Short chapter is short, I'm sorry ;A; -In case you were wondering, there will be 13 chapters of this story. Almost to the end, lovelies..~


The next day, Kuroko and Akashi were both shocked to find a large grin on Aomine's face. Looking around to make sure no one was paying attention, Akashi spoke, his voice soft and quiet.

"Why are you so happy, Daiki?"

The bluenette was almost bouncing on his heels with joy. "He believes~ My note to him worked!"

Akashi and Kuroko's mouths both fell open as they stared at him, wide eyed.

"That's all it took?" Akashi mumbled, whilst Kuroko's lips turned up in an excited smile.

"That's great, Aomine! Did you get to touch him?"

A soft blush crossed the tan male's cheeks as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, I held him in my arms all night. He still cried, but… He was smiling."

Akashi's crimson eyes flickered to the right, across Aomine's shoulder. He smiled, lifting his hand in a partial wave at seeing the very blonde they discussed.

Kise bit his lip nervously as he slowly made his way over to Akashi, and unknowingly, the ghosts as well.

"Alright, Akashi-cchi," he said with a small sigh, "I believe."

The redhead smiled kindly, nodding. "I heard."

The blonde's brows furrowed. "Eh?"

"Daiki was just telling me how he held you all night." He smiled to himself at the blush that crossed both men's faces.

"Y-you can hear him?"

He nodded. "I can see him, as plain as you can see me."

"…Why?"

Akashi blinked. It was the question that had haunted him from the moment he discovered his ability. He'd never found the answer, that being one reason he shut out the ghost realm completely. "I don't know, Ryouta."

Kise blinked at him in silence for a long while. "Well, uh… I'm gonna go to class now."

Akashi nodded, watching the blonde disappear into his classroom, the remnants of a blush still evident on his cheeks.

Kuroko turned to Aomine curiously. "You didn't let him see you?"

Aomine paused before shaking his head. "Something told me it just wasn't the right time."

Kuroko's brows furrowed as he brought his index finger to his lips, lightly nibbling on the tip. "I know what you mean. I feel like I should be saving all of my strength right now."

The taller ghost nodded, whilst Akashi looked on in interest. He was certainly curious, but seeing the looks on his friends' faces, he decided they really didn't have much to tell him at the moment. He sighed, gaining their attention.

"I must be going. I will see you later?"

Both nodded, and as Akashi began to turn away, Kuroko leapt forward, placing a quick kiss to the redhead's cheek.

Akashi's eyes widened as he looked back at Kuroko, the bluenette's cheeks already warmed by another blush. Kuroko fidgeted, avoiding his love's crimson eyes. "S-sorry, I just wanted to.. Er, have a good day, Seijuro~"

Before Akashi could react, Kuroko was gone. For a mere second, he felt a pang in his chest, remembering the last time such an occurrence had happened. Aomine saw the flicker of pain in those crimson eyes, and he clapped his ghostly hand on the redhead's shoulder.

"He just embarrassed himself. He'll be waiting for you later."

Akashi smiled, nodding as he made his way to class.

XXX

That afternoon, before basketball practice began, Akashi held a "meeting" in the locker room. Of course, they all knew what it would be about.

"When can we see them?" Murasakibara asked before they were all even in the room.

"Soon," was all Akashi said as they all sat on the benches.

"I want to see Aomine-cchi…"

A sad smile crossed the redhead's lips. "You will, Ryouta. I spoke with them this morning. They're currently building up their strength."

"How long will that take?" Midorima inquired.

The redhead sighed, glancing at Kuroko from the corner of his eye. He pretended not to notice the blush that instantly appeared as he turned back to his friend. "Honestly, I don't know. I've asked that question many times, myself."

"How… How do you know it'll work?" Kise questioned, his voice barely above a whisper.

Akashi was about to admit that he didn't know, when Aomine quickly interjected.

"It'll work. I don't know how well, but I talked to another guy that's done it."

The redhead smiled, looking back to Kise as he answered, "Apparently it's been done before."

That seemed to ease the tension in the blonde's shoulders, and he smiled, a true smile. His heart was already racing in his chest at the thought of seeing his boyfriend again.

"Akashi?"

"Yes, Shintaro?"

"You say you can see them. But can you feel them?"

Akashi smiled, gesturing toward Kise. "Why don't you ask Ryouta?"

Brows furrowing, the green haired boy turned to the blonde, who was already wearing a crimson blush.

"E-eh, I felt him…"

Pushing his glasses up his nose, Midorima nodded, turning his spectacled gaze to the floor in thought. "Interesting…"

"If Mine-chin steals my snacks again, I'll kill him."

"He's already a ghost, Atsushi."

"I'll kill him so hard he comes back to life. And then I'll kill him again."

Aomine laughed heartily at the purple headed giant's words, but Akashi was more concerned with the serious expression on his face. Sometimes he wasn't sure if he could truly read Murasakibara at all.