Disclaimer: Kuroko no Basket belongs to Tadatoshi Fujimaki
Title: Beyond Comprehension – Chapter 1: Phenylethylamine
Summary: Love is supposedly just a mixture of neurotransmitters, nothing complex really. And, after a few years, all those chemicals will just cease to exist, and so will love. So why, even after 10 years, does Aomine Daiki still long for Kise's smile? When Kise suddenly disappeared, Aomine was left there hanging with his confused feelings. And when the blond suddenly reappeared 10 years after, what will happen to the two of them?
Word count: 2205
{-}
Chapter 1
Phenylethylamine
{-}
What is love?
Aomine Daiki would not be able to answer that question. For the 28 years he had lived, he has never truly loved anybody. Heart fluttering? Butterflies? Red cheeks and sweaty palms? Nah... He has never known those...
All he has ever known was human flesh, lustful but meaningless caresses, and noisy moans. That thing called sex, where he would just release his frustration. Sex could be done with anyone, anywhere, anytime. He could not care less. Women has never wanted to have a 'real relationship' with him anyway. As long as they came into his bed when he wanted, he was fine with anything.
For a long time, he had sex frequently. The number of women he slept with exceeded what he could count with his ten fingers. But then, at the age of 24 he became a full-time police officer. He then discovered all kinds of human sick passions.
Since he has joined the police forces, he has known jealousy, wrath, pride and desire for monopolization [...] but that were only from others, from criminals... For a human to go as far as killing a beloved one, it made him ill. He did not understand. That was why he stopped having sex. Because it reminded him of his work, of the number of cases caused by 'love'.
He would be lying if he said that he does not desire a warm body next to his. Aomine liked sex. It was fun to him. Plus, it was a form of exercise. It was just that, he could no longer stand to think of all the thoughts his partner might have. People's touch became something unwanted for him.
He, himself, has never felt the desire to monopolize one person. He has never craved for a touch. He has never been ready to give up anything for a single person.
He has never known love...
Oh but there was one thing he has known...
A Shining Gold.
Just like a ray of sun, it shines on so brightly. He liked it, that golden tint. He liked it a lot. It meant fun and joyful days for him. It meant time where he could play carelessly. It meant squeaking shoes and dribbling balls. It meant so many things to him.
{=}
At the age of 28 and a half, Aomine Daiki was a fine policeman. He lived life as it came to him. He accepted anything she had to give him, good or bad. He never demanded anything. He never asked for more. You could say that he was satisfied, not happy, not joyful, but satisfied.
That morning he received a message. As his phone alerted him for it, he tapped around his night table, finding the source of the strident noise that has disturbed his sleep. It was his free day and a lousy way to wake up was the last thing he wanted. He had planned to roll in bed, half-asleep, the entire day. And now his plans were ruined. Because of this stupid message... As his palm hit the phone, it became silent. He grabbed it and pulled it under the sheets, for the winter air was cold, even inside his apartment. Once his hand was cosy and warm, he flipped the blue mobile open. The pixellated light hit his face. He frowned.
From: Kuroko Tetsuya
Subject: Meeting
We're meeting tonight for a drink. Kagami will be here too.
Same place. Same time.
Aomine groaned. His middle school teammates often went out for a drink – about every month – so they would still keep in touch with each other. Sometimes he went. Sometimes he did not. It was not that he disliked it or anything of that sort. It did not bother him. Plus, he liked to tease Kagami. It just depended on his mood. Sometimes, right after a morbid case, he just does not feel like drinking with anybody. Sometimes, after an unsolved case, it is the only he wants to do. Really, it depended on how he was feeling...
That day, he was of a gruesome thought. He had about 4 cases to work on, still unsolved, without suspects or witnesses for some, with just one missing puzzle piece for others. He hated cases like these. It made him feel vulnerable. He felt like he was driven around by the criminal, like a little, amusing puppet.
His unsolved cases were not the only things driving him crazy. Last night, he had dreamt, once again, of that golden ray of sun. It haunted him. It haunted him like a revengeful ghost. Sad, betrayed, and dark. That trembling voice. Those longing hands that were holding the ball. That shirt drenched in sweat. The heat. The falling cherry blossoms. The infinite blue sky. It was the memory he has wanted to forget. It was the moment he has wanted to treasure forever.
Aomine Daiki has never fallen in love. But he has felt his heart shatter once. Only once. Even so, he remembered it so well. The sound of his heart along with the echoing footsteps that were running away. He did not even realize his own feelings until he has lost grasp of the object of his affection – and still, he swears, it was not love –. It was stupid. He was stupid. But what could he have done? He was only a child. He did not know anything other than school, meals, and basketball. Ah yes... It was 10 years ago. He had all the time to forget those weird and undesired feelings...
{=}
After soaking a long moment in a hot bath and making coffee, Aomine decided that he would go to that drinking party. He had nothing better to do anyway. If he stayed at home, he would only end up staying in his room, smoking and drinking alone – which was not all that bad –. For the rest of the day, he worked a bit more on his papers, but gave up after a few hours, judging that without any further clues he was incapable of solving any of these cases. As he put the files away, the sun was setting. An orange light filled his room. It was almost time.
The meeting place was in Kabukicho, in Shinjuku. A small bar, lost between the numerous LED and streets of the red-light district. Aomine was familiar with the area, due to his work and due to his personal life. As it was said before, the Generation of Miracle often met, always at the same place and the same hour. As for work, well you should all know. He was a cop. And a district with so many sexual businesses does not lack of crimes.
The bar was located in the deepest alley of the district. It would be impossible to guess that there would be such a place in the middle of all the love hotels and nightclub. The bar was Akashi's favourite. He was the one, december 7 years ago, just as the last one of them – Kuroko – turned 21, who suggested to go to this place. The owner seemed to know the redhead quite well, for they were warmly greeted as they first set foot into the tiny building. The saloon was really small. With the 6 of them – counting Kagami –, it was already full, nay cramped. But he liked it, somehow. They were usually the only customers.
He arrived in front of the wooden, old-styled door as the clock pointed 9 PM. He was late, as always you could say. Aomine could faintly hear the conversation on the other side of the door. Seemed like everyone has already arrived. He was the last one.
He slid open the traditional door, took off his shoes and entered the small room. The owner greeted him with a loud 'Welcome Sir!'. He smiled a bit and sat next to Kagami. A large glass of icy beer was served in front of him.
"Long time no see, Aomine." Kagami spoke to him first. The tall redhead became a fireman – something he has always wanted to do beside being a basketball player –. They sometime ran into each other during their work. Those incidents pleased Aomine a lot, for this man has become one of his closest friend.
"Yeah, you haven't been busy with work lately." He replied. There were not any burnings in the city lately. "I guess it's good..." He took a sip of his beer.
"That's mean Aomine-kun. I'm here too you know? You're ignoring me." Kuroko stated from the sit next to him. Aomine choked on his beer.
"Shit, Tetsu! Don't fucking scare me like that!" He would never ever get used to this lack of presence.
"It's nice to see you again." Kuroko smiled slightly. He has not changed a bit since high school. His lack of presence was still going strong, so much that sometimes his students would lose sight of him in the playground and cry.
"Oh Daiki, you're late." Akashi called out for him from the other side of the table. Aomine replied to it with a short "Yeah, my bad.". Talking with Akashi was far from amusing for him. If he could avoid, it would be the best.
A few moments later, the party was going quite well. He talked with Kagami who already had a heavily red face, laughed a bit at the firefighter's attempt to show a lighter trick. He also exchanged a few words with Midorima and Murasakibara, asking them how their works were doing. The atmosphere was lukewarm, just like their middle school years...
"If only everyone could be here, it would be nice." Akashi smiled. That sly smile Aomine was always detested. It kind of irritated him. It would make him feel inferior, because it meant Akashi knew or had something he did not and desired.
Akashi continued his small plan to play with Aomine's mind. "If only Ryouta was here... What a pity." He said before taking another sip of his hot sake.
"It can't be helped." Midorima came in between the tensed conversation. He knew that talking about Kise Ryouta to Aomine was taboo. "Nobody knows where he is."
"Is that so?" Akashi chuckled.
"Nobody, except you." Aomine growled. It had to come to this, hadn't it? Akashi showing off his knowledge. The tanned man disliked it, a lot. "Why won't you tell us where that guy is?"
Akashi has always known where Kise Ryouta was, ever since the man disappeared without a trace from everyone else 10 years ago. He knew where the blond was and what he was doing. But he would not share that with anyone else, especially not Aomine. For the redhead, the frustration between these two men amused him. And to see Aomine Daiki lose his calm was pure bliss.
"Well, Ryouta asked me not to tell anyone." The ex-captain contemplated his sake glass.
And that was another thing Aomine hated, how Akashi called Kise by his first name. It's true that Akashi called everyone by their first name but fuck, the way he says 'Ryouta' with his soft voice and curved lips annoyed Aomine more than anything.
"Do you see him often Akashi-kun?" Aomine was not sure if Kuroko was trying to spice things up or smooth things down.
"We go out for a drink sometimes. Ryouta, he hasn't changed a bit." The ex-captain replied. His smile forever on his lips. His fingers rotating the small cup. His eyes contemplating the dark skinned man. "Sometimes we even go for more..."
Aomine slammed his beer on the wooden table. A few drop spattered onto his hand. "Akashi!" He barked. He had the sudden urge to leave the bar and continue his paper-works. For it might calm his soul even a little. Anything would be fine to prevent him from committing a crime by strangling his own ex-teammate tonight.
"You can leave now if you want." The redhead could read him like an open book. He took another sip of his sake, relaxed and untouched by Aomine's sudden rage. The other members were also too used to theses bickers to try and interfere. "But you would miss the main event..." He muttered afterward.
"Eh~ What main event?" Murasakibara seemed amused by this announcement. None of them knew what Akashi was stating.
Aomine scoffed at Akashi's words. There was nothing that could possibly interest him. The only thing he wanted at that moment was a bright ray of golden sun. He could not explain why. It was just a sudden craving of the long lost days he once liked so much. Though he knew those days were not coming back. Though he knew that person was not coming back to him.
"What is there more to thi..." He started.
Without warning, the old door slid open once again. The newcomer was out of breath, seemed like they ran a mile or so, and was holding up a few traveling bags. He laughed dryly. "Looks like I'm the last one to join, eh? Just like in middle school."
Aomine stood up. There it was. Finally. After 10 long years.
His golden sunshine.
Woohoo there it is! Chapter 1 of this new-and-i-will-finish-it-before-going-to-universit y fanfic. Phenylethylamine is a substance that is released when you are in love (or fall in love). Some may call it the love molecule. And some believe that when you get used to your partner, your brain stops producing this substance and that is why some say that love only lasts a few years.
So yeah, that is what you get when I release my inner scientific class nerd and get bored in physics class.
I hope you enjoyed it and hope I will come up with chapter 2 soon.
See you next time!
-Aurakann