SOOOOOOO I just wanna say. THANK YOUUUUU VERY VERYY MUCH FOR ALL THE REVIEWEEERS. Unfortunately from this on I might be moooore slower with the updates, I have a research going on and uynforntunately I need to priorirtize it. The good news is-I JUST WENT FROM RANK 15 TO RANK 2 IN OUR DEPARTMEEENT! Isn't that neat?! Thank you for everyone for understanding me and my schedule and because of you guys I am able to continue both my hobby and school. Thank you so much.
Anyways this is not yet beta-read but I will be sending them for beta after this so yeah this will be changed when it's done. Alsooo...who is excited for the MIDOTAKA, it will be exploding in the next chapterrrr! Anyways, without further ado, I'll leave you with Chapter 21! Please do review and lfav or follow! THANK you so much see ya sooon!

Chapter 21: Future Line

"You are wasting time!"

Himuro flinched at the harsh words, lowering his head meekly, the raven haired young man pursed his lips as the older man before he continued pointing out his mistakes. He could hear his co-workers whispering about. It made him feel incredibly small.

"You are wasting that face!" The man exclaimed loudly making Himuro feel small. The man pointed at the screen of the laptop, he couldn't say anything, his hands look incredibly awkward holding his partner. Himuro bowed his head apologizing for the umpteenth time.

"If you continue this, you better find another career!"

Himuro bit his lip, nodding and accepting the man's fury. The older man angrily threw the developed photos at Himuro.

It was nerve-wrecking, Himuro knew what he was doing wrong when he sees it in the camera, but sometimes he couldn't help it. Nobody would help him, it was a battle he should win for himself. In the modelling business, unless you are popular, being loved by the camera is not enough. In a world where only the greatest stood, he was merely a spark, a very tiny light compared to the massive suns next to him.

The raven haired model felt a buzz in his pocket, he pulled his mobile phone from his pocket and found a familiar name flashing in the screen. He opened the mail, he culdnt help himself but envy his friend and surrogate brother. It was a photo of Kagami holding a brand new bass guitar grinning widely. Underneath the attached photo was his caption—

"Dad finally let me have a guitar! He said he'll think about my plan on going back to Japan, isn't that nice?"

Its only been half a year and Kagami had already found his place in Japan, a couple of kids from Japan agreed on taking Kagami once he returned there and form a band. With Kagami's talent and his father's influence he could easily fit in anywhere, so unlike him. Sometimes he would wish that he is born like him, he has the talent for his passion, and the world is so ready to see him.

With trembling hands Himuro found himself wanting to find a hole and hide there forever. He told Kagami they would meet someday, having their own places in the industry, but that seem like a stupid idea now.

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"Eh, h-he doesn't speak English?"

Himuro blinked as he was taking off his jacket, the familiar studio seemed a bit too packed. The raven haired model steps into the studio and found everyone having some kind of meeting.

"Oh, Tatsuya's here."

Himuro bowed his head greeting everyone. As he approached the circle of people, one of their female models nudged Himuro's shoulder calling his attention.

"Did you hear?"

"What of?" Himuro asked.

"We're going to have a guests today at the studio." She said as the group continued discussing. "They'll be using the studio for the shoot, I heard it's a real huge star in fashion back in Japan."

Himuro blinked, "Japan?"

The girl nodded, "And he doesn't speak English!"

Himuro smiled awkwardly.

"Hey, Tatsuya can you speak Japanese?"

Tatsuya raised his head meeting the gaze of their handler, "Oh…uh, yes. A remember some."

Everyone gave a relieved sigh, "Oh god, thank you!"

It wasn't until two hours when the guest came. Everyone wanted to see what a top model in Asia would look. However, unlike them, Himuro was simply nervous to meet whoever it is. Someone of the same nationality as him and yet having much difference with him. He wondered, he must be dreamy, really smooth skin, youthful face and everything that he isn't, like everyone else were.

"Welcome!"

Himuro heard his handler greeted the party. The raven haired young man quickly bowed his head remembering the formal greeting in the Japanese culture.

"New York is a very busy place." A man said, his thick Japanese accent obvious with every stresses of the word.

"I'm William, and welcome to our studios, as agreed you may use may use the facilities as much as you deem necessarily." Himuro's handler said with a voice he would only use in business. "And this is our talent, he's name is Tatsuya Himuro and he can aid you if there is anything that confuses you, he speaks Japanese and English so worry not."

Himuro raised his head to meet the man's gaze but he found himself looking instead at the tall man standing behind the man with the thick Japanese accent. Purple hair tied in a lazy ponytail, strong jaw and broad shoulders, perfectly toned biceps can be seen under his plain white shirt. He was wearing a denim jumpsuit that looked haphazardly put together. He looked frighteningly handsome.

"Nice to meet you Himuro-san." Himuro blinked out of his reverie and smiled as soon as he could before taking the offered shake of hands.

Himuro spoke in Japanese soon saying he would be assisting them as much as he could.

As he led the party to the studio where the lightings and backdrops were being arranged, he could feel the intense stare of the six feet giant behind him. He didn't know if he is merely curious or he found something interesting about the back of his head.

When everything were explained thoroughly, the shoot started. The staffs started completing the backdrops, the lightings were adjusted while the lone photographer stood in the corner switching his cameras. Himuro curiously stares at the photographer, he had never been able to look at them this long. The man raised the camera at a random spot before clicking, he pulled away looking at the screen and chuckling at himself.

"Eh! Mr. Murasakibara y-you're not ready yet!"

One of the female assistants called, turning to the scene Himuro found the six feet giant walking out of the dressing room wearing a white button up that was left open showing his fine physique and a pair of brown pants.

Himuro blinked as he found something odd about the model, he wasn't wearing any footwear.

The purple haired model continued to ignore the calls of his personal assistant, he was frowning and it made everyone flinch as he pass. The assistant walked towards Himuro with a heavy sigh.

"He's so stubborn." He heard her say in English. Himuro smiled awkwardly, it does seem like the purple haired model is thick headed, Himuro had seen lots of his likes before. "He needs to wear these shoes!" she said as she showed them to Himuro.

The model turned and found the model standing in a corner getting scolded by his handler, but it doesn't seem like he is listening at all. Looking at the model, Himuro found himself liking the fact that he isnt wearing any footwear. He looks raw and very dominating.

"I think it's alright." Himuro found himself saying.

"Huh?"

Himuro pointed at Murasakibara, "I think he looks fine that way."

The assistant's eyes widen before shrugging her shoulders dejectedly, "I don't get you Japanese."

When the shoot started, it was obvious that the model is not into it. He looks utterly bored, his posture is too relaxed as if he is ready to collapse any time. With his hair tied, showing so much of his expression made it even harder to conceal. Himuro couldn't help but cringe each time the camera clicks. He have so much to offer and yet he won't try to even do it correctly, he is obviously doing it on purpose.

"M-Murasakibara-san p-please cooperate with us!" His handler exclaimed in Japanese, he sounds like he is a dying squirrel.

The tall haired model didn't respond, he merely continued looking like he's dead on the inside.

Finally Himuro had enough of it, he walked towards the spot where the model is standing making everyone stare and fear for the raven haired young man. The taller model stared down at him, glaring. Himuro stared back in a second and frowned. Without a warning he raised his hand reaching behind Murasakibara's head.

Pluck!

Everyone's eyes widen including the purple haired model. Himuro stood there holding the cheap rubber band that was used to tie the other's hair. The purple strands fell gloriously, hiding half of his face. Himuro didn't utter a single word when he tucking the rest of the hair in the other's ear, showing his perfectly shape jaw. Himuro then suddenly reached to the other's belt making everyone gasped, Murasakibara's handler was about to move to stop the raven haired model when Murasakibara turned to glare at him, he raised his hand telling the man to stop.

Everyone stared as Himuro undo the belt and unbutton Murasakibara's pants, enough just to show a bit of the taller model's expensive underwear. Then the model stepped a bit and looked at the taller male from head to toe.

"There." Himuro said in Japanese, before nodding.

Himuro gasped as he heard the whole room gave him a round of applause. Murasakibara looked at him with lazy eyes but he didn't seem unsatisfied. When Himuro stepped away, the handler gave him a thumbs up and was grinning like a kid. Himuro nodded and bowed his head.

He didn't know what came into him, it just didn't seem like the model to be so clean and prim, he looked so suffocated in the way they want him to stand. Somehow it just clicked in him, and when he looked at him it was like he saw how he would look at the camera, how the light would shine in his face.

Raising his head, Himuro couldn't help but marvel at the sight of the tall model. He looked like a very strong, so dominating and powerful, he looked like a very wild force. He couldn't help but felt awe at the sight especially when he stood there staring at the camera with half of his face hidden with his hair, his lips shaped perfectly and his muscle were almost see-through from the thin white button up.

All of a sudden he wanted to photograph him.

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"Okay let's have a 30-minute break!" The photographer said in Japanese.

Himuro found himself taking a very long sigh. He wasn't part of the shoot but it felt extremely tiring to look at, there were like four closet change, then numerous changing of poses. Since Himuro's interjection, there had been no problem. Himuro realized why he is a top model, it wasn't just his height, it was also his physique. He had this natural manly-air whenever he projects.

It was so unlike him.

Meanwhile he needed to build up some kind of character, aside from his facial features he practically shines nowhere close to this man, he doesn't have much muscles, he looked a bit too prim for a woman's magazine, too old for teens magazine.

Sometimes he just envies people who are born with the talent.

Sometimes people like Murasakibara made him feel as if this is not where he should be.

Himuro blinks, he found a shadow looming over him, as he raised his head up he found a pair of violet orbs staring right at him and a hand inside his pocket.

"What the-!" Himuro was about to step back but instead the large hand inside his pocket prevented him. Before he could push the other away Murasakibaras other hand placed itself in his back and pulled him close. Himuro's face flushed red, what the hell was this guy thinking?

"Ah."

Himuro blinked as the other removed his hold and hand in his pocket showing a candy his hand that was previously inside his pocket.

"T-That's…" Oh yeah, he had that candy in his pocket, it had been a habit of him that whenever he get's this strange bothersome feeling in his stomach when he gets nervous he would eat a candy to stop it.

Without saying anything the giant unwrapped the candy and ate it in front of Himuro like a small child. The raven haired model stared incredulously at the other. When the model finished the sweet he turned to look at Himuro staring at him for a moment.

"You have good eyes." The tall haired model said in Japanese, even his voice was filled with boredom. Himuro didn't understood what the other meant until—

"Why don't you try holding a camera sometime?" he said in perfect English.

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Himuro licks his lower lip as he scan through the photos. He studies the features of each subject; it was very rare to have so many interesting angles for each of them. Kuroko is like a kind of youthful-prince-like features, soft, prim and yet his eyes were so blue that it could seem too cold sometimes, like a rough edge of a blade, meanwhile Kagami is like a blunt enemy, when you see him, you can quickly sense the danger in him, he had this street-style kind of features, a bad-boy image, and there was Takao, he looked mischevious and playful and yet he had the kind of face that is definitely not too sparkly but not something you would also completely forget easily, and Furihata, he had this very mysterious air around him despite his reserved attitude. It has been a while since he had photographed a band.

Before Himuro could click next on his laptop he felt a presence standing next to him.

"I need to talk to you."

Himuro raises his head to meet the gaze of the crimson eyes of his surrogate brother.

"You're not mad?" Himuro asks pushing his seat a bit so that he could face the taller male.

Kagami doesn't answer instead he turns and walks toward a corner. Himuro sighs before leaving his desk and following the other. He spots Furihata and Takao speaking with their handler in the other side of the floor, Kuroko was slowly walking towards the group never sparing Himuro or Kagami a look.

Kagami stops just right at an old ruined window. The taller male crosses his arms over his chest.

"Why are you here?" Kagami asks as Himuro stands before him.

"Your handler requested that I take the photos for his new talents." Himuro answers.

Kagami narrows his eyes at the other, "Did you know that I was one of them?"

"Yes."

"What's your intention?"

Himuro sighs, "Why do you think I have some underlying motive?"

"Don't bullshit with me."

"I'm not." Himuro said, "I wanted to see you, how long you've gone and the people you are with?"

"You're not my mom."

Himuro purses his lips before turning towards the ruined window before them, despite the dirt accumulated before it, he could still see the faint sight of the road outside the building.

"Why did you leave?"

Himuro knows he would ask that.

"I just have to." Himuro answered his voice almost close to a whisper.

"You promised me that we—"

"I envy you." Himuro said cutting Kagami, he turns to look at Kagami in the eyes, he wants to say this to him for so long. "You could fail and you can return to America, and it will be alright again. But I don't have that privilege. I wanted to be a model but it was hard, and if I fail where will I go? I slowly realize what we thought then, those things, those were illusions. Those aren't true, being a famous model, a number one band…those are for kids."

"What the hell are you spouting?!"

"Let's just face it, I'm not like you."

Kagami is taken aback by the words from the raven haired photographer. His face lose its calm mask, all that is left was his obvious seriousness on the matter. His eyes are staring right at Kagami.

"Even how much I try, I just won't be as bright as you. There are numerous truths in this world, one of them is this. I won't be famous as you put it, I could only do much."

Himuro stares at Kagami, the other is obviously hungry for an explanation, but truly there was nothing he could say. It is simply because he knew it wasn't where he fit, he thought that was his dream, once he thought becoming a famous model is everything, once he thought he would be happy then, but he realized it wasn't.

"Becoming an adult, I realize it is not just becoming a model, becoming an adult I realized life is not a bed of roses. That's not where I belong Taiga, and I just…I just had to leave."

.

.

"What…what are we doing out here?"

The purple haired model stared at the Himuro with his usual bored eyes, wearing a dark fitting pants paired with white shirt and a dark violet baseball cap Murasakibara stood in the sidewalk of the busy streets of New York. For a moment Himuro was inclinded to think the other didn't understand him.

"You don't have work, Muro-chin?"

Murasakibara asked in Japanese. Himuro was afraid to admit he rarely get any shoots, he decided to avoid answering the question and kept his silence. It's only been once that he met with the tall Japanese model, and they didn't even had a proper conversation then, he wondered where he even got his name—he already had given him a nickname.

"I need a favour." Murasakibara asked in his native tongue again. Before Himuro could answer, the taller haired male pulled his rucksack in front of him before rummaging and producing an expensive sigital single-lens reflex camera. Without saying anything the six feet model quickly placed the item in Himuro's hands.

"W-What?" Himuro asked completely confused. "W-Why are you giving this to me?"

"Come with me, take pictures of me."

Himuro raised an eyebrow, "I-I don't understand, y-you have an assistant I—"

"I'll pay you, just do it."

Himuro didn't know what to say then, normally people would not give you an expensive camera and tell you to take pictires of them in the streets of New York, not especially a high-paid model like Murasakibara. However, he was dead serious then. At first it would be Murasakibara who would stop in the middle of the street and tell Himuro to take pictures of him. He would stop and let the other take a picture, he would pose just the way he feels like it. But as more photos were taken, Himuro didn't realize Murasakibara had stopped telling him when to take pictures, he would be the one to do that, he would point at angles he looked perfect in. He didn't realize he was starting to enjoy himself.

"What do you think?" Himuro asked as he ran towards Murasakibara.

The raven haired model showed the preview of the photo to the other with a smile he probably wasn't conscious of.

However there was no approval or rejection from the other, Murasakibara merely hummed making Himuro turned his head towards the other. Instead of looking at the camera, the other was staring at him, studying him with his beautiful violet eyes.

"Muro-chin looks nice."

It took a second before the word registered in Himuro, making the other froze in his spot with embarrassment painting his cheeks red.

"W-What are you saying, I-I was asking you h-how I did and—"

"The camera…loves you."

Himuro was taken aback by those words. Someone once told him that when he was young, they said that the camera loves him, now another person told him that but he wwas sure they meant two different things. The camera loves him, he turned to look at his shots on the screen of the camera examining his own photographs.

"I think taking pictures suites you too."

"But I…I want to be a model."

"I didn't say you should stop." Murasakibara said lazily, "I just think you're better at finding where something and someone looks more beautiful in. Muro-chin has good eyes."

Himuro pursed his lips holding in that camera with trembling hands.

"That camera…that's my payment for today. Think about it."

.

.

Himuro shakes his head, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry I had to leave. I'm sorry that I wasn't able to tell you sooner. I know you would be mad at me."

Kagami nods. This is his reason, the one Kuroko told him about, it pains him that somehow Himuro had changed his view in his dreams. It was like Himuro left the dreams of his childhood to face something else. For some reason it felt like Kagami cuts himself off from the man he once called brother, completely. It feels like saying goodbye.

"How about you, don't you have enough of your child's play?" Himuro asks.

"Child's play…"

"Your father probably sees this as a child's play, a phase, when do you plan on doing something real?"

"Is that what you think this is?"

"Why isn't it exactly what I think?"

Kagami clenches his hands into a fist, "No."

"No?" Himuro asks raising an eyebrow and crossing his arms over his chest, "Playing family with them, pretending to be all nice and chummy. You have a life back there in America, you could have everything you want then, but you left because of this. You still are a child Taiga."

A child? Was all his dreams just as he said merely a child's play? Looking at Himuro right then with all seriousness painting his face he remembers his father when he left, he looked at him with concern, he asked him if it was what he really wanted and he said yes. He nodded then and gave him a ticket to Japan, as Kagami was about to leave his father's office he was stopped when he replied; come back when you're done playing.

The person who he once thought of whenever he would feel all the anxiety that performing in the crowd entails is the same person standing in front of him now telling him this is merely a child's play, a phase, a naïve delusion. Kagami gripped the metal accessory trapped in the palm of his hands, hard enough that the metal dug in his skin.

"You can always come back to America."

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Aida finishes briefing the three for the interview, this would be their first magazine cover interview. Even Aida herself felt nervous, Kuroko was never asked for a magazine cover before, the teal haired artist usually declines any offer if there ever was.

"Alright, that's good to go." Aida says, "Just relax, and have fun I guess."

"We'll do our best." Takao answers.

"Just tell Kagami what we talked about, okay?"

Takao nods.

Aida smiles and turns away running towards the staffs.

Furihata fishes his phone from the pocket of his pants to check the time, the interviewers would arrive in less than an hour. It isn't their first interview but it doesn't mean they were less nervous, Furihata could feel his palms sweating. Furihata turned to Kuroko only to find the other looking utterly pale.

"Kuroko-kun?"

The said musician raises his head to look at Furihata.

"Y-Yes?"

"Are you feeling sick?"

Kuroko shakes his head unable to answer verbally in fear his voice may betray him.

"You seem pale." Furihata said making Takao look at Kuroko with concern.

"Do you need to rest?" Takao asks.

"No." Kuroko answers meekly. "I'm alright."

Takao was about to say something when Kagami starts storming towards them. Takao didn't know what to make out of the other. Something told the raven haired bassist that Kagami is angry despite the blank expression on the other's face. Kagami stopped and turned to Kuroko. No words is said between the two but somehow Takao felt as if a small conversation is happening without him or Furihata noticing.

Kagami takes a deep breath and walks towards a corner, Kuroko blinks and turns to where Kagami came from, Himuro was still standing in the corner, with his head hanging low and a hand over his ear with a phone. Kuroko didn't need any more words, he bows his head to Takao and Furihata as he excuses himself silently before following Kagami.

"You're still upset at him." Kuroko starts.

The truth is, Kuroko's heart is hammering loudly in his chest. He could barely trust his voice not to crack. He wondered what Kagami and Himuro talked about. The fact that Himuro said those words to him didn't help appeasing the teal haired musician. Himuro held Kagami in the way Aomine once held him, the power the raven haired musician have over Kagami is immeasurable, at to what extent Himuro could make the other listen is a mystery.

Kagami turns to face Kuroko, raising his clenched fist at the other. Kuroko instinctively raises his hand with his palm facing upwards.

"What?" the teal haired musician couldn't help but mutter the word as Kagami places the necklace with the ring in the other's hand.

"We're you worried?" Kagami asks.

"A-A bit…I thought you would want to…return with Himuro-san…he is your brother after all and he seemed very important person to you." Kuroko said honestly as he looks down on the necklace. There is no use hiding anything to Kagami. Even if he didn't tell him, the other would know one way or another. Pursing his lips, Kuroko remembers the first time Kagami gave him that necklace, ever since then it became his reminder that he is not alone, that Kagami would be with him no matter how much he messes up. "I thought that after hearing his reasons…you might want to return with him."

"Throw it."

Kuroko raises his head, eyes wide in shock at Kagami's words.

"Between my future with him and you, it's obvious which one I would chose."

Suddenly the world stops. Kuroko stares at Kagami's crimson eyes, his heart is beating so loudly he couldn't even begin to think where he should start his sentence.

Himuro Tatsuya is Kagami Taiga's surrogate brother, they probably spent longer years together than every hours he spent with Kagami these past few months put together, and yet this man decided to threw that away. Normally people won't do that, that's really not how things work, he didn't understand why would Kagami Taiga do that, why Kagami would chose him, a broken, sad, pitiful excuse of a human life.

"I…I don't know what to say." Kuroko said finally. He didn't know what he really felt like then, happy, thankful, confused, or awed.

"You don't have to say anything."

Kagami walks pass Kuroko.

He stops and looks at Furihata and Takao turning towards them a giving them a small smile. No, this is not a child's play. This has become his home, this is where he know he belongs. Maybe it is different from Himuro, maybe for others this is nothing but merely a game, but for him, this dream, this is his everything.

Would he want to go to America? Yes, but not now, not until he could take the whole band with him in an official out of the country tour, when their band's name would be flashing in the electric billboards in the biggest streets in America, not without them.

"Let's get back to them." Kagami said with a smile.

Kagami waits for Kuroko's answer but none came, raising an eyebrow, the lead vocalist turned only to found the spot where Kuroko stood earlier empty.

"Eh?"

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A sigh.

Midorima stiffen as he looked at his mother smoothing his tie. He found himself stopping his own breathing. The dark brown hair of his mother shined in the light of the room, it has been a while since he was this close to her.

"It's very normal that you are nervous." She started, "However, what I still do not understand is why you agreed all of a sudden."

"Isn't this something you've wished for a very long time, you don't sound as please as I thought you would." Midorima replied.

Stepping back Midorima's mother drew her lips in a thin line, she is wearing a very beautiful and expensive black dress, a silver shoal around her thin arms. She looked confused and concerned, unlike his father who was very uptight, Midorima's mother had always been open with her emotions.

She shook her head and gave his son a gentle pat in the shoulder before turning away. His father stood in the corner speaking on the phone. The man, a doctor, stood there wearing an expensive suite with his green hair turning slightly gray with age that was neatly brushed back. He look more excited that Midorima would ever be.

"Shintaro, it's time."

Midorima nodded as his father spoke.

"Are you ready to meet you fiance?"