Intertwined Destiny

Chapter 3: Reborn

Chapter 3: Reborn

It was dusk, the horizon of orange sunset showered over the land of Teiko when Kuroko was led into a grand hall which served its purpose as the main venue for ceremonies. The grand hall was then renamed the Ceremony Room. Isolated from any opportunities to escape, Kuroko found himself back in the Ceremony Room, just like the first day he came to Teiko. On the other end of the grand hall, Kuroko saw Teiko's devil master had settled himself comfortably on the throne with a huge smug on his face.

"A... akashi." Kuroko greeted the master reluctantly, his eyes was plastered at his feet, growing a sudden interest in the delicate details the fine embroidery adorning on the high-quality traditional kimono he was forced in.

"Welcome back, my dear Tetsuya." Akashi replied with a smirk. "Do you remember this place?"

Every single soul of people had hailed Akashi as their supreme sovereign were present in the grand presence of their supreme leader. They had viewed the ceremony as a joyous and blissful event. The return of the wife of their monarch would calm his rage. Lands no longer destroyed, resources will flourish, the capital shall expand.

Tetsuya-sama has returned. Teiko will be blessed!

Kuroko glared at Akashi, the man who was revered and hailed infamous devil because of his devilish ways throughout and beyond the lands of Teiko. The man called Akashi Seijuurou was someone to be feared. Kuroko had learnt the hard way.

"Is this my punishment?" Kuroko glanced at the thousands of spectators, Teiko's vassals and military forces. Kuroko's voice was nonchalant as ever. "Shamelessly embarrassed for the rest of my life? Am I worth so much of your troubles?"

Kuroko's words were plainly ignored, his chambermaids had made Kuroko sit on the queen's throne next to Akashi. "Was this why you had adamantly thrown out all my clothes? So that I can't escape?" Kuroko tugged at his choker and clanged his ankle chains in discomfort.

The ceremony had begun, extravagant and luscious food were served. Kuroko touched none of it as the ceremony continued, although he viewed himself as a captive, the delicious smell of food in front of him had not increase his small appetite of hunger.

"Kurokocchi! Look, it's your favourite vanilla milkshake!" Kise placed Kuroko's favourite drink in front of Kuroko.

"Kise-kun, this is not going change anything." Kuroko was inscrutable as ever.

Kuroko was nothing but still a child when he had arrived Teiko for the first time. He was small and thin, malnourished to the extend Akashi had made Midorima Kuroko's personal paediatrician, which had resulted in Midorima's prescription of supplements and feeding Kuroko with more food. Kuroko Tetsuya was a sacrifice chosen by the vast lands the humans reside in name of justice and law. Kuroko had known they had saw the worthlessness and held no value in his efforts, achievements and family name. Kuroko had lost faith in the devils clad in human skin, proclaiming the Kuroko family were cursed, and they should be prosecuted. The only child of the Kuroko family watched his clan massacred before his very eyes, his stepbrother suffered from protecting the only child of his family.

Kuroko reminded himself that was then, this is now. You're no longer a small kid. Kuroko and Akashi were surround by Akashi's loyal vassal, the miracles. Akashi who could not tolerate the nasty food of humans made from livestock, Murasakibara Atsushi had taken charge of dealing with business and everything related to food. The miracles were fully aware and had experienced first-hand that displeasing Akashi means a total destruction of the world. An apocalypse would befall humanity, the devil would curse the humans to their infinity of sufferings, with no endings.