Disclaimer: Kuroko no Basket belongs to Tadatoshi Fujimaki
Title: We, the Fallen – Chapter 3: Elusive
Word count: 6577
Warning: Characters' death, I can't promise that it won't be a bad ending. You've been warned.
Chapter 3
Elusive
{-}
Love is elusive.
No matter how hard to try to grasp it in your hands, it will slip through your fingers, and get away.
Impossible to understand, impossible to catch, impossible to tie down…
{-}
The weather was lukewarm. He was really far north compared to the murderous desert, with its heat and sand, from before. The air was filled with the smells of pine trees and grass. It was not the smell of blood, not the smell of death, not the smell of the battlefields.
They were not at war.
They were not 'there'.
Kise longed for his companions, lost in the blazes of hatred and vengeance, out there, in the fire of the war. If only he was braver, he would be out there with them, killing by their sides, imposing as Kaijo's ace. But he was not. He was blinded with love, incapable to move around the darkness that has swallowed him. He was not brave enough to leave Aomine's side, even for a second more, for he has finally gained what he has wanted the most: the man's heart.
The villagers were nice people. When Kise and Aomine arrived there, drenched in sweat, out of breathe, and looking anything but trustworthy, they happily welcomed them. Not even once have they asked who the two strangers were or how they ended up in a faraway place like this. They told him about the little news they themselves had. But it was not much. It was not enough for Kise. They were far from any city, far from any clan. It was impossible to get precise information about the war, such as the strategies each lord placed or the casualties on each side.
Though he had no distinct idea of what the front line looked like right now. Kise could easily guess the sounds of soldiers dying, of families mourning, of warlords shouting…
Yet everything seemed so distant right then.
Kise did not desire to go to war. No, he did not long to fight. The only thing he craved for then was to be next to his clansman, to lead them, to shout to the top of his lungs Kaijo's motto: 'Incurvamus Nemini'. He thirsted for the rush of adrenaline in his veins, for the sweetness victory has to offer him once he has cut off a general's head.
His hand gripped on his sword, unused and leaned against the wall of the house. He swung it a few times, pulled the blade out of the scabbard. It tore the air apart with a soft sound.
It has been a long time since he last swung his sword at someone.
No… He did not desire to fight…
But a few brawls could be nice…
Kise could hear a hawk. Far, far away...
"Oi Kise!" Aomine howled from behind him. Kise turned back. Since when has the tanned man been there?
"Ah!" Kise tried to brush it off with a laugh. "Aominecchi how was the walk?" He asked his lover.
"It was fine." Aomine answered bluntly while putting a paper bag on the table. From it he pulled out a bottle of milk, 3 potatoes, some tomatoes and mushrooms, and half a chicken. "I'll be the one making lunch today."
The blond man watched as Aomine took the goods to the kitchen. He started by washing the tomatoes and peeling their skin off. Aomine's broad back looked out of place in there. It made Kise smile.
Why did he ever long for the battle? Why would he? He's got this marvelous man making food for him…
"You're not the only one craving for the battlefield." Were the first words Aomine addressed to him as soon as he sat down on the table where lunch was ready.
"What are you talking about, Aominecchi?" Kise smiled. He started cutting the chicken in his plate for he no longer dared to look into those deep blue eyes.
"Each night, I dream about it too." Aomine started. "I dream about the yells, about the gush of blood in me, of the soldiers I killed and will kill. Kise, I want war. I want fights and rampage. I want to feel glory and pride. I want them as much as you do."
He stopped. Kise lifted his gaze to meet the two blue gems. They pulled him in once again, those beautiful eyes…
"But I won't go back there. And I won't let you go back either." Aomine pronounced clearly. "Even if there is a possibility that we will be on the same side of the battlefield, I won't let you get hurt anymore."
"Aomine…" Kise was wordless. He was touched. So this is the feeling of being loved? It felt so nice. He wanted to keep this feeling forever. He wanted this moment to last forever.
May the war never come in between them ever again.
{-}
It was mid-summer.
16 days, 48 minutes and 3 seconds since the war started.
{-}
What a place to fight, the desert. The dry air and the cruel sun were mocking him from above. How long has it been since he ran out from that room? Since he lost sight of that pale blue?
Kagami Taiga swung his spear onto an enemy's head. Cut it off neatly. Blood splashed onto his wrists. He looked at them in disgust. He hated it. He hated its red color, as red as his hair. He hated to kill. He hated fight and violence. He hated all of it. It reminded him of so many things, too many.
A time, long ago, when he was a slave…
From where he came from, it was cold in winter and hot in summer. Spring would come with the first blooming bud and autumn would be announced when the first yellow leaf fall from the tree. People were free there. Life was all about having fun and peace. He was happy, there with his best friend. He lived life at its fullest. He lived life.
Everything came to an end so suddenly. He was torn away from that land, torn away from his home. They killed elders and children, kept the women to pleasure them and enslaved the men. They forced him and the others to march miles and miles to the south until they hit the vast sea and tossed them into boats.
At the end of the voyage, only he and his best friend were left.
A plague has taken the boat, killed every single soul in it. There was no mercy from it. One by one, men fell. And as the plague continued its massacre lazily, chaos and madness set in. People killed people. It no longer mattered if they were from the same family or not. Fear has taken half their reasons.
At the end of the voyage, only blood, rotting bodies and two teenagers were left.
The two did not even know where they had landed. They did not know how far they were from their home. And they did not dare set sail back onto the cruel sea for she would have devoured them.
So they started to walk. They stopped at villages. They were captured, sold as slaves for their beautiful bodies, tossed around, forced to kill, and mistreated. They have fled, got beaten up, and fled again. But never were they separated.
They found comfort in each others arms. Sex helped them forget the horrors around them. They were rough. They were violent. It has become what they were. They were lost.
Their adventure stopped when he found a place to be. He found a new home, a new family, and a pale blue colored child. But his friend refused to stay. Somehow he refused to let go of his dangerous and reckless ways.
And so they bid farewell to their former lives, to their former home…
to their former relationship…
A blade whistled next to his ear, followed by a sharp pain to his left shoulder. He gritted his teeth.
"Taiga" His name was call softly. "Long time no see." There was a strange ironic tone to that familiar voice.
He turned around. How many years has it been since he last saw this man, since the day they parted at the frontier between desert and mountain? His dark purple eyes, his thin lips, the mole under his left eye, nothing changed.
Himuro Tatsuya, he was the man Kagami once considered as his own family. He was the man Kagami has embraced so many times, first, out of sadness, then, out of pity.
"Tatsuya…" He whispered. The war was still raging around him.
"This isn't really a place to talk." Himuro smiled. He shook his sword a few times to get rid of the blood on it. "But… if you insist, we can have a small fight." He pointed the tip of his blade at the redhead.
"You joined them!?" Kagami shouted. His tired hands gripped his spear tighter. "You're one of Yosen?"
Himuro never answered his old companion's question. He swung his rapier. A beautiful style, as if he was dancing. He learned it back home, in the lands across the sea. A land that no longer existed, a sword style that will never be passed on.
Kagami did his best to defend himself from those quick attacks. He could not bring himself to strike back. He could not, for the man before him would forever be his brother. Even if he tried to tell himself that it has all ended. Even is he tried to tell himself that those days of running away and surviving only for the other were gone. They were already engraved in his soul. An eternal brotherly love…
Brotherly love, that has never been what Himuro wanted. He wanted more. He wanted more from this man. This man that has always been by his side… He thought… He sincerely thought that it would be like that forever. And when he finally got those arms around him, they were not filled with love, but pity. He never gained what he desired most from Kagami. And, eventually, lost the man… He lost the only thing he has ever wanted to a despicable blue boy.
"Where is he? You know… that little blue being you love so much." Himuro asked Kagami. He looked around the grounds but could not see the secretary anywhere. "Don't tell me you lost him on the battlefield? Poor thing won't survive for long…"
"Don't underestimate Kuroko!" Kagami growled.
A sudden fear gripped Kagami's heart. He trusted Kuroko. He trusted that boy with all his heart. When Kuroko insisted that he was a man of Teiko and will never lose a battle, he believed in the small blue haired boy. But… in a war like this one, where humanity has vanished and men fell like insects, death can come even to the strongest warrior.
He will no longer hesitate to stab this man. He will not. A boy can always have a fight with his brother, right? Even if the fight becomes violent and one of them will end up shedding blood…
"You're weak Taiga!" Himuro stated. "Look around you! Can't you see just how weak Seirin is? Come with me. Come fight along my side. Yosen is strong." He stretched his left arm towards the redhead.
"No. I won't leave Kuroko." Kagami did not even need time to think about it. Seirin was his home. He would never betray his clan. He would never betray his heart.
Himuro bit his lips. He would never get what he wants. But his heart has been far too damaged to break once more. "Taiga… Don't leave me." He wanted to shout. "Please love me! I love you so much. Why can't you see how I feel? Why can't you be mine?" How he would have loved to be held out of love by this man. He has always been there. He has always been the closest. So why?
If he can't have this man's love, he would rather kill him right then.
His hand gripped the sword tightly. So much, it feels like his bleeding underneath his glove. So much, it hurts.
A long low sound came from behind Kagami. It was the sound of a conch being blown along with the sounds of a bell. This was the signal to retreat. The redhead glared at his brother by oath. A last sight of the fair skinned slightly older man, a last goodbye to his childhood.
Seirin, Touo and Kaijo retreated.
It was not yet the end.
War destroyed a lot of things. Bounds being one of them.
{-}
19 days, 3 hours, 16 minutes and 46 seconds since the war started.
{-}
Akashi Seijuro pushed the white horse from the chess table. It fell to the ground and broke in a piercing sound. He smiled. Everything has been just as he planned. Seirin, Touo and Kaijo were taken by surprise. Shuutoku has been defeated in a matter of second and now the clan no longer existed. He glanced at the large map in his general tent where a large cross has been drawn upon the fallen name.
"Sleep, veteran king." He whispered to himself.
"I do feel bad for Kurochin." Murasakibara, sitting on the floor, uttered.
"It's normal to feel bad for an old friend Atsushi." Akashi answered while passing his hand through the purple hair. "Where's your new friend?"
"I let Murochin alone. He said he wanted to be alone." Murasakibara stated. He gobbled down another pastry the red emperor offered him. It was sweet, based on citruses and chocolate. "He said he was going to meet his brother." He added.
"Is that so?" Akashi stroked the violet locks. He bent down from his chair to kiss the soft cheek. The hand that was stroking the hair lowered to the taller man's chest. It lowered and lowered, until it met bigger hands. Still, it did not stop and continued its way down to the crotch. "You know ever since you found a new play toy, I've been kind of frustrated." He whispered into the other's ear. "Plus, we have to celebrate this victory..." He started nibbling the ear.
"Akachin's mean." Murasakibara whined. "You've found more toys than me, haven't you?" The violet giant kissed the smaller man. He could feel the small hand slip through his belt and pants, into his underpants.
{-}
19 days, 3 hours, 22 minutes and 46 seconds since the war started.
{-}
Hyuga inhaled as much tobacco as he could. He blew a few smoke rings to distract himself. His left hand held Izuki's hips firmly.
"What are the plans?" Kasamatsu asked from the other side of the room. They were in a bad position, in a bottom of a dangerous well. So deep, he could no longer see any light to guide them out. He could no longer see anything without the radiant golden light of his disappeared ace.
"We retreated, but they are still out there. And they will not let us regain our strength for long." Imayoshi scoffed. His sly smile has disappeared. He too, has lost his blue warrior.
Takao and Midorima, the two last men of Shuutoku, were also in the room. Midorima has not uttered a word since the fall of his clan. Takao was communicating with his hawk, silently. He glanced a few time in Kasamatsu's direction. Then, without even moving his lips, continued his conversation with the bird.
"We lost a lot of our men. That is true. But there are still some chances we can take." Izuki said. He was probably the only one in the room who was still smiling. "If you are willing to listen to what I have to say."
{-}
24 days, 17 hours, 59 minutes and 06 seconds since the war started.
{-}
Kagami searched. He searched every room in the headquarters. He erred between the hundreds of wounded in search of a blue glimpse. He looked in every stash he knew of the garden. He shouted the name a million times. He searched and searched and searched. But he never found it. And in every hour that passed by, in every minute, he could feel his heart shatter. The pieces slowly falling into a void.
"Kuroko!" He screamed desperately inside the room where he last saw the boy. His knees failed him and he fell to the ground. A hard and cold, marble floor. His fingers were trembling. He has never been in this state before, not even during that voyage.
He was terrified, terrified of losing.
"Kuroko, please be back. Please let me hold you in this room once again." He whispered out.
"If that's what you want, Kagami." A soft voice rang from the door.
Kagami turned around. There he was. Slightly wounded. But there he was.
"I'll let you hold me until morning." Kuroko smiled.
{-}
24 days, 17 hours, 59 minutes and 08 seconds since the war started.
{-}
Kise looked up. The sky was blue. A blue so bright, it made him sick. How can the world continue on so peacefully while thousands of lives were dying? He put up his thump and blotted the sun.
He could see a hawk circling in the sky. This was not the first time. The hawk would stalk him, rounding high above in the azure. It observed his every movement. And, as soon as it sees an opening, it will attack him, merciless. He could already feel its claws in his neck, tearing him, devouring him.
Kise looked up. What a fearful sky it was.
{-}
57 days, 05 hours, 09 minutes and 53 seconds since the war has started.
{-}
Silence. Kise set the plates on the table. The grilled meat was still sizzling on both dishes. And the potatoes fried with rosemary looked delicious. But somehow, Kise could not bring himself to smile, or be hungry. The sole sight of the bread at the corner of the table turned his stomach around.
How long has it been since the day he left Seirin? How long has he been living this envious, peaceful life?
Aomine came out of the kitchen with a bottle of water. He put it on the table and sat right away.
"Aren't you going to sit, Kise?" The tanned man asked as he saw the blond still hesitant on whether to sit or not. "Come on. Let's eat." He insisted. The blond gave up and sat down in front of him. Kise poured some water in his glass. He looked pale somehow.
The dinner went by quietly. Neither of them spoke, for neither of them had anything to say. Aomine did not go hunting that day, so he had no stories to tell. Kise did not even leave the bed. For the whole day, they just cuddled each other and whispered sweet words. They kissed. So much they've lost count of how many times.
"Aominecchi, I have to talk to you." Kise started. He was serious. He had to tell what has been going on his mind these last few days.
"What is it?" Aomine said while munching on his steak. He continued to cut the meat on his plate, ignoring the fact that the other party has not even touched his own food yet.
"I... Don't you think it's unfair of us to be here? I mean... to live so happily together?" Kise could not shake the thought that his clansman might be dead. That he might never get to see them again. He dreamed of it at night, and would wake up in sweat and regret. Even if the warmth beside him calmed him each time that happened, he felt like he could go mad.
"What are you trying to imply?" Aomine stopped his meal. He looked straight at the golden irises. The fingers on the fork and the knife tightened.
"Shouldn't we... go back there?" Kise tried out. He already knew how Aomine would react. Aomine would always be Aomine. Reckless. Uncaring. Insensitive. He would never change, not for Kise, not for anyone.
Aomine stood up instantly. He grabbed the half-full plate and brought it back to the kitchen. Kise stood behind him.
"Aominecchi" The blond called out. "Aominecchi... I"
"Just shut up Kise." Aomine interrupted the man. He no longer wanted to continue this conversation. For it scared him more than anything.
"We..." Kise started again. He was not going to back, or else he would never get this weight off his chest. He wanted to talk with Aomine, to have a descent conversation about their relationship, about what was coming up next. He wanted to talk like lovers do. Not the sweet pillow talk. A real talk.
"We are not going back." The tanned man shouted. "Kise, we are not going back to that place, to war!" No, he would never let Kise leave, be it with him or without him. He would never let that golden be stained by red, by the color of death. He would never risk. He could not imagine it. He did not want to lose that golden tint, for he knew Kise would never survive long enough in the battlefield.
Kise was beautiful. Kise was gorgeous. He was a sunflower. His place was not at war, was not in the middle of that sort of carnage. He was made to be in a large room, with a large window where he could gaze upon the outside world, to be idolized and loved. Yes, that was what Kise was destined for. A flower. A jewel. Not a warrior. Not like Aomine. Stained in blood. Dirty. Disgusting.
"This conversation is over." Aomine ended the endless talking that has been going on for way too long. His head ached. He just wanted to leave this house, leave this blond for awhile. He would go to a bar, drink everything he could. He would come back the next morning, then Kise would just hug, kiss him and never pick up the subject ever again. Then they would have sex until dusk. He would make love to the blond gently to repent his sins. He would hold onto that muscular body for eternity. He would never let go. Ah... yes that... he would do that.
Aomine headed out the kitchen, to the front door. Kise stopped him. "Where are you going?" He asked, his voice about to tumble down.
"To the bar. I need some booze right now." The blue haired man snorted. His hand was already on the knob.
"No!" Kise grabbed Aomine's arm. "Don't go Aominecchi!"
To Aomine, Kise has never sounded so lost, so desperate. But he could not care less. He could not bare to see that face anymore tonight. He had to get out, get his mind on something else. There was not a word he could say to Kise that would change the blond's mind. He knew that best. So he refused to try.
"You're being unreasonable Kise." He snatched his arm away and walked out the door.
Behind, Kise's arms were still in the air, as if still holding someone in them. Holding on so tightly, so desperately, like a little child would on nights of thunders and storms. He trembled. His eyes burned, they were burning so badly. He felt like his tears were acid. They consumed his cheeks, running down the soft skin more than ever.
Behind, he could hear the piercing cry of a hawk. He could feel its stare on his back. Wings fluttering. Claws ticking in the wooden table. Beak clacking.
"Kise Ryouta..." A voice, a human voice called him.
It ripped his heart off his chest.
{-}
113 days, 23 hours, 39 minutes and 53 seconds since the war has started.
{-}
The tides have changed. They now had the upper hand. Finally. As war has drained them not only of their hope, but also of their pride. They did what they had. Even if it was without pride. Even if they had to throw away their humanity. They were finally having an upper hand.
The joy they felt was no longer glory or victory. It was just an instinctive joy of being alive, of being able to kill another being, knowing that they will not survive, to bathe in their blood and loss. A simple, bestial joy.
Rakuzan and Yosen were losing. Seirin, Touo, and Kaijo were winning.
It was as unbelievable and as simple as that.
Tides changes depending on the moon, wars too.
The war has not ended. But it is seeing its final days... Anything could happen in a few days.
Winner and losers. Nobody could tell how. Nobody could tell why.
{-}
168 days, 11 hours, 11 minutes and 11 seconds since the war has started.
{-}
"Kise! Oi Kise! Let's go for a walk!" Aomine shouted as soon as he arrived home. He nearly threw the groceries on the table. The blue haired was so excited, for the news he just heard made his heart burst out of joy. "Come on! Where are you Kise?" He searched around the living room, the bedroom and the kitchen but did not see that glint of gold.
"Kise!" He called the man again. Where did his lover go?
Aomine snorted and brought the groceries to the kitchen, a bit disappointed. He wanted to share the news he just heard with the blond. But it seemed like he would have to wait for that.
"What's going on Aominecchi?" Kise walked out of the shower. It was roughly past noon and he did not expect the tanned man to be back so soon. "Did you find something interesting at the market?"
"More than interesting! The fish seller told me! The war... it's over." Aomine clamored. "It's over, Kise." He looked at the blond with loving eyes. Now that the war was over, nothing would ever threaten them ever again. Nothing could separate them now.
But the blond did not seem as happy as he thought he would. Kise just smiled. His right hand gripped his left wrist. "That's good news." He said softly. "We should celebrate that tonight." He walked to the taller man and gave him a kiss.
Aomine pulled Kise away. "We should celebrate it now!" He insisted. "Where's you sword? Let's duel! It's been awhile." He glanced around the small house. A childish smile was upon his face. It has been such a long time since Kise last saw it, it instantly chased away all his fear.
"You're getting over excited." Kise chuckled. His right hand was holding Aomine's. He refused to let it go. "I've never won you on a duel!" He continued. A beautiful smile decorated his face.
"I'll go easy on you this time!" Aomine said then turned around. He spotted Kise's rapier in the bedroom. He jerked his hand away from Kise's grip.
"Don't let go!" Kise said rapidly as soon as he lost the warmth between his fingers.
Aomine stopped. "Did you say something Kise?" He asked. He did not quite hear what the blond said.
"No... It's nothing." Kise's lips curved into a smile. "Let's go outside Aominecchi." He picked up his sword and walked out the door.
He could hear it, far away, a hawk's screech.
{-}
4 days, 19 hours, 00 minutes and 07 seconds since the war has ended.
{-}
It was a slightly cold winter day. Summer has long passed by, followed by autumn. Even if the war has ended, Aomine and Kise decided to continue on with their laid back lives. They liked it, this kind of life. Just living on day by day...
"Why did you have to insist to have a picnic today Kise?" Aomine grumbled. He has never been good with cold weather, for he was a man of the desert.
"Oh come on, Aominecchi!" Kise smiled happily. "The lake looks pretty with the gray sky!" He unfolded the nap and sat on it.
A month has passed by since the end of war. Rumors were that Seirin, along with Touo and Kaijo, won. They did not know what happened to Rakuzan and Yosen. The villagers did not have that much information.
Aomine sat next to Kise. His cold hand held onto Kise's overly warm fingers. It helped him quite a bit.
"I'm cold..." He whined more.
"Do you want me to warm you up, Aominecchi?" Kise smirked.
He pushed the ancient nomad down to the cold nap and cropped him. The blond started his kiss on the man's nose, lowered to his lips, lowered to his neck. Aomine hummed peacefully. It felt nice to have Kise take this much lead. His pants were slightly pulled down – since it was truly cold outside –. Kise kissed the burning tip. He could feel the thumping of the blood.
"Come on Kise. If you're going to suck it. Suck it." Aomine growled.
Kise smiled. As insensitive and unromantic as ever... he thought. He licked down the shaft, gave the balls loving suckles and finally took the whole length inside his mouth. He used his own fingers to penetrate himself. He wanted to be prepared as soon as possible. He wanted Aomine inside of him as soon as possible.
"Ah shit... Kise I want you." Aomine moaned. He grabbed Kise's soft hair and pulled the blond up from his organ. "I want you now." He whispered into his lover's ear, sending a shiver down that delicate spine. He hands crawled up the light skinned stomach, making their ways to the pink nipples while the blond slowly wrapped himself around his figure.
Kise's body was warm around his. His insides were even warmer, it burned his cock. The man's soft whines and moans excited him more than any other sounds. He pounded hardly into that fragile ass.
"Aominecchi... Aominecchi." Kise cried next to his ear. Aomine's hands tightened on the blond's ass cheeks.
"Do you love me?" Was Kise's weird question. But Aomine was way too carried away by the act to think straight. "I love you, Kise." He whispered back, feeling the muscles clenching around him.
"Daiki... Daiki..." Kise cried. His beautiful tears mixed with sweat fell onto the dark face. There were scarily cold.
"Ryouta..." Aomine called back.
{-}
35 days, 02 hours, 58 minutes and 37 seconds since the war has ended.
{-}
The walk back to the house was silent. It was comfortable. Kise wished time would stop right there, on that dirt road, with Aomine. They would just continue on walking down the path for the end of times. Then, they would be together, forever and ever. Ever. Ever. Ever.
But everything must come to an end. They arrived at their house just as the sun was setting down. Aomine let go of his hand and opened the door for him.
"It's freezing." He whined. "Hurry up and get in, Ryouta." He called out the name. He has always wanted to call Kise by his given name. And now, he can do it for the rest of his life.
Kise stepped in.
"I love you, Daiki." He uttered softly.
He did not take his coat off. He just stood there, smiling. Something was off. Aomine could feel it. Something about that smile told him to grab that hand and run away as fast as possible.
"Ryou..."
There was a loud thud. A sharp pain traveled down his back. His vision became hazy. He could see Kise, and another man behind him. He knew that man. They have met once, back in Seirin. Takao Kazunari.
Everything faded to black.
{-}
35 days, 05 hours, 19 minutes and 36 seconds since the war has ended.
{-}
plop... plop... plop
He could hear the water falling in a corner of the dark cellar. The only light he was allowed to was given to him from an arrowslit high above.
He did not know where he was. Though, he had an idea how he got here.
The firsts days, he screamed and punched the rock walls. He shouted his lover's name until his throat became sore and eventually, he lost his voice. The days that came by afterward, he kicked, punched and scratched the walls. He did it so much his fingers opened, his arms were wounded all over.
Eventually, he lost track of time. He no longer knew if the light he saw was the sunlight or a simple candle. All energy deserted him and his tired body was left on the cold cellar ground.
He thought of the time where he held that warm body of his lover. How his name was called. He feared that those moment would be gone forever. He feared that his would be forever separated from that person.
How long has it been since that day by the lake?
The cellar's metal door suddenly opened. The sudden light that filled the small area blinded him. His weak body was dragged out. For the first time of his life, he enjoyed and realized the importance of sunlight on his skin.
Aomine Daiki was brought up the stairs, through numerous hallways, and finally into a large room on the ground floor. He recognized Seirin's Arabic paintings and structures. He could see a large garden from the room where he was. It was a small oasis in the cruel sand ocean. The flowers were blooming – for there were no winters in the desert –. He could smell the faint scent of jasmines. He has been underground all this time...
Kasamatsu Yukio was looking straight at him. He was seated on a cushion, a bottle of wine to his left and the cup to his right. His own lord was there too. But Imayoshi was no longer smiling. He could no longer see the slyness in those eyes.
War has changed a lot of people. Imayoshi and Kasamatsu were no exception.
The guards left the three of them alone together.
"Where's Kise?" Aomine asked coarsely. His voice was broken. His lips were chapped. He barely had the strength to stand on his feet.
"Aomine Daiki." Kasamatsu did not answer his question. "You are to be stripped off of your rank and exiled to the North..." He coldly said Aomine's repent without even meeting the ocean blue eyes. Imayoshi did not utter a word either.
"Where is Kise?" Aomine growled. The high and mighty act was getting him on his nerves. All he wanted to know was where the blond was. All he wanted to do was to get a glimpse of that golden color and hold onto it for the rest of his life.
"I do hope that you realize the graveness of your acts upon Kai..."
"I'm asking you where Kise is!" Aomine raged. He grabbed the warlord's collar and used the few force he had left to lift the smaller man up. "Tell me. Now." He mouthed each word.
Kasamatsu's blue eyes looked right into his. They pierced him like a spear. He could feel hatred in them. A hatred, so great, it terrified him.
"Kise Ryouta..."
Je voudrais que la rose fut encore au rosier
was beheaded ten days ago." The lord pronounced each word carefully, cutting through the blue haired man's heart like a dagger. "He gave his life alone in exchange of yours."
Et que ma douce amie fut encore à m'aimer
"Kaijo isn't as flexible as Touo is." Imayoshi murmured behind him. "When the war ended. We sent Takao to retrieve you guys. Kise begged him for another month with you. He begged for your life. And we gave him what he wanted."
"You killed him!" Aomine barked. He threw Kasamatsu onto the floor.
His hands were trembling. A feeling he has never known gripped his heart. It gripped and ripped the poor organ into pieces. It damaged his heart so badly, it would be impossible to mend it back together once more. A big lump formed in his throat. He could no longer say a word. For he knew that if he did, his tears would fall and never stop.
He lost.
He lost to this war.
This fucking war.
Aomine snatched Kasamatsu's sword. He was not going to kill the lord. Even though he desired it deeply, he knew Kise would hate him if he did. So he could not bring himself to wield the blade at the older man, and neither at his own lord. No... He could not bring himself to do that.
The blue warrior staggered to the window. He could still smell the jasmines outside. He climbed up, swaying a little, and fell miserably out on the other side. Neither Kasamatsu nor Imayoshi tried to stop him. They just silently watched as he wavered across the garden.
Aomine spotted a large, darkened pool on the marble in the middle of the garden. He might not be the brightest, but it took him nothing to understand the meaning behind this stained place.
This was where Kise died.
This was where they cut off his head.
So cruelly...
So...
What were Kise's last words? Probably something like You have to live on Aominecchi. Live on for me. Be happy for me. or I love you Daiki. He did not even get to hear them...
He lost it. The simple imagination of Kise's horrid last moments made him nauseous. Anger took over him. He screamed and waved pointlessly his weapon around.
Live on? Who was Kise fucking with? How can he live on?
How can he continue to breathe when his heart has stopped?
"Ryouta!" Aomine screamed. His voice shook. The tears he never knew existed drenched his face.
Guards – probably ordered by Kasamatsu – came to fetch him. He swung his sword at them, started a ruckus, killed a few, and continued on. He slashed a head off, pierced a lung, carved a skull. He could feel numerous blades plunge into him, destroying his organs, tearing away his life. But he could careless. Living. Being alive, That kind of nonsense did not matter to him anymore.
The firmament was of an intensive blue.
One last time, Aomine roared at the sky.
{-}
0 days, 0 hours, 0 minutes and 01 second since the war's last casualty.
{-}
A soft voice sang softly.
"What is that song Kuroko?" Kagami asked his lover who has been looking out the window since that morning. Kuroko was unusually quiet that day.
"It's an old song... about two lovers that missed each other one day and never got to see each other again." Kuroko said softly. His lips were trembling. The redhead knew that the boy was holding everything in.
At far, they could hear a familiar voice roaring. Then all went silent. Kuroko closed his eyes and inhaled hardly. Kagami held his shoulders. He kissed the white neck softly.
Il y a longtemps que je t'aime
Jamais je ne t'oublierai
FIN.
« Je voudrais que la rose fut encore au rosier
Et que ma douce amie fut encore à m'aimer »
I wish that the rose was still on the rosebush
And that my dear friend was still in love with me.
« Il y a longtemps que je t'aime
Jamais je ne t'oublierai »
I've loved you for a long, long time
I will never forget you.
So there it is folks... the end. If I made you cry (hopefully I did) then I am not sorry. Ok kidding, I am.
I really do know that there are way too many fics out there where Kise dies or become a cripple or so on. But I really wanted to turn my fic this way and I hope you're not to horrified by it.
There's still an epilogue coming by. And maybe some extras about the other characters? I don't know... It will depend on the time I have.
And so on, as always, I hope you liked this story.
See you next time!
-Aurakann