welcooome back to Mizuiro to Beni Koi! Did I make you guys wait for too long? OMG Sorry btw, I've been busy at school-college sucks ahaha oh and blame the DESTIEL fandom that got me super hooked. Anyhooooowwww how was the last chapter? Akashi finally having a few lines at the flashback...and YEEES he will be appearing REAL soon. I've been itching to reveal about the Akafuri to be honest, I'm just trying to see where the RIGHT timing is. Its one of the cutest pair for me honestly and its killing me that I haven't wrote about them YET here. And were paving way for Aokise so you gotta hold tight in your feels! ARE YOU EXCITED TO KNOOOW what happens? BTW thank you for all our lovely and awesome reviewers and THOSE who is giving Mizuiro LOTS of love, I truly appreciate it and I hope that you guys like the new update. BTW last chapter I mentioned that AOmine's song would be entitled 'LIPS' and for those who are curious the original song is actually from the single KYORAN HEY KIDS by The Oral Cigarettes(Yes they were the ones who sung the opening song of Noragami Aragoto), so if you have time and you're curious you can go listen to it. And I must warn you...today's update might give you MORE queestions than answers you've been waiting for...BUT I PROMISEEE, clouds will clear soon! Thanks to Yuki578, Bubbles9595, polaris, Guest 1 and 2, and Ern Estine 13624 for their amazing reviews which inspired me to make this through despite the finals crawling up my legs ahahaha I LOVE YOU GUUUYS!

Dont forget to leave a review, tell me what you think of it! LOVE YOUUUUUUUU GUYS, have a nice daay!

BTW I have no idea who sung this song, but its from an ASAKIKU MAD(for those hetalia fans you probably know what ship I'm talking about) but for those who dont know the ship but want to listen to you can search on youtube "ASAKIKU Unblemished World"

Chapter 10: Unblemished World

Two gray irises blinked staring blankly at Midorima for a good ten seconds until they widen and her small body tensed, and her eyes darted from Midorima's frame down to the mop of raven haired behind him.

"It seems as if he is running a fever." Midorima fixed the sleeping figure he was carrying in his back for emphasis. The young girl, Midorima guessed a high school student, nodded and opened the door wide for Midorima.

"S-Sorry for the trouble O-Onii-san brought." The girl muttered under her breath and bowed her head as she stepped aside. "I-I'm his sister, K-Kimie, Takao Kimie."

Midorima nodded, "Is your parents here?"

Kimie shook her head and closed the door as soon as the two were inside. Midorima looked at the hallway from the genkan, it was empty indeed. On the floor was only one set of sleepers, Midorima guessed it was Takao's. He sighed, the idiot seemed to be really tired, he hasn't stirred in his sleep since he hauled a cab. It wasn't quite surprising though, he thought, he must have been new to all these. Having all people's eyes on them could be quite stressful. He was only lucky that Midorima was there, if he wasn't, he'd be the talk of town.

Midorima took off his shoes, and looked at the girl who was staring at him with amusement.

"I worry you couldn't get him to bed." Midorima said. The girl nodded sheepishly, he was so happy that the girl was in no way in par of his brother's loud mouth. A charming quiet girl.

"O-Onii-san's room is upstairs, I-I'll take you there."

Midorima followed the girl, it was quite spacious for only two people but not something you'd call grand. It was simple, with wooden floorings and slightly old stairs, the design was simple as well, with wooden sliding doors and solid colored furniture. Kimie led Midorima up a flight of stairs, the stairs creaked under their weight and his and Takao's combined weight.

"Sorry about that." The younger Takao said glancing at him from her back, "Onii-san overdid again, yes?"

"It seems like it." Midorima replied, "I forgot to introduce myself, I am Midorima Shintaro I—"

"I know from the TV." The girl cut him before letting a small chuckle erupt from her lips. "Onii-san likes you a lot."

Midorima almost missed a step when he heard Kimie, luckily he was able to grab the handrails quickly with his free hand. Like? Him? Takao likes him? That's absurd, Midorima thought. With how Takao seemed to respond to him, it does not at all look like he likes him at all. His defiant and all sassy attitude doesn't seem to reflect Kimie's statement at all. Even if she does mean it as idolizing kind of way, it was still too absurd. He was Kuroko's former bandmates, if he is with Kuroko, the teal haired musician would have told him of the things they did…he shouldn't be idolizing him like that.

Kimie stopped at a closed door, it was the only pull and push door among the doors he sees. The younger Takao pushed the door open and Midorima thanked heavens he could get rid off the annoying raven haired guy in his back.

"I'll make Midorima-san some tea, would that be okay?" Kimie asked smiling as Midorima stepped in the room. "Please say yes, it's the only thing I could do for you for looking after my brother."

Midorima wanted to say no, but it wasn't polite. He had crashed into someone else's house unannounced and a little girl is offering her hospitality. Midorima nodded and muttered a small thanks in response. The girl bowed her head and excused herself before disappearing from his sight.

Kimie was in no way close to Takao's personality, she was more…how should he put it, uh…matured? Takao was more like a kid, noisy, impulsive and a total smart ass. Midorima sighed and placed a paper bag on the desk in the room that looked like it had been hit by a hurricane, the paper bag contained the manga the stupid raven haired brought with him. Who would have thought someone like him had such a good sense when it comes to picking manga. However, none of those would have compared to that manga. Not giving much thought on the papers scattered all over Takao's desk, he placed the sleeping figure in his back on the only thing that was neat in the room, which was the bed.

Just like a log, Takao didn't stir in his sleep. Midorima swore that a nuclear bomb could go off and the raven haired musician would still be sleeping. He sighed as he stares at Takao, what has he been up to?

Since the second time they met, since he saw him performing on his own, Midorima couldn't shake the image off his mind. It was like he was drawn to his voice, and his eyes. Midorima could still remember the glow in those blue silver eyes when he remained firm in his belief in Kuroko, he didn't have any word to describe it.

Midorima sighed, he could have hailed a cab and just asked them to bring Takao in, but he couldn't do it. The green haired musician cursed himself, this was why Kuroko kept those kind of eyes on him back then, he insisted that Midorima wasn't really the bad guy, he was just awkward about things like that. It wasn't really as if Midorima wanted to portray the bad guy, he isn't heartless, he wasn't just as good as everyone else when it comes to people skills.

The sight of Takao with his shoes on the bed and bothered the internal OCD tendency of the musician, he sighed and pulled the sneakers off and laid in on the foot of the bed. As soon as the shoes were taken care of, Takao seemed to look more comfortable and snuggled in his pillows and laid in his side. It almost looked cute. Key word, almost. Yes, if it wasn't Takao it would really be cute, but then again…Midorima groan, no way in hell Takao Kazunari would be cute.

He could be everything except that.

Midorima ignored the fact that the desk was a mess and pulled the swivel chair that came with it and sat there. Takao isnt heavy, but he isn't lightweight either. Midorima's shoulder felt stiff and he stretched his limbs.

Kuroko has a tact for getting a bunch of personifications of headaches as friends, no wonder he could be so good with kids.

"Sorry."

Midorima's ears perked at the sound of Takao's sister's voice at the door, the girl knocked on the open door before bowing her head at Midorima and stepping in. In her hand was a small tray with a pot of tea and a glass of water. She walked quietly to Midorima side and was about to place the tray when she spotted the mess. Understanding the reaction Midorima stood and quickly helped the girl with the tray.

"O-Oh y-you didn't have to."

"Its alright." Midorima said. Well someone has to clean the desk, and being an outsider, it was unappropriate that he would touch personal belongings in the house. Kimie started collecting the stash of papers sprawled in the table and with a swift motion she stacked them neatly and made enough room for the tray.

"My brother isnt the neatest person." She said chuckling to herself.

"I can see that."

"But he's the greatest brother you know."

Midorima almost gripped the tray tighter. He wasn't very close to his younger sibling, and though like that he had a sister, getting in Teiko made it almost impossible to even talk to her on a daily basis. He only saw during winter and summer breaks, and that would also be case to case basis, he was too busy for family gatherings. Midorima placed the tray on the table quietly.

"He had lots of works…our parents lived elsewhere and we have to live on our own," Kimie said before walking towards the sleeping figure of his brother, she placed the covers over him before turning to Midorima with a bow. "Thank you for taking care of my brother."

Midorima sighed, "If you want to thank someone, go thank his bandmates."

The girl blinked and chuckled, "Yes, of course."

"I happened to find him in a street, he seemed tired and he just fell unconscious." Midorima explained, "I got lucky and found Kuroko's number in his phone, I asked him where he lives."

Kimie nodded in understanding.

"I would be just downstairs if there is anything I could do for you."

Midorima didn't know why he didn't tell her that he would rather leave earlier, and he didn't know why she seems like she knows that he would have hold back saying that. She left the room closing the door behind her.

Again, Midorima went to the chair and decided to pour himself some tea.

A lot of people have different stories, some less interesting, some a bit more peculiar. If he would categorize Takao's, it should have been ordinary. He isn't really special at all, from a simple family, went to a regular school in the city, mostly some people wouldn't be interested…but Midorima wasn't most people. As Midorima takes a sip in his tea, he stared at a polaroid photo pinned to the wall perpendicular to the desk, he didn't notice it earlier but it was Takao and his sister, Takao seemed to be in high school, wearing a gakuran while the little girl was wearing a simple sailor uniform. She must have been Takao's drive.

As Midorima empties the cup, he placed them over the tray again only to spot the stacks of paper.

And he picks it up.

His eyes widen…why does…the thin sketches seems familiar?

Midorima stood from his seat and turned away from the bed facing a tall book shelf instead, and his eyes widen comically. He almost dropped the stacks of paper as he walked towards the tall shelf, a proud and complete collection of Midorima's favourite manga aligned there. It was in its pristine condition, like it was never been touched, and they were so neatly and numerically stacked it was so satisfying for his eyes.

Could Takao be…

A fan too?

Midorima chuckled to himself, well at least he has some good point to himself…like his literary sense.

Midorima felt the urge to pick one of those and maybe read it, but it was so neatly arranged that he was having an internal cconflict about that decision. He surrendered in the thought and went back to look at the stacks of paper, was Takao practicing to draw, was that the papers all about? He looked down and shuffled over the items, some looked like they were crumpled but Takao regretted it and tried to smooth it back and failed. Some were good but for some reason they weren't finished and some—Midorima paused staring at a particular page.

It looked exactly the same as T. Kazue's art style.

A doujin? Midorima blinked, was Takao…making a doujin?

However, as someone who had been reading T. Kazue's works for so long, it was impressively…similar, the panelling style, the art and even the smallest details. There were merely sketches, light strokes of pencils but it was good enough. A shiver run up his spine as he digest in the pages, and he flips through another and it did look like a story was getting there, as if this was—

"Kimie?"

Midorima almost jumped out of his skin as he heard the hoarse voice from the sleeping figure. Turning towards Takao, he found him brushing his eyes like a kid. Takao pulled himself up and blinked at Midorima's figure slowly until his eyes registered the image there.

"M-Midorima!"

Midorima sighed, "There is no need to be so loud."

"W-What are you doing here?"

Midorima shot him a glare, "Would you rather I have left you on your own in the middle of the streets?"

Takao opened his mouth but closed it when he realized what happened. He blushed in embarrassment, of all people, why did it has to be hi crush to see him like a weakened little prick in the middle of the friggin streets. Takao prayed the ground would swallow him whole now.

"H-How did you know where I live?"

"I borrowed your phone, I found Kuroko's number and called him." Midorima placed the stacks of paper in the table again forgetting about it immediately. "Next time, why don't you put a password in your phone, everybody would be able to easily access it without one. A mobile phone is something private so you should be…"Midorima frowned and stopped midway as he found Takao staring at him like a deer caught in the headlights. "Why are you staring at me like that, you idiot?"

Takao blinked away his surprise, a chuckle slips his lips and slowly built into a full laugh. Midorima sounded like someone's mother, scolding her son for not being careful or something. It was something he didn't saw coming, especially from Midorima. Who would have thought he had it in him? He always seems serious, or angry…or both.

"I hope you choke in your saliva."

Takao only laughed harder as Midorima said those words, he was unbelievably hilarious.

"You're funny." Takao said calming his laughter down into giggles, "You're so huge but you make an excellent and funny remarks and when you say it with such straight face I can't help it."

Midorima scowled, "Die."

Takao laughed again, he looks so annoyed it was like teasing a kid back in grade school.

"If you are laughing so much like that I bet you're alright now."

Takao blinked at the words.

"I would be going now then, there is no reason for me anymore to—"

"You stayed to ensure I'm okay?"

Now it was Midorima's time to blush, did he just…wait, how did he even get to arrive at that idea? To Midorima's surprise when he looked at Takao, he found the other staring at him with red staining his cheeks. What? Why was he…blushing as well, what was he embarrassed about?

"I-If something were to happen to you Kuroko would blame me, t-that's all there is to it."

Takao nodded, but somehow his heart kept banging on his chest. Midorima, the stoic, do-whatever-you-want-Midorima, just took him to his home, waited for him to wake up, that was one of the strangest thing in the world. Takao tried to cover the embarrassment with a smile, it was really so not the Midorima people usually see.

"Ah!"

"What is it this time?"

Takao smiled, "Shin-chan!"

Midorima's face exploded in fifty shades of red as he heard the stupidest nickname ever heard.

"WHA—Don't you dare call me—"

"Shin-chan!" Takao chirped, "You're more of Shin-chan like that than Midorima."

Midorima furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, what on earth does that mean at all?

"You're stupid."

"EH?"

"I need to go." Midorima said. "But more importantly…about Kuroko."

Takao's attention was pulled fully at the name.

"I…I think you were right." Midorima said, he stared at Takao right as his blue silver eyes. Takao felt his breath caged in his throat at the intensity of the gaze, it was as if he felt some strange pull as he stared right at them, and even if he did want to look away…impossible. "Its time for Kuroko to do the bidding."

.

.

Two days later

"Why call you out?"

Kuroko shrugged, wearing his usual disguise Kuroko slipped from a meeting he had for a small production for a theatre play after he received a mail from Takao. He was glad that the other was feeling better than he heard from Midorima a few days ago. However, to be called out instead to converse over the phone, Kuroko felt slightly bothered. And somehow he found himself calling the person next to him out of confusion, unfortunately the towering red haired returnee didn't have any idea of what must be Takao's reasons either and it later led the other to come running to Kuroko volunteering to come with him.

Kagami sighed as they approach the park Takao agreed to meet up. It was close to the studio but there wasn't a lot of people hanging around, which was great.

"I'm quite confused myself." Kuroko said, "I don't know what important matter it is that it couldn't wait until the rehearsal tomorrow."

"Takao's never been the serious guy so it got me curious too."

"Kagami-kun are you sure you don't know?"

Kagami sighed, "Yeah, didn't I tell you that over the phone already?"

"If this is a prank I would punch you."

Kagami gulped at the threat, well…that sounds convincing.

As they approached the park, Kagami quickly spotted Takao sitting in bench fiddling with his phone. The two walked towards the Takao, who seemed to quickly spot them. Takao stood from his sit and smiled at the two. Something was off, Kagami thought to himself as he looked at his friend, however he couldn't bring himself to say it out loud, it would cost him Kuroko's composure.

"Sorry I had to call you out, I know you had something going on but I really kinda have to see you." Takao said greeting Kuroko. He turned and found Kagami at Kuroko's tail.

"Kagami-kun insisted, you may ignore him."

"WHA—Hey! You could be less blunt you know!"

"As I said, ignore him."

Takao chuckled and scratched the back of his head.

"Did something happen?" Kuroko asked, "Did Midorima-kun do something to you?"

Takao almost choked at his own breath at the implications of Kuroko's words.

"N-No, n-nothing like that."

"Midorima? Like the guy in your former band?" Kagami asked.

"Hn."

"You spoke to him?" Kagami's voice was strange, it sounded…mad?

"Of course." Kuroko answered before turning again to Takao, "If not, then…what is it?"

Takao felt a lump in his throat forming. He needs to believe in Kuroko. Takao slipped his hands into the back pocket of his jeans and held the items in his hand. Kagami raised an eyebrow as Takao slowly handed him the items. It looked like…paper…a ticket? Takao was handing it with its back facing Kuroko making it even more nerve-wrecking.

Kuroko accepted the item and flipped it so the front was facing him.

And his eyes zoomed in at the name on the ticket.

"Aomine-kun?"

.

.

.

BLAG!

"Oi Kise!"

The blonde model suddenly falls on his knees clutching his right ear hissing in pain. A fellow model ran to Kise's side but he couldn't hear it, his ears were filled with buzzling sounds. His head felt like it was being ripped in two. He tried to calm himself down but even his sight was betraying him, he was seeing doubles due to the ringing in his ears. He felt someone shaking his arm, but he couldn't hear anything.

It was back again.

"Ugh…"Kise groaned as the ringing intensifies.

He saw a blurry familiar figure running towards him and for a second he almost mistook it for him.

But that would be…ridiculous

He wouldn't give a damn or two.

The next thing Kise knew everything went completely dark.