WHOAAAAA LAST CHAPTER'S UPDATE WAS HOT, ahahaha nicely done for the hot summer, riiiight? Ahahaha Kicchin is glad that you liked that very steamy kiss scene, I am always a bit hesitant with kissing scenes and stuff since I'm more used with fluff. Anyways, thank you very much for the reviews, favs and follows!
BTW I wanna say hello to everyone who had watched the Kuroko's Basketball LAST GAME, how was your heart man? Ahahaha mine's still broken, ahahaha to those who hasn't please support the movie. Spoilers of the movie is actually the title itself—I've read the manga but I was NOT prepared for what happened. So yeah you guys should watch it and you can PM me so we can cry together.
Before I start to blabber even more, I will leave you with the new update. I hope you guys enjoy reading—I know some of you misses Aokise so yep.
PS.
REVIEW PLEAAASE *puppy eyes*
Chapter 30: Listen
Kagami chuckles at Kuroko's words. The teal haired artist could be unbelievably embarrassing at the oddest details, Kagami smirks and kisses the top of the other's head. Well he could live with that. The taller male feels Kuroko sneaks his arms around his torso in a loose but warm embrace. Kagami chuckles again before pressing another kiss to Kuroko's forehead.
"Should we get back?" Kagami asks quietly.
Kuroko makes a small sound similar to a whine before pressing his face against Kagami's chest like a cat waking up from a long nap. Kagami laughs and starts to stroke Kuroko's hair which is unbelievably soft despite the styling and fixing it always go through.
"Five minutes." Kuroko mumbles against Kagami's thin shirt.
"Okay, five minutes but we have to go back, sachou will think I killed you or something."
Kuroko nods before pressing closer to Kagami's heat. His scent fills him like a comforting scent of home. Kuroko had never been this close or intimate to anyone, and he didn't know it would feel so good. He was used to being the one chasing people, this was the first time anyone received him without asking anything in return, without hesitation, with all their heart. Kuroko closes his eyes and listens to the beating of Kagami's heart, it's quite erratic but he could say the same for himself.
"Kagami-kun?" Kuroko asks quietly, he keeps his face press in Kagami's chest.
"Hm?"
"Are we…dating?"
Kagami chokes in his breathe at the sudden question. He coughs up and feels all the blood in his body go straight to his face. The image of him and Kuroko dating, holding hands, going to more dates, kissing…oh dancing unicorns and rainbows—Kagami groans as he feels his brain short circuits at the thought.
"Kagami-kun?" Kuroko looks up in confusion for the lack of answer.
His blue eyes widen as he finds himself looking at Kagami with his hand over his lips in a very futile attempt to hide his growing blush, realizing the effects of his words to the other, Kuroko steps away as well feeling his face heat as well.
"Y-You don't have to…say—"
"I-If…I mean o-only if you want us to…?"
Kuroko blinks and looks again at Kagami.
"Do you…uhm, I-I mean do you want to?" Kagami asks.
Kuroko looks away as he hears his heart racing, "Yes of course I want to."
Kagami's blush slowly dissipates, the red head smirks and suddenly scoops Kuroko off his feet in a hug.
"Ah! K-Kagami-kun put me down."
"Thank you!" Kagami says as he puts Kuroko down, "I won't let you down. I swear."
Kuroko finds himself smiling, somehow strangely he feels as if this should have been sooner. It feels like…it feels peaceful, it feels so right. Kuroko looks at Kagami doing fist pumps in the corner with his stupid grin like a child. His Light.
"Ah Kuroko, Kagami!"
The two both turn towards where the voice is coming and finds a heaving Furihata Kouki running towards them. Kuroko faces the brunet who obviously has something important to say. Kuroko sees a strange wave of concern wash to him with the look the brunet is sporting. Putting a hand over Furihata's shoulder, the teal haired musician tries to calm him down.
"Furihata-kun are you alright?" Kuroko asks.
Furihata nods before looking up to Kuroko's eyes, his brown pools were painted with worry.
"There's something you have to see."
.
.
.
Furihata leads them to one of the room of the inn. Upon opening the door Kuroko quickly spots Midorima and Takao sitting in the couch, their eyes were fix on the television across the room, Midorima's forehead is knit in a mixture of emotions, behind them stood Aida with a frown on her face and arms cross on her chest. Somehow Kuroko feels his footsteps heavy against the floor as he steps in the room.
Kuroko stands behind the coach next to Aida and looks at the television, his eyes instantly widen at the headline flash on the bottom of screen—
Kise Ryouta losing his hearing and can no longer perform!
In the screen, Kise is shown wearing a black tinted shades coming out of hospital, hundreds of reporters ran to him flashing their cameras on the blonde while asking questions all together. Kise turns his head away without saying anything, a man in a black shirt, a bodyguard, pushes some of the paparazzi away to give the blonde room to walk.
"Reports leaked that Kise Ryouta, former member of boyband Generation of Miracles, currently a solo artist and model is suffering from an incurable condition that results to loss of his hearing. The artist-model has not yet confirmed nor denied the allegations, however was spotted in Tokyo General Hospital just this afternoon. Speculations rises, could this be the reason the model-actor has been avoiding some projects?"
Kuroko bit his lower lip at the images flash on the screen. It was almost like the time when he left the band, the flashes of camera, the loud noise of people speaking loudly, though Kuroko knows Kise is much—way stronger than he is, going through this alone would be difficult.
They should have known, Kuroko thought to himself, news can't be kept for too long in the industry. There will always be a time someone will caught the wind and when it does…
"Do you know about this?" Midorima asks, Kuroko knows instantly the question is meant for him.
"Yes."
"Why didn't you say anything?" Midorima replies, his tone is biting cold.
"Kise-kun begged me not to say anything to anyone."
Midorima sighs. "Is it true?"
"Yes." Kuroko confesses, "There will be no use hiding it."
Midorima stares back at the screen. It isn't surprising that Kise has kept this from them. After Kuroko left the Generations of Miracle, they went astray. It somehow felt like it was bound to happen soon, and Kuroko merely triggered the thought to everyone. Since then, they weren't exactly the way they were before.
Kise is the kind of person who'd rather hide everything, carry all by himself, hide his troubles behind his smile that could blind anyone.
"Stupid blonde." Midorima mutters to himself.
"Kise-kun probably knows this will happen." Kuroko says.
Kuroko falls in silence. Kise might be the most resilient among the former members of Generation of Miracles towards issues, however…
.
.
.
"Where could Aomine-kun be right now?"
…
He couldn't sleep, Aomine sighs for the umpteenth time. Thirteen hours flight from America to Japan seems so long. In the past month, Aomine had to finish all his prior agreements and projects including a shoot for a drama in New York. Somehow, there is a very tiny regret in his mind about agreeing with the projects—a month felt like a year without the familiar warmth of a certain someone.
To say that Aomine Daiki wants to go back to Japan now is an understatement. He's dying to be there now. The plane is quiet, most passengers were asleep, and the only noise he could hear is the sound of the engine of the plane. It has been a quiet long one month.
Somehow Aomine finds his mind flying faster than a plane, back to the last day he saw Kise. The blond calmly took his one month absence for his shoot, he even helped him to pack.
The truth, if there was another way Aomine could think of, he would have done just that.
This is the last, Aomine thought to himself quietly. This will be the very last time he will leave Kise's side.
"Dai-chan?"
Aomine looks beside him, Momoi wakes up from her sleep and starts to rub her tired eyes.
"What?" Aomine asks, "You should just sleep."
"How many hours until we land anyways?"
"Three give or take." Aomine answers.
Momoi sits up and looks up at the tall male, she frowns upon realizing the other has not gotten even a wink of sleep.
"You should be the one sleeping, you're still up?"
"I just want to go back to Japan."
Momoi sighs and shrugs, "Well suite yourself."
Momoi pulls her Ipad from her handbag checking the time then unlocking the screen. As soon as she opens her WiFi, messages floods her email, she checks them one by one and discards the unimportant mails. After seeing nothing urgent, she swipes the screen to lock the device again when she stops at something that made her eyes wide.
"Dai-chan?"
"Hm?"
"Have…you…checked your phone?"
"No, why?"
Momoi looks up from her device and turns to Aomine.
"It's about Ki-chan."
Aomine's heart almost leaped out of the plane hearing Kise's name with the concerned and slightly panicked expression in Momoi's name. Without thinking twice, Aomine took the device from Momoi's hand and read through the article on the screen.
Anger, concern, fear, panic and rush fills Aomine as he sees Kise's paparazzi photos. The blonde was wearing a familiar black bomber jacket—it's Aomine's—and a black tinted shades, he was pressed closed to his bodyguard who is outstretching his hand to push away the photographers. His body shakes at the thought of those filthy photographers and paparazzi trying to reach out and touch what his Kise.
"Dai-chan, what now?"
Momoi found out about Kise's condition when the he and the blond made up and started their—not so—secret relationship behind the cameras. There was no other choice, during that time Aomine's sudden change of heart was not expected, and then he and Kise suddenly became closer. Soon Momoi started asking and inevitably, Aomine had to admit.
Thankfully, Momoi was crazy enough to quickly take in the two's relationship—she was probably happier than Aomine about the two's relationship status. Though she was very much concerned of Kise's progressing condition, she has been quiet as well. It was as if she understood Kise's ways.
"Let's proceed with our plan."
Momoi blinks at Aomine's words, "Uh but Dai-chan—"
"Once this plane lands, call for a press conference."
Momoi's eyes widen.
"Dai-chan that's hasty! Even Ki-chan would think you did it because of this. He won't be happy."
Aomine clenches his hands as he looks at Momoi, his midnight blue eyes were darker.
"I refuse to ever leave Kise again, never again."
Momoi stares at Aomine. She has no idea what she should feel right at that moment, knowing Kise he will be very angry knowing Aomine's decision and so abruptly to add. However, on the other hand, she understood Aomine's will as well. It won't be long until Kise will be flooded and drowned in controversy, he will be forced to leave his music career and everything will go downhill from then. It has been so long since Momoi has seen Aomine this serious over someone…
To the point he would leave everything behind.
"Alright." Momoi answers.
.
.
.
"What are we even doing here?"
"Hush!"
Kagami groans as he hears the collective hush of three beside him.
After hearing the news that the reporters and paparazzi have almost barricaded Kise's hotel room, Kuroko disappeared only for Kagami to find out the teal haired musician is on his way to rescue his friend. If it were in any other situation, Kagami would have applaud him, but these are reporters and paparazzi they were talking about. To the red head's surprise the two other members did not allow him go alone. The two argued three heads is better than one—which Kagami could not argue on and much to Aida's objection.
Fast forward, currently the three are standing in a hallway, at the other end of the hallway a bunch of men and woman obviously reporters and members of the press stood there waiting for Kise to leave his room.
Kagami sighs and fixed his favourite baseball cap in his head before crossing his arms over his chest.
"We can't get Kise like this, they'll see us." Kagami says.
"We won't if Kagami-kun would just stop talking." Kuroko says making Kagami's eyebrow twitch.
The four wore their best yet the most casual disguise. Kagami wore a simple black shirt and a baseball cap, while Kuroko wore a simple gray sweater and black framed glasses, Takao wore a black tinted sunglasses and dressed down to a worn out jeans, Furihata almost a similar eyeglasses with Kuroko and a baseball cap.
"But seriously though, why can't people stay out of Kise-kun's personal life?" Furihata adds.
Kuroko sighs as he takes his phone from his pocket and starts to type a message.
"It's the price of fame Furihata-kun." Kuroko replies with his monotonous voice.
Furihata finds himself blinking at Kuroko's words, it is as if Kuroko knows this too well and somehow, he could sense a bitterness in it. He finds himself looking at Kagami who somehow noticed this as well and is looking at Kuroko with his usual concerned expression—often mistaken as glaring.
"But I have faith in Kise-kun." Kuroko adds.
When Kuroko's phone lit up again with a new message, Kuroko straighten up and looks at the rest of the band.
"Let's go rescue some damsel in distress?"
Takao chuckles, Furihata and Kagami stares at him with confusion before quickly following Kuroko towards one of the room in the hallways, four rooms away from where the press and media are. Without even bothering to knock Kuroko grabs the doorknob and opens it.
To the three's surprise a very familiar blonde greets them wearing a simple white button up shirt.
"Hi guys." Kise greets in a hushed voice and his usual bright smile.
"H-How…" Kagami blinks.
"I had Kise-kun book two rooms, one in his name and one to someone else's name." Kuroko explains.
"So that's why you've been texting since we got here." Takao says.
Kuroko nods before looking again at Kise, "We should get away before the press realizes."
Kise smiles, Kuroko steps aside and allows Kise to get out of the room. As soon as Kise closes the door, Kuroko knows what would happen next.
.
.
.
"Isn't that…Kise-san?"
One reporter stood straight seeing Kise's back turned to them with four other young men.
"It's Kise-san!"
Kise hears his name but he doesn't look, he feels Takao takes his wrist and before he knew it they were running. Kuroko led ran behind him, on his right is Furihata, and behind them is Kagami. He could hear Takao laughing and Kagami cursing in English. Somehow this doesn't seem as frightening as he imagined it would be.
A warm feeling spreads in his chest, to be honest, Kise wasn't the best kind of friend and yet-
Tears starts to stream down Kise's face without him knowing.
He avoided calling Kuroko, he kept things from him and yet he ran to him even without Kise having to ask for help. He never asked for anything in return which made him quite guilty. He is unfair but Kuroko never complained.
He was always there, even if once he they left him…all by himself.
Kise remembers the day he saw Kuroko on TV plagued by the reporters asking about his true family, Kuroko was alone, Kise never called him then…he didn't even dare to ask then how was he holding up. He was a coward…and that very person, that fragile, scared and small soul then just ran to his rescue—like a brave knight.
"What the fuck?!" Kagami exclaims, "Why the hell are you crying for right now?"
"I'm just happy." Kise answers with a smile.
"This is fun." Takao says chuckling.
"You are all crazy!" Kagami exclaims.
Kuroko has changed, he's braver…Kise could only wish he was just like him.
"They're getting close." Kuroko says between his heaving.
"Kuroko-kun are you alright?" Furihata asks as he realize Kuroko's sweating.
Kuroko nods as he follows the group down the emergency stairs.
"I'm just not good with running."
Kagami sighs and stops, "I'll carry you in my ba—Ouch!"
Kuroko quickly cuts Kagami with a sharp jab in the taller male's side, "Stop spouting nonsense now, Kagami-kun."
"You look like you're gonna faint any moment."
"If they figure out who we are, this will be another problem not to mention they see me getting carried by you."
Kagami realizes the thought and was about to answer when Kuroko starts to pull him down to the stairs to start running down. The group runs down as they hear the sound of the press following them. After a few more flight of stairs, the group found themselves in the lobby of the hotel.
Kuroko almost toppled over from exhaustion, Kagami is quick enough to hoist the other up.
"Can you stand?" Kagami asks.
Kuroko nods and catches his breathe before standing back to his own feet. The group look around wondering where should they go from that point, it won't be long until the press catches them , if that happens even the people in the lobby would realize who they are. Kise could feel the adrenaline pumping in his body, his ears are starting to make small static noises again making him cringe a bit. They need to think now.
"Where should we go?" Kagami asks Kuroko.
"I…I haven't planned that part yet." Kuroko admits making Kagami sighs.
"Guys?"
Kuroko turns around to where Furihata is looking at and finds the group of reporters running towards them.
"I-I think we should really run now." Furihata says.
The brunet is about to say something again when he feels someone grab his arm, looking to his side he found a man wearing a casual blue button up shirt. Furihata squirms away quickly upon finding the man's ID with the word PRESS on the bottom.
"You are with Kise-san, yes?"
"Oi—huh?"
Kagami is about to push the man away from Furihata when a man in a black suit grabs the reporter first by his collar and pushes him away. The reporter glares back at the man but the man stares back, the intimidating aura of the man in the black suit quickly made the reporter scamper away.
"W-What…" Furihata gasps at the sight.
"Come with me please." The man in the black suit says before bowing his head, "I was asked to bring you all to safety."
"Who are—"
"Lead us." Kuroko says calmly, cutting Kagami again.
The man nods and quickly escorted them out. Carefully the man puts a hand on Furihata's back as he leads them to the basement parking lot of the hotel.
.
.
.
"Is anyone hurt?" The man in the black suit asks as he drives towards the familiar road.
"No, we're fine." Kuroko answers.
The ride is quiet, Kise glances at Kuroko who stares straight at the rear view mirror, in the teal haired musician's hand is his phone ready to call the police if needed. He's guarded, Kise knows Kuroko doesn't fully trust the man however for some reason he doesn't fully distrust him as well.
"That is good." The man replies before glancing quickly at Furihata who sat at the passenger seat. "I shall drive you to the Tokyo Peninsula."
"Why there?" Kise asks.
"Someone is waiting for you there."
Kise blinks, "M-Me?"
"Yes."
Kuroko furrows his eyebrows at the man's words.
"Who is in Tokyo Peninsula, what's there?" Kuroko asks, his tone guarded making Kagami put his defences high as well.
The man doesn't answer instead turns on the radio of his car.
"We are live right now in Tokyo Peninsula for Aomine Daiki's press conference. Three hours ago, Aomine-san's plane landed from New York from his TV drama shoot, the former boy band member, currently actor and artist, immediately called out for a forum."
Kise's eyes widen at Aomine's name, he leaned forward making sure he is hearing everything correctly.
"Did Aomine-kun inform you he's returning today?"
Kise shakes his head at Kuroko's question. Aomine did say he will be returning soon but he has no idea that it is today. And what's with this sudden press conference, why does he feel uneasy?
There are noises from the radio that Kise assumes to be the people and reporters live from the scene.
"Aomine-san has arrived, he will be delivering his announcement soon."
Kise could almost hear the sound of his own heartbeat, his palms sweats as the anxious noise fills in. He could picture Aomine walking up to the makeshift stage, there in the table alone, beside him will be Momoi.
What on earth is Aomine Daiki planning?
"Good evening."
Kise feels his heart stops as he hears Aomine's familiar voice on the tiny speakers of the car's radio.
"Sorry for calling out so suddenly. I think I need to do this now. It can't wait." There is small pause before he continues, "I've been in the industry since I was a teen, back then I was naïve, I sung and performed until the flames burnt out, honestly speaking, I thought there was nothing more important than fame. I sing and perform for fame.
But somebody made me realize that's not really true. I thought that there is nothing that can weigh more than this. But in the past few months and days, I realized that is not the case, I have been wrong all my life, because there is something more important than that."
Kise's eyes widen, "W-What is Aominecchi…saying, K-Kurokocchi, a-am I…a-are my ears playing tricks again to me?"
Kuroko press his lips in a thin line. He can't believe what he is hearing either.
"H-He doesn't mean—"
"What I want to say is, this is probably the last press conference I will do for a while."
Kise closes his eyes as he starts to shake, he wants to stop him.
"I'm retiring."
"No." Kise says outloud feeling hot tears stream down his face, "W-Why, what is he doing?"
"There is a person that I want to be with, I'm scared that because of who I am…who we are, we cannot have what we wish to have. I'm scared that I can't be with that person because of the things I have to do. And right now, I know that more than anything, that person needs me." Aomine pauses and there was a sound of something shuffling before he continues, "I want to lift their burden with my own hands, I want to be there when the music no longer plays, I want to be there just like how that person was there even if I didn't look. It's not because I owe that person, no, I'm not that kind…I'm greedy and that is why I made this decision."
Kise started to cry loud in the car as the hotel comes to the view. Kuroko could only sympathize, however, somehow he understood what Aomine wants.
Sometimes, to obtain something one must let go of something as well.
"Thank you for the support you've shown to me until now, I'm sorry."
As soon as the car stops, Kuroko opens the door to his side quickly and steps out allowing Kise to leave as well. The blonde doesn't wait and runs to the hotel as quickly as he can.
Kise couldn't wait, he pushes aside the guards and runs to the hotel lobby, he probably doesn't look like he's in his best shape but that's least of his concern at the moment. With tears stained face, the blonde starts to look for where could the press conference is.
The blond whips his head as he hears the sound of cameras clicking and chattering noises, turning towards the direction of the noise he spots a the conference door opening, Aomine who is taller than most stood out from the crowd, his face looks tired and he had bags under his eyes. He frowns at the questions being thrown right at him and he simply looks away. He starts to walk towards Kise's direction.
"Aominecchi."
It isn't loud, it is almost like a whisper but for some reason Aomine's eyes quickly shot towards Kise. His eyes widen, and he started sprinting towards Kise.
Kise smiles but turns around to run to the back exit of the building where camera would not be able to follow. Aomine follows him shortly, leaving the reporters in Momoi's care. He didn't need Kise to spell it out for him.
As soon as Aomine finds the blond in the back of the building, alone in the quiet and vast parking lot, Aomine walks to him.
"Kise today I—"
As soon as Aomine is arm's length from Kise, the blond turns and slaps him across the face. Aomine's eyes widen, he really felt that one. His cheeks burn and it probably is red right at that moment.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!" Kise exclaims as tears stream down in his face, "Why did you do that?"
"So you know, huh."
"Don't sass me!" Kise replies, "You have a great world right there, why are you doing this?"
"Didn't I tell you to give me one month to fix this?"
"Fix, by retiring? Aominecchi this is your life!"
"My life is not just my career!"
"All these years, your career, you're just throwing it away?"
"And so what if I am?"
"What the hell are you saying Aominecchi?"
"You." Aomine says, "You are my life, and I can't imagine leaving one second again."
Kise's eyes widen.
"I want to take care of you, is that too much?"
"M-Me? B-But I-I…if I become…when I become deaf I…I'm not—"
"Then all the more reasons I want to be with you."
"Aominecchi you don't have to do this—"
Aomine sighs, "You don't get it do you?"
"You think I'm doing this because I pity you?" Aomine says, "I do this because I want to, even when you can no longer hear me, even if you can't sing the same way, or even if you started to look ugly."
"I'm not going to get ugly!"
Aomine laughs and pulls Kise close to him.
He has spoken with Momoi right after they arrived in America that he will be retiring soon knowing fully that it won't be long until Kise gives up his career in the music industry as well. Seeing Kise handle his burdens on his own made Aomine sick to the pits of his stomach, he didn't have to but he does because he cannot afford to worry Aomine.
Every single day Aomine thinks of Kise having to battle his days and episodes on his own, trying to hide from the rest of the world, he felt helpless and useless. Kise has been brave but Aomine knows there has to be a limit to that.
When things no longer goes right, when the world feels unfair and angry at him, when faith seems cruel and when it hurts, Aomine wants to be there, even just to hold his hand or wipe his tears.
"Just…let me take care of you, please listen to me once."