AN: More characters appear in this one! And a lot of things are happening…
Part 2: On Their Way
Tuesday
D-4
Late in the afternoon, Kuroko laid in bed, on the borderline of severe depression. School was over hours ago. Kagami-kun walked him home after taking him to see a romantic movie at the theater. A date that Kuroko thoroughly enjoyed. But now was back home all alone. In this empty bedroom, snuggling beside Nigou, and not Kagami-kun. Looking quite upset.
He could not wait until he got a call from Kagami. Taiga told him to sit tight, and wait for the call. Obeying that prevented Kuroko from dialing up Kagami first. It had been an hour. During which, Kuroko was in and out of the shower. Finished his homework. Cleaned his spotless room. His mother made dinner, but Kuroko hadn't eaten. Because he ate with Kagami when they were out. Restaurant food hadn't given him as much satisfaction as when Kagami-kun cooked for him.
Kuroko wanted nothing, but to talk to his best friend and boyfriend. Was it too much to ask?
That was the only thing he cared about right now…
"Arf! Arf!"
Tetsuya number 2 sensed Kuroko's cellular device vibrating and ringing on the mattress. Next to his triangular, canine ear. Kuroko didn't have reason to check the caller ID. He was so used to there being only one person calling him at this time of night.
'Good evening, Tetsuya.'
Akashi's voice rang smoothly in his ear. But was neither imposing, nor intimidating to Kuroko. That appeal was lost on him after going on two dates with the miracle captain. Kuroko knew Akashi-kun to have a very charming side, and would never see him like he used to. After the rise of his heartless Emperor.
"Hi, Akashi-kun." But he did react to memories of them together as more than past teammates, or rivals. Those memories fond.
'Are you free right now?'
"Yes."
'Can I chat with you? This may take longer than a few minutes.'
"That's alright."
Kuroko didn't forget that he was expecting Kagami-kun's call tonight. But he knew that he and Kagami wouldn't have anything serious to talk about. And if Kuroko didn't pick up his call, Kagami wouldn't go to sleep without hearing from him, so Kuroko would call Taiga back, right after he ended this call with Akashi-kun.
However, the truth was Tetsuya felt anticipation for the conversation he was about to have with his past captain, date, and lover, Akashi Seijuuro.
What on earth could Akashi-kun have to say to him after not contacting him in a month?
'Kyoto is a lonely place, Tetsuya. I've been trying to find the best time to come visit Tokyo again.'
Kuroko was the only reason for Akashi to come back to Tokyo. But he couldn't simply drop all of his work and go there. Not even for Tetsuya.
'Is it getting warmer there?'
"Yes. The cherry blossoms are in full bloom, too." Kuroko pushed up to sit on his butt and crossed his legs. Nigou immediately hopped into the space created there, laying down and getting comfortable next to Kuroko.
'Are the birds singing beautifully as well?'
"Yes. They're very happy about the snow melting and the trees coming back to life."
'Good. Spring is the season for joy and new beginnings.'
The conversation got increasingly strange. Seeming somewhat intimate too. Only a few minutes passed, so Kuroko couldn't understand how easily this happened. He nearly forgot how charismatic Akashi-kun was.
But the fact that Kuroko noticed Akashi's charm meant something significant. That he was no longer susceptible to it. Not like he'd been in the past.
This time, he was able to pick up on Akashi's allure. And have a different response.
'I should get to the point. I'm pressed for time, but I made sure to have enough time to make this call to you.'
"Thank you. What did you want to tell me?"
'I don't intend for this to be one sided. Will you let me know what you're thinking if anything comes to mind?' Kuroko heard Akashi's softly spoken request, and recalled how it may have sounded if he was sitting in the passenger seat of Akashi-kun's car once more, playing some twisted version of Truth or Dare.
"I will."
'I don't want this to be like our previous conversations. I'll listen carefully if there's anything you want to say.'
"I'll do that for you too, Akashi-kun."
'Thank you.'
How was it that they sounded so much alike? They were equally polite and considerate of one another at the moment. It was great. If Kuroko had any stress associated with receiving a phone call from Akashi-kun before, the feeling was gone now. His fear of talking with the Rakuzan miracle evaporated.
Akashi's next set of statements ignited a new uncertainty within him.
'I've had considerable time to mull over my feelings for you. Do you remember what I confessed?'
"Hai." Tetsuya forced himself to remain at peace. But yes, he was really hoping this talk wouldn't lead in that direction.
Because Kuroko just wished to forget whatever he had with anyone else. Put it all behind him. There was a desire to have a future with only one guy. And that's the only guy he wanted to remember being with too.
Kuroko had not done anything with anyone else on his birthday. He hadn't.
'What did I say?'
Akashi was checking to make sure they were on the same page.
"You said that you loved me."
'Yes. And it was true.'
There were many hidden, unexpressed emotions within, bottled within a fragile bottle entitled Kuroko's composure. That toppled over and shattered. Regret came back with a vengeance.
He wanted to end this call. Smash his phone. Tear off his pajamas. Throw on jeans and a shirt. Run out of his empty room. Stop to put on his shoes. Run to Kagami's place. Kiss and embrace the ace as soon as the door opened. Tear off their clothes. Have sex all night. Because if he didn't drown himself in Kagami's love, how else would he forget all about the impulsive things he'd done already?
'Tetsuya… I do love you. But I'm glad that I haven't come back to see you. You have a powerful effect on me, something about seeing you blinds me from truth and reason.' Akashi stopped there. And Kuroko didn't know if he was supposed to fill in the blank, but he didn't plan to do so anyways.
'Are you listening?'
"Hai."
'Good. Because while I love you, I cannot say with certainty that I am in love with you. I miss you terribly… but I've realized that I don't know what it's like to see you every day and spend a lot of time with you. So I've concluded that for the most part I… longed to have sex with you again. That's what I loved and am probably missing.'
"Akashi-kun… are you telling the truth?"
'So you ask. I realized that while I demanded you to tell me the truth over and over in the past, I lied to you as well. I won't try for your forgiveness. A mistake is a mistake, regardless.'
"But…"
'I'm listening.'
"Why were you so kind to me? Before we had sex?"
'I'm glad you asked.'
He responded right away. Akashi planned for many scenarios, and accurately predicted the type of questions that would arise. He was prepared with nothing but the truth.
'Before I claimed to love you, I at least cared about you. I wanted you to enjoy my company on your birthday. I wanted to show you a good time. I intended to be nothing but considerate of you.'
"I don't understand."
Akashi-kun cared about him from the very beginning. Akashi-kun cared about him after having sex with him too. With the exception of back in middle school and that accusatory, forceful, callous tone Akashi-kun gave him the same day he left Tokyo, the scarlet haired miracle had never mistreated him.
Kuroko didn't understand why Akashi-kun never texted or called him. Tetsuya wanted them to remain friends, and leave their other relationship in the past. That wasn't asking too much…
'You want to know where I went wrong?'
"Hai."
'I never should have fucked you in the back seat of my car. It was our first date, Tetsuya. I killed whatever chance we had of developing a long lasting, romantic relationship. I cannot say I love you when I don't know what it's like to be your friend first. A relationship built only on sex won't last long. I broke my own rule.'
"I…"
'Do you need a minute? I hope you aren't too upset.'
Kuroko wasn't. He'd be okay. But… he'd do anything to have Kagami-kun here to snuggle with him after this phone conversation was over.
"I'm okay. I'm glad you called, and I got the chance to hear from you."
'How are feeling? How have you been?'
"I've been having a lot of fun. And I'm sorry that you're lonely in Kyoto, Akashi-kun… but I can't say the same for myself."
'Are you with someone?'
Here it goes. The last thing Kuroko should do is lie about having a boyfriend. He understood why he shouldn't.
"I'm in love with Kagami Taiga."
'Hn.'
Kuroko correctly detected the amusement. He had no idea how his declaration of love was entertaining. Only because Akashi knew how serious he was when he said that.
'I imagined you might be involved with him.'
"What?" How did Akashi-kun know?
'Isn't he your best friend? I used to think that you and Daiki would get together in middle school. No one could deny the chemistry you both had. But congratulations, Tetsuya.'
Yet another encounter gone well. Could this mean something much more tragic was approaching? Or maybe it meant that Kuroko had nothing to worry about in the first place. Honestly, he thought Akashi-kun would be the hardest miracle to break the news to. Yet that wasn't at all the case.
What else could he be wrong about?
'Were you planning to keep it a secret unless asked?'
"No. Kagami and I don't want to parade around with our relationship." Why should they announce that they were dating? People only announced things like engagement or pregnancy, neither of which applied to him and Kagami-kun.
'You don't have to do that. But you aren't hiding are you?'
"Hiding what?" Of course Akashi-kun wasn't asking if he was hiding a secret from Kagami, but Kuroko acted like he was guilty of something.
'You should never hide a relationship. It doesn't make things easier.' Akashi was, in his own way, an expert on relationships. Despite never being involved in one. Perhaps he was just intelligent enough to know what to do and not to do in a relationship.
"No. Our friends know. So does Kise-kun and Aomine-kun…"
'Were you planning to only keep it from me?'
"No. But I was afraid to call and tell you."
'Don't be afraid to talk to me. I want to be friends. We can put our past behind us. But I want to demonstrate that I care about you. So contact me more often, and I can do the same?'
"Hai. I would like that Akashi-kun."
'So will I.'
And their conversation proceeded smoothly from there. They shared a lot of what happened for them while they'd been living their lives apart, in their separate cities. Kuroko tried not to say this and that about Kagami, but he couldn't help but mention the ace. Kuroko talked a lot about Kise and commented on Aomine too. He had nothing to say about the other two miracles that he hadn't seen in awhile.
He listened closely as Akashi talked a lot about his friends in Kyoto, how he didn't have time to spend with anyone because he was incredibly busy with extracurricular activities and studying in his rigorous courses. The only socializing he had time for was at basketball practice with his teammates.
Tetsuya had a good idea as they were nearing the end of their conversation. Akashi expressed excitement for the coming school break because he promised himself he would relax, and try to leave the city at the first opportunity he had.
"Have you figured out where to go yet?"
'No, but I'd like to go somewhere with a spa. I'm developing permanently stiff shoulders from sleepless nights.'
Kuroko felt bad for him. Akashi-kun needed to relax or the stress would kill him.
"I'm leaving to go on a resort in Australia for one week. I leave this Saturday."
'You're going alone?'
"No. It'll be my teammates, Kagami-kun, Kise-kun, and I believe Aomine-kun as well. Please join us?"
'Hmmm, not a bad idea. Thank you for inviting me.'
"If you come, will you promise to relax, have fun, and socialize as much as possible?"
He heard Akashi laugh on the other side of the line.
'I cannot imagine a better way to spend my time. I don't get enough of any of those things. I'll do what I can to release every ounce of my stress.'
"I hope you can make it."
'I'll do my best. I've never been to Australia. I plan to make memories and leave my worries here in Japan.'
Kuroko smiled. He planned to do the very same thing on vacation. Stop thinking about the past, and having those cursed dreams.
"Promise me a few more things, Akashi-kun?"
'I'll consider them.'
"You should try to be less calculating. After you leave Japan, think about Australia as a place of a new beginning. Talk to as many people as you can, befriend someone you never thought you would, do as much as you can, and most importantly, don't leave Australia without getting release."
'Tetsuya… you have no idea how much release I plan to get. No part of me will be stiff after my vacation is over.'
"Okay. You better let it all out."
'Every last drop.'
"Okay."
'I talked longer than I intended to.'
"But we had a meaningful conversation. It makes me happy."
'I feel better too. And I won't pass up your invitation. I plan to go to Australia and enjoy myself. Nothing will stop me.'
"I really hope to see you there." Kuroko glanced at the clock and saw that it was almost 9. He thought about how Kagami-kun had yet to call him, and Kuroko knew because his phone hadn't beeped once while on the line with Akashi.
'Then I should go. I would call this telephone conversation the longest and most relieving I've had in weeks.'
"Maybe if you meet someone that you like in Australia, they can become someone you talk with frequently over the phone."
'Perhaps. They'll have to be interesting. I'm friendlier in person. I'm all about business over the phone.'
"I couldn't tell. But, good night Akashi-kun."
'Have a good night. The next time I hear from you?'
"I'll let you know exactly where I'll be staying, so that you can book a room there."
'I see. Until then Tetsuya.'
"Hai."
They hung up at the same time. By pressing "End," Kuroko felt as though he put an end to any chance of a rocky friendship with the miracle captain. And as it was almost 9:30, having heard no word from Kagami, Kuroko decided to be patient and not worry. He'd allow another 30 minutes of wait. He was wide awake. In the meantime he'd play with Nigou.
"Arf!"
Number 2 barked at the ring of Kuroko's phone. Tetsuya expected only one person again, but checked his caller ID this time. He sighed in relief when he read Kagami's name. He was no longer worried that Kagami forgot about him, or something worse.
And only after hearing his deep voice did Kuroko start to succumb to a spell of drowsiness. Kagami's voice his lullaby.
'Sleep yet?'
"No. But I'm tired…"
'Really? I feel wide awake.'
"What were you doing since you got home?"
'My goddamn homework. I thought about calling you so we could work on it together.'
"Why didn't you?"
'I didn't want to call you only to talk about that boring stuff.'
"But I kept wondering when you would call. You said to sit tight, but I got worried and was going to call you at 10."
'Sorry. Want me to call you as soon as I get home next time?'
"Yes. I wish I was there too."
'Me too. My bed is so big. I never even noticed before.'
"But it's better than my bed."
'Yours isn't so bad. I can't wait to sleep over at your place this Thursday. Something about your bed makes me feel better.'
"Because the first time you slept in it, we made love."
'Same goes for when you slept in my bed for the first time, Kuroko.'
Kuroko remembered. It was on his birthday.
"You made my birthday really awesome, Kagami-kun."
'Yeah. But, it was so late when I finally got to spend time with you, I feel like those bastards cheated me.'
"I had the most fun with you."
'Yeah right. You mean to tell me that I outdid Akashi?'
"You were awesome."
Kuroko skillfully dodged the question. He was good at it. This was maybe why Kagami never transitioned to ask him what he did with all the others on January 31st.
Kagami was quiet. And Kuroko didn't say anything because they routinely took turns speaking over the phone. He was patient for his lover's response.
Kuroko was thankful that Kagami was the final person he heard from on lonely nights.
'Try drinking tea before you go to sleep tonight. Maybe it'll stop you from having one of those nightmares.'
"Maybe."
'You can call me in the middle of the night if you need to.'
"You need rest too, Kagami-kun."
'That doesn't matter to me if I know you're at home, dealing with fear all by yourself.'
"If I drink tea, then I might not have them right? And if I fall asleep with you on the phone, I might be okay."
'Hey… you're going to tell me about them one day right?'
"Hai." Kuroko had been thinking it over some time now. And was slowly figuring out something he could tell Kagami-kun that would suffice.
Because there was no way on earth Kagami would take the truth lightly.
'Good. If you tell me, I can help you figure out a way to stop being scared of it and then you'll stop having nightmares.'
"I know… you're the best."
'God, Kuroko...just wait till I get my hands on you tomorrow.' The nights of solitude had an effect on Taiga as well. He always succeeded in finding some alone time with Kuroko the next day and deeply submerging himself in the blinding heat of his boyfriend. Most of the time, it was just an intense make out. Followed by an "I love you."
"Unless I use misdirection to get past you, Kagami-kun."
'You'll come right to my arms, like you always do, babe.'
"Not if the others are around."
'Yeah, I know. They probably don't care if we only hug though.' Kagami understood kissing, but Kuroko should at least see hugging in public as okay.
"We can't risk making anyone uncomfortable."
'Yeah…' The ace sighed on the other side of the line. Tetsuya didn't think the redhead was irritated though. Kagami understood his feelings about PDA and respected them enough not to argue.
"Can you sing that one English song that you learned when you were a child?"
'Which one?'
"The one about the star."
'Yeah…'
On these nights apart, they fell asleep over the phone. Thank goodness for unlimited talk phone plans. Kuroko was in dire need of comfort at these hours, always believing he would dream unless it was morning and he was wide awake.
He forgot about the tea that Kagami suggested. But the ace hadn't. He remembered after he finished singing about the twinkling star ( he never hesitated to sing Kuroko to sleep over the phone), but when he called out his name, Kuroko was fast asleep. The combination of the short rhyme and Kagami's familiar voice enough to put his lights out.
Even knowing the sixth miracle was unconscious, Kagami stayed on the line… that way, if Kuroko did have a bad dream tonight, then he didn't have to think about calling. Taiga's ear was readily available to him should he seek comfort at the darkest hour.
-Part 2-
Wednesday
D-3
This day was the shortest. But Kuroko remembered it well because he bumped into someone he hadn't seen in awhile. And proceeded to have the shortest, strangest conversation.
"I see you've arrived at a pleasant point in life, Kuroko."
"Hai, Midorima-kun."
Then they exchanged a look that was hard to explain. A silent understanding passed between the both of them. It was along the lines of acceptance. About the choices that they both made in the last month. As long as both were happy, they'd done what was right.
But just to make a further point, Kuroko and Midorima were both a bit of a mystery. So this type of encounter was perfect and expected.
"Hey Kuroko, I found your…"
"Shin-chan, I don't think they have those weird…."
Simultaneous arrival of their boyfriends was a little cliché too. But Taiga looked murderous and snatched Kuroko away from Midorima, as if it wasn't clear that miracle shooter was well behaved and on a leash.
"Kagami."
"Midorima."
Their terse greeting, followed by Takao walking over to ruffle Tetsuya's blue locks, messing them up.
"Hello, Takao-kun." Kuroko greeted, while shaking off the point guard's meddling.
"Hi there Kuroko, Kagami."
"Hey." The taller athlete greeted, but his eyes shot back to Midorima. Shin-chan watching him back. Because things hardly changed when it came to these guys.
"You know what? We should go shopping and dining together!"
"I like that idea." Kuroko nodded in reply to Takao. He glanced over his shoulder to spot Kagami's uniform sleeve and pulled him along to the register where Takao and Midorima were the couple in front of them in the line.
At eye level and shoulder level, given that they were the same height, Kagami and Midorima found it easy to catch each other's attention and begin to socialize.
"Looks like you're forgetting your box of tampons, Midorima."
"The fact that you said that proves you have no common sense. Do I look like I have a vagina, dumbass?"
Their boyfriends blinked up at them, very confused by their hostile relationship. And their strange insults.
Would the two of them ever have a normal conversation? Maybe they just needed to right place and time. Like one week, and a change of scenery. A new place for which to develop a healthy friendship, thought Kuroko.
A foreign landscape where they could start all over.
-On Their Way-
Thursday
D-2
Thursday passed in haste as well.
Kagami and Kuroko dropped their things off at Kuroko's place after school. No practice today. Taiga didn't need to go home to grab his night bag because he brought it with him to school. But they were about to leave out again. Kuroko suggested they take Number 2 on a walk together and let him run around in a dog friendly park.
The house was empty too. Kuroko's mother would get back after 10, a time when she expected both boys would be sleep.
"Can you help him put on his jersey, Kagami-kun?"
"Yeah. Make sure you got everything he's going to need."
"I will."
Kagami waited until Nigou hopped into his lap, experiencing a quickening heartbeat when he did. Kagami refrained from hauling ass. Nigou was good about dressing up, so he assumed the correct stance while Kagami slipped a paw through the jersey arm socket.
Kagami was almost finished helping Nigou when his ringtone went off. He didn't expect a call from anyone. And when he viewed his surroundings, his shadow partner was nowhere in sight. Probably upstairs.
"Hello." He answered without stopping to check the caller ID.
'Hi, Taiga. How are you?' Himuro's rich voice was a definite surprise.
"Tatsuya? I'm fine. What about you?"
'I feel fantastic. I called to check on you. When was the last time we talked?'
Kagami shrugged.
"Can't remember the last time you called. You don't do it often." Not since Kagami had arrived to Japan. One reason he was so lonely the summer before he began school here. He knew no one. No one to talk to over the phone except his parents. But they stayed busy, so.
'I should. There's probably a lot for us to catch up on.'
"Yeah. I got a few stories." Honestly, he wasn't feeling this conversation. It just seemed like there was something Tatsuya wanted to say, and instead, he chose to dance around the topic.
Kagami didn't like to play games. Not if it wasn't basketball.
'Well, I'm thinking that I have time to visit you during school break. Will I be interrupting if I room at your place?'
"I won't be in town. I'm leaving this Saturday with the others on a trip to Queensland for a week."
'Wow… that's exciting.'
Taiga could imagine Himuro's empty expression, unexcited, exactly how he sounded.
"It'll be fun. I hope we all have the time of our lives." Especially Kuroko, thought Kagami.
'So who are the others? Your teammates? Your best friend?'
"Yeah. I don't think you know the other guys, but Kuroko is coming for sure."
'Of course he is.'
Kagami made a face, confusion written on it and some other unidentifiable adjective.
'Are you planning to use this to your advantage?'
Now Kagami expressed confusion, but unleashed some suspicion as well.
"To do what?" He stood off the floor, back to the stairwell leading to the upper level.
Tatsuya laughed softly.
'To get closer to him.'
"You… what are you talking about? Do you know about us?" How the hell had Tatsuya known that he liked Kuroko?
Steps as light as a feather, the topic of conversation descended down the stairway. He didn't alert Kagami to his presence, his blue eyes witnessing his boyfriend talking over the phone. When Kuroko was at the bottom of the stairs, Number 2 quietly skipped over to him to be picked up. Kuroko lifted him up, but pale blue eyes never strayed from Kagami's broad back.
'Big brothers know, Taiga.'
"What does that mean? How do you know?"
'I figured as much, that's all. He matches you well.'
"So no one told you?"
'No. No one in Akita knows him, except Atsushi, who couldn't have known unless he talked to one of his friends from middle school that lives in Tokyo, which he hasn't.'
"Fine."
'Are you intending to hide the relationship when you get together?'
"Hell no."
'Smart. You shouldn't hide from others. Nor should you hide from each other.'
"I know that already." He was well aware of stuff like that.
'Then how far along are you two? Or are you already...'
"Yeah, we are."
'That's great, Taiga. It's better this way.'
A peculiar way to phrase things. But yeah.
"You've got a point."
'Well, I'll let you go. If all goes well, we may see one another sooner than expected Taiga.'
"Yeah. I look forward to it."
They ended their conversation.
He had no idea about what Tatsuya wanted from that call just now. Kagami wouldn't sit around pondering on it however. Because it was in the past, and he was the type to think more about the future.
"Kagami-kun." Came the tiny whisper of his name being called. He immediately surrendered his attention to the bluenette standing behind him at a distance.
"Kuroko?"
"Who were you talking to?"
"Tatsuya."
"About what?"
"It was weird… he said that he called to check on me, then he asked if I was seeing someone. I told him we were together. Didn't see a problem with it. Are you mad?"
Kagami understood why they shouldn't tell just any and everybody about their relationship. But Himuro was one of his friends. Kagami trusted him, enough to disclose who it was that he cared strongly about.
"Is that all? What did he say when you told him we were in love?" Kuroko questioned instead. The phantom sixth was unreadable. Even for Kagami, who was usually good at determining Kuroko's underlying emotions.
At the moment, Kuroko was hardly recognizable. It put Kagami on edge.
Kuroko gently sat Nigou back on the floor. Next, he focused his sight on Kagami's pocketed hand, the one that he'd used to talk on the phone. Kuroko then approached at a snail's pace, further unnerving the stronger teen, who was a full head taller than him. Kuroko was small, but could freak Kagami out when he acted like this.
Kagami blurted his next response.
"I didn't tell him that I loved you." Damn, did that sound terrible?
"But you still do right?"
"I still do what?" Kuroko better not be asking what he thought.
Kuroko didn't clarify. Instead, he removed Kagami's hand from his pocket, and joined it together with his own. He calmly observed how perfectly the two palms fit, puzzle pieced together.
"Something wrong?"
Yes there was. Kuroko remembered how Himuro acted towards him in the past. The threat to reveal to Kagami everything that Kuroko had done at the amusement park with Murasakibara rang clear in his memory. Kuroko hated that Himuro had power over him and the future of his relationship with Kagami.
So Kuroko had to make sure of something, right now. What he was about to next… was what he did often. Kuroko knew with certainty that this would work. It would ease his conscious. He needed reassurance.
"Nothing is wrong. But I need your help upstairs." He pulled Kagami along, tugging him up the steps with some unknown strength.
"Huh?"
"I need you to help me with something in my room." The bedroom door already to their left. They'd arrived to Kuroko's room in a flash.
"Yeah, sure."
The wooden entrance slammed shut. And the lock clicked.
Things happened so fast, Nigou struggled to even react. He remained in the foyer while the couple and duo were upstairs, behind closed doors. He sat for a while, ears perked, very audible noises traveling to the front of the house, originating from Kuroko's room.
Soon, Nigou caught on. His tiny, canine legs bounded up the steps and carried him to outside of Tetsuya's door. Where he sat and listened. He heard sounds of action and movement on the other side, but none of which indicated that someone was coming to let him in. He remained there, recognizing Kagami's and Kuroko's scent was on the other side. He wouldn't budge until they came out of there.
That day, Nigou patiently waited to go on his dog walk. For about 20 minutes he sat by the door, being patient, while Kuroko got Kagami's help to remember just how much the ace loved him.
-Part 2-
Friday
D-1
"This is the stupidest fucking problem I've ever seen." But really, Kagami was just dumb.
"Let me see." Kuroko offered assistance. But had no idea either.
They were trying to finish a homework assignment the night before they got on their plane to Australia. The duo sat together, hip to hip, shoulder to shoulder, and side by side on Kagami's bed. Not the best place to do your homework, but they wanted to comfortably sit right up under each other, so there you go.
"Kagami-kun, I think you drew the molecule wrong." So the entire reaction Kagami worked out made no sense.
"How the hell are we supposed to know how to draw this? We never went over this." And why the hell did they get a freaking packet of problems to work on over break? It was bullshit, and their teacher was a straight asshole.
"I think I drew it right."
"Let me see."
"No." Kagami couldn't copy his homework. No matter how much Kuroko loved him.
"C'mon..."
"You won't learn anything." Kuroko argued, then moved away from him and got off the bed.
Truth was Tetsuya did the problem completely wrong too, but had enough of the assignment so he was leaving it as is.
"Where you going?" He asked as Kuroko was walking away.
"I want a shower."
"You can't wait for me to finish?" He fucking wanted to go with!
"How long until you do?"
"I don't know. This is a hard problem," he dragged a hand over his tired, bored expression.
"Five more minutes."
"Alright."
A minute later he asked Kuroko to help him.
"No." Kuroko refused, fed up with looking at that packet and thinking about those problems.
Taiga flopped down on his back, muttering a string of curse words. After five minutes were up, Kuroko told him that he better not give up. Then got into the shower alone.
With Kuroko abandoning him, the skilled athlete decided to get up and stretch. He'd do the problem like Kuroko told him, but Kagami was genuinely stupid, so he needed a moment before going back and scribbling whatever on paper.
He didn't know that Kuroko had done the exact same thing.
After a good stretch break, Kagami also decided on a food one. He went into the kitchen to quickly fix himself a plain sandwich, but put on rice to steam and checked to make sure he had frozen vegetables and fish to cook for him and Kuroko later on, if someone got hungry. Kagami hung out in the kitchen for about half an hour.
He kept glancing over to the entrance way, expecting the short, blue haired teen to walk in and join him. Kuroko was never any place without him for long, even when they were just at the apartment. Kuroko was right underneath him, glued to Kagami's side. And the ace was at ease only when they maintained that sort of contact around each other, whenever possible.
So Taiga turned off the steaming rice pot and finished his fourth sandwich. He left to check on Kuroko after swallowing half a bottle of water.
Stepping into the bedroom, Kuroko was nowhere in sight. Kagami would have freaked the fuck out, if he didn't hear his shower running. The bathroom door wide open, like Kuroko left it in the first place.
Kagami was still concerned. Because his boyfriend never took long in there. The couple often took their shower together, meaning they didn't have much reason to take sweet time when they were washing alone.
Kagami didn't know what he would find when he went in, but seeing as how he'd get in the shower to look at least, the muscular male stripped nude. And he walked with purpose, promptly entering the enormous bathroom to make sure everything was good with Kuroko.
And good thing he did. Nothing too bad. Except Kuroko was frozen under the activated shower head, steam everywhere. The water's temperature maxed. Kagami never showered with the water that hot, and told Kuroko not to do it either. It could make your skin peel. Though there the pale bluenette was, his shoulders and probably other areas on the front of his body turned angry pink.
First thing Kagami did after stepping in and closing the glass door behind him was rotate the knob. Now the temperature was set to Taiga's usual preference when showering with Kuroko. Second, he crossed his arms around Tetsuya from behind, the bluenette recognizing his presence a long time ago. But never turned to greet him.
Kagami allowed the shower waterfall sound to fill the void of silence between them. Only for a little while though. His chin rested on Kuroko's left shoulder and he closely observed his boyfriend be quiet. Withdrawn. Kagami used almost all his strength to embrace Kuroko around the arms and waist. He held back some to allow Kuroko to breathe properly.
"Waiting for me?" Taiga began, but Kuroko wasn't looking his way.
"Hai."
Thirty minutes ago, Kuroko walked inside, turned on the sprayer, and then embraced himself. Since then, scalding hot water poured down on him. Kuroko somehow feeling cold, and not at all about to faint from the heat.
Oh. Kuroko hadn't been waiting for Kagami like he said. The whole time he'd just been thinking or... more like trapped by his conscious, forced to consider everything he should have done better a month ago. On that day that was unforgettable for the wrong reasons.
It was hard to move on from that.
"If you would have helped me, I could have come inside with you, Kuroko."
"I didn't understand the problem."
"What? I thought you finished it."
"I guessed the answer. I didn't know how to do it."
Taiga squinted in confusion.
"I thought...why didn't you just tell me that?" He was patient for an answer, glaring slightly, and silent as Kuroko ignored his intense gaze. In favor of studying the shower floor. Seeing how thin rivers disappeared into the drain. Otherwise Kuroko didn't respond.
And continued to hide his face.
Kagami forced eye contact, grabbing him by the chin. Kuroko didn't fight. His expression blank, revealing nothing to Taiga, who only wanted Kuroko to talk to him.
"Why won't you talk to me?"
"...about what?"
"Don't pretend with me. Tell me what's really going on. I don't like how you try to hide from me. I can see past that. You know I won't force you to talk...but is that the only way to get you to open up to me?"
Kuroko's heart skipped a beat.
"No." he shook his head too, the first sign of guilt on his face. "I was just thinking. I feel stressed."
"Ok. Is that all?" It couldn't be.
"Hai." Kuroko didn't want to worry Kagami. But more than that, he didn't want the ace to... be mad at him. Kagami would get angry if Kuroko revealed what was constantly in his head. There was no doubt.
"Kuroko... you know that I care a fucking lot about you." The ace began, embracing him powerfully.
"I know, Kagami-kun. I care about you too." More than he could ever express.
"I know you do." His warm breath played directly over Kuroko's lips, speaking softly to him and caught in his vibrant blue eyed gaze. "But I want to know something that I don't know. I'm sick of being in the dark."
Kuroko appeared surprised by Kagami's words. The taller player had never taken this approach. In the past, if Kuroko didn't want to talk, Kagami didn't push him to.
But the one thing on Taiga's mind was… just him and Kuroko. Partners and in love. Not the partnership they had on their team. Or as friends. He and Kuroko – with or without having their teammates come along – should get to have fun on their break. Some time off from all this stress and nightmares out of nowhere in the middle of the night that made no fucking sense. If at any time Kagami realized that Kuroko was "thinking," or "tired," or "stressed" like Kuroko always said whenever he got this way, Taiga would be too worried about him to enjoy the trip. But if Kuroko didn't have fun, neither would Kagami, his other half. Others might think that Kuroko followed him around, or did whatever Kagami did – which was true – but Kagami could just as easily be Kuroko's shadow. How would anyone know for sure?
He watched Kuroko just as much.
His sight was full of Kuroko Tetsuya. His thoughts by extension. Anything else in his world was less important.
"Kagami-kun…" Kuroko tried to begin before Kagami used his teeth to puncture his small shoulder. Hard enough that Kuroko bled a few tiny drops. Kagami lapped at the wound and sucked hard on Kuroko's pinkish flesh.
As he gave Kuroko another territorial mark, one hand reached between Kuroko's legs and very slowly, painfully, brushed fingers over Tetsuya's length. Kuroko throbbed at the light touch, and softly cried out. Taiga's thick erection already stood tall, settled between Kuroko's curved backside while he continued to suck and give wet kisses to the new hickey on Kuroko's shoulder.
Then it was pretty pink, and swollen. Kagami proud of the mark.
Next thing, Kuroko's back was against the slippery wall, Taiga following right behind him to flatten him to it. They captured each other's line of sight. Neither able to pull away from staring into red or blue eyes.
Taiga took Kuroko by his left hand, took him by his right, and held them individually, tightly in each of his fists. The goal was get so close to Kuroko that no space existed between them. He wanted to be stuck together – their foreheads, their hands, their arms, their chests, their abdomens, their crotch – and stepped between Kuroko's white legs. Then connected their mouths.
Taiga had every intention to make love on the shower wall, and then on the counters, and then in the doorway to the bedroom, and then on the firm bed…
He wanted to ask Kuroko something first.
"When will you tell me about it?" Because he hadn't for one second forgot about that.
"As soon as I figure out the best way to describe it to you." Or the best way to get out of ever having to say it.
"Kuroko, I don't need it to make sense. I can listen even if it's all over the place." He only wanted to know what it was, and as soon as possible.
"I know, but…"
"The sooner you tell me, the sooner I can help you take care of it."
Kagami thought they should work together to overcome it.
"But…" Kuroko tightened his fingers, gripping each of Kagami's hands with as much strength he could muster. It was enough that if Kagami wanted to tear his hands away, for whatever reason, Kuroko would be holding them so tight that there was no way Taiga could. Even if he was stronger than Kuroko.
"I'm listening."
"But… if I don't figure out the best way to say it, you'll… get mad Kagami-kun…"
"Mad?" There was no way. Is that why Kuroko was hiding this? Excuse his choice of words, but what the actual fuck? That was childish, even for –
"Either that, or…"
Fall out of love with him. One of two was guaranteed. Kuroko knew which one he would choose, though he was fine with neither, in a perfect case scenario.
But because he was keeping such a huge secret, he knew how much damage he was causing. But Kuroko was also working on a way to fix it. Telling Kagami-kun would only ruin everything.
"Kuroko." The ace's sigh warmed the side of Kuroko's face. Tetsuya had turned his cheek in an effort to hide how weak he thought he looked right now.
He was even ashamed to answer his name.
"You know what? Let's make a promise right now. Are you listening to me?"
"Hai."
Kuroko really didn't want to. But he and Kagami-kun made promises often. This was the first time Kuroko didn't want to promise, but wouldn't break their tradition. If he did, Kagami would find him hopeless, reconsider his love, and forget all about him. Kuroko would not let that happen.
So he'd make the damn promise to Kagami. Just pretend that he was okay with it. Which seemed like the best thing to do. Until…
"We're not going to talk about this tonight."
Relief instantly washed throughout Kuroko, visible on his face.
"Instead, we're going to make love to each other. Cum hard all night. I'm not going to stop until you can't go anymore. And we'll see if making you exhausted is enough to stop those dreams… if it is, then I'll let it go. I won't ask ever again. I swear. But that's only if they go away. If you stop thinking about them. Promise?"
That was probably the only promise – in this entire universe of possibilities – that Kuroko wanted to make right now. This was the best thing he could have heard. Kagami was the best ever.
"Promise."
Kagami nodded. Intending to keep his word. He bowed in on Kuroko.
"Start relaxing." The ace gently commanded into his ear. Then let go of just one hand, using it to hoist one of Kuroko's white legs onto his narrow waist. Before he released the other one, Taiga bowed down further to claim Kuroko by the lips. He dropped Kuroko's hand once the bluenette loosened his hold, absorbed in the kiss with Kagami. Now he could wrap Kuroko's remaining leg around his waist too. He squeezed his bottom, both hands underneath in order to lift Kuroko higher up on the wall. Tetsuya simultaneously securing himself using Taiga's broad shoulders and back.
Kuroko then concentrated on relaxing. Shower sex was not at all difficult for them. As with everything else, they'd figured out a way. The warm water that cascaded over their bodies was a lubricating substance. Combine that with Kagami scissoring Kuroko's entrance, fingering against his erogenous bundle of nerves, Kuroko further relaxing as he felt pleasure, Kagami spreading him wide, taking his time to slip up inside, his pre-ejaculating tip getting Kuroko wetter on the inside, and all this resulted in comfortable sex.
As the ace started a gentle rhythm, Kuroko's legs hugged him snug around the waist and fingers clenched at his tan back. Other than the sound of their wet skin meeting when Kagami thrusted, there was no indication of how insanely good this made them feel. Both experiencing indescribable shocks of arousal.
Kuroko bit his lip hard and hung on for the ride, tightening his limbs around Kagami, while the redhead concentrated on standing to support them against the wall, rocking his hips hard between Kuroko's legs.
Neither could last long under the heat of the shower head and the heat blazing between their thighs.
"Kagami-kun…" Kuroko squeezed harder around his lover and locked his ankles at Taiga's lower back, desperate to feel more, see more, and do more. Kagami couldn't control his pacing any longer, though he'd done a good job of fucking Kuroko slower than he'd done in the past. Currently, he was forced to go faster, which he did whenever he was about to cum hard, and knew Kuroko soon would as well.
"Kuroko…"
"Kagami-kun…"
Tetsuya leaned back on the long countertop, lifted on his elbows while watching his partner's most recent erection move in and out him. Cum leaked from within Kuroko, and his passage was wet enough for Taiga to thrust up to the hilt inside. When Kagami stroked the dripping erection resting up against his flat stomach, Tetsuya's head rolled back to bump softly against the gigantic mirror behind him, and his spine formed an arc. Taiga zeroed in on his pale neck column. But didn't immediately go for it.
"I never fucked you right here before. But you look so good like this." Kagami increased his pace and power, focus remaining on Kuroko's slender neck. So flawless and beautiful now. Bearing no love bites.
"I love you…" Kuroko said, as it repeated over and over in his head.
The better athlete pulled Kuroko up from his reclining position, then leaned over him so that he could reach the flawless skin of Kuroko's throat. He sucked hard on it. Then spread Kuroko's legs wider in order to slip further inside at his desired angle. The angle that made Kuroko moan louder and fall more towards the cliff of climax.
"Kagami-kun!"
It took a few well aimed thrusts to get Kuroko to cry and cum. Taiga still working on his own orgasm, but was already satisfied that his best friend was blissed out. One look at Kuroko sprawled all over the surface top, one hand on the mirror as he tried catching his breath while watching Kagami's length moving inside of him… and the ace thought he should hold off on cumming.
He helped Kuroko off the long bathroom counter, letting Kuroko go first on their way out of the bathroom, but Kagami stopped them in the doorway. He positioned his boyfriend, bending him slightly against one side of the frame, then fucked him there.
He carefully thrusted, not wanting to hurt Kuroko, who could barely stand as his legs were turning to jelly. Taiga used his hands to help support Tetsuya at the waist – circling around Kuroko's waist, instead of at his hips.
After cumming inside Kuroko at the bathroom doorway, just as he imagined, Taiga laid him down on the wide mattress pad and settled back between his legs. Not yet entering… though there were signs of his dick returning to hardness. He got down to lay on top of Kuroko, brushing away his blue bangs to kiss his forehead, then asked…
"You excited for tomorrow?"
"I can't wait." Kuroko responded, slowly blinking, but attempting to keep himself awake. He wouldn't pass out from exhaustion in the middle of making love. He wanted to keep up with Kagami.
"There's a lot for us to do at the resort. But I think we should take a trip into the city, especially at night, before we leave."
Kuroko's eyelids were closed, feeling tired out despite his attempts to not sleep. He opened them halfway when he felt Kagami's finger tips brushing over him. He nipped a path down to Kuroko's small patch of blue hair, licking and sucking his pink nipples on the way there. However, Kagami proceeded to do something he had yet to successfully get around to. But would make sure Kuroko thoroughly enjoyed this. Like everything else they'd done so far.
Kuroko filled his lungs, eyes grew in size at what he felt. He may have ripped Kagami's sheets to shreds, if his nails were longer.
The redhead swallowed every inch of his smaller boyfriend's penis.
"Ah…Kaga…mi-kun… the best…" Kuroko dropped onto his back and writhed. Moaned. Unable to stop. Feeling out of control.
Taiga did a lot of teasing. He didn't suck much, and hardly blowed. He put his mouth on Kuroko, went down to taste, slid up, released, and then weakly pumped the length. He did that in repetition. It wouldn't be enough to help Tetsuya reach climax.
"More?" His fist paused around Kuroko's member.
"Yes please…please…"
"Feel good?"
"Hai…"
Kuroko was flustered. So rosy pink. Like the hole of his entrance that Kagami loved to submerge balls deep inside. Then he wondered… what did Kuroko want?
"You want to cum in my mouth? Or do you like it when I'm inside of you?"
Kuroko wanted more of Kagami's mouth. He wanted more of Kagami's cock. And he figured out how he could get both. Before he fainted from all this intense sex and climaxing.
"I want your mouth. But… please cum inside of me, Kagami-kun."
Taiga grinned. Wondering why he hadn't thought of such a brilliant idea. Kuroko was smart. He didn't care what his grades looked like.
He gave Kuroko what he wanted. And refrained from teasing him this time. He beat Kuroko's erection at the base, sucking him off, and carrying Kuroko away like a whirlwind to his climax. Kuroko came so hard that he lost feeling in his toes.
And he may have trouble walking tomorrow.
Kagami didn't go slow anymore. It just wasn't for him. He knew what he was capable of, and that he was good. So he never gave Kuroko anything less.
"Fuck yes…" He was pounding deep inside Kuroko, forever in disbelief about how tight Kuroko was for him. Taiga didn't go around bragging about things like size, but he had inches. So he was always careful with Kuroko. But his partner never complained.
"I love it…"
"Feel good?" he asked again. He liked for Kuroko to let him know.
"Yes. You're the best." Kuroko sincerely answered in a whisper and moan. Taiga stopped for a minute to take Kuroko's hands in both his own and give him a hard kiss. Kuroko's sluggish and weak return of their usually passionate kiss gave Kagami a hint that this would be their last time cumming. So they should do it together.
Kuroko couldn't take this much longer. Kagami thought it best to not drag things out.
"Put your legs around me Kuroko." He half requested, not sure if Kuroko had the strength. Taiga retained his grip on either of Kuroko's smaller hands, which were holding Kagami's as well. With his remaining energy, he was able to lock his ankles around Taiga's square hips.
"Alright. Now lay flat." He helped with that by putting pressure on their hands, fastening them against the mattress. Tetsuya laid flat as well.
He curved up again once Kagami started to drill him to the mattress. Kuroko was much too sensitive at this point to do anything other than cum all over himself. Kagami right above him, not missing the erotic sight, and cumming because of it. He groaned when the suctioning tunnel of warmth inside of the phantom sixth milked him dry.
"Goddammit." He cursed by mistake whenever they made love. He wasn't pissed about anything. But was somewhat out of it, following an orgasm with Kuroko. It was great to have Kuroko like this.
Therefore, he would never give him up. Not without a fight… one that killed him. Otherwise Kagami would call a rematch. As many times as necessary.
"Did it feel good?" Kuroko whispered next to Kagami's ear after the redhead collapsed on top of him. For once, the ace was exhausted after sex. Though Kuroko was always like that.
However tonight, Tetsuya knew he'd be sleep as soon as he shut his eyes for longer than a second. Thank goodness blinking happened faster than that.
"You have the most amazing ass I've ever… everything." That summed it all up.
"Domo."
Kagami removed his forehead off Kuroko's shoulder, turning to plant a kiss on the drowsy phantom sixth, Kuroko slow to react.
After they shared their mouths, Kagami pulled out and got up without warning, able to generate a bit of energy after laying with Kuroko for a bit. The ace was on his way to the bathroom, in order to clean him and Kuroko up a bit before they went to bed for the night. Kagami washed off his remaining evidence of sexual activity at the sink in the bathroom. He planned to wipe off Kuroko in the bedroom, seeing as how his lover didn't make any effort to move around after Taiga gave him a kiss and got up.
The Japanese American teen reentered the bedroom with one small, dry towel slung over his shoulder and a damp one folded in his hand. He expected it, but laughed quietly when witnessing Kuroko unconscious on his huge mattress. He carefully cleaned him off, not expecting Kuroko to suddenly jump awake either way. He looked deep in slumber. More at peace than he'd been in a while when resting at night.
Kagami would be up for a least another hour. So would look for signs of a bad dream. He wouldn't let Kuroko forget their promise. If Kagami found out Kuroko had more nightmares, even while they were on vacation (though hopefully not), he would confront Kuroko. And would not stop until Kuroko told him what it was about.
But, Kagami stayed up for a while. He unzipped their suitcases to check them out for anything that seemed forgotten. There were a few things, like their toothbrushes, beach sandals, Kagami realized he didn't put any underwear in his own suitcase, Kuroko forgot to pack his swimsuit, and other little things like that. Kagami stocked the items in his and Kuroko's suitcases. Before calling it a night.
Tetsuya was diagonal on the mattress, how Kagami left him after washing him off. He didn't have to worry about disturbing Kuroko because the little bluenette was out cold. Therefore, Taiga yanked the covers out from under Kuroko – the quickest way to do it – then he straightened Kuroko out, slipped beside him, and placed the covers over their naked bodies.
Kagami set the bedside alarm for 4:30 am. He texted Furihata and the others. Then flopped down onto of his pillow. Feeling thankful for the rest he was about to get, he also smirked when Kuroko, though unconscious, somehow sensed that his partner was close and rolled onto his side, cuddling the redhead. Also expelling a deep sigh when Kagami comforted him back.
"I love you, babe." Kagami said, hoping to further calm Kuroko in his sleep. Give him some security from the bad dreams.
The time right now read 11:45, so about 6 hours until their plane took off. Kuroko and Kagami were supposed to meet everyone at the airport. So they just needed to be ready by the time Mama Kuroko dropped by on her way to work, picked them up, and then took them there.
Kagami and Kuroko were all set to leave whenever she arrived.
-Part 2: On Their Way-
To be continued: No Telling What Saturday Will Bring (Part 3)
AN:
This became such a burden. I did not expect it to take this long to write, and I'm not even sure if it's at its best. I REALLY JUST WANT TO MOVE ON TO WHAT HAPPENS IN AUSTRALIA! That's supposed to be the fun part for me to write. I pray that it's not as much of a hassle as this was.
(._.)
