Chapter Text
“Akashi” Midorima Shintaro called.
Sighing Akashi snapped the beautiful book in his hands shut. The cover of the book was the colour or fresh blood, laced with designs of gold crested into the book. Akashi didn’t answer Midorima; he only turned his head up to look at the vast sea in front of him.
“Akashi” Midorima calmly repeated, climbing up rocky stones to reach the red haired male. Now standing beside Akashi at the edge of a rock Midorima too found himself locked in a trance by the spell caster the sea herself.
Waters gently crashed below the two young males, little sprinkles of water occasionally reaching them. The air smelled of salt and the heat of the day could have been considered uncomfortable if not for the cool breeze of the ocean.
Setting on what looked to be the edge of the sea was a golden ball of fire. The sky surrounding looking like a piece of art made up of soft oranges and reds.
Midorima looked down to Akashi who was sitting with one leg propped up and the other hanging off the edge of the uneven stone. All Midorima could see of Akashi’s face was his red hair, red like the sun set before them. For a moment Midorima found himself thinking that though Akashi’s hair was bright, he was much like a sunset himself. The air around Akashi was always strong and bright, but not blinding, much like the sun while setting. Akashi himself was a work of art, with a calm temper and a level head.
“Midorima” Akashi finally spoke with his voice that could both command and army and give hope to those in need of it. Though the smaller male voiced himself, his eyes remained transfixed on the infinite blue before them.
Turning back to the sea Midorima didn’t answer as a salty breeze ruffled their hair.
Akashi knew he was listening nevertheless “We’ve travelled a long way.” Akashi continued, Midorima could hear the small smile in his voice.
“Hm” Midorima replied. “We’ve been traveling for a long time” a particularly large waved crashed, wetting Midorima’s glasses slightly but not enough to hinder sight.
“We still haven’t found him yet” in a tone that Midorima could not describe Akashi reminded Midorima.
“I know. Do we really need this person?”
Akashi didn’t answer but Midorima could see his head turn down to the red book at his side. Smooth hands ran over the cover with care.
“We are too predictable and scattered. We need a calm wave of water to keep us steady. “ After a moment Akashi replied.
“What kind of person are you looking for exactly?” Midorima knitted his brows.
“I want a sixth man that can turn the tides and flow.” Akashi smiled.
“Does such a man even exist?” Midorima asked for the hundredth time, already knowing the answer.
“Well… if the prophecy holds any truth, yes.”
No words were exchanged for the next few moments as they went back to gazing at the sea. Red of the sky clashing with the water, which reflected the red in away, that could only be considered majestic. This is what Akashi wished for, but how much longer will they have to travel to find this sixth man.
“Middorimacchi!” Kise hollered, running towards the rocks and climbing up with ease. “You were taking forever to get Akashicchi so I came to get you!” he complained as he swiftly flung himself over the final rock.
“You move too fast,” Murasakibara Atsushi yawned, standing a few paces back from Kise.
Midorima wondered for a moment where Aomine was but then quickly realized the he was behind Murasakibara as was Momoi.
Akashi closed his eyes and stood up. He paused for a moment, letting the breeze of the waters cresses his face one last time before he turned around and opened his eyes.
With his book lying beside his feat Akashi opened his mouth “Midorima,” Akashi glanced beside him “Kise,” his ruby eyes shifted to look in front of him “Murasakibara, Aomine and Momoi,” finally Akashi looked down to the three of them who were on a lower level rock.
A silence over came them as they looked to Akashi with respect and acknowledgement
“Will you follow me?” Akashi extended his hand.
For a moment the 6 of them were awe struck at the sight. Behind Akashi was the most gorgeous sunset they had ever seen and right in the center of it was Akashi, with his charming smiles, warm eyes and extended hand.
“What can of question is that” Midorima scoffed and closed his eyes with a nod.
“Yeah! Of course we will!” Kise beamed.
“Duh, we’ve been following you for quite awhile now” Aomine smirked
“I might not be one of your warriors but as your Oracle I will follow you!” Momoi chipped.
“Hm~” Murasakibara hummed.
Akashi closed his eyes “I thank you for all the support and commitment you have shown me.” Akashi retracted his hand. Slowly opening his cat like eyes Akashi walked down from the stones as the other watched his back. “We have a long journey ahead of us. Our next destination is to Seirin.”
Sounds of surprised gasps and sounds of the like were exchanged. “I recently had a vision of a small village in Seirin. Perhaps this will be the time that we will find who we are looking for, although I am aware I’ve had vision like his before and they have not yet led us to the man we are looking for… but regardless they lead to something important.”
Aomine scratched his head “Hurray sailing again. Are we going to go back underground to tell Haizaki and Nijamura that we will be gone to Seirin for a bit or?”
Akashi shook his head side to side. “It will take too long and I feel this vision is one that shouldn’t be put off. We will tell him if we bring back anything substantial from this quest, if not, it doesn’t matter much.”
“I’ll get the camp fire set up. I assume we will be leaving in a day or two?” Midorima began to walk off.
“Of course” Akashi nodded as Midorima walked away.
“I guess I’ll go catch us some food.” Aomine grinned as he started to run away.
“Town isn’t that far off. Why do we have to hunt or sleep outside?” Murasakibara complained.
“Because it builds character! Plus YOU lost all our money so now we only have what Akashi brought and we shouldn’t waste it!” Momoi points out.
“I’ll go help catch food too!” Kise chases after Aomine.
Putting his hand to his head in frustration Akashi lets out a sigh once more. “It’s sundown, they should have caught food earlier. Midorima hasn’t even set up camp yet so how will they know where to return to in the dark.”
“Murasakibara, run fast and tell them to go find Midorima, figure out where camp is and then bring some candles with them to hunt near the camp site.” Akashi reasoned out.
Murasakibara gave a lazy nod “Will you come too?” he questioned.
“No, I need to go to town and get us a ship. I would like Momoi to come with me”
Murasakibara gave another nod before sprinting off so fast that Momoi’s hair blew in the wind’s wake as Akashi went to retrieve his book.
“As always then?” Momoi turned to Akashi who nodded with a polite smile. “As always”
Akashi and Momoi began to pace their way away from the sea and into the forest. The trees around them towered tall and were lush green. Sounds of animals running around could be heard in the distance to the trained ears of the two but they didn’t comment on it.
“It’s almost unfair for the towns people when we go together. Poor folks, really.” Momoi giggled.
“Unfair? I don’t know what you are talking about” Akashi cocked a brow playfully. Momoi nudged his side in response.
Momoi turned her pink eyes to the tall trees. “I had a dream too.”
Akashi didn’t stop walking but his pace slowed down for a moment. “Was it prophetic?”
Momoi let out a long breath and shrugged her shoulders. “It started off as all my foretelling dreams of soul readings, with the mist and the eyes, but this time there was no soul in the center. No wave lengths or anything.” Momoi bit her lip “That’s never happened to me before and I don’t know what it means. Maybe it was a normal dream about me dreaming of a soul reading dream.”
“You do realize how ridiculous that sounds”
Momoi scratched her cheek “If it’s not that I have no clue what happened.” The pink haired girl clapped her hands “Oh that reminds me! In your book did it say how old you would be when you meet the ‘different sixth man’?”
Looking down to the thick book in Akashi’s hands, Akashi frowned. “No, it doesn’t say much about times or dates. Your relative could have been more specific.”
Puffing out her cheeks Momoi whined. “For the last time, the Seer who gave you our prophecy and all that wasn’t my relative! Just because your mom described the Seer in that book as a lady with long pink hair and pink eyes doesn’t mean she is related to me!””
“Isn’t pink hair and magical abilities something that runs in your family though?” Akashi retorts.
Momoi flipped her hair and whispered, “There could be another family like that”
“Did you say something?”
“No, no” Momoi innocently waved her hands off.
As the pair walked Momoi attempted to read Akashi’s soul. Of course, like always, it didn’t work. Momoi Satsuki was a women blessed with high intelligence, good looks and a powerful 6th sense. Despite her innocent eyes, those very eyes held the power to peer into the souls of people. She was gifted with the ability to read the wavelengths of souls and with her impressive intellect she is able to use her ability to practically read minds and in most cases, predict growth and trends.
There were a few people though that even Momoi couldn’t get a clear read on. All of the males she’s traveling with only allow her to get a very small reading, as their wavelengths are impossible for her to read.
Akashi was a mystery among them though. She could hear the static of his waves but she couldn’t see or decipher any of the sound. In fact, oddly enough, the sound of Akashi’s waves were twice the volume of a normal person to the point where the back sound of his soul didn’t even sound like static.
Blame Akashi’s weird soul on his eye, Momoi concluded for the umpteenth time.
“Were you trying to read my soul again?” Akashi commented.
“Eh?” she pink-haired girl exclaimed, “nooooo” she side-glance away.
“Well we are here” Akashi looked at the clearing of the trees to the city that unfolded in front of them.
White stone buildings stood tall in the now darkened sky but despite the dark, the city was overflowing with life. Brothels lined the streets and street performers still danced in only the candlelight.
“Momoi,” Akashi calmly spoke.
“Yeah?” she turned to him.
“We are about to be attacked.”
Right on cue a group of males came out from the trees of the forest behind them and lunged down at Akashi and Momoi with a knife. Momoi’s heart skipped a beat in surprise but she knew she was safe.
Akashi took Momoi’s hand and stood in front of her. There were three men clade in black surrounding them.
“Damn that’s one pretty lady. Nice white silk gown and that crystal gem thing in the dress is a sexy touch too, mmmm.” One of the men drooled.
Momoi clutched the pink crystal on her dress’s chest. “How dare they talk of my family’s traditional jewel like that,” Momoi murmured. ‘Though I haven’t figured out how to use it yet’ she mentally commented.
Akashi retched for one of his small throwing blades located in a black bag to the side of his waist. “Three, two, one” he counted.
Momoi blinked, when she opened her eyes one man was down.
“Two”
Another man fell before she knew what happened.
“One,” and this time Momoi saw the quick flick of Akash’s hand and the knife in the heart of the last man.
Tightening his hold on Momoi’s hand, Akashi quickly sprinted off before anyone saw him.
Once Akashi deemed they were safe he let go of Momoi’s hand.
“Is my eye gold?” Akashi cocked his head and turned to Momoi.
“Yeah” she replied, letting out a long breath of relief.
“I really do need to work on controlling my eye when I am using it. It’s a hassle to have everyone know when I am using it.” Akashi closed his golden eye and when he reopened it, his eye was back to its normal red hue. “Oh look here is the place where we can rent a boat” Akashi spoke as though he didn’t already plan running here in the first place.
Ignoring Akashi’s weird eye, Momoi stepped into the open entrance shop. There was a woman at the counter who smelled heavily of cigars.
Akashi walked up to the counter and gave a polite smile and the lady reached down and pulled up a cigar in response. She put it in her mouth and flicked her on. Taking a long drag from it, she blew the smoke in Akashi’s face, or at least, tried too. Akashi stepped away a moment sooner.
“Are you ready” Akashi nudged Momoi who nodded.
“Excuse me, we are travelers who would like to rent one of your ships.” Charismatically Akashi began.
The skinny lady gave a sour look “We don’t sell to little kids who have no money.”
“Oh, really?” Momoi purred “Then why did you give a free ship to your 6 year old son?”
“WHAT?” The lady exclaimed, “I did no such thing”
Momoi smiled, this lady’s soul was too easy to read.
Keeping his eye under control, Akashi began to focus its power. “Your son is in a faraway land now. You must be worried sick about him,” he faked sympathy.
“You gave him a free boat so he may fish and make money but instead he ran away with it.” Momoi frowned.
The lady slammed her fist on the table angrily and stood up aggressively sending her stool flying backwards. Her eyes seethed with rage as her eyebrows twitched.
“I bet right now he’s been adopted by a new family. He’s around 9 now, right?” Akashi smirked.
“Oh oh,” Momoi tapped her finger to her lip and whispered “Maybe he ran away because you were always so greedy and money oriented.”
“SHUT THE FUCK UP YOU PUNKS!” The lady screamed, snapping the wooden counter a bit.
“Yelling at kids, hm?” Akashi put on a look of surprise “Your son’s new family probably doesn’t yell at him much”
“Unlike you~!” Momoi sadistically chirped.
“Kids with no money are so useless hm? That’s why you wanted to illegally give your son a boat, so he could make money and stop being so useless.?” Akashi leaned over the counter, resting his hand in his palm, almost purring.
“WHAT DO YOU KNOW AND HOW?” the lady roared, throwing her cigar away.
“That your son wasn’t a stupid like you though. Kids aren’t puppets.” Momoi looked around the room as if she was thinking of an answer to her remarks.
“You don’t sell to little kids with no money but clearly you just give it to them instead. Like your son, kids aren’t as stupid as you think, you are an open book.” Akashi frowned. “What a scandal it would be if we told this little story to everyone.” His frown turned to a sweet smile “We don’t mean any trouble, we are just innocent little kids with no money who want a better life. Give us a boat and we’ll call it good. We will even give it back when we are done.” Akashi proposed.
The lady was in tears as this point as she hung her head down “I-I don’t k-know who y-ou are… or h-how you know all of t-this but just” she swallowed hard “TAKE YOUR BOAT AND LEAVE TAKE ANYONE I DON’T CARE JUST LEAVE” she clutched her heart and sobbed. “My poor baby Mikado I-I’m so sorry I was so awful”
“It was a pleasure doing business with you,” Momoi and Akashi chimed in unison as they walked out. “Please sign the official contract to seal the deal,” Akashi pushed.
The woman, in tears pulled out a document “N-name” she chocked.
“Akashi Seijuro”
She signed the paper and then turned it to Akashi so he could sign it, which he swiftly did with infuriatingly neat writing. Akashi wrapped up the paper and the two began to walk out.
“Oh and ma’am, I’m sure your son misses you a lot and is going to visit you as soon as he can” Akashi left his parting words.
“Your son never intended to leave forever” Momoi whispered loud enough for her to here before they both exited into the night leaving the lady burying her arms into her elbows although a smile could be seen on her face
Greeted with the unseasonably warm weather upon walking out Momoi stretched her arms high above her head. Akashi touched his eye and pulled out a blade to check if it was shining gold, it was not. Akashi had controlled it from changing while using it. Putting the blade back Akashi stretched his neck before looking to Momoi.
Momoi returned the look and pink met red, locked with each other for a moment before they both smiled. “That was really mean of us” Momoi cast her gaze down.
“We did what we had to and we did leave her with kind words. They were the truth too.” Akashi reminded her seriously.
“It always feels a little satisfying doing that though.” Momoi admits.
Akashi nods “It depends who we are interrogating, she was sweet inside.”
The night sky was lit by now with many stars that twinkled like fireflies in the sky. The city was still as awake as before, as though the city never sleeps. Akashi and Momoi began to walk back through the forest, staying close together as to not get separated in the dark woods.
Akashi knew exactly where he was going and as expected, behind a rather large bush was a fire and surrounding the fire was his teammates.
“We are back!” Momoi twirled in.
Aomine and Kise were in the middle of fighting; Kise was pulling Aomine’s check while Aomine had his foot on Kise’s face. When seeing Akashi the two froze in place “Welcome back,” they said in their odd position, exchanging looks that resembled that of children being caught breaking the rules. Well, that wasn’t too far off from what happened.
Deciding that the look on their face was enough to say that they understood what they were doing was wrong Akashi just gave them a glare before sitting down near he warm fire. Midorima was looking through tarot cards, his lucky item while Murasakibara was sprawled out all over the ground.
“We were waiting for you to come so we didn’t eat yet” Murasakibara got up. “Its mostly rabbit and some rabbit strew Kise made”
“Rabbit? You only caught rabbit?” Akashi inquired making an unimpressed hand gesture.
Aomine and Kise sat up straight and then glared at each other. “Pretty boy here couldn’t keep his mouth shut and scared away all our prey!” Aomine argued.
“Only because you weren’t hunting right!” Kise protested.
“Be quite” Midorima hissed, flipping one of his cards over.
Momoi sat down next to Aomine and muttered something about rabbit tasting weird.
Midorima took the pre-cooked rabbit out of the fire and poured the strange rabbit soup that Kise made in a small bowls that he had been carrying in his backpack and served it to everyone. Once everyone had food, the appropriate amount for each member, Midorima held up his soup. “Thank you for the food” they chimed, digging into the food.
“How did it go at the town?” Murasakibara asked with a mouth full of rabbit.
“We got a ship for free and we will be picking it up tomorrow afternoon” Momoi answered.
Aomine looked up from his soup that he was slurping and nodded. “Akashi and you can be unbelievably creepy with that eye of his and your 6th sense.”
“Akashicchi’s ‘Eye of the Gods’ is really amazing” Kise bubbles.
Midorima pushes up his glasses. “Its his binding to his prophecy, you know that.”
Kise shrugs “Yeah but it’s still cool”
“Its only powerful because of how Akashi uses it” Midorima bites back.
“Akashi’s future sight combined with Satsuki’s ability to read souls is sooooo creepy,” Aomine mocks.
Akashi puts his food down and looks to Aomine. Slowly Akashi’s eyes begins to bleed into a strong golden colour. “I can see your future Aomine and it looks like you are not going to have a long life at this rate”
Aomine gulps and Kise snickers.
“About this sixth man” Murasakibara twirls a strand of his long hair absentmindedly. “What did the book say exactly”.
Murasakibara’s eyes lingered on the book, or rather, the journal that lay beside Akashi. The red book laced with gold was Akashi’s most prized possession. Their leader didn’t mind if any of the 5 wanted to read it but everyone could easily sense how personal the book was to him and how uncomfortable it made him to have other people read it. Even if one of the five were to read the book, perhaps expect Midorima or Momoi, they wouldn’t be able to understand it.
Prophecies were so very annoying with their tedious wordings after all.
Akashi looked into the warm blazing fire in front of him. The crackling fire lit a glint in Akashi’s thoughtful eyes and only emphasized the burning red that was his eyes.
“I’ll not tire you with the exact words but mind you, this is just my interpretation.” Akashi spoke not above a whisper. “All of you if you are who you should be are apart of my destiny. If we are all the correct keys than our fates are interlocked. But there is another man, our 6th man.” Akashi paused and looked above the fire, Aomine happened to be in front and locked eyes with Akashi. “This 6th man is our trump card and is very different from us. This 6th man will be the one to…”
Akashi changed his gaze so it floated to the sky. “He will be the one both be my end and my beginning. Or at least that’s what I interoperated.”
Kise gulped “Does that mean he is stronger than you, if he can end you.”
Lowering his head back to face the fire Akashi blinked “From what I can tell his power is different. I’ve tried to use my eye to get some hints on whom he is but nothing has come up.”
Midorima pushed up his glasses, a glare from the fire permanently on the glass. “That’s the sixth man that can change the tides. The sea to the sun that we are becoming, is he not?”
“He should be,” Akashi answered.
“Damn I want to meet him. Changing the tides or whatever and being the whole end and beginning thing sounds pretty badass” Aomine smiled innocently.
“Its improper for you to use such language at such a young age,” Midorima grumbled
Pointing a finger at Midorima Aomine accused “You are only a few months older than me! Plus we are all 14 here!”
“Mentally we are all different ages” Midorima bit back.
Aomine threw his hands behind his head and gave a wide grin “Says the one who carries around lucky items!”
Midorima scowled at Aomine until Kise burst out giggling with Momoi, then his scowl was redirected.
“Hehehehehe- pffff i-it’s true! Y-ou are heh- such a child!” Momoi clutched his stomach while Kise fell back in a fit of laughter.
“We have a man who can see the future and a lady that can read the experiences of people not to mention we are following some prophecy and the rest of us have abilities that are on par with supernatural. How can I not believe in luck and fate” Midorima calmed himself down.
Wheezing Kise huffed out also inaudibly “Y-yeah but” the blond’s eyes had tears in them “Its just so ridiculous and probably doesn’t even work!”
Murasakibara rolled on the ground impassively. “I’m going to go to bed”
“Where are the sheets?” Akashi brought up, ignoring the comedic scene in front of him.
As if glass had just broken all the three boys stopped moving and turned to Aomine with wide eyes. Momoi turned to Akashi with a questioning look and Akashi returned it with a look of equal confusion. The two shrugged and turned to Aomine with eyes that demanded answers.
Aomine crawled back a little. “Yeah so while hunting we accidentally dropped the bag with our sheets down the river and now its somewhere else”
Akashi’s eyes turned cold “You couldn’t have told me this earlier. We could have stayed in town”
If it were any louder in the area you wouldn’t have been able to hear Midorima whisper a small ‘I told you so’ under his breath.
Aomine looked to the side defensively and Akashi put a hand over his eyes. “Nothing we can do about it now. Don’t do it again or there will be consequences. Let’s go to sleep now, we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.”
Perking up Kise remarked “Wow you got off the hook easy.”
“Night~” Murasakibara yawned again as he turned away from everyone and got comfortable on the dirt.
“Dai-chan lie down” Momoi commanded like a master to a dog.
Aomine was too tired to argue so he did as she said, already knowing what was going to happen. After the tan male was on his back the small girl lay down as well, putting her head on his stomach. “I am not sleeping on the dirt” she puffed out her cheeks “This is your fault stupid Dai-chan.” Aomine let out a, “yeah yeah” and closed his eyes.
“I’m not sleeping on the dirt either” Kise pouted and also used Aomine’s stomach as a pillow. “HEY” Aomine protested before Momoi pushed down on his chest to restrain his movements “Just let him”. Aomine bite back a sneer and closed his eyes as Kise smirked.
Akashi and Midorima, store at each other, completely unmoving.
“I’m going to go put out the fire” Midorima announced, not wavering.
“Do you want me to come,” Akashi offered, still not breaking the awkward gaze lock.
“That won’t be necessary”
“Alright.”
…
“You don’t intend to sleep on the ground, do you?” Midorima finally spoke up in defeat.
“No. You already know what to do” Akashi smirked.
Midorima gestured for Akashi to come over. Now standing up Midorima turned around and allowed Akashi to jump on his back. Akashi stood over Midorima’s shoulders in a victorious pose “The trees are much more comfortable”. Now with his newfound height, Akashi climbed up to the nearest branch of the towering tree and made his way up into the dark bushy leaves.
After Akashi had left Midorima looked up to the tree “the trees are much to tall for you”.
Suddenly a branch fell from the tree and conked Midorima right on the head. No doubt from Akashi and his super sonic hearing.
Scratching his head Midorima went to set out the fire, taking one last look at Aomine, ‘the human pillow’ and wondered why they didn’t think to sleep in the trees. Of course, Midorima would be sleeping in a tree that he deemed suitable was well.
The night was peaceful.