Disclaimer: I don't own Kuroko no Basuke. It was written by Tadatoshi Fujimaki. ...Although, if I were the one who wrote Kuroko no Basuke, I would add more female characters. You know, at least five more girls or something.
Author's note: I want to sigh so much right now because I am struggling to update at least once a week. So beware, I might end up delaying a chapter more than 7 days. I will be sure to keep it within 14 days though. Life is taking such a huge bite out of me. DX
Enjoy reading this chapter!
Red and not so White
Year 1
Chapter 7
In the Little House of Otaru, every guest was finishing up their breakfast meal. Even Tetsuya Two was there and Shiroro was still sticking him like glue. She did not seem hungry as everyone else was. And for some odd reason, there was a red fist mark on Aomine's left cheek. No one dared to ask, but Kagami laughed about it before they sat down to eat.
Shirose was on the second floor, sitting on her ankles on the L-shape, dark green couch. She had the window fully opened and her chin over her arms, which leaned over the edge of the window. Her eyes waited for the snow at the same time as the cold air soothed her heart.
Familiar and lovely footsteps approached her and she slowly turned her head to her left. Yukiyama paused in his steps, standing next to her and remained where he was. She smirked at his expression. He appeared to be bitter and insecure. "Yuki, you look hilarious," she giggled at him.
He grunted and faced away, dropping his body to sit next to her. He avoided eye contact and his eyes were glaring to the side. Shirose snickered again and he frowned to her. "I'm not in the mood for your teasing right now," he noted.
"I can see that," she smiled thinly. His eyes were elsewhere and she inquired, "What's the matter, Yuki?"
There was short silence. "…Just stay away from Akashi," he warned quietly. She laughed sadistically and he slightly blushed. He still refused to look at her. "I'm serious. You better be cautious of that guy. He's bad news."
Her hand touched his right cheek and she made him look directly into her red eyes. "He's bad news to you, is that not what you mean?" she chuckled. He grunted quietly and his hand grabbed for her hand to hold it lower from his face. "You're so cute. I like seeing you worried and jealous."
"Who said I was jealous?" he asked, denying it completely.
Really, was he troubled by the fact about Akashi stealing her away? Yukiyama had confident in himself and about Shirose. There was no way she would choose Akashi over him. Yet, Yukiyama had a very uneasy feeling. He worried if he looked away, Akashi would really take her.
"I'm yours, Yuki," she whispered. Yukiyama's eyes relaxed and she moved closer to him. She kissed his cheek and smirked with her lips on his face. "I love you… but seeing you like this is really adorable. Maybe I'll pretend to be friendly with Akashi—"
Her sentence was cut off when he pulled her roughly and his tongue ran along in her mouth. She stared blankly and his eyes glared into her own. Kissing her lower lips, he murmured, "You don't want to see me jealous, Shiro."
She grinned near his face, "…Yes, I do."
Yukiyama grimaced, "No, you don't."
Laughing a little, she got out of his grip on her arms and she moved to sit comfortably next to him. Her head leaned on his left shoulder and she closed her eyes. "You're too cute," she commented in a teasing way. Whereas his hand patted her head, he let out a heavy sigh. He was unable to find more words and stayed still with his left arm around her. "Hmm. Why did you suddenly tell me stay away from Akashi for?"
"Just because," Yukiyama grumbled, holding her tighter.
He would never let her go. Shirose Shinju belonged to him only. If he had to fight Akashi, Yukiyama would do anything to keep her near by. Furthermore, Akashi would only make her miserable, which was something Yukiyama would never allow to happen since that conceited redhead actually made her cry. Yukiyama never had seen her tears before and it was painful to see her to break down so easily.
Therefore, he strengthened his resolve to protect her, even if she did not desire for him to do so. Shirose was that kind of girl after all, always standing up on her own two feet.
\~o~/
Entering the dining room, Kurosawa saw some of the guys were getting up from their chairs. Before they thought about leaving, she wanted to tell them something since they were all together. "One more thing before any of you run out," Kurosawa put her right hand on her hip. Some faces turned to regard her. "If there is ever a problem, you can always look for me or the others. We will all wear black clothes, so you won't be confused. Not that you would, but just in case."
"Alright, thanks!" Kise waved to her as he was across the room.
Kurosawa's eyes scanned around and she saw Akahime standing by the kitchen doorway, waiting for orders like always. "Akahime, go and get Shirose to help you wash the dishes soon," Kurosawa ordered with a frown.
She was simply tired of not seeing Shirose anywhere in sight. The three new temporary workers were cleaning up the bedrooms at the moment. …Hopefully Shirose was keeping an eye on them.
The redhead girl smiled and was going to respond to Kurosawa, but Kagami raised his hand, "I'll help clean the dishes too."
Takao stood up with his hands on the table. "Can we just play snowball fight already?" he sighed rather desperately.
"If you keep pestering on that idea, Takao, no one will play," Midorima unkindly remarked.
The greenhead was actually in a bad mood. Not being able to see his horoscope, being confined in the house… He was surprised no one asked if he was going crazy or not. Some friends they were, right?
A light laugh ran down Takao's tongue whilst he pointed to Midorima with his right finger. "Don't tell me you're too scared to play snowball fight without your horoscope, Shin-chan!" he teased with a grin. Midorima grunted, sending the Hawk Eye user a soft glare. "Seriously, if it was the end of the world and there was no more horoscope readings, how do you intend to survive?"
There was never an answer as soon as Momoi chirped merrily, "How about we save the snowball fight on the very last day?"
With a pause, Takao gaped. "…Why?" The last day was going to be next Monday, about six days from now.
"Save the best for last, I agree," Imayoshi smirked, giving his own opinion.
With a louder voice, Kurosawa interrupted with no more delay, "Okay, Akahime, if anyone wants to do the dishes or other cleaning chores, go ahead and let them." She was mentioning this because Kagami was offering to help. All the better, since Akahime was so not attentive in the kitchen sometimes.
"Yes, ma'am," Akahime saluted with a bright smile.
And with that, Kurosawa rushed out of the room with no more words exchanged. There was another thing that came to mind, as a result she headed up the stairs. Soon, she found Yukiyama and Shirose chilling together with the opened window.
"Shirose," Kurosawa frowned. The whitehair girl opened her eyes to stare at Kurosawa. Seconds later, Yukiyama chuckled and got up to close the window. The room was rather cold now. "Alright, Yukiyama, I need you and a couple of the hired workers to run an errand for me."
"What's up?" Yukiyama faced to her while standing. Shirose was still sitting on the couch at ease.
At the same time as Kurosawa crossed her arms to her chest, she notified, "Since we have so many volunteers in the house, I will have to ask you to head to Sapporo. Aomine broke one of our shovels and since the other shovels are too old anyhow, I want you to go buy some new ones. I'll give you the money." And then Kurosawa had a pause, slightly thinking to herself.
Yukiyama nodded, "Who should I bring along with me?"
"I'm not done talking," Kurosawa sighed with a glare. He snickered and Shirose grinned. "Well, never mind. I'll go make a list for you to save me some breaths. And knowing you, I'm quite afraid you'll forget what to buy."
When the black haired woman turned toward the stairs, Yukiyama noted defensively, "Hey, I'm not that careless. I take my responsibilities seriously. And with cautious." Kurosawa only walked down the stairs and said nothing. Hearing Shirose snickering, he raised an eyebrow to her, "What, you think so?"
With her head tilted, she smiled rather sweetly, "That's one of the reasons why I love you."
Yukiyama let out a short laugh and patted on her head. "You sadist," he grinned.
"Nah-uh," she denied with a giggle, touching his hand to hold it with her own. But then he snatched it away from her grasp and she pouted. "Yuki, I want to hold your hand longer."
"No," he smirked, putting his hands in his pockets. "Kurosawa just dumped a mission on me, so I'm going to get two of the three temp workers right now."
She kept pouting as he begun to walk away. "Then don't be out too long," she hoped.
His lips curled up, "As you wish, beautiful."
Shirose said that because was beginning to feel insecure. She wanted her boyfriend close by. Yes, the fault lied with Akashi. He could make her cry at any time, even if she could hold out on her own. Nonetheless, if she had Yukiyama, she believed she would be stronger that way. And she knew Yukiyama should feel the same as her.
For the two of them knew each other very well. …Unless Akashi said otherwise.
\~o~/
In the kitchen, Akahime and Momoi were drying dishes with towels whilst Kagami was washing the dishes in the sink. Momoi had started up a conversation about Aohana's cooking and Akahime would try her best to answer anything Momoi inquired.
"Then… you have to cut up the lemons?" Momoi blinked to the redhead. Momoi was referring to it so she could someday prepare for the basketball club at her school.
Kagami scowled to them since they were facing the same wall on the same counter. "Of course you have to slice them," he told her, trying to keep his voice low and somewhat gentle.
"Oh, we do?" Akahime stared with confusion to him. He let out a heavy sigh and went back to cleaning. Akahime giggled nervously and went back to her own work as well.
Soon afterwards, Murasakibara slowly stepped into the room and paused at the doorway. "…Akahime," he called childishly. And slightly demanding.
Directing her view to him, she smiled, "Yes?" She was ready to help him in any way possible.
"Can I have a snack?" he blinked slowly and tiredly.
Momoi glanced back, "Mukkun, please refrain yourself from eating too much."
"Geez, Sa-chin should already know I can't do that," he whined, walking to the table that was cleared of items.
Akahime laughed lightly and set the bowl and towel on the counter. Turning to face him, she nodded, "Sure, but what would you like to eat?"
"Anything sweet," he simpered a little.
She walked toward the refrigerator on her left and then opened it as soon as she reached out. "We still have strawberries," she announced.
"Wait a sec!" Kagami snapped his head to glare at Murasakibara. "Didn't someone mention you bought your own snacks today already, Murasakibara?"
"…I need to save them," the purplehead lazily met his eyes. "Besides, Aka-chin and Akahime said it was okay."
Momoi sighed along with Kagami and no more words were forced out.
Akahime had taken out strawberries in a small, white bowl as well as a covered white container with no label. Closing the refrigerator with her left foot, she approached the table and set the bowl of strawberries and the container in front of the tall guy. Looking up at his puzzled expression, she explained, "Do you like chocolate?"
He nodded, "I do, yes."
She opened the white container and revealed a chocolate whip. His eyes sparkled and she giggled at his face. "Aohana made this herself some time ago," she reckoned. "She said anyone can have it."
"…Can I?" his lips curled up hungrily, his hand eager to get some.
When she nodded, he dipped his finger into the chocolate and she jumped. "Wait, not with your finger!" she hurried away. Opening the drawers close to Kagami, she took out a butter knife with a green handle and she quickly closed the drawer.
He licked his finger and she turned to him with a pout. "Oh, taste yummy," he said with a satisfied face. She handed the butter knife to him and he slowly murmured, "I don't need that."
Akahime pouted yet again and used the butter knife herself. Taking the chocolate whip, she took one strawberry and spread the whip around it. Being careful not to mess up, she beamed happily and offered him her complete art. "There we go!" she giggled.
With a short moment of pause, Kagami was still washing the dishes and Momoi looked back and seemed to want strawberries with chocolate later.
Murasakibara smiled and raised his giant hand to seize Akahime's tiny wrist that held up the strawberry. The redhead blinked as he lowered his head with his mouth opened. Taking a bite of the strawberry from her own hand, she let out a quiet gasp. A few seconds after chewing, he licked his lips, smudging a brown whip at the left corner of his mouth. With his eyes on her, he commented with satisfaction, "Taste good."
Blushing as red as an ripe strawberry, she snatched her hand away from his gentle grip and the half eaten fruit fell out of her fingers and landed on the table. Murasakibara's eyes looked to her while his body was still leaned forward over the table, the same position when he made her 'feed' him. "Um—uh," she backed away, taking her wrist he touched.
"…What?" he smiled babyishly.
"I gotta go!" Akahime raced out of the room with her head lowered.
Murasakibara stared with boredom and did not see her exit. His eyes were on Momoi, who stared disapprovingly to him. "…Sa-chin, is something wrong?" Murasakibara almost smirked. And she could only emit a long breath in respond.
Kagami looked over his shoulder to see what was going on. Out by the doorway of the kitchen, he spotted Takao and Imayoshi peeking into the kitchen with smiles on their faces. "Is there something happening here that I don't know about?" Kagami wondered out loud, letting the water run for a few seconds.
\~o~/
"Shirose, help me!"
The white hair girl actually flinched the moment Akahime hugged her from behind. The window was opened again and Shirose was just about to close it. Her knees were on the sofa and Akahime's head pressed against her back.
"…What's wrong?" Shirose's chin moved to her left shoulder. Akashime buried her face in her back and mumbled words. With a smirk, Shirose told her, "I can't hear you like this."
Akahime let her go and stepped back with her eyes filled with uncertainties. Waiting for Shirose to close the window, Akahime then assumed, "I think someone likes me! What should I do? I already like someone else!"
An amused chuckle escaped the albino's mouth as she locked the window. She turned around and kept her knees on the sofa. "You're not talking about Yuki, are you?" she inquired curiously.
The redhead shook her head right away. "No, of course not!" Akahime replied. Though, she still had feelings for Yukiyama. Then with a whisper, she blushed, "The one I like is Himuro-san…"
Blinking twice, Shirose tilted her head to show her confusion. "Okay, what's wrong again?" she questioned.
Akahime lowered her head and played with her fingers. "Um, I like Himuro-san… but then Murasakibara-san…" she trailed off in her sentence and became too shy.
Laughing sadistically, Shirose grabbed Akahime's left cheek and gave it a soft pinch. "You're so cute when you're like this," she commented with a teasing smirk.
"Shirose…" Akahime bit her lower lip, lifting up her head now. Her eyes were teary. "Please tell me what to do…! I think Murasakibara-san likes me… but I like Himuro-san…!"
Seriously, Shirose could not stop smiling. Seeing Akahime in this state always made her want to make fun of her friend, whom she considered has her younger sister. Although, Shirose regarded Kurosawa and Aohana as her sisters as well.
"You want me to tell you want to do?" Shirose grinned wider. The redhead nodded back and forth, almost too desperately. With a snicker, Shirose then thought out loud, "Then play along with that guy who you think he likes you. Test his love for you and make sure he's true to you."
Akahime blinked. All of her confusion stopped in that moment. "H-How?" She had forgotten all about Himuro now.
As cruel as Shirose had in mind, she wanted to use Akahime to get back at Akashi. Maybe make Murasakibara fall for Akahime and then Shirose would tell her to break that purplehead's heart. Or something of the sort. Shirose was not sure how any of this would go.
She was doing this because Akashi had mentioned his friends were not his slaves. So, she felt like playing around with his 'friends' and return the favor for what Akashi said to her back at the orphanage.
"First, tell me how you think he likes you," Shirose moved off the sofa to stand in front of her. She smiled and tapped her finger on her chin. "Because from what I've seen, Murasaki is too childishly to fall in love."
"His name is Murasakibara Atsushi," Akahime innocently corrected.
"Murasaki is easier to say," Shirose chuckled, patting on Akahime's head. Her friend looked unsure and Shirose told her, "Well now… tell me what happened. Give me every little detail, Akahime."
