Mayuzumi slowly turned around and forced the bubbles of fear beginning to tickle the pit of his stomach. He purposely shattered the fearful ice crawling up his limbs and forced himself to look at the intruder.

Simply said, it definitely wasn't what he was expecting.

Smoky eyes and rouge lips were what he first noticed. Then his eyes travelled down and noticed the barely concealed torso dressed in a maroon leather corset. Full, perky breasts were on blatant display to whoever passed by. A black thong and spiked black garter belts were visible through a transparent piece of fabric lazily tied around her hips as if it was there for a formality rather than any actual use. Tall, black heeled combat boots rose all the way to her knees and a scarlet red whip wrapped skillfully around her waist completed the look.

Immediately Mayuzumi's eyes widened as his brain took a few moments too long to process what he was seeing. Turning beet red, he snapped his eyes straight to the floor. His ears were burning for and his brain sputtered around in the pseudo tsunami of confusion, embarrassment and slight shame.

The woman in the other hand seemed nonchalant of her outfit. Instead her voice seemed desperate for a different reason.

"Oh thank goodness, a person! Can you please tell me wher-"

A blank look passed over the strange woman's features. The confusion and terror that once was present in her eyes disappeared. Now, a barely concealed veil of suspicion and an unknown emotion laid hidden behind false lashes.

Concerned, Mayuzumi lifted his eyes from the floor and used all of his willpower to keep focus just on her face. He dared to step slightly closer.

"Excuse me miss, but do you know where you are?"

She didn't supply a response. Her eyes raked over his figure, as if looking for something.

"Miss? Do you remember where you're from?"

A frown decorated her face.

Mayuzumi took another step closer, eye wary on the whip.

"Miss? I cannot help you if you do not ans-"

"Would you, perchance, be wearing any red on you?"

"What?" Surprised by the sudden question, Mayuzumi stepped back instinctively. He was confused by the sudden change in her voice. Only a few moments earlier she was near hysterics, scared by what Mayuzumi assumed was the unfamiliar setting. Now, steeled constants were formed around icy vowels, spilling deceptively smooth from her plump lips.

The doctor noted the change in her voice and calmly shifted, all the slightly, into a more defensive position. He's been in too many similar situations to not be cautious.

"No, as of this moment, I am not wearing any red,"

Her voice was becoming more and more distant with every word that left her mouth.

"Any pinks? Sunset Orange?"

Mayuzumi began to step back slowly. He wanted to close the telephone case and relock it, but was afraid the sudden movement would startle the woman. He was aware of the despondency creeping into the crevices of her face. With each question she was slowly becoming more robotic.

"No, may I inquire why you ask?"

Her voice was practically monotone, face impassive and expressionless.

"By the Almighty decree and wishes of the Red Queen, in accordance with the Third Law of the Red Palace, Article Two, Line Eight in the Establishment of Staffing Regulations and Responsibilities, I am entitled to act. All those who bear not the color of the sovereign are to be immediately removed from the premises, or if deemed fixable, given time to correct the error and don the color."

All of a sudden, the scantily clad woman before him morphed into a terrifying creature. Pupils turned slate red and the whites of her eyes turned neon green, the sickening sound of bones breaking and reforming crackled through the air as her limbs grew longer and thinner. She lowered down to all fours, her torso stretching out into a unproportioned stick and her waist dwindling down to the width of rope. Cheekbones jutted out dangerously as her face slowly elongated, jaw unhinging to a terrifying constantly open state and nose being reduced to nothing but two open slits. She appeared more spider than anything else, but even a tarantula couldn't compare to how utterly ghastly and horrifying the creature she had turn into appeared.

"Shall I f-fix yo-ou?"

XXXXXXX

A dull throb echoed in the back of Kuroko skull, the constantly screaming in the cafeteria not helping. The blunette picked at the already small amount of food sitting on his plate. He was hungry, sure, but the slight queasiness accompanying the headache made him hesitate on consuming anything.

"Are you not hungry?"

Kuroko looked into the heterochromatic eyes of Akashi, unconsciously sitting up straighter. He looked down at the redhead's plate along with everyone else's to find they were almost finished, much unlike his own.

"It appears not,"

Akashi frowned slightly. "Appetite or not, you should still eat Tetsuya. You're still recovering and by not eating, it will only prolong the healing process," His eyes softened. "Would you like me to go to the cook to get you something else?"

Eyes whipping up, Kuroko stared at the other for a few seconds before shaking his head. "No Sei, I'm just not hungry. It's not the food. I'll eat something later,"

"Is your stomach unwell?"

Kuroko sighed. "No, I really am just not hungry." The throbbing increased a notch as soon as the lie left his lips, but thankfully the churning in his stomach had died down.

"Are you certain?"

"Quite."

"Then I shall bring you something to eat later,"

Kuroko's eyes widened a fraction. "That isn't necessary Seijuurou. I can get it myself later on easily,"

"It wasn't up for discussion Tetsuya,"

Said male pouted, if only slightly. Akashi found the action endearing.

"I don't want to be a burden..."

Kuroko didn't mean for anyone else to hear that, hoping the surrounding noise would drown out his muttering.

Of course it didn't.

Akashi sneakily wove a hand around Kuroko's waist and suddenly pulled him closer. The surprised squeak emitted from Tetsuya's lips made the redhead's own pair quirk up.

"With the amount of food you eat, me carrying a meal to you would be anything but a burden love," The redhead removed his arm from around the blunette. Instead he chose to interlace their fingers beneath the tables. "I never want you to think that, understood? You will never be a burden, and those who think so clearly don't deserve to exist."

Kuroko huffed, but the rosiness of his cheeks along with the smile fighting its way onto his face spoke more than his actions.

"That's rather extreme Seijuurou. Everyone is entitled to their opinions,"

Akashi simply hummed. "Well then, their opinion is flawed. After all," He brought their enclosed hands closer to his lap, forcing Kuroko to unintentionally lean towards the smirking redhead. "Akashis are always right,"

Kuroko resisted the urge to roll his eyes and forced his cheeks to settle, slowly changing back into their usual paleness.

Kise cooed from across the table, having watched the whole exchange.

"I never thought I'd say this to Akashicchi, but you two are such a cute couple!"

Momoi decided to join the squealing blonde. "When do you two finally start going out? Has it been hush hush for a while or did you guys just get together?" The pinkette pouted and crossed her arms, laying her head down onto the shoulder of Kise who was seated to her right. "I didn't even know about it before hand!"

"I mean, everyone had their suspicions," continued Kise. "But we just, you know, never actually thought it was a thing,"

Momoi shot her hand up. "I just wanted to say that I've supported it since the beginning! I noticed it first; therefore I get credit for this!"

Kise freed his shoulder from underneath her head, looking at her with horror. "Now wait a minute, I was the one who pointed it out to you in the first place all those years ago!"

"I already knew then, you just confirmed that I wasn't delusional,"

"How do I know you're not lying!? And I knew before too you know! It just took me a while to finally say it to someone else,"

"Wait, Kuroko is dating Akashi!?"

Everyone looked at Kagami.

Kise just stared at him in disbelief. "Did you seriously not know that?"

Kagami awkwardly scratched his head. "Was I supposed to?"

"No, seriously," this time it was Aomine who butted in. "We're you not paying attention when we were in the infirmary? Even I would've realized if I didn't know before,"

Kagami sputtered. "I thought they were really good friends! You can't blame me, this is-" he lowered his voice, "this is Akashi we're talking about here."

"That's rather rude if you Kagami-kun," The said male tensed at the sound of Akashi's voice. "I do believe I am rather pleasant on the eyes-"

"Not on the soul," muttered Aomine.

"-and it should be perfectly possible for me to have a partner. Now that's not saying I would just choose anyone, isn't that right Tetsuya,"

Lifting an eyebrow, Kuroko sent a blank to Akashi. "Now why would you ask me?"

Akashi smiled slightly. "You seem to be the appropriate person to ask,"

"I'd prefer to stay out of this conversation,"

"Buuuut Kurokocchi, you're vital in order to have proper gossip! There's no one better than you for the juicy details! Well maybe Kurocchi." Turning his head around a few times, Kise frowned. "Speaking of which, where is Kurocchi?"

Kuroko was silently thankful for the topic change. "He wanted to go lie down for a little, so he's back in our room."

"Is he okay?"

Kuroko nodded. "Yes, just tired."

"Young infants and toddlers are highly recommended to have frequent naps due to the high energy demands of early growth spurts," piped in Midorima.

Kise hummed, not having really paid attention to what was being said.

"He's your younger second cousin you said?"

Kuroko tilted his head to the side, confused. "Yes, why do you ask?"

Kise waved his hands frantically in front of him once he noticed the look Akashi shot at him. "I don't mean anything by it! I was just curious if you knew why he was here!" The blonde then realized how insensitively he was asking. "No, shoot, I didn't mean to be that forward. I mean if you don't want to tell, I completely understand, you don-"

"I don't know."

"-t have to for-, wait what?"

Kuroko shrugged. "I don't know why specifically he is here. I have a pretty good idea why, but even I am not sure why he stays here,"

It's better to tell a distorted truth rather than a complete lie, isn't it? True, Kuroko did know the base reason of why Kuro was here. But what he didn't know was why Kuro was staying. Yes, he took into account of the fact he was injured and they still had the unknown object that got tossed into a portal; however none of these would be reason enough for Kuro to stay out in the open and allow strangers to see and interact with him. There was a larger reason for Kuro being so insistent of staying with Kuroko, the latter just didn't know yet.

But that didn't mean he didn't have his suspicions.

The throbbing began to pulse insistently against his skull.

"It's not something he talks about and I don't want to push him." Kuroko's eyes softened. "He's still so innocent…"

Kise scoffed. "He might've been innocent. But that beloved purity has unfortunately left us, no thanks to a certain aho."

Momoi giggled quietly to herself as Aomine tensed in his seat.

"It was an accident okay, sheesh, I said I was sorry. He was going to find out one way or another,"

Despite the coolness and hardness of Aomine's words, the small beads of sweat beginning to drip from his brow and flittering eyes spoke the opposite. While an angry Kise wasn't as terrifying as an angry Akashi, he came close.

Akashi was more of a silent anger type, probably the most frightening in Aomine's opinion. Kise was the opposite. He, more like Aomine, had loud and explosive anger that would push him to pass limits of standard civilized people. Kise had a nifty gift, something that probably developed naturally, even before the blonde got his power. He could analyze anyone to the smallest emotional thread. Kise claimed he was a model and celebrity of sorts before coming to the institution, and the knack only grew in potential as he reflected what he saw his fans wanting him to do. It could've been classified as a power in itself, and some doctors did consider it as part of his main power. After all, the abilities to copy someone's emotions and their appearance truly worked hand in hand.

Kuroko smiled softly to himself as the two idiots began to fight (again). As expected, Kagami was dragged into the battle, and like that, the Three Stooges had assembled. Himuro shared Tetsuya's intention of watching the fight, a soft affection obvious in the ravenette's eyes. Obvious to Murasakibara as well because for the next three minutes Himuro had to continuously convince the giant not to throw his cupcakes that the Three Stooges just because they were being too loud.

With only an increasingly painful headache, Kuroko figured it wouldn't hurt to try to eat a little. At first he was worried the headache was a result of something happening to the wound in his head, but the uneasiness still settling in his stomach and uncoordinated bouts of pain said otherwise.

He reached for his fork that laid adjacent to his plate, but stiffened as a distinctive sharp pierced and thrusted through his brain. He immediately closed his eyes and grimaced as subtly as he could. He noticed his hand was still suspended above his fork and quickly moved it back to his side. Blinking furiously, Kuroko hoped the pain would subside.

The chattering of the cafeteria and the yells of Aomine, Kise and Kagami slowly faded in a quiet background buzz. A pulsing drum pounded incessantly in Kuroko's ears and he couldn't help but wince as each beat of the drum sent a severe wave of pain clenching throughout his skull. It was as if somebody was slamming against the side of his skull like a door, begging to get out.

Much to Kuroko's chagrin, the pulsing and pounding only increased the more he waited.

"-ay? Kurokocchi?"

The faint voice of Kise floated through the haze of pain and Kuroko forced himself to focus back to the present. It took a while, but soon the cacophony of the cafeteria became louder and louder, like someone turning up a dial, and when Kuroko opened his eyes (which he didn't realize he had closed), he was back at the table surrounded by familiar faces.

"Kurokocchi?"

Kuroko weakly blinked and looked up to face the blonde.

"I'm sorry," the soft whisper was almost lost in the surrounding conversation, but definitely caught the attention of Kise and Akashi. "I seemed to have spaced out for a moment, do you mind repeating that Kise-kun?"

The said male looked worriedly at the pale blunette. The faintest undertone of pain audible in his voice was contrasting to the blank poker face Kuroko usually donned.

"I asked if you wear okay, you were wincing slightly earlier,"

"I'm fi-" Kuroko's response was abruptly cut off as the throbbing and hodgepodge occurring in his head suddenly doubled in intensity. He immediately recoiled into himself, bringing his head down into his arms as his hands tried uselessly to massage his temples.

"Tetsuya!"

"Kurokocchi!"

"Onii-sama!"

Kuroko lifted his eyes up the slightest fraction at the sound of Kuro's frantic voice. Through his restricted vision, the blunette made out a small body running towards him.

A pair of short slim arms gently wrapped themselves around Kuroko, a soft voice gently whispering reassurances. Beat by beat, the drum quieted down until is was nothing more than a soft patter.

"Onii-sama,"

Kuroko took a few feels breaths before looking up into their gent eyes of Kuro.

"S-Something," he managed to croak out before clearing his throat. Kuro quickly picked up his cup of water and tenderly handed it to the other. "Something has passed through, hasn't it?"

Kuro only nodded.

"Did you let anything through?"

Kuro shook his head. "No Onii-sama, that's why I came to see you. I hoped you had,"

The gravity of the situation suddenly hit Kuroko. An unknown object (or worse, creature) had managed to cross portals and come into the Default Realm. The likelihood of a patient or staff encountering it was too high for comfort. What if they got hurt? What if the object or creature let out too much information about the other realms!?

"Onii-sama,"

Snapping out of the reverie, Kuroko looked at Kuro and they both shared the same thought.

They needed to destroy whatever has passed over.

And find out how it passed over.

XXXXXXX

"Please, she's missing, you have to at least put up a poster or write a file, right?"

The chubby man sitting behind the glass panel sighed, his cheeks and nose rosy from the drunken high he was still on.

*"Lookie here missus. Yer friiiend has provaply either gun onna out of palace call, oooooooor jus' haven't said "yello" to ya yet. Ya don't hafta to scream saying she be missin'. Ya got nun proof!"

"But-"

**"Besiiiiiiiiides," the portly man took another or whatever poison swished around in his dirty tin flask. "Tis not unusual forra whore ta disappear for an undefined amount of time. They alllways come back, one way or another. This," he pointed a stubby finger at the base of his neck. " makes sure of it,"

The girl unconsciously used her hand to cup around the base of her own neck, where the invisible brand laid. Every new employee in the Red Palace was always given a tattoo or brand as proof of their employment and loyalty to the Queen. She still remember the day she was branded with the logo of rose vines curled around a large letter "R". Yes, it was painful, but after a day, the brand disappeared, along with the lingering throbs.

But one of the main reason all the whores and sexual workers of the Red Palace were branded was so they couldn't run away. The minute they tried to leave without permission, their brand would begin to tingle and the further they went, the more the brand would sizzle until it reappeared in all its burning glory. Not too long after, the palace guards, the Cards, would come to pick up the runner and she or he would be put on trial.

Almost always someone lost their head.

***"Ther hasn't been a reportin with th' Cardies, so she haven't gun far. How 'boot you look 'round more befor ya come squabbling at meh, okay Candy gal?"

"But I have looked! I went through every nook and cranny, squeezed through every crevice and niche in this whole palace! She isn't anywhere! And she has customers with appointments planned already! Why would a dominatrix make appointments if she planned to run away or disappear to somewhere in this whole godamn palace that I haven't already checked!?"

The man rolled his eyes and sharply slammed the small mouth hole of the glass box he sat in.

"Hey! This is your job! You're supposed to help-"

The shutters clattered as the man shoved them down and flipped the "open" sign to "closed".

Huffing in exasperation, the girl walked around in angry circles before a mischievous gleam sparkled in her eyes. She looked inside the small clutch she brought with her. Turning the contents over a few times, she pulled a deep red lipstick out from the small purse. She smirked as she uncapped it, letting it weave and painted the glass box in front of her. Vulgar word after another slowly covered the box, along with the occasional secret and dirt she already knew about the man inside the box.

She also pulled out a tiny bottle of pepper spray disguised as a vial of perfume. Quietly she cleared her throat a few times before gently knocking on the glass.

"We're closed!"

Forcing her voice up an octave, she purposely donned her service mindset and let the sickly sweet words flow out effortlessly.

"Oh, golly, that's too bad. I was going g to ask if anyone had seen, say, a stolen pair of lingerie,"

It was an old trick and painfully obvious, but when you worked as the lost and found attendant in a pleasure palace, you run into all sorts of situations. While the girl and the drunken man were arguing she could tell he was vilely looking her up and down, perversely focusing on her womanly assets.

"Sorry missy, but we're closed,"

She wanted to snicker at the waver in his voice. "Aaaaaw. Rat patooie, that's too bad. I didn't even get to stop back at the lounge for another pair. I came down the moment I couldn't find them. I wore them for a client earlier and when I was cleaning up, I just couldn't find them. Thank goodness there aren't a lot of people at this hour, right? Imagine all those who would try to sneak a peek at my precious flower and breasts."

"T-that's q-quite fortunate,"

"Are you certain you haven't gotten anything with it?"

"I'll check for ya missy. J-jus' wait a moment,"

"Okay~"

Waiting a couple of seconds, she intentionally dropped the empty lipstick near the glass.

"Oops. I dropped it,"

She waited.

No sound.

She continued.

"Aw, darn, where it could it have gone? Maybe if I go on my knees I will find it faster…"

She hovered around the covered mouth hole and moved her foot around a few times to make it sound like she really was searching. Sure enough, a few seconds later, the cover quietly was slid away and curious eyes looked around for the erotic view.

Instead, he got an eyeful of pepper spray.

The girl cackled and threw the lipstick away in a nearby trash can, leaving the screeching man behind her. She put the pepper spray back into her clutch and sauntered back towards the lounge. Adjusting her pink, five inches too short dress and reapplying a layer of glossy cotton candy lip gloss, the candy girl couldn't help but worry even more.

"Where are you Elaina?"

XXXXXXX

"Tetsuya! Where are you going!?"

Kuroko resisted the urge to stop running and explain the situation to the red head that was chasing after him. Kuro glanced behind them and narrowed his eyes when he saw Akashi easily catching up. The small boy was tempted to somehow deter the pursuing male, but alas, Kuro made a promise to Kuroko not to hurt his friends and lover.

About to voice his concern, Kuro didn't have time as Kuroko suddenly wasn't running beside him anymore. He skidded to a halt and whipped around, snarling at the scene before him.

"Tell me, what's wrong!"

Akashi was holding Kuroko by the wrist, a visibly tight grip preventing the latter from any chance of escape. Kuro's eyes zeroed in on the vice like grip of Akashi, waiting.

Waiting for him to slip.

Waiting for him to take it one step too far.

Waiting for an excuse for Kuro to cut him down.

Kuroko, shocked, was about to pull away when he felt the animosity seeping from Kuro's body. He spared a glance to the smaller's direction and frowned when he saw bared teeth and poised hands.

He was waiting for an opportunity to strike.

He traced Kuro's eyes and found them focused on the pale white hand of Akashi dangerously gripping his wrist. Immediately he stepped closer to the redhead and focused solely on him. Kuro was viewing Akashi as a threat and unless Kuroko explained and got Akashi to let him go by his own will, the likelihood of Kuro stepping was too high to risk it.

"Seijuurou," he murmured, eyes slowly looking up to gaze at the questioning red and gold pair staring down at him. "Please, I promise to explain everything to you later, but there is something I urgently need to be. Please, let me go."

Akashi frowned. "No, not until you tell me what is going on right now,"

A loud snarl was heard and both Kuroko and Akashi looked up to see Kuro glaring at them, his body slowly heading into all fours, like a wild beast barely being contained.

Akashi narrows his eyes in response. "Tetsuya, what is happenin-"

Kuroko used almost all his strength to forcible turn him and Akashi around so that the latter couldn't see Kuro.

"Something very bad is about to happen Seijuurou, a danger no one but Kuro and I know how to deal with. If we leave it be, something will go terribly wrong, or worse, someone will undoubtedly die. I need to go now."

"But your headache, the pain-"

"It's all part of my power!"

Akashi almost took a step back, surprised by the sudden yelling.

"It's part of my power, and if I don't do anything, everything will be on my hands! I don't want-"

Kuroko sighed, suddenly tired. "I don't want to be the reason someone gets hurt," it was silent a few moments, only the sound of Kuro's impatient and unpleasant growling in the background.

"Very well,"

Kuroko have the other a relieved smile.

"But only if I come with you,"

Kuro released a cry in protest but Kuroko ignored him.

"Okay Seijuurou, but you must promise me that not matter what happens, you will do as I ask."

Akashi tensed, the condition not sitting well with him. It might've been just him but the faintest sound of snickering was heard from the beast waiting behind the two of them. Kuroko noticed this and softened, raising his free hand to gently cup Akashi's cheek.

"I need to trust that you will follow this promise just as much as I need you to trust in me."

Raising himself up to his tippy toes, Kuroko leaned forward, his breath just barely fanning against the shell of Akashi's ear.

"Do you trust me Seijuurou?"

Said male stiffened at the pleasurable sensation, his mind temporarily forgetting his worries and unconsciously began to relax. He snapped back to reality and released a strained sigh.

"I do."

Kuroko plopped back onto his feet and smile gently at Akashi. He pecked the other's lips softly before stepping back and walking back to Kuro.

"Let's go,"

Akashi nodded, noting how serious Kuroko's face had become.

Kuro, obviously, wasn't happy with this arrangement and was about to complain when Kuroko quickly sent him a look.

Shivering and standing up straight immediately, Kuro shot Akashi a dirty glare before taking the lead once again, leading the two to where the disturbance laid.

Kuroko was panting slightly, his stamina almost completely drained despite the pathetic amount of time and distance he's actually run. Akashi smirked and without a second thought, picked up the huffing blunette bridal style with ease.

"We wouldn't want you fainting before getting there, would we love?"

Kuroko freely blushed and simply wrapped his arms around Akashi's neck, hiding his red face.

Quietly the blunette prayed that they would make it in time, the dread menacingly lurking in the pit of his stomach.

He hoped they weren't too late..

XXXXXXX

I bear the sins he wishes to forget.

*Look here miss, your friend has probably either gone on an out-of-palace call or just hasn't said "hello" to you yet. You don't have to scream she's been missing. You have no proof!

**Besides, it's not unusual for a whore to disappear for an undefined amount of time. They always come back, one way or another. This makes sure of it,

***There hasn't been any reports from the Cards, so she hasn't gone far. How about you go look around one more time before you come squabbling to me, okay Candy girl?

Haha! I managed to update at a decent time! I promise the next chapter should be on a similar schedule, especially since I kinda left you guys on a cliff-hanger in this one!

Also, I'm excited to say that there is a French translation of this story in the making, by the wonderful SoraShizukeza! There's no set date of when it will be released, but I will put the link when it's ready in my stories. Just a heads up, since putting in links is all kinds of funky on here, I would recommend to go to where I cross posted this fic on AO3 under the username Brilliantly_Dull. There's an easier link where you can just click it for the currently available Thai translation!

Also, in case some of you guys read my fic on AO3 as well, you'll notice my author notes are different, and thats because I always upload on AO3 after I've uploaded the fic here on . So, sometimes I will write a lot more stuff and I just wanted to say I love both sites so much and am so appreciative to the wonderful readers of both sites!I put a whole blurb about that in my last update in Chapter 8 on AO3 and then realized I didn't put it on the . Editing chapters is kind of a hassle on this site , so I'll just copy what I said there:

Sorry for the long author's note, love you all so much. When u comment, it motivates me and makes me unbelievably happy that someone enjoys my reading! I may not respond to all of ur comments but know I read every single one of them and couldn't be any more thankful that you took the time to read my shitty ass story. (Also shout out to all the silent readers, I love you all too)

I somehow always end up writing long ass Author notes, I'm sorry, sometimes I just rant.

See y'alls in the next one~

-BrokenWings66