-Keep Close-

Summary: Kuroko and Aomine are struggling with their feelings as they look for Yuki. The other characters also deal with their own issues.

Warning: AoKuro moments. Kagami x Himuro bromance. Conflict! Conflict! OOC tags for some characters (for the sake of my story :P).

Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to Kuroko no Baske. All rights go to Fujimaki Tadatoshi-sensei. ^_^


-Chapter Nine: Torn-

Kuroko and Aomine sat while facing each other at the table. They were eating breakfast with both their heads pounding from the hangover.

Kuroko silently ate. His head was aching but so were his hips. His cheeks grew hot at the thought of why his hips were aching. He secretly glanced at Aomine and saw that the guy was not eating but was looking at him.

"Tetsu..."

"Yes?" He put down on the table the bowl of rice that he was holding. He raised his head and faced Aomine though he was still chewing his food.

"I want us to be always together like this," Aomine said.

Kuroko's cheeks grew hotter with every second that Aomine's eyes were on him.

"M-me, too," he said in a low voice.

That made Aomine smile from ear to ear. He happily ate his food. "So would you like to live here with me?"

Kuroko smiled. He was about to say yes when he remembered where he lived and why he lived there. The smile disappeared from his face and he layed down his chopsticks on the table.

"Tetsu?" Aomine had a worried look on his face. "I'm sorry if that was too presumptious of me. Never mind what I said. Just forget about it."

"No," he said.

"What do you mean, Tetsu?"

"I-I can't. I'm sorry, Daiki. I don't think I can do this anymore." Kuroko's chest was tightening. He put his hand on his chest.

Aomine stood up and went to him. "Are you okay, Tetsu?"

Kuroko shook his head. "No, I'm not okay." He was torn. The guilt and the conflicting emotions were swirling together inside him. There was his duty to Yuki. But the feelings that took over him last night was also getting stronger and stronger.

"Do you want to rest? Just finish you breakfast later." Aomine helped him stand up from his chair and led him to the bedroom. He helped Kuroko lay down on the bed.

Aomine was about to turn and leave the room when Kuroko held his hand. He turned around and looked searchingly at the blue-haired guy.

"Daiki, please don't leave me."

Aomine sat beside Kuroko on the bed and cupped his face with his free hand. He smiled at him. "I will never. Now take a rest." Aomine was about to stand up but Kuroko pulled him back. "Tetsu?"

Kuroko sat up on the bed and gave Aomine a gentle kiss. Then he lowered his head. He felt his cheeks were blazing red now.

"Tetsu?" Aomine held his chin and raised his face to so that they were looking closely at each other.

Kuroko did not want Aomine to leave him. He felt the unstoppable urge to hold him close and never let go. He wanted to touch Aomine, to kiss him and to be embraced by him.

Tears fell down from his eyes. He felt so happy right now because Aomine was with him. But the happiness that he felt was also because there was only the two of them. And that led to more guilt because they were only together because Yuki was not there with him.

How selfish could he get?

Aomine looked alarmed at the sight of his tears. He wiped them away but Kuroko still continued to cry.

"I'm sorry," he said.

"What are you sorry for?" Aomine asked.

"I just—I just feel so happy right now. Is that wrong?" he answered.

"It's—"

"Yuki... She's not here and I'm so happy. I'm the worst person ever," he said.

Aomine embraced him and patted his back to make him calm down. "You're not the worst, Tetsu. I am."

Kuroko lightly pushed Aomine away to look into his eyes. What did he mean?

"Daiki..."

Aomine hesitated for a second but opened his mouth to speak after a while. "If you say you're the worst, then what does it make me? You said Yuki is gone and you are happy. But I'm the one who is happier that she's gone. I'm the worst person in this world to rejoice in having you by my side because your girlfriend disappeared." He lowered his head, unable to look at Kuroko.

It was Kuroko's turn to hold Aomine's chin up until their gaze met each other. He smiled, able to understand the guy's feelings. So they were feeling the same after all. But what did it all mean?

His heart skipped a beat when he realized how warm Aomine's skin was to his touch. His pulse quickened at the sight of Aomine's slightly opened lips. He gulped before speaking. "Daiki... Daiki, I—I want you."

Aomine held the hand that was on his chin. "No, Tetsu. I don't want to hear just that. Please. Please tell me what you really feel."

Kuroko tried to look away but Aomine stopped him with cupping his face.

How can he? He was afraid of his own feelings, of his own selfishness. He was afraid that he would also turn Aomine away because of his feelings. So how can he?

"No. I—I only want Daiki," he said.

Aomine stood up from the bed and turned his back on him. He sighed. "I will let you come to terms with your feelings, Tetsu. Take the day off. I will call your school. Let's talk again when I get back," Aomine said.

He watched the guy take out his coat from the closet and leave the bedroom.

Kuroko cried because of guilt. He did it again. He had, once again, managed to turn away the one that he loved.


"Yo!" Kise said as soon as he saw Aomine enter the fastfood chain.

They were at Maji Burger. There was one near the police headquarters so they decided to meet there. It was sort of a habit for both of them. They would sometimes meet in that place whenever Kise was in the area.

Aomine called Kise up and apologized for not picking him up. Kise said that it was okay but Aomine still felt bad because he had to lie as an excuse. He could never tell anyone from the Generation of Miracles about what was happening between him and Kuroko. Never.

He invited Kise for a quick lunch at Maji burger to make up for the guy. He was a bit busy but he was able to squeeze in his appointment with Kise for lunch.

"How are you feeling?" Kise asked.

They both sat facing each other at the table after they got their food.

"How are you feeling," he asked back to Kise.

Kise chuckled. "My head's killing me, of course. I'm no superman. Just a super pilot."

Aomine shook his head while smiling at the guy. "That makes me the super police then. Idiot."

They started eating their lunch quietly. They started talking again after eating.

"So how was Kuroko?" Kise said.

"He took the day off. He's really bad with alcohol," Aomine said.

Kise nodded. "Do you like him, Aominecchi?"

"What?" He wished he misheard Kise but he didn't. Did the blond guy know about them already? Were they found out?

Kise put his chin on his palm as his elbow rested on the table. He looked meaningfully at Aomine. "Please don't get too close with Kurokocchi, Aominecchi."

"Why do you say that? Tetsu and I are friends."

Kise smiled meaningfully. "Tetsu and I are friends, too. But you should not get too close to him. He belongs to someone else already."

"I'm telling you, you're mistaken. There's nothing going on between me and Tetsu." Of course he lied. He would never tell the truth. At least not now. He would never put Kuroko in a bad position just to defend himself.

Kise smiled again, this time it was a one-sided smile. "I would have taken him for my own had I found him sooner than you, Aominecchi. But Kurokocchi already has a girlfriend, doesn't he? Even though she's probably the one you're looking for right now. But why are you going to such great lengths as to living together? Is there something more that you're not telling me?"

How did he know? Aomine's heart raced at the thought of their secrets getting exposed by Kise. It was surprising how Kise knew all that even though they only met and talked about Kuroko a few times. It sounded as if he knew more than what he was letting on. But how did he? Did Kuroko already tell him? That's impossible...

Aomine shook his head. He must not doubt Kuroko right now. Maybe it was his fault. Maybe he was being too obvious about it.

Kise leaned back on his seat and sighed. "I'm just telling you as a friend, Aominecchi. I don't want you to get hurt that's why I'm telling you not to get too close to Kurokocchi. If you say that you're friends, then stay that way or else... I'm sure you know the consequences once Kuroko's missing person turns up. How guilty and hurt would Kurokocchi be?"

Kise's words ate at Aomine. The guy was right. He was hurting Kuroko by pressuring him to reveal his feelings. He should not have said those things this morning. It was wrong of him to demand for something that he had no right to from the beginning. Kuroko's feelings for Yuki were strong that's why he only answered because of his loneliness. He was so stupid to think that Kuroko would answer differently later. Kuroko's heart was for Yuki. He had no place there. Not now. Not ever.


Kise watched Aomine's figure getting farther away as he rode a taxi from the police headquarters. He took out his cell phone when he heard it ringing. He answered the call the moment he saw who was calling.

"Hello?" he said.

"How was is, Ryou-onii-sama?" a sweet voice said from the other line.

Kise bit his inner lip before answering. "It was good. It looks like I had him convinced."

The person on the other line laughed. "You did well, Onii-sama. You did well."

"So am I free to do what I want now?"

The person on the other line laughed again. "Ba—ka. You're job is to do what I ask you to do, Onii-sama. You are not allowed to do what you want. Mimicking is your specialty, right? So all you have to do is mimic what I do and follow along obediently. Ne, Onii-sama," the person said in a sweet voice. The person's tone was like how people would talk to a child. It was grating on his nerves.

"Yes," he said. His shoulders were down and he felt the energy drain out of his body all of a sudden. It was too much to hope for—freedom. It was something that he would never have nor will ever taste. All he could ever do was copy and pretend that those things were his.

Yes, that person on the other line was right. He just needed to copy like he always did since he was little. He had nothing of his own and never will have any. He was nothing but just a copy.

"That's why I love you, Onii-sama. You always do what I want." He did not say anything. "Ne, Onii-sama. I want you to continue with the plan. Remember, if you fail, you already know what will happen to your most precious person, right?"

"Why? Why him? I thought you also—" He could not help raising his voice. Even the taxi driver glanced at him from the rearview mirror. He ignored the driver though.

"Shut up! Don't speak to me like that. You are so mean, Onii-sama. You make me want to cry." There were sobbing sounds from the other line.

"I'm—I'm sorry. I'm very sorry," he said.

"Hmp. As long as you follow what I tell you to do, I won't do something that will make us both cry, Onii-sama. You know, I will really cry if you fail because I also don't want to hurt your precious person. But what can I do? If you fail, it's going to be game over for both of you, Onii-sama. Even I can't stop that from happening. I'm only thinking about your happiness, Onii-sama."

You demon, he thought as the line got disconnected.

He wanted to throw his cell phone away and just take off someplace far. But he knew that he could not run far. That person will find him and then everyone he ever held dear would be in danger.

He received an email right after the call. He was sure that it was from the caller.

It was an email of a photo of a familiar redhead. The message said, "I want this person." There was a smiley face at the end.

Kise clutched his cell phone so tightly that it dug into his palm. He ignored the pain. The different emotions he felt inside his heart were greater than the pain in his hand.


Aomine went home late. He had expected Kuroko to be already asleep when he got home. But Kuroko was still awake.

"Daiki, I already know the answer that I will give you," Kuroko said to him as he removed his shoes in the doorway.

"There's no need, Tetsu," he said. He was set on not making Kuroko suffer any longer. He will never push his feelings towards the guy. He would never pressure him again.

"W-why?"

"Just forget about this morning, okay? Forget that anything ever happened. I don't want to hear your answer anymore," he said.

"But—"

"Forget about our conversation this morning. I'm sorry. It was my mistake for pushing you too hard." Although every word that he was saying hurt him, he did not stop saying them. It was needed if he wanted to stop hurting Kuroko. He did not want him to feel guilty. It was never his intention.

"But I—I..." Kuroko could not continue speaking. The tears were already flowing from his eyes.

Aomine embraced him and patted his back. "I understand what you are feeling now, Tetsu. There's no need to push youself just for my sake. I'm okay. I accept that you want me because you're lonely."

"It's not like that—"

"You don't need to lie, Tetsu. I understand what you feel. Trust me."

"Daiki..."

"Hush now, Tetsu. I'm here for you no matter what. I won't push you anymore but I swear to stay beside you forever as your friend."

Kuroko looked at him with his usual poker face. His lips were slightly open as if to say something but he did not. He just stood there and watched Aomine enter the bedroom.

Aomine shut the door behind him. He leaned on it as if feeling the energy drain from his body. It took a lot of courage to say those things to Kuroko. It took a lot of self-control not to grab him and embrace him as he stood there.

He must not waver. He will never reveal the feelings that he had kept inside his heart. It was all that he could do not to hurt Kuroko.


It was early morning when several men in dark suits came to Himuro's house. It was Kagami that answered the door. He was surprised by how the men looked formidable but were very respectful towards him and Himuro.

Himuro was sitting on the single seater sofa in the living room as the men in dark suits kneeled down in front of him.

Kagami just stood beside Himuro and watched the whole thing. He was not impressed. In fact, he hated how they were prostrating themselves in front of Himuro. But Kagami knew that it could not be helped.

Himuro was part of that family. He held no power but he was still an important figure-head. Despite that fact, Himuro was not able to ask for help to retrieve Alex because it could be the enemy family that had held her. If things were not handled silently, personally, it may cause a feud and he would be blamed for it.

Kagami gritted his teeth. He hated how powerless he was in these situations. He hated how he can't be of much help to Himuro during these times.

"Tatsuya-sama, please return with us," the leader of the group said. He was the one who kneeled nearest to Himuro.

Himuro looked away, "I won't. I still have business here in Tokyo. I will not go home until I'm done here," he said.

Why didn't Himuro ask help from his family? It was his pride, Kagami thought. Himuro did not like being part of the family. He hated being bound by the rules that were taught to him since childhood. Himuro always wanted freedom and independence that's why he chose to live separately from his family. It was one of the things that he admired in the guy. He was always aiming to be the same.

"The master is asking what is keeping you here, Tatsuya-sama. He wants us to tell you that he would take care of it so that you can come home."

"No, I don't want to go home, Hanai-san," Himuro said. "Tell my father that."

"But Tatsuya-sama, the master instructed us to tell you that the engagement preparations are ready. You would need to go home for the ceremony. You're fiancee is waiting for you," the man called Hanai said.

Himuro looked at Hanai with angry eyes. He stood up from his chair.

"I will not go home. And tell my father that I don't want to get engaged to that woman. Never." Himuro stormed out of the living room and into his bedroom, banging the door in the process.

"Tatsuya..." Kagami called out to him, worried about his usually calm friend.

Kagami never saw Himuro's fiancee. But they had been promised to each other and had been informally engaged since they were little. It was something that Himuro had managed to ignore and shake off for a long time. But now that they were older and of marrying age, the pressure had been great for Himuro to marry. It was something about merging two families together to ensure a more successful business.

He turned to Hanai and the rest of his men. "I would ask you to leave, Hanai-san. Tatsuya is no longer in the mood to talk," he said.

The men stood up from the floor. "We will come back in a few days time, Kagami-sama. Please tell –Tatsuya-sama. And if he needs us, we are willing to help him just to make him go home faster," Hanai said.

Kagami saw them off. He gritted his teeth as their cars drove away from Himuro's house.

He also wanted to get Alex back as soon as possible. But he also would never ask for Hanai's help just like Himuro. He was torn. Maybe Hanai and the others can easily locate Alex but he also did not want to let go of Himuro. But if they find Alex, Himuro would surely have no reason to stay in Tokyo and go home. He would surely get engaged by then.

He hated the idea of Himuro going home. He hated the fact that they would be separated after all these years. But what can he do? He could not let Alex be held hostage any longer either.

He balled his hands into fists. What can he do? He was so torn between getting Alex back and not letting Himuro go.

"Taiga..."

Kagami turned around and saw Himuro standing in the hallway. He was holding his cell phone in his hand.

"What is it, Tatsuya?"

"It's basketball." He looked like he was going to smile but stopped himself in the end.

"What?"

"We need to win in a basketball game to save Alex," Himuro said.


It was late in the evening when Aomine received a message on his cell phone. The message included an address and a time that he needed to go there. It was from Kai, the man who would let them play in the basketball game held by the Black Ring.

He would need to convince him first that they are good enough to be pawns in the illegal gambling. He can do it. He will surely expose the Ring for what they truly are and discover who the leader is.

He sat up on the bed after reading the message while holding his phone tightly. Kuroko woke up because of his sudden movement.

"Daiki?" Kuroko said as he wiped the sleep off his eyes. He also sat up from the bed and looked at his cell phone. "What is it?"

"It's our chance to get closer to finding Yuki. Now we can definitely play," he said with each word kiling him as a man but encouring him as a police officer. He gritted his teeth.

Now what would Kuroko do once they find Yuki?

Will Kuroko leave him? His heart ached as he turned to Kuroko.

He saw the guy's eyes were downcast now. He was probably thinking of the missing Yuki right now.

Aomine put his hand on Kuroko's head. The guy looked up at him. "Don't worry, Tetsu, we will surely find Yuki."

Kuroko smiled but the smile did not reach his eyes. "Thank you, Daiki."


[A/N: I'm still sick. T_T But I was able to write the normal length for this chapter. Yokatta!

I only have one day off so everything has been hectic. I am working but I am also busy writing my own novels. (Yes, I am an amateur novelist.)

I know there were people that had been surprised about how the story turned out, especially the characters. But I have always liked stories involving the mafia. But I do not like violence in my novels not unless it is needed. But I'm a romance writer first and foremost. So this is romance rather than action. (Please don't expect a lot of action especially in sports. I am bad in sports. T_T I may need to study a lot in basketball.)

I did not edit the previous chapter because I am so busy. Hontou ni gomen nasai.

As always, tell me what you think using a review or a pm. I will try my best to answer your questions and comments as soon as I can. ^_^

P.S. Has anyone watched the Japanese drama Sprout? It's good. And I can't help but think about 'yaoi' thoughts on the two male leads despite the fact that they are just bestfriends and have girlfriends already. Kyaa~ (fangirl mode). They are just too cute.

P.P.S. I'm posting this a day early because my internet connection expires tomorrow. I can never be too sure about it. I will be back online to post a new chapter next week since I am only using a mobile internet plan.]