A/N: I DEEPLY APOLOGIZE. MINNA!
I hope you can forgive me. A month. I haven't opened my FF account in more than a month. UGH RL SUCKS! I haven't even watched KnB s3 TT^TT I haven't read my followed stories! MY HANDS WERE ITCHING TO WRITE BUT I CAN'T! IT WAS PAINFUL! D;
UPDATE ON MY LIFE- Being a teacher is hard. But I'll tell you something funny coz I know you don't want to hear my complaints. My students asked me if I watch anime and I said yes. They asked me if I watch KnB and I said yes. And you know what? They think I'm soooo cooool now! Hahaha! (Actually, I'm strict and make them do a lot of schoolworks hahaha) Guess they see me now as a fellow otaku rather than a respectable teacher. There goes the dignity XD
Thank you for all the wonderful reviews, favorites and follows. I had the time last weekend to write and when I opened my acct, I was so surprised. I haven't received more than 10 reviews for a chapter so I was so happy! It makes me want to cry and I feel more guilty for the delay. Thank you so so so much! I wish I can hug you all!
I can't greet u all now since you guys wanted longer chapters (as it will add more to the word count), but I'll put some once in a while. =)
Akakuro Seiya, thanks for the link! I really loved your PM. And I hope this was worth your wait =)
Shadow Carnival, I think that they get the funds for the experiments from illegal stuff. They did sell Tetsuya and Takao-kun for s*x, didn't they? I hope that made sense XD
Ritsu Syalalalala, I'm happy to know that! =D I'll do better then!
SSailorSScoutSS, thank you for reviewing though! I get encouraged to write when I read the reactions, makes me feel that the effort wasn't for nothing =)
Akemi-chan, I'm alive! Haha XD And I'm going to warn you (since I love you), this chapter is going to kill you (again). I hope you are not going to kill me too, coz I won't be able to write the next one if you do. Haha!
Okay, off to the story!
DISCLAIMER: NO NO NO KNB IS NOT MINE. SEI-KUN IS NOT MINE. I AM FOREVER ALONE. AND NO NO NO I CANNOT DRAW AS AWESOME AS THIS PIC. PERIOD.
Chapter 13:
KUROKO POV
As soon as my blurry vision clears, the claustrophobia kicks in. I see so many people hovering above me and I try to back away from them, feeling bewildered and scared. What happened? Why are all these people crowding over me? Where am I?
"Murasakibara-sama, he's awake!" A maid shouts. A tall, purple haired man pushes the people away and I recognize him. "Hey, give him some space! Kuro-chin, are you okay?" I feel the bed dip as he sits beside me. I look around and try to blink away the confusion. I realize these things: I'm in my room. In Kyoto. The clocks says it's 11:30 pm.
"What happened, Murasakibara-kun?" I turn to him.
"You fainted, Kuro-chin. Is there anywhere that's hurting?"
Suddenly something clicks, and it all comes rushing back to me. The glass of milk. The phone call. The whip. The manic laughter. My eyes widen in horror.
"Kuro-chin? Are you okay? Are you hurting? Tell me, Kuro-chin!" I hear panic in Murasakibara-kun's voice but I am too disturbed by my thoughts to respond. Kamisama, what am I going to do? He'll kill Takao-kun. He'll kill me too!
"Give me my phone! I'll call Aka-chin!" He orders a butler. I jolt at the mention of Akashi-kun's name and suddenly I become aware of my behavior. I realize I am trembling and on the brink of tears. I try to stop shivering and put on my blank face.
"It's okay, Murasakibara-kun." I say monotonously. I will have to be careful and make sure he doesn't get suspicious. "I'm fine now. There's no need to call Akashi-kun. I don't want to make him worry."
"Ehhhh~! But…" I can see the hesitation in his eyes. I feel that Akashi-kun ordered him to report anything that happens to me. But Akashi-kun should never know what I shall attempt to do tomorrow.
"I'm really fine now. I was just feeling a little dizzy earlier. It's because of the pregnancy. Fainting spells are normal, the doctor told me." I hope he doesn't hear the lie in my tone. I don't even know how I made that up so quickly.
"Ummm… I don't know…" It looks like it's going to be hard to convince him. I try to use the 'puppy eyes' look. "Please, Murasakibara-kun? I don't want to add to Akashi-kun's burdens. I'd be really grateful if you let this one pass."
His eyebrows meet in confusion, but a little later he sighs in defeat. "Okay… If you say so. Kuro-chin, don't worry me like that! Are you sure you're fine~?"
I am anything but fine. "Yes. I'll just rest this away. Can I have a glass of water though?" I ask. My throat is dry because of the nervousness I feel, but he doesn't need to know that. It will also make him think that a glass of water is all I need—not an escape plan, and certainly not Akashi-kun.
A maid quickly exits the room and comes back with a pitcher of water and a glass. I gulp the cool drink to calm myself down. I have to act naturally, for Takao-kun. "Thank you," I say as I hand her the glass. "You left this in the kitchen, Kuroko-sama." She gives me my phone. Oh no! I hope nobody tried to open this. If anyone browses through the call history, they'll know I had a conversation with them!
"Thank you." I put the phone in my pocket nonchalantly. I hope Akashi-kun didn't put a monitoring system in the device. If he knows that they contacted me, it'd be harder, or worse, impossible to escape tomorrow.
"Kuro-chin~…" Murasaibara-kun calls. "Maybe you should rest now…"
"Hai. I'll be fine here on my own." I say that because I sense he's going to stay with me. He pouts for a second and sighs. "I can call you if I need anything, right?" I add, so he will stop worrying.
His eyes light up at the question. "Of course~! I'll come right away! Okay, good night Kuro-chin~" The moment he says that, the servants and guards all leave the room quietly.
"Good night." I greet back and pull the blankets up, acting as if I'm really about to sleep. I lay my head against the pillow and close my eyes. I hear a click of a remote and I'm sure the lights are off now. The sliding sound of the door signifies that I am finally alone in the room.
I try to analyze all the details I'm sure of. My name is Kuroko Tetsuya. I have escaped from the people who tortured me. But now, they have Takao-kun. And if I don't do what they say, they will kill him. So I will have to go back to the people I escaped from.
Terror consumes my whole being and I tremble silently. This can't be happening. This is just a dream, isn't it? I flex my fingers and pinch my cheek. I don't feel any pain, but I felt my hand touching my cheek. This is useless, I think; my body is numb with fear. I know I have to think of a plan, but my head is filled with Takao-kun's painful wails. Minutes pass as I try to regain control of my mind.
Slowly, my thoughts start to go beyond the wall of pain and begin to function normally. He said he'll provide the opening so I can escape. Whatever that is, it will happen at noon, and I should utilize anything that will help me flee. I remember seeing an east entrance to the manor, where the staff pass through. It's near the storage room and the dirty kitchen. It has fewer guards than the north entrance where we came in, but they will still be a hindrance. I will have to use my misdirection. There should be something that will direct their attention away from me.
The tears that I held back earlier slide down my cheeks and I let them. I cry because I let Takao-kun get hurt again. I mourn for the freedom that I would have to sacrifice to save him. I don't want to go back to my prison. I don't want to be hurt anymore. I don't want to be locked up anymore. I'm finally free from their clutches, free from all the pain, torture and detention. But I have to save Takao-kun. I'd rather be the one they are tormenting.
I remember Kise-kun said he'll come tomorrow. I have to get out of the mansion before he goes here, or it might be harder to leave. I don't want to hurt him by allowing myself to get captured again. And Murasakibara-kun. Somehow, I have to elude him. I had fun in his company these past few days, and it pains me that I'll have to run away. He'll be hurt, too.
I push back the terror and guilt as well as I can. I have no guarantee that they'll free Takao-kun, but I have to try. Escaping from here is absolutely essential, yet absolutely impossible. But I have to do this. My decision is made. There's no use agonizing over the outcome.
Finally, I allow the person I think of most, and the person I pushed to the back of my mind as I tried to plan, to take over my thoughts. I am so sure Akashi-kun will be heartbroken, for I have sold myself to the devil whom he had protected me against. He had provided me everything, from my physical needs to the patience and comfort for my emotional stability, and this is how I pay him back, by betraying his trust. I will have to break my promise of keeping myself safe.
With tears in my eyes, I turn on the lights and go to the worktable. I take out a sheet of stationary and pen from the drawer. I can't leave without telling him how much grateful I am to have met him, and how sorry I am to leave. I at least owe him a letter.
"Dear Akashi-kun," I write. My hands are shaking and the characters are almost unrecognizable.
I am so sorry. By the time you read this, I am already in their clutches. I have no choice; they have Takao-kun. I have to try and save him even though I do not know if this will work out. I am so, so sorry.
Tell Kise-kun and the others that I am sorry too. Tell them that they were the best persons I could have ever hoped for as friends. Tell them thank you for me. And don't get mad at Murasakibara-kun. He did his best to give me company, and I am grateful to him.
I am so thankful that I met you. You were the miracle I had asked Kami-sama for. You saved, clothed, fed, sheltered, protected and took care of me. If I die, my only regret would be not seeing you for the last time. And not telling you my feelings personally.
Yes, I love you too. You crept into my heart and stayed there, and I know you'll forever be in my heart. Thank you for loving me, even though I am broken and hopeless. I will never forget all that you have done for me.
Please, please don't come after them. I can't bear it if anyone has to be hurt because of me, especially you. It's the only thing I ask of you. Please.
I love you. Forgive me.
Tetsuya
And I seal my heart away with a tear drop.
"AAAAAH!" I wake up with a jolt. Takao-kun was screaming my name! I need to save him! I look around to find him, only to realize that I am still in my room. Still alive.
I get up with a heavy heart. I hear water tapping on a surface somewhere. Maybe I am drowning in a room full of my own tears from all the crying I've done last night. But as I fully wake up, I realize it is raining. I hear a bamboo rain catcher from outside my room touching the ground as it fills. The rhythm makes me calm down from the adrenaline rush my nightmare brought.
After toilet rituals, I go to the dining room. I don't have much of an appetite, but Murasakibara-kun will be worried if I don't show up for breakfast. I pass by several servants and guards who don't notice me as usual. Even if at first it was annoying having to dodge them because they would have bumped into me if I didn't, now I feel very grateful for this phantom ability. It had saved me so many times before, and I would have to use it again, this time to save Takao-kun.
Murasakibara-kun is cooking fried rice in the kitchen when I arrive. To test if my abilities work on him, I purposely stand a few inches away from him. A few minutes pass, and he still does not notice me. Perfect.
"Ohayou gozaimasu, Murasakibara-kun." I greet as he flips the pan to stir the rice.
"AAAAH!" *boink* The rice flies everywhere, and we are both covered with hot grains. I lick some rice near my lips, and it's perfectly delicious. "K-KURO-CHIN? WHEN DID YOU GET THERE~?"
"A few minutes ago."
"Waaaa~ I should have known it. Aka-chin warned me already~" He complains to himself, brushing the grains off his hair and body. He laughs while trying to do the same for me. "Kuro-chin looks delicious." I blush at the comment but shrug it away. In the past few days we've been together, I consider him as a friend now. But I can't afford to be at ease with him now. Not when I was about to betray him.
A few minutes before noon, I am pacing back and forth in my room—anticipating the time yet wishing it won't come. I try to brace myself for what will happen even though I have no idea how will I get the chance I've been waiting for. The hands of time slowly round the clock, and every second feels like the ticking pulse of blood behind a bruise.
This is it, I tell myself. No turning back now. It's do or die, literally.
1 minute before 12 noon. 45 seconds. 30. 15.
I love you Akashi-kun. I'm sorry.
BANG! There is a loud explosion somewhere in the mansion. I dash out of my room, running past the guards who are probably scurrying to find out if I was harmed. I sprint directly to the east entrance. The manor is so big I might have been in a labyrinth, but I already memorized the path in my head. My feet are moving on its own, dodging people and ducking into empty hallways to avoid them from spotting me.
BOOM! Another explosion. This time it is nearer to where I am, and the impact makes me drop to my knees and my hands instantly come up to protect my ears. That's when a guard notices me. When he comes towards me, I muster up all the energy I can and lunge forward, tackling him with all my might. I hit him hard in the guts and I use the time he is momentarily disoriented to steal his taser. I take off immediately lest he comes back to his feet and capture me.
Just then, as I round a corner, a flash of gold makes me halt in my tracks. Kise-kun stands in the middle of the hallway, as if he was expecting me. His golden eyes are sad but serious. He strides towards me in a hurried manner.
"Kurokocchi! I've been looking for you!" He says in a panicked tone. "Quick, let's go to a safe place!"
Anxiety washes through me. He shouldn't be here! What am I going to do? I take a step backwards, then remember that I've brought a stun gun with me, which I stole earlier from a guard. I don't want to do this, Kise-kun, but I have to. I know you'll understand that I'm only doing this to save a friend. Just like how you've always wanted to save me.
He walks closer to me, until he's only a foot away. With my heart pumping loudly with nervousness, I hastily take a step forward and push the taser towards his chest, pulling the trigger for a few seconds. He spasms and groans painfully, falling down to his knees. "I'm sorry Kise-kun!" I shout, scurrying past him and hoping he will be alright.
What have I done? I have just paralyzed one of my best friends, who only wanted to protect me. What kind of friend am I? I shake my head in an attempt to clear my thoughts. I'll torment myself later. For now, I have to get away from this mansion.
The grey clouds outside makes it darker and it does not help with the panicking people running around. I hear people shouting in panic and I realize in horror that they are bombing this beautiful mansion. And it is all my fault. I'm sorry everyone. I hope no one gets badly hurt just because I need to get away.
As the surface beneath my feet changes from wood to gravel, I look back at the mansion and see two black columns of smoke trailing above the dark sky. I hear more shouts of fear and lamentation, and I try to tune them out. I see the exit in front of me. I am so close to Takao-kun's salvation. I can't afford to think about anyone else right now. BOOOM!
I did my best not to look back, and painfully regret that I did. Debris flies as the roof catches fire and a smoke column larger than the others snakes in the sky. I am pretty sure it came from Murasakibara-kun's room. A tear unconsciously falls from my eye in horror at the realization.
Today is the day that I killed him.
AKASHI POV
Today is the day I will kill them.
The scientist, to his credit, is a fairly smart person, and he did not go immediately to their base after I set him free. Instead, he traveled aimlessly around the country, driving here to there, checking in at hotels and inns. All to keep me off his trail. And it was a good plan, actually.
If only I wasn't smarter than him.
You see, the homing device that Mayuzumi-san threw was so diminutive that it can't be seen or felt. It can't even be detected by metal detectors. And the megane kept bringing his lab coat everywhere, so of course we could locate him. If there was one thing I learned from the detective novel I saw Tetsuya reading (which I also read out of curiosity), it was to never keep any evidence in your possession. I used his mistake to my advantage.
After a week of roaming around, he finally comes back to Tokyo, and things are finally going according to my plan. We identify their base, mark it on the map, and make a thousand plans for a raid. My men have managed to infiltrate the inside and are roaming about unsuspectedly. I have extracted information from some of his men on the whereabouts of Kazunari. I want to finish this as soon as possible, so I can be with my beloved.
My heart longs for Tetsuya. It hungers for his touch and thirsts for his presence. All I want right now is to be beside him; his head on my shoulder, his pleasant and addicting smell that has a whiff of vanilla, his small, pale hand intertwined with mine. I know I sound cheesy. I had no idea this is what love does to a person.
On this rainy day, at exactly noontime, I will start delivering the emperor's punishment to end my love's torments. My men are on standby, waiting for the right time to strike. Everything was thought through and accounted for. Failure is unacceptable. Anyone who interferes shall be cut off from this earth.
A flashback happens a few minutes before noon. I remember some of those sunny afternoons during my childhood. Those times where Tetsuya and I were playing hide-and-seek in our secret base.
Hide-and-seek was one of the most fun games we played, since both of us were skilled at it. Tetsuya was good at hiding, and I was good at seeking. We were both naturally gifted at this game, so the challenges were of a higher degree. Even as a child, I loved challenges.
You see, Tetsuya's innate invisibility and spontaneity made it more fun for me. When I was with the children in the daycare, I could usually predict and pinpoint where everybody was hiding, based on my high observation and analytical skills. Everything went according to my perfect-rhythm plays, so when I was the "seeker", the game ends so unusually fast that it annoys the other children. But Tetsuya was different. He always exceeded my expectations. He would sometimes fool me with dummies, or use tricks to make me think he was hiding in this place when he was already at a different location. He was really smart and unpredictable, and I liked it. Not that he ever won a game, though.
Even as a child, I knew how people thought and why they acted that way. Children, adults-it was basically easy to find their motives and personalities, so I would adjust my disposition into what was acceptable to them. Other children admired me, adults were pleased with me, and teachers praised me. All because I did what I was expected to do. I was the perfect model of a brilliant child at the age of six.
And yet, I could never deduce what was exactly on Tetsuya's mind. He was smart, impulsive and genuinely kind. He never befriended me because I was the son of a rich, powerful businessman; it was because he truly wanted to be with me. He sticks to his principles and believes in justice. I could always try to guess what he's going to do or why he's acting that way, but only to a short extent. Most of the things I know about him, even now, was because of the time spent with him and the time it took to master identifying his subtle facial expressions and body gestures. I've long given up on trying to read his mind, and just focused on preparing myself for his actions.
My sweet Tetsuya. How badly I have wanted to bring back that smile you would always show me when we were young.
"Everything's ready at your disposal, Akashi-kun." Satsuki says through the earpiece. She and Daiki volunteered to join the mission. She will act as the control tower and guide my men through the blueprint of the building. From the data she gathered, she helped me predict various scenarios for the ambush and make multiple plans on a case-to-case basis.
This is it. One minute before noon. "Good. Proceed with the plan."
"Hai. System overriding will commence at exactly noon." Tatsuya will overwrite their system defenses and disable it, as well as jam their communications to confuse the enemies. He will also detonate the bombs planted in the building beforehand.
"Unit A and B, on stand by for infiltration." Hayama and Nebuya will charge the enemies and tackle them to keep them busy.
"Unit C, ready." Daiki says lazily.
"Unit S ready for rescue." Mayuzumi will lead the rescue team for Kazunari. I have no doubt it will be successful.
"Unit Emperor on standby." Nijimura will lead my team even though he's stationed far away as the head of the sniper team. My purpose is to draw the enemies towards me, and also to kill those bastards myself.
"First wave of bombs will start in T-minus 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1." The ground I was standing on shook a little due to the simultaneous explosion. Also, an odd occurrence happened to the live feed of the Kyoto mansion I was monitoring on an electronic pad. It dimmed and turned into static, and the locator turned on. The explosion here might have ruined the signal I was getting from there.
"Infiltration successful. Unit A approaching area 1."
"System overriding successful. I have full access of the area. "
"We, uh, I mean Unit C swept area 4! Emperor Squad, get your asses over here now."
"Unit B, what is your status?" I ask. There should be no delays so that Unit S can proceed to rescue Kazunari while my squad provides distraction.
"Uh, sorry it took us a little longer. There were more enemies on this side than we expected but it's clear now. We're approaching area 2."
"Let's go." Despite the protests of my men, I need to join the operation. Even though my enemies will think twice about killing me because they know I will only act as a diversion, I know they wouldn't resist the temptation to kill me. After all, I can imagine how angry they are at me. They will concentrate their forces towards me, giving Unit S more time for the rescue.
My unit enters the building, killing everyone who was still alive and hadn't been shot by the snipers or exterminated by Daiki's squad in the way. I have to admit that I have taken a liking to the sound of bullets hitting their targets. Poison gas is released, grenades are thrown, guns are aimed. This is quite enjoyable, in a way.
Thirty minutes have passed and I hear static in my ear piece. I freeze as I hear his words.
"Aka-chin… I'm sorry."
Atsushi? The connection is cut off. "Tatsuya, what happened?" I ask him sternly. Suddenly Tetsuya's face flashes through my mind.
"I'm sorry to say this, but we've lost connection with the manor, Akashi-san."
What?! There can only be one explanation to this. They are ambushing the mansion. I bite my tongue in anger. I have realized this was a possibility but I thought I was well-prepared for it. What happened?
"Unit S rescue successful. Hawk is in our hands." They report victory, but my mind cannot rejoice. It cannot even function properly. Tetsuya…
My whole being goes into auto-pilot mode, walking and killing subconsciously. Everything is a blur. All I can think about is Tetsuya. And I am not liking where my thoughts are headed.
"Akashi-san… AKASHI-SAN!" Tatsuya calls out. "Should we continue? Takao-san is already on the trailer truck with Midorima-sensei, safe and sound."
"Of course. I haven't killed them yet." I automatically reply.
He sighs dejectedly. He probably wanted to check on Atsushi right away. "The last door to your right."
I kick open the wooden door. A man with dark grey dreadlocks and identical male twins stand in the center of the room, and about thirty armed men at their backs point their guns at me. My men enter the room after me, poised for an attack.
"Where is your leader?" I ask indifferently. I just want to kill him as soon as possible. My tone and face is void of any emotions; inwardly, I can't give my full attention to the enemy as I am distracted by my thoughts about Tetsuya. But that doesn't mean I can't kill them in an instant.
"Are you sure you want to know?" The grey-haired man chortles mockingly. He licks his thumb triumphantly. "Well, we knew you'd be coming. That's why we had something prepared as well." Without a warning, he charges towards me swiftly and knocks out two of my guards out of the way. He is fast, but I am faster. A bullet grazes his cheek and he stops in his track. Red liquid drips down his face.
"I asked you a question. Do not make me repeat myself." I maintain my gun trained at him. My patience is running out.
"Haizaki-san!" One of the twins shout in alarm.
"I told you to stop acting on your own." The other shakes his head hopelessly.
"Our leader has something to show to you, Akashi-san." The former states. He clicks a remote and a screen comes to life at the back of the room. People move away, giving an unobstructed view of the monitor.
The video shows a man cross-legged sitting inside a car, only half his face visible, with that stupid Cheshire grin.
"Hello, Akashi." He and his dramatics makes my blood boil.
"So… You think you've won?" I state silently. The room spirals into silence and everybody feels the temperature dropping from the dangerous aura I give off.
Just then, the door of the car opens, and a teal-haired boy shakily climbs in. My heart stops beating. In my vision, vines with thorns suddenly appear around the gold throne I've been sitting on and wrap around me, piercing my skin and squeezing the life out of my entire being. I scratch and struggle, but the more I fight it, the harder it squashes my body. I choke and flail, and reach out to my angel, but he looks away and leaves me to die. Outwardly, I try not to show my internal turmoil by keeping my face composed.
Tetsuya looks at me apologetically, and hangs his head down in shame. The angel I've been trying so hard to protect now sits beside the devil I've been trying so hard to kill.
FIN~
Thanks for betareading, Sapphyre-chan =) You are the best! :3
Any thoughts aside from wanting to murder me for that cliffie? (Don't worry, I will murder you guys in the next chapter, so call it quits) =D
PS: Can you pretty please with cherries on top check out Milkshake Madness? It might be good to take a little break from all the drama while we wait for the next chapter XD