Chapter Eight.

Kuroko's secret.

''How do you know that?'' Aomine asked, raising his eyebrows. ''Do you need prove?'' Akashi dared to ask him. Hestitantly, Aomine did nod, fearing for the worst. ''Fine, Taiga, come over here.'' Akashi demanded, montioning for Kagami to come closer. Aomine dry-heaved, at least he wasn't the victim here. Takao cocked his head, wondering what Akashi was about to do, as Midorima shook his head, wondering if he should have told Kagami his zodiac rank was particular low today.

Kagami drew near Akashi, not sure if the petite red-head had forgiven him for saying no to Kise. He had been pissed off back then. ''Come on, Taiga. We don't have the entire day.'' Akashi said impatiently. ''Sure. You aren't going to stab me to death, because that's what you always thinking, right?'' he asked, in a 'masculine' high voice.

''Not today, if you hurry up.'' Akashi told him, making a few steps towards Kagami. Takao smirked, as Aomine watched confused. ''You see, Daiki, after Taiga's dramatic way of rejecting our dear friend Ryouta, I've been wanting to slap some sense in him.'' Akashi said, before balling his hand into a fist, and slamming it on the taller red-haired basketplayer's tummy, making Kagami fall onto the ground.

''Usually, I would be as dignified to hold back, or merely treath him, but I did not. Do you now see what I meant by acting upon impulses?'' he asked Aomine, who was relieved that he wasn't on Akashi's bad side, for the time being that was. So instead, he nodded. ''So, that means Kuroko-chan did something he's been wanting to do, and is too embaressed to come out.'' Takao asked.

''It seems so.'' Akashi answered, why was Takao of all people the only one that was thinking straight in this situation. Did the others not realise what did meant for them, after all they had gone trough? ''We should keep an eye on that, then. Seeing that the last time Haizaki got bored, Kise-chan almost died. And maybe, we should tell him about this all as well.'' Takao said. ''No! We shouldn't.'' Kagami managed to say.

Curious stares were all the reply he got, as he blushed, and said, ''His mental state isn't ready, yet.'' he said. ''Bakagami has a point. It's better to keep blondie safe, and just pretend nothing is going on. How about when he's discharged, and what about Tetsu locking himself up? And perhaps, just as important, what if we cause trouble? If Akashi can't hold back near Kagami, imagine how many I'll knock down, and what boundaries Midorima will go trough to get his lucky items.'' Aomine said.

''Aomine-chin is right.'' Murasakibara said. ''Of course I am.'' Aomine bragged, making Akashi and Kagami roll their eyes. ''We'll have to keep ourselves in check. As for Ryouta and Tetsuya, I'm not as sure what to do.'' Akashi said, pondering over it. ''We should try and keep visiting them.'' Takao offered. ''Actually, I want to go to Kise tomorrow, if possible.'' Kagami asked.

Akashi grabbed the nearest object, which happened to be Murasakibara's bottle of Ramune, and aimed it the giant red-haired player. ''Sorry, I had the sudden urge to throw something.'' Akashi said, before adding, ''I don't think it's wise for you to come over yet. What if you get the sudden urge to apoligize to Ryouta over everything, or worse, his feelings play up, and he acts on them. Do you want to more of a pest to him, or are you that intent on ruining Ryouta's life?'' Akashi asked.

''Aka-chin, maybe you should hear Kagami-chin out?'' Murasakibara offered. ''Don't want to.'' Akashi said, before looking at Kagami. ''I'm not a kind person, Taiga. I do what I think is right. As far as goes for me, this phase shouldn't be any trouble. I'm not sure the same goes for you. Why not go ahead, and visit Tetsuya's place, if your urges are that intent on saving someone, save your best friend. But stop destroying the lives of us.'' Akashi said, before ordering all of them to go home.

As Akashi headed to the limousine, Aomine patted Kagami's back. ''He's right, he's always been a special kind of asshole. And Tetsu and Kise tended to be more-'' ''Sensitive.'' Kagami finished. ''We only can try our bests for them. But Akashi is defintely not letting you get you near Kise. He's in a pretty bad shape, it's a wonder he's recovering from all that.'' Aomine said. ''Kise is awesome like that.'' Kagami said.

''Loverboy.'' Aomine teased, before furrowing. ''I wonder if Tetsu if holding up that well too.'' he sighed. ''Don't know, Kuroko's more like a shadow. He won't tell us, and we wouldn't notice his presence, if he really wanted to hide.'' Kagami offered. ''I think all this started because of their fucking issues.'' Aomine said, ''If they were more in the open, we wouldn't be in this place.'' he added. ''Then, ask him?'' Kagami offered, and Aomine blinked a few times. Could it really be that simple?

''That was sure something, wasn't it?'' Takao asked Midorima. ''Yeah.'' he said curtly, as they headed home. ''Akashi is something special though. I never pecked him to be that obsessive about a mere crush.'' Takao said. ''What do you mean?'' Midorima asked. ''You mean, wait, none of you ever noticed? Shin-chan, you're dissapointing me.'' Takao said, somewhat deflated.

''I can assure you, he's acting like the tyrant emperor he is. Whatever this crush is you're talking about, must be some mistake. Unless you refer to Kise's useless feelings for that moronic brute.'' Midorima said. ''So harsh.'' Takao replied, as he thought, 'But, I wouldn't be too sure about what you just said.' He had some gut-feeling there was something more to Akashi's protective behavior.

''Akashicchi?'' Kise asked, as he spotted the red-haired self proclaimed emperor walking towards him with some paperworks. ''How are you doing, Ryouta?'' Akashi asked. He knew it was late, but his father's lawyer had pulled some strings, and he had to have the deliver the good news to his friend. ''Doing great so far. Wondering when I could go anytime soon, seeing that I feel much better than I've done in years.'' Kise said.

''You do look more sincere then I've seen in years.'' Akashi said, as he took in Kise's expression. ''Thanks. How is everyone doing? I haven't seen Kuroko and Kagami for a while.'' Kise said. ''They are kind of busy.'' Akashi said, as he handed Kise's some papers. ''You're being fired from the hospital tomorrow, you've made good enough progress. You did well, Ryouta.'' he said.

''Akashicchi?'' Kise asked, as he took the papers. ''Something wrong, I thought you were ready to leave this place?'' Akashi asked. ''Haizaki isn't out there, causing more trouble than what happened the last month. I don't something equelly worse to happen.'' Kise said. Akashi bit his lip, not wanting to tell about what happened to Kuroko. ''I don't know.'' he answered instead. ''You're a true friend.'' Kise said with a smile, making Akashi sigh. ''Yeah.'' he said, before taking his leave.

''Tetsu! Open up, or I'll use my head to open it!'' Aomine shouted. Kuroko blinked a few times, almost saying that Aomine was too stupid to do so. ''Go away.'' he said, barely audible. But for some reason, one he could never explain, Aomine had heard him. ''Not before I know what happened.'' Aomine replied. ''Will you leave me alone after that?'' Kuroko asked. ''Only if I have too.'' Aomine replied. ''Meet me in the playground in ten minutes.'' Kuroko said.

Soon enough, they did met up. ''So... Hi, I guess.'' Aomine said awkwardly, as Kuroko stared at him. ''You should've left me alone, I don't want someone to know what's going on. I like the team the way it is.'' Kuroko said. ''You make it sound like you are about to kill me. You're not involved in the Yakuza. Or at least, probably not as much as Akashi is.'' Aomine said. ''Akashi-kun isn't involved in Yakuza, neither am I.'' Kuroko deadpanned.

''Then what is going on? This stuff is driving me insane. Kise already snapped, and almost died. Unlike what you guys seem to think of me, I do actually care.'' Aomine explained. ''Then, if you care, let it be. I don't want it to lead my life.'' Kuroko said. ''That I can't do.'' Aomine said. Kuroko only gave him a desperate look. ''Look, I do care. If I didn't, I'd turn my back on you right now, and leave you alone. But because I do care, I don't. This thing, whatever you are hiding, is already leading your life. If you don't want it too, then you should confront it, and take a lead.'' Aomine said.

''But, then I'll embaress myself.'' Kuroko softly said. ''So? Big whoop, that's why friends are here to support you. Kise took a shot, and maybe that red-haired idiot rejected him for the time being, but he's recovering, and has in fact not given up entirely on everything. I'm even willing to bet, that when he rejoins us, he will laugh, make jokes, get chummy with you, and wants more one on ones with me. So, if he can do it, why can't you?'' Aomine said.

Kuroko seemed to take it in, ''I can see Kise like that, alright.'' he said. ''I can see you like that as well. More open, and easy going. If you'd only open up.'' Aomine said, making Kuroko pout a little. ''I don't want to.'' he said. ''I know you don't, but keeping it to yourself isn't exactly healthy either. I don't even cared for your secret, not till this point, but seeing that it is holding you back, I want to meddle in. At least tell me why you kept yourself locked in your room.'' Aomine said.

''Fine.'' Kuroko said, as he sat down on a bench. ''I punched Hyuuga-sensei, one of the few nice friend I've got. Wanna know why I did that?'' Kuroko asked. Aomine frowned, before thinking about what Akashi had explained. ''You had the urge to beat the crap out of him, for making you run laps. It's logical, I've the same with my captain.'' Aomine said. ''I did have the urge, yeah, but not because of basketball. Because, he's a man.'' Kuroko said.

''Ehr, what?'' Aomine asked, as a silence fell. ''I've said enough, I'm going home.'' Kuroko said, as he got up, a gloom look on his face. ''You punched him, because he's a man? Is it because he likes the same girl as you?'' Aomine asked. ''No. Rika-chan is sweet, but not my type.'' Kuroko said. ''Then, why?'' Aomine asked.

''Because, wait, before I say this, you've got to promise to not tell.'' Kuroko said, all worried. Aomine chuckled, he had never seen the pale teen as cute like this before. ''I won't, you've my word. Hell, you can ask Satsuki for those pictures with me in a pink boxershort for revenge if I do happen to spill this.'' Aomine said, knowing that saying that would have a few concequences.

''She has those?'' Kuroko asked, and Aomine nodded. ''Good to know. It's for the best to not let Kise-kun, Kagami-kun or Akashi-san to have this knowledge.'' Kuroko said, implying he would use them as channels to leak such pictures to the media, in case he had too. ''I get it. Though, Kise isn't as much of a threath. Satsuki showed him already.'' Aomine said. ''Very well. Aomine-kun, I've androphobia.'' Kuroko said, causing Aomine to cock his head.

''It means I fear men.'' Kuroko helpfully added. ''You.. fear.. wait, what, how is that even possible?'' Aomine asked, before pointing to his crotch, ''Does this mean you fear yourself as well, because well, of that?'' he asked. ''Don't be so stupid.'' Kuroko said, getting up to use an ignite pass on Aomine. ''It means, I fear those that are bigger, or much more a threath to me. Kise-kun and Akashi-san have been an exception so far, because, well Akashi-san isn't as tall as most of you, and Kise-kun is a big blond puppy.'' he said, as Aomine laid sprawled on the ground, crouching in pain.

''Is that all?'' Aomine asked eventually. Kuroko blinked a few times, ''What do you mean, is that all?'' he asked. ''You've been fine up until now, so I estimate that you didn't have that fear that long.'' Aomine said. ''I was twelve.'' Kuroko deadpanned. ''So, maybe you did, but none of us noticed.'' Aomine said. ''Akashi knows, Kise-kun has seen trough it as well.'' Kuroko replied, before adding, ''I think Takao-kun knows too, but he's tiny.''

''Fine. Have it your way. But I think we can help you out, because we still have a special bond despite all. You can go home if you want, or rejoin us. Oh, and want an effective way to hold us down?'' Aomine offered. Kuroko nodded, wondering what the tall boy wanted. ''I will learn it you, when you show up.'' Aomine promised, before asking, ''Want me take you home?'' Kuroko nodded, as they headed towards his house.

Akashi stared at his laptop, before slapping his forhead. ''What am I doing? I can't hold myself back.'' he said, to no-one in particular. ''Seijirou? You've a guest.'' one of the butler said as he knocked on the door. ''Let him in.'' Akashi said, before turning around, wondering who it could be. As he spotted the familiar face, he smirked, and said, ''Always the unpleasure, Haizaki-kun. Pray tell what you were going to offer or do this time.'' he said, as Haizaki sat down, with a smirk.

Author's notes:

I'm so sorry for the delay. I've so many projects that I kinda forgot about this one, and the burn out of my former laptop did not help. Anyhow, I'll work on the next chapter as soon as possible, because this arc is going to give this story so many interesting plot turns.

I thank the KnB cosplayers that have been posing for a few photographs, it really helped me. You did a wonderfull jobs, and to all the readers out there, so many thanks. You make the stories with the feedback you give, so please, feel free to leave a comment.

Until next time, I hope you've enjoyed the story thusfar.