(￣◇￣;) short chapter for now, but it's plot stuff... Kagami is a good friend.

Akashi had quietly been enjoying his evening, the weather having been nice for once. He would have loved to just sit there, quietly, and watch the flowers outside dance in the wind. He would have loved to let his mind rest for a bit, blanking out, getting the rest that it was almost never allowed. For, even if winning was a given, Akashi still had to keep his skills sharp.

Yes, he would have loved a quiet break from everything, and as he shut his eyes, he almost expected to get it. But it was not to be so. The moment he shut his eyes, his hand darted to his phone, the tiny device ringing the second after he grabbed it. He didn't need to read the screen to know that it was going to be something childish.

As soon as the other spoke, he knew who it was. Only one person spoke like that. Kise.

"Kise, is there any reason you decided it was necessary to call me?" Akashi's tone was harsh, and the scowl on his face only served to show his displeasure.

He could almost here Kise flinch at his tone. Good, he thought, he hasn't completely forgotten. Akashi had done a good job with striking fear into his teammates. So good a job that he felt he should have gotten a pat on the back for it.

But now wasn't the time for that, he needed to focus on whatever Kise was calling to bother him with. It probably wasn't important, knowing how childish Kise could get, but it provided something to do.

He regretted picking up the phone. The thing Kise was whining to him about was some sort of love triangle with Kuroko and Aomine. Did he honestly think that he cared about their nonsense? Not one bit.

However, he did feel slightly bad for Kuroko. Kise had seduced his... Lover. And the poor invisible boy had no idea about that. He wondered how it would play out if he didn't know. Not well.

Whatever else Kise had been talking about was ignored. He had to call Kuroko. Though, even if he didn't tell, the guilt in Aomine's touches, his expressions, all he did would be more than enough to give it away. After all, Kuroko wasn't stupid.

Kuroko had been enjoying the evening with Kagami, the two of them playing a bit of one-on-one basketball and watching movies as it got later. It was a bit relieving to be around his new light, there was no glaring Kise staring at him, and Kagami was slightly more gentle than Aomine.

"Kuroko, you're half-asleep. Is the movie that boring?" Kagami chuckled, pushing down on Kuroko's head. The sleepy shadow just tried to swat the hand away in response, being to lazy to actually try to fight him off. Besides, it wasn't so bad- the blanket was warm and Kagami was rather comfortable as a pillow.

But things never last.

And so Kuroko's phone started it's little chime. One that meant that Akashi was calling. So he silently signaled to Kagami that he needed to take the call and slipped away into the hall, nervously hitting the answer button.

To his relief, his former captain didn't sound angry... At him. But it left him wondering what this was about. What could be so important that Akashi felt he had to call?

And so the story started.

Kagami waited and waited, but Kuroko never came back. So with a groan, he stretched and went to find the shadow. He doubted that he would be able to find him, until he heard the light sniffles coming from the bathroom.

Rather than bursting in, screaming questions, Kagami gently eased the door open, his voice un-characteristically small as he called Kuroko's name. The blue haired youth only looked for a second, and that second was all it took for Kagami to rush in and gather the other into his arms.

Kuroko kept trying to tell him it was alright, but words failed him, and instead he sat there, muttering incoherent sentences. Kagami didn't really mind it, he just sat there, arms wrapped around the other protectively, his right hand gently stroking Kuroko's back. He found himself quietly shushing his shadow, trying to calm him down again.

Next thing he knew, their lips were touching.

The kiss was soft, hesitant, shy... But sweet.

He had always wanted this, wanted Kuroko. But to have him in this state, to have him be this unstable, it didn't seem fair to either of them. They'd just be taking advantage of each other, and even Kagami knew that wasn't how it was supposed to work.

"Kuroko. I'm sorry, but no..." It hurt him to say it, but it had to be said. "You aren't right in the mind just now... You'll regret it."

"Kagami... Aomine and Kise... They..."

So that was what this was about, Kagami growled. He knew Aomine was an idiot, but this was taking it way too far. Breaking Kuroko with his stupid affairs...

"I... I'm sorry."

Kuroko moved closer again, sealing the distance between their lips. Or at least trying before Kagami shoved him back.

"This isn't going to help!" Kagami shouted, his hands balling into fists. "Kuroko, it's not going to do anything!"

The shadow broke down into tears again, and Kagami sighed and hugged him.

"I'll talk to Aomine... Alright? I'll set him straight," Kagami promised, gently stroking the other's hair again. "It'll be alright. I promise." There was no reponse, but he knew that Kuroko understood. That he would let Kagami handle the situation.

Aomine woke up, immediately sick. He rushed to the bathroom, illness taking ahold of him. He gagged, his entire body tensing. Nothing happened, making him feel worse. He was so disgusted with himself.

What he thought had been a treacherous dream had been real. He had cheated on Tetsu with Kise. He had betrayed the trust between them, had hurt Tetsu.

He made himself sick. He... Had to call Tetsu. Apologize to him.

But his phone was gone.

Kise.