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.

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

Kind of off topic, but yay Season 2 is finally here! Who else is uber excited!? Oh my goodness, there's so much in store, I can't contain myself xD

*Anyways thank you all for the follows, favs, and reviews! I truly appreciate it :D

Enjoy ~

Chapter 5: Proposition

Aomine felt restless and didn't quite know where to go. He had to admit he felt bad for ditching Kagami and sort of felt bad for ditching practice, (not that he really needed it), but he wanted to just think for a second. It was then he suddenly found his body moving of its own accord, and just decided to follow it and see where it would take him

After walking a half an hour he reached an empty basketball court near the park and began to shoot a few hoops, all the while his mind was preoccupied with images of the attractive blonde. Damn, what is wrong with me? he thought, before letting out an exasperated sigh and heading towards a large oak tree located in the field next to the courts.

Aomine sat for what seemed like forever, and reflected on the few things he did know. For one, Kise was definitely different from anyone he had ever met before, that was a fact. For another, the model had such a strong effect on him even though he couldn't grasp why.

Granted, the boy was very physically appealing, with his alluring eyes and his smooth milky white skin, along with his toned abdomen and soft pink lips; it was enough to drive the tanned male crazy! Yet there was something greater than his sex appeal, it was something deeper, something Aomine didn't care to think about too hard.

Frustrated with his own unanswered questions, he whipped out his phone and began a new message.

'Hey.'

Not really expecting a reply, he tossed the phone into the grass next to him and was about to lay down for a quick nap when he noticed the screen light up.

'Name and password please (⌐■_■)

What the hell?

'Um…basketball?'

Boy did he feel dumb.

'Haha OMG! I was just kidding I wanted to see what you would say! (*^▽^)ﾉｼ))

That sneaky shit!

'Shut up! You're such an annoyance!'

'Ah Aominecchi's so mean ~ ｡･ﾟﾟ･(д)･ﾟﾟ･｡

How did he know it was me?

'How did you know it was me?'

'I told you I only give this number to family and close friends, and seeing as I don't have many close friends and it was a new number, I knew it had to be you (*^▽^*)

'What if I was Kagami?'

'Ne, Kagamicchi would be too shy to text a new friend so suddenly ~'

The fact that he knew them both so well in such a short amount of time was kind of comforting, and it made Aomine feel a slight warmth spread within his chest.

'Whatever, can you just stop with those stupid faces?'

'What's wrong with my faces ( ・◇・)?

'They're stupid like you.'

。ﾟ(ﾟﾉД｀ﾟ)ﾟ｡

Aomine snorted a laugh. 'So what are you doing?'

'…um…nothing.'

The lack of obtrusive emoticons did not go unnoticed.

'So you're telling me the Kise Ryouta does nothing during his spare time?'

Kise could almost feel Aomine's smirk through the text.

'Well, no…it's…just kind of embarrassing.'

Now he had to know.

'Come on we're friends aren't we?'

'Aominecchi will just laugh at me ~'

'No I won't, I promise.'

'…fine, if you must know I'm applying a cucumber face mask while watching the Lakers and the Heat game.'

'Hahahaha are you serious! What are you a girl?'

'I knew Aominecchi would laugh at me ~'

He figured that explained his flawless skin.

'I'm just kidding, I already told you we were friends no matter what so I don't care if you like to put vegetables on your face or whatever.'

'It's not like that!'

Teasing the blonde could be so much fun.

'Yeah, yeah, so who's winning?'

'No, Aominecchi laughed at me.'

'I told you I was kidding, what more do you want ya big cry baby?'

'I want Aominecchi to apologize ~'

Aomine couldn't remember the last time he apologized to anyone, and here this kid was almost demanding one!

He chuckled lightly to himself.

'Fine if I apologize will you stop whining?'

'Maybe ~'

'…fine I'm sorry for laughing at you, now get over it already!'

'Aww Aominecchi cares (´▽ﾉ｀*)ノ

'Whatever, so now will you tell me who's winning?'

'Guess ~'

The playful banter was making Aomine feel light and he soon forgot about his earlier troubles.

'I'm gonna go with the Heat.'

'Ah Aominecchi's so smart! You should become a professional basketball player someday too. Then I could watch you on tv ~'

'That is the plan, but ya know you're actually pretty good, I think you could compete against me if you trained some more.'

'Do you really think so! That would be awesome!'

'Yeah it would be, that's why you should get started so I don't leave your pretty ass behind.'

'…so Aominecchi still thinks I'm pretty (◕‿◕✿)

Damn it!

~ ~XxXxX~ ~

Kagami was a little worried about Aomine. He had never seen the blunette skip practice before and he appeared to be in such a hurry that it didn't make sense.

He arrived home about an hour ago and decided to take a shower and then make himself some dinner. While he was waiting for his meal to finish he figured he would call Aomine and make sure he was ok.

"What an idiot," Kagami voiced out loud in the quiet apartment as he searched his bag for his phone. Just as he was about to select Aomine's number from his contacts, he came across Kise's recently added one. On impulse, Kagami began a new message.

'Hello Kise.'

Shit what was he doing! It was night time now and the blonde was probably doing homework or hanging out with friends; something more important than answering lame text messages.

'Hi Kagamicchi! I was hoping you would message me!'

How did he know it was me?

'How did you know it was me?'

'I told you I only give this number to family and close friends, and seeing as I don't have many close friends and it was a new number, I knew it had to be you (*^▽^*)

'What if I was Aomine?'

'Aominecchi texted me earlier this afternoon so I already have his number ~'

He what! He had to admit the thought that Aomine spent the afternoon texting Kise while he was hard at practice pissed him off. Was that why he was in such a hurry? And what could Aomine possibly talk about with a guy like Kise? The two probably have nothing in common!

'Oh. Well did he seem ok to you?'

'Hm? Yeah Aominecchi was fine, but sometimes he can be so mean 。ﾟ(ﾟﾉД｀ﾟ)ﾟ｡

Kagami figured Aomine would tease the blonde, but he knew that's just how he was with people he liked.

'So what is Kagamicchi doing? ∩( ・ω・)∩

The random question made all thoughts of the blunette leave his mind.

'I'm waiting for my dinner to finish, so I thought I'd say hi.'

'Ohhh, Kagamicchi can cook! How cool! What are you making?'

'Nothing special just come curry.'

'Really? I love curry! I'm actually watching a cooking show right now about Indian food and it's making me hungry ╥﹏╥

"You watch cooking shows?'

'I enjoy cooking shows very much! I just wish I could cook like them (っ˘̩╭╮˘̩)っ

'It's not that hard, anyone can cook if they just try.'

'Say do you think Kagamicchi could teach me how to cook?'

He can't be serious, he probably has people who can do all the cooking for him, but I'll just go along.

'Sure, I wouldn't mind teaching you one day.'

'Yay so it's a date! (/^▽^)/

A what!?

~ ~XxXxX~ ~

Kagami was a little apprehensive to meet up with Aomine the next day. Skipping practice wasn't like him at all, and then finding out he spent the afternoon texting Kise kind of pissed him off.

What is going on with him?

He tried not to think about it too much and continued towards the gymnasium. He had been feeling really stressed the past couple of days so he was hoping maybe extra practice before his classes would help relieve some tension. When he opened the door he was surprised to see the blunette already warmed up and completing a ridiculous dunk.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

Aomine turned to the red head with a quizzical look and an exposed abdomen, choosing to use his shirt as a towel to wipe away excess sweat that had accumulated across his forehead and jawline.

"Well I figured since I missed practice yesterday I would come in a bit early today."

Kagami nodded his head. Makes sense, he guessed.

"What are you doing here?" Aomine asked.

It was his turn to explain himself.

"Well I've been feeling a little stressed out lately so I thought some more practice and exercise would help calm me down a bit."

Aomine was never too observant when it came to other people's emotions, but Kagami was his best friend and he could tell that something wasn't right, that something was off. But he didn't just want to come out and ask him, he figured if the red head wanted to tell him that he would have already. Plus they were guys. Guys don't do that kind of thing right? He mentally sighed. Should I just ask him?

"Hey, Kagami _"

"I knew I'd find you two basketball heads in here."

Both boys turned around in time to see Alex casually close the heavy gymnasium door with the heel of her boot and saunter up to the center of the court where they were currently frozen in place.

"Sorry for interrupting, but I have a proposition for you two."

"A proposition about what?"

"Oh Taiga I love it when you're confused, you're so cute." She chuckled softly. "But to be honest you two are failing my class."

"WHAT! It's only been like three weeks, how can we be failing your class!"

"Please lower your voice Mr. Aomine, the gymnasium tends to echo and hearing your words one time is enough thank you."

It took all Aomine's strength to not throw a fit right there.

"How can someone be failing a drawing class?" Kagami asked. "I thought art was based on the artist's 'interpretation,' so how can ours be wrong if that's the best we can do?"

"You're not failing because you're drawing skill are lacking, you're failing because there's not enough emotion in your work, that's all."

"Not enough emotion?" Aomine mimicked. "What they hell is that supposed to mean!?"

"That's what you two need to learn. And what did I say about yelling!"

Aomine growled and aggressively tossed the basketball in Alex's direction, not intending for any impact. He was surprised when Alex was able to catch it in one swift motion, and she smirked at his wide eyed expression.

"My proposition is that you two allow my nephew to serve as your individual private tutor. He has a way of bringing out the best in people ya know."

With a delicate flick of her wrist, the discarded basketball flew smoothly through the net.

Aomine and Kagami were speechless.

"But he says it'll cost you…"

A/N: Well here ya go ~ I actually had a lot of fun writing the text convos so I hope you all enjoyed them as well :D And yay for Alex and her mad b-ball skills! Gotta love her ;p

I would also like you all to know that despite my delayed updates I WILL finish this story. I know what it's like to have a fic you're interested in not be completed so please don't worry, there will be a legit ending no matter what!

There is more to come, so please tell me what you all think. Reviews make me very happy :)

Until next time ~