A/N: A bigthanks you so much waremono Iv for the lovely and long review. Thank you for taking out time to read my story and write a review. I really hope that you enjoy this chapter too.

Sorry for the delay. My excuse is a rusty one, summer break in my native land so no time for writing. Hope I'm forgiven and to beg for forgiveness I wrote this long chapter.

Thanks to everyone who read this story :3

Disclaimer: Kuroko no Basuke belongs to Tadatoshi Fujimaki. I just own my OCs and the plot.

Chapter 4

Good Night!

"Oh..."

"... . ."

A pair of emerald eye beyond the glasses were staring straight back at the deep chocolate brown iris without blinking. He did not notice the amount of time that passed by, neither did she.

Midorima couldn't take his eyes off nor was he able to move his head. He found himself baffled by the situation and his body stopped receiving brain impulses, yet again. That was not the least of his now dysfunctional body. His arms felt as heavy as lead and the muscles on his legs pulled tight pointing out the exhaustion of the training.

Ayame moved to straighten herself while still straddling Midorima underneath her and the expression she wore was that of shock and disbelief. Without much warning Ayame balled her fingers and harshly dropped her fist on Midorima's chest.

"You!" A feral snarl erupted from him immediately which made Ayame realised that she indeed couldn't pass through him.

Midorima couldn't even lift his finger to move the burden, which has induced a throbbing pain on his chest, off him so he concluded that his body has reached its limit. He lay on the floor giving his body some time to cope up with the recent impact with the floor and the fist along with the fatigue from training. The cold floor of the bath gave him a strange sense of comfort amongst the crazy happening of the day. He made a silent prayer to God to make sure that Ayame doesn't go vengeful on him.

Ayame stared blankly at him and continued her ministration on him by placing her palm and not to use much force, unlike what she did earlier. She tried her best to push her palms through Midorima's chest still expecting to pass through him like many other times through countless people and things. And when she was about to get her palms away from his chest she felt an erratic beating through her arms, 'His heart.' Each beat made her unconsciously plaster her palms harder on the beat's epicentre.

She was fully aware of the fact that she was unable to feel anything but the small beats flowing into her arms said otherwise. She was starting to sense everything around her, the heat of the bath and coolness of the floor under her leg. Her dormant skin felt alive. Her nose twitched as it made her aware of her sense of smell and she instantly covered her nose with one hand, 'The smell of sweat.'

She smiled warily, "This is new." She mumbled and moved the other hand over Midorima's arm. Like all the other instances concerning Midorima she was not able to pass through.

She gripped his wrist, removed her hand from her nose and stared at Midorima's face but light shone on his glasses to hide his eyes. "Hey!" She called for his attention.

"Hey!" she repeated when she didn't receive any reply.

'Did he pass out?'

"Hey!" She was starting to get frantic.

Even for Midorima it was difficult to stay calm in such an atrocious situation and the coolness of the floor wasn't helping him much. He wanted to answer her back, shout at her but alas for the first time he was tongue tied. However he was trying his best to wiggle out of Ayame's clutch with the intention of not touching her in the process but eventually failed when his motion caused his hip to collide with Ayame's thighs.

It was very embarrassing for Midorima even while being aware of the fact that Ayame is a spirit. Sensing his awkwardness Ayame swiftly got up and steadied herself and was relieved by the fact that Midorima was conscious.

As soon as she detached herself from Midorima everything turned vacant. She no longer felt the heat, no longer smell the scents and the familiar sense of emptiness returned.

Although she was unable to comprehend this exceptional situation she decided against pushing it further tonight for both her and him but, 'One last time won't hurt.'

She stretched her hand towards Midorima in order to help him up while keeping her other hand's palm over her chest. She assumed that probably in his next touch she could hear her heart, which was silent for long.

Looking at the outstretched arm of a girl or spirit, he wasn't able to decide at the given moment, made him realise the fatigue on both his body and mind. To tell the truth he was little keen on taking help but his pride refrained him from doing something uncharacteristic. He slowly sat up, looking away from Ayame, using the strength left in his arms and upper body from the cold-floor-rest.

Dejected Ayame retreats her arm just in time when someone pass through her, sending her form in a ditzy array. 'Why would I not be able to pass through him? What is with this weird... feeling!' Ayame thought as she regained her form.

"Why are you sitting on the floor?" up until the new comer had said those words Midorima and Ayame had not realised his presence. When both of them looked towards the source of the sound, they panicked to find a blue-haired guy standing, just few inches away.

"This guy passed through me and I still didn't notice him." While saying that she lifted her arm, to put on the new comer's shoulder. This time her arm passed through the boy's torso and she also received a curious gaze from Midorima.

Midorima stood up flaunting his full height, pushed his spectacle further above his nose and showed no sign of his previous event's weakness before Kuroko. Midorima turned to face the phantom sixth man who displayed another feat of his skill but Ayame moved near him first and started to inspect Kuroko.

Midorima was about to say something but seeing Ayame performing various passing-through-solid techniques on Kuroko kept him silent. How was he supposed to say something normal when he was seeing a very ridiculous scene unfold before him, and only he could see it? Midorima's sight shifted to Ayame when she stepped a few steps away. "Are you alright, Midorima-kun?"

Midorima turned his head to reply to Kuroko, only to find him missing. He quickly searched the area to find Kuroko standing near a locker. He was surprised by Kuroko's ability in misdirection but kept his composure when he replied, "There is nothing wrong with me. You should be more worried about yourself and Winter-Cup."

Kuroko gave his rare gentle smile, "We will meet at the Winter-Cup Preliminary."

Midorima walked toward an empty locker while rejoicing in his former teammate's spirit which seemed like the only ordinary thing in his otherwise weird day.

"He is a weird one, ya know." Midorima flinched slightly at the sound of Ayame near him.

He waited for Kuroko to leave before replying, "You are the one to talk."

"Excuse me!"

"You are still not permitted to come to the bath with me." He had not forgotten the original disagreement with her.

"Yeah I won't." Ayame replied monotonously. This perked Midorima's attention towards her but he chose to say, "Good."

"Only on a condition."

Midorima sighed for the umpteenth time and looked at Ayame. "What is it?"

"Come back quickly." She raised her little finger towards Midorima and put her other palm over her chest. Midorima knew this gesture, it is pinkie swear. This was epitome of embarrassing things he could do. "I will. Now leave."

"Seal the deal, Shin-chan." She wanted to check her heart before leaving.

"I'm a man of my word." He really didn't want to do pinkie swear but he was wary of angry spirits so he chose not to be harsh with his words.

"C'mon, I can't trust a word of a stranger."

"How am I a stranger?"

"I just met you yesterday night, ya know." She pushed her little finger even closer to him.

"Who asked you to stay near a stranger?" He really was not advance enough to find reasoning with her request. Surprisingly he wasn't able to explain a lot of things today including his tendency to argue with a spirit.

"Just do it for my assurance." Ayame raised her voice as if scolding a child.

'I will make it quick.' With that thought Midorima raised his hand but before he could execute his plan Ayame had already curled her little finger of her right hand on Midorima's little finger of his right hand.

When he tried to break the contact Ayame just shifted to keep her finger wrapped around his. Midorima threw some nervous glances towards the door expecting someone to enter any second to find him in this embarrassing situation. Hardly five seconds later Ayame let goes and floats away giving a wide space between them.

"I will be waiting near the sea shore, ya know." Ayame waved enthusiastically and barged out of the bath area, obviously through the walls.

Relief washed over Midorima but soon the effect of training dawned over his body.

He turned towards the empty locker and started with his before-bath ritual and also kept an eye out for Ayame. She might pull in a stunt like she did while he was changing for practice match. Much to his relief she kept her side of deal and he was sure to keep his side too not necessarily willingly. He neatly wrapped his towel around him and folded his new spectacle carefully and safely placed it amongst his clothes.

Even though it was not his first time in public bath, he was still hesitant. He took extra precaution in making sure in entering an empty bath. He also didn't want to deal with anything anymore and have a quite time, at least while bathing.

He let the warm water sooth his aching muscles and he closed his eyes to tune into proper thinking channel of his brain. Before going into basketball he thought about the incidence in the bath hall. It was his first time dealing with a spirit but from the fair knowledge he has gathered from sources, mainly TV soaps or movies, they say that spirit can pass through things and people and he has seen her do that.

'The expression she wore was of shock which means she also had not expected this', he thought while gradually getting used to the space of the bath.

He had to admit that he was scared when Ayame had straddled him and when she touched his wrist with her fingers he got goosebumps all over his body. When Ayame had put her hand over his chest the hair on his nape stood up like a porcupine and he can still feel the lingering effect. He now knows the feeling of being near a spirit. Midorima, even in warm water, could not forget the cold sensation on his wrist and his little finger where Ayame skin made contact with his.

His thought was distracted when the water level rose signalling him about another presence.

"I feel rejuvenated." A very familiar voice commented. Midorima tried to keep himself calm before normal people but was unable to. Seeing his teammate frown Takao got a bit tipsy, "How long are you going to sulk anyway?" and here Takao has gone lengths to keep this bath empty for Midorima.

"It's starting to get annoying." Takao not in the least expected Midorima to be this ungrateful. He knew that public bath could be embarrassing for Midorima but seeing him sulking kind of ticked him off but he let it pass, like always.

Midorima felt a bit guilty about his ungrateful action towards an unaware Takao and tried to alter his facial expression. Takao caught Midorima's change through his hawk vision and decided to proceed his talk about some oddity he felt from Kuroko.

Midorima had already guessed about the strange moves of Kuroko and was aware of Kuroko's vulnerability and his different aspect of development for new techniques before Takao could voice in his suspicion but he decided to explain everything to Takao, also as a token of thank you. He very well knew that his gesture would be rightly interpreted by his raven haired teammate.

~~O~~

"All of my memories keep you near.

In silent moments imagine you'd be here.

All of my memories keep you near.

The silent whispers, silent tears." [1]

Ayame listened to the assistant of the optical shop sing the song while leaving the shop after her shift. Ayame stood underneath the broken lamppost, across the lady, staring at the optical shop.

Ayame never missed a day of the assistant Matsumoto's; her badge suggested her name as, singing. She clearly remembers the day when she woke up beneath the lamppost in front of the optical shop and heard a beautiful voice as if beckoning her. She remembers being confused, dizzy and feeling different when she woke up. Ayame however had pushed herself up towards the source of the sound and had greeted her only to not receive any response from the singer. At first Ayame thought the woman to be deaf but moments later Matsumoto passed through her, leaving her in whirlpool of questions.

That was the beginning of her days as a ghost but she made it a point to listen to Matsumoto. It seemed that the songs had meaningful lyrics and all the time it compelled Ayame to think that the songs must have meant a lot to Matsumoto.

Yesterday was a special day for Ayame as she found a person who could see her but today posed another challenging question towards her.

"Am I really a ghost?" Ayame looked down at her palms as she stretched it upward towards the light from the lamppost. Not feeling any warmth from the light she shoved her hands into the pockets of her black Capri jeans and floated behind the singing lady, Matsumoto.

Ayame gave her silent byes to Matsumoto after having a heartfelt time with her songs and voice and then drifted off toward the beach where she would wait for Midorima to show up.

~~O~~

"Shin-chan! How long are you planning to stay in there?" Takao couldn't believe his teammate's action. Takao assumed that Midorima knew the timings for the bath; the closing time is just few minutes away.

"Leave, Takao." Midorima barked when Takao also insisted in two of them leaving together.

"I'm not going to look at you." Takao reasoned while wrapping himself with his towel and looking towards the door of the locker room.

"I know that." Midorima reluctantly got up and quickly wrapped his body as Takao let out some muffled laugh. A vein popped on Midorima's forehead as he heard Takao's laughter reminding him about all the ridiculous things Takao talked about in the bath; other than basketball.

He quickly changed into fresh tracks and sweat shirt without any further delay, or before Takao could notice his absence, he left the guest house and hit the road towards the beach. He stopped near a vending machine and bought a 'read bean soup' can.

The bath was relaxing as expected but he wanted to take a mild walk to relax his still sore calf muscles. As soon as his feet touched the sandy shore he realised something, "Where should I find her?"

He clearly remembered Ayame telling him to meet her at the beach, but where? He was so exhausted after the training and spirit incidence in the bath that his tired brain couldn't point out the obvious.

A part of him was relieved. Even though Ayame has not harmed him or anything around, he couldn't help but feel uneasy. The time she collided with him his whole body was covered with goosebumps and he couldn't shake off the icy feeling on his wrist where she touched. He could clearly feel the after effect of Ayame's cold skin touching his heated body.

'Maybe the goosebumps were due to the body temperature difference.' That didn't mean that he hated the cool sensation.

'It has not been a day with her and I'm feeling this unsettled. Two more days left.' Deep in his thought, he didn't realise the path he had taken. But luckily Ayame spotted him and she floated towards him. She couldn't help but smile and giggle the whole way.

The sound of giggles made Midorima turn his head towards Ayame. This time too he had to strap himself when his body shook with a mild chill. 'I'm not scared.' Midorima somehow managed to stay calm.

"You ain't a deal breaker, ya know." About an hour after her leave Ayame doubted that he would show up, so seeing Midorima made her really very happy. She had to control her elated self so as to not irritate him.

"As I said, I'm a man of my word." Midorima pushed his spectacle out of habit. He noticed that his spectacle didn't require his continued fiddling.

Now that he was here Ayame had not the slightest clue how to proceed. She did promise to start over again so she smiled, "I'm Ayame."

"How did you know my name?" Midorima's brain has started to function normally and he wanted some answers.

"Huh?!" Ayame blinked at his question.

"The first time you introduced yourself you already knew my name. I want to know how?" Midorima was surprised at his energy content as he talked.

"Oh that. I saw a group of new people arriving so I wanted to see if anyone can see me, ya know. I tried until evening but failed. I was about to give up when you avoided colliding with me but you didn't spare a glance as you were in hurry. I thought to give a last try so I went out looking for you. Oh boy! You were fast, ya know." Ayame paused throwing a glance towards Midorima checking if he could keep up with her pace.

"Continue." After all he is one of the people who can keep up with Takao's rambling.

Happy with the reaction Ayame continued, "I lost track of you. Dejected, I roamed around aimlessly-" Ayame struck a dramatic pose to show her broken heart.

"Just stick to the point." Midorima interrupted making Ayame pout in dismay.

"Fine! I saw a green headed guy and heard others call you by name. That is also where I picked up 'Shin-chan'." She quoted using her fingers.

Midorima closed his eyes and pinched his nose-bridge at the sound of that irritating name, "Don't call me with weird names."

"Aye, Aye." She gave Midorima a two-finger salute.

"Why couldn't you pass through me?" This was something that needed to be clarified.

"...I don't know. That incident triggers more question than it answers; for me at least." Though she replied with a smile, the sadness was evident.

Midorima shifted to look away from Ayame and towards the ocean. The sound of sea breeze was filling the silence that had befallen the duo and none of them wanted to start. When he looked back at Ayame he couldn't help but notice that her hair did not move from its place even with the strong breeze. This sight demanded a quizzical look from him but he didn't want to break the silence that was formed, rather he didn't know how to break it. It was not his strong suit.

'How does Takao manage to break the ice?' he thought while trying his best to find a feeble conversational starter.

The silence reminded Ayame of her precious time with Midorima passing by quickly. She had to talk to him and also had some experiment to be conducted, "Midorima! Let's go to the water."

"What!" 'That was random,' Midorima thought but gave in eventually seeing no reason for objection. He was secretly curious about Ayame's plan too. He folded his track pant above his knee and followed Ayame and he found it comfortable in letting Ayame do the talking.

"Use honorific while addressing me." Not that it would make much of a difference but he still told Ayame. She just nodded and floated towards the sea.

He stood next to Ayame feeling the warm water of the sea washing his feet and sending slight tinges up his spine. He had never ventured into the sea at night so he wasn't aware of this pleasant feeling. The moon was high up in the night sky and the sea glistened smoothly under its gentle glow.

Midorima shifted his footing to match the rhythm of the undercurrent of the waves crashing against his leg. He had to admit that Ayame's idea was great but he was unable to say it out loud. The tide of the sea under the influence of the moon gave him a feeling of strength from within. The gentle breeze ruffled his hair slightly and glided across his face and body making him feel all the air molecules dancing in their vortex over his skin. Somehow he felt his eyelids closing and his mouth twitching.

On the contrary Ayame was standing there hollow and soaking in the lovely sea only through sight and sound. The gentle crashing of waves on the shore, sea shells and on itself reminded her of the sweet rhythm of Matsumoto's song. She turned to face Midorima to convey a message just to find him enjoying the sea with his eyes closed.

'Goodness lord!' Ayame's mind screeched when she took in the sight of a smile adorning his face. It was nothing special but the small curve on his face softened every other feature of his.

She concentrated on his face and soaked in the beautiful sight. The moonlight was softly highlighting his chiselled cheekbones and his long eyelashes swayed with the erratic breeze. His still wet locks slashed in the wind to dry. "Pretty!"

Hearing Ayame, Midorima opened his eyes and looked at her, "Yes."

Ayame knew Midorima was talking about the sea but she didn't feel like explaining her statement, 'Pretty until he talks.' She silently was thankful that she didn't say this aloud.

Midorima opened the can he had bought and drank his favourite drink which surprisingly blended well in the given surrounding and all his uneasy feeling about Ayame forgotten. Silence again engulfed the two but it was a comforting one.

"There is a woman who sings really well." Ayame started as she didn't feel like keeping silent after her long search for someone who would notice her.

"Hmmm..." He didn't want to know so he brushed it aside. That didn't dampen her spirit and she continued to tell Midorima some random things. On the other hand Midorima just listened to her chit-chat but his reply was curt or improper at times. He wasn't used to gossiping.

The amount of reciprocation Midorima gave was more than enough for Ayame. She kept her talks superficial because she couldn't discuss anything else with him. What should she tell him? Ayame had no answers and she was sure Midorima had none and on top of that he would be leaving soon hence she decided to talk about random stuffs that popped in her head. She remembers nothing from the time she was alive so there was no point in talking deep matters with Midorima.

She paused when Midorima started to move away from her. She called out, "Where are you going?"

Midorima turned to give a glance over his shoulder before facing away, "I'm retiring to my bed. I have to complete my R.E.M cycle before 6am."

'I promised to not interrupt his sleep and basketball. Oh well.' Ayame just floated next to Midorima and resumed her jibber jabber.

~~O~~

Midorima was successful in making Ayame not look at him while he changed into his Friday Yukata and when he turned to give her an okay he saw the reason as to why Ayame didn't argue back. Ayame was just coolly staring at his teammates cum roommates changing.

"You little!" Midorima opened the sliding door of the cupboard, dragged Ayame by her neck, shoved her inside and closed the door before anyone cold notice his weird action.

"Really! I thought you could do better." Ayame spoke as she casually walked out of the cupboard.

"What were you doing?" whispered Midorima to Ayame.

"Collecting the perks of being a ghost." Ayame whispered to Midorima by mimicking his actions.

Midorima gave up for tonight; he was too tired to even argue. He made his way towards his futon and spread it at his chosen spot and sat down. He removed his nightcap from his duffle bag and put it on.

"Pfft."

Midorima looked accusingly at Ayame who was trying hard not to burst out laughing. He kept glaring at her until he was disturbed by Takao, "Shin-chan. Glares can't burn a hole in the wall. You can come closer to us under the fan if you are feeling hot."

Ayame burst down into a laughing maniac much to Midorima's irritation. How he wished for others to see the condition he was in. If he says anything to anyone he probably would be sent to a psychiatric ward. So he said nothing and slowly slid onto his futon.

Takao didn't say anything further because he was knocked out as soon as he touched his bed. Everybody had also quickly fallen asleep. Seeing this Midorima prided in having a much higher stamina. After all the events of today he is still awake or at least conscious.

'It has been a very long day.' He thought as Ayame's ridiculous laugh quiet down.

He looked at his palm which he had used to pull Ayame into the cupboard. He could feel the same icy sensation as earlier but the goosebumps were not prominent enough.

"Good night, Midorima." Ayame said after she had calmed down.

This interrupted Midorima thoughts and he whispered, "Good night."

He looked at Ayame who unexpectedly moved towards the window and out of it. Midorima internally cursed himself for thinking that she would stay in the room.

He removed his spectacle and put it on the right side of his head and closed his eyes laying straight on his futon. His thoughts lingered a bit on the time on beach when Ayame was talking. He did pay attention to the trivia she was supplying but his eyes roamed a little on her. Under the moonlight he has to agree that she looked spooky with veins being prominently visible on her neck along with shallow bags under her eyes and her unwavering hair in the wind. Her complexion was very pale and her fingers were bony and long. There were things that he noticed that was normal about her like the laugh, giggles and her thoughts, incomprehensible most of the time, and her warm chocolate eyes.

'She could easily be as tall as Akashi.' He was confident in his calculation.

Before drifting to sleep he dwelled upon those icy sensations which still lingered on his skin. He knew his body felt mild chills whenever he saw or was near Ayame but he didn't run away. He found it very weird that he easily walked towards the spirit even while receiving signs from his body.

'It must be adrenaline.' He paused for moment thinking about his own actions. He let out a smile despite himself content, again, with his explanation and let sleep take over his worn out body.

Out on the streets Ayame roamed with a small but a known thought on her mind, 'I really don't have a beating heart.' When she made contact with Midorima via pinkie swear her heart didn't even beep unlike what she felt from Midorima's chest earlier. Her heart lays silent; probably forever.

[1]Song named 'Memories' and it belongs to 'Within Temptation'.

I thought their lyric set nicely with Ayame's situation, especially the last line and it is a beautiful song.
Genre: Symphonic metal.
Singer: Sharon den Adel, in my view she is a Goddess (Beautiful voice and face).

A/N: Finally I was able to end the first day. I had to before anyone kills me. Feel free to tell me if I'm excruciatingly slow with description or was it all right. I tend to sway away~~

Waremono Iv: I hope you liked it. I successfully made it more than 4.8 k words.

Even though I love Midorima I'm not fully equipped to understand him so I hope he is not OOC.

~~Ja ne!