NOTICE: I MADE CHANGES TO THE SECOND CHAPTER SINCE IT WAS TOO SHORT. OTHER CHAPTERS WILL ALSO BE EDITED TOO, JUST TO MAKE THINGS A LITTLE EASIER TO UNDERSTAND.


A basketball bounced off the rim of the hoop, dropping onto a certain redhead's awaiting hand. Kagami dribbled the ball back to the three-point line and shoot the ball once again, missing another one. The frustrated redhead ran to get his rebound.

Man, I sure missed a lot today.

Deciding to take a break, Kagami threw his ball into the basket where the other balls were and walked out of the gym, planning to drink some water before continuing his solo practice. He was really out of it today- the first time he was spacing out while playing basketball. Everyone that was in his situation would probably be like he was. It was his first time saying the word to anyone, and not receiving any kind of response from the other individual was extremely agonizing.

He never knew his mind could do such things. Suddenly, everything he thought about was involved with Kuroko. He founded himself thinking about Kuroko everywhere, in the kitchen, at the breakfast table, and even in the shower. Kagami always caught himself smiling off-guard whenever he saw a vanilla milkshake when was sitting in Maji Burgers without any particular reason. He couldn't believe himself that he laughed at Kuroko's lame jokes when they were not even funny, earning a 'Are-you-okay?' look from the teal head.

Took him long enough to realize what those signs meant.

Kagami stopped at the water fountain before bending down, hungrily drinking down water. Finishing after a few minutes, he looked up and wiped his mouth with the hem of his shirt. Kagami was about to walk back if a person's light blue hair hadn't caught his attention, and before he knew it, he was already running towards the boy, shouting the familiar name.

"Oi! Kuroko!"


Kuroko Tetsuya was in a good mood; probably the best mood in his life.

He was walking back from Maji Burgers with two filled-up cups of vanilla milkshake in his hands, a tiny smile decorated his face. Seirin High was getting closer and closer as he approached it. Sliding his bag off his shoulders onto a wooden bench and placing the milkshakes that was letting off a creamy scent on it as well, he headed towards his next destination- the gym. Of course he needed to tell the seniors about missing practice, or else they would freak out and made their own assumptions about how he might be terribly sick or worse- hit by a speeding car. Kagami was there to complicate things, after all.

Kagami.

That name brought memories from yesterday. He couldn't understand what made the redhead said that. Kagami was the best teammate he'd ever had. His shining light. An annoying and stubborn yet determined person. A good friend that was always there for him when he's down, nothing more than that. Kuroko let out a sigh. Things with Akashi was settling well, but now Kagami? These topics are such a killjoy.

"Oi! Kuroko!"

Speak of the devil...

The person who was called turned his already-rigid body to see a certain redhead who had his hands on his legs and was panting after running. Kagami lifted his head up, his maroon eyes meet Kuroko's baby blue ones.

"You still haven't answered me yesterday... have you?"

The question that Kuroko expected was now being asked. His jaw clenched, and his hand made fists, feeling his moistened palm. The anxiety curled into his stomach. Kuroko could feel hands clawing up his throat, choking him. The words that was about to be spoken was dragged back down his throat and dissolved into the acid of his stomach.

"I...Uh..."

A pair of strong arms wrapped around him and he was pulled into a strong hug. Kuroko's eyes widened at the sudden movement. Kagami started talking, saying every word with confidence as if he was giving a speech in front of the class.

"I really like you, Kuroko. I just realized what that feeling is. That feeling when you laugh and enjoy your time with your former teammates... That feeling when I saw you with Akashi... How much I wanted you to stop because it hurts. It was a huge relief when I know you two aren't dating," Kagami pulled away, his hand still on Kuroko's shoulder. The act caused a few people to gather around, forming a small crowd around them. "My admiration of you had already turned into something else, Kuroko. I can't stop stealing glances at you... and I could feel my heart racing every time we made even the slightest contact..." The last words were spoken softly, directly into Kuroko's ears.

"I'm the one you deemed as your 'light', right? Would you give me a chance?"

Kuroko felt as if time was slowing down and coming to a stop. Everything was a blur, and he couldn't move his body no matter how much he tried. He had to get out, he knew that. He knew well that what he was doing now was like betraying Akashi, as if he was mocking the redhead. His current position was saying, I just invited you to see this, see how you are just a secondhand? I'm just having fun!

Kuroko knew all of that, but his legs wouldn't even budge.

After a few seconds which felt like eternity passed, a person in the gathering crowd moved, swiftly walking out of the school gates. The brick fences reached up to the person's face, making him unable to know who it was that made a move. The wind winnowed the person's hair, and that one fact, that only fact was enough to make Kuroko's heart crack into pieces.

...red, crimson strands of hair blowing in the air.

And time started to move again without mercy.


Nande, nande, nande?!

The question ran over and over again in his throbbing head. Akashi was trying to process in all the things that he just saw. He could've, he should've use that scissor of his, show the defying peasant how he shouldn't mess with Kuroko in the first place. But he didn't. He remembered that stupid promise he made back at Kuroko's house because he trusted that Kuroko wouldn't leave him for whatever reason. Well, he just did. Kuroko wasn't his, to begin with.

Tetsuya, is this your way of saying you would be happy without me? Did you just invite me just to show me this?

That was what he was assuming, at least. If Kuroko didn't want him, then he would leave, even if he didn't want to. No matter how it fucking hurt, he respected Kuroko's choice.

Akashi didn't have time to think about it anymore. He didn't go back to his home in Kyoto yesterday, and his father would be angry about it. Delaying it even more would probably make things worse, and so he was going to catch the train home today.

After packing his things up at his condo (he had one in Tokyo), he headed off for the train station and called for his driver to pick him up afterwards.

It was already dark when his car passed by the two arc angels that stood by the shimmering golden gate, signalling that he arrived at his place. His driver bowed, saying his usual "Goodnight, young master" before leaving Akashi in front of his house. The redhead looked up at his luxurious mansion before sighing. Father is going to scold me again... I hope he doesn't beat me up too hard...

After some rounds of knocking without any response from the inside, Akashi pushed the silver handle of the door, revealing a perfect mansion, from gleaming wood floors covered by a red carpet to the white sheer curtains that reached down to the square glass window, revealing a sunset in the background. The redhead muttered a 'tadaima' before stepping inside the mansion and walked on the carpet that guided him to the a room that looked like a living room. Akashi put down his bag on the counter and turned back, planning to go back to the dining room, where his dad usually are. However, a raucous voice interrupted him, and he tilted his head to one side only to find another pair of hetero chromatic eyes staring right into his.

"You're late. By a day."

"I'm sorry, father, I-"

For the millionth time in his life, his father cut him off. Akashi gulped, knowing how much his father hated excuses. But there seemed to be something other than being late that added even more fuel to his father's already burning anger.

"You know me, Seijuuro. You know how much I hate the people that never came on time, especially when that one of those people's you."

The middle aged man walked closer to Akashi, using one hand to grip Akashi's shoulder, so hard that it was almost painful.

"I am absolute, Seijuuro. I can't have my son who's going to inherit my company disobey me. You know what happened to those people who dare go against my orders, do you?" Akashi Masaomi lifted his free hand and placed it under the side of the other's jawline before lifting it up, causing the red and golden orbs to meet. Akashi averted his gaze to the marble floor.

"They got punished."

A/N:

Was that a cliffy? Well then, that is me desperately trying to make one. So how was it? School recently opened and I won't have time to write or read fanfics(*sniffs*). There's not a lot of fanfic that showed kind of the 'weaker' side of Akashi, so I decided to write one:) Please review and tell me how it was!(since I don't know myself)

And the replies!

Daygon Yuuki: I'm glad to know that XD. Thanks for the review!

Rinfantasy: Probably because I don't know of any other conflicts, poor Kagami had to be one:) Akashi didn't wait at Maji, so there it is(I made it worse).Thanks for the review!

Gly: O.o Should I really write another Kagami x Nigou fanfic?(Oh please no then that's going to turn into something... bad). And I actually enjoyed reading your reviews XD Should I say I like your imagination? (though I enjoy reading those things, I can't bring myself to write it). Thanks for the review!

Meiko Atsushi: ...thanks for the review(?). 1)Aren't you bored all the time? 2) I just did 3) I can see how social studies affected you 4) heh... 5) Shouldn't I say that? 6)Doesn't everyone love long reviews?(-.-")

ShinseiShinwa: Akashi became a guard dog now?(OwO) (Oh noes) And sorry if I ruined your date idea... if a person like me writes something like a date... it would turn into something pretty cheesy:)(like... mold cheese) Thanks for the review!

Greyscale1227: I said so in PM, but thanks again!

Guest: Here is the update, and I hope you like it! Thanks for the review!

Until next time,

~Sora