Nine Lives

11. Centuries of Existence*

The morning after Kuroko's meeting with Aomine and Kise, the Book of Shadows is gone from the coffee table. Sei didn't mention anything more to do with magic or the other witches. The rest of their weekend was spent as normally as possible. As if the two of them were just regular roommates.

Monday, after Kuroko's class ended, Kise and Aomine were waiting for him outside. Kuroko waits a moment before approaching them. He can see that Aomine is looking for him in the crowd of students leaving, but he has never once been able to spot him before Kuroko has started to approach him.

"Hi." Kuroko says, stopping in front of the two of them.

"Hey." Aomine greets him.

Kuroko looks over at the oddly quiet Kise. He's still upset and looks at Kuroko with apologetic eyes.

"It's fine Kise." Kuroko sighs.

"You're not mad at me?" Kise looks hopeful. Kuroko shakes his head.

"No."

Kise smiles excitedly at Kuroko before thinking of something else and lowering his head again.

"Is Akashi-cchi mad at me...?" Kise whispers.

"I don't think so? He hasn't said anything at least."

Kise whines. "That's not very reassuring... Ohh, now I'm worried..."

Aomine shakes his head at his familiar and looks down at Kuroko.

"So, are you going to be a witch?"

"No. I'm not."

Kise immediately stops his fretting and whining and straightens up. "What?"

"I don't want to be a witch."

"But what about Akashi-cchi?!" Kise exclaims. Kuroko frowns.

"Sei said it was fine. I don't have to become a witch if I don't want to."

Kise's eyes widen. He looks over at Aomine.

"Why would he do that? Doesn't he value his life at all? Oh my god... Then this is really his final life..."

Kuroko watches as Kise starts to panic and glances up at Aomine. Aomine just sighs and shakes his head. Kise keeps talking.

"I was sure he would try to get Kuroko-cchi to become a witch after all that... But he's really just going to give up? Even if Kuroko-cchi isn't that strong wouldn't the safest thing to do be make Kuroko-cchi his master? How is he going to protect Kuroko-cchi that with just one life left?!"

Kise looks up at Aomine with a worried expression.

"Hell if I know. Most people only have one life you know, he can make it work."

"But he's already died so many times... If the curse catches up to them even one more time..." Kise trails off.

"What are you talking about? What curse?" Kuroko frowns, not understanding what Kise is so upset about. Kise turns to look at the shorter boy with a serious look.

"The Kuroko family curse!" Kuroko gives Kise a blank look and the blond continues. "Your family used to be the biggest and most powerful family of witches, but you were cursed and everyone was killed off one by one! Akashi-cchi has been trying to save the Kuroko's for years! The reason he dies so often is because of this curse!"

Kuroko stares at Kise is silence. Sei never told him that. He's always acted so nonchalant about being on his last life. All the lives he's sacrificed for Kuroko, all because of a curse. Kuroko looks down as he thinks about this. What is going to happen if Sei dies one more time? Sei won't come back this time.