DOUBLE UPDATE READ THIS CHAPTER FIRST
Warnings: jealousy, balcony sex, anal sex, anal fingering
Note: Don't panic about the 'first' assassination attempt comment. As you will see in this chapter, it's just the fact of the matter. When you're important to society, people want to kill you. It happens XD Anyway, read on!
Kida-Asumi
Two days after the assassination attempt on his life, Seijuurou found himself restless. He wanted to find the person that dared to harm him and interrogate them. He wanted to demand why Tetsuya and others had to be exposed as well. He wanted answers that his father obviously had and refused to give him.
Withholding a frustrated sigh, Seijuurou ran a hand over his face. He let out a hiss of pain when he touched the wound on his cheek, and his mood darkened at the reminder of the incident.
"Seijuurou-kun?" Tetsuya's concerned voice reminded the redhead that his boyfriend was in the room with him. The homework littered across the coffee table reminded him of the task at hand.
Yes. Projects were due at the end of next week. He had to focus on that and ignore all the rest. He winced when Tetsuya reached up and cupped his face.
"I'm fine, Tetsuya." He sighed, removing his boyfriend's hand. Tetsuya frowned.
"Do you want me to get you a new bandage for it?" His boyfriend tried again. The old one had come off at practice today, and Seijuurou hadn't wanted to put on another. Seijuurou shook his head, leaning back over his homework.
"No, I'm fine." He said, voice coming out a little harsher than he had intended for it to be. However, he couldn't bring himself to care. He was grumpy and Tetsuya would deal with it.
"Sei." Tetsuya said as he laid a comforting hand on Seijuurou's back. However, to the redhead, it felt like he was pining him down, making him restless. "Let me take care of you." He said, gently squeezing at Seijuurou's shoulders.
Typically, he would allow his boyfriend to give him the massage that he was implying. Tetsuya had talented hands that seemed to know just where to poke and prod to help him relax. However, not today. He wanted to be left alone to his bad mood.
"I don't need anyone taking care of me, I'm fine. Thank you, but I just want this homework to be finished." Seijuurou said shortly before pressing his pencil against the paper. Tetsuya persisted with his nagging.
"You just had someone attempt to kill you. There is no way that-" Seijuurou cut him off, unable to take any more of this. Really, couldn't he take a hint?
"There is. Drop it, Tetsuya." He snapped. He felt a little guilty when he watched Tetsuya's eyes flashed with hurt. Deciding to make it up to him later, Seijuurou turned back to his homework. He thought it was over and done with when suddenly Tetsuya spoke again.
"I don't know why I even try." Tetsuya murmured softly. "Sometimes I wonder why you even brought me here if it wasn't to help you. Am I just an ornament?" Seijuurou rolled his eyes, turned to face his boyfriend with a glare.
"You are here because your life fell apart. If you are my ornament then I am your escape." He pointed out. Why in the world was Tetsuya overreacting like this?
"That's not the entire reason I'm here, and you know it. I'm here because I love you, Sei. Why are you being so hateful today?" Tetsuya asked. Seijuurou snorted, shaking his head.
"You started this, Tetsuya. You know the stress that I have been under recently. You also know how I handle it. Yet you keep fretting and nagging over me." He snapped back. Tetsuya frowned.
"That is no reason to treat me like this, Seijuurou-kun." He said.
"Maybe I just want some space." Seijuurou glared at his boyfriend. Was it that hard of a concept? He thought it was pretty obvious. Tetsuya's expression became unreadable before he ducked his head and stood up.
"Fine. I'll give you space." He murmured. Seijuurou watched him grab his jacket from the back of the couch, and there was something in the way that he looked so downtrodden that broke Seijuurou's heart.
What in the hell was he doing, treating Tetsuya like this? He was being childish and rude. The stress was making him act so much differently than he typically did. It wasn't fair to his angel of a boyfriend. Deciding that he had done enough damage for the day, Seijuurou let him walk away from him, hoping to give him space to cool off too. When he returned that night, they could share apologies and make up.
That is, he meant to. But then Tetsuya looked back at him before he left the room, his eyes dark with hurt and anguish. The tears shinning there nearly knocked the breath out of Seijuurou and he found himself moving before his mind could order him to do so.
"Tetsuya." He said as he pulled his boyfriend in to his arms. Tetsuya was still in his arms.
"Let go of me." Tetsuya whispered. His forceful tone didn't pack nearly as much of a punch as he intended when it wavered. Seijuurou's heart gave a painful throb, and he buried his face in his boyfriend's blue locks.
"I'm so sorry, my heart. What in the hell am I thinking?" Seijuurou murmured in his hair. Tetsuya stayed stiff in his arms for another moment before suddenly surging up and connecting their lips. It was painful as their teeth clanked together, and Seijuurou was sure that he could taste blood between them. However, the pain wasn't unwelcomed and he cupped Tetsuya's face between his hands. Seijuurou eagerly kissed back, parting his lips so that way his boyfriend could vent his frustrations this way. The amount of anger and aguish behind the kiss nearly choked the breath out of him alone, and he tried his best to convey his sincerest apologies in return.
Tetsuya eventually broke the kiss, both a little weak in the knees from the raw emotions behind it.
"I need you." Tetsuya whispered. Without another word, Seijuurou led him upstairs.
Seijuurou pressed a tender kiss to Tetsuya's shoulder, nuzzling the spot afterwards. Tetsuya squeezed his hand before rolling over and cradling him close.
"I'm sorry." He murmured again. Tetsuya pressed a kiss to the top of his head.
"I know. And hopefully after the sex we just had, you know that you're forgiven." Tetsuya teased. Seijuurou shook his head before lifting himself up and on to his forearms, staring down at Tetsuya's flushed face.
"I should never have spoken to you like that. I always have and always will want you with me, Tetsuya. That was…terrible of me to even have you think that I didn't want you here. You are here because you want to be here, and I am forever grateful because of it." He said. Tetsuya reached up and ran his fingers through his hair, and Seijuurou closed his eyes against the soothing ministrations.
"I shouldn't have pushed you either, Sei. I know that there are things inside of you that even I can't fix or help with, no matter how much is pains me. You are only human." His angel of a boyfriend pointed out.
"It was still unacceptable behavior." He pointed out. Tetsuya eased him back down on top of him, running his hands over his back to help soothe him. Seijuurou relaxed from the first stroke, even if his heart was still uneasy about their words from earlier.
"Yes, I will give you that. However, it's not unforgivable. So long as we remember that we love each other, we will be okay. And I do love you, Seijuurou-kun. So much that sometimes I can hardly catch my breath." Tetsuya murmured. Seijuurou closed his eyes, allowing the comforting words his boyfriend was speaking to flow over him.
"I love you too, Tetsuya. I'm sorry that I have been so terrible recently." Seijuurou mumbled in to Tetsuya's chest.
"And I'm sorry that I have been just as bad. I think it's a combination of everything we have going on and what happened a couple days ago. We never really talked about it." Tetsuya said, giving his back a pointed tap. Seijuurou winced before rolling off of him. The little moan that Tetsuya gave when he pulled out of him nearly brought a smile to his lips. Chuckling, Seijuurou pulled off his condom and Tetsuya pulled off his before they tossed them out and returned to cuddling. The light atmosphere quickly dissipated as Seijuurou remembered why they were here to begin with.
"…you go first." Seijuurou murmured, feeling like a coward. This wasn't something he wanted to talk about. Tetsuya nodded, leaning forward to give him a quick kiss before cuddling in close.
"I've been really worried about you, Seijuurou-kun. You are one person, and it seems that you are doing the job of five. And then someone tried to exterminate you." Seijuurou bit back a flash of amusement at his boyfriend's word choice. "I…I sometimes can't breathe just thinking about it. If that shot had been just a little bit closer to the center of your face, I would have lost you." Tetsuya said. Seijuurou's heart clenched painful when he spotted his tears once again. He cupped his face, trying to keep his gaze reassuring.
"I am very overworked, I will agree with you. I will not take on as much in college as I am doing in high school, I can promise you that." He began. Tetsuya nodded, and the relief he felt was reflected in Tetsuya's blue eyes. "…my father and I have been waiting for an attempt on my life for a few years now. Usually they start when the heir reaches the age of fourteen." He admitted. Tetsuya's eyes widened in horror. Seijuurou nodded, expecting this response. After all, to normal people this would be a shock.
"Oh my god." He whispered.
"It's alright, my love. We expected the worse and prepared for the best. My father and his security team are currently research bodyguards that look like us as we speak. As soon as they find a nice team, one of them will start being with one of us in public at all times." Seijuurou promised. Tetsuya frowned, pulling Seijuurou closer.
"…I don't like that this has to happen." Tetsuya grumbled. Seijuurou must not have been able to properly mask his heartbreak at hearing those words so Tetsuya quickly elaborated. "Don't worry, it doesn't mean that I won't accept this. I'm not making this an ultimatum or a deal breaker." He promised. He bit back a smile when Seijuurou's shoulders sagged with relief. "I realize that there are a lot of things I do not understand about your world of politics. I just…I want you to be safe, Sei." He murmured. Seijuurou pressed a kiss to his forehead before tucking him under his chin.
"I promise you that my father and I will do our best to ensure that we are both safe, Tetsuya. I'm sorry that you had to witness such a scary event. Most spouses don't find out until it happens to the heir. I was going to tell you after we got married." He admitted.
"Before the baby?" Tetsuya guess. Seijuurou nodded. "Good. I would have appreciated that. Now your turn. What's wrong?" Tetsuya asked. Seijuurou winced. He could barely answer that question himself.
"…everything. Nothing. I don't know. I feel like something is wrong but I can't place it and it's so frustrating. All of my plans and projects are coming along smoothly. Almost too smoothly. Because of this, I keep thinking that I can take on more. I then become frustrated because I can't handle it." He admitted. Tetsuya hugged him tighter, and Seijuurou appreciated it. "I'm worried that I will mess up one thing and then the rest will fall apart too. I'm also neglecting you again. I'm sorry, Tetsuya. I've been a terrible boyfriend recently." He frowned. Tetsuya kissed his jaw before returning to his spot. The sweet little gesture made Seijuurou's heart skip a beat.
"Nonsense. I understand, Seijuurou-kun. I would tell you if I'm not happy. Or if I'm feeling neglected, I would ask you to do things with me." He corrected. "I'm sorry that life is overwhelming, Seijuurou-kun. If you ever need me or the others to help look over things for you, just let me know. As soon as the Winter Cup ends, you will be releasing your duties to the Basketball club. Then all that is left is school." He pointed out. Seijuurou nodded.
"I know." Soon, his responsibility load would be a little lighter. He just hoped that this would be enough to make everything better.
He was dreaming again. It was their first anniversary. They were visiting the restaurant that had been their first date spot so long ago, and in addition to the glow from the stars, there were two candles glowing on the table.
"Where did you learn your romance tactics from?" Tetsuya teased. Seijuurou chuckled, helping him in to his chair.
"I do my research, my Tetsuya." He admitted willingly. The blush on Tetsuya's cheeks helped him remember that this was worth it.
Seijuurou smiled as he watched their hands link together and their voices dropped to an intimate set of whispers. He watched as they shared their dinner and conversation. He followed them when they went to look over the city and talk about what they were going to do for the rest of the evening.
Seijuurou's heart ached with a yearning for these simpler times. When he didn't have to plan out his day to include resting or even spending time with Tetsuya. He wished that he wasn't an Akashi heir, and that the way that things were going now wasn't going to become permanent.
It wasn't fair.
"No, it's not." Seijuurou spun around in surprise at the voice in his ear. His darker personality was staring at him with his all-knowing gaze. "However, this is your life. You must accept this." He ordered. Seijuurou shook his head.
"No. Tetsuya said that father cares about us. He will listen when I explain-"
"Nonsense. He will laugh in your face or smack you. Perhaps both. Don't be foolish, Seijuurou. Remember that whatever you do could put Tetsuya at risk." He cautioned. Seijuurou's eyes narrowed.
"I would never do anything to put him in harm's way." He protested. His darker personality nodded before reaching forward and pulling him close.
"I know you would try."
Tetsuya was more than a little surprised when his boyfriend suddenly shoved him against the wall of his shower. He bit back a chuckle, smiling at the feeling of the hard erection pressing against his ass.
"Already so eager, Seijuurou-kun? You went for a run before I was even awake this morning. Where is all of this energy coming from?" He teased, turning around and wrapping a leg around his waist, grinding their erections together. When Seijuurou didn't respond, Tetsuya looked up to meet his gaze. He was surprised to find Seijuurou's gold eye blazing.
"Tetsuya. It's been awhile." Seijuurou murmured. Tetsuya nodded, and his expression softened.
"Welcome home." He said back before leaning up and kissing his boyfriend. He really should have known that this would happen, with how stressed out Seijuurou had been yesterday. Or even lately.
For now, Tetsuya let his boyfriend hide behind his most absolute persona. If this helped him get through the next few months with most of his sanity intact, then so be it.
Seijuurou hated this man. He wasn't sure how he could put up with him on a daily basis.
The two were having a meeting about the upcoming Christmas Ball. His father was reading over his reports, and would occasionally take that terrible red pen out and make corrections.
It pissed him off.
"I couldn't help but overhear your argument with Tetsuya the other day. Are things alright?" His father asked, almost as if he actually cared. Seijuurou nodded.
"Yes, sir. We were both a little caught up in the stress of what happened last weekend. I was trying to move past it, as is expected of me," He added. He internally scowled when his father nodded, "but Tetsuya wasn't quite ready to move on from it. However, we quickly came to our senses and made up." He explained. Masaomi nodded.
"I see." His father said. Seijuurou bit back a frown as his father looked up at the ceiling thoughtfully. It made Seijuurou uneasy, watching the way his father seemed to contemplate something. "Are you doing alight, Seijuurou? You seem very overwhelmed." He asked.
"I'm fine, Father." He promised. Masaomi sighed, standing up from his desk. He walked over to his son, clasping him on the shoulder.
"Maybe trying to fight your chosen path is too much to handle." He suggested before walking out of the room.
Seijuurou's eyes narrowed as fury ran through his veins. Was his father trying to use his exhaustion as a reason to force him into his pre-planned future? Was he not even going to take this seriously in to consideration? Seijuurou's head spun with the impact of that happening, and he fought to keep himself upright.
Before he even thought about it, he was leaving the house and heading to his mother.
Another memory, Seijuurou mused as he watched himself enter his father's office. He couldn't be a little bit older than 13, if he had to guess.
"We are telling father about our feelings for Tetsuya. Though I think we left it vague and just told him that we liked boys." Seijuurou wasn't surprise to watch his other self-walk up to him. Together they watched as he sat down in front of Masaomi.
"You wished to tell me something, Seijuurou?" The older man asked. Young Seijuurou nodded, keeping his head held high as he met his father's gaze.
"What confidence we had back then." Seijuurou murmured. The other remained silent.
"Yes, Father. I recently came to the revelation that I do not like girls. I like boys instead. I was wondering if this goes against our family." The young Seijuurou was straight to the point.
"Look at how full of life he was, despite how heartbroken we were at the time." The other said in awe. Seijuurou agreed. They were both surprised when Masaomi's mask broke for just a second with amusement and warmth.
"I see. No, my son, it is not against our family to yearn for someone with the same sex. In today's world, it is even growing to be socially acceptable. If you still feel this way next year, inform me and I shall begin pressing the government in to legalizing a marriage for you." He said. The little one's shoulder's sagged with relief.
"Thank you, Father. I will be sure to let you know." He said. When he stood up, Masaomi stopped him from leaving.
"Just a minute, Seijuurou. There are a few things we should discuss about this. What trials you will face and the like."
The other and Seijuurou tuned out the memory, neither particularly wanting to hear that awkward conversation again.
"Maybe Father was just worried about us earlier." The other suggested. Seijuurou rolled his eyes. He blinked when they were suddenly back in Masaomi's office.
"What-"He stopped his question when he realized what this was. Why his father was pulling down the family photo album, and why Seijuurou was placing a photo of Tetsuya on the desk.
It was the Request.
"Ah." Both said together. Slightly younger Seijuurou stepped back, watching his father with carefully guarded eyes as he examined Tetsuya's photo.
"He is the one?" Masaomi asked. When Seijuurou nodded, he fell silent again. "I think I remember him. He was the shadow of Teiko, correct?" Again, Seijuurou nodded.
"Yes. I have wanted him for nearly two years now, Father. I just did not realize it." He admitted.
"But now you do?" Masaomi asked. Seijuurou nodded, determination flashing in his eyes.
"Yes. I want him." Masaomi nodded, sitting the photo down before flipping open the album.
"He has a low presence that builds itself gradually. He would be perfect for the innocent lunches that the Akashi spouse is typically expected to participate in and gather the atmosphere of a negotiation from the slightly drunken other spouses. He also is only a little shorter than you, and has already proven himself a hard worker. Is he loyal?" Masaomi asked. Seijuurou nodded.
"Absolutely. He completely dedicates himself to something once he is involved. I'm the reason that the Generation of Miracles fell apart." Seijuurou and the other winced at that all too true statement. Their desperation to keep everyone happy had been their ultimate downfall.
"Good. You will have until the end of your Third year of high school to properly woo him, Seijuurou. If at any time I feel that he is the one, I will begin his training to be your spouse. He is to be prepared for that task by the time you graduate college." Masaomi instructed. Slightly younger Seijuurou nodded, his eyes gleaming with joy.
"We were so happy and relieved that father approved so quickly." The other murmured. Seijuurou nodded, closing his eyes when he placed a hand on his shoulder. "I can handle things from here." It promised. Seijuurou nodded, leaning back to give the other control.
"And now that we are on to the finals, we are that much closer to being done with the school year!" Ryouta was grinning as the Generation of Miracles walked towards the stadium. Tetsuya shook his head, squeezing Seijuurou's hand tightly as a shiver ran through him. Letting out a sigh of disapproval as he noticed that Tetsuya had forgotten to wear his gloves (again), Seijuurou pulled their hands in to his pocket.
"Thanks." His boyfriend whispered as he slid his other hand in to his pocket. Seijuurou leaned over and gave him a quick kiss to his pink cheek, though whether the coloring was from the cold or embarrassment, it was hard to say.
The Winter Cup had made the month of December fly by. If Seijuurou wasn't in class, he was at Basketball practice. When he wasn't there, he was in one of three committee meetings: the student council, the graduation ceremony, or the Christmas ball.
The Quarter finals had been a fierce knock out set of matches between the Generation teams and two outsiders. It was almost comical the unintended pass that Shutoku and Yosen got with the two outside teams.
Taiga and Daiki got to have a great, one last match together that awed the stands and the recruiters. Seirin won by 1 point. At the end of it, both announced that they had accepted contract offers to the University of LA. Seijuurou wasn't sure if their significant other's had known about it before hand at the time. But when Tatsuya announced the same offer after their match in the Semi-finals that was half-cleared up. Even now he wasn't sure if Ryouta had known beforehand.
Regardless, Ryouta was still clinging to Daiki's arm, giggling about something that the darker-skinned male was whispering in his ear.
Rakuzan had faced off against Kaijou. It had been an intense match, as Ryouta's perfect copy was stronger than ever. However, Seijuurou wasn't going to lose this late in his basketball career, and he had allowed Kaijou to lose with a 10-point gap.
After the games were finished, Seijuurou and Tetsuya rounded up Rakuzan to head back to Kyoto so that way the student could focus on starting their projects and deadlines by the start of Winter break.
After another week with very little sleep and an ever-growing to-do list, the Akashi heir and the team returned to Tokyo for the Semi-finals.
Seirin versus Rakuzan started the day with a fierce battle between Seijuurou and Taiga. Most of Seirin were still pretty bitter with Tetsuya's betrayal. Seijuurou didn't take lightly to their snide comments and defeated them pretty ruthlessly. He only was polite when Taiga was on the court. Other than that, they complete blocked their offense, and had an iron clad defense.
This match would be the start of many examples of Akashi Seijuurou protecting his beloved.
Riko, Hyuuga, and Kiyoshi later stopped by as Tetsuya and Taiga were conversing after the match. Riko had informed them that most of Tetsuya's previous Thirds didn't care about the past anymore. They still wanted to be friends. His Tetsuya had cried tears of relief on the way home.
Shutoku and Yosen's match had been just as intense. However, Shutoku took the crown with Kazunari and Shintarouu's perfectly synced duet on the court. Seijuurou was not surprised when Kazunari jumped into his arms.
He was, however, surprised when Shintarou kissed him.
Now, as they walked towards the stadium, Seijuurou was content with the approaching end to his basketball career. In all of his years of Captaincy, he was the first Captain in Japan to win as many games as he had. 1 game loss of out the 18 tournaments he played in was pretty impressive.
Tetsuya pressed against his side, and Seijuurou blinked back in to reality once more. He offered his boyfriend's curious gaze a wink.
"I was just thinking about basketball." He promised. Tetsuya shot him a knowing smile and nodded before turning back to listen to Satsuki and Ryouta tease Daiki about the blush on his face.
It was the third quarter when it happened. Seijuurou managed to knock his knee out of the socket when one of Yosen's team members accidentally landed on him when he dunked. Seijuurou winced and immediately called for a time-out.
"Seijuurou-kun." Tetsuya was suddenly at his side, and Tamaki was helping him up.
"It's just knocked out of place. You can set it and if I set out the rest of this quarter and then part of the next it should be fine." Seijuurou said, even as he gritted his teeth against the pain. Out of the corner of his eye he watched his father slowly make his way down the stands. Tetsuya nodded, his eyes full of concern.
After sending in a sub, Tetsuya kneeled in front of him and handed him a towel. Seijuurou put it in his mouth, bracing himself on the bench as Tetsuya quickly popped it back into socket. The pain caused Seijuurou to jerk forward, the terrible cry of the pain muffled by the towel. Tetsuya squeezed his uninjured knee, an apology in his gaze. He leaned up to take the towel out of his mouth. He tenderly wiped away the saliva that had seeped in to the towel and then back around his mouth before kissing him softly.
"I'm going to wrap it now, okay? We'll put it in a brace too." He said. Seijuurou nodded, accepting the pain medication one of the other managers slipped to him. As the pills went down his throat, Tetsuya's careful hands began to wrap his knee. He winced when his boyfriend slipped on his brace.
"Just rest, Seijuurou-kun." Tetsuya said as he rose to his feet. He sat down next to him, grabbing the towel from earlier and wiping away his sweat. Seijuurou leaned against him, trying to let his boyfriend's soothing presence relax him.
When Rakuzan began to look like it might lose within the last two minutes of the third quarter, Seijuurou braced himself for what he had to do.
"Tetsuya." He murmured. Tetsuya nodded, rising from the bench. His boyfriend's face was a perfect mask as he raised his hand and called out for a substitution change. Rakuzan's coach nodded his approval, and he moved over to sit next to Rakuzan's Captain.
"This is why we had this plan in place. This is why we let him join the team in the first place." He reminded him. Seijuurou nodded, closing his eyes as his heart sank.
He felt like he was using his boyfriend. Betraying him. But this was necessary.
This was Rakuzan's true last resort.
Code S for Shadow.
The crowd went silent as Tetsuya took off his t-shirt, revealing the jersey beneath it.
Rakuzan's number 15, Kuroko Tetsuya.
As he pulled on his wrist bands, the Generation, Taiga, and Ogiwara began to cheer in the distance. Soon, the rest of the crowd followed as he took his rightful place on the court.
Seijuurou watched with no small amount of pride as his boyfriend began to talk to the first string about their attack plan. All the while, Seijuurou watched Shinjirou begin to trust his boyfriend.
Maybe this knee of his was a blessing in disguise.
The game resumed, with Tetsuya helping the first string gain back the momentum that they had lost. Finally, once the time came, Seijuurou joined them on the court. Shinjirou shot him an odd look as he returned to the bench, but Seijuurou decided to dwell on that later.
For now, as he gathered his first string, he smirked.
"Well now. Shall we show the world just how powerful Rakuzan is?" He asked. As the others cheered their agreement, Seijuurou locked his eyes with Tetsuya. His boyfriend's eyes were shining with excitement, and he seemed genuinely happy to be on the court again.
It was only fitting, Seijuurou later mused as Tetsuya passed him what would be the last basket of the game, that his final match be Tetsuya's as well. That they said goodbye to this sport that meant so much to them both, together.
And when the buzzer rang, Seijuurou turned and reached out, knowing that his boyfriend would be right there. Tetsuya wrapped his arms around his waist as Seijuurou cupped his face, their matching grins and wet eyes mirror images. Seijuurou yanked him close, kissing him breathless as a true farewell to the basketball that had brought them together.
This win was a symbol of their freedom. Of their future.
Seijuurou smiled to himself as he stepped in to his dreams that night. His darker self was sitting by a window in Teiko Middle School, his eyes locked on what Seijuurou knew to be Tetsuya playing a game with Daiki and Ryouta.
This was one of his favorite memories. This was the one where he realized that he loved him.
"Here we come." The absolute personality said. Seijuurou joined him, and they watched as young Seijuurou walked in with Atsushi and Shintarou.
"What are you guys doing here so early?" Shintarou asked. Seijuurou walked over to their utility room, disappearing to grab his clipboard.
"Practicing!" Ryouta responded cheerfully.
"Kise is under the impression that he can be Tetsu's light. I had to show him how wrong he is." Daiki bragged.
"Is Dai-chan here?" Satsuki's frantic voice reached their ears as they watched young Seijuurou exit the room.
"Fuck. I forgot to tell her." Daiki spoke up.
"Yes, Aomine-kun is here, Momoi-san." Tetsuya promised. They watched as Seijuurou observe the court, planning their practice for the day.
However, the current Seijuurou knew what was going on in the back of his mind.
Today was the anniversary of his mother's passing.
The practice fast-forwarded. They watched in awe as Tetsuya kept glancing towards Seijuurou with a look of concern on his face. Watching now, they realized it was because he was too quiet that day. It also could have been because Tetsuya was beginning to fall for him in return, but he hadn't acknowledged it yet. Or maybe he had, but Seijuurou was too wrapped up in himself to notice.
Everything stopped suddenly as the rest of the Generation exited the locker room, leaving the two alone.
"Akashi-kun?" Their Tetsuya asked, the sound of his previous nickname so foreign now.
"Yes, Tetsuya?" Seijuurou replied. He jumped when Tetsuya gently grasped his shoulder, turning him around so that their eyes locked.
They watched both boys simply look at one another. Finally, Tetsuya spoke again.
"Go home and rest, okay? Tomorrow will be more manageable." He promised. Seijuurou's expression softened. So did the watching pair.
Those words would become his motto for the next year and a half. And every year that passed that date. Tetsuya didn't apologize. Tetsuya didn't mention or ask why he was upset, even though he knew. Tetsuya didn't promise that it would get easier. No, he just assured him that today sucked, and tomorrow wouldn't suck as much. That genuine honesty combined with his concern for him was what really caused Seijuurou's heart to go to this man.
He was the first person to really try and make things seem better.
"Thank you, Tetsuya." He murmured. Tetsuya's cheek dusted with pink embarrassment before he nodded shyly and turned back to his locker.
"N-no problem, Akashi-kun." He stuttered. Seijuurou had thought it was adorable then, and he thought it now. Just watching him, so shy and innocent, brought a smile to his face.
"We need to protect him against the stress of finals and the stress of the ball. We can't fight again." His absolute personality spoke. Seijuurou nodded, his expression grim as that precious memory slipped away.
"Do what you must."
Seijuurou hadn't expected his father to go with them to the Christmas Ball for Scholarship Growth. He had been wrong.
"We must present the Akashi family of the here and now. With this being Tetsuya's first public appearance in this setting, it is imperative that we both have the chance to walk with him. Introduce him to both of our friends." Masaomi had said. Seijuurou begrudgingly agreed, but he wasn't happy about it. As if he didn't have enough to worry about.
"Shinjirou apologized to me." Tetsuya's voice broke the slightly awkward atmosphere in the car. Seijuurou turned to him, raising a surprised brow.
"Really? When did this happen?" Seijuurou asked.
"Shinjirou is this boy on the basketball team that keeps trying to break Seijuurou-kun and I apart." Tetsuya referenced for Masaomi's benefit. His father rolled his eyes before turning back to his newspaper.
"Child's play." He grunted. Tetsuya nodded his agreement before continuing.
"The other managers and I were stacking the towels when you were in the meeting with the coach and he approached me. He apologized for the way he's been treating me, and that he is ashamed of himself for throwing himself at you. He wished us the best. It wasn't nearly as dramatic as Sayoko's." Tetsuya shrugged, squeezing their laced fingers. Seijuurou squeezed back as he pondered this development.
"Well, at least this makes things easier for after graduation." He said. Tetsuya nodded.
All too soon, they were pulling up to the building that held the ball. The reporters were already there, the flashes of cameras illuminating everything too brightly.
"Well, shall we? I will lead." Masaomi said. Seijuurou and Tetsuya nodded. He got out first, giving the crowd a polite smile and a friendly wave. Seijuurou and Tetsuya waited until he was about halfway down the line before they too stepped out. Seijuurou gave his most welcoming smile to the cameras as he helped Tetsuya out of the car. Tetsuya thanked him and Seijuurou offered him his arm.
"Over here!" The reporters all vied for their attention. They did their best to wave to them all, and did stop to give two interviews. The first was about the occasion.
"I am very proud of what we have built here today. I know that this Scholarship fund will be very beneficial to every partner involved. This will also be great program that will continue to grow over time. All of the young athletes of today and the future will get the support they need from here." Seijuurou stated.
The second was on them.
"This will be Tetsuya's first formal ball. I am honored that he chose to spend it with me." Seijuurou promised, the adoration in his eyes for his boyfriend genuine. The smile that he got in return was just as much.
"I'm really looking forward to meeting the fine men and women that have dedicated so much of their time building this program. The fact that I can spend it with my family is an added bonus." Tetsuya stated with a wink to Seijuurou.
When the reporters asked if they were getting married soon, both declined to comment and headed inside, secretive smiles on their faces leading to what would surly be tomorrow's next big gossip headline.
"Round one complete?" Tetsuya asked, relaxing a bit now that they were no longer under the scrutiny of most of the nation. Seijuurou shook his head, helping Tetsuya out of his coat before taking off his own and passing it to the coat check.
"If only, my love, if only. The night has barely even begun." He murmured. Tetsuya slipped his hand through his arm, offering him a reassuring smile.
"We'll get through this together, as always, Sei." He promised. Seijuurou returned it, gently pressing their foreheads together.
"This night is already going better than most just because you are here with me, my love. Thank you for being here." He said. Tetsuya gently kissed him, eyes shining with warm affection.
"What a wonderful compliment, Sei. Now let's find your father before he finds us." He teased. Seijuurou nodded, sneaking one more kiss before forcing himself upright and his business smile on to his face.
After the initial mingling where Seijuurou and Tetsuya stuck close to Masaomi, the first item on the agenda was dinner.
"What will the food be like?" Tetsuya asked as they filed in to the dining hall.
"The portions will be smaller than we typically eat, but there are more courses and they have a stronger flavor." Seijuurou answered.
"For one of the desert options Seijuurou put in a special vanilla ice cream option." Masaomi added as he took his place at the head of the table. Seijuurou pulled out Tetsuya's chair for him, nodding that it was true.
"To encourage you to finish every last bite." He explained, making sure that his boyfriend was settled between his father and himself before he sat down. He wasn't surprised when Takizawa Animal sat down next to his father, and he offered the…elaborate man's son, Chris, a nod of greeting.
The Takizawa Sports Corp was the leading Athletic Equipment and Sponsorship firm in not only Japan, but in most of Asia as well. They were also highly ranked in America and across Europe. It was a no brainer when Masaomi asked him to pick an expert in the field, who exactly he was going to choose.
"How have things been with you, Akashi-san?" Chris asked politely as their father's began to talk. Seijuurou offered him a friendly smile.
"Busy. Chris, have you met my boyfriend, Tetsuya?" Seijuurou asked. Chris shook his head, offering the blue-haired male a friendly smile.
"Hello, I'm Takizawa Chris Yuu. It's very nice to meet you…" Chris trailed off, offering his hand to Tetsuya. Tetsuya accepted it, giving Chris a smile in return.
"Kuroko Tetsuya. It's nice to meet you as well, Takizawa-san." His boyfriend said. Seijuurou was pleased by Chris' easy acceptance of his boyfriend, and he hoped that as the night continued, this behavior would continue.
They spoke with Chris periodically throughout the dinner. He let it slip that he was currently in a polyamorous relationship with two other men, with a third warming his way into their hearts. Seijuurou and Tetsuya were thinking the same thing, when they later glanced at one another.
How in the world could they possibly want to share the person that they cherished most?
"Maybe it's a community type thing? We love the Generation." Tetsuya mused later that night. Seijuurou had to agree with that logic, and they closed the book on the matter.
After dinner, the group left the table to go and mingle once more. As Masaomi left their side, Seijuurou sought out the Head of the Akazo group, Nanase Haruya.
Nanase Haruya was the complete opposite of his son. He was loud, outgoing, and treated life as if he was single and free. As Seijuurou approached him, he noted the lack of a woman (or man) on his arm, and his wedding band was missing as well.
Did he not think about his child? Where was Haru's mother? Seijuurou couldn't believe that they were even remotely related, so he had looked in to it. Sure enough, he was listed as Haru's father on his birth certificate. However, Seijuurou decided he had enough problems in his own life. He had no need getting caught up in others.
"Akashi! This your man?" Haruya asked as he approached. Seijuurou nodded, pressing in to Tetsuya's back to assure him that Haruya was (mostly) harmless. Tetsuya pressed back, conveying that he got it.
"Yes. Kuroko Tetsuya, this is Nanase Haruya." He said. Tetsuya offered Haruya his hand with a polite smile on his face.
"It's very nice to meet you, Nanase-san. You have worked really hard on this collaboration, and everything looks wonderful." Tetsuya said, making a show of taking a look around the venue.
"Thanks! Your boyfriend worked hard too. I bet you're happy to have him home at night again, right?" Haruya asked, winking at Tetsuya, who forced a laugh, stepping a bit closer to Seijuurou.
"Well, it was nice seeing you, Haruya-san. I believe that my father was going to speak with you today." He added before quickly steering Tetsuya away.
"That man is very odd." Tetsuya murmured as they wandered around the venue. Seijuurou nodded.
"Very odd indeed. Can you believe that he is Haru's father?" Seijuurou asked. Tetsuya gasped, turning to him with wide eyes.
"That's not possible." He whispered as they passed a group of guests. Seijuurou nodded, expression grim.
"It is. I looked in to it. It's strange, isn't?" Seijuurou mused. Tetsuya nodded, and the two continued on their way.
The next part of the evening was a set of holiday songs sung by the new up and coming idol group, STARISH. Shinning was so excited to show them off amongst all these potential sponsors and donors that Seijuurou let him do whatever he wanted for the entertainment part of this.
"Kurokocchi, Akashicchi!" Seijuurou had nearly forgotten that Ryouta was here to represent his agency. The blond ran up to them, a wide grin on his face as he dragged a tall male. "Hey guys! This is my co-worker, Lev." He added. Both Seijuurou and Tetsuya had to tilt their heads back to greet him properly.
"It's nice to meet you." Tetsuya said.
"I'm Akashi Seijuurou, and this is Kuroko Tetsuya. Please forgive Ryouta's terrible manners." Seijuurou added, glaring at Ryouta for not introducing them. Ryouta shrugged, not letting the chide get him down. From the flush on his cheeks, Seijuurou could assume that he was intoxicated. He would have to remind him or party etiquette when they were alone with the blond.
"What do you think of these guys? Ren, the blond that sounds like Daikicchi, models with us too. 'The sexy blonds of Japan!'" Ryouta explained.
"They are rather talented." Seijuurou admitted. They watched for a while, with Tetsuya conversing with Lev and Ryouta. Seijuurou picked up on the relationships in the group, and made a note to explore a confirmation on them later.
The evening continued with the STARISH boys each taking an instrument that they were each best at, and invited everyone to dance to some of the most beloved family holiday ballads.
"What a great idea." Seijuurou said, approving more and more of Shinning's tastes. He smirked, turning to his boyfriend and offering him a hand. "Tetsuya, I would be honored to have this dance." He said. Tetsuya blushed, averting his eyes as he slipped his hand in to his boyfriend's.
"I'm a terrible dancer, Sei." Tetsuya whispered when he pulled him closer. Seijuurou nuzzled the side of his face as they began to sway to the music.
"Just sway with me, Tetsuya. It will all come naturally. Would you like dancing lessons?" He asked, wrapping an arm around Tetsuya's waist as he began to guide them around the dance floor. Other people were paired up now too, lost in the little world of their dates.
"Private lessons." Tetsuya agreed, a small smile coming across his face as he relaxed. "I like dancing with you. It does come naturally, after a while." Tetsuya admitted, eyes alight with happiness. Seijuurou's expression softened.
He was always reassured that he could make Tetsuya happy just as much as the original side of himself. It was comforting, knowing that he was loved too.
Maybe someday he would be the stable man that Tetsuya deserved.
"I love to dance as well. It was another hobby that my mother and I shared. She told me that this is how I would win the person of my dreams." He teased. Tetsuya smiled, squeezing his hand as they continued to spin.
"Consider me won, then. There is something charming about you as you dance, I will admit. Which means that you can only ever dance with me." Tetsuya said softly, leaning forward to murmur those words in to his ear. Seijuurou's eyes widened in surprise at such a possessive statement. He often forgot just how possessive his boyfriend could be. He kissed his cheek, closing his eyes as he fought back against the waves of arousal coursing through him.
"I promise." He said. When he opened his eyes again, he noticed the love and lust in Tetsuya's eyes as well.
"Did you bring the emergency supplies?" Tetsuya whispered. Seijuurou nodded, the weight of them in his pocket suddenly feeling very heavy. "Good. Shall we sneak off to somewhere private?" Tetsuya asked, teeth grazing over the top of Seijuurou's ear.
"God yes." He breathed. This intimate atmosphere surround them was suffocating, and he just wanted relief. Tetsuya opened his mouth to suggest a location when they were suddenly joined by an outsider.
"Yo, can I have a dance with you man?" Seijuurou's eyes narrowed at the stranger who dared interrupted them. Tetsuya looked just as disgruntled but his eyes lit up when he realized who it was.
"Ogiwara-kun!" Tetsuya greeted the man. "Go ahead to the balcony, Seijuurou-kun. I'll dance with Ogiwara really quickly and be there soon." He said. Seijuurou nodded, offering them both a polite smile before walking away.
He was jealous. He wasn't even shy about that fact. Tetsuya didn't even know that Ogiwara had played a big part in Mazetora's involvement in this conglomeration. He had said that he wanted to tell Tetsuya himself, and so Seijuurou had expected it.
However, it never happened.
They were happy. They were finally going to be able to start their lives together after this night. Yet they were interrupted by a man that Tetsuya still fawned over. His boyfriend viewed Ogiwara as a precious friend, and Ogiwara viewed him as so much more. He would wait for Tetsuya here, as long as it took.
Blessedly, it didn't take long. Tetsuya slipped outside, locking the door behind him so that way they could have a semblance of privacy. Seijuurou was looking over the balcony at the calm and gentle country landscape surrounding this venue, hoping it would help ease the furious jealous raging inside of his heart. It was one of Shining's mansions, and he had insisted they use it.
Now, Seijuurou was grateful for that. It meant that he could do whatever he wanted here and not get reprimanded.
"Ogiwara was a nice surprise." Tetsuya murmured as he slipped his arms around Seijuurou's waist, his hands working to get his belt open. "I'm sorry that he interrupted us though. Did it kill the mood?" Tetsuya asked, leaning up to nuzzle in to the nape of Seijuurou's neck.
"Who in the hell does he think he is?" Seijuurou hissed as he turned around, yanking Tetsuya to him. Tetsuya let out a soft gasp of surprise before he wrapped his arms around his neck, pressing their lips together and starting a slow grind of their hips.
"I forgot about…" Tetsuya trailed off, but they both got the implication.
He forgot that the original Seijuurou wasn't here. Instead, it was the absolute one.
"Please take me over the balcony." Tetsuya murmured into his mouth before slipping his tongue between his lips. His boyfriend's kiss was intense, tongue-fucking his mouth as his hands wandered down his chest. Seijuurou let out a pleased groan as his nails dug in the entire way down, looking forward to seeing the blossoming scratches tomorrow morning. When they got to Seijuurou's groin, they gave his hardening dick a squeeze, thumb teasing over the slit. Seijuurou thrusted in to his grip even as his mouth took control of the kiss. Tetsuya moaned, hand leaving his cock before sliding around to his pocket and grabbed the lube and condoms.
"I will make you forget about him. You belong to me, Tetsuya." Seijuurou. Tetsuya nodded against his mouth, moaning when Seijuurou reached down and grabbed his ass, grinding their hips together. The smooth silk of Tetsuya's dress slacks against his enflamed cock felt wonderful, and the flush over Tetsuya's cheeks was proof that he was the only man on his boyfriend's mind. That moan turned into a gasp when he spun them around, placing Tetsuya on the banister.
Their kisses grew heated and wet, both trying to possess the other. Seijuurou sucked on Tetsuya's tongue, teeth grazing the organ when his shadow's hand twisted in his hair.
"Sei!" Tetsuya pulled back to gasp, chest heaving as he attempted to catch his breath. Seijuurou's mouth simply slid down and across his cheek, wandering down his throat. "Ah!" Tetsuya gasped sharply as Seijuurou began to leave little bites along his throat, stopping at a spot where he knew it wouldn't be visible to everyone before sucking a mark in to his pale skin. His mark on his Tetsuya. That should remind that nuisance who this man belonged to.
"Mine." He growled when he pulled back to admire his mark. Tetsuya's hand was gentle when it cupped his chin, the look in his lust-filled eyes tender and full of understanding before leaning forward to connect their lips again.
Tetsuya stepped off the balcony moments later, undoing his own pants as he kept his mouth connected to Seijuurou's by biting his lower lips. Seijuurou loved the sting of his boyfriend's teeth digging in to his bottom lip, his dick throbbing with pleasure at it. Once his pants were around his ankles, he turned around and leaned over the banister.
"Is this fine, Seijuurou-kun?" Tetsuya asked, sliding his legs apart a little and pressing his ass back, giving the redhead the best view possible. Seijuurou smirked, his hands reaching out to grab two handfuls of that fine ass.
"More than fine. Be good and don't move, Tetsuya. I'm going to prepare you." He warned before releasing his ass with a smack. He ripped open the packet of lube, emptying it's contents in to the center of his palm before tossing the packaging over the balcony. Tetsuya laughed, and when their eyes met, Seijuurou knew they were sharing the same thought.
The gardeners were going to be very confused in the morning, to find the nondescript packet in the rose bed.
Seijuurou slicked up his fingers, eyes heated as Tetsuya's entrance twitched with anticipation of what was to come. He shoved in two fingers without preamble, quickly pumping them in and out.
"Fuck." Tetsuya hissed as his ass was assaulted. Seijuurou smirked at the profanity, a rarity for his quiet and proper boyfriend, enjoying the way that his boyfriend's entrance quivered around his fingers. He opened both condoms with his teeth and his free hand before putting them on.
"Be ready." Seijuurou breathed in to Tetsuya's ear when he leaned forward to slip the condom on his cock. Tetsuya shivered, turning to try to capture his lips. Seijuurou pulled away, denying him access as punishment for Ogiwara. He acknowledged that the concept of the punishment was entirely immature, but he would beat himself up over it in the morning. For now, he had to remind his boyfriend just whom he belonged to.
After giving his ass a few more pumps, Seijuurou removed his fingers and inserted his cock.
The sex was fast and hard. Tetsuya's hips slammed into the concrete banister, and his nails chipped as he tried to dig his nails in to the concrete. The moans that were escaping him were full of pleasure, not pain, so Seijuurou didn't feel too bad about the rough treatment. He did note the way that Tetsuya seemed to jerk every time he was pushed towards the edge, a pleasured cry escaping him. Smirking, an amused Seijuurou lifted up his hips and pushed him over further. Tetsuya let out an alarmed cry, even as his dick pulsed in the condom.
"Do you like being taken over the gardens, Tetsuya? Or is it the ledge?" He asked. When Tetsuya didn't answer, Seijuurou stopped his thrusts. Tetsuya let out a low whine before thrusting himself back on to the cock. When Seijuurou gripped his hips tighter, denying him access to the friction of his cock, Tetsuya blushed and looked back over his shoulder at him, a slight pout on his face for the teasing.
"L-ledge." Tetsuya admitted, and Seijuurou appreciated how pink his cheeks turned with that admission.
"You can always tell me your desires, Tetsuya. I can handle them even when he can't. I know you can take a little more adventure than he is comfortable subjecting you to, even if he wants it." Seijuurou stated. He leaned forward, sharp teeth nipping at the back of Tetsuya's neck.
"Yes." Tetsuya chanted, head falling forward. He started a brutal, deep pace with that breathy agreement, and from the cries leaving his boyfriend, he had managed to hit his prostate head on. Seijuurou predicted that Tetsuya wouldn't last, and at the way that his balls were drawing up in their sack, he wasn't far behind.
"Come for me, Tetsuya." He demanded, hand sliding around to grab his boyfriend's leaking cock. Tetsuya panted his name like a prayer, and soon both were spilling into their condoms. Tetsuya slumped against the bannister as Seijuurou pulled out and tidied them up, revitalized by the sex. As he was pulling up Tetsuya's pants, the world suddenly went dark.
"Wha-" Seijuurou began to ask when suddenly he saw himself in the garden. He let out an annoyed groan as he noted the original hovering just a few feet in front of him. "I was busy."
"Something at the party made me think of this. Be quiet." He ordered. The Seijuurou in front of them couldn't be much younger than they were now. And when he began to speak, they understood why.
This was before they first asked Tetsuya out, so long ago.
"Mother…I've never been this nervous in front of you before." Seijuurou was saying. "I…I believe I have good reason. My memories of you are all of your happiness, or your sorrow. I have no idea how you would feel about what I am going to tell you." Seijuurou paused, taking a moment to gather himself.
"Mother, I'm a gay man. I have been for a few years now. And today, I'm going to begin winning the heart of the man I love. I hope that I'm not disappointing you with this decision." He said, and his voice wavered with fear and pent up emotions. The two Seijuurou behind him shared a look. They realized now that their mother would care about just as much as their father would.
Seijuurou was their only child. That was more important to them than who he wanted in his bed.
"Let me see things from here on out. After all, I did the ground work for the night." Seijuurou said. The absolute simply watched him go, keeping quiet on the fact that he was walking into the afterglow.
When Seijuurou came back to himself, it was to Tetsuya slipping his belt back around his waist.
"Are you alright?" He boyfriend asked softly. Seijuurou blinked, trying to gather his surroundings. They were on the balcony, and the smell of their recent union hung in the air. Seijuurou nodded, pressing a quick kiss to Tetsuya's lips before helping his boyfriend in making it look like they hadn't just jumped one another on the balcony.
"I'm fine. I just got lost in thought for a moment." He assured him with a quick smile. Tetsuya seemed almost relieved, and he leaned up to press a tender, open-mouthed kiss on his lips. Seijuurou moaned, pulling him in close as their tongues danced together, gently tasting and touching.
"Shall we go back?" Tetsuya asked, adjusting his hair with a few strokes of his fingers. Seijuurou nodded, leaning in for another kiss as he adjusted his pants. After they were satisfied, they rejoined the party.
Things quieted down for a bit until STARISH joined them, a young woman with red-hair among them.
Their composer, he would later find out.
"Akashi-sama, Shining told us that you are responsible for this awesome party! Thank you so much!" A man with brilliant red hair exclaimed, his red eyes wide and shining with excitement. "Ah!" He winced when a man with blue hair and an aristocratic air around him hit the redhead on the back of the head.
"We are in public, Otoya. Behave yourself for once." He snapped. Otoya pouted, looking over to a blond with a gentle smile and glasses.
"Natsuki, Masato is being mean again!" He whined. Natsuki chuckled, simply shaking his head as he leaned against the back of a shorter blond male, who scowled up at him from the close contact, yet didn't move to pull away.
"Now, now Masa, be nice to Ikki. And Ikki, do keep your voice down in the presence of all of these lovely ladies and gentlemen." The strawberry blond murmured. The purr to his voice set Seijuurou on edge, and he resisted the urge to frown.
"We should introduce ourselves, everyone." Prince Cecil of Agnopolis, whom he had recognized instantly, spoke up. The redheaded woman had slipped under his arm and was smiling up at him with the tenderness that he and Tetsuya had been sharing not moments before. Otoya nodded, offering a slightly embarrassed smile to the two.
"So sorry! I'm Ittoki Otoya, and this is my silent but charming partner, Ichinose Tokiya~" He sang out, reaching out to wrap his arms around Tokiya's playfully. The dark haired male shot him a quiet frown and let out an annoyed sigh before turning to both of them with a small, but polite smile.
"As he said, I am Ichinose Tokiya. It's very nice to meet you, Akashi-sama, Kuroko-sama. Shining has told us much about you both." He murmured.
"I am Jinguji Ren, and this is my partner, Hijirikawa Masato. I believe that our families have done business with yours in the past, Akashi-sama." Ren said, what was supposed to be a charming smirk on his face. Seijuurou tightened his grip on Tetsuya, nodding politely back at him.
"I'm Kurusu Syo, and this is my partner Shinomiya Natsuki. Thank you for doing all of this tonight, Akashi-sama." He said politely. Cecil stepped up next, offering him his hand.
"Hello, Akashi-sama. I am Aijima Cecil, and this is our lovely composer, Nanami Haruka. All of the music we performed tonight is because of her." He said with a gentle smile down to his companion. She blushed, quickly bowing.
"It's so nice to meet you, Akashi-sama. Thank you for all of your hard work." She managed to get out, her voice high with nerves. Seijuurou smiled, accepting Cecil's hand.
"It is a pleasure to meet all of you. As all of you apparently know, I am Akashi Seijuurou, and this is my lovely boyfriend, Kuroko Tetsuya. He was a big asset to the planning on this event." He said, squeezing Tetsuya's side. His boyfriend smiled up at him before nodding to STARISH.
"It is very nice to meet all of you." He said.
They spent the next while with STARISH, getting to know them. Tetsuya seemed to grow fond of all of them.
"You bought how many of their CDs today, my love?" Seijuurou asked a week later, a bit stunned as he noticed the heavy-looking bag his boyfriend was holding. His boyfriend blushed, quickly sitting the bag down.
"All of them…"
Seijuurou liked most of them. He felt that Syo was too ill-tempered, and that he would need to take Otoya in small doses. Something about Ren's suave nature irked him as well. However, Prince Cecil of Agnopolis, whom he had recognized instantly, was nice and polite. Masato was much the same, if not a little too formal. He recognized his and Ren's family names as well-known businesses, but they both seemed to be walking away from their path.
And then there was Ichinose Tokiya. Something about the man made Seijuurou feel that he would be a powerful ally later. So before they left for home that night, he made sure to get his contact information from Shinning.
He had been correct in his assumptions on their relationships. Each set of men had developed very close relationships with their partners, and their composer was dating the Prince. Seijuurou was almost a little disappointed that it hadn't been more of a challenge to discover the connections.
It was his favorite hobby at these horrid parties.
The rest of the evening seemed to fly by after that. They spoke with a few of the other major leaders of Japan, and of the few foreign dignitaries that decided to come and see what all of this fuss was about. Seijuurou had made several new connections that he was sure would come in handy later in life.
On the ride home that night Tetsuya fell asleep, his introverted nature easily exhausted by the over-exposure to people. Seijuurou let him sleep, not minding the way that it made his clothes crumpled when Tetsuya slumped against him. He simply turned and held him close, running a hand through his hair as he reflected on the evening. He was sure that his boyfriend would sleep in tomorrow morning, and would probably spend the majority of the next day quiet, recharging his social batteries, as he called it. Masaomi simply watched them, and Seijuurou was sure it was just the light in the car that made his father look almost proud of the two of them.
Tetsuya awoke when the car pulled in to the drive way, and he sleepily followed Seijuurou in to the house. They bid his father a good night before wandering upstairs. Seijuurou undressed Tetsuya first, frowning when he reached the bruises and little scratches on his hips.
"I was too rough again." He murmured, resisting the urge to run his fingers over them. Tetsuya stepped out of his pants, shaking his head.
"…was good, Sei." Tetsuya said sleepily before pulling off the rest of his clothing and collapsing in to bed. Seijuurou bit back a smile, more than a little amused by how sleepy his boyfriend was. Deciding to let it go for now and simply address it in the morning, Seijuurou climbed in next to him and pulled him close. Tetsuya eagerly sought his embrace, a content yawn leaving him as he burrowed close.
"I love you, Tetsuya. More than words could ever describe." He murmured as he looked down at his precious boyfriend.
"You too." Tetsuya murmured, cuddling close. Seijuurou tightened his grip on Tetsuya before letting sleep take him as well.
A/N: OMG GUYS I DID THE THING! I wrote a basektball scene with meaning! And it's the last one I'm ever going to write XD I hope you all thought it was a fitting farewell to basketball for these two like I did. Also, I introduced a bunch of characters that matter in the sequel to this fic (yes, there will be a sequel; no, there isn't an ETA on it, as life is super slamming me right now; more on that later).
So, the next chapter is the climax of Akashi's plot of this story T-T Also, READ THE WARNINGS at the top of the chapter. There will be some severe triggers in the next chapter that you MUST look at first before going forth. Since it's already posted, I'm not gonna talk about what's in it. Read on!
- Kida Asumi