Chapter 9 "Tetsu"

Kagami had changed big time since he met Tetsuya Kuroko. They started to hang out more after the whole Aomine incident and Kagami had to admit, it was really enjoying hanging out with Kuroko. They were much close and it was effecting their teamwork positively. He was thinking he misjudged Kuroko pretty badly in the beginning and he was feeling a little bad about that. That's why, he had offered him to drink strawberry milkshake in the park which was very close to Kuroko's house. And now, that's why they were sitting in the park, milkshake on their hands, on their first date.

'It's not a date.' Kagami told himself.

"You remembered, Kagami-kun."

"What?" Kuroko's question caught him off guard.

"The strawberry milkshake."

"Oh, yeah. I was just- y'know- I'd drank your milkshake before. So I happened to remember the flavor."

"Thank you, Kagami-kun." Kuroko smiled.

"Ye- Yeah. Pff, it's nothing Kuroko." he stuttered, 'Why the hell are ya stuttering for!' then continued;

"Say.. If I start callin' ya Tetsuya, what'd ya say?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing? 'S that how the 'Tetsu' started?" he couldn't keep himself from asking.

"No. It has another story."

"Would ya mind to tell?"

"Yes."

"Oh." 'What is that you're hiding from me Tetsuya!'

"Sorry."

"Naah~ I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked. Let's just forget about it and continue hanging." Kagami waved off and Tetsuya smiled.

'Like you can forget about it.'

'No, shut up!' Kagami argued with himself. He thought it would be best to change the subject;

"Say then Tetsuya, who is the most powerful player in Generation of Miracles?"

"All of us' talents are different from each other. You can't compare Kagami-kun."

"Sure I can!" Kagami laughed, "Let's say one on one. Who can't I beat?"

"In that case.. Kise-kun, Aomine-kun and.. Akashi-kun."

"I already beat Kise!"

"It wasn't a one on one with Kise-kun. I was Kise-kun's weakness. We used that weakness to beat him. My invisibility."

Kagami agreed with him with his silence. Tetsuya continued;

"But I know you are going to be number 1 player in Japan, Kagami-kun."

"Thank you, Tetsuya." said Kagami, they smiled at each other. Kuroko was sitting so close to him and Kagami felt the weather became too hot in all sudden.

'Make a move! Make a move!' the voice inside him said.

'Didn't I just tell you to shut up!'

'Hmph.. You are no fun.'

'You? Sorry to tell ya that but YOU and I are the same person, buddy!'

He continued to argue with himself as Kuroko was drinking his milkshake silently and looking at Kagami time to time with his big blue innocent eyes until someone in the dark called;

"Tetsuya."

Both turned at the voice and saw the eyes glowed, strongly, one red, one yellow. Tetsuya immediately recognized the person in the dark by his eyes;

"Akashi-kun."

"Akashi? Your captain in Teiko Akashi?"

"Yes." Kuroko answered Kagami without taking his eyes over Akashi.

Kagami stood up quickly and got in between Tetsuya and Akashi. He had a bad feeling about this.

"Kagami-kun don't!" Kuroko started but it was too late to warn Taiga. Akashi walked pass Kagami as Taiga lost his balance and fell down.

"Kagami-kun!" Kuroko called. Kagami thought it was the loudest he'd ever heard Kuroko.

"Taiga Kagami. I watched you, therefore you can't beat me." Akashi said then turned to Kuroko and smiled at him;

"Long time no see, right, Tetsuya?"

"I believe you are kidding, Akashi-kun."

"I am, Tetsuya. Great to see you can get all the jokes now."

Taiga unexpectedly gripped Akashi's, Teiko Basketball Team's former captain's, ankle;

"Oi! Don't joke around with Tetsuya."

Akashi sighed;

"I see.. I underestimated you a little. My mistake, won't happen again."

Akashi got away from Taiga's grip as Taiga stood up to his feet again and glared at Akashi. Akashi glared at him back;

"The only ones who're allowed to look at me in the eye as I speak are those that serve me. No one that opposes me is allowed to look down on me. Know your place."

"You little-" Taiga started and raised his fist as Akashi was looking at him calmly.

"Kagami-kun stop!" Tetsuya stepped in between them while opening his arms to both sides and Akashi smiled knowingly.

"Are you really gonna let him to- y'know- do what he does?!" Taiga shouted.

'Oh this date just became the worst..'

'SO NOT NOW!'

"Why don't you tell him Tetsuya? It's not a secret or anything." the different colored eyed boy said.

"I was not trying to hide it, Akashi-kun. Kagami-kun, Akashi-kun is my.. brother."

"Older brother to be exact." Akashi added and continued;

"So this is the 'Kagami-kun' that you can't just shut up about. You really do have a type, huh?" he smirked.

Taiga stepped back, next to Kuroko and saw him slightly blush.

'He was talking about ya~' the voice inside him purred and made his heart race.

'Still not now.' Kagami replied.

"Why are you here Akashi-kun?"

"Can't I just miss my brother?"

"No, you would have called if that was the case."

Akashi laughed;

"Right. Okay, the truth then. Mother cooked your favorite food and father asked me to bring it to you." he handed the small box to Kuroko.

Kuroko took the box in his brother's hands;

"Thank you, Akashi-kun."

"I did what I had to do. Since you don't live with your family anymore.."

"Akashi-ku-"

"I'm also moving out soon, ..with Atsushi." he cut-in.

Kuroko smiled sincerely;

"I am happy for you, Akashi-kun, for both of you and Murasakibara-kun."

Akashi nodded.

"I know. So.. I have to go now. Take care of yourself, Tetsuya." he gave Kagami a one final look, "It was nice to meeting you too, Taiga." and smiled in a twisted way before walking away.

"Well, he wasn't crazy at all." Kagami stated sarcastically when he was sure that Akashi left.

Kuroko smiled slightly;

"Akashi-kun was just trying to scare you. To protect me."

"To protect you? From me?"

Kuroko only shrugged. They both laughed.

After that, Taiga walked Tetsuya home.

"Goodnight Tetsuya." Kagami said while Kuroko was opening his door.

"Goodnight Kagami-kun." Tetsuya smiled slightly.

Kagami started to walk away from Tetsuya's house when he heard footsteps behind him. He turned around all of a sudden.

"Yo." the footsteps owner said.

"You."

"I'm starting to getting disturbed by that reaction y'know."

Kagami pulled a face as a reply.

"Mind if I walk with you?"

'He'll anyway.'

"I'd say 'yeah' but a part of me says that you'll anyway."

Aomine smirked and they started to walk together.

"What're ya doing in front of Tetsuya's house?"

"So 's 'Tetsuya' now? Getting closer I see."

"Not your business, answer my question."

"I was passing by." Aomine smiled.

"Yeah, right."

"I was gonna talk to him, so what? You're there so I couldn't. What's your relationship with Tetsu anyways? Just teammates? Friends? Something else?"

'Say yes! SAY YES!'

"Still not your business." Kagami replied both Aomine and himself.

"If ya answer, I'll answer one of your questions. Even if 's ain't your business."

Kagami thought a little, then answered;

"Tetsuya and I are friends. It started a bit complicated and awkward bit it's alright now."

Aomine nodded thoughtfully like he was considering his answer.

"Your turn." Kagami said, "What's your relationship with Tetsuya and what's the story behind the nickname 'Tetsu'?"

Aomine laughed;

"Aaah.. I'm guessin'.. You talked Tetsu 'n asked that but he ain't answer ya. AM I right?"

Kagami stared at him without giving an answer.

"I take it as a 'yes'. Y'sure ya wanna know? Y'seem you're pretty hot-headed just FYI-"

"You said you're gonna answer whatever I ask."

"I did, yeah." Aomine sighed, "Right. How can I describe it.. Hmm.. Tetsu and I were best friends. Ya wouldn't believe me but he was talking more, back then, smiling more. Everybody was surprised by our friendship cause, let's admit it, we ain't much alike y'know, Tetsu and I. Except when it comes to basketball. Basketball made us closer 'n closer. 'N at some point we ain't just best friends. The others ain't know but Tetsu and I were more."

"What do you mean by 'more'?"

'You know exactly what he meant.'

"I mean we ain't dating but we did 'things' y'know."

"You mean, you and Tetsuya..?"

'You're just upsetting yourself. Me, upsetting me.'

"Yeah. He ain't shows but he's pretty good in bed. He-"

"WOAH! I don't wanna know! I just-.. Why 'Tetsu'?" Kagami asked, wasn't sure if he stil wanted to know.

'You don't. Just- just.. STOP.'

"Oh, 's simple. While we're, y'know, doing IT, I simply couldn't just complete his name. 'S like 'Tetsuya, Tetsuya, TETSU!'" Aomine acted, "then the name stuck with him. Probably that's why he couldn't tell you."

Kagami stopped for a second, tried to think what he was going to say and asked;

"Yeah.. uhh.. then what happened? Why did you two break up?"

"We didn't 'break up', we ain't dating. It's just, y'know, some kinda killing time. But if ya ask generally.. I started to find basketball boring cause there's no one out there who can beat me. So winning's just became easy. In the end, like me 'n basketball, me 'n Tetsu also drifted apart."

"Have you ever loved Tetsuya?"

Daiki laughed;

"I told ya I'll answer one of your questions 'n I've already answered more than one."

Kagami glared at him;

"You're a jerk. Tetsuya is not a fuckin' 'one night stand'. He probably didn't say anything cause he fuckin' cared about you! And you left him and broke his heart! Don't you ever, EVER dare to come near Tetsuya again or I'll fuckin' give your teeth in your hands."

Aomine stared at him and calmly replied;

"Just cause I told ya about my past with Tetsu, ain't mean you have the right to say anything 'bout it. Anyways, thanks for the chitty chat, gotta go. Play ya later, Kagami."

Taiga clenched his fists to keep himself in control while Daiki was walking away, his hands in his pockets.

'Let's kill him.'

'Not in public.'

To Be Continued~