Author's Note
Hello, KnB fans! Just an idea swirling in my head, although these types of ffs are quite common. There will be twists, however. Enjoy!
1 ∣ If Fate Would Allow It
A certain redheaded young man walked through the halls of the private academy, eyes sweeping over his surroundings in a matter of seconds, taking in all the details. He was always attentive, never missing anything, for fear of needing the information later.
He, with scarlet eyes filled with arrogance, was Akashi Seijuro, sole heir to the largest company in Japan.
Smoothing his pristine white uniform uniform down, Akashi turned with narrowed eyes. An almost amused noise fell from his lips as he regarded his "stalker".
"Midorima, it really is quite inappropriate for you to be following me like this. Reveal yourself at once," he commanded.
Slowly, a tall, green-haired teen with bandages wrapped around his fingers bowed. "Akashi-kun. My apologies." He adjusted his glasses nervously, trying to gauge Akashi's reaction.
Impassive, the shorter folded his arms, expression unreadable. "Midorima, why have you decided to grace me with your presence? Don't tell me this is another of my father's plots."
Midorima cleared good throat anxiously. "Ah, Akashi-sama...requested I keep tabs on you here at Teikou Private. After all, you only just returned from studying aboard in England."
The two settled in the school's shogi room, adorned with ornate furniture and arching doorways.
"Tell him I'm doing quite well. Although he should have come directly to me, not through such atrocious measures." He scanned a piece of music as the two begun their game. Midorima huffed inwardly, already knowing the results of this match. However, he was a bit relieved.
If this has been the Akashi off two years ago, he would not have been this forgiving about being monitored without his knowledge. However, Midorima suspected the young heir had already known his father would employ Midorima with this task.
The two had been friends since middle school, introduced at a business party. Being the Midorima son, heir to the largest Hospital company in Japan, it had been no surprise the two had automatically become acquainted.
What had originally been a fake amicable acquaintance due to possible future relations of business became a real friendship of respect. Although Midorima was quite the tsundere, labeling their friendship as a matter of status.
Akashi, on the other hand...
Well, anyone who had seen the relationship would think Midorima was almost subservient to the other, but Akashi truly respected Midorima-as a friend.
"Akashi-kun, that's not the problem, though." Midorima interrupted, rubbing his eyes.
"Your father...he wants you to get married."
"Oi, Tetsu, I'm afraid you'll have to admit defeat this time," a loud blue-haired teen with tan skin chuckled loudly, affectionately watching the petite girl glare blankly at him.
"Aomine-kun, I do not accept defeat this easily," she deadpanned in a quietly furious manner.
The sky-haired girl with bright cerulean eyes brushed hair out of her eyes, fixing Aomine-kun with a look of determination.
Flicking the basketball through her legs in a crossover, she brushed past Aomine-kun with a fake.
So close, so close, she chanted inwardly, leaping up to make up a layup-
Only to be brought back down to earth as a stab of pain shot through her toe.
"OW!" Kuroko Tetsuna whisper screamed, crashing down to the concrete. Luckily, Aomine grabbed her by the waist just in time.
"Tetsu, this is why you don't play in heels."
She rolled her eyes, placing a hand on her hip.
Her once elegantly curled hair was a mess. The brand new Gucci dress she donned was sticky with sweat and now, even the intricate soles of her designer heels had been rubbed away by the smooth concrete of the street court.
"Okay, but was that engagment date that terrible? He couldn't have been that bad, right." Aomine asked, scratching his head. He stuck the ball in his gym bag and hoisted Tetsuna gently in a princess cradle.
Tetsuna fumed. "This entire week, my cruel parents have set me up with someone. I disapproved of each of them, but this one by far has been the worst."
She backtracked to the lunch earlier that day. The boy had been attractive. Light brown hair and entrancing eyes, with a tall masculine build. However, not only did he barely speak any Japanese, the only Japanese that had come out of his mouth had been words of a sexist pig.
"Aomine-kun, he was like you but worse." Tetsuna explained, perfectly straightforward.
Aomine blushed. "Oi, I'm not that bad..."
Tetsuna sighed, ignoring his comment. "I hate rich bastards. I just want to stay with you and Momoi-chan forever..."
And then she was asleep.
Aomine facepalmed.
She was so innocent.
Aomine sighed, smiling softly down at the tiny girl in his arms. They'd been together since elementary school, the basketball duo with Momoi as their brilliant cheerleader/strategist.
He wasn't sure how long he'd loved her. Maybe it had been since the beginning. But he knew he was her best friend and they were worlds apart.
Opening his cell phone, Aomine called her butler.
"Tanaka-san? It's Aomine. Yeah, she's asleep."
He hung up soon after the exchange, sitting down on a park bench.
"Tetsu..."
He placed a soft kiss on her forehead, hoping to never see the day she actually accepted a marriage request.
"Tetsuna, dear, how was the date? You were out for an awfully long while." Her mother smiled brightly at her from across the dinner table.
Tetsuna's mother was the epitome of grace and strength. She had graduated from the top lawyer school in Japan as first in her class but had been held back from work due to her arranged marriage with Tetsuna's father.
Her father was brilliant and kinder than most. However, he placed his responsibilities above the family at times.
The Kuroko's had been controlling international affairs through their powerful influence of banking and investment, rivalling even the Akashi's. However, Kuroko knew her father's recent illness was taking its toll on him, which could be seen in the company's gradual decline.
Since then, Kuroko had been busy aiding her father.
And she was also busy with getting married off.
Tetsuna bit into the meal before sipping her vanilla shake.
"Terrible. He was quite unlikeable, Mother."
Kuroko Aiko sighed. "Well, that's fine, I suppose."
Tetsuna stilled, surprised, though she didn't show it. "And why is that, Mother?"
Kuroko Tadashi cleared his throat. "Because we have already decided on who your fiance will be."
Akashi returned home at a late hour, having just visited the company to keep tabs.
His father sat by himself at the dinner table, enjoying the long expanse of food displayed along the grand table. Seijuro's eyes narrowed onto one thing, however.
The folder besides him.
"Evening, Father," Seijuro said respectfully, bowing. "Did you enjoy using your son's best friend as a spy?"
Akashi Masaomi ignored the question, handing over the folder.
"Youre getting married. It's already been finalized."
Seijuro grasped the folder, glancing down at the baby blue eyes that stared back. Kuroko Tetsuna. Only daughter of the Kuroko's.
"My, I commend you, Father. You were able to secure her hand when I'm sure she has a line of men asking for her." He mocked slightly.
Masaomi snorted. "And who are you? Of course they would accept. It was just a matter of time. However, we need their resources. This marriage... It will happen whether you like it or not."
Seijuro dipped his head, eyes glinting as he looked back at the girl's profile.
Her perfectly impassive face stared back, as if in challenge.
And he would gladly accept.
"Without my consent, you went ahead and betrayed me," Tetsuna finally spoke, a quiet aura of anger surrounding her. "I will not obediently accept this. Once I am through with this boy, whoever he is, he will be begging for divorce."
With those words, Tetsuna slunk up to her room.
"Tetsu, we will also be switching you to Teikou Private.
She closed and locked the door, deciding not to scream. This was altogether to much. Her normal life was ruined.
Sighing deeply, she stripped herself of her fancy clothes and changed quickly into her usual exercise attire. Basketball snug in her bag, she snuck out through the window, creeping steadily along the rooftop. Relying heavily on the rope tied to the base of the attic's balcony, she finally reached solid ground. With that, she ran across the lawn to the storage garage, grabbed her motorcycle, and sped off. She waved quickly at her butler Tanaka, who merely groaned.
Kuroko Tetsuna was the last person you would expect to have such a vehicle. But she loved the feel of cold air stinging her skin and the giddiness as she reached new speeds.
After a bit of riding into the less wealthy areas of Tokyo, she finally reached her favorite court.
But she wasn't alone.
Killing the engine, she bounced the ball for good measure and approached the court, unbothered by the stranger. She'd taken judo when was younger, among the many private tutoring lessons she'd been forced to do.
The stranger had the brightest color of red hair.
And he was definitely skilled. His movement was sleek and powerful, like that of a panther. Panting, he rubbed sweat off with the color of his simple black tee.
She smiled secretly, turning towards the hoop opposite him. He had passion. She enjoyed watching him play.
Tossing the ball casually, she watched as it sunk in. She sighed in relief as her moment of "showing off" had actually worked. Aomine had recently taught her the street ball move and shed finally succeeded.
"Miss," the redhead finally spoke. Tetsuna turned.
He wasn't tall, but he exuded an aura of strength and power. His fiery eyes seemed to glow in the darkness of the night, and the slightest of a smile played on his lips. He had aristocratic features: straight nose, high cheekbones, strong brows. If Tetsuna didn't know better by his commoner clothing, she would have thought him to be a rich heir.
"Yes?"
"Care to humor me with a one-on-one?" He asked.
Tetsuna shrugged. "Sure, why not. I need to blow off some steam."
After comparing basketballs, they decided to use the redhead's. Tetsuna had been careless, and the loss of the grip on the ball was evidence.
"Ladies first," he said softly, handing the ball over. "No makers. Usual rules."
Tetsuna nodded, raising her arm in defense as she dribbled. It was quite near impossible to use misdirection on a one-on-one match, but her vanishing drive was still intact. Debating whether or not to pull her cards out immediately, she hummed and went for it.
Doing a quick crossover, she twisted and ducked past him speedily, smirking all along. However, Tetsuna was in for a surprise.
The redhead had seen it all, intercepting quickly. Fast on her feet, Tetsuna managed to twist just fast enough to make sure the teen didn't steal the ball from her and quickly stepped back to make a shot.
He smiled as the ball hit the concrete. "Interesting. Really..." He murmured, grasping the ball.
Tetsuna was correct to believe him to be a formidable opponent.
Damn, she thought, this boy...his dribbling skills are really something..
Narrowing her eyes, she faked a steal. Stepping quickly to block his path, Tetsuna stared at the slight flicking of his wrist. Suddenly, his crossovers were to hard to track-
She found herself flat on her butt, staring in shock. "How?" She whispered, turning her head to watch him make an easy layup.
She slowly got up, accepting the ball. Calculating quickly, she realized his reflexes were way too good for her. But maybe another way...
She launched the ball behind her, stepping a bit past the three-point line and shot. Unable to guard the phantom shot, the redhead glanced at her, tilting his head.
Half an hour later of intense play, the two had to stop. Tetsuna's stamina could only go so far. He had won by the game, though by a small margin.
"Here," the redhead gently led her onto a nearby park bench. "You all right?"
She panted, chugging down her water. "Bad - stamina-" she explained.
He nodded, examining her curiously. When Tetsuna could finally breathe comfortably again, here questioned her. "What's your name?"
Tetsuna hesitated, wondering if she could tell him. "Tetsu. And you?"
He smiled. "Seijuro. Now, why would a young girl like yourself be out playing ball so late?"
Tetsuna snorted. "Don't worry, I could hold up in a fight. I just.. Wasnt feeling great."
Seijuro nodded. "May i ask why?"
Tetsuna eyed him warily. "I've been arranged to marry someone," she said, surprised at her own honesty. "I don't know who he is... And I'm leaving my friends for a new school . I've held on to a bit of normalness for so long. I can't believe it's over."
Seijuro nodded. "I see. My apologies. Although, if it's your parent's decision, they must be doing it for your own good, yes?"
Tetsuna sighed. "Sometimes I don't know. I think I'd be perfectly fine taking over my father's business myself. I-" she blushed suddenly. "Seijuro-san, I have been altogether too honest today. But thank you for listening."
Seijuro smiled charmingly. Tetsuna hadn't been sure if his smiles were real, but now she knew they must be.
"I enjoy listening. Gives me new perspective," Seijuro said.
Tetsuna nodded. "So, Seijuro-san, why are you here at such a late hour?"
He winked. "I was hoping to find a pretty lady such as yourself."
Tetsuna blinked, face neutral. "I may have misjudged you. I never expected such disgusting words to come from your mouth." Seijuro watched in surprise. "My apologies. I was merely teasing, Tetsu-san."
The blue haired girl rolled her eyes. He was handsome, he was eloquent, and he loved basketball. Honestly, he was far better than any of the others she'd met.
"Can I be forward, Tetsu-san?"
She nodded slowly.
He hesitated. "Never mind. You really should be going home now. It's late."
Tetsuna crossed her arms. "It was late when I got here. Do continue."
Seijuro smirked. "Stubborn, are we?"
Tetsuna glared slightly, as much as your impassive self would allow. "Seijuro-san, I will only leave when you finish your previous statement."
The redhead sighed, wiping sweat off. "All right." He bent down on one knee, a smug look on his face. "Tetsu-san, would you marry me?"
Staring in a rather bored manner, Tetsuna gave an annoyed sigh. Although she did not show it, she was quite surprised. She had not thought of the young man to be the type to joke. "Seijuro-san really is a baka. I will take my leave now." The petite girl bowed quickly.
"We will meet again, I hope?" Seijuro called, smiling slightly.
Tetsuna called over her shoulder, "if fate would allow it, Seijuro-san."
Akashi chuckled to himself. Oh, the irony of that statement.
As he watched her slender legs Ptake her away to her motorcycle, he wondered what their future meetings would instill.
"Tetsu, huh? Quite the interesting character indeed..."
Akashi was not regretting marrying her at all.
so they met. Im not the type to drag these on for very long because it irritates me; I want to see what happens next (^o^)
Akashi has to be one of my all-time favorite characters.
Please review. I hope you all enjoyed. I am looking forwards to introducing the rest of the GoM. We will see what is in store for our heroine
-Lying