Time for an update, finally. I'm sorry for the delay, darlings. Really am sorry. This chater is the longest and also the one which was kind of the most difficult to write down till now. But there is no excuse. I apologize.
I want to thank you for the support. It is very important to me. To everyone that leaves a review, follow or favorite, my deepest gratitude. I'm sorry I didn't have the time to answer all the reviews, though... I will answer them eventually.
Disclaimer.: Kuroko no Basuke and Oedipus the King don't belong to me as I would wish.
Now, I hope you enjoy it~
"KUROKOCCHI! MIDORIMACCHI! I'M COMING IN!" Chirped an excited voice. Its owner entered the room, failing to notice immediately the steel tense atmosphere. In the instant he looked at the two occupants of the room, however, the pressing weight finally hit him full force. Blonde brows furrowed together as his expression got serious instantly. What on earth was happening?
Kuroko's eyes were covered by teal bangs as he pressed hard his closed fists against his thighs, teeth forcefully clenched. His whole body was tense.
"That… Just can't be…" His trembling voice managed. His whole complexion screamed distress.
Midorima was quietly facing the opposite wall, not bothering to call his new visitor in. He was trying with everything he had to prevent his pitying and sadness to be expressed on his face. For the moment, he was successful.
Little Seijuurou had just woke up and seemed utterly confused and, Kise dared say, preoccupied. He looked from Midorima to Kuroko, where his eyes would linger a while longer, repeatedly. Any other child would be crying at this rate.
"… Did I arrive in a bad time?" Kise asked cautiously, reprimanding himself for the stupid question. The answer was obvious. He approached Kuroko slowly. "What happened?"
The King flinched visibly at the question, feeling uncomfortable. He just couldn't respond properly, his thought process still affected by the recent events. He still wanted to reject the facts. Forget what he heard. And live on. But that wasn't possible, he knew very well.
Oh, how disastrously damaging.
Seijuurou started making small sounds of complain and protest. He extended his little hands insistently, with the intention of returning to the comfort of his father's arms.
Kuroko finally lifted his head, very carefully drifting out of his daze. He took his son back in silent desperation, as though if he didn't get a hold on him now he would disappear in thin air, and hugged him tightly.
"I can't let this happen, can I?" he wondered sadly, the question not really directed to anyone other than himself. He looked to beautiful crimson eyes as his heart was drowned by sorrow. Realization of what that prevision actually meant to the destiny of his son hitting him hard on the face.
"Kurokocchi!" Kise grimaced. That situation was getting him distressed as well. "Tell me, please!"
Kuroko turned his blank expression to him. The blond flinched with the suffering those impassive eyes held. The effort not to make any expression, almost ripping him apart. Trying to be strong.
"The Generation of Miracles should reunite to discuss this… You are included, Midorima-kun. It's the safer measure we could do right now…"
The Economy Counsellor was the first one to arrive to the Council room.
He was informed of it in the middle of a reunion with his assistant, Himuro Tatsuya. They were discussing the possibility of investing a bit more on grain's plantation this month, since the commercial relation with other Kingdoms was going smoothly, with a fair amount of extra profit. Then, rather roughly, his cousin came rushing a bit too much for a person who should be resting, almost spitting in his face that they would be meeting immediately to discuss some urgent matters.
He was practically shoved out of his office by her, while trying to give quick instructions to Himuro, who only nodded, taking notes. She muttered rapidly 'Council room' and was suddenly out of sight, probably going to take her fiancé.
He instantly knew the problem wasn't a simple one.
So, Murasakibara Atsushi walked leisurely to the Council room, expecting some events for the afternoon, fully prepared to the worst possibility of it during till night time.
He had lots of sweets with him.
Shoving all his snacks at the circular table, he took a sit.
The room had dark walls, as well as dark floor. The table was in pure granite and the chairs were very large and comfortable, in velvet that matched perfectly with the burgundy-like painting on the room. The only light there were multiple candlesticks in gold. The mahogany door was so heavy that was impossible to hear what they were going to discuss.
He briefly wondered what that would be.
When Momoi returned with Aomine he was already eating lazily some of the candies he brought.
The dark skinned teen looked as if he'd been thrown out of bed. Momoi was visibly worried. They took their seats and started to wait for the other three's arrival.
It was not long before they entered the room with different degrees of disturbed expressions. From Kise's the least to Kuroko's the most. That did not go unnoticed by pinkish eyes.
Locking the room while Kise and Midorima took their seats, Kuroko announced:
"The Council is open to discuss." He took his seat and looked quietly at every face on that table, looking blanker as ever. Trying to hide his despair.
"Tetsu… What are we discussing about that was urgent to the point of taking me out of my nap?" Aomine said slightly annoyed for being so harshly awakened. He knew that this should be important, but he couldn't contain himself. He was so absorbed on his irritation that he didn't notice the distress in Kuroko's eyes, despite the impassive face. Momoi, however, did not let him fool her.
She proceeded to jab Aomine's ribs with what force she could manage.
"Dai-chan!" she said in a reprimanding tone, looking apologetically at Kuroko.
He quietly complained at her actions, massaging his torso that did not hurt at all in a little dramatic show. The words were said so quickly they tumbled over each other, making his mumbles sound incoherent.
Murasakibara shrugged.
"As long as I can have my snacks with me, everything's alright. I came prepared to stay all day long, Kuro-chin."
Kise stood unlikely quiet the whole time, stealing quick glances at Kuroko. He was plainly worried.
Midorima grimaced. That discussion would not be, in any aspect, peaceful as he would wish.
Kuroko inhaled a big amount of air to readjust himself, preparing his head to the imminent chaos that would soon ensue. Then, he started.
"Basically, I went to Midorima-kun's place, as you all already know, to know about Seijuurou-kun's prevision."
No one understood what was so urgent or what could be so disastrous about that. Just as Aomine was ready to interrupt, Momoi pushed his arm and he quieted himself, waiting not so patiently for the complement.
"At this point, everything was okay and Midorima-kun started making the usual procedure. But after some time, something seemed off. Actually, he acted very much strange. It was the prevision…" he grimaced, his expression darkening visibly with the sadness and frustration.
Everyone stopped what they were doing, completely freezing in place. Their expressions were so nervous that the atmosphere turned tangible. What was that? What could be so bad on this prevision to get such a strong emotion on their friend so easily?
Even Murasakibara was listening attently, stopping eating in the middle of the sweet he brought to understand what was to be unfold properly.
Kuroko opened his mouth, but no sound came of it. Not a single word left it. He clenched his fist hastily and let his bangs cover his eyes.
"Tetsu… Say it, dammit!" Aomine just couldn't contain himself anymore. Just what the fuck was that?
The other Miracles all looked almost pleading for him to give Kuroko some time to pull himself together.
The King quivered lightly, but still didn't utter a word.
When the War Counsellor was about to stand up, Midorima decided it was time to intervene for the sake of the rationality of the discussion. Things shouldn't start so bad. But deep inside, he knew that he was just delaying the disaster.
"The prevision was that-" The rainbow eyes that turned to look at him suddenly snapped hurriedly to the direction of the interruption that cut his sentence.
"That Seijuurou-kun will kill his mother and get romantically involved with his father, which means: Momoi-san and I." Kuroko did not even raise his head when he muttered those words rapidly. They tumbled over themselves so much it looked like he was spitting them. Hearing it in his own voice was worse than he thought. Shivers run freely in his spine.
An eerie silence crept by the room. The air was so heavy it looked like someone already died.
"What…? Is it… Literal?" A quiet female voice broke the silence, almost stuttering.
The others expected anxiously for Kuroko's reply, clinging on the hope that it would be a 'no'.
But Kuroko's voice cracked as he muttered a broken 'yes'.
Her face went paler and paler with each passing second, feeling dizzy and ill. She could faint anytime now, heart beating erratically as she used Aomine as support for her trembling knees.
No one questioned the accuracy of the prevision. All of them knew that Midorima was perfect with them. He never once got one of them wrong.
Aomine's muscles were steel tense. His thoughts stopped midtrack. That just… Made him sick. Gross, distasteful, unacceptable, freakish. Such a thing mustn't exist at all. And that was not even the worse. Kill his mother? Could he even get more disgusted with one human being? No… With that freak? That little devil? He should just… Die. And it was all Tetsu's fault.
Kise's eyes were so wide that it seemed they would jump out off of its socks. An immediate wave of morbid sympathy washed him.
Murasakirabara's hand smashed the sweet he had stopped eating.
Midorima flinched after hearing that on Kuroko's voice. It was just too horrendous. He pitied them with all his might, even though he would rather die than say it out loud.
The uncomfortable silence kicked in for some long minutes that seemed like hours. The balance wavering weakly until it snapped.
Tears started flowing freely down by Momoi's cheeks.
"I've just received a death sentence made by my own son." She sobbed miserably before adding. "I don't want to die!"
Aomine clenched his teeth with so much force it would have ripped off someone's ears. His fists were tightly closed and his veins popped very evidently. His whole complexion screamed feral rage. He was about to explode.
Kuroko did not lift his head even once, as if ashamed of what he did not had any fault at. He was waiting for the furious storm. But he couldn't help but flinch slightly, very much like everyone, when the War Counsellor's voice resounded on the small room.
"Tetsu." He said coldly. His face was twisted l with rage and his tone was angered. "This is all your fault. You should have never ever tried to have a child. I knew it. I fucking knew it! Why did I let this monstrosity happen? You cannot be a father. Just accept that already! You are useless at bringing a continuation to your blood line. Maybe they are right when they say that no king should have this weak presence. I don't even know how to cooperate with your actions as a king anymore! They make no difference. This may just be divine force not letting this mistake occur again. And now, because of you, we're all going to pay. For your mistake. I hope you are satisfied with yourself." His words hurt more than he could even dream. They stabbed forcefully through Kuroko's heart, burning his whole being with more sorrow and pain. Weren't they partners…? Weren't they best friends…? Just why all of this was happening…?
Behind the teal bangs, hazed powder blue eyes were wide with shock and despair as he was left frozen in place. But no one saw this. They were preoccupied with their own confusion and troubled hearts. Aomine overdid it. Their family suddenly felt unstable and their bonds were entwined by a fine and delicate line that was very easy to snap. But no one said anything.
Kise was the only one that almost stood up to shout at Aominecchi how it was not Kurokocchi's fault, how it was only fate. He did not think Ahomine would just throw the weight of the prevision on the King's back. How no one could do nothing and had nothing to do with it. But his shock was so great that he didn't found it in himself to do so. He didn't want to worsen things. They were already shattered. He could do nothing.
Momoi was drowning herself with self-pity tears. She did not have the strength to say nor wanted to say anything. Somewhere deep in her mind, something screamed that Kuroko was not at fault, but at the risk of her own life, she couldn't help but push that tiny part of her away. She did not want to die.
Even if he wouldn't say anything, Midorima thought in a way similar, but with very much more tsundere and contained lines, to Kise. Aomine was just acting like a true idiot. A major one at that. But then again, he wouldn't put himself against everyone's wish.
Murasakibara hadn't even returned to eat; somewhat his never dying hunger seemed to have calmed down a bit at the seriousness of the situation.
Don't even taking note if anyone was unprepared to his following words after the initial shock, Aomine continued on his enraged discuss.
"I just don't care. If it was just that… Disgusting thing that you call 'getting romantically involved', which is actually having an affair with your own son, we could pretend we didn't know and hide this scandal from everyone, seeing that we are public people. And to think that you of all persons, Tetsu, that has so many morals and is so correct, will be doing… This. Letting yourself be caught by that impish son of yours into pure sin… So gross. I would forgive you as a friend. But it isn't just that. I don't care what you will do, but I'm NOT letting Satsuki get killed by that little monstrous devil of yours."
Kuroko could taste the blood that flowed to his mouth freely when he bite his lips full force in an empty attempt not to cry.
"I don't want my cousin to get killed, Kuro-chin." Murasakibara added slowly, pronouncing himself with that very lazy expression of his. It was more for the convenience of not having the bother of losing a close relative like that. But still.
Gaining even more confidence with the support he received, he clutched Momoi closer to him in a tentative comforting hug. She just remained repeating herself quietly like a mantra: I don't want to die. He turned to Midorima.
"What can we do to revert or at least prevent this disgrace to happen?" he did not even take another glance at Kuroko when he asked that question. That was when the worst would come, the King knew very well.
The green head's eyes went wide. Aomine was proving himself more idiot than he could have pinpointed previously.
"Oha-asa's previsions are perfectly accurate. They always happen with no exception whether you like it or not. There is nothing we can do to change it." He stated the obvious.
"Not if we kill him." The War Counsellor said darkly. Every single person flinched on that room.
That was what Kuroko has being fearing the most. The actual terrible consequence of carrying that prevision. His insides screamed in horrified and pained protest, but he could not voice it. He just… Couldn't.
"Tecnically, without him it would be impossible for the prevision to happen. But are you listening to yourself? Are you an idiot? I said it! This will happen! Whatever you plan will not work!" Midorima said, but his first comment had more effect than the whole meaning of his words. I was to no avail.
"Mine-chin must be right. It's really a shame, I adored Sei-chin the moment I saw him, but I hate losing and the Kingdom will surely see its decay if something like this was to happen. I don't want to be weak or to listen to someone weak. We have no other choice."
Momoi's tears and pained pleas of not wanting to die were enough for everyone to know that she agreed with their harshly extremist measures.
Kise couldn't believe it. Kill a child! What they were proposing was pure madness!
Midorima was highly annoyed at that display of ignorance and by the whole situation. He could not help but feel a little offended that they doubt Oha-asa's infallibility.
"I guess… It can't be helped then… There is nothing else we can do." Kuroko finally said, his position not changing since the start of the discussion. His voice was drowned in pure sorrow. "Can't let this happen…"
"Yes," Aomine took his opportunity with Kuroko's speaking to say. "and, seeing this was your fault, you are the one who will do this. Today." His tone icily cut deeper in Kuroko's already stomped heart. How would he…
Murasakibara nodded.
"If Kuro-chin is strong, then he can do it."
Midorima pushed his glasses up. What a bunch of idiots. But then again, if it was what everybody agreed on, he agreed as well.
Kise started wondering if everyone's gone crazy there… Poor Kurokocchi…
"Then, it's settled. It shouldn't be a big problem to cover it since things were very confidential. Today, Tetsu. Not one day more." Aomine said to reassure what he said and left, dragging an inconsolable Momoi with him to their shared room.
"Good luck, Kuro-chin!~" Murasakibara even waved before taking all the snacks he brought with him and leaving.
Midorima just nodded apologetically, even if he didn't know if Kuroko saw it or not, before going to his home as well. He would bring the King's lucky item next time they met. He felt very sorry for him after all.
Kise, however, stayed. He couldn't even imagine the amount of suffering his friend was going through right now. Even he was deeply sad with the outcome of their reunion.
After some time of awkward silence, he called quietly, with fear of striking some undesired reaction from the teal head:
" Kurokocchi… Are you alright?" He looked everything but alright. Too lost in his despairful and dark thoughts, he was in a trance of gloominess.
Just when he thought he would be happy.
This all had to happen to destroy anything he could call a chance to live normally like he would forever desire. To have children around him. To smile carelessly with someone that would respect him as a father and not because he was a king. To not be invisible to someone. All the life he planned ahead, everything.
Was cruelly shattered in front of his eyes when he could do nothing but watch his most precious friends, that he considered his family, sentence the person who brought light to his days to death. And not without a reason, even if that reason was not enough to bring this decision to them in Kuroko's view. He felt like his relation with them would never be the same anymore. The person he loved the most will be mercilessly snatched away from him. Forever.
He would never try to have another child of his own anymore. He would dedicated his love and what remained of his broken heart and destroyed spirit to the kids and to the Kingdom. Acting as both, teacher and King.
And that would be his fate.
He didn't bother to answer as the response should be obvious enough. Instead, with an even blanker, but now with either empty, expression and soul, he asked:
"Kise-kun, may I ask you a favour?"
It's that. Tell me what you think, yes? I would be very much glad, since it would make my day.
I really wish I have the time to update soon.
Hope to see you there.
Thank you for reading.
Kurosuchi Rafah~
