Andou might also have been saying it out of jealousy. It could all have been out of self-interest it was a testament to the deep affection that he had for Kuroko.
"Dom't worries," Kuroko said trying to lighten the mood. "You'll be with me."
Andou still didn't look happy but he didn't say anything anymore.
When they finished dinner they each had coffee
"It's coming up soon," said Kuroko bringing the cup to his mouth.
"What is?" Andou asked puzzled.
"Miss Kaori anniversary," Kuroko replied. "Shall we go to the tomb together?"
Andou nodded at Kuroko request. "Thank you for remembering again this year."
"Don't thank me," Kuroko said. "Of course I would remember,"
It still hurt for Kuroko to remember Kaori. If only he had been more careful. It was his biggest regret.
"Andou can I ask you something?" Kuroko said.
"Of course," Andou answered.
"After Kaori died why did you bring me that lead?" Kuroko asked.
Andou narrowed his eyes as if trying to remember.
"You really cared about Kaori," he replied. "When she died you even cried with me. Kaori use to tell me that she had a really reliable detective watching over her so I needn't worry anymore. Before when she told peop[le about the stalker no one had listened. You listened and visited her so many times. She was so grateful to you. Me too I'm really glad that we met."
Was this simple gratitude? It was like Andou was trying to express himself but couldn't.
Kuroko couldn't return the love. "I guess it was thank you, and then we're the same aren't we," he said.
"The same…?" Andou asked
"Yes we both lost our parent and were left with only our sisters," Kuroko clarified. "And then to have that one most important person murdered.
"Mr. Kuroko you and I have know the same pain." Andou didn't call him Mr. Yamato as he normally did. He called him by his true name.
Kuroko was a little shaken by this sudden change in atmosphere.
He picked up the ashtray on the table and motioned for Andou's lighter. Andou didn't open the lighte for him but just held it out. Reaching out to take it the silver lighter was softly placed into Kuroko hand.
In the next instant something Kuroko hadn't expected happened. Andou grabbed the hand that Kuroko was holding the lighter in. the place where he touched felt hot. That heat they moved up Kuroko arm to fill his entire body. It didn't seem real Kuroko was overcome by an intense uneasiness almost like a panic.
"andou…," his small voice called the name out like a desperate plea. Andou remained expressionless and then released Kuroko hand. The place became filled with an uneasy silence.
As Kuroko tried to form words, Andou stood up.
"Let's go," he said.
He was acting like nothing had happened. Kuroko felt enraged that Andou had scared him like Andou really was after him then Kuroko didn't know what he would do.
Feeling troubled by this development he opened the sliding door and stepped out into the corridor. Standing there was an eye-catching, tall man Kuroko stopped in his tracks.
Their eyes met upon noticing Kuroko the corners of the man mouth turned up meaningfully.
It was the same man he had passed at Andou office. Tonight he was wearing a simple three-piece see and looked like an ordinary white-collar worker. But he still had a strong presence about him.
"Well if it isn't Kagami Taiga?" Andoiu said greeting the man. "Here for dinner?"
"Yeah," the man answered. "Tatsuya said this was a good restaurant and brought me here."
"I see," Andou said. "Mr. Tatsuya is here too?" behind the man was a slim young man to whom Andou gave a nod. It was the man who had been wearing the black suit. Today he was in gray.
The man called Tatsuya gave his respects haven't spoken with you in a while. I'm glad to see the you're looking well." It looked like he was Kagami sectary or in a position similar to it.
"We should be going,"
"Yes we're leaving now anyway," Andou said. "Thank you for taking the trouble to come to the office the other day."
Kagami laughed and said it was nothing. Its had apparently been visiting Andou that day.
"If there is anything I can do please don't hesitate to let me know," he said.
"Yes thank you again," Andou said. Cutting the conversation short perhaps that he was making Kuroko wait.
Following behind Andou Kuroko also nodded as he passed Kagami. But suddenly his arm grabbed from behind holding him back.
"Be careful with Andou," to Kuroko amazement the familiar words resounded quietly in his ear. Those words that voice it couldn't be.
This was the mysterious man from the phone call….
When Kuroko opened his mouth to say something Kagami quickly released him and hurried past. As Kuroko stared behind him Andou turned around suspiciously.
"Mr. Yamato? Is something wrong?" he inquired.
"No," Kuroko replied and caught up with Andou.
After dealing with the bill they got into the car. Inside Kuroko asked Andou, "Who was that guy just now?"
"Mr. Kagami? He is the organization assistant," Andou replied as he pulled out of the parking lot.
Kuroko knew now the man was indeed Yakuza.
"He runs a business so he not like the other," Andou continued explaining. "Same as myself. He has quite a lot power in the group."
A Yakuza employed in the same group as Andou. Why he had he come to meet him? And why the advice?
"Mr. Kagami was a senior in my school," Andou said. "We used to do stupid stuff together. A year before I lost Kaori we met again in Kabuki-cho by coincidence and we started up an acquaintance again. He was the one who invited me to the Generation of Miracles. You used to have to pay protection money to the Yakuza but as I had business in Kabuki-cho he suggested that I affiliate myself and get the support of the group instead."
"He was the child of the former president's lover," Andou revealed.
"So he will take over?" Kuroko asked.
"No that position is intended for the president's son by his official wife so Kagami was pushed aside," Andou said. " "The thing is that the new president is a young and spoild child so I think that the members of the organization will want Kagami to succeed instead. I have the same opion. Kagami is smart and has composed."
Kuroko could tell that behind the words was Andou trust in Kagami. He thought back to the image he had of Kagami just now.
The man strong. A man of srormy good looks with eyes that looked like they could see through anything. His smile was cynical just calling him inexplicably made Kuroko feel on his guard.
The car stopped at a red light looking at the tailinghts of the car in front Kuroko muttered at himself'
"I don't like that man."
Andou heard Kuroko and turned to him interested.
"That's odd," he said. "You never say whether you like or dislike a person."
"Really?" Kuroko asked genuinely surprised.
"Yes," Andou said. "These the first time I've heard you say something like that."
It was true that Kuroko rarely expressed him opinions or evaluations of other people. But he genuinely did not like that Kagami. There was no logic to it there was just something about the man.
That man was dangerous he felt. Kuroko neede to be careful.
Inside Kuroko head a red warning light was silently flashing.
Continue?
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