"Tetsuya! Tetsuya answer me damn it! Where are you?!" Kagami Taiga shouted into the night as he ran down the sidewalk in the direction he could only assume that his brother had gone.
"Kagami-kun?!" He spun was shocked to see Kise Ryota and Midorima Shinturou, two members of the Generation of Miracles, running towards him. "Kagami-kun! Kagamichii got kidnapped!" The blonde wailed loudly, reaching the tall red-head first. This of course did nothing to calm Taiga's worries.
"What?! Tetsuya?! By who?!"
"Calm down you idiots. Kise don't say it like that, it is misleading and stop crying already it is irritating." The green haired shooter chided his former teammate sharply when he caught up with them as well. "Kagami, I believe your brother has been, picked up, by Akashi Seijuro our former captain. Though as to why I don't-"
"Oh I know why, but it doesn't mean I'm not gonna go knock down his door and haul Tetsuya back from him as soon as is physically possible!" He growled angrily.
"Well I don't think think that would be wise. When we last saw your brother Kagami he had a fever, a very bad one if I am right."
"What?! How?!" Midorima gave him a look that clearly said he was not pleased about answering stupid questions.
"Of course I don't know how you moron! He just ran out of nowhere into Kise, was radiating heat like a furnace and just lost it at the mention of a hospital!" Taiga's face went pale at Midorima's words. When Tetsuya got fevers it was never good, especially considering that his immune system was still pretty weak. And it didn't help that, yes, Tetsuya had developed a very strong aversion for hospitals and avoided them whenever possible. "You can pay Akashi a visit tomorrow if you are really worried but I'm sure Kagami-kun is being well cared for, Akashi isn't without morals."
"Yeah don't worry Kagami-kun! We'll help you get Kagamichii back!" Kise cheered jovially, swinging a arm over the other player's shoulder.
"Not that I'm not grateful for the offer but why are you guys so willing to help anyway?" Taiga ventured to ask as he pried Kise off him roughly.
"I didn't offer my help! This idiots the one who did that!" Midorima exclaimed indigently pointing an accusing finger at the Kise.
"Aw! Don't be such a Tsunadara Midormachii! You were worried about him too!"
"Shut up Kise!" He retorted back sharply but with a slight blush, it wasn't hard to tell that Blonde had indeed hit the nail on the head.
"Well whatever you say Midorimachii, but I'm helping Kagamichii because he has my respect and I guess… He sort've made me think about basketball differently? Plus he is so small and adorable!"
"Tetsuya would defiantly hit you for saying that last bit…" Taiga sweat-dropped.
"Eh!? Really?!" The blonde squeaked in surprise.
"I would defiantly hit you for that." Midorma added flatly.
"So mean!"
-x-
He could feel it the flames creeping closer burning, burning everything! It was so hot! It hurt! Make it stop!
"Shh… It's already Tetsuya. You are okay now…" A soft voice whispered to him through the unbearable heat and pain. He knew that voice… it was Seijuro! Then the heat suddenly was lessened by something cool and wet being placed in his forehead, it felt so good. He couldn't resist a sigh of relief.
"Thank you Sei-kun…" He whispered as he slipped back into the darkness. Everything still hurt and burned but Seijuro was with him so he would be alright. He had missed his cousin…
-x-
"Is he still asleep young master?" A prim, very professional-looking woman asked the boy with bright red hair and a regal presence who was sitting on the edge of a large, rather grand bed where another boy with pale blue hair was lying in a fitfully, fever induced sleep.
"He woke up few times in the night but only for a moment or so each time. It is fine. Tetsuya will be truly awake soon enough." The boy answered calmly as he leaned over to change the now warm but still wet cloth for a new cooler cloth, and lay it gently across the pale forehead of his still very sick cousin like he had been doing for the last few hours.
"If I may so bold Akashi-sama… But why is he so important to you? Isn't he just the son of your mother's sister? Surely someone of so low class would be- "
"That was too bold Saya. Finish that sentence and you will lose more then your job." The boy stated giving the older woman a frightening look, heterogeneous eyes of blood red and golden yellow daring her to test him. She wisely didn't and instead scurried from the room in a hurry.
It was only when she was gone that Akashi Seijuro allowed his expression to soften oh so slightly, looking down at the other, still sleeping teen. "I am sorry for hurting you Tetsuya but this is for the best. I will do whatever is necessary. "
"Sei-kun?" A soft voice murmured, teal blue eyes blinking open to look at the person sitting beside them.
"No. It is Akashi-kun, Kuroko." Was the blunt response that was given.
"Oh…" Tetsuya didn't even bother to hide his disappointment. "Well then Akashi-kun, where am I?" The teal-haired boy questioned him fearlessly, doing his best to appear strong. But when he tried to sit up he wobbled dangerously, courteous of his fever. Eyes of gold and red narrowed irritation as their owner moved to steady Tetsuya, preventing him from toppling over completely.
"Such a insolent attitude will not be tolerated Kuroko. But to answer you're question you are in the Akashi family's main house in your old room. You are still very sick." That made pale teen's eyes go wide.
"The main house? My old room? I understand that per our agreement I would have to return to the Akashi family once more and leave the Kagami name behind…But the main house? Surely Akashi-sama wouldn't…"
"Father has agreed to my request to revoke your disownment." Kuroko's eyes went wide with a look of utter shock at his cousin's words. "You will be will cared for here, you will have anything you desire, everything but you freedom that is."
"Why? Why are you imprisoning me here Akashi-kun?" That brought a cold expression to the red-haired boy's face.
"It is for your own good Kuroko. You left your home country with strangers and stayed with them for roughly ten years only to be severally injured, almost crippled, while in their care. I can not very well let my very dear cousin stay in such unhealthy company. My only regret is that I was unable to do this before you were injured."
"Akashi-kun ypu don't understan- "
"I understand very well Kuroko. You have a high fever, though it has gone down some, and I have seen your medical record." As if to prove his words he reached over to the bedside table to pick up a thick file that was lying on it and then waved it casually at Tetsuya. "Your spinal injury was actually fairly mild considering what could have happened though it still not a injury to scoff at by any means. Swelling around the spinal joints and several torn nerves and muscle as well as a few just strained. Any serious physical exertion irritates it, causing you pain and excess damage." Tetsuya by now looked thoroughly uncomfortable. It wasn't hard to tell that he wanted to snatch the file right from Akashi's hands. "There are some surgeries that might be able to resolve your injury but they are VERY expensive and even though your adopted father, Kagami Hirohito was it, is fairly well off he has nowhere near enough to pay for even the cheapest of th-" But Akashi's voice halted when he looked at Tetsuya, who's eyes now had a angry blaze in them, a aura of quiet rage flaring around him.
"You. do. not. understand. at. all." Each word bitten out with a frigid intensity.
"Fine. You can refuse to have the surgery but if you don't there is chance of you never walking again let alone play basketball." All color vanished from Tetsuya's face.
"What?"
"Exactly what I said. When Saya brought you unconscious with a dangerously high fever I naturally called a doctor. He did a full examination of you and informed me that you body has been too overworked. He said that walking will now be as hard as it was the day you had your accident. Try if you don't believe me." And try Tetsuya did, shoving the sheets aside placed both of his feet on floor and pushed off the bed, only for him to cry out in pain as his legs betrayed him and he collapsed to the cold, wood floor.
"Do you understand now? Give up. Without my help you are helpless." Akashi stated flatly looking down at his cousin who was still sprawled on the floor silently.
"No." It was a quiet, no more then a whisper.
"What?"
"NO!" He shouted it this time, glaring up at Akashi, the fire back in his eyes as he pulled himself up slightly using the bed as a support. "I'm not done! I will walk again! Just like I did before! And I am going to play basketball again too! Watch me beat you! Watch me save you Sei-kun!"
"Such bold words for a person who can't even stand on his own." The red and gold eyed Akashi sneered.
"Maybe, but I will. I already gave up once and I don't plan to do it again, even if it kills me."
"Interesting… I will look forward to it then."
"Please do."
A/N- New chapter everyone! A big thank you everyone who reviewed on this story's pervious chapter! There were so many! You made me so happy! Hopefully you guys like this chapter too! Yes, in case you were wondering, I am going to try giving Tetsu-chan some play time! In the end I gave in... I just couldn't not try to get him back on the court! It would be very nice if you guys let me know what you all think of this! Please leave a review and thanks for reading! :) (PS- all medical information is not to be taken as truth, I'm just making it to suit the story, I am not a real doctor.)