Chapter 10: The Crimson Dawn

Kuroko blinked his eyes, found himself staring at the carved ceiling of their quarters he and his husband both shared. He threw back the quilt covers, sitting upright on the king-sized bed. He glanced at his husband's sleeping form. It was rare that Kuroko was awake before Akashi. It was a first. He planted a kiss on Akashi, a fond smile was evident. Just as he was about to grab his walking stick and step out of bed, he was pulled from behind, the momentum had sent him crashing back on the soft covers, back in the arms of his husband.

Kuroko had reddened. He was filled with disconcertment, flustered and startled with shyness and nervousness, staring into the depths of his husband's clear vermillion and amber colored heterochromatic irises. "Where's my good morning, Tetsuya?" Akashi had flashed a grin.

"Why are you pretending to be asleep, Sei-kun?" The imperceptible erubescent colors had slowly tinted Kuroko's pale cheeks. It was a sight Akashi often enjoy, observing the thousands of expressions displayed from teasing his beloved wife. Tetsuya was his world. No one will take it away from him, regardless who it is, even if it were the divine Gods he served.

"Because it's fun watching you being so cute," Akashi had pulled Kuroko into a deep kiss. Akashi guided Kuroko to the windows, the curtains were pulled back. The rare couple witnessed the rise of the crimson dawn, which is said to rise once a millennium. The crimson dawn has been preached as the symbol of beginnings, legends and myths were passed down through generations had hailed the crimson red dawn, evoking special memories of the ancients and drawing their full strengths from them.

It was a feeling they both knew well. The long-awaited time is near. It was a perfect time to end everything, once and for all.

Chambermaids had helped the couple in bathing and dressing, making sure everything was perfect for a new day. Kuroko was dressed in Akashi's chosen favourite kimono for his wife, a pale blue silk kimono adorned with a floral pattern embroidered by a famous kimono embroiderer. His hair was combed, freeing split ends and entangled strands from his hair, a hair accessory with the famous Akashi clan symbol was fixed onto the soft strands of his cyan pale blue hair. The loose collar of Kuroko's kimono had revealed Kuroko's black leather choker, the mark of the master burnt deep into the back of his neck along with his mating teeth marks nearer to his shoulder.

Akashi donned his usual red and black silk kimono, the symbol of the Akashi clan adorning the cloth. In Teiko only the successor and their respected wife has the right to wear the mark of the clan on their back, the symbol of the Akashi clan represents powerful strengths and complete victory. Akashi had smiled, glanced complacently at his wife's elegant appearance. He wrapped an arm around Kuroko's waist, another hand holding gently onto his right hand. Tremors had reverberated, sending vibrations throughout the lands of Teiko. Kuroko and Akashi were snapped out of their little world. The invasion had started. The main forces of the miracles, Kise and Aomine had barged into their quarters.

"Akashi! The invasion has started!"

"Seems like it," Akashi's reply was cut short, the tremors and had returned, started again with stronger quakes. Akashi lifted Kuroko into his arms. "Stop them. It's a little off chart, tell Seirin to be ready in their positions. It's time we effectuate our plans. Forewarn them, Atsushi's impenetrable barrier has been broken." Akashi had commanded Kise and Aomine. The miracles nodded, ran off to inform their forces for takeoff. Seirin were flabbergasted, but had managed to get their forces ready to defend the empire. Akashi on the other hand, had folded Kuroko's walking cane and departed from his personal quarters with his wife in his arms.

"Sei-kun, put me down! This isn't the time to fool around!" Kuroko had protested. The empire will eventually need the unique strength of the Kuroko clan. He just knows it.

"I'll leave you in Shintarou's care. Please don't overestimate your abilities and try to defeat the enemies." Akashi warned Kuroko. "Your legs won't be the only thing I will take away the next time." Kuroko gulped. Akashi was Kuroko's love, a d he was also Kuroko's nightmare. They entered the library. Sure enough, Akashi's advisor was seated in Kuroko's favourite seat, a long rifle was placed across the window.

"Shintarou." Akashi had greeted his advisor. "I'll leave Tetsuya in your care." Settling his wife in an empty chair, Akashi gave Kuroko a kiss on the lips and vanished. "Don't worry, Tetsuya. We will win this war."

"Of course, stupid." Kuroko had huffed, dissatisfied he was not allowed to fight on the battlegrounds. He saw military troops led by Aomine Daiki, charging against the human soldiers and defending enemies from proceeding into the sacred lands of the empire. Everyone had an equally important role to play, failure to accomplish means death. Unlike human soldiers, the people of Teiko possess strong vitality of life forces. They are strong, Teiko military forces are even stronger. Teiko will not go down easily. It's not easy to infiltrate the heart of Teiko, the great palace of Rakuzan. Protecting the palace gates were the assassination force, led by Kise Ryouta.

Midorima had sighed. He had known it was necessary. He aimed at the armies of soldiers, had taken them out with a single bullet. The veteran shooter of the miracles, Midorima Shintarou. He possessed great accuracy skills, leaving humans and spirits alike astounded of his lightning shooting, earning his nickname The Lightning Prosecutor. The terror of his skills was said to bring forth the death bringer, it shows itself to souls who have defied the ancient laws, judgement was brought upon them. He was solely the man the master of Teiko recognized his skills and knowledge, which was the perfect choice to be his advisor. Kuroko was impressed. It was the first time Kuroko had seen the rigid and stiff advisor displaying his skills.

Kise and Aomine had ran to the barracks, where the soldiers reside. They had instructed the forces just as Akashi had commanded. The battalions of troops marched into the battlefield, with a sole purpose of defending their beloved empire. No human would survive the inhumane forces of Teiko. Aomine stood in the front lines, the leader of the military forces. He drew his sword from the scabbard, raised high in the air, its gallant sharpness shone under the crimson dawn.

"CHARGE!" Aomine had roared, wearing a mask of a thousand warrior, leading his soldiers into the battlefield.