Chapter five:
The light at the end of tunnel, but not quite yet.
''Kise!'' Kagami shouted, at the same time as Akashi whom shouted, ''Ryouta!'' Their eyes widened as Kise was engulfed by water. ''Akashi, call Midorima. Tell him to bring some medical help, and to get him to the hospital.'' Kagami said, as he took of his shirt, and threw it at Akashi. ''What are you doing, Taiga?'' Akashi asked, still in shock. ''I'm going after him.'' Kagami said, before climbing on the railing, and jumping after Kise. Akashi, for the first time in years, did as he was told.
''Akashi?'' Midorima answered instantly. ''Midorima, something terrible occured. I need you and your father to meet me at the bridge near the river.'' Akashi's voice trembled. ''I'll be on my way.'' Midorima instantly promised, before hanging up. Akashi stared down, but didn't spot Kagami or Kise.
''Aomine-kun?'' Kuroko asked, as they were playing some random shooter. ''Something wrong?'' Aomine asked. ''You never explained to us why you didn't want to exchange bodies. Why were you so upset back then?'' Kuroko asked. Aomine sighed, as he paused his game. ''We have a history, and we were assholes in middle school, Kuroko. To be honest, I thought we had split up for good. And I didn't even mind, because I was able to stop thinking...'' Aomine stopped talking, as if it pained him to continue.
''To stop thinking how to properly break up with me?'' Kuroko asked. ''Tetsu, we never had a relationship to begin with.'' Aomine scolded. ''I meant the light/ shadow combination.'' Kuroko said. ''I didn't want that to end.'' Aomine explained. ''Then what?'' Kuroko genuinly wondered, before feeling a slight pang in his head. ''Tetsu, are you alright?'' Aomine asked. But he recieved no reply. ''Oi, Tetsu, please do react! Tetsu, you are scaring me.'' Aomine said, before shaking the boy.
But he recieved a dull stare, far more duller than normal. ''You are Haizaki.'' Aomine stated. ''Oh, how suprisingly sharp.'' Kuroko said. ''You've caused enough trouble as it is. Make it all stop, before this gets out of control.'' Aomine told him. ''I'm afraid you already were involved too deep. I apoligize for what happened, but some strings of fate can't be helped. Mind you, take note that this will be far from over.'' the voice spoke, before Kuroko's eyes dilated.
''Aomine-kun?'' Kuroko asked, as he was shaking. ''It'll be fine.'' Kuroko said, as he pushed Aomine's reaching hand away. ''Leave me alone.'' the teal-haired boy said, as he stood up, looking pissed. ''Tetsu, what the fuck?'' Aomine asked, but before things could escelate, Kuroko's phone ran. ''Akashi?'' Kuroko asked.
Aomine could merely make out a sentence, as Kuroko's eyes widened, and the young boy suddenly dropped his phone in shock. Aomine quickly picked it up, before asking, ''The fuck is happening now?'' ''Kise...'' Akashi sounded in shock too. ''He... he...'' Suddenly the connection broke. ''Aomine-kun..'' a soft voice said. ''Tetsu, what is going on?'' Aomine asked. ''Kise...jumped off a bridge.'' Kuroko managed to say, before breaking down in tears, Aomine could only stare in shock.
By the time Murasakibara recieved the news, Kise was already being treated at the hospital. The purple haired giant met a crying Kuroko and a disshelved Aomine when he arrived . They shared a quick look, before they all looked at Akashi, who seemed traumatized. ''Aka-chin, what did Mido-chin meant when he said that Kise jumped from a bridge?'' Murasakibara asked. ''What do you think it means? Akashi, why did he jump?'' Aomine demanded to know. ''He didn't really jump, Haizaki probably made him, Aomine-kun. Where is Kagami-kun?'' Kuroko asked Akashi.
''Taiga... he jumped... and then..saved...'' Akashi managed to mutter, before he walked over to a chair to sit down and muse. ''I think whatever happened must have really startled Aka-chin, I've never seen him like this.'' Murasakibara said. ''I'll go and see if I can find Midorima. Maybe he can clear things up.'' Aomine said, before leaving into a hallway of the hospital. ''Kuro-chin?'' Murasakibara asked, making the petite basketball player look up. ''I think this is far from over.'' the purple haired giant said, as he eyed Akashi. Kuroko only nodded.
'Why? Why did Ryouta want to dissapear? No, Haizaki's clearly just toying with us, is he? Why do I even care about such trivial matters? We're no longer teammates, and I never considered us a group of friends.' Akashi pondered, before he felt a familiar hand on his shoulder. ''Tetsuya.'' he said, not even looking up. ''Akashi-kun. Maybe we should go and see how Kise-kun is faring. Murakakibara is already on his way.'' Kuroko said, and Akashi nodded.
As they made their way, they heared quite a ruckus. When they arrived, they spotted Murakasibara restraining Aomine, and Midorima barely stopping Kagami before the two nutheads could attack Haizaki. ''You are due for a pair of scissors in your face.'' Akashi said, making everyone stop in their tracks. ''What do you think your doing here? You already took Ryouta from us, so it'd be fair if we took your life. No-one would miss the real Haizaki either.'' he added.
''Akashi-kun, wait for a second. I don't think he's here to harm another one of us. It's hardly his objective.'' Kuroko said. Akashi actually stopped, causing Midorima to sigh, the green-haired player didn't really knew how to explain a severe injury that occured in the hospital, without it being a lawsuit for his emperor Akashi. ''Then why are you here?'' Akashi asked, wondering why Haizaki would be near this place, if he knew that he was the reason Kise was barely alive, that is if he survived.
''Because of Kise. Soon you'll recieve the news that he'll slip into a coma. The good news is, he'll end up surviving it. The bad is that it will inflict more damage on his very soul. That's when he is the one remaining in coma for the upcoming week.'' Haizaki said, causing a silence to fall over as the G.O.M and Kagami thought about what he said. ''So... you are offering that one of us can take Kise-chin's place..'' Murakasibara eventually said.
''Of course, that means that Kise gets to experience better things as if he were someone else. Why don't take some time to think it over, after all, I'm not entirely evil.'' The droopy voice said, not showing signs of any compassion. ''Damn you.'' Aomine said, before throwing his fist at Haizaki who neatly caught it, and only by pushing back he made Aomine tumble onto the ground. ''I'll give you an hour.'' Haizaki said, before attemting to walk off.
''Hold up.'' Akashi ordered, and Haizaki stopped in his tracks. ''Yes?'' ''Just what are you?'' Akashi asked. ''I'm what eventually destroy your lives.'' Haizaki said, before strolling off. ''I'll go see if there is any progress with Kise, maybe my dad has an update. Remember that this could be a test, we aren't certain, I mean, Kagami seems fine, and he jumped in too.'' Midorima said, before pushing up his glasses, and heading towards his father's office.
''Mido-chin could be right.'' Murakasibara said. ''But he also could be mistaken. He didn't even hestitate when he took over Kise and jumped.'' Kagami said. ''Kise-kun would be really upset if we took over his body. Maybe he'd be feeling really guilty if we did.'' Kuroko said, deciding to take the offer seriously. ''Ryouta would also suffer when he wakes up. It'd be a lose-lose situation either way. My real concern is that that thing expressed something about Kise wanting to dissappear, and Kazunari has expressed that Kise has a lot of private issues. We aren't guaranteed that Kise himself wouldn't try anything, now that he's experienced this option.'' Akashi said.
''He certainly wouldn't dare trying this with one of our bodies.'' Kuroko said. 'What? How can they even consider this?' Kagami thought, as he watched them discuss the subject. Did they forget that Kise was their friend? Kise, who had been there for Kuroko, even if the teal-haired player was annoyed by him. Kise, who made Akashi even seem somewhat human by caring for the blond. Kise... who most likely was very lonely at this point. Kagami could imagine Kise's happiness and joy everytime they ate, or played basketball, or even recieved a text message with Midorima's words, Go die.
His heart pounded, as he thought about the blond. Maybe he should switch with Kise, just so Kise could see how much he really cared. ''Have you all gone insane?'' he heard Aomine bulder, making him look up. ''Look, Kise doesn't want any of this. I have realised that he has gone out of his way to prevent all this shit from happening. When we were playing one on one, he seemed to be having a great time. And I know he'll endure it, because he promised that there will be there a day that he can say and I quote, the only one who can beat Aomine, is me. He'd be feeling like shit if we were to switch.'' he added.
''I agree with Aominecchi.'' Murakasibara said, making the other's eye twitch. ''Is that you, Kise?'' Akashi asked, and Kise nodded. ''Haizaki told me what's going on, before I fell. I want to live, but not like someone else. I want to be able to be me, not matter who I really am.'' Kise said. ''It seemed like Kise-kun gained a lot of experience from all this.'' Kuroko said. ''Kurokocchi too. Haizaki also told me this wasn't over, even though after I'd be slipping the switching would stop. I wanted to talk to everyone privately, if possible. It does mean someone will have to switch when I want to talk with Murakasibara.''
''Me.'' Kagami said without thinking. ''I want to switch when you two talk.'' he added, making Kise nod in understanding. ''Thanks Kagamicchi.'' he said, before Aomine said, ''Can't you say it to all of us? This takes too much time.'' Kise shook his head, as he eyed Kuroko and Kagami. ''I'd rather not. Sorry.'' Aomine ginded his teeth, before saying, ''Okay, Pretty boy, let's talk.'' They headed into a area, only a thin wall of glass seperating them from the others. ''Kise, I'm your best friend, right?'' Aomine asked, and Kise nodded. ''Then how come I don't know what's going on with you? I want to be able to be there for you and Tetsu, you know that. What's all these secrets?''
''I don't want them either. I already spilled everything to Takaocchi, and Midorima by accident. They are trying to help me. But I suppose it's unfair to you. I was abused by my father when I was little. I always genuinly believed I was a nuisance, and I still do. Part of me doesn't even want to be here, because I always walked on eggshells. Hell, despite all of my experiences, I never discovered who I really am. What if I am a really annoying person? What will you think, what will Kagami think?'' Kise said.
''You are an overly sweet idiot.'' Aomine told him. ''I wouldn't be your friend, if I thought you were an awful person, so stop thinking those things. I'll miss you the upcoming week, so prepare to the longest one on one of your life, and play like you mean it. As for Kagami, flaunt your inner boobies, pretty boy. He can't deny that hot piece of ass of yours. Not any ordinary person would jump after you, just to fish you out.''
''Thanks, Aominecchi.'' Kise said, trying to smile, but somehow with Murakasibara's body it seemed like a smile straight out of a horror movie, making Aomine nearly piss himself. ''Seriously, stop doing that, you idiot!'' he screeched, before he ran out, to hide behind Kuroko. ''I'll go next.'' Akashi said, before heading in.
''Something wrong? Was he going to haunt you, Ahomine? You deserve it after what you did in middle school.'' Kagami cackled. ''Not funny, Kagami-kun. Aomine-kun, please let go of my legs.'' Kuroko asked. Aomine nodded, before letting go slowly. ''So, what did Kise say?'' Kagami asked, as he eyed Akashi and Murakasibara talking. ''That's private matters between me and Kise. But, you are going to be in a ride, Bakagami. Just be sure that he'll be able to walk everytime.'' Aomine teased, and Kuroko couldn't help but snigger.
Before Kagami could reply, Murakasibara walked out and said, ''Tetsuya, you're up next.'' Kuroko nodded, before heading inside. ''Huh, why did Akashi want to speak Kuroko? I thought you wanted to speak us privately?'' Aomine asked. ''Don't be ridiculous, Daiki. Kise and I switched for Kuroko's sake.'' Akashi said. ''So, ehr, what did he say to you?'' Kagami asked. ''These lips are sealed.'' Akashi said, eyeing Kuroko talking to his own body.
''I don't mind switching with you.'' Kuroko offered Kise. ''That would be running away Kuroko. I promised Akashi I'd stop doing that, so maybe we should use all this to stop running, Kurokocchi. Aominecchi really cares for you, so he'd understand.'' Kise said. ''This.. is far from over, is it?'' Kuroko asked. ''From what I understood, there's more trouble ahead. But I can't tell what. It could be anything.'' Kise explained.
''It's nice seeing you like this, Kise-kun. I really think that whatever Kagami's reaction will be, you have grown. I'd use my new technigues on him if he even thinks about hurting you.'' Kuroko promised, as he got up. ''I'll see you soon, ssu.'' Kise promised. ''Until soon, Kise-kun.'' Kuroko said, before giving Kagami the signal, to come right in. ''Good luck.'' he whispered as he left the area. ''So... it's going to happen, isn't it?'' Akashi asked, as he watched Kagami sitting next to his own body, currently occupied by Kise. ''About time, if you asked me.'' Kuroko said.