Author's Note: Hi, Shiori here. I finally have this fic revised. Feel free to read and review.

Prologue

"They say that the moment that you see the love of your life, time stops…"

-Anonymous

He watched the rain fall down once more from the huge windows in his office. He had always hated the rain. He hated how gloomy and dark the atmosphere becomes, and he hated how cold it could become. He could state numerous reasons as to why he hated rain, but what he mostly hated about it was that it made him remember that person.

That person was the only one he ever cared for, truly loved. To give up everything just for that person, that was the extent to what he was willing to do. The only person that could have made him happy was also the one who suddenly disappeared from his life. Gone with no trace as to where he went or why. All that he left behind was a letter saying nothing but "goodbye".

Ten years have already past, yet Akashi couldn't forget him. His memories of him so clear, as if it was only yesterday that they had last saw each other. He could still remember those soft blue tresses on his fingertips: the way those light blue eyes would just stare into his heterochromatic ones, tender lips that would taste so sweet with every kiss, or the soft pale skin contrasting to his slightly muscular body. He loved him so much, so much, that his heart would burst whenever he thought of him. Even know, he still felt the ache in his chest. He remembered him, yearned for him, yet in a blink of an eye, he disappeared.

Even though he knew that meeting him would be impossible, deep inside, he could help but hope for the chance to see him again. He wanted to know if Tetsuya really did love him the way he does.

A knock on his door returned him to the present, "Come in," He said in his usual cold voice.

His secretary came in and said, "Sir, the interviewer, Ms. Aida Riko, informed us that she will not be the one to attend the interview with you this afternoon. However, she has sent a proxy in her stead; she wants to know if it is alright with you."

"It's fine, I don't mind. Did she say who it will be?"

"She did not give a name, but she said that you do not need to worry; it's a close friend of her's."

"Fine, do what you have to do. Do I have any other meetings after this interview?" Akashi asked.

"No sir. You are free after the interview."

"Good. You may leave now."

"Yes sir."

"Why does it have to be me Riko-san?" The bluenet asked Riko, trying to keep his calm composure despite panicking. Why was he panicking? It wasn't the fact that he was going to an interview with Seijurou Akashi, the CEO of Teiko Enterprise, which was the most renowned company in the entire world. But, the true reason why he was panicking was because he was his ex-lover.

They had dated way back in middle school, which was ten years ago, and for some complicated reasons, he had left and decided not to see him again. Yet, here he is now, one hour remaining until their fateful meeting.

"Can't you just be the one to attend the interview Riko-san? Look, I'm just a teacher, and I have no idea what I'll ask him." He tried to make an excuse for himself; he really didn't want to see Akashi. Not now, not ever.

"Tetsuya, please, this is important to me and my career. Look, as much as I want to personally attend, I can't ditch meeting my fiancé's parents just because of an interview. I don't want them to have a bad impression of me. Besides, why are you panicking? It's just an interview, plus, I have already prepared all of the materials needed for the interview."

"But Riko-san, I-"

"Please Kuroko, you're the only person I could ask. Please…" Riko pleaded with him. Tetsuya couldn't turn down his friend's request, but a meeting with Akashi was something he was beyond reluctant to do. What was going to happen to him?

"Fine! I'll do it." He gave up. Riko's face lightened up with joy.

"Yaaay! Thanks Kuroko-kun," Riko said as she hugged him tightly. "I owe you one."

"Yes you do. Anyway, if you don't hurry, you'll miss the train."

"Oh yeah… Oh! I almost forgot." Riko rummaged through her bag and grabbed an envelope and a recorder. "Here are the things you are going to need. The envelope has the questions you're going to ask him, and use this to record his answers."

"How do I use this?" He asked while holding the recorder.

"You just press this button to start it, and then you press this one to end it." Riko said as she showed him how the recorder worked.

"Okay."

"Well then, I'll be leaving."

"Yes." Tetsuya answered as he saw his friend leave the café. He just stared at the envelope and the recorder which rested on top of the countertop. He took a deep breath. He was nervous alright; after all, it had been ten years since he had last saw Akashi. He wondered what will happen. He hates me now, he thought. Well, who wouldn't after what he did to him; suddenly disappearing and leaving nothing but a small note with nothing but "goodbye". There wasn't even an apology written on it. It was an act that doesn't deserve any forgiveness.

He finished his milkshake before deciding to go; after all, Akashi hated tardy people, which was why he left early. He did not want Akashi to hate him even more. He could still remember how mad Akashi got when he was late one of their dates; he didn't even talk to him for about an hour. But, after a little sweet talk, Akashi smiled and forgave him. Oh how easy it would be if it were that case now.

Tetsuya smiled at that memory. That day, he thought he was dreaming. He had always been in love with Akashi even before he noticed him. Akashi was good at everything and would always come at the top. Back then, he was certain that the redhead would never return his feelings, and so, he gave up the forlorn hope that Akashi would even notice him. But when he did, Tetsuya was surprised especially when Akashi confessed to him. He thought that he was joking, but the moment he looked into those heterochromatic eyes, he knew that he was serious.

After that confession, they started to go out. He was happy, and he was certain that Akashi was too… but, that happiness didn't last long.

He drove his car towards the company, and along the way, he felt more nervous than before. He wondered, what will happen? Akashi was known to be violent to those who disobeyed him, though, he was pretty disobedient back in middle school, he was never violent to him. But, this time, he knows that's different. Everything is different now.

He saw the building up ahead and laughed sadly to himself; it really suited Akashi's standards. The building contained several stories, and the design was splendid. He bet that Akashi was the one who designed the building. He walked inside the building after he parked his car. When he got inside, he was amazed by the interior decor, especially the enormous lobby. He looked around spotting several people wearing formal clothing, unlike himself. He looked so out of place.

Wearing a simple polo and brown pants, Tetsuya looked like he got lost. He approached the receptionist desk, and when the receptionist saw him, he knew that the she thought he was lost as well. "What can I do for you sir?" She asked politely.

"I have an appointment with Mr. Akashi Seijurou. I am Kuroko Tetsuya, and I came here as a proxy of Ms. Aida Riko."

"He's expecting you sir. He's on the last floor of the building."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Kuroko entered the elevator and pressed the button for the highest floor. As the elevator ascended each floor, his heart continued to throb. He'll be seeing Akashi, not tomorrow or the next, but now. Suddenly, he felt the elevator stop and open, revealing another person he didn't expect to see.

It was Atsushi Murasakibara, and from the looks of it, he, too, was surprised to see him.

"Kuro-chin…"

"Murasakibara-kun…"

Murasakibara entered the elevator, and as usual, he had some snacks in his hands, "I never expected to see you here, Kuro-chin."

"Yeah…"

"Are you here for Aka-chin?" He asked.

"Yes…"

"So, are you two back together?"

"No, it's not like that. I don't even think he knows I'm coming."

"Is that so? …. You know… Aka-chin really changed when you suddenly disappeared."

"… I know." Tetsuya fell silent. He didn't know about that. Of course, he couldn't have known, not after just leaving without telling anyone.

"I see, so you know about it. One more thing, why did you leave Kuro-chin?"

But before he could answer, the elevator door opened to the floor that Murasakibara needed to go to. "Well, I guess that's it then. I'll see you later Kuro-chin. You better be prepared if you're going to see Aka-chin." Then with that, the elevator closed and continued its way upward.

Be prepared if you're going to see Aka-chin, Tetsuya wondered what he had meant. However, he got the gist of what the giant had meant. The elevator jolted to a stop, and he finally arrived on the last floor. When he stepped out, he noticed one thing, the floor was empty, vacant of any life.

Tetsuya walked further down the hallway, and there, he saw a reception desk. Someone was there, probably his secretary.

The secretary saw him and greeted him with a smile. "What can I do for you sir?" She asked.

"I'm here for the interview."

"You must be Ms. Aida's colleague, correct?"

"Yes."

"Follow me please." The secretary said to him.

He followed her, and as he looked around the floor, he noticed that the windows had a spectacular view of Tokyo. It amazed him, as expected of Akashi Seijurou. He stopped when the secretary stopped in front of the room before watching her enter. There were muffled sounds, but he managed to hear her saying that he was here. She got out of the room and said to him, "You can come in now."

"Okay, thanks."

"You're welcome," She replied, and then, he saw her leave. That meant that the two of them would be alone, Tetsuya thought. The idea made him nervous. He held the doorknob in his hand. One twist and he would see Akashi again, after ten years of separation. His heart was beating so fast that he felt that it was going to burst.

"Are you coming in or not?" He heard him say. That was Akashi's voice alright, full with authority and certainty. Oh how he missed that voice, so much, that he felt like he was going to break.

It was now or never, he thought as he twisted the doorknob and entered.

Akashi was scanning some papers when Tetsuya entered. Tetsuya just stared at him, taking in that red hair he loved so much, those heterochromatic eyes that never failed to mesmerize him…

"What took you so…." When Akashi saw him, he could see the surprise in his eyes. To say at the very least, Akashi was dumbfounded.

Tetsuya Kuroko was in front of him.

He was in front of him.

At that moment, Akashi felt time stop.

TO BE CONTINUED

Love lots,

Shiori ^v^