Notes: Akashi's mini album with AkaKuro duet will be released on December 20! Hurray! And thanks to Reinella, NIGHTANGEL21, Shiranai Atsune, and AyakiStory for reviewing ^_^ Here's Chapter 3!
This bitterness inside
Is an empty space I hide
It never satisfies
Living my life in a lie
~ Cueshe (Borrowed Time)
~CHAPTER 3~
Hyuuga frowned when he looked at Riko, who seems nervous. She was clutching the chest part of her blouse and frowning. She was also sighing for the nth time. "Hey Coach."
Riko was startled at the Captain's call and looked at him. "W-what? Yes, I'm listening and I'm okay."
"Clearly you're not listening to me at all." Hyuuga said as he slightly played the strap of the coach's bag which he (gentlemanly) carried.
Riko narrowed her eyes and looked at him with dangerous intent, dropping her arms to her sides. "I am you dimwit."
"Well what am I talking about?"
She sighed and rolled her eyes. "The players, about how they changed and whatnots and you being sentimental."
Hyuuga laughed a bit, annoying Riko. "Coach, I'm not talking at all. We talked about that yesterday."
"Okay, okay… s-sorry." Riko said while blushing, embarassed and the four-eyed captain finds it cute. "I'm just… just worried after all."
Hyuuga raised one of his eyebrows. "Is this about Kuroko? If it is then don't worry, she'll be okay because she's with her parents. I don't know about Kagami though. I heard from Furihata that he ditched his first afternoon class so I don't know if he'll attend the training since club activities usually start five minutes after the start of second afternoon class at this time of year and…" He trailed off when he saw Riko smiling so sweet. Too sweet it practically sickens him. He also knew what is the meaning of that smile.
"Hmm, is that so?" Riko said sweetly, but it vanished when she saw Nigou in front of the gym looking bored and lonely. Not just that, she suddenly lost her balance and clutched the chest part of her blouse tightly. "Now my heart just pounded louder than before."
Hyuuga, after hearing his coach's statement, immediately panicked and looked at her pale face. "H-hey, what?! Are you really okay or what?! Do you want me to call the- ouch!"
"No, I'm not going to the hospital you moron." Riko said after she regained her balance and punched Hyuuga's head. "It's just that, I rarely feel this kind of nervousness."
"Huh?"
"W-well… it's the same thing as I feel when my or someone's life that I care changes completely because of something, either bad, or good, or both. I felt this before my mom died. I felt this before we met Kagami and Kuroko. I felt this before we found Seirin Basketball team. And all of those events changed mine and other's lives."
Hyuuga took a deep breath silently. He knew what she's saying is true because he did saw her like this before he announced that he's forming the basketball team and he wanted her to be the coach.
"That's why I think…" Riko scooped up the sad dog and hugged it. Nigou looked slightly happy and wagged his tail. "…someone's life, or lives, would be changed today."
Nigou barked two times happily.
"10 minutes before we arrive to our destination." Akashi said after driving off when the eighth traffic light they passed turned green and after they talked about anything just like old days. "I think you should get ready."
"Ready?" Tetsumi's voice was filled with confusion.
"Yeah." He answered with a little shrug. "We're going to talk with my father about something." Something I don't know and I want to know, he thought.
"Wait, your father?" She said. "But I thought you were sent by my parents to fetch me?"
Akashi frowned. Something's not right, he thought again. "No. I mean, my dad told me to fetch you personally and not your parents."
"What?" She exclaimed. "I thought you were sent by my parents since my mom told me that whoever calls me today and inform me that he'll take me to Kyoto was sent by them. So I thought you're that one since you are the only one who called me and told me to take me to Kyoto and no one else." She explained. "Are you sure we're not mixed up or something?"
Akashi sighed silently. "I think we should meet up with my father first before going to your parents."
Tetsumi did nothing but to agree and nod. She knew Akashi Masaomi was ten times more terrifying than his son, and she already met him a number of times with the GoM whenever they decide to hang out on Akashi's house in Tokyo. Although the old man took a liking on her (she had a hunch that it's because she's the heiress of a large company), Masaomi's gaze, presence and aura are still intimidating.
"I assume you have some vacation house here or business branch?" He asked again.
Tetsumi nodded. "W-we have both of them." She answered with a stutter.
Akashi slightly smiled at her nervousness and reached for her cold hand. "It's okay, I'm here. We've got each other's backs like we used to."
Tetsumi suddenly felt warm and calm as soon as the red-haired driver touched her hand. It's what always he does when he, or the GoM, can't calm her down enough with words whenever they're in game, or in difficult exams, or in trouble situations. Taking a deep breath of Kyoto's cool air, she replied. "Yeah, thanks."
He nodded and turned to the windshield and immediately saw the exclusive subdivision that the Akashis lived in Kyoto. "We're here." He said and took back his hand from Tetsumi's.
Even though he already took it back, the warmth still lingered and it made Tetsumi calm. "Yeah. I'm ready."
Aomine kicked the stone while walking, his mind wandering in his thoughts. Momoi, who was looking at his weird attitude since they came out from Maji Burger, became worried instead of being happy that he's actively silent.
"Dai-chan." She called out in hopes of him waking up from his reverie, but he's still mentally absent. What now? She thought, but her eyes widened with a realization. Is she thinking about that porn star again?!
"Dai-chan." She repeated louder, still she got no answer.
"Earth to Dai-chan." No one heard it.
"Dai. Chan." Still no answer. Because the pinkette was already annoyed at her companion's continuous kicking and dragging his feet, she decided to put her feet on his way, making him lose his balance on his next step.
"What the fuck-?! Satsuki!" Aomine cursed as he pushed himself up and dusted off his uniform before facing the Touou's manager. "The fuck's your problem?!"
"Don't use curse words in front of me, I'm a lady-"
"I don't care!"
"-and that's my line, Dai-chan!" Momoi kicked him again, this time it's in his stomach, making him collapse again. "What is your problem? I bet your mind's wandering to outside Japan again!"
Instead of retorting, Aomine sighed and got up and dusted himself off again. "I'm thinking about Tetsu and that Bakagami."
Momoi rolled her eyes. "Please don't remind me that." She said. "You know, contrary to what I think while you're dozing off earlier, you should be worried since Tetsu-chan's not mine."
"Grrah, Satsuki, you're both girls!" He complained. "And I will be more worried if Tetsu will be yours!"
But she just shrugged. "I'm open to yuri. And you do know that I could take good care of her."
"Hah! You're 'take good care' means killing her with your cooking!"
"Wait, are you telling me that my cooking is bad?!"
"Yes!" He answered. "I'd rather vote for Akashi than you and Kagami combined!"
Instead of answering her childhood bestfriend back, Momoi was silenced and was in deep thought. In less than ten seconds, she answered. "Oh yeah, I don't know you're capable of thinking about that Dai-chan. You're right!"
"Oi!"
"You know…" Momoi said, ignoring her companion. "…despite to what I've said to Kagamin earlier, I think Akashi-kun has more capabilities on making Tetsu-chan happy than her boyfriend, especially now that he's back." She sighed. "Truthfully, I won't be surprised if one day she'll tell me she's not happy with Kagamin."
When Akashi and Tetsumi arrived in Akashi mansion in the subdivision which is three streets and a block away from the subdivision gates, an aged butler that both of them were familiar with opened the front passenger door of the car and welcomed the both of them.
"Welcome Seijuurou-sama…" The butler said to the red-head, then looked at the teal-head (Akashi nudged her in order for her to be seen by the butler) with an acknowledging look and a happy smile, although Tetsumi could see his slight surprise. "…and Kuroko-chan, long time no see."
Tetsumi smiled slightly, and her baby blue eyes radiated happiness. "Yes Morikawa-san, long time no see." The butler, Morikawa, also knew Tetsumi since the GoM were still middle school, while he knew the young Akashi since he was 4 (the butler started to work at their household since he was 27, and he's now 40). They are also pretty close with each other.
Morikawa nodded, still smiling. "By the way, Masaomi-sama wanted me to accompany the both of you to the dining room."
Akashi and Tetsumi didn't say anything about this and followed the butler. When they're already half-way through, the red-head started to talk. "Does my father had visitors instead of Kuroko?"
"Yes." The butler confirmed. "From what I heard, they are Kuroko-chan's parents."
Tetsumi gasped inwardly. What's the meaning of this? She thought as she continuously walked through the hallway.
"You'll know the answer right…" The three of them stopped in front of the dining room's see-through door (with see-through walls). "…now." Morikawa opened the door.
Tetsumi visibly gasped when she saw the sight of her parents laughing and talking casually with Masaomi. The three adults who heard the door open, and, in Masaomi's case, the teal-head teen's gasp, turned to the door to find the both of them looking surprised and clueless.
"Oh, hi Tetsumi, Seijuurou-kun!" Kuroko Sora, Tetsumi's dad, greeted the both of them. "Come, let's eat!"
"Hello Tetsumi-chan, Seijuurou-kun. I'm glad you arrived here safely." Kuroko Tsuruya, Tetsumi's mom greeted with shyness.
Masaomi nodded in satisfaction. "I'm also glad. Now please take your seats." He said, his voice although calm, is full of authority and coldness. "We're going to talk about your marriage."
Seijuurou and Tetsumi were surprised. The former knew this is coming because of the almost unnoticeable hints, but still he couldn't believe that his father would actually do this.
"Wait, what?" Tetsumi said, unbelieving at the news. "Our marriage? You mean… me and Akashi-kun?"
"Yes." Masaomi answered, confirming the female teen's fears.
The almost teary-eyed Tetsumi looked at her parents, who only looked down. I'm sorry, she knew that's what they're thinking right now.
Tetsumi closed her eyes and took a long, deep breath in order to fight her tears and to calm her fast-beating heartbeat. When she at least calmed down, she opened her eyes again which is full of blankness that even Masaomi does not know what she's thinking.
"And why?" Seijuurou said calmly, but coldly.
"For our business." Another authorative voice was heard, although this time it was an old female one, but the elegance was there. Turning to the door they saw two women who just entered.
"Shiina-obaa-sama." Seijuurou said to the woman who owned the voice earlier. She had green eyes and dark red-violet hair and wore a white dress up until her knees and cream-colored high heels with golden bracelet, pearl earrings and necklace and a white hand bag. The woman nodded in satisfaction to her grandson and showed a fancy smile to everyone.
"Megumi-nee-sama? What are you doing here?" Masaomi said to his twin sister Megumi, who also had red eyes and dark red-violet hair (which was tied in ponytail) like his twin brother. However unlike her sophisticated mother and brother, she chose to wear a sleeveless blue shirt covered in gray long-sleeved blazer paired with cream-colored slacks and flats. Simple.
Megumi rolled her eyes. "You wouldn't want to know."
Still Tetsumi couldn't believe it. She's going to marry Seijuurou just because of business? It's ridiculous, plain ridiculous to do. And here I thought they had brains, she thought as she shook her head.
"No, I'm not going to marry Aka- no, Seijuurou-kun just because of that stupid reason. Please excuse me." She then walked out of the dining room then turned to Morikawa, ignoring the elders' and Seijuurou's calls. "Morikawa-san, please lead me to the nearest guest room." She said, her tears now flowing freely from her eyes but her voice strong as steel.
Morikawa nodded and never asked what happened. "Understood, Kuroko-chan. This way please." He said, his hand pointing the left way. Tetsumi knew he was not just talking about her request.
Meanwhile in the dining room, Sora frowned at his daughter's stubbornness, then turned at the eldest Akashi, who had blank, unreadable face. Knowing what Shiina could do because of her power, he thought of an excuse to save her daughter and coughed. "Excuse me. I'm sorry Shiina-san for what Tetsumi had said. I'll straight her out later."
Shiina just smiled at him assuringly. "No, it's okay. I understand what she feels. But don't worry…" She handed her bag to her own personal assistant. "…I will be the one to talk to her." She said and that caused worry and fear for Tetsumi's parents and Seijuurou.
And even Megumi was worried, she knew what her mother could do. "Oh no Mom, we will talk first. Privately."
Shiina slightly frowned. "Okay, if that's what you want." After that they left the room with their personal assistants and butlers.
Wanting to get out of the suffocating space of table, chairs, chandelier, flowers and candlelights called dining room, Seijuurou spoke. "I'll check on Tetsumi."
"P-please do." Tsuruya said. "I'm worried about her."
The red-haired teen nodded and walked out of the dining room.
Kuroko… He thought while walking down the hallway. Kuroko, you don't know what you're doing.
She knows what she is doing.
The next thing he saw is that all around him was black, but there was a light illuminating from God-knows-where. From the light there stood someone he knew from head to toe.
Someone who looks completely like him, except for the heterochromatic eyes and selfish attitude.
"If happiness had a form, what would it look like? It might be something like glass, because one doesn't notice it normally. However, it is usually there."
–Lelouch vi Britannia, Code Geass
Shiro: I'm cutting it there! Btw, I called the both families in their own names because if I just said 'Kuroko', you don't know if it's Tetsumi, her mother or her father because they're technically Kuroko. Same goes as Akashi. Next chapter will be full of confrontations and face-offs, mwahaha!
Jewel: Kuroko, Akashi, introduce your family and describe them.
Kuroko: My parents were named Kuroko Sora and Shinozaki-Kuroko Tsuruya while the only grandparent that I knew is Tsubaki-obaa-san, which is the mother of my father.
Akashi: My parents' names are Shiori, which is my dead mother, and Masaomi, my very strict father. My father's twin is Takenori Megumi, which is married to another business tycoon named Takenori Yamato. I consider her my older sister. My grandmother is Shiina, which is ten times more strict than my father is, but she's really caring actually.
Jewel: Tell me what part of caring grandmother is she when she entered her grandson into a forced marriage?!
Shiro: Ask me.
Jewel: You're killing my fun. Oh, by the way, your grandmamhie looked young.
Akashi: Both my dad and Megumi-nee-san's age are 32 while Obaa-sama's age is 56.
Kuroko: Did I heard it right? Shiina-san's age is 56? She looked 30 or so. Even your dad and his sister just looked like our age if it wasn't for the height.
Shiro: So who wants to review? *silence* Okay, I'll update next year, I'm serious. Bye! *signs out*
Jewel: What?! You're kidding me! *signs out*
Akashi: Yes, she's kidding. *signs out*
Kuroko: Definitely kidding. *signs out*
Kise: *signs in* Hey! Why did you guys leave me again!
(Because you're going to annoy us again as much as Shiro annoys us. Oh, who noticed that I, Akashi and Kuroko acted like the Three Ha-Ha Brothers? XD)