As promised, a chapter and on my birthday too! This is my present to y'all XD

(So you better enjoy. Sorry for the angst.)

~'0'~

Wednesday morning finds Tenma leaving for school earlier than is usual.

He's left his orders to Soar and gave Minamisawa a full report of everything that could be of consequence during his absence, hoping to avoid a direct call from HQ in the coming few days.

Raimon is prepared for today's events, having been told of it the day before. Tenma wished they had more time, but alas, this will have to do. At least they're not going into this unaware anymore.

When the brunet reaches the school, the rest of the team is also arriving, as was planned. They're quiet as they gather at the parking lot, their object of interest being the bus bearing the Fifth Sector logo. Kidou and Haruna arrive not long after, both of their faces lined with grim determination, courtesy of Kogure – the Resistance received some 'random' information from him that lead to the reveal of Fifth's plans for Raimon.

Truly, no one that morning is surprised by the news of the training camp.

Still, they put up an admirable fight.

Unfortunately, when the principal shows up, together with Endou's name suddenly popping up in conversation, they really don't have a choice but to go. Kurama, Hamano and Hayami are asked to stay behind, which they do without complaint since it had been planned from the start.

(Tenma tried to get the managers to stay behind. Needless to say, they protested vehemently. Even his arguments that they could be used against the rest of the team weren't enough to change their minds.)

The brunet grimaces and banishes those thoughts as he slips to the front of the group. Being one of the first to enter the vehicle, he finds a seat somewhere in the back of the bus and next to the window. Shinsuke joins him there and soon enough, they're on their way.

Most of the first half of the ride is spent in silence, no one up to their usual light chatter. Tenma, too, merely sits quietly, but not for the same reason.

You don't have much time.

From his position, he cannot see the driver at all. 'I know,' responds the time traveler and, as if given a sign, he reaches into his bag. Shinsuke frowns in confusion at his friend's sudden actions, and it only grows when he sees the rag and the water bottle Tenma is holding in his hands. ''What are you...?''

The brunet shushes him quickly and the small boy takes the hint. Now alarmed, however, the time traveler glances at the other teens in his line of vision.

Out of the few who could potentially notice his actions, only Kirino and Shindou seem to have caught sight of it.

Tenma locks eyes with the captain and a silent message passes between them when said captain raises an eyebrow. What are you doing?

In answer, the younger midfielder gestures to the ceiling of the bus. Shindou glances up and then sharply looks back again, alarm clear in his face. After seeing the attention on himself again, Tenma presses his hands together and places them against his cheek, closing his eyes in the universal sign for sleep.

When he gazes at the strategist again, the alarm in the elder's face has been replaced with grim understanding. Suddenly turning away from the brunet, Shindou's voice cuts through the air out of nowhere. ''Sangoku-san,'' he says, unnecessarily loudly, and the whole bus gives a start when the prolonged silence is finally broken, ''you're good at biology, aren't you?''

Tenma can't see Sangoku's face, but he can imagine his startled expression all too well. ''Yes...? May I ask why you're asking this now?''

It clicks in the time traveler's mind then and he hides a grin as he unscrews his water bottle. ''Well, during yesterday's lesson, I was confused by something the teacher said,'' continues Shindou, still a little too loudly to be normal for him. ''Could you perhaps explain it to me?''

Disbelief is evident in the keeper's voice. ''Is now really the right time for this...?''

Tenma bows low in his seat and places the cloth he took especially for this occasion to place it on the ground. ''Oh yes,'' says Shindou, ''we don't have anything to do right now, do we? And it gets so quiet without conversation.''

''Exactly!'' Shinsuke suddenly pipes up, glancing between Shindou and Tenma. ''It's way too silent for this team!''

Kirino joins in then, as well. ''And Shindou is right, I didn't understand yesterday's lesson either. Please, could you explain it to us?''

It seems as if the rest of the team has finally caught on. They might not know what is happening, but they know their teammates well enough to realize they must be covering for something, and so Sangoku launches into an explanation about gene expression while Tenma uses the talking to hide the sound of water hitting the floor as he wets the cloth. He squeezes out the excess water, half-succeeding in not getting his bandages wet, and quickly stuffs his water bottle back into his bag, zipping it up.

Then he straightens and leans back in his seat, covering his nose and mouth with the damp cloth. He inhales experimentally and almost grins victoriously – breathing is harder than it would usually be, but he'll manage.

He locks eyes with Shindou and inclines his head slightly at the question etched into his friend's expression. Sangoku's voice is getting a little slower and they both realize it, the strategist grimacing as his own eyelids start getting heavy as well.

Next to Tenma, Shinsuke's head has dropped back against his seat and his breathing has evened out. The time traveler stays silent as he watches the rest of his team succumb to the sleeping gas as well, making sure to take even and deep breaths.

Pegasus' presence becomes apparent at the front of his mind. You are lucky your guess was correct.

If silence wasn't such an important part of his cover, Tenma would've snorted. 'Oh please, Peg. It wasn't that hard to figure out. If it had been anything but a fast working gas, Shinsuke would've fallen asleep much faster than I did last time just because he's so much smaller and its effect would be greater on him. Considering it was only a few seconds, it was safe to say it worked very fast.'

Still, disagrees his Keshin, had you been wrong, you would've been sleeping just as the rest of them. When there's no other answer than a mental shrug, Pegasus sighs. Well, what's done is done, I suppose. May I ask as to why you decided this, however?

'I need to get close to one of God Eden's computer systems.'

I know this, but we are both aware that you will not be brought to Eden's headquarters yet. If you are going to lie to me, young one, you will have to put in more effort.

Tenma rolls his eyes but doesn't make a sound, still all too aware of his precarious situation. The cloth is still damp, thankfully, but until that changes, he just has to make sure he won't be caught. 'I'm hoping to gain some information about Project Zero,' he admits finally. 'And I'm not yet sure about what I'll do.'

Pegasus' disapproval is almost palpable at that. Tenma, he protests, one of the handful of times he has actually called his master by his name. You are still injured! I will not have you go off on your own in enemy territory.

'Something is going on here and I'm going to find out what.'

He ignores Pegasus' protests and refuses to speak anymore for the rest of the drive.

Just how strong was that gas?

Tenma can't help but wonder that as he peeks through his eyelashes as his teammates are carried out of the bus, all of them completely limp and unaware. The Fifth Sector agents carry out their duty silently, getting the teenagers out swiftly and efficiently.

Not long after finishing his conversation with Pegasus, the bus had reached Eden's Harbor and driven onto a boat. The following sea trip hadn't taken long, barely more than fifteen minutes – the island being surprisingly close to the shore – and although Tenma had to abandon his not-damp-cloth anymore somewhere at the start, his fears of being affected by the lingering gas were unfounded.

Now the bus has reached the empty field where the brunet remembers waking up last time 'round and they're dropping off the soccer players here.

When the Fifth Sector agents come to get Shinsuke, Tenma fully closes his eyes, keeping his body completely limp. It's surprisingly hard to keep the act up when he hears footsteps returning and stopping just next to him only a minute later. It's even harder not to tense when he's lifted into someone's arms, but somehow he manages.

Moments later, the breeze caresses his face as they exit the bus. Not long after, he's placed onto the ground – gently, which he is thankful for because his injuries probably wouldn't appreciate anything else – and then the waiting game starts.

It's only when he hears a car engine start again that he dares peek through his eyelashes again, although it doesn't do much good. The only thing he can see is the grass right in front of him. So, abandoning that plan, he lies limp as he listens to the growling of the engine becoming softer.

Even after he's sure it's gone, he stays unmoving for a few more minutes before daring to open his eyes fully and sit up.

He glances at the trees surrounding the field. This place is a death trap and especially here, in the middle of the island, where security is strongest. He's almost completely certain the Fifth Sector agents are already lying in wait to ambush Raimon when they wake up, and he can only hope they'll leave him alone for a little while.

The brunet gets to his feet, taking a moment to inhale deeply now that he can do so again. He glances around, easily spotting the slumped over forms of his teammates, and hides a grimace.

Pegasus brushes against his conscious. There is nothing you could've done for them without endangering yourself, he reminds the time traveler quietly. It is not your fault. Aoi and the others will be alright.

He sighs, crossing his arms. ''I know, but it doesn't make me feel any less horrible,'' he mutters. ''If I could've convinced them to stay-''

Which you could not. You tried, but the girls are as stubborn as you are. They were unharmed the last time, trust in them now to find their way out as well.

Tenma gives in. ''Alright,'' he whispers softly, glancing at the Eden Headquarters looming ominously in the distance. He reaches up with one hand to brush a stray hair behind his ear, grimacing at the lack of commlink. He's gotten so used to wearing it that it's strange not to have it, but God Eden is out of range of headquarters and they all agreed it better if he didn't risk exposure in the midst of enemy territory, even with Raimon there.

With one last glance at the field where his teammates are lying, unprotected, the brunet swallows back his uncertainties and sets out to the middle of the field.

It's nerve-wracking, walking there while he knows the enemy is watching him from all sides.

And yet he pushes his fears away and continues on. The time traveler glances over his shoulder at the large rock in the middle of the field and tries to compare it to his memories. ''If only I'd paid more attention at the time,'' he mutters to himself, soft enough he'll be the only to hear it if others are listening in.

If he's correct, he should be standing right above the soccer field hidden underneath the ground. He kneels down, pushing at the grass and trying to dig through the earth, only to find more underneath.

Cursing softly to himself, he glances at the trees. The further he gets from his teammates, the bigger the risk of being snatched, and he's not about to repeat his previous experience with the Fifth Law.

Still.

He dares moving out a few feet farther and repeats the earlier process, only to find nothing but dirt again. 'Peg?'

Nothing.

Alright then.

The brunet closes his eyes and slows his breathing, calling forth the familiar power laying in dormant. A blue aura lights up around him, fire dancing beneath his closed eyelids, and Pegasus' presence retreats.

Inhaling deeply, Tenma sends out a pulse of Soul Energy, low over the ground. It spreads out in a wave of dim light with him at the center, rustling the small grass blades with an unnatural wind as it passes. The further it gets from the time traveler, the weaker it becomes, until it fades away not far from the forest.

As the energy returns to him, so does the feeling of its previous journey. A mental map spreads out in the time traveler's mind with every trickle of energy that comes back, almost as if he's downloading a scan of his surroundings.

There.

Tenma swiftly gets to his feet, casting a sharp glance around as he does so. He'll have to get out even further, but...

Go. I will be ready if you need me.

Shooting a silent thank you to his now-returned Keshin, he quickly sprints the last few feet separating him from the edge of the hidden soccer field. Once there, he drops to his knees again and digs through the earth with much more fervor than before, aware that every second counts. He barely spends a second worrying about the dirt getting on his bandages, his palms stinging, and then discards the thought. No time for that.

After digging about a feet deep, his fingers finally come into contact with something hard and cold. It's easy enough to free part of the metal plate – of both metal plates, for he's exactly at the middle of the giant sliding hatch. He swiftly searches through his pocket until he finds the tiny device Seiji, through the Eito team, entrusted him with. Taking it out, he presses on it twice and watches as a small light starts blinking.

It's nothing more than a chip, really, so with a bit of effort he slides it in between the two hatches until it's out of sight. According to Seiji, it will attach itself to any electric structure connected to a computer system – and, if Jiro's research and Kogure's intel is correct, God Eden operates fully under one procedure. From there on, it'll give any hacker a way into the main link, although it will still be an effort to break into it according to Eito.

It will have to do.

Knowing that staying here after the job is done is just stupid, Tenma quickly scrapes the earth back into place. It stands out clearly against the rest of the grassy field, but there's nothing to be done about that. Besides, if Fifth Sector is really watching, they'll know exactly where to come looking.

Not that they'll find anything.

Tenma gets to his feet and sprints back to the rock he woke up next to. He gets there without trouble and glances around until he spots Shinsuke close by.

Making his way to his small friend, the brunet brushes most of the dirt from the bandages, although they're definitely stained now. Hopefully the cuts will have healed enough by now not to get infected anymore.

''Shinsuke?'' he asks quietly as he kneels next to his friend, hesitantly reaching out to shake his shoulder. It's useless; the other's too out of it to even react to that small movement. Swallowing, Tenma stands again and checks his teammates one by one, but none of them react.

He retreats to the rock, eventually, to lean against it and slide down until he's sitting in the grass. There, he pulls his knees to his chest and rests his chin on them. For now there's nothing for him to do but wait.

And while he is surrounded by his sleeping teammates on all sides, the loneliness creeping up on him is overwhelming.

~'0'~

''Tenma? Are you awake?''

The brunet's eyes snap open at the voice.

Shindou's standing in front of him, a smile forming on his lips when he sees his younger friend aware. He takes a seat on the grass next to the time traveler, resting against the rock as well. ''I take it your trick worked?''

''Yeah,'' agrees Tenma, a weight lifting from his shoulders now that his teammate is here. ''Is anyone else awake?''

''No, but I imagine they'll be soon.'' Shindou glances around, at the trees surrounding the field – no matter how peaceful it seems, Tsurugi has told them all enough about this place to be fully on guard. ''Seen anyone yet?'' when Tenma shakes his head, the captain sighs. ''What did you even do while we were unconscious?''

The brunet leans a little closer and lowers his voice, even though, by all means, no one should be able to hear them. ''Gave the Control Squad a little boost to hack into the system here.''

Shindou levels him with a dry glare.

You just had to.

Tenma stares back with a small, self-satisfied smirk. Why yes, I did. Then he sighs, his wry amusement leaving him just as quickly as it came, and his friend's gaze softens. ''We've been here for an hour, I think. Whatever will happen, it's going to be happening soon.'' He leans his head back against the cold surface of the rock. ''Think we'll be challenged to a match?''

''So soon?'' Shindou shakes his head, although his voice is a little thoughtful. ''Unlikely, but not impossible. Since we weren't immediately taken to their headquarters, they're clearly planning something else – testing our skills could be something,'' he mutters, brushing some dirt from his pants. ''If we are, you're not playing.''

The brunet shoots upright. ''But-!''

''No. I mean it.'' At the younger midfielder's hurt expression, the strategist reaches out and flicks his forehead, gaining his attention. ''Tenma,'' he starts, indulging him with a smile, ''you're hurt and you best save your energy until we truly need your skills, okay?''

(Well, when he puts it like that...)

The brunet gives in, although it's clear he's not happy about it. ''Alright, fine.'' He picks at the grass, avoiding Shindou's gaze.

Apparently it's not needed, for his fear of continuing this conversation proves untrue when a hand suddenly reaches out to grab his wrist and pull it closer to the game maker. A few indigo sparks dance through the air and Shindou grimaces in disapproval. ''How did you manage to get the bandages so dirty?'' he asks, brushing a piece of grass off.

The younger boy lets him, his Keshin humming pleasantly in the back of his mind. ''It's nothing,'' he shrugs.

Shindou lets it go because someone joins them then. Nishiki comes over to them, shaking his head to clear it. ''Here you two are!'' he says, before looking over his shoulder. ''Found them!''

Huh. Apparently the rest of the team woke up as well.

Raimon gathers at the base of the rock quickly and both midfielders get to their feet. ''Are we all together?'' asks Shindou, surveying the team. Then his eyes narrow. ''Where are the girls?''

The entire team glances around, hoping they might still be sleeping somewhere. Alas, as Tenma already expected, they're nowhere to be seen. ''Coach Kidou and Otonashi-sensei are gone too!'' exclaims Shinsuke.

The older students share grim looks. ''We could've expected this,'' mutters Kirino under his breath and then nods to something behind the rock. ''They must be in there.''

Then the sound of engines catches everyone's attention, guarded as they are. Tanks burst through the trees towards them and immediately the team draws closer together as people dressed in red uniforms storm them.

''Up there!''

The entire team glances at the top of the rock at Aoyama's shout, where a man dressed in pink – pink, and are those feathers? – is standing now, having used their surprise to take them off guard. ''Silence!'' he booms, swinging his arms around in sharp movements. ''Welcome to the island that creates the ultimate, the training camp of the gods, God Eden!'' he places one large hand on his chest. ''I am Kibayama! I am entrusted charge over the training facility here!''

Tsurugi grits his teeth. Immediately, Kirino places a hand on his shoulder, partly in support and partly to calm him – the entire team has heard of his stay here, however short it may've been, and his less than pleasant experience with the supervisor.

Raimon's captain steps up. ''Where are you keeping our coach and managers?!'' he demands sharply, even though they're all quite certain of the answer.

The supervisor holds up a fist. ''Soccer players are the only ones we want!'' he says, pointing sharply at them. ''In this training camp, you will aim to be Fifth Sector's elite players, Seeds!'' now he crosses his arms. ''I have seen your matches in Holy Road. You're not bad. But unfortunately, you have continued to turn your backs on the Fifth Law! Therefore, it has been decided that you will be re-educated under Fifth Sector!''

Raimon is not impressed.

''No thank you.''

At Shindou's dry answer, Kibayama raises an eyebrow and the captain merely smirks. ''We're not interested.''

''You have no choice! I will not tolerate defiance!'' booms the man, grabbing a stone from the rock and clenching it in his fist.

It shatters.

As if it was a sign, the ground behind the Raimon team suddenly moves, dust and air rushing around them as they twist around to watch it.

The earth slides open, the shadows slowly retreating to reveal a soccer field previously hidden underneath. At the center, a team is gathered.

''They are Unlimited Shining, bearers of the ultimate light!'' boasts Kibayama. He lands on the ground behind the Raimon team, the older players immediately forcing their younger teammates back to shield them. ''You will now have a match with them!''

At that, Raimon involuntarily glances at the other team again. Their captain steps forward. ''So you are the Raimon Eleven. It's a pleasure to meet you,'' Hakuryuu says, a slight smirk playing on his lips. ''I am the captain, Hakuryuu.'' In contrast to Kibayama's booming voice from before, the teen's calm introduction is almost pleasant.

That is, until his red eyes zero in on one certain Raimon player.

''Tsurugi!'' he places a hand on his hip, his smirk growing. ''I didn't expect you to come ambling back here after you fled this place.''

The taunt is deliberate and they all know it.

Tsurugi manages to more or less keep his cool. ''I was merely following orders,'' he brings out through gritted teeth.

Hakuryuu, however, doesn't seem impressed, chuckling a little. ''Whatever. Right now, you and I are in different dimensions. You'll see.''

Raimon draws closer together at the threat clear in his voice. ''What do we do?'' asks Sangoku, his voice lowered to keep their conversation hidden. All eyes are trained on Shindou.

The captain's mouth thins into a straight, displeased line. ''We face them on our own.'' At the nods he receives from his team, he twists around to glare at Kibayama. ''Very well, we'll play this match.'' To his friends he adds a muttered ''come on'' and they make their way down to the field.

They gather at one of the benches, the other being occupied by Unlimited Shining. The Raimon team quickly rids themselves of their training suits, revealing their bright uniforms underneath. The silence between them is tense.

When Shindou places a hand on Tenma's shoulder to get his attention, the younger locks eyes with him and nods quietly. No matter how much he hates to admit it, his captain is right; he already knows the outcome of this match and while he wants nothing more than to protect his team from the beatdown they'll be facing, doing so in his current state is not only foolish, it could also cost him dearly in future matches.

''Thank you,'' the strategist says softly to him, before calling out, ''Ichino! You're in Tenma's position.''

All eyes zero in on the brunet even as the blond midfielder agrees. Tenma spares his friends a slight smile and a shrug. At the relieved looks that gets him, he almost pouts. Almost.

A few minutes later, Raimon is taking their positions on the field and doing some final stretches to warm up, while Unlimited Shining merely stands like statues. Tenma and Aoyama stay back on the bench, neither able to say anything through their tension.

The match starts.

It's even more horrible than the brunet remembers it.

Even from the sideline, the backlash from Hakuryuu's White Hurricane is tremendous and the following rough play asks everything of Tenma's self-control not to jump in. Every time one of Raimon's players is hit and beaten to the ground, he can't help but inhale sharply, gritting his teeth to keep himself from crying out.

Point after point in scored.

Tenma digs his fingers into his palms as he watches his friends struggling to stand up after the third goal in the second half is made – the current score being zero against ten. He inhales shakily.

Tenma! Pegasus lunges forward, whether to stop his owner from doing something reckless or to comfort him.

As Hakuryuu kicks the ball at Hikaru with unbelievable force, the brunet feels something wet roll down his cheek. 'This is my fault.'

(He should've protected them.

He knew, has known all along what would be awaiting them at God Eden and yet he didn't stop it. He should've stopped it.

[He should've protected them.])

Something in his head roars in protest before there's indigo in front of his vision, raging like a storm. No! the desperation in his Keshin's voice has the brunet's breath hitching. This was not your fault, little one, do not dare blame yourself for this!

'It is,' he whispers numbly to the being. 'It is- my fault. All my fault.'

He blinks the indigo out of his vision just in time to see Unlimited Shining make another goal, Sangoku thrown against the net while the defenders slam into the ground from the backlash of the shot. Pegasus' presence in his thoughts is overwhelming and all-consuming, the being clutching tightly to the forefront of their shared mind. Listen to me, he says forcefully. You are not to blame and your friends would agree. You tried to stop this, Tenma. You did everything you could but you cannot protect them from everything without putting yourself to harm.

Tenma mutely shakes his head, shutting his burning eyes tightly.

Why, why didn't he remember this?

Remember how his team had been hurt last time this happened? They had been alright in the end, but they were still injured. How could he so easily ignore that?

(Why did he have to decide for them? Who gave him the right to play with their lives like that?)

Little one, Pegasus' voice comes again. It's softer this time, gentle as he would be if he were talking to a skittish animal. Don't do this to yourself.

A sharp, hitching inhale, too close to a sob although it's barely audible, escapes him. 'I'm sorry,' the unbidden thought crosses his mind, repeating itself again and again. 'I'm sorry, I'm so sorry.'

He feels disgusted with himself.

To discard his friends like he did, to use them as nothing more than chess pieces on his board. How despicable must he be for that?

If they knew what you were thinking, they would disagree. Your friends care about you as much as you care about them. If they had known everything you did, they would still have chosen to do this, to fight for what they believe in. Pegasus' speaks quietly, soothingly, and Tenma wants nothing more than to believe him. They are so dear to you, you would never put them in harm's way, but Tenma, you are at your limit. You cannot remember or foresee everything. This isn't your fault.

It is.

It is.

This is his fault. Everything is.

His eyes are drawn back to the match before him, then.

Hakuryuu is jumping in the air, once again, the ball shining gold as it follows him. Clouds gather overhead, the storm terrifying in its intensity and the raging winds enough that even those at the sidelines have to brace themselves. For a moment, Tenma forgets how to breathe.

(No. Please, no.)

''White Hurricane!''

The path of light that follows in the ball's wake is blinding.

It hits the net and the ground shatters.

All of Raimon is thrown back, their screams cutting through the air.

0-12.

It's over.

Tenma closes his eyes tightly, hot tears threatening to spill over. His team is utterly ruined, no one even able of taking one more step.

And although he's been safely benched all this time, something inside him hurts.

Shindou's eyes are shadowed, he can see it even from this far away. Tsurugi gracelessly crumbles to the ground with a strangled gasp.

''Take them all to God Eden!'' orders Kibayama to the red-dressed agents waiting on him. They salute him and move towards the defenseless Raimon team.

Aoyama launches up from the bench, a strangled ''no!'' breaking from his lips, but he barely manages to take a few steps before he's restrained by one of them.

Another agent moves up to Tenma, grabbing him roughly and forcing him to his feet. Pain cuts through him at the merciless pressure on his injuries, a strangled hiss passing his lips. He can't fight it now, not in his state. So instead he closes his eyes for a second. 'Coach Endou, help us, please!'

And his prayer is answered.

Out of nowhere, a ball lands cuts through the air, whistling past Tenma and Aoyama and causing the agents holding them to fall back. It curves until it lands just in between Tsurugi, Shindou and the Unlimited Shining team. It spins and with it, dust clouds rise up, obscuring the entire field.

A weak, empty grin spreads on the time traveler's lips when he sees vague shapes crossing the field. Aoyama next to him coughs at the dust and stumbles to the ground. Tenma himself falls to his knees, catching himself on his hands – which turns out to be a bad decision, because burning fire races through his veins at the contact.

He's too weak to even cry out, only a whimper escaping him as he fully hits the ground. Despite knowing it's useless, he forces his eyes to stay open even as they sting from the sand.

The last thing he sees is someone kneeling next to him, and there's a gentle arm suddenly supporting his shoulders.

Then everything goes black.

~'0'~

''Tenma, wake up.''

The brunet scrunches up his face at the voice calling him, a soft mutter passing his lips. There's something poking his cheek and he turns away from it in annoyance, but the deed is done. He blinks his eyes open against the weak light.

There's stone above him.

Confusion clouds his hazy minds for a few moments, but then it slowly comes back. God Eden. Unlimited Shining. Coach Endou.

He shuts his eyes tightly for a moment to fight back the onslaught of distress that is threatening to pull him under. Only when he's sure of his poker face does he open them again and take a look at the rest of his team.

They're all awake, it seems, and discussing the events of who-knows-how-long ago.

Tenma pushes himself into a sitting position and immediately winces at the fresh wave of pain that follows. Pushing the blanket down enough to reveal his hands, he holds back a curse.

The bandages, no longer pristine white and not even stained with dirt, are red with dried blood.

When did he-?

Oh.

A bitter smile pulls at his lips when he remembers digging his nails into his palms earlier that day. He hadn't even noticed the pain that must surely have accompanied the action, too occupied by his team's fate. With a sigh, he puts it out of his mind and focuses on his friends.

''We were fighting Unlimited Shining...'' mutters Shindou, having gotten to his feet by now. ''But what happened then?''

Uneasy glances are shared, no one knowing how to answer that. ''I think I saw someone,'' answers Ichino hesitantly, rubbing his arms when all eyes turn to him, ''but I'm not sure.''

Any other conversation is cut off when they're joined by someone they haven't seen in weeks.

''Yo!''

All eyes widen in disbelief at the familiar man standing at the entrance of their cave room.

A bright grin as he winks at them, one hand on his hip. ''Looks like you're all awake!'' Endou observes cheerfully.

The entire team stares at him.

''Coach...?''

The young man nods at them, his eyes softening.

And then Shinsuke and Hikaru are calling out loudly, ''coach Endou!'' as they jump him, followed by the rest of the team. In a completely uncharacteristic move from all of them, they join in a group hug, smiles finally replacing the despairing looks on their faces.

Endou laughs loudly, the excited chatter of the teens filling the cave. It takes him several minutes to guide all of them to a bigger cave, where a warm fire is blazing. Several other people are gathered there and the following introductions pass swiftly, Endou's friends amused at the first-years' excitement at meeting their heroes.

When they finally settle down, the Raimon team on one side of the fire and the pro leagues players on the other, their coach launches into an explanation. ''I'm sorry for leaving without explanation,'' he starts. ''The truth is, I learnt something after the match with Hakuren.''

Fubuki takes over. ''I found out that there is a facility on this island where boys are imprisoned and made to go through hellish training to become Seeds. After the match between Raimon and Hakuren, I told Endou-kun about it,'' he explains grimly.

''From what we've uncovered, Seeds are produced in multiple training facilities operated by Fifth Sector,'' continues Kazemaru.

Back to Endou. ''From among them, only players with the highest abilities are assembled at its highest-ranking facility. That is the island ''God Eden'' where the ultimate players are produced.''

''The problem is how they do things,'' Fudou says, closing his eyes for a moment. ''It's possible they've imprisoned boys on this island against their will and are forcing them to do the training,'' he finishes.

Silence lasts after that for a little while, everyone mulling over Endou's final words. To uncover Fifth Sector's conspiracy. There's no hesitation in the Raimon team, but the same cannot be said about caution – they've learnt much from their previous encounters with the soccer organization, after all.

Endou distracts them by asking about their current progress. ''So, how's Kidou as coach?''

What he clearly didn't expect was the looks his team shares.

''Well,'' mutters Aoyama, ''it's not as bad as it was.''

The keeper frowns. ''What do you mean?'' he asks, glancing around before his eyes settle on the captain. ''Shindou?''

The midfielder smiles in reassurance. ''We've had some... trouble,'' he says carefully, ''with the Resistance. We weren't really content with the way they've been treating us.''

Endou closes his eyes for a second. When he opens them again, he nods, his lips pulled into a frown. ''I was afraid of that,'' he admits and glances apologetically at them all when he notices their surprised looks. ''The Resistance has been focused on their goal all this time. To take down Fifth Sector.'' He sighs. ''They needed a team for that and you are even better than Teikoku for that role – in fact, your free spirit is exactly what is needed. But what I feared was their carelessness.''

''Coach?''

He shoots Kirino a smile and shakes his head silently. ''They would never purposefully put you in harm's way if they could help it,'' continues the keeper simply. ''But that's just the thing – they didn't realize it. Not even I did... I never thought Fifth Sector would act the way they did.''

Tenma startles when he finds his coach's eyes suddenly on him and he averts his gaze, therefore not seeing but definitely hearing the sad sigh Endou gives.

''I was afraid the Resistance would forget your mental states,'' he admits softly. ''They want what's best for the soccer world and I feared they would be too driven by that desire to think of the consequences of their actions to you. Don't get me wrong, they're my friends and they are truly good people, but it's been so long... so I asked Kidou to keep an eye on you and to act, not as a Resistance member, but as a coach. I take it that didn't succeed.''

There's an awkward silence following his words, because really, what can they say to that?

Sangoku is the one who finds his voice first, albeit hesitantly. ''He would've,'' he says slowly. ''Although we had trouble adjusting at first, he would've been the coach we needed. Maybe not what we wanted, but what we needed.''

''But then everything started going wrong,'' adds Kurumada grimly and Sangoku nods.

Raimon's keeper glances at his team, their downtrodden looks, and sighs. ''I don't know what it is- no, actually, I do. I think we all do.''

Tenma doesn't dare meet anyone's eyes.

Because really, it's not that hard to figure out.

''I'm sorry, Tenma.'' The brunet glances up, startled, and locks eyes with Endou. His coach smiles ruefully at him. ''If I'd known this would happen, I would never have left the team.''

The time traveler shrugs, but the looks don't let up. ''There's nothing you could've done, coach,'' he mutters and then tacks on a weak smile. ''Besides, I did kind of get myself into this mess.''

''Don't say that,'' scolds Nishiki. ''It's not as if you asked for this.''

Well.

Technically, he kind of did.

He's not about to say that, though, so instead he settles for nodding. It pacifies his team, at least, and the conversation continues on.

''We lost our trust in coach Kidou and the Resistance,'' admits Shindou, as if revealing a painful secret. ''We shouldn't have, but... we did. Coach Kidou, though...'' his lips curl up, ''he realized what happened and reached out to us. I'm glad he did – it could've gone a lot worse otherwise.''

Endou nods. ''That's a relief to hear,'' he tells them all, his smile returning. ''I knew I could count on him if it came down to it.''

Now that that confession is out of the way, the lighter mood returns. Kazemaru claps his hands. ''Anyone hungry? We made curry!''

Teenagers, of course, are always hungry, and so soon enough, all of them have a steaming plate and spoons to replace the lack of chopsticks. The team relaxes for the first time in what must be since they learnt of their oncoming trip to God Eden.

Tenma is glad for it as he wolves down his food – he hadn't realized he was starving. It's a little hard when every little movement pulls at his injuries, but he brought it on himself so he won't complain about it now.

Unfortunately, not everyone seems to agree.

''You should let someone change those bandages,'' says Shindou when he joins the brunet, his usual manners all but forgotten in the face of his hunger. He glances at said bandages and does a double take. ''Tenma!''

At the exclamation, everyone turns to the two midfielders.

Shindou doesn't seem to care, discarding his plate on the rocky floor as he reaches out and grabs the younger brunet's wrist. He gently pulls it towards him, inspecting his friend's palm for barely a second before glancing up with narrowed eyes. ''It's bleeding again,'' he accuses, but his anger isn't completely directed at Tenma. ''Why didn't you say something?''

Tenma glances down and mutters something about not noticing.

He's saved from making any more excuses when Endou crosses the cave and kneels down next to them, gently taking the youngest brunet's hand from Shindou to see for himself. It's clear he's not pleased when he calls out for the first-aid kit.

''On it,'' says Fudou, already walking towards a smaller side cave. He returns moments later with the kit and Endou gives a distracted nod of thanks. ''Fubuki, could you get some water?''

Hakuren's coach quickly sets to collecting it as Endou and Fudou unwrap the bandages, making sure to be gentle where the dried blood is sticking to the brunet's skin. While they do that, Fubuki heats water above the fire before setting it aside to let it cool.

Endou and Fudou work swiftly. Thankfully it's not as bad as they seemed to have feared before, only the cuts on Tenma's palms having reopened a bit, and once the water has cooled enough they set to cleaning the injuries.

''Why didn't you say anything?'' asks Shindou again, quietly this time, throwing a look at Tenma's hands as Endou works quietly. Fudou is gathering supplies from the first-aid kit to use when that's done.

The brunet shrugs a bit, just a little uncomfortable, although he tries not to move too much as his coach gently cleans the last bit of blood. ''I'm not the only one hurt anymore,'' he protests, throwing an obvious look at the rest of his team.

''Scrapes and bruises are nothing in comparison to your injuries, Tenma,'' Tsurugi joins in from where he's leaning against the wall. ''You were thrown against a mirror.''

The brunet's about to retort, when his attention is caught by a hitch in Endou's previously steady rhythm, his movements stilling.

''Coach?''

Endou doesn't say anything.

''A... mirror?'' comes Fubuki's strangled voice from Fudou's side, where he has frozen in gathering fresh bandages.

The Raimon team winces. They probably could've mentioned that differently.

Fudou is the first to pull himself out of his trance and starts digging through the first-aid kit with renewed fervor, his silver-haired friend quickly following his example and continuing with his previous job. Still without saying anything, Endou restarts his previous movements as well, almost robotically finishing with his task.

Once that's done, Fudou hands him the anti-infection salve he found and Raimon's coach starts applying it to the half-healed cuts, still without saying a word. The awkward silence stays like that as he accepts Fubuki's help with bandaging the injuries.

They finish quietly and while Fudou and Fubuki put back the first-aid kit, Endou settles down amongst his players. The teenager share uncertain glances and it's Shinsuke who is brave enough to bring out a quiet ''coach?''

The keeper sighs, the sound a relief after the prior silence, and offers them all a smile. ''I'm sorry for reacting like that,'' he apologizes. ''And I'm... I'm so sorry for not being with you.''

Immediately, the team protests.

''Don't say that!''

''What do you mean?!''

''Coach-!''

He cuts them off by holding up a hand and is therefore taken aback when Shindou continues on. ''Coach,'' says the captain and the certainty of the word is enough to make Endou blink in surprise, ''it's not your fault this happened. If we really want to blame someone, it should be the team for not taking care of ourselves better, not you.''

''You're just kids,'' Endou points out, although he's relaxing now.

The team shares a few grins. ''Fair enough,'' admits Sangoku, ''but it's still isn't your fault.''

Their coach sighs, but it's one of defeat. ''Alright.'' Yet he still glances at Tenma and it's only when the brunet smiles brightly that Endou fully allows himself to smile. ''Tenma's right, though, you're all hurt and the next few days will be trying. So it's off to bed with all of you!''

Immediately they protest, but it's more for the image of it than anything else – they're exhausted and no one can deny it.

The adults shoo them off to the smaller cave they woke up in and not long after, they've all found their makeshift beds again. Kurumada, being the closest to the lantern in the corner, dims it until it's barely noticeable.

After calling out their goodnight wishes, the teenagers settle down surprisingly easily.

Exhausted as they are, sleep claims them all swiftly.

~'0'~

I swear, the humor is coming back next time and Shuu will be there too! Yasss!

Also, I promised movie time, and did I keep my promise? Yes, yes I did.