Title: Art Appeal

Story: Set in an AU where there's no GoM and Kagami and Aomine go to university in America. Both of them get stuck taking an art course where they meet someone interesting and learn about more than just art. (BL to come).

Disclaimer: *I DO NOT OWN KUROKO NO BASKET OR ANY OF ITS CHARACTERS* Although I wish I did :'(

*Thank you all for the follows, favs, and reviews!

- In reply to anon:

Thank you so much! I'm glad to hear you're enjoying it so far, and I hope you like this chapter as well ~

Chapter 3: Of Burgers and Basketball

Their walk home that day was different.

There was no rambling, no teasing, no small talk; just the sound of basketball sneakers hitting pavement, then making their way up to the surface before slamming back down.

The deafening sound of Kagami's stomach broke their individual reveries.

"Hey wanna grab a bite to eat?"

"Damn you're such a fat ass man." Aomine chuckled, and they decided to make their way to the nearest burger joint.

Across the street was a new French restaurant that all the town's food critics were raving about. It served the kind of fancy food that Kagami and Aomine had only seen on cooking shows. They usually would watch them during rainy summer or weekend afternoons, when the weather was too disagreeable to play basketball. Aomine wasn't very particular about his food so he mostly slept through many of the specials, but Kagami took some interest in the craft. He found creating something not only appealing to the eye, but to the stomach and mouth as well, could actually be fun. Although it was nowhere near close to his fascination and love for basketball, he figured it could serve as a sort of outlet, plus it would be a helpful skill to have along the line.

Walking past and looking at the structure and quality of the elegant building made Kagami wish he had the funds to be able to enjoy such a treat. Not one to dwell, he figured he was young and had plenty of time to work his way up and was content with the vision of greasy burgers and cold vanilla shakes when a quick blur of gold caught his eye.

Inside the elaborate dining room of the restaurant was the model from their art class, Kise.

Kagami noted the downturn of those soft looking lips, and the disinterest in those amber orbs and he felt a sudden instinct to protect him. From who or what, he didn't know, but seeing the blonde look so upset made him uneasy.

"Hey isn't that the pretty boy from our art class today?" Aomine questioned, looking in the same direction as Kagami.

"Yeah, but he still looks upset, kind of like when he left this afternoon."

"I would be too, if I had to eat with someone like that."

Kagami had been so transfixed on Kise, he had failed to notice the man sitting directly across from him. He was of an average height with fire red hair and a pair of heterochromatic eyes, one being red and the other yellow. His posture was stiff and his aura oozed that of pure dominance.

Aomine didn't like the guy, not one bit. He couldn't explain exactly why, but he figured it had something to do with his eyes. They were cold. A major contrast from the warm and bright golden irises of his table companion. But more than that, they were possessive. Possessive of the blonde's every move, every facial expression, even his every breath, as if he owned him.

Something about the notion pissed Aomine off, and he was going to give that midget a piece of his mind.

Before he realized what he was doing, and before Kagami could even stop him, Aomine flung open the door of the elite restaurant only to be faced by the startled glances of the town's wealthiest aristocrats.

Shit.

~ ~XxXxX~ ~

"May I help you gentlemen?" Inquired the maître d', who looked very much offended by their average appearance.

"Umm…"

"It's okay Pierre they're with me."

Both boys were shocked to find the model himself coming to their defense. With him he brought one of his most dazzling smiles.

The man titled 'Pierre' quickly recovered his manners and gave a slight bow in Kise's direction.

"My apologies sir, I was unaware you had other guests joining your party. Please allow me to escort you and your companions back to your table. "

Once seated at the table with the now cheerful blonde and his callous partner, Kagami and Aomine realized the situation they were in.

"I remember you two from my aunt's drawing class. What were your names again?"

"Aomine Daiki, and the guy sweating bullets next to me is Kagami Taiga."

At the mention of his current emotional state, Kagami shot Aomine a vicious glare.

Kise found the red head's action enduring and simply chuckled.

"Well it's nice to officially meet you both" He beamed.

"Ryouta, are you forgetting your manners?"

At the mention of his name and in the authoritive tone it was spoken, Kise cast a glance to the well-polished marble floor, before lifting them to meet the icy glare of his companion.

"Oh sorry Akashicchi. Umm, this is Akashi Seijuro. He's my manger and the president of my modeling agency."

"Pleased to meet you Daiki, Taiga." He gave a small nod in acknowledgment to each boy and then began to observe them in silence.

Aomine narrowed his dark blue orbs in response, being reminded why he had entered the posh restaurant in the first place.

Noticing the tension rising, Kise opened the menus placed before Aomine and Kagami.

"You guys must be starving after your practice. Order something you like."

Aomine was still glaring at Akashi when he turned to Kise.

"We were actually going to head over to that burger joint across the street if you want to join us."

Both Akashi and Kagami's eyes almost popped out of their sockets!

What is he doing! KISE, of all people, just invited us to eat in a gourmet restaurant and he's offering burgers instead!

Kagami nudged his elbow hard into Aomine's rib cage.

"What the hell was that for Bakagami?"

The small ruckus allowed Akashi the chance to mask his emotions and continue his evaluation of the two young men in front of him. He remembered Ryouta mentioning something earlier about two boys who had invited him to play basketball, and now said boys were even asking him out to eat. There was something about their casual way of requesting Kise's company that annoyed him. How dare they believe themselves worthy of his presence!

They made him sick.

"Ryouta is not allowed to partake in such gluttonous activities. He has his image to upkeep."

"Well everything's okay in moderation." Aomine wasn't going down without a fight.

Now Akashi was starting to get angry.

"Sir, your vehicle has arrived. Murasakibara-san is expecting you shortly."

A tall man with pea green hair and black framed glasses was suddenly standing to the left of Akashi. He donned an expensive looking suit, probably from Italy or wherever, Aomine thought, and had a sort of radio device running from his ear to the inside of his coat.

Akashi gave a slight nod to ensure the man that he had heard him, but made no movement.

"Hi Midorimacchi! Would you like to join us?" Kise gave a bright smile to the green haired gentlemen who only adjusted his glasses in response.

"I appreciate your civilities Kise-san, but I have told you countless times it is not my place to dine with you or Akashi-san. I must maintain my guard at all times, the safety of Akashi-san and yourself is of utmost importance."

"Ah you're no fun Midorimacchi" Kise pouted.

"One does not need to be fun in order to accomplish their goals effectively Ryouta. That is something you must remember."

And with that Akashi stood from his seat and once again bowed his head to the three youths before him.

"Ryouta, I will be contacting you later tonight".

Eyes slanted, he turned towards Aomine and Kagami. "Daiki and Taiga, it was a pleasure."

As soon as the short red head and his loyal watchdog exited the restaurant, Kise was gathering his things.

"Let's go!"

~ ~XxXxX~ ~

Kagami and Aomine would have never expected anyone to find burgers as exciting as Kise did.

It took the model almost half an hour to decide what he wanted, which he then changed six times.

After finally ordering their food and securing a table for the three of them, Kagami and Aomine began to dig in. Kise, on the other hand, took pleasure in first taking a picture of his burger on his latest smartphone, then staring at his burger, as if in fear it would disappear before his eyes, and lastly to taking small inconsequential bites.

Red eyes met blue, and both were at a loss for words.

"So I take it you don't eat burgers often." Aomine quipped.

"No not at all! Akashicchi never lets me eat junk food. He says it's my job to be fit."

"Well we're both athletes, but even we enjoy this stuff every once in a while. Like Aomine said earlier, it's ok in moderation."

"Yes but Akashicchi has his own rules." Something about the way Kise said that made Aomine and Kagami feel a bit troubled.

"Was he the person you had waiting for you earlier?" Kagami asked.

"Yes, that's why I couldn't go and play basketball with you guys, although I really wanted to."

"He seems like a prick."

Kagami kicked Aomine under the table.

"Fuck, what is with you today!"

Despite the crude accusation, Kise appeared unfazed.

"He may be a little cold around the edges, but without Akashicchi I wouldn't be where I am today. I respect him very much."

"But don't you think he's controlling?" Aomine pressed.

Kise gave him a quizzical look. "What do you mean?"

Aomine paused only for a second, before taking another bite from his burger. He may have undermined the extent of Kise's innocence, he found it cute and a bit of a turn on.

Startled by this realization, he stifled a quick cough to stop the heat from rushing to his face.

"So how did you become a model in the first place?" Kagami was curious.

"Well Akashicchi and I were neighbors growing up. He's older than me by a few years and he would come over and help me with my school work, sort of like my own personal tutor. He would always give me compliments and stuff about my looks, but I just figured it was because we were friends. He even told me about his mom's modeling agency and tried to convince me to give him some of my pictures, but I told him I wasn't interested. Then his mother passed away from an accident and he became the new president. Although I was only in middle school at the time, I decided to sign on to his agency, if he would still have me, and he's been managing me ever since"

"Let me get this straight, you became a model because you felt bad your friend's mother died?" Aomine stated.

He fidgeted and replied with sad distant eyes. "Well I figured it was the least I could do, besides it made him really happy."

Noticing the dampened mood the mere mention of the president brought to Kise and wanting to change the subject, Kagami grabbed his tray and headed towards the trash can. "Hey there's a court not too far away, do you guys wanna go shoot a few hoops?"

"That sounds like so much fun! "

Kise's excited reaction made Aomine smile, which caught Kagami off guard. It wasn't just a polite smile, it was a true, genuine smile, as if Aomine took real pleasure in seeing the blonde so happy. Aomine rarely smiled…it didn't make sense.

Not wanting to acknowledge the uncomfortable feeling in his stomach, Kagami turned and started out the door towards the courts.

The other two walked behind him, with only the sound of Kise's lively chatter to keep them company.

~ ~XxXxX~ ~

"Wow! Who knew you had it in you Kise!" Aomine was glowing from perspiration and excitement of his own.

Kise laughed. "I've always loved sports I just don't get to play them very often."

"How come?" Kagami asked.

"Akashicchi doesn't want me to strain myself too much. He's afraid I'll go too far one day and hurt myself or something."

Considering his profession it seemed plausible, but it still felt as if there was something more to it.

"Oh, well my home is this way." Aomine gave a nod to the direction opposite Kagami and Kise, but appeared reluctant to leave.

"…so I guess I'll see you guys tomorrow?"

"Sounds good! See ya Aominecchi!" Kise smiled.

Aomine just stared.

"Why do you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Call some people by that silly nickname?" He asked.

"Oh, I only add that to the people's names who I respect."

Aomine slightly flushed, or was it the heat, Kagami thought, and quickly turned around so his back was facing them.

"Whatever. See ya." He mumbled and headed towards the path of his house.

So Kise respects Aomine?

This fact made Kagami feel a little sad, and a whole lot of jealous.

Why not me?

He and Aomine were both great players, but Kagami felt sometimes that he had more to offer than just his basketball skills, so why couldn't anyone ever see that?

He was brought out of his thoughts when a black limousine pulled up and the window rolled down to reveal the green haired man from the restaurant. "Kise-san it is time to go."

Kise nodded his head and faced Kagami with a smile. He opened his arms and embraced him in a quick hug. Kagami stood there speechless and dazed.

"Thanks a lot, I had so much fun today! I'll see ya tomorrow Kagamicchi."

And with that Kise slid into the back of the limousine as the driver closed the door behind him and bowed to Kagami before entering the vehicle himself.

Kagami walked the rest of the way back to his apartment with a new found appreciation for his infamous art class.

A/N: To make up for my late update I made this chapter a bit long, so I hope I didn't disappoint and that you all enjoyed!

Please tell me what you think, I would love to hear from you guys :D

Thanks for reading ~