I AM DEEPLY SORRY FOR THE LATE UPDATE! I HAVE A VERY STRONG REASON FOR THIS THOUGH! Well you see Kicchin...IS A DEAN'S LISTER! IDK how a lazy bummer like me got in that spot but ASDFGHJKL well it was crazy and my college pals were more excited than I am, would you believe they were the ones who picked up the stuffs I need to wear for the rites? LOL I'm so proud to have those four girls(were practically like the GoM and I'm borderline Tetsuya and Seijuuro LOL), so yeah I got buried under the stuffs for the rites and my school 'cause yeah I still have them. I'm starting on my third year in the uni and *sighs heavily* I would lie if I would say its a stroll in the field, or maybe yeah but the field has landmines underneath those tall bushes and stuffs. I got locked out of the classroom by one of our profs 'cause I was late and he has this crazy policy that when he comes and you're not there yet, well bitch better luck tomorrow 'cause he's so locking the door and you have no say about it(is that even legal?). And I have Zoology for three straight hours, I AM A DAMN FUCKING PSYCHOLOGY MAJOR WHY AM I STUDYING ANIMALSSSS?! *Ahem* Ranting aside, yes WELCOME TO CHAPTER 18 ASDFFGHJKL have you watched the latest episode, let's talk about Kuroko's face when he won MY KOKORO MELTED!
So we're nearing the eeeend! *drum rolls* HOW WILL KUROKO EVER MEET KAGAMI, is there any happy ever after for them? READ TO FIND OUT! Again loves for my reviewers, AJ-san and Veiled Curiosity OMG thank you for reading TnY, I'm starting to think you guys are getting bored, but I am trying my best to sizzle our pairs! How do you think Kuroko and Kagami will meet, and will Furihata ever see Akashi again or its goodbye? PLEASE REVIEEEW and thank you for everyone who's reading this fic, I LOVE YOU GUYS! Again, thank you and I hope you like the update!
Chapter 18: ABSOLUTION
"I was soaring ever higher, but I flew too high...
And if I claim to be a wise man, it surely means I don't know"
Izuki watched as he stood leaning against the door frame as the small petite boy washed the dishes, he volunteered to wash them and surprisingly despite his fragile looking hands, the boy has a bit of knowledge at least to avoid the plates getting shattered in his hands. Izuki had thought that this boy could be some bocchan in a manor, filled with maids and menservants to do his work, but he seemed tougher. For some reason the boy doesn't seem to be mute at all, or deaf, but the he couldn't speak. The day his mother found this boy sprawled right in front of their doorsteps, she quickly brought him home. He was bruised all over and was freezing, fearing for the boy's life they nursed him back to health that didn't take that long, the very next day the boy regained consciousness but they couldn't get any information, the boy couldn't speak and would just stare at the furnace's fire for hours until he feel tired and drift to sleep. The boy isn't that suspicious though, despite the mystery behind his identity Izuki found the boy polite, whenever he could do something he tries his best to help, it was his mother that insist that he would lay down and rest. Izuki watched as the small hands worked on those dishes, his mother always wanted another child but they were never given, and Izuki himself didn't mind the new presence at home. He felt like he was looking after one of his teammates at Seirin, taking care of Furihata and Kagami, he smiled at himself.
Speaking of which, Izuki looked at his watch, its been almost a week since classes were cancelled, the Winter Cup was postponed as well. Today his mother asked him to bring the boy to an EENT to have his speaking disability checked, somehow the longer he stayed, the more normal and fit he looked into their family picture. Drying the dishes and putting them on the cupboard proved to be one of the most difficult for the boy, but he never rushed to look for his help or anyone's he tried to do things with all his wit. Izuki almost chuckled as he pulled a stool towards the cupboards and the boy climbing it to put the dishes back. It almost look like what a school child would do.
"Are you done?" Izuki asked as the boy stoop down the stool, turning to him the boy nodded, "Good, you ready?"
The tilt his head in question.
"We're going to have you checked up, is that okay?" the boy didn't made any reaction. Izuki assumed the boy is contemplating whether the trip to the hospital is beneficial at all. "We might find out who you are in there, or maybe they'll tell us if you really are mute, not that we are suspecting that you're faking it or something though."
The boy's face soften then he gave a nod.
"Alright," he said as the boy walked closer to him, "let's go then, you wouldn't mind getting in a train, right?"
The boy shook his head. After grabbing his bag and tossing a gray hoodie to the smaller boy, Izuki led the way. Honestly, they could go to Shuutoku General Hospital but after hearing from the news the flood of in-patients in the facility his mother suggested another. Izuki observed the boy likes to read, street signs, even posters or announcement, the boy seems to have his eyes fixed on them on their way. He looked so small in the broad city lights and the gray hoodie, it was something he had back in eight grade which surprisingly was under the pile of clothes he has. The boy followed him like chick to a mother hen, not that he'd want it any other way, at least he easily understood instrictions not like those idiots on the basketball team. Kagami needed like three times more of repetition of an instruction just to get it drilled in his head. Furihata is different, well, just a bit shaky—or maybe a bit too shaky. He wished the boy wouldn't cave in too much to others, humming, Izuki thought that it was also the reason why Hyuuga thought the boy was perfect to replace him as the team's captain after graduation, there was something about his cowardice that made him invincible in the court and maybe in real life as well. Izuki felt a tug in his sleeve, looking at his side he saw those big blue eyes staring right at him.
"I just remembered my friends." He said. He had come to notice that this boy is quite sensitive to changes in their facial expression, his big blue eyes did serve a huge purpose.
The boy nodded and looked straight ahead, the train ride wouldn't be long till they reach their stop. Looking outside the window, Izuki thank every single creature responsible for this miracle, for a moment he thought it was the last day of the existence of humanity, a terrible earthquake paired with a ominous thunderstorm, and wind that could lift a house easily all in one night. Then suddenly it came to stop and left this sad wrecked city at its wake, but people were stronger, in two days the train services are back, then the communication signals are back, before he knew it people were rebuilding their lives from the crumbs of the past like it never happened.
A sudden rush of concern hit him after hearing from Aida Riko that Kagami was hospitalized, but it was quickly dispersed upon remembering that Furihata told them he'd look after their idiot ace. That brunette is impossibly kind at the most uncalled for times. Izuki snapped out of his reverie as he heard their stop being announced, he grabbed his companion's wrist as the door slid open before them. From the station the two needed to walk a few more blocks to the hospital. The streets were still quiet, but there were occasionally speeding cars passing by, this meant good, this meant they were moving on from their fall.
Upon arriving Izuki quickly directed them to the EENT section, the hospital is less crowded now he thought. A few days ago from the news report this place was swarming with patients, rescued and injured. The EENT section was on the fourth floor, taking the lift the two stood there patiently, Izuki saw no tension in those eyes, he wondered if they had always looked that blank or it was just due to the incident. When the door of the lift opened the two quickly found the clinic.
"Do you have an appointment?" the nurse asked politely.
"Ah yeah, I'm Izuki Shun, I called yesterday to bring my brother." He said. The nurse's eyes travelled from him to the boy next to him and she raised a brow. Izuki wasn't very surprised with the nurse's reaction, after all the boy had bright teal hair and blue eyes while Izuki had typical black hair and gray eyes. "W-We're uhm half-brothers."
The nurse nodded sceptically as she browsed through her logs, then she raised her head, "Oh, then please proceed, Doctor Uehara is waiting for you." Izuki nodded and gave the boy next to him a follow me look and the boy followed him to the small adjacent room, Izuki knocked as a polite gesture and the man on the other side replied with a muffled, come on in. Opening the room, Izuki found the white walls and white everythin quite…not charming.
"Come sit please." The doctor said in a thick Kansai accent which the two didn't seem to mind. Izuki sat the boy nearest to the doctor's desk while he sat on his side. "So what would be our problem here, Izuki-san?"
"Uhm, were not sure if he's congenitally mute or deaf, or both, but we haven't heard him speak." Izuki started looking at the boy next to him, "Honestly, he's temporarily in our care due to some circumstances and we couldn't get him to speak and this caused us not to get any information regarding his well…identity."
The doctor nodded, "So he hasn't been with you for long?"
"A week or so."
"Has he showed any sign of inattentiveness, like when you speak he just stares at you?"
"Actually…he does seems to understand what I am saying most of the time. He replies with a nod, or a shake of head sometimes he gestures to something."
"Maybe he has an acquired mute deficiency, if he could lip read, or the likes we would never know, I'd like to make a few test on him, and we'd know."
Izuki looked at the boy frightened that the boy may not approve of this, "Are you okay with it?"
The boy stared at him for a moment before nodding.
"Alright, let's get you in the testing room, shall we?"
.
.
Izuki sat on the lobby with the boy next to him, after the tests they were told to wait at least an hour for the results. The boy was brave, it was another thing that he learned today. Somehow this reminded him of his team in Seirin, damn he didn't get to play in the Winter Cup before graduation, it sucks. The boy seems oblivious of the surroundings as he sipped quietly in that vanilla shake. He wondered how this things will progress from here onwards, what if this boy is a run away young heir to some expanse of property and money, or some abused special child—gasp—could it be that is why he wont speak? Izuki mentally punched himself, what is he even thinking? The boy looked completely normal, well except for the fact that he doesn't speak and seems to fancy the furnace at home. Damn, he needs to sort out his brains, "Hey," he called, his companion looked up at him, "I'm going to the comfort room for a moment, wait for me, alright?" the boy nodded and Izuki quickly left for the toilet.
The silence in the lobby is incredibly deafening, a few nurses passed by glancing at him ang giggling before waving, which he politely returned with a bow. Before he knew it the paper cup was empty, standing, he eyed for the nearest trash bin, but there was none in his vicinity, well he could't possibly ask the people right? He decided it surely wouldn't drive him to the fifth floor just to get a trash bin, there was surely somewhere near. He walked the hallways looking for that stainless bin until—
The boy blinked as he found himself standing right next to a dim lit room, turning around he raised his head to read the sign above the door—Chapel. It says, somehow the place was swarming in a comfortable feeling. He pulled the door open and walked in, it was colder than outside and there was no one which somehow sadden him for some reason. He sat on a bench as he stare at the altar lit by a yellow light, the sound of the AC was the only noise. It felt very calming there, like he was home. A chapel…a house of God, he bowed his head and thanked Him for Izuki's family's kindness to him and wished for their good health. After the silent prayer he stood and left the room quietly.
Opening the door, he heard something slamming against it and a groan. In panic he quickly ran to see the victim of his utter clumsiness. His eyes fell on a tall young man in a white shirt and dark fitting pants. His skin was tanned, but more tanned than Izuki's father's skin. His navy blue hair was cut short but didn't seem like had met with a brush for a few days. He was clutching his nose and grumbling something, he quickly dipped his head in apology.
"Hurts, tsk." The man said and huffed, removing his hand the man squeaked as he realized the boy bowing before him, since when was he there? "W-What are you doing?" he asked confused, what's with bowing at him? Wait could he be…Aomine looked over at the door again and to the boy, "You did that?!"
The boy looked up at him nodding before bowing twice.
"Can't you at least say an apology, don't just start bowing." Aomine said. The boy stared at him looking like a kicked puppy…wait—"Don't tell me, you can't speak?"
BINGO! Aomine internally kicked himself as the boy nodded, did he just bullied a mute boy? Damn, Satsuki wouldn't be really happy about this.
"Sorry." He apologized, "I didn't mean to be…uh, yeah an asshole, sorry."
The boy shook his head. His eyes then travelled to the object in Aomine's hand, a bouquet of sunflowers.
"Oh this? Uhm, for someone staying here, he's been asleep for a couple of days, Satsuki asked me to get this, girly, right?" The boy shook his head looking at the beautiful flowers, who doesn't like flowers or being given flowers, well maybe its not as practical as food or stuffs, but he's visiting a patient, so why not? "Say, you know that guy's pretty much someone who loves lots of people, would you like to see him?"
The boy blinked, well, a couple of minutes wouldn't probably hurt, he nodded. He followed the man to the hallway, it was just three rooms away from the chapel, Aomine opened the door and the first time he heard was the beeping of the heart monitor. "I'm back." He announced as he stepped in, he followed the taller male and he stood there awkwardly. His eyes fell on the figure on the bed. His hair was the same color as the petals of sunflower and his long lashes almost kissing his cheek, his skin was deathly pale, but he could swear it could have been much beautiful outside this room. His body had numerous tubes in them, it almost made the teal haired boy sick. Aomine fixed the flowers in the vase as he started speaking, "I'm Aomine by the way, I don't have much to say so sorry." After finishing the job he stood there next to the teal haired boy, "If he was up, he'd keep you busy, or maybe he will not shut up about it. He's gonna wake up I'm sure."
The boy stared at him, he wanted to ask him if he misses this blonde haired man, but the answer was already painted in Aomine's face. Of course. If only he could speak, he'd tell him that his faith in the other was admirable, but he couldn't. He decided to walk to the blonde's bed, he is beautiful, like those prince charming that fairy tales would describe to you. He scooped his hand in his and closed his eyes in a prayer—
There is a man waiting for you to wake up
Please don't make him wait for you too long,
He is in pain because you are as well,
I wish God will heal you and wake you soon.
Opening his eyes the teal haired boy stood and bowed his head to the sleeping figure. Aomine smiled at him as he walked back, "Thanks for the company, man." Aomine said, "So are you going?" The boy nodded, "I should walk you—"
He shook his head—he probably needs you more than I do. Then he bowed and left the two. As the door was closed Aomine stood there his mask falling. He walked over to Kise's bed sitting there. If he was awake and that boy came in he'd probably talk nonstop how similarly that boy's hair is just lighter. He'd laugh and joke about it, if only…Aomine grunted in frustration. Just how many more days can he go by without hearing his voice and watching him on this bed unmoving? Aomine moved his hands to the blonde's hair, as he slowly move those growing bangs off his forehead.
"Kise…" he whispered, if only he was awake, the words run through his mind over and over as he watch over the figure. He'd probably be bright as those sunflower, as beautiful as them, just as strong as them. The back of Aomine's traced those supple cheeks that in the days had lose its natural blush. The years had been awfully long without him, it was dreadful without the sweet voice calling him with that stupid nickname. "…I…miss you alright…stop making me wait oka—" Aomine was stopped when he saw it.
Twitch
Aomine almost gasped in surprised, he felt it Kise's muscles were tensing and twitching, could he be having a seizure? He heard that seizure happens to patients like Kise, he stood up in fear when suddenly he felt something stopping him, his eyes widen as he realized it was Kise's hand wrapped around his wrist, with a feeble hope he looked at the blonde's face and felt everything stopped when he saw his behind those close lids were movement.
"Ku…Kuro…kocchi?"
Aomine narrowed his eyes at the strange syllables Kise whispered half-asleep. Aomine heard the blonde murmured more until his eyelids cracked open, the surprise and excitement rendered him unmoving, the amber eyes was staring right up at the ceiling for a moment. "Kuroko…cchi?" he whispered in a hoarse voice. Kurokocchi…that's the guy Kise was looking for right? What does he mean, could he be dreaming of that guy, of his brother? Then those amber eyes drifted and wandered in the room until it fell to Aomine's eyes.
The blonde stared at him, as if trying to recognize his face, then the gripped in his wrist became tighter making Aomine anticpate for the blonde to speak even more, "I…heard Kurokocchi's voice…I h-heard…prayer for me, was he…here? Aomine…cchi?" Aomine wanted to bring Kise in a bone crushing hug the moment he said his name, it almost made something in his whole system click that Kise Ryouta is finally awake. He leaned his head against the other's shoulder and just stayed there. "Ao…minecchi?" his voice was dry and muffled with the gas mask, but Aomine would have this than nothing. He said his name, he is alright now.
"Welcome back you damn idiot." He whispered before standing up and pressing the button to call for the nurses. He returned to Kise's side, the blonde still looked a bit out of it but he is now awake, and that was more important.
"Sun…flowers?"
Aomine blinked at the blonde's statement, looking over he found the blonde's head was turned towards the vase filled with yellow flowers. Aomine smiled, "Yeah."
.
.
Wake up
…Takao Kazunari
wake up…
Takao groaned as he shifted in his side, why does he feel this heavy?
"Takao, are you awake?"
Shin-chan?—Takao's mind as if in reflex registered that name in his mind quickly as the sound of his voice reached his ears. Slowly lifting his eyeslids, the lights peered slowly behind it. Half asleep, the raven haired man tried his best to sit up, brushing his eyes with the back of his hand. What happened? He blinked, and realize something—"S-Shin…chan?"
"Takao, how are you feeli—"
Midorima's eyes widen as he found the boy starting to turn his head towards him…something isn't right. He almost gasp as he found the boy's silver gray eyes shifting focus…he's…looking at him, right at him, not just pass him. How in the world—"Shin…chan?" Takao blinked unsure of what was happening as well. Takao raised his hands towards himself, his hands, he could see them, he raised his head, he could see Midorima there, he is sitting, that emerald green hair, those long lashes, and those beautiful jade colored eyes. He can see him, but how? "I-I think…I can see you."
Midorima quickly walked to Takao's bed and cupped his face in his hands raising them to meet his eyes, his pupils were reacting to the light, they were also following his eyes, he…can see. I wave of relief suddenly splashed to his senses, Midorima quickly pulled the brunette in his arms. He can see. Takao can finally see again! Midorima pulled away, "Stay here, I'll call Himuro to look after you for a second I'll just go get the doctors!"
Midorima dashed away, he could hear a muffled voice until another raven haired man came in, he was wearing a simple printed white shirt over a dark violet jacket, in his arms was a bag of mandarin oranges. His face was filled with swirling emotions, happy and excited. The man quickly left the oranges on the night stand next to Takao's hospital bed. As he came in another familiar looking guy came in, Murasakibara.
"Takao-san!" Himuro exclaimed happily as he walked to Takao's bed. "I-Its me, I-I'm Himuro Tatsuya."
Takao blinked, so this is Himuro? Somehow the thought of gaining back his sense of sight tipped to his mind, he can now see again, he can fucking see again! A single tear rolled down his cheeks surprising him and the Himuro. He can see Midorima again, and these wonderful people. "I-Its nice finally meeting you." He said as his voice turned to sobs and tears.
.
.
"Where have you been?" Izuki asked with sweat on his forehead, he looks like he had ran a marathon around the hospital. The teal haired boy bowed in apology, Izuki sighed and patted the boy's head, "No problem, just don't run off like that again. We need to go and get your results, right?" the boy nodded. Izuki led the way back to the clinic again. It almost gave him a heart attack when he realized the teal haired boy isnt where he left him, he was a mute boy who couldn't ask for help for Pete's sake what if something happened to him, what if he was like those in some TV drama, what if he got locked in an air-tight compartment and couldn't escape, how would he call for help? Izuki mentally screamed at his horrid worst case scenario ideas, yep, not very helpful. The boy walked behind him casually with his usual poker face, his huge blue eyes looks like some puppy's eyes staring right at his back.
After a few minutes, the two were now sitting in the clinic, the doctor was shuffling through the papers in his hand before placing them on his desk and looking at the two boys before him. He smiled at the teal haired boy who was staring at him like he was some weird specimen with two heads. "How are you feeling boy? Feeling nervous?" The teal haired boy shook his head, "So first thing's first, could you write your name on a sheet for us?" The doctor slipped in a small piece of paper and a pen, the boy turned to Izuki raising a brow.
"Go on, if you can." Izuki said, "If you can't you can just shake your head."
The boy tentatively took the pen and with shaking hands, with a swift stroke he made a line but…he stopped there. He started shaking and he turned to Izuki shaking his head.
"Its alright, you tried your best pal." He said.
The doctor nodded, "Alright, how about you write moon? Can you?"
The boy nodded and scribbled the word on the paper quickly. He passed the paper towards the doctor who inspected it thoroughly.
"Good job, now I want to tell you if you have any headaches or pain near your ears."
He shook his head, a no.
"Okay," the doctor reached out the test results to Izuki, "The hearing test came out positive, it means that he could hear as much as a normal boy in his age can. There isnt anything that could be blocking his ears as well, so the deaf theory is quickly disregarded. He isnt congenitally or acquired any hearing disability. However his speaking is a different story." Izuki shuffled through the strange papers, there were graphs and numbers and letters he barely recognize. Izuki looked up to the doctor urging the man to continue, "His throat and vocal cords are well. According to the test it could perfectly function and produce sound, and it seems like he is capable of making sounds through them."
"Then…why isn't he speaking?"
"We did a few brain scans for him to look for any physical or internal injuries that may have affected him and rendered him unable to speak, but there isn't. The results came in clean, no past injury or anything. I referred him to our Psychologist as well just in case this is a case in the autism spectrum, but he is normal he responded quick and very well to written exams." The doctor looked over at the paper in his table that the boy answered, "What I tried to ask him was something that has to do with what I think might be the reason why he cannot speak, however I am in no position to actually confirm anything on that matter. It is just a theory for I am not quite affiliated with the field. I think the problem with why you cannot get anything from him isn't the fact that he is mute, but rather, due to the fact that he himself has no idea what to tell you."
"Are you suggesting he cannot remember?"
"Yes. But this is a theory, only a theory." The doctor leaned in the swivel chair, "He couldn't write his name, not even his name. But he could write, he uses kanji very well this means he is not entirely unable to function. If my theory is correct then his inability to speak may be psychological."
"Psychological?"
"Yes, its not very new that someone loses the a certain sense or bodily function after an accident or incident in their lives, this is usually in a form of trauma. In his case this is more plausible, accompanied with the fact that he couldn't remember."
"How…"
"People's mind are very powerful Izuki-san, it can even fabricate its own memories when willed. In trauma victims the memories that causes stress to the person can supressed—yes, not erase. Memories will never be erased after all, it could only be repressed so there is always a chance this boy could remember what happened. In this context perhaps along with his mind supressing his memories it could be that he also clicked something in his mind that caused his inability to speak." The doctor said lacing his fingers together, "I could refer you to a psychologist since his case seems to be out of my field of expertise, but right now I could say you have hope of regaining his ability to speak. Isn't that good, boy?"
The teal haired boy stares at the doctor unable to understand the difficult words however, this means…he looked at Izuki who flashed him as smile. If Izuki thinks it is a good news, then it must really be. "Thank you doctor." Izuki said bowing his head politely.
"Ah, then I'll refer you to Hara-sensei on the Psych Department, is that alright?" Izuki nodded, "But I'd suggest you give her a visit maybe tomorrow or next week, its been a long day for him." He said looking at the teal haired boy. Izuki agreed and ended their appointment right then.
As the door opened the two walked out of the room. Izuki was glad that the boy could regain his ability to speak but this also rose to a question, what happened to this boy for him to actually be that traumatized enough to decide to push all his memories at the depths of his mind? Something terrible happened, what exactly was it? He prayed that this boy's family is looking for him, it would break his heart and his mother's if they learned his trauma has something to do with home, such fragile, precious looking boy. The silence between them was heavy, Izuki honestly didn't know what to tell the boy. The two took the lift, before the door closed Izuki saw two nurses and prevented the door from closing to let them in. The nurses bowed a thanks to the boy and stood at the far back of the cramped room. Izuki closed the door and decided to focus on the red changing numbers on the screen above the floor buttons.
"You heard about it?" one of the nurse started talking to her fellow nurse.
"About?"
"You know that blind patient in 3027?"
"Oh, I heard he was a doctor?"
"He is, well but he's blind, said from a prior accident."
"So?"
"Haven't you heard?" The nurse's voice turned to whisper, "the patient alarmed his attending doctor for a migraine, he was given pain killers and was put to sleep, and this is where it gets better. The guy woke up with his eyesight back!"
"Huh? How the hell did that happen?"
"Don't know, some says it's a miracle!"
Izuki wished that miracle would dawn on this boy too, may he find where he truly belongs. When the door opened the two didn't waste time to leave the hospital. It always somehow gave off this heavy feeling, almost suffocating Izuki wouldn't lie if he was asked whether he likes this white walled building—nope, never in a million years.
The boy in his suite does looks like he is tired, maybe a trip in a hospital for a week is enough, they'll visit the psychologist next week. Luckily, the train isn't crowded, Izuki and his companion didn't have a hard time to get a seat. The boy sat there quietly hands on his laps and almost dozing off. Izuki smiled, he wouldn't mind having a younger brother like this.
Bzzz…Bzzz…
Izuki blinked in surprise as he felt his phone vibrated in the pocket of his pants, fishing out the device, he swiped the screen to unlock. It was a message from Furihata.
From: Furi
To: Me
Izuki-senpai, Kagami-kun has gotten out of the Kaijo Med today. He said he'll take a few days off if you guys wouldn't mind. He seemed to have lost his phone.
Izuki's eyes widen…he…oh right, why didn't he remembered then? Kagami was admitted at Kaijo, and they were just—damn, he sighed. Oh well, anyways that is a good news, Kagami out of the hospital means less worries for him and the team, sometimes that huge ass guy is a load of worry, well not in the context that he's a burden they're just tend to get worried by his overly kind nature. He decided to type a reply.
To: Furi
Good news! Tell coach too, alright, she must be strangling Hyuuga by now with the lack of intel from the big guy. Thanks.
After replying Izuki slipped the phone back to his pocket only to catch two big blue eyes staring at him. Izuki chuckled, "Uhm, my teammates just mailed me, seems like Kagami just got out of the hospital, he was admitted at the Kaijo Med too. Too bad I forgot, we should have seen him before leaving, ri—Uhm…hey…" Izuki paused midway as the boy's face suddenly drained of color. Did he say something wrong? The boy's face seems to be frozen his lips were quivering as he stare at Izuki. "A-Are you feeling i—"
"K-Ka…"
Izuki's eyes widen he almost stood in his seat in shock, his lips are moving, he is making a sound. It was very soft, very low almost like a whisper, but this guy is talking?! What did he say to make this guy talk? Izuki stood there waiting, the boy seems to be having a mental breakdown but he is saying something.
"K-Ka…K-Ka…g-ga…mi…" The boy seemed to be shock as well as he raised both his hands and wrapped it around his throat feeling the distinct vibrations of his vocal cords against his throat. He looked up at Izuki, "Ka…gami…" the words fell simple, it was flawless in his tongue but why…why that name. and what's with that feeling whenever his speak of that name—
Click
.
.
.
"Oi Kuroko."
"I like the way you can say what you really want."
"Would you do it, if they ordered you to?"
"Isn't it a bit twisted?"
Red…
Red like fire, it was the color of his soul, that attractive, tempting color of his soul, of his passion, just like fire, an all-consuming fire. And that smile, a smile that could simply shatter that stupid barrier he placed for himself and him, and his big warm hands that always reminded him of true kindness. He felt a fit in that hole in his chest in that simple name. Suddenly that heavy feeling was lifted a bit by the thought of that boy until—
"You're going to be alright now, brother is here now."
No…
"Live for me."
NO!
Don't leave…Don't—
"Hey!" Izuki's voice rang loudly as he saw the boy's expression changed. A pulsing pain surged in his head, Izuki quickly grabbed the boy's shoulder when his expression suddenly turned into horrified. His body started shaking and his hand clutched in his head in pain. The other passengers started fussing over the two. "Are you alright?" there was no reply just groans and the boy's pained expression, as soon as the next stop came he quickly hauled the boy in his back and dashed out of the train.
"Hang in there buddy!"
Kuroko failed to hear that, he was filled with dreadful imagery, his brother dying in front of him, his brother disappearing, his death was his fault, he died because of him, he was the evil one not Lucifer. Why did he even deserve to live? He doesn't deserve their kindness, he is the reason his brothers suffers.
Its on me.
Its my fault isnt it.
This is because of me….
Do I even…deserve to live?
.
.
"Don't be daft, you deserve every right to live."
Bro…ther?
"Indeed. Don't you want to see him anymore?"
I don't deserve him, I'm a murderer, I killed you.
"You didn't."
Brother? How can you—
"All is well Tetsuya…all is well…"
.
.
.
Furihata quickly ran in the hallways, his lungs were burning but he need to tell them, he is sure Midorima would be happy. For many days he had spent his days looming over the absence of someone, but today, today will be different. He swore to Kagami before the guy left for the hospital. Somehow Kagami found out that he had been staying there for some reason aside from looking after him. Furihata after learning that Kise and his brothers were rushed to Kaijo Med from Momoi and Aomine, the boy took the chance, that maybe Akashi is with them. But he was wrong. So as an excuse to stay longer in the facility, he told his teammates he'd be staying to look after Kagami but the Ace isn't that much of an airhead to notice that the reason why he is there isnt actually him but someone else—Akashi. He still hoped the boy would come one day and visit his brothers, and then he'll see him. And he'd ask him, why, why did he leave without even saying anything? Why leave?
Before Kagami left the two had a conversation, something Furihata didn't expect at all…
"I…realized something," Kagami said as he sat there quietly in the lobby. "the guy who stabbed me…is Akashi."
Truth hurts, and damn it sure does, Furihata couldn't believe it, Kagami surely wouldn't lie or would simply make an accusation without any proof, Kagami isn't that kind of man. Kagami said that Akashi told them that he did try to kill the vessel, which failed, simple logic would piece the puzzle like this; Kagami is the vessel, Akashi disappeared from Furihata's care, Kagami got stabbed, Akashi confesses trying to kill the vessel, which means, Akashi was the one who stabbed Kagami but failed in killing him. The thought of Akashi holding a blood soaked knife sent shivers to the brunette's spine, the man whom he surrendered all his faith in…tried to kill his teammate, classmate and friend?
"Are… you angry at him?"
Kagami blinked and chuckled, "Actually, that's the strange thing, I am not. What about you?"
Was he angry at Akashi? Maybe. Maybe not. He isnt sure, to be honest. It has been days, its nearing a week and waiting for someone to actual confirm if he is alright or not isn't that easy. But he could say it out loud, because he knows whatever he is feeling right then might have been equal to Kagami's. The guy was trying his best to be strong, for those left behind, for Himuro and Murasakibara, for Midorima and Takao, for Aomine and Kise too. And yet he was acting like everything ended the moment Akashi had left. How unsightly, if Akashi saw him right now, he'd surely have narrowed his eyes on him and clicked his tongue for his childishness.
"You have to believe that he'll come back."
Furihata didn't know if those words were for him or for himself, he doesn't know who Kagami is trying to convince then. They both have to be stronger. Because there were more than what is that is gone, life doesn't stop just because someone else's did. Kagami didn't told him that part, but that part was something Midorima told him a few days ago. A day before Kagami woke up. Something he tried to push pass his brain.
"I don't want you to wait and be disappointed, I don't want to raise your hope, I'd rather tell you what I saw." The man said that day, they were standing in a corner, two rooms away from Kagami's room. "I saw Akashi disappear with my own two eyes."
Furihata refused to believe that, but the same thing slipped in Murasakibara's lips when he asked the man. The six foot giant recognized his name saying Akashi asked him once to look after him, the guy's expression made his heart sunk in the pit of his stomach. And he told him the same, the last thing they saw was how Akashi was burned, and dispersed into the thin air by the powerful energy surrounding the Kuroko. Kagami was the first person to actually believe that Akashi will come back when Furihata was slowly losing the will to wait any longer.
But waiting doesn't mean he has to gloom over, until then he swore, he will not stop moving forward, he will wait but he will refuse to be stagnant.
Slamming the door open and trying to catch his breath Furihata smiled at the people in Takao's room,
"KISE-SAN IS NOW AWAKE!"