A/N: Etou, not much to say here. ; 7 ; Except I really do love this pairing, they're so fun to write~ However I thought Kise was definitely most suited to his sort of love. Ahh you'll understand what I mean soon~ Oh and I apologize if they may seem OOC? I dunno, it's my first time writing of something not KHR-related-/chokes soo.../crosses fingers./ hope I did ok. /lays

Disclaimer: Do not own! Q 7 Q

The Case of Kise, Ryouta

Ludus:

a love that is played as a game or sport; conquest; may have multiple partners at once

Cameras flashing, voices calling his name from left and right, the occasional squeal from a fan girl, then being followed by a flock of interviewers, whenever he turned around at their call, he would flash them a sweet smile and thank them for their support, in which they would all blush or be stunned by his gorgeous and stunning looks as he continues walking out. He would always be crowded by strangers he could care less about and they'd pretend to like him despite not knowing him, only because he was a model.

Whenever he would take a stroll around town, he would see girls batting their eyelashes flirtatiously at him, faces heavy with make-up and scent stained with strong feminine perfume, wanting ever so desperately for him to take notice of them and maybe think that they'd had a chance of him liking them back. However, the blonde thought wistfully, inwardly sighing.

There was just no way he could return their feelings.

Being wanted only because of his looks and popularity, wanting to have the status of dating a model as well as a member of the Generation of Miracles, women could be pretty vain and well, he just generally didn't like them nor saw their appeal anymore. From their fake long lashes and fake smiles to their high pitch giggles and meaningless chatter. Honestly, their never ending attempt to make him take notice of them was getting...bothersome.

He continues to walk this familiar path to a certain school, he was glad the photo shoot they had was near the Tokyo prefecture and the blonde could go venture to anywhere he liked afterwards. To visit that one particular person that had always managed to capture his attention, for no matter what, he would refuse him, him, Kise Ryouta of all people, and not only once, but countless of times too. Grinning slightly to himself, he hurried his steps.

"I must be out of my mind…" He muttered to himself. But damn it, he was grinning.

He didn't get it, it was really weird actually, how he found himself getting attached and even attracted to someone as Kuroko Tetsuya. He was invisible, monotonous and lacked all the charms a girl would usually have…so why…?

Simple, his mind provided, it was because he had refused him.

Something Kise had never experienced in his whole life while having his career and that alone triggered that feeling in Kise, that he was a challenge, a conquest. He was intrigued by this person, captivated really. This unobtainable sweet.

This forbidden fruit.

He didn't know how long since he had felt like this, accepting the cold refusals with a cheerful smile but a bitter feeling in his tongue, and yet, and yet, here he was, back for more, it was really weird…for him to accept such pain so easily, to be denied, especially due to the fact that he can't stop himself from smiling just from seeing the others face. It hurt but it also felt right. What were these complicated emotions…?

'Ahhh, I really am still immature after all…' He would later think to himself as he comes across the doors leading to Seirin's gym. He could already hear the squeaking of the basketball shoes, the swish of the net and the yells of each member.

He took a peek inside first, checking if that special person was there. His amber gaze flicking with desire the moment it landed on the seated figure by the bench. His chest burning with emotion and he found it hard to breathe again.

"Mou, if you only knew what you do to me, Kurokocchi…"

He felt a sad smile then come on to his lips, 'Hurry up and notice me…' his mind would repeat.

How he wanted to have him so bad, to make the other fall for him, that's why, he would remain patient. He would do his best to lure this enigma of a person and make him fall for him. He wouldn't admit it, but seeing him with this new team, how close and strong their bonds were made him rile up with envy, he hated that feeling of course, having never experienced it..

'But only towards you…'

He decided then that he would make sure that Kurokocchi would fall madly in love with him, so much that he wouldn't bear be apart. It seemed unachievable, almost impossible, but he was willing to try…most of all, he was willing to wait.

After all, Kise did love a good challenge.

"Yo-ho~," He called out as he finally pushed the door open and came striding in, eyes immediately landing on him thanks to his very noticeable presence. If he couldn't do this much, what kind of a model was he then, but it bothered him very much when the one person he wanted to take notice of him remained blankly staring at his lap, as if thinking of something deeply. He refused to show this pain of course and smiled cheerfully. "I came for Kurokocchi~" He chimed in that ever upbeat voice, giving them a fall sense of security upon seeing his naive act.

"Ah—it's Kise!" One of them explained, one with a cat-like mouth. Not that he cared about whoever they were and what their name was. He only had eyes on the pale bluenette at the bench.

"Oi! Kise! Don't just come busting in during practice whenever you please!" He heard a familiar voice yell—it was none other than that annoying Kagami. His Kurokocchi's new light. Funny, since when had he referred to Kuroko as his…? The blonde didn't dwell on it longer as he continued to make his way towards the object of interest, said person only looking up when he was a foot away from him.

"Ah, Kise-kun, since when did you get here?" He asked voice still in that monotone.

Kise grinned. "I came to see you, Kurokocchi~" He let the words out smoothly as if these lines were a daily occurrence. Kuroko's face remained unchanging.

"If this is about asking me to go play for your school again, but you know my answer won't change right, Kise-kun?" Came the even response.

Kise just chuckled airily and shook his head. "No no of course not—I had gotten over that~! I knew Kurokocchi would refuse so I decided to just see how you were doing today, honest!"

Kurokocchi gives him this almost skeptic look but nodded. "Haa, then it is nice to see you Kise-kun, but you are disturbing are practice." He stated coldly as if he couldn't be bothered, Kise's smile didn't falter, he was used to the treatment.

"Oi! Quit ignoring me!" Kagami grumbled in the background, somehow he had been forgotten along with everyone else whenever Kise would talk to Kuroko, his attention always fully on the smaller boy.

"So mean!" He cried and attempted to hug the bluenette to which he was dodged easily. "Is it so wrong to visit my former teammate? We were so close back in Middle school…" He rambled on, giving Kurokocchi his puppy dog look while it was only replied with a blank stare. The others resumed practice, ignoring the two since this seemed to be a common occurrence.

Although the real reason for his visits was that he missed him and wanted to see his face. Not that he could ever say it like that. He sighed inwardly, not liking this predicament of his, liking but not being liked back, trying but it was never enough, and how can you stand being denied so much by the one person you wanted to have but could not. It was all a conflict of emotions for the teen and he had yet to decide if this really was love.

It was sad then if he was, since he would be the only one giving affection and not receiving it, is this was what it was like to be in one of his fan's place..? Was it this difficult..? This painful?

It was quiet for a moment before he heard a sigh.

"Well, practice is almost over, coach was just letting the other Sempai go train a few more rounds before dismissing us," A slight hesitant pause, "And if Kise-kun would like, Kise-kun can accompany me to Maji." Kuroko offered.

Kise could not believe his ears, this was…This probably had to be the first time Kuroko would take the initiative in asking him out. Kise would then refer to this as a date just because he finds it so. Honestly, he had always felt left out when Kurokocchi would ask one of the Generation of Miracles to accompany him somewhere or something like that but never him. Not once. Every day, feeling the constant emotion of rivalry amongst everyone in the team who would approach the bluenette, act all friendly and being close, he could recall that time that he would grit his teeth when Aomine would simply wrap an arm around the boy's shoulders after a well played match.

That's why it made him feel competitive; he wanted to be acknowledged so bad that it hurt. He trained day in and out, and would constantly bother the other for praise or just to be in his company. Before he knew it, his little fascination for Kuroko Tetsuya grew into a slight obsession. Something he would deny till now. However, it didn't have to be that way now though since Kurokocchi himself finally asked him! This was really too good to be true and the blonde wasted no time in nodding his head eagerly.

'Ahh I could see his ears...' Kuroko would then think, getting an image of Kise with dog ears and eagerly wagging tail.

After being dismissed the team and Kise went to the locker rooms so that they could change, the blonde simply there to wait for the bluenette, his eyes trailing Kuroko's figure the whole time he undressed in front of him, revealing that slender back, almost as if it was on purpose. He smiled slyly to himself as he felt heat rush into his cheeks at the display. Really so captivating…so breathtaking…

'Such a tease…' he would then think to himself.

The walk to Maji was uncharacteristically quiet, Kise trying to stop the pounding of his heart, barely reacting to when Kagami grumbled when he had to separate paths with Kuroko and that he didn't want to leave Kuroko alone with 'such a weird guy'.

Of course they caught the eyes of many bystanders, most of them eying Kise while Kuroko as usual with his transparent appearance and lack of presence was ignored. They all seemed to wonder to why Kise seemed all nervous and smiling brightly when Kuroko had something to say to him.

Taking a seat opposite of the smaller male by the window, he had offered to buy Kuroko his shake and bought him one at a deluxe size so that they can talk longer. "I really had wanted to see you, Kurokocchi…" he began after the other had taken his first sip. "And I appreciate you asking me out for one, but why..? I don't quite get it." He whined childishly and leaned on one hand to stare at the boy.

When there had been no reply, he took it as a sign to elaborate.

"Your actions are very confusing, so please help me out here." The blonde continued with a small pout that would have fangirls cooing and blushing while the other nonchalantly sipped at his drink.

"I think it is Kise-kun with the confusing actions." He stated after awhile.

The blonde was caught off guard and blinked at the response.

"Ehhh? How come? B-but! But I'm always so open to you Kurokocchi! What do you mean-?!"

A single hand was held up to stop him from sputtering out any more outbursts.

"No, you didn't let me finish," he stated calmly.

"Th-then what..?" a hopeless look and Kuroko drew another breath.

"What do you think of me Kise-kun?"

He was taken aback again. "Eh? Isn't it obvious? I tell Kurokocchi everyday! Kurokocchi is amazing and cool—"

"No, let me rephrase it, Do you like me, Kise-kun?"

The blonde model's eyes widened his mouth agape; left open in mid-sentence as he stared at his ex-teammate.

"I—I..you…"

"You see, this is getting tiring, Kise-kun...I am not quite sure to how you view me as for you to always act that way around me, so please, enlighten me…do you like me, Kise-kun..?"

Kise swallowed, words caught up in his throat and his heart heavy.

"S-suddenly asking me such a thing—what's going on Kurokocc—"

"Do you like me, Kise-kun..?" It seems he knew he was avoiding the question.

And so Kise thought over their relationship for awhile before finally nodding, seeing as his voice wasn't properly working right now. He couldn't meet Kuroko's eyes either. He liked Kurokocchi a lot.

The bluenette seemed to accept that answer for he nodded before speaking once more.

"Do you love me, Kise-kun..?"

It was weird how he suddenly became mute thanks to where this conversation may probably be heading. Did he love Kuroko..? Wasn't it always fascination at first..? Intrigue..? A challenge..? Was that considered as love..? What if he did manage to claim Kuroko…make him fall for him..? Would he still be able to say 'I love you' when his objective was complete and his competitiveness of obtaining something once unobtainable satisfied..?

He didn't know the answer. Kuroko simply sipped on his drink.

"I do…" came the whispered response after awhile.

"Is that really so?"

"Yes…"

"You wouldn't leave me for anyone..?"

"Yes.."

"I am not just a game to you..?"

"….."

"Just not another prize..?"

It hit a nerve, and he found himself unable to speak after awhile.

"Yes."

He couldn't look at the others eye, feeling as if he would see right through him, his ears burning in shame. He didn't get why Kuroko was suddenly asking him these things with such a straight face, he was really confused now.

Silence.

A kiss at the top of his head followed by a gentle pat. The blonde's eyes widened, unable to believe the action..was that really…did that really…?

"You really need to be more honest with yourself Kise-kun, but I'm sorry, I cannot accept your feelings."

Since you haven't figured them all out by yourself yet… was left unsaid.

And with that said, Kuroko stood up and went to leave, leaving the blonde by himself and with his own thoughts, wondering just what he meant by that statement.

He smiled again, the bitter feeling was back and how he hated it. He stared at the window as he saw Kuroko's figure going farther and farther in the distance, Kise reached out a single hand after the boy's figure before closing it. He had a feeling this won't be the last of their meeting; he'd visit him again and again no matter how many times it takes. Cause to him…

Nothing was better than a good challenge.

"I won't give up, Kurokocchi…"

This painful feeling had yet to go away.

Soon…very soon…

You will fall for me too…

His amber eyes shimmered determinedly after the fading figure.

I promise you that.

A/N: Amg, finally done, this seemed to be longer than the first one and there's hardly any action here too ahh, just Kise- angsting and whatnot-/choked/ I apologize but this is just how things are gonna go, these stories won't necessarily be PwP, there won't be too much explicit smut as some of you would want but this is rated M due to the sexual themes, I'm just really going with the flow here so if ever I do end up writing an explicitly smutty chapter, I would put up warnings and whatnot, also too much of that is no longer allowed, so I'm just trying to be careful as well. I also want people to focus on the story rather than just the sex too ya know? ; 7 ;

Anyways, this chapter is kinda sad for Kise, since he is still unaware of his emotions, thinking of it as love but when he really sees it as a competition. Kuroko takes notice of this and turns him down to prevent either of them the head and heartache. ; 7 ; I hope that clears things up, and if you have any questions don't be afraid to ask me~ Also thank you for the very kind feedback, I really appreciate it. Asjbdasj ))/ Again, Comments, critiques are highly appreciated, R&R please~ , anyways, Next Chapter features Aomine-kun~ ; 7 ; ))/ Please look forward to it~