Author's Note: If you haven't read Gentlemen, Place Your Bets, this chapter and its characters will seem like an odd combination, but they really do work if you give them a chance.

POV Takao

"You received a message from someone I don't know," Shin-chan said, coming into the bathroom while I was in the hotel room's shower.

"Oh? Who?" I said, ducking under the spray.

"The name reads 'Pacifist'."

"That's just Kasamatsu," I said as I rinsed the last of the shampoo out of my hair.

"Is this nickname another one of those things I must pretend I don't know?"

"Yeah, it's a Point Guard Poker Player thing," I laughed. "Will you read me the message?"

"It says, 'Saint and I are in room 1412. Are you in for a game tonight at 10? I'll provide the snacks,'" Shin-chan read. "Who is Saint?"

"I've already said too much. Do you mind if I go out with the boys tonight?" I asked, turning off the water.

"Of course not. Enjoy yourself," he said. He sounded relieved that he would not be expected to be social as well. A message tone indicated I had received a second text.

"Who's Chatterbox?"

"…and then I kicked Kise across the room," Kasamatsu told us proudly.

From the frown on his face, I knew that whatever he was texting in response to the story, Mitobe was about to go all Mother Hen on him again.

"It's not like he actually hurts Kise –" I was in the middle of trying to make Mitobe feel better when there was a knock at the door.

"You fellas expectin' company?" Imayoshi asked, glancing up from his cards, his eyes slitted a little more than usual.

We all answered no and then the knock came again.

"Just a moment," Imayoshi said, and gave us each one more look.

"Shin-chan was going to bed, and even if he wasn't, he would have texted me rather than come here," I protested when he lingered on me for an extra second.

Kasamatsu got to his feet, but Imayoshi stopped him.

"I'll do the honors, you just worry about your turn."

All eyes were on the door as Imayoshi swung it open.

"Akashi Seijūrō, now to what do I owe the honor of having the great 'Emperor' grace my door?"

I cringed at hearing the sarcasm drip from Imayoshi's mouth. I couldn't see the smile, but I knew from experience that it had widened the moment he'd seen the anti-social little Point Guard.

"I heard that there was a gathering of Point Guards. I am a Point Guard. Thus, I thought it only right to make an appearance."

"Well, I'm sorry the wires got crossed somehow there, Akashi-kun. This here is just a bunch of friends gatherin' to play cards," Imayoshi said, making a sweeping gesture to include all of us. I wanted to hide under the bed before Akashi saw me, but I was frozen in my spot.

"Shūtoku's current Point Guard, Kaijō's former Point Guard, Tōō's former Point Guard, and I don't think I know you," Akashi said, his crazed yellow eye settling on Mitobe.

"You don't know the Center for your least favorite team in this competition? I think your spinnin' tales, Akashi-kun," Imayoshi taunted. His Osakan accent grew more intense with each word.

"Mitobe Rinnosuke, then. You have some large shoes to fill, don't you?" Akashi's smile grew, showing teeth.

Mitobe stared back placidly, as if he encountered psychotics on a daily basis.

"What do you really want, Akashi? No one here takes the thought that you want to be just one of the guys seriously. We're all pawns to you, beneath you, so why don't we stop wastin' each other's time and move it along so we can get back to our game."

"Aomine's was right, you are shrewder than you act, Shoichi."

"I wouldn't put stock in anythin' he says, but I'm no fool either way."

"Word has gotten around about this little…support group you seem to have formed. I don't care if you need to wipe away each other's tears as you lament about how mean the members of the Generation of Miracles are to you in general, or in particular," Akashi said, and turns his gaze directly to me, "but the other Point Guards in the tournament don't like the fact that you've taken to calling yourselves the Point Guard Poker Players, since the group isn't open to all Point Guards. I am taking it upon myself to speak to you on their behalf."

Imayoshi began to laugh. At first I thought it was just going to be a simple ha-ha, but then it turned into a rolling sound that bent his head and caused him to take off his glasses to wipe them down. Once he'd composed himself, he took a deep breath, looked over his shoulder at us with the creepiest smile I'd ever seen on his features, and then he turned back to Akashi.

"What school are you goin' to next year?" Imayoshi asked, and for a moment, I thought I saw confusion ripple across Akashi's features.

"I'm going abroad, to study in America. I'm going to George Washington University. Why?"

"Yokatta!" he chuckled again. "Now you'll have to just take this as my personal opinion, because I don't speak for anyone besides myself, but I am so glad I will never have to stand on a basketball court with your crazy ass."

"Shoichi, I am Absolu –"

"Yeah, yeah, absolutely fuckin' crazy, that's what you are. I feel bad for anyone who has to play against you, and even worse for anyone who has to play with you. America's a good place for you. Maybe your madness won't be so noticeable there, but either way, get the fuck out of my room," he said, and slammed the door in Akashi's face.

He didn't move for two or three moments, and the time seemed to drift as no one said a word or moved.

"Um, it's your turn," Kasamatsu told Mitobe who blinked three times, like he was waking up.

Imayoshi turned, his eyes partially open and his smile gone.

"Are you ok?" I asked. It was strange seeing his eyes; they were gray like mine, only a little darker. It was like seeing him naked. He took off his glasses and carefully cleaned them again.

"I either did something incredibly brave, or equally stupid. Which do you think?" he drawled, not looking at any of us. Mitobe put down his cards on the nightstand and slung an arm over Imayoshi's shoulder.

"I don't understand why ya'll are so afraid of that little shit," he dismissed, like he hadn't just been facing down a shark-in-human-form: Akashi.

"That was epic, but, um, I think I'm going to call Shin-chan and ask him to escort me back to our room. Is he still standing out there? Do you think he can hear us?"

"No, I watched until he left," Imayoshi answered.

"Are you crazy?" Kasamatsu finally shouted. "If, if, if…" he ranted, and exploded out of his seat, his arms flailing as he paced.

"Sit down, Pacifist," I joked, hoping to snap him back to his previous calm state.

"He's going to hold this against all of us, not just you, Shoichi," Kasamatsu said, trying to mimic Akashi's voice, but failing completely.

I texted Shin-chan to ask him to come get me, because there was no way I was walking out that door without his company.

[why?]

[Saint pissed off Akashi. I am scared.]

[And what am I supposed to do against an enraged Akashi?]

[I don't know, but if he kills me, you'll be sad, right?]

There was no response and I was so busy pouting at the phone that I didn't notice Kasamatsu reaching out for it.

"You're kidding me? You asked your boyfriend to come get you? You are pathetic."

"I don't want to walk back by myself," I sniveled.

My phone indicated a message, and I tried to snatch it back from Kasamatsu. He threw the phone to Imayoshi, who lazily handed it to Mitobe, who gave it back to me with a shrug.

[Akashi found the incident humorous. He also thinks it's 'cute' that I'm 'concerned about my shadow's safety.' Now that I have been properly embarrassed, I'm on my way to get you.]

Mitobe read the message on my shoulder and squeezed my arm. I looked up into his wide eyes and he pointed at his chest. Imayoshi was right, the longer you spent with him, the more obvious his thoughts.

"Ok, we'll talk Shin-chan into swinging by your room on the way back too," I said.

"I would have walked you back to your rooms, scaredy cat," Imayoshi scoffed. "You didn't need to get Midorima-kun involved in this."

"I love hanging out with you guys, I really do. And I appreciate getting together and blowing off steam about the weirdoes in our lives. I don't even mind it when you make fun of me, because I know it's all in good fun, but that little psychopath frightens Shin-chan, and that's good enough reason for me to want to pee my pants right now. You may not depend on Aomine, but I reply on Shin-chan," I said, realizing that was probably more information than I needed to give them, but what's said at Point Guard Poker Night, stays at Point Guard Poker Night.

"Forget that, let him walk back with whoever he wants," Kasamatsu dismissed as he continued to pace. "How did Akashi know about us?"

Thanks to Andarkness23 for their beta reading skills.