Ten years had past. Ten long, grueling, maturing years. The two boys that met on that concrete plaza ten years ago had become young men. They were now both 17, working out in the world on their own. And of course, fated to meet each other again.

Aomine had left the city slums to work in Pittsburgh in the iron mill, doing mostly manual and dangerous work. It was tiring and it made him sore, but it paid what he needed and he got really fit in the process. However, one cold winter day, as Aomine was pouring in the ore, he got called by a coworker, a boy around the age of 12, to go speak to the boss. Not knowing why and not being able to find a reason why, Aomine went a little curious and nervous at the same time. As he walked in to the office, hearing the door close a little too loudly, he would wish he hadn't gone in.

Kise had also left the confines of his childhood home as he ventured out and found a job in New York City working in this shirtwaist factory. Having worked on the farm for most of his life, Kise had also gotten quite fit like his tan counterpart. His job in the factory was to deliver supplies, pack things up, basically all physical and manual labor since he had the capability of picking the items up. He was friendly and out going, to most of the young girls there who were sewing the clothing, he was a big brother. Others had small crushes on him, and the older women saw him as something like their son. Overall, despite the harsh long hours and lifting, the blonde got paid just enough to get by, and he had made a lot of friends in the factory. He was happy.

But neither of them could forget each other. The fun they had as kids, the way they seemed to get along with each other so well in such a short amount of time, and the way they were so different yet the same. Ten years had past, yet the memories of them together remained at seven.

"I'm sorry Daiki, I really am. I know how hard this has to be on you so you have permission to go back home to see her."

Those were the last words Aomine heard before he shut the too loud door behind him as he left the office. He then started running, throwing his helmet and gloves down, grabbing his bag and running to the train station.

"What's this about boss?"

He worked his long muscled legs, despite the closest station being about 20 minutes away by carriage, 15 if you were some rich sleazier with an automobile.

"You may want to sit down Daiki."

From his knowledge, the next train for New York City leaves in 10 minutes. He would have to cut the 20 into half of the amount on his own legs. He ran faster, his heart beating rapidly, willing himself to make it on time.

He started to get nervous as he sat down.

"Daiki...here."

The bluenette was handed an opened letter, no doubt opened by his boss. He took it, opened the letter and read its contents, shaking as he deciphered each word, not believing what he was reading.

Shocking the middle aged woman at the counter, the bluenette dropped his change as he spoke in between breaths.

"One ticket...pant…to New York City…pant…please…pant."

"R-Right away lad."

He took the ticket, ran out on to the platform and just made the train as it stopped to let him and other passengers on. Find an open window seat, Aomine dropped his body in it, turning to the window as he closed his eyes and curled himself up, letting the tears start falling as he sobbed quietly.

"Dear Daiki,

I'm sorry to have to write the bad news to you, but you need to come back home quickly. It's your mother. She's incredibly ill Daiki. Took her to that crazy doctor down the street….said she had only a few fortnights to go. Come home quickly Daiki. She's asking for ya lad.

From, your neighbor"

"Ryouta! I need more needles!"

The blonde boy snapped out of his thought, having encountered an eerie depressing feeling despite not feeling it's about him, and quickly ran to the young woman at the end of the row who had broken her sewing needle.

He did that task multiple times through out the day, including boxing in and out fabric and finished products, as well as the sewing machines themselves. Sometimes he even fixed the malfunctioning technology of the time.

When the clock ticked ten in the evening, Kise was allowed to leave and go home to sleep. However while walking to his small tiny apartment; he decided to take a detour. As he did so, he came to the same concrete plaza he played in ten years before. Going into the middle of the plaza, Kise spun around, looking up as he laughed.

"Sugoi~! This place hasn't changed at all!" he shouted as his English and Japanese mixed together.

But as Kise slowed down, he saw that he wasn't alone. The man wasn't noticeable, man cause of the build of the dark shape on the same bench Kise had sat in ten years ago when he had met the navy eyed boy named Aomine Daiki. A little embarrassed, he blushed and stopped where he was, thinking of just walking it off or going up to the form that still hasn't moved.

Having grown a little curious as well as suspicious, the blonde walked up to the man. He seemed to be familiar, but Kise couldn't tell in the dark.

"Hey mister, are you alright?"

The man must have heard him because he had raised his head, and that's when their eyes met.

"Kise…?"

"A-Aominecchi! You're Aominecchi!"

Aomine watched as the blonde's face lit up in knowledge and remembrance, happy to of met him once again. He also witnessed the flash of emotions that crossed the young man's face as well. Shock, excitement, to frowning and worried.

Emotionless navy eyes watched as Kise sat down next to him, in the same spot he sat in ten years ago.

"Are you okay, Aominecchi? A lot of things must have happened to you. The same is for me. But, something just happened to you right? Something bad. Would you like to talk about it?"

Even though all those years had passed, even though they had grown from small naïve boys to working young men, Aomine felt like telling the blonde everything. He felt like breaking down from that caring voice that caressed his soul with purity, to be comforted in those long arms.

"Daiki, I know this is sudden and very unfair to you…"

He opened his mouth to speak, a sob slipping out.

"But just know I love you, my dear son I love you so much."

"My mother…she…"

"And I want you to be happy. I want you to live Daiki."

"She's…"

The words barely came out, tears and sobs coming out instead. Warm arms embraced him as he sobbed into the white cotton shirt in front of him, his defenses breaking and his emotions swarming.

"Be happy for me Daiki. Live for me Daiki."

"…dead."

He hadn't seen this person in ten years; he hadn't kept in touched with him. Yet here he was, crying like a child in this man's shirt. But Kise didn't say anything, he just held him, stroke his head, and let him let it all out.

As he calmed down, the blonde spoke, still holding him.

"Let's go to my place, Aominecchi."

It was like an embarrassed whisper, nervous and pure. The tan male nodded, letting the other pull him up and hold his hand as Kise led them to his apartment. Aomine let Kise take off his coat and he himself stumbled out of his shoes. It was only one room and there was a futon in the corner. The blonde led the bluenette to the futon, coaxing him to sit down on it. Aomine did, but as he did so, Kise turned to go warm some tea for them but his arm was grabbed and he was pulled down on to the futon as well. He smiled as he felt the other wrap his arms around his waist, a face pressed up against his stomach. His hands went to soft dark blue hair, stroking it in small and soft strokes, relaxing and comforting.

"Kise?"

The blonde made a soft "Hm?" sound as he continued stroking dark blue hair. He felt the strong arms around his stomach tighten as Aomine held him closer, taking a deep breath before speaking out his request.

"Will you let me have you?"