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!

She was slightly fidgeting as the limo drive through the Akashi estate, the ring now on her right ring finger felt heavy on her hand as they grew nearer.

She looked at her dress and let out a sigh, it was a haltered front and backless long dress, colored in gold and red which gives out a phoenix vibe. The skirt of her dress from the mid-thigh and downwards was see through, so it looked like she was only wearing a cocktail dress. With the dress, the ring on her finger became more noticeable.

Her steps were heavy as she and her family entered the estate, she wanted to meet him but she also wanted to run away. She scanned the ball room of the estate as her father and mother socialize with the other guest. Mayumi and her husband Shou was also socializing, so she and Kenji were only following them. As they walked around, she finally saw the person she's looking for. She saw him talking to someone's daughter; his face seems indifferent even if the woman kept touching him from his hand to his shoulders. Unhappy with what she saw, she hooked her arm around Kenji to keep herself upright; though younger by a year he was much taller than her.

Even though Kenji was shocked at the action of his sister, he patted her hand for comfort and leaned in.

"Are you okay, onee-sama?" she let out the breath she had been holding and smiled at him.

"Yes, I'm fine. Thank you for asking, Kenji." He smiled back. She listened to the conversation of her father and some business man when she felt a shiver down her spine.

Following that feeling, she saw that Akashi Seijuro was staring at her as the girl in front of him continued to talk. She looked away when Kenji tapped her hand.

"Would you like to get something to drink, onee-sama? You look pale."

She nodded. "That would be great, Kenji."

Kenji excuses them both and headed to the long table to get a drink. The atmosphere was a bit tense between them, which made her uncomfortable even more.

"Onee-sama, are you sure that you are okay?" Kenji looked at her with concern.

"I'm really fine, Kenji. But I will feel much better if you start calling me 'Nee-chan'." She softly giggled as Kenji turned slightly pink.

"That's a bit childish, Ai-nee." She smiled at her nickname.

"That's much better. I apologize for making you act so formal with me for years."

"I don't mind, I would have done the same thing if I was in your situation."

"But still, thank you for understanding." Kenji was about to reply when Mayumi interrupted their conversation.

"What are my beloved siblings are talking about?" Mayumi was always open and kind to both Kenji and Aiko, but she still kept a respectful distance between her and Aiko. She and Kenji looked at each other and gave him a side smirk.

"We are just talking about how you shouldn't leave Shou-nii alone. Especially with Nakajima Kira is near him."

Aiko and Kenji chuckled a little when Mayumi almost whipped her head just to see Shou talking to some business men.

Mayumi gave her siblings a playful glare when she saw both of them trying to suppress their laugh.

"You are so possessive with Shou-nii." Kenji said

"I'm not; I'm not that restrictive with him. But it is another story if Nakajima Kira is involved."

Nakajima Kira was one of the potential brides for Tachibana Shou, and actually thought that she will be the Lady of the House for the Tachibanas but Mayumi and Shou clicked immediately when they met in one of the marriage interview. After a year of trying to get to know each other and waiting for Mayumi reach 20 years old, they eventually got married, which made Nakajima Kira very unhappy. So, she tried to catch Shou's attention whenever she sees an opportunity.

"You have been married for more than a year already, Mayu-nee. Shou-nii won't fall into a snake trap." Mayumi just sighed.

"I would be more comforted if Nakajima stops plotting everything. By the way, are you okay?"

She tilted her head in confusion "Yes, why wouldn't I be?"

"Akashi Seijuro is being trapped by a Nakajima as well." She looked around and saw Akashi along with same woman she saw earlier and he was talking with some elderly, along with his father.

"Who's the woman?" She asked Mayumi as she kept staring at the two.

"Nakajima Ayu, sister of Nakajima Kira."

"I never heard the Nakajima had two children." Kenji said.

"Same with our situation, Ayu was an illegitimate child." She kept staring at him as she listens to her sibling's conversation. Her stare hardened when Ayu forcibly clings on Akashi's arm, pressing her chest to his arm. A few seconds after, he finally met his eyes, though subtle, she saw small pleading look in his eyes. Understanding the message, she slightly nodded.

He smiled and firmly removed the arms around his, he whispered something to his father and his father saw her standing in corner and gave her a side smile which she smiled back. His father nodded and Akashi Seijuro left the group, leaving Ayu baffled as he ignored her when she tried to catch his attention.

Sensing that Akashi is nearing their location, Kenji and Mayumi excused themselves to give the two some private time. But they didn't go far as they observe Nakajima Ayu observing Akashi.

"It took you long enough to acknowledge my presence. I've been watching you since you entered the ball room."

"I can't have the guest of honor's full attention; he has to be a kind host and entertain his guests." She smiled

"I could do that with you by my side, my dear."

"But it seems like someone has already taken that position." She gave the girl few feet behind Akashi a glance. Rather than acknowledging what she said, he just let out a small laugh.

"You're the only one I've been waiting for. Would you do me the honor of becoming your escort for the night?" She weighted the pros and cons, and Akashi noticed her hesitation.

"Only tonight…be my Angel again just for tonight." She doesn't know if it was an illusion or she really heard him subtly plead. No longer overthinking it, she nodded. Just for tonight

"Wonderful." He went beside her and put a hand on the small of her back. "Let's talk to my father." He guided her to where his father is; even knowing that Nakajima Ayu is gazing at them.

"Seijuro, I see that you've managed to convince Aiko to grace us with her presence tonight." Akashi Masaomi is a very strict man, especially to his only heir, he was only seen a very cold and ruthless business tycoon. Now, seeing that he has very tiny genuine smile as they talk to the older man, was unnerving to say the least.

Ignoring that feeling, she smiled at him "It has been a while, Uncle."

"My dear child, you know that you can always call me 'Father'." Ah! So that's where this is going. Much like her own father, Masaomi was very supportive of the relationship between Aiko and Seijuro.

"When we get to that point, maybe I will." He just nodded and was about to say something when Nakajima Ayu butted in.

"I'm so sorry to interrupt, but Seijuro, would you care to spare me a dance?" Seijuro's eyes slightly twitched in irritation but he must maintain his composure and not forget that he is a gentleman.

"I—"

"My son won't be able to entertain your request, Nakajima-san. I personally made my son to be the escort of Aiko here for the rest of the night and he is not allowed to leave her alone. I'm sure you will find a young lad that is more than happy to dance with you." Noticing the piercing gaze of the older Akashi, Nakajima Ayu has no choice but leave them alone.

"There, now that is done and over with. I will leave you two alone as I have something to announce." Seijuro nodded and the older Akashi left.

There was still tension between them and the hand on her waist was still firm.

"What do you think he will announce?" She tried initiating a conversation.

"I don't know, maybe the usual." Another moment of silence occurred.

"After the party, can we talk?" She nodded as the older Akashi began to talk.

"Tonight like I say every year is a very special night as it is my only son's day of birth. But there are certain happenings that makes this night even more special. I would love to announce this but I prefer to have someone on stage with me to deliver this news. I want a dear friend of mine, Shimizu Houjo, to join me here in front." She watched as her father went up the stage with a huge smile on his face and shook the hand of Masaomi.

"As majority of you knows that Masaomi and I have been great friends since the beginning, though we are great friends, we have never been partners." Her father announced

"So, now we have taken the great honor to become business partners to one of our major companies. But this is not a haste decision and it is within reasons."

"It is one of our main companies that we have merged for the reason that both our heirs will inherit it in the proper moment. This is where the second special announcement enters." Masaomi continued. Her heart was beating as she can already guess what the second announcement will be. Akashi's hand immediately tightened on her waist as the announcement continued.

"We are pleased to announce the decisions of both families to make my son Akashi Seijuro and Houjo's daughter Shimizu Aiko be officially engaged and shall marry as soon as they finish their studies." It was unnoticed by anyone that her knees went weak because the grip Seijuro has on her waist was able to support her.

Every guest clapped for them and congratulated them, and both of them wore their perfected business-like smiles. As soon as the announcement was over and all of the attention was diverted to both their father, Seijuro guided her to the corner of the ballroom, his hand is still on her waist and supporting her.

"Did you know about this?" She said as she looked up to his crimson eyes while they are standing side by side. In other's point of view, they simply looked like lovers who are trying to have a private moment to talk but it was nothing like that, the tension grew as the party commenced.

"I did since it was the request of our mothers but I never thought that they would announce it this soon." She knew where he was getting from, she also understood it. By birth, their life was already planned as well as their union.

No longer wanting to make him uncomfortable with the atmosphere between them, she hopped into another topic.

"So, how does it feel to be 17?" She asked as she once again looked at him, being the taller man, she had to look up.

"The same feeling like I was 16, the only different thing is, tonight I'm with you." He smiled as he looked down on her.

"You have sweet words, Akashi-san."

"We agreed that tonight you are once again my angel. Call me like you use to."

She just smiled "I have a gift for you" intentionally ignoring his request. She opened her small purse that contains her phone, a few cash (just in case) and the small box that contained her gift for him.

"It's not much, but it's the best that I can do for someone who has everything." She said as she slowly brings out the red box with gray ribbon and gave it to him. She was silently watching him as he gently opened the box.

"It's a custom made wristband, seeing that you like basketball." He looked at the inner part of the wristband.

A. Seijuro❤️

"It's not much but it's –" She was cut off when he suddenly hugged her.

"If we weren't being watched right now, I would kiss you senseless." She let out a soft laugh and tapped his back; she pulled away a bit so that she can see his face. She can see a glimmer of gratitude and maybe longing as well.

"Happy Birthday…Sei." She smiled and held that hand that doesn't have her gift.

"Thank you, Angel. You do know how to make a man feel special. I'll wear this in every game as a good luck charm." She gave him a smile and the party continued on with the both of them being in their own bubble. Of course, there are those who tried to enter that bubble, such as people who forwards their congratulations and her siblings who are teasing them but eventually they left them alone.

Aiko noticed Nakajima Ayu glaring at her all night. She knows that Nakajima is interested with Akashi and Nakijima obviously sees her as a threat. She doesn't know Nakajima personally but seeing her hate and how her sister acted with Tachibana Shou, she really won't be surprise if she did something with Akashi. But to be honest, she really isn't her concern right now. Aiko's main concern is where she stands in Akashi's life and where Akashi stands in hers.

Even though they were practically left alone throughout the whole party, it was not the proper moment to talk about things like that.

After the party, we'll talk.

Author's Note:

Updating may be slow for this story, I apologize for that. There is still no specific schedule for updates as of the moment, but when there is, I will let you know as soon as possible. Thank you!