I'm really sorry for the late update and was make you waited for a long time guys *bows*
Thank you so much for all your support through reviews, favorites and alerts
Here we go, the new chapter... Please enjoy this chapter~
Oh! Thank's a lot to my beta, Jessiejj for beta'd this story, the errors that remain are mine :)
Disclaimer : Tadatoshi Fujimaki-sensei
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"Talking"
Present
Past
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Reflection
Chapter 10
Kagami POV
In my dreams, Aomine is always such a sap, a caring and gentle guy, and is totally not the 'bastard' Ahomine from my own world. But recently, when I wake up, Aomine who has the habits to snuggle and spoon me, wasn't beside me when I opened my eyes. The one to replace his duty to greet me in the morning is... a note. He went to work early and came back home really late. And when he comes back from work, he just give me an exhausted smile and goes straight to bed. I've asked him what happened and tried to ignore the weird feeling in my gut when he said 'nothing' with a hollow smile.
Great... Now I'm sounding like a worried wife.
Anyway, cause I'm really curious about what's going on with my cough-husband-cough, I called Kuroko and intero- asked him and he said that their team (Daiki, Momoi, Sakurai and him) are trying really hard to solve a new case that involves a criminal. Not just any ordinary criminal but an extraordinary criminal. A genius who is also a killer, drugs seller and has commited a lot of other crimes.
Wow... It sounds like some plot from one of those action movies and maybe I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen the news on television or on the main page of newspapers.
One day, he came home limping, slumped shoulders and his face... well, he looked like someone just kicked his puppy. And no.. We're not have any dog. Ever.
He threw his coat on the couch and sat in the lone chair. There's a guy standing awkwardly in front of the bedroom door, looking nervous and wasn't sure what to do right there, right now... And that guy is me.
I decided to approach him and sat across him. He rubbed his face with his hands and drew in a long breath. I'm really sure his gloomy state is because of this new case.
The silence is killing me! So, I leaned forward to him and intended to grab his shoulder but my hand stopped mid-air when his hand grabbed my wrist first.
"I'm fine Taiga."
"I haven't said anything."
He chuckled slightly, but his voice sounds empty in my ears.
"I know, but I'm really fine."
"Say that again in front of a little kid and he would say that you're a liar."
He stared at me sharply and his mouth is set in a straight line... I know my attempt to cheer him up made him angry instead of calming him down.
"What? I'm just trying to cheer you up!"
"Yeah, I know... But I'm okay Taiga. You don't have to worry about me."
We were stared at each other for a moment and I can see his exhausted state clearly. His pale face , his messy hair, and the black circles under his eyes. I can leave the conversation and pretend there's nothing wrong with him...
... but I can't.
I can't keep silent and do nothing when the people around me are in trouble or need someone to anchor them.
Someone to talk to.
Someone to trust.
Someone to lean on.
"Look Daiki... I know something happen. And this has something to do with your new case..."
Aomine opened his mouth but I raised my hand to stop him before he cut my speech. He closed his mouth reluctantly.
"I know I can't help you with your case, but you can talk to me if something is bothering you. My ears are always free whenever you feel like talking to me. That's the least that I can do for you."
We were silent again.
"... Thank you Taiga, but... Can you please just leave me alone for a while?"
"But I-"
"Leave me alone. Please."
"Hey, come on. I know this has been a rough day for you, but you should be more relaxed and pay attention to your health... You can't clo-"
"Taiga."
And now I'm really pissed. We both are, I think.
His eyes, which are usually gentle and warm, are now full of rage and fury. He didn't say anything but his body spoke for him. He's standing up now and his hands are clenched into fists at his side.
"I just wanna help you!"
"I don't need your help! And if you really wanna help me then shut the fuck up and leave me alone!"
I was stunned and looked at him with wide eyes while gaping slightly. He also seemed surprised by his sudden outburst. He tried to touch me but I batted his hand away. He looked guilty as hell (of course he is, he just threw his anger out on me!) and regretted his own rage. I know I'm an asshole who pushed him too hard. But I'm an asshole who tried to cheer up his husband.
I can't just ignored the awkward atmosphere and a reaaallly big elephant in the room, so I leave him standing alone and went to the bedroom, then back with my wallet, my phone and my jacket. I walked passed him and rushed to the front door, not even bothering to spare him a glance.
"Enjoy you brooding time. Alone."
"Taiga-"
Before he could finish his sentence, I was outside of the apartment after I slammed the door shut, loudly.
I've heard it a lot that in a marriage we don't always live in a rainbow, fluffy and lovey dovey world but also go through a lot of quarrels and arguments.
But for me, this is my first quarrel since I've been married.
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After my dramatic exit, I forgot that this is the first time I'm going out without Aomine or Kuroko since I've started having those dreams. It's nice to be walking around alone. So much has changed in those few years since my time. I don't recognize some of the new buildings and paths but I still feel familiar with the environment.
I know I'm being immature and selfish just because of a little fight. Something happened today. Something bad. And that's what made Aomine upset. But I can't help feeling angry when he ignored and pushed me away. Maybe I'm not the one he needs right now, I'm not his 'Taiga' and I know nothing about this 'Daiki'...
... But, that doesn't change the fact that he's the same person as the Aomine in my world, the Aomine who (I really fucking hard to admit) is one of the people I cared about.
Sighed.
It's not good. I started to feel guilty toward him... But no! I'll not come back to him first and apologize! Because he's the one who refused my help! ... Right?
"Coach?"
Hm? That voice sounds so familiar? I turned around and... ah!
Kazuki. Perfect timing, doesn't he?
He's jogging towards me while grinning widely. He stopped and his smiled slipped when he looked at my appearance. I must look ridiculous with my messy hair, plain shirt, worn jacket and slippers, compared to his blue t-shirt, black jersey, gym shorts and a pair of basketball shoes... He looks like a model that came out of a sports magazine.
"What are you doing here, coach?" he looked around and met my eyes again. "... alone."
"What? I'm not allowed to go out alone?"
He must have realized my bad mood, but he doesn't look bothered by it, instead he whistled lowly.
"And you got a really nice mood there."
I gritted my teeth and tried to calm myself. He's just a highschool student, you're older than him and you shouldn't get angry at him Kagami. I repeat that in my head.
"Just go home. My problem isn't a business for a kid like you."
Kazuki pretended to look hurt and put his hand on his heart.
"Ouch! You're hurting my heart Taiga."
I shook my head and walked passed him, but I forgot how stubborn this kid is. He's following me while singing some random songs.
"Can you stop following me?!"
He stopped and tilted his head.
"Can you just pretend that I'm not here?"
God! I really wanna punch something or someone right now! And I think Kazuki's face is the perfect target!
And then... I give up.
I just ignored him and he was still walking behind me. After we were silent for a few minutes, he was the one to break the silence first.
"Do you wanna eat something? Maji burgers? My treat."
"No, thank you."
But my stomach chose that moment express his feeling loudly and that made Kazuki smile fondly. He pulled my hand and ignored my protests.
"It's a deal then. We're going to Maji resto and it's a date!"
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"So, do you wanna talk about it?"
I choose to ignored him and continue munching my burger. He leaned forward and tried hard to make a pair of puppy eyes at me.
"What? There's nothing to talk about."
He sighed and leaned back on the chair. While he's busy eat his fries, my mind caught up again with the fight between Aomine and I. What's Aomine doing now? How I should act when I'm back? Should I apologize to him? Or is he still upset and angry at me? All these questions racing through my mind, made me barely notice the pair of obsidian eyes staring at me.
"You know coach, sometimes I wonder how you and Aomine got married even though you guys often fight over small things."
Oh, that caught my attention.
"Do you remember when you came into our training while sulking because you just have a fight with Aomine about which one was better between Cheese burger and Teriyaki burger? You insisted that Cheese burger is the best and vise versa."
"Of course Cheese burger is the best! Daiki is an idiot!"
"See?"
I'm blushing and turned away when Kazuki shook his head and chuckled slightly.
So, Aomine and I fight a lot? That's new to me, cause ever since I met this 'Daiki', he always treats me gently and lovingly, so it's hard to imagine that we fought a lot. That fact makes me smile cause that means nothing's changed... We may be lovers and married to each other but we're still the same Kagami Taiga and Aomine Daiki, rivals who are constantly bickering and throwing insults casually but silently respect each other, and are sometimes best friends who hang out and playing basketball together.
"And now you're smilling to yourself, that's cute but creepy at the same time. Don't tell me you're recalling the good times with that 'ganguro' now?"
"Ganguro? Ppffft, that's a good name for Daiki. You sound like a sulking child right now Kazuki, what's wrong?"
He crossed his arms and pouts slightly. When he looks like this, I realized that he is just a highschool student who is younger than me. At least in this time.
"I'm not sulking! I'm jeaolus!"
I blinked and then burst out laughing while clutching my stomach. He's glaring at me and I'm trying hard to stop laughing but I can't help a little chuckle slipping from my mouth.
"Sorry sorry... It's just, you haven't changed at all since we first met."
His eyes widen comically and his face is somewhere between happy and complete disbelief. What? Did I say something wrong?
"... You remember?"
I raised my eyebrow but he was still looking surprised as if I said something that wasn't possible.
"What? Of course I remember. It feels like it was yesterday that I met a boy who was really good at playing basketball but looked very lonely."
I'm not lying. I've met his old self just a few days ago.
"No... I just... I really didn't expect that you'd remember me cause during all this time you were acting like you didn't know me at all."
Really? That's weird. Maybe my future self was trying to make a distance or he didn't wanna give any hope to Kazuki.
"I... I've always adored you... Taiga. There are times when I wanna give up or throw away my dreams... But, your words would come back to me and I have to keep trying, again and again to become a great basketball player to prove myself to the people who are always underestimating me."
Yeah, I know that feeling. The feeling to prove myself to the world, as the best player, as the best jumper, to feel the glory of the victory together with my team, with my friends. And I also have someone... Someone I wanna prove to that I'm worth to be his rival.
You know who, right?
We were enjoying the comfortable silence for a moment.
"I really hate him."
"Who? Daiki?"
He didn't answer my question.
"He's always trying to keep you away from me. When I said that I'll take you from him, he laughed me off."
I don't know what he was thinking right now, but it seems he's remembering something... unpleasant. And I'm pretty sure that it has something to do with Aomine.
"And I hate myself."
"... May I know why?"
Kazuki glared at the table like he wants to burn a hole in it. He burrowed his eyebrows and gripped the edge of the table hard.
"I hate him because he's the one who can stand beside you. The place where I want to be. And I hate myself, because... "
He looked up at me and smiled sadly. I can feel his gaze on me. There's something besides sadness in his eyes, something like adoration, anger and acceptance.
"... I know that is a place where he belongs to be. And so do you."
And everything is blank. I freeze on my spot and my heart drumming in my chest. It's like someone just woke me up with a bucket of cold water.
I need to go somewhere.
I need to go back to Aomine. Now.
I woke up from my daze when I felt a big hand wrapping around my hand. My eyes met with Kazuki's eyes. No words come out, but we know there's an understanding between us.
"Go. It's really hard for me to admit it, but you need to go back to him now. I don't know how, but I can feel that he needs you right now. Maybe it's something called the 'need Taiga radar'.
"Kazuki..."
"Hey, it's not like I'm giving up on you. I may know about his feelings, but it doesn't mean I'll back off and forget you. That 'ganguro' needs someone to remind him that he can lose you anytime if he is careless."
After I squeezed his hand briefly, I took my hand from his grip then stood up. I heard Kazuki gasp as I hugged him.
"Thank you."
I released him and smiled beamingly at him. I was trying to ignore a dozen eyes that were staring at me and the longing look in Kazuki's face when I rushed out from the restaurant..
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Normal POV
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Kazuki and Aomine glared at each other. But after a while, Aomine chuckled slightly.
'Why are you laughing? I'm serious!'
'I know. But you will never take him from me. Even if you succeed, I will take back what is mine.'
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"Shit. I don't wanna admit it, but he was right..."
Kazuki dropped his head on the table while cursing under his breath. Yeah, he knows he just let go of his love. The one he's always chasing since he met him years ago. And he told him to go after his beloved.
Isn't it ironic?
He feels angry, sad and heartbroken.
But he wasn't regretting his decision. Like he said, he isn't going to give up on Kagami. And he isn't sure he can do it.
It hurts. Really hurts.
But it's worth it when he was the one who put a smile on Kagami's face.
Yeah, totally worth it.
"You're too nice Kazuki."
He mumbled and shook his head but a smile traced his lips.
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I can't promise that I can update the next chapter quickly after this, because I'll busy with my college project again... but I hope I can give you the new chapter soon..
Thank you for reading this and see ya guys :)