LIKE A BIRD
CHAPTER 2
AKASHI SEIJURO
" It is at this hour that I am in my right mind, it is all the rest of the day that I am enchanted."
The music ends well despite of a certain jet blue haired guy has messed up the whole music. Taking off sync - with his so called rap. But to the audience it was probably Aomine-sama doing his new adjustment. It was nothing ordinary, really. Aomine always doing his own style whenever, wherever, whatever he wants regardless of what have been practiced. Even Akashi didn't bother like usual today.
Kise was whispering- scolding Aomine for his roughness in their performance in Akashi's place, but Aomine is Aomine. He, as usual paid no attention to whatever problems he was being point at, and continue taking his drink, while Murasakibara was indulging himself with the snacks given by Akashi after their performance end. Nobody seems to care.
Then, Midorima being the best of friends of the mighty Akashi has notice the insignificant abnormalities ever since after that small scene at the back stage. Akashi Seijuro has not utter a word about the messed up song and sat silently at his round table where their guests seat were placed at, red eyes fixated at certain place on the stage strictly. They were blank, accompanied with overwhelming annoyance aura that envelop that small figure. Midorima brought his hand to chin, evil glint in his green and red eyes, staring, like a cobra seeking it's prey,vigilantly, deducing things that lurks in the shadows. Small grin hidden behind his hand, with calculated glare, studying that face of the emperor for a sign.
The man has suddenly changed -
"Akashi. What has gone into you?"
He was silent few seconds before answering, "Nothing significant."
'Right. He has totally lose it.' But he never bite. Not in Akashi's words and not in his face. "Really?" he take a sips of water, ignoring the bickering noise of Kise and Aomine's stupid argument -something about unrealistic musics and in-originality talent. Oh Midorima knows really well who he meant. He smirked deviously. He admit that the couple's voice was lovely, but something was lacking.
Akashi smirk down onto his glass of red wine, "Its nothing really. Just thinking that tomorrow I will have to face the devil face of my father if it got in the paper."
"Sure will! Akashichin! What have you been thinking?! Kissing that girl at the back stage?" Kise whispered ecstatically, hardly called whispers if it can be heard three tables radius. Akashi just grunt at the whispered-ness and push Kise's face aback.
"What- you two have been eaves dropping as well?" The redhead asked furiously but he didn't want the answer anyway. "Do you think I'm doing it not knowing the consequences?" he smirk, "It is a befitting payment."
Now, Midorima was wondering who was it he meant.
XXXXXXXX
"Kuroko, it's time. Pay attention."
The stadium crowd went wild when the drums took over the final beat. Her heart was thumping together with the drums. Its beating wildly that she thought she could have lost it there. The crowd was shouting, squealing their favorite singers and she heard her name was one of them. Then, the spotlight washed her eyes in whiteness, and flashes in her place.
"THE WINNER IS KAGATETSU MONOGATARI!"
An the crowd cooed happily at them. Even if Tetsumi has seen this coming, but she was still petrified. Did she really win the first prize? She can't believe it at all. She was just a student, yet she won the prize. She felt like crying but her face wasn't appealing with emotion at all. Kagami stood up first leaning a hand on her way, grinning widely, "Let's go Tetsu!"
Smiling sincerely which was one of the rare-est he could ever seen, Kagami was astounded and enchanted. His cheeks flushed a bit at her sudden affectionate face. "Kuroko, you're cute, undoubtedly, and you deserve it. Let's go." He smiled.
The bluenette smiled back at him and took the hand which accepted hers tenderly, Kagami had never been this tender before. She was surprised but was too surprised to made a surprise face. She walked up the stairs leniently and rather a bit awkward since she was wearing the long blue 'frozen like dress' matches to her warm blue hair which was braided. She looked stunning, but undoubtedly to stiff, but her awkwardness is cute to see. Kagami held her hands and ushered her to the MC and prize.
She hold the mike, "Ah- right -ano- uhm, Thank you...for the proze." but she failed to say rightly and turned flush at that and looked at Kagami, face tinted red. Kagami sighed, she's tongue-tied when she has to speak in public and he take that as a hint to take charge and says his peace of mind.
"Thank you so much to all for your votes and support, thank you judges for kind judgment, and thanks for our manager, Ogiwara for helping us a lot! Thank you all!"
And with that, they went down the stage. Kagami was holding that small hand in his, intertwined them together. Kuroko was looking too lost, and he was worried that the girl might probably be lost some way or another. Then, both of them headed to the back stage and never return to their seat.
A pair of mismatched eyes was staring menacingly towards the couple. Kise swear he heard a spark of broken wood and was surprised to see, Akashi holding a broken pencil. He started sweating profusely, afraid what was coming from his leader - since Akashi was grinning faintly under his fedora.
Nobody dared to say anything and let the day end calmly.
XXXXXXXXX
The next day.
Kuroko was not really a morning person, she wake up feeling very sleepy and take out her vanilla yogurt from the fridge and drank it up. The yogurt taste really good after waking up. And later, she might be able to do her routine essay writing on 'why I should limit my time for work than school'.for her homeroom teacher. Man, she hate it, really. But she really had missed many classes since she was so into practice for Monogatari Competition. Finally, its weekend, and she believes her misery ends after the competition and take her day off at leisure. Even Ogiwara-kun was saying- no, he stubbornly insisted that she should not go out today for the weekend and for the next 2-3 days and just rest at home. She felt weird, but didn't bother to ask anyway and took that advised in a good way. However -
"Kuroko!"
A certain redhead had made her day so alert in early morning. Kagami was shouting her name from before he reached her home and when he does, he rammed through the door till it loses hinge.
Kuroko was surprised but was too surprised that she still cannot expressed it on her face, "Why Kagami-kun? You looked...so...tore?" She tilted her head to one side, she was beyond confused.
"Kuroko! Didn't you read the newspaper today!? Your face was on the page, 1st page to top off!" Kuroko still looked unimpressed.
"So?"
"Did you see it?!" Kagami then open the paper on the 1st page for the girl to read. "You and that rotten redhead guy become the headline!"
'Akashi has made his love a public in the Monogatari Competition.' She read out.
"So, what's that got to do with me?"
Kagami was turning beast, "Didn't you see that blue haired girl at that side!? It was you! You! But your face fully covered by his head! Thank god!" Kagami screamed hysterically.
"So?" She asked again, with calm face. But, Kagami realized, that she did cringe her eyebrows a bit. Kagami then face palmed before he cupped her face in his hands and close their distance.
"Kuroko Tetsumi, he kissed you. People will get to know who that girl is."
"Really? Don't worry, I'm not that visible. Nobody will pay attention." She said as she pulled away her face calmly and walked to the door, and closed it off.
Kagami had his hand to his chin, thinking. "Yeah. You're right. Do you think I will say that?! It's Akashi you idiot. That man has so many influence to the world society! And you're just starting your debut!"
The bluenette just laugh it off, "Kagami-kun, I believe it was only yesterday you heard his name and met him." Kuroko blue cerulean eyes squinting closely to his face, "Don't tell me you googled him yesterday?"
"No -no way! Who would google his name! Who doesn't know Akashi was a indeed - a weird person. And that's not me!" He says and the girl smile teasingly as she notice the tinted of red on his cheek.
"Kagami-kun, you worried too much." and she tapped his shoulder and flinched at the wetness of his shirt from the long run. Now, she notice how worried and surprised Kagami was when he read that news. And she knows well, she should not laugh at him, but she did. She walked to her closet and pulled out a towel for him. "I'm sorry. Thank you Kagami-kun." She glanced down to the tile before looking at his face again, smiling. She really appreciate him for being a worry-wart for her, if he was not here to tell her, she might be laughing stock or something for not knowing. Honestly, she has not think any of that consequences. 'Perhaps, Ogiwara-kun has also seen this coming and that's why he put me on day off.'
Kagami took that towel and wipe his neck before he sling it on his shoulder, and saw the bluenette was in daze again. "Kuroko?"
She startle a bit at her name called, "Don't worry Kagami-kun, I can used him as my stepping stone." she beamed cheerfully- well, not so clarity to him. "And if he come and get me again like last time, I will punch him greatly." She made a fist of confidence in front of his face.
He indeed speechless as he saw that small smile and that small weak fist and brought her fist down. Not so convincing, he thought. "Kagami..kun?" She was very positive and enthusiastic girl. She really believes in herself. And she strives more than others. She wants to be a singer more than others. She loves singing more than others. She is that kind of girl and for that I-
He pulled her head close to his chest in his warm embrace, "Tetsu, I'll do the punch. You just stay yourself."
She was surprised that he pulled her in soft embrace and feeling awkward and embarrass as well. Did he notice? How did he know...that she need this. She clutched onto his shirt, hands a bit trembling, face deepen into his broad chest, "Kagami-kun, I'll be doing good, right? Right? The news will go away, right?"
Her questions was so out of character, so far from what he knew of her, he just stared at her open mouthed and caressed her soft hair to her cheek. Her cerulean blue eyes sparkled with small tears that started to pool. Her face showed no emotion, but he realized from her character, that she was afraid to lose. His brain formulated no thoughts other than to register that he was right to worry and shocked that she actually cared.
He closed his mouth, then looked at the door before glancing back up to catch her eyes. "You will do well, Tetsu. Don't worry." was all he could say.
"I believe in you, Kagami-kun." she paused before mumbling against his chest again, "Because, if I don't, I'll be - ruined."
If he was not alert, he wouldn't have notice that Kuroko Tetsumi actually cried. He didn't notice her facade from her attitude and character. Was she this worried from yesterday? And the memories from the competition day playback in his head.
"Oh?" Kuroko said dead-panned. "If it's about the kiss that you was mad about. Kagami-kun does not need to worry at all. It didn't meant anything. You know how ferocious Akashi Seijuro could kiss any women, if he wanted to, right?"
"So-" Kagami had a faint blushed on his cheek at her answer, "So, you didn't feel anything from that?"
Kuroko tilted her head to her side. "What should I feel then?"
'You should be angry.' Kagami fight the urge to punch that bastard Akashi right then and now and stare down to the girl who was still holding him closed. From closed up, she actually looked really fragile. Why didn't he notice this one before?
Is she really didn't feel anything from that kiss? Seriously? Or is it another facade of her? Or was it the opposite?
But- for the time being, as her friend, he chose to be silent and offer her his warmth to ease her thought and feeling.
XXXXXXXX
Akashi Seijuro was sitting crossed leg in his black suits, waiting patiently in the waiting room of his father's office. The assistant has told him that the president of Akashi Holding was going to finish his meeting in 30minutes time, and he eagerly obeyed. Masaomi Akashi had asked for him today probably due to the scene yesterday. Yet, he wasn't surprised at all.
Earlier in dusk, Momoi had came along dragging Aomine with her, who looked like he was just being force to, pressing his doorbell persistently, and waking him up from his deep sleep just to tell him about the news. He actually had vision of it coming. As usual, Akashi glanced at the paper with an indifference face and brushed it off., yawning uncharacteristically. He did not even bother to read. But,he was frustrated though, that the girl's face do not appear clearly in the paper though. What a waste. She had such a cute defiant face that time.
His signature smirk graced his porcelain face as he reminded of that moment.
Now that his great mighty powerful father has summoned him, that must meant one thing; the kiss news had gotten out of reach. He has calculated this coming, and prepared himself. Momoi wasn't the only one worried for him; Ryota and Atsushi just come to cry for him yelling for him not to quit GoM and Midorima too. He reluctantly, lent him his lucky item for today, a pink handkerchief with a cute but irrelevant duck (?) face on it. How embarrassing would that be? He wished to give it back to the drummer but he insist, saying that it will bring good luck. Well, Akashi was hoping only good things appeared in front of him today. Not that he will use it anyway, he has his own.
After all, the faster, the better since the media is starting having all eyes on him. Knowing his father reputation, he would not want the news to shake off his company at all - even if, he hated him with all his heart. That man is still the most important person in his life, and he do not wish to anger him more than he already does.
The son of Akashi's Holding elegantly taking a sip of tea, but carelessly turning the cup that it spilled on his trousers a bit. The assistant girl immediately come to his aid and offered him a pink handkerchief. 'Pink?' No, that wasn't good sign.
"Are you alright sir?" she asked while taking the tea from him, looking slightly blushed.
He wiped his trousers with his own, white plain handkerchief. "No, thank you. I'm fine." and he notice the fidgeted girl was itching to ask him something and he asked of her, "Is there something you want?" or maybe he shouldn't.
She is flushing even more redder like a pepper. "No. I was just wandering...Are you Akashi from GoM?"
His eyes did flinched a bit a the questions. "Do I looked like him?" he smirk.
She stuttered and looked like she will dig a seven meters grave below her feet with her eyes, "Uhmm...yes...very much. I'm his fan..you see..." Akashi just smiled at her, but she was frighten at that. She really is digging her own grave.
"Are you new here?" He asked and she nodded nervously that almost made him chuckle his heart.
But that wasn't how he normally answered. Usually, he would brush them off with his usual answer - 'I am not him', emotionlessly, a blatant lie. But today, he doesn't feel like that anymore. He sat smirking by himself as he took back the tea from her and put on the side table. The dark haired girl listened attentively while the other two girls was eavesdropping from behind the wall.
She laid low to his level as his face gone close behind her ear."You see, don't tell others, alright? It's a secret between us." And she was flustered as the warmth of his breath touched her ear and agitated as she stood, feeling dizzy at the spell of the singer. "Can...can... Can I have your signature?"
"Sure." then he took the book from her, but sign for three people.
"Remember your promise." he sneered again at her before she walked away and glanced to the wall. He saw the other two pulled back with excited-terrified face.
"You damn lucky girl! You get to be so close to him! Damn! It should be me! He is the son of our boss! Do you know that?" the first girl whispered oh so slowly.
"So- is he the Akashi we loved?" second girl whispered pulling her hand together.
"He..err...sadly...he was not. But he did gave me a signature...for three. You two can have one each. I think, he noticed both of you here." she whispered slowly like it was some sacred thing to say.
"No, no, no… did you see his face? It was him! I'm not mistaken!" the second girl exclaimed.
"More important than that, did you see his face? No- That's the closest damn thing to a smile I have ever seen on his face. I've been working for two years here and I've never been so damn scared in my life. His eyes -" The first shook her head and whispered again, her voice gushed. "Our beloved Akashi wouldn't give out such a creepy-threatening smile like that. So, I trust you Miko." the first girl agreed tapping Miko's shoulder.
Miko, the dark haired girl who approached the real Akashi Seijuro feeling dejected to her heart core. Her heart was crying to tell them that 'HE IS AKASHI THAT WE ADORED!' But staring back to the seat he was, his eyes was glaring at her telling her,'shut your mouth or I will cut it' . His scissors is with him, indeed- inside his jacket, she believed.
"You're right though, but Miyo, you've been working for two years! How come you haven't seen the son of our boss?"
Miyo grunts, "How many fucking times do have I told you? Akashi Masaomi- san is scary! Furthermore... it's not just scary. It borderlines on evil." The hushed voiced hissed in terror. "I think, even his son scared of him."
"But, he doesn't seem scared though. He looked content and happy. I think." Miko whispered again, clutching her signature book tightly in her chest.
Finally, having had enough of their little conversation, Akashi turned around, "Ladies… I can hear you." His tone was barely above sub-freezing temperatures. He could actually see the blood almost drain from their face and somehow managed to keep from laughing out loud. One had to reach out for the cleaning cart that was left there by the cleaner to prevent herself from falling to the floor.
The two had slipped out but Miko the one who offered her handkerchief, only stared at him, her eyes wide, her face pale but nonetheless, her heart crying, 'Sayonara Akashi-san. Brace yourself!'.
"You have nothing to worry about. You'll be seeing me on stage again."
The young lady didn't need any more of an invitation and smiled sweetly, "Gambatte!" and she walked away.
Leaning back into his chair, Akashi thought briefly about why he had told his secret to that girl in the first place. Was it because the memory of the bluenette surfaced? He did not know...
He wished he could tease her again as her name played on his lips, 'Kuroko Tetsumi'...
She has such a weird name...
"AKASHI!"
His name roared in the silence room and his blood rushed into his veins like the flow of waterfall and he froze. Kuroko's face gone from his mind almost immediately. He knows well that old voice. How long has he not hear this rough voice? Three years? Two years, is it? Ah..he didn't care anymore. He just want to end this one quick and fast.
He turned around, and stand up to bow for respect. "I'm here, father." He wore a cynical smile on his face. Contrarily, an angry old man's face appeared in front of him, giving him disapproval sniff. His beautiful secretary who was by his side holding the files just a moment ago, had left them together for the talk.
Darn it...This will be such a long talk...
XXXXXXXX
TBC...
A/N: Thanks a lot for Baylee1100 and guest who reviewed. You gave me strength to keep it up! And not to forget for those who favorite and follows the story. Thanks so much. Forgive me for the rudeness and the grammatical error. I am one but not you, heehee.
Feel free to leave a suggestion or pairing or something you like! I will think about it! And sorry too if you don't like. It will be a long story...and you need to bear with me. Arigato gozaimasu...
R&R... please?
-NOT THAT I AM YOU-