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 :'(
Thank you to those who reviewed. I really appreciate you taking the time to let me know what you think and I'm glad you all are enjoying the story! (Although most of you will probably hate me after this chapter haha….ha….ha, no you really will).
In reply to the Guest who reviewed:
Thank you for taking the time to read my story, but I honestly do not believe I portrayed Kise in a 'slutty' manner whatsoever, considering he has done nothing sexual with either of the boys. I take it you and I have a different definition of the term.
As for your concern in how their relationships will turn out; it is my story and I will have it end whichever way I please. If it is not to your liking, there are many other lovely KnB fics for you to read instead.
*All that aside, get your pitchforks ready folks and enjoy XD
Chapter 8: Darkness
Akashi was seated inside of the polished town car, watching Kise closely as he descended from the apartment building.
Something was off. He could feel it.
The blonde appeared in the vehicle and sat opposite himself, an indifferent expression adorning his flawless features.
"I assume you had a pleasant day Ryouta."
"Yes, I had a lot of fun playing basketball with Aominecchi."
Although his expression remained stoic there was a light in Kise's eyes that Akashi had not seen in many years.
Oh. So that was it.
"I see. Were you able to help him much with his artistic studies?"
The blonde's eyes casted downward and Akashi inwardly smirked.
"That was the purpose for your visit today, was it not?"
"Um, yes we briefly mentioned the topic, but unfortunately we weren't able to get much work done."
"Oh? And what made you two so preoccupied that you dared to neglect your studies?"
Kise scratched the back of his neck and gave a slight shrug of his shoulders.
"We were just so busy having fun I guess."
The lack of response from the red head made Kise uneasy, and he chanced a glance to the seat across from him.
Akashi's stare was still focused on the blonde, but it appeared his train of thought was somewhere else.
The constant stare made Kise feel uncomfortable and he reverted his eyes to the bright screen of his phone. It wasn't very late and he figured Alex would still be up.
Hey there's something I want to talk to you about, are you free for lunch tomorrow ~
She was surprisingly quick to respond, and after receiving her overly anxious agreement, Kise gave a wary smile and tucked his phone back in his bag.
"You know if there's anything you need to talk about, I'm here for you Ryouta."
His manager's blatant concern snapped Kise out of his thoughts. He was brought back to the time when they were just best friends, with no pressing financial concerns or scheduling deadlines hovering over them. He thought it would be nice if they could go back to those times, and he felt warm with hope.
He smiled at Akashi, a genuine smile, and gave him a wave of his hand.
"I know Akashicchi, you've always been there for me."
His old friend also smiled, although his was slightly more guarded.
He didn't know what was bothering Kise so much, but he would definitely find out.
~ ~XxXxX~ ~
Kagami was anxious to see Aomine and see how the blunette's weekend tutoring session went.
He had thought a lot since his own session that weekend, and he knew that his attraction to Kise was deep. He didn't have much experience in the love division, but he felt that whenever he was with Kise things just seemed brighter. He never felt so light and content around another person in his life and he never wanted that feeling to go away. He never wanted Kise to go away.
He wanted to bask in the glow that was Kise for the rest of his life.
The romantic nature of the thought made his cheeks flush red, rivaling that of his fiery hair, and he was glad no one was around to notice, that is until he felt a muscular arm being wrapped roughly around his neck.
"Hey man, long time no see."
"Tch, get off me you ganguro." He forcefully grabbed the other boys arm and removed it from himself, breaking free from his friend's hold.
"Calm your tits Bakagami, I didn't mean anything by it. What is up with you today?" The bluenette's expression was highly annoyed, but Kagami recognized a hint of concern somewhere within his deep scowl and immediately felt bad.
Realizing he may have been a little harsh, he dragged his fingers through his spiky mane, and released a sigh.
"Sorry you just caught me off guard. Anyways how was your weekend?"
He could tell Aomine wasn't very satisfied with his vague response, but the term 'weekend' clicked somewhere in his mind, and all his concern disappeared.
"Dude it was awesome! Kise is a beast on the court, I think he might even be as good as you, if not better." He smirked.
His remark stunned Kagami. Never had he heard Aomine speak so highly of another basketball player, yet he had nothing but praise for Kise. His playing must be something extraordinary for Aomine to include him on the same level as themselves, and the spark in his eyes as he continued to explain their game highlights to Kagami was something he had never seen in his entire twelve years of friendship with the ace.
He felt goose bumps prickle his skin and a nauseous feeling overcome his stomach, but he couldn't help but stare at his over excited friend.
He looked happy. He looked alive. He looked in love.
Kagami stopped.
"You ok? You look like you're about to throw up" The blunette made his way and stood next to his friend.
No he was not ok.
But before he could respond he heard footsteps approaching from behind.
"Oh, hey there Taiga!"
Alex walked towards the two boys, carrying a stack of papers and a light blue smoothie. Kise was close behind her with a pink smoothie of his own.
As the blonde duo crept closer Kagami felt uneasy, but as soon as Kise was by his side the warmth that exuded from his person put Kagami's nerves slightly at ease.
"Hey Kagamicchi! Are you ok? You don't look so good."
Aomine grabbed the pink smoothie from the model's grasp and began to take a sip.
"Yeah he's been weird all morning. Maybe you gave him cooties over the weekend or something and now he's gonna die."
"I did not give him cooties! Guys can't give other guys cooties Ahomine!"
Aomine laughed and continued to drink down the blonde's smoothie.
"Either way, you gave him something and now he's gonna die."
"I didn't give him anything! And give me back my drink!"
As the blonde reached out his hand to take the smoothie back, the bluenette smirked and held the drink as high as he could above his head, making the blonde pout and begin to jump in attempts to reach it.
The scene was comical and Kagami would have been laughing if he wasn't so being busy feeling jealous.
Alex rolled her eyes and walked behind Aomine, giving him a light smack to the back of his head.
His usual scowl was restored and he turned around to glare at the courageous art teacher.
"Mr. Aomine how old are we."
"Not as old as you, ya old broad" He muttered under his breath.
"What was that?"
"Tch, whatever" He moved to give the blonde back his drink, but not before taking one last huge sip.
"Aominecchi's so mean!"
"Yeah, yeah. I'll get you another one later."
The prospect instantly brought the blonde back to his bubbly nature, and he smiled as he finished the remains of the strawberry goodness.
"Mr. Aomine I would like to have a word with you. Ryouta, why don't you take Taiga to the nurse's office, he's looking worse."
Kise's concerned eyes traveled back to his sickly friend and he agreed.
Quickly dispensing his now empty cup into the trash, he made his way over to Kagami and pulled his arm over his shoulder while wrapping his own arm around the red head's waist, allowing him full support.
"Come one Kagamicchi, I'll help you to the nurse's office."
Kagami felt heat rise to his cheeks at the close and intimate contact, but he figured they would all brush it off to his not feeling well.
As they began their walk to the nurse's office looking like a complete couple, Kagami saw Aomine tense and his scowl deepen. His glare went from Alex to Kagmi and he was pretty sure the only reason he was still alive was because Kise was by his side.
~ ~ XxXxX ~ ~
Once they arrived at the nurse's office, Kise did all the talking. He explained how his friend wasn't feeling very well and needed to lay down. The nurse smiled and directed them to a room with a cot and a small sink in the corner and asked if they need anything else. Kise thanked her and told her they were fine.
Kagami seriously had no idea what they were doing there, but he was happy to be with the model alone without any sign of the color blue anywhere. Kagami stared; well not anywhere.
"Hey when did you change the color of your earing?"
The blonde was startled by Kagami's random outburst and simply stared at him as the question was processed.
"Oh, um well, last night I guess." He responded, his face displaying a red tinge, before it disappeared and he was smiling brightly at Kagami.
"I'm surprised Kagmicchi noticed! Do you like it?"
No.
"Yeah it suites you."
As much as he hated to admit it, the color blue did look good on him.
"Thanks! But you look really flustered so why don't you lie down." Kise gently pushed Kagami down on the cot and for a moment he felt himself get excited at the action. But then the blonde got up and made his way towards the small sink, filling a container with cold water and grabbing one of the wash cloths in the bin next to it.
He sat himself on the edge of the cot and began to dip the cloth in the cool water before squeezing it and placing it lightly on Kagami's forehead.
The red head closed his eyes as Kise began to pat down the cloth and brush his dark fringe out of his face. The motions were soothing and Kagami almost found himself drifting off to sleep when Kise began to softly hum a familiar tune.
He had heard it somewhere before, but he couldn't place the name.
The feel of nostalgia and Kise's soothing presence made Kagami feel daring, and after this afternoon, he just had to know.
Having had enough, he gently grabbed the blonde's hand that was casually caressing his bangs, causing the other to stop and look at him in confusion.
"Kagamicchi are_"
Kagami let the words die in his mouth as he forcefully covered his soft lips with his own.
Indeed they were soft. More soft than Kagami had imagined. And the electric current pulsating through his entire being as he moved his lips against the model's velvet ones, was exhilarating.
He wanted this moment to last forever, but he had never considered that maybe his companion didn't feel the same. That was, until it ended.
Much too soon, he lips were being removed from their heaven on earth, and he found himself dumfounded.
"Kagamicchi." A voice quivered, and it took Kagami a moment to realize it was Kise's.
Shit.
"Kise's I'm sorry! It's just,…it's just that,…I love you!"
All the oxygen must have been sucked out of the room because Kagami couldn't breathe and his mind was going black.
He didn't want to process the emotions he saw swimming in those hauntingly shocked amber orbs.
Why? Why! Why! Why! Why!
"Kagamicchi." His name was spoken again, except this time it oozed of guilt.
He knew. Damn it! He just knew.
"Kagamicchi,…I'm in love with Aominecchi."
He heard his name a third time before submitting to the darkness.
A/N: Please don't hate me! I'm sorry, but it had to be done. As much as I love our boys I am not into polygamious relationships (idk if that's a word), even if they are fictional. Before I started this story I knew I was going to have Kise choose between them, but fear not! Kagami will not be in darkness for long. I love him waaaaayyy too much!
But yeah, there is more to come and I hope those of you who are not considering killing me, will stick around.
Until next time :D