A/N: Sorry for the long wait everyone! It has been awhile since I've updated huh? Well, let me explain my long absence then, my projects and assignments at school almost killed me and my classmates these last few days, and this week, maybe since Saturday, there was a typhoon in our country, Philippines and it hit Central Luzon, where our city is located, quite hard and the flood almost came inside our house, so we panicked and…well, you know, I had no time to update, actually it still rains hard here and still has high flood infront of our house, so we're still being alert. I hope you understand.
Love you, guys? But, favor? More reviews please. –puppy eyes-
By the way, many are complaining for my change of couples, do not worry, people, I love you guys so much I will grant your wishes.
ENJOY!
Hugs,
Me and my wicked plans.
"Something Lost Will Never Return"
Chapter Seven:
The Teikou Middle School Basketball Club. An incredibly strong team with over one hundred members and three consecutive championship wins. Amongst their brilliant record, the generation of five prodigies was known as the "Generation of Miracles". Despite being relatively unknown and lacking a game record, there was one more member recognized by the five prodigies. A phantom sixth man.
And inside one of Raven Hospital's ambulance, a certain teal-head's heart beat became slower and slower that it made a long beep that alarmed all the staffs inside the ambulance.
"Sh*t." One cursed.
"CPR! Hurry!" One of the two doctors inside shouted.
Two of the nurses surrounding Tetsuya took out the CPR Unit and prepared it for few seconds before using it to revive the not-beating heart of the phantom player. They did for three times, but the heart monitor continued the long beep.
"We can't give up now!" The other doctor growled, grabbed the CPR Unit from the nurses and tried it again and again.
"Doctor Sawaka…" The other doctor murmured.
He continued pressing the unit into the bluenette's chest, his sweat being wiped by the nurses beside him, but he didn't care and continued as long as he could. "Didn't you see the red-head's face earlier before he left? Didn't you see how hard it was to him to watch this little guy to be away from him with no certainty of his safety? Didn't you see how pained he was, Doctor Huika?" He grunted and pressed it harder into Kuroko's chest.
Doctor Huika gulped then nodded, before grabbing the phone not a meter away from him. "Get ready for an operation. We'll b right there after one or two minutes. Be damn ready or we'll kill you." He ordered and placed the phone back into its place. "Let me try."
"B-But, doctor…it was almost two minutes when his heart stopped…" One of the four nurses murmured.
Doctor Sawaka glared at her. "So, what's your point? Let him die when he still has even 1% of being revived?"
She gasped and quickly shut her mouth.
Huika grabbed the CPR Unit, took a deep breath, then pressed the unit into Kuroko's chest for few seconds then released it. They waited and then almost collapsed in relief when they heard the small beep from the heart monitor. Even if it's slow and weak, Kuroko's heart beat started again, and it was enough for them.
~LFMH021~
Akashi paced back and forth before the door of the Operating Room where Kuroko was instantly placed at when he arrived in the hospital. The red-head arrived after almost twenty minutes, and a surgery was already being done to Kuroko, so all he could do was wait outside.
He suddenly remembered the scenario that happened right after the Winter Cup Finals ended.
He watched in shock when his predictions failed him. Kagami and Kuroko did attack him at the same time, as he predicted, at first, but then Kuroko tapped the ball to an unknown direction and to no one at all. Akashi frowned and gasped as Kuroko suddenly disappeared and Kagami also did after awhile. He looked behind him and found Kuroko running towards the boundary line and tapped the ball back to Kagami, before crashing into the audience's seats' boundaries.
"Shoot it, Kagami-kun!" Kuroko shouted as he started to stand up.
"No! Stop the—" Akashi didn't shout on time, because before he could even move, Kagami jumped very high and dunked the ball so hard into the hoop, it almost fell off again.
After a second, the referee made a long whistle and made the sign of the end of the game. "Game over! Seirin won with 99 to 97!" He announced.
"YES!" Seirin's members celebrated and approached Kuroko to support him.
He frowned. The Generation of miracles should be there beside Kuroko, not Seirin. He should be the one making a small high-five with the blue-head and smiling at him. He should be the one with him, not those people.
"Teams assemble!"The referee ordered and they did so before bowing to one another.
He looked up and met Kuroko's eyes as they started to separate ways. "You won. You can forget the oath. You can forget me. I've brought you enough pain, right? You can just think and pretend that Akashi Seijuuro never existed in your life."
Kuroko's eyes widened with what he heard and trembled as the red-head started to head towards his team's bench.
Akashi looked up and met his teammates' eyes. He narrowed his eyes and smirked. "I know, you're blaming me for losing the finals. Don't worry, I also do. As promised, I will now quit as Rakuzan's captain and stop playing basketball from now—" He was cut off when a hand grabbed his arm and turned his around.
"DON'T!", was Kuroko's sudden shout on his face.
He frowned. "What?"
"Don't quit! Don't stop playing basketball!" He panted and squeezed his arm. "Please, Akashi-kun, don't."
He bemusedly laughed and stared at Kuroko as if he's a ghost or an alien. "You won already, Tetsuya. We lost, 'I' lost. I think I have the right to quit especially when I was the one who brought this team down—"
"No, you didn't!" Kuroko urged and looked at Rakuzan's members. "Do you agree with me?"
They looked at one another then smiled wide grins. "Yep, we agree, captain! You don't need to quit being our captain, and stop playing the sport you love the most. Losing comes into anyone's life, you don't have to blame yourself!"
He frowned, turned to his members then back to the phantom player again. "Why, Tetsuya? Wasn't I the reason why you and Ogiwara Shigehiro's friendship shattered into pieces? Wasn't I the reason you hated basketball? Wasn't I the reason why you felt too much pain?" He demanded.
"Yes, you were the reasons for those memories." The bluenette bluntly replied.
He mentally flinched with how cold and pained Kuroko's voice was when he answered.
"But," The phantom player quickly added. He looked up and smiled warmly at him. "But, you're also the reason how I found out where I'm good at. You were the reason why enjoyed basketball more. And you were the reason I met the Generation of Miracles. You, Akashi-kun, was the reason why I still play basketball and will forever play it."
He froze, he stiffened, he turned into a statue. His eyes widened so much it scared his teammates.
Kuroko waved a hand before Akashi's face. "Akashi-kun?"
He blinked, which relieved the Rakuzan's members, and looked right into Kuroko's teal-colored eyes, which were filled with innocence, sincerity and mercy. He couldn't help smiling as he approached him and wrapped his arms around him. "Thank you." He whispered.
Kuroko barely heard, but did anyway and his heart thumped loud uncharacteristically and he looked up at Akashi. He smiled back and snuggled closer into the red-head's chest. "You're always welcome, Akashi-kun."
That's also when the other members of the Generation of Miracles arrived and congratulated them both. That's when Akashi realized that Kuroko was never the shadow, he has always been the light of his world.
He frustratingly clenched his fists and sat on the waiting area's bench in impatience.
"Akashicchi!" From the voice, nickname and irritating cry—Akashi quickly distinguished who was flying onto his arms, that's also why he instinctively stood up and went as far as he could from a certain blonde model which was also the reason that the latter ended up with red nose for hitting his face into the bench's hard surface. "Ow…"
Aomine picked Kise up and sat him beside him in the bench. "You're seriously an idiot, aren't you?"
Kise pouted. "I'm not!"
Midorima glared at both of them. "Keep it quiet, both of you."
"Akachin, you alright?" Murasakibara asked as he patted Akashi's head in concern. "Want some pocky?" He adorably offered a pack of chocolate Pocky at the red-head with his head tilted to one side.
Akashi looked up at the violet-head, then at the other three arguing on the bench. He couldn't help realizing another fact.
Kise stood up from his seat and approached the Operating Room's door before peeking although he couldn't see anything but nurses and doctors doing all they could to cure Kuroko who was fighting for his life. "Is he going to be alright…?" He mumbled.
No one replied to his question which almost felt like a knife was stabbed into his chest with their sudden and chilly silence. "No one knows huh…" The copycat added and involuntarily took a step aback. "Kurokocchi's almost dying, but we're here…doing nothing."
"We're not doing nothing, we're waiting and trusting him." Aomine corrected with a determined expression.
"Are those enough?" Kise whispered which startled the four. The blonde has always been a childish, clingy and nosy person, but it was very rare and important to listen to him when he becomes sober, because that meant that what he was going to say was something that'll open others' hearts and minds. "Haven't you heard him before? He didn't know if he should even trust us again after we abandoned him, after we turned our backs on him…If it was you, would you be able to trust them again when you have already made a mistake by trusting them before?" He questioned and sat back on his seat. "Can our prayers and trust even reach him?" He mumbled, bit his bottom lip and wiped the tears that betrayed him.
"Kise…" Aomine murmured and easily leaned the blonde's head into his chest.
"Kurokocchi…Kurokocchi is the reason why we're here…he was the reason why we reunited again…" He sobbed.
Three pairs of eyes looked up at a certain red-head leaning against the wall. "Is that true, Akashi? Do you also think the same?"
"Of course I do. From the very start, he wanted to become the bridge to change us or bring us to our old selves. He was the bridge which let us meet one another again." He replied.
Aomine's arm tightened around Kise as the latter sobbed harder into his chest. "Where Kasamatsu?"
"H-He's with t-the team…pr-practicing…" Kise replied between hiccups.
Aomine placed his hand on his head and pulled it closer into the crook of his neck and shoulder. "That damn bastard, I thought I told him to take care of you." He hissed unconsciously.
Kise blinked. "Eh?" He mumbled in surprise and raised his head to look to the power forward. "What…do you mean?"
Aomine's eyes widened upon realizing what he just spat and bit his bottom lip and averted his gaze, clearly feeling uncomfortable with the situation.
Akashi looked at the two through the corner of his eyes and mentally smirked. I thought so. He thought.
Midorima turned a little to know what's going on and felt the awkward atmosphere, so he quickly dismissed his curiosity that wanted him to eavesdrop and tried not to get involved.
Murasakibara just continued nibbling his lollipop as he sat on the floor, leaned against the wall, beside Akashi, staring into space.
Aomine growled in frustration, then grabbed Kise's arm before dragging the latter to the rooftop. "This'll only take few minutes!" He shouted to the remaining three.
"I don't mind. Take your time." Akashi coldly stated and crossed his arms before his chest as he stared at the OR's door.
"Akashi-kun! Goodbye! Take care on your way home." Kuroko bade with a small smile before walking to the opposite direction.
That time was just a simple see-you-again bid, but this time…he's not really sure.
Akashi never felt special, and he never considered anyone special to him either…until a teal-head walked into his life with innocent and challenging eyes that caught his attention.
~LFMH021~
Aomine growled in frustration, then grabbed Kise's arm before dragging the latter to the rooftop. "This'll only take few minutes!" He shouted to the remaining three.
"I don't mind. Take your time." Akashi coldly stated and he couldn't help flinching with the red-head's tone.
"Aominecchi! Wait! A-Aominecchi!" Kise panted as he tried to keep the same pace as the dark head. "Aominecchi!"
He wasn't really planning to say it today. Heck, he wasn't planning to say it forever, until his stupid big mouth has slipped. It's not like he could just take them back, not when Kise's before him crying with no Kasamatsu there for him and no Kagami to make him feel awkward.
He forcefully opened the locked door of the rooftop and shoved themselves inside before shutting it behind him.
"Aominecchi, what—"
"Damn it!" Aomine cut in.
Kise blinked in surprise. "Aominecchi…are you alright?"
He took a deep breath and looked straight into those golden orbs before starting, "I love you."
Now, that was such a nice beginning.
Kise blinked as a blush appeared on both of his cheeks. "H-Huh? Aominecchi, this isn't funny."
"Of course it isn't, I'm not laughing, you dumbass." Aomine grumbled and took a step closer to the blonde. "I love you since we were in middle school, Kise, is that such a hard thing to understand?"
"B-But you're with Kagamicchi and I'm with K-Kasamatsu-senpai…" Kise stammered as he took a step backwards.
Aomine bit his bottom lip and sighed. "My relationship with Kagami is just temporary. He pities me, I pity him, so we decided to go out with each other, so we'll provide each other's needs and won't feel lonely and left out…"
"B-but why?" Kise unbelievingly gasped.
Aomine averted his gaze. "Because you were already Kasamatsu's. He gathered courage earlier than I did. You're already his when I finally had the courage to tell it to you."
The copycat stared, speechless, at the ace player and gulped. "I also do." He whispered, hesitant.
Aomine looked up in confusion. "What?"
"I also love you back…since we were in Teikou, but I thought it was Kurokocchi you were interested with, so I brushed off my feelings although I felt so rejected and broken-hearted…Then when we turned into High Schoolers, I thought you really loved Kagamicchi, so I accepted Kasamatsu-senpai's feelings, disregarding my own although it shouts your name over and over again." He murmured.
They stared at each other because they both adorably blushed tomato red up to their ears. "Ok, this is awkward." Aomine grunted as he scratched his head.
Kise pouted, took long strides towards the bluenette and stopped an inch before him.
"What?" Aomine complained and gasped when his head was suddenly pulled a little downwards and his lips met Kise's into a hot kiss. His eyes widened, but then they slowly closed as he wrapped his arms around Kise's waist and deepened the kiss by inserting his tongue inside Kise's mouth and battling against the blonde and winning.
Kise moaned when he felt Aomine's hand slip inside his shirt and trace his chest with his warm fingers. He moaned louder when the blue-head tipped his head to nip Kise's earlobe deliciously.
"A-Aominecchi…" He purred and pulled the ace closer. "T-This won't be easy."
"It sure damned won't be." Aomine agreed.
They looked at each other's eyes, smiled and then leaned their lips against each other's once again, savoring the little time given to them.
~LFMH021~
"Let go, Akashi-kun!" He heard Kuroko yell as Akashi's arm started feeling numb for holding onto the teal-head for several minutes already.
He tried pulling him up, but failed miserably. He suddenly regretted having a small body. "No, Tetsuya."
"But, well both fall if you continue this." Kuroko pleaded, "Let me go, Akashi-kun."
He gritted his teeth. "If you'll fall, then I'll fall with you instead of letting you go." He insisted and jumped from where he was onto the air, before wrapping his arms around a startled teal-head.
"Akashi-kun—"
"I'll never let go; I'll rather be killed and die with you." He grunted.
He felt Kuroko slipping from his grasp and he tried to grab him back, but he's falling down, down and down until he's nowhere in sight. "Akashi-kun!" He heard the other cry.
He shouted with all he had, "TETSUYA!"
A shake of his shoulders jolted him awake from the nightmare he just had. He rubbed his eyes a little, opened them and looked up. His eyes widened upon seeing the two doctors that were assigned to Kuroko's operation awhile ago.
"Are you a relative of Kuroko Tetsuya?" One of them asked gently.
He shook his head and sat up straight. "No relative of his came, so, as his friends, we went here instead." He explained. "Is his operation done?"
They smiled a little and nodded. "Yes, about ten to fifteen minutes ago."
He massaged his temple. Where the hell are those other three? "Is he alright?"
"His operation was successful, his heart almost stopped few times inside the ambulance and inside the OR, but thank God that he's being resuscitated. He's been placed in Room 38 on the second floor. One to Four visitors are only allowed inside one's room, alright?"
"Before anything, what injuries did he receive from that long fall?" Akashi queried as he stood up to get ready.
The two doctors exchanged looks and remembered Kuroko's plea before his operation started, "Please don't let Akashi-kun…know that I have leukemia…Please, I beg you."
And they promised it to him, so they need to grant it, right?
The other smiled. "He has broken one rib, twisted his ankle, he almost lost a lot of blood that led him to death, but the scenario changed when he arrived in the hospital. Oh, and he sprained his right wrist." They enumerated.
"His right wrist?" He repeated.
"Yes, we believe that he needs to rest it for about two weeks, so it'll recover." They replied. "Excuse us, we need to tend other patients now, would that be alright?"
He nodded. "Yes, of course." And then he started going on the second floor with suspicious and guilty expression on his face.
After arriving on the second floor, he looked for Room 38 and knocked on the door when he was infront of it. He was feeling quite nervous and panicked without any particular reason.
"Come in.", said the mild voice.
He twisted the door knob and slowly went inside the room and closed the door behind him. He finally looked at the person on the bed and clenched his fists. "Tetsuya, I…"
"Akashi-kun?" cut in the phantom player.
"Yes?"
"It is you, Akashi-kun!" Kuroko whispered in awe and tears poured on his cheeks. "You're here…"
He only took two long strides to be able to approach the bluenette and instinctively wiped the tears away. "What are crying all about?" He demanded with amusement and caressed the phantom player's cheek.
He was startled when Kuroko suddenly wrapped his arms around his neck and pulled him into a tight hug. "Akashi-kun."
"What's this? What's up with you? Is something wrong?"
Kuroko shook his head and leaned his head against the red-head's chest. "It's just…I thought you left…I was waiting for you this whole time, but you never arrived until…It just makes me happy that this time, you didn't abandon me, that you waited for me…and that you stayed as you promised in my dream—you didn't let go."
His eyes widened upon remembering his recent dream. "You..." He trailed off on purpose and absorbed the heat coming from Kuroko's body. He's alive, he's alive and breathing. He didn't drown into the darkness. He's in my arms.
"I love you, Tetsuya." He whispered with pride and confidence. "I love you and don't ask me why or I'll stab you then stab myself afterwards."
"Are—"
"Don't even ask if I'm kidding, because I'm obviously not. And lastly, this is not a movie, so don't ask if I love you as friend, because I don't. I love you as in I love you." He cut in, just in case Kuroko question his feelings.
"But, Akashi-kun…I don't think I deserve this special treatment…If it was because of my confession before I fainted…you don't need to feel responsible. I truly feel that towards you, but I don't want to force you to love me back. I mean, I—"
Akashi silenced him by pushing him on the bed and kissing him deeply that it almost made Kuroko faint again. "Silence," He ordered and lifted Kuroko's right hand. "I love you, and I don't need ridiculous reasons to have that feeling towards you. I love you, that's all that matters for me right now, alright? Except that I'm truthfully and honestly glad you feel the same way." He complained and gave Kuroko another hot kiss.
"A-Akashi-kun…" Kuroko murmured.
The red-head smirked and started to trail butterfly kisses until Kuroko's collarbone, before biting it.
"A-Ah, Akashi-kun…Mmmnnn…" Kuroko moaned with pleasure.
"Hush, or the doctors and nurses will hear you." Akashi commanded and lifted Kuroko's top pajamas. "Stifle your moans, will you?" He whispered and sucked Kuroko's nipple into his mouth.
The bluenette gasped silently and squirmed in the process of stifling his groans and moans. "Nnnnnggg…"
The red-head did the same with the other nipple before trailing down into the blue-head's navel. He licked it before going upwards and removing Kuroko's hand that covered his mouth.
"Moan." He ordered with a kiss which made Kuroko shudder and purr.
"A-Akashi-kun…"
Akashi went into a sitting position beside the bluenette and chuckled with the unnoticeable disappointment in the phantom player's teal eyes. "I'm just holding back, because you're injured, but wait until you're fully recovered and you'll regret loving this Akashi Seijuuro."
Kuroko blinked then nodded. "Then, I shall fully recover fast then."
"Indeed, you should." Akashi agreed and then leaned closer to Kuroko. "Tomorrow, you'll tell me everything. From your illness, to your bruises, to the memories that haunt you and to the secrets you're keeping. If I won't get answers, I'll punish you."
Kuroko couldn't help gulping.
"Understood?" Akashi mumbled with cold tone.
The bluenette nodded. "Y-Yes, Akashi-kun."
"And another thing, from now on, you shall call me Sei-kun or Seijuuro-kun."
"Sei-kun?" Kuroko tried.
He smiled and caressed the phantom player's cheek with his thumb. "After you're checked out of this hospital, you will stay on my place. I don't want your bastard cousin using you again for his own accord or I'll kill him."
"What…about your father?"
He smirked. "That's something I could handle, so don't worry. I will do anything just to keep you safe."
Kuroko blinked and painstakingly hugged the red-head from behind. "Thank you, Sei-kun."
All of Akashi's control shattered with that adorable gratitude message, and he turned to meet Kuroko's surprised eyes. "You're really tempting me, aren't you?" He demanded and lifted Kuroko's chin.
"W-Waah…Aka—I mean, Sei-kun…"
He placed a smooch into the blue-head's soft lips. "You'll join the Generation of Miracles again, right?"
"Is that what you want?"
"Perhaps?" He replied.
Kuroko smiled slightly and nodded. "Then, I will."
"Good." Akashi grunted and savaged Kuroko's swollen lips.
~LFMH021~
Murasakibara blinked when he encountered Midorima along the hallway of the Hospital. He just went downstairs to buy a bag of snacks and decided to go to Room 38.
"Mido-chin?" He called out in confusion.
Midorima looked up with red cheeks and red ears. "Ugh…"
"Huh, Mido-chin, you alright?"
Midorima covered his face. "Damn, and I thought it was just Kise and Aomine; now also Akashi and Kuroko." He complained.
Murasakibara frowned a little then proceeded towards where Room 28 was located when a hand grabbed his arm.
"Don't." Midorima ordered.
He pouted. "But why~?"
Midorima started to drag him away from Room 28. "I don't want your innocence to be removed too, Murasakibara. Now, I better give you back to Himuro Tatsuya, so he could take care of you."
"What about Kise-chin, Mine-chin, Aka-china and Kuro-chin?" He queried.
Once again, Midorima turned into a fully ripped tomato and dragged him away faster now. "No. Stay with Himuro Tatsuya. I don't want your mind to be corrupted too."
He blinked. "Huh?"
I don't get it. The violet-head complained mentally.
A/N: I love you guys!
Missed me? I also did.
Wow, that was a long update. And very boring too. Damn, Blessie, can't you do any better?!
PLEASE REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW!
Who wants some…romantic scenes? Raise your hands! –raise my hand-
Bye bye.
Hugs,
Me and my stupid grin.