-Keep Close-
Summary: Kuroko and Aomine head to Okinawa together to look for Kuroko's missing girlfriend.
Warning: More emotional conflict. More AoKuro moments.
Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to Kuroko no Baske. All rights go to Fujimaki Tadatoshi-sensei. ^_^
-Chapter 3: Doubts-
"Ne, Kuroko, can you tell me more about Yuki?" Aomine asked as they waited at the bus stop.
Their plane landed at Naha an hour ago. After taking a late meal, they deposited their luggage at a hotel near the airport and are now heading towards Yuki's parents' house.
Kuroko looked at him with his usual blank expression.
At that moment, Aomine wondered what Kuroko felt about the whole situation. Having the person that he was with for several years suddenly disappear and then realizing that she may be living a double life was a bit hard to accept readily. If it were Aomine, he would feel betrayed and angry. But Kuroko's poker face made it hard for Aomine to gauge the other guy's feelings or thoughts about the situation.
It was hard to ask those kinds of questions since Kuroko never said anything. He wanted Kuroko to tell him how he felt on his own accord. He wished that Kuroko would depend on him more.
"Yuki... She's a very bright person. She also loves basketball and would play with me from time to time. She would always smile. She's a gentle person. If you get to know her, you'd realize that she's the type who wouldn't hurt a fly. At least that's how I know her," Kuroko said.
Aomine sensed hurt and bitterness in Kuroko's words. He felt a pang of guilt all of a sudden.
It was Aomine that brought this reality to Kuroko. If it weren't for him, the guy would not be in this situation. He failed to control the damage. Because all he thought of was the case, he had failed to realize the impact of his search to Kuroko.
"I'm sorry," he said while lowering his head. He could not bear looking into Kuroko's eyes. He felt guilty for being part of the cause that Kuroko was hurt right now.
"What are you sorry for?" Kuroko asked.
"I think I didn't change after all. I'm still someone who thinks more of myself than others. I'm sorry, Kuroko. I'm sorry if I brought you into all of this," he said.
He felt Kuroko hold his hand as if he was tugging him. It made his heart jump.
"It's not your fault, Aomine. One way or the other, I was bound to know these things about Yuki."
He looked at Kuroko's hand that held his. It felt warm against his skin. His eyes went up to meet Kuroko's that were focused on him.
"What would you do if..." Aomine could not continue what he wanted to say when he felt Kuroko's hand leave his. "I also want to confirm the truth. Who knows, I may have made a mistake and Yuki really isn't the person that I'm looking for."
Aomine knew it was far from the truth. He felt it in his gut that Yuki was really Sayu. He also trusted his teammates on the case to get the right information before reporting it.
Kuroko looked away. He seemed to be caught in his own thoughts about Yuki.
"Kuroko..."
Kuroko remained silent.
The bus arrived. Kuroko went in before him. He sat towards the very end of the bus. Aomine followed him but sat on the opposite end of backmost seat.
It was only after they had gotten off the bus that Kuroko spoke. "Whatever I find out about Yuki, I promised that I would always believe in her."
"You love her that much, huh?" Aomine balled his hands to fists, realizing that he said his thoughts aloud. He immediately regretted saying them.
Kuroko looked at him with a slight smile on his lips but his eyes were expressionless. "As her boyfriend, I should always be the first one to believe in her."
Aomine felt a tinge of pain in his chest as he looked at Kuroko.
Yes, he should always remind himself that Kuroko was already someone else's. He had no right to question Kuroko's feelings for Yuki.
Even before, when they were in middle school, Aomine already knew that Kuroko always pursued the things that he loved. It was like basketball back then. They both loved basketball. Aomine changed due to his own arrogance but Kuroko continued to love basketball despite everything that had happened to the Teiko team. Even though Kuroko had poor stamina and had a very low shooting average, he still pursued what he loved and worked hard. He never thought of losing even when they faced each other in the court.
That part of Kuroko was also what he admired and respected most since before. He never changed in that aspect. That's why Aomine should already know the answer to his own question.
It ate at him that it was like that. Aomine knew that it was wrong. But somehow, he had hoped that Kuroko answered differently. But all those were just wishful thinking.
He patted Kuroko's shoulder and gave an understanding smile. "That's right. You should always believe in the person that you love."
Aomine let Kuroko lead the way towards Yuki's parents' house. He let him walk a few feet ahead to give himself some space.
While Aomine looked at Kuroko's back, he felt his chest ache. He really wanted to hug him right now. He balled his hands into fists. He looked away and took a deep breath.
This really feels like punishment, he thought to himself.
Kuroko more than ever wanted to see Yuki. Right at that moment, as they were walking towards her parents' house, he hoped that she would be there.
He had a lot of things to ask her. He had a lot of things to be certain of and reaffirm.
It bothered him that he did not know everything about her. It bothered him that she did not trust him with the truth.
He had hoped that Aomine could be wrong about Yuki. He had hoped that she was just really out there somewhere travelling as she thought about their marriage. She probably just needed more time. He really wished it was so.
But the doubts still would not stop from appearing. The whys nagged at him. Even before Aomine showed up, those doubts had already appeared.
Why had she not contacted him? Where had she gone? Was she still coming back? Was she okay? Should he already report her missing to the police? Should he call her parents? Why would she do such a thing to him?
The questions would not stop. It bothered him that he could not keep the promise that he would always believe in her. He desperately wanted to believe in her. But the doubts just won't stop.
And when Aomine appeared, the doubts inside his heart grew bigger and bigger. The more he knew, the more he doubted. Feelings that did not exist before were there now.
Even his feelings. He had begun to question how far he would go just for Yuki. If he learned of the truth, if what Aomine had told him about the investigation were true, would his feelings for Yuki stay the same?
Doubts. They were like poison to his heart.
He was thankful that he was not alone in all this. Kuroko was thankful that Aomine was there to help him look for Yuki. If it were only him, he may have just waited for Yuki to come back. If it were only him, he may not have learned the truth.
"Kuroko..."
He stopped walking and turned to face Aomine.
"I just want to let you know that whatever happens, you can count on me," Aomine said.
He smiled. "Thanks, Aomine. I'll keep that in mind."
They continued walking until they reached the Satsuki residence.
It was a big, old house. It was one of those old ancestral houses that had been well-preserved over the generations. Yuki's family was well-off. They owned several large fishing boats in Naha. That was why her parents were able to buy the building where the veterinary clinic and there apartment were.
He and Yuki had gone there before to so that he could meet her family. He had also taken Yuki to his parents' house when they brought Nigou over so that his parents could take better care of the dog.
"We're here," he said to Aomine.
Aomine stood beside him as he rang the door bell.
His heart was unexpectedly beating fast while they waited for the gate to open.
"It's going to be alright," Aomine said. He gave him a pat on the shoulder.
He nodded.
The door opened and it was Yuki's mother that they saw.
"Good afternoon, Haruka-san," he said to Yuki's mother and then gave a curt bow.
"Ara... Kuroko-kun, it's been a while," Haruka said. She opened the gate wider.
"Haruka-san, is Yuki here?" he asked straightforwardly.i
"Yuki-chan?" Haruka looked at him with a bewildered expression. "Aren't you two together? I thought you came with her to visit but..." He saw Haruka's gaze fall towards the tall Aomine beside him.
"Ah, I'm sorry. This is Aomine Daiki. He's a friend of mine. We came here together," he said while smiling.
"Good afternoon, Satsuki-san," Aomine said.
"Are you looking for Yuki?" Haruka asked Kuroko.
"Yes," he answered.
"Why don't you come inside so that we can talk better?"
Haruka-san gave them tea after they were seated in the living room. Kuroko and Aomine sat beside each other.
"I'm sorry, Kuroko-kun, we have not heard from Yuki for a good while now. I'm actually a bit worried since you said that she has not contacted you either these past few months. But to tell you honestly, Yuki was always someone who was fond of going out on her own and travelling. She may be doing just that now, you know. But that girl, she really should have sent us or you a message," Haruka said.
Kuroko held himself in check. The doubts were there again. They would not stop.
"Do you know of any possible place where she might be staying right now?" Aomine asked. When Haruka-san looked at him, Aomine gave a respectful smile. "I am helping Kuroko look for your daughter."
Haruka-san smiled. "Thank you. I'm sorry to say that I don't know where she could be."
"If you want, we can help you in filing a missing person's report," Aomine said.
Haruka-san drank her tea first before replying. "There's no need. I trust my daughter. I'm sure she's alright. I'm sure she'll come back when she's ready."
Aomine was pissed.
What the hell was up with that?
What kind of parent would not worry and refuse to file a missing persons report when their daughter had been off the grid for more than two months now? It only even takes forty-eight hours to consider a person missing.
This situation is getting a bit suspicious. He was sure that the family knew something. The problem was that no one was talking.
"Damn," he muttered under his breath.
They were waiting for the bus again to go back to the hotel. It was already late afternoon.
"Aomine..."
He looked at Kuroko who was standing beside him. The guy was not looking at him, but was looking towards the direction where the bus would be coming from.
"Yes?"
"Can you tell me more about Sayu? You only told me that she might be an important person in your investigation. You told me that you were in the organized crime division. Does that mean that Yuki may be involved in something big?" Kuroko said.
Aomine gulped. He only said a little to Kuroko but he felt like he had already said too much. He did not respond for a moment as he thought of what to do.
"It's okay if you don't tell me everything. Just—just tell me about Yuki or Sayu or whoever it is that you are looking for," Kuroko continued.
"Kuroko..."
Kuroko turned to face him with his usual blank face. It was really hard to read the guy if he was like that.
He sighed. There was no way around it. "Sayu is a bookkeeper for a syndicate called the Black Ring. It's a group involved in illegal gambling and a lot of stuff. The money goes back and forth and they would be able to make large amounts of money disappear into thin air. We suspect that it's going to some politician's pocket. Sayu is important because she is the recorder of all the transactions. With her, we can trace the money trail and pin point who the bosses are for the syndicate. We would also be able to know who the benefactor of the group is."
Kuroko was silent as he looked at him. He was probably thinking about Yuki now. It was like he was about to say something but stopped himself in the end.
"I'm sorry, Kuroko. I really did not mean to disrupt your life like this. It's just that Yuki is a really important person to help us in the case. I didn't want to drag you around looking for her because I know that this might hurt you..." He said the last few words in a low whisper.
The bus arrived. This time, they had no choice but to stand since the bus was full. They were standing right next to each other. Aomine took a glance at Kuroko and saw that the guy was deep in thought.
He looked away, gritting his teeth.
"Ne, Kuroko..." he said after they had gone off the bus.
Kuroko looked up at him. His face still looking the same—expressionless.
Do you think Yuki will ever come back? He wanted to ask that question but changed his mind. It would only hurt Kuroko even more.
Aomine shook his head. "Never mind. Let's go." He took Kuroko's hand and pulled him towards the direction of the hotel.
"Did you find out anything new?" Aomine asked Matsuba over the phone. They were already back at the hotel. He was in his own room. Kuroko was rooming on the one beside his.
"There is some information I think you need to look at," Matsuba replied.
"Tell me."
He stood up from the bed and walked out to the balcony. The back of the hotel was facing the sea. It had a good view from where he was standing.
"It kind of looked ordinary from the beginning so it was overlooked. But I went back to some of the places were the Ring was spotted and discovered something. I wondered why there were some names of people that turned up connected to the Ring but were just normal people. I finally discovered their common factor."
"What is it?"
"Basketball. Or should I say, underground basketball."
"What?" Aomine felt his heart skip a beat when he turned and saw that Kuroko was also on the balcony and standing outside. The guy was looking out to the sea. He gulped when Kuroko turned to him and nodded.
He nodded back and then turned around. He went back inside the room to avoid Kuroko from hearing anything.
"What do you mean underground basketball? This is the first time that I've heard of such thing," he said.
"You may not believe it, but it seems that big people are placing bets on the games. The ticket to the game is more than several months of our salary and with just that, the Ring earns money. Whoever controls the players controls the game. However, it seems that there's no age limit. Anyone can be a player. I've talked to one player and it seems that they are well-compensated but do not know who the real bosses are. They are just contacted by someone named Kon," Matsuba said.
Aomine gripped the phone tightly.
What Matsuba was saying was crazy. Underground basketball?
"How could they get away with something like that? They would need to occupy a basketball court if that were the case."
"The setup doesn't seem so hard. The game happens at night in a private facility. According to my source, there would only be several guards and the people who facilitate the games. Everything is set up digitally. The people watch through the cameras and place their bets electronically. There seems to be a specific website where people can watch. I checked it but you immediately need a password to access the site. We tried to see if we could get through but the security on the site is tight. We can't hack it even if I secretly tried asking someone I know. That's how tight they are about it."
"So the bosses could be in god knows where while the gambling is happening?" He gritted his teeth. "At least this is a lead. So what are the plans?"
"All we need is to capture that Kon guy so that we can get more information about the Ring's activities and about the leader."
"No, not yet. Don't capture Kon just yet. I have a something in mind."
Aomine discussed a few things to Matsuba before ending the call. He sat on the bed with hands clasped together.
"Basketball, huh..."
He layed down on the bed and stared at the ceiling. He imagined what Kuroko was doing now. Was he still outside looking out at the sea?
How would the guy react to what Aomine had in mind? He was sure that Kuroko would offer to help.
He gritted his teeth again. He had no choice. He needed Kuroko now more than ever.
They needed to go back to Tokyo as soon as possible to discuss the plan.
He held his phone close to his face and dialed a number.
"Yo. Are you up for a basketball game?" he asked.
The person on the other line chuckled. "Are you challenging me?"
"Nah, more like I want to team up with you."
"I'll think about it."
"Kuroko would be playing along with us."
"Eh? Kuroko? That's pretty surprising. Fine. Just tell me when and where."
"Thanks. I'll call you when I get back to Tokyo."
Aomine ended the call with a sigh of relief. He never thought that it would be easy. Mentioning Kuroko was worth the gamble although he was still not entirely sure if Kuroko would go with his plan.
This is all so messed up.
[A/N: Who do you think was the person that Aomine called? Take a guess. Heheh. The story will be shifting on the next chapter. Please don't forget to leave your comments. Thanks.]