Betrayal In Its Most Simplest Form

Chapter 17

"Going to the computer room, again, Akashi-san?" a first-year asked. Many students were packing up for their short break. Most students hung in the classrooms. Akashi had different plans.

"Yes. I would appreciate it if you kept it to yourself," Akashi ordered indirectly and left the classroom before getting an answer. He only had ten minutes, but ten minutes would be enough if he didn't waste time. In his backpack, he had picked his notes, just in case he forgot the name (impossible, though, since his memory was exquisite).

Akashi reached the large computer room his school owned. All of the computers were full, but a poor first-year quickly abandoned his computer when the red-head stared at him. Satisfied, Akashi took a seat and opened up a browser. He quickly typed in the first name, but paused at the last name. After all, he didn't know the last name yet. His notes had the names of the celebrities that he had researched, and he picked the last name that had the most suspicious background.

His guess was right.

Many articles popped up, most from foreign websites. Akashi picked on the first one, and found the article in English:

She is a wanted murderer and abuser, missing for more than three years. Police officers believe she has taken flight to another country, but the case was filed as cold. Her victim was Harold Smith, found in his own home, deceased in his bed. The crime scene has detected fingerprints, but the owner was missing.

The perpetrator, from more research, is the daughter of Julie Sevaine and Liam Sevaine . . .

Akashi clicked on another article. This one was also in English:

Branded a murderer, a killer, a criminal. She has been missing for years, but traces of the hitman could still be detected in many open spots of the government. Police officers have rested it as a cold case, but are still secretly investigating it until now, where they have made their continued investigation public.

Julie Sevaine was the mother of the hitman, a popular singer known throughout the nation. She has moved to Japan for unknown reasons and stopped her career in the country. Police officers cannot contact the mother and have no connections between the murder and her sudden stop in career.

The father was named as Liam Sevaine, another popular entertainor as an actor. Similar to his wife, he stopped his career and moved to Japan. Officers believe the hitman has also moved to Japan with the help of her parents.

Later, it was found the parents died in Japan just a few years after.

Akashi noted the estimated date of the parents' death, and then looked at the date where the three corporations in Japan started growing. What a coincidence the businesses started to grow in popularity right after her parents died, Akashi mused and wrote the note down.

He glanced at the picture that was attached to the article and sent it through email to Kise Ryouta. The bell rang once more just as he pushed 'send'.

They were now passed the complicated. Unravelling Ibuki's secrets now would simply be untying a shoe knot.

~Setting Skip~

A small vibration from his phone brought Kuroko out of his daydreaming. Knowing that he was invisible in class, Kuroko secretly took out his phone and checked his text message. Nobody usually texted him during class, so he figured it was important. The teal-head blinked, though, once he saw Akashi's name:

Get out of school and meet me in the Tokyo Park. You have five minutes.

It was a typical text message from Akashi; demanding and timely. Kuroko sighed, knowing he wouldn't be able to disobey Akashi. He raised his hand and made sure he was noticed by the teacher.

"Yes, Kuroko-kun?" the teacher asked, a bit startled he was in this class.

Kuroko stood up. "I don't feel too well, Sensei. May I go to the nurse?"

His teacher nodded. "Very well. Kagami-kun, can you—"

"Ah, it is fine, Sensei," Kuroko said quickly. "I can get there myself."

He looked suspicious, and he was contemplating whether to send Kagami anyway or let the invisible kid go alone. Finally, seeing it as too much trouble, the teacher nodded and gave Kuroko a note. Kuroko thanked him and quietly left class with his belongings.

It wasn't hard to leave school. After all, none of the teachers that wandered in the halls noticed him, and he was especially trying hard to hide his presence. He limped out of school easily and started toward the direction of the Tokyo Park. Akashi had chosen wisely, since the park was extremely close to his school, and Kuroko didn't have to strain his body into walking so far.

The teal-haired teen arrived at the park in three minutes. Kuroko immediately spotted the red-head among the small, running children. He stood near a bench with his arms folded in his school uniform. Rakuzan's school bag hung loosely on his shoulder. Many mothers stole quick glances at the dangerous-looking, yet handsome teen. Akashi paid them no mind, though, and only focused his attention on Kuroko.

"Akashi-kun," Kuroko greeted and limped over to stand in front of the red-head.

Akashi inspected him swiftly before greeting him back, "Tetsuya." He stepped forward to close the distance between the two and lifted up Kuroko's chin with two fingers. "Your injuries seem to be healing well. Are you still hurting?"

Kuroko leaned his body against Akashi's before his brain could process what he was doing. Akashi, although a bit startled, easily captured the light teen and wrapped one arm around Kuroko's back. The teal-head grasped Akashi's clothes, embarrassed he did such a thing, but refused to show it on his face. Akashi only smirked, tighening his hold on the smaller teen.

"Hai, it is healing well," Kuroko answered quietly. "I am not hurting."

Akashi raised one eyebrow by only a few centimeters, realizing Kuroko was not only talking about physically, but emotionally as well.

"Hm." The red-head stepped back, but stil had an arm wrapped around Kuroko's waist. He didn't pay attention to the stares many people were giving them. "We will go to Kyoto."

"Kyoto?" Kuroko repeated. "To Akashi-kun's house? It's bad to completely skip school, Akashi-kun."

"Once in awhile, it is fine," Akashi waved off. "I have a ride waiting, so we do not have to walk."

Reluctantly-Akashi would have forced him, anyway-Kuroko followed Akashi to the car.

The train ride to Kyoto was long but comfortable. Somewhere along the way, Akashi had put a hand on Kuroko's hand and it stayed there for the rest of the ride. Kuroko didn't mind. He pretended it wasn't there while he stared outside the opposite window from him. The train was almost completely empty, so there were no stares directed toward them.

They also didn't have to walk the long way to Akashi's house. Akashi called a taxi, and they appeared in front of his large complex a few minutes later. Kuroko, never have been to Akashi's house except for the one in Tokyo, was amazed at how big a complex could be.

"Come inside and sit on the couch. I will make tea," the red-head ordered as he opened the door.

Kuroko obeyed, but stopped at the sound of tea. "Actually, Akashi-kun," he said hesitantly. "May I have a vanilla shake?"

"No, you may not," Akashi tersely answered, taking off his shoes. "It is unhealthy, and drinking a vanilla shake will not help you become stronger. Sit."

The teal-head sulked—internally—to the couch and sat. Akashi almost rolled his eyes at Kuroko's reaction and entered the kitchen to make the tea.

Now alone, Kuroko took a chance to observe the living room. The trophies caught his eye, first, and he read each and every one of Akashi's accomplishments.

MVP Player Akashi Seijuro

Champion Shogi Player

Most wins in Shogi

Best player of the year

Some were from Teiko, others from Elementary schools or summer competitions that Kuroko didn't know about. Akashi-kun is amazing, he thought.

"I will award you with a vanilla shake sometime in the future, but for now, you will drink tea," Akashi said as he entered the living room with two cups of tea and a plate of cold soybeans for a small snack. Kuroko only nodded grudgingly and picked up the hot cup of tea. He gave it a small sip. Akashi sat down next to him and drank as well. "How is your father?"

Kuroko knew this was an indirect question of 'How are things with your father?' The former captain just asked things vaguely. "Everything is now fine," he faintly said. "Otou-san told me the truth."

Akashi glanced at him from the corner of his eye. "Did he?"

"Hai." Kuroko set his cup down and turned his body so he could look into the red-head's eyes. "Akashi-kun, it's true, isn't it? You set Otou-san up to do—that—to me." 'That' didn't need to be defined between the two.

Akashi stayed calm and gave another sip of his tea once more. He looked back into Kuroko's eyes to answer, "Yes, it is true—"

"Why would Akashi-kun do that?" Kuroko interrupted desperately, but then stopped when he realized he had just interrupted and spoken rudely to his former captain. He looked down onto his lap. "I'm sorry. Otou-san doesn't deserve to be hurting because of me. Akashi-kun—you should have asked someone else. Otou-san . . ."

"Tetsuya." Akashi's cold voice stopped Kuroko from continuing. He closed his mouth and looked at his captain's shoes. "Look at me." He had no choice but to obey. Kuroko raised his head and met the hetero-colored eyes. Immediately, a pale and rough hand grabbed his chin and pulled him closer so that his face and Akashi's face were only a few inches away.

"A-Akashi-kun . . ."

"I'm sure your father has told you this more than once," Akashi said sternly. "He will do anything to remove you from that house and into safety, even if it costs your trust. I have the same mentality. I will do anything, including destroying the people emotionally around you, if it means you will be safe. Your father knew that, and he also knew what he wanted himself. He chose his job; I gave him a choice. You will not worry about such useless subjects. Your father would deny the trouble of his job immediately if he were to listen to you." He leaned his face closer to the speechless Kuroko. "Now, tell me again, do you think I am a lie, Tetsuya?"

Slowly, very slowly, Kuroko shook his head as much as it could go in Akashi's grasp. "No, Akashi-kun is not a lie." Gently, his paler hand grasped Akashi's hand that was holding his chin and pulled himself out of the grasp. The red-head watched him carefully as Kuroko, still holding his hand, brought it down to his lap. "I'm sorry for doubting Akashi-kun."

Akashi held onto Kuroko's hand tightly, the one in their laps, and used his other to cup Kuroko's cheek. "May I try something else, Tetsuya?"

"Something else?" Kuroko had a vague idea what Akashi wanted. ". . . Yes."

The red-head smirked before leaning in to press his lips against Kuroko's. Both lips were soft and moist and tasting like the tea they had just drank. Kuroko tighened his grip on Akashi's hands before he hesitantly responded to the kiss. It was awkward at first, since their first kiss Akashi mostly did the work while Kuroko stood still. However, now that the teal-head was prepared for it, he did not know what to do.

Akashi chuckled against the kiss and broke apart slightly to talk. "I will try something new. Do not panic," he murmured against Kuroko's lips.

A little frightened, Kuroko let go of Akashi's hand and shakily brought both of his arms around the red-head's body. He clutched onto Akashi's clothes. The said teen brought his extra hand to cup Kuroko's other cheek, and their lips connected once again. This time, though, something wet licked against his lower lip.

Kuroko, startled, opened his mouth, and Akashi gently put his tongue in, so that the smaller teen wouldn't reject him. Of course, Kuroko easily submitted to Akashi's strong dominance. The hold the teal-head had onto his captain was now tight, but Akashi didn't mind. He only gently kissed, guiding the inexperienced teen with his tongue.

They broke apart when Kuroko was running out of oxygen. He panted slightly while Akashi kept his face close to the passer's face. Blue eyes met red and yellows ones, and before Kuroko knew it, he was pressed against Akashi's body, his face buried into his shoulder. Kuroko encouraged the embrace and wounded his arms more fully around the sturdy body. In turn, Akashi pressed one hand onto the back of the teal head and the other wrapped around his waist. On the couch, the red-head had his legs stretched out so that Kuroko could sit on his lap with his own legs wrapped around his waist.

"Akashi-kun?" Kuroko asked softly.

"What is it?" Akashi speaking made Kuroko feel the soothing vibrations from his chest.

"What . . . are we?" came the hesitant question. "What—is our relationship?" A faint blushed appeared onto Kuroko's face, but no one could see it.

The hetero-eyed teen carefully unwrapped the small teen and pulled him away so that he could look into the blank blue eyes. "What do you want us to be, Tetsuya?" He ran a hand through Kuroko's hair. "Are you asking me to be my," he smirked, "lover?"

"Please don't say things so bluntly and suddenly," Kuroko said, but Akashi knew the teal-head was embarassed. He looked down to hide his blush. "I don't want to think differently than what you think of us, Akashi-kun."

Akashi's face softened and he leaned down to capture a chaste kiss from the teen. "You are mine," he said, straightforward. The red-head was never one to say sweet phrases, such as 'You're my lover' or 'I'll always treasure you'. His sweet, yet often misinterpreted phrases usually involved dominance, orders, and force. Kuroko, however, knew Akashi well enough to know what it meant. "You still stay mine, and no one else's. Only I can taste your lips." He stole another kiss to prove his point.

It wasn't exactly the most softest moment a couple could have, but Kuroko's mind translated the words into something similar as 'You're precious to me, and I will not give you up. No one can have you'. He looked up to Akashi with a seemingly blank face. Akashi also translated the expression to one of gratefulness.

"We can't make it public, Tetsuya," Akashi reminded. "Our target is your mother. If your mother finds out from the public, it would only make matters worse. You may tell your father or the others such as Shintarou and Daiki, but no one else."

"Hai," Kuroko nodded. "May I—may I—Akashi-kun . . . May I be in-" He struggled with the words.

"Yes, you may." Somehow, the red-head knew what Kuroko wanted and brought him into his arms once again. Kuroko took his usual position and held Akashi's mid-section tightly. He rested his head against the strong shoulder.

Akashi shifted his position so that they both were comfortable. They fell into a comfortable silence, with Akashi thinking of the plans to destroy Ibuki and having Kuroko safe and Kuroko wondering if his father would accept his relationship. After all, Kuroko didn't want to lie to his father.

After awhile, Akashi's still position caused uncomfortable aching in his back and legs. "Tetsuya, I'll have to—"He paused his speech when he realized he could hear evened-out breathing. Akashi moved his head to look at the teal-haired teen on the shoulder.

Kuroko was asleep, his mouth slightly open to take small breaths onto Akashi's neck. His arms were still wounded around Akashi's body, but he was sure the said boy was asleep. Kuroko's face was relaxed and ignorant, not caring of the dangers that laid out in his future ahead. It seemed the teal-head felt secure in the arms of Akashi. The captain was about to wake him up, but stopped and observed the teen. Now that he took a better look, he noticed there were faint circles under Kuroko's eyes, and his face also showed exhaustion. Akashi clucked his tongue. He has not been sleeping well.

Gently, as to not wake him up, Akashi easily lifted the teen and set Kuroko beside him. Kuroko's head still rested on Akashi's shoulder, and his body was still molded into the captain's body, but it was a much more comfortable position. Akashi put an arm around Kuroko's shoulder to keep him secure and, discreetly, he settled his head onto the passer's.

~Setting Skip~

"Are you sure you got the email, Kise?" Aomine asked, annoyed as hell that he had to come all the way to Kanagawa for the blonde's sake. "And it said my name on it?"

"Yes!" Kise confirmed. "It was from Akashicchi. It said Aominecchi had to be here, too!"

"Then why couldn't we do this at my place?"

The blonde stopped in front of his house and turned to glare at the tanned teenager. "I always come to Tokyo for you. Aomnecchi has to visit me sometime, too!"

Aomine scoffed. "Tch, how annoying."

Kise turned around and unlocked the door with the key he held. Before he opened it though, he turned to hesitantly inform, "K-Kaa-san is home right now, so we have to be quiet."

Aomine furrowed his eyebrows. "Yeah, okay."

The door opened, and the two teenagers stepped inside the house. Aomine was surprised at how big it was on the inside, along with how neat it was. When he commented on this though, he received a smack from the blonde. "Did you think I lived like a slob, Aominecchi?" he whined.

"It~eh," Aomine complained and rubbed his arm. "No need to get violent."

"We have to go to my room. There's a computer there," Kise said and maneuvered around the teenager to enter the living room. "Kaa-san, I'm home."

"Mm, Ryouta? Home so soon?" A blonde woman lifted her head from a computer desk and looked sleepily at Kise's way. Dark rings were detected under her eyes. Her hair was not brushed, and the skin on her face was not tended and washed as it was usually. Her smile seemed to be force. "Who is this?"

Aomine, shocked at Kise's mother's appearance, couldn't respond right away. When Kise jabbed him in the hip though, he was able to speak. "Aomine Daiki," he said while bowing shortly. "Nice to meet you."

"He's my friend I've been talking about, Kaa-san," Kise explained, his voice up-beat. Even with the happy facade though, Aomine could see his smile was also forced. "He's here to help with my school project. We'll be in my room."

His mother rubbed her eye. "All right. I won't be able to bring up some snacks, so please help yourself. And keep the door open!" The last part came as a natural joke.

"Kaa-san!" Kise whined, blushing red. "Don't—don't listen to her Aominecchi!" He grabbed Aomine's arm and yanked him up the stairs to his room. Aomine went along with him. When they were safely out of hearing range, Kise let go of the dazed teenager. However, at the sight of the ace's questioning look, Kise looked away from him. Aomine scrunched his eyebrows. "Kaa-san has been looking for a job," he explained faintly. "Her pay is too low, so she's been spending every day of her time to look for a higher-paying job. That's why she looks like that. Tou-san has been working overtime to get promoted back up, and to make up for the lost of pay. It's—been hectic." Kise sniffed and rubbed his eyes with one arm. "I'm also looking for a job to support them, but I can't."

Aomine patted his blonde head awkwardly, yet it was comforting at the same time. "Let's move on to the email," he suggested.

Kise rubbed his eyes once more. "R-right. Akashicchi said we have to have the information by sun-down."

"What is it exactly?"

Kise turned on his sleeping computer and opened up his email. He clicked on Akashi's read message:

Daiki and you are skilled with photo editing. Use the two pictures I have attached and edit any similarities and program it. The pictures in the end should look almost the same. Send the information by sun-down.

Akashi

"What the hell?" Aomine raised an eyebrow. "Photo editing?"

"I have a program on my computer," Kise pitched in. "We could use that."

"Download the pictures first."

In the end, the pictures were an unknown, strange-looking woman and Kuroko's mother. Kise loathed the Kuroko Ibuki picture, but opened it up on his program anyway. He put the two pictures next to each other. "They do look alike," Kise said, surprised. "But different, too. Are they sisters?"

"No, they can't be sisters," Aomine denied. He took the mouse from the blonde. "The one on the left looks younger than the one on the right. But look," he zoomed in on both the pictures by 50%. Their jawline structure, their cheekbones, their nose shape along with the nose bridge are too similar to be sisters. Plus," Aomine moved the mouse to focus on the necks. "There's a mole on the left picture, right on the left side of her neck, see? There's also a mole there on the right picture. They're the same person."

"Eh?" Kise tilted his side. "Why would Kurokocchi's mother be the person the left? They don't look exactly the same!"

"Yeah," Aomine agreed. "I think that's why Akashi wanted us to solve it for him."

"How?"

Aomine didn't answer as he click on several tools of Kise's program. His father worked as a programmer and photo editor as a living, so he picked up many of his tricks and talents as a kid. He scaled the left picture's face and airbrushed it lightly. He also worked on the right picture, turning the face that was tightly skinned back into having the same, natural wrinkles like the left. Kise watched, often adding comments with his own knowledge.

In the end, they ended up with two extremely similar faces.

"Now I can see they're the same person," Kise said. "But why do they still look a little different?"

"Ibuki must have had some type of plastic surgery," Aomine predicted. "Akashi must have guessed that and sent this to us to confirm it."

"Akashicchi is too smart," Kise groaned.

The tanned teenager grunted. "Anyway, let's send this to Akashi before he becomes impatient."

Aomine logged into his own email account and attached the three pictures. The original, and then the aftercome. He pushed 'send'.

~Setting Skip~

"Aka-chin," Murasakibara knocked loudly on Akashi's front door. He had rode the train all the way here after basketball practice, but didn't think of calling his former captain first. "Aka-chin," he complained again. "It's cold, Aka-chin!"

There was no answer. Murasakibara frowned and pouted at the same time. Why was Akashi ignoring him? He didn't usually ignor him. Where was the spare key, again?

The giant looked around, from under the mats to the potted plants. However, the red-head was too smart for those obvious places, and Murasakibara couldn't find the key anyway. "Aka-chin is mean," he muttered and looked around once again. This time, something silver caught his eye. The giant blinked and bent down to examine it. It was the key, right next to the door, embedded in the wall. He had completely missed it. Leave it to Aka-chin to know people wouldn't see the key if it was placed right in front of their eyes.

Murasakibara unlocked the door and opened it, glad for the warm air that greeted him. The door slammed behind him. He gave his cracker stick a munch before saying loudly, "Aka-chin, why are you—"

He stopped talking when he walked halfway and stared at the couple before him. There, on the red couch, sat Akashi and Kuroko. Kuroko's head was half on Akashi's shoulder, half on Akashi's chest. His hands clutched onto Akashi's front uniform, and his eyes were closed peacefully into a deep sleep. Akashi had an arm wrapped protectively around the small teen, his chin resting on Kuroko's head, his eyes also closed, asleep. The two were completely unaware of the purple-haired giant, who was munching loudly. They looked peaceful and tired at the same time.

"Mm, the others would want to see this," Murasakibara thought out loud and took out his cellphone. He quickly snapped a photo and sent it to the rest of the Generation of Miracles. His cracker stick gone, Murasakibara took out a lollipop and stuck it in his mouth. "What should I do now? I came all the way here . . ." He looked at the sleeping couple.

Mm, I'll leave Aka-chin and Kuro-chin alone. Aka-chin and Kuro-chin needs a rest.

Okay, even though I totally smothered you with promised AkaKuro moments, this chapter was important :3 And, this chapter is the start of the real battle. Hope you're ready!

This is the position Murasakibara found the two in:

advanced anime

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(slash) pictures (slash) normal_

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without spaces (Replace dots with periods and slashes with actual slashes), and except Kuroko's body is supposed to be more on the side. Sigh, AkaKuro is so my OTP, but as you can see, they're not the best at expressing their feelings xD Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it! Please review, if you have not!

Also, please don't tell me to update ever faster xD I'm trying my best here (it's 3am right now). And with the new semester, I'm trying to update as regularly as possible. Thank you for your support!

By the way, starting from chapter 16, I will be taking the liberty to message back and thank each and every review I received in that chapter :) It's just to say thank you. If you didn't receive a PM from me and you reviewed chapter 16, tell me :D Unless you're a guest :[

~Virelei