Bulwark
[boo l-werk, -wawrk, buhl-]
noun
1.
a wall of earth or other material built for defense; rampart.
2.
any protection against external danger, injury, or annoyance:
The new dam was a bulwark against future floods.

For the next few days, the girls had no more games and could focus on their studies. It wasn't until the sixth day since Emma ran into Kagami that they were to play again, this time against Tōō.

Sasha had been studying Aomine and Momoi, figuring out where she could best get in and help her team. It wasn't the best place for her, since she was better suited against high jumps like Kagami's, but Emma had insisted on getting the girls outside their comfort zones and using their strengths against others. So far, it had actually worked. Practice was much harder, but a lot more fun.

They were actually making progress after staying stagnant for so long. It was refreshing, and all the new games and players that they went up against were a part of it.

Emma: Oi, has anyone seen Kuroko or Taiga?
Kylee: Nope, but Kise is gone to.
Amy: Same here.
Sasha: I think the guys are up to something, and I don't like it.
Emma: I don't either.
Marian: Can't we just ask our 'friends' where they went?
Kylee: I don't think we want to pull that card so early in the game.
Karol: True. Though, Akashi is still here....
Karol: Never mind. Disappeared.
Perry: Anyone else noticing a pattern?
Kylee: Not good... 'Specially since we're going against Aomine. Sasha, could you try and find Momoi? He usually is around her...
Sasha: On it.

|*^ ^*|
|..............🏀...............|
Sasha

"So, there's still no sign of him? Or her? Game's gonna start right after school, aren't they cutting it a little too tight?" Emma comments over the phone, and I rummage through my bag.

"Thankfully you had the foresight to pack our extra uniforms for this situation. As for where the GoM disappeared to, I may have an idea," I tell her, grabbing out both the uniform and my camera.

"So long as you show to the game, it's fine. Remember; you, Karol, Cass, Amy, and I are playing. Kylee and Marian are going to work in the stands. Perry's setting up at the park. After the game, we meet up with Perry for the event in the park, and management wants to see us. But that can wait. See you on the hunt."

"See you on the hunt," I mumble, ending the call. Sighing, I start heading to the nearest street court. On off days, the girls and I would just play team games, other sports, or practice our routines. The courts closest to my place were the best so far, holding a variety of activity equipment.

That's where I'm hoping the GoM is. Seems like they wanted to watch us, so might as well watch them.

When I arrive, the boys and Momoi are gathered in a semi-circle. They all seem really into whatever they're talking about.

Sneaking closer, I catch snippets of converstation.

"-need to have them under surveillance?!" Kagami shouts, fists clenched at his sides.

There's a murmur from the other red haired one, Akashi, before Kagami explodes again.

"I don't care! These girls are practically my family, and I'm not letting you take any semblance of a normal school career from them!"

Kuroko puts his hand on Kagami's shoulder, but gets shrugged off. The seven watch as he storms out.

He passes by me, standing just on the sidelines of the tennis court.

"Tiger, you okay?" I walk up to him, concerned.

"No. I hate those GoM members. Even Kuroko wants to have you under surveillance to learn all they can. Damn idiots," he mutters under his breath, putting his hands behind his head and sighing.

I shake my head. "You don't have to always be our shield. We can protect ourselves.... Besides, Emma will be pissed when she hears. We may actually start competing. That'd be fun, instead of holding back constantly," I smile up at him, jumping up slightly to ruffle his hair. Since the girls and I are all ranging between 6'2 and 5'3, most of us have to work to actually hit the red giant on the head.

He laughs. Grabbing my arm, Kagami starts hauling us off towards Tōō. I laugh with him, darting in front and around him on the way. He naturally falls into a rhythm, matching my every two steps with one.

It doesn't take too long to reach the gym, where most of the others are gathered. They all smile brightly, crowding into a circle around Kagami for a group hug. His face met his hair in color, and I stepped back to set up a quick timed photo before jumping into the hug.

"Oi!" he shouts, trying and failing to move before the camera caught the picture.

We all giggle at him, suddenly breaking from the hug to dart around, acting like a bunch of playful pups. I think we're the only ones he tolerates that can tease him and act like dogs. This is the most fun we've had since coming to Japan.

|~<TimeSkip>~|

Emma steps back, watching the other team silently, before grabbing her case. She beckons Cass and I over, handing out our bands. I give Amy and Karol theirs. We slightly adjust it to the correct tuning, and suddenly a beat fills my head. It's Star Wars. I give an unamused glance up to Kylee and Marian, who are snickering.

Music as a strategy was one of the best plays we could create. Different people got the melody depending on their instrument preference, and with a musician's ear, your body tends to adapt to the baseline and rhythm. Emma developed it our first year of middle school. So far, no one has been able to predict our movements as we never play the same piece twice. It's also good practice for band.

Even with the GoM's insane talents, our own methods and skills probably put us on par, if not just under. You can't dance if there is no music.

"Amy, you're on percussion. Karol, trumpet. Sasha, saxophone. Cass, trombone. I myself will be taking flute. Forte and lively, girls. Let's show them how musicians do it." We all snicker, and tap the wristbands twice. The music won't start until the game starts, and the pieces will follow a theme depending on how Emma signals Ky and Mari. That's just how they operate. Kylee may be the team cheerleader and best friend, but Emma is the undisputed authority, loyal and looking out for her pack. Karol is definitely the team mom. Amy is the dreamer. Marian is the hot head. Cass is the mediator. Perry is the trouble maker. I am usually the energizer. Our methods click in a way I've only seen once.

With the pep talk over, I'm shaken out of my reverie when we walk up to Tōō. We bow, and I immediately mark Aomine, though he's set his sights on Amy. The music in my head starts, a nice, even tone. I catch the ball first from Amy, and Aomine switches his attention to me. The music in my head suddenly speeds up, before going back to a nice steady beat.

I move quickly, almost a blur. Before Aomine can mark me again, I pass to Karol. The music steadily increases in difficulty.

I swear slightly under my breathe, does Emma really think that it'll work?

|~<PoVChange>~|

The plays were brutal, every single point scored on either side was a battle in itself. Aomine entered the Zone at one point, but was quickly shut down when Sasha was able to match his speed. Kagami held his breathe as he watched the girls play. He knew of their strategy, but watching them play slowly and then suddenly pull a fast break still left him with whiplash. As Kylee once put it, 'When our opponents can't hear the music, they can't match the rhythm.'

Kagami got up from his seat to make his way over to the girls' side, passing the gaping GoM on his way. Kuroko noticed Kagami walking towards the girls' bench, and got up to follow.

"Amazing...." Kise breathed, watching Sasha pass the ball to Amy, who moved to an unknown beat before they all switched marks again. He could not find a pattern within their motions at all.

"Oddly enough, these girls were holding back on you, Kise. I can't even predict their movements," Akashi commented, troubled by the lack of repetition in the plays. "It's almost like watching a dance with constantly changing music...."

"They seem to know what someone is doing without even glancing towards eachother. Almost like the True Zone, but there is no physical connection that suggest they are reading the others' movements," Midorima speaks, locking on to the struggling Aomine and his teammates.

"Aka-chin, will we play against them?" Murasakibara's bored voice brought no attention to him, all eyes locked on the game.

While the GoM was discussing the odd plays and style of the Pack, Kagami was chatting with Kylee and Marian, also hooked up to a band and a headphone dangling from his ear.

"Seriously, when did you get this perfected? Last time we played together, you all were stressing over how little coordination the devices had," he comments while slightly bobbing to the beat. Even though he was no musician, he could tell it was a good song.

"It took a while, but Karol and Emma finally got us approved for the microchip implanted in our cochlea. Probably the only downside is now we can hear a little too well..." Marian replied, watching the game and adjusting the beat accordingly. "Plus, it needs two people to operate. That means that we can only switch in one person when we get tired. Was a real hassle for a time before our stamina increased."

"Not to mention the constant tuning needed. The chips will last until we remove them, but the wristbands that transmit the music can sometimes pick up different frequencies, like phone calls. It was quite embarrassing." Kagami chuckles at the imagery.

"I'm assuming you all have a concert tonight?" he asks, cheering when Karol steals the ball.

"Yeah, how'd you know?" Marian comments.

"The bags at your side are abnormally large, Perry isn't here, and I saw your uniforms."

"Ahh," Marian and Kylee sigh at the same time.

"Plus, there was a poster in the front reading for your band performance at the nearby park." Both girls scowl quickly at Kagami, before suddenly swapping sides and changing the beat once again. "On average, how many times do you switch the songs?" he asks, curious.

"I dunno, maybe ten, fifteen times...? I think our highest was thirty...." Kylee trails off, glancing at Marian, who shrugs.

"Sounds about right. Anyways, who the blue haired kid?" Marian comments before switching the tone of the music.

"Wha-!" Kagami exclaims, looking at his side to see a blank faced Kuroko. "When did you get here?!"

"He's been here the whole time. Sheesh, do you not notice anything, Taiga?!" Kylee quips, clapping her hands when Emma manages to stop a dunk.

"Hello. I'm Kuroko Tetsuya."

"Hiya Kuroko! I'm Marian, this gal at my side is Kylee!"

"'Ello. Oi, Marian, if you're not going to work, we might as well sub out Cass."

"Fine with me. Bring it on!"

Kylee motions her hands towards the referee, calling their first time out of the game.

Emma and the rest come jogging up, curious as to why Kylee called them in.

"Cass, you're switching with Marian. Get your ass up here and help me with the controls. Otherwise, I think they're tiring, and might try something. Keep an eye on it."

"Alrighty then. Also, could you play that overture? I've been wanting to try songs that have slow parts hidden in the middle. Try to keep it mezzo forte at the most. Allegro sounds good as well." Kagami's head was spinning at all the terms, and he slightly shook his head, amused.

"You never change, do you, Emma..."