources. Marrying someone from the Kuroko family had increased the devil master's tactics and cards he'd play on the battlefield. No one is capable of calming his hatred for the only relative of the Kuroko family, Tetsuya's uncle, the younger brother of the wife of Kuroko Family Chief, the advisor of the young dictator of Kirisaki Daiichi. Akashi had enjoyed torturing humans who once tortured his beloved Tetsuya, especially humans from the infamous experts of torture, Kirisaki Daiichi. His vows included Kuroko's uncle who had badly abused Kuroko who had nearly died offered as a sacrifice.
Hanamiya Makoto was the name of the general who leads the strongest battalions of Kirisaki Daiichi and also the king of their land. The king of Kirisaki Daiichi was selected through monarch dictatorship. Hanamiya Makoto was one of the vilest overlords throughout the long history rulers. His people were terrified of him. No one is allowed to talk about their king, betray or resist the dictator. Anyone who was suspected or has a possibility to become a traitor were prosecuted. Hanamiya Makoto was a fearless man.
And Akashi despised him to deepest core he could sense. Teiko could never agree the extent of the callous and underhanded methods Kirisaki Daiichi had stopped themselves to. The perfect epitome of the raw nature of humans. Marriage between an overlord and a sacrifice was unheard of. The news had caused a huge uproar. Neither humans nor spirits could've accepted the union of the world's rarest couple. Many could not wrap the outrageous reality around their heads. Seers could not retrieve the overview the future, spirits were worried of the well-being for the almighty Teiko, humans were terrified for their over- amplified strength which were supplied by Kuroko's hidden powers. The uncertainty of the consequences was tremendous. They could feel the pressure of defeat.
"You will obey me. I am the power. Bow down to me." Akashi had demanded of them.
Kuroko had increased Teiko's strengths as Teiko's trump card with his unique skills, someone who is capable of changing the momentum of the war with the slightest efforts. A vanishing specialist. It was also Kuroko who had realized the strange movements of armies, figured out their goals, pinpointed war zones exact locations and predicted their movements, with the help of Teiko's data informant Momoi Satsuki. They were too easy to read, Kuroko and Momoi had felt, toying the human battalions to the fullest of their complacency. Akashi and the miracles realized the consequences were due to Kuroko unleashing his powers. Members of the Kuroko family possessed the extraordinary observant ability since long ago where they were recognized as powerful spirits who once dominated the spiritual world as one of the biggest clans. After surviving a millennial, traditions, beliefs, values, cultures, everything was almost lost. The Kuroko family do not remember they were once spirits to begin with. Tetsuya's marriage with the successor of spirit belonged to the mightest clan of the age had reawakened the last Kuroko survivor, and also the successor to the Kuroko family. A clan of spirits who are veterans in vanishing arts, accompanied the observant skills which made it possible. That is what they are.
Specters of the moon. Mirage of dreams. Masters of deception. The name humans had bestowed the people of the Kuroko was: Kyouka Suigetsu.
Rising every morning to find a sparkling ring on his left finger had sent Kuroko into a daze. Akashi had often teased Kuroko, satisfied as he watched his wife staring at the ring every morning. The definition of morning was held different meanings for both humans and spirits. Unlike the humans, spirits rise with the darkness. They draw power from the moon, and are the most powerful at night. Kuroko tossed a pillow at Akashi after realizing his husband had been staring at him again.
"Akashi-kun, I don't know what to say. You have been staring at me for the past three months. Isn't time you give it some rest?" Kuroko's clear orbs stared into Akashi's red orbs.
It was a destiny of fate that had brought them together.
Following the consequences of the marriage, Kuroko now shared the same chamber as Akashi, as the man bearing the name of the mightiest clan, the wife of the devil master. The first weeks of their marriage had made Kuroko felt the self-consciousness for the first time. As someone who possess extraordinary observant abilities had made members of Kuroko's clan to be void of expressions and are unable to express their feelings freely. Providing a hundred and one reasons Kuroko is to move into Akashi's chambers, Kuroko had blatantly refused.
"I am absolute. Do not defy me, Tetsuya." Akashi had used his last resort. Teiko would be thrown into chaos if the wife of the Teiko overlord were something were to happen. It would be an all-out war against humanity. The spirits will not hold back. Humans will suffer great damages. Surviving humans would bear curses, transcending generations with memories of their sufferings intact. Akashi knew Kuroko had loved humans more passionately than anyone else. Kuroko possess a gentle heart to forgive, although he had nightmares and bad experiences, and were the cause of his near-death and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Kuroko who loved humans had feared greatly for their safety, finally capitulating to Akashi's personal whims. The miracles were on the edges, fearing Akashi's anger. They had acquired a new perception of Kuroko, sensing that Kuroko would be the only one who could fight Akashi on an equal stand. Kuroko would be the one who will save their master. Kuroko resiliently adapted after moving into Akashi's quarters. Besides assigning Kuroko missions and tasks like the rest of the miracles, Akashi's obsession leaving Kuroko no choice but to work within Akashi's perfect reach. When Kuroko had to work with Momoi, she was summoned to Akashi's study where Kuroko and Momoi would work on a smaller desk setup by Kuroko out of frustration.
It was then Kuroko had an important task, weighing on the burdens of his people. To investigate the strange rumors and the suspicious strength Kirisaki Daiichi had newly obtained. It was a year after their peaceful marriage. Kuroko was worried and concerned the tyrant ruler had taken advantage of their people. Kuroko could feel the increased sufferings of their souls. Kuroko had witnessed their distress in a dream. Since then the worrisome Kirisaki Daiichi had been on Kuroko's mind ever since. Akashi was also concerned, had demanded Momoi to gather information on them. It was a dead end. Kuroko then made his decision. Kirisaki Daiichi was a notorious nation of dictatorship experts.
"Akashi-kun, I will personally investigate this case."
Without a doubt, Akashi and the miracles did not grant permission. Akashi had a disapproving look. The amount of risks had outnumbered their chances of triumphs. Kuroko had felt in the near future Kirisaki Daiichi will become a threat not just to Teiko, but the entire world. Kuroko existence was far greater than a war of a worldwide scale. He is the wife of the devil master who sovereign over the lands of Teiko. Kuroko felt an unsettling feeling ever since he had that dream. Kuroko had felt prevention of the curse of evil was necessary, before the downfall of the apocalypse. Kuroko was not the only one with the powers of a spiritual seer. Kise too possess similar abilities. A descendant of a divine fox spirit once revered as divine messengers of the Gods were once entrusted with the task to guard against evil and malice, granting happiness to souls with pure intentions. However unlike Kise, Kuroko was a type of dream seers, individuals who manifests their powers and make use of their strong divination and intuitions capable of sensing spiritual cues through dreams. Dream seers requires a high level of observant skills in making sense of physical world of what they have seen, such as individuals like Kuroko are invaluable, humans are willing to die to possess Kuroko's strengths.
"Kise, what do you think?" Akashi had questioned. On Akashi's orders, Kise gained insight through rituals of divination, guiding him to make the best decisions. The glass ball in Kise's hands were cloudy and murky. It was a sign of bad omen.
"Akashi, I fear the troubles Kuroko-sama had foresaw will take place in the near future." Kise conceded. He had tried his best in changing the results, but each time he made a divination, the result was the same. Kuroko-sama was right. That was what had caused Kise to freeze in cold shivers. He speaks of the truth. "Kuroko-sama will come in contact with a battalion that will assist in thwarting Kirisaki Daiichi. Then the truth will reveal itself to you."
The room was silent. Their master was beyond furious. Realizing Teiko had entered an age where humans would oppose Teiko on an equal standing. Humans were no longer powerless. Opposing Teiko, a nation of devils and spirits, who have survived millenniums since the genesis of the origins. The start of everything. And now the very humans they have given chances had come to oppose them, swallowed by greed and desire, without an ounce of gratitude and sense of appreciation.
Aomine had simply snapped, had attempted in strangling Kise with his tough arms around Kise's neck. "Kise, you bastard! You must have made a mistake! Do your job properly you fucking fox!"
Kise was weeping crocodile tears. "Ehhh~ But I did do my job properly, Aominecchi! I don't know why, but I get the same result every time I made a divination~"
Even Teiko could not oppose the powers of fate. The gears had begun moving, there will be no stopping. But they can make arrangements to make the least sacrifices they could, alleviating the damage of evil humans. Akashi came with a decision.
"Explain." Midorima was extremely silent. His voice was curt and short.
"There are two reasons when divination fails." Kise began explaining. "First, destiny had been ordained and had been intertwined, souls that had been imprinted with instructions will, for sure, accomplish what they have been planned by the divine Gods. You may be more familiar with the term of fated spirits. The spiritual self within individuals are chained by fates of destiny, what they are meant to do will eventually come as been prophesied by individuals who wield divine powers, the divine messengers of the Gods. Secondly, ill intentions of individuals who go against the divine Gods and try to change the fates to their personal goals and desires. Destiny is a sacred divination of the Gods. Those who go against them will be banished, are punishable and held prisoners for eternity by King Emma, also known as King Yeomra, said to judge the souls of the dead."
"So in short, Kirisaki Daiichi perfectly resembles those that decided to go against the Gods and rule the world, with the assistance of a divine spiritual being." said Midorima, in reference of Kuroko's uncle. A fallen.
Akashi finally made a decision after listening to Kise's explanation. "Tetsuya, I will grant you permission. Investigate every nook and corner the case, and reveal the truth before me!"
Kuroko smiled. "Thank you, Sei-kun!" He embraced Akashi, his long kimono swishing on the ground. "This isn't about us anymore. Teiko will not be the only one in danger."
Akashi also appointed Kise Ryouta to be Kuroko's attendant and bodyguard as long as Kuroko is not within Teiko. Akashi had a bad feeling on the night before Kuroko and Kise's departure. It's like a calm before the storm.
"Tetsuya, it'll going to be awhile before we can meet each other again. Let me savour you for tonight, my beloved wife." Akashi leaned against Kuroko who was reading a book, resting against the bed frame of the king-sized bed befitting of a king. They shared a deep kiss where they both fought for dominance, which Akashi won victoriously. They had separated gasping and panting for air, a thin trail of drivel connecting the married couple.
"Sei-kun..." Kuroko softly murmured.
Akashi had smirked. He had been waiting for this. His wife was finally entering the stage of pleasures, Kuroko's dazed blue irises were staring intensely at Akashi, his strengths and motivations to fight back was slowly robbed as his mind was climbing higher and higher, was brimmed with sensations of pleasures. Akashi had his hands wrapped tightly around Kuroko's waists, one arm had snaked its way into Kuroko's kimono, slowly savoring the pale skin of his chest.
"You should look at yourself. What a rare sight." Akashi pulled Kuroko in front of the long mirror. Kuroko's kimono had been pulled loose, the skin which was protected firmly by fine clothing was revealed. The disheveled appearance of the both of them was reflected in the mirror. Akashi had been waiting patiently for the longest time. Stripping Kuroko of his daily carefully chosen clothes had been his most resplendent pleasure. Kuroko had resisted, struggled against the iron grasp of his husband, rendering powerless before the devil master of Teiko.
Akashi had smirked. This is going to be a long night. "You can't escape, Tetsuya. You are mine."
The next day was the day of departure. Faint hickeys could be seen trailing Kuroko's small stature, the most pronounced marks had trailed from neck to his shoulders, despite the thick layers of kimono Kuroko had worn. Akashi had disapproved of Kuroko's pale and battered clothes, declaring they were an eyesore that did not carry any dignity. Akashi had made sure Kuroko shredded away the identity had his abusive uncle had made him into, a peasant slave servant. Whispers and murmurs were heard throughout the lands. The miracles and snorted in a puff of laughter. They had been lucky of the clueless Kuroko who had no knowledge of Akashi's advances. The child they had taken in so many years ago had changed. Kuroko had just turned twenty-one when he was engaged and was married to Teiko's devil master, Akashi Seijuurou. The first few years after taking in Kuroko were the most challenging days. The miracles had tried their hardest in making Kuroko start anew, but nothing had worked. Even Midorima Shintarou, Teiko's best healer and paediatrician. Akashi had managed to pulled Kuroko out of his suicide-like self and began living his life filled with fulfillment.
"You are now Kuroko Tetsuya of Teiko. You have no need for these. No one will abuse you, nor threatened you. Be kinder to yourself." Those were Akashi's words that had saved Kuroko from the darkness who had been grasping onto the fake string of hope for a dear life, one that is barely holding on and was could be broken at any time. Akashi had made Kuroko realize that his uncle will not be his reason of survival.
"You are pretty bold after all, Akashi." Aomine had commented.
Akashi had a slight bad feeling seeing Kuroko and Kise's departure. Akashi had shrugged it off. Akashi did not possess spiritual powers that grant him access to make divination of the future like Kise or premonition of the future through dreams like Kuroko. It must be nothing.
"Why are you so worried?" Kise was back to his cheerful self.
"Sei-kun, this is not goodbye." Kuroko made a bold move and kissed Akashi on the lips. "We'll see each other again. Definitely"
"Kurokocchi~!" Kise and the rest of the miracles were startled by Kuroko's sudden boldness and had blushed in embarrassment. Kuroko and Kise said their final farewells and departed on their journey, in hopes of thwarting the evil who attempts in defying the sacred traditions and the divine powers of the Gods.
Out of the five miracles, Kise was chosen for a reason. Kise possess the sacred spiritual strength like Kuroko and only he could provide proper assistance to Kuroko. His duty is to assist Kuroko in fulfilling the mission, and protect Kuroko from all dangers at all cost.
Akashi's fear had transformed into reality. Kuroko and Kise were ambushed at the border of Teiko. Kise could only guess the enemy had an individual who is well-versed in spiritual and sacred strengths of the Gods. They have come to face the arch archnemesis of Teiko, Kirisaki Daiichi.
"Seems like you've been happily waiting for us, Uncle." Kuroko deadpan voice had a tingle of coldness towards the enemy. "The advisor of Kirisaki Daiichi must have told much time on their hands."
Kuroko had held onto Kise and walked past the enemy, ignoring the objectives they have come for. Observing Kuroko's actions told Kise that Kuroko did not wish to fight, but that wasn't the case. Their path had been sealed. Kuroko and Kise were surrounded by the small ambush team. Kuroko had scrutinized all of them were fully armed with deadly weapons that could cause of the death of both humans and spiritual beings alike.
"Seems like you had a great time being brainwashed and playing house with the devil instead of getting killed." Kuroko's uncle sneered. "You are now our enemy, Akashi Tetsuya. I will kill you this time, even though you are my flesh and blood. You are a traitor of humanity."