Hello! Remember me?

I'm once again back to torture you guys with more Inazuma Eleven GO angsty time travel content :D

Please enjoy the chapter because who knows when the next one is coming out ahahaha

~'0'~

Accidental Reverse Arc 3

~'0'~

Tenma wakes up to the sun on his face. He doesn't want to wake up, would, in fact, very much like to bury his face into his pillow and sleep some more, but the light is persistent. No matter which way he turns, it's still there, and it refuses to let him have some peace.

With the realization that waking up is inevitable, his eyes slowly open, carefully squinting against the light.

For a moment, he's confused to see the bright blue of the sky above him, gentle cotton clouds drifting past. Why would he be sleeping outside...?

Then the memories come flooding back and the brunet winces, something heavy settling in his stomach. Slowly he pushes himself upright, grimacing when his muscles scream in protest. Sleeping on the roof hasn't done much for the soreness that's been plaguing him since his last Fifth Sector visit, it seems.

There's no sign of coach Endou, although now that he's more aware of his surroundings, he can hear familiar voices from below. The young brunet sighs and lifts his good arm to rub at his eyes, half wondering what his coach told the team so they'd leave him alone and not worry. There's no way they'd just leave him to sleep on the roof without Endou interfering in some way, and he's grateful for it.

Out of the corner of his eye he sees a flash of white, and when he turns to look at it it's to find Endou's jacket. It's folded neatly, albeit creased, and it hits him a second later that it functioned as his pillow.

For a moment, his lips twist up into a shadow of a smile at the token of kindness.

It fades quickly, though, and he picks up the jacket as he gets to his feet. He doesn't want to sit around now that he's awake. Instead the brunet wanders over to the stairs, pausing for a moment to look over the stone balustrade and take in the scene below.

Half of his team is seated on the ground, listening to Fudou and Fubuki as they explain what sounds like strategies. Tenma winces when he notices that it's the more offensive part of Raimon that's gathered, Shindou and Tsurugi included.

He doesn't want to talk to them.

His skin is crawling and there's a tremor in his fingers that he can't suppress no matter how hard he tries, and the need to walk the other way has never been quite this strong.

(He misses them. God, how he misses them.)

(And usually their younger counterparts are enough, more than enough, to make up for it because it's still them, just younger. But now...)

(Now it only hurts worse.)

So, after he's descended the stairs, Tenma doesn't join them. His friends are all focused on Fudou and Fubuki's lesson anyway, so it's all too easy to disappear around the corner of the watchtower before anyone even notices he's there.

The space beyond is deserted, and he hates that he's relieved.

So he doesn't dwell on it, pushes it away to think about another time – preferably never – and silently slips inside the tower, glancing around. It's empty here as well.

Not wanting to stay here for too long, the brunet leaves Endou's folded jacket next to the coach's sleeping bag and grabs some leftover bread from the breakfast he missed on the way out. Then he heads towards the forest, staying well out of sight from the lesson taking place on the other side of the tower. It doesn't really matter either way, since Shuu always somehow finds him, no matter where or when he finds himself on the island. If he's alone, his friend will show up eventually.

The young brunet makes the best of it as he walks beneath the aging trees, their canopy blocking out the early sunlight nearly completely. It's peaceful here, surrounded by only the chirping of the birds and the rustling of leaves above. Tenma wishes he could enjoy it.

Several of his friends would, he knows – Kirino, Hikaru, surprisingly Hamano – and he has to pause for a moment at how it hurts.

(He's missed his team many times since coming to the past.)

(It has never felt like grief until now.)

Roughly shaking his head, the brunet picks up his pace again. Standing still means thinking and that inevitably leads to thoughts he does not want to have right now. So he distracts himself with ducking beneath any low-hanging branches and scrambling through the shrubs, not knowing where he's going and not caring either.

He must have been walking for a while, having finished the bread he picked up for breakfast a while ago already. This part of the island is unfamiliar to him – he hasn't been here in the last few days, and he can't remember it from before that either, although it could have changed through the years.

It's why the rushing of water surprises him. There are only a few waterfalls on the island, besides the main one, and he didn't realize he was close to any of them.

It makes him pick up his pace and before Tenma knows it, the forest around him is thinning until he at last reaches the tree line. The landscape before him is breathtaking, as so much on this island is – the large river cuts through the earth, its water sparkling in the sun.

He's much further downstream than he thought he would be, but in the distance he can see the main waterfall, the smaller one where he trained with Shuu so many years ago barely visible above it.

There's a smaller stream much closer to him though, and Tenma catches a glimpse of a much smaller torrent that must be the source for it.

Curiosity taking over him, the young brunet follows the stream, passing beneath a low-hanging rock and through some younger trees. He finds himself in a smaller clearing, previously concealed to him.

It's as beautiful here as anywhere else on the island, the water flowing gently through several basins on which white lotus flowers drift slowly. The soil around it is covered in fresh grass, unmarred by footsteps.

Shuu is sitting cross-legged on a flat stone in the center of the largest basin.

His head tilts when he spots the brunet. ''Good morning,'' he says, smiling warmly.

Tenma blinks, but after several years of cherished friendship with the dark-haired forward he's rarely taken aback by his unexplainable appearances. So instead of commenting on it, he returns the greeting. ''Good morning to you too.'' He moves further into the small dell, and once he gets close enough to the stream for the water to nearly lap at his shoes, he hops to a stepping stone in the middle of the brook.

There are quite a few, including the large one Shuu has decided to occupy this fair morning, and the young brunet manages to find a path of stepping stones until he's on the one nearest to his friend. He mirrors Shuu's cross-legged position. ''Are we training here?'' his voice wavers only a little at the memory of what happened during yesterday's session, but he's incapable of being happy about it right now.

''I thought it would be a nice change of scenery,'' the other replies, hand swiping gently through the water of the basin. ''This place is very calming, isn't it? It is said to be a gift from the gods.''

A new curiosity overtakes Tenma as he looks at his surroundings. ''A gift to whom?'' he asks, matching his friend's soft tone.

Shuu dips his hand in the water, his smile fading and leaving only something akin to sorrow. It's a while before he answers, and when he does, he looks straight at Tenma. ''A resting place.'' His voice grows softer as he speaks. ''To those who might have lost their way for a while.''

The brunet sucks in a startled breath, finding himself unable to hold Shuu's gaze any longer. Instead he stares into the water, at the sky reflected into it as it is distorted by the ripples from Shuu's hand.

Last night, Tenma felt tiny beneath the cold stars in the darkness.

Now he imagines the ripples growing instead of fading. Would they shatter the sky? Would the shards of blue fall around them, like the shards of a mirror?

Would they be tainted red again?

At the thought, he pulls his legs to his chest and wraps his arms around them. The white of the bandages is in stark contrast with his skin.

It is Shuu's next words, quiet still, that pull him from the sound of shattering glass echoing in his ears. ''Those who wander without direction find themselves here,'' he lifts his hand and lets the water trickle through his fingers. ''Yet if you go looking for it, it's as if it was never here in the first place. This is where I find myself when my mind won't settle, and I thought it might help you a bit as well.''

And Tenma- he understands, and he's grateful in a way that words could never describe that Shuu would allow him to come here instead of directing him somewhere else. The gentle rushing of the water, the sweet smell of lotus flowers in the air... it soothes him as much as Endou's presence last night.

And yet, he doesn't want to talk about this.

About the reason he could be lost enough to wander here.

So he doesn't say anything and keeps his eyes trained on the slowly fading ripples in the water, and the silence around them keeps on. It isn't tense, couldn't be when everything around them radiates such tranquility, but something in the air feels restless all the same.

''Baa!''

Tenma's head whips up. He sees Shuu do the same out of the corner of his eye.

There's a small, white goat beneath the overhanging rock, its hooves clacking on the stones as the young animal trudges closer. When it reaches the stream, it lowers its head and the two boys stare at it as it drinks.

Without him realizing it, Tenma's lips curl into a bright smile. ''Hello there!'' he tells the little goat, and it raises its head at the words. ''I wonder if it's the same one from before...''

As they watch, the goat apparently has satisfied its thirst and instead starts grazing on the grass. ''Why did you save it?'' Shuu asks, sounding genuinely confused.

''Why...?'' Tenma echoes, looking back at his friend and tilting his head. ''I'm not sure, I saw it and just reacted. I couldn't let it get hurt like that!'' His answer rings as true as it did three years ago.

He has an inkling of where this is going and keeps his gaze trained on Shuu, seeing how his face first brightens in a smile, laughter in his voice as he exclaims, ''you really are interesting!''

And then the smile melts away and his expression turns troubled. ''I wonder...'' all traces of his laugh have left as quickly as it came, leaving behind a lingering sadness that bothers Tenma as much as it did when he saw it the first time. ''If you were there, would things have been different...''

Tenma's heart beats in his chest as he asks, ''what do you mean?'' and listens as Shuu hums thoughtfully.

''The customs on this island are different from your world.'' The words come so easy, no pause or moment of doubt before Shuu starts his terrible tale. ''There was a game, a lot like soccer, with which decisions were made on important matters. One year, during a long dry spell, they used it to decide who should be sacrificed in order to save the village. The girl on the losing side would be sacrificed. That was the rule.''

There is a quiet anger that Tenma nearly misses even as he's looking for it that darken Shuu's dark eyes even more. The young brunet has only seen that cold stare a handful of times.

Only twice has it been directed at him, and both times are the worst memories he has of his friend.

''One of the girls had an older brother.'' There is no trace of the anger now, and for all accounts Shuu's voice has regained its warmth. Tenma knows better. ''He wanted to protect his sister, no matter what the cost. And so he made a bargain with the other team, asking them to lose on purpose, and they did. But then the villagers found out.''

Tenma would close his eyes if he could, but he's caught in Shuu's bitter eyes that stare at nothing, lost in his story. As if in a trance, without realizing, the young brunet repeats the question he asked so many years ago, not knowing why but asking all the same.

''What happened to the sister?''

He should've known the answer, and yet the horror it brings him is raw. ''She was sacrificed.''

Shuu's hands are trembling. They're locked together, fingers intertwined, shaking with the force of his loathing. ''He couldn't protect his own sister. If only he'd had the conviction that he could win and the courage to fight, then maybe he wouldn't have done such a thing. Soccer cursed this island... if your soccer isn't strong, you can't protect what's dear to you. That's why being strong is important.''

He spats the biting words as if they're poison, and Tenma blinks against the burning of his eyes.

After so many years of knowing his friend, soft-spoken and gentle and most of all happy, he forgot how bitter he used to be.

Shuu, his Shuu, once told him he made peace with all he had lost long before the two of them met; that's not what had him so warped then, and now.

(''The real hard part... it was forgiving myself.'')

''Soccer is supposed to be fun,'' Tenma says, once he's relatively sure his voice won't wobble. He doesn't know what to say that might help Shuu; he's never had to live through something as terrible as he did, so he stays on the safe side instead. ''The boy shouldn't have had to fight in a match to protect his sister from the cruelty of the village in the first place.''

His heart sinks when Shuu gets to his feet, tension in every line of his being. ''No,'' he spats. ''It's not fun, and unless you're strong, you're worth nothing!''

''Shuu-''

But he's already leaving and Tenma goes ignored, and when the brunet loses sight of his friend for just a second, he's gone.

''Shuu?'' he asks, but he knows the other has already left. He shouldn't have been able to disappear in the time it took Tenma to only turn his head, and yet there's no sign of him.

This island has always had its secrets. Or maybe that's just Shuu himself.

Whatever it is, Tenma can't find it in himself to care. He draws his legs closer to his chest and lowers his head to rest on his knees.

(Even knowing what to expect, he couldn't help Shuu at all.)

The silence in his mind is echoed by the silence of his surroundings.

''Baa!''

Once again, Tenma is startled by the high-pitched sound, lifting his head to the sight of the little goat. It has moved a little closer, munching on a flower. From this close, he can see the light brown, nearly golden tint of its eyes.

Inevitably, he finds himself cheering up a little, smiling softly at the small animal. ''You're still here,'' he breathes, staying still so he won't scare it off. The flower disappearing further into its mouth with every chew, and the brunet laughs a little at the funny image. ''You're not scared of me at all.''

It tilts its head, and Tenma can almost imagine it asking, why should I be?

That's fair. He probably doesn't make a very intimidating picture right now.

The flower is gone now, and the goat gives another little ''baa!'' before it lowers its head and focuses on the grass instead.

''You're right, I'm not that scary when I'm sulking like this, am I?'' the brunet laughs softly, and shakes his head at his own silliness. Leave it to him to start a one-sided conversation with a goat, of all things.

After watching the little animal for a moment longer, he gets to his feet and pats the side of his thigh gently, mindful of his still-healing hand. He shouldn't be sitting around like this when they have a match in less than two days.

The little goat, imagined conversation or not, is right.

He doesn't have the luxury of sulking right now.

~'0'~

Now that he lacks a training partner, and knowing everyone else must already be busy practicing, Tenma sets out to figure things out on his own instead. He leaves the hidden sanctum behind and doesn't look back once as he picks his way through the forest.

They've only been on this island for three days, and he's done nothing but mope around the whole duration of their stay so far.

He's sick of it.

As he follows the river, knowing it's the fastest way to reach the large waterfall, Tenma wonders how exactly he should go about it. One of the obvious issues is his Keshin, but he doesn't even know where to start with that, especially now that Shuu has vanished into thin air.

It's when he finally reaches the waterfall, sitting cross-legged on a patch of grass, that he realizes.

Staring up at the familiar cliff, the one he has climbed so long ago, the young brunet frowns. He knows the whole team went through dangerous, ridiculous training – and honestly, how bad were his survival instincts when he was younger that he'd climb an actual cliff without any safety gear – but now that he's standing here, he has to wonder, what was the point of this?

Obviously it helped him, Pegasus' evolution was a clear sign of that... but how did climbing a cliff translate to Keshin training?

A small voice in the back of his mind, one that sounds suspiciously like Takuto's, whispers a quiet, ''isn't it clear?''

''Focus,'' he mumbles to himself, eyebrows raising. Could it really be that easy?

But it always has been with him, wasn't it? The first time he released his Keshin, it was when he played as goalkeeper – completely and utterly transfixed on stopping that ball. When Pegasus evolved, it was because he'd spent three days with nothing on his mind except overcome this obstacle, climb this cliff, as if that was everything that mattered. And the first time he released his Soul, nothing mattered except his fight, his challenge with Kyousuke.

In the future, Kirino likes to call him scatterbrained, and Midori tells him he'd walk into a door if he's distracted enough.

(That last one might be from experience.)

Still... could it be that easy? The young brunet doubts it, because this – the empty hole in his mind – is more than just a lack of focus. Tenma knows his worst enemy is himself, the self-doubt that creeps up on him never far off, but it's never been quite this literal.

He grits his teeth. This line of thinking is all well and good, but where is it getting him?

Pegasus is still gone.

''No,'' he says resolutely, shaking his head. He shouldn't be thinking that way, because it seems awfully like giving up, and that's something he won't do. ''Everything will work out somehow.''

Saying it out loud doesn't make it come true, but it anchors him anyway. The familiar phrase is as comforting as it is sobering right now.

Tenma tilts his head back, staring at the top of the cliff. It feels so far away, and he can't help but wonder how he managed to climb it back then. A humorless laugh escapes him, and he raises his hands above his head, staring at the bandages covering them. What good does this cliff do him now, when there's no way he can scale it this time with his hands in the state that they're in?

'Good job, Matsukaze,' he thinks bitterly. 'See in how many ways you've messed up.'

He might have continued on this downward thought spiral, if there wasn't a sudden ''Tenma?'' from behind him, and he lowers his arms again as he turns around.

The brunet blinks at the sight of Tsurugi standing at the forest edge, soccer ball held under his arm. The Seedling looks just as startled to see him there, although his face smooths out again quickly enough and he crosses the distance separating them. Tenma tilts his head as his friend takes a seat next to him. ''Kyou-chan, weren't you training in the ravine?''

It becomes apparent that something must have happened when Tsurugi's expression goes blank. ''Hakuryuu showed up,'' he says, and if Tenma didn't know him so well he'd think it was only an inconvenience to the striker.

Now he can see the conflict hidden in the thinning of his lips and the tightening of his eyes, well-hidden to anyone who hasn't had years to learn how to read him.

''What happened?'' he presses, knowing Tsurugi won't come forth with the details on his own.

The striker exhales sharply, the only sign of how much Hakuryuu is really bothering him, and gives the soccer ball a tap so it rolls in between them. ''Nothing noteworthy.'' He rests his hands on the ground behind him and leans back. Tenma half suspects it to be an excuse not to look at him. ''Just being bothersome.''

It's a credit to how much Tsurugi has opened up that he even says that much, instead of just holding his silence.

Tenma is a little amused that, somehow, he still manages to say absolutely nothing at all.

''Were you friends?''

''No,'' Tsurugi says immediately, and then pauses for a moment, looking pensive. Then he sighs and adds, softly, ''No, but he was the closest thing I had to a friend while I was a Seed.''

The brunet draws his legs to his chest and wraps his arms around them, leaning his head on his knees. For a few moments, Tenma watches the Seedling like that, but Tsurugi isn't inclined to say anything else.

''It'll be fine, I think.''

Finally, orange eyes shift to the brunet again. Tsurugi doesn't say anything but he raises a dubious eyebrow.

Tenma spares him a smile and a little half-shrug. ''He kind of reminds me of you when you first joined Raimon. Although you were more emo-ish.'' At the irritated look that gets him, he grins. ''You upgraded from a Seed to a Seedling, so I'm sure Hakuryuu can as well.''

Tsurugi snorts.

They both fall silent, staring at the waterfall. After a moment, Tenma lies down to stare up at the sky. Twisting his fingers in the grass beneath him, he hides a grimace when his next exhale comes out as a downhearted sigh instead.

''What's wrong?'' the striker asks after a moment.

For a few seconds, the brunet considers refuting the question, but he realizes he doesn't want to. All of a sudden, he's aware of his eyelids heavy with exhaustion, how his whole body is still sore from sleeping outside, the maddening itch of the cuts beneath the bandages.

''I messed up,'' he says before he can change his mind, and then bites his lip. Maybe this isn't a good idea after all, but he's already brought it up and... and the idea that maybe he can confide in someone is too tempting to ignore, so he pushes on despite his doubts. ''With... with my Keshin.'' He laughs wetly and hides his eyes beneath his wrist, the smile melting away as quickly as it came. ''It's gone.''

''Gone?'' echoes Tsurugi, sounding alarmed. ''How?''

Tenma shakes his head, feeling the gauze around his arm chafe against his face. ''I don't know.'' It sounds softer than he would've liked it to be. ''Before, Pegasus was still... still there, but now there's nothing.'' His voice breaks on the last word.

Part of him wonders if maybe, maybe Tsurugi will know something? His training as a Seed has made him the most knowledgeable on Keshin of the whole team, save Tenma himself. Now that Shuu has disappeared and won't come back for the foreseeable future, Tsurugi might be the only one who could help.

'No,' Tenma reprimands himself harshly. He can't bring his hopes up like that, when his the Seedling has never mentioned anything like this in all the years they've known each other.

(He tries to ignore the little voice in the back of his mind that reminds him they've never faced something like this.)

''I'm afraid we're going to need all the Keshin we can get in the match,'' the brunet adds quietly. ''And I... I'm just a liability at this point.''

''Don't say that.''

At the quick rebuttal, Tenma lowers his arm to the ground so he can look at Tsurugi, who's frowning at him. ''I am, though,'' the midfielder mutters. ''A Chained Keshin is a pretty big disadvantage.''

Surprisingly, Tsurugi just shrugs. ''And you still managed to hold on to your spot on the starter lineup,'' he counters. ''I wouldn't call that a liability.'' A harsh huff of laughter escapes Tenma before he can hold it back, and he sits up so he can glare at his teammate.

Tsurugi doesn't seem affected by it, merely raising an eyebrow. ''I've seen what a Chained Keshin can do, and you've successfully managed to handle it this whole time. Ask anyone on the team, they'd agree.''

Recognizing a lost battle when he sees one, the brunet lets it go. He has more pressing matters now, because his own earlier words – ''I'm afraid we're going to need all the Keshin we can in the match'' – keep running through his mind.

He'd realized it before, of course he had, but all of a sudden it hits him how much of a risk Pegasus' absence really is. The only reason his Raimon had won against Zero the first time was because he, Takuto and Kyousuke combined their Keshin to form Demon Emperor Gryphon, and even then it was a close call. Without Pegasus...

What are they going to do?

''Tenma?'' Tsurugi's voice breaks him out of his thoughts and the brunet realizes he's clutching tightly at his shorts, his still-healing hands throbbing at the rough treatment.

He tries not to let his panic show on his face when he looks at Tsurugi again, but he's not sure how successful he is when the striker furrows his brow. Tsurugi opens his mouth to say something but Tenma cuts him off, not ready to answer any questions right now. ''I meant what I said,'' he blurts out, the first thing that comes to mind. ''About the match.''

At the sudden topic switch, Tsurugi scowls. ''What?''

''Unlimited Shining destroyed us last time.'' There's no use sugar coating anything, not when Raimon is in such a bad position – and it's his own fault, Tenma suddenly realizes. He's been complacent in the knowledge they could win the Holy Road because they'd done it before.

How could he have forgotten that nothing is set in stone?

Slowly, he uncurls his fingers from where they're still tightly clenched. It stings, but somehow that manages to anchor him more than even Tsurugi could.

When he glances back at said Seedling, he's calm, in a way he hasn't been in... a long while, it feels like. ''Think about it. Unlimited Shining beat us, and Ancient Dark did as well. Both have trained on this island far longer than we have and if we want to beat Unlimited Shining,'' Zero, ''this time, we're going to have to give it everything we've got. And I,'' and here he falters, just a little bit, ''I've barely done anything on this island. My Keshin training backfired immensely.''

Part of him expects Tsurugi to reject his claims again, so Tenma is surprised to find him looking thoughtful instead. More than that, though, he's relieved that he finally managed to get through to him. They've always been stronger when together than when apart, after all.

The striker takes a long while to think it over, and Tenma waits anxiously for his opinion. He wants Tsurugi to meet him halfway with this.

''If you're right,'' said Seedling begins eventually, taking the time to talk slowly like his elder counterpart does whenever he believes it's an important topic, as if each word hold immeasurably weight, ''then what do you want to do?''

''I don't know.''

Tenma's answer is fast and curt, teeth gritted in his frustration and Tsurugi snorts. ''You're not even taking the time to think about it.''

The brunet's head whips up at that. ''I have thought about it!''

His protest falls on deaf ears as Tsurugi gets to his feet, tapping his earlier abandoned soccer ball into the air so he can balance it on his shoe. With a short jerking motion, he propels it into the air and catches it easily. Then, finally, he deigns to look at Tenma again.

''Have you?''

Tenma opens his mouth to say yes, I have, of course I have, it's all I've been thinking about, and then- falters.

At his continued silence, Tsurugi chuckles, a little short, just shy of mean.

''If you're unwilling to help yourself,'' he says, and suddenly his face is void of his previous mirth, orange gaze sharp and narrowed, ''then what makes you think I could help you?''

The brunet has nothing to say to that.

Tsurugi sighs, and his harsh demeanor fades a little. ''Get up, Tenma,'' he says, offering his future captain a hand. After a moment of hesitation, said brunet reaches out to take it, except the striker grabs his uninjured wrist instead and tugs him upwards. There's no spark of energy between them, no flash of darkness. Nothing to signify the presence of their Keshin.

''You're achieving nothing by beating yourself up, you know that?'' Tsurugi says once the brunet is standing too. ''I'm asking you again, what do you want to do?''

Tenma chews on his lower lip.

A gentle breeze picks up around them.

''Win this match.''

Tsurugi nods and stays silent, the raised eyebrows asking him, so how are you going to do that? And although they both already know the answer, both know that Tenma knows, the Seedling wants to hear it aloud.

And for a moment longer, Tenma doubts.

Then, with an audible sigh, he gives in.

(He has to suppress a smile, feeling like a weight has lifted off his shoulders. This may not be his Kyousuke...)

''I can't do it alone,'' he admits quietly, like ripping off a band aid. Painful at first, before relief floods in, and he inevitably feels the tension flow out of him. The fond smile is curling on his lips despite his attempts to hold it back.

Hasn't the lesson been repeated, so many times now?

How many times before it's gonna stick?

(...and still he can always count on him.)

And Tsurugi smiles.

''In that case,'' he says, and holds up the soccer ball, ''let's gather the rest of the team, shall we?''

After all, Raimon is, and always has been, strongest when together.

~'0'~

The morning of the third day comes with a forest silent as a grave, so unlike the days leading up to this.

Far above, the sky is concealed in a stormy, foreboding grey, not a single bird song heard in the still air. There's a persistent, chilled wind blowing that turns the otherwise gentle spring day into something grim, and the earth is still wet from the rain that fell throughout the night.

Raimon has gathered at the foot of the bridge above the ravine, the fastest route to the midst of the island.

To God Eden.

The grey of the clouds makes even their bright uniforms look dull.

''The day's finally here,'' Shindou mutters, although it sounds loud in the stillness. It's one of the few things that's been said since they woke, the team having readied themselves for this match nearly without speaking. What words they did share were hushed and scarce.

A spell has fallen over the forest, fallen over them; there is no time for jokes or chatter.

Not anymore.

''Yeah,'' Sangoku agrees, tense, concerned, but not for himself.

Their silent vigil has been broken now, and soft comments are being made by the older players to ease the anxiety in their first-years. Their youngest members are all pale and jumpy, even Kariya and Tsurugi, and their senpai have noticed.

It's Hikaru, with his shaking hands balled into fists and his brows furrowed into a frown that resembles fright more than resolve, whose composure cracks first. ''Their strength isn't one to underestimate,'' he mumbles, and his voice begins to tremble. ''I'm not sure how much our training will help against them.''

Endou places a hand on his shoulder, which startles both the young forward and the boys directly next to him, and yet the man's smile – small and gentle – settles them once more. It's been a while since they've been under his tutelage, but the trust in their coach has not lessened in the slightest.

He squeezes Hikaru's shoulder softly. ''Just do your usual. Play like you always do!'' he's looking at the young forward, but it's directed at all of them.

A bit of the gloom that has surrounded them till now lets up.

''Hai!''

Shindou glances around at his team, takes note of how they're all marginally more collected than before. It's not going to get any better the more they wait, he knows.

As captain, it's his duty to make certain decisions.

This is one of them.

''No use waiting,'' he announces, and stands a little bit straighter. He takes the first step onto the bridge, knowing his team will follow. ''Let's go.''

He leads them to the other side of the ravine and into the forest, where a path cuts straight through the trees, a far call from the winding trails they've encountered on the rest of the island. Everything here has been dictated by Fifth Sector, from the menacing training facility far in the distant to the vegetation growth around them.

Although the journey seemed long from the foot of the bridge, it passes faster than any of them expected once they're actually on their way. It helps that they're together, helps that Endou directs them in a sure voice, helps that they're not alone.

As far away from home as they are, at least they've got each other.

It's in the running conversation between Kariya and Kirino, fully existing out of snide comments and sharp jokes, initiated by the younger defender. Any other day Kirino would have ignored that first jab at him, but one look at the tealhead's tense posture has him responding in kind, exasperated yet fond, and the way Kariya is slowly starting to smile makes it worth it.

It's in the story Kurumada ropes Amagi into, animatedly telling Shinsuke and Hikaru about the time they were forced to attend a cooking class together for extra credit. They would never share this story on a regular day, clearly still embarrassed about their many mess-ups, but they set aside their pride to make their juniors laugh and forget their nerves for a little while.

It's in the way Sangoku fusses over them all, flitting between the withdrawn Aoyama and Ichino and the quietly talking Nishiki and Tsurugi, keeping one eye on their first-years even after he's drawn into a conversation by Endou about his training.

Tenma watches his teammates around him, and wonders if it was like this the first time.

(Had the senpai been as tuned into their youngest members' unease like this? Had they set aside their own discomfort just to distract them? He can't remember.)

Ahead of them, a stone passageway dooms up, and this Tenma does know. It's a naturally formed tunnel, short but dark, and the last obstacle that obscures God Eden in its full glory.

One of his teammates stops next to him, and the brunet looks up to find Shindou at his side. A soft ''senpai?'' escapes him.

The captain turns his gaze away from the cave entrance before them, dark eyes softening a little when they settle on the younger midfielder. ''We'll be okay, you know.''

Tenma makes a noise of confusion that has Shindou smiling down at him like he does so often nowadays. This is the first time it has made him feel small.

Small, and shy, and afraid.

''Stop that,'' Shindou tells him, and Tenma realizes he'd been chewing on his lip. He's not even sure when he started, but the skin feels raw from the abuse, and he winces when he catches sight of the captain's disapproving frown.

''Sorry.''

At the quiet apology and the downturned gaze that is now trained on the ground, Shindou sighs. As he reaches out to place a careful hand on the other's shoulder, he can't help but think that seeing the younger boy this timid is starting to become a regular thing, and to say it worries him is an understatement.

''Don't apologize,'' he says, and when Tenma still keeps his head twisted to the side, Shindou gently uses the hold he has on his shoulder to turn him around. The younger brunet blinks up at his senpai, now having no choice but to look at him.

''Trust in us.''

That, at least, ensures Tenma's attention. ''I do trust you,'' he declares immediately, and there's no doubt in his words.

Shindou smiles. ''I'm glad to hear it,'' and he is, he really is, ''so try to keep it in mind later, okay?''

Later.

During the match.

Tenma inhales slowly and holds it for a moment, nearly starting to chew on his lip again before he catches himself.

Involuntarily, his eyes stray further down the path, settling on the rest of their team. They must've noticed the two brunets lingering at the back, for they are waiting in front of the entrance of the passageway. At first glance they seem to be ignoring their straying midfielders, but Tenma knows it's only to give them privacy. There's no way any of them are letting the others out of their sight at this point.

Somehow, that's what has him finally relaxing a bit, and it's enough for him to return Shindou's smile with a feeble one of his own. ''I'll do my best,'' he promises, and finds that he means it.

The elder squeezes his shoulder before letting go. ''Good.'' He moves towards the rest of Raimon and the time traveler follows, just in time to hear him say, ''by the way, are you going to behave today?''

It startles a laugh out of Tenma as he catches up with him. As they rejoin their team, he tilts his head, making his eyes go big and round. ''When have I ever not behaved, senpai?''

Shindou swats at him and the younger grins as he dodges it, ducking behind Kirino for cover, who rolls his eyes at the two of them. ''Don't be a brat, Matsukaze. And you,'' he says to Shindou, who merely gives one of his best proper polite smiles that is usually reserved for fancy dinner parties, ''are supposed to be the smart one, so act like it.'' That has him breaking out into a wide grin.

''Alright, that's enough,'' Sangoku cuts in good-naturedly, but his smile fades as quickly as it came and he gestures towards the passageway. ''We need to get going.''

At the reminder, their joking mood dissolves and the group again delves into silence as they set out once more.

Inside the passageway it's chilly and their surroundings are painted in grey shadows. Around them echo the sounds of their own footsteps and water dripping on stone, no doubt from the rainstorm last night. ''Creepy,'' Shinsuke mumbles.

''Boo!''

The small defender jumps at the sudden shout in his ear, not having seen anyone creep up on him in the darkness.

Someone laughs, the sound weirdly distorted because of the echo in the tunnel. ''Aww, are you scared?''

''Not funny, Kariya!''

Said defender cackles again. ''You're right. It was hilarious.'' No doubt if it wasn't so dark, they'd see him smirking. Then, suddenly, he whines, ''Ow! Senpai!''

''Be nice.'' That's Kirino, although what exactly he did – swat at him, maybe – isn't clear to anyone except the two defenders. ''I don't think we should worry about Tenma misbehaving when we've got you.''

Kariya grumbles, but doesn't say anything else, and by now the end of the tunnel comes into view. When the team trudges out of the passage, though, their relief at being back in the daylight is short-lived.

Before them, iron spikes are raised towards the heavens, entwined and menacing. Farther beyond looms the towering rock that is the center of God Eden, so high that it seems to touch the clouds.

Startled, they come to a halt, staring up at the immense stone in awe.

''God Eden,'' Tenma breathes, and his blood runs cold.

He hasn't been here in a long, long time, and the sight of it sends shivers down his spine.

Once upon a time, he feared Fifth Sector; but that faded after their defeat. To him, it's been three years since their downfall, at his own hands no less. There hasn't been anything to be afraid of for a long time.

Standing at the foot of their sanctum, that old fear creeps up on him with all the grace of a tidal wave.

The sky lights up as thunder rumbles in the distance, and the sudden sound causes Raimon as a whole to wince. Tenma flinches, violently. His hands are cold and clammy, and he wills himself to calm down despite the way he trembles.

''The gates of paradise,'' Tsurugi mumbles out of nowhere, eyes locked on the iron spikes, and when he notices his team's attention on him, he clarifies, ''that's what they're called.''

From the back of the group, someone chuckles without humor. ''They look more like the gates of hell.''

''Fudou,'' Endou admonishes quietly, and it wasn't meant for the teens' ears but they catch it anyway. Their coach clears his throat and steps to the front of the group. ''Come on.''

He leads the team through the opening in the ominous spikes. There is no path to follow here, the rocky ground the same everywhere around them, but there's no need for it; their destination couldn't be more striking.

Far too soon, the doors to the God Eden stadium come into view, purple and black inlaid with dull silver linings. They slide open on their own, the grating of metal on metal cut off by a harsh booming when they come to a sudden stop, fully opened.

Inside, it seems completely dark.

''This is it,'' Fubuki mutters, and Endou nods.

The coach takes a moment to check on the teenagers around him. ''Everyone ready?'' he asks, only reassured that they'll all be alright once they've all confirmed it. Then, wasting no more time, the young coach starts climbing the staircase that leads towards the gate. The team follows him right away.

Once they've all entered the tower, the doors start closing behind them and cast them into darkness once more, and they pause to watch as the last sliver of daylight is cut off. ''Seems like we're trapped,'' Fudou notes idly. ''No way back now.''

There's a chorus of yelps when the floor they're standing on suddenly starts to move. It's similar to an escalator, only horizontal, and around them the shadows are slowly chased away by a dark blue glow as they're transported deeper into the tower.

Eventually they emerge from the darkness, into the hollow inside of the rocky building; far below them are dozens of enclosed soccer fields, in various states of destruction.

''What is that?'' Kurumada nearly growls, deeply disturbed by the sight of what can only be the Seed's training grounds.

Tsurugi sounds grim when he explains. ''I've heard only a few people make it out of here safely.'' He doesn't need to explain further; the state of the fields says enough.

Finally, they reach the very center of the tower, where a cluster of large, deep purple tubes is located. Once again, a door slides open for them automatically, and after they're deposited inside a small, enclosed room, the door closes directly behind them. Once again, they're cast into darkness.

This time no one is surprised when the floor beneath their feet starts moving, although it now moves upwards instead.

None of them say a word, not sure when they'll reach whatever destination they're supposed to arrive at. There's nothing left to say now, anyway.

Only the smooth hiss of the elevator is audible as it rises, the sound of a dozen people breathing; a faint purple glow provides any light, but it barely allows them to see more than three feet in front of them.

When, after a long while, the ceiling above them splits open, they're blinded by the sudden light. There's a loud roar in the air and it takes Tenma a moment to realize that it stems from a few hundred voices, all of them jeering and screaming, creating a wall of noise.

Raimon is overwhelmed by the change in locations, and it takes them a moment to realize they're on a soccer field, surrounded by an audience of people all dressed in grey.

Tenma doesn't care for their spectators; he's lived through this already, and instead of trying to take in the stadium around him like the rest of his team, his eyes settle on the two men approaching them.

His heart hammers wildly in his chest as he watches them come closer, and he clenches his fists to try and stop them from shaking.

Kibayama and his assistant pause in front of them, and the supervisor's face contorts into a smirk.

''Welcome to God Eden.''

~'0'~

Whoo. This was a filler chapter if I ever saw one. Next chapter, though, whenever it may be... the match.

.

*Behind the scenes*

Kazemaru, freaking out: Endou, I counted the little ones but I think we're missing one

Endou: oh yeah that's right, Tenma fell asleep on the roof last night so I left him there :D

Kazemaru: oh okay that's grea- wait YOU DID WHAT??

.

Shuu @ Tenma: I took you to this very calming place in hopes it would allow you to open up and talk about your issues

Tenma: better idea

Tenma: let's talk about YOUR issues instead

*Shuu has left the conversation*

.

Tenma: *is sulking*

Goat:

Tenma: why are you looking at me like that

Goat:

Tenma: don't call me out like this

Goat: :)

.

Tenma: *is STILL sulking*

Tsurugi: yeah no

Tsurugi: I'm not dealing with your emo act, don't reverse our roles like this

.

Freaky pink Fifth Sector guy: >:{D

Tenma: *internal screaming*

.

Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed it! Until next time~

- Yara