"Aominecchi!" Rang throughout the empty gymnasium, startling Aomine. He turned, the ball in his hand rolling from his grasp when he saw Kise's face.

With well-practiced movement, he smirked, bending down to pick up his fallen ball. Slowly, he drawled out, "'Sup Kise? You here to challenge me to another one-on-one?" The ball went flying, landing gracefully into the hoop without touching the rim.

Kise rebounded Aomine's ball, throwing it back at the unsuspecting boy; hard. The ball sank into Aomine's gut, a muffled grunt escaping the dark boy's lips. "The…hell was that for, Kisee?"

And suddenly, Kise was right in front of Aomine, amber eyes coated in a thin sheen of tears. "Why, Aominecchi? Why did you lie to me about Kurokocchi? I…he…that's beyond being mean."

Realization dawned upon Aomine, who shot the ball back at Kise, one foot surging forward. Automatically, Kise stepped back, keeping the distance between them equal. "Oh, so that's why you're here. I'm surprised. I didn't think you would figure it out so quickly."

"I'm not stupid, Aominecchi. You…you took advantage of me. All I wanted was for Kurokocchi to love me and you lied to me. You told me that I could have him, but he wasn't yours to give away. I…" Tears slipped down his cheeks, dripping down to his shirt. His face contorted and he turned on his heel with the intention of fleeing.

Aomine intercepted him, flinging his body against the gymnasium's wall. "Tetsu is mine. He has always been mine. I love him more than you, more than Akashi, more than anyone in the entire world. He's my shadow, my everything. And you." He pressed Kise harder against the wall, forehead resting against Kise's as he glared menacingly into the amber depths. "You think that you can just waltz in here and take him from me. You thought that you could come and take my Tetsu as your own. Of course I played you. Who in their right minds would believe what I said anyway?" Aomine spat, growling in anger at the blond now cowering before him.

"Well, well, well. This seems like an interesting conversation. Would you boys do me the honor of explaining just what is going on here?" An elegant voice floated across the gymnasium, sending ice shooting through Aomine's nerves. As cool and composed as ever, Akashi glided into the gymnasium, hands folded in a demure façade. "I'm not quite sure that I heard you right. I could have sworn that you said that Tetsuya was yours, Daiki."

"And what if I did, Akashi? What would you do about it?" Aomine hissed, releasing Kise in order to spin towards Akashi like a feral animal.

Bicolored eyes steeled and Akashi rose to his full height, seeming more intimidating than his small stature suggested. "I will watch you slowly fall apart, your very existence disintegrating under the weight of my wrath.

"Big words for such a little guy." Aomine ground out between clenched teeth. Then, the room was spinning and Akashi towered over his new position on the ground. "Bastard, why do you always get your way?"

Akashi glared, eyes wide with fury and the tiniest hint of madness. "Daiki, you know the answer to that question." It seemed as if Akashi's very aura flared, terror emanating from its fearsome pressure. "It is because I am absolute."

"A…Akashi..cchi?" Kise warbled, throat tight with emotion.

"Don't think that I've forgotten about you, Ryōta. You are the reason that I came here today. I will not permit you to lay another hand upon Tetsuya. He is mine." Akashi paused, eyes softening the tiniest bit as he said, "And be thankful that Tetsuya was unaware of your intent. If he had taken your confession seriously, your punishment would be more than a simple scolding."

Kise lowered his gaze, yet another wave of tears unleashed from his eyes. Bitterly, he wept, "Yes, Akashicchi, I understand."

A malicious glint alighted in Akashi's eyes as he strode away, burning words dripping from his lips. "Now, why don't the two of you make like the dogs you are and lick one another's wounds. After all, it's not like it would be the first time the two of you embraced one another while thinking of someone else."

Then he strode away, his words left hanging in the tense air.

A/N Hi, it's me again. I just wanted to say that now, the shift of the story is going to slightly advert from Kuroko, as to include the other Miracles that I've been neglecting. Yep, that's right. It's time for Murasakibara and Midorima to get tangled up in all the drama.