Chapter 3 - Please Forgive Me

Sorry, sorry, sorry! Please forgive me! School started 4 weeks ago and the homework has been insane! But that's no excuse, I know. So please except my humble apologies and enjoy the latest chapter. I'm hoping to upload a new chapter at least once every two weeks. I mean, I should be able to do that, right? When I do upload, it's probably going to be somewhere between Friday and Monday (Saturday/Sunday) but there can be odd times (like this one) Now, for reviewer shout outs and the Easter eggs! Congrats again to Caithlinn13 for seeing one of the eggs - the necklace! Yukino is the name I stole from Fairy Tail, one of the first animes I ever watched. The necklace is also a reference to Fairy Tail (yes Tail as in animal) because of the silver and gold celestial keys that Yukino uses. If you don't watch Fairy Tail - which you should - you may not totally understand the references, so sorry! ( I don't own Fairy Tail in any way, shape or form by the way!).

Also thanks to gabiey, cutezieAmber, melyco, Hope, Guest, thePetRock, Bellatrix-Trickster,

Kuroshiroryuu, strongmayhem, GreenLavender, rebirth, somebody and innocence-creator for reviewing! I really appreciated it and read all of your suggestions. All of your kind words and thoughts brought a smile to my face and motivated me to write more, so thank you! It'll be a lot easier to process though if you go to my profile and take the poll for the parings. Please and thank you! Well...let's jump right into it shall we?

"Hello Kise-kun. Let's have some fun today and make a great song together."

Kise's POV

"Kurokocchi?!" I was shocked, no - dreaming. Dreaming right? There had to be a logical explanation as to why my beloved Kurokocchi was...looking so kawaiiiiiii!

"OH MY GOD! YOU LOOK SO ADORABLE KUROKOCCHI!" I launched myself at Kurokocchi's figure and encased him in a crushing hug. His black beanie almost fell off from the shear force behind my tackle.

"Kise-kun," Kurokocchi gasped. "Can't...breath...please...need...air!"

"Oh, gomenasai Kurokochii! You just look so kawaii, oh wait...what did you say to me before a hugged you?" It was probably just my imagination, but for a second I thought I detected a hint of nervousness from Kurokocchi.

"What I said was," Kurokocchi began, "let's have some fun today and make a great song together."

I blinked.

I hugged Kurokocchi.

I started crying.

"Kise-kun?" I looked up at Kurokocchi when he said my name. Concern drifted across his face as he seemed to relize that my tears weren't fake, nor melodramatic.

"Kise-kun?" There was a tone of worry in Kurokocchi's usually blunt voice. "What's wrong? Why are you crying?" I sniffled and held Kurokocchi tighter, as if he were going to disappear.

"I'm so, so, so, so, so sorry Kurokocchi! I hurt you. Please, please forgive me!" I was bowing very low to Kurokocchi - who by now looked very confused. So I elebatated further.

I'm not exactly stupid, even though I pretend to be at times. From Kurokocchi's words and the situation that we were in, I had figured out by now that Kurokocchi was the singer Phantom. Honestly, I felt like an idiot for not noticing sooner. I mean, I had been listening to my best friend singing on repeat for the past five weeks and hadn't noticed that it was said friend singing! Not to mention that he called himself "Phantom." Who else would willingly call themselves that except a certain teal head I knew! But the reason I was crying was because of the song that I had been listening to the past month. Boats and Birds had held so much pain in the lyrics. Kurokocchi's voice had held such pain...pain that I - Kise Ryota - had caused.

"I'm sorry for abandoning you Kurokocchi, when you've only ever been a friend to me." Kurokocchi stiffened, but I continued while gripping on to him. "I've been meaning to ask for forgiveness and apologize for a while, but the timing never seemed right. You're my best friend Kurokocchi, and I care about you more than words could ever express, but I'll understand if you can't forgive me. I'll never bother you again if you don't want me around you...even if it'll hurt like hell."

Kurokocchi seemed surprised at my sudden confession, but I meant every word of it. All my feelings and thoughts had been building up inside me ever since our practice match against one another, and I guess it all just kind of burst out when I truly understood how much I had hurt my dear friend. I was looking at the ground when Kurokocchi's soft voice reached my ears.

"There was never anything to forgive Kise-kun."

My head whipped up as I stared at Kurokocchi with a mixture of fascination and horror. Fascinated about how quickly Kurokocchi had accepted my apologize, and horrified that I had done something so horrible to a saint like Kurokocchi. Kurokocchi gave a soft smile which caused all the blood in my body to rush to my nose and...lower regions.

"And if there was anything...I forgave you a long tome ago."

That's why Kurokocchi was my dear friend. He could so easily see the seriousness inside me that I covered with fake smiles and melodrama, let yet me keep pretending. He was always there for me, even if I wasn't there for him. God I was so stupid! I let my head get to big, and it ended up forgetting what was important to me.

I smiled as true tears of joy spilled down my cheeks. Thank you Kurokocchi. Thank you so much. If Kurokocchi forgave me, then I would spend the rest of my life making it up to Kurokocchi in any way I could. Like, focusing on the song that Kurokocchi had written, and giving it my all!

"So what's this song you wrote Kurokocchi? I'm sure it's brilliant!"

Kuroko's POV

To say that Kise-kun's sudden confession was surprising would be a massive understatement. It was so out of the blue and heartfelt, but for some reason it just felt...right. Not to mention that Kise-kun had so readily and easily accepted me being Phantom.

"Kurokocchi?" Kise-kun questioned. "The song?" Oh. Yes.

"It's called Fighter," I began, handing over the lyrical sheet. "I hope you enjoy it Kise-kun."

Kise-kun looked over the sheet and smiled. Not his signature fake mega-watt model smile, but I true one he reserved for the people he truly cared about. Warmth filled me at the thought.

"I heard a very short preview of you singing the song, and loved it! But this...this is AWESOME!" Kise-kun had sparkles around him now. "Kurokocchi is amazing! All your fans are going to love this song!" I smiled slightly at that, feeling a spark of happiness ignite in me at the praise that my friend had so graciously given me.

"Thank you Kise-kun. Shall we move to the recording studio to begin?" Kise-kun was an open book most of the time, so I could easily tell that he he was feeling nervous.

"Kise-kun?" Said man sighed and looked down, a slight pout adorning the face photographers clamored to get a look. Kise-kun fiddled with his white dress shirt for a while longer before looking up at me.

"I'm sorry Kurokocchi! It's just that...I'm a model and basketball player. I've been told I have a nice singing voice, but it will pale in comparison to yours! Not to mention that I've never actually done a recording of myself singing before." Kise-kun sighed and murmured another apology.

I blinked.

"Is that all Kise-kun?" My words were received with a sharp jerk of the head and a confused expression. "I was meeting you for the first time today as Phanotm, having no idea how you would react. Not to mention I have to do a photo shoot with you later on, even though I've never modeled before. Kise-kun is also very good looking. I am a shadow. No one will even notice me in the photos." It was now Kise-kun's turn to laugh as he looked at me with a a bewildered expression.

"Kurokocchi!" Kise-kun cried. "I would react like I just reacted of course! And you look so cute and almost dangerously handsome with the clothes your wearing right now! But I guess I see your point...there's no need to be nervous! Off to the recording booth!" I shook my head at Kise-kun's childish tendencies, but followed never the less.

Soooooooooo yeah! I have a schedule now that I'll try really hard to stick to. Once again, reviews are appreciated and cherished! And don't forget to take the poll on my profile for the paring you want. Since there are no eggs in this chapter, tell me what song these lyrics are from.

If I could break away, cut the cord, for worse or better. If I could turn the page, at last and say, goodbye forever. But on the other side, of yesterday, beyond the heartache. What if all I am, without the pain, is empty hearted? I could break away.

Also, for anyone that reads the Kuroko no Basket manga...OMG! That moment with Kurokocchi and Aka-chin was intense!

DeathBloom, out!