Fear of Falling (Complete)

23

He opened his eyes and he was once again in heaven. Not his favorite place where he could see the stars, but some large room as if it were a court where judgement would be passed. Kuroko was still standing next to him, recovering from the immense headache he'd felt. Furihata was already here, standing next to a pedestal where a throne sat. In it, Akashi.

Akashi was staring down at him and Kuroko with cold, unblinking eyes, one red, one yellow. Kagami knew that was a bad sign. Everyone else in the court was completely rigid, Riko and Furihata were the only ones standing next to Akashi and from the looks on their faces, it wasn't optional. Once Kuroko seemed recovered enough, Akashi nodded at him. Next moment, Kuroko was next to Furihata and Riko, staring down at Kagami.

"Taiga," Akashi spoke with a smile, "I see you have not returned with the human, Aomine. And this attack on your fellow angels, you have gone beyond failing to execute your orders."

"I swore to not put any human in harm's way," Kagami pushed his shoulders back, looking Akashi straight on.

Akashi folded his hands together, "He is no human to you or any of us, he does not deserve your pity. You may atone for your misguided choice, bring Aomine here and we can forget all of this, or," Akashi sat back, grinning wider, "You will face consequences. The choice is yours."

Kagami took a deep breath, he promised he would never let them find Aomine, it would take more than Akashi's threats to change his mind. "I will not bring him here to die."

"You misunderstand," Akashi stood up, spreading his hands out, "I will not kill him. I only mean to take the last of his wings so that he may die a human's death. After all, to be like humans, isn't that what he wants?"

"No," Kagami grit his teeth, shaking his head, "That is no better than killing him right now. I won't give him to you."

"I didn't realize how deep his hooks in you have become." Akashi stepped forward, a sour grimace on his face, "You are no better than the lowlife himself. You were the purest angel and you let him corrupt you. You have these feelings he speaks of and this love, and it's love for him, is it not? How terribly weak."

A strong wind started around Kagami, blowing towards his face. He had an idea of what it meant, but he couldn't keep himself from glancing behind him. A gaping hole into space and somewhere at the bottom of it, the human world. He looked back at Akashi who was now standing directly in front of him.

"I'll give you one last chance," Akashi's expression was blank, "Kneel before me. Bring Aomine to me."

Kagami looked down at Akashi, refusing to kneel and look up at him. He felt so calm in all of this. With everything that Aomine did for him, he wouldn't give all that up to just kneel before a tyrant. He wanted to be free, for Aomine to be free, nothing else seemed to matter more. He shrugged, "I would rather fall."

[A/N: the climactic moment! how do you feel about it? do you want him to save himself or save aomine?? :D]