Momoi moves into the apartment building two days after coming to see Kuroko and Seijurou. Kuroko helps her move, surprised to see that she's actually moving into the apartment directly across from Kuroko's. Sei doesn't speak to her or even look at her.
Aomine had come to visit once Momoi had moved in, Kise was noticeably absent and Kuroko didn't blame him.
Aomine and Momoi are cousins. Momoi's mother used to be an Aomine before she married out of the family, so the two of them have know each other since they were young.
"I'm going out now." Kuroko says, making sure he has his phone and his wallet. He looks over at Sei, resting on the couch.
"Have fun." Sei replies without enthusiasm. He's been like this since Momoi moved in. He'll reply when Kuroko talks to him, but it's as if everything that comes out of the familiar's mouth is forced.
Kuroko just nods to the familiar and grabs his keys. He's meeting Aomine, Kise and Momoi to have lunch. The weather is warmer today and Kuroko takes his time walking to the restaurant down the street. The other three are already there when he arrives.
"You're late Tetsu-kun!" Momoi says when he walks up to the table.
"Sorry, I was enjoying the weather." Kuroko says taking his seat.
"We already ordered drinks!" Kise says, pointing to the milkshake they ordered for Kuroko.
"Thank you!" Kuroko says, pleasantly surprised.
"You like vanilla milkshakes, Tetsu-kun? That's cute." Momoi smiles as she sips her cola. Kuroko doesn't reply, drinking his own drink happily.
Aomine makes a face at Momoi for a moment and she catches it.
"What?" She frowns at her cousin.
"Are you serious about this?" Aomine says after a moment. The other two look over at Aomine as well.
"About what?"
"Being with Tetsu." Aomine says with a frown. "I know you just wanted to accept so you could move out on your own, but this is kind of serious. Besides..." Aomine turns his frown onto Kuroko.
"Besides what, Dai-kun?" Momoi purses her lips at him. Aomine looks at her dryly.
"You aren't exactly Tetsu's type." Aomine says. Momoi raises her eyebrows and turns to look at Kuroko. He avoids eye contact, sipping his drink quietly and scanning the menu in front of him.
Momoi turns back to her cousin. "So what? We don't have to be perfectly in love or anything, we're just having children."
"See, that too." Aomine says with a sigh, really hating that he has to be the voice of reason in the group. That's usually Kuroko's job. "You're not taking this seriously. 'Just children' are a lot of work and commitment. Not to mention you're two years younger than we are. Way to young to be a mother."
Momoi pouts. "It's not like we're going to do it right away! Tetsu-kun is still in university anyway! We still have time! Probably."
"What about Kuroko-cchi though..." Kise pipes up. He looks at Kuroko with a questioning look. "Are you even going to be able to have kids with Satsuki-chan?"
Kuroko frowns at him. "It's not like it's impossible just because I'm not physically attracted to her." Kuroko says.
"Is all this even worth it?" Aomine says tiredly. "No offense, Tetsu, but your kids probably aren't going to even live till thirty. With this curse around, you're just setting your kids up for a short and probably crappy life."
"I think it's fine." Kuroko says around his straw. He wishes he could tell them the curse is over, but then Sei would get in trouble for bringing Kuroko back to life. Kuroko trusts his friends, but he promised Sei he wouldn't tell anyone.
"It won't be crappy!" Momoi says. "I'm going to be a great mother! I'll make sure they live happily, even if Tetsu-kun can't!"
"Are you two going to get married?" Kise asks curiously, and thankfully not giving anyone the chance to think to hard about Kuroko not being able to raise his own children.
Momoi falters at the question. "Um... I don't really... Think so..." She glances at Kuroko. "No offense Tetsu-kun, but I don't really want to be a Kuroko..."
"None taken." Kuroko says. "I wouldn't want to be a Kuroko either if I were you."
Their conversation is interrupted when the waiter shows up to take their orders. The break in conversation is welcomed by all parties. Once the waiter leaves Aomine turns back to Kuroko with another serious look.
"What about Akashi?" He says. Kuroko ducks his head at the question, sipping his drink to avoid answering the question right away.
"What about Sei?" Kuroko asks, even though he knows exactly what about Sei Aomine is referring too. It's apparently not as big of a secret as Kuroko was expecting it to be.
"What does he think about all this?" Aomine asks.
"He's against it..." Kuroko mumbles over his straw. He feels guilty whenever he thinks about Sei now.
Momoi looks surprised at this. "Why is he against it?"
Kuroko avoids eye contact again. Momoi glances at Kise and Aomine instead. Aomine scratches the back of his head, not wanting to explain.
"If you don't know then just forget about it." Aomine says.
"Even with Akashi-cchi's feelings about this, isn't it still better for him if Kuroko-cchi had kids?" Kise asks.
"That's what I said." Kuroko mutters. "But he doesn't care."
Kise frowns at this. Momoi looks back over at Kuroko.
"Has he read the letter I brought a few days ago?" She asks.
"I don't know... I didn't see him read it." Kuroko says.
Kuroko had read his letter during class and suspected Sei would have done the same, except he saw the letter, unopened, sitting on Sei's chair while he was making dinner. After that though, the letter seemed to disappear and Kuroko wasn't sure if Sei even opened it at all. He wonders what Nijimura wrote to him. If he really was okay with Sei attacking him like that.
Shirogane's letter didn't mention the incident, except for one single sentence that read, 'Your warning has been received'. The rest of the letter was short as well, and just explained that Shirogane wanted him to have children who could become proper witches but was free to decline the proposal and send Momoi home.
"This whole situation kind of sucks." Aomine says. Kise nods his head and Kuroko sighs lightly.
After the four of them finish their lunch, Kuroko and Momoi walk home together. They don't speak much during the walk and the air between them is a bit awkward after their lunch time conversation.
"See you later, Tetsu-kun." Momoi smiles and waves to Kuroko when they reach their apartments.
"Yeah, see you later." Kuroko nods, unlocking his door and slipping inside.
Sei is still on the couch. His arm is over his eyes and he's breathing calmly. Kuroko can't tell if he's asleep or not. He watches the familiar for a moment when he stops at the foot of the couch.
"I'm back." Kuroko says lightly, so not to disturb the familiar if he is indeed sleeping.
"Welcome back." Seijurou's voice is tired. Kuroko hesitates. He wants to talk with Sei more, but he has nothing to say. Kuroko had only been with the human Sei for a few weeks, but he still misses having Sei around to talk to when he gets home. The apartment feels so much lonelier without the familiars smile and so much emptier without the happy tone Sei would get whenever Kuroko is in the room.
Kuroko turns to walk to his bedroom without another word to the familiar. Aomine was right. This whole situations kind of sucks.
YOU ARE READING
Nine Lives
Fanfiction"Kuroko knew his mother practiced witchcraft. It was a fact that he never doubted. But for her to leave behind a familiar to take care of him. It was nearly inconceivable. Just as inconceivable as Kuroko being dead for two days." After an accident t...
