Just like the owner, Kuroko's belonging is not easy to find, not that it would be any easier if it was any other person's belonging Kagami has to search for. The thing is, he doesn't have a slightest idea of what the item can be – is it a cup of milkshake? That wouldn't really be worth it since the guy can buy another one. Could it be his cell phone? Since like Akashi, Kuroko isn't attached to any objects as long as he can remember, at least he doesn't openly show it.
Kagami scratches his head in frustration. He's about to go back to ask Momoi to at least let him know what he has to look for, when he suddenly remembers something. Kuroko always wears that black wristband, and he doesn't remember seeing Kuroko with it today.
"Yosh! I just gotta look for that thing. Now where would she hide it – wait. I think that woman would just keep it to herself. Sheesh." He's too busy complaining to himself to notice a silhouette in the corner of his eye.
He stops abruptly and turns his head.
He takes a few quick steps and strangles the culprit who seems to always startle him on purpose for his own amusement.
He gasps, "Ka- Kagami-kun. It hurts.."
"What have I been telling you, Kuroko!? Can't you announce your presence instead of waiting in silence to get me to notice you?" Kuroko feels light in his arms, this guy needs to build up some more muscles.
Kuroko manages to speak up with a strained voice after a while, "..can't…breathe..!"
Kagami quickly lets go of Kuroko, who desperately gasps for air as much as he can at a time. "Sorry." He mumbles lowly, he didn't mean to go that far.
"So, what are you doing here? I thought we're supposed to do this on our own?" Kagami fills the silence, since Kuroko doesn't look like he's going to say something, not that he can.
Once his breathing is back to normal pace, Kuroko answers, "I'm here because I have something to talk about with Kagami-kun. Don't worry about Momoi-san, I made sure she didn't notice where I went."
Since Momoi was focusing her attention on Akashi tailing Aomine –yes, Kagami noticed that as well, it wouldn't be a difficult task to do for Kuroko with his low presence. "But what about her spies?"
Instead of answering Kagami's question, the pale boy looks into the distance for a brief moment before closing his eyes and takes a deep breath. What he is about to do, is either going to break him, or experience what it feels like to be with someone he likes. Their trip is almost over anyway, and he doesn't think he can ever bring this subject up again during school, especially since they'll be mostly busy with basketball trainings. He won't be able to find the right moment if he doesn't do it now.
"I like you, Kagami-kun."
Kagami looks at him blankly, his brain is slow to process what's just been said. They're in the middle of Momoi's game, right?
Kuroko went after him to a deserted area, that would be filled with people if the foodstands were still open, he sneaked out of Momoi's sight to talk to him.
About this. About what Aomine has been trying to tell him but he couldn't take the guy seriously.
A moment of awkward silence takes place, so Kuroko continues. "I'm not expecting an immediate response; I know what happened between you and Akashi-kun. I'm only letting Kagami-kun know that I have this sort of feeling towards you."
"Kuroko.." He feels really sorry for the guy. He isn't sure if he returns his feelings, but he did say he will wait until he gets over Akashi's rejection. But not only will that take a while, he will also make Kuroko wait with even a little bit of hope that he'll say what Kuroko wants him to say, and he doesn't have the heart to say otherwise if that is the case. So why is Kuroko telling him this now, if there's a big chance Kuroko knows how that will make him feel?
Kagami stares at the ground long and hard, since he can't bring himself to look at the other in the eyes.
A minute of silence that feels like forever is making Kagami more and more uncomfortable and Kuroko decides to explain his intention. "I don't want my efforts to go to waste. I want to make sure Kagami-kun notices it, that's why I'm telling you this now."
When it looks like Kagami can't find the words to say anything back to him, Kuroko heads off somewhere else with an excuse of fearing to be caught by Momoi's spies.
Lying down on the ground relaxing, instead of hunting for whatever items they need to find, is far more entertaining, especially when they get to snuggle into each other.
Aomine lets Akashi rests on his shoulder, while his arm is wrapping around his head, palm settles down on his forehead. He turns his head and kisses Akashi's temple. Not letting go, he asks what's been bothering him. "You said you made a deal with Satsuki. What is it about?"
"I asked her to let me spend some time with you."
"Oh? Did you really ask her that?"
"Yes, she knew there's something's going on between us. So I told her the truth."
"You what!? And she let you do it?"
"Obviously. But on one condition."
This is the part Aomine doesn't wish to know. If Akashi agrees on something, it must've been to his advantage. "And that is…?"
"One of us has to take the punishment."
"Huh!? You agreed to that? Do you want to cross dress that badly!? Well, I don't mind it.."
"What are you talking about, Daiki?" Akashi props himself up on his elbow and his expression is more ordering Aomine to take responsibilities, than confused.
He can't be expecting him to.. "You want me to cross dress?
"I'm sure you can pull it off." He leans in and gives Aomine a quick kiss on the lips.
When Akashi backs away slowly Aomine reaches his hand out towards Akashi's bangs and pushes it backward, then proceeds to pet his head; Akashi lets him do so – which he shouldn't have.
The bluenet glides his thumb downward towards the other's eye, which happens to be the very eye that can threaten him, the emperor eye. He makes a swift motion and forces the eyelid to close, which makes Akashi unable to use it against him.
The uncovered eye is staring at him sharply, he didn't suspect Aomine to do something reckless again, at least this soon.
"I'll keep tickling you until you agree to take the punishment in my place." Aomine threatens the smaller guy, while pushing his back on the ground, getting into his stance just in case Akashi fights back.
"Daiki, do you still remember what I just said earlier?"
"This has nothing to do with invading your privacy."
"Yes, it does. You're going to be touching me at places I don't want you to touch."
"Wow, way to make it sound dirty." He gives the other a playful smirk.
"It doesn't make it less true." Akashi ignores it.
"Akashi, just think about it. You're small, you're cute, you'll look better in it."
"I'm small compared to you." The fact seems to be getting on the redhead's nerves, so much that he doesn't seem to be mad to be called cute. "And I will not disgrace myself by wearing something I shouldn't wear." So Akashi really doesn't mind Aomine calling him cute.
"Exactly. Between you and me, if I were to do it I'd just make a fool of myself."
"Oh, and I won't?" Akashi looks at him incredulously, after all, both of them are not women, and they are athletes on top of that.
"You have a small stature. Trust me, you will fool even your own eyes."
"Are you saying I don't look manly enough?" He is ashamed of himself to allow Aomine to shut him down, by not giving him a chance to use his eye. He has to remember to not lower his guard even when he's with his boyfriend.
Before they can continue their heated arguments, Aomine's phone rings. Momoi is calling him to announce that the game is over and that they should head back immediately.
Kise found Akashi's phone with ease, since Momoi forgot to put it on vibrate and Kise could simply call Akashi's number to find it.
Midorima has managed to get his hands on a tong to carry Kagami's shoe with.
Kagami did manage to find the black wristband. He had to rummage through Momoi's small bag when she wasn't looking, since one of her 'spies' told her that Murasakibara was heading into the convenient store nearby to get snacks instead of searching.
Murasakibara, as expected, couldn't find Kise's photo book (of himself). He instead found Kise's lost sunglasses, which Kise is more grateful for.
Akashi picks up a box of umaibo he spots under a set of unused tables from the already closed food stands on his way back, and gave it back to Murasakibara.
Aomine and Kuroko failed to obtain their assigned hidden items. Aomine is pissed, because Akashi still managed to win the game along with everyone else. Kuroko secretly smiles at the wristband Kagami just gave him.
"Good job, everyone! Except for you, Aomine-kun." Tetsu-kun is an exception, of course. "Now, let's build a bonfire, shall we?"
"Oi, Satsuki. You're wearing yellow underwear right now, aren't you?"
"Aomine-kun!" Momoi looks down to see if she's wearing a skirt. She's in fact wearing a pair of knee-length pants! How did Aomine know what color of underwear she is wearing!?
Midorima scolds Aomine for his inappropriate behavior towards a girl, since Akashi doesn't seem to be willing to do it. He somehow looks pleased, but maybe Midorima is imagining things.
Upon hearing what Aomine said, Kagami automatically thinks of Kise and he unconsciously says it out loud slowly. "Yellow… is Kise."
"Excuse me, Kagamin!? Did you say something!?"
"N-No! Sorry, the sun is really yellow, that's all."
"The sun has set half an hour ago! You pervert!" Momoi hits him with her hand bag repeatedly, until Kagami runs away to put some distance between him and her. He walks right next to Kuroko and mutters "women are scary" before remembering what happened between them earlier. They continue to walk in silent to search for some fire woods.
The night went uneventful. Everyone was just chatting with each other around the fire. Aomine couldn't even sleep next to Akashi since Midorima was somehow acting very annoying. He slipped himself between the two and fell asleep after saying his good nights to everyone.
Akashi didn't say anything to it since it would be suspicious for Akashi to kick Midorima away so just Aomine could sleep next to him. Despite the boring night and the annoying Midorima, Aomine had something to look forward to in the morning, something that would be worth the wait.
Momoi hums and wanders in her room, searching for the one shopping bag from a couple days ago. She spent quiet a bit for something she won't wear, or to be precise, she can't wear it even if she wants to. She takes out a pair of plain-looking short shorts, a baggy shirt, and a pair of thigh-high socks.
The victim is asked to join her in her room since early in the morning, and he can only look at the cheerful Momoi in silence.
The girl just admit she got the outfit long before she came up with the game idea, and before she wasn't even supposed to know who would end up taking the punishment. Yet there she is, with the set outfit that would perfectly fit him. Momoi has planned for it all, her intention for forcing everyone to play the game is to get him to wear a disguise as a girl.
She even specifically called for Akashi, even when he was capable to convince, or force, Aomine to be the one.
"May I ask what those incredibly long socks for?" Akashi can't keep the curiosity to himself, the weather doesn't really require anyone to wear such a warm piece of clothing. He chooses to stop mulling over the subject, and punish Aomine later.
"It will help to make you look more feminine, Akashi-kun. And as for the baggy top, well, you know."
Akashi takes a deep breath to calm himself down. Momoi is going to humiliate him by making him wear something a conservative girl wouldn't wear. And on top of that, he will have to wear the long black wig on his head, and he doubts she will let him stay home all day.
Meanwhile in the living room, the guys are eagerly waiting.
Aomine is the most impatient of them all. To see Akashi dressed as a girl, he wish to see some skins.
Midorima is irritated, and beyond horrified. How dare them play with Akashi's dignity like this.
Kagami is as excited as he is disturbed. He's already attracted to Akashi's body when he saw him lying on the ground defenseless. If that slender and elegant body was to be covered in less piece of clothing, he won't be able to stop himself from staring. But this is still cross dressing, and he isn't comfortable seeing a man cross dressing, especially if it's against his will.
Kuroko feels sorry for the guy. One mistake, that isn't even fully his, has already been used against him this soon. If he could do something to help Akashi get out of the situation, he would. He is still fully occupied by his earlier embarrassing confession. He feels like he's forcing Kagami to consider his feelings, he wish he hadn't boldly come to the guy and be too straight-forward.
Kise is fidgeting in his seat. He helped Momoi with searching for the outfits. He didn't know who it was for, and why, but he helped anyway since he wanted to. With his knowledge in fashion, he knows how some types of clothes can make even a top athlete appear feminine. Especially with Akashi's height and small stature – if Murasakibara with his much bigger body build can pull off that pretty princess look, this will be a piece of cake.
Murasakibara is wondering what's taking so long.
After many munching sounds from the purple head, that irritates Midorima to no end since no one is supposed to eat that loud, the door knob on Momoi's door is turning.
Behind that door, stands a slender figure, with a little bit of skin under the pair of shorts and above the pair of socks, teasing those who desire to see more. Wig is put improperly since some strands of red hair can be seen under the fringe. Body isn't curvy enough to fit the image of those sexy women image by standard, but the choice of loose shirt covers it all, along with his biceps, which indeed helps him look less masculine.
Although there is one other thing that can't simply be covered by garments, that is his eyes, with so much power and charisma, they can't help but to look down on anyone he comes across. Those eyes are now staring at his former teammates, and Kagami, with strong killing intents.
AN : Um, don't worry! I change my mind a lot, maybe I will write some suggestive scenes, but that's the most I can do, I'm telling you. And I don't plan on changing the rating of this story. One thing I can promise, there will be some more AoAka moments next chapter *wink*
I also want to make this cross dress thing to be close to reality, because Akashi, no matter how pretty his face is and how small he is compared to bb dudes, he's still muscular and manly, is he not? ;)
Irrelevant note, I enjoy writing awkward Midorima.
As for Momoi getting away from Akashi's wrath, I don't believe Akashi is the type to put fear in women with his violent and intimidating acts (mostly intimidating, since Akashi was only violent once, I think..)