Chapter 3- Wish

He knew it was his fault. It was too coincidental for her to fall while she was making eye contact with him. It's not as if he is unaware of his reputation and how it precedes him. The sole heir of the Akashi family, who received a personal congratulations from the very man this Gala tonight exists for, taking an interest in her? He figured a question like this would weigh on her mind throughout the night. Though, whether or not to address this situation, Akashi was quite literally divided on. They both knew, after all, why they had been watching her in the first place.

"She would have been the one" The original, currently dormant, Akashi said.

"Anyone could have been the one" The second, currently dominant, Akashi replied. "Anyway, what are you doing awake, now of all times?"

"It's as I said. She would have been the one." Original Akashi stated again.

His split personality sighed to himself and walked out of view from the crowd. As he moved away, his father called him over towards himself and the birthday host. At that point, the Original Akashi fell back into unconscious slumber to let the Second Akashi handle the interaction. After all, he was the ideally fitted image of a son his father had forcibly cultivated out of him. At least until a lady resembling the fallen ballerina had boldly intruded on his personal space. At this point, things began to spiral unpredictably and uncontrollably out of the Second Akashi's grasp.

With his cold-hearted intelligence, he was used to people being all too easy to read. This allowed him to influence his surroundings into favorable conditions he could lead without trouble…but the presence of this woman had instantly ruined all of that. First off, he had not expected the issue with the ballerina to evolve from an unforeseen variable. Following that, he had not expected said unforeseen variable to take a hold of him in such a sensual way. As callous and confident as he was, a heterosexual teenage boy cannot help but be shaken up by the bold actions of a woman like Yume. Though the final straw was when his father just had to make a reference to the Original Akashi's foremost soft spot: "He looks much like his mother, after all".

Whether he wanted to or not, the Original Akashi had become conscious again. When they were brought to the young woman in question, the very sight of that ballerina, Nakayo Hayami, had weakened the Second Akashi unlike anything ever before. After everything that had led up to this moment, the Original Akashi had seized the chance to regain control for however long he could. There was a personal significance in this girl that he wanted to confirm for himself.

Unfortunately, Hayami's request pushed the Second Akashi back into dominance. Old memories were re-surfacing and he wanted an immediate stop to it. Acknowledging that he was the superior personality, and will always be as long as his efforts manifest his intentions perfectly, he stepped down once again. He had no choice but to listen helplessly as his own mouth spat daggers at this beautiful girl. She tried to apologize, despite doing nothing wrong, and they could see she wanted to mend whatever problem was emerging between them. The Original Akashi knew it was useless unfortunately.

The Second Akashi simply walked away, and they both could feel the strength of his desire to never see her again. The painful sting of this incident kept his consciousness awake for quite some time following. While the Second Akashi fluently conversed with mannerisms that resembled the logical, highly calculating personality of his father, the Original Akashi could only dwell on how Hayami was feeling. The thought of her despising and avoiding him until the nights end when she would never see him again was a terribly heart-breaking thought. Especially considering the special significance he privately felt at the sight of her; "the one" that he had believed her to be.

So when Hayami showed up and asked to speak with him, his heart leapt with hope momentarily before crashing down again. The Second Akashi equally divided his efforts between suppressing the Original and ridiculing the girl, doing both with flawless success. But when he was met with her unpredicted persistence, the Original Akashi found the internal force that bound him down begin to waver. The more he saw the hurt on this girls face, the more he wanted to reach out and yell that he doesn't truly mean what his body is speaking. He was continually appalled by the rude things he heard himself saying, and yet this girl remained unmoved from her spot each time. The Original Akashi could see in her an admirable heart of steel still in the midst of being forged within her delicate body.

She persistently demanded to know one thing, and she had every right to an answer. He wanted to re-assume control just for a moment and give it to her. Soon enough, the Second Akashi was fighting two forces from within and outside. He hated the thought of losing this battle to his former self simply because of this girl. To do so would only prove his words from earlier right…that she is "the one". It would contradict his long line of internal victories that were necessary to maintain mental control. Unfortunately for him though, the dormant Akashi could only watch idly for so long. His emotions swelled up and intensified until they overpowered the dominant personality. He was now the one pushing his other self down, while peering through their shared eyes to finally speak directly to Hayami.

"WHY ARE YOU TOLERATING THIS REPULSIVE ARROGANCE OF MINE?!"

The vehemence in their mutual stare was so thick that surrounding bystanders would not dare walk between them. His disbelief was reciprocated by her look of shock. This was the second 180 degree switch of his that threw her off guard totally into left field. She didn't know whether to be angry at his sudden change of heart, or to be relieved by it. She wanted to smack him and storm off just as much as she wanted to hug him and hear him apologize.

The fresh tears in her eyes refused to let these two emotions simmer, but only one would cause them to fall. The anger, the humiliation, the pain and the betrayal she felt was clouding her mind's eye as she looked at his remorseful expression.

"Tolerate? Tolerate, you say!?"

She gritted her teeth and raised her hand up into the air, causing Akashi to widen his eyes with shock, before he closed them with the acceptance of what was to come.

"It's BECAUSE when you're not being repulsively arrogant…" She slammed her hand down onto his shoulder and gripped it tightly.

"YOU'RE…you're…" Her grip loosened, and a tear had finally rolled down her cheek. "Quite charming to speak with."

Akashi slowly opened his eyes with a reprieving disbelief forming on his un-slapped face. He was greeted by the sight of a warm smile from Hayami.

"You have such a profound way with words, and your insight is captivating to hear out. I've never met anyone like you before…I guess that's why I put up with you being an asshole all of a sudden. To be frank, Akashi-kun…I actually take quite a liking to you". She sniffled as she gently cleaned the tear off her face with a nearby napkin.

Her words startled him out of his emotional state and made his ivory cheeks soak red. He understood now her tenacious grip was the result of frustration and relief mixed and expressed in a dysfunctional gesture. She shook him gently by his shoulder, still mad at him and his irrational behavior, but ended up chuckling light-heartedly. She felt an inexplicable sense of comfort at this random change of his, and everything felt like it was okay again. As if she had just reunited with a long lost friend. For this strange and unexplainable reason, she couldn't truly be angry at him.

"That is too sweet of you, Nakayo-san." He returned her kind smile.

She released him and tried to make light of a short sniffle while patting away anymore pent up tears before they further ruined her make-up. Akashi felt a great deal of sorrow at seeing this though, for it was the aftermath his other half had created. He immediately bowed to Hayami.

"I apologize, as sincerely as you can believe, for mm-" He paused. "…m-my behavior earlier. Though I hardly deserve your forgiveness, I do implore you to hear the honesty in my words. Nakayo-san, I am sorry for offending and hurting you with my careless behavior. It is a shame I will bear the burden of without ever forgetting."

Hayami was deeply moved by his apology. Though still entirely baffled at what warranted it in the first place, in this moment, all that mattered was that she now had an answer to one of her questions. The reason she had been so persistent in the first place herself…was to see this side of Akashi again. She felt relieved, fulfilled, and happy. It was also at this moment, that a glorious idea had struck her.

"Y'know, Akashi-kun…" He raised himself to meet her with a welcoming smile. "If you reeeaally feel so guilty about what you did…I know the PERFECT way to make it up to me!"

A mischievous grin beamed under her excited eyes, and Akashi didn't like what he felt coming. She knew he understood what she meant, after all. Despite that, and the nervous crease folding above his brow, he took a deep breath and looked around the room. He stopped searching once he faced a set of doors that led out into a moonlit courtyard. Maintaining his calm composure, despite the butterflies bustling inside of him, he met Hayami's curious gaze head on.

"Meet me outside in the courtyard. Just, please, give me a few minutes…to prepare myself"

Akashi had never seen a girls eyes sparkle so dazzlingly in his life. It was a sight more beautiful than if all the diamonds and jewelry in the ballroom were combined under a spotlight.

"Un!" With an enthusiastic nod, Hayami stepped back and gave Akashi space as he turned around.

He kept his gaze downcast and used all the techniques he refined Kuroko's misdirection with until he reached the courtyard doors totally unnoticed. The world had silenced itself in an instant as soon as he shut them behind him. Looking forward, an opening to a circular area was surrounded by a short stone wall with benches against it. Sakura trees surrounded the area beyond the wall and their moon-illuminated petals decorated the ground.

Inside himself, the Second Akashi was still conscious, but was currently overpowered by the strength of the emotions swelling in their heart. It was a temporary switch, induced by the presence of this one particular girl…but he had to admit his momentary defeat due to it. He acknowledge his other self's words from earlier with a sigh.

"I guess… She really is the one". He ceased his resistance, knowing it was now his turn to watch through his other personality's eyes.

Hayami made a quick trip back to her table to finish the rest of her drink. Her cheeks blushed with the thought of Akashi waiting outside for her. Though what she was feeling wasn't exactly excitement or anticipation, nothing like with Tenshin. In fact, she didn't know what to expect. It was like she was about to enter the mysterious unknown. She felt that something special was waiting for her when she walked outside those doors. Each footstep she took brought her closer and closer, each one silencing the world around her more and more, until it all dissolved and nothing else mattered when she reached for the handle.

Meanwhile, from other ends of the room, both Takumi and Tenshin had noticed Hayami simultaneously. As they began to make their way towards her, they happened to notice each other and immediately understood this was a competition. She was finally alone, and whoever reached her first could have her to themselves. They weaved, bobbed, dodged, and swerved through the obstacles of people unaware of their silent contest.

When they finally broke through them all, they nearly butted each other's heads. A quick glance at one another was all it took before they whipped their heads towards Hayami and brisk-walked towards their target in the gorgeous dress. Takumi stretched his arm out, using his height and accompanying long limbs to reach out to Hayami first. Tenshin, in reply, stopped walking and faked a natural stance as he was about to call out to her like he had just noticed her.

But when Hayami opened the doors, they both halted just before they committed to their final actions. Beyond the glittering gold and twinkling diamonds of Hayami's dress, a luminescent figure stood outside under the bright moonlight. Its face was turned away, and its attire was similar to that of many other men's present around them…but the glow of red hair swaying gently in the breeze gave his identity away. Takumi and Tenshin could see that they had lost before they even started.

Hayami pulled the doors closed without ever noticing the two of them. The soft click of its knob returning to place got Akashi's attention, and they both turned around at the same time to face each other. Her shoes clicked against the stone floor as she slowly approached him. Neither spoke a single word aloud, yet the meaning of the moment made the silence impossibly deafening. All they could do was hold their mutual gaze through the windows into each other's souls. Both of their hearts were pounding harder, faster, and more erratic the closer they became. The instant they were in arms reach of each other, their heightened awareness made it feel as if even their breaths were synchronizing. With a gentle look in his eyes, tinted with a hint of uneasiness, Akashi drew in a deep breath and extended his arm out towards Hayami.

"May I…have this dance with you… Nakayo-san?"

She accepted his hand merrily with a heartfelt smile. Her white opera glove gave off an otherworldly glow between his fingers from the moons radiance. Feeling her hand squeeze his own as he did hers, filled him with overwhelming feelings more intense than when Yume had held him. Remembering what he mentioned before, Hayami moved them both into the starting position of the waltz.

It was the slowest and simplest that she has danced in years. Her 3rd partner of the night lacked the experience to move any more swiftly or nimbly than he was now. Yet even so, there was still something more special about this dance than any other she could ever recall. It was beyond having him eat his own arrogant words. She could feel that there was significance in this for him as well. Along with that, she was finally up close and personal with the mysterious and powerful Akashi Seijuro. She felt honored, in a unique way, that she could be the one to help fulfill whatever meaning he sought in this.

While enjoying herself, she decided to tease him by picking up her own pace. All Akashi could do was keep a hold of her hand as a smile of admiration remained on his face. She would lead his steps, spin under his hand, and other little moves to show off for him. She kept a gentle smile to reassure him of her playful intentions. She cared not in the least for any audience that may be spying on them, she was performing for him only. She did another spin under his raised arm before stopping to face him once again. Her eyes readjusted from its blurry vision to the still face before her and she greeted him with an ecstatic grin.

"AKASHI…kun?" She said, her face now in complete surprise.

There he stood, obviously impressed, with a tender smile just as complimenting, and the glistening streak of a tear drop running down his face.

"Nakayo-san…" His voice was shaken, but not weak.

"Yes?"

"You asked me earlier…what more is there, for me, in dancing?" She gave a silent nod.

Akashi drew in a deep breath and wiped away another tear just as it fell.

"Your dancing… makes me think of my mother."

"…" Hayami stood stunned. A jolt had shot through her at the weight of his words. They were spoken with a stifling sadness, the kind which foreshadows a tragedy one rarely speaks of, lest even reminisces. Yet, even so, his pause before continuing was all too dreadfully long.

"The violin, the piano, my excellence in varying fields of academia…much of what marks me as reputable as I am had been at the dictates of my father. You can guess who it was that introduced me to my respite from those esteemed obligations."

"Your mother…" He acknowledged her with a simple nod and the same touching smile.

"After her passing away, it became the only way I could keep the memory of her alive and close to me."

Akashi chuckled lightly to himself and looked away from Hayami. He stared off into the distance, his eyes twinkling with an old meaningful memory carrying his mind miles away.

"As a young child, out of innocent curiosity, I once asked her if we would still play basketball together if I had been a girl. To which she told me, if I had been born a girl, she would have taught me how to dance instead…" He brought his eyes back to Hayami's. "Ballet. To be specific".

"WHA…NO WAY!" She bubbled and he blushed with embarrassment. In the back of her mind, everything was falling into place as she was absorbed further in his words.

"What a naïve little boy I was, the feeling of superb gratitude I felt at the time for being born a male because of something so trivial. My mother, however, took my comments light-heartedly and proceeded to reveal something personal. She told me, that although I may think dancing was unfit for me as a boy, one day I will grow up, and shall desire to take a women by her hand for such. I will never forget the deep longing in her eyes as she envisioned the women that would disprove my childish assertions. She described her as beautiful, elegant, and a better dancer than I. They were vague descriptions, possibly applicable to whole populations of women. Or so I thought."

"My mother, at that moment, cradled my face and, with a kiss to my forehead, told me that she hopes to see that day, so she could meet that very woman…and watch me offer my hand to dance with her." He paused for a moment, his eyes shimmering as a new set of tears moistened up. "I was unaware of her sickness at the time, so I didn't know just how heavy her words were in that moment. They were more than just a cute thought a mother held for her little son. No…they were…" His mouth stiffened into a hard line, before finally choking out the words he never said aloud in his life. "They were…a dying wish."

"Aka…shi" Hayami could barely breathe, her own eyes brimming with pending tears.

"Nakayo-san…" He looked back at her. "When I first saw you, your elegance, your beauty, and your amazing dancing…I could see it as clear as day." Akashi's eyes shook as tears finally pushed out, and for the first time she had ever seen, they both perfectly matched in color. "You are my mother's wish. You would have been the woman she would have encouraged me to take the hand of, as a partner in dance."