Chapter 9

His love of three years ago—part 2

[My thesis period is fast approaching—sweet Aomine—I'm getting anxious just thinking about it. oh well, might as well enjoy writing fics as much as I can before that time comes.]

Kise was tapping his notes with his index finger growing impatient for the end of his class to come. He couldn't help but curse silently knowing that there was still about ten minutes before the dismissal. It was his last subject for the day and he was getting weary listening to the teacher in front of the class. If it was any other day, Kise wouldn't feel that annoyed over such trivial thing but today, he wanted to go home quickly—even earlier if he could do so. Keiji invited him for a dinner at his house and Kise was beside himself with excitement. He was looking forward to tasting Keiji's cooking. Glancing over his watch for nth time, he slowly slipped his notes in his bag getting ready to dash out of the room the moment the bell chimes. Shima, upon apprehending the look on Kise's face snickered and gave him a light poke with his pen. Kise glared at him with a stern look as if saying not to distract him. A second later, Kise bolted up from his seat the same time as the bell rung signaling the end of the classes.

"Hey! Why in a hurry? Have a date or something?" Shima probed with a saucy smile.

"I wouldn't call it a date. Just some friendly dinner with a neighbor. So I'll be off now." Kise replied then without a second glance, left the room in a hurried pace.

Shima was left wondering on his chair. He noticed that Kise had been acting rather different for days now. Sometimes, he would find him smiling for no particular reason and there was this time when he saw him reading a book about children. However, what perplexed him the most was the growing glow in Kise's entirety that he had never seen before. It was as if a different side of Kise was unfolding right before his eyes—a part of him that might had been always there but Kise had concealed himself. With such new discovery, Shima couldn't help but be curious as to what was causing it to happen.

"A friendly dinner with a neighbor huh…" Shima repeated Kise's words, contemplating on how this had anything to do with his current deviant actions. He was rather put off with the idea of Kise beginning to become someone he didn't know.

Kise rang the doorbell, his heart pounding wildly inside his chest. Keiji had already been in his house for countless times ever since his first visited weeks ago. But it was Kise's first time going into Keiji's home and he didn't know how to react normally. It had been quite a long time since the last time he entered somebody's house—the last was the domain of the person he once treasured the most. Deciding it wasn't the right time to ponder such unhappy thoughts, Kise breathed deeply as he waited for someone to open the door. Just as the perfect timing, he was welcomed with Keiji's kind smile as he gestured him to come inside the house. Somehow, for a reason he couldn't grasp, Kise found Keiji's action like of a person pleasing another. Or was it just his imagination? Surely, he couldn't be putting two and two together. As Kise meekly sat in the living room, he couldn't help but let his gaze wander all over the room. The living area was quite wide and large without much unnecessary ornaments. It might be for the reason of Mine's safety, of course, considering that he was of the age where he could be quite lively. He was sitting on a soft and comfortable sofa with a matching round table in the middle of the furniture set. A flat screen tv was mounted on the wall just the perfect location where you could still see even if you were in the kitchen. Across the room situated the kitchen completely visible from the living area with Keiji gleefully preparing for dinner. Kise, feeling quite uncomfortable sitting there with nothing to do proceeded towards the kitchen hoping that he could be of any help to Keiji.

"Can I help you with anything? It doesn't feel right to just idly sit there when you're so busy preparing for the food for dinner."

Keiji raised his face when he realized that Kise was already there standing in front of him with the bar counter in between them. He appreciated Kise's offer but thinking he was a guest, he refused gently.

"Thank you but I shouldn't make the guest do the work should I? Considering it's your first time in my home. And I really want to show off my cooking skills that I'm afraid I must refuse your kind offer." Keiji's lips curved into an enticing smile sending Kise's mind in total disarray.

It had just been weeks since he met and got to know Keiji yet his every action affected Kise in a manner that confused him. It was as if keiji was sending him signals yet at the same time trying to not step out of line as well.

"It's fine. I just feel like I want to do something than wait there when you're this busy. " Kise smiled back unconsciously batting his eyes that made Keiji awe struck for a while. That day when he introduced himself to his neighbor next door—he had somehow already expected that he would meet a good-looking person but when he had laid his eyes on Kise, he was astonished as to how handsome he was. His eyes of golden yellow color, enchantingly clear and mesmerizing, his fair white complexion arousing an urge in him to touch his skin and feel it. He had a height of that of an average young man yet he was rather sexy with his beautifully sculpted body and a somewhat mysterious aura around him. It was as if he would welcome people but at the same time stash his true self away where none could see it.

As if on cue answering Kise's wish, they heard a loud piercing cry from upstairs garnering their attention away from each other.

"Well perhaps I could ask you a favor and tend for Mine while I finish cooking our dinner then."

Kise's eyes flashed unable to hide his delight. He was happy that he was of any use and on top of that, a nice cuddling with Mine would be great.

"I'd be more than happy to do so."

"Feel free to go upstairs. He's in the second room."

With a nod, Kise went to fetch Mine and after a moment came down with him, visibly enjoying the child's attention. Mine, feeling the same started giving Kise kisses on the cheeks much to Kise's joy. Both snuggled and played with each other as they waited for Keiji to finish preparing for dinner. Kise was so much drawn to Mine for unknown reason; his heart full of love and affection towards the adorable child. Just being with Mine eased away his tiredness from all the day's busy schedule. School had been so taxing lately that his body often aches and his head, suffering headache sometimes.

"Did you miss me? hmmm…Mine?"

"Pa—pa—miss—miss—kiss—kiss—" Mine giggled as he brought his lips on Kise's cheeks happily kissing him. Then he slowly reached out and began grabbing Kise's hair as if captivated by it. Kise groaned, a little hurt by Mine's pulling.

"Mine –no..Naughty child!" he slowly made Mine released his hair and then let him sit on his lap. Then a moment later, Keiji approached both of them with a mile, happy to see that both of them were having a good time.

"Dinner's ready."

As days went by, Kise found that he was unconsciously getting more and more close to the family next door. He would dine with them almost every night making him wonder why Keiji had been very early coming home these days. When before they had met each other, he would come home late almost every night. Another wonder to him as well was Keiji's rather special manner towards him. And of course, his part in this unusual situation. He couldn't help but feel something towards Keiji's gentleness towards him. But he was afraid that it might result to something undesirable. So he kept his thoughts to himself as he continued to watch his heart slowly melting away under Keiji's tantalizing actions. Not until Keiji himself decided to at last, reveal his inner most feelings.

"Kise-kun, I'm really thankful that you're really good to Mine—to us."Keiji started, resting his hand on top of Kise's knees. Mine was already fast asleep and both of them were enjoying a hot tea sitting side by side one fateful evening in Keiji's house. Even though a bit startled by Keiji's advances, Kise tried to remain calm, eyeing Keiji's hand with a little bit of nervousness. Privately, he felt like he already knew what was going to happen.

"I'm thankful to both of you too Keiji-san. I'm really happy that I have a neighbor as nice as you."

"But Kise-kun, to be honest with you, I don't want to be just your neighbor."

With this, Kise's eyes met Keiji's gaze, his heart crazily drumming in his chest. He didn't know what to say.

"I—I don't understand what you mean."

"Do you find it disgusting if I say that I like you? In a romantic way to be precise." Keiji looked at him with serious eyes, full of honestly.

"No—of course not…it's—it's just that…" Kise stammered, his voice trembling betraying his nervousness. What should I do? I don't know how to respond. In truth, Kise was beside himself with happiness. He had already been having feelings for Keiji for quite some time now though he was unwilling to accept it to himself. Having such emotions means another possibility of heartache again, and he didn't know if he could afford to experience it again.

"I don't feel disgusted at all." Come on Kise, this isn't Aomine. You're already over him right? You should give yourself a break and stop thinking about the past. "Keiji-san, actually…I—I feel the same. I like you too." that's it! Be happy and forget about the past. You'll be happy. You'll be happy with this person and with Mine. Kise assured himself as he accepted the new chapter of his life together with Keiji—together with two people who would surely change his life.

Shima gazed at Kise, frowning. Was it just him or Kise had been really happy these few days? It was as if he was slowly turning into another person. He titled his head trying to find a more proper angle in order to see Kise's face. He was sitting behind him but he could still somehow see that Kise's eyes were smiling gleefully. Then an idea popped out his head, decidedly eager to irk Kise just for fun.

"Hey—is that a kiss mark on your nape or what?" Shima asked grinning, though in truth there was not even a single dot or something on Kise's neck.

Instinctively, Kise's hands covered the back of neck, shocked about Shima's remark. His eyes quickly darted, meeting Shima's eyes. Shima himself was surprised with Kise's reaction that he was rendered speechless. The look on Kise's face revealed it all. It was just suppose to be a little prank however, unexpectedly; it raised a speculation that something was amiss.

"Oh—no. Don't tell me…" Shima's eyes widened. "Seriously dude?!" he exclaimed, oblivious to the eyes around them. He was too dumbfounded to care about anything around him. Upon seeing the anxious expression in Kise's face, he knew that there was someone else involve. He wasn't just surprised; he couldn't believe the fact that someone could have capture Kise's affection. A woman? no. then that only means it's a man, if I'm not wrong! Despite the fact that Kise had never dated a woman since the time they met, Shima knew that it wasn't because there wasn't anyone who liked him. In reality, Kise could have anyone he liked but he himself refused everybody. With this, Shima concluded that perhaps, Kise swing that way. Not that he had prejudice beliefs about it. Actually, though he might deny it to himself, he found it hard not to be drawn towards Kise's charisma.

"What? I don't know what you're talking about." Kise tried to feign ignorance but it was already too late. He cursed himself for falling under one of Shima's stupid pranks. His face flushed red when he remembered the night before, his intimate night with Keiji on his bed, making him reflexively respond when Shima pointed out about a hickey.

"Hey—hey! Tell me about it." now Shima was curious to know whom Kise was going out with.

". . ."

"Come on. It's not like I wouldn't find it out soon enough. "

Kise glared at Shima, wishing for him to drop the matter but Shima only stared back at him with his lips curved into a meaningful smile. Then a moment later, Kise sighed exaggeratedly.

"Yeah…I'm going out with someone right now."

"How long?"

"Do you really have to know?"

"Sheesh—it's not gonna kill you to let one soul know. I'm interested in this love life of yours."

"One month"

"Really? Wow so that's the reason why you look like you're floating on the clouds lately."

Kise groaned, confused with what Shima meant. Had he been that transparent?

"Sooooo—what are you?" Shima paused, grinning provocatively.

"What?" Kise aked back, uneasy of what Shima was asking about. The look on his face only added fuel to Kise's perplexed state. What could Shima be trying to accomplish?

"What I mean is are you top or bottom?"

"Shima!" Kise exclaimed in horror. He was so embarrassed he could feel his cheeks burning. "Why are you asking such things?"

"I told you. Because I want to know."

"That is none of your concern! Really..How stupid can you be?" Kise brought his hand to touch his forehead; he could feel a headache coming. "If you already realized my preference, don't just ask stupid questions like its normal to talk about such awkward topics."

"Don't say it like that. It's like you're expecting me to be disgusted because you prefer things like that. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a close-minded person." Shima looked hurt by Kise's misjudgment of him. He leaned back, averting his eyes from Kise.

Kise's expression softened, realizing his error. He thought that if Shima were to find out about his relationship with a man, he would feel sickened and never to come near him again. And Kise would be devastated if that happens. Even though he didn't show it, deep in his heart, he had come to treasure Shima as a dear friend.

"Yeah I know I should have think like that. Sorry."

"If you're really sorry your should answer my question. So are you top or bottom?" Shima gazed at him with a playful smile. That instant, Kise knew he was back to his naughty self again.

"Bastard!" Kise smiled back, glad to have lifted the tense atmosphere a while ago, threw a piece of crumbled paper on Shima who easily evaded it with a laugh.

End of chapter 9