WELCOME BACK TO MIZUIRO TO BENI KOI! *CRAZY DANCING* Ahahahaah I'm so sorry for being s late with the update I was a bit shuffling with a lot of stuff going on including finishing my art stuff for the Yuri on Ice convention in the Philippines, and finishing all my requirements for work. Yep so I actually have a work now so I would probably need a week or two to adjust so the update for the next chapter might come a bit later. Also with the YOICon if you guys are around the area please come visit our booth and we're called Juicecolored Co. which you can also search on Facebook(Juicecolored Co. is read as Dyos Ko Lord Ko in Filipino/Tagalog which in english translates roughly to Oh my God). Anyways if you have time I hope you guys visit our Facebook page and maybe give it a share or like *puppy dog eyes* and if you have the chance to visit our booth at YOICON please come and help us by buying some of our merch *sparkly eyes* and you may even get a free hug! Or a random manga (in English).
Anyways enough with the promotion, we are now in Chapter 35 and we are actually nearing the end, can you believe it? I can't. Ahahahaha anyways, more spices with Furi's mom and what does this bring for our band and to Akafuri? Will this make or break them? And how will the band react to Furihata's mother's interview? ARE YOU GUYS EXCITED?! I SURE AM!
Again thank you for everyone who left their reviews you guys are the best, and yep I really feel you guys with Furi's mom. I usually read fanfics where Furi grows up in a very supporting environment, like he became the way he is because his mom is nice and his dad, then his brother or siblings, but i wanted to portray Furi here in a different light. I wanted his character to be innately strong not because of anyone but his own resolve to be one. He's like 'I want to be nice because I know what it feels like to be treated like shit so I wont let anyone I love go through that'. Its really fun to experiment on his background since there isn't much about him in the canon series so yeah. Also I want to make a statement on his character that not all people who comes from such families, not everyone who was treated badly will turn out as bad people or something like that, I guess ^^;
Finally guys ahahaah this one is true, I'll leave you guys so have fun reading and I hope you like it! Please do review and lemme know what you think!
I LOVE YOU ALL!
Chapter 35: Lost One's Weeping
"Kagami-san what can you say about the accusation of Furihata Ami-san that your band forced her son to join your band and blackmailing him with the secret of his identity?"
"Kuroko-san what do you have to say about this issue?"
"Takao-san do you have any comments on the accusations?"
"Is any of these true?"
Aida sighs and rubs the heel of her palm to her forehead before turning off the television in her office. It is only one night and everything spread like a wildfire, they are obviously taken aback by the sudden revelation of Furihata's mother. She came out without even a foreshadowing like a treacherous thief. Aida couldn't help but click her tongue, she's seen the her kinds before in the industry, vicious and hungry for power and fame. She would do everything to get the things she wants and mercilessly destroy anything that stands in her way, a manipulative and ambitious woman.
"Can you believe this woman's Furihata's mom? Our Furihata's mother?!" Aida exclaims.
Kiyoshi chuckles ruefully. The dark brown haired man stands beside Aida's desk looking at her. The man quickly went to see his friend and ex-girlfriend after finding out the news on her favourite talents. He knew by heart now that every talent she manages she treats like a family and the scandal is not any simple thing that could be solved with silence.
"Well unfortunately." He says.
Aida wants to bang her head to the nearest wall, Furihata Kouki, their meek, humble and sweet Furihata Kouki is the son of this pride driven liar. She couldn't even find the resemblance of their personality and honestly Aida is thankful for that. And though that makes Aida feel better it doesn't necessarily solves the issue at hand.
This vicious wolf dressed in human flesh went to have an exclusive interview only to say that his son was forced into the industry—her poor feeble hearted son or so she says was forced by Kagami and Takao to join their small band because they knew about his family background and thought he would be wonderful musician. In exchange for keeping his secret the boy was said to been held back in the band even to the extent that the boy was cut off from communicating to them—his parents. To anyone who truly knew Furihata and the boys would know none of those are actually true. It was to Furihata's own volition to hide the fact that he is the youngest son of the music industry's Furihata couple.
"Don't they even want to question the fact that this woman has kept the fact that she has actually three kids not just two?!" Aida exclaims, "The kid was practically parentless until yesterday night when she in her fake tears told the world that his youngest son, her third child, was blackmailed into joining Hikari no Ou!"
"It is a very small detail and it could escape anyone's who is more focused on the issue at hand." Kiyoshi says, "You know how powerful a mother's appeal is when it comes to this kinds of things."
Aida sighs, that is true certainly. In the thousands of scandals and issues in the entertainment industry one of the most difficult to simmer down is when it is an appeal of a parent, especially a mother. They say men are strong but so are women's tears. People would sympathize with her as she is a mother and a woman, helpless and weak—or so they say.
"What do you plan?"
Aida groans, that's the problem.
"I don't know yet."
"Well there's always the option to have Furihata out and ask him to deny everything."
Aida frowns and looks up at Kiyoshi, her brown eyes sharp.
"Don't make me cut your balls right now Teppei."
Kiyoshi feels a nervous sweat trickles down the side of his head, and this is why people should never undermine women, he thought. They may look calm, docile and small but they're actually fearless and when angered monstrous. The man tries to ease the other with a smile.
"I was just stating the options here."
"No." Aida says quickly, "I can't…I know Kuroko wouldn't let me do that either. Furihata is far too important to us, he is more than any talent for me and his bandmates, to ask him to abandon his mother…it's simply something we can't do."
"But you're running out of time, in a few days they'll be holding their first major live performance."
Aida sinks quietly in her seat, finger tapping on the wooden table. They don't have much time, Kiyoshi is right. If worse comes to worst what should she do? She can't just put a band-aid over it and be done with it, it's bigger than that.
"I—"
"Aida-san!"
Aida in surprise quickly stands up from her seat, a female assistant stands by the door of her office eyes wide and panting. This certainly can't be good news.
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2 hours earlier.
Furihata sat in the corner booth of a restaurant inside a small hotel in Roppongi. His fingers fiddle with his phone, he shuts his eyes which has been quite red now from crying so much last night. After Akashi kindly brought him back to his apartment, the small bliss was quickly cut by Kuroko's phone call the sound of his mother's voice blarring from the television. His bits down his lips as he held back another wave of tears.
Why is she doing this, he wants to ask, why would she blame his friends? Just when things is getting better for their band, why now? His hands clutches his phone tightly at the thought of everyone suffering because of him. He dragged them in that mess, they didn't have to be there but it was because of him. Aida had told him first thing in the morning to avoid being seen in public and more specifically with the bandmates in hope to calm the issue first.
But Furihata knows his mother well, there is no calming her down unless she gets what she wants. He wants to be small right then, to disappear and spare everyone else the difficulty. But if he does disappear…Kuroko, Takao, Kagami, Kise, Aomine, Aida and Akashi, what about them? If he does that he would truly become a coward and Kuroko believes in him so much he cannot let that be true.
He have to fight somehow…he just don't know how.
This is his mother, he loves her no matter what circumstances they've been in the past, she is still the woman who gave birth to him. But…it's just difficult to be alright with what she wants.
"Furi?"
Furihata opens his eyes and turns quickly to the side, suddenly every ounce of angst in his body is washed by the sight of his friends there. He stands up and quickly runs towards Takao who engulfs him in a warm and kind embrace. Beside the raven haired bassist is Kuroko and Kagami both smiling wryly at him. The warmth of Takao's arms wrapped around his shaking frame made him feel reassured, like a mother he never had. He could hear the other's small hiccups while he holds him.
"You're okay?" Takao asks as he pulls away and looks at him, "D-Did the press see you, were you hurt by them? D-Do you think you need to get a bodyguard or something?"
Furihata smiles kindly, "I'm alright now."
"Are you sure Furihata-kun?" Kuroko asks in a very low voice, his blue eyes that is often blank is obviously filled now with concern.
The brunet nods. He looks at Kagami who looks at him with similar concern. Despite the mess he brought to them instead of scolding him and reprimanding him for the fact that he kept things from them. They are indeed very kind, too kind, to deserve someone like him.
"I'm so sorry." Furihata mutters quietly. "This is all because of me."
Takao sighs and shakes his head.
"Don't blame this on yourself, that's not true." Takao says, he pulls Furihata by the arm to face him, his silver blue eyes stares at the other's mocha brown eyes. "Listen to me, you did nothing wrong."
"But I lied."
"And I allowed you to." Kuroko says making Takao turn to him. "If you are at fault then so am I."
"What do you mean?" Kagami asks.
Kuroko looks at Furihata with an apologetic look.
"I've known…for bit of a time." Kuroko confesses, "I had a hunch from the moment you devised the plan to had me sing with Kagami-kun. There aren't a lot of people who would recognize or take the risk with my type of range but you did. I thought from then on there was something special about Furihata-kun…I…looked over you."
"You investigated Furi?!" Kagami says in disbelief.
Kuroko purses his lips and nods.
"K-Kuroko!" Takao exclaims with a scolding tone. "That is so wrong."
"I know I'm sorry." Kuroko admits. He looks up at Furihata and repeats his words again, "I am sorry."
"B-But why?" Furihata asks, "Why would you do something like that?"
"At first I just wanted to know how Furihata-kun could have known my circumstances, I was merely curious…but I…I found out about Furihata-kun's family and…" Kuroko trails and he finds his hands clenching to a fist in his side at the memory. The moment he found out about the way Furihata was treated by his family as if he never existed in the first place his stomach flips upside down. He wanted to vomit. "I couldn't…the thought of it, I just can't."
Kagami's eyes widen at Kuroko's words, flashbacks of Kuroko's words return to swiftly.
"I used to loathe Akashi-kun…but now I understand him."
"I know it's wrong, and I understand Furihata-kun respects and cares for me and for that I have no warrant to do what I did. I have no excuse for the actions I took, I only have my own selfishness, my own need to keep you safe… for my own happiness." Kuroko says quietly. "For my selfishness I apologize, for doing things on my own and invading your privacy, I truly am sorry…but for keeping your mother away from you I cannot apologize, I cannot apologize for the efforts I did to have you hidden from her eyes. I will do it again and again."
There is a brief silence between them before Furihata reaches towards Kuroko and took the other's clench fist in his hand.
"Thank you." Furihata says in a kind voice, "I see what you're feeling."
"I'm sorry I can't keep her away, I guess I…failed."
Furihata shakes his head and looks at his friend with a sincerest smile.
"Don't blame this on yourself Kuroko-kun." Furihata says, "You did what you thought you have to and I guess that's why you're so awesome."
Kuroko furrows his eyebrows in confusion.
"Are you not angry at all at me?" Kuroko asks, "What I did was despicable, what I did was extremely selfish."
"I know, but you were doing it to protect me."
"A protection you didn't ask for."
Furihata nods but smiles nonetheless. There is silence between them for a short while before the brunet begins to speak.
"For a long while I was used to doing things with my own power, when I left home and decided to be my own person, I've done everything on my own, I paid my own school fees, attended meetings that was supposed for parents because I couldn't call them or have them appear there to acknowledge me as their…disappointment of a son, I bought my own food, cooked them, I sat in my room alone in every new year's day, when I was sick I sent myself to the hospital…there was…no one there to bother. I don't even know how to ask for help…I've forgotten how to." Furihata says in a quiet voice. "I've never thought anyone would come to have the urge to defend me. I was always taught that I must earn my place in people's lives and my incompetence makes that just…difficult. And so even if I didn't ask for your protection, just the thought that you wanted me safe is more than enough, no matter what the reason is, even if it was simply for your own ease of mind."
Takao shifts his eyes from Furihata to Kuroko, very few people notice this, however if it was Takao who will speak if there is anyone in the world who understood Furihata's feelings more than anything it must be Kuroko. Though Kuroko had his extreme ways unlike Furihata who remains true to his meek nature, they're similarities doesn't go too far apart.
Perhaps it was because Kuroko experienced battling a war on his own without anyone's help that he knew how difficult it was, how dreadful each second was like knowing nobody was there to take your hand and ran away with you, or at the very least wipe your tears or whisper a cheer. He knew how awful it was and he didn't want anyone ever to suffer that same feeling.
Takao sighs, well if Furihata can forgive Kuroko for that then he doesn't really have the right to remain petulant. He looks at Kagami and smiles at the red head who nods in acknowledgement. Well that settles them for now. Honestly, Takao could care less about whatever agenda Furihata's mother has, what he cares would be Furihata himself.
"If you are alright that's more than enough." Takao says with a smile.
"Well I still don't know what your mother wants and is planning but whatever." Kagami says with a shrug, "What matters is what you want."
Furihata smiles, "Thank you everyone."
"And what do you want Furihata-kun?"
"I—"
"Sir?"
Furihata is cut short when a waiter approaches him, in a quiet voice the man speaks.
"There's someone here for you, what should we say sir?"
Furihata blinks, for him? Aside from Kuroko, Kagami, Takao and Aida—who paid for the stay in that hotel lobby and security—nobody is supposed to know he's here. He furrows his eyebrows, could it be the press? His heart hammers quickly in his chest at the thought.
"Well…I…I can't—"
"Kouki."
Furihata's eyes widen at the sound of the familiar voice calling his name, he quickly turns to where the man stands and just as he suspects Akashi Seijuuro in all his grace is there. Kuroko however doesn't seem to share the same surprised awe the brunet has at the red head's presence, the teal haired musician's mood quickly turns sour. Kagami not trusting the red head after their encounters quickly stands between the brunet and Akashi ready to defend the smaller male in case.
"What are you doing here Akashi-kun?" Kuroko says with a frown.
"You are not what I came for Testuya." Akashi says, "I wish to speak to Furihata Kouki."
"How dare you." Kuroko spat with venom dripping from his tone.
"These people cannot keep him from me, how do you think you are any more than capable of doing more." Akashi says clearly irked by the other's display of anger at him.
"K-Kuroko-kun please—"
"Are you still not satisfied?" Kuroko says, "You want to destroy us now? Is this your doing too?"
"What?" Akashi says, "I have told you I know nothing of this—"
"Oh spare the fake innocence Akashi-kun, it doesn't look good at you."
"Tetsuya I came here to speak with Furihata Kouki that is all I need—"
"And what?" Kuroko says, "Would you do the same thing as you did to me? Is that it Akashi-kun did I got it?"
Akashi couldn't say anything back. The anger in Kuroko's eyes are wild and ever consuming, usually he would mock it however he couldn't help but shift his gaze and attention at the brunet behind Kagami. The shaking brunet stands there with his eyes filled with worry. He can see with the redness of the other's eyes and the thought of the brunet crying flips a protective switch inside him.
Before Akashi could process the thought he finds himself rushing towards Furihata with an arm stretched towards him in attempt to reach him but before he could even reach him he feels a force pulling the fabric of his shirt and the next thing he knew was a strong punch lands right in his cheek surprising him and causing him to stumble in his feet. Losing his balance he finds himself colliding with a table with a loud crash.
Akashi's eyes lifts to his assailant and his mismatched eyes lands right at the familiar powder blue ones.
"If you dare try to harm any of the ones I love again, I will never forgive you and I will curse you until the earth rots with me." Kuroko says as he stares down at the red head shaking with the intensity of his emotions.
"No!"
Akashi's eyes widen when he hears Furihata's exclamation, the brunet walks towards Akashi and stands between the red head and Kuroko.
"No more please, Kuroko-kun please." Furihata begs, "Please."
Kuroko shifts his gaze between Furihata and Akashi and presses his lips to a thin line.
"I…I'm sorry." Kuroko says.
"Kuroko?"
Kuroko looks up at Kagami and the man frowns before gesturing towards the other side of the restaurant, a few of the guests have stood up to look over their booth and some are already taking pictures of the scene. Kuroko's eyes widen and he quickly removes his own gray hooded jacket to drape it around Furihata. Takao swiftly takes Furihata by the arm and shielded him from the other's gaze before wordlessly slipping the brunet away. Kagami follows the two while Kuroko remained still for a while.
He turns one last time towards Akashi.
"Prove to me you are really the man Furihata-kun thinks you are."
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"Daiki!"
Aomine groans against the his pillow as he feels Kise tapping him in the back. He cracks one eye open and finds Kise sitting in the edge of their bed holding a tablet, Aomine sits up and pulls Kise against his body and propping his chin lazily against the blonde's shoulder. He kisses his neck lovingly as a greeting though it is obvious it's quite early—too early. The sky outside is still pitch black and the only light in their room is their dim soft light lamp in the side of their bed and the awfully bright gadget in Kise's hand.
"'m too tired to watch porn Ryou." Aomine jokes with his sleepy voice.
Kise grumbles something under his breath before elbowing Aomine.
"You're such a perv Daiki!" Kise replies with a pout. Aomine lifts his head up and realizes Kise is wearing his hearing aid already which means he has been up for a while. "This is no laughing matter!"
"Hm?"
"Momoicchi called just now and she sent me something." Kise lifts the tablet for Aomine to see and the man almost finds his eyes widening like a saucer at the headline.
"What the fuck?"
"Hikari no Ou's musician punched the executive director of Rakuzan Records at a hotel restaurant."
Below the headline is slightly blurry picture of a teal haired guy seemingly towering over the red head who down on the floor along with a fallen table and decorations. Behind the teal head are three other figures, a tall red head, a brown head and a jet black haired guy.
"Is that…Akashi?"
"I-I think so, I-I mean there's no other Executive Director for Rakuzan except…Akashicchi right?"
Aomine stares at the image again, his sleepiness has faded away.
"They're royally fucked."
"Understatement."
...
Akashi could hear Mebuchi talking and panicking beside him however his words barely registers in his mind, his heart aches so much more than the sting of the bruise in his lip brought by Kuroko's punch. His mind plays the image of Furihata Kouki's shivering and helpless figure behind Kagami as he gaze as him. He feels like a fish lifted off the water at the sight of the brunet's helplessness, he wants to immediately wrap his arms around him and protect him from the rest of the world. There is no words fit to describe the hurt he feels just seeing the other like that.
He cannot remember him, he doesn't even know him more than what the papers tell him but he doesn't doubt his value to him, every ache and every skip of his heartbeat told him long tales. It was like an insatiable craving for a foreign touch, like a small cry of longing a stupid emotion he had proved to himself only brought upon is destruction of the other. This feeling is way too dangerous.
And perhaps Kuroko is right to not trust him, perhaps it was right thing to do…but it hurts so much like an invisible hand gripping his pitiful patched up heart.
He clenches his hand and closes his eyes as he tries to remind himself of the brief warmth of the brunet's embrace and the feeling of his fingertips.
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"Kouki."