Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Kuroko no Basket!
...
...
Akashi walked like in a daze through the halls at school, barely noticing the other students around him. The annoyed, and some scared, looks didn't register at all as he moved between his fellow students.
Every time he closed his eyes he saw the scared and worried look in those emerald eyes he loved so much and he knew he was the reason for that look. He scowled, unwittingly scaring a girl who happened to be walking toward him at the time, he shouldn't have made Adie feel like she had to show him that look.
Magic was real… that was something that was still running through his mind and if he hadn't seen the bright-white translucent stag parading around his living room he might still have trouble believing it. Yet, he knew Adie never lied and she had never outright lied to him. If he was honest with himself he knew that the moment she said the words that magic was real, he believed her.
Before he knew it he found himself in the empty gym and he stood just inside the double doors, he hadn't really known he was headed this way. As he stood there he remembered the first time Adie came and saw him and it was as if he could see her standing there in front of him with that mischievous smile of hers as she seemed fearless and confident as she faced his team.
"Who are you and how did you get in here?"
"Hm? Me?" Adie asked with a teasing smile. "I'm here to steal your Captain away."
"Eh?"
"Adeline. What are you doing here?"
"I asked you where you were, and you said here," Adie said looking at him, "so here I am."
"You didn't say anything about you being in Kyoto," Akashi said scowling slightly.
"Well, I wanted to surprise you," Adie shrugged. "I can't very well surprise you if I say I'm here, now can I?"
Akashi sighed as he looked at her, she just smiled back at him. She threw the ball to him and he caught it easily.
"Relax, Seijuro," Adie said, "if you want to finish practice I can wait."
"Spying on the competition?" Akashi arched a brow making her snort.
"No," Adie eyed him. "We'll beat you without spying. Besides, it's not like you don't know every player on my team, now is it?" She arched a brow at him.
"I always win," Akashi declared. "My victory is predestined."
"Nothing is set in stone," Adie contradicted him. "Just because it's never happened before, doesn't mean it won't happen in the future."
He smiled slightly as the memory flashed in his mind and he remembered feeling awed and stunned when he saw her standing there in front of him. Not really able to believe that she was there because she wanted to see him. No one at that time wanted that, and to see her so clearly claiming friendship with him had started something in him that he still felt building. He had always felt like she saw him, the real him and he was still convinced that she was the only one who could and would see him for him and not his name or reputation.
So, why had he let her leave like he had? Why had he let her believe that he might not accept her? Yes, he was shocked but he still loved her and wanted her in his life. He was sure of that. Anger filled him, but it was directed at himself.
"Sei-chan?" Mibuchi asked carefully and Akashi turned around to see the older teammate looking at him with a worried look in his eyes.
"What?" Akashi snapped even as he regretted the tone immediately afterwards, but he didn't apologize. His mind was too preoccupied with thoughts about Adie and his latest mistake.
"Are you alright?" Mibuchi asked.
"I'm fine," Akashi said shortly and he immediately thought of how that was Adie's default answer and frowned. Was she telling her friends that now? Pretending to be fine when he had hurt her like he had?
"You don't look it," Mibuchi observed calmly not affected by Akashi's tone.
Akashi glared at him before he sighed and rubbed a hand over his eyes. Again Adie's voice was in his mind telling him that it wasn't a bad thing to rely on your friends… and Mibuchi was his friend, he would admit that even if it was reluctantly. He sighed.
"I think I might have messed things up with Adeline," Akashi admitted and saw the surprise on Mibuchi's face.
"Huh? How?" he asked shocked. "You looked close when she was here visiting a week ago."
"Yeah, and then she told me something and I…" He glared frustrated but it wasn't directed at Mibuchi. "I didn't react as I should have."
"Then talk to her," Mibuchi said, "Sei-chan, she loves you. It's clear to anyone who sees you two together. I am sure she'll give you a chance to apologize and talk to her."
Akashi knew he was right and he owed Adie an apology at the very least, he never wanted to make her believe he couldn't accept her. He just had so much to process and he needed more information to do that, but he was not going to leave her. That was just not going to happen.
...
Adie watched as Riko fed Nigou standing next to Teppei, she had just finished a late class and met the other second years outside and was talking with them a little before she had to go and pick up Teddy from daycare.
"Ah, sempai's!" Furihata's voice sounded and Adie glanced to the side to see him coming toward them with a bright smile.
"Furihata-kun," Adie greeted with a smile.
"Are you free next Saturday?" he asked and Adie arched a brow curious.
"The 31st?" Izuki asked.
Furihata nodded and looked at them.
"Yes! It's actually Kuroko's birthday that day," he said.
"Really?" Teppei asked before getting a solemn look on his face. "He's growing up so fast, isn't he?"
"You act like you raised him," Adie snorted nudging him in the arm.
"So?" Hyuga asked ignoring Teppei but rolled his eyes at him.
"Ah, the first years are planning a birthday party at Kagami's house," Furihata said. "If you're free we hoped you could stop by."
"A birthday party, huh?" Izuki asked.
"Sounds nice," Riko commented and Adie noticed that she glanced shyly at Hyuga who blushed and Adie smiled slightly at the exchange. They had gotten closer since the final, and she was almost sure they were dating now.
"We're cooking and doing the decoration ourselves," Furihata explained. "I'm sure Kuroko would be happy if you would come as well!"
"Sounds good," Adie said, "I'll help with the cooking.
The others offered to help as well and they all looked forward to making Kuroko's day special and fun, Adie was sure the shadow would be happy by the end of it.
Just then Furihata's phone rang and he pulled it up from his pocket to answer.
"Hello?" he said before he frowned, "calm down, Kagami."
Adie watched as the frown on Furihata's face deepened. "What? I thought you were in charge of getting Kuroko to come that day?... Fine… we'll just have it a little later… bye."
He hung up looking slightly unhappy.
"Something wrong, Furihata-kun?" Adie asked.
"No, not exactly," he said, "Kagami was going to ask Kuroko to come and well, he stalled too long and now the Generation of Miracles managed to get to Kuroko first…"
"Eh?" Riko asked.
"They're going to meet and play street basketball together," Furihata said, "Kagami said that Kuroko looked really happy by the invite."
"Oh, I see," Teppei said, "so there won't be any party?"
"Of course there will be," Furihata said, "we'll just have to have it later on the evening. After he has played with them."
Adie was silent and realised that Akashi would be coming to Tokyo. Would he come and see her or would he stay away? The worry ate at her inside, but she pushed it down and told herself that she would wait and let him come to her. Like she said she would.
...
Akashi was late, he knew, but the train had been delayed and therefore he was late. He met Murasakibara on the way and they walked together toward the park where they had planned to meet the rest of their old team. It would be the first time they were all together since Teiko over any period of time, and it seemed fitting that the first time would be on Kuroko's birthday.
As they got closer Akashi saw that only he and Murasakibara was missing from the group, the rest of the team (that included Momoi) was standing in a group already talking looking more at ease than before. Kuroko was holding what looked like a scarf and from the pink colour, Akashi guessed it was a birthday present from Momoi.
"I'm sorry I'm late," Akashi spoked up calling the attention to himself.
He was pleased to see the smiles on their faces as they turned to look at him, no one scowled or tensed when they saw him as they had before. Perhaps there really was a chance to get back their friendship?
"It's good to see you, Akashi-kun," Momoi said with a wide smile.
"You too," Akashi returned with a nod before turning his attention to Kuroko after scanning the empty court, "happy birthday, Kuroko."
He saw the slightly surprised look in Kuroko's eyes, but he wasn't sure why he had the look before the shadow smiled and nodded.
"Thank you, Akashi-kun;" Kuroko said softly. "I'm happy you could make it."
Akashi smiled and nodded, but didn't say anything as he joined them. They stood talking lightly for a little while before Aomine became restless and suggested they started to play. They split into teams by drawing random notes that Momoi had prepared earlier, and Akashi found himself on the same team as Kuroko and Aomine.
Akashi had fun playing with his friends, it felt like it did before and he smiled as he caught the ball and then passed it to Aomine who went up against Kise before he scored. They played for a long time and changed teams every now and then so that they all played together.
Momoi couldn't help the small happy yet sad smile she got when she saw the laughing faces of Kuroko and Aomine after they had scored a basket together and she flashed back to middle school when this was a regular sight.
The atmosphere between them all was easier and more comfortable than ever before, there was no tension between them that kept them apart, and the teasing was good-hearted and high spirited just as it had been before everything went wrong.
"This was fun, Kurokocchi!" Kise grinned and hugged the smaller boy excitedly when they were finished.
"Let go of me, Kise-kun," Kuroko deadpanned and Kise did with a pout.
"So mean…" Kise pouted.
Akashi shook his head at the typical behaviour of Kise and Kuroko as he walked past them and to where Momoi was seated on the bench watching with a nostalgic smile on her face. He paused in front of her and waited for her to look at him.
"Eh? Akashi-kun?" she asked curiously looking up at him.
"It's your turn to play," Akashi said, "I'm subbing with you."
"Come join us, Momoi-san!" Kuroko said and she had to fight a blush.
"I won't go easy on you just because you're my manager," Aomine said gruffly.
"You can go a little easy on me," Momoi protested as she grabbed the ball and ran out onto the court with a laugh.
Akashi smiled as he watched his friends and wished that Adie could have been here to see this, he wished he could have shared this moment with her.
...
"Aren't Akashi the only one who didn't lose?" Aomine asked when they had played several games and the afternoon was starting to near its end.
"Is that right?" Akashi asked.
"You always get the best deal for yourself," Kise said.
"It's a game, but it's still irritating," Midorima commented and Akashi felt his lips twitch amused.
"I'm hungry," Murasakibara complained.
"Should we call it then?" Akashi asked and the others were about to agree just as Momoi stopped them and suggested a photo. While most complained about it, they all lined up to take the photo and none was really annoyed by it.
"Can you send me a copy of the photo later?" Kuroko asked Momoi who grinned and nodded.
"Of course!"
"Thank you," Kuroko said softly looking back at the screen at the digital camera and at the picture, they stood united in a way he hadn't expected to happen again and he thought that it was the best present he could get.
"Um…" he spoke up at the others looked at him curiously.
...
Adie helped Himuro and Kagami cook for the party and tried to keep her mind off Akashi and the fact that he was in town and with Kuroko and his friends playing basketball right now. She noticed Teppei look at her from time to time, but he didn't say anything much to her relief. She didn't really want to talk about it, and she couldn't talk about it with him. Not when he didn't know about magic, something she might have to change, she thought. But first, she had to get it settled with Akashi.
She had been amused when Himuro and Takao showed up and not that surprised that Kagami had invited his old friend slash brother. In typical Kagami style he had messed up the direction and Takao had been nice enough to show Himuro the way and had been invited to join them since he was there. Adie had to admit that she admired the casual and carefree way he joined them.
Teddy was playing with Nigou who was basking in the little boy's attention much to the amusement of the rest of the team who had just finished decorating Kagami's apartment. It was the first time Adie had been there and she learned that Kagami lived there alone, but that it was originally intended to be him and his dad there.
Adie talked with Himuro when the doorbell rang, but since she wasn't the one to host she didn't get up. She saw Furihata get up when Kagami asked if he could open the door. Turning her attention back to the Yosen player who explained how his team was going to play a practice match against Rakuzan the next day and that was how they had gotten Murasakibara to come to Tokyo.
"Seijuro can be very sneaky when he wants to," Adie snorted and Himuro agreed with a small smile.
...
"Eh!"
"What?!"
The exclamations from the others in the room had Adie look up and saw Akashi standing just inside the door with the rest of his old team and Kuroko right behind him. His red eyes locked on her, but he had a polite smile on his face.
"You brought your friends?" Kagami exclaimed looking at the group with wide eyes.
"Hello," Akashi greeted politely, "I'm Rakuzan's Akashi Seijuro."
Adie arched a brow at the formal greeting as Izuki exclaimed they knew who he was, but she didn't miss the slight narrowing of his red eyes as he once again looked at her and then Himuro.
"Sei-nii!" Teddy yelled and rushed toward the Rakuzan player whose face softened in a genuine smile that shocked the Seirin team a little, as he caught the little boy and lifted him up into his arms.
"Hi Teddy-chan;" Akashi greeted. "How have you been?"
"Good!" Teddy smiled, "but I missed you!"
"I missed you too," Akashi said and ruffled his hair. "Have you behaved for your mum?"
"Mostly," Teddy said and Adie snorted.
"At least he is honest," Adie said getting up and walking over to Akashi, she held back the need to run to him and focused on staying calm and in control. She smiled at him when she stopped in front of him. "Good to see you, Seijuro."
"You too," he said and leaned forward to press a chaste and quick kiss to her lips. She smiled and felt her shoulders relax slightly as she didn't see anything but love and warmth in his eyes as he met hers. She knew he might still say that magic was too much for him to deal with, but at least she didn't see the disgust in his eyes that she fared. And she could keep living in denial and pretend that everything was as before. At least until they found an opportunity to talk.
She realised she had missed the others greeting each other as she had been to busy thinking about Akashi, she fought the blush as she turned her attention back to the present and her friends around them.
"Akashi," Teppei greeted with a polite smile, and Adie was pleased to see some genuine care in her little brother eyes as he looked at Akashi. He seemed to have softened a little toward Akashi, at least.
"Kiyoshi," Akashi nodded back.
Adie sat down next to Akashi who had Teddy on his lap, much to the surprise of her team. She realised that they hadn't seen the two together much, and thought it was good for them to see how Teddy and Akashi interacted with each other. Perhaps they would let go of their last reservations against him then.
"You need to teach me more Shogi," Teddy chatted away, "I try to play with mum, but she's not as good as you."
Adie rolled her eyes as she heard Akashi's chuckle. She poked his arm in mock offence.
"That's where you're supposed to say that I'm good!" she cried but a smirk played on her lips.
Adie was aware they were being watched, but she ignored it. She just felt relieved over the teasing between her ad Akashi and the feeling of everything being as it were.
...
"They look…happy," Riko said a little stunned as she watched Adie with Akashi and Teddy. It was the first time they had seen them together in such a relaxed setting, and Akashi wasn't wearing any masks…
"They do," Hyuga agreed.
The smile on Akashi's face as he watched Adie was very telling for the others in the room, even the former Teiko players hadn't seen this side of Akashi before. They saw Akashi reached out and swipe a loose strand of dark hair away from Adie's face and saw the soft smile she gave him in response before Teddy clapped his hands to get their attention.
"I think…we might have judged him to quick," Izuki realised a little stunned.
The party was a success and Kuroko had a great time, it was the first year in a very long time he really felt like people saw him. He had both his old and his new friends there and they were getting along, well, mostly. Kagami and Aomine were bickering like normal, but he didn't think they actually mean everything they said. He also liked seeing Akashi and Adie together, it eased his mind observing the casual happiness they shared, and Akashi seemed…happy and relaxed.
...
Adie held Akashi's hand as they walked back to the apartment building, Teddy almost asleep in Akashi's arms. They walked in silence, and Adie could tell that they both were in deep thoughts but neither felt like starting the conversation right now. She knew that they needed to talk when they got back to her apartment, but while she felt worried and scared she also felt slightly reassured by his presence and the fact he didn't look at her with disgust or fear.
Akashi glanced over at Adie and saw the pensive look on her face in the moonlight, she was beautiful, he thought. Her dark hair pulled back in a loose bun and her emerald green eyes seemed to have an almost unearthly glow about them as she was watching the sky and stars. He had seen the worry and fear in her eyes the one moment her expression had been unguarded, just after he had entered Kagami's apartment and greeted the Seirin team. He doubted that anyone else had seen it though, as it was only there for a second. He hated himself for being the reason for why it was there, and he swore he would clear it up as soon as he could. He had hope though, that he hadn't ruined everything. If she was mad at him, she wouldn't have greeted him as she had, would she?
Teddy mumbled something against his neck and he smiled down at the little boy, he had missed him when he had been in Kyoto. It was strange how connected and close he felt to Teddy. The pride he felt when the little boy did something, or just the happiness when he came running toward him with that large smile of his.
Adie squeezed his hand and he realised that they were back at the apartment, they entered the building and took the elevator up to her floor and he followed her inside. Adie smiled and showed him the way to Teddy's room and he gently put him down, he barely made a sound. Akashi straightened up and glanced at Adie who was now watching him with a considering look and biting lightly down at her lower lip, he could tell she was nervous about something. He arched a brow.
He noticed her suddenly holding her, um, wand and watched it curiously, he looked up at her and saw the way she was watching him. When he didn't react she turned to Teddy and he heard her mutter something softly and much to Akashi's surprise the clothing Teddy wore changed in front of his very eyes and suddenly he was wearing pyjamas.
Akashi blinked and looked back at Adie who was putting her wand away without looking at him, before leaning down to tuck Teddy in and pressed a kiss to his forehead.
"Sleep well, cub," she murmured.
Akashi had noticed her calling Teddy that before, but had never thought about it. Now, though, he was wondering if it had another meaning. His mind was questioning everything and he was curious, also seeing magic like that made it more real and assured him that he hadn't imagined everything when she told him.
...
They walked into the living room, it was only partly lit up and she was still not looking at him. He wanted to change that, but he was a little worried that the distance she suddenly put up between them meant that she didn't want him there. A voice in his mind told him that he was being stupid, but the worry was there.
"Have…have you thought about it?" She asked quietly still not looking at him. "Magic, I mean."
Akashi swallowed as he took a step closer to her and kept walking to her side until he was right in front of her and reached out and tipped her head up, forcing her to meet his eyes. The worry in her eyes hit him hard and he scolded himself for putting it there.
"I have," he said in an even and cool voice, "I have no problem with it, Adeline."
Her shoulders didn't relax exactly, but they didn't seem just as tense either. Her emerald eyes scanned his, clearly looking for a lie. He just met her eyes and cupped her face between his hands.
"Adeline," he said softly. "I love you. Magic or no magic, it will not change the way I feel about you. Nor will it change the fact that I want you in my life."
A strange look crossed her face as she looked at me for a moment before a small smile curled her lips upwards.
"You mean it?" She asked and he wondered if he had ever heard her sound so vulnerable before. It worried him and made the internal anger build, what had he done?
"I mean it," Akashi promised, "I'm sorry for making you believe that I wouldn't. I never meant for you to doubt that I wanted you and…well, I am sorry."
He felt a little lost, he wasn't used to apologizing and it felt weird but strangely right to do so to her. Adie deserved him being open and honest with her. Thinking about it, she had always managed to reach the softer part of him even when he was in his other personality as some called it. She had always seen him, the whole him and he was not going to let her get away from him.
He leaned in and kissed her, he felt her kiss him back and sighed happily into the kiss as he pulled her impossibly closer to his body and he felt himself reacting to her warmth and touch.
"Adeline," he moaned and she smiled against his lips as she pressed herself closer to him.
"I love you, Seijuro," Adie whispered between kisses. "I love you."
...
Adie moved around the kitchen the next day more relaxed and rested in what felt like forever, but it was really only since she had told Akashi the truth about magic. She glanced at the clock and saw that it was nearing the time Rakuzan was playing against Yosen in a practice match and she had promised that she and Teddy would be there to watch them.
Akashi had spent the night and she had woken up in his arms finding him watching her with a loving smile on his handsome face, his red eyes softer than she remembered and he had kissed her before she had to get up and check on Teddy. They had eaten breakfast together before Akashi had to leave for his practice match.
Her mind went back to the night before and a smile stretched on her face, he accepted her. He really accepted her with magic and all, his voice and eyes proved that he had been telling the truth and she couldn't start to describe how relieved and happy she felt when he did. She had been really scared that he would say it was too much.
The sound of her phone brought her out of her musings and she reached for it before answering without checking who was calling.
"Hello?"
"Hello, Potter-san," Minami's voice sounded. "Am I calling at a bad time?"
"Minami-san," Adie greeted, "no, I'm free to talk. Have you any news for me?"
"There is a company that wants to buy stocks in your company and the hospitals in Tokyo are willing to buy the potions we have managed to get approved for the muggle world. I have also prepared a list of candidates for you to look through to decide who you want to run the business, in your stead. Just like you asked."
"But I will still be able to have a say in what's going on, right?" Adie asked sitting down at a chair in the kitchen a cup of tea in her free hand. She could hear Teddy playing in the living room.
"Yes," Minami said. "You will."
"Good," Adie said, "please send me the list and I'll go through it and we'll arrange interviews to determine who the best option is."
They talked a little more business before they ended their conversation and Adie felt like it was finally getting somewhere, she had a secret hope that if she could get the potions accepted at the local hospitals she might be able to save Teppei's knee and help he play basketball again next school year. It was a hope, at least.
...
"Congratulations," Adie smiled and pressed a soft kiss to his lips as she reached Akashi after their win against Yosen.
"Thank you, Adeline," he smiled lightly before looking down to where Teddy was staring up at him with a wide smile.
"You won!" Teddy beamed.
"I guess we did," Akashi said like it was nothing and Adie noticed the 'we' in his sentence and knew he had changed and was now truly counting on his team. A smile stretched on her lips as she watched her boyfriend and son talk more about the match, she could hear the others around her but she stayed focused on two of the most important people in her life.
"You want to come and join us for dinner?" Akashi asked and Adie suddenly realised he had turned his attention back to her and was watching her now.
"If you don't mind," Adie said or rather asked.
"Of course I don't mind," Akashi smiled before he threw a glance over his shoulder, "just wait here until we've changed and then we'll go."
Adie nodded and held Teddy's hand as Akashi joined his team and went into the locker room.
...
...
AN: Thank you for reading! I'm sorry for the late update. XD