UPDATE! Fic: Waiting Chapter 8 (Kaga/kuro; Pg-15)

[lunaryu]

Waiting
Fandom: Kuroko no Basuke
Rating: T/Pg-15
Genre: Drama/Romance/Friendship
Pairing: Kagami/Kuroko

Summary: In which Kagami is sent back home to Japan because of health condition. He sees the GoM match and falls for the most invisible guy's play on court. He just can't wait to play basketball again, so he can stand in the same court as that amazing blue haired boy.

Disclaimer: Fujimaki Tadatoshi owns Kuroko no Basuke
Warning: shounen ai (soft yaoi), AU and AR, language, possible spelling mistakes and grammar errors, etc...

A/N:  I am very sorry for the long wait. Thanks a lot for reading, supporting and commenting in previous chapter. Now, please enjoy this new one!

Chapter 8: The Calling


Kagami and Kuroko were sitting across from each other at the square table for two in Maji Burger near the clear glass window on the corner. They were content in comfortable silence. Kagami was eating his double cheese burger while Kuroko was quietly drinking his vanilla shake.

At first glance, they seemed like a normal pair of friends eating dinner together in a fast-food joint, but it was only for the eyes of the passerby and the other customers that weren't familiar with them, since something unbelievably strange was going on at this moment. Could anyone guess what it was?

Yes, Kagami was eating in normal portion, unlike the usual where Kagami would have mountains of burgers in front of him while stuffing the food into his mouth like a starving squirrel. Kuroko was honestly surprised when he saw the standard portion of a double cheese burger and a glass of cola that the red head had ordered earlier.

Something is wrong with Kagami-kun-was the thought that kept swirling inside Kuroko's head. Kuroko didn't show it much in his expression, but he was worried about his friend. It was very unsettling seeing the usually passionate Kagami in a depressing mood.

"Let me stay like this for the time being…"

Kuroko recalled the way Kagami held him just thirty minutes earlier at the street basket court in the park near Kagami's house.

When Kuroko saw the red head from the road, huddled on the bench covering his face as if he were crying, Kuroko felt his heart sink. He didn't know what happened, but Kagami looked afflicted, as if he were in a deep trouble with no way out. Kuroko didn't want to see him like that, so without thinking he had run to enter the court, approached Kagami and then called his name.

When Kagami lifted his face and found him, he neither flinched nor looked surprised. Kuroko didn't know if Kagami heard his voice or if it was just coincidence that he looked upward just after Kuroko called him. It was kind of hard to figure out with how used Kuroko was to being ignored. But, Kuroko did know one thing.

Kagami apparently had no energy left to feel surprised by Kuroko's sudden appearance near him. He seemed kind of bemused, deeply preoccupied with his own mind. But then, Kagami forced a smile as he called Kuroko's name.

Kagami-kun shouldn't have forced a smile to anyone-was the first thought that entered Kuroko when he saw it.

Right after, Kagami leaned forward and Kuroko was honestly taken aback when the taller red head suddenly rested his head on Kuroko's shoulder, Kagami's hands slipping on Kuroko's side, covering his waist and back and then embracing him as if Kuroko was someone dear to Kagami. Kuroko's face heated and his heart rate increased rapidly, and he was sure it pounded so hard such that if there were people at the other end of the court, they would hear it.

Kagami must have heard it too, but the red head didn't mention it and just held him tighter, until Kuroko had to reach for him too, holding onto him for leverage because he didn't trust his legs not to wobble at that moment. Kagami's body was so warm, his arms enveloping him strongly, his breath puffing quietly near his ticklish neck and Kuroko almost shuddered feeling the heat of Kagami's exhalation on his skin even behind his light blue scarf.

It was like… a moment of weakness that Kagami showed him. Kuroko had no idea what was wrong, but Kagami was not a type of person that would show this side of him to someone that he didn't trust. Having been one of those people that was allowed to see him vulnerable kind of pleased Kuroko, but the bigger part of Kuroko, the rational one, was more concerned to the fact that Kagami had been distressed at all.

What can possibly bother Kagami-kun to this extent?-Kuroko certainly wanted to know. If he could do something about it, he wanted to help. However, Kagami kept silent and they stayed in that position for a few minutes. After Kagami seemed to calm enough, he slowly released Kuroko's body, to Kuroko's unspoken disappointment. After all, who wouldn't be happy getting embraced by their crush?

"Sorry, Kuroko. I'm fine now. Let's go eat at Maji. I'm hungry."

Kagami had grinned again after that. It was still rather stiff, but it wasn't forced like before. Kuroko sighed slightly in relief. Did he help at some point? He still didn't know what had troubled Kagami, but at least if he could be there when Kagami needed a place to lean on, Kuroko would be satisfied with it… for now.

"Yes, let's do that." Kuroko had agreed and accompanied Kagami to Majiba.

However, seeing Kagami's order at this very moment, it seemed that Kuroko had completely underestimated the depth of Kagami's problem. The red head had lost some appetite! It must have been quite big if the stress even caused the glutton to lose his will to eat.

Kuroko was truthfully very concerned. Of course, they had only known each other for some months, only met a few times and those meetings were not exactly epic like in the movies. However, for Kuroko… those insignificant meetings were very important, and even though his feeling for the red head was one-sided, Kuroko only wanted to stay together, no matter if he was just a friend to Kagami. Kuroko still wanted to help him as much as he could; to see Kagami smile and laugh in spirit, his eyes alight in childish joy as he saw the good basketball game.

"Kagami-kun," Kuroko couldn't hold down his curiosity it any longer. He needed to hear some answers now. "What happened?"

Kagami paused mid biting his burger and slowly glanced up at Kuroko who looked at him evenly. The tall red head resumed his biting and chewing until he gulped down the food before putting down his half eaten burger. Kuroko noted that he ate slower than usual as well.

"It's nothing," Kagami answered after seeming to consider. "It's just a problem at school." He gave Kuroko a small smile and Kuroko knew he shouldn't pry, but if he wanted to help Kagami, he had to.

"I know this is not my business, but it pains me seeing Kagami-kun so… gloomy. If there is something I can do to help, please do not hesitate to ask me for it," Kuroko stated monotonously before he took another suck of his shake.

Kagami looked stunned for a moment before he chuckled. "Thanks. Then let me take you on that offer."

Kuroko didn't expect that Kagami would take it so well. He was almost certain that Kagami would be offended and lash out at him for being meddlesome, but man… Kagami was more unpredictable than he had thought. Kuroko realized that he still had ways to go before he understood Kagami completely.

"Be my guest, Kagami-kun," Kuroko smiled encouragingly. "Anything for you."

Kagami finished his burger before he started speaking. "Have you ever felt so disappointed in something that you really respect and trust wholeheartedly?"

Kuroko paid attention to Kagami's hunched form. He hid the lower half of his face with his joined hands which elbows were supported by the flat table. Kagami's eyes were fixated on the wooden surface, seeming to follow the wood-line pattern in total interest. In reality, Kuroko knew that Kagami was probably far-flung in his head, trying to perform words that could express his problem without revealing too much.

"Are you disappointed in something?" Kuroko didn't reply Kagami's question because it wasn't about himself, but Kagami.

"When my parents decided to send me back to Japan, I was really upset. I expected that they would at least understand that basketball is very important to me, that they would trust me to take care of myself when I was hurt and had to recuperate there. But instead, they decided that my friends were too rowdy for me and that they would cause me to get injured repeatedly in the future, so they cut me out of them by sending me away, back to Japan where my parents thought it would be safe. I understand that they only want to keep me from getting hurt again and I respect their decision. Still, I at least expect that one of them would be there with me, you know. I know they are busy, but I only ask for their attention, only for a little while, and yet… they decided that their work is too important to leave alone even if it's for me.

"I was very disappointed that I couldn't spend more times with them. More than getting injured, I was dejected that I would have to be alone facing this trial in life." Kagami closed his eyes, inhaling deeply before letting it go slowly.

Kuroko was silent, taking Kagami's confession word to word to understand if there was a hidden meaning, somewhere, but he didn't find any. From what he heard so far, Kuroko understood that Kagami was pretty lonely. His parents were worried about him, but they were apparently too busy to give him some attention.

"Still, I know they love me very much, just like I love them," Kagami continued, opening his crimson eyes again. This time, Kuroko didn't see any doubt in his statement. He believed sincerely that what he said was true. "Though I wish for them to be there with me, I know they only preferred what was best for me, so I buried all my dissatisfaction and went with their wish. I came to Japan in hope to heal quickly and then play basketball again in formal court with new friends."

At this point, Kagami smiled, but a few seconds later, his smile faded and his expression once again darkened. "However, once again I expect too much. I am still too naïve. I read and heard somewhere that Japanese people were hard-working and hard to give up once they decided their mind to succeed something. Even though there was this annoying seniority shit, I believed that the seniors would guide their juniors to their successful paths. But apparently, this doesn't apply to everyone in general. It is common sense, the right thing to do, but some people just don't have the same idea as that idealism!"

At Kagami's raised voice and his contorted expression, Kuroko instantly understood what the problem was. "Kagami-kun had a fight with his senior." He nodded in understanding.

Kagami visibly winced before he looked upward at Kuroko in sore expression. "H-how could you possibly conjure up such conclusion from my explanation?"

"You seem angry most when you talked about seniority and how they do not seem to follow common sense," Kuroko exclaimed tonelessly and Kagami grinded his teeth in frustration because Kuroko could read him so easily. Well, Kuroko was extraordinarily observant, even Akashi said so, so he himself could be proud of his ability to read people.

"Bulls eye, that's how it is. I had a fight with a few of my seniors… and some guys in my year, even my juniors," Kagami grumbled, letting out a long suffering sigh.

Kuroko was sweating slightly as he heard that. "Just what did you do to offend so many people, Kagami-kun?" It wasn't simply about seniority, apparently.

"What the hell made you think that I was the one who did something?" Kagami growled, his gaze rather burning.

"Well, when a person did something that threatens his community order, the members of the community will retaliate, right? It is also a common sense." Kuroko shrugged, sucking a half-mouthful of shake from the white straw right after.

"Even though such order is wrong?" Kagami still pouted, seeming disgruntled.

"Then, you can be Galileo and get executed until someone else proves the truth of your theory and belief," Kuroko chided slowly.

Kagami frowned deeply at that, looking completely baffled and mystified. "You don't make any sense, Kuroko."

Kuroko sighed slightly. "What I mean is; you will not be able to fight the community order by yourself. If you believe that you are the right one, at least gather some people that have the same idea as yours and prove that you are the right one by showing those people your sincerity. I am sure your determination and hard work to make true of your words will move their heart and they will eventually support your idealism," he explained.

"Showing... my determination…" Kagami widened his crimson eyes slightly, seeming astounded, and looked like he was remembering something before his expression softened. "I see…" he closed his eyes after that. "But what if I'm already cut out from that community?"

Kuroko looked upward slightly in surprise. By the look of Kagami's uneasy expression, this community was probably… a club? No way. Kagami-kun quits his club? A basketball club?-Kuroko gulped silently before he closed his eyes as well.

"Then… apology is the first step to reconciliation." Kuroko opened his eyes again conclusively. "Sometimes being the first one to apologize means being the winner, Kagami-kun."

Kagami was quiet after that. He stared at his cola for a few seconds before he lifted the glass and drank until the last drop. "I'll think about it."

Kagami said that, but Kuroko knew that Kagami probably wouldn't apologize because he wasn't in the wrong. Still, if Kagami quitted basketball club now, he wouldn't be able to enter official basketball match. He should have realized that being stubborn would do him nothing good. If it was a disagreement in the club about position or seniority, the club was stupid for giving up on Kagami's talent, but if it was something more fundamental… like their determination in being serious in basketball… then Kagami should be the one to do something to change that gap, not the one to give up first.

I hope Kagami-kun can realize that soon.

~Kagami x Kuroko~

"Sometimes being the first one to apologize means being the winner, Kagami-kun…"

Kagami stared dazedly at the closed gym from the rooftop. He imagined the club basket was practicing inside at the moment, and was itching to see and join them. Still, even though it had been almost three weeks since then, he hadn't yet made any attempt to make an apology to the club. Although he didn't file the official request to quit the club, he also didn't want to go back like a sore loser, showing everyone how he was regretting his own rash decision and action in the heat of anger.

"This is so not cool…" Kagami groaned pitifully, hiding his peeved face behind crossed arms on the inner railing of the rooftop. He didn't know why he was being such a mulish ass. At this point, the preliminary match would soon start and the basketball club would have to participate without him. And after his doctor gave Kagami a green light to play basketball again as he pleased too…

Kagami had made some arrangements with a sport trainer in sport training facility in Shibuya to reshape his physical condition, so he could train his body without hindering his rehabilitation for basketball purpose. Now, how could he show the fruit of his effort if he wasn't even in the match?

This was getting absurd. Kagami knew he would lose more than his basketball club in this useless battle to defend his ego. He knew in his head that apologizing first was the right thing to do, but it still pissed him off that the basketball club also didn't make any effort to reach him either. So, it meant that they didn't need Kagami, right? How infuriating!

Kagami's blood began to boil again at the annoying thought. His seniors surely underestimated him just because he was still in rehab. He would definitely show them that he was the right one. Though… how he would do that was still fuzzy.

A few minutes flew by unnoticed while Kagami was raking his brain to find a solution to his problem. Then, he vaguely heard sound of the door to the stairs being opened and closed, but he wasn't in the mood to deal with anyone at that moment, so he ignored whoever it was that was approaching him.

"Being down isn't like you at all."

Kagami cringed slightly hearing such distinct voice. Crap-the word even crossed his jumbled mind. He knew that voice. The light tone and easy manner gave his identity away. Kagami slowly turned around and faced the person that had greeted him.

"Ki-…Kiyoshi-senpai…" Kagami nodded at the smiling older teen cautiously. Frankly, he wasn't ready to see him because he didn't know how to deal with Kiyoshi after Kagami had disappointed him by quitting the basketball club.

He's surely angry…-Kagami didn't want to see Kiyoshi mad at him. How should he explain his action then?

"What's with that scary face? Are you constipated?" Kiyoshi huffed out a small laugh, looking amused as Kagami fell over comically.

"How on earth does this expression look like that?!" Kagami couldn't help screeching at his senior. Seriously, why was Kiyoshi so quirky?

"Huh? You aren't?" Kiyoshi tilted his head aside slightly in incomprehension.

"Of course not! I'm in the middle of thinking!" Kagami snapped. He knew he shouldn't have taken his anger out on Kiyoshi, but his senior wasn't helping him at all by being so weird. Furthermore, he really didn't want to handle Kiyoshi and his oddity right now.

"I see… of course even Kagami has something to think about," Kiyoshi laughed again.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Kagami growled, rather aggravated. Just now, he felt like he was being insulted despite Kiyoshi's innocent tone.

"No, well… I stopped by the club yesterday, but Kagami wasn't there. Taking a break from basketball?" Kiyoshi didn't seem to notice that Kagami was upset with him, or he just plainly ignored it. But his question made Kagami grimace.

"Taking a break…" Kagami muttered bitterly. "Did they tell you that?"

"Nope, I just assumed. I didn't talk with the others. I figured they're unwilling to talk to me," Kiyoshi sighed slightly, still smiling but a little rueful.

"Why?" Now, it was Kagami's turn to be puzzled. Kiyoshi contributed a lot of strategies in the team formation and play despite already resigning from the club. It was perplexing if they didn't want to speak with him.

"Because I left?" Kiyoshi seemed a bit regretful at that.

"Kiyoshi-senpai has a family condition…" Kagami said slowly, furrowing his brow. "If you could stay, you wouldn't leave them."

"Yeah… it's unfortunate that I have no choice but to take a break because of my family circumstances. Still, all people have their own conditions, so does Kagami, right?" Kiyoshi turned to face Kagami again with a nice smile on his face.

Seeing Kiyoshi's understanding expression and trustful tone, Kagami widened his eyes slightly in shock. Kiyoshi's words stabbed him right in the heart.

Senpai is right…! Senpai is the one that wants to stay most, but he can't because of his family situation… and I, what kind of condition I'm in at this moment? When my leg was injured and I couldn't play… weren't I the one that insisted on joining the club? Even though I realized that I could only watch for the time being… I just wanted to be part of basketball. I hoped to be healed quickly, so I would be able to dribble the basketball, run around the court and jump to shoot. I just wanted to play… and I'm the only one that stops myself from playing my beloved sport now!

"Senpai… why do they give up before they face the GoM once again…? Don't they at least want to take revenge on what happened last summer?" Kagami asked, not knowing what to do to change their mind about it.

"I don't know. But, you can change that, can't you?" Kiyoshi reached out his hand, ruffling Kagami's red hair affectionately. "Seeing you work hard on your basketball to defeat the GoM, they might find a slither of hope to beat those miracle ones together with you."

Kagami made up his mind after witnessing such raw faith in Kiyoshi's eyes for his ability.

~Kagami x Kuroko~

Kagami took a deep breath before he knocked on the clubroom door. The basketball club manager opened the door and looked upward at him in surprise. "Ka-Kagami-kun…"

"I want to see captain and coach," Kagami said intensely and the girl yelped slightly before nodding and scrambling to call the senior and the basketball club advisor.

A few minutes later the basketball captain showed up first. Upon seeing Kagami's face, his expression darkened. "What do you want? Oh, right… giving your resignation letter formally?" he gave him a sinister spat and Kagami had to grit his teeth to stop himself from glowering.

Kagami had to remind himself that the one who was wounded by the devastating loss last time was his senior and not him. He counted to ten before he exhaled slowly and then fixed his gaze at the captain in determination.

"What?" the captain asked defensively when Kagami suddenly bowed at him.

"I'm sorry for snapping at you and the club three weeks ago. I'd like to take back my verbal resignation and once again join the basketball club," Kagami said coolly and somberly.

The captain gaped like a fish out of water. "Pardon?"

Kagami's eyebrows twitched. "I'm sorry for saying such harsh thing to you and the club, captain. But don't get me wrong. I still mean what I said before. I seriously want to defeat the Generation of Miracle. I know all of you are traumatized by that loss, but giving up a match before trying our best still doesn't sit well with me. I won't force you to cooperate with me, but please give me a chance to prove that we aren't inferior to them."

Kagami was still in bowing position. It killed him on the inside that he had to bow to another person for something that he could argue casually in America with his other friends, but if it was for his basketball, he could do this. He wanted to play basketball with a team. He would convince them with his own basketball that they could be on par… or even better than the GoM.

"You…" the captain looked at Kagami heatedly. "As I thought, you're an arrogant bastard that doesn't know how to give up!"

"I don't care what you think of me, but I can't play basketball alone, captain. I need a team. I know how strong Generation of Miracle team is. I saw their play in the video, but I don't think we are worse than them as a team. With the right team play and formation, we can be on par with them." Kagami said surely.

"On par…? You must have lost your mind," the captain scoffed sneeringly. "Fine, do whatever you want. You can try your best and taste the same hell as we did last time." Then he walked away, not sparing Kagami another glance.

With such mindset, don't even talk about the GoM, can they even last in preliminaries?-Kagami scowled deeply. He shook his head, chasing out such disheartening thought. Don't start feeling anxious now, me! I've decided it. Now, I'll speak to the coach about it.

~Kagami x Kuroko~

"You rejoined the club?" Kuroko's eyes lit up after Kagami gave him the good news via telephone.

Today was Saturday afternoon and there was no club activity because tomorrow would be the start of the winter championship preliminary. Kagami made a particular call to Kuroko's house that day. "Yah, you're the first one to know outside my basketball club,"-he said with a light humor in his tone, making Kuroko's heart flutter.

"That is very nice, Kagami-kun. I am glad for you," Kuroko smiled as well now, his cheeks warming. He was happy that Kagami thought of him first to share such delight. It was almost like because Kuroko was special for Kagami or something, and he felt good about it.

"Yeah, and the preliminary will start tomorrow, right? Have you known who your first opponent is?"-Kagami's excited voice made Kuroko's kind of eager as well.

"Yes, it is a basketball team from Adachi Middle. What is yours?"

"It's from St. Joseph. I heard they have a very strong center…"

Kagami's pleasant, clear, animated voice was like music to Kuroko's ear. Hearing his pumped up words and lines reassured Kuroko that Kagami was alright. He was worried that Kagami had been down for weeks after leaving his club which such animosity, but he was glad that Kagami took his advice and made the first move to patch things up.

"I hope we can meet in final," Kuroko wished out loud and he heard Kagami sputter from the earpiece.

"Y-you… such confidence is… somehow…"-Kagami sounded annoyed and uncomfortable, but Kuroko could almost picture his reddening face from his stumbling words. It was honestly adorable. "Well, I'd like that too, though…"

Kuroko smiled tenderly. Now he wanted to see Kagami's face after speaking with him. Ah, he knew he was being greedy, but Kuroko couldn't help it. He yearned to meet Kagami.

Kuroko bit his lower lip, contemplating to ask if they could, but before he had a chance to voice his request, Kagami beat him to it. "Na, Kuroko, are you free right now? I kinda want to go buy a new basketball in Shibuya. Do you want to go with me?"

Kuroko was surprised that Kagami would ask him first, but he was elated that he could see him with this pretense. "Sure, I want to look for a new pair of wristbands as well."

"Great! Let's meet at the station in an hour then. See ya!"

"See you, Kagami-kun." Kuroko let out a content sigh after he hung up the phone. He couldn't contain his smile as he hurried to his room to retrieve his wallet and he even spared a glance at his reflection in the mirror. He tidied his hair before he realized what he was doing and flushed slightly at how self conscious he was about it.

Dear god… I am acting like a girl…!-Kuroko berated himself inwardly, totally embarrassed as he immediately got out of his house and locked his door before he ran to the station, still blushing.

No one could blame Kuroko for feeling euphoric, okay? It was a shopping date with Kagami after all.

End of Chapter 8

Tbc...

A/N: This chapter is a mess. What's wrong with me? I actually wanted to make Kuroko console Kagami, but Kiyoshi played greater part in that T_T. Well, since Kuroko is a Teikou member, Kagami can't really say that there's an internal conflict in his own basketball club because it will be like giving away his school secret, but Kuroko will keep it to himself that he knew what Kagami's problem is. Now, they'll go on a date. How I should proceed from here, I wonder…

Chapter 9

Chapter 7