A/N: Yo! RiClietz here for the second time around to deliver your awesome chapter.
And before you asked, I literally drag my sister to bed when she announced that she finished editing this chapter. Why, you ask? Nee-san's a living zombie and she's practically living off in coffee. But don't worry, you'll have her back in a few hours coz' she's at the middle of editing the next part ^^
Anyway, I would like to extend her heartfelt gratitude for those people who supported her especially those who pm-ed her, #ShinseiShiwa, #Reine, #ShiroNeko, #Rie and oh, welcome to the party, Ms. #goddess bubbles.
Right, I believe I kept you long enough- this chapter is simply a gift of appreciation from your authoress because of your wonderful reviews and yes, it's her birthday! Keep your eyes open for any grammatical errors and please, do enjoy~
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NEE-SAN!
DISCLAIMER: Kuroko no Basuke belongs to the one and only, Tadatoshi Fujimaki-sensei!
Chapter 7 pt.1
Gray eyes creased in exasperation as Tanaka sighed inwardly for the nth time since that morning. Aside from the usual chores and duties, he had been busy with commotions running the household lately. More specifically, affairs between his young master and their guest.
It was disheartening to see Kuroko avoiding their young master, enough for everyone else in wonder what happened. Should Seijuurou notice, he said nothing and remained indifferent despite the worry etched on his eyes. Of course, Tanaka was a tad disappointed. He hasn't seen the young master confront the phantom about his sudden aloofness. And with the latter gone until late evenings and the younger Akashi busy engaging himself with training and work, he found no time to spend it with the red-haired and ask.
Thus, the mere sight of him barging to the manor- an unconscious bluenette on his arms- and demanded to call a doctor had the household scurrying off in a hurry. Following the impulsive actions and argument between them later, he found himself beseeching Masaomi with a plea before he retired for the night.
Many years attending the Akashi household, Tanaka had grown resilient against the eccentric enigmas of the house (Masaomi and Seijuurou respectively). Imagine the shock when he came down to the kitchens crowded with familiar teenagers the following morning.
"Oh, Tanaka-san! It's been a while~" Kise waved from his seat. He was wearing designer clothes, an indication that he came straight from his work. Midorima, on the other hand, pushed his glasses to his nose and greeted the other with a slight bow.
"I apologize for imposing ourselves, Tanaka-san." He said.
"Oh no. It is a pleasure to see all of you at once, Midorima-san." Tanaka smiled, gesturing towards the rest of their young master's former teammates. His eyes caught a feather duster lying innocently beside the shooter and ignored it. It must have been the shooter's lucky item for the day, he noted.
"Moreover, to what do I owe you a pleasure of an unexpected visit?"
"We were planning to visit Akashi for a while but then we heard from those guys that Tetsu got sick or somethin'." Aomine yawned, raising his feet on the desk. Momoi immediately reprimanded her childhood friend with a slap on his thigh.
"I assume that you are visiting with the same purpose then, Mibuchi-san?" The raven-haired nodded in affirmation before he continued.
"Sei-chan called me up last night and informed me of Kuro-chan's health. Unfortunately, the team heard our captain and wanted to visit him," Mibuchi chuckled, remembering the uproar within the gym earlier. "Well, for a guy with low presence, he sure can charm a whole team like that within days."
"Speaking of Akashi-kun and Tetsu-kun, I haven't seen them around." Momoi interrupted while looking around. For one, both teenagers were early risers. With the latter out of commission, however, the female manager guessed that the red-haired captain went for his usual morning run. Otherwise, he would tend to his former teammate.
She chuckled inwardly. As far as Momoi remembered, Akashi had always been the stern one and Kuroko, the so-called considerate mom, among the group. It was a sight to behold, watching everyone else cower whenever the two disciplined the rest through training and (in Kuroko's case) short lecture.
Who would have thought, right?
"I see that everyone is as lively as ever." Both Aomine and Kise pushed themselves off the couch and straightened their backs when Masaomi emerged from the kitchens. Leaning against the frame with a porcelain cup on his hand, the older Akashi dismissed their greetings with a wave of his hand.
Tanaka shifted vaguely. It took him a few seconds to realize but Masaomi had this playful grin on his lips.
Not again, he sighed.
"Akashi-san."
"Oh, do not be so formal with me, Midorima-kun. It has been a while since the last time we saw each other." The older Akashi sipped from his cup before turning to the tanned male, smiling ever-so sweetly. "And manners, Aomine-kun. I believe Seijuurou taught you proper conduct, did he not?"
"O-Of course." He stuttered. Masaomi smiled in approval. His crimson eyes turned to Murasakibara, beaming fondly.
"I heard from my son that you liked sweets, Murasakibara-kun." At that, the slouching giant perked up. Murasakibara Atsushi truly was a child at heart, the older Akashi noted. "Would you like to have some, my dear boy?"
Masaomi motioned a nearby servant with a flick of his hand as Murasakibara nodded, his eyes glazing over at the mere thought of free chocolates and cookies. The older Akashi smiled to himself as he turned to the remaining two, the purple-haired giant muttering a sound 'thank you' at his wake.
"And I have seen your endeavours through the television, Kise-kun. You did a splendid job, indeed."
The blonde gulped. He must have heard his successful appearance at a fashion event in Paris. "T-Thank you, Masaomi-san."
"Akashi-san…" Momoi started but the former shook his head in understanding. He won't need her explanation. After all, he had been waiting for the group since a certain teal-haired decided to drop in at Rakuzan. And at this time of the year, as well.
"I heard everything, Momoi-kun. Unfortunately, both Seijuurou and Kuroko-kun left to attend some personal matters early this morning." Everyone observed with watchful eyes as the president of a powerful corporation drank his tea leisurely.
"EH?!" They shouted simultaneously. Mibuchi giggled into his hand, steel greys observing with hilarity. Before they could assault the older Akashi with questions, Masaomi offered them a piece of paper he found in the kitchen.
"If you don't mind me asking, Masaomi-sama, what is it all about?" Tanaka asked as green hues perused the letter before shoving it into Momoi's hand. Masaomi laughed with gusto.
"Something that Seijuurou should have done a long time ago." He said and soon enough, the mansion erupted with screams of terror. Fortunately, Masaomi had their estate built in an isolated area of Kyoto- a property and a given privilege of a once noble family.
Cerulean blues fluttered open when something warm caressed his cheek, the familiar smell of sandalwood mixed with cinnamon and honey wafted through the air. Kuroko shifted from his seat when he felt a gentle yet cold breeze passed through in which he assumed an open door. Even though asleep, the teal-haired could recall his captain- dressed in black shirt and matching jeans and coat- roused him awake at such early hour of the day.
Akashi decided to stay the night in his quarters, consoling the shorter male. How his former captain left the room without his notice, the teal-haired had no idea especially when he found himself propped against his chest and his arms wrapped securely around his small built the upon falling asleep.
The red-haired offered him a small apology before urging him towards the bathroom. Kuroko couldn't remember anything else until he found himself seating groggily beside the former and steered themselves out of the driveway.
"Where are we going?" He croaked. Akashi gave him a glance and merely smiled. With his available hand, the young heir stroked his blue locks and whispered.
"Go back to sleep, Kuroko. You will know once we arrived.
That was the last thing the teal-haired remembered and drifted back to sleep. Hence, the measly sight of Akashi observing him intently by the door made him look back. He would never admit it but there were times that the phantom couldn't resist the urge to stroke his crimson hair whenever Akashi's asleep, studying his serene face in the process.
He certainly was lucky to observe him in the dark, the man bare of anything but his own and free of stress. Knowing that Akashi sat by the edge of the door and watching him sleep, however, was embarrassing. Upon seeing that his companion awake, the red-haired greeted him with a smile on his lips.
"I apologize. I should have woken you up when we arrived but you were sound asleep." Akashi said, pulling his hand away. Kuroko shook his head in return, the jacket draped on him falling to his lap from the slight movement.
"Where are we, Akashi-kun?" His voice came out hoarse, one telltale sign the effects of breakdown the previous night. Should the red-haired notice, he said nothing. Instead, Akashi offered him his hand and pulled the teal-haired off the vehicle.
The vista before him was simply breathtaking. Whereas Kyoto gave off a regal air and Tokyo for its modernization, the landscape was an epitome of serenity. Stretching across the river was a bridge, partially covered in white. A nearby forest, coated in the same manner and tinge with moss green, were glistening in morning dusk.
"This is my mother's hometown," Akashi replied. Rather a poignant one, Kuroko noted the small smile working its way on his lips as if reliving childhood memories of his own. It was contagious.
"Well, if it isn't Seijuurou-kun?" An old woman emerged from the ryokan, donned in a white and maroon yukata. Beside him, Akashi bowed his head in respect to the elder.
"Good morning, Nana-san." She beamed and took amble steps towards their direction. Despite the impassive expression, Kuroko looked outright surprise when the elder stroked the red-haired's cheeks the moment he was within arm's length.
"You slimmed down, dear. Are you sure you were not skipping your meals?" Her amber eyes turned sharp yet kind. Akashi laughed, his features softening in the process.
"I assure you that I get plenty of rest and meals despite my busy schedule, thank you." At that, the woman - Nana, as his former captain called her- giggled and turned to Kuroko. Her smile widened.
"A friend of yours, Seijuurou-kun?" The red-haired said nothing, eyeing the teal-haired.
"I apologize for not introducing myself earlier, Nana-san." Kuroko inclined his head. "I am Kuroko Tetsuya, a close acquaintance of Akashi-kun from middle school."
The red-haired chuckled inwardly when he noticed the elder raised an eyebrow. "A close acquaintance? Seeing that you are here with Seijuurou-kun, whatever relationship you had with him borders acquaintances and friendship, Tetsuya-kun."
"… I supposed."
"Well, this is not an appropriate place to catch up." She said, gesturing to the building.
"Of course." Satisfied, Nana tottered back to the entrance with the red-haired tugging his hand. Kuroko squeezed it in return, asking silently to let go. Akashi, however, threw him a challenging look to escape. To his horror, Kuroko found amber eyes darting from him to their conjoined hands.
Upon realization, Kuroko bowed his head in embarrassment and admitted defeat in silence. For now.
-line break-
The moment they stepped into the foyer, a high-pitched scream from the counter garnered their interests. One man playing shogi in the far end of room grunted in annoyance, wooden pieces scattered across the board. He must have been a winning streak when they interrupted from the looks of relief from his foe.
"Seijuurou-nii!" A young girl don in similar yukata as Nana jumped off her chair and rushed towards Akashi, eyes twinkling and arms open wide. Kuroko couldn't help but giggled as he watched his former captain bend on one knee and lifted her up to his arms.
"It's been a while since we last met, Koharu. How was school?"
"Better than ever! I'm helping Obaa-chama with work right now but I will be spending some time with friends later." With that, Koharu tugged his shirt with eyes full of hope. She continued. "What about Seijuurou-nii? How was school? And work?"
"I hope Masaomi-ojii-chan doesn't make you work too hard."
"Busy but I can manage, Koharu." The red-haired exclaimed, tousling her chocolate hair when she pouted. Even the elder was chuckling to herself. Kuroko smiled in enthusiasm- the first time he visited the place with his former captain, he could tell his belongingness among the Akashi heir and the women. He sighed inaudibly. If anything, it was reassuring that his captain had a place to return to.
'A place to return. .' He thought. Kuroko found himself staring into crimson ones, the red-haired gripping his hand in comfort. The teal-haired said nothing. Did his former captain saw him spacing out for a moment?
"WAAH! WHERE DID YOU COME FROM?" The girl screamed, pointing to the shorter male with a trembling finger. Kuroko tilted his head, trying hard not to smile. His friends (Kagami included) told him that he'd better off with the red-haired captain whenever they were out. After all, Akashi was the only person who can spot the phantom without eliciting a humiliating screech.
"I was here the whole time, Koharu-chan." The girl gaped at him.
"EH? THAT WAS IMPOSSIBLE!" The elder woman covered her mouth with the folds of her dress, hiding her amusement. The red-haired told her of a boy with interesting peculiarities. To meet him in actual person was indeed provocative. In addition to his charms, the teal-haired had a pleasing personality as well.
Koharu blinked, forcing her brother figure to look at her and affirmed the most bizarre (if not, the most comical) proclamation he ever heard since his basketball career began.
"Is he your girlfriend, Seijuurou-nii?"
"That was mean of you, Akashi-kun," Kuroko muttered, glaring at the other side of the open bath. Laughter rang throughout the empty space at his proclamation. He was mad. And Akashi had the audacity to seize the opportunity to tease him. Albeit a little persuasive, it took a lot of patience from his part to explain his relationship with the red-haired captain to the young girl.
The teal-haired couldn't help but sulk when he felt Akashi slid beside him, their skin almost touching. In return, the red-haired smirked at him daringly when he caught the other staring.
Kuroko flushed. Naked or not, he will get his revenge towards his captain— more so when the red-haired decided to poke fun of his shattered dignity from their earlier excursion. After settling down in their extravagant room, Koharu met them by the lobby and apologized for her actions. Being the understanding man he was, the teal-haired merely smiled and waved the discussion away. She offered them a tour around Arashiyama but Akashi shook his head.
"We would be fine, Koharu. For most parts, I still remember my way around town. But, if you do not mind me asking for a favor, I will be appreciating it a lot." Her eyes lightened up immediately and skipped towards his direction. Akashi whispered something to her ear, his eyes set on Kuroko which irked him. Whatever he told the girl, Koharu shot him an excited grin, saluted and left to find her grandmother.
"Akashi-kun, where are we going?" Akashi chuckled and dragged him off outside.
"Sight-seeing."
Nothing could have prepared the phantom the moment they began to trek to the locality with nothing but their phones and wallet. It was incredible how the residents could associate the young man with the same boy that used to follow his mother before.
Kuroko wanted to explore the town with little interest in him. Standing beside an eye-catching male, however, made it futile. To his utter disbelief, everyone received the teal-haired with cordiality despite the other introducing him as his partner. The implication of the word didn't sink for him to understand the context until he met a cafe owner, who asked his relationship with a man such as Akashi.
"I have to say, dear, your boyfriend is one attractive fellow." She said, wiggling her eyebrows. Akashi sported a smile- and a mischievous one, at that- and held their hands higher for the owner to see.
"Thank you f- Ugh!" He grunted when the teal-haired jabbed his side with his elbow. In revenge, Akashi pinched his nose red earning a squeal or two from the woman.
Kuroko sighed. Their friendship might have mixed up with something else entirely, their vibe oozing with more than friends. As a man- who kept mistaking him for a woman due to his feminine looks- took his last thread of tolerance.
"Well, you cannot blame me if you were mistaken as a woman frequently." He replied, a teasing smile on his lips. The phantom stared at him with a deadpan expression.
"You won't be dropping this conversation for a while, will you?"
"I'm afraid I cannot." Kuroko scowled, splashing him with water.
"I hate you."
"I will accept that as a compliment, though."
"I am not complimenting you, Akashi-kun."
"Is that so?"
"Oh, shut up." At that, the red-haired laughed merrily once again and let his gaze wandered outside. Despite the fire raging inside him, Kuroko closed his eyes and willed his annoyance to wash in tranquillity.
Awkward; should he contemplated, that would be his first lingering thought. Up until the Akashi heir stroke a conversation.
"It is a while since I visited this place yet nothing changed." He began wistfully. Kuroko tilted his head in question. Akashi seemed to feel his curiosity and carried on with his story. "The last time I went was two springs ago the day I would be leaving for a business trip my Father arranged."
"I am surprised that Masaomi-san did not reprimand you for leaving. Your father seems to be a strict punctual person when it concerns your business schedules." Akashi remained silent, his eyes downcast. Then—
"It was Mother's death anniversary." That made Kuroko inclined his head. The red-haired never indulged him in stories that surrounded his mother during middle school. Midorima might have some knowledge about his family history but the teal-haired never pried his captain's privacy unless Akashi himself sought him out. Everyone has their fair share of secrets and he will respect their decisions.
"I apologize. Do you want to continue?"
"I refused to run away any longer, Kuroko," Akashi whispered truthfully, closing his eyes and let a small smile decorated his lips. "Given with so little time we have to finish the game, I want you to know who I am as much as I want to find answers of my own."
Crimson orbs held expressive blues, a first considering that Kuroko posed this kind of emotions underneath his impassiveness. He was the esteemed phantom sixth man of their group, after all. A few seconds of silence and Kuroko spoke.
"Shiori-san must have been a wonderful person." The former chuckled and held out a hand as a snowflake fluttered into his hand. And Lady Time decided to slow down to match their pace.
"Mother was born with a heart condition. I never met them but she used to tell stories how my grandparents, who had unstable jobs, persevere to provide her the medical attention she needs. She was their only child and they wanted her nothing but the best. They wanted her to undergo surgery. Mother, however, refused."
"Your grandparents must be shocked."
"Of course they were but Mother convinced them that she was happy without it and asked them to invest their money on a business. My grandparents were reluctant but they gave in not long after."
"If you don't mind, how did Shiori-san meet Masaomi-san?" Kuroko knew that it was a subject that he wanted to avoid. Their relationship had a shaky foundation, considering that his mother had been sick and Masaomi went the whole time until she died. Akashi, on the other hand, looked somewhat placid and the teal-haired sighed in relief.
"One of our clients lived here. Their tale might be a little exaggerated but according to Nana-san, their fateful encounter was caused by the magic of Togetsukyo Bridge."
"Togetsukyo?" He asked, remembering the wooden bridge across the ryokan. Akashi nodded.
"Mother was on her way from her usual routine when she met Father strolling around. It was love at first sight or so I heard. Nana-san did not elaborate what happened- she just told me that my father asked her hand in marriage exactly two years later at the precise location they first met." The red-haired sighed.
"When he heard that his prodigy of a son wanted to marry some unknown woman, Grandfather refused and forced him to an arranged marriage. I do not know the specifics but eventually, Father won his heart and they get married. "
The lasting peace that followed his story made Kuroko squirmed. Akashi told himself that their family was of noble blood that came from the direct line of royals. Along with the years that passed, customs of the old vanished one after another. The Akashis, however, adapted these traditions into their family and passed it down for generations to follow. Somehow, it justified his captain's manner of speaking and conduct.
Kuroko leaned his back against the warm surface, his thoughts scattered. Aside from his former light, he spent his afternoons with the red-haired at the library. Most of it was small debates due to their chosen materials but alas, both enjoyed the company. He remembered those fleeting moments of the two sitting by the window on the second floor, simply talking. At some point, they were discussing small matters but Akashi, being a secretive person he was, never revealed his past or his family. Until now…
Akashi turned toward him, his gaze peculiar, when he heard the shorter male sneeze. Crimson orbs mirrored his stunned expression before laughing melodiously and stood up. All in his naked glory. Kuroko blushed intensely.
"What are you doing, Akashi-kun?!" He said, looking away. His former captain will be the death of him in the future, he groaned internally.
"Getting you out of here. And yes, I am decent, Kuroko," Akashi chuckled when the teal-haired had him turn around to put on his robe. While it was fun to watch the shorter male fidget under his gaze, Kuroko may collapse should they stay for a few. In addition, he was no fan of public attention either. Once the two were decent enough to leave the place, Kuroko stepped into the marble tiles sluggishly-
And slipped.
"TETSUYA!"
Time slowed down and the crashing sound echoed through the onsen. Kuroko had his eyes screw shut when he heard his captain's voice laced with concern underneath him. Wait… Underneath?! Propping his elbows for better assessment, cerulean blues widened when his gaze took in a well-toned chest to sensual lips and finally, his ruby eyes. More so when he found themselves in a suggestive position.
Surely, he must be dreaming. Or not when Akashi merely smiled apologetically, if not, a bit entertained the way Kuroko stiffened to his touch.
"I should have told you about the tiles." He whispered. Kuroko murmured an apology and tried to sit up. Akashi didn't relent. Instead, he flipped their positions, earning a gasp from the unsuspecting male.
"Akashi-kun, what are you…?" Kuroko trailed off, seeing the playful smirk working on his captain's lips. He blinked. Was he serious? Sure, he had his moments to marvel his captain in admiration but this was different.
As if reading his thoughts, Akashi leaned to his ear. The teal-haired quivered when he spoke, his tone changed into husky one.
"Tetsuya…" Schooling his emotions into one blank expression, Kuroko dared to meet his stare only to notice that Akashi bumped his forehead against his. The silence was deafening but the teal-haired waited patiently for him to say something.
"Are you all right, Akashi-kun?" Crimson ones peered at him, making him writhe unnervingly. It didn't help that the red-haired's robe loosened due to the incident, granting him the full view of his upper torso and lean muscles. His condition was no better than the former with his wrap falling to his elbows, the knot holding the fabric together almost untangled.
The teal-haired swallowed. Akashi's face was too close to his liking. Too close!
It might be an accident but the insinuation should someone walked in on them in a rather compromised situation was too terrifying, indeed.
"You two will catch a cold if you do not step inside sooner, Seijuurou-kun, Tetsuya-kun." Both inclined their heads towards the door, Kuroko flushing a brilliant red when he noticed Nana by the entrance and a rare smile decorating her chapped lips. Akashi pulled himself off and extended a hand to help the other, scrambling to fix his robe.
"I apologize, Nana-san. We were both occupied at the moment and did not notice the time." He explained smoothly.
"Yes, I can see that." Nana chuckled when she saw the teal-haired stared at his companion, disbelief written on his face. She continued. "Moreover, you two must be famished from your trip. Thus, I prepared Yodofu Boiled Tofu for lunch while you were enjoying your bath."
"Thank you very much for kind consideration, Nana-san." Akashi dipped his head in appreciation. The elder nodded in return and was about to leave the premises when she threw them a sideway glance and left.
Ka-chack! Ka-chack! Went the bamboo shoot as it hit the stone nearby. Akashi let his fingers card blue locks in comfort, his crimson eyes reflecting hilarity in them when the teal-haired tilt his head against his shoulder blade weakly.
"Too much for a day, I presume?" He teased. The red-haired could feel the shorter male's glare reserved for him (and only for him, he thought) until a defeated sigh left his lips. Affirming it as his victory, the smirk adorning his lips turned into a melodic laugh when he heard the other spoke volumes.
"No, but I promised you that I will win the next time I had the chance," Kuroko whispered, his ears burning.
Meanwhile, Nana beamed to herself when she heard the young heir's tuneful mirth bouncing across the hallway. She couldn't believe her ears when her granddaughter told her of her brother figure's disposition. After his mother died, she never saw the boy smile nor did his laughter. As she walked from the scene, a distant memory of a young woman floated before her eyes.
'I thought Seijuurou-kun would never let go of the past when he lost you. Instead, he found the strength in him to go on.' Nana stopped by the window, amber eyes observing a snowflake hovering outside. She smiled.
'I wish you could have seen him with your best friend's son, Shori-chan.'
i'm pretty sure nee-san's gonna get mad at me when she wakes up but meh! anyways, what do you guys feel about the next chapter? and oh, do recommend some music preferable for a slow dance with your name.
and don't forget to leave a review!