Chapter 3 – The Beginning Part 2.1

.

.

.

"I'm sorry." The man - or Kise, now that his name was known - apologized and chuckled abashedly. "How terrible of me to put an nine year old through all this. Oh and uh, sorry for biting you. I wanted to prove a point."

"That's okay." He replied, even though it really wasn't. Kuroko bent down again, moving closer to better be able to catch his words. "And I'm seven."

The man looked taken aback. "Seven! No kidding." He turned his head to get a better look of the boy. "Don't get me wrong, but, well, it's just that the way you spoke it was-"

"Mature?" Kuroko cut him off, as he knew that was what usually followed.

"Well, yeah, that too I guess. But that wasn't what I was about to say" Kise breathed weakly, response startling him slightly. There was a long pause between them as the older man stared at him, causing Kuroko to squirm under the intense scrutinization.

"Sad."

"What?" He blinked.

"That was what I wanted to say. I'd never thought a seven year old would've been put through this much crap. The way you spoke, and the whole look you have going on in your eyes - it's just," he frowned, gesturing with his arms waving in the air as his eyes watered. "I'm so sorry, Kurokocchi."

There were so many questions manifesting in his mind right about then, but the genuine sincerity in his quivering voice dulled Kuroko's senses as he stood there, dumbfounded with words.

"I don't know what you've been through, and I can't change what has happened but I do want you to know, that you have a light in you, and it's so, so bright. Don't let the circumstances blow it out." He ended, looking straight in his eyes as he extended an arm in attempts to embrace the child, but dropped it soon after when he realized he neither had the strength nor energy to do so. Kuroko could see how much of a toll it took on his body to commit such a simple action like raising his arm.

"Let's not - let's not make this about me right now. Let's - let's just take care of you first." He stammered, unable to form thoughts, for he was lost in the quagmire of thoughts as he tried to divert the conversation toward another lane. The topic had became too emotional too fast and Kuroko wasn't sure he wanted to go down that path. No one had ever said something like that to him before, and he felt his heart warming with disbelief and if he dared say, possibly a tinge of happiness.

The man laughed and shook his head. "Yeah, I guess that would usually be a better idea. Well, but the thing is, I get how much you do want to help me become better or something, but I'm afraid there's nothing you can do. It's not a condition that can be cured with by anything other than well, death... And if not, many others would die." He added bitterly, looking ashamed.

"But there's always a solution." Kuroko offered.

"Solution!" Kise laughed. Kuroko could tell that he was very, very close to collapsing entirely and he wasn't sure if he wanted to be the last person this guy saw. "There's no solution! I'm as good as dead. There's literally no more point in living if I'm just going to be something like them when I-"

Unfortunately for the blonde, he found his monologue cut short as he jerked when a force collided with his cheek. A few seconds went by before he realized that he had been slapped.

Granted the boy who slapped him had the strength of a baby fawn - and probably wouldn't be able to leave more than a scratch on him even if he did utilize all his strength - but still.

Kuroko had slapped him.

This clouded Kise with extreme confusion as he stared flabbergasted at him. He couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed, despite not knowing the reason, and no matter what anyone said, having your face slapped hurts.

Well, emotionally.

"Firstly, ow. Secondly, what the he- what'd you do that for!" Kise protested, recalling how it was bad manners to curse in front of a child. He rubbed his cheek as he attempted to prop himself up further with what little energy he had left on his elbow, but fell straight back down, grimacing as a bolt of pain shot down his chest.

"Because you deserve it." Kuroko answered, managing to look both mad and dead panned at the same time."You shouldn't speak like that Kise-kun."

"Because I deserv- How is it my fault! I'm the victim!" He protested weakly.

"Kise-kun I don't know what's going on, or what you've been through as well. But nothing's too hard that the only way through things is by death." Kuroko said, "I've been brought up for seven years living in the dumps and struggling every day to get even a single meal. Sure, life can be tough and it can damned well be trying, and sometimes I'd feel like ending things - but by ending things I mean by finding the solution to the problem, and never by death. I choose to live because even though right now I can't see the light at the end of the tunnel - I know it's there. And it's going to get better. Good people never suffer for too long and from what I've seen, Kise-kun, you're officially at the top few in my list. It's selfish of you to think like that - and even more so to say that to a child. I bet there are so many people around you who care, and I think you should consider sparing a thought for them." He finished.

After that there was silence, as Kise stared at him, stupefied. He didn't think there would be a moment in his life where he would find himself at this lost for words. On hindsight, being told off and preached on by a seven year old who made complete sense was probably either extremely embarrassing or enlightening - perhaps even both.

He diverted his gaze to the floor for a few seconds, before reaching out his arm and signaling for Kuroko to go closer again.

"You're not going to bite me again, are you?"

Kise laughed, shaking his head as he looked at the kid adoringly. This time, he succeeded in pulling himself upright into a sitting position as he extended the other arm and wrapped them around the little child, who returned the hug without hesitance, tears already threatening to spill out of the man's eyes.

"Thank you," Kise whispered quietly, tightening his hug, "I'd never thought there would be a day where I'd be taking advice from a child, let alone said child being seven."

"It can't be that bad Kise-kun. Besides, even if it is, your life is yours to make the decisions, and at most you can just run away from it all." Kuroko replied jokingly.

He laughed again, "I might take that into consideration."

It was ironic, Kise felt, how he'd only known Kuroko for less than a few hours, and yet he already felt like the boy knew him better than most people in his life did.

Watching the kid so motivated and determined for him to keep his own life, he decided he couldn't bear to tell him the truth - that he'd be dead in a few minutes, whether they'd both like it or not. The only question was whether the full moon would arrive first, or the natural tolerance he had for his injury would run out before.

"Thanks, Kurokocchi." He said, ending their short, but meaningful embrace as he completely deflated on the ground.

Kuroko looked like he was about to add something else on when Kise tensed. His eyes grew wide as he stuck his nose up in the air, his ears picking up what could only be the sound of a familiar but dreaded presence.

Wait.

No.

Please.

Not now.

Kuroko seemed to notice something was off about Kise as he perked up and looked around suspiciously, before directing his questioning gaze to him.

"Kuroko you have to go." He coughed lightly and started pushing himself up, lightly shoving the boy away from him, which only ended in him choking out more blood.

"Kise-kun!" Ku exclaimed, ignoring his protests and rushed to his side, helping him up.

"You... need to go." He said breathily, weakly trying to shove him away again, as his vision blurred back and forth. "You... Please just - They're... They're coming."

If he left now he might still have a chance.

He has to leave.

He has to leave right now.

"Wh- I don't - Are you okay, Kise-kun?" Kuroko bent forward again, now feeling extremely concerned - because who wouldn't be if someone in front of you began violently expelling blood out. He extended his arms toward Kise in an helpful gesture, despite his numerous desperate pushes.

"GO!" Kise begged, looking around frantically, momentarily forgetting about the sharp bolt of pain that shot up as he did so, before turning to meet his eyes. "Please, just please go. I don't want to lose someone I've just met... Not again." He added, gritting his teeth as his eyes drooped.

Kuroko hesitated, seemingly considering what Kise just said. But not a few seconds later, although he still hadn't quite grasped on to the situation, Kuroko seemed to finally understand the gravity of it as he nodded gravely, taking a step back and turning to leave.

But as luck would have it, it was always one step too late.

The distant rustling sounds Kise picked up came closer and became audible to Kuroko, as shadows started taking forms around the corner, growing with every breath they took as they inched closer.

Kuroko paused as he noticed the change of atmosphere, and turned around to find distorted silhouettes illuminated under the yellow streetlights. He froze, breath caught in his throat, knowing the only thing it spelled was trouble.

In an overwhelming state of panic, Kise did the best thing he could've come up with in that moment, and shoved the terrified blue-haired boy behind two trash cans about a metre away from him, frantically motioning for him to keep quiet with his index finger placed on his lips. The sudden force made Kuroko fall back with a thud, but he quickly scrambled up and took his space within the safety of the shadows, back pressing against the rough brick wall.

Kise shut his eyes, hands moving to grab at his stomach harshly. It felt like his insides were ripping themselves apart, both physically and mentally, pulling and scratching against his muscles and tearing down his quickly diminishing willpower.

He just wanted everything to be over as quickly as possible, because honestly, it hurt like hell. But at the same time, he found himself not willing to go anywhere until he was able to affirm the safety of his tiny savior. Tears pooled in his eyes once more, as he mentally slapped himself.

He just had to put everyone in danger didn't he?

He just had to keep

messing

up.

And he supposed the overflowing pile of mess ups could only eventually be chipped in to result in a day like this. Now he got what he deserved and he was going to lose the only person who had shown a shred of pure kindness toward him for the past few months. But trust that he was damned well willing and prepared to give up everything to prevent that from happening.

Well, that is, if he still had anything left after this.

He prayed for the slight glimmer of chance that for bloody once, things would go his way, and his little friend would not be discovered.

Depending on who was arriving, they could be extremely unpredictable at times and after what Kise had done, he wouldn't be at all surprised if they refused show him mercy anymore - let alone to some kid they found eavesdropping.

He blinked the thoughts away with the tears collecting in his eyes, as he pushed himself up on the opposite wall, grimacing as he clutched at his chest tighter. He wasn't able to decide whether his chest or stomach hurt more - because after all, one had a bullet trapped an inch away from his heart and another was a gradual, torturous change going on with his diet. He decided it didn't matter as they both were hurting like a bitch.

Kise leaned back against the concrete wall as he sighed heavily. What he did to deserve all of this, he didn't know. But he knew the least he could do right then was to direct the attention away from the boy.

There was a storm hanging over his head and to say he wasn't prepared was an understatement.

He watch in dread as two figures emerged from around the corner and walked up to him, their capes flapping dramatically behind them with every step they took.

Kise looked away, straightening his back to look tough even though his insides were practically spilling out all around on the ground and he was trying his best not to clutch at them too tightly. It took all his willpower not to look at the direction of the trash cans.

Before he knew it, a pair of large feet in slightly tattered fabric shoes had stopped in front of him. Kise persisted looking at the ground, before the owner of them got down on a knee, ducking his head in attempts to place himself in front of the blonde's line of vision.

Kise knew it was Midorima, because living together for that many years had familiarized him with each of their mannerisms and of course, their individual anatomy. He heard the other man sigh, as he took a once over on him. He reached into his shirt and pulled out something, but before Kise could retaliate, he pressed the object on his chest, causing the injured man to grimace and flinch away as it rubbed against his wound.

"Hold this to your chest, it'll slow the bleeding." Midorima commanded, lightly urging Kise to accept his aid, which the blonde surprisingly acquiesced to, reluctantly lifting his hand to accept the pressed cloth as he tightened his jaw.

"I would ask you what happened but I have a feeling I'm not going to get an answer." He said. "It's beginning, and we're in a rush. So I'm just going to get straight to the point. Father's mad. He wants you home."

.

.

.

A/N : Had to split the chapter in half so the next part will be up soon! Don't hold back to leave reviews! Critics and opinions are all welcomed to improve the story!