Author: I do not own Kuroko no Basuke or its characters, they all belong to Tadatoshi Fujimaki. The only thing that belongs to me is Shimuzu Aiko and the story plot.
Thank you and enjoy!
The final game was timed like any other game, there are four quarters, and each quarter has 10 minutes. It was supposedly just like any other game, but for some reason, every quarter felt like forever.
She still feels the same way for Akashi, she won't deny that, but as long as she sees that gold eye, she knows that she will never be able to look at him the same way. She feels like thorns are wrapped around her when she sees this side of me. Golden eyed or not, Akashi was still Akashi but possessive and over-bearing was the only thing she sees when she sees him like this.
The break for half time already began, while the others are resting, she went and grabbed something to drink. It was selfish but it was to get out of that dejected atmosphere, she knows that they'll win, as long as they'll continue fighting. She leaned on a pillar near the vending machine, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath.
"Saying a little prayer for your team, Aiko?" She can feel a tinge of irritation rising but she managed to suppress it; she shook her head and sighed. She always sighs whenever he's around.
"Don't you have other people to patronize, Akashi-san?"
"Woah, she's feisty, Akashi." She saw the other starting players behind him. She rolled her eyes and immediately went to get a drink so that she can leave. She won't be at peace when he's around.
"I know that you don't remember anything, but with all that, I was expecting that you'll still work for a winning team. I guess I don't know you that well." She scoffed
"You're right; you don't know me that well. In fact, you don't know me at all." His eyes widen a bit "Just because I forgot about you and everyone doesn't mean that I would settle for a mediocre team. It seems like you're the one who's forgetting here, Akashi-san. I know a winning team when I see one." He smirks and she so badly want to wipe that smirk off his face.
"Fine then, let's have bet." She waited for him to continue "When we win, I want you to transfer to Rakuzan by the second year and be a part of our team." She laughed softly
"Some things never change." She mumbled "You want me to give up my life here in Tokyo for you? You still think that you own me and under control." She smirked "Fine, if you win, I'll transfer as soon as this school year ends. But if you lose…" He waited, not sure what her condition will be.
"Never show this version of you to me ever again, Seijuro" She walked away immediately, knowing that she gave too many hints that she already remembers.
The second half began, and she witnessed how the small light that they have slowly fade. But knowing them, she knew that they won't go out like this, they will fight until their last drop.
And they did
Slowly but surely, they are fighting back. But that nausea she's feeling right now is the same as what she felt during the final confrontation with Akashi in middle school. When she saw that Akashi was using Mayuzumi as a pawn and disregarded the Kings the moment he felt like they're useless, she's growing sicker and sicker by the minute as she watches the game, to even think that Akashi would stoop that low. He got worse than before.
It was a shock to everyone when they saw the great Akashi Seijuro slowly crumble. A time out was called during the fourth quarter, but the moment they entered the court again, things felt different. It was different, and yet the chill on her spine felt so familiar. He glances to where she was and she saw his red eyes, he's back.
They held their breath as the game proceeds, both teams are fighting with their all, but only one will reign supreme. Won by the buzzer beater, Seirin High School wins the Winter Cup. Happy for her team, they finally achieved what they wanted; she was observing Akashi as she tries to remove Kiyoshi's sweaty arms around her. She saw Akashi slowly approach Kuroko and asked for a handshake.
"This is a victory for you… No, for all of you. Congratulations. And prepare yourselves. Next time, we are the ones who will win." Of course, Kuroko being the angel that he is, he accepted the handshake with both hands. Akashi leaned forward and whispered something to Kuroko, she's not sure what it was all about but that small mischievous glint in Kuroko's eyes was enough to make her nervous.
After the awarding ceremony, everyone immediately went to their locker rooms to go change and go home. As she was waiting outside for them to change, Kuroko and Kiyoshi suddenly appeared.
"Ai-chan, can you turn around?" She raised her brow, wondering what's with them all of a sudden.
"Why?" Skepticism was obvious in her tone.
"Kuroko and I have surprise for you, and I want to blindfold you for this surprise." She was about to protest but they already put the blindfold around her as well as tying her wrist. Another protest and complains were attempted before Kiyoshi's huge hand covered her mouth, making it almost covering her whole face.
They managed to guide her without making her fall, though with Kiyoshi's hand covering her mouth, her wrist tied, and her eyes were blindfolded, she did not feel comfortable. It seems to her that they reached their destination as she heard a soft knock with Kuroko mentioning that the delivery has arrived; they gently guided her to the room.
"Well, I'll leave her to you." She felt her wrist were freed and immediately heard the door closed, she removed her blindfold and saw where Kuroko and Kiyoshi brought her.
The locker room of Rakuzan, it seems to be that only the starter players are in there.
"I'm going to kill them." She muttered
"It was I who requested Kuroko to bring you here." A certain red head stood a few feet in front of her.
"And a simple "I want to talk to you" wouldn't work? Kidnapping is never the answer." She saw a small twitch as the edge of his lips.
"I think kidnapping is a little too much." She raised her brow and crossed her arms
"If blindfolding me and tying my hands is not kidnapping then I'm afraid to see your definition of it." He gestured one of the benches and asked her to sit down. Though wary, she obliged.
"So, what is it you want to talk about?" He seems hesitant to talk but lets out a sigh.
"How about let's start with how much you remember?"
She wanted to be honest, she really did. But by the time she saw his red eyes looking so vulnerable, she can't help but tease him a little.
"Still not much about you, why?" He looked so dejected when she replied.
"I just wanted to check and apologize but it would seem meaningless to you as of right now." If anything, it's her damn conscience and still existing affection for him made her regret teasing him.
"I was joking, I pretty much remember everything." Life came back to his eyes.
"All of it?" Obviously, he was making sure that she's telling the truth this time.
"Yes, from the beginning of middle school years until the day of the accident."
"Aiko, I –"She cuts him off when she realized what he wanted to say.
"Not now, I'm really not looking for apologies or anything. There will be a proper time and place for that conversation. Not in this sweaty and smelly locker." He let out a small laugh at her statement.
Still hate gyms and lockers?" She smiled "Definitely"
They looked at each other for a few seconds, maybe trying to memorize every feature of each other.
"I really miss your red eyes." Her face suddenly went hot when she realized what she said.
He smiled at her statement and her blushing face.
"I do remember that you like looking at my eyes before." She looked away as she felt her face become hotter if that's even possible.
"It was for a reason." She mumbled, he softly laughed and patted her head. She still felt a bit uncomfortable at the gesture but welcomed it anyway. The feeling of fear that his other version gave her before was somewhat gone. Now that she remembers everything, that fear she felt was the cause of extreme possessiveness and almost borderline obsessive personality that his other version have. But the person that is in front of her now, the possessiveness was somewhat restrained but she knows that it's still there.
She both knew what it feels like to be with both versions, so she knows that Akashi was just possessive at birth, that something she accepted about him but right now, he was walking on eggshells around her. He was wary, knowing that his restrictiveness and Alpha-like attitude pushed her away. He was not about to make the same mistake
She leaned back a bit as she stares at him once again.
"What? You're looking at me like you're assessing me." He said with one of his brows raised.
"Because I am, and I noticed something about you."
"That is?"
"You excel in everything, whether in academics or extracurricular. 'Absolute' as you would say."
"I'm sensing that there's a 'but' in that statement." She slightly giggled at his eagerness.
"But I just notice one flaw that you have." She smiled and pointed at his hair.
"You are not good at cutting your hair." He grabbed the hand she used to point at his hair and teasingly glared at her which she just laughed at.
The bubble they both unknowingly created suddenly disappear when they both heard a cough behind Akashi, she immediately created a distance between them and pulled her hand from his grip. She completely forgot that Mayuzumi-senpai and the Uncrowned Kings are in the locker room.
She wanted to run away after seeing Hayama-senpai's grinning face, how was she able to forget their existence in the room. They are practically giants. Looking for an excuse to leave, she looked at her wristwatch.
"Oh, look at the time… I…uhm…I need to go." Immediately standing up to escape but Akashi caught her wrist before she was even out the door. She faced him with her face still blushing.
"Is there any way to contact you?" She wanted to laugh seeing a tinge of pink on his face.
"You can ask Tetsuya." With that she left.
"I'm surprise that you even ask her permission, knowing you, you already have her contacts." Mibuchi stated
"This is not about having her contacts. Since I want her back, I have to start at something. Meaning, I have to maintain a respectful distance until she's comfortable." He sighed as he fixes his things. They are not use at seeing their captain looks so defeated, by a girl for that matter. That thought alone was laughable before, but now, they have guessed that even Mr. Perfect has an Achilles Heels.