Chapter five: Kagami
Kagami wasn't one to dwell on the past, nor was he one to assist the sickly or depressed. If he ever came across such things—the sickly or depressed—he'd leave the handling to those around him, or call the hospital…or simply plop a sandwich into the person's lap then walk off.
However, seeing Murasakibara trudging down the road, head bowed and feet dragging, brought back the subconscious need to turn to his shadow and ask for an explanation. Before he could Kagami clawed at his arm, suppressing the urge, for he'd been doing it too often, talking to no one and yet expecting a reply, walking through the silent night, ears strained, awaiting a soft voice.
Once, he'd even accidentally started complaining about Riko's new training regime (which ended with eating her horrid cooking) and asked for Kuroko's support.
"I don't have an issue with the workout; it's what comes after that bothers me! Right Kuroko?"
The pain that was evident on everyone's faces was a tad bit too much, and the team was quickly dismissed, of course, not before the coach demanded they meet up for lunch latter.
Perhaps that was the reason they could still play basketball and enjoy it. Perhaps that was why they didn't all wallow in depression, because they had each other…argh! That sounded far too much like Kuroko! But it didn't really matter now, in fact, perhaps allowing himself to think like that was simply another proof that Kuroko wasn't truly gone, that he was still there, in the shadows, watching with his ever blank expression, cheering them on in his own weird way.
Shaking his head Kagami sighed, such thoughts could wait till later, right now he could feel the ever phantom pull of his shadow, telling him to go and talk to Murasakibara.
Swiftly catching up, Seirin's ace slapped the giant on the back, making him stumble—which worried Kagami even more, for that shouldn't have been possible, "want to go someplace to eat?"
"Not hungry." Was the distracted reply, ticking Kagami off slightly, though the ever calm stare of Kuroko that waited beyond his eyelids consoled him, "Well, I am," Kagami declared, before taking ahold of the giant's jacket and pulling him along, "and you're paying."
The lack of resistance almost scared him.
"Ice-cream."
And there was some of that annoying childishness, so not all was lost, though as Seirin's ace dragged the giant behind him, he really had no idea how to proceed. Damn you Kuroko! Leaving such a mess behind!
Several minutes later (in which Kagami's arms got tired and Murasakibara started walking on his own) they sat in a random restaurant, neither able to bring themselves to eat at Kuroko's old hangout, not alone, not with so few to distract then from the lack of blue and milkshakes.
"So," Kagami began, disturbed by Murasakibara silence and the gloomy air, "what's bothering ya?"
The giant continued to ignore him.
And this is probably why Kuroko left, Kagami considered, eyes dropping, it wouldn't matter how honest the members were with each other, or how much they knew about each other, unless they could communicate and solve their problems; kind of like Seirin.
The thought of the members of the Generation of Miracles sitting around in a circle having a therapy session caused a sudden bought of laughter that wound up almost chocking him.
"It's rude to speak with your mouth full." Came a silent whisper that killed his mirth in an instant, suddenly knowing the problem, "Ne, what would you do if someone you knew was trapped?"
Though the question confused him and caused a random shiver to go up his spine as Kuroko's image danced in the reflection of the glass before him, he answered honestly. "I'd do everything within my power to set them free."
"Even if by doing so you'd never see them again?"
The hidden meanings behind those words where numerous, so instead of answering Kagami posed another question, "are they happy where they are?"
Murasakibara blinked in confusion.
"If the person is happy, then they really aren't 'trapped'."
"I thought he was happy…"
Another shiver went up Kagami's spine, and the faint sound of Kuroko calling him in the background, in his memories, danced within his mind, "but?"
"I don't see how he can be. Not now, not when the wind is so very, very fierce."
"Wind?"
Murasakibara shook his head, a small smile on his face as his eyes became distant, "A story I heard from someone precious, though I never did get to hear the beginning~"
Or most of it, said the expression, but Kagami kept his mouth shut.
"Hey," Murasakibara began again, after a few minutes of silence, "did you know yesterday was the day Kise had been officially accepted into the team?"
Kagami blinked, "did you celebrate?"
Murasakibara stayed silent, staring out the window before he got up, plopped the last of his ice-cream in his mouth, than stored his bags of candy in his big pockets. Staring in shock Kagami only had time to shout out in confusion before the giant was gone, though not before Murasakibara said something that kept the ace from following after.
"We threw a little surprise party for him, myself, and Kuroko."
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"Ack!" cried Takao from behind a tree, "I think he's spotted us!"
"Well, doesn't this work better for us?" Yawned Aomine, "Now we don't have to act like stalkers, though I suppose I can see why Midorima likes doing it so much."
"I don't stalk others." Midorima hissed, causing the other three to laugh.
"Then what do you call it?" Momoi gasped between her peals of laughter, "bird watching?"
Only the sound of candy, being loudly and obnoxiously crushed between teeth, saved Midorima from answering. "You want to know about Kuro-chin?"
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"Kise-kun," called Kuroko softly, "Kise-kun, was it really necessary to throw Murasakibara-kun out like that?"
Kise didn't bother answering, only tightening his grip and burying his face into the ghost's neck. Making him sigh, forced to admit, for once, that he was grateful he was dead, otherwise his back would have snapped by now. "Kise-kun," Kuroko tried again, "he didn't mean it."
"That doesn't matter," Kise huffed, "he wanted to take you away."
"To go shopping," Kuroko almost laughed at how childish and possessive Kise sounded, but decided against it.
"We already celebrated."
This time Kuroko allowed himself a small chuckle, and patted Kise on the head, "Just because you think sitting around all day talking to me is celebrating, doesn't mean others do."
Kise once again tightened his hold, teeth grazing dangerously against the ghost's neck, threatening to chomp in, "you didn't have fun?"
Stiffening, Kuroko's eyes widened slightly, before he sighed, and hugged Kise in return, whispering into shaking shoulders that of course he had fun, of course he enjoyed simply being in Kise's company, that it was alright, he wasn't going to leave, not anytime soon. After all, he couldn't very well do anything without Kise being near. Laughing softly, with a tint of sadness, Kuroko whispered, "not that I can be far from you, Kise-kun."
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A/N: I've never been good with writing for multiple characters, and all of GoM is already stretching my abilities (kind of why I introduced everyone separately). However, I will be adding Seirin, but they're going to be kind of a quest appearance. So they won't have a separate chapter named for each of them, and I might have a few only "appear." Seirin is special, although they don't know much about Kuroko, they know him, if that makes any sense.
Also, to clear things up, last chapter Murasakibara and Kuroko had set up a surprise party for Kise, well, as surprising as they could get. Then the next day (this chap) Murasakibara wanted to actually take Kuroko out to buy Kise presents (as he remembered a little too late in the day last chap), but Kise refused to allow Kuroko out of his sights, thus the two got into a fight, the Kise kicked him out.
As for Murasakibara hearing Kuroko's story, he only heard bits and pieces, and Kuroko's analysis—though not the last sentence—at the end, so he thinks the wind is the only one at fault and, thus, the bad guy.
Beyond that, remember, one review.