Finally I updated this story! Well, isn't like I was lazing around, I published three one-shot "The meaning of a birthday" "I wish for..." and "I don't need a heart if he isn't with me" they are all AkashixKuroko, so if you didn't already read them, please make a thought about.

I must say this story is starting to scare me a little. I received such nice comments I'm afraid to disappoint the readers in the future if what will come won't please...

Disclaimer: I don't own Kuroko no Basuke

Chapter 14

"Are you telling me Tetsuya took the fall for a crime he didn't commit?" Akashi stared at Aomine and Momoi incredulous, he couldn't believe... Sure, he was glad Kuroko wasn't a mass murderer but, to give his life away on his own will... maybe it was because he was taught in his whole life to be a winner, to stand above others, that the world followed the law about the survival of the fittest; maybe because he was a rational individual, Akashi couldn't understand Kuroko's way of thinking. He didn't have any faults, why is he feeling so guilty, why is he waiting for his death?

Aomine said "After the tragedy, with the hope we can still save him, Satsuki, with an excuse, was able to get access to Ogiwara's computer"

Momoi continued "I found the tracks of Shige-kun's payments for the weapon and the ingredients for the bomb... he didn't even bother to cover his trail, perhaps he left them because Shige-kun wanted to be caught. With those and I, as the main witness, we have enough evidences to release Tetsu-kun from the prison."

Aomine sighed "The problem is Tetsu. Until he is dead set on dying, we can't do anything. We need his approval to open the case again and even if we find a way outside that, he would kill himself at the first occasion. He already threatened me an once before. Our hands are tied. And here that you come into play..." the tanned man looked straight at Akashi "...You must convince Tetsu to live"

Akashi's crimson eyes widened "Me?" he had much self confidence, a brilliant mind and honed persuasive skills, but he spent only a year with Kuroko, while Aomine and Momoi tried to help him for so many years and failed. A stubbornness so powerful that lasted 10 years, what could he do against? he didn't even know his position in the phantom's heart.

Aomine replied "Yes, only you can" he went toward a bookshelf in the living room; he took a bunch of sketch books, the scarlet haired male recognized them, they were Tetsuya's!

"I don't know what kind of magic reside inside you, but you were able to do something no other could do before you. You reached his heart despite Tetsu closed it off. With you he started to imagine something else for him, he started to dream a future again."

the tanned guard handed him a sketch book "I don't know how you could do it, but you made him fall in love. He loves you, Akashi"

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Inside his cell, Kuroko remembered the first time he saw Akashi. That man walked with his head held high, a powerful and charming aura screaming power and confidence despite his situation. He walked proud like a lion; someone that instead to succumb Fate, would make it fall in his bidding.

A bright existence that would be in the prison for only a year. Akashi was his opposite, a strong light that made his heart arch in envy, but the phantom couldn't look away from him.

For Kuroko Testuya, Akashi Seijuurou was like fireworks.

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Akashi opened the first of the many sketch book, he saw at first simply things that Kuroko took fancy inside the prison and decided to draw, other pages were black, he saw fire, fire and many arms reaching in despair, they were very gloomy and agonizing, Akashi didn't want to linger on; he saw portraits of people, men, women, children, elder without distinct faces apart two, a woman with long hair and boy, especially the boy was a common occurrence, the scarlet haired man guessed he was Ogiwara.

Akashi flipped through the pages, which some had been torn apart; there were portraits of his jail mates, Kise with dog's ears and a wagging tale, Murasakibara with his snacks, Haizaki with a sour face, Midorima and his lucky items. There were also drawing of Aomine playing basketball, the style was very stressed and tense, implying the guilt of the author, even Momoi was drawn as well. Many pages were filled with many apologies, written is such a frenzy like a madman, and then... a picture of fireworks.

It was so much misplaced, it stood out amidst so many dark and ominous drawings like another world altogether. Akashi turned the page and lost his breath, there was his first portrait by the hands of the phantom. In the drawing his face was firm, he exuded confidence and inner strength, Tetsuya viewed me like this?

Akashi took another sketch book, at first the drawing about him were rare among many others but soon they grew of number... there was him playing basketball, there was him laying in the futon, there was him reading a book, there was him playing shogi.

He took again another sketch book, there was his name written then erased like Kuroko was ashamed about what he had written; there were portraits of the others but mostly Akashi; a lingered warm was felt in these pages.

The guilty and nefarious drawings were still present, but keeping going through the pages they were fewer and fewer. Red became the predominant color.

In the next sketch book, Kuroko grew more daring, there was Akashi's name circled by hearts, the crimson haired man couldn't refrain a smile in his face; next page, Akashi's smiling face; next page, their name together under an umbrella like those high school love charm; next page, a scene with him and Kuroko in their fiction future house, with a dog in the garden that suspiciously resembled Nigou; next page, an imagine of the cerulean haired prisoner surrounded by kids; next page, an imagine with the two of them holding hands and rings in their fingers.

The redhead, with shaking hands, flipped another page; there was simply written, I love you Akashi-kun. A tear fell on the paper; an expression twisted between joy and sorrow, a barely restrained cry; Akashi made a small painful smile and said with a low voice filled with fondness "Tetsuya... didn't I already tell you I hate liars?"

Momoi wrapped one of Akashi's shaking hands with hers, the sleeves of her shirt went up showing almost invisible old healed scars around her arms and wrist; the red eyed man, with respect, remained quiet about.

The woman with tears in her eyes said "Please, save Tetsu-kun"

"Free him from the ghosts of the past" Aomine begged.

Akashi stared at them with the same determination of one that could carry the whole world on his back "I will do it, even if it is the last thing I do"

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Kuroko watched the red haired man on the other side of the transparent panel, ear on the communication device "Why did you come again? Give up, Akashi-kun. You won't gain anything from me"

Akashi replied "Is this when you meant good lies? Do you think that making you the culprit of everything would make everyone happy? That making Ogiwara a hero would protect his memory, friends and family? That you living in pain, would make up for everything?"

Kuroko was speechless, how much did Akashi know about?

The crimson haired man kept on "That making me deliberately hate you and leave you behind, would be better than me suffering upon your death? Tetsuya... didn't already say to you I don't have any use for the fake? I don't need the false happiness you want to give me! I need you!"

"But I'm going to die"

"You can still save yourself"

"I want to die, Akashi-kun"

"I will make you want to live, give me a chance, Tetsuya"

"You can't do it. No one can"

"I won't listen to your words anymore, after all you are quite the liar. I know you love me, Tetsuya. I will bet in this love"

Kuroko, instead to reply, called a guard "Return me to my cell" he didn't look at the redhead anymore.

Akashi watched the startled prison guard escorting the phantom out "I won't give up, Tetsuya. I swear I will take you out of here... even if my enemy is you".

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Extra story: Aomine and Momoi, after the tragedy.

Even if Aomine couldn't play anymore, from time to time he still went to the basketball club to watch them training.

the basketball team club members gossiped between themselves "What unlucky year, our Ace is injured permanently, a club member is dead and the player/manager is missing... No wonder Rakuzan won this year too! They also got a new genius captain, even though he is a bit short for a basketball player..."

"Nee, the death's date is the same... do you think he died in the explosion?"

"No, I heard he died from a bullet!"

"Like Aomine's leg?"

"Nee, the manager is missing... do you think... I mean I always found him weird..."

Aomine was ready to shut them up, but someone beat him in time "Instead to spread weird rumors, why don't you run your laps or should I quadruple your training menu? Run lazy bums!" Momoi shouted.

"Momoi-chan changed as well! Before she was so sweet and cheerful! Now she is like a harpy!"

the tanned boy would punch them if he wasn't on crutches, however he agreed with them regarding Satsuki... she changed. With the passing days she withdrew deeper and deeper in herself, her smile was fake, sometimes she had rage outburst and screamed to everyone speaking about him, Ogiwara or Tetsu and the Tokyo tragedy... she was sickly pale and didn't go out to have fun like she used. She was suffering and Aomine didn't know how to help her. He was suffering too.

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In the school yard, a group of girls surrounded Momoi "Sorry Momoi-chan, I don't think we can be friends anymore".

"it's like we are dealing with a bomb that could explode anytime. We can't bear to be around you anymore"

Momoi stayed silent.

"I understand you feel lost cause your crush is gone, but this doesn't mean you have to be a bitch about" some insensitive girl said.

Momoi lost it "What do you know?! Don't speak like you know what I'm feeling!" she slapped her.

"Let's go! She is hysterical" the girls ran away. Momoi, with no more energy, sat on the ground and took a fetal position; shaking, she sobbed "Tetsu-kun" like a chant.

Aomine watched her from afar, he hated his own powerlessness.

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Kuroko, with his sky blue hair cut very short and wearing a prison uniform, was tied in a chair. A medic inserted a needle in his arm. She heard a voice saying "inject the poison" slowly Kuroko's eyes closed and he stopped to breath. Momoi screamed "Tetsu-kun!" another voice said "death sentence carried out" Momoi cried.

The room become dark, like a theater's stage only the chair with the just became dead was illuminated from a light above. Soon after Kuroko's eyes opened and glared at her "I'm dead because you, you sent me in the prison and got me a death sentence!"

Momoi replied "I didn't have any choice, you would have killed yourself on the spot otherwise!"

Kuroko mocked her "Maybe if you didn't have such a lousy persuasion skill you could have convinced me not to do it"

Momoi heard another voice behind her "If you found the bomb before, all of this would have been avoided" she turned to see Ogiwara smirking at her"You could have asked someone to investigate with you, you could have stopped me... if you moved faster, if you didn't get knocked out cold, all of this wouldn't have happened. All of these dead, Kuroko's death, it's your fault!"

Next to Ogiwara, Kuroko suddenly appeared "You killed me, Momoi-san... and the others as well" the phantom led her to see a multitude of people glaring at her with hate.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" she begged "I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."

"I'm sorry!" Momoi woke up from the nightmare crying. She felt her lugs burning, she felt she was suffocating... the guilt, the pain, it was too much to bear, the pain must go away, it must get out, it must get out!

Like in trance, she got up from the bed and walked to her desk, she grabbed a pencil case and took out a paper cutter. She cut her arm, again and again.

"There is the change of uniform now, why are you wearing long sleeves Satsuki?" Aomine asked her "Don't you feel hot?"

"My summer uniform is in the laundry, Dai-chan" she faked a smile. Aomine wouldn't have found her suspicious if wasn't for the fact, the summer uniform was in the laundry everyday.

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"Daiki, can you do me a favor? I and my husband are out of town for two days... can you visit Satsuki to see if she is faring well? I'm so worried for that girl, after the..." Satsuki's mother paused at the phone "She isn't herself anymore"

"I will come" Aomine replied.

Aomine rang the bell of the Momoi's house but no one answered. Since he was friend with Momoi for so many years he knew where was hidden the spare key. He opened the door "Satsuki?" no answer came back.

The tanned boy started to worry, Satsuki should be at home! he checked the living room, the kitchen, he went to the bathroom "Satsuki if you don't get out I don't care you are naked, I'm going in" he opened the bathroom door but the girl wasn't there.

"Let's look in her room" he muttered. He knocked the door; no reply either. He opened the door and entered. He saw the most horrific thing that for years would haunt him in his sleep.

Satsuki laid peaceful in her bed, almost like she was sleeping as a princess of fairytales but in her wrist there was a large cut with blood flowing copious, staining the white sheet and the pristine floor; her other hand held a cutter.

Aomine felt sick, he wanted to wake up and find out this was only a nightmare, but this was reality. Feeling weak, he tried to gather the strength to walk, what the fuck can he do in this situation? He panicked. Think Daiki, for the first time of your whole life try to think!

The blood... so much... he had to stop the blood! He hastily ( as one can do in crutches) took the cutter from Momoi's hand and cut the shoelace from his branded basketball shoe. He tied it tightly around Momoi's arm to block the blood circulation. Next, he checked her vital, Satsuki had to be alive! He took a breath and tried to calm himself, otherwise he wouldn't be able to notice the pulse. Please Satsuki! You can't be died! After some interminable instants he felt her weak pulse and Aomine legs gave out in relief, he was startled by the sound of the crutches falling on the floor with him.

Aomine used the cutter to cut the sheet and make bandages for the wound. Carefully, despite his shaken state, the tanned boy wrapped the soft cotton around his childhood friend's wrist; he noticed the many cuts on her arms and tears fell from his eyes, Satsuki... why? Why did you do this to yourself?

He took out of his pocked the cellphone and called a hospital.

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Aomine watched the door of Satsuki's hospital room, even if he was relieved that she was out of danger, he couldn't chase the fear away. He almost lost her... he never felt a greater fear, not even when Ogiwara shot him... from when he could remember, Satsuki always has been with him, her presence was implied and obvious, natural like to breath, if he was too late... he couldn't even picture a world without her... he loved her. Now he was sure.

He always avoided to think about her in that light, they were friends, of course he loved her, but how much deep? Some guys teased him before about getting together with her since they were close to each other, she was beautiful, smart, with a great body, and not to forget her boobs, these soft and big... however he always denied it strongly and got angry instead... now he understood he was a coward. Satsuki was too important, he was so much scared to lose her he never did nothing... he was so terrified to face her he left her alone with her pain... she was suffering so much and him... to hell with his cowardice! He wasn't going to run anymore!

Aomine grabbed the handle of the door and entered. Momoi was awake, her eyes widened for a moment, next she looked away, she didn't have the courage to look at Aomine's face. The boy quietly sat on her bed and leaned the crutches on the wall.

the pink haired girl said with a weak voice, ashamed of her situation "It was a mistake... I didn't want to kill myself" she clutched the bed sheet "I made a mistake, I cut too deep..."

Barely restraining his feelings, the tanned teen simply asked "Why?"

This time she looked straight into his eyes "Because it hurt, so much I can't stand it... all of these deaths, if only I acted faster..."

"You couldn't know it, Satsuki. Don't put the blame where it doesn't belong! Shit, do you think Tetsu is guilty?"

Momoi shouted outraged "Of course I don't!"

"Then, neither you are. I'm not the brightest mind of the bunch but even I can understand this"

"Still... Tetsu-kun will die why I testified against him. It's like I killed him myself... look at you, look at me, look at Tetsu-kun! We are broken! we won't ever be like we were before, we won't ever find happiness again!" she burst into tears "Why did this happened Dai-chan? Why we have to suffer? Why Tetsu-kun have to die?!"

Aomine couldn't refrain himself anymore and hugged the girl tightly against his chest, she kept sobbing "it hurt so much... Dai-chan" the tanned male caressed softly her head "Not everything is lost, Satsuki... we can't do anything for the dead but Tetsu didn't die yet. Us, him, there is still time, there is hope"

Satsuki stared at him hard "How can you still have hope? After so much pain, after you lost your dream, how can you have the strength to keep going?"

"Because there is still a chance, Satsuki. We have ten years to make things right. We can still become happy, the three of us"

Momoi looked at him with tears in her eyes, almost pleading "Really?"

Aomine tightened the hug "Really. We are in this together, Satsuki... so please, don't cut yourself anymore" the girl weakly nodded. She was so fragile and small in his arms, he won't ever leave her alone again. This time he will protect her.

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Momoi was released from the hospital with a prescription of antidepressants and an appointment with the shrink two time a week.

Aomine stayed at her side so much that sometimes she felt she gained another shadow... or maybe was she his shadow now? It can be since Dai-chan called himself a light in the past...

the tanned boy insisted she came along his rehab session, she didn't understand why he wanted her but she couldn't refuse him.

At the beginning, watching Dai-chan struggling to make a single step hurt her, the memories of the tragedy still fresh in her mind; but with the passing time, with the small progress Aomine kept making, she felt a new warmness inside her heart.

His determination, his strong will to never give up, moved her. This was what Dai-chan was after; He wanted to show her the tangible proof there was still hope; they had the power to fight any adversity. They could overcome the past and get better.

When Dai-chan managed to walk toward her without anyone help, he broadly smiled and hugged her "I walked" Momoi blushed, she didn't know why but her heart was pounding very fast "You did" in her eyes, Dai-chan was dazzling.

"I never doubted it though. I'm simply that awesome"

Momoi sweatdropped, it's a pity he is so narcissist.

Some years later

Momoi quietly waited outside the building, she was so nervous! How much time Dai-chan wanted to make her wait! Suddenly the main entrance's door opened, Aomine rushed toward her the fastest he could. He grabbed her waist, lifted her in air and twirled joyful "I've got the job Satsuki! Now I'm a prison guard!"

Momoi giggled in delight and hugged him "Congratulations Dai-chan!"

the new prison guard put the girl down. Rejoicing, without thinking, he pressed his lips on hers. Momoi closed her eyes and answered. Their first kiss felt so natural and right, they needed no words or declarations about. They were in love, they simply accepted so. They were each other happiness already a long time ago.

"Now, we are missing only Tetsu-kun!"

"I bet the stubborn fool will keep to make it hard for us" Aomine grunted.

Momoi replied "There is still a chance. You told me a long time ago, remember?" she smiled "And who knows? Maybe we will gather allies!"

Aomine asked her "Do you think so?"

Momoi winked at him "Woman intuition".

I'm sorry for the short chapter, but I felt it was right to cut it here. I hope the extra makes up for it. Please review.