Chapter six

Everything goes down the drain.

Kise swallowed as Kagami walked in. He distinctively remembered the first time he met the American. How impressed he was with his skills, and how kind Kagami had been, even replying to his messagges, something Kise never had gotten used too. 'Maybe I shouldn't do this, maybe I'll drag him down, or he'll feel complied to say yes, even though he doesn't want to.' Kise thought. ''So...this... isn't awkward.'' Kagami said, as he sat down, scratching his head. ''Yeah, I never imagined that Akashi would be borrowing his body willingly.'' Kise joked.

''So... you wanted to talk.'' Kagami said. ''Yeah, there is something I've been meaning to tell for some time. I don't know exactly how though, but Takaocchi once helped me and said I should make a joke before I start saying something serious.'' Kise told him. ''Himuro always says that too.'' Kagami said, nodding along.

''How's it going?'' Akashi asked Aomine, as the tanned player was being pressed with his nose against the glass. He murmered something incohorently back as an reply. ''Aomine-kun, we can't understand you when you're still pressed against the glass. Please try again.'' Kuroko said, as he filmped everything on his phone. ''I said, they are laughing, so it looks good.'' Aomine said, before he noticed Kuroko's phone. ''What are you doing, Tetsu?'' he asked. ''It's a once in a lifetime oppertunity. They will pay me a fortune to play this at their wedding.'' Kuroko replied.

''And I wanted to see it as well.'' another voice said. Akashi instantly regonized it as Kazanari's. ''What are you doing here?'' he asked, as the raven-haired teen stood next to him. ''You know why, I've been advicing Kise all this time, I deserve to see this. So Shin-chan texted me. Besides, it's not like you were hiding the swaps well, I thought it was strange that you guys were meeting again. And Shin-chan can't hold his liquor at all, so he spilled everything after a glass of wine we shared.'' Akashi decided to not reply to this, choosing to watch over the two lovebirds again.

''God, you're hilarious.'' Kagami snickered, ''I'm going to miss your humor and presence for the upcoming week. It's a good thing you survived though.'' he added. ''Is that so?'' Kise blushed. ''It's weird watching that body blush. The real you look way cuter, because your freckles really show.'' Kagami told him. ''Kagamicchi is so kind.'' Kise gushed. ''Taiga Kagami.'' he added, as he got up. ''No Cchi's anymore?'' Kagami suddenly asked, wondering why Kise used his entire name? Or did this mean that this was Akashi?

''Would you do the honors of dating me?'' Kise asked. ''The honors... of ... dating... you?'' Kagami slowly asked, still trying to process the question. Kise patiently awaited his answer, as Aomine pressed his nose even tighter against the glass, and Kuroko held his phone even closer. ''Well... uh, I didn't really see this coming.'' Kagami stated. ''I mean, you're amazing and all.. but I'm not sure that I ever gave it a thought. And, I don't want to do something yet, before we end up regretting it. So, can you spare me time to think it over?'' Kagami requested.

Kise hadn't seen that coming, feeling the urge to slap his forehead. He'd never flirt, this kinda came out of the blue. How could he even ask this, if Kagami never had showed any form of affection for him? ''Ah, it's nothing... I mean, we don't have too.'' the last part came out strained, as he felt tears prickling. ''Kise, are you really going to be alright?'' Kagami asked, as he noticed that the tears were streaming down Akashi's face. Kise shook his head, before folding his hands over his face, and crying his heart out.

''Bakagami.'' Aomine growled, as he noticed his best friend, or at least, the body is best friend was in was crying. Takao frowned, he had been sure that Kagami liked Kise too, even though Kagami didn't appear to realised it yet. Kuroko, however remained recording, as Murakasibara's body trembled. ''Tetsu, you can stop taping.'' Aomine said, not wanting to see his friend cry any longer. ''Sorry, it appears like it's Akashi-kun who is crying, we can use it.'' Kuroko deadpanned, still feeling bad for Kise though. ''Fair point.'' Aomine said.

''Jeez, I'm sorry, Kise. Please stop crying.'' Kagami panicked. ''I'm sorry.'' Kise wailed. ''Don't be, really. I'll think it over, it's just so... sudden.'' Kagami explained. ''It's not like I don't care at all.'' ''It's okay. It's not like I'll be around for the upcoming week.'' Kise told him. ''So, still wanna talk to Murakasibara?'' Kagami offered. ''If you don't mind, I'd prefer to be alone for now.'' Kise requested. ''Sure. This,.. isn't going to make things awkward, is it?'' Kagami asked as he got up. ''Of course not.'' Kise promised.

''Thanks man.'' Kagami said, and Kise nodded, before Kagami left the room. ''Kise-chin is too nice.'' Murakasibara said, making Kagami frown. ''I thought you switched with Akashi? Is everyone themselves again?'' he asked, before facing the others. He met a downright pissed off Aomine, a dissapointed Takao and Kuroko, with his phone. ''What are you doing?'' Kagami asking.

''I'm making a memory of the biggest mistake of your life.'' Kuroko explained. ''Tell him, Kuroko.'' Takao gritted his teeth, sounding pissed. ''You all knew?'' Kagami asked. ''Bakagami, everyone with eyes and a right mind knew.'' Aomine said. ''Even Shintarou was getting tired of it. We were waiting for him to make this step, and you have the nerve to say no.'' Takao said. Before Kagami could answer, a pair of scissors met his face.

''Taiga, I'm going to kill you.'' Akashi said. A silence fell, as Kagami nearly pissed his pants. Akashi seemed serious. ''Don't do it, Akashi. He ain't worth it.'' Aomine warned him. ''Don't care.'' Akashi replied, pressing the tip against Kagami's skin. ''Akashi-kun, at least wait until I stopped guilt tripping him about Kise-kun.'' Kuroko added. Before things could escalate, Midorima came in. ''Kise's state is critical.'' ''No, no, no.'' Aomine shouted, before running off, Midorima franitacally followed him. Kuroko stopped filming, realising Aomine was bound to do something rash. He followed them quietly, before Akashi could confiscate his material.

''Atsushi, hold him down.'' Akashi ordered. ''Wait, hold up.'' Kagami screamed, scared for his very life. ''Give me a reason.'' Akashi demanded. ''Because I promise to make Kise's day when he'll be alright.'' Kagami said. At that Akashi froze for a second. ''How can you be sure?'' he said. ''Because I...I..'' Kagami wanted to say it, but what if he ended up regretting it? He didn't want to hurt Kise.

''Right, because you don't care.'' Akashi said, his golden eye twitching. ''I do, I really do. I promise I'll make it all alright. I took care of Kuroko too, and look at him whenever he playes basketball now.'' Kagami said, panicked. Akashi seemed to consider it. ''Too bad you won't be able too.'' another voice said. ''Oh, it's you. Don't you ever go away?'' Murakasibara asked, as all three looked, only to see the possessed Haizaki.

''Soon enough.'' Haizaki said. ''As will Kise.'' He added. ''What do you mean?'' Akshi asked, turning his scissors away from Taiga's face. ''I have told you, I had made a decision to take Kise's life, unless someone was willing to take his place. It's to my understanding that you've decided to take the boring route, and allow him to suffer on his own?'' Haizaki asked. ''...no..'' Kagami and Akashi whispered. ''Fate works in difficult ways, doesn't it. Such a shame, Ryouta's fate had been somewhat interesting so far. Too bad we won't get to see more.'' Haizaki said, ready to leave.

''Wait.'' Kagami said. ''Why would I? You have failed your task.'' Haizaki said. ''Well, you could kill Kise. It's just, he just confessed to me. And I... rejected him. So, killing him would mean it'd all end, as where if he were to remain alive, it'd make all this more difficult. I know this is the beginning, but the ride will get more amusing.'' Kagami promised.

Haizaki seemed to consider it, as Akashi grabbed his sleeve. ''You don't mean that, do you?'' he asked. Kagami didn't want to answer, it was no more than logical he didn't want Kise to suffer. But it was the only way to save the blond. ''Too bad, fate has already been set.'' Haizaki smirked, before he walked away.

''Taiga, answer me.'' Akashi told him. But Kagami shook his head, ''I want to say goodbye.'' he said, before heading towards the reception to ask where Kise Ryouta would be. Akashi sighed, ''Room 103.'' he said. ''How do you know?'' Kagami asked. ''I have told you before this all occured, I know everything about those who are dear to me or endanger what is precious to me.'' Akashi replied. Kagami pondered over it for a second. ''You know what happened to Kise and Kuroko? Their secrets, their fears.'' he asked. ''I do, just not everything. There are things better left untold.'' Akashi explained. ''That is your opinion. Had everything been in the open, this all would have been spared.'' Kagami replied.

Before he could leave, Aomine had returned, looking beyond happy. ''Mine-chin, how can you smile like this, when Kise is about to die?'' Murusakibara asked. ''Keh? Kise ain't gonna die, I told you before. Midorima's father just told me. He'll wake up in a week and be all ready for rehabilitation. Meaning he can play in two months.'' Aomine said, seemingly elated. ''Kise-chin didn't die?'' Murusakibara asked, before Akashi's phone rang.

The red-head picked up, ''I see that you've decided to agree to Taiga's proposal.'' he said. ''You recieved the happy news.'' Haizaki said. ''Happy for as long as it lasts. I assume we will go trough some similair situations, possibly worse.'' Akashi replied. ''Everything depends on what you will do.'' Haizaki spoke. ''I assume my choices won't be the only factor. Nevertheless, Midorima was not involved this time. If my choices are that important to you, you'll leave Kise out.'' Akashi said.

''That I can't do. Give Kise my regards, it will be a while before we meet.'' Haizaki said, before he hanged up. ''And?'' Kagami asked eagerly. ''He'll return. We'd better be prepared.'' Akashi muttered, before Kuroko randomly answered, ''This time we'll beat his game.'' ''Where did you come from?'' Aomine asked, Kuroko answered by shrugging his shoulder.

Takao and Midorima watched from a distance. ''So, he's going to be alright.'' Takao asked. ''It appears so. Physically that is, we can't be sure about his mental state.'' Midorima explained. ''Shin-Chan, no offense, but we can't said that about either of you. Going trough this phase was extremely hard on any of you. And Akashi made clear that this all is far from over.'' Takao said. ''It was hard on them, but they will manage.'' Midorima said. ''Your cute Tsundure side is showing again, but I meant you too. Not being able to go trough the same, and yet being part of it all must be tough.'' Takao said. Midorima chose to not reply to that, as he strolled off.