Chapter four
Takao spills it all.
Kise was waiting at the mall, as his phone suddenly made a noise. As he swiped it, a message from Takao appeared. '~I'm on my way, sorry for making you wait! 0. I'll make it up' is what is said. 'Damn it, Takaocchi.' Is what Kise was thinking, but he couldn't really blame the raven-haired boy.
After all, the fact that Takaocchi was even willing to hang out with him, was not only a great distraction, it showed how good of a friend he was. 'That's okay, I'll wait. You haven't forgot that picture right.' he texted back. The next text didn't come from Takao, but from Akashi. 'Ryouta, good luck today.' it was short, but reassuring. True to his word, Takao arrived heaving and puffing as if he had been running a thoussand miles per minute. ''I'm here, sorry to make you wait. Ready for some shopping?'' he asked. Kise flashed a big grin, before they went ahead, and moved to the gentleman's department of some mall.
''I hope Kise-kun will be alright.'' Kuroko said, to Kagami and Aomine. For some unknown reason, they had switched in a way they hadn't experienced before, meaning that Kuroko was in Aomine, body, Aomine in Kagami's body, and Kagami in Kuroko's body. They had decided to play some basketball until they would change back. ''The idiot is just shopping with Takao, what can go wrong?'' Kagami wondered. ''For instance, he could switch with you. Meaning that an even bigger idiot entered his body, and mess with Takao, who'll notice. And you probably will mess things up at the mall, making use of his body to bang some girls.'' Kagami said.
''You are lucky to be in Tetsu's body, Bakagami or I would have hit you for that.'' Aomine replied. ''Guys, stop.'' Kuroko said, ''You are giving me a headache. Better buy me a vanilla shake to make me feel better.'' ''Fine.'' Aomine eventally said, before heading to the nearest parlor that happened to sell milkshakes.
''Kuroko?'' Kagami asked, making Kuroko look up. ''Something wrong, Kagami-kun?'' ''I have been wondering about something.'' Kagami said. ''Oh?'' Kuroko replied, raising his eyebrow. ''This switching is really weird and confusing. But I can't help but notice that it seems that you, Kise and Akashi suffer really a lot troughout all this. And, that Haizaki mentioned something about answering questions about the teammates yourself. Did something occured between the three of you?'' Kagami asked.
He was met with silence. ''Kuroko?'' he asked again. It was then that Aomine returned with three milkshakes. ''Hey, something happened?'' he asked when he spotted Tetsu all depressed. ''Nothing in particular, Aomine-kun.'' he said, taking his vanilla milkshake. But somehow, Kagami wasn't sure about it being nothing.
''Oh my god, that's adorable.'' Kise snickered when he saw a picture of Midorima giving Kuroko's tiara a try. ''Shin-chan was so cute.'' Takao gloated. ''Isn't he always?'' Kise asked, making Takao nod in agreement. Kise was genuinely having fun. At first he had been worried about going to the mall, but Takao always seemed to make everything much better and lighthearted. ''So, how come that the G.O.M is really meeting again, and even Kagami-chin?'' Takao suddenly asked, as they sat down on the fountain at the middle of the mall.
''We aren't doing anything special.'' Kise lied. ''Kise-chan, you are a good model, but a terrible actor. You can tell me anything, you know?'' Takao said, clearly waiting for an answer. For some reason, that is when he switched with Akashi. ''Kise?'' Takao asked concerned, seeing his friend all spaced out. ''Oh, Kazunari. Sorry, don't know what happened there.'' Kise replied.
''Kazunari? Kise, you never called me that. We aren't intimate enough. Though if you can act like Midorima and say that again, I won't mind.'' Takao joked. ''Ehr, right. I need to make a call. Do you mind?'' Kise asked. ''By all means, I have to go to the men's room anyway.'' Takao said, before sprinting off. Kise quickly took his cellphone and dialled Akashi's number.
''Hello, this is Akashicchi?'' Akashi said. ''It's Akashi, not Akashicchi. It appears we've swapped, though I haven't figured why we swap more often than others.'' Kise said. ''I don't know either. Akashi, why are you alone here at an apartment?'' Kise asked. ''No particular reason, Ryouta, I practice my shogi in quiet areas. My grandfather allowed me to use this place.'' Akashi told him.
''Oh, okay. I've never played Shogi before.'' ''I was finished anyway. Do you and Kazunari have any important plans?'' Akashi asked, eyeing the bathroom, hoping that the raven-haired player wouldn't return yet. ''Just idly chatter, and some fun.'' Kise replied. ''Okay. Tetsuya, Daiki and Taiga are playing some ball nearby, just go over there, until we swap back. Keys to the place are on the table.'' Akashi said, before hanging up, just as Takao returned.
''Everything alright?'' he asked with concern, which in fact was concerning. ''Yeah, that was nothing really.'' Akashi said. ''Good, I was scared you were going to do something reckless about your issue. Anyhow, we agreed to have fun today, so let's forget about that.'' Takao said, laughing it off. 'That, what is that? What do you know that I don't?' Akashi wanted to know.
''On an unrelated note, how is your not so secret crush doing?'' Takao asked. Now they were talking, Akashi was well-aware of Ryouta's feelings for Taiga. ''I'm still pining.'' he answered, figuring that that would be the most logical thing for Ryouta to say. Appearently not, because Takao's eyes became the size of saucers, as if he heard the most interesting piece of information in his life.
''Hey.'' Kise said, as he walked up to Kuroko, who was watching Kagami and Aomine play. ''Akashi?'' Kuroko asked, but Kise shook his head. ''I'm Kise today. Sorry to dissapoint you, Kurokocchi.'' he replied. ''I'm Kagami. We had an interesting swap today.'' Kise blushed, before saying, ''This is weird.'' ''Yeah.'' Kagami replied.
''How were things with Takao?'' he asked. ''Fun, for as long as it lasted. I hope Akashi will be able to keep up with him.'' Kise said. ''He'll manage. Say, I had a weird question.'' Kagami said, as he eyed Aomine. ''What's wrong?'' Kise asked. ''For some reason, I noticed Kuroko's body shakes when he's around me or Aomine's body. But now that you are around, he stopped. What's up with that?'' he asked.
''Kuroko shakes? What are you talking about, Kagami?'' Kise lied. ''Here, see for yourself.'' Kuroko took Akashi's hand in his, and Kise felt sweat break out already. ''Kuroko.'' Kagami called out, making Aomine look up. ''Come here.'' he said, but the minute Aomine came over, Kise felt the sensation of Kuroko shaking pretty harshly. ''Something wrong, Kagami-kun? Oh, Akashi, I didn't know you'd come.'' Kuroko said.
''It's Kise.'' Kagami said, and Kuroko eyed them holding hands suspicously. ''Is that so?'' he asked. Kise nodded. ''Meaning Akashi is with Takao. I'd pay to see that, I bet he's trying to do some silly stuff with Akashi right now.'' Kuroko snickered, making Kise giggle. Even Kagami had to admit that the virtual image was kinda funny.
The one person who coulnd't laugh about anything, was Akashi himself. Firstly, Takao had rapidly gushed over the fact that Ryouta appearently didn't have issues regarding commitment anymore, and how brave he was. Akashi didn't like not knowing things, and knowing that Ryouta even possessed issues regarding commitment was new to him. Secondly, the teen was vulgar when he talked about 'sexy time' and how to seduce that giant red-head. It made Akashi wanting to barf. Ryouta is supposed to be innocent, a crush was bad enough as it is. This guy shouldn't distract him with matters like sex.
But what drove him over the edge was when Takao asked whether Ryouta's medication was really working. ''My medication?'' he asked. Takao chuckled before saying, ''Ryouta, I know you get confused with personality sometimes, but you can't forget your own medication. Shin-chan went trough a lot of trouble to help you out. But perhaps, it's for the better if you don't relay on them, instead use meditation.'' Takao said. ''I guess so.'' Akashi said, making a mental note to interrogate Shintarou about this medication.
''Well, I've got to go. This was fun, let's hang out again sometime soon, Kise-chan.'' Takao said, as he got up. 'I pulled it off.' Akashi was kind of happy that this ordeal was over with. But before the hawk-eye possesser actually left, he turned to Kise and said, ''Oh, and Akashi, next time try to be more subtle when you want to ask about Kise's personal life.'' Takao teased, before walking away, leaving Akashi cursing.
After their two on two had ended, it ended up pouring. ''Tetsu, let's head to my place and play some games.'' Aomine said, glad that he was back in his own body. Kuroko nodded, waving his goodbye to Kise and Kagami. ''Kuroko is really tiny, it's nice being back to a normal hight.'' Kagami said. ''Basketplayers have anything but a normal length.'' Kise joked. ''Does Akashi have a place nearby, I dont like getting soaked.'' Kagami was quick to change the subject.
''Yeah, follow me.'' Akashi's voice suddenly seemed low. Instead of leading them to the apartment, Kise led him to a bridge, were they met with Kise, and instantly, both Akashi and Kise swapped back. ''Kise, what are we doing here? I thought I explained I don't like getting soaked.'' but a smirk was his reply. ''Kise?'' Akashi asked desperate, but it was no use. Whatever had possessed Haizaki, was currently in Kise's body.
''Nice to meet you again.'' he slowly spoke and Kagami now too realised what was going on. ''Don't you think you caused enough for us? I don't want our scars to be ripped open. I don't actually want to know their trauma's.'' Akashi said. ''Little late for that anway.'' Kise said, as he hopped onto the railing of bridge. ''Get down, you are playing with lifes here.'' Kagami said concerned.
''As were the Generation of Mircales. I'm not more of a monster than they were, though you used to be an interesting bunch. I thought I requested to keep things more entertaining?'' Kise asked Kagami. ''Playing with our feelings isn't entertaining to begin with.'' Akashi told him. ''I've grown bored of your antics. Ryouta's biggest wish was to dissapear so he wouldn't have to deal with his anxiety. I've decided to entertain myself by granting this wish.'' the droopy voice said, before leaning back, and letting go of the railing.
Both Akashi and Kagami's eyes widened, as they tried to reach forward, but it was too late. A scared sound from Kise was the last thing they heard, before the blond teen fell into the streaming river.
Author's notes:
As you may have noticed, this chapter is more rushed than usual, yet so much more deeper and less revealing. It doesn't end here of course, as romance and further drama has yet to come.
This chapter was quite difficult to create, and I find myself confused as to how to translate the swapping sometimes. This hasn't been beta-readed, so I apoligize for any grammar/spelling mistakes. I just hope it's passable.
I hope you enjoyed it, and please comment, as I really find myself wondering about the opinions of other when they read this
