Consequences

Title: Consequences

Rating: T

Summary: The Winter Cup. One of the most sought after tournaments to win. And Akashi Seijuuro just lost the chance to claim victory once again. Most would say that Rakuzan was destined to lose one day. But nobody could foresee the consequences this loss will bring for Akashi.

Disclaimer: I don't own Kuroko no Basuke.

Author's Note: I haven't watched the third season yet so I'm not sure when exactly Akashi changes back to his original self. I'd also like to apologize if any character seems OOC or if there are any mistakes made as this work has not been beta'd nor is English my first language.

"There are in nature neither rewards nor punishments — there are consequences."

Robert G. Ingersoll

106:105.

Akashi couldn't believe it.

He actually lost. And in a basketball game no less.

He could hear the crowd cheering, happy that Seirin had won. Happy that they had lost. Even his own ex-team mates, the GOMs, cheered for Seirin towards the end. Nobody wanted them to win. This realization hurt him. They wanted them to lose. No, they wanted him to lose. Him specifically.

Akashi could feel a slight tug inside himself. It was a sensation he hadn't felt for a very long time. But he knew exactly what it meant. Soon another him would dominate this body. He could feel how his two personalities changed places. Bokushi went to sleep and instead, Oreshi awoke from his slumber and took Bokushi's place.

Anybody had yet to discover the change that had just taken place right in front of their eyes. But it's not like anyone would notice the difference anytime soon for the only thing that had changed appearance wise was his eye color. Instead of the mismatched pair he possessed before, now there were two matching crimson eyes adorning his face. The behavior changes that came with the personality change could only be discovered if anyone would bother to interact with him right now. But that's not the case right now as the only thing that would be happening between those two teams would be the lining up in front of each other that is traditionally carried out after an official basketball game.

Akashi doesn't remember much after that. Only that he wanted to get out of the gym and away from the others as fast as possible. He could feel his breathing become faster and more ragged. He felt as if he didn't get enough air into his lungs, like he would suffocate any minute now. Did the walls close in on him? Was that even possible?

He didn't know how but somehow he made it into the locker rooms and locked himself into one of the many stalls inside the toilet before he collapsed onto the floor where he rolled himself into the smallest ball he could muster. Then, right after, the tears began to fall down his cheeks in cascades.

Akashi knew that he most likely had a mental breakdown or even a panic attack. But that knowledge didn't help him in the slightest. He never had a panic attack before – no wait, scratch that. He did have panic attacks before, but not of this severity. Even though, he still didn't know what to do. Every time he had had one of those back in his early childhood he had always waited them out until they had subsided on their own accord. But now he doubted that that will be the case. He didn't want his teammates to see him in such a pathetic state even though he knew that they would help him no questions asked. Especially Mibuchi would once again act like a mother hen towards Akashi.

On the one hand he found it endearing how much Mibuchi worried over him and how much he wanted to cuddle him, but on the other hand he also found it very annoying sometimes. It was nice to know that there was someone out there that cared for him, but sometimes Mibuchi could be too much to bear. Every time that happened and Akashi voiced his thoughts towards the mother hen his once caring face would always, without fail, morph into a disappointed one. Akashi always hated it when that happened. He didn't want to hurt his new teammates and he didn't want to add his burdens onto their shoulders. He knew that they already had more than enough to worry about themselves. He didn't need to add to that his own pathetic problems.

That is why, when Mayuzumi asked him if he was okay, he answered with a simple "I'm fine" and held his breath until he heard the footsteps of Mayuzumi indicating that he accepted his answer and went away to join the others in changing out of his sweaty tricot into fresh clothing. His voice had come out surprisingly steady. Maybe it was because all his life long he had to hide his true emotions so as to come across as superior – or so his father had told him. 'Never show your true emotions or they will be your downfall'.

Once Mayuzumi was away Akashi resumed his helpless sobbing, quietly of course so that his teammates wouldn't hear anything. He didn't want to worry them. It wasn't an easy task. He could still feel that his heart was definitely beating too fast and that his breathing still wasn't back to normal.

"Akashi? Are you really okay in there?" Mayuzumi. Of course he wasn't convinced of his former 'I'm fine'. "You haven't come out of the bathroom in over seven minutes."

"Yes, I am well. Thank you for your concern, but it is unnecessary. I simply have a small stomach ache. It will go away in a little while. You shouldn't worry about me so much. I am fine. You should go ahead without me already. I'll be following at a later time."

Akashi was surprised at himself. That came out very convincing. And his voice hadn't wavered once. If he didn't know otherwise he'd himself believe that everything was okay with him.

"Okay, if you say so. But I'm not very fond of the idea of leaving you behind. Please let me know if your pain gets any worse."

Akashi let out the breath he didn't know he was holding until now. Finally he was alone.