showyousomethingnice | soulmates AU #2 (Reo, Kise)

soulmates AU #2 (Reo, Kise)

Reo did not spend the night on the futon next to Ryo-chan's bed.

He'd meant to, out of deference to his hosts' preferences, but being so close and yet so far apart had left them both uncomfortable and restless, unable to drift off. Finally, Reo had sat up and said decisively,

"You need to sleep, and it's not as if we're going to do anything inappropriate," and been in Ryo-chan's bed before he'd finished speaking. Curling up with his soulmate, where he was meant to be, had felt like a profound sigh of relief; he'd fallen asleep almost instantly, and he expects that Ryo-chan did, too.

It was easily the best night's sleep Reo has ever had.

(He got up - amidst Ryo-chan's mumbled protests - as soon as the alarm went off, before anyone could find them sharing the bed. Just to be on the safe side.

He's not convinced anyone was fooled.)

Reo called his parents quickly before breakfast, just to touch base with them and let them know he planned to spend the day watching the Winter Cup, and Dad told him they expected the transfer to go through by early afternoon at the absolute latest. He'd been hopeful after Seiko had brought up the possibility last night, but tried to keep himself grounded in the reality of red tape - surely it couldn't be that easy?

But apparently it could.

He decided, after a moment's consideration, not to mention it to Ryo-chan. The newness of their bond will be enough of a distraction from the upcoming game; Reo didn't need to add anything else that might unfocus him further.

A text from Seiko followed almost immediately, announcing that she would be arriving at around the same time he and Ryo-chan will be. They arranged a meeting spot not too far from where Kaijou's locker room will be, so that Ryo-chan could spend an extra minute or two with them before he had to go inside.

Reo had to do a little prodding at first - how on earth did he end up with a soulmate who wasn't a morning person? - but they've arrived on time, and now they're waiting.

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Kise calms down even further when Reocchi explains where his sister is. Imagining that somehow Shougo-kun had gotten to her even before she arrived at the arena was probably giving him too much credit, but knowing that's not the case is still good news.

He nods when Reocchi speaks. The plan of action makes perfect sense to him, especially the part that involves making sure everybody's safe before the game. Of course he's not relishing the idea of checking in with Akaashicchi, but he's important to Reocchi. That's something he'll have to come to terms with some other time, though.

"Thank you, Reocchi. I promise, if I'm not doing enough to make him understand, I'll let you help." Reocchi's smiling. That's a good sign, and Kise's going to embrace it. Partly by returning to his position at Reocchi's side and grabbing onto his arm again.

"You can't yell at him too much, though, you have to save your voice for cheering."

"I'm not going to yell," Reo says. His tone is mildly offended, but he leans into Ryo-chan's touch as he speaks. "Yelling is a good way to ensure that no one will listen to you."

And, if it's the first actual conversation you've held with them, an excellent way to ensure that they will never listen to you.

"Making a sensible argument is much more effective." Especially when he happens to be right.

"Kasamatsu-senpai yells all the time and we have to listen to him." Translation: Kise has to listen to him because he's usually yelling at Kise, but Kise doesn't mind... too much. He knows when he deserves it and he usually does, but attention is attention. It's taken him a while to figure out just how to embrace positive attention and reject it when it's negative, but he's learning.

"Between the two of us, I'm sure it'll be fine. We have the texts to back it up, too; there's no reason for Kagamicchi to lie or even involve himself. He doesn't so drama." Point of fact, off the course Kise's not sure he knows a less dramatic person than Kagamicchi, except maybe where Aominecchi is involved. So he'll make a great support for their argument.

Reo, whose idea of a good captain is one who doesn't have to shout to make himself heard (he can't even begin to imagine what a shouting Sei-chan might sound like), is saved from taking that line of conversation in a likely unfruitful direction by a familiar voice.

"Reo-chaaaaaan!"

There are enough people outside that Seiko isn't exactly running toward them, but she is ducking swiftly through and around. Despite the situation, Reo brightens a little when he sees her.

As she draws closer, it becomes obvious that looks aren't the only thing she and Reo share: she's also tall, not as tall as he is but certainly taller than the average woman on the street in Japan. Where they differ is in presentation. Seiko takes care of herself, of course, but it's evident that she doesn't prioritize her looks in quite the same way her brother does. Her appearance is almost laidback, with her hair in the same ponytail from last night, her makeup minimal, and her outfit geared more toward comfort than fashion.

(To anyone who knows her, though, the care she took in dressing herself to meet her brother's soulmate is obvious: her clothing may be appropriately casual for the setting, but it's expensive and fits her well, and the little makeup she has on is well-chosen and more than she's bothered with since she started university.)

"Nee-chan, do you have to be so loud?" It has the intonation of a token protest and it's treated like one - Seiko cheerfully ignores it in favor of saying,

"Sorry I'm late! I thought I would be even later, though, this place was closer than it looked on the map! . . . Well, Reo-chan, are you going to make official introductions or not? Who is it here who thinks meeting over Skype doesn't count?"

Reo feels a flare of irritation, but only briefly. It's hard to stay annoyed when he's with two of his favorite people in the world.

"Ryo-chan, this is my sister, Mibuchi Seiko. Nee-chan, this is Kise Ryouta. My soulmate."

The pride in his voice on those last two words makes Seiko beam as she bows her greetings.

As soon as he hears someone else calling out for Reo, Kise stands up straighter and unwraps himself from around his soulmate's arm. He's not shy or ashamed to be seen like that--if anything, the opposite--but for a first meeting he wants to make a good impression and that includes being able to pay attention to the person arriving.

Kise observes Seiko-san as she approaches, struck by the similarities between her and her brother. He probably shouldn't be given that his own sisters are twins, but it's still a surprise to see her in person and have it still be so true. He tenses up as she gets closer, a kind of nervous vibration. She seemed to like him last night but this is so much... more.

He beams when she chides Reocchi for not making introductions, but as soon as he's indicated, he bows slightly then straightens. She is a very important person, after all, much more important than just a handshake would convey. He's still smiling when he stands back up, clapping his hands in front of him. Meeting her in person, he's even more determined that nothing can happen to her here, but he's also put all thoughts of Shougo-kun on the back burner for now.

"It's such a pleasure to meet you, Seiko-san! Thank you for coming to the game!"

"There's no way I'd miss it!" Seiko declares. "It's way too important." Even if Reo isn't actually playing in the first game - which she knows is the case, because he would have told her otherwise already - it's still the first game where he'll get to watch his soulmate play. Basketball is one of the most important things in her little brother's life; add the milestone of having found his soulmate to the mix and you couldn't keep Seiko away if you tried.

"And you don't have to let go of each other for my sake, you two are so cute together."

Kise may rest assured that his good impression has been made.

(Reo is busy eyeing the so-very-innocent way she is holding her phone, which he knows has an excellent camera.)

"Really?" And like that, Kise's got his arms around Reocchi again, head resting on his shoulder. He can also see Seiko-san's camera but unlike his soulmate, he doesn't see the harm. Of course the positions would likely be reversed if this was one of his sisters there but for now he's fine to have Seiko-san be the first person to actually document an instance of soulmate cuddling.

The fact that he managed to make it so that his good side is facing Seiko-san is purely coincidental.

"I'm sorry you won't get to see Reocchi play but I promise to make it exciting for both of you!" I get to show off I get to show off I get to show off I get to show off. There's no reason to burden a first meeting with talk about possible threats, after all.

Reo has become hyperaware of his sister's stealth photography attacks out of self-defense: she has the eldest sibling's gleeful sixth sense for the moments he least wants to be immortalized on film.

(He also has several of the results pinned onto a bulletin board in his dorm room [soon to come home with the rest of the possessions he has there], so there is perhaps a touch of hypocrisy at work here.)

It is, however, much harder to object to - well, anything with Ryo-chan's arms around him. His own arm automatically slides around his soulmate even as he says (over the sound of a simulated shutter clicking away),

"We should probably get you to the locker room if you're planning to play today, then."

They're not running late, but he wants to get them moving along.

"Nee-chan, we'll drop you off with Sei-chan and the others first, okay? I know Sei-chan wants to meet you."

Seiko flicks him a look as she picks up on the tension which has, she belatedly realized, been present since she got there, but she only says,

"Sure, I've been dying to meet him, too. You should hear him, Ryo-chan. Sei-chan this, Sei-chan that~! ... Oh don't give me that look, Reo-chan, I'm not going to embarrass you in front of him."

Teasing Reo about his crush in front of his soulmate is one thing; doing it in front of said crush would just be mean.

Soon that bulletin board will be covered with at least as many soulmate photos as anything else, but for now Kise's just glad to know someone is taking pictures of them. He desperately wanted to start right away last night but with them both being worn out post-game, he knew it wouldn't have been the best time. There will be many to come, though.

He nods against Reocchi's shoulder then uncurls himself from around him. A quick glance around the lobby doesn't reveal a lurking Shougo-kun anywhere, so he's fine with trying to keep the group effort to get Seiko-san to her seat as casual as possible. Just three people walking together, totally nothing weird going on... as he crosses to make sure he and Reocchi are flanking Seiko-san. Normally he'd be much less covert about the entire thing but he can tell Reocchi doesn't want to upset Seiko-san and neither does he.

He can't help but laugh a little when Seiko-san brings up Akashicchi, though. "I never thought in my life I would have someone calling Akashicchi Sei-chan, but if anyone can do it, it's Reocchi." It's still kind of strange to him how he and Reocchi can have such different experiences with Akashicchi, but he doesn't mind the closeness or even the attraction to his former captain (since Reocchi hasn't said anything but that's certainly what Seiko-san seems to be implying). It's just unexpected.

Kise stops at the top of the stairs into the seating area, again looking around. He can see what must be fans and family members of Fukuda, but Shougo-kun himself is nowhere to be seen. Good.

Seiko decides, for now, not to tell them they're not as subtle as they think they are. She can wait.

"You should have seen the others' faces the first time I did it," Reo says, watching Ryo-chan for any sign that something is wrong; he's the one who knows what Haizaki looks like, after all. "They were waiting for him to kill me."

Ryo-chan looks satisfied, so they escort Seiko down to where Rakuzan is. They aren't hard to find: Hayama is waving and shouting "Reo-nee!", having obviously recovered his customary energy after last night's loss.

Reo smiles greetings at his former teammates (that still feels strange, but he doesn't have time to dwell on it now) before he focuses on their captain. He pauses for a second before he speaks, because whatever happened to Sei-chan last night, it's still there. Sei-chan's gaze is as alert as ever, but the cool detachment is gone, and he looks . . . he looks present in a way Reo has never seen before. Reo is suddenly and bitterly sorry that he won't get to spend time with that look the way he would have before.

But the feeling passes between one breath and the next, because it's impossible for him to regret the reason why he won't have that time.

"Hello, Sei-chan," he says. "My sister decided to join us today." He makes appropriate introductions, then continues, "I hope you won't mind if she sits with you while I walk Ryo-chan to the locker room."

"Of course not," Sei-chan says promptly; his eyes have already flicked over them and taken everything in, and Reo can see his awareness of the situation, so he says brightly,

"This game will be very exciting! Ryo-chan says one of your former teammates from Teiko is on the other team. Haizaki-kun."

He doesn't need to say any more than that; Sei-chan nods slightly to indicate his instant and full comprehension of the situation before turning his attention to Kise.

"Have a good game, Kise," he says. Reo can hear the subtext in the comment, but he doesn't know their relationship or history well enough to even begin to interpret it.

"Yeah," an oblivious Hayama puts in, "I never even heard of Fukuda Sougo, so you better not embarrass us by losing to them."

Edited 2015-09-23 20:02 (UTC)

Kise wouldn't mind hearing that he's not exactly a master of subterfuge, but this is also a special case. Better to explain everything later than have anything happen now.

He listens when Reocchi talks about Akashicchi but he's also watching for Shougo-kun. He knows from the tapes that the small forward's changed his look since Teiko but he doesn't see the tight braids or the grey hair anywhere, which is a good sign. Either Shougo-kun just doesn't care that much (which Kise's sure is what he'd tell people) or Fukuda has him under control enough that at least he's not roaming the lobby. The walk to where Rakuzan is sitting, in any case, is uneventful.

Despite the familiarity he knows he ought to have with Akashicchi, Kise finds himself just watching the interaction between Reocchi and his former teammates and captain. Something's different, even since yesterday, and he can tell it matters a great deal to Reocchi. He purses his lips a little. It's almost like watching a game of some kind right here, too, especially with the way Akashicchi immediately sees everything without anyone having to say a word.

It's as eerie as ever, and despite himself Kise feels unsettled when he's caught in Akashichhi's full regard. It's not the same at it used to be, though. There's no threat veiled in those words. Perhaps it's because they're already out and Kaijo put them there, but even that feels different. Not necessarily kinder or more friendly but definitely less terrifying than it had even on the court the day before.

He doesn't have nearly enough time to think about what that could mean, though. "Thank you, Akashicchi. Nobody's going to be embarrassed today. After all, we have our own pride to think about, too."

Kise doesn't want to underestimate Fukuda, not with Shougo-kun there, but he's also not going to pretend he's fighting for Akashicchi's pride anymore either.

Not that it matters all that much. Words don't matter to Akashicchi (for all that he and Kise both love to hear themselves talk) but Kise's ready to prove it on the court, too.

"Thank you for looking after Seiko-san, Akashicchi. I'll pay you back with en exciting game to watch, trust me!"

Sei-chan looks at Reo and says, "It's my pleasure," and smiles, warm and sincere, and Reo's heart flutters a little.

Or maybe a lot.

Sei-chan's gaze turns back to Ryo-chan (as Reo takes a slow breath to steady and refocus himself, ignoring the emphatic way Seiko is not smirking at him) as he continues,

"We're all looking forward to it."

"Thank you, Sei-chan," Reo says, voice just a little thready. He links his arm through Ryo-chan's. "We won't be long."

To Ryo-chan: "Let's go, I'm sure your team is waiting for you!"

Our team, he remembers too late (stupid, getting distracted enough to make that mistake in front of Ryo-chan), hesitates, but doesn't correct himself. Not with Rakuzan sitting right there.

When they've gone, Seiko allows a polite beat of silence to pass before she says,

"I've been following the tournament, Akashi-kun, but I'm afraid I'm not familiar with Fukuda Sougo. May I ask you to catch me up before they start?"

"Certainly," he says, "but do you mind if we rearrange the seating a bit first? It will only take a moment."

"Of course not."

And by the time he has finished explaining the situation, she understands why.

Edited 2015-10-26 17:17 (UTC)

Kise can feel something in the air when Akashicchi smiles at Reocchi, and while he's interested in just what's made his former captain look so unfamiliar, he's much more invested in that look on Reocchi's face. Still, he's not rude enough (or relaxed enough) to not pay attention when Akashicchi speaks to him.

"I hope you all cheer loud!" He gives Seiko-san a little wave (she can see something's up too, Kise can tell) and then tugs Reocchi away so they can get downstairs. He's not wrong, and if anyone else from Kaijo has heard about what happened last night, the chances that they're not just waiting for Kise but actively concerned about him are pretty high.

A quick check of his phone confirms it. "Reocchi, look!" A message from Kasamatsu-senpai, right at the top of his inbox.

kise, you better be on your way! otherwise haizaki better kick your ass or i will!

Despite the harsh words, Kise's smiling fondly at his phone. "Senpai worries too much." Reocchi is unlikely to agree with that exact way of seeing things, Kise knows, but it'll get better once he spends more time around Kaijo and gets to know them. Speaking of which.

"Was that hard, Reocchi? Walking away just now?"

Reo's expression darkens when he sees the message, but this time he knows to expect the swell of protective anger from the bond. He rides it out until he can separate it from his own irritation, which, while certainly on the strong side, is still a much more proportionate response to a tasteless remark like that.

He will not do anything to worry Ryo-chan again.

It takes long enough to clear his head that he just doesn't comment on the text at all, other than a nod to acknowledge that he's seen it. They'll be speaking with Kasamatsu-senpai soon enough, anyway.

He focuses instead on Ryo-chan's question.

"I'm going to miss them," he admits. "It was nice to have friends on my team."

Yes, he knows what Ryo-chan is really asking, and yes, he's avoiding it. For now. They don't have enough time to get into it right now. (He doesn't want to get into it right before he goes back to sit with Rakuzan, next to Sei-chan, for a whole game.)

Kise sees the effect the message has and just sort of tucks his phone away. If it buzzes again, well, he's on his way. No need to check it. Everyone involved knows what it's going to say anyway. Instead he just bumps shoulders and elbows and upper arms and everything else with Reocchi as they walk, waiting for him to answer.

"Mmmm." It's not a complete answer but it's not nothing and this isn't really the best time to dig, no matter how much he wants to. Which is a lot. Akashicchi seems different now and that's good, and of course Reocchi's spent a lot of time with him since Akashicchi went to Rakuzan, but that wasn't just a player's fondness for his captain Kise saw.

"They'll still be your friends, Reocchi. I don't think anybody could give you up that fast!" They're back to the lobby area now and Kise's just a bit more on guard as they head for the locker room. The later time and change of direction greatly increases their chances of running into Shougo-kun, after all. He just wants to get to the locker room without incident. Please.

Reo curves his hand a little to catch Ryo-chan's fingertips briefly with his.

"Later," he says softly, and it's not just to appease Ryo-chan. He will want to talk about Sei-chan with him later, to get Ryo-chan's take on his former captain and those sudden changes, and to explore how dating is even supposed to work for him and Ryo-chan, anyway.

(Not that he expects Sei-chan to want to date him, of course, that would go beyond presumptuous straight into delusional. But dating in general is a subject Reo and his soulmate are going to have to address sooner or later, and sooner is probably better than later. Reo can't even begin to estimate how many people must want to date Ryo-chan.)

Despite the tension in their shared mood, especially now that they're out of the relative safety of the spectator seating, Ryo-chan's assurance draws a smile out of Reo.

"I don't think they would, anyway. I know anyone Ko-chan attaches himself to has no hope of getting rid of him," he says, fondly.

The little brush of their fingertips is like touching sun-warmed wood, radiant with heat and as natural as could ask for. Kise knows better than to follow it up the way he'd like to just yet but it still makes him smile brilliantly. Reocchi is here.

"OK, Reocchi. I'll hold you to that!" Not that he expects his soulmate to try to keep it from him. There's an openness even in that one word of reply that tells Kise they'll have a lot to discuss at some point, probably a lot of things even he himself hasn't thought of yet. He has a game coming, too, so he'll do his best to put thoughts of the softness in Akashicchi's face away for now. It'll all make sense later on, he's sure.

"Do you think they'll want to get to know me? I mean, I already know Akashicchi but I want to get to know all of Reocchi's friends, especially from your team. It doesn't have to be right away, though." The idea that Rakuzan might resent him, and Kaijo, for stealing their shooting guard away like this hasn't exactly left Kise's mind, even if they were perfectly nice just now. Still, they seem like good people, especially Hayama-san, and Kise would like to know them better in any circumstances but especially now.

The way Ryo-chan smiles is soothing in a way Reo couldn't have quite anticipated: the situation is worrying, yes, his soulmate is potentially in danger and the person who should be taking that most seriously isn't, but right now in this moment his soulmate is happy, and that matters too. Ryo-chan's contentment triggers a more peaceful sense of protectiveness, a quiet determination to see that he stays that way. And it splashes over onto Reo, making him exhale and taking his pulse down a notch.

"Of course they'll want to get to know you," he says. "They'll be all over you first chance they get after the tournament. It's a shame they'll have to go back to Kyoto right away, but I do have friends here, too. And of course I want to meet yours as well."

Meet them officially, that is - not as basketball rivals, not (for some of them) as Miracles, but as the friends of the most vital person in Reo's world. Their importance to Ryo-chan will make them important to Reo, too, after all.

Just because he's smiling, doesn't mean Kise's not taking things seriously. He simply can't afford to be weighed down yet. He's well aware at this point that he and Shougo-kun see things very differently, but he's also still hoping they'll be able to settle this professionally on the court in a way they never really got to at Teiko. The fact that he and Reocchi are almost to the locker room without incident tells him that might just be possible. Maybe last night was just a one off.

"Really? You think?" Kise's genuinely surprised and pleased that Reocchi's so certain the rest of Rakuzan will want to get to know him. Things have been so strained among him and his Teiko classmates since they all graduated, and he knows why of course and he loves Kaijo for the new home he's found here, but it means less time spent with players from other teams than he'd like. The best way to expand his skills is to spend time with others, after all, but that's just an added benefit when the people in question are also his soulmate's best friends. "Maybe Reocchi can Skype with them and we'll all talk. Or we can go back some time!"

Kise leans forward and opens the locker room door for Reocchi, then pauses, looking at his soulmate carefully. "Are you ready to go in, Reocchi?" It's not like they can really wait if for some reason he's not, but Kise also doesn't want to push. It's a big moment, at least in his mind. Kaijo as as important as the Miracles to Kise, after all.

"We'll arrange a visit sometime," Reo promises. Sooner rather than later, he suspects, once all involved parties have had a chance to catch their breath after the tournament and everything it's brought. So much has happened in just the last twenty-four hours, and not just to him and Ryo-chan, it's like the basketball itself is almost an afterthought.

Almost. He smiles as Ryo-chan opens the door. "I'm ready," he says. "And it's not like you have time to waste, so let's go!" He hooks his arm around Ryo-chan's free one, impulsively pulling them both through the door together.

Edited 2015-12-30 21:25 (UTC)

"Something to look forward to! I've always wanted to see the fire festival, Reocchi, we should make plans as soon as we can." That's months away and chances are they'll both decide they want to go sooner, but why not plan for multiple trips? If it was possible Kise would make it so that Reocchi could go back every weekend, but it's not. They'll just have to make do with frequent trips instead.

Kise makes a small startled noise when Reocchi pulls them through, but really, it's for the best. He's rarely nervous but this meeting is so important. As expected, the locker room goes quiet when he and Reocchi enter, but Kise doesn't let it stay that, way, immediately using the arm Reocchi's holding to pull them both forward.

"Senpai! We had to take Reocchi's sist--"

"Don't care." Kasamatsu's face makes it obvious he's completely serious in that statement, too. Brows deeply furrowed, hands in fists on his hips, nearly vibrating with irritation. What a great first meeting. "You're late, I was about to send Moriyama out to look for you in case you ran into Haizaki."

"Uh, Captain?" Moriyama does not seem to have been briefed on this plan to send him out looking for the guy with the dangerous reputation.

"Don't worry, Moriyama-senpai, we never saw him. I'm sorry we're late!" Kise stops close to the rest of the team (though safely out of kicking range) and turns so he's facing Reocchi, tilting his head as he speaks. His voice is rarely subdued but right now he's feeling so much that it's difficult to restrain himself and the result is, naturally, a kind of overkill, though this time it's toward formality rather than the opposite.

"Reocchi, this is my team. And senpai... this is Reocchi."

The mention of sending Moriyama after Ryo-chan pacifies some of Reo's own irritation, enough for him to think more clearly about the impression he needs to make.

(The bond is still agitated, but it's easier now to ignore it than it was just a couple of minutes ago. And he will ignore it, he will not let it make him lash out unnecessarily or do anything else that will reflect poorly on Ryo-chan. He will control himself.)

The first thing he does is to bow an apology to Kasamatsu, saying,

"I apologize for holding Ryo-chan up, Kasamatsu-senpai. I didn't like to let him wander off alone under the circumstances."

"Hey, none of that." Kasamatsu's immediately waving a hand at Reocchi to get him up out of the bow. "I appreciate the gesture, it's more than a lot of the juniors here give me, but really..." After a moment to determine if the hint that Kise could be more respectful sinks in (it doesn't, at least not visibly), he moves on.

"Besides, I'm just glad you're both all right, and we have a lot more important things to talk about. That said, it's good to meet you, Mibuchi-kun. Welcome to Kaijo. I guess you already know me, I play point guard, but this is the rest of the starting line: Kobori, our center, Hayakawa, power forward, and our shooting guard, Moriyama." He points to each player as he mentions them, and they respond with a nod or a wave. It's hardly the way Kasamatsu would like to do this introduction but on the other hand, Rakuzan is not a team with a casual reputation. He's sure he doesn't have to instill respect and discipline in Mibuchi.

"And of course, our ace." Kasamatsu's exasperation is not overly fond, but he is genuinely glad nothing's happened to Kise and that shows, if only for a moment before he's got his hands on his hips again. "Who needs to get changed so we can go start warm ups. C'mon."

He casts an apologetic look at Mibuchi as Kise starts to go. "We didn't have time to get your size for anything but you're still welcome to come out to the bench. We'd be glad to have you."

"Please, Reocchi? Maybe you can borrow my warm up clothes, they'll fit you and then we'll be sharing clothes!" Which, judging from the look on Kise's face, is the very best possible outcome here, really.

Reo, accustomed to Rakuzan's more formal ways, is a bit surprised by the casualness of the introduction, but he follows suit, returning each gesture with a nod or wave of his own. Right before a game, he thinks, is probably not the best time to be meeting a new teammate; there's already more than enough to think about.

It's more than tempting to accept Kasamatsu-senpai's offer - of course, of course he wants to be as close to Ryo-chan as possible, especially during a match like this one - but there are still propriety and good manners to consider.

"I'd be very pleased to join you all," he says, apologetic, "but my sister and my friends are waiting for me in the stands, and my sister in particular came out especially to watch this game with me."

(There's - not a pause, it's too short to be a pause, but a definite hitch in his cadence before the word friends. He has got to get used to not thinking of them as his teammates anymore.)

"Sorry, Ryo-chan," he adds, giving the slightest nod toward the lockers to indicate that perhaps it is time for Ryo-chan to switch his focus and start listening to his captain.

He waits for exactly that to happen, too, before he speaks next, because he knows how it will sound to Ryo-chan after their conversation outside, and he doesn't know how to reassure him that it's strictly a business matter without tipping his hand about the likelihood that he'll be available to play in the game against Seirin.

"I would like to speak with you, though, Kasamatsu-senpai, if you can spare a moment so soon before the game." Because speaking of switching focus, it's time for him to do the same, to start thinking as a very-soon-to-be member of Kaijou and how he can help his new captain to make the best use of him as a player.

It's not as though the rest of the team isn't aware that their new recruit is from somewhere with a little more structure than Kaijo, but the last twenty-four hours haven't provided a ton of time to think about anything more than their next game. Figuring out where Mibuchi fits in will come soon enough but right now there's a very important and challenging game to get through. Adding in the increasing number of distractions their ace is facing just makes it that much more critical that they stay focused.

Kasamatsu, however, doesn't have the luxury of only looking ahead. One of the many joys of being a captain. He nods when Mibuchi explains why he can't stay. It makes perfect sense, especially considering the short notice. "That's fine, as long as you're able to come back here after, win or lose."

"Yes, Reocchi has to come back!" Kise bumps shoulders with Reocchi but does also finally move off to a bench and set his bag down. He knows he has to get ready and focus up for the game, but even though he knew Reocchi planned on sitting with Rakuzan, part of him did still hope, a little, that he'd come to the bench instead. But, for all that it's hard to send his soulmate back out of the locker room, he knows it'd be just as hard for Reocchi to be away from Seiko-san right now. Besides, it's not like they won't be able to see each other! He'll wave a lot. It'll be fine.

Once Kise starts changing, Kasamatsu turns his attention back to Mibuchi. "Sure, I've got a couple of minutes. You guys make sure he actually changes." Kasamatsu's not entirely sure but something about Mibuchi's tone made it sound like he'd rather have this conversation in private. He doesn't mind, especially with a new player who doesn't know the rest of the team well yet, and he starts toward the locker room exit.

This isn't really the ideal time for this conversation, Reo knows, but events have moved so quickly that there is no ideal time, and sooner is still better than later. This way, his new captain will at least have more than five minutes to consider his strategy.

He very much appreciates Kasamatsu-senpai's awareness that he might want discretion for this conversation; he doesn't mind much if anyone not Ryo-chan overhears them, but the thoughtfulness is nice.

"I don't know if the school is keeping you or Coach Takeuchi updated on my status," he begins once they're out in the relatively quiet hallway, "but it's very likely that I'll be an official student at Kaijou before this game is over. I haven't mentioned that to Ryo-chan. He's got enough on his mind already without the added distraction."

Kasamatsu-senpai nods acknowledgment, an expression of wry agreement crossing his face at that last part.

"So, forgive me if I'm speaking out of place, but I wanted to talk for a moment about the game against Seirin."

In any other situation, it would in fact be completely out of place. What team would throw a player who had just joined that day into a game as important as that one will be? It would be foolish and irresponsible, and to assume it would happen anyway would be the height of arrogance. Reo has studied Kaijou's plays as an opponent, yes, but he's never practiced any of them, and there are other players who have been working hard for Kaijou all along who deserve to be in the game.

But in a soulmate situation, and soulmate to the team's ace at that, it would be foolish not to put him in. Any difficulties he might have coordinating with some of the other players will mean nothing against the way Reo's very presence in the game will bring the bond to life and heighten Ryo-chan's game like nothing else possibly could. Any player Reo displaces will understand that. Victory comes first.

And it's not as if Reo doesn't have anything to bring to the game as a player.

With all that at least acknowledged, Reo keeps going, wanting to keep this discussion as brief as possible so that Kasamatsu-senpai can return to his - to their team.

"Akashi-kun made plans for dealing with all his former teammates," he explains, "including Kuroko Tetsuya. He found a player with a lack of presence similar to Kuroko-kun's and had us all spend hours playing with him, until we could see him immediately and without fail. I'll be able to see Kuroko-kun right away, before his effects on the rest of Kaijou begin to fade."

He pauses there, because the obvious conclusion - that assigning him to mark Kuroko for at least the first quarter would be the sensible decision - is obvious enough not to need saying, and he doesn't want to cross a line by implying that he doesn't think an experienced player and captain like Kasamatsu-senpai can get there himself.

And from there, the next obvious step: with Reo handling Kuroko and making his misdirection almost impossible to use, and Ryo-chan focusing on Kagami, the only other serious challenge Seirin has to offer is Kiyoshi Teppei, and a team who managed to beat Rakuzan without its ace can certainly handle him.

With the soulmate factor on top of all of that, Reo almost feels sorry for Seirin.

Edited 2016-06-08 20:18 (UTC)

Kasamatsu listens attentively, the pieces falling into place as Mibuchi speaks. He can feel his hackles rising a little at the suggestion of putting a brand new player into the game in place of a veteran but on the other hand Mibuchi brings up very good points. Kuroko is an extremely difficult player to pin down and he brings out something in Kise that Kasamatsu also can't quite put his finger on but it sure can complicate things when they don't need to be.

Even with that, it's not like Mibuchi is demanding to be put in. The implication is there but he's also being respectful about it and, especially considering his day to day struggles with Kise, Kasamatsu finds himself grateful for that. In the end he nods a couple of times then huffs out a quick sigh.

"Moriyama's a sensible guy. I can't see him kicking up a fuss but even if he did, once we explain it and he sees you on the court with Kise, he'll get it." Bringing the trophy home in their third year is more important than any one person's pride. Of course, he knows that's easy for him to say when it's not his pride on the line but there's not really another alternative.

When he continues, his tone is a bit more thoughtful. "Thanks for this. You didn't have to be this forthcoming considering you just got here, and I appreciate that. Between having someone prepped to take him on and someone who's played with him before, we might be one of the best equipped teams now to deal with Kuroko."

His hand is back on the handle to the locker room door but he's not rushing back in just yet; if Mibuchi has anything else he wants to share, no time like the present.

The look Reo gives him in answer is slightly confused.

"Of course, senpai," he says. "Kaijou is my team now, and there's no time today for letting - how sudden that is get in the way. It's important that you have all the information you need."

Maybe that sounds cold, dismissing his old team so quickly, but a person who would think that is way is a person who doesn't understand Rakuzan. There isn't a single member of that team who would approve of Reo putting his personal feelings before victory. They'll all be wanting Kaijou to win this game and the next, because the only thing more unthinkable than losing is losing to any team other than the best.

(There will be time later, after their victory, to let himself feel how he feels about that.)

(It's not as if it isn't more than worth it.)

"Thank you for your time," he continues with another bow, this one more casual than the last in deference to Kasmatsu-senpai's objection to what Reo assumes was the formality. "I won't take up any more of it. I'll see you all after the game."

The fact of the matter is, for all that he's studied them, Kasamatsu really doesn't know what Rakuzan is like, at least not from the inside. That means Mibuchi's answer does strike him as a little frosty, but on the other hand, he's glad for it. Mibuchi's only here because his soul mate is on this team and he's not going to be getting another one of those so it's not as though Kasamatsu has reason to think the same thing could happen with Kaijo.

That means he nods at Mibuchi's response here and accepts his bow without comment. He turns the handle on the door then pauses. There's no light way to say this but he's not sure if he'll ever get a chance alone with Mibuchi to say it again. Also, considering who they're facing, a warning seems appropriate.

"Make sure you take care getting to your seat. And... after, too. Kise's enough of a handful and he's going to be looking for you up there. I can't imagine how we'd keep control of him if something happened, but besides, Kaijo is your team now. So take care." He really doesn't want to have to bring any additional animosity onto the court but something happening to their newest member on the short walk from the locker room to his seats would be a really good reason to.

There are a few seconds in which Reo has time to both realize that he never even considered his own safety in his worry for Ryo-chan and Seiko and also become deeply embarrassed by his reaction to Kasamatsu's texts earlier - no matter what the bond has to say on the matter, he clearly overreacted and he is so glad Kasamatsu has no idea - and then someone comes around the corner.

Reo turns sharply, then relaxes with a little laugh.

"Ei-chan, you startled us!"

"Sorry," Nebuya says, not sounding sorry. "Akashi thought it was a good idea for someone to walk you back."

Of course he did. Sei-chan always thinks of these things. Reo's expression softens, warmer than he realizes.

To Kasamatsu, Nebuya says,

"Don't worry about your new shooting guard, Kasamatu-san, he'll be fine. If Haizaki tries anything, you won't have to worry about him anymore, either." He adds a flex of muscle to make his point extra clear.

"Ugh, stop being such a gorilla," Reo says, but his tone is lacking the usual edge that turns up when Nebuya acts like a hopeless musclehead. It's reassuring to be thought of (Sei-chan thought of him) and to know that Ryo-chan won't have to worry either. Now he can focus on his game. "Thank you, Kasamatsu-senpai, I'll see you after the game."

Kasamatsu (with a glance at Nebuya that's part concerned and part relieved) nods and heads into the locker room.

"You better not start any fights if he does turn up," Reo says.

"Nope." Nebuya smirks. "I'll just finish 'em."

Fortunately, there's no need for any fighting at all - they arrive back at their seats without incident, and Reo forgets Nebuya's behavior entirely as he realizes the seating order has changed. When he and Ryo-chan left, Seiko had settled into the aisle seat, ever so casually leaving the last open seat between herself and Sei-chan; how she's on Sei-chan's other side, and Nebuya nudges Reo in to sit before taking the aisle seat himself.

He thinks of saying He's going to be on the court, I'll be fine, but, come to think of it, he is despite that logic happier with his sister further from the aisle. It feels a little odd not to sit next to her, considering that she's here to watch the game with him, but if she's not complaining then he won't either.

(And either way, he's next to Sei-chan for this one last game. Maybe Seiko engineered this herself on purpose.)

So Reo sits. Sei-chan nods a greeting and Reo smiles back, pretending he can't hear his sister rolling her eyes, and they wait for the game to start.

When Kasamatsu-senpai comes back into the locker room alone, Kise can't help feeling just a little disappointed. He knew Reocchi was going to his seat so it's not a surprising feeling, but it's still real. It's also gone with one unimpressed look from Senpai.

"Quit sulking, it's not everybody who gets to have their soulmate here to cheer them on knowing they'll get to play together if they win. You have nothing to be upset about." His tone lacks the usual venom, though, and there's not even any kicking to follow it up! Kasamatsu-senpai must really know how important this all is.

From there, though, the entire process of getting ready is a blur. Kise does his best to pay attention to the pregame briefing, strategy talks, all that, but he only really focuses back up when they're heading out onto the court. After all, this is the only place that matters, and he knows Shougo-kun better than any of them. Besides, Reocchi is fine. Kise would know if he wasn't, he'd feel it

That means it's just a matter of getting to the bench and turning around to look at the stands. He'll never admit that it's Akashicchi's hair and Nebuya-kun's size as much as anything that makes them easy to spot, but it's only Reocchi Kise's waving to.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

soulmates AU #2 (Reo, Kise)

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let me know if this is hard to follow

it's fine! <3

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oh my god this is from may i'm so sorry

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soulmates AU #2 (Reo, Kise)

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let me know if this is hard to follow

it's fine! <3

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oh my god this is from ***may*** i'm so sorry

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oh my god this is from may i'm so sorry