So, um.. This story's gonna have a bit of a.. rushed? ending. This is actually the last *chapter. Though there will be a thirteenth, it'll be more like an epilogue. For those of you that have read my other stories, you probably know what I mean. (Short and simple and not really chapterish.) But hopefully it'll still be up to standard. If not, I sincerely apologize.

Anywhales, enjoy this chapter, I suppose? *heart*

The next day, Aomine didn't even bother coming into school. He spent the whole day making sure Kise was well taken care of, proving to him how much he cared. However, the blonde had insisted on Aomine attending basketball practice, and after a long, drawn out discussion, the bluenette was left with no choice.

With a shower of final kisses and a heavy heart, Aomine left the blonde alone once more. As soon as he was out the door, his face twisted into a scowl, wrath welling within his chest.

When the bluenette arrived at the gym, everyone could feel the difference in his aura, despite his wearing the same expression as the day before.

Akashi picked up on the tan man's intentions, calling the meeting for him. They all sat on the benches of the locker room, all eyes on Aomine. Midorima was the first to speak.

"Did you straighten things out with Kise?"

The bluenette gave a curt nod. "That's what I'm here for. I didn't tell Ryouta, but I decided last night that you had to know."

Akashi leaned forward in anticipation, all ears. "Go on."

"When Ryouta said Kotaro's name in his sleep, I was foolish enough to think it was out of love."

Murasakibara tilted his head, looking as childish as he often acted. "What else could it have been, Mine-chin?"

"Fear."

Kuroko blinked. "Fear? Of Kotaro? He's such a nice boy, though."

Aomine shook his head, clenching his hands into fists at his sides. He breathed out a shaky sigh, trying to keep himself calm. "No, he hurt him. I talked to Ryouta today, and he didn't tell me much, but he told me plenty."

Akashi leaned ever closer, very interested in the topic at hand. "What did he say?"

Aomine would normally have backed away from the redhead, fearing for his own life. But today he only embraced Akashi's thirst for blood. "He told me how Kotaro had beaten him, bruised him, even cut him. How he's the reason Ryouta needs surgery on his wrist."

Akashi's eyes flashed dangerously, his deathly aura completely overwhelming Aomine's. A collective shiver passed through the room. "Yori is the reason? The reason that our Ryouta may not be able to play basketball again?" Of course, this was not Akashi's only concern, but the thought of Kise losing the sport he loved so much made his blood boil.

Aomine nodded, and that's all it took. Akashi stood to his feet immediately, his eyes the coldest they'd ever been. "Practice dismissed. I will see you all tomorrow."

"Ne, Aka-chin-"

"Dismissed!"

XXX

Kise insisted on going back to school the next day. He was up and dressed, even having made breakfast, all before Aomine even opened an eye. Watching as the blonde danced around the room, a newfound light in his golden eyes, Aomine hadn't been able to deny the request. Though he did make sure he spoke to Murasakibara before classes began. The purple headed giant was the only one that was in Kise's class, and thus the task of protecting the blonde from Kotaro fell upon his shoulders.

The lazy teenager was for once all too happy to oblige, his only comment, "I'll crush him."

Aomine wasn't nervous in the slightest bit, even as lunch rolled around. Murasakibara was childish and lazy, but when it came to the people he loved, he was very loyal. And potentially dangerous.

The bluenette leaned back in his seat as he watched the familiar head of purple make its way over, a small blob of yellow directly to its side. Aomine smiled kindly at Kise as he sat across from him.

"Daiki-cchi," the blonde whispered, "why is Murasakibara-cchi acting all motherly?"

Aomine merely laughed as the others all found their seats. Akashi was the last to sit, his aura oddly calm. Kuroko blinked up at his boyfriend.

"Seijuro? Are you alright?"

The redhead smiled, and the rare sight was enough to take anyone's breath away. Akashi's innocent face was purely angelic. "Yes, Tetsuya. I'm perfectly fine. Oh, and Tatsuya and Kazunari will be joining us today."

It wasn't long before Akashi's words were proven right, as Takao bounded over to Midorima, whilst Himuro calmly took his seat beside Murasakibara, politely greeting the group as if he hadn't been drafted into a warzone.

Kise was completely oblivious to all of the strange happenings, but the others could clearly feel it- that something was coming. It wasn't very long at all before it arrived.

Kise may have been oblivious, but Kotaro certainly was not. He felt it the moment he walked by the familiar table, a challenge of sorts. Plastering on a sickly sweet smile, he turned and walked closer to the people he used to lightly refer to as friends.

"Hello, old friends~" he sang, glancing around the group. His green eyes lingered on Aomine in particular. "Why so angry?"

In his mind, he was sure Kise hadn't spoken up. The blonde had always loved him far too much to say anything about his behavior, and what would be the point now? They never even spoke anymore.

By this time, Kise had also caught on. He deliberately stared at the table in front of him, not daring to look up to Kotaro's judgmental gaze. His heart pounded in his chest, seemingly threatening to plunge right out and into his own palm.

Akashi slowly lifted his crimson gaze to the deceitful male across from him, smiling at him as if they were truly old friends after all. "Yori, why don't you have a seat?"

The words appeared to be a generous offer, but Kotaro knew them to be an order. With his smile still intact, he did as he was told, taking his familiar place beside the blonde.

Akashi noticed the tiny cringe from Kise as Kotaro's shadow overcame him, and he quickly spoke again. "Ryouta, don't be so uptight."

Though the comment seemed like just another friendly remark, the blonde instantly relaxed. He couldn't explain it himself, but something about this side of Akashi was soothing. He trusted in him, completely.

The redhead turned his kind gaze back to Kotaro, tilting his head lightly. "Yori, is there something you'd like to say to Ryouta?"

The brunette blinked, glancing to the blonde at his side. "Uh…" He noticed the dangerous spark that flashed in Akashi's eyes, even for a mere second. He cleared his throat, turning to face Kise more directly. "I'm sorry for hurting you, Ryouta."

Akashi nodded. "Good, now elaborate."

Kotaro's emerald eyes flickered back to Akashi's, his breath hitching in his throat at the intensity that now lay there. "I-I don't know what you mean."

"Oh I think you do," Akashi continued, his voice as sweet as honey. Yet there was an underlying warning to his tone, evident, though hidden. "Apologize for all the ways you hurt him."

Kotaro's lips pressed into a thin line. "This is ridiculous," he muttered, moving to stand. But Takao wasn't having that. The usually happy-go-lucky raven clamped his hand onto Kotaro's shoulder, forcing him back into his seat. His grey eyes were dark and narrowed, but he smiled politely at the other boy.

The brunette felt trapped, and it wasn't an often occurrence. Finally, he sighed heavily, releasing his façade as a grimace formed on his lips. "You want apologies?" he mumbled, nodding to himself. "I can apologize." He turned to Kise, reaching his hand out to firmly grasp the blonde's chin. He pulled his face toward him, forcing him to meet his gaze.

"I'm sorry, Ryouta. I'm sorry that I pushed you. I'm sorry that I hit you. I'm sorry for all the well placed kicks I landed on your filthy torso. I'm sorry for calling you fat. I'm sorry for raping you. I'm sorry I made you sell your most precious items before allowing you to move in with me. I'm sorry I kicked you out. I'm sorry I stabbed your hand. I'm sorry I've left your body scarred and tainted. I'm sorry for cheating on you. I'm sorry that I told you I loved you. I'm sorry I pointed out your every flaw at every chance I got. I'm sorry I told you you'd never amount to anything, especially in basketball when I knew you wanted to be just like Aomine. I'm sorry I beat you for modeling." He paused, a dark smirk growing on his lips. "And I'm sorry that you are forever broken because of all the things I'm not sorry for."

Kise's chest ached as if it was the first time Kotaro had kicked him there- a sharp, sudden pain that constricted his breathing. His golden eyes were wide as he stared into the emerald orbs of the man he once claimed to love. He felt as though he was going to cry, but no tears came.

Aomine's body tensed, and he lunged toward Kotaro, ready to rip his throat out, but Kuroko and Midorima held him back. During the dispute, Akashi was left unguarded, and in a flash of blurring red, Kotaro was on the floor. Though the hands clasped around his neck were much smaller than his own, they were gripped tight, and he couldn't pull them away.

Gasping for breath, Kotaro was forced to look into the crimson eyes of the devil himself, and he felt a wave of sudden fear- a fear worse than anything he'd ever felt. Unbeknownst to him, in a flurry of flittering emotions, Kotaro felt the very fear he'd bestowed upon Kise himself.

As darkness crept at the edges of his vision, he was overwhelmed by the raw emotions pouring from his own broken soul.