In Shadows
Chapter Twenty-One
Gathering of Miracles

Another week passed, and soon the month was over, and Gina woke up on the morning of the Winter Cup.

Excitement shot down her spine and she leapt out of breath, dashing around with a grin on her face. Yes, today they were against Touou, and yeah, it just happened to be the team that Aomine and Momoi attended: Aomine with his prodigal skill and Momoi with her precognitive defence. They were a formidable team,

But still, today was the first time she'd be on the bench with the team. It was the time where she'd see the results of everyone's training. They'd all been working extraordinarily hard, mastering their own unique skills and improving their other ones. Gina wanted to see that hard work pay off.

Of course, she knew that Seirin weren't the only ones who had been working hard. All teams in the Winter Cup would have been training hard. There would be no such thing as an easy match. The thought kind of excited her. Matches were always at their most interesting when you didn't know how they'd turn out.

Soon she was ready, dressed in her uniform with a pale blue jumper pulled over her uniform. She grabbed a few slices of toast on her way out and called goodbye to her parents, ready to meet Kuroko so they could head to the stadium together, as they'd agreed last night.

It was only a short walk to his house. There was a slightly awkward moment at the front door when she met his mother, who had no idea who she was. It took a bit of quick explaining before she was allowed inside, and told that Kuroko hadn't yet woken up. With a small roll of her eyes she made her way to his room, and came to a stop outside his door.

"Kuroko! Wake up!" she called from the other side of the door, knocking on the wooden surface as she did so. "Today's the Winter Cup!"

His reply was muffled, and borderline a groan. "Gina..." 

"Are you decent? You've got five seconds to warn me before I enter."

Five seconds passed and there was no response, and Gina gave him a few extra seconds just to be sure. She couldn't even begin to imagine how awkward that would be.

"Morning!" she sang, dancing her way over to Kuroko's bed. He was curled up in a ball under the covers. Gina had originally wanted to rip the covers off but, seeing him like that, she decided against it with much reluctance. "Get up! You're going to beat Aomine today!"

Kuroko blinked a bleary eye open. "I'm getting up," he said, through something that was half a yawn and half a laugh.

Gina chuckled and offered her hand, and helped Kuroko out of bed. His bed hair was as messy as always, sticking up all over the place. She absently reached up to smooth it down, like she had done back at the hotel. Kuroko's hair was very soft, and she found her eyes being drawn to his own. The two of them were so close that Gina could feel his breath on her cheek.

Realising just how little distance there was between them and she was looking directly into his eyes, Gina froze, her hand dropping back to her side. She could already feel the embarrassed flush building up within her.

"I'll have Nigou enter the room if you take too long," she blurted, her cheeks turning pink out of embarrassment. She was already making her way out of his room. "I'll leave so you can get dressed. Then it's on to the Winter Cup!"

Gina darted out of his room and shut the door. She leaned against the wall and closed her eyes, breathing in a number of deep breaths to calm herself down. Good job Gina. It isn't even nine o'clock in the morning and you've highly embarrassed yourself. This must be some sort of new record for you.

When Kuroko emerged from his room two minutes later, dressed in his Seirin uniform and having tidied up his messy bed hair, Gina had calmed herself down enough that she didn't blush as soon as she saw him. Putting her usual grin on her face she winked and asked, "You ready?"

He smiled and nodded. "Yeah."

Gina gave him some of her toast and they made their way to the train station, talking the entire time.

Soon they'd be at the gym and meeting up with everyone; Izuki, Hyuga, Kiyoshi, Kagami and everyone else, everyone fired up and ready to take on Touou once again.

Oh, Kagami.

We'll get to see Kagami again today! Gina brightened at the thought. It had been way too long since she had last seen her friend, and they'd barely been able to talk due the expense of overseas phone bills. She couldn't wait to see him and find out what he'd been practicing while in America.

It would be her first official game in the bench, Kagami would be back from America, and she had all day to spend with her friends.

Yes, this was looking to be a very good day. Winning the match, she thought, would just be the icing on the cake.

***

Gina thought they'd be able to reunite with Kagami before the opening ceremony, but fate hadn't worked out that way.

Kagami had sent Riko a text moments before the opening ceremony commenced; he had completely forgotten about time zones, and had forgotten to set his alarm clock that night. He'd be there late.

Of course, Riko had been fuming throughout the entire duration of the opening ceremony, and began ranting as soon as it had was finished.

"Damn it!" Riko seethed, looking moments away from lashing out at someone. "What is that idiot Kagami doing?! The opening ceremony's already over!"

"I can't believe that idiot forgot time difference," Hyuga grumbled.

Gina chuckled, but the sound died from her lips when she heard someone's phone buzz. Looking back, she realising it was coming from Kuroko's bag; she could see it vibrate.

Kuroko ambled over and pulled his phone out of the bag. Gina followed him. "Who is it?" she asked, standing slightly on tiptoe and looking over his shoulder.

The number on the screen was not one she had been expecting to see. She gasped, her eyes widening. "Akashi..." she breathed, tension in her voice.

The air around them felt heavier after seeing the name. Kuroko opened the message, and the two of them read it over. Gina swallowed as she realised just what Akashi had contacted Kuroko for; he was being summoned, and no doubt the other members of the Generation of Miracles were, too.

Gina looked at Kuroko, and his eyes found hers. They stared at each other, the same shock and confusion mirrored on the other's face. Gina had no idea what Akashi wanted, but knew there would be no way to refuse him. From all the stories she'd heard, Akashi Seijuuro wasn't someone you refused.

Kuroko snapped his phone shut and stowed it away in his pocket. "Sorry, but could I step out for a bit?" he asked.

There was a glint to Riko's eye as she rounded on him. "I told you not to wander off."

Kuroko raised his hands. "Yes, but... I've been summoned."

"Summoned?" Kiyoshi repeated. Uneasy glances passed between all members of the team.

Kuroko nodded. "I'm going to see Akashi-kun."

It was like dropping a bomb. Everyone knew the name; their eyes widened, and a tense atmosphere settled over their team.

"The captain of the Generation of Miracles..." Hyuga said, wide eyed.

Riko sighed. "Fine," she relented. "We've got a game this afternoon. Be back by then."

"Okay." Kuroko nodded his understanding and turned, making his way to the designated meeting place. Gina watched him go, a knot of unease twisting in his stomach. She had no idea what Akashi wanted to discuss but knew it could be no small matter. Akashi wouldn't call anyone out just to have a pleasant chat.

Riko must have felt to same way, for she turned to Furihata. "Furihata-kun. Could you follow him?"

"No, Riko." Gina stepped forward with a small share of her head. "I went to Teiko, and the other members of the Generation of Miracles know me. It might be better if it was just me who went."

A silent understanding passed between them, and Riko nodded. "Understood."

With that, Gina turned and jogged in the direction Kuroko had taken. She only slowed down once she fell into step beside him.

They walked in comfortable silence, but Gina wondered just what thoughts Kuroko had going through his head. Did he have any idea what Akashi wanted to talk about? Had he even seen Akashi since Teiko? That was unlikely. He would have said... Was he just as baffled by this sudden turn of events as she was?

"You don't have to come, Gina," Kuroko said eventually, once they'd stepped outside. Gina pulled her jacket a little closer around her body to try and fight off the cold.

The bespeckled girl shook her head. "No, it's fine. Coach's orders. Besides, I'm your moral support." She grinned, and he smiled back.

The Generation of Miracles weren't difficult to find. For one, they'd been given a clear meeting place by Akashi. And two... Well, it was difficult to miss four tall boys with vibrant hair colours and different coloured uniforms. The sudden bright colour was enough to attract any eye.

It was amusing to see how almost ordinary they looked, gathered around the steps. Aomine had seated himself down on one of the lower steps, looking around like he was bored. Kise stood by the top, his phone in his hand and his eyes glued to the screen. Midorima was to the left, carrying scissors - no doubt they were his lucky item for the day. Murasakibara stood to the right, his usual bag of chips in his hands. 

"You've got a babysitter, Tetsu!" Aomine called out as they neared.

Gina rolled her eyes at this comment. "I'm not a babysitter!" she muttered to Kuroko. "I wanted to accompany you..." At this, Kuroko chuckled under his breath.

"Anyway Minechin, you've got Sacchin," Murasakibara said.

Aomine glowered. "Satsuki's got nothing to do with this."

Kise looked up from his phone and scanned the scene before him. "Midorimacchi, why do you have scissors?" he demanded, noticing the object in Midorima's hands.

"It's my lucky item, obviously."

"It's dangerous, though. I wish you wouldn't walk around with them like that."

The final came to a stop at the foot of the stairs. "Sorry to keep you waiting," Kuroko said. Gina lingered a little behind him as they became the sudden interest of the other Miracles. Despite knowing everyone, she couldn't help but feel intimidated. The atmosphere was so heavy, she could have cut it with a knife. 

The tension was cut by the buzz of Kise's phone. Gina let out a breath she hadn't realised she'd been holding when the attention turned away from herself and Kuroko.

"Your phone's annoying, Kise," Aomine snapped, glancing back at the blond. "Is it Akashi?"

Kise checked the number. "No. It's a text from fangirl."

"Go die!"

Murasakibara attempted to open a bag of chips, frowning when it remained closed. "Midochin, let me borrow those scissors."

"No."

"Kurochin, do you have any?"

"I don't."

They're all interacting so normally... but the air just couldn't be heavier. Gina swallowed. It felt like a time bomb was about ready to go off.

Aomine sighed and leaned back. "Why's the guy who summoned us the last to arrive?"

"There's no need to be upset," Midorima responded. "That's how he is."

Aomine sighed and grumbled under his breath, obviously unsatisfied with the response.

A brief silence fell, and during that time Gina thought she heard something. Footsteps. Someone was approaching, and that someone was probably Akashi.

Moments later a smooth voice said, "I apologise that I've kept to waiting."

"Akashi-kun," Kuroko greeted.

Gina's eyes flicked up to see none of than the former captain of the Generation of Miracles. His face was expressionless, but still there was a certain hardness to his eyes that let everyone know he wasn't someone you wanted to have on their bad side. 

Suddenly Gina wished that she was Hirai Akane, or at least wished that Akane was there (Akane hated being referred to by her last name, wanting to separate herself from her family). Gina had never talked to Akashi before and, from what she'd heard, Akane had known him since childhood. She might have some idea how this situation was about to unfold, and how to deal with it.

"Daiki, Ryouta, Shintaro, Atsushi, and Tetsuya. I'm glad to see you again. I'm deeply moved we were all able to meet like this. However, there's someone here who doesn't belong. I wish to speak only to my former teammates right now." Akashi's eyes were suddenly locked on to her own, and Gina suddenly felt like she'd been frozen in place under his heavy stare. "Sorry, but could you leave?"

Yes, she wanted to say, I'm more than happy to oblige. But she wasn't ready to go just yet. Mustering all her wits just to be able to move, she swallowed and responded in a voice that was shakier than she would've liked; "I did go to Teiko as well, you know. I might not have been on the team, but I did know everyone. I - I don't see a problem with me staying." She breathed out heavily, almost ashamed to notice the few beads of sweat that had come to be on her forehead.

"Gina..." Kuroko said cautiously. Gina froze when she felt his fingers lightly brush over her own. She looked at him and met her eyes, which were sincere and concerned. It took all her willpower not to turn into a blushing mess in front of the Generation of Miracles.

Without warning another hand, larger than Kuroko's, came to rest on Gina's shoulder. "Well, you're no fun," a familiar and most-welcome voice said. "Don't exclude us."

Gina gasped, eyes lighting up as she recognised the voice. She turned and beamed to find the tall, red-haired figure of Kagami Taiga.

"Kagami!" she exclaimed, beaming at the sight of him. "We were worried that you might not make it on time."

"No chance of that happening," he laughed. "First..." His expression suddenly changed and he became much more serious. He narrowed his eyes as he looked up, somehow able to meet Akashi right in the eye. "You're Akashi, right? Glad to meet you."

Akashi stared down at Kagami. He remained expressionless, but a shiver went down Gina's spine nonetheless.

"Shintaro, can I borrow those scissors?" he asked smoothly, already reaching out with his hand as he descended the stairs.

"What so you need them for?" Gina noted how, even as he asked the question, he handed his lucky item for the day over to Akashi without hesitation, even though he'd denied Murasakibara just minutes ago.

"My hair is annoying me," Akashi responded simply. "I've been wanting to trim it. First... You're Kagami-kun, aren't you?"

Kagami didn't even have time to respond. There was a flourish of movement and he hastily stepped aside as something shot out toward his face.

Everything happened so quickly that Gina barely had time to process it all. When all movement ceased she froze, her blood turning cold when she realised what had just happened: Akashi had gone to stab Kagami with those scissors. And he hadn't been holding back.

Gina's heart leapt up into throat, and she swore that it stopped beating momentarily. "Kagami!" she cried, along with Kuroko's exclamation of, "Kagami-kun!"

"Oh my..." Gina exclaimed shakily. She looked up at Kagami's face, and blanched to see a thin cut across his cheek. A small amount of blood dripped from the sliced flesh. If she was tall enough to reach, she would've wiped the blood away with her jacket sleeve. "Kagami, are you okay?"

"Fine, Gina," he said gruffly, his narrowed eyes never leaving Akashi.

Akashi's lips twisted up into a smirk. "My, my. I'm surprised that you were able to dodge that. In light of that display of grace, I'll forgive you this time. However, there will be no second chance." He raised the scissors, beginning the process of trimming the front of his hair. Red locks floated down to the ground, but no one paid attention to that; everyone's focus was on the former captain of the Generation of Miracles. "When I tell you to leave, leave. In this world, winning is everything. Winners are affirmed completely and losers are denied completely. I've never lost at anything before, and I never will. Because I always win, and I am always right. I show no mercy to those who oppose me. Not even my own parents."

Well isn't this all fine and dandy. Gina was frozen, unsure of how to react, if she should react at all. Would that make the situation worse? It probably would. So she remained Iocked in place. Once again, she wished that Akane was there to make sense of the situation.

Where was Akane, anyway? Momoi had mentioned a few times now she barely heard from her anymore.

Akashi passed the scissors back to Midorima and made his way back to the steps. "Well, I'm leaving. I just wanted to say hello to everyone today."

"What?" Aomine growled, leaping to his feet. "Don't be ridiculous, Akashi! You summoned us just for that?"

"No," he responded, pausing to look back over his shoulder. "I actually wanted to confirm something, but after seeing your faces, I realised there was no need. No one has forgotten our promise." 

A small smile played at his lips. "Everything's fine, then. The next time we meet will be on court."

----------------------

and the award for the most dramatic entrance by a character goes to none other than akashi seijuuro xD it feels strange to be writing akashi as he is now while i'm still writing the early teiko days in looking for a miracle before everything fell apart...

meh i feel a little iffy about this chapter... the dialogue was hard to write for some reason :/ for readers of lfam where do you think akane is at the moment? I do, but won't be revealing it all in this story *cough* spoilers *cough* but i will drop a few hints...