Akashi's New Job
By: Stupiak Kitty
A/N: Sorry for the very long wait, this is the last chapter of the story. Thanks for reading this still. It's hard if you need to rent a computer outside just to update your stories, so please be patient with my updates.
The song that inspired this is Endlessly by The Cab
xXx
When the phantom went back to where Kagami is and stood beside him, Takao rubbed his sweaty hands on his pants and swallowed hard.
He knew too well who would appear next after the Seirin couple.
With that thought in mind, Takao doesn't know how to name the emotions that was controlling him at this point and time.
He felt terrified in a good way. His hands fidgeted in his elegant coat. His toes curled in anticipation inside the dainty shoes Akashi had lent for him.
Never had he thought that standing here beside the altar as you await for the bride - your bride to be - could be frightening, exciting, jittery kind of feeling - wrapped in a balot called eagerness and nervousness.
Takao wasn't really sure what to feel right now, in all honesty.
He blinked and looked around when the soft music from the background halted.
Then just like a cliche movie, Takao saw how everyone turned to the center aisle the moment the music was changed into a graceful intro of a piano.
The point guard's breath hitched once he saw a tall silhouette of something familiar from the beginning of the aisle. There were blinding lights from where Midorima was standing, so he couldn't see his appearance in details.
Takao was very certain that the green haired shooter would be carrying that perfect scowl on his face right now - or even the pinkish hue on his cheeks.
A distinct clicks of camera could be heard from the distance, even the faint murmurs of the people filled the classroom.
"What's taking him so long?" Kise said with impatient eyes. "I wanna see Midorimacchi in a wedding dress already!"
"Technically, it's not a dress," Aomine answered, both arms were crossed on his chest. "It's a white suit, just like I wore, but mine was midnight blue."
"Eh?" Kise looked at him. "But Midorimacchi's the bride, so it's a wedding dress."
Aomine rolled his eyes. "I don't get how your brain works. It's not obviously a dress, Kise."
"What should I call it then? Wedding suit? Wedding tuxedo?" Kise giggled. "It sounds so weird!"
"Tch. I don't really care," Aomine drawled. "As long as I can see that pretty girl with big boobs from here, I'm not complaining ― hey! What the fuck was that for?"
Aomine winced and rubbed his arms where Kise had just landed a hard punch.
Kise pouted. "Aominecchi! Must you stare at another girl while your 'husband' is beside you?"
Aomine chose that moment to stare at Kise, one eyebrow raised as if he said something funny. "I can still remember you having that misplaced tantrums while we're getting 'married'. Now you tell me this?"
"Eh? But staring at someone's boobie is rude!" Kise whined.
"No it's not!" Aomine retorted. "That's what you called appreciating. And don't bitch about that to me, will ya? Just because we got married in a wedding booth organized by Akashi and had this personalized rings for free," Aomine gestured the silver ring on Kise's ring finger. "doesn't mean I would stop liking pretty girls just like that. And besides, you're not really my type Kise," Aomine grimaced at the said boy who just gape at him. "You don't have boobs."
"What?! But I'm hot. Way hotter than that girl!" Kise reacted, a little offended.
"Still no boobs."
"Aominecchi! You're so mean!" Kise cried. "Oh my God, why did I have to be paired with someone as doomed as this jerk?"
"Aren't they the sweetest," Himuro commented, pertaining to the couple who was now bickering next to them. "Right, Atsushi?"
"Muro-chin, gimme the candy bag~" was the only thing Murasakibara could say.
He smiled. "I will, after your friend's wedding,"
"But I'm hungry."
Himuro looked at him. "You just finished five umaibou, Atsushi."
"It's not enough."
He sighed. "You're such a big baby do you know that?" He wanted to save the junks for later, but he can't really control Murasakibara's eating habits. Plus, he can't resist that subtle puppy eyes the purple titan was giving him. In the end, he gave in. Himuro offered him the stick and said, "This will be your last, okay?"
"Mhm Mhm!" Murasakibara could only say, the said junk food was now inside his mouth.
That was the sixth time Himuro had said that.
The murmuring around the classroom and the clicking of the cameras subsided when the girl beside Midorima's silhouette gestured for him to move.
Takao, who waited as if he was waiting for forever, froze and stood straight once the silhouette walked and walked furthermore until he could clearly see Midorima.
Seeing the green haired shooter in his full form silenced the room. Even the tweeting birds, the insects and everything around them grew quiet as he moved toward Takao.
It was as though everyone was stunned to see the transformation of Midorima, even the sounds. Only the background music kept playing, but with Takao all that he could hear was nothing, but the strong beats of his heart.
Midorima was clad in a full white. There was a hint of light pink inside the suit that he was wearing. Even the bouquet resting on his hands was pink.
Takao wasn't able to tell if Midorima is blushing, because he was wearing a belo. Even the clothing was hinted with pink. At the top of the elegant silky clothing was a flower crown, it was placed there to secure the cloth on top of Midorima's head.
The hawk boy simply gawked at the walking green haired boy, one thought running inside his mind.
Perfect.
No, he was beyond perfection. Takao was sure of it.
If only this wedding was real, then there's nothing more in the world that he could wish for.
Takao was still staring even after Midorima had reached the end of the aisle. The shooter didn't even spare him a glance, he simply directed his strong gaze at the red haired who looked at him as if he was more than satisfied.
"Akashi," growled Midorima with a hint of annoyance and a bit of embarrassment on his voice. He clutched the bouquet with trembling hands. "What is the meaning of this? I demand an explanation."
"Shintarou," a calm voice greeted Midorima. He observed him with a silent eyes, making the ace shooter consious. "As expected it suited you perfectly."
Takao watched as Midorima's fingers fidgeted on the bouquet he was holding. This was a rare scene. He was beyond embarrassed, Takao was sure of it.
"Akashi," Midorima growled again. "Is that the only thing you could say after asking us to go all the way to Kyoto and making us undergo through this without our knowledge? This is absurd!"
"Now, now, Shintarou, do you really consider showing your temperament inside a sacred place arranged by yours truly a good idea?" Akashi asked "Let's not forget showing it before your groom to be. I'm not going to like it if my efforts would go to waste because of this."
"Akashi," Midorima growled again, but the exasperation was clear in his voice. "I don't wish to be a part of this...this games in the first place!"
"You are," Akashi declared. Takao almost shivered by the looks the Rakuzan captain gave Midorima. "Whether you like it or not, you are to participate and marry Takao Kazunari right here and then."
Takao gulped. He knew how intimidating and scary Akashi could be, but he never thought he was this terrifying. Sure, he had already experienced Akashi's power when they played on the court.
But seeing him in front of him, wearing that serene white clothes priests wore, inches taller above him because of the altar's platform and staring at Midorima as if he was seconds away from murdering the shooter.
He felt as if his muscles and inner body parts were also scared ― he couldn't move a thing. Even his neck was stiff; Akashi's eyes were wide and scary it made him almost pee his pants.
Takao wasn't sure if it affected Midorima, he only stood there like a proud man he was. Although seeing him pushing his glasses up and hearing the faint sound of his gulping told him otherwise.
He stole a glance at Akashi first before leaning to his bride to be and whispered, "Shin-chan, don't anger him any further. We all know how scary your ex captain is. I still value my life."
Midorima only tutted.
"Let's just play along and get this over with," He went on. "I can't wait to leave this place and hide in my bed."
That only annoyed Midorima more, he noticed, but instead he sighed and looked away.
"I know the very reason of your reluctance, Shintarou," Akashi said which made the Shutoku ace to look at him, asking him to explain his side with his scowl. "It may look like unofficial and games to you, but trust me if I say you're not going to regret this."
"I don't follow," said Midorima. "I only want to know the reason why you were doing this; this is not how I perceived you. I've known you since middle school, Akashi, and seeing you playing priest and match-making doesn't fit your personality. Running a wedding booth and calling all of us to and get married by you is highly out of your character."
"How keen of you to see that," Akashi said, his eyes were now relaxed, but Takao could see the underlying amusement in his firey multicolored orbs.
"This is very suspicious and disturbing," Midorima said. "So I won't agree until I'm sure there's nothing to be suspicious about."
"Well, if you insist," Akashi sighed. He sighed, as if he didn't want to reveal his reason but has no choice. "They banned me from participating with every booth that concerns strategy and tactics."
"W-what?" Takao voiced out. He was confused.
"You mean beating all the champions in every Shogi and Chess clubs you have in your school?" Midorima cleared. "That's not surprising, considering how you had done it back in middle school."
Takao cocked a brow. "So you decided to do a wedding booth instead?"
"I was furious when they said that," Akashi went on. "But then Reo overheard the commotion and decided to compromise instead."
"And that is...?"
"If Sei-chan were to lead a wedding booth and play as the priest for the half the day of the school festival, would you allow him to participate to the Shogi and Chess plays?"
"And you agreed?" Midorima asked, disbelief in his face. "Just like that? Where did your integrity go, Akashi?"
"I will do anything just to play my game. I don't mind playing the Priest as long as I can play Shogi afterwards," Akashi said as if nothing is big deal.
"Whoa, you're so passionate about the game it's almost frightening." Takao commented.
"Now that you are aware of my reason," Akashi said. "shall we continue the ceremony so I can announce you as husband and wife?"
Midorima could only frown, there's nothing more that he could do. While Takao's heart drummed again.
xXx
"Here we are, beloved friends and students of Rakuzan, about to witness the wedding of Midorima Shintarou and Takao Kazunari of Shutoku High," Akashi proclaimed with a loud and confident voice. "I let this couple to be the last one to marry for a reason. I heard from a reliable source that there has been something between the ace player of Shutoku and his partner from the court, Kazunari. I was convinced as well; the players' movements and quirks on the court isn't the only thing that I could sense and predict. I sensed a particular quirk from Shintarou and Kazunari when I played with them on the court," Akashi looked at the two Shutoku players before him that was looking at him in shock and confusion. Akashi continued, "It was the same quirk that I sensed from Tetsuya and Daiki before, as well as with Tetsuya and Taiga now."
Takao could only gawk. What was he talking about?
"I had sensed this from Daiki and Ryouta too," Akashi went on. "But I can also sense a cup of denial. With Kazunari and Shintarou, it felt different ― way different with the aura I had felt with Tetsuya and Taiga, and the Yosen aces, Atsushi and Tatsuya. It was the aura of hiding," He smiled that creepy smile of his, then he called, "Kazunari."
Takao gulped when Akashi looked at him, the knowing look on his face made his heart beat; it felt like wild horses were running inside his cavity.
Did Akashi, in a weird sense, knew what he was hiding from the Shutoku's ace?
"Y-Yes?" He answered. He gulped again when Akashi stared at him. Is this a wedding, or a confession? He wasn't sure anymore.
"Do not be confused," Akashi said. "I am aware that this is a wedding ceremony. But a wedding is a sacred tradition wherein both indivuals are connected with the same, special thoughts linked to their minds and hearts; emotions they could feel in a mutual aspect, and that kind of emotions are known and felt to both parties, not hidden inside their soul to rot.
"I am saying this to let you know, Kazunari, that both parties are required to give their vows to their chosen one," Akashi went on. "How can you do it if Shintarou has no knowledge about the feelings you have for him?"
Takao heard a gasp, and it took him a moment when he realized that it came from him and Midorima. He looked at the ace, his eyes terrified and shocked, before looking back at Akashi.
"How do you know about this, Akashi?!" Takao exclaimed. "I can't recall telling this to anyone, especially you!"
"I have my ways," Akashi said. "So?"
Takao's both right and wrong. This isn't a wedding or a confession, this is both.
Takao looked at Akashi, his face and eyes were red from embarassment and sort of anger. He held his feelings for the ace because he had reasons; now Akashi ruined it by inviting them to Kyoto and forcing him and Midorima to marry each other.
He was certain that Midorima is, and will not reciprocate his feelings. For one, the Shutoku ace is not gay, he was sure of it.
Second is that he could see Midorima trembling, and he was convinced that it was because of anger and disgust.
"Takaocchi, just confess to Midorimacchi already!"
Takao's eyes widen in surprise when he heard that and turned to look at the direction of the voice, but he regretted it soon enough, because he was now aware how full the classroom is.
Various eyes were staring and looking at them as if they were actors and filmed. Takao was convinced, though, that the feelings inside him were not scripted.
It was real.
And it's the reason why he's scared.
But he ignored it and went along.
Akashi has exploited his feelings already, why not tell it to Midorima and see if he'd accept him or not.
Whatever happens next, happens.
He took a deep breath before looking at Midorima. "Shin-chan...I like you."
TBC
xXx
Gosh. This is getting long, but I promise you the next chapter will be the last.
I'm convinced that Akashi is a psychic.
THIS CHAPTER IS OPEN FOR EDITING