Part two is finally up!

The KnB fandom is currently in tears because KnB has finally ended and I am not an exception. The anime was beautifully done and we can only hope for Extra Game and that it turns into a movie or an OVA (hopefully a movie)

I hope you like the second part of this AU and remember to check out my most recent story, Memories, a tribute to the end of KnB.

So, without further ado, here is the finale chapter!

Warning

1. There is no concept of the Generation of Miracles

2. Kuroko's disease is fictional and very, very vague

3. A bit OOC (I think) so I apologize in advance

It was all a blur. That was the only way Kagami could explain it.

A blur.

One year and still counting. One year since he lost his ability to see color. One year since he lost his one and only soulmate, Kuroko Tetsuya. Kagami didn't know what he was doing with his life. He didn't know what he was doing with his life at all.

It was a blur. Just a blur.

"Kagami, open this door right now.." A voice commanded as the door was just pounded on. Kagami didn't answer and just stayed still in his one-man sofa.

"Kagami-kun, I know you're in there. Just open up and we can talk about it. It's already been a year. Please, just talk to us. One word, it's all we ask!" Riko, former coach of Seirin High, pleaded as she kept knocking on the door, close to just breaking it open. Next to her stood a taller man with glasses, face hollow with dark bags under his eyes. It had only been a few days since he had finally decided to pull the plug on his best friend and first love, Kiyoshi Teppei, and to deal with this gloomy Kagami Taiga was taking a toll on him.

"Kagami, open the fuck up!" Hyuuga finally exploded and Riko moved out of way just in time for Hyuuga to kick the door open. Said door flung open and the lock was evidently broken.

And yet, Kagami didn't bother looking at them and see the commotion. He stood still, void of life and emotion. He was blank, empty.

The couple walked over to him, or, in Hyuuga's case, marched, and he started off the greeting with a slap to the face. Riko gasped in shock as a red spot started to appear on Kagami's face, and still he gave no heed to the glasses wearing man.

"How much longer are you going to be like this, huh? How much longer?" Hyuuga roared as he grabbed Kagami by the collar and started shaking him.

"Junpei-kun, stop! Stop this right now!" Riko tried to intervene but Hyuuga pushed her out of the way.

"I just had to fucking kill my best friend a few days ago and I can't fucking deal with this bullshit. Get over it. He's gone, ok? He was gone years ago and you fucking knew it." Hyuuga growled with his mouth clamped up and Kagami's eyes sparked.

"What the fuck did you say?" Kagami whispered, his tone laced with anger. Riko's eyes widened. She knew where this was going and she she that if she didn't stop this now, it would lead to utter madness.

"Guys, don't. Not here, not when there are other people living here." She tried to stop once more but neither was paying attention to the brunette. They just kept glaring at each other, eyes unwavering and full of anger.

"I said he was gone years ago. You knew and you still wanted to be with him. You knew he would die sooner or later. Why are you like this now?" Hyuuga rumbled, his glasses covering up his eyes.

"Then how the fuck am I supposed to act? Be happy that he's gone and I don't have him as a burden anymore? Was that how you thought of him? Only a burden?" Kagami countered while shrugging Hyuuga's hands away from his collar.

"Don't go twisting my words, bastard."

"That's what you seemed to say. You're not denying it either."

"I'm not denying it because it's ridiculous and absurd. You fucking know we never thought of Kuro -"

"Don't say his name." Kagami cut off.

"What?"

"Don't fucking say his name."

"Huh? Why shouldn't I? Don't I get the privilege to even say the name of one of my most trusted comrades? I'll say whatever the fuck I want. Kuroko."

"Don't."

"Kuroko, Kuroko, Kuroko, Kurok-" The name was cut off when Kagami lunged himself onto the smaller man. Hyuuga, who was expecting some kind of retaliation, was prepared for this. He opened his arms and welcomed the fight that was to come.

And the fight did.

Riko only watched with pitiful eyes as the two started laying down punches and screaming at each other. They yelled at each other about how horrible they were, trying their best to jab each other with their fists as well as their hateful words.

And then Kagami laid down the finishing blow.

"If it weren't for you, Kiyoshi-senpai would have never died!" He screamed and Hyuuga stopped altogether. His arms fell to his sides and his legs gave out on him. Tears marred his face and his open mouth gave out no sound.

Then, "Teppei…" He croaked and Riko knew it was finally time for her to intervene. She cautiously touched Hyuuga's shoulder and helped him up.

"We'll come back. See you soon, Kagami-kun." She added before leaving the apartment with a dejected Hyuuga. Kagami took a deep breath and regret immediately settled in. He knew he should have never said that. It had only been, what, four or five days since Hyuuga decided to put Kiyoshi out of his misery? He knew he should have never opened the already cut wound but what else could he have done? Everything had numbed him and he didn't know what else to do.

He was lost and he missed him. He missed his soulmate.

"Let's go out, shall we?" Koganei asked with a fake cheery tone as Mitobe nodded next to him. Behind the three stood Riko and Hyuuga, who looked as if they hadn't slept for days. The former four members of the famous Seirin High basketball team decided to make Kagami take his mind off the loss of Kuroko Tetsuya and they knew only way to numb his pain and that was by drinking, and drinking hard.

"I'm good." Kagami declined but that answer was not the right one. Koga nodded to Mitobe and he nodded back. Then, they both took hold of Kagami's arms and made sure to hold on tightly. The red head tried to struggle but the two must have gotten stronger because they wouldn't let go.

No, that wasn't true. They hadn't gotten stronger. It was he who had gotten weaker. He had quit his job as a firefighter the moment the funeral had ended and had then been sulking in his room, only going out of the dorm for little amounts of food.

"Let go, this isn't funny. I don't want to go out." Kagami protested but was too tired to care at this point. He stopped struggling under the couple's grip and glumly followed their lead, Riko and Hyuuga trailing behind.

"He's not getting better, is he?" Riko whispered and Hyuuga merely sighed, tired. So tired.

The first thing Kagami noticed about the bar was the amount of people. There were so many, both inside and out. The group was waiting in line and Kagami couldn't help but look at the window next to him. He could see only people's heads but he could already deduce that the bar was very popular.

"The Blue Panther is one of the best bars out here. You're going to love it, Kagami. I know you will." Koga commented with his usual smile, though it didn't reach his eyes as it normally did. Kagami grunted in response, still mesmerized by the crowd inside. They walked up in line as another group of people exited, their faces happy and a bit drunk looking.

Soon, it was their turn and the bodyguard who was in front of the bar let them in with a grunt of approval and a solemn nod.

"Look at that! As expected of the famous Blue Panther!" Koga exclaimed as Mitobe nodded fervently in agreement.

"What do you think, Kagami-kun?" Riko asked cautiously and Kagami shrugged. Of course they would think it would be amazing. They could see color, could see how each and every hue blended beautifully, how some colors would contrast and others would be in perfect balance. Of course their eyes would shine brightly as they saw the interior of the bar.

He, on the other hand, could only see black and white, the blandest of colors. Oh, how he wished he could see color again. How he wished he could see him again.

"Kagami, come on. Let's get you something to drink." Koga approached carefully and tugged his arm, Riko doing the same. Hyuuga watched from a distance, glancing at his soulmate, Aida Riko now and then with an inexplicable guilt. He sighed as he realized that he could never tell her that he would see Kiyoshi every now and then when he was around her. It didn't help when he would sometimes see Kiyoshi instead of her.

The two dragged Kagami to where the bartender was at and called for him. Said person was busy shaking a drink vigorously and told them to wait. When he was done, he walked over to them, his eyes lingering on the red head that had not yet noticed.

"What can I get you?" He then asked.

"What's the bestseller here?" Koganei asked and the bartender stayed quiet for a moment, his eyes still on the reticent red head, before answering.

"The Heartbreak."

The group was silent, unconsciously looking at Kagami, who at the moment, couldn't move. It was as if everything wanted to remind him of his death.

"Ah, how about another thing then?" Riko interrupted awkwardly and Koganei agreed weakly. Hyuuga sighed and Mitobe merely looked at Kagami with worried eyes.

"No, I don't care. Just give us five of those." Kagami butted in annoyedly. "And stop looking at me like that. I'm fine." He then emphasized as the four simultaneously looked away from him. The bartender watched the scene with unreadable eyes and then nodded.

"Five Heartbreaks it is." He repeated and went to work. In the meantime, the two couples glanced at Kagami with both worried and pitiful eyes. They knew they really shouldn't have treated him like a china doll but how else could they have acted? It had been a year and Kagami's life was already in pieces. He quit his job and was only depending on the leftover salary that he had, which he had only a little left. He was barely eating -which was a complete surprise to them because Kagami was a monster when eating - and he was losing his strength too quickly. The thing that worried them the most, however, was Kagami's eyes. They had nothing in them, not even a speck of sadness for the loss of his lover.

It was just… empty.

Said person was hunched over in his seat, his face on the counter and his ams covering it. He just wanted to be alone, not in some bar where the music was too loud and there were too many people for his comfort. He knew his friends were just trying to get him out of his stump, but it was still too early. He just couldn't deal with this right now.

It had already been a year, and he knew that. But who could let go of someone so precious in such little amount of time? It was absolutely preposterous to have such a notion. Surely Hyuuga would be able to understand that, but here he was with them, trying his best to forget.

He just needed time, not alcohol.

At that moment, the bartender returned with five glasses.

"Five Heartbreaks." He said as he came back. Kagami lifted his head and for a brief second, his eyes met those of the bartender's. They held their gaze and Kagami looked at him curiously, wondering if it was just a coincidence that their eyes met or if the bartender had been looking at him the entire time.

Someone coughed behind him and he turned around to see Hyuuga. He held two glasses and handed one to him.

"Here." He said gruffly and Kagami took it hesitantly.

"Cheer, cheer!" Koga shouted and the five clinked their glasses together. They all took a sip, or in Kagami's case, a whole gulp, and they expressed their pleasure and approval.

"So, was it to your taste?" The bartender asked and they all nodded except for Kagami, who just kept drinking.

"I'll have another." Kagami ordered when he finished, the couples looking at him with concerned eyes.

"Are you sure, Kagami-kun? I thought we could dance before having another drink." Riko said and Kagami shook his head.

"I don't want to dance. You guys go on ahead. I'm going to stay here and have another drink." Kagami responded and the four looked at each other, a secret message going around among them. Kagami sighed as he knew exactly what they were thinking.

"I'll be fine. Go." Kagami said, determined to make them leave and not worry about him any longer.

"Are you sure?" Riko asked once more and Kagami nodded.

"I'll be fine. Really." Kagami reassured and even gave them a small, but fake, smile. The four then nodded hesitantly and left the place to go to the dance floor.

"Will he be alright?" Riko asked to Hyuuga and he took one last glance at the sulking red head. Then, he sighed and nodded.

"Probably. And did you see the bartender?"

Riko nodded. "You think…?"

"Who knows? Love is complicated." Hyuuga concluded as they walked over to where Mitobe and Koganei were.

"Rough night?" The bartender asked as he passed another Heartbreak to Kagami. He took it without lifting his head and didn't respond. This time, he took a sip of it and relished its taste.

"It's good." He commented as he took another one.

"Thanks. It's the best one here."

"As you mentioned before."

"Yeah." The conversation stopped there and there was an awkward silence before the bartender broke it.

"So, you didn't answer my question."

"What was it again?"

"Been through a rough night?"

Kagami laughed unhumorously. "More like a rough year."

The bartender leaned forward. "Why?"

Kagami then lifted his head up and looked at the bartender with a critical eye. "Why are you interested?"

The bartender merely shrug and gave him a sly grin. Kagami took that time to examine him. He was tall, maybe a bit taller than he - which was rare - and his hair wasn't slicked like what normal bartenders would do. it was actually disheveled and that feature would have been more prominent if his hair were a bit longer. Judging by the tightly matched uniform, he had a lean, muscly form, as if he had played a sport for a good while. His eyes gave off the impression that he didn't care much about anything and at the moment, it felt as if the eyes were mocking him. Kagami disliked him immediately.

"Shouldn't you be tending to other customers?" Kagami barked and the bartender, still smirking, shrugged.

"I'm not the only bartender here, you know."

"Is that so?" Kagami said in a bored tone. The bartender laughed heartedly and patted him on the shoulder. Kagami froze as the bartender's hand came in contact with his body. It was an odd feeling, and it was familiar, which he didn't like.

"I like you. Let's be good friends." The bartender commented and let out a hand. "Aomine Daiki. And you?"

Kagami looked at the hand and raised an eyebrow. "Kagami Taiga. And just what part of me do you like?" Kagami asked skeptically.

"Who's to say? I just do."Aomine answered vaguely and smirked once more. The lent out hand slowly retracted as the bartender figured out that it wasn't going to be greeted any time soon, and took a second to bark some orders to the other workers. Then, his attention went back to the red head.

"So, what happened during the year? You never did answer my first question." Aomine said, trying to get back to the topic, and Kagami suddenly stood up.

"I don't have to answer to the likes of you. I think I'll be going now. Tell my friends I had to go back home." Kagami said coldly and left Aomine, the bastard that he was.

And yet, here he was again, a week later, back to the Blue Panther and having a conversation with the one and only Aomine Daiki.

"You're here today again, I see." Aomine said with a smirk as Kagami made his way to the counter.

"Shut up. I need something to drink." Kagami said in return with a tired look.

"Oh, another rough night?"

"Not this again."

Aomine raised his arms in mock surrender. "Just curious."

"Just give me something to drink."

"Another Heartbreak?" Aomine asked and Kagami nodded. He came back a few seconds later with a martini in his hand and slid it over to the red head. There was a silence before Aomine broke it.

"I expected you not come here after your leave last time. Your friends were awfully vocal about it." Aomine said in an honest tone and Kagami shrugged.

"I needed something to drink. And I know. My phone was flooding with their angry voicemails." He answered as he took a big gulp of the alcohol. He then handed the glass again to Aomine.

"Another." Kagami said gruffly and Aomine nodded, immediately setting off to make the next one.

"Bartender, give me a Blue Panther." A customer ordered while Aomine was making Kagami's drink. He nodded and quickly made the heard drink, giving the glass to the waiting person before going back to Kagami.

"So, did my drink make you come back?" Aomine asked teasingly and Kagami glared at him.

"Shut up."

"Just wanted a clarification." Aomine said breezily.

"Fine. I came here for the drink. It's good, I admit it." Kagami confessed grudgingly and Aomine gave him a big smile, which Kagami interpreted as a haughty smirk.

"Stop that. It's creeping me out."

"Stop what? Smiling? I can't, it's my nature." Aomine responded easily and Kagami growled.

"Are you ever going to leave me alone?"

"What are you talking about? I've only seen you twice."

"And both times you haven't left me alone. Can't you take a hint?"

"Obviously not." Aomine smiled once more and leaned against the counter.

"You look tired." He said as he suddenly took Kagami's chin and started inspecting it. Kagami felt something bubbling in his stomach and his eye twitched.

He was close, too close.

"Don't touch me." Kagami growled as he slapped Aomine's hand away.

"Yup, someone's definitely in a bad mood today." Aomine teased and Kagami let out a groan.

"Is it a bartender's policy to annoy his customers like this?"

"No but you're the exception." Aomine answered and Kagami's eye twitched once more.

"Can I have a Blue Panther?" A tall woman with killer heels came up and asked.

"Mind asking my friend here?" Aomine replied and pointed to the worker next to him. The woman nodded and went to the other bartender. Aomine immediately went back to Kagami and the red head sighed tiredly.

"Is there something I did to you to make you do this?"

Aomine shrugged and looked away from him. "Nothing really. I just like messing with you. You have interesting reactions."

"Is that supposed to be a compliment?"

"Depends on how you see it. I think it is."

"Yup, it's an insult. And you'e lying." Kagami concluded as he took one more sip of his drink and stood up. "How much?" He then asked as he took his wallet out. Aomine gestured him to stop.

"On the house. And how did you know I was lying?"

Kagami shrugged. "A person I knew used to do the same thing. Not looking at the person while lying." He stopped and then remembered Aomine's words. "Wait, it's on the house? Why?"

"Because I said so." Aomine answered. "And maybe I was looking at Sakurai to see if he was making the drinks well. You never know."

"You admitted it yourself that you were lying. And you just did it again, not looking at me in the eye while talking." Kagami retorted and Aomine grinned.

"Fine, you got it. I was lying when I said that. Now go and get some sleep. You look like you need it."

"Wait, then what's the real reason?" Kagami intercepted and Aomine shrugged vaguely.

"Why are you curious?"

"Because you're being all vague and indirect. Pisses me off." Kagami said bluntly and Aomine laughed.

"Well, either way, you're not getting an answer off me. Now go. Get some rest and come back later. Maybe then I'll tell you." Aomine responded and Kagami glanced at him weirdly before nodding and leaving the bar.

"Fine, but I'm making you tell me sooner or later." Kagami advocated.

Aomine was left alone at the counter, staring at the door in which the red head had left and let out a chuckle.

"And you wonder why I like you."

"You see that woman over there? Divorced for 5 years and still can't get over it." Aomine said as he pointed to a woman in her late thirties with puffy hair, moving around the dance floor, trying to get a dance. It had been 2 weeks since Koganei had shown Kagami The Blue Panther and for some reason, Kagami was going to the bar almost every day. He was beginning to think something was wrong with him.

"Then what's she doing here?" Kagami asked as he took a sip of his drink.

"Obviously she's trying to get over it. She's been coming here literally almost every day, just like you. We've nicknamed her the crazy cat lady."

"Crazy cat lady?" Kagami asked with a skeptical look. "I don't see anything cats lying around here."

"It's a metaphor and ironic at the same time. Instead of attracting the males, or the 'cats', she scares them away."

"I can see why you call her that." Kagami noted as he saw her failing to try and pick up an early twenties male. The man gave her a polite smile but brushed her off slightly, signifying that he really didn't want her. She, in turn, merely nodded and left the floor, tired and wanting to go home.

"Know her story?" Kagami then asked as she left the bar and Aomine shrugged.

"I think her husband was cheating on her. Apparently the girl he was cheating with gave him a much bigger spark than when he was with her."

"Why are there only sob stories here?" Kagami exasperated and Aomine laughed.

"It's reality, what do you expect?"

"Good morgon, dear customer." Aomine greeted with a mocking bow and Kagami rolled his eyes and putting his hand on the Aomine's head, he pushed him further to the ground.

"Shut up, you sound like an idiot. And it's don't pull foreign shit on me. What language was that anyways?" Kagami asked as Aomine struggled to push his hand away. When he did, he laughed.

"One, ow. You have a really hard grip. Two, I think it's swedish. I'm not sure though."

"Yeah, it sounded something like that. And why good morning? Last time I checked, it was close to twilight now."

"So it is morning!" Aomine laughed as Kagami tried to push his head down again.

"Shut up and get me drink." Kagami ordered.

"Got it, got it." Aomine sang as he got ready to make the Heartbreak. Kagami waited patiently, looking around the dance floor at the same time.

"So, what other gossip to do you have for me today?" Kagami asked as Aomine came back with his drink. The red head took a sip and gave a happy sigh.

"To your liking?" Aomine asked mockingly and Kagami glared. Before he could say anything however, a muscly man came up to Aomine.

"Hey, can I have a drink?" He asked.

"Nice to see you again. The usual?" Aomine asked and the man nodded.

"Get me two, actually. Those Blue Panthers you make are good." He complimented and AOmine gave him a smile before making the drink and giving it to him.

"Cheer, cheer." Aomine said and the man raised his drink in response before leaving.

"You know that person?" Kagami asked, who had just witnessed the scene.

"Yeah, he's had it tough." Aomine answered.

"What happened?"

"Mostly family problems. He's gay but can't say that he is."

Kagami furrowed his eyebrows. "Why?"

"His parents won't allow it. His loving a man, that is."

"What? Why?" Kagami said incredulously.

Aomine shrugged. "i'm not sure myself because he was blubbering the night his parents said that. Apparently he had found his soulmate, a man the same age as him, and told his parents immediately about it. They didn't take it too well and told him to break it off because they wouldn't allow their only son to be homosexual."

"That's horrible. So what happened?" Kagami asked and Aomine frowned.

"He told his lover about it. I couldn't catch the rest because he was practically sobbing at that point. Had to take him home myself because he ended up falling asleep on the counter."

"Did you ask him what happened?"

"I tried but he seemed to avoid me. I think he knew that he had said too much to me." Aomine shrugged. "I'm not sure though."

"Why the hell would his parents forbid him to love someone? Who the fuck cares about gender?" Kagami exploded, his eyes twitching at the thought of it.

Aomine sighed. "His parents apparently. It's apparently a thing, to hate on same-sex love."

"But love is love, isn't it?"

"Hey, you don't have to tell me. My preference is in men, too."

Kagami stopped his rant and looked at Aomine with wide eyes. "Wait, what?"

Aomine tilted his head in confusion as well. "What?"

"Did you just say you liked men?"

"Yes…? Did I say something wrong?" Aomine inquired and Kagami hesitantly shook his head.

"No, you didn't. Sorry, I was just shocked."

"About what? My liking men? I thought you were the one who said gender didn't matter." Aomine said skeptically, his face turning darker.

"Yeah, I know. And it really doesn't. My soulmate was a man, too. Just that I expected you to like women. You seemed like the person who would like boobs or something." Kagami explained, unintentionally mentioning a forbidden person.

it was Aomine's turn to furrow his eyebrows. "'Was'? What happened to your soulmate?"

Kagami took a moment to finally realize his mistake. He coughed as he chugged down the drink.

"Forget I said anything." He said once he finished.

"Right." Aomine replied, unconvinced and unwillingly let go of the topic.

"Two Blue Panthers and one Heartbreak, please." A person came up as Kagami looked down at the counter, unable to meet the bartender's eyes. Aomine, in turn, nodded to the person and soon came back with the wanted drinks. He turned his attention back to the red head and examined him before talking.

"So, we were talking about something." Aomine changed the theme and Kagami took the chance graciously.

"Yeah, we were. I really don't know where to start. I mean, why on Earth would they ban love to their son? It's cruel beyond belief."

"You're telling me. Why should they care about gender? Honestly, if I were his dad, I'd just be happy that he was able to even find his soulmate."

"Which he did." Kagami pointed out and Aomine nodded.

"Exactly. It's stupid."

"No, it's downright abusive They're literally stripping him of his right to love." Aomine could only nod.

"So, what's he doing here?" Kagami then asked and Aomine gave him a saddened look, completely unlike him.

"He's just trying to forget. I only got it out of him yesterday after you left, but apparently, after he told his soulmate about his parent's rejection, the dude just up and went. He's been trying to drink himself to oblivion since."

"Wait, really?"

"Yeah. The so-called soulmate couldn't, quote unquote, deal with it and left. Just like that."

"Oh, wow. No wonder his eyes are always a mess."

"Yeah. He cries to sleep every single day because not only was he kicked out of his house, he was also left alone after all the bullshit he went through."

"Reality?" Kagami piped up cheerlessly and Aomine sighed.

"Reality." He confirmed and Kagami could only drink.

"… And that is how my cousin found out my love for crayfish." Aomine finished and laughed wholeheartedly at Kagami's reaction, which was, at the moment, pure horror.

"So, let me get this straight. You 'accidentally' stepped on a crayfish and then just supposedly decided that its remains should be poured on your six year old cousin? And then you thought she looked delicious with the broken crust that you just start sucking on her hair?"

"Yup. And she screamed and I pranced around, searching for more crayfish." Aomine roared with laughter and Kagami slapped himself mentally, wondering just why he was still coming here, meeting this insane bartender.

"A Blue Panther please." A woman came up to the counter and ordered. Aomine nodded, still chuckling, and came back quickly with her drink. She thanked him and gave a blissful smile once she took a sip.

"And remind me again just why you told me this?" Kagami asked, utterly done with the bartender's antics. Aomine, in turn, shrugged with an easy smile on his face.

"Just thought we should get to know each other, you know? I've known you for like what, four, five months? That long and we don't even know anything about each other. Thought today might be good a time as any." He explained and Kagami thought about it for second. It was true that they knew each other for a considerable amount of time. Of course, they hadn't had any meetings outside the bar and Kagami only visited every other day, but they still knew each other for that long.

Another woman with a tight bun came up to Aomine. "Give me a Blue Panther." She ordered and Aomine swiftly made one and gave it to her. She, like the first woman, had an ethereal face once she tasted it.

"Thanks." She called out and immediately went back to the dance floor.

"I guess I see your point." Kagami admitted as the woman left and took a sip of the Heartbreak. "So, what do you want to know about me?" Kagami asked.

"I don't know. What do you want me to say to you?" Aomine responded back and Kagami shrugged.

"Anything. I don't really have anything to hide."

"Really? Then how about this? We can play 20 questions. I ask something about you, you answer, then you ask something about me and I answer."

"Easy enough. Bring it on. But don't you have customers to tend to? The crazy cat lady's here today and she might disrupt the other customers with her weird flirting techniques."

Aomine waved his hand back and forth dismissively. "Don't worry about it. As long as she knows her boundaries, it'll be fine."

"Yo, owner, give me a Blue Panther please." A man who had been sitting several seats away from Kagami said and Aomine gave Kagami a 'give me a second' look before making the drink.

Aomine soon came back and dusted his hands off. "So, shall we start the game?"

"I didn't know you were the owner of this bar." Kagami commented.

"See? We don't know anything about each other. This is a perfect chance! Who goes first?"

Kagami nodded at him. "You can go first."

Aomine took a moment to talk. "Family relations?"

"Dad." Kagami replied curtly and though Aomine raised an eyebrow skeptically, he didn't make Kagami elaborate on it. He merely nodded and gestured that it was Kagami's turn.

"Any sports you play?"

"Basketball." Aomine said casually.

"Ah, no wonder." Kagami muttered to himself but was heard by a certain bartender.

"What do you mean, no wonder?"

"Ah, just that you seemed to have an athlete's body."

Aomine raised his eyebrows suggestively. "So you've been checking me out."

Kagami spluttered as a blush reached his cheeks. "I have not!" He defended and Aomine snickered at his face.

"Hey, don't worry. I've been checking you out, too. No harm done." Aomine raised his hands in mock defense and Kagami spluttered once more.

"Are you flirting with me?" The red head demanded and Aomine chuckled.

"Depends. Do you want me to flirt with you?"

"You dick head." Kagami retorted and Aomine cracked up, clutching his stomach in the process.

"Bartender, give me a Blue Panther." A person called out and Aomine nodded to Sakurai, the other bartender, and he took the signal to make the drink.

"Your reactions are priceless." Aomine commented and Kagami punched him in the arm.

"Dickhead."

"You know you love me."

"Like hell I do."

"Aw, I feel very hurt, you know? My heart has just broken into pieces."

"Will you stop already? And it's your turn to ask." Kagami changed the topic and Aomine, still smiling, nodded.

"Same question. Play any sports?"

Kagami nodded. "Same as you, actually. I play basketball. Well, used to."

"Why? Can't play because you're too old?" Aomine teased and Kagami punched him once more.

"I'm the same age as you, idiot. You just insulted yourself as well."

"Yeah, but I'm the active one here. You're just getting washed up. And you never did answer my question. Why aren't you playing anymore?"

Kagami shrugged and sighed. "Something happened and I just lost the passion for it."

"Two Blue Panthers please." A man came up and asked. Aomine nodded solemnly and promptly came back with the two drinks. Then, he directed his attention to Kagami.

"What happened? Basketball isn't something you lose passion for that easily. And if I remember correctly, you were in Seirin, a major powerhouse."

"How did you know?"

"I read Basketball Monthly, just like every other basketball idiot did in high school. Everyone knows you."

"Is that why you won't leave me alone?"

Aomine shrugged. "Not exactly. But that's not my question. I asked you the first time, too, didn't I? When I first met you. What happened during that so-called rough year?"

Kagami's eyes narrowed. "And didn't I tell you last time that it wasn't your business to know?"

"Didn't you just say that you had nothing to hide?" Aomine immediately rebutted and Kagami realized that he had nothing to say to that. Aomine sighed and ran his hand through his hair that was still grey to Kagami's eyes.

"You know what? Whatever. It's your life and you're right. I don't have the right to pry. Let's just leave this, ok? I'll just ask another question. It's your turn." Aomine said tiredly, looking partially guilty. Kagami sighed as well, feeling like a dick. It wasn't like Aomine was going to tease him or make him feel bad in any way. It had already been almost a year since he died and maybe it was time for him to say something, anything before he exploded. Maybe Aomine was the right person to talk to.

"A Blue Panther please." A short, stout man came up and Aomine gave the man a glass he had already prepared before. The man raised his glass in thanks as he moved away.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to sound rude." Kagami apologized once the man left.

"S'fine."

"It's just been really hard, you know?"

Aomine shook his head and looked away. "Actually, I don't know. You seem to be avoiding the question so I never got to know what you've been through. You can trust me." Kagami looked at the bartender critically before nodding slowly.

"Yeah, I guess I can." Kagami said and took a deep breath. "I used to have a soulmate and he died about a year back. I guess I'm still not over it, that's all." His head sunk lower to the counter.

Aomine's brows furrowed as the words settled in.

"How was he? The soulmate, that is."

Kagami whipped his head back up and looked at the bartender peculiarly. Normally, he would hear pitiful apologies and softening eyes. Aomine, however, did neither and only seemed determined to know who he was.

"He was," Kagami started, "a really stubborn person." Just the thought of his stubbornness made him smile. Aomine watched the scene with surprise. To his memory, he had never seen Kagami smile before. His heart felt tight.

"Is that so?" Aomine said and Kagami nodded dreamily, still in his memories.

"Yeah, he knew he was dying so when I confessed to him, he rejected me, saying I was just confining myself with a lost cause. Naturally I refused to take that and kept pestering him until he gave out."

"Must've been a really happy day for you."

"Yeah, it was. It was a few days before our final match as freshmen that he finally decided to make it happen."

"So what happened?" Aomine asked and Kagami gave him a look.

"What do you mean?"

"Did his condition grow worse or did it just happen?" Kagami was silent before sighing.

"It was growing worse. We tried our best to find a doctor who could cure him but we never could." Kagami then gave Aomine a humorless laugh and Aomine stared at him, a bit scared by the sound. It didn't sound like Kagami at all.

"Want to know the funniest thing? I wasn't even there when he died. I was out shopping for groceries, to prepare for our four year anniversary when he passed away." Aomine's eyes crinkled and he patted Kagami on the shoulder. Kagami merely sighed and let him continue the action. He knew he would get pity. He always did.

"Did the nurse tell you about his death?" Aomine asked and Kagami shook his head.

"They just confirmed it. I knew because I lost the ability to see color. Painful as fuck, as I remember it. Everything was burning up, like I was in the middle of flames. And when it was finally over…"

"Do you still see black and white?" Aomine suddenly questioned and Kagami nodded.

"Yeah, still do. And it pisses me off."

"Blue." Aomine blurted and Kagami gave him a strange look.

"What?"

"My hair color. And my eyes. They're blue. Navy, to be more precise. Just thought you should know." Aomine explained awkwardly and Kagami couldn't help but laugh at his awkwardness. When the moment passed, Kagami wiped a tear away and grinned at Aomine.

"You really shouldn't make that kind of face. Doesn't suit you." Kagami teased and Aomine grinned as well.

"Fuck you." Aomine replied and Kagami let out a euphoric sigh.

"Haven't had a good laugh in ages. Thanks, Ahomine."

"Oi, what did you call me?" Aomine uttered in mock anger and Kagami laughed once more.

"Red."

"What?"

"My eyes and hair color. It's red."

"Actually, I'd say your hair is more of a mixture of red and black." Aomine added unintentionally and Kagami stared at the bartender eccentrically.

"How would you know? Don't tell me you already found your soulmate." Kagami said in disbelief, feeling something in his heart for an unknown reason.

Aomine rubbed the back of his head. "Ah, that wasn't supposed to come out. Too late, I guess. Yeah, I found my soulmate. Just haven't confessed to him yet. I'm going to when the time's right."

"Is he in the bar right now?"

"Yeah. Pretty close, actually."

"Want me to help you confess to him? Though I think you'd be fine on your own. You have the looks and the skills to hook up with anyone if you tried hard enough." Kagami complimented and Aomine smirked.

"you getting onto me, Taiga?" Aomine asked haughtily and Kagami smacked his arm.

"No, and don't use my first name so casually like that."

"Got it, got it. And it's fine, I don't need your help. It'd actually be a bit awkward if you did."

"Eh? Why?" Aomine merely shrugged without giving anything away. Kagami grumbled, calling Aomine 'Ahomine' and glanced at the people around him, trying to find the bartender's soulmate.

"Five Blue Panthers, please."

"Coming right up." Aomine replied to the customer that had come to the counter. When he came back, Kagami was looking at him once more.

"What? Got something on my face?" Aomine asked and Kagami shook his head.

"Is it the dude with the tank top?" Kagami asked and Aomine slapped himself on the forehead.

"Please don't tell me you're going to do this until you get this right."

Kagami smirked. "Oh, but I am. Is it… The dude that has the mohawk?"

"No, and he has his own problems. He's really desperate to try and find his soulmate. He's almost fifty, by the way."

"Wait, really?"

Aomine nodded and Kagami looked at the man with wide eyes.

"He should really do something about that hair."

Aomine shrugged and started cleaning glasses. "He says it's a way to express himself."

"Do you know everyone's back story or something?"

"Hey, I'm not a stalker or come to me. I'm just a bartender."

"So, tell me. Who's your soulmate?"

Aomine rolled his eyes. "Really? Are you still on this?"

"I'm curious."

"That's not an excuse. I was curious about your life but I didn't force you out of it. Why are you? I'll tell you my soulmate the moment I confess to him, how about that?"

Kagami tsked but nodded. "Fine."

"What's your best drink?" A short man with an Elvis Presley hair suddenly came up and asked.

"The Blue Panther. Would you like to try it?" Aomine answered and the man nodded.

"Give me three; it's for my friends."

Aomine nodded. "Three Blue Panthers coming right up."

Kagami furrowed his eyes then, recalling Aomine's words. Then, his eyes widened in shock and as Aomine came back, he slammed his palm at the counter. Both the man and Aomine jumped at the sound and the man quickly left the scene with the drink with him.

"Kagami, what's wrong?" Aomine asked, eyes evident with worry. "You just scared off a customer."

"What did you just say to him?" Kagami growled, glaring at Aomine. Said person looked taken back, confused as to why Kagami would ask that.

"I just gave him a drink, what else?"

"No. What did you say before you made the drink?" Kagami barked and and Aomine furrowed his eyebrows.

"He asked me what was good here and I gave him a Blue Panther. I fail to see what's wrong."

"You told me," Kagami stated, still glaring, "the day I first came here that the best drink here was the Heartbreak." Aomine's eyes grew wide as he realized his mistake.

"You fucking lied to me." Kagami sneered. "You fucking knew, didn't you? You knew my soulmate was dead, and you still made me say it. You fucking made me say that Tetsuya was fucking dead!" Kagami cried and the whole bar turned to their way. Aomine stood frozen at Kagami's outburst, not knowing what to say. Kagami ignored the people's stares and kept meeting Aomine's gaze, both unable to look away. Soon, the stares from the people dissipated and the Kagami finally broke the gaze.

"And just when I thought I could fucking trust you." He muttered to himself but the words were heard by the bartender. Aomine could only swallow a lump that was forming inside his throat and found that he couldn't say anything to defend himself.

Because it was true. He had known.

"Why'd you give me that drink in the first place? Riko had definitely asked you which drink was the best and you specifically told us it was the Heartbreak. Why lie?" Kagami's voice cracked. He didn't know why he felt this hurt but for the moment, he let that hurt turn into anger.

Aomine was silent and Kagami grew impatient, the hurt never leaving his body.

"Why?" Kagami demanded, the surrounding people in the background forgotten.

it was another moment of silent before Aomine finally answered. "Because I've seen people like you so many times. Those who've been through a lot, whether it was heartbreak that your soulmate had another person in mind, or that your soulmate had passed away before you. I give out the Heartbreak to people like that because it helps ease their body and mind. I had to do it to you, too. I'm sorry."

"Then, you're admitting that you knew, right?" Kagami then asked quietly and Aomine nodded hesitantly, guiltily. "If you knew, why would you make me say it? Why would you torture me like that? You fucking knew and you still made me say his name."

"I had to make sure."

"Make sure of what?" Kagami shouted.

"That the pain you were feeling was treatable. If it would take long for you to recover." Aomine answered censurably and Kagami couldn't take it anymore.

"You bastard. What kind of monster are you?" Kagami's hands trembled visibly and he started walking away. The pain in his heart grew and he wasn't sure if it was because he was thinking Tetsuya or because of something else. He was getting an idea though, and it scared him.

A hand grabbed him and he turned around to see Aomine, his eyes desperate.

"Let's talk outside. I'll explain." The bartender said and started to drag Kagami to the back door. He struggled to get out of Aomine's grip but to no avail.

"Let go, bastard. I don't need to talk to the likes of you." He sneered but Aomine didn't answer him and soon enough, they were outside.

"Just listen to me. I can explain."

"And if I don't want to listen?" Kagami knew he was being like a child but what could he do? The pain in his chest was unbelievably uncomfortable and he couldn't deal with Aomine's being here when Kagami just wanted to be alone with his thoughts.

And then it hit him. The pain in his chest.

His eyes widened and involuntarily glanced at Aomine, who looked like he was about to explain. His mouth then shut as he saw Kagami's expression.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Aomine asked hesitantly while Kagami's mouth felt dry.

"What time is it?"

"Almost twelve. Why?" Aomine answered and Kagami shrugged Aomine's hand off. He started running and was about to turn a corner when Aomine dropped the bomb.

"I love you."

Kagami stopped, sneakers screeching on the pavement. He slowly turned around and saw Aomine looking at him sorrowfully.

"My soulmate is you." Aomine confessed mournfully and Kagami's lips parted in surprise. Aomine kept talking.

"Saw color the moment I saw you come to the counter. Also realized that you were in some kind of love conflict. I had to know if I was a lost cause or if I could at least try. I'm sorry I lied to you, but I couldn't think of any other way."

"I…" Kagami tried to start but no words came out. He had to go somewhere now but for some reason, he couldn't leave the bartender behind. He was Aomine's soulmate. He was being loved again.

"I'm sorry." Kagami whispered finally and left Aomine alone in the alleyway.

Aomine stood there, staring at Kagami's retreating form, and shouted in anger and sorrow.

"Shit!" He yelled to the sky before running his hand through his hair and dolefully walking back to the bar.

Kagami ran as fast as he could, his breath growing short and his heart clamping up, not only because of his decreasing stamina but also because of the incident at the alleyway.

No, he couldn't think of Aomine now, not when he was going to meet him.

As he grew closer to the place, his feet gradually slowed to a walk and Kagami took that time to catch his breath. It had been some time since he moved so suddenly. Back then, he had the strength of a million suns; now, he was sloppy and sluggish. He really needed to work out again. Today, however, was not that day.

A guard who was half-asleep woke with a start as he saw Kagami's body and stood up hesitantly, not used to seeing huge bodies like his.

"Who are you?" He stuttered, trying to look for his gun. Then, he saw Kagami's face and he calmed down a bit.

"Good evening, Kagami-san. Ah, well maybe not evening, since it's close to midnight. I wondered where you were today. I thought you wouldn't be coming." The guard commented as he unlocked the gate that led to the cemetery.

"Yeah, sorry. I forgot."

"Hm? That's strange. You're not one to forget these kinds of things, especially when it's visiting someone close to you."

"Yeah, I know." Kagami said, his eyes growing tired. "I've been a bit busy these days."

"Well, that's good to hear. Hyuuga-san and Aida-san have been worrying about you, you know. It's good to see you back on your feet. Exercise more, my boy! You're out of breath!" The guard exclaimed in a fatherly manner and patted Kagami's back. Kagami, in turn, gave the man a small smile and entered.

Kagami jogged up a hill and soon encountered himself with the grave of his loved one.

"Hey, Tetsuya. I'm finally here."

Aomine was cleaning another boring old glass when the door opened. His eyes then enlarged as he saw who had come in. His grip on the glass loosened and said object fell to the ground with a loud crash. He snapped out of his stupor and saw the shattered pieces scattering the floor. The other bartenders were already cleaning up the mess and finished before he could even crouch down.

"Clumsy, aren't you?" The man said casually and Aomine couldn't find a proper answer to that. He merely stared as the man took his regular seat.

"I'll have a Blue Panther." He ordered and Aomine snapped back to his senses.

"You won't have a Heartbreak?" He asked incredulously and the man shook his head.

"I want to try the best drink you have. It is the best drink here, isn't it?"

Aomine was at a loss of words. "Ah, yeah." Having nothing more to say, Aomine quickly went and made the man a Blue Panther, still not able to believe what was happening. It had been weeks since he saw him come to the bar. Why was he here now?

When he came back with the drink, the man had loosened up a bit, having taken off his coat and hat.

He slid the glass to him and the man inspected it.

"What color is this, by the way? I always wanted to know." He asked curiously.

"It's blue, just like it implies in the name." Aomine answered.

"But what kind of blue? Is it a navy blue, teal blue, white blue…?"

"Ah, I guess most people who see it as a mixture of navy and teal. Why do you ask?"

"'Cuz i still can't see color yet, dumbass." The man disclosed and the hope that Aomine had disappeared immediately. He closed his eyes and willed his heart to stop making painful twists and turns.

His eyes then snapped open as something warm touched his hair. The man had leaned over the counter and grabbed ahold of a chunk of Aomine's hair and his fingers twiddled it. Aomine couldn't breath while this was happening but couldn't reject his touch either. He stayed put and slowly closed his eye-lids, savoring the moment.

"But you're right." The man suddenly said and Aomine opened his eyes and looked at him strangely.

"What do you mean?" He asked and the man smiled warmly, making Aomine's breath hitch.

"You hair and eyes. They are navy. And I don't know if anyone's told you this, but it's a beautiful shade of blue."

At that, Aomine couldn't help but choke up. He then smiled widely and hugged him fiercely.

"It's about time, Bakagami. You've kept me waiting."

"Hey, it's not like I can see everything yet. I'm working on it, though, so just wait for me, ok?" Kagami told him affectionately and Aomine nodded fervently.

"Don't worry. I'll make you see a colorful world again."

"I came late, I know, and I'm so sorry. I've been caught up with a stupid thing that I actually almost forgot this day. I'm sorry, Tetsuya. So sorry." Kagami apologized greatly to the gravestone that read 'Kuroko Tetsuya'.

Kagami sat down in front of the stone and caressed it carefully, making sure not to make a crack or damage it in any way.

"It's been two years since you've left me. Goddamn it, I couldn't even get you flowers for this occasion because of that idiot, Ahomine. All the shops were closed while I was running here, so I couldn't get you the water lilies you loved. I promise to buy a bunch tomorrow and leave it here, for you.

"I'm actually really confused right now." Kagami confessed to his deceased soulmate.

"Just before I came here, I was at the Blue Panther again. I've told you about the bar a million times so I don't think I have to explain it again. Anyways, I was at the bar, talking to the idiot and some big shit happened that made me so angry. He lied to me, used me, and then had the nerve to confess to me, saying I was his soulmate.

"I just couldn't take it. I have you, you know?" I don't need anyone else. You're always here with me, so I don't need him. I don't." Kagami declared stubbornly but didn't have as much as passion as he wanted to put. He sighed and stared at his lover's name wistfully.

"I miss you so much, Tetsuya. I always regret not having been able to be with you till the very end. I'm so confused and lost. I don't know how much I can survive. What should I do?"

Kagami then laughed humorlessly. "Wait, I don't even need you to come here and answer me. You'd probably say something like 'suck it up', of course, in a much more formal way, but that's not the point. I really should just suck it up, deal with life and it's consequences. Just a few weeks ago, Aomine and I were talking about reality again, discussing the cruelties and even karma. Makes me wonder if karma bit me back after hoarding all the bad things I've done in the past by taking you away from me. I I told Aomine this, indirectly of course, and he smacked me on the head when I did. Told me I was just a 'Bakagami' and I shouldn't think like that.

"I got him back, of course. I call him 'Ahomine' every chance I get. We both get into stupid fights about it, but it's weird because he always manages to put a smile on my face. I think it' because of his idiocy that I'm smiling but it's smiling none the less. I've never admitted it to him but I've liked smiling again after so long. It's… nice.

"And it's not only the stupid fights, but it's the way he always has time for me. Yeah, I've found it annoying in the beginning, but I realized how much he's done for me when I was so down. Even when the bar was flooding with customers, he never failed to make time for me to just talk so that I could forget. Not saying I could ever forget you, but there were blissful seconds when the pain in my chest was forgotten. He could do that when no one else could.

"I'm grateful, to say the least. I think he did all that because he loved me, though. I'd do the same for you, to be honest. To help your soulmate in any way possible, even though they know it's futile. Well, I guess I wasn't really a futile case like you. He's got me over the line at least…" Kagami trailed off and it hit him how he was only talking about Aomine the whole time. And the bigger truth settled in afterwards.

"Shit!" He yelled as he stood up hastily and ran his hand through his hair, pacing back and forth in front of the gravestone.

"What the fuck am I going to do? Shit, shit, shit! Tetsuya, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I don't know what's happening to me." He said dejectedly and fell to the ground on his knees, his face covered with is hands.

He froze as he felt something pat his back. He turned around and choked when he saw the ethereal form of none other than Kuroko Tetsuya.

"Tetsuya…?" Kagami whispered and tried to touch him but saw that it went right through. But he was there, right in front of him. It could have been a delusion, the single light making him see things that were not there. It was the sorrow playing tricks on him, taking control of his brain to make him see such things. But he was there, right there. Kagami could see him and his beautiful smile.

His beautiful teal hair, however, was lost in the swirl of black and white.

Kuroko kept patting him and shining his warm smile.

'It's ok.' It seemed to portray. 'It's ok.'

Kagami breath hitched as he knew exactly what Kuroko was trying to tell him. He then closed his eyes, his heart settling down and the painful feeling in chest dying out. When he opened them, his past lover was gone and all that was left was himself and the lonely light reflecting the gravestone.

He nodded to the gravestone and stood up determinedly.

"I have to go but I promise to visit you again as soon as I can. I love you." Kagami bid farewell and left the cemetery, the spirit of Kuroko Tetsuya watching him leave.

'It's ok to love someone else and be loved in return. As long as you're happy with him or her, it's ok to move on. I'll never leave you and you'll never leave me. Look to the future and make a colorful world again.'

"I'll make you see a colorful world again."

And that is a wrap!

Huzzah for the legalization of gay marriage and equal rights! (I meant to put this on top lel)

I really hoped you liked it and please don't forget to review and comment on how it was :)

Peace,

FlyAndDontLookBack