A/N:

*drum roll*
Finally! A sequel for Separated Souls! *applause*
...Well, this is actually more like the main story and Separated Souls is the prequel? Hmm...Well, whatever it is, it wouldn't hurt to read Separated Souls first! I hope you enjoy, and let me know what you think! :)

*Ring* *Ring* *Ring* *Ring*

*Click*

"Hello?"

"Oi! Where are you? There's morning practice today ya know!"

Oh shoot!

Grabbing the toast that just popped up, the teenager quickly grabbed his bag, shoved on his shoes, and rushed out the door.

Not only had he overslept, but he had completely forgotten about morning practice!

Shoot! Shoot! Shoot!

Running down the street, the boy nearly slammed into several people, as most of the morning crowd was still present. Business men in dull suits, women with a tad too much makeup talking on cell phones, and lively school students milled about, on their way to their separate destinations.

The large body count would prove to be an obstacle to normal people, but this teenager was not exactly considered normal. He could weave in and out of the throngs of people with ease, always flying under the radar.

Looking at his phone, he saw he only had five minutes before morning practice started.

Shit!

Picking up the pace, he dodged people as fast as he could, but what was coming in his direction was something he would never be able to avoid, no matter how hard he may try. It was his fate after all.

His eyes glanced down at his phone to shoot out a quick text message, informing his friend to stall for him, but as he did so, he collided with someone.

Flying back onto his butt with a loud *thud*, the boy groaned in pain.

"Owowowoww…"

Picking his head up, he realized he knocked someone else over too.

"I'm so sorry! Are you okay?!"

Rushing over to the stranger, his heart nearly stopped when he took in his eyes. They were two different colors, and looked oh so familiar. His heart began racing in his chest as those eyes locked onto his, but that was nothing compared to when the stranger began speaking.

"Don't worry. I'm fine. How about you, Tetsuya?"

Huh? How did he know his name? Wait, why did Stranger-san look so damn familiar?

Like a gust of wind, memories came rushing into his mind. So many memories, he couldn't keep up. Without knowing why, tears began streaming down his face. He palmed his eyes, trying to make sense of what was happening, until it hit him.

"…I'm fine…No. I'm so much better than fine. I'm freaking wonderful…Seijuurou…"

And with those words, he dove into the red-head's waiting arms.

…..

For a while, Kuroko laid still in the red-head's embrace, savoring the touch of his skin. Everything else had slowly slipped from his mind as they melded together, that is, until his phone began going crazy, effectively coaxing him back to reality. Jerking back from the man's arms, the bluenette now became painfully aware of the stares. Not only that, but he was shocked that he had suddenly hugged this random man! Why did he feel so familiar, and why was his touch so comforting? Why did it physically pain the bluenette to push him away?

Peering at his phone, he saw that Kagami had been calling him non-stop! Shoot, he was still late for morning practice!

'Crap, crap, crap, crap! I am sooo screwed!'

Internally scolding himself, Kuroko pried himself away from the red-headed man. He definitely felt that spark between them, but the memories that rushed into his mind seemed foreign. It was all so overwhelming, so the bluenette chose to ignore whatever it was that just happened. As he pushed himself off the ground and collected his belongings, he threw one last glance at the red-head.

"Again, I am so sorry for knocking you over, but I really must be going!" Kuroko apologized with a small bow, before twisting on his heel and attempting to walk away. Just as he was about to mingle with the crowd once more, the bluenette felt a pleasant heat on his arm accompanied by those sparks he felt earlier. Flinching away from the man's grip, Kuroko felt like his soul was being shredded to pieces when his name was called with such anguish.

"Tetsuya, please don't-" The red-head began, eyes swimming with despondency.

"Please don't touch me…" Cutting the man off, Kuroko could barely whisper, the words almost refusing to leave his mouth. Kuroko felt as if he was going against every fiber of his being as he turned and ran away. He didn't know why he had become so unnerved, but everything felt so heavy to him. How did this man know his name? Why did this man know his name? More importantly, how did Kuroko know that man's name? What were those memories and how had he gotten them?

It was all too much, too quickly, and so the bluenette had taken the cowardly way out. He had run away, attempting to put the bizarre encounter behind him…

…..

Rushing through the school gates, sweat poured down Kuroko's face. He was so late, Riko was going to kill him. Well, maybe not by her own hands, but she would make him run to death. Kagami though, he might kill him. Nearing the gym, Kuroko slowed down, attempting to sneak in the doors. Hopefully this would be one of the times where his teammates didn't notice him.

Tiptoeing his way through the open metal doors, the bluenette flinched when a shrill voice sounded from behind him.

"Ku-ro-ko-kun!"

Cursing his luck, Kuroko causally turned around, greeting the older girl.

"Good morning, Riko-san." He stated, face a clean slate despite the turmoil afflicting his mind.

Conjuring a rolled-up newspaper out of nowhere, the Seirin basketball coach whacked the bluenette in the back of the head, a vein nearly bursting from her neck.

"Don't give me that! What time is it right now?!"

"…7:15…"

"That's right! And when does morning practice begin?!" She demanded, folding her arms across her chest and raising an eyebrow.

Turning his head to the side, Kuroko mumbled under his breath. "…:45…"

"What was that? I couldn't quite hear you?"

The bluenette had a hard time keeping his eyes from rolling as he huffed out a breath and faced the brunette.

"Practice starts at 6:45."

"Exactly! So would you mind telling me why you're just now arriving at 7:15? A whole thirty minutes after practice was supposed to begin? Will you share your reason with your team, Kuroko-kun?"

The condescending tone in the girl's voice irked Kuroko, but he knew that it was his fault. He did show up late, after all. However, he definitely wasn't going to tell his teammates why he was so late.

Once again looking to the side, the bluenette offered no explanation. All he did was wait until his coach finally got fed up and told him his punishment. Nodding his head to let her know he understood, Kuroko went to the locker room to change. Honestly, he still didn't know what to make of the whole encounter, and his mind was still reeling from the pure attraction he felt for that red-headed man.

While the bluenette was lost in his own thoughts, he didn't notice Kagami inching up behind him. Kuroko nearly had a heart attack when a large hand clapped onto his shoulder and a deep, rumbling voice called out to him.

"Oi!"

"Oh good lord, Kagami-kun. Are you trying to kill me?" Kuroko breathed, trying to calm his racing heart. Shrugging off the other boy's hand, the bluenette continued to get dressed, a million thoughts running through his mind.

The sensation that he felt when Kagami touched him was comprehensively different than when the red-headed man touched him, and it unnerved the bluenette greatly. He had known Kagami almost all his life, and yet this stranger he just happened to bump into caused him to feel such a raw and carnal attraction? It was a scary thought to say the least.

Noticing his friend's internal conflict, Kagami's voice took on a concerned tone. "Hey, are you alright? What happened?" The larger male questioned, plopping down on the bench behind the bluenette.

"Hahh…"

Once he was finished changing, Kuroko turned to face his longtime friend. It pained him to lie, but there was no way the bluenette could confide in him concerning this matter. He'd probably just try to explain it away, anyway.

"It's nothing, Kagami-kun. I'm fine." Striding away from the red-head, Kuroko glanced over his shoulder when he neared the locker room door. "Riko-san will make you run too if you don't get to practice soon."

Leaving that parting remark, Kuroko quickly slipped out into the gym, leaving his teammate alone.

Realizing he was ditched, Kagami jumped up from the bench, effectively knocking his shin against the wood. "Owww…Kuroko, you bastard!"

Hearing his friend's call, the bluenette chuckled as he started running his punishment laps.

…..

After a very taxing practice, Kuroko trudged through his day. He felt sluggish, and his mind couldn't grasp anything that was taught in any of his lessons. By the end of the day, the bluenette was sporting a major migraine, and his skin was on fire. Even the slightest of movements made him dizzy, and after he collapsed during afternoon practice, Riko sent him home. Kagami offered to walk him, but Kuroko refused. All he wanted right now was to be alone. Ever since he left the red-head this morning, the bluenette felt as if he was being ripped apart from within. The pain was unbelievably excruciating, and the long trek back to his house was nigh impossible. Kuroko fumbled with his keys awhile before he could actually get them in the lock, and he didn't even bother to turn on any lights once he was finally inside. The bluenette threw off his shoes, and he could barely even hold himself straight by the time he got to his room. Collapsing into his bed, Kuroko finally gave in to oblivion.

…..

Staggering down a crowded hallway, Akashi had to use the wall to support his weight. The searing pain radiating in his chest was unimaginable, and it consumed nearly all his conscious thought. The red-head could barely even stand as he maneuvered himself to his destination, only his pure determination keeping him from passing out.

"Haa..hh…h..ahh…"

Akashi's breathing was ragged as he pounded his palm against a solid wood door, hoping the occupant was currently there. After several seconds with no indication of movement within, Akashi knocked a little harder, taking just a little too much of his energy. Collapsing to his knees, the black began to encroach on his sight.

Using the last ounces of strength he had left, the red-head raised his voice. "Shintarou!"

*Cough* *Cough* *Cough*

Akashi felt like he was hacking up a lung, but luckily the door swung open not long after. A green-haired man appeared, looking rather peeved. Once he saw Akashi's limp form on the floor, however, his scowl turned into an expression of panic.

"Akashi! What's wrong?! What happened?!" Taking hold of the red-head's shoulder, the green-headed man questioned him frantically.

Before Akashi could answer, all the strength left his body, and he slumped to the ground. The red-head could do nothing as his vision slowly faded into the bleak darkness that was encompassing his mind…

…..

Several hours later, Akashi awoke to dishes clattering and hushed voices. Rolling over to his side, the red-head let out a strangled groan of pain.

"Hnnggghh…"

While the feverish burn had receded to a dull ache now, the feeling was still very unpleasant. It hindered his movements, and caused him great discomfort.

"Haahhh…hahh…"

Seemingly noticing that Akashi was awake, Midorima Shintarou and his partner, Takao Kazunari, huddled around the bed.

"You need to lie down. Here, this will help manage your pain."

Pushing the red-head onto his back, Midorima handed him a small pill. Quickly swallowing the little white substance, Akashi went into a coughing fit. Shooing Takao out of the way, the green-head knelt beside the bed and helped coax the red-head into breathing correctly.

Akashi's head lolled back onto the pillow as he glanced over at his friend. The memories rushed back into his mind, and the red-head fisted his hair in frustration. Noticing Akashi's irritation, Midorima pulled up a chair and folded his arms. A stern expression dawned on his face as he begun the inevitable interrogation.

"What happened to you, Akashi?" The green-head probed, adjusting his glasses with his middle finger.

Sighing, Akashi turned his head away and stared out the window. The words just fell out of his mouth as he remembered that amazing spark he had felt earlier.

"I found him Shintarou…" Was all he said, expecting his friend to connect the dots. The sound of glass shattering startled both men, and they alarmingly looked over to Takao who had dashed into the room.

Falling to his knees beside the bed, his eyes were wide with excitement. "You found him? You found Tet-chan?!"

Shooting the raven-haired man a meager smile, Akashi nodded his head before glancing out the window once more. Ever since the memories of his past lives had returned to him as a teen, he had been searching high and low for the bluenette. They were soulmates, and would always find each other, but Akashi just couldn't wait.

Reminiscing the encounter this morning, the red-head raised his hand in front of his face. He could still feel the sparks that shot into him when he ran into the bluenette, but the memory of Kuroko running away threatened to take over his mind. It pained Akashi greatly that the bluenette rejected their connection, but he pushed that feeling to the side. Kuroko wasn't at fault. Remembering everything so suddenly like that would confuse anyone – heck, Akashi himself had a hard time digesting everything – but he refused to give up. He would pursue Kuroko with his whole arsenal, until they were finally together again.

Finally noticing that the room had fallen silent, Akashi turned his head to face the couple next to him. Takao was still looking at him expectantly, but Midorima seemed to notice the tension in the red-head's face. Sighing, Akashi knew that he wouldn't be able to get away without explaining further.

His hand fell back down to his side as he opened his mouth to speak. "He ran away from me, Shintarou…" Akashi averted his eyes when Takao gasped, a hand quickly flying to his mouth.

Midorima and Takao understood the red-head's meaning because they were also soulmates. Souls born as one that separated into two entities, forever fated to be drawn back together; in life and death.

Realization dawned on the green-head's face as he subconsciously leaned forward in his seat. With a low voice, he addressed Akashi once more. "That would explain why you are in pain then, wouldn't it…It's from the separation…" The red-head was slightly irked that Midorima felt the need to state the obvious, but he could only sigh in defeat.

It was true. Soulmates who had yet to complete their union were physically pained by separation. Depending on the circumstances of how they parted, the pain could be enough to incapacitate both parties, which is why Akashi was having such trouble moving his own limbs.

Attempting to sit up in the bed, the red-head panted at the effort. "I have to go to Tetsuya, he's probably confused and in pain."

Before he could roll out of bed, Midorima appeared in front of him with his arms crossed. "You aren't going anywhere. At least, not right now."

Akashi hated to admit it, but the green-head was right. No matter how badly he felt the need to go to his Tetsuya, he physically couldn't. Unfortunately for him, the pills seemed to be wearing off, and that searing heat was returning. Akashi's vision once again darkened, and the last thing he saw in his mind's eye was his beautiful bluenette diving into his arms…

…..

"Hnnngghh…"

Shifting in his bed, Kuroko let out a groan at the ache raging through his body. Everywhere was on fire, and he felt extremely dizzy. Any small movement would cause him to become disorientated, and he couldn't even step foot outside of his bed. In fact, the bluenette couldn't even lift his own limbs; they felt so heavy. The pain that radiated throughout his body caused him to whimper, and a name subconsciously left his slightly parted lips.

"Seijuurou…"

Eyes flying open, Kuroko desperately shook his head. Unfortunately, this only served to make his stomach twist and turn like he was going to throw up. After getting over the queasy feeling, Kuroko stared blankly at the wall parallel to his bed.

No, no, no, no, no…Just, no. He didn't know anyone by the name of Seijuurou, and the bluenette most certainly was not calling out for some man he bumped into this morning. Nope. Nuh-uh. Im-freaking-possible.

Well, that's what he told himself, at least. That the red-headed man had nothing to do with him, that they were complete strangers. That's what Kuroko wanted so desperately to believe, but then why was he in so much pain? Ever since he ran away this morning, it became increasingly worse. The feeling of wanting to be in that man's arms again did as well, and it scared the bluenette deeply.

All his life he had never had any feelings of love or attraction, so why now? Of all times and of all people, it was some man – albeit a very gorgeous man – and a stranger at that?

Whimpering once more, Kuroko couldn't stop that man's name from falling from his lips. It just felt so right.

"Seijuurou…where are you…?"

The tears gradually began falling from his glossy eyes as he drifted in and out of consciousness.

…..

Startled from his slumber, Akashi bolted upright in the bed. He could hear a whimpering in the back of his mind. The voice was desperately calling out for him, and it tore Akashi apart to hear the anguish laced in the words.

Swinging his legs out from under the blanket, the red-head unsteadily rose to his feet. His legs wobbled from the exertion, but Akashi didn't care. He couldn't find Midorima or Takao, so they had probably gone to class. Quickly changing into one of the green-head's shirts and pants, the red-head grabbed his jacket and stumbled from the room. Tetsuya was calling for him, and he'd be damned to just lay around and let the bluenette suffer…