Posted: 12/09/14

I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack~ :D

Thanks you to all those who have added favourites, follows and most of all to those who have reviewed The Emperor's Trilogy I: The Emperor's Singer.

And thank you to the following for reviews on chapter 4:

PennyBlu; LittleBowser; Nickirem Aqua Pearl; Mist455; hitomi65; Bekaaronketchum; TheReihani; R3iga1004; isthisparadise; Anonymoose; Akakuro-Fujoshi; Lightning Lily; AokazuSei; sakura999; Krinya; innocence-creator; DDabell; MissSexyRain; TheHarbringerofDeath; Anglo-Chan; Skyful; xDarkxKurokox; trinimi-chan; Riddikuluss; Sakihinata; Satomi-chi; yuki; Belle'Masque; Guest; Guest; Guest; luna-chan; Guest; kiiroiyuuri; Tetsuna; Kwby; truthfoxofficial.

Also a special thanks to kiiroiyuuri for pointing out my misspelling of Seirin, throughout the other chapters I spelt it Seiren, but this was corrected as of 14/05/14.

This is a little extra and an author note letting you know that the first chapter of The Emperor's Trilogy II: The Emperor's Shadow will be uploaded this time next week! (i.e. 19/09/14) :D

This extra takes place during the few weeks in which Kise goes through the change after his failed challenge against Haizaki. (So after Chapter 2 of this story)

Edited 14/09/14

The Emperor's Trilogy I
The Emperor's Singer
Chapter 2.5 (Extra)

Haizaki observed the ball curve from its original path from Aomine to him and instead back into Aomine's waiting hands. Gritting his teeth he continued to work through the practise session, holding his rage for now, saving it for later. After all it would not do to have Akashi's wrath directed upon him.

He had stumbled across the redhead's coven just over a year ago and decided, not to join, but to stick around for a while as things were bound to get interesting...

Kuroko had fallen into the team dynamics perfectly upon joining the first string and Haizaki had quickly found himself being demoted to the shadows bench warmer, the one who would swap in when Kuroko's stamina failed him.

So he a vampire was, in the eyes of the old Emperor, being overshadowed by a mere human!

He was far from pleased with this development and as a result his playing style had become far more violent as of late, what with a lack of another way to vent his frustrations.

But now...

He had observed over the past few months that the Ace and Captain had become far too possessive over their phantom sixth player, and what others had, he always stole...

-x-

With the tension building every day, Kise befell the atmosphere and challenged Haizaki to a one-on-one game as after school practice drew to a close.

Haizaki revelled in the chance to show Akashi how useless the bubbly blonde idiot was; certainly not vampire material, let alone suitable to join Akashi's esteemed coven. He was quick to thrash the blonde, easily tripling his score in ten minutes.

However despite everything when he turned to leave with Kise's girl on his arm, he could feel two pairs of disapproving eyes boring into his back, blood red and pastel blue.

Kuroko's reassuring words and Kise's returned cheerfulness echoed in his mind for hours after they were said.

"...I said you weren't ready, not that you could never do it..."

-x-

That night Kuroko slept restlessly, he would wake abruptly to the sound of tapping at his window, or the screech of something scraping across the clear screen. Every time he looked there was nothing to be seen and soon he stopped checking, turning his back on the phenomenon and drifting in and out of sleep with the unease of the uncanny sense that eyes were upon him.

-x-

"Tetsu', its lunch." Aomine sighed, nudging the sleeping teen. Kuroko had been coming to school exhausted for the last week and had finally succumbed to sleeping during lessons. He hadn't woken since their first lesson over three hours ago now and had even slept through mid morning break. Luckily his lack of presence meant none of the teachers picked up on this.

"Mmmm?" The shadow mumbled, rubbing his eyes cutely in his sleepiness and Aomine couldn't fully stifle his chuckle at his horrendous bed hair.

Reaching out he gently ran his fingers through his locks, noting the soft blue complimented his dark skin tone.

Too tired to care, Kuroko let him do as he wished.

"Hey Tetsu', if something was bothering you, you'd tell me right?" Aomine asked as he finished his ministrations. He silently wondered if Kise's week of absence was worrying his partner and the cause of sleepless nights.

After all the blonde rarely remained out of touch for more than an hour, always sending everyone annoying texts, emails and phone calls overflowing with emotions and exclamations that gave the ace headaches.

But what with him changed... he wasn't ready to be around humans yet even with Akashi and the rest of their coven around to control him.

"Hai..." Kuroko said, yawning hugely, but despite knowing the shadow's blunt truthful ways, Aomine didn't quite believe him.

-x-

The sun was just brushing the earth in the distance as the day came to an end. Teikō had long since emptied of all students but a few, two of which had stayed late to further their basketball training.

The others had far more sinister intentions.

"Oi, Tetsu', I left my water back at the court, you go on ahead and shower." Aomine sighed; acting resigned to the efforts of going all the way back to the furthest, third gym. At Kuroko's acknowledging nod he span on his heels and saunter in the opposite direction of the locker room, noting the door screeching horrendously on its oil-neglected hinges a few moments later when Kuroko entered.

Aomine walked a little distance before reaching into his sports jacket pocket and retrieving his phone, hitting 1 on his speed dial.

Before the first ring completed Akashi picked up.

"Daiki?"

Aomine shifted uneasily before responding, eyes scanning his surroundings carefully.

"Trouble at school. Smells like two vampires."

"Then deal with them." The: [what are you calling me for?] went unsaid.

"Tetsu's here too..."

The silence on the other end was a little unnerving and had Aomine shuffling his feat uneasily again.

"I'll be there soon." Came the abrupt response followed by the dial tone.

-x-

Akashi swiftly ran back to the school grounds leaving Murasakibara and Midorima to watch over the newborn Kise.

Upon entering the school's property he followed his senses to Aomine's side.

"Tetsu's takin' a shower at the mo'." The ace informed him needlessly as even out here they could both hear the water running. He indicated the building with a nod.

"I'll keep watch over him, you deal with the trespassers." The redhead quickly ordered and headed for the changing block as a bloodthirsty grin crept over the other's face.

As he opened the changing room's door, however, he paused when he caught a familiar scent on the breeze, fresh and downwind of Aomine's position.

Letting the door fall closed without entering, he went out in search of a traitor.

-x-

The changing room was silent but for the soft rustle of cloth being removed from flesh and soon ceased entirely with the abrupt drumming of water on tiles as the shadow proceeded to shower after the hard training session.

As he was finishing up the changing room door screeched, announcing a new occupant.

"Aomine-kun?" He asked into the following silence, finding it odd his friend hadn't taken to conversation after his return. At the continued silence he reached past the curtain, retrieved his towel and wrapped it round his waist before exiting the shower stall, leaving the water running for Aomine's use.

Reaching the lockers and benches, he noted the room was empty with curiosity, but proceeded to change, pulling his belongings from his locker.

Dried and dressed, he whipped a mirror clear of condensation and attempted to get his hair to lie flat before it dried an atrocious mess.

-x-

Akashi mentally cursed as he came face to face with Haizaki only a short distance from the changing blocks, not nearly as far from Tetsuya as he had hoped. After all, not only would his singer be more likely to get caught up in the inevitable fight, but during fights vampires became much more instinctual meaning Akashi would find it even harder than usual to control his blood lust for the basketball shadow.

Keeping his superior attitude in place he looked across the few metres and stared impassively into the vampire's grey satisfied eyes.

There was a story to tell on the tip of the traitor's lips, that Akashi was sure. However he had no intention of listening to the soon to be permanently dead being's justifications. He would deal out the absolute punishment that befell all deserters from his days of old.

"Haizaki Shōgo," Akashi began before a single word could fall from the other's lips, "I believe your time upon this earth, undead or otherwise, has drawn to a close."

Akashi glimpsed a brief flicker of instinctive fear in the others grey eyes, but it was quickly covered by the other's confident attitude.

"You may have once been The Emperor, but a ruler's power comes from their followers... I don't see anyone behind you now, just as Asia no longer belongs to you." Haizaki sneered.

"Not only do you seem to have been misled, but you also misunderstand." Akashi spoke softly, his mismatching eyes glinting eerily in the moonlight. "My followers are still many, though most remain in the shadows till the time suits me. But most importantly, who ever said I needed followers to be powerful...?"

-x-

A loud crash suddenly shook the walls and the tiles in front of Kuroko cracked and pushed inward...

Shocked, the only thing Kuroko could suppose to have happened would be a car having hit the side of the building, but vehicles didn't have access to this area of the school grounds. Worried all the same he rushed for the door only to find the crash had shifted the building enough that the door no longer fit the frame and was stuck in place, his entire weight, though admittedly not much, wasn't enough.

Realising he was incapable of getting out this way, he instead turned to the windows, few in number and all small and at ceiling height to preserve changers' modesty.

Heading back into the shower and reaching past the water he turned off the unsteady water supply, noting that the water pipes must have been damaged also. Then heading back to the changing area he began to plan his escape.

His small stature left him disadvantaged in such a situation but soon he had balanced two of the benches upon each other and was attempting to get from there and onto the top of the lockers. Pulling his self up cost more effort than it should after such a long practice session but soon he was sitting panting at the top. Taking a few seconds to catch his breath he worked the window before him open as far as he could. This time his petite frame was advantageous as he slipped through the tight gab.

His feet hit the ground silently, as was his nature and the shadow quickly gathered his bearings and moved around the edge of the building to find the disturbance.

He gasped softly at the sight that befell his eyes. Rather than a car crash or the likes he came across an area that looked as though a miniature war had taken place. Small craters littered the overgrown area behind the changing block and one of the walls was buckled inward.

Looking around there was no sign of anything that could have caused the phenomenon. Something caught his eye on the ground. Crouching down he recognised it to be a foot print in the loose dry dirt. But more than that, he recognised a crown shape within the imprint: the logo of the prestigious sporting company Empire.

He only knew of one who could and did afford and own a pair of Empire sport shoes...

The snap of a twig behind him startled him for a moment. Turning abruptly he came to face Aomine. The ace whistled, impressed, and looked around the area with a suspiciously convincing surprised look on his face.

"Wow, what happened here, Tetsu'?"

"I found it like this." The shadow stated blandly, he was a little put off by the emotive tone the other was expressing. It was unlike Aomine to sound anything but bored or excited with the occasional fear of Akashi thrown in; he didn't believe Aomine the basketball idiot to have enough complexity to achieve any other emotions.

The real Aomine he hid alongside the other first string starters however...

He knew the others were not entirely as they appeared, and Kuroko was sure he was the only one to have noticed the subtle indications that not all was as it seemed. His incredible observation skills were the reason for his solitary insight, that and he was probably one of the few close enough to them to notice the slight hints.

Despite his suspicions he remained calm and waited for Aomine's response.

"Well I can't see what would have caused this..." The ace said, glancing around the area, his eyes resting a moment too long on the shoe impression at Kuroko's side before swiftly diverting away. "Weird... well no point staying here, you'll catch a cold walking around with your hair wet like that."

He walked swiftly to the changing block and reached for the door. Kuroko started as the previously jammed door swung open with ease beneath Aomine's hand. His mouth that had opened in warning now shut with an audible clack of teeth.

"You coming?" Aomine called over his shoulder.

Looking down at the shoe impression once more, Kuroko sighed and used his foot to wipe away the evidence. As observant as he was, he knew his teammates genuinely cared for him and as such he was sure when they were ready they would tell him the truth. With a soft smile he stepped after Aomine.

"Hai."

Alright! This extra is complete!

As I said at the beginning of the chapter, Chapter 1 of the next instalment will be released this time next week so please go to my profile on that day to find it under the new story: The Emperor's Trilogy II: The Emperor's Shadow.

That having been said, I'll be heading back to my university on Thursday. I made the risky choice when I was getting desperate for a place to stay of moving in with three unknowns and a house I have never seen...
Hopefully all will go well :S
I'll let you know :)

Please Review xx