Disclaimer: I don't own Kuroko no Basuke
Rating: T, for some eventual swearing and themes related to yaoi/romance. Rating might go up.
A/N: This was originally only going to be a one shot for Akashi's birthday, but they wouldn't cooperate and do what I wanted them to in just one scene, so this is now a multi-chapter project. And well…we'll just see what happens. Anyway…happy birthday to Akashi-kun!
I hope you enjoy it :)
Artistic License
Chapter 1
"Akashi-sama? Your 3:30 appointment has arrived." The smooth, professional tones of his secretary emanated from the speaker on his desk. Red and gold eyes glanced down to check the time, his visitor had the decency to arrive promptly for the meeting at least. He wasn't especially looking forward to this consultation but he hoped it would be over soon.
He depressed the intercom button to reply and simply stated, "Thank you. Please send him through."
After a brief delay, the door to his office was opened and a blue haired, slender male in his twenties entered the room. They stared at one another for a moment, taking stock of each other.
It wasn't often that Akashi Seijuro was taken by surprise, but Kuroko Tetsuya didn't even remotely fit Akashi's mental template of what an internationally bestselling author should look like. He didn't wear glasses, he wasn't desperately clutching a coffee cup as if separation from it would result in instantaneous death, and he didn't have an air of distraction surrounding him. Kuroko was dressed neatly but his clothes were absolutely ordinary; he didn't give off an aura of either bohemian flair or focused intensity. He had almost no presence whatsoever, in fact. He seemed…supremely average.
His one concession to the writer's stereotype seemed to be his slightly unkempt hair that could have either happened from the wind outside or running his fingers through it, if it wasn't naturally that unruly. The calm expression on his face gave nothing away as to his thoughts about being so thoroughly scrutinized, and Akashi reluctantly gave him points for nerve – there weren't many that could handle meeting him with such equanimity.
"You're Kuroko Tetsuya, the novelist?" Akashi knew he must be as his security wouldn't have let the other male into the lobby of his office building without first verifying his credentials, but it was still difficult to reconcile.
"I'm afraid so, Akashi-san." Although Kuroko's mild voice held trace elements of humorous self-deprecation, his expression did not change. He was perfectly aware he was not particularly impressive looking and had long since accepted it.
The redhead nodded abruptly. "Very well, please have a seat." He gestured to the elegant, but comfortable, chairs in front of his desk as he settled into his own seat.
Kuroko accepted the invitation and sat down in one of them in a way that told Akashi he was used to arranging himself in whatever position presented itself. Kuroko did not appear to be intimidated by the luxurious surroundings in the least. He extracted a plain notebook and simple ballpoint pen from his worn leather bag – the utilitarian nature of these items again took Akashi by surprise – and then raised his head to meet Akashi's eyes.
"Thank you for agreeing to meet with me. I am very grateful for the opportunity as I like for my characters to be as realistic as possible even though I primarily write fiction."
Akashi raised an eyebrow at that. "Ryota was rather vague about the nature of the meeting you requested, so I am afraid I don't know exactly what you mean. Are you intending to base a character on me? If so, I will have to decline your request. I value my privacy too much for such a thing."
There was a brief pause before Kuroko smiled. "I apologize, Akashi-san. I should have ensured that Kise-kun was more forthright about the reason for the interview, but he gets so enthusiastic at times he can be forgetful. I am not basing a character on you, per se, but I did want to pick your brain about the nature of a professional shogi player. My book is about a collection of gifted people at the top of their respective fields and my editor suggested a shogi player might balance out one of the other characters."
Akashi stared at him for a long moment before finally asking, "You were looking for a professional shogi player? Do you know who I am, Kuroko-san?"
Kuroko nodded and shrugged. "Yes, of course I do. I know you are not only a shogi player; although you are certainly skilled in that role, but you're also the head of a very impressive corporate empire. I was talking with Kise-kun about the book and mentioned that I don't know any shogi players and he suggested your name. He knew you played and thought he might draw upon your acquaintanceship to arrange the interview. I understand if it is too much trouble; I did point out to him that you are unquestionably a very busy man."
"Out of curiosity, how do you know Ryota?" Akashi's question appeared idle, but he was deeply interested. One of his subsidiary companies had hired the model for an advertising campaign and he'd come to know the energetic blond through social events – he would not have thought the unassuming person in front of him, despite his own success as an author, would be someone of particular importance to the vivacious person he'd come to know.
"I've known him for a long time. We went to middle school together and played basketball on the same team. We've kept in touch and he is in fact the basis for one of the other characters of this project."
Akashi nodded and looked thoughtful for a moment. "That would explain it. Ryota's not much of a reader and he seems rather too…visible…to be friends with a novelist that is so infamous for their reclusiveness."
Kuroko tilted his head slightly. "For the record, it isn't that I am really all that reclusive, I'm just difficult to notice and it gets interpreted as the same thing by the press. But yes, Kise-kun can definitely be something of a social whirlwind at times. He means well though, thus this misguided effort to help me. I appreciate your time, Akashi-san, but I'll find someone else." Here he made to stand and was obviously intending to leave.
"Sit." While the word came out a little more imperiously than he actually intended, Akashi didn't apologize for his tone despite the sharp look Kuroko sent his way. Instead he merely offered his acceptance of the interview. "You're already here, and I am, if I may say so, one of the best shogi players in the world. It would be a disservice if I allowed you to interview anyone else."
"I would not want to impose." Kuroko's reply was stilted and Akashi smiled as he picked up on the slight coolness embedded in Kuroko's otherwise empty voice – it seemed he had a temper. But it didn't escape Akashi's notice that Kuroko still obeyed his command and retook his seat, as was only right.
Akashi couldn't have explained why, but suddenly he wanted the blue haired man to stay. "You've got my attention. I don't read for entertainment so I only know of your work by reputation, but I would hate to be even tangentially responsible for a sub-par effort from such a renowned author. Besides," and here a faintly mischievous tone entered his voice, "It's my birthday today, so I can do what I like and this seems as if it might be amusing."
Kuroko automatically responded with "Happy Birthday, Akashi-san," before realizing the significance of Akashi's words and continued, "But in that case, it is all the more reason I should go, surely I am holding you up from a celebration. If you are willing, we could just reschedule this for another time."
With a quick glance at his watch, Akashi shook his head. "I can't promise when my calendar might have a free spot again, as you mentioned, I am a very busy man. However, I have nothing else planned until later this evening. So for now, you have my attention. If I might ask, do you even know how to play shogi?"
"No, Akashi-san. I am completely unfamiliar with the game."
"Well then, let's start with an overview. It won't do you any good if you don't know what you are writing about after all." And without waiting for Kuroko to agree, he launched into a detailed mini-lecture on the rules and strategy involved in the game.
As Kuroko listened and took notes, he was struck by two impressions. First, Akashi clearly loved the game. His appreciation for the nuances and layers of strategy, attack, and defense spoke to his sophisticated intellect and long-range planning abilities. Second, he was very good at explaining things; shogi was obviously a difficult game but Kuroko felt he had a basic understanding of it by the end of Akashi's lesson. Kuroko considered that those two characteristics alone – passion and patience – were most likely essential aspects of Akashi's personality. Yet as he heard some of the redhead's more ruthless strategies explained, he thought that he would do well to keep in mind that Akashi was not merely a game enthusiast, he was nothing less than an emperor in a modern setting. He smiled slightly before quickly suppressing it.
Akashi caught the gesture anyway. "Have I said something amusing, Kuroko-san?"
Kuroko lifted one shoulder in a half shrug. "Not at all Akashi-san and I apologize for any offense I may have given. I was just thinking you were born in the wrong era, you would have made an excellent emperor or warlord."
There was a brief pause as Akashi considered those words before he smiled. "You're right, I would have. However, I'd suggest it is simply a matter of scale and that I do well enough as a modern incarnation of one."
"I doubt too many people would argue with you on that, Akashi-san."
Akashi leaned back in his chair and looked at his guest. He could see that Kuroko had taken a lot of notes and that while his writing had been quick and efficient; there was no sacrifice of legibility. He'd recorded Akashi's comments in a way that showed he'd been listening, but he'd filtered through what would help him create the character. In its way, it had been fascinating to watch Kuroko while he'd been speaking because he could catch a glimpse of what was developing in the author's imagination – it was a bit like they were creating it together, even though Akashi had no inclination to try his own hand at writing.
Still, he could see that Kuroko's character was going to be heavily influenced by his style of shogi playing. He smirked to himself and wondered if any of his competitors would read Kuroko's book and recognize it. Akashi wasn't worried about this being used against him; he was far too skilled to be outdone by a simple recounting of what he had already accomplished.
"Tell me more about your book, Kuroko-san. I'm curious as to how this shogi player will fit in."
Kuroko blinked at the request, but he didn't see why it would hurt. "It's still in very early stages, but I am writing about a group of prodigies across different fields. So far I have a doctor, a shogi player, a professional basketball player, a chef, and a model. It is possible I will have to add in others as the story progresses. The driving conflict will be that they become each isolated from their peers because of their incredible talents and the narrative will trace how they come to balance their gifts with a more grounded perspective of the world."
Akashi's expression had turned remote. "Is this going to be a story based on the foolish trope that hard work trumps talent? Or that power corrupts? I realize that you said you write fiction, but even so, I am hard pressed to see how that could be believable with a cast as you've described. They will be ordinary humans, correct? Not superheroes or mutants or something like that? If so, how can your readers be expected to go along with the idea that a professional shouldn't strive to be the absolute best in their particular niche?"
"I must respectfully disagree and that's not what I said, Akashi-san. I haven't written the story yet, but my goal is not to villainize the characters for their talents. Instead I want to show that these gifts don't come without a cost, and that it takes significant inner strength to be able to handle the demands. If anything, the story is intended to be a redemption arc of the prodigies that shows why their skills are even more amazing." Kuroko's retort was a little angry; he clearly didn't appreciate Akashi's dismissive view of his project.
The air was tense for a moment before Akashi briefly inclined his head. "I don't read fiction very frequently so perhaps my perspective is skewed on that basis. I look forward to seeing what you make of this story, but I will honestly tell you that I would be disappointed if the only purpose of the book is to somehow redeem the mediocrity of the average person. Your characters and your readers deserve more than that, Kuroko-san, and it seems to me your foundation is flawed. You would do better to consider how your prodigies are examples of the natural order – winners are just, and losers are to be cast aside. As someone that is acknowledged as a significant talent yourself, I can't imagine you truly believe otherwise."
Kuroko stared at Akashi for a long moment; he was obviously trying to restrain himself from saying something he'd regret. Finally he exhaled harshly and stood, then after replacing his belongings in his bag he bowed to Akashi. "Thank you for your time today, Akashi-san. I truly appreciate the opportunity and your explanations. I hope you enjoy the remainder of your birthday and wish you good health for the new year." He didn't wait for Akashi to reply and instead strode to the exit without any further comment.
The redhead watched him go, both amused and intrigued. As the door closed behind Kuroko, Akashi reached for his phone and dialed a number from memory. He wasn't surprised it was answered on the second ring.
"Hello Sei-chan, how may I help you today?"
"Reo, please initiate a background check on Kuroko Tetsuya."
There was a pause as the other man registered the request. "The author you just met with today?" His voice was fluid and calm but Akashi heard a note of uncertainty underneath it all the same.
"Yes, is there a problem with that?" Akashi's voice didn't hint at a willingness to entertain any delays.
"No, of course not. I just wanted to ensure I was being accurate." The slight huffiness in Mibuchi's reply brought a smile to Akashi's face for a moment before he resumed speaking.
"You are. I want to know everything you can dig up on him as soon as possible. He's friends with Ryota, that avenue might prove useful to pursue for information. They apparently went to the same middle school."
"He must have made an impression for you to want to know more…?" Mibuchi's question was obvious and Akashi answered, in part at least.
"He's not what I expected. If it had been anyone other than Ryota that had asked for the meeting on his behalf then I would have arranged to have this information ahead of time, but he's so harmless that I was careless. Kuroko on the other hand…there's something there I can't quite put my finger on yet, but no matter, I expect I'll have the mystery solved soon enough." He ended with a small chuckle that was less about true mirth and more his confidence that he'd quickly have the true measure of his recent visitor.
"Very well, I'll get to work on it myself." Mibuchi paused for a second. "And Sei-chan? Happy Birthday. Enjoy your evening."
Akashi murmured his thanks and disconnected the call. He sat back and considered the day's events. He wasn't sure what exactly about his visitor had so caught his attention, perhaps it was because he'd shown such realistic self-awareness of his own lack of presence yet offered such a naïve plot outline. Akashi enjoyed puzzles, and Kuroko was, for the moment at least, showing all signs of proving to be a unique challenge indeed. As to the purpose of the inquiry, he didn't need one. It was natural for him to want to know more about those he encountered and he could in all seriousness write this off as a simple routine endeavor. But he also knew that those slight sparks of pique and the charming earnestness of the author's conversation with him had proven...interesting.