Chapter 3

Author's note: wow! This chapter is much longer than the previous two so enjoy! Thank you for reading! Please feel free to express your own thoughts about my story

The tea Kise served tasted good in Aomine's mouth. As he sat silently on the couch in the living room, his eyes wandered observing the whole place. The interior of the house gave off a comfortable and spacious ambience. Adjacent to the living room was the kitchen with only a wood partition separating the two areas. In the opposite side situated an enclosed room probably a working space.

The bedroom must be upstairs.

A moment later, Kise returned from the kitchen bringing with him a plate of cookies. He sat opposite to Aomine without even looking at him. Waiting for the guest to speak, he waited as he held his cup of tea with both hands as if seeking warmth from it. Aomine then spoke voluntarily.

"I'm sorry for coming suddenly. You quickly got away when we meet at the airport. I wanted to talk to you."

Finally, Kise raised his eyes meeting Aomine's gaze. On his face were confusion and a little hint of nervousness.

"We were in a hurry that time…Mine…I mean my son wanted to go home quickly after a few days of vacation."

"I see…so he really is your son." He paused for a moment then added meaningfully. "Somehow, his name sounds like mine."

Kise felt his blood drained from his face. He was wordless for a second.

What is Aomine implying? Why now? These questions popped up from his head seeking answers he couldn't think of.

With a smile, he replied. "You're imagining things. What are you talking about? Mine's name is cute isn't it? Let's say it does sound like yours but that does not mean it suggests something. And I wasn't the one responsible in naming the little kid." Kise brought his cup near his mouth as he spoke, eyes gazing on the greenish liquid inside it. He was telling the truth. It wasn't him who named Mine, however, he came to like that name quickly. Thought of course, he would never reveal such detail to Aomine. For Aomine to appear in front of him again without warning was still a question to him.

Aomine sighed in disappointment. Surely, there were a lot of name that sounds like his name. For him indicating that there's something about it was just his wishful thinking. Then, the next words from Kise startled him a bit.

"How did you find my place?" Kise probed.

He managed to live a peaceful life all these years. All of the people he had been interacting weren't particularly connected to Aomine. This he made sure of for some personal reasons. He maintained a low profile away from prying eyes that could possibly create chaos for his family. As a freelance interior designer, which he took great efforts to achieve, he only accepted small time projects. Not that he wasn't capable enough; in fact, he was considered one of the great interior designers in his field. In order to attend to Mine's needs, he kept his projects to minimum.

"Someone I know from the firm I'm training right now said he knew you and manages to get your address for me. I actually didn't expect that we're in the same field. I mean, I just passed my thesis a month ago. I'm more or less an architect now—well not counting the board exam that will follow."

So he's an architect in the making. Kise thought.

What Aomine said was partially true. After that day in the airport, Aomine made his way of finding Kise. Of course, he couldn't tell Kise that he acted as far as hiring a private detective could he? He did as far as that just to locate his whereabouts. If kise was to find out, he would look so desperate in front of the man. It would enrage Kise as well without a doubt. He didn't go as far as investigating his whole life though. He only wanted to know Kise's place and the life he had been living. Aomine's guilt pricked him. He shouldn't have done that. However, it was the only way to find Kise. Such desperation.

"Why?" Kise couldn't grasp the reason for Aomine's actions. Perchance to ask forgiveness? But that was five years ago.

"—To get you back." Aomine declared in a resolute tone. His eyes showed seriousness.

Kise was flabbergasted. Was he hearing things? Unable to comprehend what Aomine just said, he waited for the next words to come out from Aomine's mouth.

"Do you understand Kise? It might have been five years but I'm serious. I want you back." Aomine spoke emphatically.

Five years. Those years were long for Kise. However he managed to move on but he had never forgotten. The past memories were always just at the back of his mind and would wander in his thoughts from time to time making him reminisce about the love he had. A love so full of heartache. He was able to step forward all thanks to the family that he so much treasured now. The happiness he felt with his current life satisfied him. He couldn't ask for more. For him, it was enough. Yet why? Why did Aomine's confession wake some uncertainty in him?

"He is a bastard"—"he looks serious"

"He put you through a lot of pain"—"That was history"

"He will do it again"—"He won't"

"Don't believe him!"—"I won't"

As his thoughts battled inside his mind, Kise tried to compose himself. Despite trying so hard to hide his baffled feelings towards the matter, the impact it made was clear. His hands were uncontrollably shaking as he formed in into a fist, his complexion pale.

"Why now?" at last, Kise replied in a clipped tone. The tension was getting into him. He bit his lips as mixed emotions started swirling in his chest. He felt quite pleased—he wouldn't deny that to himself. However, he wouldn't let himself get caught up with the same mistake again—not at the moment when Mine needed him the most. He felt his stomach churned. Raging emotions numbed his heart.

"After all these times, after all these years—why now?" He spat bitterly. "Are you still not satisfied? Was that misery not enough? Do you really hate me this much that you even want to destroy my current life? Why Aominecchi? Why? I was happy. And I was sad. I was in love and I was heartbroken. Everything was because I fell hard for you! Was it that bad?—please don't distress me anymore again." Clear droplets of liquid fell from Kise's devastated eyes. His voice screamed pain and hostility. The damage Aomine caused was palpable.

Ah—I made him cry again. Aomine felt his heart stinging just by the sight of Kise's tears. He said he would love Kise properly this time. But in contrast, he was making him relived the hurt from five years ago. That time his indecisiveness ate out his reasons.

Afraid of the growing unfamiliarity of his emotions, he diverted his attention to women. Even though he knew it would hurt his lover, he never ceased to show his betrayal face front. It was cruel of him. Yet the pained face if Kise only led his feelings grew stronger. It scared him. That was why he had let Kise to be the one to cut the relationship. He drove him past to his limits—to his breaking point. At least, he would be the one to blame. He would be the one to carry the guilt. In that way, perhaps everything would come back to its normal phase and Kise would be able to move on without imputing himself. Or so he thought. After everything was said and done, when Kise finally reached his limit and left him, realization hit him hard. It was his cowardice that ruined the whole thing. Regret lived with him as he continued with his life. He was so confused he wasn't able to ascertain his true feelings.

And now what should he do? Seeing Kise's crying face after such a long time—Aomine's resolution wavered.

This is not the time to back out Aomine! You're perfectly sure of your feelings now right? There's no room for regret anymore. Do what you have to do! He urged to himself.

"I love you! I have all this time. And I'm sure I will still in the future." The declaration was full of honesty and sincerity. It struck Kise speechless.

"Always—always Kise, I love you so much that I feel that I could never love anyone again. I—I regretted causing you pain and making you leave five years ago. I was a coward. I was anxious that my feelings would change me completely. I couldn't fathom myself being another person. I purposely hurt you so you would leave me without putting the blame in yourself. That way, you would be able to move on quickly and I wouldn't need to face my feelings anymore. But everything went back to me. I tried forgetting you but you never left my mind." With a stern look, his gaze didn't falter. It mirrored the deepness of the words he uttered. The passion and remorse joined together.

"Why didn't you look for me? Why only now? Why not searched for me back then?" Kise was a little bit hysterical. Never did he expect such word would emerge from Aomine's mouth.

"Because I thought you wouldn't want me anymore! That because of the suffering I gave you, you hated me so much as to never see me again! You even went away. It was as if saying you doesn't want to see my face ever again. If it wasn't that, you wouldn't go as far as transfer school right? Since you wouldn't see me in that school anyway, it was my last year."

"You wouldn't understand! It was the only thing I could do to be able to forget! I wanted to forget everything and leaving was the only way to escape from you and from all of the memories." Kise sobbed. The words were drowned as small cries escaped from his soft trembling lips. It took him years to move on, yet only a few words and all the fervour came rushing down on him.

"Kise—let's get back together." Aomine reached for Kise's hand as he spoke passionately, still stubbornly clinging into his resolve. "We'll do it right this time. Please—"

Reflexively, he evaded Aomine's advances and declared with finality as he cleared away the wetness on his face.

"I'm sorry. Let bygones be bygones. Even though you strongly feel something for me now, I can't accept your feelings." He controlled his voice as best as he could manage.

I've known better.

Silence.

Kise's throat felt parched. He lost to his emotions a while ago but he was glad that he was able to utter such assertion with tenacity afterwards. Aomine, on the other hand, looked devastated. He didn't expect for things to go easy but he anticipated that there was hope. Perhaps, it was more like egoism on Aomine's side.

The rejection was clear. He could read the graveness of Kise's decision. It was like seeing again the Kise who bravely walked away from him five years ago.

Such resolution. Do you love them that much? He wondered. Had Kise really stashed him and their past away completely?

He laughed at himself. Of course there was a possibility for that to happen. He was stupid for even asking that. His family obviously took Kise's whole heart. If not, Aomine wouldn't see Kise's pure and loving smile again directed to Mine.

Shit. No! I just can't stop here!

The next instant took Kise's senses.

What? Why? How?—

Without thinking, Aomine moved towards Kise's mouth. Completely taking him by surprise as he eagerly caught Kise's red lips where he passionately initiated a hot fervent kiss.

"Nnhh…"

Aomine had taken a hold of his both hands completely stopping any resistance from him. He must resist. Otherwise, all his resolve would be for nothing. Struggling with all his might, he tried to free himself from Aomine's grip. However it was useless. Aomine had become as strong as to be able to overpower him totally.

Despite knowing that Kise wanted to get away from the ardent kiss they were sharing, Aomine was disinterested to head to his will. Instead he deepened his movements and focused on making Kise respond to him by exploiting his flushed lips.

Kise realized that his struggle was futile against Aomine. Then I'll just have to use my mouth. With this in mind, he sank his own teeth onto Aomine's lips causing Aomine to withdraw in surprise.

"Ouch!"

Kise bit him hard enough to cut the insides of his mouth. Soon after, the metallic taste of blood flooded in his mouth followed by a palm which landed on his left check. Stunned, he saw Kise's angry expression, his face red with rage. Aomine's lips felt painful from the wound, so much more his cheek who just got hit hard by Kise.

"What do you think you're doing? Why are you always so selfish!?" Kise exclaimed in fury.

"I told you I will get you back! And I will do it in any ways possible!" Aomine professed. He didn't care if he was being selfish. The most important thing for him was Kise. And nothing would stop him from making him his again.

"I'm leaving for now. Thank you for your hospitality."

Kise slumped on the floor after Aomine left. He couldn't believe what just happened. Everything went so fast he had a hard time comprehending it. His body trembled. There was anger then bitterness and followed by pain. And even if Kise wanted to deny it, he was glad. Glad that Aomine came for him. That he whispered those words he wanted to hear all those times.

But he shouldn't feel that way, Aomine was already a past he had cached away from his heart. Mine—his family now should be his priority; the present he must value above anything else. Yet why did he feel like his heart was being ripped apart?

End of chapter 3

(Aomine changed from a heartless man to an obsessed bastard. Don't you think? Lol XD)