Disclaimer: Kuroko no Basuke belongs to Tadatoshi Fujimaki. Everything else is a figment of my imagination.


Chapter 27

Just the same face and name…

He closely experienced Einstein's theory about relativity of time. He did not want the evening to come by however the scheduled dinner at the Yukimura resident approached faster than he anticipated.

He picked the garments indicative of the etiquette of a guest for a dinner and quickly covered his carefully sculptured body with it- a fully buttoned grey shirt commemorating his black pants. This would suffice for dinner at his paternal uncle's friend's house. His left hand's deft fingers were clipped, filed and tapped with his favourite brand of white tape, cologne was kept to minimal and his hair neatly combed. The task of reading himself physically kept his mind distracted from the unprecedented phenomenon he wanted to unravel. Yukimura Ayame. He wore his regular black half-framed spectacle and walked down to wait for his family to assemble.

Suzuki-ojisan lived in their house if not staying in the hospital and would occasionally visit his house. The empty apartment held his fondest memories and yet it was the sole place that haunted every corner of his mind. Midorima was young to not been able to comprehended death but he understood loss- the loss of his relatives. As predicted, his uncle was already sitting on the sofa, staring at the television's depthless black screen. He chose to let the elder have his moment as he let the kitchen be his waiting area.

He put his hand inside his shirt pocket to check his lucky item- a silver chain. Reassured, he let his left hand lay on a marbled counter. He couldn't feel the smooth texture through his tapped fingers but he knew that the sensation was not worth ruining his fingers over.

"Why are you standing here, Onii-san?" His sister's soft voice beckoned his attention.

"… Hmph!" He had nothing to say. He didn't think that Shika would have noticed the pensive atmosphere around their uncle. But then again, she came to the kitchen and not towards Suzuki-ojisan.

"Tch!" She clicked her tongue in retaliation.

He ignored his sister and strolled towards the tall refrigerator in the kitchen to quench his dry throat. It would be a lie if he said that he was not beleaguered by just a dinner at his paternal uncle's friend's house. He poured the cool water in a glass and gulped it down in a go.

"Summer…" His sister commented next to him as she dittoed his activity. He glared down at Shika.

"Yes… Summer." He added.

"Don't mind your inept social skills, just eat there without complaining." Shika smirked as she saw the twist in her brother's expression to her remark. Unknown to her, Midorima was immersed in his own world to even retort back.

"Kids! Time to leave." Their uncle's called. The siblings eyed each other before following the elders.

They quickly assembled on their porch and sat in their car. From the drive way till the Yukimura's house Midorima Shintarou's mind did not let him relax.

~~0~~

Their car stood in front the grandeur gate with his family by his side.

Yukimura Ayame

Ayame

The gate opened automatically allowing their car to move into the parking zone. He picked up the parcel of homemade sweets that they would give the Yukimura. The door of the house was already open and there stood Yukimura Ryuuji with his sapphire eyes dazzling in the dark. As the Midorima family approached the entrance, the rest of the Yukimura family poured out to welcome them.

His eyes fixated at that one and only person. A rather tall girl with midnight black locks falling over her broad shoulder and her almond shaped eyes held familiar yet strange chocolate eyes. Her surrounding was suffused with a soft pale light of the moon much like as it was in his dream. Her face was devoid of any expressions other than the formal smile which was reciprocated by him with his stern visage.

His calm outer projection betrayed his inner turmoil. His each step felt heavier than lead as he approached the awaiting family who were dressed casually for dinner, nothing flashy as the both families were at the dinner party.

His heart beat escalated as the space between the families receded and his grip on the package tightened.

"I'm so glad that you could make it." Mr. Yukimura said as he approached his family.

"I should be the one apologizing for not being able to attend the party the other day." His uncle supplied as he shook hands with Mr. and Mrs. Yukimura. "Before I forget here is something for Ryuuji as a belated birthday gift." His uncle added as he handed the younger boy a gift.

"Thank you, sir." said Ryuuji as he accepted the gift with a gleeful smile.

Midorima's mother shoved his side- signalling to give the package to the other family. His distressed-self had no motivation to do so but he eventually handed the package to Mrs. Yukimura. When he closed in to the elder lady he could see Yukimura Ayame's coloured skin unlike the pale one he had known. Her feet were rooted to the earth that dismissed all his lingering images of Ayame.

After the short pleasantries were exchanged all of them headed inside. Not once did he speak with Yukimura Ayame. His mind wondered if he was over-analysing any aspect but unfortunately he had no idea about the grounds to look at to even start analysing. With a dreaded deep breath, he entered the household.

~~0~~

A pleasant home is what a Yukimura's residence could be called as. The living room was spacious and mellow, the decor was elegantly simple. The photo frames were the only objects that stood out- it covered nearly half of the room.

He glanced around in circumspection before settling his gaze on her visage.

No amount of time would help him arrive to any conclusion if he did not take a step forward to investigate. He hesitated to take any kind of action that might stir up anything while keeping only his immaculate schedule in retrospect. This phenomenon was out of his control demesne so he would only give his all to the things he could do his best at and leave all else to fate. Fate, somehow, was giving him many an encounters with a certain ravenette- dead or alive. The whole development looked twisted to him but he wasn't the one controlling such occurrences. He sighed audibly turning his sister's attention to himself.

"The evening hasn't even begun." She looked at him with exasperated eyes. He chose to ignore his younger sibling.

It was all but expected that the children would be grouped together as the adults engaged in the evening exchanges.

It was jarring to have Ayame so quiet next to him. So it was relief when he heard her address him, "I am Yukimura Ayame," with that she extended her had towards him, "we haven't met before."

The texture of her voice was the same with the exception of the manner of introduction. He really didn't assume a human would say, 'I'm here to haunt you, ya know.'

His next move was robotic- he took her hand and shook it once, firmly and said, "Midorima Shintarou."

She gauged him with cool eyes as they let go of each other's hand. He couldn't get the feeling of her hand out of his head. It was warm, soft and prudent unlike the cold, hard and clumsy ones he once knew. This new sensation was natural yet so odd for him that it raked a shudder down his spine.

~~0~~

"Yukimura Ryuuji, born and bought up in Tokyo… I go to Kirika[1] Middle School and I am in my final year. I play lawn tennis for my school team and my favourite band is A7x." Ryuuji said while looking at Shika, who nodded slightly and said, "Midorima Shika, native of Hokkaido but bought up in Tokyo, I am in my second year in Koumaken[2] Middle School. I play the violin for the school and I like peaches."

"Midorima Shintarou, a first year at Shutoku High School. I play basketball for my school team and Oha-Asa suggested a silver chain to be cancer's lucky item for today." He held back a sigh when he said it not willing to entertain the introduction phase which he had previously undergone. It was on Ayame's insistence that the introduction session with people missing in the previous meeting were uncounted. He supplied nothing more and let his eyes fall on the last one remaining.

Ryuuji had heard the elder male's introduction yet he couldn't help but give back an awkward smile. On the other hand he saw his sister not reacting at all which came as a disappointment. She used to be fun; not anymore.

Midorima's chest clenched with fierce anticipation as Ayame opened her mouth, "Yukimura Ayame, supposed to be a second year at Kirisaki Daichi High School but due to some pertaining circumstances I'm being home schooled now. I like omelette rice a lot." She stated simply and after a brief pause she glanced at the adults with an expression that gave away nothing. They were seated at the small open hall adjoining the living room, which held the adults.

"I guess you all are aware of the extent our families are going to get involved so let's get along well." Ayame assumed the lead as she could clearly see the hierarchy based upon age.

Midorima's mind was still unaccustomed to few premises only he knew and possibly Ayame.

"Sure." Before he knew it, he has already spoken- harshly. He gave an internal reprimand for being distracted.

"Whether you like it or not, we have to get along." Ayame's eyes held an unfamiliar warning. Her even voice was raking up every nerve in his body.

"Why don't we look around our house for the time being?" Before he could rebuke Ryuuji interrupted.

"I would love to." Shika said and glanced at the younger male with appreciation for handling their elder siblings although the air between the two had already aggravated.

'Sheesh!' Shika had never disliked Ayame but something about her merely struck to be odd and having it combined with her brother could have turned out worse.

"Shintarou-san, would you mind?" Ayame supplied keeping herself calm at the face of having the younger handling a situation. He wanted to admonition her for using his first name so casually even when they are not even close but looking at Shika he bit back his urge. Similar to the way, to avoid confusion, he can't be addressed by his family name in presence of his other family members; he has to address her like-wise. He internally made a steely resolve to never call her by her first name.

He rose from his seat and as usual towered over the rest of the members present. To his surprise a smile tucked on the corner of Ayame's lips which irked him further.

~~0~~

Ryuuji turned out to be an excellent host and Ayame showed little interest towards the house tour; she just walked along with them.

Ryuuji stopped before a room and enthusiastically said, "This is my room and get ready to be awed."

Without a second pause he turned the knob and slid the door wide open. Shika shook her head in dismay of the boy's casual attitude about girls entering his room unlike her pinprick brother. Ayame waited for the Midorima siblings to enter and whispered, "He is just hyping things up," before she stepped in.

The room would be typical of any boy of Ryuuji's age- walls decorated with band posters, shelves containing sports and music magazines and model cars, a study table without a computer and lastly a guitar at a corner- although his bed was well arranged. Ryuuji dragged two chairs for their guest while he and his sister sat on the bed.

"The only place left is our gaming room and my sister's sad little room." Ryuuji jauntily added.

"Shika-san, do you want to want to do anything before dinner?" Ryuuji picked the person of his age group.

"It is your house so you would be best suited to suggest." Shika smiled as she replied.

"How about board games?" Ayame's even voice joined.

"We could play while having our refreshments." Ryuuji added enthusiastically and on the cue there was a knock on the door followed by a feminine voice trailing, "May I enter?"

"Please do." Ayame answered as she crossed her legs.

A maid entered with a tray of snacks and juices, placed it on a spare table and left after bowing. Till the given time Ryuuji searched his cupboard for a suitable board game.

"How about we play 'Game of Life'?" Ayame looked at Midorima for a response and his gaze intensified at her question.

'Life.' He thought and just nodded his head in approval.

'She is merely a look alike of Ayame.' He sat on the floor with the rest around the board and between Ryuuji and Ayame.

He remembered an article he read while he was searching for any relation with Ayame being dead or alive, where it has been found that there exist seven people in this world who have same face[3]. It turns out the Ayame were two people with same face and same name. He happens to be fated to see one's ghost and other alive. 'My condolences, Ayame.' He closed his eyes for ten seconds in a silent prayer.

He opened his eyes and sneaked a glance at Ayame before setting his mind at ease with the solution to this paradigm.


Thanks for reading and supporting!

A/N 1: Yeah! I'm shifting all my notes to the end of the chapter :D

[1] I just typed it.

[2] I borrowed Rin Okumura's sword's name.

I never thought that I made their proper introduction so I typed it through so I hope it didn't hamper the flow.

[3] So it actually happens. One of my colleague's fiancé and my roommate has the same face (they are of different height so if looked closely you can see minute difference) and I gaped at the fact for so long. When I told my roommate this she said that it has been said that there are 7 people in this world with same face. And I asked Google-sensei too.

Lilyanenora: As usual thank you for your sweet comments it always fires me up to write. Sorry this chapter took long time to come out and now that my exams are over I can devote much time to the story. Really, thank you very much and I'm glad that you liked my friendship's day post :)… I do have my inspiration intact because I'm enjoying writing (This is the first time I am writing so excuse my silly mistakes :D)