take me home || akashi seijuro

chapter seven

It's been two days since I got here in Kyoto.

Dani is around here. I can feel it but I don't know where to find her. I tried to look for her in nearby stadiums or basketball courts but I didn't have much luck.

I'm scared she's living in the streets but seeing as Gabriel gave me an apartment to stay maybe Dani's guardian gave her a place, too.

I decided to go to a park and relax for a while. I've decided to sit at a nearby bench and heaved a sigh of relief. My feet has been aching the whole day. It was begging for me to rest.

My phone beeped so I fished it out of my pocket and unlocked it. I had two messages. I replied to the one from Riko then deleted the one from Kise who's been pestering me why I knew about Seirin's training camp prior to them going to an actual training camp. I don't even know how he had my number but I had no choice but to save his number, too.

I slipped the phone back in my pocket and started stretching but then stopped after hearing the distinct sound of the ball hitting a pavement.

My feet automatically walked towards the sound and slowly, I had found the person who was playing basketball all alone.

I felt my heart stop as I continue to approach him until he was in full view. It was like I was bewitched. My eyes followed his every move. It was so graceful, so calculated yet so intimidating.

"Do you need something?" His voice was cold. The way he said it made me froze in my spot.

"N-nothing. I was just–" I cleared my throat and heaved a sigh. Why am I so flustered by this stranger? I need to be calm. Even if he was so good in basketball or his voice sound so nice to my ears, I should stay calm. Right.

"Am I an entertainment to you?" He asked. His back was still facing me. As he talked, he continously moved around the court.

"No. I'm just trying to think if where have I seen you." I pondered aloud, eyes not taking off of him. His red hair concealed his eyes.

He stopped moving as held the ball in his hand. He leaned his head slightly to my direction so I was able to see the side of his face. Not bad. "Do you play?" He suddenly asked.

I looked at my feet. I was wearing black converse low-cut shoes. "No, I don't–" Before I could finish talking, he tossed the ball in my direction but I quickly caught it before it could hit my face. "Hey, I said I can't!" I shouted at him in annoyance. Can't he take no for an answer.

"Play with me," He stated. I don't know why but he had some kind of power that makes you obey him because I stepped into the court without me knowing it.

I placed my things in the bench beside a bag in what I assume is his belongings and came back dribbling the ball with my left hand. I was cautiously planning the next move. Something tells me he knows what I will do next. I quickly dribbled with my right hand and dashed to his left but he moved and so I did a cross over to dodge his attack. He was quick enough to react and I was cornered.

Something clicked in my head when I saw his eyes. My body instinctively backed away. He must've noticed this because his lips curled into a smirk. "What's wrong?" he took a step closer to me and it took all of my willpower to stay rooted to the ground.

I kept his gaze and raised my hand with the ball in my grip then tossed it to the basket. His head was tilted to the side as he observed me with a nonchalant expression.

"Nice to meet you, Akashi Seijuro."

He didn't answer but he held an intense look in his eyes as if challenging me in a staring contest. I found myself staring back. It felt like I was being lured into it. I shook my head and backed away to get my things.

I reached to grab my bag and I felt his presence just behind me. He stretched his arms to grab his things as well. "Your friend told me you were good but she didn't mention you were tough enough to meet my eyes," he muttered. I felt his breath fan my right ear which tells me he is so close.

Even with the close proximity, I still turned around. "Friend?" I asked him," Is it Dani?"

He stopped. He wasn't blinking as he stared at me. "Yes." His breath fanned my face this time. Good thing his breath didn't smell. I would've smacked his face.

My eyes widened in surprise at how I just realized we were so close to each other's faces. I could clearly see his pores. Most of all, I can clearly see his eyes. Red and orange or was it yellowish orange? I don't know. There was something about his eyes that made me stop and just stare at them.

But I couldn't afford to be distracted now. Akashi knows where Dani is. I've been looking for her all this time. I need to get her. "Where is Dani now, Akashi? Is she okay?" I asked, worry laced in my voice. I watched him tore his gaze off me and turn around to walk away.

"She's doing fine. You need not to worry. You should worry about your team."

I ran after him which wasn't that hard since he was walking so nonchalantly. I grabbed his elbows and made him face me. "Bring me to her."

His eyebrows raised a little as he eyed my hand gripping his elbow before meeting my eyes again. "Let go of me."

I glared at him," I won't."

His heterochromatic eyes pierced through mine in an intimidating way but I held my head high up and showed him no fear. I was determined to see Dani. I'm not coming back to Tokyo empty handed.

With one quick motion, he forcefully shook my hand off from his arms. "I'll let this one go but the next time you cross me, I'll make sure you'll regret it."

"I'm not afraid of you." My voice wavered a bit but I sounded indignant at least.

but of course, he noticed it. He leaned closer with a smirk. He wasn't that tall, to be honest. Probably taller than me by a few inches. "You sure about that?" I swallowed the lump in my throat. He leaned away, putting a hand in his pocket. I looked at him with furrowed brows but he was emotionless. He was just staring at me. "You look quite pretty." My eyes widened. What the fuck is this guy saying. Why did my face feel hot all of a sudden. I averted my eyes. He chuckled as if mocking me. "How gullible." I heard him say as he walked away from me.

It wasn't until he was out of my view that I released a breath that I didn't know I was keeping. My hand went over my chest to feel if it's back to its regular beat but it was still beating in a rapid pace. "That bastard tricked me," I muttered to myself as I felt my lips scowl in disgust. "I can't believe I fell for that."

A thought clicked in my head as I formulate a plan to surprise Akashi. Guess who's going to Rakuzan.