Chapter 8

Anything that may go wrong

Every time Takao thought his situation couldn't get more pathetic, it did. It was just to be expected that when he finally got the resolve to tell Shin-chan that he still loved him and wanted him back, his confession would be interrupted by Shin-chan's soon-to-be wife. If that was not a sign from fate, he didn't know what it was. And as if he was trying to oneup himself in patheticness, he also feigned a phone call about a non-existent appointment in half an hour so he could have an excuse to leave the scene, which was already heart-breaking enough as it was. He didn't want Shin-chan driving him home and start asking questions about why he was living with Seirin's former light and shadow duo. Everything sucked so bad.

When he got back to Kuroko and Kagami's apartment, he found the two lovebirds having lunch together and chatting-bickering as they usually did. He felt a surge of jealousy crawling up his spine. He wanted what they had so much and he hated them for rubbing it on his face. Then he felt disgusting for thinking like that about the friends who saved him and gave him a home and comforted him when he'd hit rock bottom. This just kept getting worse and worse.

"Oh, welcome home, Takao-kun. We didn't know you were coming for lunch, we would've waited for you." Kuroko said, a little startled. Kagami got up from his chair and started towards the kitchen, with the clear intention of serving a plate for him, but he was really not feeling up for it.

"Don't worry, guys, I'm not really hungry." He reassured them. The only thing he wanted right now was to lock himself in his (borrowed) room and cry himself to sleep.

Kuroko, of course, had seen straight through him, and was now piercing him with his concerned blue eyes. "Did you talk to Midorima-kun?" he asked, tentatively and Takao's breath got caught in his throat.

Still heading towards the guestroom, he smiled dismissively. "Well, you know what they say: anything that may go wrong, will definitely go wrong." He bit his lip as he remembered how beautiful Shin-chan looked in the ivory suit, and the lovely blush that had spread over his pale cheeks when Takao told him how perfect he looked, and how his emerald eyes sparkled with hope when he'd been about to confess. He'd looked as if he'd wanted to hear the words he had tried to say, but alas, fate had decided that those words would never be spoken. "I'm sorry, guys, I don't feel really well right now. I just need to be alone for a while, sorry."

Kuroko was too stunned to say anything else and just let Takao go back to his room.

"Do you think Midorima rejected him, after all?" Kagami asked, looking concerned.

Sometimes, the phantom man wondered how it would feel to be so blissfully unaware of other people's feelings. But if he had known, they would've never even started dating, so maybe remaining estranged from such obliviousness was a good thing. Much as he loved Kagami-kun, the man was extremely bad at understanding any situation that involved others' emotions.

"There's not a single chance of that being the case." He said as he sipped on his tea. "That both of them want to get back together is not even up to the question." It was not a mystery (even Kagami-kun knew it) that Midorima was socially awkward and extremely unapproachable. Takao-kun had probably been his closest friend, and after they got together, everyone who knew him could tell that the he had never been happier. Kuroko still remembered the first time he met Midorima after Takao broke up with him. He'd looked defeated, completely devoid of any hope or desire, and he'd been on the verge of tears when Kuroko asked what had happened.

"Midorima-kun's family is very traditional, and his parents have many expectations of him as their eldest son. He has always been extremely loyal to those expectations, and this marriage is clearly one of them. Midorima-kun must feel that he has no choice but to go through with it if he wants to fulfill his father's desires." It was natural that Kagami wouldn't know, given how he'd lived most of his life in America, and his parents were a lot more open-minded than an old-fashioned family like Midorima's. "Remember what Takao-kun told us about why they broke up?"

"I realized he would never choose me. He just… he'd never go against them. Not for us at least." Takao had said with a broken smile and his eyes already puffy from crying.

"I think Takao-kun is afraid that the same thing will happen again. Of course I don't know the details, but it's very likely that Midorima-kun said something, or that something happened that made Takao-kun doubt again. Not that I blame him, Midorima-kun has most likely given no indication of wanting to call off the engagement, that idiot." He sighed, frustrated. He'd like to talk to Midorima personally and shake some sense into him, but he believed it was a decision he had to make on his own.

Kagami ruffled his hair lovingly, which pulled him out of his broodiness. "Midorima is out of our control, so shouldn't we focus in doing something about that Tozai asshole?"

Kuroko leaned into his husband's touch. "Of course I haven't forgotten about it, but Takao-kun is right. That man is an important businessman, and without real proof there isn't much we can do now." He'd thought about calling Akashi, who had a lot of power in the business world, but he was afraid to raise a scandal that would put Takao-kun in the spotlight. He didn't want to expose his friend like that and make him the target of the media and the world's merciless inquisition. "For now we should focus on making sure Takao-kun is safe." He concluded, feeling a little defeated.

His light grabbed him by the chin and made him look up to meet his fiery eyes. "You know, it's cute how passionate you get about making your friends happy, but you shouldn't let it get to you like this. You're acting like their mom, I swear."

Kuroko frowned. "If anything, Kagami-kun would be the mom. You look much cuter in an apron than I do."

"I'd beg to differ." And he leaned in to capture his lips in a tender kiss.

A week and a half later, Takao's phone buzzed in the middle of work. He saw Kanako's name on the screen and apologized to Kagetora-san so he could go outside to answer the call. There couldn't be much left to do, right? Unless Kanako insisted on a bachelor's party, which Midorima would definitely not be interested in.

"Hey, Kazu-chan, how're you doing? I just wanted to let you know that next week Shin-chan will be performing a tea ceremony for me and my parents, to celebrate that the wedding is getting closer. My maid of honor is invited, so it goes without saying that you should come too, will you?"

Takao got a little bit dizzy just from how fast she was speaking. He'd seen Shin-chan offering a tea ceremony before –it was, after all, the family trade-. He remembered his regal look and dignified posture, how delicately he'd moved, all the thought that went on choosing the appropriate flowers and sweets for the occasion, how focused he'd been while brewing the tea, and how warm and delicious it had tasted. Shin-chan never looked more beautiful than when he was dedicating his heart and soul to the brewing and sharing of tea, which he loved so much.

"I don't think I can make it, I'm sorry. I took some time off from work and I can't afford to rest more, my boss would be angry. I'll be really busy for a while, I'm afraid." Even though that was partially true, deep down it was just an excuse. He loved watching Shin-chan doing the tea ceremony, but he was completely done with everything related to this wedding. The more he saw Shin-chan, the more stupid hopes would arise in his heart, and the more painful it was every time they were crushed. He'd show up for the rehearsals and the actual thing in October, but that was it.

He had to focus his energy, not on hopelessly pining after Shin-chan, but in putting his life back in order, finding a new place to live (much to his chagrin, he couldn't keep leeching Kuroko and Kagami's kindness forever, and watching them being so happy and cuddly was starting to be painful for his broken heart), and get away from Toujiro.

"Awwww, that's a total shame, I really wanted you to come. I've heard Shin-chan's really special with the tea ceremony, I thought you'd like to watch. I guess there's nothing I can do about that then. I'll call you to talk about the bachelor's party, yes? Shin-chan's a grump and doesn't want to talk about it at all. See you!"

Before Takao could say anything to slip out of that commitment too, Kanako hung up the phone.

He was about to put it away when it buzzed again and he answered without checking the screen. Maybe Kanako wanted to say something else about the bachelor's party.

"I'm sorry, Kanako-san, I really need to get back to work, could you call me later please?"

There was a deep chuckle on the other side of the line and Takao's blood froze. "Oho? So you're working now? There can't be that many people willing to pay for your slut hole, are there?"

Takao couldn't move. He should throw away his phone and run, but he couldn't move.

"Did you really think you could hide from me? That I wouldn't pick up on the stench of your sluttery wherever you are? I heard you're living with two other fags. One dick wasn't enough for you, was it? Don't worry, next time I see you I'll bring along some friends; you'd like that, wouldn't you?"

He was terrified. How could Toujiro know about Kuroko and Kagami? Did he know where they lived? Would he go and find him there?

"I hope you're not thinking of running back to your fag friends to hide. If they hide you from me any longer, I'll make sure to destroy them. It'll be in their best interest if you and your cunt come back to where you belong as soon as possible. Make up your mind soon, will you? You wouldn't want me to get impatient."

His knees gave out.

"P-p-p-please don't hurt them. I-i-I w-won't go back to them. Leave them alone please. Plea-"

The line died before he could finish the sentence.

To be continued

Ahhh there we are, more pain and suffering, I'm so sorry my dear readers and I'm so sorry Kazu my sweetheart.

Thanks for reading and hanging on to all this ruthless pain and all these horrible things Kazu is going through.

Come talk to me about my pathological need to write suffering. Ring me at liamatsuoka on tumblr.