A/N: I do not own the characters. Unbetaed. I am so glad I'm writing this. I'm pretty stressed over an exam tomorrow. Thank you for the support you have given me. It gives me strength.


Aomine's parents spoil him gratuitously. His extensive library of porn exhibits this. Out of all of the materialistic items he receives from his parents, his mother and father gave him the best gift of them all- love.

Displays of affection were a common occurrence at the Aomine household. His parents would often be absorbed in their own little dreamland, easily forgetting their young son even when he is ten feet away from them. Their constant cute gestures and other public displays of their marriage would often embarrass outsiders because they were too intimate and shameless. Aomine doesn't mind. They are one half of the other. They complete each other. They are like those breakable heart necklaces; without the other puzzle piece, they are incomplete.

Sometimes his father would crack the lamest joke in the world, but to his mother, he is the world's greatest comedian of all time. Sometimes his mother would be a clumsy klutz, but to his father, she is the most graceful ballerina to ever fall into his arms.

At the end of a festival, fireworks were painting the dark sky with its brilliance and colors. His father bent down to his side and pointed at his mother reverently, as if she was the goddess of his dreams.

His father spoke in an awed whisper. "See that, Daiki? Over there is the most beautiful woman I have the honor to marry."

Even though the compliment was not directed towards him, Aomine's cheeks had a pink flush. His father donned the sweetest smile and blushed with his son. Aomine begrudgingly agreed with his dad. His mother, whose focus was on the glittery lights dotting the sky, looked rather ethereal and heavenly under the glow, as if she did descend from the heavens to meet his father.

"Dad."

"Yes, Daiki?"

"How did you know it was her?"

His father tilted his head in confusion. The question was too vague.

"I know you met her through the red string," Aomine indicated his father's pinky as he says this, "but how did you realize she was perfect for you?"

"I didn't."

"Huh?"

"Finding your soul mate is one thing," his father advices, "but loving your soul mate is another issue." His father begins to stretch out his legs to be by his wife's side. Lastly, he says, "But always remember to open your heart so that you can learn how to love."

They are wise words from a wise man, but Aomine may have to rethink about them because his father could not in a million years predict Kagami Taiga.

"Shit," Aomine blurts out, "You're my-"

His mouth was clamped by a pair of hands.

"Don't say it," Kagami growls. "Don't you dare say it."

Aomine swats the muscular hands away. "Do you have a problem with me?"

Kagami's mouth contorted into multiple, unidentifiable shapes until it straightened out. Aomine is mirroring the same look. His mixed emotions are rampant. Here is his soul mate living and breathing in front of him, right within his grasp, but Aomine can sense the other's aura like a bucket of cold water to his face. He is being rejected.

"How can you hate me when you haven't even met me?"

Kagami blurted out, "I don't hate you." It wasn't convincing.

"Bullshit," Aomine spat out. He took a step back to make space between them. "I don't know you that well but even I know that's not true."

He laughed to himself derisively. Of course he would end up with a soul mate who doesn't want to see him. His soul mate is most likely dating someone. That would explain his cautious behavior.

Aomine is angry. His is rage and fire and ice. He feels cheated and betrayed. It was already shocking enough that Tetsu found a replacement for him, but in the name of irony itself, he had to choose his soul mate.

Aomine's tired. He has been for a long time now. There are no strong players left in this world. He can only depend on the other Generation of Miracles. His soul mate is not the soul mate he desired in his reveries. This is the only soul mate the world has given him. If he had any more tears left in his tear ducts, he would have shed them by now, but that's the problem. He shed them a long time ago.

"Let's quit talking about soul mate this and soul mate that since you requested it" he finally says. He picks up the forgotten basketball and spins it around while balancing it on his index finger.

Finding your soul mate is one thing…

He drops the ball back to his hand after thinking. "Instead, let's play one-on-one, and since I feel like it, let's bet on something."

But loving your soul mate is another issue

He explains, "The winner can make the loser do anything he wants." Before Kagami could protest, he continues, "However, it has to be simple. For example, you cannot tell me to lose the Inter High." His opponent looks appalled as if the notion was brainless.

But always remember to open your heart…

Aomine smirked. At least his soul mate is modest and moralistic unlike Hanamiya. "Another example," he adds, "is that I cannot force myself upon you. The command has to be harmless."

Kagami straightforwardly discloses, "Then if I win, I don't want you to come near me ever again." Aomine passes the basketball back to its owner's arms and shortens the distance between the owner and he. He brushes away the course bangs in order to see his soul mate's burning, smoldering eyes more clearly. Kagami immediately jerks back.

So that you can learn how to love…

"That's a bold statement you said there." Aomine yawns. "Enough chitchat and let's play."

Therefore, they did.


Aomine knows he is mean. He is cruel and blinded, inflicted by hurt and pain. He knows Kagami is injured, but Kagami isn't backing down. He's not shrinking back, so as a reward, he fights Kagami with half of his strength. Half is generous if you ask him.

At the end of the improvised match, Aomine won with total victory. He wipes away a bead of sweat and looks down at the bowing figure before him. Aomine can see the violent quivering of Kagami's leg and doesn't miss the clenched fists.

Aomine expected the guilt to eventually seep into his bones, but the empathy is not willing to show.

"Well, that was disappointing," he says.

Kagami grits his teeth. He's not sure if it is from the loss or the spikes of pain shooting in his leg.

Aomine continues, "Your light is too dim. At this rate, Tetsu's talent would be wasted."

Kagami can only interpret these words at face value, but in his heart, Kagami knew there were unspoken words. The subtext made him clench his fists tighter, making his knuckles turn white.

He wasn't worthy enough to be his soul mate.

Aomine leaves Kagami a brief farewell. "I'll think about my wish and tell you later. We'll meet again."

Aomine left and exited the basketball court, leaving Kagami to swallow defeat.

Satsuki is waiting for him at the gate, opening her mouth to give him an assortment of complaints over his disappearance.

"I met their ace," he announces. "I met Kagami Taiga."

After another round of a nagging Satsuki, she asks him, "How was he?"

Aomine ponders over the Seirin student. He ponders over his stupid flaming red hair. He ponders over that stupid flush on his neck. He ponders over that stupid glimmer of rebellion in his crimson eyes, which were always trailing him whenever he makes a drive. Then Aomine closes his eyes and remembers the stupid promise of meeting again in those same, exact eyes. They were unyielding. They were thirsty for revenge.

At last, he answers, "He's definitely not cute." This puzzles Satsuki more than intended.


"What a load of crap!" Kagami exclaims. He purposely creases his eyebrows further and impersonates the douchebag of his soul mate while crossing his arms cockily. "The only one who can beat me is me. God Kuroko that is a bad case of tunnel vision if you ask me."

Kuroko made a small smile. Kagami groaned.

"I don't want to be his soul mate." Kuroko sympathetically patted his friend's back. He comforts, "Aomine isn't that bad." Kagami cocks one eyebrow.

They both laugh hysterically.

"Man, Kuroko," the taller snickered, "you really suck at jokes."

"I try my best, Kagami-kun."

Kagami then held a solemn expression. "I guess I can empathize with the bastard, though," he confesses. "But! It's not a good excuse to be a jerk to you. Also how short-sighted! Who does he think he is? Japan isn't the only country in the world. There's bound to be other basketball players who can rival against him. Me included!"

Kagami stops walking and looks at his closest friend, "That's why, for our sake, we'll beat Aomine. Let's show him our basketball. Let's open that idiot's eyes once more. Who cares if he's my soul mate? I won't show mercy. You won't either. Right?"

Kuroko nodded, not sure if he should be relieved or perturbed by Kagami's reaction to Aomine. However, the date of the game is closing in, and he will wait for Kagami to be willing enough to confide in him. Like a good friend, they fist bumped.


Special thanks to Shirouta, Absalon95, Mgluvsbl25, Teddy, EminaRukiax, and Guest. To Absalon95, hopefully Kagami won't be put into too much pain (mostly likely I will put him in pain). Yay, they meet! Let's see what my brain concocts next time (most likely angst until the small fluff kicks in)!