Hey guys! I'm back and ready to write more. I had some school stuff to take care of, but I have a bit of a break so I can do some writing. PLEASE READ THIS NEXT PART! IT'S ABOUT THE POLL! Someone brought it to my attention that guests couldn't use the poll. So to make it a bit fairer I used an outside source. FanFic won't let me put a link into the chapter, so if you go to my profile, you can find it! Please go to that place and vote! Only once please. And I know people like to comment it in the reviews, but please use the poll! Thanks for reading this part! And this chapter might be a little focused on Aomine, but I feel it necessary. I hope you see why too. I would have done the same for Kagami, but he kinda already did it for himself in the manga and anime. Alright, this was too long, so please read the story now!
The day after Alex's announcement of Kagami's dad coming, he got the call from his father confirming his visit. Himuro talked to him, though, claiming Kagami to be getting over a cold and can't really talk much yet.
When there wasn't practice, the Kiseki no Sedai, except Akashi since he was busy, Kagami, Himuro, and Alex were trying to find ways to make Kagami look more like his usual self. They tried makeup, and chest binding, and other such things, but there was really no way to hide his new femininity effectively. It was now the day before the elder Kagami was to arrive.
"Guys, it's alright. When my dad gets here tomorrow, I'll just explain to him what is going on and we'll solve this. I'll have Alex and Tatsuya with me so they can help explain. I'll make sure I don't have to leave." The reassurance from Kagami wasn't all that reassuring to the Kiseki, but they had to believe.
That evening, Kagami couldn't sleep much because of his nerves so he went to the roof to get some fresh air. He put on some shoes, not bothering to change out of his pajamas. When he got up there, he went over to the railing, leaning on it and looked at the Kyoto nighttime skyline. He started to think about everything that had happened since he had become a girl.
He was so lost in thought he didn't notice the person coming up behind him until a hand was placed on his shoulder. Jumping, he spun around, fists ready. He then sighed in relief when he saw it Aomine before scowling at the bluenette. "What the hell, Ahomine? You scared me!"
Aomine only laughed. "Well, I tried to call out to you, but you must have been thinking too hard. That isn't like you. What's on your mind?"
Kagami looked back at the skyline. "Nothing. Just thinking about how tomorrow with my dad will go. I haven't seen him since before the Winter Cup started since I went and trained in the US after the hot springs."
Aomine nodded. "What was it like in the US? Growing up I mean?"
Kagami looked over at Aomine, raising an eyebrow? "Why do you want to know?"
"Just curious. You aren't like most people so I was wondering what they put in the water in the US to make you so different." Aomine chuckled at Kagami's glare. "I'm just kidding. But I am curious as to what made you, well, you. What made you able to fight so hard while playing basketball?"
Kagami, taken aback, relented. He explained how he moved when he was in the third grade because his dad went to work in the US. He then met Tatsuya and learnt how to play basketball. And then the two had asked Alex to teach them how to play after they saw her play. After that came his explaining of what L.A. was like and what the people were like as well. How he would lose the same amount of times he won. Then came how he and Tatsuya would play basketball when they were older and then how they broke apart.
Aomine listened, quietly, making little comments here and there, watching the different reactions Kagami would have, like how he would become red from embarrassment or anger, or how his eyes would light up when he talked about something he liked and Aomine would agree it was great. He also listened to Kagami's voice, since it was so soothing. Even before he was a girl, Aomine realized he just had that type of voice.
"And then I moved back here. I regretted it at first, since Japanese basketball isn't as good as the US's, but then I met Kuroko and the Kiseki no Sedai. It made it worth it to come back to Japan." Kagami laughed then, looking at Aomine. "You know the rest after that."
Aomine looked at Kagami seriously. "Well, I'm glad you came."
Kagami looked at Aomine, confused. "Really? Why?"
Aomine turned around, leaning his back and arms against the railing. He looked at nothing in particular. "Well, you probably know from Kuroko that all of us in the Kiseki got really good really fast. At that point, no one was our equal. And then it persisted into high school. I loved basketball so much that it hurt when I couldn't enjoy it anymore. It hurt that I was starting to hate the sport. But I couldn't stop playing.
"And then one day, I hear how the other members have started to get beaten. Kise wasn't a surprise, but Midorima was. And then when I went to meet you, I was so disappointed. I hadn't realized you were injured at that point, mind you. I thought maybe it had been a fluke that you beat the others. I was losing any hope. I mean, my team beat Kaijou. And then I didn't play after that because the game pushed me too hard."
"I remember that," Kagami interjected. "Momoi came to our school for Kuroko. She thought you would hate her forever."
"Nah, I could never hate her, even if I said I did. We have been friends since I can remember. Anyways, later games were disappointing. When we all met up at the hot springs and you said your team was going to defeat us, I seriously doubted it. But for some reason, I was looking forward to the start of the Winter Cup."
"It was your instincts. They were telling you something."
Aomine looked over at Kagami, then back away. He turned back around so he could see the skyline. "Yeah, maybe. Either way, we played in the Winter Cup and you beat me. It made me so happy yet so sad. Finally I had met someone who I could call my rival. You pushed me to the limits and won." Aomine then sighed. "I can't believe I'm about to say this next part." He looked over at Kagami, who could only stare back. The look in Aomine's eyes was so strong. "I have to say it though…You seriously saved me, Kagami."
Kagami blushed, before looking away. "A-Aho. It was only because Kuroko and the others helped. I still can't beat you in a one-on-one yet."
Aomine chuckled. "Doesn't matter. You still beat me." Aomine then pushed off the railing, heading back to the door. "Anyways, pretend none of this happened. Satsuki would laugh if she knew I told anyone how I actually felt. Just chalk it up to me being tired."
"No way am I going to let you live that down, Aho. You need someone besides her to deflate that ego of yours. But I'll see you at practice tomorrow." Aomine waved a hand up without looking back before disappearing behind the door. It was then Kagami realized he didn't even know why Aomine came to the roof in the first place.
"Oh well. I'm just glad he opened up." Kagami ignored the fast beating of his heart at that thought, instead heading inside to go to sleep.
X~The Next Day~X
Kagami woke up when his alarm went off, feeling tired since he hadn't got as much sleep that night as he needed. He then recalled the events he and Aomine went through, blushing slightly. He still found it hard to believe that he saved Aomine. It just seemed too crazy an idea.
Detangling himself from Alex, Kagami got up and got ready. They had practice soon and he didn't want to be distracted. Today was a joint practice between everyone which meant running and scrimmages. And today was the start of Alex training them, which meant today was a very tiring day. He woke Alex up and then left.
Kagami went to the cafeteria, eating a quick breakfast before heading to the gym. There were only a few people who were early, like Kagami was. He went to the bin and grabbed a basketball before starting to practice a bit more of his left handed exercises. When he went to dunk it into a basket, he was blocked from behind.
Kagami knew who it was even before turning around. "Aomine! What was that for?" He turned around to see the smiling Aomine. Not smirking, but smiling.
"Nothing. Just felt like it." He took the ball and started to dribble it. "We haven't really been able to play together by ourselves. Want to do some before practice?"
"I would, but I don't want to be tired when Alex starts our training."
"What are you talking about? Alex can't be that bad."
The two kept talking, not arguing, as people started to file into the gym. The Kiseki, minus Aomine but with the addition of Momoi, met up and looked at the red head and the bluenette. "Is it just me or does Dai-kun seem more…like his old self?"
"I think so to, Momoicchi. He isn't smirking…or arguing with Kagamicchi." Kise was confused greatly, but also happy that he seemed to be reverting back.
"But Kagami-kun is also acting strange," Kuroko said, catching the other's attentions.
"How so?" Akashi asked.
"Well…Normally, he would still be all fired up, even after Aomine makes certain comments. He seems…tamed you could say." Before they could question Kuroko further, the couches and Alex came in, thus starting practice.
Many people thought practice would be easier, but were wrong. Practice seemed to be much harder. At one point, Aomine and Kagami were done with their suicides and were breathing heavily next to one another.
"I take back what I said earlier about Alex not being that bad." Aomine was breathing harder than he had at any practice he had ever had before. "I can see why you had a huge improvement in such a short amount of time."
Kagami nodded. "Yup. And that's why I didn't want to play against you before practice. We would have died as soon as she started to train us."
Finally the training was over, with most of the people on the floor panting so hard and unable to move. Alex only laughed. "Remember, this was just a warm up. We have more lined up for tomorrow!"
The Seirin team looked over at Kagami incredulously. "You did training like this in the US every day?"
"Yup. But admittedly, it is a little more intense." The teams just looked over at Alex, who was laughing about something with the other couches. She was one scary lady.
After a few more days of this type of practice regiment, it was finally the end of the week. The teams were given three days off to do some self-training and to relax and rest their bodies.
"Finally! The end of the week! Time to relax. But I feel like we are forgetting something. What do you think, Midorimacchi?"
Midorima only fixed his glasses. "I don't know, but I'll admit to having the same feeling."
"It must be your imaginations," Murasakibara said, opening a bag of chips.
"I don't think so, Atsushi. I have the same feeling as them. Tetsuya, can you remember?" Akashi turned his gaze to the phantom player.
"No. Aomine-kun?"
The bluenette only shrugged before looking at Kagami. "This weekend we can play a game, Taiga. How does that sound."
Kagami's eyes lit up. "Great!" He then went through his bag, pulling out his cellphone. He opened it and frowned. He saw all the messages that he had. He checked the first voicemail out of ten.
"You have ten new voicemail. Message one of ten from contact: Dad…Hey Taiga! Just wanted to let you know that I will be in Tokyo soon! I took a plane to Okinawa first after all. Had to see those beaches! After that I will take a train to Kyoto~ Can't wait to see you. You must be in practice, so I'll just see you there!...End of message. Message-" Kagami listened to the start of each message, each one detailing how his dad was getting ever closer to his beloved son. He checked the text messages which basically said the same things as the voicemails.
Seeing the tenseness in Kagami's shoulders, Momoi asked, "What's wrong, Kagachin?"
"I remembered what we forgot. Practice has been so busy and exhausting, we all forgot!" Kagami turned around and looked at them all. "My dad will be here any minute!"
Before any of them could react, the doors to the gym were flung open. In walked a man who looked just like Kagami Taiga. He looked just as intimidating if not more so since he did look older. Aomine quickly hid Taiga behind him as said teen's dad did a sweep of the gym. His eyes landed on Alex. He approached her, all conversation halting as he did so.
When he was in front of Alex, he stopped. There was a tense silence, before the elder Kagami broke out into a huge grin. In English, he said, "Hey Alex~! Long time no see!" He scooped her up into a hug.
Alex laughed. "It's only been, like, two weeks at the most!"
Himuro came up to the two. "Hello Mr. Kai. How was your trip?"
Kagami Kai put Alex down before pulling Tatsuya in for a hug, but leaving the boy on the ground. "It was great! Tiring, though," he responded, switching to Japanese. "Now, where is my little Taiga? I haven't seen him in forever." He saw the look that Alex and Tatsuya shared.
Taiga saw his dad's face start to darken. Not wanting them to be yelled at without him there to calm his dad down, he stepped out from behind Aomine. "Dad!"
Kai looked over, expecting to see his son. Instead, he saw a girl who looked like his late wife. If the girl had looked like anyone else, he wouldn't have believed it. Plus, the look in the eyes was very Taiga like. But…"Taiga?" the man asked, still not wanting to believe it. When the girl nodded, Kai looked over at Alex and Tatsuya, who also nodded. He looked at Taiga, before promptly passing out.
Yaya! Done with this one. I hope you all liked it. I kinda wanted to write it in a different way, but I am happy with what I got out of this~! Remember to go vote. I won't reveal the results until the last chapter. I still have more to go on this, though, so don't worry. But please, only vote once! Until next time~!