*Disclaimer*
A.N.: Well, all I can say is: I'm very sorry for the long wait. This chapter has actually been half finished since December. In January I took some time to study for my finals and ended up forgetting completely about this. After that, I just focused on my studies because I'm almost at the last stretch. I'm sorry to say that I haven't felt inspired to write this fic because of all of it, but I'm trying my best because I feel that it has good potential and that you guys are actually enjoying it.
I have to ask you guys again, please, if there is anything you are looking forward to see, do tell me please because it will help my lack of inspiration a lot. I just need a good kick to get me going.
On recent news, I've started updating this on Archive of Our Own, if you like that format you can check it out there. I'll add a link in my personal page.
xxx
When Christmas is by our doorstep usually we tend to feel happy and joyful, with a new bounce to our feet… And that was exactly how Kazunari felt at the moment. True it wasn't Christmas yet; and they were still buried beneath tons of horrible homework; and there were the echoes in the hallways of mocking from older Slytherins. As if their Quidditch victory had been their doing at all…
But he was still quite happy!
And true to what Shin-chan had told him, Akashi himself did not come to mock them or gloat on their crushing defeat. Winning was natural to the redhead so victory was no more normal than sleeping or eating. No need to celebrate something so mundane!
He wasn't sure if that made him a bigger jerk or not.
As he walked to the common room on a cold, rainy Sunday, Kazunari's feet had that happy bounce that was mentioned. Figuratively on the moment, because he was so tired and sore he could barely walk without having to drag himself. After their game, Izuki-senpai had decided to engage in a crazy training program by himself after the regular training with Coach Aida. Which was why he was feeling like this right now; because "by himself" did not mean alone. Izuki-senpai needed a sparring partner and Merlin knows why he had chosen him! It was fun playing Seeker against the other… for the first hour! After that it was simply torture to see when he would feel tired enough to fall from the broom. He was starting to suspect the older Gryffindor was seeking revenge for the happenings at the game. He wouldn't though… Right?
No matter! He was happy. Yes, bottom line was… it was nearly Christmas and he was feeling that warm fluffy feeling already. Despite being wet and cold and tired the upcoming holiday negated all of it! Oh joy!
"Hello Peeves!" He greeted the poltergeist when he rounded a corner and saw the little man trying to stuff dung over a chandelier, just about over Filtch's reach. "You should leave some on sight so that he thinks that's where the smell is coming and keeps coming back to find the rest!"
The poltergeist rolled around in the air as he laughed over that prospect. "Yes! Yes! Oh it will be great! Always a pleasure doing business oh Sneaky One!" He gave him a mock bow before floating away to splatter the smelly stuff over a few armors.
"Just keep your end of the bargain and we'll keep doing business for many years!" He threw over his shoulder as he kept going down the hall, the sound of Peeves singing about snakes in boots slowly vanishing away.
Reaching the painting of the Fat Lady was a huge relief to say the least. He was strongly shivering already and his skin was slowly turning an unhealthy blue color.
"Peppermint Liquor!"
Seasonal passwords were also funny, especially when the Fat Lady seemed to be drunk on them. "Oh, yes please! My cup is already empty! Eheheh! Merry Christmas and joy to the world!" And she let him inside as she lost herself on a fit of drunken giggles.
The inside of the tower was warm and welcoming as the flames from the fireplace lazily danced around filling the air with a pleasant pine smell. Kazunari felt tempted to just stay there until dinner, warming up by the fire when his foot caught paper and feathers and for the first time he looked around the room. It was a complete mess! It looked like someone had spilled the contents from their bag all-over the place. And right there by the couch, was Ahiru trying to pick everything up.
"Ahiru-chan! What happened here?"
The petit redhead quacked in surprise – it was habit she had, quacking instead of squeaking; that and her name quickly led to her gaining the nickname "Duck" – and immediately looked away in embarrassment.
Ahiru-chan was a bit like a little sister to him, and surely to the twins as well. Hell even Ryouta liked her. She was clumsy and awkward and not very bright but she was full-fledged member of the FAGWAC and always tried her best despite having nothing in common with the rest of them.
"Ah… I… dropped it?" She looked terribly uncertain and the raven head narrowed his eyes suspiciously at that.
"You asking me? I wasn't here so I wouldn't know…" Sure Ahiru was clumsy and often dropped things. She tripped over her own legs and feet like it was nobodies' business! But she couldn't possibly drop all this! There were more books than she could possibly carry by herself scattered all over the room. Not to mention three or four bottles of ink. No one would have all of that on their bags. And it was Sunday! She didn't have classes why would she carry her bag like that! "Ahiru-chan, what happened? Tell me the truth, please!"
Her scruffy sunset colored hair fell sadly over shoulder in a long braid as she twitched nervously under his stare. She had long ago given up on picking up anything more. "… it's nothing much… the other girls just don't like me very much. I'm sure they'll get tired of this soon." She was pouting, her cute freckles accentuated by the light of the flames, as if talking badly about them was hurtful.
"Ahiru-chan is too good for her own sake!" He smiled jokingly at her and quickly wiped out his wand to summon her things to her, before he hit something. For how long had this been going on? "So… the girls… what have they been doing besides messing with your stuff?" Oh, he was so going to tell the other three about this!
She gratefully started pilling paper and ripped books clearly not sensing his true mood. "Oh, just girl stuff… Painting my face when I'm asleep… or launching the pustule curse at me. Holmes-san is always yelling at them and Aida-senpai as well so there isn't much else I can do." Yeah he was definitely going to tell them and he would have to find a way to keep Coach and Holmes-san away from the crossfire somehow! "They just got a bit mad that I'm hanging out with Slytherins and all… I suppose that after the game last month it is still an open wound or something."
"Oh! So it's because of Ryou-chan!?" Oh, that was just awful!
He had to help levitate her things back to the dorms – where the hell was her wand!? – and the thought that forcing their company on her might have caused her problems was making his stomach hurt. He didn't even notice when they passed the archway.
"Oh! No, no! I don't think they mind Kise!" She pointed at a bed on the far side of the room and true enough there was a HUGE Kise Ryouta poster smiling charmingly at them and changing pose every few minutes. That was good at least. "It's just that I've made new friends lately!"
"New friends?" Wow, the girls' dorm was just as messy, maybe more than the boy's!
"Yes! We met each other on the ward the other day and they were very nice to me! At least I think they were nice… But I've been hanging with Pique and Lillie a lot lately, even though they're second years, and I guess that was not okay." She was absently picking ripped pages from the desk as she spoke. He wondered if it was alright to leave her be like this. She was too trusting of people!
"I'm glad you're making friends at least. If it gets bad, please tell us, alright? You know you can talk to us, Ahiru-chan!"
She nodded without much cheer but she didn't look defeated at least. It was a hard subject and unfortunately there wasn't much he could do for her right now. It was with some sadness that he left the dorm without a solution for her.
"So… Do we have any new FAGWAC meetings?" She was already into a new subject and he had to respect her for that. Girls are strong after all!
"Um… Maybe next…"
"Takao-kun? Did you just came down from the girls' stairs?"
They were stopped at the bottom by one of their senpai. He didn't know much about this person really, except that he was really popular with the girls. Kazunari supposed it was a legit question, after all they weren't meant to mix like that.
"Ah… well… you see…"
"Mytho-senpai!" It surprised him to see Ahiru take charge like that when she was usually quiet and pacific. "Takao-kun wasn't doing anything bad! He just helped bring my stuff! He wouldn't do something bad!" She was pleading him desperately and Kazunari had the feeling she was about to cry.
Mytho-senpai – it was his name after all – looked surprised with her outburst but he smiled kindly and even went as far as petting her head. "Don't worry Ahiru, I'm not mad at your friend."
"You're not!?"
Well that was surprising. But Mytho just laughed a pretty laugh and his awesome bright hair shook with his body. By his side, he could see Ahiru melt like all the other girls that had their eyes on the "charming" boy. "No, I was just surprised. Don't worry about it. Ah, but you shouldn't spread that around. Everyone will try to get the secret out of you. The stairs are charmed not to let boys through."
"Oh."
"I didn't know that!"
"No problem. Well, I'll see you too around. Takao-kun. Ahiru-chan." And with a princely grace he waved them goodbye and left as suddenly as he appeared. Yeah, he wasn't his type of senpai. All that graceful moving like he was dancing would quickly get in his nerves.
"Ah, Mytho-senpai!" Ahiru was sighing like a love sick girl by his side. Well, she was a love sick girl wasn't she?
"So, Mytho is your type of guy? Seriously!? He looks like he would shatter if the wind blew too strongly!" He had to tease her about it. It was just his nature to tease.
"Shut up! Mytho-senpai has a weak health!" She pouted and childishly blew him a raspberry which made him laugh hard at her expression. She eventually grew silent and serious and he had to take her lead. She was going to tell him something important it seemed. "You know, this all started because of the Prince." Ah, that was how he remembered that senpai! He was nicknamed The Prince! How fitting, bleh! "Apparently he just can't help himself when he sees people struggling so he kind of helps me a bit. So the others were upset that he talked to me so often."
He sighed profoundly. Girls were so strange sometimes. "So… how about not talking to him or something like that?" He just needed to think of a good plan over the holidays.
"Not you too!" Poor Ahiru-chan looked exasperated. "That's what Holmes-san said. But it's not Mytho's fault! He was so nice to me and helping carry my stuff and showing me around when I got lost! I can't just take it on him!" Well… that was somewhat true, but… "Besides… I don't understand what they're thinking. Everyone knows that the Prince is dating Rue-senpai! It's not like I'm going to steal him away or something!"
"Rue-senpai?"
"A second year Slytherin. She looks like a princess!"
"How fitting! Bleh!"
"What's with you!? But like I said, they're dating and all… and the rumor is that they're engaged so really, not much anyone can do about it!"
"What who gets engaged so young!? That's crazy!" Seriously crazy all around! They were barely old enough to date let alone marry!
Ahiru did not answer to that but she looked sadder than he ever seen her. He had the feeling he had stepped on some line he shouldn't. It was true that he didn't know a lot about her, and especially, he didn't know how things worked with pure blooded families. He clearly had said something really insensitive to her. Unfortunately he never got to apologize properly to her because the biggest sneezing fit ever took him over nearly making him fall down from dizziness. He felt just awful suddenly and a powerful shiver had him realize how cold he was. With all the commotion he had totally forgotten to change out of his wet clothes.
In the end he had to go to the matron for a strong Peppermint Potion for his cold.
x
Tetsuya like any other child loved Christmas. It was just a magic of its own.
Colorful decorations and people singing on the streets. Lots of tasty treats and presents. And of course, the people themselves.
For a people watcher like him, Christmas was the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. People that were grumpy all year simply changed overnight; like the season of Christmas could just lighten up their spirits and give their feet a happy bounce. Naughty children that behaved badly all year suddenly remembered that Santa Claus had been watching them and over the month they transformed into perfectly adorable angels.
And of course Christmas also exposed the bad things. People that truly were bad did not feel the Christmas spirit. Like Hanamiya and his gang. Just the other day they had found them messing up the decorations Flitwick had painstakingly hung over the halls for days. His old age was showing and while his magical skills were as sharp as always he simply could not move around as much. Several seventh years had volunteered to help so that the job could be finished in time for Christmas but it had clearly made some people sad to see the passage of time acting up.
That encounter would have resulted in a bad fight if Professor Goose had not showed up in time to stop them. Some older children looked ready to curse them with something dangerous. On the good side of things the nasty rumors of Slytherin trying to ruin Christmas were quickly dispelled after Aomine-kun and the others got a hold of them.
For the good majority of the next day, Hanamiya and his tugs could be seen hanging near the entrance hall under a couple of Petrificus Totalus. They didn't seem very popular within their own House because while the student body seemed afraid to approach them at first, the Slytherins, with all the grace of the world, spend the first half of lunch carefully decorating them like Christmas Trees. Some people remained suspicious of the snake house movements but after a couple of hours, the makeshift trees had gained several pink bows, colorful balls and some terribly annoying singing angels that were definitely not Slytherin's doing. The joke ended before dinner when Professor Sinistra finally decided to release them.
Tetsuya had asked his friends about Himuro's whereabouts and the only thing he got from Murasakibara was that "Muro-chin" was paying service somewhere else; which wasn't something very reassuring to tell Kagami-kun.
But in two days they would be on their way home for the holidays and now they were simply trying to finish as much homework as they could before then. The amount of holiday homework given was absolutely maddening. As of the moment he was surrounded by the team, sitting near the fireplace in the common room, nearly done with his essay for Potions. It was simply too cold these days to leave the room for more than classes and meals. He could barely imagine how the dungeons were for the others and Kise had complained about the water temperature of the showers, several times already, to anyone who would listen.
But still on the topic of bad things… When you give presents to people you like sometimes you forget that they may feel obligated to reciprocate. This represented absolutely no problem for most people but now that he thought about it, he probably made Kagami feel inadequate. The redhead was by his side just now touching his homework; and not because of the usual lack of trying, but because Kagami had been incredibly busy lately. For a while he wondered what the other was doing but after the other offered him his Christmas present, and everyone else as well, Tetsuya realized what happened. And considering that his friend had come to him asking for a proper preservation spell, the gift was probably food. Ingredients from the kitchens and wrapping paper that was clearly leftover from others.
It truly made him feel a bit guilty. Not that he had wasted lot of money on presents but he had surely splurged when he had seen something he was sure his friends would like. Kagami's present had been a bit pricy but he was so sure he would love it that he hadn't thought twice about it. His parents happily loaned him the money necessary to make his friends' Christmas a better Christmas and he had not felt a single concern at the time, because it was the season to give.
The present Kagami had given him was already carefully tucked away in his bag and it truly smelled amazing! He just couldn't wait to see what it was! But for now he settled for doing his homework and painfully wait for the proper time to open his presents.
"Argh! I really don't understand what's happening here! What is this! What is this supposed to be!?" The red head was just really noisy sometimes. Kagami looked about ready to pull his own hair out and he had barely even started.
"We studied that just last week, Kagami-kun."
The other gave him the most betrayed look he had ever seen. Maybe he should help him a bit… He had been busy making Christmas presents.
"Don't even think about it, Kuroko! If that idiot doesn't do it by himself he won't be able to learn anything!" Riko immediately chided from across the room. "You should have paid more attention in class. Let this be a lesson to you!"
His friend looked extremely adorable while he pouted unhappily at her. It was hard not to reach across the couch and pinch his red cheek. But fortunately, Kagami-kun made it easier for him and got up picking up his materials.
"Where are you going, Kagami?" Koganei questioned from the floor where he was splattered besides Mitobe-senpai nearly using him as a blanket.
"Library."
"You won't find anyone there to copy from~~!" Izuki teased him.
"I wasn't!" Was the red haired boy's answer before he left the room clearly angry and frustrated.
"I wasn't going to let him copy, senpai. I was just going to explain it to him…" Now he felt even worse.
"Ah, don't worry Kuroko-kun! He'll get frustrated with the library soon and then you can help him!" The Coach dismissed it with a carefree wave and snuggled closer to Kiyoshi-senpai trying to get more heat.
After that the room was again very quiet. Tetsuya quickly finished the conclusion to his essay and promptly decided to give up on the rest. His head was starting to hurt and he just couldn't get himself to care anymore. He should just become mold and be done with it.
Nearly melting himself against the cushions of the couch he watched his senpais' efforts to finish their work. Some quietly discussed the answers and others just wrote crazily like Izuki-senpai, his tongue sticking out in concentration. Furihata would check his textbook every other sentence as if he was afraid to mess up something midway. Aida-san just stopped her writing to dip her feather on the ink, clearly at ease with the material.
The heat from the fire and the quiet environment must have made him doze off because next time he looked at everyone Furihata was asleep on the fluffy carpet near the fire, Koganei and Mitobe-senpai were seating on the couch now, Coach was talking about some Christmas party with Kiyoshi and Hyuuga-senpai, and Izuki-san had five more essay pages than he truly needed.
The relaxing mood was easily expelled though when Takao loudly entered the tower.
"Yo! Merry Christmas!"
"Takao! Where have you been?! What about your homework? I won't have anyone on the team with detention for not doing their holyday homework!"
The raven laughed at her accusations with good humor. "No worries, no worries! I'm almost done, I've done most of it with Shin-chan already. Here, Coach! Christmas present!" He produced a small star decoration with a red ribbon.
"Eh! For me?" The brunet picked it up with surprise and watched it carefully as she pondered. Takao was known to give some crazy pranks as presents sometimes.
"What about us? No presents for your senpais?" Koganei playfully whined and the rest of them gave nods of approval.
"This one only works on pretty girls!" The guy teasingly dismissed them making them chuckle in amusement and Coach blush profoundly. "Besides I already hid your presents in your bags. Those who went to the trouble of start packing already should have seen it!" He winked impishly and the room filled with groans and whines. Tetsuya merely smirked and enjoyed the scene. He had indeed discovered Takao's present the day before but said nothing about hoping for some good future reactions.
"Uh… Thank you, Takao-kun. I think…"
"No problem! It's meant to be a good luck charm! If you hang it here on the bed at the dorm it will bring you good luck for the next semesters!"
"… here? Why not the bed at my house? Shouldn't I sleep with it?" The older student now regarded her junior suspiciously and he shifted uneasily under her eye.
"… no… It has to be this one!" He insisted firmly.
"This one… really now?"
He laughed nervously but didn't back down. "Yes… it's sort of a thank you gift for taking good care of Ahiru-chan! Holmes-san will get one too!" His smile may look completely innocent to the majority of the population but he could definitely see the deviant aura behind it.
Coach seemed to ponder about for a moment before carefully tucking away her star. "I just have to hang it right?" She looked like she had figured him out and her posture relaxed completely.
The youngster breathed in relief and his playfully aura returned. "Yup! Just hang it in there and good luck will surely fall in!" Since they obviously weren't going to explain them what was going on, most guys had quickly lost interest on their conversation. "Well I'm going to go look for Holmes-san, now! Have you seen her around?"
Aida-san's answer was lost on him because Kagami returned that moment. His face was pale and he looked a bit shaky.
"Kagami-kun! What happened? Did someone cast a curse on you?"
The other grunted in greeting and nearly threw himself next to him. A great deal of sheets and books feel on his lap.
"Found Aomine on the library." Kagami watched the flames in fireplace with hollow eyes. It looked like his soul had escaped his body.
Oh, that wasn't very good! A quick scan of the papers on his lap revealed Kagami's homework. Completed. And very good at that! "Is that so…" A sudden terror filled his hearth. It wasn't possible that the two idiots had been able to do all of this alone! What happened?
"He hadn't done his homework either… he bet me that he could finish before me so…" He tried to chuckle, as if he had remembered something funny, but soon his semblance became dark again. "And then we got stuck. There was this one question none of us knew the answer… and… Akashi showed up…" Oh no! Akashi wouldn't use his power on Kagami, would he? "He called us idiots and burned all the work we had done until then!"
There was general sigh of relief on the room and some of the older students started laughing at their kouhai's miserable whining. But Tetsuya was still a bit nervous. Kagami-kun wouldn't be this distressed over burned homework. "And then? What did he do?"
His friend gave the most haunted look he had ever seen and he could not help but hug him tightly. The redhead looked surprised but soon relaxed in the embrace and his next words sounded less shaky. "He tutored us! Dear God it was horrible!" Oh. Geez, if that was all… well it wouldn't be a fun experience certainly, Akashi was severe when it came to teaching and would allow no errors on his watch. He still felt a bit sorry for Kagami, but it certainly would do him good when the exams came around. Tetsuya felt a bit silly for thinking Akashi had used his magic to control the mind of his friend.
"Come on, Kagami. It couldn't have been that bad!" Koganei-senpai also tried to comfort the other, gently rubbing his back as his junior softly wept on Tetsuya's shoulder.
"But it was so hard! And my body would listen to me! I had to go to the bathroom and I was sleepy, but I couldn't fall asleep and I couldn't ask to go! I wanted to run away! I was scared!" And now Kagami was full blown crying in his shoulder and Tetsuya was preparing a very angry discussion with Akashi about the way he was treating his friend. So much for feeling guilty for think bad of him! He Had Used His Powers! How could he!?
"Please don't worry Kagami-kun, all is alright now. Akashi-san is in the dungeons now, I'm sure. And you probably learned a lot." A lot, if Akashi used magic. "So, did you at least win against Aomine-kun?"
He could tell that the rest of the room had grown silent but he needed to focus on Kagami. The mention of his rival made the boy perk up a bit. A small ghost of a smile playing on his lips. "Yeah… I did for like… a paragraph." Then it disappeared almost immediately. "I wonder if he's alright…"
His friend's words brought a wave of affection inside him. Kagami was just too cute and nice for his own good! He was just so nice that he even worried about the person that antagonized him. But for now, Tetsuya kept the notion that Kagami was cute to himself. It would be his occasional treat!
"Please don't worry, I intend to check on him later today when I go see Akashi-san." For a moment he thought that his senpais had slid slightly away from him but it must have been his imagination.
"Say Kagami, let's check to see if you got anything from this experience! If you learned something at least there was some good out of it, right?" Hyuuga suddenly piped up. He swiped his junior's homework from Tetsuya's lap with shaky hands and quickly scanned the pages. "Let's see… Oh, Potions! Let's see… something boring and hard to remember! Eh… What about this one? Please refer the uses and qualities of the Wolfsbane Potion as well as its recognizable characteristics."
Kagami had been reclining on his side against the back of the couch but when he heard Hyuuga's words he straighten up and mechanically dictated the exact same answer that was on the paper. "The Wolfsbane Potion was invented by Damocles sometime after the mid-1970s. The main ingredient is wolfsbane – also referred to as aconite or monkshood. As such, this Potion is very dangerous when incorrectly concocted, since Aconite is a very poisonous substance. The way one must imbibe it is very unique among potions, in that a gobletful of wolfsbane potion must be taken for each day of a week preceding the full moon. The potion does not cure lycanthropy but eases the symptoms, allowing one to hold on to their mental faculties after transformation (which would otherwise not be possible). The completed potion exudes a faint blue smoke.
Lycanthropy is an infection – also known as werewolfry – that forces a human being, upon the complete rising of the full moon, to become a fearsome and deadly near-wolf – also known as a Werewolf. Werewolves appear in the form of a wolf but, there are distinctions between them and regular wolves." Then he relaxed and melted with cushions again.
Tetsuya didn't need to look around to know that his senpai's had equal looks of horror on their faces. "Well, I believe Kagami-kun needs to take a small nap. And I will pay Akashi-san a visit." Sighing and ignoring the scared hush-hush behind his back, he made his way to the dungeons. Time to tell Akashi some unpleasant things.
x
The air in the library was clear. Cold and clear.
There was no one besides Shintarō in there and for that he was thankful. No hushed spells flying around and no disguised munching sounds behind shelves. It was exactly how a library should be. Silent. And lonely. But that he would never confess.
Currently he was reading a very outdated version of the Book of Spells as he waited for Takao – that had to deliver some papers regarding his club to Professor Goose – so that they could head for the carriages and go home for the holidays. It was incredible that a person as scatterbrained as Takao could actually be president of his own activity club.
And going home… It felt strange after all this time away but he actually couldn't wait. Hogwarts was like a second home and he felt very comfortable and relaxed within its walls but the anxiety to see his family was now showing itself. He hadn't talked to his baby sister in months, did she even remember him?! Little children tend to forget things easily after all.
In sum, he was just making himself anxious in the library as he waited for that stupid Takao that was going to make them late!
"Ah, Shintarō! There you are!"
Akashi's velvet voice was a surprise he was not expecting. He had barely seen the other boy in the last month – not because he was avoiding him or anything, he had just been very busy – so he was at loss when the redhead took a seat in front of him.
"Taking your time before we have to leave this wonderful place, Shintarō?"
"Huh… Waiting for Takao-nanodayo."
For a bit both boys just watched each other carefully. There didn't seem to be any hostility in Akashi's posture but Shintarō couldn't bring himself to relax completely. It all went to naught because the redhead just sighed and slumped a bit in seat, a move so completely out of character that left him in baffled amazement.
"Tetsuya gave me a very… thorough earful just the other day."
He knew that. Takao had given him a small run of what had happened but he clearly had never seen Kuroko mad because he had seem to think it wasn't very important.
"What about you Shintarō? Do you think I'm scary?" Akashi was giving him a very intense look almost keen on extracting the answer from him, but he didn't use his power.
Shintarō considered lying… it would be the cleverest thing to do in such a dangerous situation. But… it would be disloyal. The other really seemed to need a truthful answer.
"Yes. Very much so."
The air was moist and a water curtain was falling strongly outside, its powerful sound echoing through the hallways.
Akashi's face dropped the cold poker face for just a second, allowing his sadness to show. But the mask was back on as quickly as it had left.
"Are we friends, Shintarō?"
"Yes, we are-nanodayo."
The Slytherin chuckled but he sounded everything but amused. "Did you notice that you only use that end of sentence when you're nervous, Shintarō? *Sigh* How can we be friends when you are afraid of me?"
He was at a loss of what to say. At this point it was impossible to read Akashi's face and Shintarō didn't know what answers the other wanted. On the other hand he was correct. Friends were not supposed to fear each other; they were meant to be equals, but there was no way to be Akashi's equal. He could say that they did trust him but… did they? After hearing about what he had done to Kagami and Aomine, he just wasn't so certain anymore.
His decision must have showed on his face because Akashi's semblance turned darker. "I see… Why are you so scared of me, Shintarō? Maybe…"
" .SHI! Hello buddy!" Never before was he gladder to see Takao and his idiotic ways.
Clearly not fearing death, the brave Gryffindor had draped himself over the redhead, his arms reaching around him in a makeshift hug that if pulled higher, would definitely cut Akashi's air channel.
"Hello, Takao Kazunari." The Slytherin was clearly unfazed by the other's arrival but Takao didn't seem to mind, going as far as to ignore the person he was currently sticking to.
"Shin-chan! Did you miss me? I missed you! Walking around Hogwarts without my lovely tsundere Ravenclaw is just so lonely!" He mockingly singed looking every bit at home perched right there on top of the red haired boy's head.
"I'd appreciate, Takao Kazunari, if you were to leave us alone for a moment. My talk with Shintarō is not over yet."
It was such a weird sight to see Akashi trying to pry his way out of the Gryffindor's arms and the other smiling brightly not one bit worried.
"Talk?" Transitioning from playful to deadly serious – mostly just deadly – in barely a second, Takao glared at the other. "It looked like to me, that were just about to accuse Shin-chan… of thinking you're scary! I mean… I can't understand what you're thinking to being with! How is that Shin-chan's fault?!"
The air was heavy and the pressure from the two students from rival Houses trying to explode each other's head by sheer strength of and glaring heat, made quite difficult the task of breathing. But surprisingly Akashi was the first to pull away. The shock of it made Takao finally release him and once free the other bowed down deeply to the Ravenclaw.
"I'm sorry Shintarō, it is not your fault." Despite his humble apology and slumped posture, Akashi still retained the control of the room when he straightened out, simply because the other two were too disconcerted with the sudden change to know what to do. "Tetsuya just upset me a bit. He said a few truths I didn't want to hear and I… just wanted to hear them refuted…"
He just couldn't help feel that Akashi had a defeated and sad aura about him. Shintarō had not lied, despite not having been his first choice these people where the closest to thing to friends he had. And in spite of very much wanting to call this matter with Akashi - and perhaps their whole relationship - finished, he just couldn't bring himself to that. It was just not his nature to do so.
"Oh! Shin-chan is so kind! How lucky Akashi; it looks like Shin-chan decided to forgive you! You better be thankful!" Takao's words had a cheerful tone but the Ravenclaw could help feel that he wasn't very happy.
"Shut up Bakao! You're annoying! And rude…" That idiot! Always reading the words he wouldn't say.
"No, he's right." Akashi chimed in causing the two to turn to him in surprise. "Thank you, Shintarō. You and the others have been forgiving me a lot from the beginning right? I am grateful." His second bow was far more solemn than the last. Like the sly snake he was, Akashi had managed to keep his grace through the whole thing while still looking like a sad kicked puppy. But oh well… That's Akashi for you.
It's what friends do. "Huh…" Like hell he could say that!
"Tch… Shin-chan says: It's what friends do. Lucky you…" And ignoring Shintarō's horrified and Akashi's surprised looks, Takao started coercing them up. "We are so going to miss the train if we don't run. Like now!"
"Ah, we have to go – nanodayo!" Oh, he couldn't miss the train! He was looking forward to go home and see his family.
"They won't leave without us. But we are going to get scolded." Despite looking calm and composed, Akashi still managed to make them speed up considerably as the three of them ran through the several halls.
In end they made it just in the nick of time and like predicted they were scolded by Madam Hootch but not for long for they needed to get going quickly everybody was at the train station already.
They were catching their breath as the carriage quickly led them to the village when Takao talked again. "Ah… geez… *deep intake of air* Are you… going to join us *another deep intake* on the train? Let's play some fun games, Akashi-kun~~!"
The redhead, far more composed, smirked back at him. "Of course, Kazunari. I would love that." Takao looked physically sick at the way Akashi was saying his name. "You know… I think you would have done great in Slytherin, Kazunari. You would have indeed."
"I know. The Sorting Hat thought the same, but I told him it would be funnier if I was in the House opposite to yours. And I thought that I could get away with some things more easily if I was a Gryffindor." With a carefree yawn he ignored the rest of the carriage and their surprised looks before thoughtlessly poking his head outside to watch their arrival. "Oh, no! The train conductor is giving us the evil eye!"
xxx
A.N.: Here is Kise's wandlore.
Kise Ryouta: Sycamore, twelve and three quarter inches, quite flexible and dragon heartstring core. Ideal owner is curious, vital and adventurous; a questing wand, eager for new experience and losing brilliance if engaged in mundane activities. It is a quirk of these handsome wands that they may combust if allowed to become "bored". (Kise always felt like an electric kind of person to me. I thought it would be funny to see his wand explode in front of him after long years, just because he became old)
