Chapter Text
A grace on the lips, he had been kissed by the angel. His eyes opened wide and he moved away from the boy. It had lasted enough, he thought. The boy remained looking at his tiger, for some reason he didn’t seem mad at all. In fact, the tiger could notice a slight smile had formed, faint, but present.
“Ah…” he wasn’t sure of what to say, but he leaned and hugged him, tight, very tight. The boy responded with a gentle touch, as he always would, patting the head of the boy.
“There is no need to say sorry, Kagami-kun… I don’t mind it. Maybe it’s time to take some steps to the discovery of what we are to really be.” Kuroko said. He knew the feelings they both were starting to develop would later turn bigger and stronger, he had to make sure to keep this clear for the tiger. So, he would speak to him about it, after everything was done. “For now, we have to lead the circus.”
Kagami nodded rapidly and moved away. Even if he had suffered quite a bit there, he considered it a home. He had forgotten his real home, he could only remember the bars, so he would protect that space with his tamer. There was no need to destroy it… He, too, was sure the place could be better if the blue eyed was there to lead it.
Akashi couldn’t help but chuckle. He had really lost to the tiger… to Kagami Taiga. It was fine. He had lost his chance, and now Kuroko was beginning to smile.
He was to lead them both to the circus. Not only the surface of it, but the real interior. For he was ready to leave it. In the end, he couldn’t lead it how Nijimura had wanted. He’d surely be disappointed if he saw how it had turned… that’s what the small red haired thought. He had planned to visit him after officially leaving the circus. And, that’s exactly what he would do. That man would surely give him a new purpose to continue on… He wanted to try and stumble like any other person… But, he wanted to be protected by someone once he did, for he would break if he did it alone.
As he proceeded to lead them, the circus getting closer by the minute. He tried talking to Kuroko.
“Tetsuya… There’s something I want you to know… though I think you’ve already noticed. It’s about Taiga and the stage… the lights. I’m not sure what it is, but he seems to feel threatened by them. I don’t really know why he feels that way… but I’m sure it has to do with his past.” Akashi expressed, he was not careful to hide from the tiger, since it would be a great thing if the tiger could share it already. He glanced at him, but noticed that, even if his eyes emanated a strange red, he refused to say a word.
“Ah… I think I get what you’re trying to tell me, Akashi-kun… I suppose it is related to his past, like you said… It’s a vital part of his life, though it is one where he suffered. I was pretty sure it was related to the circus… but if you don’t know about it… then it seems I was wrong.” Kuroko replied, trying to walk a bit further to be able to watch Akashi as they spoke.
“I confess that we did abuse of him while at the amusement park… but nothing related to vivid colors or whatever he claims… That’s the only thing I could get about the whole thing. Fire, probably.” The tiger flinched and ran closer to his tamer, his hands trembling slightly. Kuroko noticed and patted the dark haired.
“It is alright, Kagami-kun. The past is gone, right? Aside from that, we will not push you to relive it unless you’re ready.” Kuroko first had to make sure he was alright before continuing to speak. “Now, Akashi-kun, I’ll try my best to deal with whatever happened to Kagami-kun… If he doesn’t like the stage then, I won’t push him to be there either.” Kagami sighed, relieved by every single word the boy released. He would be fine… he would be ready if he lived with that angelical figure. He knew he could share his fears and solve them. Surely, the threat was still around… but he needed the right time to say it.
“Right… I suppose you’ll be able to find the answer… You are his tamer, after all. Well then… we’re here… and it is time for me to say farewell to everyone. “ he wasn’t sure he should say it, after being so oppressive… but he would try. Kuroko wouldn’t let him leave without properly saying his words of sorry to the others. The boy nodded at his words and stood at the entrance alongside the tiger, who seemed peaceful, but thoughtful.
Akashi walked timidly towards the back of the amusement park. Looking at it, feeling it was the last time he would be there… it was a very heavy feeling. He guessed he had grown attached to him, even if he had been how he had… he loved the place and the people in it. He let out a sigh, it was time to speak. He moved the curtains away and, once he did, a green haired man alongside a brown haired woman, ran towards him as if in a hurry.
“”Akashi-san!”” they both said. For some reason, it seemed out of character to the small one, but he forgot about it once they continued speaking.
“Where were you, sir? We were worried sick for you!” the woman said, her big brown eyes shining with worry as she started to brush his clothes, as if he had been dirtied.
“We have so many things we need to discuss with you, in fact… so, if you could please follow us. Some people are even offering themselves to enter the circus, strangely. We thought you had recruited them, in fact, but your face of confusion seems to say otherwise.” The green haired finished. They both wondered where he was, but, first things first, they had to get the things ready.
“Wha… wait… I came here to… to say my goodbyes.”
“”What…?”” they both looked towards each other and now, even Midorima seemed devastated by those words.
“Why would you leave us, Akashi-san?” Riko asked, looking worried. Had they done something wrong? Midorima tried to see the reasons, but he hadn’t found anything out of place with their actions or the amusement park.
“I… I haven’t been the best leader… with you guys or the animals… I figured you’d be happy to hear the news. I thought maybe Kuroko Tetsuya could lead the amusement park for me.” He said, pausing with some words, as he was still confused by their reactions. Riko shook her head and Midorima closed his eyes.
“But,… Akashi-san… We know you’ve done your mistakes, but we have let them go on… This is not entirely your fault. ‘IN FACT’, we were planning on telling you about those today, alongside the other things we need to tell you… We can fix them together. You don’t need to leave, Akashi-san. You helped this amusement park be what it is today. You make many people smile and we work hard every day to see those smiles and enjoy them.” She teased the ‘calm’ Midorima, adding the words that he surely wanted to say and then smiled widely. Sure, there were moments when they wanted their leader to stop being how he was, but they knew that, deep down, he himself wanted to change. They had finally figured that they should give him a hand at it, and they would go do it today.
Akashi sighed and glanced at them both. Midorima finally opened his eyes, adjusting his glasses to hide the slight embarrassment. A chuckle escaped the red haired, and grateful eyes gazed back at the two. He nodded rapidly and lowered his head. He wanted to stay… He really wanted to. Maybe this was a sign that he should stay. Ah… another chuckle escaped, Kuroko knew for sure this were their true feelings. At that moment, he had felt so happy he could cry. The words of trust from Nijimura resonated inside of him. He, too, knew that, even if he lost his way, he would find it someday… and that his comrades would help him out if he opened up to them… or even if he didn’t, because, in the end, that’s how friends are.
“I get it… Alright… I’ll take it back. Let’s get to work, Aida, Shintarou.” He replied, eyes determined and a straight posture,… and a gentle smile. Riko and Midorima couldn’t help but smile as well. It had gone better than expected… and they trusted it would continue that way if they gave him a hand. So, they both nodded and rushed towards the others. There was so much work to do, and a bright future to look after.
Eavesdropping, Kagami looked excitedly at the figures that rushed further in. He turned and nodded to Kuroko with a ton of energy.
“He did it, huh?” Kuroko said, now approaching the tiger and leaning for a hug. The taller one responded with a tight one, he wouldn’t let go for a while. It was always great to have that stillness close. He hoped to always have it. “He’ll be able to fix it, I’m sure. But, if he ever needs a hand, we can give it to him, right, Kagami-kun?”
“Y…Yes, we give hand to him…we save him. Angel saves him, I protect angel.” He corrected, in the end. Kuroko let out a soft giggle. He had been called an angel. Maybe that wasn’t the best description for him, he thought, but he would go along with it. He let go of the tiger and then, cupped his face and leaned in for a soft kiss.
This time, they were both aware, and the both enjoyed the moment. Soft, slightly timid, but so calm and beautiful for the both. It was as if they were in heaven, for the tiger, and as if they were close to what seemed to be an ocean, for the tamer. A perfect little kiss that would be the start of their love and the end of their ambiguity.