This chapter was supposed to be a cliffie, but I decided against it. So it's loooong. =) It's too late to say this, but I love cliffhangers. Be warned. XD
Thank you Sapphyre-chan for the review! It made me happy! I'll be relying on your help okay? *wink wink*
Yes my dear Caithlinn, you-know-who is a significant character. lol I'm spoiling too much! XD It's because I love you, you never fail to review!
No akemi-san, it's not yet finished. I'm surprised by your review coz I personally felt the story's taking long to develop. But thank you! =D
Disclaimer: If KNB was mine, AkaKuro would be canon. The picture belongs to its awesome creator.
Chapter 4:
Kuroko POV
I look at the night sky outside my hospital room. Hospital shouldn't be the right word, it's actually more of a hotel. When Akashi-kun first brought me here I was a little confused, as I expected white walls and tiles, hallways filled with coughing patients, the general stuff. But I was wrong. It was located on a small hill, and the entrance itself were lined with ornamented plants and colored bushes. There were three fancy-looking architectures adjoined by a closed bridge lined with glass, so I can see people crossing from one building to another. The lobby has a warm ambiance, with soft couches and shiny coffee tables. I've been in the ultrasound room and even I can tell that everything was state-of-the-art technology.
Even my room looks like a hotel room. It's very spacious and has its own sofa, dining table, TV, refrigerator, small kitchen, an extra bed and an office pod where Akashi-kun stays sometimes. I refused the VIP room they gave me, but this room feels very VIP even though I've been told it's smaller. I talked to several nurses and they said that Akashi-kun helped in building the hospital, and was a major stockholder. When I ask him, he simply shrugs and tells me that it wasn't a big deal.
"Shintaro's a friend, so I just helped him. In return he gave me the right to own this floor. He's a great doctor so the investment's worth it."
"You own this entire floor?" I question disbelievingly. He shrugs again.
"You're very rich." I dryly comment. "Really?" he asks tonelessly as he scrolls down his translucent glass handphone. I decide to investigate for myself who Akashi Seijuurou is.
"Can I borrow your computer?"
He looks at me. "What would you need it for?"
I copy his shrug. "I just want to browse funny videos."
He hands me a 14-inch silver tablet. He presses his hand on the screen and the thing scans it, then glows to life. Must be one of those fingerprint-opened gadgets. I press the browser button when he walks back to the couch.
"Could you please turn off the hologram?" I request when I hit the play button. Good thing I purposely visited a site where funny videos were hosted. Akashi-kun raises a brow and I knew he still wasn't convinced of my earlier statement. Maybe that's why he put the hologram on.
"Sorry," he says but I don't see any regret. He clicks a few buttons and the video hologram disperses, now just playing in the screen itself.
I wait until he's on the couch again, then opens another incognito browser. I type his name in the search engine.
Akashi Seijuurou: Businessman Extraordinaire
The Emperor once again tops the country's highest grossing business firms
"Emperor" Akashi Seijuurou awarded as Shogi Player of the Decade
Akashi Seijuurou, the hottest bachelor CEO in town
I click the sites and read the articles. From what I have gathered, he's a genius business tycoon who inherited his father's company and made it grow ten times bigger at the age of only 22. He owns a series of companies and is also a professional shogi player. Nothing much is said about his private life, but everywhere I click they all say that this intimidating and powerful man is one of the richest men of the world. I sigh, finding nothing really useful. It's not like I don't know he's loaded.
"What kind of video would make you sigh?" he suddenly asks, amusement in his tone. I immediately close the browser.
"It wasn't very funny."
"And yet I haven't heard a single sound from the tablet," he notes. Jeez, looks like he won't let it go. I try another diversion.
"I'm hungry. Can I have the vanilla-filled doughnut you brought me the other day?"
His face smirks. But somehow I knew it was over. "Wait." he says as he goes over the fridge.
As I watch him gracefully stroll over the kitchen, my heart suddenly beats faster. I haven't assessed my feelings yet, but I knew I like Akashi-kun too. I don't know if it's in a romantic way though. Is it possible to like someone you've just met a week ago?
And yet, I feel my chest tighten painfully whenever he's not by my side. I know it's selfish to want a person to be with you all the time, but I don't want to be alone anymore. That's the reason why I can't confirm if I like him romantically. Maybe I just wanted somebody to be with me, and Akashi-kun happened to be a person available. It's impossible to explain, but I don't want to be away from him.
"So far, everything is fine. Your vital statistics and blood pressure are okay. Your wounds have all healed too. I suggest you come back maybe in 3 weeks for another check-up and ultrasound. Dr. Nishio Ren will be your ob-gyne, and she can be trusted." I glance from Midorima-kun to the cerulean-haired woman in a lab coat by his side. Her red eyes reminds me of an apple. She smiles at me warmly.
"Kuroko-kun, it seems that you have been injected by high levels of female hormones, and some organs have been altered, making your body receptive to the pregnancy. Normally, an embryo forms in a woman's uterus in the 4th week of pregnancy. But it seems you've undergone in-vitro fertilization, and the placenta and umbilical cord are already implanted in your body." she explains. I look confused.
"Technically, you are carrying the forming embryo for 2 weeks now," she patiently tells me. "In a woman's body, that's already six weeks of gestation. But it's better not to go the technicalities because we ourselves are puzzled." Nishio-san shrugs. "You'll have to pay more attention to your health, as the baby will be nourished through you," she advises with a smile. I feel comfort knowing that she is kind and intelligent. I nod and ask, "So what will happen to me?"
Midorima-kun answers. "The truth is, everything is surprisingly normal like a woman's pregnancy. I think you will experience stomach cramps once in a while, and possibly bleeding, but that's because of your body adjusting to the baby. Alert me if it gets too painful-nanodayo." I nod and he gives me a pamphlet.
"That's the list of do's and don'ts. You can be released tomorrow morning."
I bow gratefully. "Domo, Midorima-kun, Nishio-san." The cerulean-haired doctor beams politely. Midorima-kun stays stoic.
"Ja, I'll be going to my room and wait for Akashi-kun. Otsukaresama deshita." I bow again and leave the office. The automatic doors open for me.
Instead of going to my room, I head to the hospital's small park. I've come to admire the beautiful flowers and the refreshing atmosphere. It's almost like a normal park, only people are wearing hospital gowns and have IV drip stands. It's one of my favorite places here, aside from the nursery.
When I get there, the basketball court was crowded. As much as I want to avoid crowds, I couldn't help my curiosity, for it's impossible a patient's playing a game. I casually ask a couple of nurses what's going on.
"That famous model is here! What was his name again?"
"Don't you know? It's Kise Ryouta!"
"Oh. Who's the red-haired guy he's playing with? He looks hot, too!"
"I think it's Kagami Taiga?"
I froze on my tracks. What are they doing here? No, they can't see me. I turn around to leave but my legs turn to steel.
"Tetsu? Is that you?"
Aomine POV
Holy shit, it really is Tetsu. He's thinner and paler, but it's definitely him. The teal hair and eyes prove it. Why is he here in the hospital? Fuck I want to jump at him and lift him in the air but because I'm stuck in this wheelchair, I can't.
"Tetsu…" I whisper. I push a button in my wheelchair to approach him. His eyes are still wide and he's a statue. I reach out for his hand but as I touch the pale skin, he jerks it away and holds it close in his heart. What?
"Sorry girls, maybe next time." I hear Ryouta nearing us. I can also hear Kagami grumbling incoherently.
"Daikicchi~! Why are you here-ssu? I thought you were in your room! Why are you not answer…ing…me…" Ryouta trails off. Kagami takes a sharp inhale and mutters "Holy fuck."
"Kurokocchi?" the blonde whispers. "Is it really you?" Tetsu doesn't answer, looking at the three of us as if afraid.
"KUROKOCCHI!" he wails and lunges at Tetsu. Suddenly, Tetsu pushes him away and bolts. "KUROKO!" Kagami shouts and runs after him. Ryouta and I don't move an inch.
"D-did you see that?" he whispers, tears still flowing from his beautiful golden eyes. "W-why would Kurokocchi…?"
My eyes flash a determined look. "Let's go Ryouta. There's only one way to find out."
Akashi POV
"Shintaro. First you give the diagnosis without me, then this."
The doctor flinches. He should. He knows how scary I can be. "Kuroko insisted to know right away instead of waiting for you. And about them, I was just informed now of their presence here in the hospital."
We are in Tetsuya's room now because Shintaro told me he was waiting here. But he's not here. I get angry when I think about the fact that those three are closer to my Tetsuya than they're supposed to be. I order the maids to pack things right away. They scamper away as they feel my seething ire.
"Now, how would you like to be punished, Shintaro?"
He gulps. "Look Akashi, I've ordered people to look for him already. And this hospital's huge, they can't possibly see each other right away."
Tetsuya arrives at the room panting. My anger spikes to another level. "Where have you been?" I growl. "Did you run, Tetsuya? Didn't you think about the baby's welfare before you ran?! What if you stumbled?!" I grip his shoulder a little too harshly. His eyes were panicked as he catches his breath.
"They're… here…" he huffs. And instantly, I hear Tetsuya's name being shouted.
"KUROKO!" A tall redhead entered the room. I put Tetsuya behind my back and glare.
"Who the fuck are you guys?! Are you the ones who kidnapped him?! Let him go!" The redhead was about to punch me, but Shintaro maneuvers and grips his arm, twisting it to the redhead's back. Shintaro bends the back of the redhead's knee making him kneel down, and he grabs the other arm to secure both in his back. He steps on taller guy's legs, making him hiss.
"Leave," I order him. He struggles out of Shintaro's hold. "Give Kuroko back!" He shouts, not fearing me. Well, I could change that.
"Shintaro, could I borrow those scissors?" I take them from the nightstand where he placed it. I walk towards the redhead and stop in front of his kneeling figure. He stops writhing and looks up. I swiftly stab him with the scissors.
"Kagami-kun!" Tetsuya alarmingly breathes.
"Heh… I'm surprised that you were able to dodge that." I remark as I saw blood escaping from his cheek. "In light of that display of grace, I'll forgive you this time. However, there will be no next time." I hand the scissors back to Shintaro, who frees the taller guy. "When I tell you to leave, leave."
Two people rushes in our room. "Kagamicchi!" Ryouta shouts. He kneels beside the dazed Kagami and assesses his wound.
"A-akashi…?" Daiki in a wheelchair incredulously gasps. "W-why are you with Tetsu?"
Looks like I have no choice now. Either I take Tetsuya away from them, or explain everything. I would very much like to do the first option but I figured Tetsuya wouldn't like that.
"Daiki, Ryouta. I didn't know you were here in this hospital." I lie smoothly. "Why don't we talk things over a cup of tea?"
I could tell in their faces that they hated it, but they know better than to disobey me. Soon, we all sit in the dining table, drinks served in front of us. A heavy atmosphere veils the room, as six pairs of eyes stare at each other.
Kuroko POV
I could feel everyone tensed in this moment. Kagami-kun is angry. Kise-kun is silent. Aomine-kun is glaring. Midorima-kun is motionless.
And Akashi-kun is scary. Especially that small smile right now. I wonder if he really intends to stab Kagami-kun. I didn't know he could be quite vicious if his orders are not obeyed.
He glances at me and my body feels as heavy as lead. Despite the pleasant look on his face, I know he's angry at me. But I also know he's just worried. I tell myself to be more careful. My hands snake towards my belly and he sees that, his eyes soften fractionally. Suddenly, I realize the problem on how I am going to tell them about my condition. Akashi-kun seemingly reads my thoughts because he shakes his head, signaling that I should not yet tell them.
"Ryouta, Daiki," he addresses them. "I would like you to know that I found Tetsuya in an alley." I gulp, remembering his words in my bedroom."When I saw you in that state, I figured you wouldn't want them to see you that way. I was trying to buy some time for your wounds to heal before I tell them you're here." It's true that I don't want my friends to see me that helpless and vulnerable. I am secretly thankful that it was Akashi-kun who found me, because if it was them, questions will come nonstop. I'm not ready to open up. It still brings bad images in my mind.
"And it is the personal wish of Tetsuya not to inform you of where he is-"
"Fuck that!" Kagami-kun stands and shouts. "You should have told us-"
"Shintaro, I believe you still have the scissors."
Kagami-kun sits down and clenches his fist. It's a wise decision, granted that he loves his life and does not wish to have it ended so soon. Akashi-kun continues.
"He requested me not to tell you where he is until he is healed from his wounds."
The three of them looks at me, surprised. "Wounds?" Aomine-kun murmurs. Akashi-kun sighs. Midorima-kun chimes in. "There were several cuts and bruises on his body when he was taken here. We already took care of it-nanodayo."
Kise-kun looks confused and his eyes are watery. "W-what happened to you Kurokocchi?" he asks in a pained voice.
This is it. Moment of truth. I look at Akashi-kun for strength. His heterochromatic eyes tells me it is okay.
"I was tortured." I whisper. "I escaped and Akashi-kun found me." That's all I want to say for now. They were quiet, grasping the meaning in my words. A stark silence engulfs us.
Aomine-kun breaks it. "Who?" he growls. "Who?! WHO?! WHO DID THIS TO YOU TETSU?! I SWEAR I WILL FUCKING FIND THEM-"
"Daiki." Akashi-kun cuts him off. "As of this moment, I am investigating everything. I ordered my men to search a hundred-mile radius within the area where I found Tetsuya. I promise I will find them. It's better if you do not interfere."
"WHAT THE FUCK AKASHI?! Don't tell me what to do-"
"You're a police officer, Daiki. If you investigate, they'll know and run away. Why do you think you haven't found him for the last 8 years? It's probably because the people who kidnapped Tetsuya are powerful and has connections.
"Leave it to me. I'll use everything in my power to destroy them." Akashi-kun finishes, leaving a threat in the air.
Nobody talks for a while. Kise-kun then sobs. "A-Akashicchi. Thank you so much for finding Kurokocchi. And we trust you to make them pay for their crimes." He sniffs and turns to me. I tense as I see him posing to hug me.
"Don't touch him." Akashi-kun orders, poison laced in his words. Even my spine shivers in his tone. Midorima-kun sighs and explains. "Kuroko has suffered psychological traumas. Right now, he can't bear to be touched by anyone. After all, he suffered through a lot."
"What?!" Kagami-kun exhales loudly. "We're his friends! We'll help him!"
"Let's take it slow." Midorima-kun advises. I am grateful as he voices out what I can't.
"Okay…" Kise-kun whimpers. "I REALLY MISSED YOU KUROKOCCHI! SOO MUCH-SSU!"
"M-me too Kuroko."
"Don't run away from us Tetsu."
I feel sad, seeing my friends like this. After all this years, they haven't forgotten me. They've been looking for me. Tears well up from my eyes and I cry too. "I-I missed everyone too. You don't know how much I've wanted to see you."
Kise-kun wails loudly. Kagami-kun and Aomine-kun hide their faces. "We were so worried sick!" Kise-kun exclaims while sobbing hard. "We don't know where to start finding you but we never gave up! We knew we would see you again!"
"We looked everywhere, Tetsu. And now you're here, we're so happy."
"I've taken care of Nigou for you Kuroko. That damn dog wouldn't stop scaring me."
I smile at the thought of my Alaskan malamute. "WAAA~ I haven't seen you smile in forever Kurokocchi! We'll always be together now and we'll protect you and beat up anyone who messes with us-ssu yo!"
"As if you can beat them, Ryouta!"
"SHUT UP DAIKICCHI! NE NE KUROKOCCHI, DAIKICCHI AND I ARE MARRIED! 2 YEARS AGO!" He flashes his ring. I smile at them. I always knew they would end up together. They've liked each other since high school and in this age, almost half of the world approves same sex marriage. It also makes me happy that my friends talk to me normally as if I haven't been missing for eight years. Kise-kun is still loud. Aomine-kun still curses. Kagami-kun is still impulsive. I feel warm inside.
"I'm so happy for you two," I courteously say.
Kise-kun suddenly stills. I tilt my head and wonders what's wrong. He whispers.
"I really want to hug you Kurokocchi…"
I freeze. Should I let him? The thought of my kidnappers touching me sends bile to my throat. But they're your friends, my subconscious tells me. They won't hurt you. They love you.
I gulp and nod. Kise-kun beams and slowly puts his arms around me. I chant in my head, "They're my friends. They won't hurt me. They love me." Minutes pass, and I began to relax myself in his arms.
"We love you Kurokocchi," he sniffles. "You won't be alone anymore."
I cry in his arms. In all those years of suffering and enduring, the only thing that strengthens me was my happy memories of them. I'm so happy they haven't forgotten me at all.
"Arigato minna…"
I silently thank Kami-sama for the miracles He put in my life, and for this jubilant reunion with my best friends.
Fin~
I'm getting the hang of Kuroko POV (or so I think, you be the judge)! As a silent person, we don't really know how his mind works. I hope he's not too OOC as what this AU made him! I like Akashi POV though. My inner goddess is alive and I feel like a boss. LOL XD