a/n= "Who is the real Akashi?" is one of the most popular question that seems to be lingering around in this fic...

Thank you for all the support guys! I am really grateful and I am very happy that exam is ending (my last exam is in two days and I'm going to University for a whole new life yahoo!)

The real Akashi would be answered in a few chapters (I have the whole plot laid out, and the best of all, the ending)

Please R&R! Reviews would be appreciated!

What was the definition of stupidity other than Kise Ryota?

Kuroko wanted to give him a paper test, and if it didn't work, he would personally tutor Kise and fuel his brain with proper knowledge and common sense to keep his intelligence from degrading into ashes.

Fortunately, Kuroko wasn't being sarcastic; his deadpanned expression screamed it all.

Despite being an Aquarius, Midorima agreed with him.

Kise screamed like a six-year-old. Because of the blonde's interminable cries, Kuroko and Midorima indignantly stormed into his room to find the trigger behind the blonde's eruption.

When they walked inside, Aomine lounged himself on top of Kise's desk, chewed an apple, and spitted on the floor.

They were not surprised.

"Kurokocchi! Midorimacchi!" Kise howled and opened his arms to embrace Kuroko."Please help me! Aominecchi doesn't want to listen to me!"

Kuroko evaded Kise effortlessly. Midorima suppressed his laughter.

"It's his fault, not mine," Aomine said lazily, accusingly pointing at the blonde. "He wants me to write a three-page draft to praise my old teammates, it's so freaky!"

"But in order to overcome your self-centered dilemma, you need to acknowledge the goodness in others!" Kise protested.

"The other day you rambled shit I should look good in photos," Aomine spat. "I think my profile picture is a lot better than all your model magazines combined!"

Clenching his fist, Kise glowered at the darker male and yelled. "My model magazines are fearfully and wonderfully made! The production team and I invested money on those magazines to make sure I look extremely wonderful! Don't compare me to you, ganguro!"

"Shut the fuck up you blonde-therapist-wannabe!" Aomine roared and was about to punch Kise on the face before Midorima grabbed him from behind.

Midorima adjusted his glasses and said calculatingly. "It's really not a good idea to put two narcissists in the same room."

Kise's inability for dealing with Aomine disappointed Kuroko. If they never switched clients, Aomine would leave the hospital grounds a long time ago, but like what Midorima said, putting two narcissists in the same room only worsened Aomine's condition.

And if it would not for helping Kise, Kuroko would never feel the inevitable, painful ache in his heart.

The teal haired male unconsciously grabbed the hem of his shirt to feel his throbbing heartbeat. This DID case didn't only mess with Kuroko's head; it also stirred his heart as well.

Even though it was two days ago, Seijuuro's statement had been playing in his mind all over again.

Two days ago:

"If you need to kill one person, which one would you kill? Would it be Akashi or Seijuuro?"

Kuroko's eyes widened in horror. Seijuuro looked down on him with a sadistic grin on his face. The teal haired male knew that he couldn't answer this question, but for Seijuuro, it was probably a rhetorical question.

"If you ask me which one of you should I kill, it would be none," Kuroko answered flatly. "Because I can't kill, I can only heal."

Seijuuro made a face. He didn't seem to understand that statement. Knowing the meaning behind Seijuuro's apprehensive gaze, Kuroko continued.

"Killing neither of you is impossible. Because if I kill one of you, I will take both of your lives in the process," Kuroko gritted his teeth as he spoke. "And I don't want that."

"You don't want to kill me?" Seijuuro interrogated him bitterly. "I believe you considered me as an inferior, didn't you?"

"Yes, I did," Kuroko answered fearlessly. "But you are part of Akashi. Because I love Akashi-san, I want to heal his DID, and if I do, it would save you in the process, Seijuuro."

At the moment, Seijuuro looked at the loss for words. He loosened his grip on Kuroko's neck and genuine confusion swam on his eyes. Kuroko thought it looked like the eyes of a child who had felt kindness for the first time.

But then, Seijuuro's wrath returned and he snarled.

"Don't be stupid, Tetsuya," Seijuuro's voice tainted with venom. "Akashi doesn't love you! He is afraid of you! The only one who can accept your body and soul is me!"

...

What?

Kuroko gritted his teeth in frustration. Was Akashi afraid of Kuroko's sexuality?

Akashi made it clear that he always tried to press that matter. Maybe he was afraid getting into a serious, romantic relationship with Kuroko even though he just wanted to mess around with him in the first place.

Kuroko couldn't blame Akashi though. Young people these days tend to toy around with each other's feelings for fun, and that's why teenagers tend to be cynical.

But what about Seijuuro? Despite Sei's intolerable behavior, he outwardly claimed his undying love towards Kuroko. If Kuroko and Sei got into a romantic relationship, Kuroko could still bear the pain because Akashi and Sei were the same in general, but projecting his feelings towards Akashi to Sei would make Kuroko no different than a selfish, manipulating bastard.

Back to present:

..."The only one who can praise me is me!"

"That's why you can't heal, Ahomine!"

"Guys, guys please calm down!"

Suddenly, Kuroko rolled his fist together and slammed the door, silencing everyone. Kise and Aomine yelped, cowering in fear. On the other hand, Midorima stared at him with a priceless expression.

"Aomine-san, Kise-kun." Kuroko cracked his fist together "To the rehab room, now."

Two hours later:

"I can't believe you manage to make them behave," Midorima commented, fixing his glasses. The two therapists strolled side by side as they made their way towards their respective room.

Kuroko replied curtly. "I am just upset, that's all."

Midorima laughed a little. "It's pretty rare for you to lose your cool."

Kuroko sighed with a smile. As the two therapists kept walking, Midorima paused on his tracks. Kuroko noticed and turned his head over his shoulders.

"Midorima-kun, is something wrong?"

Midorima actually nodded, to Kuroko's wonder. "It's not like I want us to be closer, but I want you to meet someone."

Kuroko had gotten used by Midorima's sentimental tendencies. He went straight to the point. "Who do you want me to meet?"

Midorima heaved a deep, long sigh and closed his eyes before he spoke. "I want you to meet my patient who has Alzheimer, Takao Kazunari."

Midorima spent two years being a full-time psychologist, so Kuroko wasn't surprised if the latter male had gained the privilege to let his patients stayed in the clinic.

They ascended to the second floor where the patients' room were located. Kuroko's clients never stayed in the hospital, so the whole atmosphere felt foreign to him.

Finally, they arrived. Midorima knocked on one of the most corners doors before mumbling. "Takao, are you there?"

Silence lingered before a male voice echoed behind the door. "Who is this?"

Midorima's lips twitched for a moment. He tilted his head downwards and hid his expression so Kuroko couldn't see him.

"It's me, Midorima." he said, his voice tinged with pain.

Kuroko watched the whole scene in disbelief. The four-eyed male never seemed to care about his clients, but now a mix of emotions twisted Midorima's features.

"M..Midorima...who?"

Midorima cursed under his breath as he opened the door and nudged Kuroko to walk in.

After a moment of hesitation, Kuroko entered the room.

A raven-haired male with eagle-like eyes sat on the bed. His eyes brimmed with sheer confusion as he stared at Kuroko and the taller therapist next to him.

"Takao." Midorima approached him and planted himself beside Takao. "Remember, me?"

Takao's gaze bore deeper into Midorima's eyes before he pointed at him. "S-Shin."

"Yes, it's me, Shin-chan." Midorima's face brightened, sounding relieved.

In a flash, Takao's eyes flew wide in joy and shook Midorima's shoulders. "Shin-chan! I remember now! It's really you."

"It's really me, idiot." Midorima laughed.

Kuroko noticed. Midorima laughed.

"I'm sorry Shin-chan," hurt flashed on Takao's eyes. "You see my condition is going worse..."

Midorima shook his hand and squeezed Takao's palms gently. "No, it's all right Takao, it's already part of your symptom."

Takao grinned at Midorima and let out a happy chortle. The Alzheimer patient laughed with glee without any care in the world.

Kuroko witnessed the whole scene with heartfelt. Alzheimer patients suffered dementia, a type of mental illness which impaired their memory. It was beyond cure, so it was not surprising if Takao would forget every single damn thing. It was not his fault.

Yet Midorima showed no sign of indignation. Despite being incurable, Midorima tried his best to treated Takao as a normal human being and tried his best to help the boy.

Suddenly, Midorima snapped Kuroko from his thoughts. "Kuroko," he ordered. "I am going to my room for awhile to fetch for Takao's files. Can you please accompany him?"

Kuroko agreed, and a few moments later, Midorima left.

After Midorima closed the door behind him, Takao suddenly spoke.

"You know, I don't remember anything about Shin-chan," he spoke with a sad smile. "But I know that I'm in love with him."

Kuroko clasped his hands over his mouth as he heard Takao's bold statement. Kuroko found his cheeks flaring, and the same goes with Takao, who giggled.

"He is so gentle. Shin-chan makes me feel so alive. Too bad I never remember anything about him, or even myself, even though he repeats it to me every single fucking day."

Takao chuckled bitterly.

A sympathetic look flashed across Kuroko's face. Before he opened his mouth to speak, Takao continued.

"But, I am afraid of Shin-chan."

Kuroko felt his breath caught up on his throat. His heart contracted, and Kuroko felt the need to get himself together.

Afraid...

Akashi...was he really afraid of him?

"Why are you afraid?" Kuroko asked, his voice slightly rattled.

Takao took a moment to register the right words into his brain. Sometimes, he squinted and mewled as if he was trying to survive the painful tangles in his brain.

Wincing, Takao sunk his nails into his palms, slowly oozing out blood.

"I don't have much time," Takao hiccuped, trying to keep his smile. "And even if I do, I will forget it anyway. It's like a curse, and if I tell Shin-chan I love him..."

Takao's smile melted into a frown, and he started weeping. "Shin-chan will get hurt. Shin-chan is already hurting because I forget things he wants to remember...but I can't help it, didn't I? God was just fucking cruel."

Kuroko's frown deepened. He didn't have the right to say anything.

"At least, until the last moments..." Takao sniffed, still forcing his smile. "I want to remember Shin-chan's face. His eyes. His nose. His hair. I just want to keep one piece of memory of Shin-chan, is that too much?"

Kuroko revered Takao's struggle to bottle up his feelings. It must be hard both for Midorima and Takao to pretend every single day was like their first encounter, yet they both lived with it. But for one thing, Kuroko believed Takao already obtained that one piece of memory of Midorima, and that was...

The fact that he was aware of his feelings towards Midorima, and it would stay in his heart forever.

Grinding his teeth together, Kuroko tried to resist his sobs from escaping his throat. The more he listened to Takao, the guiltier he felt. Unlike Akashi and Kuroko, who had all the time in the world, Midorima and Takao's relationship was dependent by time.

If Akashi disliked of Kuroko, the teal haired male still has Seijuuro to boot, but in their case, they had nobody but each other.

"What's your name, sensei?" Takao suddenly asked, wiping the tears from his eyes.

Kuroko blinked and said. "Kuroko Tetsuya."

"Ah, Shin-chan keeps telling me about you!" Takao grinned from ear to ear. "I can't believe I remember it! But you see, two of us have three similarities?"

Kuroko tilted his head, curious. "What are they?"

Takao started making gestures with his fingers. "First, we are both afraid."

Kuroko exclaimed. "Y-You know what I'm feeling right now?"

"It's pretty obvious." Takao pouted. "You're scowling all the time."

Kuroko found himself chuckling. Shaking his head, Kuroko added. "So what are the other two?"

Takao placed his finger over his lips and winked. "That's a secret."

After trading a few light conversations with Takao, Kuroko bid him goodbye and slipped out of the room. Closing the door behind him, he leaned his body against the doorframe before collapsing to his knees.

Then, he stayed still.

Takao was right; they were both similar.

Takao was afraid advancing his relationship with Midorima could hurt the four-eyed male, and, on the other hand, Kuroko was afraid Akashi would be creeped out by his homosexuality.

Kuroko slapped himself. He winced at the new, aching pain on his cheeks. He deserved it though—how can someone like Takao who had an impaired brain could be more reasonable than a healthy-minded Kuroko? Kuroko found the whole thing absurd and too crazy for his own belief.

It hurts.

Everything hurts. If it would not for his ridiculous feelings towards Akashi, Kuroko didn't have to feel any of these emotions—love, confusion, rejection, bitter, regret…

Kuroko hated every little bit of it.

"Oi, Kuroko someone is coming here to see you." Midorima suddenly materialized from the opposing pathway.

"Kuroko!" Midorima raised his voice.

Finally, Kuroko snapped out of his reverie. Blinking in confusion, Kuroko's panicked eyes softened when he saw Midorima standing beside him.

"Yes, Midorima-kun?" his voice cracked, to his own disbelief.

"Someone is coming to see you," Midorima repeated the statement with a sigh while adjusting his glasses. "I think it is Akashi."

Kuroko swallowed. Reluctantly, he scrambled to his feet and dragged his heavy legs to the stairs to meet the last person he wanted to see.

Midorima watched the retreating figure with a scowl before entering Takao's room.

After the miserable journey on the stairs, Kuroko gulped as his feet met the ground. Just a few more steps to the left and Akashi would be waiting for him, ending their relationship once and for all.

But Kuroko couldn't help but to feel a little bit more hopeful—Seijuuro might be wrong. If Akashi really detested Kuroko, the bluenet wanted to hear it from Akashi himself, even if it hurts, he needed to face it.

Just like how Takao honestly faced his feelings towards Midorima despite his vulnerable condition.

Finally, Kuroko saw him from the distance.

The crimson-haired male leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. A scowl tainted his handsome features. Curling his hands into a fist, Kuroko approached Akashi with new confidence.

"Good afternoon, Akashi-kun." He greeted the ruby-haired male.

Then their gaze met.

Kuroko instinctively took a step back and gasped.

Seijuuro.

It was pretty unusual for Mr. Aggressive to wander around in the wild…

"Morning Tetsuya," Seijuuro greeted him with a smile like Akashi's. "Do you really miss Akashi that much?"

Kuroko gritted his teeth. He needed to confirm with Seijuuro if Akashi was really keeping his distance towards him.

"Sei, I have a question," Kuroko started. "When you say Akashi is afraid of me, is it really true? Or is it something you say out of bitter jealousy?"

Seijuuro looked surprised by Kuroko's brazen question. He was familiar with Kuroko's timid yet adamant personality. Seijuuro looked at the shorter male in amusement.

Clicking his fingers, Seijuuro smirked. "Well, that's what I come here for, love."

Replies to guest reviews:

Hana: Sorry I just reply to you now! Yes, this story will revolve around how Kuroko will deal with the two lovely Akashis :3 oreshi and bokushi. Have a nice day! (and your line there makes me think if I can use it in the story lol!)

Kurome: Continue? Well I'm at it, lol. Thanks for the review!

blacky: Wow! Never thought someone would appreciate my writing style ^.^ Thank you! Your review is very kind!

Elaine02: What the heck is going on? How is Kuroko going to answer that s***? Me too, I'm wondering about that lol .-. (are you satisfy with Kuro's answer?) Thank you for your review!