Author's Rant: And it's not even 'tomorrow' yet. Anyway, short chapter… for now. BTW, I made a tumblr account. And I'm not sure if I'll repost my works there (because I could probably post explicit things there). Still not planning on doing anything yet though, but please do visit it! rr-yume . tumblr . com. Just remove the spaces~

In any case, I do hope that you stay with me (and my other fics) because FINALLY, I'm done with my thesis and updates will come more regularly now. –wink-

This chapter… is AkaKuro. xD Well, more like, through-the-phone AkaKuro and bits of GoMxKuroko. It's an opening sequence before the whole cross-dressing thing.

Soul Vrazy: That's a nice question~! Gave me an idea for Mira-Gen Corner, I'll use that a little later (perhaps at the KiKuro chapter?).

Yuu3: Ah, really sorry about my late updates (looks at my avatar). Anyway, as for Seirin x Kuroko and Takao x Midorima… I'm not sure. Because definitely, that would be a different fic since this one revolves around Teikou!GoM… unless I suddenly decided to time-skip. Haha, we'll see. –wink-

setsuko teshiba: Yes, there would be. We would still have the cross-dressing and the judgment day.. err— I mean Akashi's comeback chapter.

strawberry-fish-cake: Oh, thank you for the question. You'll see it in this chapter~!

Passero: You made me happy with your review. Thank you so much. I do have some pessimistic tendencies and I'm a bit depressed that's why I try to write fics that might cheer me up. Anway, I'm glad you found my fic worth reading..

savia96: If you would notice, your email has been omitted from your review. In any case, I do want to talk about it. If you could log-in somehow, you can PM your intentions/email to me. I'll be waiting~!

Warnings: FWA, BWS and OOC moments. BTW, I love the fact that Akashi is so bad-ass in the manga! Haha, well, good luck to me. Read at your own risk, you have been warned.

Disclaimer: As much as I want to own it, and claim it… I can't. I just can't.

When the Cat's Away, the Mice will Play

Two weeks. Fourteen days. Three-hundred and thirty six hours. Twenty thousand one-hundred sixty minutes. One million, two-hundred nine thousand, and six-hundred seconds. These numbers is what worries Akashi. Though this might seem such a short time to other people, such was not the case for him.

This was the Generation of Miracles that we're talking about. Each one of them is another league of their own, and as good it is to be on the same team within the court, they were also formidable opponents outside. It doesn't help the fact they all seem to be infatuated at the same boy, namely Kuroko Tetsuya.

It's not anything like Akashi would lose to them. He was absolutely sure that he'll win every time. His only worry is Kuroko. The redhead would at times let his eyes leave the pale boy for a few seconds and the others seems to hound his Tetsuya as soon as he does. Few seconds, he tells you. So it really is quite unsettling that he'll be leaving him on his own for two whole weeks.

Given that they're still on the same country and he could go back when he wish to, and Kuroko (probably) would be wise enough not to incur his wrath… still it leaves him troubled. After all, when the cat's away, the mice will play. Always.

DAY TWO

"Kurokocchi~!" Kise called out as he casually gave the small boy a tight hug.

A minute later…

"Oi, Tetsu!" Aomine slung an arm around the petite boy's neck.

Another minute later…

"Tetsu-kun~!" Momoi hugged the life out of the pale boy with her rack.

And another…

"Kuro-chin…" Murasakibara ruffled the boy's light blue hair much to the latter's annoyance.

And so, the bespectacled man sighed. It was only the second day Akashi was not around but Midorima feels that if someone else mentions the sixth man's name, he'll be nauseated by it for his whole life. Seriously, he didn't think that his team was this hard to handle. This only made him acknowledge, rather reluctantly on his part, their captain.

'At least they were practicing as told.' He thought to himself.

Then again, this was just four people from the Generation of Miracles. Akashi usually handles everyone, even him. Not that he was hard to handle (he'll never admit such) but he does admit that his lucky items might prove to be a bother at times, and the redhead had to tolerate him all those times. Midorima gained more respect for Akashi. But that's it.

"Kuroko, I could use some opinion on this." He called out while holding a few stacks of paper. The light blue-haired boy left the crowding group and went to their temporary captain. Well, Midorima can't say that he didn't have ulterior motives like his other teammates now that Akashi's away for two weeks.

DAY THREE

Kuroko woke up to the sound of his phone ringing rather than his alarm clock. Just three seconds later, his alarm also went off. He languidly picked it up in his drowsy state.

"Hello?"

"Tetsuya." A deep, very familiar voice resounded over the phone. The pale boy perked up at the sound of it, almost clutching the phone for dear life.

"Akashi-kun…" He trailed a bit off but resumed. "Is there anything wrong?"

"No. I could ask you the same thing." It always had felt a little bit weird for Kuroko to hear his captain's voice on the other line. Akashi had always felt surreal for him, something divine, someone unattainable. And this call made it so much worse.

"I'm okay. Everyone's fine." He replied, a bit relieved that Akashi can't see his expression. He was sure that the redhead would have more-or-so guessed what he has just been thinking about.

"…I see." Akashi noticed the millisecond pause in Kuroko but chose to believe it was due to faulty reception. "In any case if anything happens, anything at all, call me." He added.

Kuroko nodded and forgot that Akashi won't see him. "Yes."

"If you understand then—" The concluding edge and finality in Akashi's voice stirred up panicky emotions on Kuroko. Somehow, he felt that if the line ended just like that, something was about to go wrong from there. "Wait!" He interrupted him, but not knowing what to say next so he just spouted the first thing that would come into his mind.

"Akashi-kun, you knew that our attraction by next week was cross-dressing, didn't you?"

There was a long line of silence that the sixth man feared that perhaps he angered his captain. But on the other hand, when Akashi answered, he heard something very akin to sheepishness. "Yes."

This brought an uncharacteristic smile on his face. "You could have made the Student Council change their minds, couldn't you?"

"…Yes." Akashi had that caught-in-the-act tone and Kuroko struggled not to giggle. Of course, he had to say the fateful question. "Then why didn't you?"

On the other side of the line, Akashi visibly smirked. There was no point in being dishonest. "It's a rare chance to see you in a dress after all."

Kuroko blushed, having some sort of idea what is going on in the redhead's mind, and perhaps imagination. "Akashi-kun!"

Akashi made a soft chuckle before saying the next words with slightly regretful tone. "Relax, I'm not there and I won't get to see you." The pale boy noticed this tone, wondering what to say in these times but before he could actually create any coherent thoughts, Akashi spoke again, his voice back to normal.

"Satsuki prepared a style for everyone but don't follow it. I'll send you a dress that'll look good on you."

Kuroko stopped at that. "…what?"

The redhead decided to continue. "I'm sure that you'll look perfectly right even without make-up or 'theme' that Satsuki was so insistent on doing."

Kuroko shook his head. "No, I get that. But send me a dress? You bought me girl's clothing?" He made an emphasis on 'girl.'

"Big deal?" Akashi asked but he didn't sound a bit remorseful. "It's nothing to mind Tetsuya."

The smaller boy mentally pouted. "I do mind it."

"Well, Satsuki prepared such a skimpy outfit for you and I just couldn't allow that." Akashi helpfully added.

Well, Kuroko was a bit appeased by that. He would not want to wear far too revealing clothes. But then he was hit with realization. "…did Momoi-san prepare one for you as well?"

Then there came another long line of silence with immediate brightened up Kuroko's day. When Akashi hesitates to answer, there was always something behind it. "Well, Akashi-kun?"

Whether it was a sigh or a grunt, he wasn't sure, but at least Akashi answered. "…she did."

"What is it?" The light blue-haired boy perked up and inquired.

A few impatient tapping on Kuroko's side and a minute of hesitation on Akashi's before the ice was broke. "…if you promise not to react."

"I promise." Kuroko answered almost immediately.

"A long red China dress with abnormally long slit by the left leg."

A short silence that was soon followed by muffled giggles was all that was heard in the next minute. When Kuroko got his composure back, he commented. "I'm sure you'll look good in it, Akashi-kun."

"You're getting twice the training when I get back, I swear Tetsuya." Though he didn't see it and there were only weird noises on the line, he perfectly knew that Kuroko was laughing. This easily popped a few veins in his head.

And still, the pale boy found it funny. "No, seriously. You'll look—"

"Triple." Kuroko was cut short with Akashi's irritated tone.

"…sorry." Kuroko kind-of regretted teasing Akashi... kind-of.

Akashi acknowledged the cheekiness in that apology but found some solutions to that. "If you're really sorry, you have to promise me one thing Tetsuya."

Not exactly expecting it, all other thoughts left Kuroko's mind and he listened intently. "What is it?"

"Don't let anyone make a move on you in these two weeks."

'Anyone,' how many people do that encompasses? But if there's one thing the pale boy was sure is that even if he could avoid perception with his low presence, once his teammates had their eyes on him, it was easier to give up than to be stubborn. "That's harder said than done, Akashi-kun."

"Then try." Akashi replied immediately as if it was obvious.

Kuroko settled between a sigh and a smile. "And if I break my promise?"

"Punishment, obviously." The redhead replied with a seductive purr. He easily heard the hitch in the pale boy's breathing. "What kind?"

"Perhaps something different from the usual." Then he smirked, concocting a lot of things in his mind. It would be miracle if the smaller boy could actually get up from bed with all the things Akashi had in mind in case he would execute them. "And I could not guarantee the safety of the other person." He dangerously added.

A cold sweat trickled down his temple and a shiver down his spine as he heard that threat. "…you won't kill them, would you?"

"We will see," was all that his captain said.

For a split second, the light blue-haired boy furrowed his brows while saying… "Akashi-kun…"

"Fine. They're staying alive..." for now. Akashi wanted to add the last two words, but nevertheless didn't. He knew Kuroko wouldn't be happy with them.

"And Akashi-kun," The sixth man called out to him one more time. "Yes?"

"Call me too if anything happens." If there was anything that Kuroko worries about, it would be the fact that Akashi would never let anyone worry about him.

Akashi simply answered in a somehow deadpan voice. "There is nothing that I couldn't handle. Nothing could frazzle me, Tetsuya."

Kuroko sighed at that. "Please…"

"Fine," the redhead resigned and finally bended to his whims. "Well, it's getting late. You still have to prepare for class. Have a good day, Tetsuya."

"Yes Akashi-kun. I'll see you around." And soon dropped the phone unto his bed and went to fix himself for the day.

When Kuroko left his place, it was fairly safe to say that he wouldn't make it in time for practice. But what he didn't expect was for the gym to be empty, except for the Generation of Miracles.

"Where are the others?" He asked startling the life out of the occupants of the room.

"Tetsu!" Aomine said before scratching his head and muttering something to himself. Seeing that no one really answered to him, he simply sat with them before letting his observing eyes only to fall on Midorima… who looked perfectly horrified and absolutely scandalized.

"What happened to Midorima-kun?" This time, he tried asking Kise. The blonde hesitated whether or not to tell him.

"You see," Kise paused, but seeing there was no one reacting to him, he decided to continue. "The rest of the basketball team backed out."

Kuroko stared at them in disbelief... as much doubt that blank expression could get anyway. "We're allowed to do that?"

"At first yes, but captain gave his word that we," He spoke as he pointed out to the others, "are not allowed to do that." Then he sighed. "Or else will be getting a training-from-hell when he comes back."

"I see," the pale boy acknowledged the new fact. Then he gave a pat to Midorima's back. "It's just for a day, Midorima-kun."

"Actually Tetsu-kun…" Momoi cheekily interrupted. "Um, it's for the whole week. On the first day you'll show yourselves, and the voting period starts. The result will be announced on the last day of the festival, and again, you all would have to appear." She explained bit by bit that seems to drain all the colours from the guys.

"What happens in the middle, well, it's up to you. You could endorse yourself by going around in your clothes." In summary, they are to cross-dress for a whole week. Great. Just where is there captain when they need him?

End Rant: Haha, well. Surprise, surprise. Next chapter I'll be time-skipping so that we get straight to school festival… and the cross-dressing. For those who are curious, first pairing to go would be KiKuro! I'll try to post it tomorrow. -wink-

BTW, I would love to see Akashi in a China dress for some reasons!

Now that I think about it… What clothes do you think will fit each of them? Oh, I got a good idea. There's that "submit" thing in tumblr right? Why don't readers send pics/sketches of clothes you want them to wear? I'll add details on a whim. xD

MIRA-GEN (+ Yume) CORNER

Yume: Hello~!

Kuroko: Hello everyone.

Yume: It's been long… again. How long was it this time?

Midorima: Approximately? About three weeks. You're becoming like those who update only every month.

Yume: I'm sorry Shin-chan~! (hugs)

Midorima: Hey! (pries the girl off) Not to me, to the readers.

Yume: Hehe… Sorry, everyone. (bows)

Aomine: Are you obsessed with Midorima?

Midoima: Please learn to choose your words Aomine.

Yume: Yup!

Midorima: And don't just agree with him!

Kise: I don't get Yumecchi… What so good about that tsundere?

Midorima: I am not a tsundere!

Murasakibara: (licks on lollipop) You're being a tsundere right now.

Midorima: (sighs) Whatever. Say what you want, it's a waste of breath to argue with such bunch.

Yume: But you're part of that bunch…

Midorima: (glares)

Yume: Sorry Shin-chan. With Sei-kun not here, you're the only voice of reason. But with everyone here, reason is equivalent to nothing. (smiles)

Midorima: Hmph, at least you know.

Kuroko: I'm hurt Yume, Midorima-kun. Do you two really think I'm together with these two idiots? (points at Aomine and Kise)

Aomine: Hey!

Kise: I'm pretty hurt by your words too, Kurokocchi~ (wails)

Murasakibara: That's right. Don't group me with them too, Yume-chin.

Yume: (laughs) Well, what can I do? Anyway, shall we go to the question?

Aomine: You ran away…

Yume: Shut the hell up, Dai-chan. I am the writer.

Kise: (whispers) Sometimes, I swear Yumecchi has a bipolar personality. One moment she's nice and sweet then suddenly goes black.

Yume: I heard you Ryou.

Kise: Sorry.

Yume: Anyway… the question is…

Question: There is a pornography site dedicated to each of the Generation of Miracles…

Aomine and Midorima: WHAT?!

Yume: Please let me finish…

Midorima: No. These questions are escalating each time. Butit's definitely getting worse!

?: Stop being so speculative Shintaro. You didn't even finish the question.

Everyone looks at Kuroko.

Kuroko: I placed Akashi-kun on speakers. (shows phone)

Akashi: Go ahead Yume. I'd like to hear the rest of it.

Aomine: But Akashi! I know I'm not the best person to say this, but a porn site? That is just wrong.

Kise: What's wrong about it?

Aomine: Huh?! You're asking me that? Are you out of your mind?!

Kise: I think it's normal.

Aomine: How the hell is it normal?

Murasakibara: Mine-chin, I think you're forgetting that Kise-chin's a model. He's used to it.

Aomine: That's him! He's different from us.

Kise: Aominecchi, I feel so isolated. (pout) Besides, you shouldn't be so bothered by it. If such thing exists, most likely it's all photo-shopped.

Kuroko: That's right, Aomine-kun… Though honestly, I still feel a little violated.

Murasakibara: Don't be Kuro-chin.

Kuroko: Why is that?

Murasakibara: Your pictures would be investigated for the paranormal.

Everyone else: (silence)

Yume: Haha, anyway…

There is a pornography site dedicated to each of the Generation of Miracles. Which player's site would you visit first, and what type of photo/pose/fetish would you look up first? (courtesy of strawberry-fish-cake)

Midorima: Finishing the question doesn't make it any better.

Akashi:But at least we know it's a case-situation basis.

Aomine: I see. (calms down)

Yume: (whispers to self) Or is it? (snickers)

Akashi: What are you giggling about Yume?

Yume: Nothing. Nothing at all. (acts innocent) So what's your answers?

Kise: I'm not sure. Let me think about it.

Midorima: You're even thinking about it?! This is simple. I'll check my own. I'll find some way to sue whoever created the site.

Aomine: I'm not sure myself. Maybe Kise's.

Kise: What are you saying Aominecchi? (flustered)

Aomine: Huh? (Bored reaction) Well, if you're going to a porn site, you're looking for something to get off right? I might as well go for the best figure. Oh, I think I'll prefer your back shots too. (smirks)

Kise: That's… (still flustered)

Aomine: Ah, shut up. Have you thought which one for you?

Kise: Ah. Me? I think I'll go for Kurokocchi… or maybe even Aominecchi.

Aomine: Me? (amused)

Kise: That's only because you have great figure! But for Kurokocchi, I prefer to see him in large garments. He'll probably be cuter!

Midorima: Are there porn sites where the models are actually clothed?

Everyone looks incredulously at Midorima.

Yume: Ah, such purity. That's why I love you Shin-chan~!

Kuroko: Indeed. (smiles a little)

Yume: Indeed… what?

Kuroko: What do you mean?

Yume: Indeed on the comment of Shin-chan's purity or indeed on loving Shin-chan?

Kuroko: No comment.

Yume: (pouts) Stingy… Anyway, who's yours Kuroko-kun?

Kuroko: I don't know. Everyone has their good points. I'll probably check everyone's.

Eerie silence filled the room with such revelations.

Yume: Ah… H-how about Atsushi?

Murasakibara: Oh, is it my turn now? Hmm… I guess anyone's picture while they're eating sweets?

Yume: Anyone's? Anything specific other than sweets?

Murasakibara: Hmm… Aka-chin's crying face? I want to see Aka-chin cry.

Another suffocating silence.

Murasakibara: I think Aka-chin will be cute when he cries. I mean Kuro-chin was cute.

Akashi: …Thank you, Atsushi. That's more than enough.

Murasakibara: Okay Aka-chin. (back to his lollipop)

Yume: Well, only Sei-kun is left.

Akashi: Me? I will not do such trifling things such as going to pornography sites. If I wanted to see them bare, all I need to do is say it.

Aomine: You're kidding me…

Akashi: Want to try it, Daiki?

Aomine: (sweatdrops)…No?

Akashi: (smirks) Wise decision.

Kuroko: How about preferred pose/fetish?

Akashi: Hmm… If it's Ryouta, Daiki or Shintaro, I'd like to see them tied, bound and gagged.

Aomine, Midorima, Kise: (shocked speechless)

Akashi: Atsushi's best the way he is. The length of his limbs is just perfect.

Yume: Oh… Then how about Kuroko-kun?

Akashi: Tetsuya? It really depends on how he feels.

Yume: How he feels?

Akashi: We switch after all.

Yume: Switch~?! (fujoshi instincts on high)

Kuroko: Let's end it there, shall we?

Yume: Ah… (disappointed)

Akashi: Well, Yume. How about you?

Kise: She'll probably go to Midorimacchi's site.

Yume: How is that even possible Ryou?

Kise: Huh? But didn't you say you like him?

Yume: True, but it's possible that I'm the one running his site, isn't it?

Everyone else: (silence)

Midorima: You're running it?

Yume: Ah. No! Of course not. (evasive) But I won't go to your site anyway.

Murasakibara: Why is that, Yume-chin?

Yume: I'll go to Kuroko-kun's site of course!

Aomine: And here I thought you don't see Tetsu as a guy?

Yume: You misunderstood me. I'll be looking for group shots.

Midorima: G-group shots?!

Yume: Hahaha… Anyway, till next time! (runs away)

Midorima: Hey, get back here! (runs after the girl)

Murasakibara: Ah, they're gone.

Kuroko: Till next time. (bows)