Foxnotes: Why did it take so many chapters before they met? Well, its because the chapters are short and I'd like them to meet after certain things have died down. Well here it is. Editing sure is tough. Thank you for the reviews *heart *blushes O/O

I'm terribly hoping that Akashi and Kuroko will have a duet song! Please please please ! :3

The One that Got Away

Another set of flickering fireworks lit up the sky. The crowd cheered. Most of them stopped in their tracks just to admire the colorful fireworks lighting the night. Amidst the lively atmosphere a group of people are on a hurry. Murasakibara, Midorima, Kise, Aomine and Momoi is searching the crowd. "Kise, it's your fault that we lost her." Midorima angrily blamed the blonde. Kise persuaded them to watch the annual carrying of the shrine carriage. Due to the thick crowd they lost the Oono heiress.

"Eh! It's my fault?" Kise whined. Murasakibara abruptly stopped on his track causing a chain reaction with him in the front of the group. Midorima bumped into his hard back and the rest on Midorima's back. "Owiiee!" "Ah! My nose Kise!" "What the hell Murasakibara?!" the green head angrily snapped at the snack loving giant but the latter is too occupied with what he is looking. "I see Aka-chin" "Huh? Where Muk-kun?" They peered over Murasakibara's figure. "OH! Akashicchi!" Kise called but the redhead paid him not a single glance. He pouted then called again, however Aomines next word overlapped his. "Tetsu?!" they look real hard to where Akashi stood and it's true, Kuroko is standing in front of Akashi with a child. 'A Child?! A little Kuroko!' Aomine advanced to approach the three but Midorima stopped him. "We should leave them alone." Outraged Aomine said "Don't fuck with me Midorima! We found Tetsu and you tell me to go away?! Like I'd do that!" He continued on his way but "What the hell—" Murasakibara is restrained him. Kise helped too to hold Aomine down. "Aominecchi calm down." The tan male looked at his childhood friend who maybe his only ally but Momoi also ditched him. "I think Midorin's right" that gained her a loud "Satsuki!" "Let's go," The center and the short forward dragged the tan ace's butt. "Midorin?" Momoi asked if the doctor is going.

"You can go ahead." The other member of the Generation of Miracles left. 'What are you going to do now Akashi?' he thought as he carefully watches the proceedings in the sidelines.

Tesumi's face has gone very pale, like blood has left her body. She stood rooted to the spot, Tsuji's hand clasped tightly in her hand. Tsuji looked up to her and to Akashi figuring things out. Her feet is cold, her whole body is. She met His gaze. To be able to look back without backing down. She knew someday He might learn about Tsuji but she did not expect that moment to happen now. Apparently there is no secret that could be kept forever. The tension in the air is heavy, that it was suffocating. Her entire being focused on the ghost of her past.

He stood there only looking at her, shocked evident on his face. He could not utter any word but her name. His throat constricted, all the words he wanted to tell her escaped from his mind. He walked towards her, his hand reaching out, wanting to touch her. To prove himself he is no longer dreaming. He got no further than a step for another actor entered the scene he waited for years to come. A highly unwelcome interruption.

"Tetsumi!" Ogiwara cheerfully waved "Sorry! I took so long, I bumped into an ex-patient of mine he-he" he then noticed Akashi, who is glaring daggers at him. He briefly wondered why. "Oh!" he said realizing the answer. "Akashi-san I found Oono-san!" he called behind him "Oono-san your fiance is here!" Tetsumi visibly stiffened at that. The tension went up, almost unbearable. The black haired girl went to Akashi's side smiling "Seijurou-kun"

"Do you know each other Tetsumi?" Ogiwara asked. The heiress widened her eyes in recognition of the name. "Tetsumi?" the doctor repeated, touching her pale face. "Are you okay? You look pale." She felt cold. "Your cold!"

"Ah, I, I'm fine Shigehiro-kun" Akashi clenched his fist drawing blood, his eyes blazing. Haru looked at him worriedly. 'How dare he touch her face and She called him on his first name?' he angrily thought.

"We should go home now Ogiwara" Tsuji, looking at his mother and observing Akashi.

"Right!" Ogiwara hurriedly bid the affianced couple goodbye. Tsuji being freed from his mothers grasp lingered for a moment before folowing his mother and Ogiwara. Haru is completely lost, she glanced at Akashi's figure and gasp. "Seijurou-kun you are hurt" she hold his hand but he snatched it back.

"Go home" his eyes still on the track where Tetsumi disappeared. "Do not make me repeat myself." He angrily spat seeing her reluctant frame from the corner of his eyes.

She bowed her head down, feeling useless "At least let me do this." She wrapped her handkerchief in his hand. She smiled at him sadly before leaving.

"How long did you know?"

"For a while." Midorima answered stepping out from the shadows. Akashi fiercely grabbed the green heads yukata, his hetero-chromatic eyes filled with rage "Why didn't you tell me!" he said through gritted teeth.

"You are still as selfish as ever Akashi. Kuroko is living a peaceful life now. I don't see why I should tell you." Midorima bravely said. The crowd avoided the two.

"What are you trying to say, Shintarou?"

"You know what I'm talking about Akashi." He started "Nothing changed since Kuroko left. You are still engaged to the Oono heiress and you are still your fathers puppe—" he got no further as Akashis fist connected to his face. Midorima stumbled back, fortunately his glasses did not break.

"You have guts to talk to me like that Shintarou." Midorima was tempted to retaliate but retreated in good order. "but what you said is not entirely wrong" Midorima unclenched his fist, he is dumbfounded. "I.. would surely hurt her again and make her cry, but" Akashi had such a sorrowful expression "I could never find myself to let go of her hand again." He paused looking at the path Tetsumi last stood "I'am selfish so I won't hand her to anyone." Midorima silently walked to Akashi and put his hand on his shoulder while adjusting his glasses

"We better treat your wound."

Letting go of Akashis treated hand, Midorima broke the silence that enveloped them. "What about Kuroko's son?"

"He is mine."

"You are so confident about that Akashi?"

"I met the kid himself, and he is very Akashi-like"

"Is that so? Somehow the thought having two Akashi is creeping me out." Shudders.

"Is it?" smirk "You don't have to fret Shintarou, for I feel that Ryota and Daiki would be the main target of entertainment of my..son" he said, testing the feel and he find it nice.

"I will send you her address and phone number" 'It is going against the rules of the hospital but , tsk how troublesome'

"I'm in your debt Shintarou, but what changed your mind? Perhaps you understood what I said " eyeing the doctor.

"Hmp, I would never understand you nor I try to." 'I would probably go crazy if I do.'

"Takao-san must be disheartened then, if you don't feel the same."

"Now that I think about it, I should't help you"

"Now now Shintarou, you would not mind if Takao-san could get a hand of your middle school pictures in a maid costume won't you?" he smirk when the greenhead flushed red from embarrassment "In my brief knowledge of her she is the type that would be extremely delighted with those kind of pictures."

"You deleted that already!" Midorima raised his voice and it's true that the redhead supposedly deleted that already when he did some errand for his captain during junior high.

"I did?" Akashi put an innocent face.

"Akashi!"

Akashi stood to go while the doctor continue to rant. Midorima did not catch Akashi's grateful smile and the quiet "Thank you"

:::

Ogiwara, Tetsumi and Tsuji meet up with Kagami, the red head proposed to send the mother and son home. Kagami drove them home. Kuroko suddenly missed the usual bickering of Kagami and Tsuji since it was very quiet inside the Seirins ace truck. Arriving in the twos house, Kuroko immediately tucked in Tsuji in his bed. She remained in her sons bedside even after the brat is already sleeping sounly, she was starin her sons face, holding his hand as if he will disappear. Hour past until she went out of Tsuji's room, Kagami was waiting for her outside. "You don't mind me crashing here tonight ."

'Mamakagami worries a lot' she nodded. They went to the veranda.

As usual Kagami is the first one to talk. "So, what happened?"

"I saw Him today."

"The Bastard?! Where?!"

Sigh, "At the shogi place, it seems that Tsuji went against Akashi in the competition."

"He saw the squirt," he hit the rails " It's my fault." He looked at Kuroko. "What are you going to do? Going back to Austaralia?"

She looked up at the dark sky before answering "I won't. I'm done running away and hiding."

Kagami nodded in understanding "and the squirt?'

"He needs a father, there are certain things only a father can do. He needs a family."

"He have a family Kuroko, Natalie, Dean, Dad, You and even me, even if he makes my blood boil every time."

Kuroko smiled "I know and I would be forever grateful but Tsuji needs Him too. I know, because I realized it after what happened inmy family. He is still Tsuji's father I won't take that knowledge from Tsuji. My and He's issue is different from Tsuji."

Kagami thought about it and after a while he asks "Do you still love him?" he did not receive an answer, because it was written all over her face.

"Heh, seems like your mind is made up, but if he cause you something bad I'll beat him to death." Kagami grinned cracking his knuckles.

"I'll be counting on you then."

The bestfriend chatted, unable to detect the little shadow listening to them

:::

*knock knock Akashi tried to calm his nerves but he won't deny he is excited too. He is outside Tetsumi's home, courtesy of Midorima. He's been standing outside for quite sometime. The door slowly opens no one greeted him, he looked down. Tsuji crossed his arms "Took you long enough. I've been waiting for you."

Akashi was momentarily stunned. This kid is really a mixture of him and Tetsumi. Akashi entered the household, he noted the simplicity of it. 'Very Tetsumi-like'

They were sitting on the living room when Tsuji asked "So, what do you like ...Dad?" Akashi repeated the scenario in his mind, did he heard him right? He stared at the teal head who stood. "Dad?" he felt a squeeze in his heart.

"Dad is fine." He found himself saying.

"Okay, I was asking for the refreshment though." Tsuji deadpanned. He asked for tea. Akashi smiled and briefly wondered "How did Tetsumi raised him?"

"You said that out loud you know."

"Oh!" he chuckled he is careless with the kid like he was with Tetsumi. Tsuji placed an iced tea in front of Akashi. The previous captain do not mind, he is actually quite happy with his son. The thought haven't sunk into him yet. He still feels amazed every time he thinks about it.

"You seem okay with me being your dad. Tetsumi named you Tsuji." He nods.

"Mom named me after Natalie-san and Deans surname" seeing Akashi's inquiring look he continued "They were the people who looked after mom."

"I have no idea."

"It's okay dad, I'm fine" his dad smiled regrettably. Akashi felt lucky to have such a son and unlucky of not being present in the five years of his sons life.

"Where is Tetsumi?"

"Mom went out but I don't know where." He sips his iced tea "Dad..what is your plan now?"

He ruffled Tsujis hair "I want us to be family of course."

"How about your fiancee?" he asked looking at his feet.

"You don't need to worry about anything Tsuji, your ...your dad is fixing everything"

The teal head smiled and hugged him. Akashi for the first time in years felt at home. There is still Tetsumi but right now he basked in his sons embrace. Tsuji looked up at him. "So you still love mom?"

"Very much so."

"Then will you listen to my plan?" Tsuji flashed his white teeth grinning mischievously. "And You have no choice! I won the bet remember." Akashi was pretty much convinced that the teal head inherited almost if not all of him.

:::

Tetsumi's day went smoothly,in fact too smoothly to her liking if you ask her. She feels that something big will happen sooner or later. Tsuji too is unnaturally behave throughout the day. She just shrugged it off. 'Maybe he is too preoccupied planning his next prank on Kagami'. The next day Tetsumi realized how wrong she was. She woke up in a foreign place. She have no idea where she is or how she ended up there. It looks like she is in a hotel room, she opened the window and saw the sea. 'What on earth...' She is convinced that she is still asleep, however when she answered the knock on the door, Akashi's figure greeted her. She stood gawking and pinched herself but it did nothing. Oh Crap.