Note: So I rewrite this chapter again and again and again and again and again and well, I'm still not satisfied with how it turns out. It just doesn't feel right to me :s But, uh, I don't want to make you wait any longer, so there you go, guys!

Sorry if you find some (or probably a lot of) mistakes and errors in this one. I have done a quick check, but maybe I still miss some of them T-T

Enjoy!

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Kuji

Chapter 2

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It clearly was not the torture chamber that he was expecting. Neither was it near any cliff or ocean he previously imagined. The place might be a bit creepy and too old-fashioned for his taste, but the student model had learned to appreciate beauty in its many forms.

The place they took him was an old Japanese mansion which might as well as belong to a conservation area with its looming tori, hundreds of staircases, and its enormous size alone. And the forest… Kise blinked at the lush greenery of his surrounding, wondering if they were indeed still in Tokyo as Akashi had said. Because, honestly, he had never seen a place like this anywhere Tokyo or other nearby cities.

"A-re~ Where are we again, Midorimacchi?" Flashing a cheerful smile, it was the usual chirpy Kise Ryouta who had once again made his appearance.

A green-haired boy, the so-called Midorimacchi, made a low disgruntled noise and pinched the bridge of his nose against the incoming headache. Chirpy Kise was a noisy Kise, and noisy Kise was very much an annoyance to deal with. It was just his luck that somehow he and Kuroko have been roped into babysitting Kise while Murasakibara and Aomine were sent off to check out the perimeter. The bespectacled boy scoffed. Those two were getting it easy. There was virtually nothing to do as Akashi must have double-checked everything even before he decided to accept the job.

But then, Akashi himself had reasoned that the two powerhouse weren't really good in dealing with delicate matters and thus should avoid them as not to complicate everything. Still, he was certain that accompanying Akashi and facing the likely panicked and desperate clients instead—

(—"She just stares at the wall and talks to herself. Always she talks to herself, always reading my thoughts and putting images in my head. Sometimes she even talks about killing me! That girl is possessed I tell you, she must be possessed by a demon which needs to be done away with!"

"Dear, please calm down. We don't want our guests to—"

"Calm down?! How could I be calm when my baby is possessed by a demon. My baby, my Setsuna, my precious girl—")

—will be much better than staying with his chatterbox of a teammate.

"Ne, Midorimacchi, answer me~"

"We're in one of the Kikkawa properties in Tokyo. This place was built in the early 1800s and sat on a five hectares of land, the main house alone span a quarter of a million square feet. Three stories in height and constructed with an eye toward defense and security, it was built in a traditional Japanese feudal style. The heavy wooden beams and curved arches clearly defined them. Now, do I have to continue explaining or would you stay silent and let me walk in peace?"

"No, but you don't have to be so mean about it," the blond responded with an obvious pout, "Kurokocchi is much better than Midorimacchi..."

The sharp-shooter twitched in annoyance, "Then just stay with Kuroko and stop bothering me!"

The trio walked in silence then, with Midorima leading the group, trying to put as much as a distance less he gave into his urge to strangle certain yellow idiot, and a sulking Kise clinging to Kuroko, complaining about a meany green monster along the way. They stopped just outside white sliding doors, a familiar feature in a traditional house such as this one. Midorima slowly opened them, letting a small sliver of the room exposed to them. Kuroko stood as silent as ever, however Kise unconsciously flinched back as he felt something unpleasant coming from the room.

The maleficent aura was thick and dangerous, its presence making the blond shiver and dig his nails onto his fists to keep back from giving in to the instinct to run away from whatever danger hidden inside. "Kurokocchi..." He stated lowly, entire body shaking with the resistance.

The paler boy looked at him and nodded. "Kise-kun, if it's too much you can wait outside," He stated in a calm, soft voice. Instead of accepting his instructor's offer, Kise shook his head savagely.

Midorima's brows came furrowed, a scowl working on his lips. "What a fool. This aura is having an affect on you and it's not a positive one. You should quit before you do something incredibly foolish." His voice was more demanding, more of a barked order than a suggestion for the blond's own safety. Though his face painted a mask of a harsh boy ordering another out of annoyance Kise could see the thin film of worry for his well being coating the dark green eyes of the other male.

"Thank you, Midorimacchi~ But I'll be okay because I have Kurokocchi beside me! Right, Kurokocchi?"

"I politely decline."

"How mean!"

"Be quiet, you two!"

"Mido-chin, you are so noisy. Aka-chin is going to be angry if you make him wait too long." came a lazy drawl of one purple-haired giant. He was holding the door wide open with one hand, while his other was gripping a bag of marshmallow. Somewhere behind him, the trio could hear a loud yawn amongst hushed conversation and panicked voices.

Midorima didn't bother to respond and simply made his way inside, ignoring Kise's surprised squeak of "Eh, Aominecchi is already here? Then we are really late, aren't we?!" as he and Kuroko followed after him.

The room was spacious, very much so, that it could probably house more than twenty adult males with no problem. Murasakibara and Aomine were stationed near the door and open windows for obvious reason. Kise, apparently on Kuroko's order, also chose to stand somewhere close to the door, with the said blunette on his right. Then Akashi, who was accompanying the Kikkawa, was standing near the center of the room, a good distance away from the figure lying on the futon. Midorima made a quick, throughout assessment of the situation before immediately setting on his task.

The figure on the futon, Setsuna Kikkawa, was definitely worse for wear. Her eyes were wide open, unblinking and unmoving, with what appeared to be a murky substance covering the true color from view. Her hair was a typical shade of dark brown and in a desperate needing of a long wash. Her body was frail and seemed to be nothing more than bones with a white sheet wrapped snugly around the bones. Her mouth was partially open and a soft rasping noise echoed in the small space as she tried to take in air. Her chest heaved and shook with the efforts she was making, trying to live despite her condition.

Used to this occurred, none of the group even battled an eyelid at the girl's condition—except one. Kise shuffled closer to Kuroko, drawing comfort from the male's familiar presence. This small gesture didn't escape a certain red gaze. Akashi glanced at them from the corner of his eyes before turning to their client who were looking at the frail girl worriedly. "Please head outside. We can't risk the demon jumping in to another body before it can be destroyed," he explained smoothly, moving fluidly to usher them outside.

The Kikkawa gave a last, worried look at the peculiar group and their beloved daughter before heading out of the room.

Kise had waited until the couple had exited, soft padded sound of their steps fading with the distance, before turning back to stare at the two figures in the center of the room. Midorima had remained calm and collected as he unwrapped the strange brown package he'd been carrying the whole time. Twin ambers observed how his green-haired teammate set some kinds of trinkets—another of his lucky item collection?—around the sickly-looking girl they supposed to 'heal' and sprinkled herbs? Flowers? They smelt nice though. Before he performed a series of chants, which unlike the night before, seemed to be longer and carried more weight—

"God of Breezes, let the sin and impurity be banished to the roots of the world underground."

—a banishment spell Kuroko called them. Quite useful in getting rid of evil taints in one's soul.

That's when he saw it. In the middle of Midorima's chanting, he finally spotted something like a black mist coming from the supposedly unconscious girl. He blinked and again and again. But the mist was still here, growing larger by seconds.

Was he even supposed to see it?

"What is that?" Kise finally asked to whoever felt like answering him, pointing to where the mist gathered into a hazy, dark figure above the unconscious girl. It appeared to be human-like creature with pale skin and tattered black clothes which looked around the room haughtily, and as it turned its eerie yellow eyes at them, he could see that its flesh was not pale but the grey of death and smelled heavily of decay.

It stopped just then, a gleam on its eyes, scornful at the blessed human who had forced it from its hiding spot. A grin blossomed on its rotting lips, whispering with a voice like rustling paper right in their ears.

"That's an Amanojaku, Kise-kun."

"Amano-what?"

"Amanojaku. It was one of many types of demons that provoke humans into acting upon the wicked, impious desires buried deep within their hearts. They spread spiritual pollution wherever they go. Prolonged exposure usually results in failing health and even death."

"Seriously?!"

The blunette managed an almost absent-minded nod, "It was written in the tale of Uriko Hime." He glanced and regarded the scowl in certain Ace's face. Aomine had been looking forward for some action, but now it seemed impossible with how things turned out. Midorima's affinity made him the perfect choice in dealing with an Amanojaku, "It was unfortunate that it wasn't a Gaki like what Aomine-kun thought."

"Huh?"

"As you blow the clouds in the sky, blow away all evil. Oh breeze. May this breeze be the breath of God. May the will of God tie you, bind you, and restrain you now. May the law of God seal you for eternity. Submit, demon!"

As the chant finally came to an end, the jarring impact from the banishment caused the already frail girl to shake and scream uncontrollably. She screamed with all her might, unseen eyes welling with bitter tears. A few slipped down her pale cheeks. Yet, a certain light-haired blunette could see that even with Midorima's spell, the demon had not dissipated completely. Its furious, burning gaze was scanning the room looking for a way to escape, to lead him away from the puny humans who actually possessed the power to banish him for good.

The Phantom player watched how the gaze zeroed on the partly open shoji door, body angled to the point of ready to bolt at moment notice.

And there's someone standing directly in its path, everyone's attention diverted to the still screaming woman and not at the demon that's about to escape and potentially harmed one of their own.

On instinct, Kuroko rushed forward.

"Kise-kun, watch out!"

The blond stood frozen for a moment before survival instinct took over and his hands moved on their own accord. Left hand raised with only index and middle fingers up and pressed together while the right drawn a five point star, Kise murmured the word he just heard the night before, "Bind."

Surprise crossed over everyone's face as a transparent thread momentarily coiled around the fleeing demon, stopping its movement for precious seconds before vanishing completely.

However, seconds were all they needed as chains shout out of nowhere to capture the demon and a barrier to be placed around the shaking model. Midorima immediately murmured another, stronger banishing spells to ward off the demon for good. He, together with his rainbow-colored companions, didn't even wait for the demon to truly disappear before rushing to the blond's side. Kise was crying as he held into what could be described as small scraps of burnt paper.

"What's wrong, Kise-kun?"

The copycat launched himself at the blunette and began crying anew, "Ku-kurokocchi, I'm sorrrryyyyy..." sob "I don't know what happened, but—" sob "—but your gift suddenly turns out like this when I look at it. Sorrryyyyy... Huwaaaa..."

"My gift? Ah, you mean the charm—

("Kise-kun, please hold into this."

"Eh?" The blond gingerly accepted the paper and studied it curiously. It looked a normal slip of paper to him, only one with a messy handwriting on it. "What is this, Kurokocchi?"

"An ofuda. It'd offer some protection to you, Kise-kun. So please hold into it all time."

Kise literally sparkled as he flew to hug his dear instructor, "Kurokocchi really cares about me! Thank you, Kurokocchi! I'd treasure it! When I get home, I'd put it in a frame and place it on my bedside. This way I can look at your precious gift every day! It'd be the last thing I see at night and the first in the morning so so—"

"Kise-kun, it'd be useless if you only put it on your room."

"But, but Kurokocchi—"

"Oi, you two, hurry up! Midorima is getting bitchy waiting over you."

There was an indignant sputter and absolute objection coming from the sharp shooter before the sound of bickering started once again.

Kuroko sighed as he began to walk towards the direction of his teammates. Those two wouldn't stop before someone (literally) knocked some sense into them. "Let's go, Kise-kun."

"Okay, Kurokocchi~")

—that I gave you before?"

At the vigorous nod Kise gave him, the blunette smiled.

"Please don't trouble yourself. The charm has served its purpose, Kise-kun."

"Eh?"

"Idiot!" Aomine bonked the blond's head, face set in displeased scowl. "Stop making such a ruckus over nothing! Someone may though you're dying or something, you dumb model!"

"That hurts, Aominecchi!" Kise yelped, hands flying to the top of his head, which had just received a thundering chop.

"Serves you right, idiot."

"Not you too, Midorimacchi!"

"Mine-chin and Mido-chin are worried about you, Kise-chin."

"What?! No!"

"Stop saying nonsense, Murasakibara!"

"Aww...Don't be shy Aominecchi, Midorimacchi. I love you too~"

And with that, chaos ensued as Aomine tried to strangle Kise who zigzagged and hided behind Murasakibara and Kuroko, while a red-faced Midorima was busy harrumphing and mumbling denials about caring for good for nothing idiot like Kise.

Apparently used to such scene, Akashi turned to face their clients, who had immediately rushed back at hearing their daughter's scream, and murmured an apology for the inconvenience they caused. Yes, they have got rid of the evil which had plagued their daughter. And yes, it wouldn't come back anytime soon. They should consult 'Midorima-kun' about what kind of spells and wards they had to set up in the future. It was fortunate that they could help. Yes, it'd be a pleasure to work with the esteemed Kikkawa family again. And thank you, they'd very much appreciate their kind words and recommendation for the Generation of Miracles.

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The group filled out in a single file as they descended the long staircases that connected the Kikkawa Household to the outside world.

After waiting for Midorima to finish explaining the protection spells and wards to their clients, they were finally able to leave just as dusk slowly blended into night.

Aomine stretched out and yawned loudly for all to see. A certain greenete twitched in annoyance as he witnessed such ungodly behavior from his supposed teammate. "That makes me so damn tired. I just want to go home and sleep."

"That's strange how you can be tired when you have done nothing but loitering around today."

Aomine waved his hand carelessly, tuning out Midorima as he was too lazy to deal with him now. "Oi, Tetsu. You coming over today? With you around, Satsuki won't try poisoning me with her cooking."

"In that case, I politely decline your offer, Aomine-kun."

"Eh, where is Momoicchi again? She comes here with us right?"

"I'm hungry~ Ne, Kuro-chin, do you have any food with you?"

"No, I don't, Murasakibara-kun."

"Stop butting into my conversation you lots!"

"Mou, you're so noisy, Aominecchi! Don't hog Kurokocchi all for yourself!"

"Why you little—"

As the quartet continued their one-way bickering, their last two members were still lagging behind. Midorima turned to find the small redhead stop at the top steps, head angled to the side as if he was listening to something unseen. "Akashi?"

"Go back with the others, Shintarou. I have something to take care first."

The bespectacled boy offered him a brief nod, knowing better not to question the newly dubbed captain, and walked away to join the group below. "Don't take too long. There are some matters we need to settle tonight."

Akashi chuckled, "Of course, Shintarou."

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As the last green of Midorima's hair finally faded into distance, Akashi crossed the steps and entered the forest that surrounded the Kikkawa property. Walking a few distance away from the main road, he stopped at a clearing which was quite spacious and cleverly hidden from view by any innocent bystander.

Deemed the place to be acceptable, the redhead completed a simple hand gesture and muttered a quite command: Release.

In a glance, it might look like nothing happened. But upon closer inspection, one would see the air shimmer ever so slightly before accumulating and twisting dangerously as in a vortex.

A hunching, burned figure was suddenly dropped out of nowhere at the snap of the redhead fingers.

It coughed while attempting to glare hatefully at the smirking human, "What did you do to me, human?!"

"Concealment. You should be thankful it saved you from excruciating death back here."

The demon, yes it was the same Amanojaku the group supposedly banished a few moments ago, had a hunch that death was much better option than dealing with the red-haired human before him. Unlike others, this human gave it shivers and raised all sorts of warning vibes within it. Its instinct was screaming to flee, to get away from the dangerous creature. But its pride—or was it fear?—prevented the demon from moving even an inch. It finally settled on glaring and spitting in disdain at the red human, "I don't need your help, mortal!"

The teen looked unmoved, yet his eyes narrowed slightly. "Don't lie to me. I acknowledge your ability, but let me give you a warning." Akashi walked closer to his prey, placing his foot against the creature's bony wrist and digging his heel onto them, putting more pressure and twisting motions as he spoke, "The only ones who are allowed to look me in the eyes are the ones who serve me." A quiet hiss echoing through the otherwise empty forest, yet neither of the two moved. "None that opposes me is allowed to look down on me."

A sharp crack, and a piercing scream bounced off the clearing.

"Learn your place," Akashi announced, watching how pitiful of a sight the demon made, previously so fearsome and intimidating to the Kikkawa.

"I would give you an offer, demon. Pledge your allegiance and serve under my name, or choose death by my hand." It might be a trick of the lights but for a moment, the demon swore he saw the human left eye turned liquid gold, almost resembling its own, before fading back to bloody crimson. "Should you betray or deceive me, I can assure you your death will not be swift and pleasant."

Choose.

"I—" the Amanojaku closed its mouth as the red gaze narrowed dangerously and then it lowered its eyes. "As you wish, my…Lord." It hissed out, nearly gagging on the word. Demons was not meant to be submissive like this, especially not to some puny humans! But it had never been so scared or humiliated in its life, much less both at the same time! This human, the red human boy who reeked of murky water and thunderstorm, was different.

"Then I, Seijuuro of Akashi, will accept everything from that heart dyed with darkness."

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End of Chapter 2

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RnR, please?