#mayukaga

“Then why aren’t you eating more?” He replied frowning a bit “Did you eat some good stuff when I wasn’t around and now you don’t want more of my food?”

“I said it’s not like that. What are you anyway?” He joked with his deadpan face before adding a bit hastily “My jealous girlfriend?” Somehow, one could say it was his way to test his odds with the redhead.

“W-who’s a girlfriend?” Kagami replied in a loud voice, frowning a little “I-If you don’t want the bento just say it already!”

“I said it’s not like that” the white haired replied, moving the bento away when Kagami tried to took it back, already having finished his own “And, about that… Kuroko was it? Didn’t the managers told you who he was?”

“Eh?” it took some seconds for Kagami to change back to the previous conversation topic and reply “No, they didn’t knew… I tried asking Akashi, but he wouldn’t told me”

Mayuzumi flinched just a bit to Akashi’s name… So he had asked the other boy before asking him.

“If data-freak Kairi and nosy Mako doesn’t know, then why did you thought I would?” He said, purposefully keeping Akashi’s name out of his list.

“Don’t know. It just felt like you would know” Kagami shrugged a bit, stills checking the almost full bento box in Mayuzumi’s hands.

“What kind of logic is that anyway?” He replied shaking his head in disbelief, taking a new bite of food “And why do you care so much about someone that’s not even in the data books?”

“That’s the thing! He was really awesome, like I couldn’t see him at all” He explained with light in his eyes, making the white haired almost choke in the food he was so pleasantly enjoying “But he did this pass thing! It was just, woah!”

Mayuzumi’s sight darkened a bit… Why was a boy that had just appeared making Kagami’s eyes light up like that? It was not FUCKING FAIR AT ALL! He had been doing all the work of dealing with him and hearing him out and stopping himself from jumping over him and still, he wouldn’t talk about him with that expression. And now, the original sixth man just appeared to take him? As if he was laughing at him for being a lousy second generation?

“Woah, so awesome” He said with a sarcastic monotone, opening the book he had closed to look better at the face he had missed so much in the last days but that now was making him feel angry.

“I know, right?” Kagami smiled and Mayuzumi felt like hitting him with the book “It made me think of you right away! I thought it might be a known of you or something. Since you hardly talk about yourself I thought I had find some secret of yours…”

Mayuzumi lifted his face. Still unable to believe what he was hearing, he found himself staring at Kagami’s dazzling smile. Now, that was too much for him. Feeling his face burning in embarrassment, he stayed like that even after the bell rang and Kagami ran back to class.

His bento was still unfinished… Feeling like the bell had saved him from a possibly awkward conversation, he awkwardly smiled at himself for a while. The bento he hadn’t been able to eat in those days was tastier than he remembered.

**The emperor’s watchdog**

“So, Taiga” Taking advantage of the space between classes, Akashi had just got up from his desk and was now standing beside Kagami’s seat. He looked down at the tiger who was still siting and giving him a reassuring smile, continued “Were you able to find any use in the trip?”

“All the teams you ordered me to watch were amazing” He replied with a sincere smile “I just want to play against them as soon as possible!”

Akashi smiled, as if everything had gone according to his plan.

“As if you could” He teased, getting a quite adorable frown from the tiger.

“Ah, by the way, I was wanting to ask you something” Akashi frowned a bit, wondering if he wanted to ask about Kuroko once more. After all, he had been quite intense about it before “When I was in the hotel, Mako-san asked me something”

“Mako did?” Akashi’s frown disappeared and changed into a suspicious look

“She was acting so weird about my special training” He explained clumsily “She was getting really worked up on it”

“Was she? What exactly did she said?” He asked getting even more interested in it.

“I don’t know, she kept asking about how good you were and said it was really sexy when I said you were a genius in anything you do”

Akashi blushed a bit at the last comment, as he was being complemented in a very direct way by the subject of his feelings. However, just as the other redhead, he was in complete lost about what could that mean.

Nevertheless, he almost die of embarrassment when later that day Reo explained to him, with extreme clarity and unnecessary detail, the fantasies of the girl.

**The emperor’s watchdog**

Flashes everywhere, news reporters following them like flies, impossibly strong cheering coming from the grades. Akashi seemed like a fish in the water. Putting strength in every steps he took, as affirming he wouldn’t move even one inch out of his way for them. And as if he wasn’t strong enough on his own, the team he had formed followed his very steps with the security of those who firmly believe in their own victory.

Even from the grades Kagami felt chills going down his spine as their entered the stadium, even forgetting the chants he should say. Even when he remembered, his voice lacked strength getting engulfed in his surroundings.

So that was what a national level team felt like. They felt way stronger and impassible than the teams he had seen in his research trip, like the King they were presented as in the media… The interviews that could be seen in the giant screens about the court also showed just how experimented was Akashi in terms of managing the media. Perfect answers with perfect timing… One could said it was just as expected from him, but Kagami felt something was off.

He felt… more distant and cold than usual. As if he were a robot prepared to reply with exactitude to anything he was asked.

**The emperor’s watchdog**

Wanting to play as badly as he wanted to, he couldn’t enjoy even one bit staying in the grades and cheering from there. It felt too far away. He could hardly hear anything beside the “Go Rakuzan” cheers around him, and he had a hard time looking what happened from there.

The team that played right now was half the bench and half the starters. Mayuzumi and Kotaro stood for the starters, the rest of the spaces being filled by the bench. Meanwhile the other two Uncrowned Generals and Akashi seemed to have a very relaxed time in the bench.

Weren’t they going out to play?

In the meantime before the third quart, Kagami went for some food to fill his growling stomach. The game was being controlled by the team he cheered for, but since they weren’t even playing with all their starters, he didn’t felt much like cheering. Not that he had any liking for cheering from the start.

Stupid Mayuzumi. If he hadn’t asked him to go cheering he wouldn’t have felt so compelled to show his face there. He could be doing something much more useful like training himself for getting into the first string.

“I just want to see you there, have any problem with that?” Had been Mayuzumi’s incomprehensible words.

Now that he thought about that, Akashi had asked him to cheer too. That lazy bastard wasn’t even playing! Like what was he supposed to cheer? His sitting in the bench the whole time??

“If you cheer our team, I’m sure even I can make a better performance” Akashi had said at some point, in such a tangled way Kagami had wondered what exactly did he meant with that.

They were just unbelievable… And there he was, flustering for no reason as he rushed to buy some hotdogs. If he didn’t put something in his mouth soon, he would end up eating the lemons he had made for them before giving it to them…

**The emperor’s watchdog**

The last quarter was crushingly amazing. The opposite team had nothing to do when the rest of the Uncrowned Generals and Akashi stepped in the court. The score gap just kept getting wider until they were completely crushed.

That was the play-style of the Kings.

**The emperor’s watchdog**

“Akashi!” Kagami called as soon as Akashi got out from the changing room. Since the smaller redhead stopped to his words, he rushed to his side in order to speak to him and hand the bento with honey lemons to him “Your plays were amazing! The whole game was just awesome!” He complimented him with a smile, trying to get an opportunity to give him the box.

“Awesome? It was impossible for me to lose” Those eyes, they were just like before, when he would make him trip for standing in his way “Since they opposed me, they had no other option but to be defeated”

Kagami knew he was wrong before. It wasn’t like before. It was way worst. A stare so cold it let him speechless, words so cruel it didn’t seemed to come from the same person he admired so much… Was that really the same Akashi?

“Is that all?” He asked back with a cold arrogance. Kagami flinched “Reply”

“I… I just wanted… to give you this” He mumbled softly. He still wasn’t sure about handing it over to such a cold Akashi, but he decided it was better than not doing so “As thanks… for the training and all. You worked hard today”

Akashi’s stare softened to those words. His left eye closing tightly for some seconds, as Kagami panicked over his dead-cold stare.

“If you want, please eat them” Kagami forced the words out of his trembling mouth.

Akashi stayed silent. He could perceive a deliciously sweet smell coming from the box. Even though it awakened his appetite, he couldn’t bring himself to receive it.

“Oh, so sweet of you! Sei-chan will be glad to receive it!” Reo jumped in with a forced smile. Even if Akashi felt like ruining his chances, he wouldn’t let him “Thanks, Taiga-chan”

“R-reo-nee?” before he could ask anything, the black haired snapped the box from his hands and gently pushed Akashi’s shoulder.

“We need to get going. See you later, love” He waved back as he started to get away. Right after, Akashi followed him without saying anything to Kagami.

Clenching his chest, Kagami stared at the floor. His heart wrenched to that gesture of indifference.

“Don’t get so gloomy. He’s always like that” Mayuzumi appeared out of nowhere, Kagami jumping to a side at those words “You’re too much of a scary-cat”

“I’m not! Just stop appearing out of nowhere!” He shouted back. His attempt of punch being easily dodged by the other boy.

“I’ve been here for a while, you know?” Mayuzumi replied lifting an eyebrow, hands in his pockets as he turned around Kagami.

“No way” Kagami’s eyebrow twitched a bit and his cheeks got a small blush. He didn’t knew why, but knowing that Mayuzumi had seen it made him feel… embarrassed to say the least.

“Well, just cheer up” The silver haired commented with a shrug “It’s really disgusting to see you sulking over the midget”

“I’m not sulking” he barked as always and Mayuzumi’s eyes smiled a bit.

“That’s what I like. Well, I should get going too” He said as goodbye. His feet following without much excitement the backs of the rest of the team.

“Wait” Kagami called and he turned around “Here, this one’s for you!” With a wide smile, the tiger threw the lunch box at Mayuzumi. The awkward catching he made of the box making him laugh in a loud voice before adding “I ate two of those lemons because I was getting hungry”

“I hope you mean two slices and not two whole lemons” Mayuzumi said jokingly.

“Who knows?” The tiger laughed, turning his back on him as he waved goodbye.

“You glutton” Mayuzumi mumbled, turning his back as well and walking over to the rest of the team. In his mind, wondering if the rest of the lemons kept even a little taste of Kagami’s flavor.

**The emperor’s watchdog**

“Here, have it. Don’t you dare throwing it away, you hear me?” Reo threatened without much strength, handing the box over to the captain “Your tiger made it especially for you, so be thankful”

“Kagami?” He asked. His eyes stared at something far away. Even his voice felt distant, as if he were speaking from inside a well.

“Are you ok?” Reo suddenly asked, dark eyebrows rising softly in concern.

“Yes, I’m fine” Akashi returned to his normal self, eyes fixed on Reo’s confused expression “Taiga’s homemade food” He smiled to himself opening the box with the excitement of a child in Christmas.

“Enjoy it” The older smiled at the happy face of his kouhai. He had a lot of questions about his attitude, but he decided to leave him enjoy his lemons first.

“Thanks” Reo rubbed his eyes and pinched his cheek, trying to make sure he hadn’t fall asleep.

“You’re welcome” He replied, smiling at Akashi’s soothing smile “But you should thank the person who did it, not me”

As if a savage beast had been calmed down, his expression now resembled a peaceful sea of warm emotions. Reo’s eyes weren’t wrong; Kagami was what Akashi needed the most.

**The emperor’s watchdog**

“You have to be kidding me” Mayuzumi’s voice, got to Kagami’s eyes while he walked down to practice. He was voicing his complain over something he didn’t got to hear, but the strangeness of that mild reaction, made Kagami curious about it.

“What’s up?” He asked, entering suddenly into the conversation.

“Oh, the giraffe” Mako greeted him with a mockingly smile. The silver haired getting a bit paler at his arrival.

If Mayuzumi’s reaction was strange (even though it was still pretty mild), it was even stranger than Makoto was the person he complained to. They didn’t seemed especially close or anything, so Kagami couldn’t stop wondering why he would talk to her of all people.

“Did something happened?” He asked bluntly and Mayuzumi dodged his gaze.

“I’ll go back to practice” The cod reply as the white haired rushed away made Kagami even more curious (and even a bit worried).

“What’s up with that?” He asked to the girl once Mayuzumi was out of their sight.

“It’s not something your long neck should worry about” She joked, skipping after Mayuzumi.

“Can you stop the giraffe jokes already?” He mumbled making her laugh.

“Nah”

**The emperor’s watchdog**

“Should it be the weekend before or the one right after?” The voice of Akashi got to his ears as soon as he closed the faucet. His fear for Akashi’s cold eyes had proven to be unjustified, as the next day the captain had acted as usual, and even know, he had turned back to his usual self.

“You’re overthinking again Sei-chan!” So he was talking to Reo. For which kind of problems did Akashi asked for Reo’s opinion so earnestly? The curiosity made him chase them.

With a towel around his neck and his hair dripping wet, as he had been cooling down with the water, Kagami appeared in front of the small captain.

“Are you going anywhere this weekend?” He asked, the emperor almost tripping as he retreated, completely pale.

“I-I’m not” he replied trying to remain cool and terribly failing at it.

“Actually” Reo stepped once more “He’s going to buy some new sneakers this weekend, right Sei-chan?”

“Y-yes” The contradiction the small redhead has just spoke made everything weirder.

“I was just thinking I need to get some sneakers too!” He said without minding much the strange attitude of both boys “But my size is kinda difficult to find, and I don’t know where to get some in here”

“What a coincidence in deed!” Reo laughed forcefully, elbowing the captain into some words.

“You might come with me” The captain recovered some calmness with those words “I can show you some places”

“Really, that’d be great!” He smiled dazzlingly. Then, as he remembered something, he added as he scrapped his nape “Can we meet up in some station? I get quite lost when it comes to directions”

“Sure, I’ll be sure to send the information for the rendezvous to your phone” Akashi replied, recovering his usual attitude at last.

“Really? That’d be awesome!” He replied with a smile “Then, to this weekend”

Now he was sure of his feelings, and Reo repeated all day that they were probably reciprocate. But, that didn’t answered to what should he do. Where was the guide of “How to properly seduce someone” he could use so badly at the moment? Should he turn into a closer friend of Kagami? Should he confess his feelings? Should he try something else?

And moreover, what would happen if they really started dating…

Even the happiest turn of events turned dark at his eyes, for he couldn’t see any future after that. His father wouldn’t allow him, not to talk about the school. It would be some dark, hidden relation and beyond that… What could Akashi possibly win from that relationship? What could he give Kagami? Could they get “happiness” whatever that word meant?

He had been alone for too long…

His left eye closed as he sighed… He had once had a friend, a friend that had told him he could never get to love someone the way he was… A friend that cried in front of him and told him he could only get destroyed if he didn’t changed…

And even though he always let that slide as a stupid comment from a scared insect… The truth was, he felt scared. He feared that those words were true.

**The emperor’s watchdog**

“Special mission?” Kagami’s eyebrow lifted “What kind of…?”

“Nothing too hard. Just to collect some information” Akashi explained with soft, clear words “Tape all the matches from the Kanto finals”

“But… why me? I don’t even know how to move in Tokyo” He babbled his reply, receiving with extreme care and fear the camera that Akashi handed him.

“Don’t worry, two managers of the team that are from Tokyo will guide you” The redhead solved the problem in those two connected sentences.

“B-but, then, there’s no need for me to…” Kagami tried to complain but Akashi’s red and gold eyes froze him in his place.

“Are you planning to make me repeat myself, Taiga?” Even from his cute 1.72 cm of height, Akashi’s glare had enough power to make the almost 20 cm taller boy shiver.

“U-understood… I’ll go” He gulped “But…”

“What is it?” Akashi questioned, slightly curious.

“S-shouldn’t I… train or something? I mean, I haven’t been able to get to the first string yet…” He scratched his nape, his eyes fidgeting around him as he spoke.

“You will get something you are lacking if you go” Akashi replied, not trying to be specially mysterious, just thinking that Kagami could understand his train of thought only with that… And Kagami couldn’t tell him he didn’t…

So the conversation just ended there.

**The emperor’s watchdog**

“Look! It’s the idiot looking redhead giraffe” The girl said widening her eyes and pointing rudely at Kagami’s face.

“Mako… You shouldn’t point at people and call them names” The other girl forced her to lower her hand, bowing lightly as apologize to the redhead “Good morning, Kagami-kun, we’ve been waiting for you”

“Kairi? Did you knew about this guy?” The other manager asked in disbelieve.

“Yes, Akashi-kun told me we had to guide him” The girl smiled and Mako frowned a bit.

“Well, there’s nothing to do I guess” She sighed “Get on board giraffe” His thumb pointing at the metro they were supposed to get in.

“Can you stop calling me that?” Kagami asked.

“You are 50 cm taller than me… how else am I supposed to call you?” She joked heading in and Kagami just sighed… it was going to be hell.

Sitting in his assigned seat, Kagami put his headphones on and started to read a Japanese basketball magazine, with special articles of the Generation of Miracles. After all, he was right in his way to see them play for the first time in his life.

**The emperor’s watchdog**

“Why did you send Kagami away?” Mayuzumi asked harshly, as there was no one else in the changing room to hear their conversation “Are you planning something?”

“Maybe” Akashi asked, upset by Mayuzumi’s tone and accusations “However, that is not of you incumbency”

“Is that so?” Mayuzumi lifted an eyebrow “You see… Maybe at this moment we are tied, but I won’t let you get him without finishing my opportunities first”

“Is that some kind of threat?” Akashi frowned.

“No. I’m just telling you, that until Kagami falls for one of us, I won’t give up”

Akashi frowned as Mayuzumi disappeared through the door… He said something unpleasantly familiar, even if now it wasn’t related to basketball.

**The emperor’s watchdog**

“Seirin?” Kagami tilted his head to a side “I don’t remember seeing that name before”

“It’s from a new school” Kairi explained “It opened last year, so it only has second and first years. But last year they got pretty far in the InterHigh”

“With only first years?” He asked, eyes like fried eyes.

“Yep” The girl played with her wavy hair as he replied, looking down at the notebook with Akashi’s hand-writing “It’s in the list and it’s underlined, which means it’s a priority”

“Maybe Scary Captain see them as a threat” Mako said leaning over the silver railing “However, I don’t think they are so great. We should just focus in Shuutoku and Touou, they have members from the Generation of Miracles”

Kagami took a look at the magazine and checked for the current teams of the stars… They were right. Midorima Shintarou and Aomine Daiki. He wondered if they were as cool as the magazine pretended them to be. To say the least they had been in the same team as Akashi, so they couldn’t be bad.

Taking carefully Akashi’s camera, Kagami started to record as soon as the match began, eyes fixed on the movements of the ball. They had some good players, but they weren’t a match for the Uncrowned Captains of Rakuzan… And then, as he was thinking there was really nothing to see, the ball turned in a boomerang shape… He rubbed his eyes trying to end the illusion but right after, the ball took another strange turn and then another. It couldn’t be that he was tired… There was something going on in the court.

A feeling of emptiness and an almost completely imperceptible smell came from the court… As the ball bounced, the smell of the snickers and the rubber ball, the sound of the sweat dripping in the floor and of the panels shaking with every throw… and beyond that, there was another smell, another sound, another breathing…

A dark shadow.

“M-mayuzumi?” It was impossible but the feeling was too familiar; it was as if Mayuzumi had turned way darker, way more “emptier”.

He had to wait for the end of the game to actually see with his eyes what he had felt with the rest of his body. The presence of another player… A blue haired small boy that somehow resembled Mayuzumi. Who was he? Kagami tried to ask to the girls, but they could hardly see him and didn’t remembered him from anywhere.

Kagami however, felt he had grasped the truth. It must be the reason for Akashi to check on that team. There was something important about him, something that had to do with his invisibility and with Mayuzumi…

Those blue eyes looked up from the court directly at him and Kagami’s breath stopped. That boy… He was sweating. They had won for such a small margin, and he had gave everything he had… Kagami could tell. And he also felt like cheering on him. He hoped he could get to the finals of the Inter-High.

**The emperor’s watchdog**

The rest were probably training, Kagami thought as he ran around the unknown streets of Tokyo, the sunrise marking his way. He still had to stay for another three days and tape the rest of the important matches, but he couldn’t just stop training… That’s why he was now running in circles bigger in every new lap, around the hotel, never losing it from sight.

He was getting excited. He know wanted to play more than ever, but he was still too far from getting to the first string. Maybe if he had entered a new school like Seirin he could have played from the start and could be in games and shouldn’t have to stay in the basic training. A dream that faded as soon as it appeared, for it would also mean he wouldn’t have get to know Mayuzumi or Akashi, and that he couldn’t be as strong as he was getting now…

It was no time to feeling down… On the contrary! It was just the right moment to get fired up and train even more!

**The emperor’s watchdog**

Akashi had two reasons to send Kagami away. The first, was completely logical. Since Kagami was such a hot-tempered player, showing him the power of his possible rivals would motivate him to train and help him improve, while giving him the sensation of frustration needed to evolve to a new level. The second, was completely emotional. He needed to be away from him so he could get his thoughts in order and come with a solution to his dilemma.

What did he felt for Kagami? Attraction, liking, maybe… the start of love.

How much did he liked him? Enough to try and fight to get him.

What did he liked the most about him? His smile, his gentleness, his handmade food.

What did he disliked the most about him? His bluntness, the way he would just get along with Mayuzumi better than with him.

Was that jealousy? Most likely.

What did he wanted from him? Closeness, familiarity, knowing things about him that could only be told by his own lips, things that couldn’t be found in a profile… A relationship like that of best friends or maybe more.

Was he willing to withdraw? Not a chance in hell.

**The emperor’s watchdog**

Now, Midorima Shintaro was the kind of person the word awesome was invented for. He looked cool, a bit distant and was damn good at three pointers. The nature of the weird, stuffed-animal-like-thing in the bench was something Kagami didn’t dared to ask, but the ability of the green haired could not be denied.

The motion of his shoots were so soft and so perfect, making such a high curve that almost, just almost, brushed the ceiling, before getting right in the ring without not even touching it. Breathing was impossible when the ball was in the air.

Just what were the Generation of Miracles?

**The emperor’s watchdog**

“Shin-chan, seems like we have some public” Takao smirked looking at the grades. The particular uniform of Rakuzan couldn’t hide in the grades even when there was so many people. “They should have made a better work hiding”

“They don’t need to hide” Midorima replied staring at them. Two girls and one really tall boy, maybe a part of the team? But why would he be there instead of playing with the rest? Maybe he was just a bench member? But he had an aura, a presence, that didn’t felt like a bench member at all. What was Akashi planning exactly?

“You’re making a scary face” Takao joked.

“Shut up” Midorima turned all the way around and walked away.

**The emperor’s watchdog**

“Oi, giraffe” Mako passed her hands around Kagami’s waist, brushing his fingers slowly against his skin, arousing him so suddenly he surprised, jumped away with a low moan. He was brushing his teeth in his own room, in the middle of the night and he hadn’t heard her enter. Just as if it was a ghost.

“Stop calling me that” He replied bothered.

“So sensitive~ So, what’s your thing with Scary Captain?” She asked, dead serious.

“T-thing?” He asked passing his hands over his waist, trying to get rid of the weird sensation the girl had left on his skin.

“You know… People was saying that you two were really close in the training camp and stuff” She chuckled.

“He was giving me some special training” He replied innocently

“OooooOOOH, Is that how you guys call it? Special training?” She grinned blushing a bit making Kagami feel they were talking about different things “And what? Is he like really good? Or like bad? Or like acceptable good?”

“Well” Kagami gave it a bit of thought “It was rough and tiring. By the end of the week it hurt so much I felt like I couldn’t keep going, but he wouldn’t give me any rest”

“Oh, god sacred! Is that for real?” The girl kept getting red and Kagami just couldn’t understand why was her so excited about it. “But, but, was it good? Did you liked it?”

“Y-yeah” He replied a bit confused “I mean, he knows what he is doing, he is really a genius in everything he does”

“Aagghhh” The girl left a sound that was a bit of a growl and a bit of a moan that made Kagami retreat two steps “That’s so… sexy”

“S-sexy?” Kagami’s red eyes widened until there was more white than red.

“But like, be more specific!! I’m dying to know how he does it” She almost jumped over him

“The normal… just, running and lifting and some muscle training. I’m still doing it here”

“W-wait…” The girl got a bit pale “Are you… talking about… training?”

“Y-yes… Weren’t you?”

The girl blushed like crazy, laughed like stupid for like 10 minutes, sighed and then went out without saying anything else, leaving a very confused Kagami not knowing what exactly was she asking about…

**The emperor’s watchdog**

Aomine Daiki… since the moment the tanned boy entered the court Kagami failed to breathe correctly and felt his heart raising without reason. It was almost the end of the game and it wasn’t for more than some scarce minutes, but it was so great he almost jumped to the court.

Speed that could hardly be followed by the naked eye, the incredible shouts that somehow entered from the weirdest places and the movements that were in extreme hard to predict pumped him to the point of making him want to run 100 laps. He was so amazingly good… It was a good different from the overwhelming Akashi, it was somewhat more fluid and dynamic, and more like himself.

He wanted to play against him. He wanted to beat him in his own game. He wanted to be able to beat the crap out of that pretentious bastard and his stupid smirk… He wanted to be in the level of that game.

“That’s what I call a game” Mako jumped from her seat, eyes fixed in Aomine while Kairi took notes on her notebook about the scores, type of shoots and other useful information.

**The emperor’s watchdog**

Finally he could go back. Nodding all the way back, Kagami could do nothing but think about the amazing generation of miracles. And there were still two more he haven’t seen yet… He couldn’t wait to ask Akashi for some more training schedules and plans.

And also… He wanted to talk to Mayuzumi… Maybe ask him what Mako was asking about that night in the bathroom or about the Generation of Miracles. The sight of that boy that no one remembered came to his mind. What was his name again? Kuroko? Was it right? Kuroko Tetsuya?

He wondered in Mayuzumi could tell him who that boy was…

“Not really” Kagami replied yawning back, his eyes all red.

“What are you? A primary school boy?” The white haired joked again, ruffling his hair like he would with a little boy.

“Stop messing around with me!” He barked back and Mayuzumi retreated just a bit. Just as he thought, he also had that white and blue bag he wanted so badly.

“Alright, alright” Mayuzumi replied shrugging “Glad to see you here though”

“Oh come on! I already thanked you enough, haven’t I?” Kagami barked really pissed off by that expression

“I don’t know… maybe if you make an altar in my name we’ll be even” The boy replied, enjoying himself more than his expression showed.

“You wished!” Kagami laughed pushing the boy with his hand.

“Hey you, stop laughing and come! Idiot looking redhead giraffe!” One of the managers yelled at him, making more than one boy laugh at the description she made of Kagami “You are Kagami-kun, right? Come on, hurry up!”

“Looks like will end up in different buses” Mayuzumi commented, unnoticeable upset, as Kagami got up and ready to board his own bus, far away from the one of the first string players.

“Yeah… That’s going to be some boring trip…”Kagami replied putting on his earphones as he fixed his bag over his shoulders.

“What music do you have there?” He asked, walking besides Kagami as he wanted to extend their time together even if it was for just some seconds.

“American music mostly… Rap and stuff like that. Ah, I also brought some music I thought you might like…” He replied with a wretched smile as he turned around to see him “In case we got to sit together…”

Mayuzumi felt as if a thunder had fell right over him. How could it be that Kagami had thought specifically in him for something, and destiny was enough of a bitch to destroy that in front of him? He wouldn’t forgive that, not now not ever.

“I guess, I’ll see you later” Kagami said goodbye and as soon as he turned his back on him, Mayuzumi started to curse the whole universe.

And cursing it just like that, he got into the bus, passed along the midget he had as team captain and let his whole body fall over some lonely seat. He would have loved to hear Kagami’s music, sitting side to side, sharing the warmth of their touching arms, with the redhead dozing off over him and his lovely sleeping face all for himself… Ah, the more he thought about it the angrier he felt… And even if people couldn’t quite grasp that anger for his lack of expression, the evil aura around him was enough to make everyone avoid sitting beside him.

“Ehh? Are you sure?” It sounded like Kagami’s voice…

“Yeah, sure honey, we didn’t counted well and we need to put someone else here, so don’t worry!” Now that was certainly Reo’s soft purring voice.

“But…” The other voice complained, being stopped by Reo once more.

“I said its fine! Come on, get up, up, up!” Mayuzumi got up from his chair, finding Kagami on his own bus, being pushed up by the black haired general.

“Kagami?” He asked quite confused and the redhead, hearing the voice that no one else seemed to notice, turned right away to see him with a smile.

“Mayuzumi!” He chuckled softly, waving at him, making his heart skip a beat and his hopes in the universe to reappear. Maybe he was destined to have that special time with him after all, maybe his spring was just starting and his love was meant to bloom like the flowers on the cherry trees.

However, those intriguing black eyes didn’t failed in noticing the whole mood that was appearing between them and with a smirk, added

“So Tiger-boy, this is your place” He said before even getting close to Mayuzumi, making the redhead turn around just to find the captain of the team, as surprised as the rest of them with the sudden happenings.

“Reo, what’s the meaning of this?” Akashi asked bluntly “I am quite sure you were meant to seat beside me…”

“There were some changes! I talked to the managers and they told me to move back, there~” He smiled pointing the empty seat besides Mayuzumi “So, Tiger-boy have to stay here, right?”

Then he winked… And Mayuzumi knew, oh, HE KNEW, that Reo was lying and that everything had been planned to put Kagami and Akashi together. And if he had been just a little bit more expressive, he would have thrown his bag over his head in an attempt of ending his life right away.

“If you don’t want to… sit with me, I can change with Mibuchi-senpai and sit back” Kagami suddenly spoke, seeing the surprised eyes of Akashi fixed over him and Mayuzumi almost smile “I’m sure you too have a lot more to talk about than us…”

“Noooot at all” Reo replied right away, pushing Kagami into the seat “I just want to talk to senpai soo much right now!!”

“With Mayuzumi?” As soon as Akashi knew who the other possible partner of Kagami was, he suddenly changed from not so sure, to this has to happen “You do not need to worry about pleasing me with your company or not, it will be certainly more relaxing to be besides a fellow classmate instead of a veteran”

“Right~?” Reo’s grin was turning into something Mayuzumi couldn’t stand seeing, as everything was going according to planned.

“Are you sure?” Kagami smiled with that soft and shy expression of admiration that always marked his face when he looked at Akashi, and Mayuzumi felt done for.

“Pretty sure” Akashi replied with a gently smile and without any more complains, Kagami sat beside him. Reo almost doing a happiness dance over that fact

“Then I’ll be going back! Get along boys!” He smiled as he walked back to Mayuzumi’s side “I win, you lose, ghost boy”

“You fucking snake” Mayuzumi replied frowning.

“Don’t get too cocky just for being here, you are nothing without Akashi”

“Neither are you, Uncrowned general” His words charged with rage made Reo frown.

That promised to be a disgusting trip.

**The emperor’s watchdog**

“It seems like you brought music” Akashi started awkwardly and Kagami’s eyes sparkled

“Yeah, some American music, mostly rap with some rock” He explained “Also, I have some songs my brother recorded some years ago. He has a really lovely voice and his rock songs are really awesome!”

“So, you have a brother?” Akashi asked back quite surprised, he didn’t remembered him having a brother from the school records.

“Well, he is like my brother… though we’re only friends” He explained awkwardly making Akashi doubt between inquiring more or stopping there.

“Put those songs” He ordered as he took one of the earphones from Kagami’s hand and put it on his own ear “I’d like to know what you think are awesome songs…”

Kagami couldn’t hide how excited he was…

Even though he had originally planned to show them to Mayuzumi and not being able to hurt him profoundly, this wasn’t so bad either… They would probably have plenty of time to talk later in the camp, and right there, he had the opportunity to chat with Akashi. And thinking about that, it could be his imagination, but it seemed like the captain had turned way kinder than before.

With their arms gently pressing on each other, they started to listen to Kagami’s song list.

**The emperor’s watchdog**

He had planned to sleep on the bus, but chatting with Akashi had been more interesting that he had expected, and his sleeping time reduced to zero. So, naturally, when he went down, he was so tired he felt as if even the ground could be a nice place to rest… However, he couldn’t do that… They needed to check in and organize the rooms and then practice would start. What a mistake he had just made.

Akashi, the managers and the coach of the team were at the front desk arranging the rooms for the Ryokan* while the rest waited in the living room. And there he was, resting over a pillar, feeling too tired to even move.

“Hey, you ok?” Mayuzumi asked supporting him with his whole body when he was just about to fall to the ground “Weren’t you able to get some sleep?”

“Mayuzumi” he mumbled, looking back at the white haired boy.

The hair falling over his face, a dark aura surrounding him and the his deadpan face even more cold and distant than ever made him look like a spirit from some horror movie, and Kagami could do nothing but scream in fear, jumping to a side.

“Ghost!” he screamed stumbling over nothing and losing his balance. Noticing that he was about to fall, Mayuzumi attempted to help him back up, holding his hand, but the difference in weight, height and strength between them, made them both fall over the floor. Kagami legs wide open and back on the ground, Mayuzumi right over him, between his legs and with his face buried in Kagami’s chest…

Kagami’s body, was warm, his chest bigger than he had expected, and he smelled better too… Those strong legs placed besides his waist made him picture situations that nothing had to do with the actual happening, a slight red tone appearing in his cheeks. And as soon as he moved trying to get away, he ended up brushing against Kagami’s groin or chest or abs and just even more awkwardly excited over that whole thing.

“You’re heavy! Get off!” Kagami complained bluntly, clearly not concerned about the right thing.

“Wait, you! What are you doing to Tiger-boy!” Reo appeared out of nowhere, pulling Mayuzumi from his jacket and away from Kagami. As if he haven’t already ruined that trip for him.

“Nothing, fuck off” Mayuzumi replied without not a drop of complaisance, which made Reo tick off.

“Just don’t get too touchy with Sei-chan’s boy” He whispered to him before walking away, clearly angered by Mayuzumi’s actions (not that the white haired was way more irritated by him). Like, what was his problem anyway? Trying to get between Kagami and him on Akashi’s name? So ridiculous.

“I’m soo sleepy” Kagami replied getting up slowly, and Mayuzumi helped him up as he could, still a bit exalted by the previous sensations… Damn, he was going deeper into the trap of Kagami’s existence. Not only he liked him… he wanted him.

And that made him ponder if being in a different room from Kagami was bad or an actual blessing.

**The emperor’s watchdog**

Leaving the bags in the rooms they were assigned, all the boys changed to their training clothes and rushed out. First day of training was some light running, and so, they started to run around the mountains, up and down the hills for over three hours.

They then crawled to the dinner room and sitting on the floor, devoured the food they were giving without not even one complain… Then they went to the onsen, washed all their sweat off and just like that, they fell asleep, not even reacting until the next morning.

And Kagami, even more than the rest as he haven’t slept either, dragged himself from one place to the other, hardly thinking, until he got to the futon, falling asleep immediately.

**The emperor’s watchdog**

The next morning he felt a lot better, maybe because he had got his good amount of necessary sleep, and even thought the soreness of his muscles stayed, he seemed pretty happy, gulping the food as if there were no tomorrow. Mayuzumi was practically used to it, but the rest of the boys had their good traumatic experience as they saw dish after dish of food disappearing forever.

“You seem to be better now” The silver haired said as Kagami took his eleventh dish of rice.

“Umm, yah, I slept a lot” He replied while he ate, making Mayuzumi look to a side quite disgusted, wondering once more why did he liked that uncultured moron.

“That’s good to hear, now just don’t fall unconscious in practice for your low stamina or anything” The older joked and Kagami frowned, not stopping his chopsticks not even for a second.

“Taiga, good morning” Akashi greeted him, passing in front of him as he had already finished his own breakfast “And Chihiro, you too”

“Good morning captain” the third-year boy said, his tone just a little bit more aggressive than usual

“’Morning!” Kagami smiled brightly, before correcting himself “G-good morning”

“You seem to be in better condition than yesterday” The smaller redhead gave him a tender smile, leaning his head to a side.

“Ah, right. I slept a lot yesterday, so I feel full of energy” He said leaving the bowl of rice to a side and cleaning the sides of his mouth with his hand.

“That’s good to hear” He replied gently “I’d like to add some extra training for you.”

“E-extra training? While we are in hell camp?” Kagami retorted in surprise, his mouth opening way too wide.

“Is there any problem? Maybe you’d like to forget about the extra training and getting to the first string all along?” Staring back at him with his golden eye, Akashi asked. Mayuzumi looked everything in silence. If Kagami needed some backup for refusing he would do it, but if the redhead wanted to do it he wasn’t going to take that from him either.

“N-no… Not at all” Kagami finally replied, and Mayuzumi rested “What should I do?”

“Start by running 20 laps around the ryoukan” Akashi said softly “Right now. If you don’t hurry practice will start before you finish”

Jolting, Kagami finished his last bowl of rice and rushed to the outside, leaving a satisfied Akashi and a slightly bothered Mayuzumi behind him.

“Mind to say what concerns you, Chihiro?” the short redhead asked as Mayuzumi’s eyes kept fixed over him “Perhaps you want to speak your discontent over this extra training?”

“I have none, captain” Mayuzumi replied finishing his own food as his own pace.

Akashi frowned. That was the thing that bothered him the most about Mayuzumi: the fact that he could not be read by him. He was even more unpredictable than his previous phantom player, and had a much stronger will… Moreover, he had that something that keep making him clash against him.

**The emperor’s watchdog**

“Shooting practice” The managers called and everyone in the third string was reunited on the court that the second string had been using to the moment. Finally, after three days of nothing but running, Kagami could stop running around the mountains and get to touch the ball!

Or at least that was what he thought.

As soon as he was entering the court, the menacing stare of the captain froze him in place.

“Taiga” The boy called at him with his imposing voice, which drove everyone into his own pace “You may not train shooting yet.”

“What?” Kagami left that question escape his mouth as he was both surprised and disappointed by those words.

“The bags of the first string are in the highest part of the mountain” Akashi started to explain “Bring them back here”

“Aaahh?? What is-” He shouted, remembering halfway that he couldn’t talk to the captain like that “I mean, why leaving them there? And why sending me?”

“I told them to leave them when we ran before. That way you can go and pick them now” Akashi smiled softly “They are besides the entrance of the temple”

“Isn’t that like… 5 km from here?” Kagami asked

“Actually, 7 km” Akashi corrected “And bring them one by one”

“One…by one… Aren’t they… 15?”

“Indeed” Akashi smirked “Hope you finish before dinner”

**The emperor’s watchdog**

They had made a grid of rope of 60 spaces, 50 cm over the ground for jumping practice. Starting in the first square, you had to jump with only one leg across the whole grid without falling nor touching the rope. Kagami was last as he had been in his own personal running training, and now, with his legs already worn out, he was jumping…

“Damn it!” he shouted as he fell for third time, this time way closer to the finishing line, having to start all over again. Akashi turned around from his shooting practice to see how things were going for the redhead and frowning a bit. He had expected it to be easier for Kagami, but it seemed like he had made some mistake somewhere…

Maybe he should change the general approach of the training…

As he thought things like that, Kagami made it to the end of the grid and started on his other leg.

“I did it!” He laughed out-loud “Seems like I grasped the trick out of it!”

**The emperor’s watchdog**

Running, running, running. All day, every single day… Kagami felt as if that was everything he’d ever done on that training camp. Not being able to play in the practice matches or even to try shooting. Every single time he tried to get into a practice beyond basic muscle training, Akashi would stop him and send him to do run around for some reason. And every time the task he commended him turned to be harder and longer…

He didn’t felt his legs anymore… And besides that

“Do not use your right hand at all” Akashi mentioned out of nowhere after some jumping practice they had “For eating, for grabbing and for everything you do, use your left hand from now on”

“Why?” Kagami asked.

“Do you dare questioning me?” The eyes that didn’t admitted defeat or even doubt glared at him until he agreed.

And so his days passed between running and using his left hand. No explanations given. And as far away of both the court and ball as it seemed possible. And it didn’t seemed fair.

His legs felt sore and he couldn’t fall asleep… The week was almost over, and he haven’t touched the ball not even once. Was he really taking the best of that training camp?

**The emperor’s watchdog**

“Ahhh, so relaxing” Reo smiled getting into the outside onsen, far away from both Kotaro an Eikichi to get some well-deserved relaxation, that couldn’t be achieved by having them too close.

“Indeed” Akashi retorted, smiling softly from his side.

“You think so too?” The black haired gave him a soft smile “By the way, Sei-chan, how are things going with Tiger-boy?”

“What are you talking about?” Akashi asked quite confused by the sudden question.

“Come on! Training camp is love time! Everyone knows that! Have you done any progress?” He continued to push joyfully “I saw you training together, it can’t be that training is the only thing you two have done in all this time…”

“What other thing could we possible be doing?” The seriousness of those eyes was enough to let Reo know that he wasn’t faking.

“Is it possible?? Sei-chan, aren’t you supposed to be a genius?” He almost yelled, quite offended, since his efforts were about to come to nothing by Akashi’s bluntness “You even have a rival, so wake up already!”

“Rival? There is no such thing as someone that can oppose me” He replied lifting an eyebrow

“At least in common sense it doesn’t seem that difficult” The black haired mumbled before returning to the conversation “And you see, Tiger-boy might actually fall in love with him if you-“

“Oh, there’s an open onsen too” The known voice made Reo stop his complaining and turn to the crystal door, were Kagami stood looking around like a kitty “Awesome! I didn’t saw this before”

“Sei-chan! It’s your chance, destiny is making up for your lack of common sense! Go, go!” The black haired cheered on him, taking a good look as he could at Kagami’s strong back.

He wasn’t bad at all, and as if he was proud of his own body, he had the towel on his shoulder. Maybe he was really well packed? With a smirk, he lowered his black eyes just to find a swimsuit… A swimsuit?

“What kind of joke is this?” He shouted throwing his own towel at Kagami’s face in anger.

“Mibuchi-senpai?” Kagami asked turning around to see him “Captain” He bowed softly as he saw them and then, turning just a bit more, his red eyes shining gently as a smile fluttered in his lips he added “Mayuzumi-senpai, so you were here!”

Akashi and Reo opened their eyes in disbelieve… It couldn’t be. They were paying attention, they couldn’t have…

“You’re late moron!” And right there, sitting a meter or two behind them, was Mayuzumi, relaxing as if he was in his house.

How?? And they had even talked about important things! Moreover, they were talking specifically about him, and there he was, as if nothing important had happened. No, not exactly, even though his face was the same of always, it seemed as if he was smirking. Reo bit his lower lip, now he knew about the problems Akashi was having and his weakness.

“Sorry, I forgot something” Kagami chuckled walking besides Akashi in order to get to Mayuzumi’s side. Reo looked around, that couldn’t end like that; he wouldn’t allow that!

“Hey, Tiger-boy!” He called making him stop right between Mayuzumi and Akashi, still standing out of the water.

“Is there something wrong, Mibuchi-senpai?” Kagami asked looking down at him.

“That there, you can’t be planning to get in with it, right?” He pointed with his long fingers at Kagami’s swimsuit.

“Actually, yes… Why?” he asked visible confused.

“Bad, that’s so bad! It’s forbidden, you know?” The black haired smirked.

“I-is that so?” He asked scratching his nape “I’m sorry… I’ll go take it off”

“Oh, don’t worry, just take it here” And with a mischievous smile, Reo got up from the water and pulled down Kagami’s clothes “Oho, not bad”

“M-m-mi-mibuchi-senpai??? W-what?” Blushing to his ears, Kagami rushed to cover his lower side with both hands, retreating until the hand of the older boy held him in place.

“There, there. Now you can get into the onsen” He smiled, pulling him from his wrist into the water “And there’s no need to cover, we are all boys here, right?”

“R-right… b-but still” Kagami replied, sitting right beside the black haired, his face still red and too embarrassed to actually take his hands away.

“And you guys, aren’t you too silent?” The black haired turned around to find a reply from the other two boys, but there was none…

Blood dripping from their noses as they both stared into the empty space, eyes filled with gratitude… Maybe he had overdo it a bit.

**The emperor’s watchdog**

“Shut up Kagami!” he woke up to the screams of his roommates, who were already fed up of his snorts and awful bed behavior. In fact, when he opened his eyes, he was crushing two small boys under his legs and arms, as he snored as hard as possible… and not even one of them was happy.

Kicking him, they ended up managing to throw him out to the hall and close the door behind him…

And so he ended up alone, too tired to move from the hall, but not enough to fall sleep over the cold of the painfully hard floor… He could always go down to the living room of the hotel and sleep on one of the couches, but he felt too tired to go down the stairs. Maybe he could just stay right there until dawn… But then again, it was quite difficult to fall sleep under such harsh circumstances.

“Kagami” he didn’t heard any steps, nor he felt anyone getting closer… And even so, someone was calling his name from right behind him, from between the darkness “What are you doing here?”

“AaaAAAAHHHHHH!” he shouted his lungs out as he found a mysterious cold eyes staring at him, the silhouette of a yukata dressing young man kneeling behind him, a white light over his face, and stumbling over his own feet, he fell to the hall once more “AH GHOST, OH DEAR LORD, NOOO, I CAN’T DIE YET”

“Who are you calling a ghost, moron?” The boy asked harshly, moving the small flashlight in his hand from his face to the ground

“Ma-mayuzumi?” He asked, his heart still racing like a stallion as he saw the boy in front of him. That smell, it had to be Mayuzumi. And even so, he haven’t noticed until he calmed down.

“Apparently, I need to change my name to ghost, since you keep calling me that” The boy replied without changing his expression.

“What are you doing here?” Kagami asked, sitting as he didn’t had enough strength to stand up.

“Forgot something in the lobby” He shrugged, showing the small bag in his hand “What about you?”

“They kicked me out of the room” He explained pouting a bit “Apparently I move too much when I sleep”

“I figured that much” Mayuzumi replied “What really gets me it’s that they didn’t kicked you out before”

“Come on! Isn’t that too cruel?” He asked back, half barking and half yawning.

“Right, right. Wanna come to my room?” Mayuzumi asked softly “We have more space since we are less, so it shouldn’t matter that much if you move around”

“Really? W-would you do that for me?” Kagami asked, red eyes shining even brighter than the flashlight at the show of mercy and kindness he was being testy of, too blinded by it to notice the soft blush in Mayuzumi’s face.

“S-sure” he replied, stumbling just a little in his words “But, you’ll have to share futon with me… I’m not sleeping in the ground for you”

“Sure! You are great, senpai!” Kagami thanked him right away, getting up as he could and following Mayuzumi’s steps to the first string room. Entering silently, they both moved around the room, Kagami following Mayuzumi to the last futon, close to the open window. The generals and Akashi were in a different room, and there was plenty of free space between the futons, Kagami noticed a bit envious.

“Here” Mayuzumi said opening the futon so Kagami could get in too.

“Thanks” He said once more as he sneaked inside the soft futon, remembering just how marvelous was sleeping inside one of those instead of in the floor.

It was wide enough for both of them to sleep inside it without even touching each other, and so soft it felt like sleeping in a cloud. With his back turned against Mayuzumi, Kagami attempted to sleep.

The line of his neck as it merged to his shoulders, however, was keeping Mayuzumi not only awake, but with his eyes wide open… It felt strange, having Kagami so close to him after all those days of not being able to talk to him for more than some seconds. He could even touch him if he wanted… He wouldn’t notice… he wouldn’t knew… Mayuzumi bit his lower lip, trying to take those thought away from his head. But the possibility was there… Kagami’s broad shoulders, wide neck, strong back…

He never thought he would feel attracted to a body as masculine as Kagami’s, but there he was, pondering if he could touch him just a bit…

“Ah” Kagami said out of nowhere, making him jump a bit.

“What?” The older retorted instantly.

“I just thought…” Kagami asked turning around, his big eyes reflecting the evasive light of the moon and the shadow of Mayuzumi before him. His thin lips a bit moist and so soft, moving just a bit as he talked, the hair black and red falling over his forehead and eyes, getting tangled on those surprisingly long eyelashes. “Won’t it be bad for you if they find out?”

“Idiot” Mayuzumi replied, his eyes going down, from Kagami’s face to the line of his neck, drowning in his collarbones and in the chest he could see from his cleavage… Finding that it was even more dangerous, he moved his eyes back to confront the innocent stare of those fire colored eyes. “Isn’t it too late to worry about that?”

“Maybe… but still” Kagami replied “Won’t you get in trouble?”

“It’s the last day, what can they do? Make me run or something?” Mayuzumi replied trying to lift the worries from him.

Kagami accepted his answer in silence, but his eyes moved as if he wanted to say something more, his lips pressed strongly together.

“What? The worst thing that can happen is that they think we are gay for each other or something” Mayuzumi tried to joke in order to help him relax, but ended up flustering at his own words… Hoping that the shadows of the room would prevent Kagami from noticing.

“Haha” Kagami chuckled softly “That would be awkward” He laughed a bit more…

Maybe it was a trick of the moonlight that fell like a veil of silver dust over Kagami’s face, but Mayuzumi could see a blush in his cheeks. Being so close he could kiss him if he wanted to; so close to taste the paradise he had already thought so much about. Kagami stopped laughing, the smile still painted in his mouth, eyes looking deeply into Mayuzumi’s as he rested right before him. So close he could feel his breath against his face and the warmth of his body through the covers.

If he tried to kiss him. How would Kagami react? Would he push him aside or yell at him? Would he look surprised and disgusted? Existed even the most remotely possibility, that he actually accepted it?

“Kagami” He whispered softly.

“Un?” Kagami mumbled, looking with surprise how different Mayuzumi looked at that specific moment. As if there were a lot more of emotion stocked inside his dark and usually blank eyes. His silver colored hair appearing like fallen rays of moonlight, covering the face of a prince from a distant land, only visible under such a bright moon as the one that entered through the open window over them.

“Taiga” He enunciated with solemn care, making Kagami’s heart throb unsuspectedly. Even though he should be used to hear his name, even though all his life he had heard his name in America… it sounded so different when that voice said it,

“Chi-chihiro?” He replied as well, feeling his face turning warmer.

And as he felt falling into a whirlwind of mixed and complex emotions, flustering like an idiot for something as simple as hearing his own name and saying someone else’s, Mayuzumi seemed as calm as composed as always. No… not as always. His eyes were different, they were filled with something he couldn’t quite understand; something that, as he looked deeper, made his heart feel warmer and his mind more confused. What was it?

“Taiga” Mayuzumi repeated that word, and Kagami could swear, he saw a smile on those lips that never showed any emotion. A warm, kind and loving smile… And his friend finished with that his transformation into prince of silver moonlight, right before his eyes…

Mayuzumi’s hand moved forward, those long fingers tangling in Kagami’s black and red buckles and the cold palm caressing his cheek…

“What are you doing?” he chuckled.

“Making sure I’m not dreaming” Kagami lost his words to reply, his cheeks burning so much he wondered if Mayuzumi could hear the frighteningly strong beating of his heart…

“Idiot” He mumbled… He was… such an idiot.

**The emperor’s watchdog**

When Kagami woke up he was all alone, all tangled in Mayuzumi’s warm futon. There was no one in the room, and it seemed like they had picked up the bags already. Thinking about it, there were supposed to go at 9 a.m… Still half-sleep, he got up and fixed the futon, leaving it on top of the others and returned to his room. It was also empty, except for his own bag.

Taking off the borrowed yukata and leaving it on the side, he dressed up, took his bag and went down. Everyone was waiting in the living room for the rooms to be returned before getting to the buses. Yawning, Kagami searched for Mayuzumi without founding him, and looking around lazily, he walked out of the place…

Right outside the front door, Mayuzumi’s white and indigo bag was laying around.

“Oh, idiot…” He heard the owner of the bag and lifted his eyes to see the boy, panting hardly and drenched in sweat as he ran.

“What’s up? Why are you running?” He asked as he noticed the silver haired wasn’t planning to stop, but to keep running.

“They found out” Mayuzumi replied, slowing the pace just enough to talk to him “Akashi told me to run 50 laps if I don’t want some worst punishment. I still have 17 laps more to go…sorry” and so he kept going, not even giving Kagami time to thank him.

He had slept pretty well thanks to that after all.

**The emperor’s watchdog**

“Me again?” Kagami asked when Reo pushed him up the first string bus.

“I told you, it’s all already arranged” The black haired chuckled pushing him further.

“I don’t know” the redhead tried to escape but Reo wouldn’t let him.

“You just sit here and don’t worry ab-”

“Sorry, it’s already occupied” The inexpressive voice almost made Reo choke. Looking down he found Akashi and Mayuzumi, sitting side by side…

“W-what?”

He felt the glare of those inexpressive eyes, telling him that he wouldn’t fall in that trap again. “If I can’t sit with Kagami, then Akashi can’t either” it seemed to be saying.

And just like that, Reo had to sit in the back with Kagami… Not what he had expected at all. He had thought finding them sleeping in the same futon was the worst possible thing, but he was now realizing Mayuzumi had more fighting will than expected.

**The emperor’s watchdog**

“Mibuchi-senpai?” Kagami asked, probably worried by his intense frowning during the past hour.

“What’s wrong love?” he turned around with a smile.

“Un, nothing… I just wandered if maybe you’d want some?” He asked showing him a small wooden box with some pretty tasty looking food “I borrowed the kitchen and made some for Mayuzumi and for me. Maybe you’d want some?”

And then Mayuzumi’s name appeared again. Now that he thought about it, Mayuzumi was holding a suspicious looking box before. Was it Kagami’s homemade food? That lucky bastard.

“No need” He replied harshly

“The taste I can guarantee it” Kagami replied, red eyes staring directly at him through the red and black long combs of hair “And it might help you feel better”

Reo looked back at him, the sunlight that passed through the window fell over his soft hair, making it look as it was real fire, moving around full of life… And there he was smiling at him, offering him his homemade food… How much of an angel could he be? It make seem perfectly normal that the other two boys were in love with him.

“You are such a nice boy, Taiga-chan” He smiled, saying his name.

“It’s not a big deal, it’s only food, Mibuchi-senpai” Kagami dismissed the compliment with a celestial sounding chuckle

“That sounds so stiff” Reo replied, his face resting on his hand “I’d prefer if you called me Reo-nee”

“Nee?” Kagami asked a bit surprised

“Yes” The black haired replied without adding much to it.

“Then… Reo-nee it is.” Another smile, as he’d never run out of those “Want one?”

“Fine, I’ll take one, Taiga-chan” He found himself naturally smiling back, receiving the food from Kagami’s chopsticks. Ahhh, Mayuzumi and Akashi would be jealous if they knew what was happening. “It’s really tasty, love!”

“I’m glad you like it” Kagami replied.

Such an angel shouldn’t be allowed to exist, and wander around… It could get lost before fulfilling its duty; before doing what he is meant to do in the first place.

“Taiga-chan” Reo called making those ask back if there was anything he needed “What do you think of Sei-chan?”

“Of the captain?” Reo nodded softly and Kagami stared at something outside the window for a while before turning back at him with an answer “I think he is really awesome. He is good in everything he does and everyone respects him, but more than that, I just want to play in the same court as him… Why do you ask?”

“Because I don’t see him like that” Reo chuckled softly “He is scary and imposing, and it looks like he can do anything he wants, but you see… He is too fragile”

“Fragile?” Kagami’s eyes widened. He had never expected Akashi to be described with such a word.

“Yes, fragile. Don’t you get the sensation, sometimes, that the weight he has on his back is too big for those tiny shoulders?” Reo wasn’t looking at Kagami, but at his own hands as he talked, as if he was recalling Akashi’s silhouette with every word he spoke “His strong steps too. He is carrying such a heavy burden, he can’t get if off anymore, and just decided to walk around with it… sinking deeper into earth with every step. And there’s no one there to help him”

Kagami glanced at Reo’s eyes, feeling that maybe that way he would be able to see all of those things he had never even thought about… Akashi needing help?

“I noticed… but even so, I’m not the one to help him” He said, finally turning around to look at Kagami “That’s your part. I’m sure can fill the loneliness of his heart… So, can’t you please think about it?”

“Think… what? About what?” He asked quite confused by the turn in Reo’s words.

“How can you help him” He smiled and Kagami felt even more lost than before.

-          Y-Yeah… Do you hate going there? – He asked back, trying to be nice about Akashi’s dislikes. If he really hated it, he would change the meeting point to the restaurant or to the outside.

-          I would indeed prefer to have my lunch here – Akashi replied without changing his expression, remembering how fun it had been the last time they had ate only the two of them alone in the classroom.

-          Ah… B-but here is no good – Kagami replied. Having a third year in a first year classroom might turn into troubles, so he had to make Akashi go out of it.

-          Why is that? – Akashi frowned, reading the reasons for Kagami’s denial from his expressions and getting even more angered by them – Isn’t it a retribution for me? Aren’t you going to thank me?

-          I-it is! – Kagami’s red eyes trembled a bit as he felt attacked and cornered. Akashi knew that he was cornering him, but the dark anger that was eating him from inside as Kagami worried so much about Mayuzumi, made him blind and deaf to his mute pleads.

-          Then, why must you change the place where I want to eat? – Akashi asked again, lifting an eyebrow as he stared into Kagami’s mind through the clear and wide open windows of his trembling eyes.

-          T-that’s… -For his words, Akashi noticed that Kagami planned to tell him the reason. And not knowing why, the idea of hearing it from Kagami’s tender lips, angered him even more.

-          I won’t take any excuses from you – He hissed back, getting up as he planned to get away from that conversation before his wrath took him over.

-          Wait… - Kagami called him, rushing over to get in front of him just like he did the first days they met. But this time Akashi didn’t felt the imperious need of pushing him down and showing him his place, maybe because of the needy expression of his face – Please… Akashi… Can’t you please, at least, think about it? Coming to eat in the rooftop, I mean… Please. I-I’ll make your lunch tomorrow, so… won’t you come?

Why? Akashi couldn’t understand why his heart skipped a beat or why his cheeks started to burn. He didn’t get why the expression in which Kagami asked for him to go made him actually consider going. Even though Mayuzumi would be there, if Kagami asked for it like that… could he really say no?

-          I-I’ll consider it – he was blushing. He didn’t needed a mirror to now it, and so he gazed to the floor, trying to cover with his bangs the embarrassment of being seen like that.

Then he walked away, Kagami staying behind with this happy expression, as if a doggie tale was waving behind him.

**The emperor’s watchdog**

-          Not bad for an airhead – Mayuzumi praised him with the usual snarky tone that Kagami was already expecting.

-          Yeah, yeah, I now. And thank you very much senpai – He said in a joking manner, moving his hands around as he spoke.

-          That’s it, be grateful to me – Mayuzumi rested his chin on his right hand as he look back at him, his blank eyes lighting just a bit by the wave of happiness that knowing that Kagami would be able to go to the training camp brought to him.

-          Don’t be so pretentious – Kagami pushed him as he laughed a bit.

**The emperor’s watchdog**

They were all glad that he had passed his exams, so obviously, they should be able to be enjoy a good lunch all together merrily and happily, Kagami innocently thought. But, as expected, he was wrong.

Just like that day in Akashi’s house, every single fucking time their eyes met he could see the clashing sparkles and feel the tension falling hard over him. And just like that day, he kept trying to eat, not even able to enjoy it as he felt the tension building right over him. Maybe he had made a mistake by inviting Akashi to the rooftop, he thought as he saw Mayuzumi convulsing in some strange type of anger that wouldn’t surface to his face but would overflow like the darkest aura he had ever seen.

-          S-so… - He talked, and the clashing gazes of both boys turned around to him. They were so strong it almost hurt to have them over him – S-such a nice day, right?

-          It’s too cloudy – Replied Mayuzumi at once

-          It’s too sunny – Replied Akashi at the exact same time.

And the distortion of both replies sounded like some type of demon possession movie as they both stared back at each other almost spitting fire.

-          So! – Kagami brought their attention back, regretting it when he didn’t find nothing to say… Well, everything would be better than silence, he thought, and so he said – Maybe the lunch isn’t of your taste?

-          That’s not it! – Both replied at once, the tension finally going down a bit as they leaned closer to him – It’s really good!

-          This tamagoyaki is really good – Mayuzumi complimented right away.

-          The vegetables are appropriately garnished without losing its own flavor – Akashi praised in a more technical way, making the white haired turn just for a second before saying

-          I love how the chicken wings almost fell off the bone and are slightly charred which gives them a lovely caramelisation – Mayuzumi retorted right away, making Akashi visibly frown at him

-          This potatoes were braised in milk and deep fried, am I right? –Akashi said right away – They are crunchy and soft, a total joy to eat.

And then again they were staring into each other eyes with a menacing aura surrounding them, as if they were about to jump into each other and start fighting. Kagami sighed clearly troubled. What had happened between them to make them switch from apathy to hate like that? He was getting tired of trying to calm things down when they would just find another reason to fight, and so, he ended up asking out loud

-          What’s up with you guys? – He inquired making them both turn around towards him – Did anything happened to make you hate each other like that?

-          I don’t hate him – Mayuzumi said, deadpan face and monotone.

-          I don’t specially dislike him either – Akashi replied pretty calm too.

-          Then why do you fight sO FUCKING MUCH? – Kagami exploded into a yell halfway into the sentence making them both look surprised at him before gazing at each other and feeling once more that ugly nasty dark feeling of wanting to punch the other right in the face.

-          I just want to hit him in the face – Both of them replied at once.

-          IsN’T THAT FUCKING HATE??? – Kagami yelled once more, almost wanting to punch both of them for that.

-          It’s not. I don’t want to hit him just because of his being – Akashi said quite calmly sitting back in the place he was before all of that and taking some bites of his food. To this sight, Mayuzumi did the same – I actually think he is useful to the current team and it’s a good balance for the general’s and myself.

-          Me neither. I believe he is a pretty competent captain – Mayuzumi added making the whole situation even more puzzling for Kagami.

-          Then whY THE FUCK? – Kagami asked back frowning a bit – I’m trying to make you guys get along!

-          Impossible – Both replied at once.

-          JUST TELL ME WHY! You’ve done nothing but praise each other?! Why is it impossible for you to get along?

Mayuzumi’s expression didn’t changed… His grey eyebrows maybe raised a bit at the question and he certainly clenched his teeth, but it was all so faint nor Kagami nor Akashi noticed it. Akashi on his side, almost broke the chopsticks in his hand to that question before looking at Mayuzumi both surprised and puzzled.

For Mayuzumi the answer was already obvious, since he had clearly admitted his feelings for Kagami and understood very well how difficult was for him to fight against the admiration of the tiger for the captain. But for Akashi it was quite different. He just felt that unsettling dark feeling crumpling inside him and making him go all weird when he saw Mayuzumi getting closer to Kagami, or when he heard they were together.

-          So? What is it? – Kagami asked once more, Mayuzumi refusing to answer and Akashi too busy trying to find out for himself what was it – Don’t you have a reason at least?

At the end, the ring made him go back before Kagami or Akashi could find their answers, and with Mayuzumi refusing to give them any hints.

**The emperor’s watchdog**

-          That’s envy and maybe jealousy – Reo smirked back slyly, and Akashi could do nothing but retreat a bit. He haven’t said anything yet – Don’t look me like that Sei-chan! So cruel~

-          You knew what I was thinking? – Akashi searched deep inside those dark eyes the magic he had use to read his mind

-          Sei-chan is so cute! You have it painted all over your face, that you don’t know something –Reo pointed at him as he tilted his head to a side – You even failed a three pointer when senpai gave you the pass… And the only think you, the very capable captain, would be struggling to understand must be his feelings, right?

Akashi didn’t reply, pouting a bit as Reo had made a very accurate description of the whole situation and he can’t even tell him he was wrong.

-          So, you feel angry with senpai, but that’s just because you envy him – Reo smiled a bit – Don’t worry, he envies you right back, and maybe that’s why you guys keep fighting all the time.

It seemed like all he did lately was frown, but all those strange things couldn’t be replied with anything but a frown… What could HE possible envy about a weak, mediocre, unnoticeable third year like that? He continued to ponder about it as he continued to practice.

Then, he was able to take a glimpse of Kagami’s practice on the other side of the gym. They were practicing third point shoots too. The tall redhead was already drenched in sweat and panting, wiping the drops of sweat from his forehead with his forearm. And there he was following his every move with his eyes. The redhead then moved as if he had noticed some stare, looking at the court where he was, waving and smiling. But not at him but to someone else. Turning around he found Mayuzumi, also staring at Kagami, replying shyly to the waving…

Envy…

So that was envy.

First he had found things like Ai no Kusabi, which he must admit were extraordinarily good, but still didn’t helped him understand the “how to” part. If novels weren’t good for actual understanding, he thought watching something would be better. But he wasn’t nearly ready to watch actual porn with real people, and so he decided to check anime. It wasn’t his preferred way of watching anything, but he had to give it a try.

He also checked Junjou Romantica and Love Stage, since wherever he searched for gay sex he found them, but there were no good. He got bored after the first chapter and the important question he had stayed unsolved. Since his question wasn’t how to confess surrounded by fucking color flowers but how to fuck a guy, he decided to search something a bit more…porn-like.

And so he found Sensitive Pornograph; if it has the word pornography in it, there was no chance it would fail, he thought. And well, there was as much porn as the name pointed. However, he still couldn’t believe that putting something in that place would be something as easy as the ova made it look like. So he searched another, and getting a small trauma, he discovered about Boku no Sexual Harrassment. After the whole corn thing he wished he had never seen it and surrendered in his research for a while, starting to think that maybe he could have a purely platonic relationship with Kagami.

But it wasn’t like that. Even when he had felt disgusted for the video, the dreams that followed it were nothing but pleasure brought by Kagami’s hands, chest, legs and mouth… He couldn’t quite remember it when he woke up, but the sweet melody of Kagami’s moaning and the warmth of his guts kept him dizzy all day.

No way, platonic wasn’t enough, he thought as he went back to research once more. Taking all his will-power, he started to read some manga. He read the whole Erotoro ver SS, and by the end of it he was already getting turned on by reading gay sex. Mostly because he pictured Kagami being the moaning passive that melted in pleasure with every thrust and himself as the most calm active that would ram inside him. So much tissues got used as he read that…

Things were getting a bit clearer. He now understood what rimming meant, and had some understanding about the whole, lub, fingers and rest… Then he wondered about toys, like Denmas and dildos and those kind of things. He felt a bit attracted by them (or most likely by the reactions of the passives that screamed by their action) and wondered if Kagami would enjoy things like that. Wondering how to use them if the time came, he searched for something related and found something called Love Prism.

A good look at sadomasochist gay sex and toys… But maybe still a bit too overboard for him. Unlike the character he couldn’t find himself that much attracted for leather cuff and whips… He preferred the others more, vanilla like. He just wanted Kagami to hug him while they were having sex, wrapping his legs around him and moaning against his ear… That was everything…

And well, maybe, he had developed one or two kinks while reading… But they weren’t that much important or anything, and had nothing to do with cuffs or leather.

And so, now he had sank to the point where he had actually bought a PC game… So now he was there, playing Kichiku Megane with a box of tissues on a side of his table, spending his whole night in it, getting surprised by how much he now liked to see gay porn.

The wirepuller

-          Sei-chan, I have an idea –Reo popped out of nowhere just to tell him those words which he actually didn’t cared much about.

-          Is that so? –He wondered frowning a bit as he read the information about the teams they were about to deal with.

-          So cold~ Come on, get a bit warmer! –He started to joke a bit- It’s about your tiger boy!

Akashi almost choke on his own saliva to that mention. The last time Reo had talked about him (the day before) it was to tell him that he had gone to the practice match he hadn’t gone to, and just to cheer for Mayuzumi. He still wasn’t sure why it bothered him so much to know that Kagami had made honey lemons for his senpai, but it was true that he could hardly concentrate in the things he had to do because of it. And know Reo came again to tell him another things about that annoying tiger that kept making him feel weird stuff.

-          You should be his tutor for finals! -Reo explained clapping at his own idea.

-          No way. I have my own finals to concern about –Akashi’s gesture got a bit harder - I have no time to lose in the likes of him.

-          Tsundere~ -Reo laughed just a bit at Akashi’s lovely reaction before attacking back- But you know, if you help him study, you can make him go to your place-

-          Why would I make him irrupt in my place? Your mind is an incomprehensible place for me- He asked back, sincerely confused by those words-

-          You really can’t tell? –Reo asked back surprised- So Sei-chan is a virgin…

-          Ehhh? What are you talking about? How does that turned into this? –Akashi asked back, turning red from the embarrassment, even though his usually cold expression tried to cover it up.

-          Be-cau-se, you two would be all alone, right? And in your place – Reo smiled in a kind of pervert way making Akashi startle a bit, finally understanding what Reo was trying to say – Wouldn’t that be an excellent chance for you with Tiger Boy? You could things like that, or that other…

As Reo talked, he moved his hands, acting now a handjob then a blowjob and even a bit of “the real stuff”, to which Akashi could to nothing but watch in a mixture of horror, confusion and embarrassment.

-           W-why would I do that with him? –He asked in the tone of someone that’s been offended and Reo could do nothing but laugh a bit.

-          You like him~ He probably likes you too, and it feels gooood. I can guarantee that –He replied playing with his long black hair and Akashi felt a pressure of savage beast he had never felt from him.

-          I don’t like him. And I won’t do any of that with him- Akashi finally calmed down, and brushing his hair back with his fingers returned to the notebook he had to read- End of the discussion-

-          Aahhh, so boring – Reo complained crossing his arms over the back of the chair and placing his face over them, the black curls falling all over his pretty face as he sulked a bit- Just so you know, senpai is being serious with tiger boy. If you don’t do it, he might as well do it… Take him to his place to teach him, a lot of different things.

Akashi didn’t moved, but the small trembling in his fingers, was enough to know he had heard and understood perfectly Reo’s words. Akashi might not be honest with his feelings, but at least he was honest with his jealousy, Reo thought, and that made him adorably easy to motivate.

The proposition

It was the week next to Mayuzumi’s first official match. Akashi had walked to his side, and just when he thought he would say something about his training, he asked him if his studies were going alright.

-          Eh, no… I mean, there are tons of things I don’t get – He had replied, harshly sincere – I might not pass the exams for the semester.

-          That is something I cannot allow – Akashi had countered with his usual dominance making him wonder what was he planning – I believe you have been informed about Rakuzan’s training camp.

-          Yeah, I mean… Yes, I’ve been- He tried to formalize a bit his speaking – I believe is the week right after exams.

-          Exactly. Is the same week as exams retrials – That sole sentence was enough to make Kagami understand the direction of the conversation – I already have some expectation on you, and this training camp might be what you lack before being able to stand a chance. If you sincerely ambition to be in the first string, getting good grades must be your priority.

It didn’t mattered if Akashi put it that way, it was still impossible for him to get good grades by his own. That was what Kagami thought, gulping as he didn’t knew what the captain would do if he contradicted him.

-          That is why, I’ve resolved to guide your studies next Sunday – Akashi’s words hit like cold water as they were completely unexpected.

-          For real? – Kagami asked back, hunching a bit, staring at those hetero-chromic eyes that didn’t wavered at all.

-          I’ve said so – Akashi lifted one eyebrow – So I expect you in the station close to my place at 10 in the morning.

For the expression on that girly black haired senpai that stood a bit away from them, clearly watching over the whole thing, Kagami thought he must have something to do with the whole thing. After all, being invited and helped like that by Akashi seemed like a pretty bad trap.

Third party gets involved

And so he asked for Mayuzumi’s advice about it.

With this blank eyes looking more like deep pits of pure darkness, Mayuzumi started by offering his own help until noticing that Akashi would take retaliation if Kagami simple didn’t showed up, he insisted in tagging along.

Which leads to…

And so the awaited Sunday all three of them ended up meeting in the station close to Akashi’s house.

-          I don’t recall having invited you, Chihiro – Akashi glared at the intruder with the intention of either making him go away or killing him.

-          I’m really sorry! – Kagami jumped when he noticed Mayuzumi was ready to fight back – I told him about it and he insisted in coming. I told him it was alright since I thought it would be better to have someone who has already seen the topics before…

-          Exactly- Mayuzumi gloated in Kagami’s words.

-          Should I take it as a declaration of your distrust in my capacities? – Ignoring the white haired, Akashi directed his question directly to Kagami.

-          Eh?! It’s not it! I’m just stupid, so I don’t understand things fast. I didn’t wanted to bother you too much, so you can study too – Kagami tried to fix the situation but both Akashi’s and Mayuzumi’s faces told him he hadn’t done a good work.

After two or three killer attempts from Akashi to Mayuzumi, which the white haired senpai successfully evaded thanks to Kagami’s intervention, the shorter redhead gave up on luring Mayuzumi away. One way or the other, they ended up going to Akashi’s place, all three of them.

It was a surprisingly big house, that seemed quite old but pretty conserved, with big gardens and long hallways. They were even some domestics that greeted them as “friend of the young master” with gave a slight sensation of entering a yakuza place.

Sitting in the middle of the enormous living room, where a seemingly expensive table stood, they had started to study. Starting by some specific questions, they discovered that Kagami was lacking even the basics and ended up explaining him from step one how to do everything. However, things didn’t went as smoothly when they started to fight over who could teach him better and tried to give him completely different methods to resolve the same things, until he was so confused he tried to run away.

-          Young master, I brought some tea and snacks for the young guests- An old woman said bringing a silver tray with a teapot, cups and manjuu stuffed with anko, just in the moment Akashi was about to jump over his senpai.

-          Thanks- He replied calming down.

The woman served the tea with ceremonial elegance, leaving the bow with the manjuu in the middle of the table and bowing slowly before going. Making a silent truce, both Mayuzumi and Akashi started to drink the tea, followed by a somehow nervous Kagami who didn’t even wanted to imagine what they were thinking.

-          This tea is really nice – He said, attempting to clear up the tension, but the boys kept glaring at each other.

-          That’s to be expected. Is nothing you could buy- Akashi replied looking directly at Mayuzumi, and Kagami could do nothing but smile.

-          You know, the best things can’t be bought with money – Mayuzumi replied with his usual blankness, still looking at Akashi –like love…

-          Oh, so you think you have it? – Akashi replied back.

Why were they still fighting? Kagami couldn’t find the answer, nor could he find a way of calming them down. Sighing he gave up on trying to calm them down and taking the beautiful red chopsticks the domestic had left by his side, he took a manjuu. It was delicious and the flavor went perfectly with the green tea he was drinking. He wanted to say how delicious it was but he thought it would only make them fight again so he just kept enjoying it in silence.

The two boys followed him and taking their own chopsticks, started to eat the manjuu too. Munching it, they seemed to finally calm down a bit, making him feel somehow relieved. If he could keep them in silence, maybe, and just maybe, they wouldn’t fight over stupid things anymore…

However, as everything in life, the green tea and manjuu wasn’t infinite.

Kagami took the last sip of green tea and gave himself for satisfied, gazing at the two boys that were still eating. They still had some tea and there was still one manjuu left on the bowl.

Akashi reached out, but right before he could get it, Mayuzumi moved his chopsticks forward. Rushing over, Akashi held the small white ball in his chopsticks, releasing it as Mayuzumi hit them with his own chopsticks. The small ball feel again in the ball and both boys stood, leaning over the bowl as if getting closer to it would increase their opportunities of getting the manjuu.

-          I won’t give it to you – Mayuzumi notified him with his usual calm voice, as his chopsticks kept getting in Akashi’s way everything he tried to get the white prize

-          You won’t have it – Akashi frowned, breaking through Mayuzumi’s defense and holding the little ball thigh.

-          Oh, I will –Mayuzumi replied holding it too and pulling it to his side.

-          It prefers me – Akashi spitted out, pulling it to its side.

-          You can’t tell. It likes me too – Mayuzumi replied pulling it too.

-          It’ll be happier to be eaten by me – The redhead bickered moving it down so it would fell back in the bowl, where both of them attacked again.

-          It might be happier to be with me – the silver haired leaned a bit forward

-          I’m better suited for it than you – The redhead replied pressing the manjuu down in order to keep Mayuzumi from getting it.

-          Keep saying that midget – Mayuzumi pushed the chopsticks of Akashi away, trying to get the already bruised and deformed manjuu. The insult made those hetero-chromic eyes sparkle as they hide some murderous intent.

-          Who are you calling midget, you mediocre third year? – The insults were getting stronger and Kagami kept wondering why were they fighting like that over a piece of candy? – You wouldn’t even be in the first string if it wasn’t for me.

-          Too scared of me winning, so you are going to send me back? – Mayuzumi smirked mildly – That would be really bad… Me being back there…

-          Don’t get too cocky – The redhead frowned, getting the manjuu after hitting Mayuzumi’s chopsticks away – I’ll be the last winner.

-          Not so fast – Mayuzumi attempted one last attack and the manjuu fell once more, but before they could take it back, Kagami had already reached out and grasping it with his chopsticks, made it disappear inside his mouth.

Both stayed there frozen by Kagami’s intervention, unable to react until Kagami ending it up asked for tea and they both offered their own in a disturbing chorus.

-          I’ll go to the kitchen for some water – Kagami finally said – Just try not to fight over stupid stuff when I’m gone.

With those words he ran away from the weird guys that fought over a piece of manjuu as if it was a girl. Following directions from one of the domestics, Kagami got to the kitchen and borrowing a glass, he served some water from the sink and drank it. If he would have known it would be so fucking tiring and weird he wouldn’t have accepted. If they would at least teach him properly.

On his way back, after having washed the glass and all, slightly lost by the enormity of the place, he ended up in a dark room. Noticing right away it was the wrong room he walked out, but the smell of incense made him turn around intrigued. In the darkness of the room he could see to red lights, from the burning incense, standing to both sides of a small black box. There was a photo with black ribbons and some white flowers. It seemed like a familiar altar. There was none in America so it took him a bit to understand what it was.

As his eyes got used to the darkness he could see the face of a beautiful redhead woman in the picture. She had a sweet resemblance with Akashi.

The sound of steps going closer made Kagami close the door and rush back to the room where the two boys were probably fighting as they waited for him. Why must they get along so badly? They didn’t hated each other that much before.

-          You’re late, moron – Mayuzumi insulted him as soon as he got to the right place.

-          I got lost, ok? – He replied in a yell.

-          We already decided in which order to tutor you so we both have enough time for our own homework – Akashi explained pretty calmly. Was it possible that they had got along better when he was away?

The messy room, the bruises in their faces and what seemed to be some dice showed him that he was wrong. How in hell had they decided what to do? It seemed dangerous to ask, so he accepted their tutoring without wondering about anything else. As soon as he wasn’t stuffed with lots of different explanations, he discovered they were both actually pretty good explaining.

The time finally started to seem well spent as he got to understand most of the things they were saying.

As he wrote down the formulas Akashi had just explained, he gazed at Mayuzumi, who giving the back at them as if he couldn’t stand seeing them, seemed to be reading a history book quite lazily. The frame of his back seemed wider with the casual blue shirt he was wearing, as well as the black pants seemed to make his waist look better. It was a weird sight, when he was so used to see him in either the school or the club uniform. His white haired had grown longer and fell over his nape and hand, getting tangled in his fingers. It was such a pretty color, Kagami thought before being brought back to his studies by a hit with a ruler right on his head and Akashi’s soft imposing voice.

Then, when he tried to make the grammatical exercises of the book that Mayuzumi was explaining to him, he couldn’t avoid gazing at the redhead that, sitting as straight as if he was making some calligraphy, made his own homework. As serious and direct as always, his eyes only searching for perfection as his pen moved over the white paper. It explained why his calligraphy was so pretty and easy to understand. It was also interesting to see him in that dark blue yukata with fireflies design, the flaps opening a bit as if they wanted to let his white chest visible and the sleeves tied behind his back so they wouldn’t bother his writing. The Japanese clothes really suited him, just as much as that clearly Japanese house. Mayuzumi then pulled his ear, punishing him for not paying attention with those cold hands that made him shiver.

When the sun disappeared, he had already studied half of the things he needed for the last exams, and they both agreed to help him with the rest in the next days if he wanted.

It didn’t went as bad, Kagami thought as he said goodbye to Akashi in the station and entered the train along with Mayuzumi. The white haired falling asleep right away, as he was probably way more tired than himself. He had fought a lot with Akashi after all.

Kagami looked out the window the darkened Kyoto with the golden lights of the small houses down the line and the red light of Kyoto tower far away. He still couldn’t get why had they fought so much, but he felt like knowing would do nothing good. Mayuzumi fell over his shoulder, fast asleep.

It didn’t bothered having him resting over him so he just let him stay there.

He wondered if they would tell him the reason of their anger eventually.

Maybe that really is…

As Akashi looked into the darkness of the night path in the end of which Kagami had disappeared a while ago, he found that rejecting his feelings any longer would be nothing but counter-producing for him. Not only he was clearly envious of Mayuzumi and his closeness to Kagami, but he found himself enjoying the attention of his classmate. Smiling when he smiled, enjoying something as simple as being by his side and getting that strange warmth in his heart when that smile was directed to him.

-          Well, because of you I starved- He replied opening the box with not very good dissimulated excitement, putting a lot of the food in his mouth before talking again- I thought I was going to die-

-          Stop using the same fucking excuse! -Kagami buffed starting his own lunch.

The day after eating with Akashi, Kagami had gone to the rooftop just to find Mayuzumi wasn’t there… After waiting for a while he had rushed down and ended up finding him in the line of the cafeteria.

-          What are you doing here? -He had asked holding Mayuzumi’s arm and looking puzzled at him- I have your lunch right here.

-          Oh, do you? I mean, I was starving yesterday so I thought it would be better to take my lunch fast- He had replied a bit angry.

-          Don’t sulk over that! I had to cook this so you better fucking eat it- He had shouted handing the box over- Get out of the line and lets go to eat somewhere else…

After struggling a bit, the white haired had finally followed him to some table, eating his homemade food while sulking in silence.

-          If you hate it that much I won’t do any more for you- He had spitted after a bit, angered by Mayuzumi’s expression of anger- It’ll be easier for me th-…

-          No way- Mayuzumi had interrupted him with a killer expression- You made me starve yesterday, now you have to pay up feeding me for the rest of the year.

-          Ha? What kind of logic is that??- Kagami had yelled back hitting the table with his open hand.

-          My logic –Mayuzumi had replied leaning his face to a side- Now be a cute kouhai and obey

-          Don’t you fucking dare! -Kagami had shouted back.

However, it ended up just like before, with Kagami promising to cook the lunch for him. And so, today, after finishing some schoolwork he must deliver before the next hour, he had rushed all the way over to the rooftop were he now rested besides Mayuzumi.

The wind was strong again, moving the pages on the book Mayuzumi held to a point it seemed almost impossible to read, and playing around with those long white bangs around… Kagami stared until Mayuzumi returned the stare making him notice what he had done, and half panicked half embarrassed had turned his eyes back to the front. And then, when the sensation of being looked at disappeared he stared once more at the white haired. He didn’t exactly wanted to stare as much, but he kept remembering about that day and those words that made him feel like he was falling deep into the sky:

“What do you think…is the best way for stop loving someone?”

Was Mayuzumi still pondering about the answer to that question? Or had he somehow solved it? The thought of it made Kagami notice how little he knew about Mayuzumi or vice versa. They were friends, or at least he considered they were, but they hardly talked about the past, about their troubles or about anything that didn’t had to do with basket and school. And if Mayuzumi hadn’t asked that he would have never know he was in love. Even if he was getting good at reading his facial expression he still didn’t knew him. And it must be the same thing the other way around.

The best proof of that was how difficult it was for him to ask about it.

“Did you found out the solution?” or “Have you told her yet?” or “Were you rejected already?” were all questions he couldn’t say out-loud. Because it didn’t mattered how close they were at that exact moment, they weren’t close enough.

-          Hey -Mayuzumi called him, and just then he realized he had been staring at him the whole time. Blushing a bit, he jumped back

-          W-what? -He asked, hoping the answer wasn’t a “why are you looking me so much?”

-          Are you going to come…to the match? –Mayuzumi asked, grey eyes strangely serious, as if he was reuniting his courage to ask that.

-          What match? –Kagami queried unable to understand the meaning of that.

-          So idiot… Do you hear anything that’s not related to you or that midget? -The boy asked frowning just a bit, and Kagami wondered once more why he had started calling Akashi “midget” lately when he used to call him “captain” or “Akashi-kun” before.

-          Rude! I do put attention in class! –Kagami roared back, not even grasping the full meaning of Mayuzumi’s words.

-          Idiot! That just proves my point! I’m not talking about class- The boy seemed so done with him as he spoke- I mean, you know the preliminary of the Inter-High already started, right?

Kagami opened his mouth in a vague expression of “I remembered hearing something like that a while ago” ad Mayuzumi could do nothing but face-palming himself.

-          Well, it started. Out team already won the first matches, and next Sunday there’s going to be another one- He explained as calm as he could- And, it’s going to be my first official match… I’m going to be playing from the second quarter…

Kagami’s red eyes widened at the news. For a second it was difficult even for himself to tell if he was getting frustrated for not being able to be in that match or if he was happy for his friend… Still, his face decided for him before he could made up his mind and a smile appeared to greet Mayuzumi.

-          That’s great! -He said patting the strong shoulder of the boy- Goddammit, I wanna play too! Ahh, I need to train more! This week-end is going to be full of muscle traini-

-          Listen to what people say, you jerk!- Mayuzumi lifted his voice more than usual making him stop in the act and with the mouth still open, wait for the rest of Mayuzumi’s words- I want you to come to the match. I know it’s selfish and even insensitive from me to ask you to go when you can’t play yet… Bu-but... But I would really like that you go to cheer me…the team, up.

-          Haha, it’s only that? -Kagami laughed relieved. For a moment he had thought the white haired was angry at him, but it didn’t even had to do with that- If you want me to go of course I will! Don’t have to make such a scary face for something so simple.

-          It’s not simple… -Mayuzumi replied staring at the floor, the white bangs covering his eyes –It’s important… for me. I really want you to come to the match.

Kagami couldn’t understand why, but the same feeling of falling in the wind without parachute he had felt before spread through his chest. It felt thigh and it hurt a bit.

**The emperor’s watchdog**

The match started with the bank players from Rakuzan. It seemed like, as in the other games, they were confident in the absoluteness of their triumph. Akashi wasn’t even there, and the members of the other team felt as intimidated as underestimated, getting all worked up. They tried to get a bunch of points to prove Rakuzan wrong, but the team of unknown players that stood on the court were more than enough to seal them up.

For Kagami, seeing a match like that, in which the results were already clear (and Akashi wasn’t even playing) wasn’t exciting at all. He even wondered why was there so much people watching. More than that, there was a really big squad of cheerleaders from their school, both girls and boys that chanted and shouted some rhymes, dressed in the colors of their school and with an enormous flag. Was there any need of cheering a team that was already winning? Kagami didn’t understood that. Was it maybe just to show off? Most likely.

Maybe he should have gone to a smaller school… Maybe it would be more exciting if he were in a recently opened school or something like that. It would be really romantic too. Like one of those visual novels Mayuzumi lend him or one of those movies for kids. Sitting on a side, he watched how the team of his school easily erased the team in front of them.

Would it be more exciting to watch if a Miracle was playing?

Nah.

Kagami knew that he wasn’t bored only because of the difference in power, but because he wasn’t playing. He was the type that couldn’t get excited when standing out of the court. He would probably be jumping and dancing around if he was down there, even if the opponents were weak. He had maybe made a mistake by entering such a strong school. If it was for enjoying the game, it would have been better going to a little school where he could be a regular even in first year. He shook his head. That was stupid. He had made a good decision, because he had met Akashi and Mayuzumi. He was slowly becoming stronger…

The first quart was over and as soon as the second one started, Mayuzumi entered the court dressed in the team uniform. Kagami felt a weird shock in his chest, probably occasioned by the conflicting feelings of happiness and regret he had. And it was that same weird sensation which made him got up from the chair and start cheering out loud. For the team, for Rakuzan, for the absolute victory… For Mayuzumi.

If at least he could stand there… By his side; receive his passes, follow his faints, guard him when he tried to shoot and shoot when he guarded. How nice would that be? He breathe hardly and his heart raised to the simple idea of that… Playing basket in the court would be so much better… But he could only raise his voice, and shout his name, and cheer with every taken point. To a point in which the cheering squad by his side invited him to get in the group and even lend him a happi with the colors and emblem of the team.

He accepted not very happy and continued to cheer from there.

Middle time started and taking his bag, he rushed down, forgetting to give back the borrowed happi, knowing that the break wasn’t long.

-          Mayuzumi! ...senpai! –He called out from the hallway just before the white haired got inside the locker room, making him turn away.

-          Kagami? -He asked a bit confused, walking out of the line to meet him – What are you doing here?

-          You told me to come, asshole! -Kagami shouted sending a punch to his head that was easily dodged – Don’t you dare telling me you forgot!

-          No, I know… I saw you cheering me… the team- He corrected himself –And you even have that happi on-

-          Ah, shit! I forgot to return it – He said looking down at himself- Well, I’ll go up again either way so it doesn’t matter… Hey, wait a fuCKING MOMENT, don’t try to evade this!

-          I said I know – Mayuzumi prepared to evade another punch if necessary as he explained himself – I just don’t understand why did you came all the way down here-

-          To give you this – Kagami opened his bag and took out a small box wrapped up in a clear blue furoshiki

-          What? – Mayuzumi received the box holding it from the knot of the furoshiki, still confused by the whole thing – What’s this?

-          Honey lemons – Kagami replied – They are good for training breaks… So I thought it would be good to eat them in the intermediate of a match too.

Mayuzumi was looking down, the white bangs dripping sweat covering his face, making impossible for Kagami to see his expression. Not that with that emotionless guy it would change anything.

-          Just… eat the fuckers- He said when the silence of Mayuzumi’s lack of response was too long – When the match finish you can give the box back to me…

-          Are you going to wait to the end of the match? – Mayuzumi finally asked

-          Is that what you question?! Of course, I already came and I don’t have that many boxes, I can’t let you keep it until God knows when - He replied getting angrier.

-          Can we go home together? – Mayuzumi asked again, still looking down.

-          Ah? We don’t live close…- He retorted quite confused by the petition.

-          It can be only half of the way – The boy replied and Kagami found himself failing to understand why he sounded so desperate.

-          Ok, ok, we’ll go back together, jeez, you are so weird – He finally accepted scratching his nape and looking to another way, before turning away to go back to the bleachers- See you later, moron…

-          Kagami- Mayuzumi called with a soft voice making him turn around to hear whatever he wanted to say, just to find the most expressive smile he had ever seen on him directed to him. It was still so small and so mild it might pass unnoticed by the rest of the world, a smile that was in a lot of senses, only for Kagami – Thank you…

Widening his red eyes with the surprise and blushing until his face looked more like tomato than anything else, Kagami turned around and ran away, as fast as his legs allowed him too, as much as his lungs permitted without bursting. Until the fast beating of his heart could be blamed to the rushing of his body as well as the red tone of his face.

**The emperor’s watchdog**

When Mayuzumi entered the locker room, later than the rest, holding a box in his hands, Reo noticed something was wrong. He might not know or understand Mayuzumi’s expressions as much as Kagami, but he didn’t failed to notice that he was different from before. And his woman’s intuition told him it was because he was crazy in love and happy too.

When Mayuzumi started to eat with delight the honey lemons inside the plastic box he didn’t had before, Reo understood that it was a present for the person he loved. Whoever that person was. He was already inside the locker room when Mayuzumi was called out, so he hadn’t seen the responsible of giving that to him…

-          Hum, that looks tasty – He said standing behind Mayuzumi – Can I get some too?

-          Get lost – Mayuzumi replied without thinking twice, making him bit his lower lip a bit bothered.

-          Don’t be like that senpai. I have some too – He said taking his own honey lemons out – You can have one of mine if you want.

-          If you have your own don’t fuck around – Again those fucking irritating answers that made him want to slap him.

-          I just want to taste them…- He had started with the simple desire of teasing him out a bit and try to find a different expression on his face, but now he really wanted to bother him as much as possible – Or is your girlfriend so jealous she won’t let anyone else eat those?

-          Maybe she is – That was it. Losing his self-restrain he decided to give the hit back.

-          Oh, I didn’t knew Kagami-chan was the jealous type – He was just guessing. After seeing Mayuzumi’s reaction the other day and getting to know by Akashi (and a lot of insisting) that Kagami was good at cooking, he thought it might as well be it. If it wasn’t Mayuzumi would just let it off with another sassy comeback.

-          …If you knew then why to ask? – If it wasn’t by the long silence before the question, he would have thought he was wrong.

-          Oh, nothing. I just thought about telling Sei-chan about it – He grinned quite darkly, enjoying the darkening in Mayuzumi’s blank eyes to that expression.

So it was just as he had thought. Mayuzumi was really in love with Kagami and saw Akashi as his rival. Smiling a bit he apologized for bothering him while he ate and got away before the white haired attempted to rip his head off. Now, from his point of view Mayuzumi was no match for Akashi, and Kagami would most likely fall for the later in no time. Nevertheless, if Akashi continued acting like he did (as a stupid that wouldn’t even admit his own feelings), Mayuzumi could took some advantage. And since Kagami seemed like a total airhead, once he had fallen for someone, there was probably no way of making him change his mind.

Therefore, for Akashi’s happiness (and for the sake of Reo’s ego), he needed to push him a bit. Just from thinking a bit, he could say that if Akashi courted Kagami, or at least admitted his feeling for him, they would most likely end up together.

He wouldn’t let Mayuzumi take away Akashi’s chance of escaping his loneliness.

**The emperor’s watchdog**

-          It was really good -Mayuzumi returned the box to Kagami as soon as he saw the redhead who waited outside the small stadium for him.

-          Of course. I did it –Kagami smirked back, putting the box inside his bag- So, let’s go back.

-          I was thinking…- Mayuzumi stopped him before he had walked much – If you would eat lunch with me… In some place close to here.

-          Eh? Why? – Kagami turned around to see him, lifting one eyebrow a bit confused

-          There’s no one at my place today –the white haired started, his heart on his hand as he spoke –So even if I go back, I’ll have to make lunch on my own. So I was thinking in eating out… Maybe you… can join me?

-          Then let’s go to Maji Burger – Kagami smiled back without giving it much thought. After all he didn’t wanted to cook his lunch either – I saw one in my way here earlier.

Mayuzumi on the other side was jumping of happiness below his usual inexpressive face. To think he would be able to spend some more time with his beloved one. Maybe he really had a chance.

Kagami on his side was happy too. And it wasn’t just because he was getting some Maji Burger. He had finally heard a bit about Mayuzumi’s life. Even if it was something as little as to know that his family wasn’t there to make him lunch, it felt like an enormous step. As if they had got a bit closer.