A/N: Hello to all you lovely people out there~! Thank you so much for reading this and to all those who have reviewed, favorited, and followed this, thank you all so much! =D
*To guest reviewer Parasect: Just wanted to talk with you since I can't respond to those guest reviews, but wow! I'm really shocked and honored that you would read this without knowing anything about the anime/manga! And then to hear that it made you go and watch KnB just made me have some serious feels ^~^ Thank you so much for reading my stories, and for becoming an avid fan of KnB (remember Season 3 comes out this October! Yay!), if you ever want to talk (really any of you, because I love to talk to fellow KnB fans), then don't be afraid to message me! =D
[DISCLAIMER] Kuroko no Basket is not owned by me. This is purely Fan Fiction (with the exception of Himito and the plot), made by a fan, for fans. Please support the official release!
~But seriously, you guys are some of the best reviewers out there, so thank you so much for the warm welcome into the KnB FanFiction community here ^-^ Hope you all enjoy reading this!
Basket [04] Kiss Me Slowly
Kagami wasn't sure what he did to make Kuroko so upset, but he found himself slightly fearful of the bad mood his shadow was in.
It started at breakfast, when Kagami noticed the short replies that the normally polite and calm phantom would give. Plus, there was a dark aura radiating around Kuroko that had Kagami second guessing everything. The guy could be just as scary as that Akashi when angry!
Is he still mad at me for feeding him too much last night? Or did I do something else? Kagami could only think as they walked together on the school grounds.
Kagami peered over at his silently brooding shadow. "Hey, Kuroko... I don't get it, did I do something?"
Right before they reached the main building, Kuroko suddenly stopped and yanked Kagami down to his level by the collar of his uniform.
Kagami could only stare wide-eyed as Kuroko had brought their faces dangerously close together and he was staring straight into intense blue. When Kuroko got like this, his eyes seemed darker and more intense as they practically skewered you on the spot.
Kagami could feel sweat building on his face as their eyes held. Kuroko sighed and let go of his hold on Kagami — sending him back a few steps. Without looking back, the phantom strode into school, leaving a puzzled Kagami in his wake.
. * . * .
Himito had stopped in her tracks when she saw the scene unfold. It was almost like... Kuroko was going to force a kiss on Kagami!
"Interesting..." The ravenette murmured to herself as both her and Kagami watched the bluenette walk inside the building.
Himito decided to make her presence known and walked up to slap Kagami on the back.
"Good morning, Kagami-kun! So what was all that about?" The dark-haired girl asked pleasantly, smiling at the confused tiger.
"Uh..." Kagami was taken aback by the student council president showing up all of a sudden. "Huh? You saw that?!"
Himito wore a cheesy grin that unnerved Kagami slightly. "Oh, I did."
Kagami just huffed, but he had a forlorn look on his face as he stared off in the direction his partner went to.
Himito noticed this and she responded much softer. "Hey, what's wrong?"
Kagami shook his head, seeming to be in his own world. "I'm not sure... I don't get it, did I do something wrong?"
Himito blinked at the obvious worry the red-head was showing. "What happened?"
Kagami seemed to realize who was still beside him because he took a step back from Himito. "It's nothing... I don't want to trouble my senpai..."
Himito grabbed a well-muscled arm just as Kagami turned away. "Look, we need to talk."
Himito pulled Kagami aside as the first class started. She's against students skipping classes, but this was an emergency to her. Her and Riko's plan of getting two stubborn basketball idiots together was at stake!
"Look, just go ahead and come out and tell me your feelings." Himito didn't want to beat around the bush anymore.
Kagami's eyes bugged open as he spluttered unintelligibly. "WH-WHAT?!"
Himito smirked. "I already know about everything. And I'm here to help you!"
Kagami could feel the blush coming on. "I think you got the wrong idea!" He flailed his arms about.
"Hmm? So you aren't in love with Kuroko?" Himito leered at Kagami, whose eyes widened.
"What...? How—" Kagami slapped his forehead. "How do you know that?!"
Himito couldn't help the snide laugh that escaped her then. "The real question is, do you want to know? It's gotten fairly obvious of what's going on between you two."
Kagami was sure this was a horrible dream, and that he would wake up any second now...
Himito giggled, "And no, this isn't a dream."
Kagami opened his scrunched eyes in horror.
Himito just continued smiling and walked over to sit down on a nearby bench. She patted the seat next to her invitingly. "C'mon, why not take a seat so we can get this all out."
"So ever since this morning, Kuroko-kun has been acting different toward you?" Himito summarized what all Kagami had told her.
"Yeah, and I'm not sure what I done wrong." Kagami sounded utterly at a loss, and Himito gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze.
"I think you need to talk with him. You two are really close, so I'm sure you can get past this."
"Yeah..." Kagami looked down as if he was thinking hard on something.
"Something else troubles you?"
"Well... I just think that the reason he's acting like this is because he must have realized how close I've been getting to him, and he's sick of it."
"Do you really think he would reject you?" Himito was being sarcastic about it, but Kagami thought she was being serious.
He looked at her in alarm. "Rejection? So he's already rejecting me?" Kagami seemed to be in shock. It was his worst nightmare come true... He remembered a night when he woke up in a cold sweat after experiencing something worse than any basketball defeat. Losing Kuroko.
"Has he talked with you about why he's acting like this? I'm sure there's something else wrong." Himito tried to encourage, she hated seeing the guy so down and out... It just didn't fit him.
"So I should just talk with him? You don't think that he hates me or is disg—"
Himito had to cut him off there. Her finger was placed over his lips to keep him from talking more. She sighed, "Boys can be such idiots sometimes..."
"Hmm?!" Kagami tried talking, but Himito wasn't allowing that.
"As my kouhai, it is my duty to point you in the right direction. I'll let you two leave your last class a little early to talk it out. Now, am I clear?" Himito's stern look had Kagami nodding his head rapidly. She smiled sweetly at the ace. "Good." And with that, she let go of the red-head's lips and he instantly scooted farther away from the girl and rubbed his abused lips.
Gah, why does every girl I meet have to have such a scary side to'em?! "Thank you, senpai."
Himito waved off his thanks with a closed-eyes smile. "Happy to help!"
. * . * .
It was a strange feeling for the normally invisible shadow to feel watched, but that's what Kuroko felt during the entire school day. It was strange for the person to find and see him so well, and another because one of Kuroko's many hobbies was observing people — not the other way around.
Why is Himito-san constantly watching me? The bluenette could only think as he closed the book he had been reading. He was sitting in class at lunchtime, wondering where Kagami could have gone to. He was just about to get up and search for his light (even though he had to keep telling himself to avoid him) when said partner walked into the classroom carrying a plastic bag with him.
Kagami walked up to their desks and stared at Kuroko before trying to speak normally (but ultimately failing). "I, uh, bought us s-some lunch so here — takeit!" And then the taller teen shoved the plastic bag onto Kuroko's desk while Kuroko looked at his partner, confused. Why did Kagami seem so nervous? And what was with the rushed sentence and stuttering?
Perhaps the shadow will never fully understand his light.
"Thank you." Kuroko said as he started rummaging through the bag and he found two juice boxes (both in the flavor they liked) as well as many, many sandwiches. Kagami really did have a large appetite.
Kuroko took out one sandwich and juice box for himself and then poked Kagami in the back so he would turn around to face him. Kuroko blinked at the slight blush on Kagami's face. "Time to eat, Kagami-kun." And he handed him the bag so he could take out his five sandwiches. "Thank you for buying today, that was very gentlemanly of you. Perhaps there is hope for Kagami-kun, after all."
Kagami tried to not spit his juice all over the phantom. "What the hell is that suppose to mean?!"
Kuroko just gazed at him, and offered a small smile. "Kagami-kun can be very brash sometimes, but underneath it all I believe you're a really kind and caring person. Someone very noble, like a knight."
Kagami's face reddened and he started spluttering around his food. "How can you say such embarrassing things out loud like that?!"
"Please don't talk when you're eating like that, you're spitting everywhere." Kuroko started wiping up the mess with a spare napkin he found inside the bag.
Kagami breathed in deeply, trying to center himself and not get so riled up by Kuroko. (Which was impossible) After calming his racing heart, he couldn't help but smirk as he remembered his shadow's words. "So I'm a knight, huh?"
Kuroko stared at Kagami, chewing and swallowing the bite in his mouth. "Yes." Kuroko then noticed one of Kagami's hands resting on the table and went bold. He rested his own pale hand on top of the larger and tanned one — feeling it tense under him. "Kagami-kun is my knight."
Kagami felt his heart stop beating at that moment as they kept eye-contact with each other. There was an assuring confidence in Kuroko's stoic face, and Kagami just knew that his was displaying the shock he felt deep in his mind. Had he heard right? Was Kuroko confessing something to him now? Damn it, brain, work! But it couldn't, not with Kuroko's hand pressing down on his own and sending his nerves into a pleasant tingle underneath his skin.
What should he do? What should he say?!
While Kagami was busy fumbling for something to say, something caught Kuroko's attention from the corner of his eye. Kuroko abruptly broke eye-contact with his partner (which really disappointed him, since Kagami's emotions displayed so visibly in his eyes that it was like an open book for Kuroko to read) to gaze at the black hair that just disappeared behind the doorframe of their classroom. A second later, he saw two girls peeking inconspicuously in.
Himito-san again with... Riko-san? Why was coach and the student council president spying in on him and Kagami for? Kuroko felt his eyes narrow. Just what were they planning?
"Kuroko...?" Kagami's hesitant reply brought Kuroko's attention back to him. Kagami then went to look in the direction his shadow had been gazing at so intently. "What is it?"
Kuroko just started drinking his juice in a calm manner. "It's nothing. Just a couple of peeking students is all."
Outside the classroom were two second year's pressed firmly against the wall beside the open door. Both wearing we-just-got-caught-red-handed looks.
Shoot! He caught on to us!
Kuroko-kun really is too perceptive for his own good!
Meanwhile, Kagami was staring at his partner who now seemed to be thinking darkly on something... which unnerved Kagami slightly.
"Hey, Kuroko..." Kagami started, and Kuroko focused on him as he talked. "Coach wants us to come to the gym early before practice starts." Kagami was still really nervous thinking about what he has to do during that time that they're alone...
"Hm? But we have class, Kagami-kun." Kuroko pointed out, and Kagami flushed at the piercing look Kuroko directed at him.
"W-Well, the senpais said it was okay to leave class a little early, so..." Kagami left it at that, and although Kuroko was confused, he nodded his head nonetheless. He knew better than to go against the upperclassmen, even if what Kagami told him was a little puzzling.
"There's no one here, Kagami-kun." Kuroko stated when the Seirin duo walked into the gym that barely had any lights on, and there wasn't anyone from their team in sight.
"Y-Yeah, I guess we're the first ones...?" Kagami tried to laugh, but it came out choked and strained and that's when Kuroko turned to him.
"Kagami-kun, why did you bring me here?"
"Um, well..." The red-head swallowed as those blue eyes seemed to stare straight through him. Damn it, you have to act out! Kagami mentally yelled at himself.
"Kuroko, I—" Kagami hastily reached out to him, but in his haste, he stumbled, and grabbed hold of Kuroko's arms. Both of their eyes widened as Kagami's weight brought them crashing down to the gym floor.
Kagami winced at the harsh landing his knees took, and opened his eyes when he heard Kuroko groaning under him.
"Kuroko! Are you okay?" Kagami was suddenly wide-eyed with worry as he looked over his shadow — who had taken more of the fall than Kagami. Crap, what if he seriously hurt him?!
Kuroko winced and blinked his eyes open. "I-I think so. Kagami-kun is heavy." After stating that, the shadow pushed Kagami up off him slightly with one of his hands. He left it there as he felt his light's heart beat harshly against his palm. It was so warm.
It was then that their position clicked in Kagami's brain. He was so close to Kuroko that he could feel the body heat wrap around him. His nerves were buzzing pleasantly — sending a chill throughout him that suddenly had him more aware. His hands were planted against the hard basketball court on either side of Kuroko's head. His knees had hit the court on either side of Kuroko's thighs.
With Kagami hovering over him like this... It was becoming too much for Kuroko. He didn't know if it was from the fall or from the tingling atmosphere around them, but he felt paralyzed as those smoldering red eyes burned right into his. All he knew in that moment was Kagami Taiga. The hand he had pressed against Kagami's shirt was completely numb by now, while the other lightly grasped at Kagami's wrist beside his head. So warm.
"Kuroko..." Kagami licked his lips, and he felt like groaning when Kuroko watched the movement. Those careful, observing eyes... He felt like he was swimming in them. They were one of Kuroko's most catching features, and right now they were completely locked on him. Kagami's brain was suddenly hazed over as he leaned down.
Kuroko felt his heart speed up as he watched Kagami's eyes grow half-lidded, and then he was coming down closer. This is it, Kuroko could only think as his own eyes grew to a close as Kagami's warm breath wafted over his face. Kagami-kun is finally going to—
The sudden loud creak of the gym's double doors echoed in the gymnasium as the rest of the team — led by a grinning Riko — walked in.
Instantly, Kagami flushed red and jumped off of Kuroko like he was on fire. His red eyes were wide as he looked up at his team.
Riko quickly observed the two boys and frowned when she noticed that they seemed to walk in on the wrong time. I gave that Bakagami plenty of time to make his move! Ugh! These first years!
Kuroko wasn't too sure what he felt more right now. Anger, or disappointment... He felt cold now, without Kagami's warmth enveloping him... And that idiot just left him laying here on the cold, hard gym court!
The team raised their eyebrows at the situation, but after careful glances at the awkward shadow-and-light duo and then their fuming coach, they decided it might be best to wait before speaking.
"Oh, uh, Kuroko..." Kagami was still blushing out of embarrassment, but he reached a hand down to help the bluenette up. He was shocked when he felt Kuroko smack his offered hand away and stand on his own.
The dark look his shadow gave him sent an unpleasant chill down his spine. What did he do this time?!
He watched in utter confusion as Kuroko grabbed his bag and walked silently into the locker room — he didn't even greet everyone like he normally does!
"Hey! What's wrong with Kuroko?" Hyuga asked, puzzled and slightly angry at the cold shoulder Seirin's trump card gave them all. Kuroko was always the most polite to his upperclassmen!
"Bakagami! What did you do?!" Riko turned her glare to their ace and instantly she was there pulling harshly and painfully at his cheeks.
"I—don't—know!" Kagami could only talk when Riko would stop pulling his cheeks apart.
Riko huffed and stopped the harsh treatment. She had her hands on her hips and stared as Kagami tried massaging his face in hopes of making the pain go away.
Looks like Himi-chan and I will have to formulate another plan... Since these boys obviously can't do it themselves!
The rest of the basketball team just looked on in a mix of curiosity and fright at the terrifyingly calculative look the coach had on her face then. Well, looks like practice would be brutal...
. * . * .
Kagami was exhausted. He had to constantly be on alert more than normal during their practice match today since Kuroko was using wild-and-not-exactly-planned Ignite Passes. He even used Ignite Pass Kai! Kagami looked down at his red and swelled right hand he used to catch the super pass. He swore Kuroko wasn't human! No one should be able to use that much power in a single pass!
He has to remind himself that the bluenette walking beside him is actually really extraordinary.
It was after practice, and the two were walking together (like always) to Maji Burger. Even though Kuroko seemed really upset during basketball practice, the shadow seemed to have let it all out during the intense match (intense for Kagami, anyway...). He was now walking along with Kagami, matching him step-for-step, while he read the same gray book from before. The bluenette seemed completely absorbed in reading it that Kagami had to actually direct him inside the fast food restaurant.
Kagami sighed after he sat Kuroko down at their usual table by the window. "Jeez, Kuroko. If you're still ignoring me or whatever, at least watch out for yourself."
Kuroko blinked when he heard Kagami's words, and he looked away from his book to stare up at Kagami. "I'm not ignoring you, I'm just focused on this book right now." And with that, he turned back to said book.
Kagami groaned and shook his head, but he couldn't help the slight blush at his thoughts. How can a bookworm like him be so cute? He eyed Kuroko fondly before heading over to order their usual meal.
Since they come here so much and always order the same thing — sixteen cheeseburgers (Kagami bumped it up to sixteen since he always makes Kuroko eat at least one), a soda, and a regular vanilla milkshake — they were now counted as 'regulars' among the employees of the burger restaurant. Or at least Kagami was... Since they hardly ever noticed the phantom.
Kagami walked to their table after their order was ready. After sitting down, he set the milkshake in front of Kuroko and handed him a burger just as the bluenette started sipping on the vanilla shake.
"Here, you need to eat up." Kagami told him and Kuroko just stared at him with big pale blue eyes while sipping on the straw.
Kagami had to look away from the cute sight — would he ever get used to his shadow's ways? Probably not.
Kuroko stopped sipping the delicious cold vanilla treat as he suddenly had an idea. "Kagami-kun, let's play basketball after this."
Kagami immediately choked on his bite. He hastily flushed it down his throat with the soda and then he gave his partner an incredulous look. "We just had practice!" Intense practice!
Kuroko cocked his head to the side. "Does Kagami-kun not want to play with me?"
Okay, that really shouldn't have seem as perverted as it did in Kagami's head... Because he wasn't like that Ahomine! "S-Sure, I don't mind..." Was the only thing Kagami could utter as the blush rose to ten shades on his face as Kuroko would not stop looking at him like that!
It was after a while of eating that they later, under the moonlit night sky, walked onto the nearby outside basketball court. It was the same one they always used, and it seemed reminiscent to the two as it was on a night like this that they properly met each other here.
Kagami set his bag down next to Kuroko's and grabbed the spare basketball he carried with him. He grinned at the feel of it and jogged up to his partner who stood on the center line.
"Okay, so just a one-on-one match?" Kagami asked him, and when Kuroko nodded, both fell into stance and the ace started dribbling the ball.
It started off with Kagami leading and scoring the first basket despite Kuroko's blocks. When Kuroko got the ball and started dribbling toward Kagami, Kagami easily saw an opening, but then suddenly his partner vanished!
Crap! The Vanishing Drive! Kagami got his bearings, and just as he caught up to block Kuroko from shooting, the shadow had already made the Phantom Shot. The swish of the net had Kagami turning around in time to see the ball hit the court. He turned his head back around to grin at Kuroko — he was always impressed by Kuroko's moves. They were completely unlike any other.
Kuroko's heart thumped unevenly at Kagami's happy grin and watched as he ran to retrieve the ball. Kuroko could only feel the love he had for the basketball idiot swell and fester in his wildly beating heart. Why was it beating so harshly? Because Kuroko had a plan, and he was sick of waiting. But this plan even had Kuroko nervous...
"Kagami-kun," Kuroko spoke just as Kagami reached him while holding the basketball in his hands. "I lied to you."
Kagami blinked in complete surprise. What? Sudden weariness came over Kagami then. Just what was Kuroko talking about?
Kuroko gazed up into Kagami's dark red eyes with an earnest look. "I wanted Kagami-kun and I to come to this court... But not to play basketball." Kagami was just confused now. "I..." Kuroko hesitated and looked around at the lightly lit street court around them. How dark the night had been on that night he promised to be Kagami's shadow and together he would make him Japan's #1 player... "This place holds special memories for me," And then he remembered that time he ran to reunite with Kagami, here, and came clean to him and they vowed to be the best together. "Because it's the place where we made such vows to each other, and it's..." Kuroko looked down then as his hands started to shake a bit. It was now or never. He looked back up at Kagami then.
"It's also the place where I truly fell for you, Kagami Taiga."
Ba-bump. Kagami's eyes widened as Kuroko's words washed over him. He just stood there, completely dumbfounded, as his brain tried to accept the words he just so longingly hoped to hear for so long... It felt like a dream.
And then Kagami slapped his face, the action caused Kuroko to blink in confusion. "I'm dreaming," Kagami started slapping himself again, knowing that this had to be too good to be true.
Kuroko sighed and started walking closer to Kagami until they were standing almost chest-to-chest. "I'm getting very impatient." Kuroko then stood up on his toes so his face could draw closer to his shocked light. "If you don't make a move, I will."
And then Kuroko reached up to grab hold of Kagami's shirt collar and yanked his face down to fully meet his. The bluenette kissed surprised lips of his partner and Kagami blushed at the feel of those soft lips pressed so tightly to his own. He didn't have time to properly feel or react before Kuroko was pulling away. The shadow's pale blue eyes seemed to shine in the moonlight as they gazed at him after they had been closed for the kiss. All Kagami could do was gape in shock and gulp at the suddenly hot and tense air around them.
Kuroko continued to study him, but then let go of Kagami's shirt when his light proved to do nothing. "I apologize for coming on to you so early, Kagami-kun." Kuroko took a step away from his source of light and warmth, his long bangs casted a shadow over his eyes as he looked down. What did he feel...? Disappointment? ...Rejection? But, he knew Kagami felt the same as him! So why...?
Perhaps it just wasn't the right time. Kuroko felt his legs jerk and move him suddenly, and he knew his subconscious was taking him away, leading him away from the pain...
Kagami had brought a hand to his lips when the sinking feeling of Kuroko just kissed me! finally sunk in. But when he heard his shadow's next words, he looked up in time to see him walking away with a downcast look. Kuroko had turned enough just before reaching the entrance to cast a look at Kagami.
That one look crushed Kagami. It was a look of hurt. A look that painfully stabbed down into Kagami worse than any defeat, it was the look of hopelessness Kuroko had at the Touou game when he cried. And Kagami vowed to never let Kuroko feel that way ever again.
"Wait, Kuroko!" Kagami ran toward Kuroko just as the phantom turned around at the sound of running footsteps. Kuroko gasped when he felt Kagami's body collide with his and together their bodies collided against the chain-link fence around the court. Kuroko expected to feel the harsh coldness to sting at his back, but was surprised when he felt Kagami's strong arms around him and protecting him from feeling any of that.
It was then that Kuroko realized that Kagami wasn't just hugging him, he was holding him. His entire body was so warm as it fully embraced Kuroko, and all the shadow could do was melt into his warm light. Kagami's head was right next to his, and his face was pressed into his neck and hair.
"Don't walk away from me, not when—not when making a face like that." Kagami's voice was so close to Kuroko's ear that the phantom could feel the ghost of his lips against the sensitive appendage. "I'm sorry I didn't say, or, react in time but I was surprised, ya know? I didn't expect you to be actually..."
"In love with you? Kagami-kun makes it hard sometimes." Kagami drew back so he could stare at Kuroko's smiling face. "But it's worth it."
Kagami breathed out, and he watched as his breath slightly blew some of the pale strands of Kuroko's bangs. "I really love you, Kuroko." Kagami could feel his face go into over-heat at saying these things out loud finally, it was so embarrassing! He pressed his forehead against Kuroko's own and he breathed in Kuroko's... vanilla scent? "Heh, of course you would smell like vanilla..." His grin faded slightly as he regarded Kuroko seriously. "I'm sorry I made you wait so long, I didn't know..."
He yelped slightly when he felt Kuroko's cool hands grasp his face. "Kagami-kun can be so dense sometimes." Kagami was in awe as he stared into Kuroko's blue eyes, he's never been this close before... And now he could clearly see the hidden depths that held all kinds of emotions... They were so beautiful and clear to Kagami, that all he wanted was for this moment in time to last for a lifetime.
He was startled out of their gaze when he felt Kuroko's hands on his face try to pull him down even closer.
"Kagami-kun... Just kiss me." And for once, Kagami was smiling at the straightforward tone of his phantom, and he happily obliged.
One of his hands reached up to lightly grasp the side of Kuroko's face and he leaned in closer just as Kuroko tilted his head. Their lips touched softly and eyes closed as warmness spread through them. Lips melted into each other, Kagami's was slightly dry against Kuroko's own softness, but it was still special for the two in that moment. It was a longing they could finally consummate together.
They both drew back enough to gaze at each other, their faces reddened from the heat and intimacy of the moment. The warmness spread to even their gazes, and in those seconds, it felt like only the two of them existed.
Their voices were low and soft, just for them to hear. Kagami was the first to speak, "Kuroko, will you, uh," Kagami was starting to feel embarrassed when he thought of what he was about to ask the ever-observant boy in front of him. "Will you be with me?"
Kuroko smiled at Kagami's adorableness, and he withdrew his hands enough to grab Kagami's larger ones and he intertwined their fingers together and held them up. "Of course, I always want to be with Kagami-kun."
Kagami's blush only rose at that and he blinked his eyes to look down at their intertwined hands... How he had always wanted to hold his shadow's hand... "Then, we're, uh..."
"Boyfriends." Kuroko then let go of Kagami's warm hands so he could reach up and wrap his arms behind his light's strong neck, the action brought their chests even closer together, and Kuroko could feel his heart beating in sync with Kagami's. It was such a pleasant feeling. "I trust Kagami-kun to take care of me." Kuroko snuggled his face into the hot, tanned neck. He inhaled Kagami's scent and sighed.
Kagami couldn't help but wrap his own arms around Kuroko's back and waist. He loved the feeling of holding him close like this... To feel his heart beating against his own.
"I'll always be there for you, I promise." Kagami tightened his hold on the smaller teen, vowing to uphold his promise. He wouldn't leave, or betray him as so many others did to his shadow. Kuroko was the most important person in his life, and he can't imagine living it without him. He needed him as much as Kuroko needed him.
"I know," Kuroko said, but as he drew back to look at Kagami, the tiger could see the happiness shining on Kuroko's face — the same happiness they both held that day they won the Winter Cup. But this was a different kind of happiness, it was one that only the two of them could share in and feel, and Kagami felt like treasuring it more than the trophy they won. "I'm really happy right now, Kagami-kun. Thank you."
Kagami grinned and brought the shadow closer to him so he could rub his face into those light blue strands. So soft. "I'm happy, too." And then Kuroko reached up to hug Kagami closer to him. Wanting to share in this warmth for just a little longer.
They both may have gotten home a little late that night. Sharing kisses along the way.
OMAKE
Somewhere nearby and gazing at the empty (except for the two teens they were watching) street court... Were, of course, our two yaoi-loving girls from Seirin.
"Yes! They finally got together!" Himito was so overjoyed that she almost had tears in her eyes from the beautiful scene she just witnessed.
"It's about time!" Riko nodded her head, clearly pleased with the events. "Now hopefully they'll stop their constant tension on the court!"
Himito just laughed and hugged Riko. "Aww, but aren't they the cutest things?" She then got out her phone to take pictures of the new couple. She instantly labeled an album dedicated to the boys as 'KagaKuro' — to which Riko raised a brown brow. She shook off her friend, and shook her head in fondness.
"Great, now I have to put up with you fangirling every second..."
Himito only nodded, lost in her own world as Riko dragged her away from the scene. Looks like they would be having a sleep-over...
. ~ * ~ .
A/N: And that was the 'end' of JKM ;_; (Please invite me to your sleep-over Himi-chan and Riko-tan!) Well, okay, not really since there will be one extra chapter - a sort of Epilogue to wrap up this love story. ^~^ So...? Was it too lovey-dovey and mushy there? Forgive me if it was, it's just been soooo long since I've written romance scenes like that so I may have gotten too into it... ^_^'' Oh, and I'm terribly curious about how the kiss scene was (since it's been so long since I've written one), was it good, was it bad? Eek! Dx I'm dying to know!
Well, I sincerely hope you all enjoyed this, and please let me know if you have any prompts for any future KagaKuro stories - I love getting those, and will dedicate the story to you =) (Or if you have any prompts for other shipments in KnB, that's fine too ^^)
~Desty