Chapter 26: Complications

After his conversation with Kise regarding their tumultuous past, Aomine wonders if the comfortable mood that they have recaptured earlier this summer will dissipate.

While the two lounge around, Kise allays his fears. Even with the television on, the blond speaks heedlessly. "I can't believe you're leaving in a week."

"Summer has passed quickly," the taller man agrees feeling silly that he had ever worried about the other behaving with anything other than sunny charm.

"Catching up has been nice, but I can't wait to see you play again."

"You catch my games?" Aomine asks surprised.

"When I can," the model affirms cheerfully. "Your style has developed nicely." He pouts before adding, "The fluidity of your movements is still totally unfair."

"I'm better than you. Get over it," Aomine quips with a lazy grin.

"I see your attitude hasn't improved like your game play has," Kise returns with mock indignation.

Aomine shrugs unable to deny the truth.

"Here I am ready to tell you the secret behind feeling at home while abroad, and suddenly I don't think you deserve it," Kise huffs.

"I've already been playing in the NBA for a couple of seasons. What wisdom can you impart at this point?"

The blond smiles beatifically before offering, "Don't underestimate the importance of social interaction. You're a solitary person by nature, but to foster a functioning team, you have get along with some of your teammates."

Aomine rolls his eyes. "I know that, stupid."

"Be completely honest with somebody. You don't need to pick a fellow player, but having someone's sympathetic ear helps the loneliness feel less palpable. My friend Marco's a really good listener. You remember him from your visit years ago, right? He's still in New York. If you ever need to talk to someone in real time, I'm sure he'd happily oblige. I can give you his number and email if you want."

The basketball pro snickers. "You still talk to your old college buddies?"

Brows drawing together, the blond looks offended as he answers, "Of course I do! I'm not a fair-weather friend." However, he quickly moves past the other's insensitivity and onto his next recommendation. "Actually, Kagamicchi is surprisingly patient. You may have to cajole and wheedle a bit, but he can be really helpful. I've relied on him many times in the past."

Aomine almost gags at the out-of-character suggestion. "Cajole? Wheedle? Me? Have we met before?"

The model frowns at the response.

The blue-haired man already anticipates the words "how mean" coming from the other, when he blurts out, "What about you?"

Confused, Kise abandons his typical complaint. "What about me?"

"Can I contact you whenever I want to talk?" Aomine watches Kise's facial expression change upon grasping the meaning behind the question.

The blond's lower lip trembles slightly before curving up, his countenance brightening at the implication. "Sure, I'd love that!" he enthuses.

Stunned by the pure joy in Kise's beaming face, Aomine gapes while a tingling warmth spreads from his core to his extremities. 'I never imagined I'd see his true smile again, at least not directed at me. I thought I'd lost the ability to garner this response from him.'

Reveling in what feels like a victory, Aomine accepts his reaction to the model's displayed happiness without a second thought.

In the spring of his twenty-sixth year, Kise receives a job offer that would send him to New York for a week. If he accepts, it would be first time returning since his move back to Japan.

'I'm not getting any younger,' he rationalizes. 'This could be my last chance to walk for a major designer in an important show. If not, at least I'll keep my connections active.'

The blond accepts the opportunity and uses the trip to catch up with old friends as well. He meets Marco for a late dinner at their favorite pizzeria. When he enters the restaurant, he sees the other already seated at a table.

"Sorry I'm late," the model apologizes rushing over.

The other male shrugs. "Just like old times. I'm guessing you came running from a job."

"I got caught up by the press," Kise admits with a sigh. "Sometimes I think I'm too old for this."

Marco laughs, but before he can speak again, a pizza arrives along with a second glass of water.

"Would you like something else to drink?" the waitress asks.

When the blond shakes his head, she leaves the pair alone.

"I took the liberty to order what we used to get in college," Marco says. "I figured you'd get delayed and would be ready to eat when you got here."

"Thanks!" Kise responds gratefully, realizing just how much he has missed his friend. In the middle of loading his plate, he asks, "So how are things going with you? Are you still dating…was it Cecila?"

"Correct! You're good with names as always, Ryouta."

"And how's your family?"

"We're all well. My sister's almost done with college. Can you believe my little brother is in his last year of high school?"

"Time passes so quickly," Kise muses remembering how young his friend's siblings had looked the last time he had seen them.

"How about you? How's life treating you?"

"I can't complain," the blond answers between bites. "I've been focusing on my career in Japan for the last couple years. It's been fun reconnecting with my native fan base."

"What brings you to New York, then?" Marco asks with an astute glance.

"Work," the model answers puzzled. "I thought you knew that."

Waving a hand, his friend elaborates, "You just said you were focusing more on Japan, so isn't it strange that you're in New York now?"

"I'm twenty-six," Kise reasons. "I thought it could be my last chance at this sort of opportunity, so I decided to go for it."

"Have you previously turned down jobs that would have brought you to New York?" Marco questions.

"Yeah. I just haven't felt ready to come back until now."

"You've also recently started to rebuild your friendship with Daiki…"

"Yes," Kise affirms unease rising at the direction of the conversation.

With a pained look, Marco presses forth. "So the reason you're here has nothing to do with the fact that the Bulls are playing the Knicks now?"

The model's heart plummets at the insinuation. "I don't know what you mean," he says forcing a grin on his face.

"Do you have plans with Daiki?"

"Yes," Kise admits beginning to feel like a cornered animal.

"Ryouta, he's married. He's married, and he has a kid."

"It's not like that!" the model protests eyes wide. Taking a deep breath, he forces himself to relax.

Marco continues to study the blond's face. "You don't feel anything other than friendship for Daiki?"

The implication of harboring romantic feelings for Aomine leaves Kise nauseated and light-headed. "It has never crossed my mind," he answers honestly. He has refused to consider this possibility, so his presence in Aomine's life can remain guilt free.

His friend looks unconvinced.

"Marco, you can speak honestly. You always have, and I don't want that to change."

An embarrassed expression appears before the other continues. "Ryouta, refusing to acknowledge emotions and not having emotions are two different things. I want to make sure you're not putting yourself in a difficult situation. I can't imagine how hard it would be to watch someone you love live his life with someone else. If you do have feelings for Daiki, I'd be worried about the amount of heartache you'd have to endure."

Attempting to dodge the core of his friend's trepidation, Kise answers, "I appreciate your concern, but you needn't to fret on my account. Nothing's happening between Daiki and myself. I'm just glad that we've been able to put the past behind us. Being a part of his life and seeing him happy is enough for me."

"Is it?" Marco questions.

The blond freezes at the inquiry, his blood running cold in his veins. 'Don't think; don't feel,' he orders himself. However, with the nudge from his friend, his heart squeezes uncomfortably. "It's enough, because it has to be," he says levelly. His words sound so sensible that he convinces himself of their truth.

"I'm sorry, Ryouta," the other says, interrupting the blond's reverie. "I don't want to ruin tonight by concentrating on uncomfortable subjects."

"I know," Kise says forcing himself to bring the conversation elsewhere. "You don't have to make a simple get-together between two middle school friends seem so naughty. Next, you're going to assume that because I made plans with you that I must be in love with you." He winks suggestively.

"Thanks, but no thanks," Marco returns laughing. "You're not my type."

With the good-natured teasing, the atmosphere lightens, and Kise vows to avoid emotionally complex topics for the remainder of the evening.

Aomine's third year playing for the NBA passes smoothly, as he has long since acclimated to living in two different cultures. Kise's visit, while he was on the road in New York a few weeks prior, eases his homesickness and refreshes him for the remainder of the current basketball season.

His meet-up with the model had been fortuitously timed, falling prior to Yume's first birthday. At the blond's insistence, the two had gone shopping for both baby and mother.

"You're not the type to send gifts home, right? Kise had asked. Upon getting Aomine's confirmation, the blond had cheerfully added, "Your wife needs to feel missed, and Yumecchi needs something physical to connect with her father. Don't worry, I brought an empty suitcase to bring presents home!"

Despite Aomine's best efforts, Kaneko first voices her unhappiness about their long-distance marriage following Yume's birthday. "You're going to miss everything, aren't you?" she comments softly.

After Kise's warning the previous summer, Aomine finds this conversation an unsurprising but unpleasant development. With a heavy sigh, he says, "I'm not trying to neglect Yume, but my career is here. I love playing professional basketball. Don't ask me to give it up."

"I'm not," she replies. "However, you missed the first time she crawled, her first word, her first birthday…"

Aomine's heart breaks at the reminder of what his absence costs him with respect to their daughter's childhood. "I look at all the pictures you send, and I watch all the videos, too. I really appreciate your efforts in documenting so many moments that I've missed with Yume. I'm really trying my best. You got the video I made wishing her a happy birthday, right?"

"Yeah!" Kaneko returns with what sounds like artificial enthusiasm. "I know that we're both doing the best we can. I hope it didn't sound like I was complaining. I'm not, Daiki! I just miss you. Also, Yume's such a handful at this age that maybe I'd welcome anybody's help." She laughs weakly at her attempt to joke away her discomfort.

Listening to his wife's forced humor unsettles Aomine. "I'm going to be back soon," he promises. "We can talk about our options for the next basketball season during the summer. If the separation while I'm in America is too difficult, we can do things differently."

"Okay. Let's discuss things after you're back." With a soft sigh, she adds, "I love you."

"I love you, too. I'll be back before you know it."

The couple disconnect leaving Aomine both looking forward to and dreading his return to Japan.

Due to a busy work schedule, summer arrives quickly for Kise, and during Aomine's first week back in Tokyo, he finds himself in other's home surrounded by old friends.

With himself, Aomine, Kaneko, Momoi, and Kuroko sitting in a circle around Yume, who clutches a stuffed penguin, the blond grins widely hoping to show off.

"Hey, Daiki, you've got to see what I taught Yumecchi while you've been away," he says, eyes twinkling with amusement.

The dark-skinned male regards the blond suspiciously. "What have you done?"

"Nothing bad!" Kise insists holding his hands up in a mayday gesture. "She's so smart and such a quick study. I can tell she's going to be a talker, something she inherited from her mom, no doubt."

Aomine's frown deepens as he appears to prepare himself for the worst. "Alright. What nonsense have you imparted on my daughter?"

The model turns his attention to the toddler. "Hi," he says in a sing-songy voice. When Yume's eyes focus on him, he points at Kaneko and asks, "Who's that?"

"Mama," she says.

"Who's that?" he says continuing his game by pointing at Kuroko.

"Kro'ko," she slurs holding her arms out towards the smaller man. Kuroko responds by offering a hand, and she grasps at a finger.

"Who's she?" Kise asks gesturing towards Momoi.

"Sa'ki," Yume gurgles pulling away from Kuroko to reach for pink locks. Momoi laughs softly and pulls her hair up, anchoring its silkiness with an elastic.

"She recognizes people she sees all the time," Aomine comments unimpressed. "I don't think she needed any particular guidance for that."

Kise's smile widens. "You haven't seen the best part," he promises.

"There's more?" Aomine asks dubiously.

"Who are you?" the blond asks pointing to the toddler.

"Yume," the little girl replies certainly.

Raising an eyebrow, Kise asks pointedly, "What do I call you?" He points from himself to her.

Clapping her hands at the familiar game, she blithely responds, "Yumecchi."

"And who am I?" Kise asks finally resting a hand against his chest.

"Kisecchi!"

With the show-and-tell done, the blond glances at Aomine in order to catch a reaction. He feels proud upon seeing the father's surprised expression, and then their eyes lock. Soft awe radiates from cobalt-colored orbs catching Kise off guard. The tenderness in the other's gaze reminds him of their time together many years ago…

His breath catching in his throat and his heart racing, Kise tries to make sense of the moment. 'I must be imagining things. There's no way he'd look at me with anything close to affection, not anymore, not ever again.' He blinks to clear his head. When he focuses on Aomine's countenance, he detects no traces of fondness convincing him that his eyes had played tricks on him moments earlier. Instead the taller man sports a look of pure exasperation.

"Ryouta, I'm going to murder you!"

"Ehh?" Kise utters, a whine entering his voice. He gives Aomine his most pitiful look. "So mean!"

"If she picks up your annoying speech habits, I'm not sure I'll be able to stand it."

Kise pouts in response. Recognizing the blond's discontent, Yume offers her stuffed animal while repeating, "Kisecchi."

As the room dissolves into peals of good-natured laughter, Kise concentrates on the comfort this sound provides. 'I'm in good company, and for that I'm grateful,' he tells himself. However, a tiny part of his mind wonders why he would hallucinate Aomine's gentle gaze. Looking at the smiling faces in front of him, he banishes the thought that would only provide needless complications.

Aomine starts the conversation he dreads having with his wife early in the summer. Although he prefers avoiding emotionally challenging situations, he knows taking ample time to think about their options regarding the next basketball season would be for the best.

After putting Yume down for her nap, they settle on the living room couch with the baby monitor. Folding his hands in his lap he states, "Maybe we should discuss what you want to do this fall."

She regards him with a surprised look but recovers quickly. "Okay," she agrees. "I'm just a bit shocked that you're bringing this up already. You've been home for less than a month."

Shrugging, he explains, "The earlier we come to an agreement, the more time we have to prepare."

"That's fair," she says. "Honestly, I've been thinking a lot about what would be best. I know some people are fine with a marriage that is more…independent. I have a friend who keeps two apartments, because she works in a different city than her spouse. She's so focused on her career that she's fine only returning to the shared home during weekends. Unfortunately, I've discovered I'm having difficulties coping with our current situation, especially now that we have a child. I'd really like to foster a stable family life for Yume, and I'm not sure we can do that if we're apart."

"I understand your concerns, but I can't abandon my career."

"I know," she replies looking down.

"We've discussed you coming with me to America before, but you were unwilling to give up your job at the time. However, since our lives have changed with Yume, maybe it's time to reconsider that possibility."

With a sigh, she asks, "Where am I going to stay?"

"At my place in Chicago." The answer comes so easily that Aomine frowns wondering if he has missed something.

After shaking her head sadly, she meets his gaze. "You would have me move to Chicago, while your job would keep on the road half the time? If I moved, I'd still end up alone. Plus, I'd be living in an unfamiliar place, where I'm unable to communicate properly. We've discussed this option before with the conclusion that it wouldn't suit me."

He inhales sharply. The fact that his career requires much traveling within the States had slipped his mind. Running a hand through his hair, Aomine says, "What other options do we have?"

"I don't know," she replies dejectedly. "My life is here; I have a job, friends, and family. I'm scared to abandon everything familiar to me."

The circular logic begins to give Aomine a headache. "You know that I have be in America for my job."

Kaneko nods in agreement.

"You're unhappy with the situation but are unwilling to come with me," he finishes turning the full weight of his gaze on his wife. "I understand that you're struggling, but if you won't try something different, I'm not sure what I can do."

"How would I be spending my time while you're away playing basketball? I'd be alone, just like I am now, except I'd also be in a foreign country. At least I have a support system in Tokyo."

Frustration mounting, he barks, "You knew playing for the NBA was my dream when we got engaged. I already had a contract in place when we got married. You knew everything. All of a sudden, you can't handle it?"

"Knowing something and living something are different. When we first got married, we had discussed me accompanying you to America. Now that we have Yume, I want the best for her, which includes a normal childhood. How can we provide stability while splitting our time between two countries? Traveling should be fine for the interim, since she's still young. However, what will happen when she's ready to start school? We both agreed she should be reared in Japan."

"We did," Aomine says. "Circumstances change; you should be flexible. If we decide that moving permanently to America is for the best, I'm sure she'll be fine."

"I want her to grow up knowing her extended family and our friends, to be surrounded by that warmth and support. The same warmth and support that I know I have here…" Her voice fails, and she looks ready to cry. After taking a deep breath, she adds, "I'd be so lonely in America. I know it."

As his heart sinks with distress, he wonders if something else fuels his wife's uncharacteristic stubbornness, and he tries to get to the root of the problem. "Honestly, you only have two options. You can stay here, or you can come with me. You've never been so vehemently against living in America before. Why start now?"

"Mariko," she answers softly.

"Your cousin?" he asks confused. "What does she have to do with anything?"

"Her husband went to America to study, and she followed him. She's miserable!" Kaneko blinks, and tears stream down her face. "She feels so isolated, and I know I would feel the same way. I wouldn't be able to handle the loneliness; I'm not built like that."

"You love being with your friends," Aomine acknowledges realizing they are no closer to reaching an agreement. "What do you want from me? I'm doing what I can. I've got to do my job, though." In this instant, déjà vu floods his senses. However, in prior exchanges, he had been in Kaneko's position. Countless discussions with Kise tumble free from mental and emotional shackles and pour to the forefront of his mind and heart. He recalls Kise using the defense he currently relies upon. He had previously dismissed those reasons as excuses, but now he comprehends the weight of contractual obligations coupled with the despair that results from constantly disappointing someone else.

'I don't want to upset her,' he thinks. 'But, why can't she appreciate the difficulty of the situation? Can't she see how hard I'm trying?' The discomfort of guilt leads to justification. 'A basketball season isn't that long. I'm in Japan for three to five months at a time depending on how the team does. This situation isn't nearly as bad as what I suffered through with Ryouta. We had to make do with a few days each year, which wasn't enough to sustain a relationship. Kaneko and I have months together; she should consider herself lucky!'

Lost in his rationalizations, Aomine defends himself without thinking. "I know things are hard when I'm gone, but basketball seasons last for a reasonable time period. If my team's having a crap year, I'll be back in April. If we're doing well, it'll be as late as June. The point is we have several months to be together at a time. It could be a lot worse. I've been through a lot worse. Try being in a long distance relationship with someone living abroad without hope for any substantial time together. This is easy compared to that." When his wife regards him with a frown, he wonders if his insensitive statements have wounded her further.

"What do you mean that you've been through a lot worse?" she asks, her voice tight. "You told me you hadn't dated anyone seriously before me. A long distance relationship implies a certain amount of significance."

'Oh, hell,' he thinks realizing his mistake. "We're not talking about that," he says in attempt to redirect the conversation. "We're trying to make things better between us."

"No," she insists. "I'm not done with that topic. You gave me the impression our relationship was the first, serious one you'd been in, and now I find out it's not."

He tries once more to guide the discussion back to a more productive path. "I understand that you're upset now. However, getting distracted won't help us make decisions about our future."

"How can I think about the future, when I've just discovered you've been misleading me about your past?"

In order to return to the original topic, he decides to deal with this diversion. "I haven't mislead you," he says looking away.

"I caught you in a lie, and you have the gall to deny it!" she exclaims.

"You're wrong," he insists.

"Care to explain what you mean?" she questions raising one eyebrow challengingly.

"When we talked about past relationships," he starts with a sigh, "I'm pretty sure your question was directed towards my past girlfriends. I truthfully haven't had any serious past girlfriends."

"What…" she starts, and then she pauses as understanding dawns in her eyes. "The long distance relationship you're referring to was with a guy?"

"Yes," Aomine replies. "I answered your past questions truthfully."

This affirmation does nothing to mollify his wife. "That's semantics, and you know it!"

"How was I supposed to know your question meant more than what was asked? I'm not a mind reader."

"You're full of shit!" she cries angrily. "The intention of talking about past relationships was clear. I cannot believe that you're trying to defend yourself."

Although his wife has a valid point, he finds himself too far lost in battle to pull back and admit his culpability. "Am I supposed accept your false accusations about my dishonesty? It's not my fault that your questions weren't specific enough."

Hurt surfaces on her pretty features. "You're being unreasonable, Daiki. However, I'll play your game. If the only reason you haven't told me about him before was because I hadn't properly asked. I'm asking now. Who is he? How long did you date? Why did you break up? Why didn't you think you could tell me? I wouldn't have judged you for being bisexual, honest." Tears form in her eyes once more.

Unable to delay any longer, he simply replies, "It was Ryouta."

"Kise-kun?" she asks shock written all over her face.

He nods. "We dated for over four years spanning high school and college. We broke up because he went abroad to model and play college ball, and we were too immature to make a long distance relationship work."

She still looks stunned but manages to find her voice. "Kise-kun? Kise-kun! You've got to be kidding me. He's part of our lives, and you didn't think that I should know that you guys dated in the past?"

Aomine shrugs. "It's ancient history, so I don't see it mattering now."

Shaking her head, she nails him with a wounded expression. "It matters because you felt the need to hide it. Obviously you don't understand the value of absolute honesty and trust." She shakes her head sadly and looks at him with disappointed, tear-filled eyes. "I can't be around you right now. I have to go clear my head."

As she throws a mess of items into an oversized purse, Aomine observes in silence, noticing that as more time passes her devastation turns to rage. With her parting words, she orders, "Look after Yume." Stepping out of their apartment, she slams the door shut behind her.

The force behind the action rattles the walls and echoes through the dwelling. Mere seconds later, Aomine hears wailing from the baby monitor. With a sigh, he heads to tend to his daughter unsure of what else to do.

Author's notes: Ahh, I can't believe it has been nearly a month since my last update. Crazy, busy summer. Also, I will be headed on another trip soon, which will take me to a place where the internet doesn't shine. If I'm not responsive to comments, that's why (I'll cherish all of them when I get back to the land of internet, though). With that, I'll take my leave.