Gauntlet, my original prose novel, is available in paperback through Chromatic Press/Sparkler Monthly! The ebook version is available at Sparkler Monthly or through Amazon. My fandom writing can be found on (on AO3).
The new novel has some very angry eyes and a summary. And itâs about Asamiâs past⊠YESSSssssSSS!! Iâve been itching for the longest time for even a tiny hint of back story from Asami Ryuichiâs past.
http://www.b-boy.jp/special/finder_novel_souen/
Translated: ââBlue Flame in the Finderâ
A Young prosecutor, Kuroda Shinji, meets a new transfer student, one, Asami Ryuichi. Hardly ever turning up to school and with many dark rumours whispered about him, Asami is regarded with fear and envy among the other students. Itâs this reason that inspires Kuroda to get to know this mysterious pupil more closelyâŠâ
Can I just say, on behalf of all the thirsty VF fans everywhere, that you are doing Godâs work, Kuroda. Bravo you excellent man.
I think Iâve finally figured the plot out!!! âBlue Flameâ is both Asamiâs model name and his signature move. Weâve all wondered the origins of that piercing gaze that makes ukes everywhere swoon. Obviously, Asami misses so much school to take part in international catwalks and top model walk offs!
The new novel has some very angry eyes and a summary. And itâs about Asamiâs past⊠YESSSssssSSS!! Iâve been itching for the longest time for even a tiny hint of back story from Asami Ryuichiâs past.
http://www.b-boy.jp/special/finder_novel_souen/
Translated: ââBlue Flame in the Finderâ
A Young prosecutor, Kuroda Shinji, meets a new transfer student, one, Asami Ryuichi. Hardly ever turning up to school and with many dark rumours whispered about him, Asami is regarded with fear and envy among the other students. Itâs this reason that inspires Kuroda to get to know this mysterious pupil more closelyâŠâ
Can I just say, on behalf of all the thirsty VF fans everywhere, that you are doing Godâs work, Kuroda. Bravo you excellent man.
â Long before I picked up a camera and took photography seriously, I was a video editor and visual effects artist. Iâm grateful @instagram and @staff has given me a platform to show my peers my combined skill-sets togetherâ not just one.
Iâm so sorry Iâm a day late, but I hope this bit of silliness makes you smile!
Kuroko looked up at the sky. The sun was hanging low, though it would be a couple of hours before full dark. But even so, an unusually thick layer of clouds had rolled in bringing a gray cast to the city. The air was hot and humid, making his thin t-shirt cling unpleasantly to his chest. He hurried his steps, feeling unaccountably nervous, as if the gloomy sky was affecting his mood too. Â
Of course, it would be too bad if his meetup with the others got rained out. It had been a while since theyâd all been able to get together, and he was looking forward to a game with his old team mates, especially withâŠ
CRACK!
Kuroko flinched at the roll of thunder and looked wide-eyed at the mass of dark clouds. Â The rain gods seemed content to hold off for now, but Kuroko broke into a jog anyway. Â The court where they were to meet wasnât one Kuroko had been to before. Â As he turned down a tree-lined street, he noticed that it certainly seemed to be in a rather out of the way location. Â He stopped to look at his phone and noted that the route took him down an even more obscure lane and then through a small park set away from any residential areas.Â
It was peculiar, but then, Aomine-kun and Kise-kun could be very noisy.
He spied a chain-link fence past a thick growth of riotous shrubbery that looked as if it hadnât seen a hedge trimmer in years. Â How in the world had they found this place? And why were they meeting here instead of at their regular court? Â Kuroko wondered just whose idea it had been. Momoi hadnât said when sheâd call to arrange the details, even though Akashi had been the one to suggest this particular get together.
A tiny smile curved Kurokoâs mouth as he pushed through the tangle of kudzu that twisted across the path. The door to the caged court swung in the wind that had just started to pick up. Â Anticipation was making it hard for him to breathe evenly, and not just because of his little jog. Even though he hadnât seen Akashi in several weeks, their not too infrequent texts and calls seemed to hint of things that made Kurokoâs cheeks burn a little just thinking about it. Â He was almost entirely certain that Akashi and he had been maintaining a subtle but ongoing flirtation.
But the court was empty. That was odd. He pulled his phone from his pocket. No, he wasnât early. He was right on time.
âTetsuya.â
Kuroko spun around with a little gasp. Akashi stood behind him on the path looking entirely too amused by Kurokoâs uncharacteristic fluster.
âAkashi-kun, when did youâŠâ Kuroko trailed off, staring intently as Akashi evenly met his searching gaze. Something seemedâŠoff.  It almost reminded of the times Akashi had switched, but, no, that wasnât it exactly.
âWe arrived a few minutes ago,â Akashi answered the unfinished question.
âWe?â Kuroko questioned. âBut thereâs no one else here.â
A giggle from behind him made him spin around to face the court again. Momoi waved at him, beaming, while around her stood Aomine, Kise, Midorima, and Murasakibara. Â Where did they come from? Had they been hiding from him?
âYo, Tetsu,â Aomine said first, and then the others chimed in with their own greetings. They all seemed oddly jittery, even Murasakibara, staring at Kuroko with almost too keen interest.
âEveryoneâŠâ Kuroko frowned. âWhatâs going on. Are you playing a joke on me?â
âNo joke, Tetsuya.â Â Kuroko shivered as Akashiâs breath ghosted against his ear. Â When had he come so close? Â âWeâre just pleased to see you.â Akashiâs voice dropped to a low tone. âEspecially me.â
Heat painted Kurokoâs cheeks a faint pink, and his heart started to beat a little faster at that unexpected declaration. Oddly, everyone immediately crowded around him and Kuroko blinked up at that in confusion.
Akashi cleared his throat and just like that they all were a respectable distance away. All except Akashi, who was now planted right in front of him andâŠwas he sniffing his neck? Kuroko blinked again, and Akashi was spinning a ball on his finger with a challenging grin.  Maybe the heat and humidity were making him light-headed, but Kuroko shook off his disorientation, competitive streak engaged by Akashiâs smirk.
âShall we play?â Kuroko asked, deciding that whatever weirdness his friends were displaying would disappear once the game began.
âOh, yes,â Akashiâs smile widened and for a moment Kuroko couldâve sworn that he saw something strange. Akashiâs teethâ
CRACK!
Another boom of thunder made Kuroko jolt, and the wind pushed the clouds until they loomed over the court like great, dark pillows. Â âMaybe this isnât such a good idea.â
The ball sailed toward him and Kuroko caught it reflexively.
âEven if it rains, weâll just dodge the raindrops.â Aomine crowed.
The rain held off, though, but Kuroko proceeded to play the most bizarre game of basketball heâd ever experienced since he first picked up a basketball. It started typically enough, even if it was on a slightly higher level than normal. Everyoneâs game play was seamless. It reminded Kuroko of Akashiâs ability to sync the rhythms of all the players into a perfect pattern. Kurokoâs efforts rose to meet theirs. Exhilaration sang through his veins as they wove through the familiar dance, all long-limbed, fluid motion.
Akashiâs eyes flashed at him from across the court as he caught one of Kurokoâs passes. His teeth gleamed.
Kuroko couldnât look away. Akashi was so beautiful as always. His grace a sight to behold as he sped and spun and danced from one basket to the other. They all were stunning, in fact. Â Aomineâs effortless prowl and Kiseâs bright, dangerous speed. Midorimaâs sharp, but elegant precision. Murasakibaraâs raw power.
And then things got weird. Â Another thunder crack seemed to push some invisible fast forward button and the others shifted into even higher levels, leaving Kuroko scrambling to keep pace until his chest was heaving uncontrollably and his lungs hurt and the sweat was dripping from his face, his shirt drenched to the skin. He stumbled to a halt as the rest of them seemed to literally blur on the court in front of him. Afterimages of streaming colors imprinted on his retinas. And then Akashi was there above the netâand Kuroko knew he could jump, but that high? â hanging for an impossible moment in the air, defying gravity as if it were nothing.
Kuroko gaped, then the ball slammed through net to the concrete surface below and Kuroko felt the impact in his bones. Â They were all still on the court, frozen in poses of action and reaction and smiling widely at Kurokoâs stunned gaze. He must be hallucinating. He <i>must</i>. Because even the Generation of Miracles couldnât move that fast. They couldnât pull off such feats. It was impossible.
Even Momoi, whoâd been cheering them on from the edge of the court was watching Kuroko with bright, shining eyes, even she seemed charged with some strange electrical presence. Her long, pink hair seemed to float in the air around her as the strengthening winds buffeted around the court. Her eyesâŠ
Kuroko staggered, a wave of dizziness sweeping over him with unexpected force. His hand came up and clutched at his damp shirt, right over his madly beating heart.
âTetsuya.â
In an instant, Akashi was invading his personal space again.
âAkashi-kunâŠâ Kuroko gasped. âWhatâŠwhat is this?â
âWe wanted you to see.â Â Akashiâs fingertips slid across Kurokoâs cheekbone tenderly, then slipped down to follow the line of this throat. âTo show you with something that you love.â
âShow me what exactly?â Kuroko managed to ask shakily. âHow did youâŠhow is this possible?â
âWe wanted you to see how magnificent it can be. Of course, this is just but an infinitesimal aspect out of infinite possibilities, butâ â
âBut itâs damn fun!â Aomine interjected.
Akashi smiled indulgently. âAnd weâd hopedâŠIâd hoped that it would help you beâŠaccepting.â
âAccepting.â Kuroko looked at Akashi without comprehension. âAccepting of what?â
âThe gift I want to give you, Kuroko. The gift Iâve already given to the others.â
Somehow, while Akashi was speaking, theyâd all formed a loose, looming semi-circle around Kuroko. In perfect choreography, they all smiled. Kurokoâs breath caught in his throat, his eyes flew wide.
So sharp, their incisors impossibly long and white, gleamed in the dusky light.
Disbelieving protests died on Kurokoâs lips. He met Akashiâs mesmerizing gaze again. Somehow, he knew it was real. Whatever it was. Even if it seemed to be patently absurd.
âHow?â He asked instead.
Akashiâs wild grin softened. âIt turns out my mother wasnât actually sick all those years ago. Well, not in the way that I thought. She was changed. Into this.â Â Akashiâs elegant fingers made a sweeping motion, indicating himself and the others gathered around. âShe was waiting.â
âAkashi-kunâs mother?â Kuroko repeated in slow shock. âButâŠwaiting for what?â
âFor me to mature. To find a circle of companions worthy of standing with me forever. To findâŠâ he smiled tenderly at Kuroko, âyou.â
âMe?â Kuroko flushed. âYouâŠdo you meanâŠâ
Confused thoughts swirled in Kurokoâs head. Â He couldnât deny the strong tug in his gut, his heart, and someplace even deeper that called to the burning look in Akashiâs eyes, to his confession. The air fairly sizzled between them, and he caught the barest taste of the pure force and possibility in this offer. His blood, body, and skin felt electric.
âI can hear your heart beat, Tetsuya.â Akashi stepped closer. âDo you trust me?â
âI do,â Kuroko said, âbutâŠâ  His family. Seirin.  EverythingâŠ
What would he have to give up? What would he have to do?
âWhatâs the problem, Tetsu?â Aomine called. âItâs right up your alley. Just think, now when you start fights with punks youâll be able to take them out on your own.â
âAomine-kun,â Kuroko leveled a look at him. âI donât start fights.â
Everyone snorted, except for Midorima who surprisingly said, âItâs not as bad as you might think, Kuroko. It hasâŠcertain advantages.â He pushed his glasses up his nose. âI donât need these anymore, in fact. Although, since Iâm used to themâŠâ
Aomine snickered.
âItâs totally awesome, Kurokocchi!â Kise vibrated with eagerness to convince him. âLike, I made this weather like this! Itâs so atmospheric, right?! The thunder! Â The dark clouds! I thought it was the perfect setting for this even if the others didnât agree. Â But also, youâll be faster, strongerâ â
âBut no smarter in your case,â Midorima said bitingly.
âThatâs so mean!â
âIt really is okay, Tetsu-kun!â Momoi said reassuringly. âI can get so much more done now, and we still go to school. You can make it so no one notices.â
âHeh, itâs really easy to get the coach off your back now, too,â Aomine agreed. âJust look âem in the eye andâ â
âThatâs hardly appropriate.â Â Midorima cast a disapproving scowl at his unrepentant shrug.
âKuro-chin, donât worry.â Murasakibara reached his huge hand to scrub through Kurokoâs hair. âWe can still eat snacks too. Â We donât have to drink blood all the time.â
âBloodâŠâ Kuroko stiffened.
Several hands smacked Murasakibara.
âTetsuya, I know what youâre thinking, butâŠitâs not like that. We donât have to hurt anyone.â Akashi held his gaze. âI promise you that.â
âAkashi-kunâŠâ Kuroko felt the pull to him even more strongly. But could he really accept such a big change?
A heavy hand landed on his shoulder. âI know what youâre feeling, Kuroko.â
âKagami-kun!â Â Kuroko stared at his friend in shock. âYou too?!â
Kagami turned red and scratched at the back of his head. âW-well, yeahâŠâ he stammered. âI mean, at first I was, like, no way! But when that idiot over thereâ â he jerked a thumb at Aomine, âkept telling me about the amazing games we could have against each otherâŠwell, I just couldnât resist.â
Kuroko stared at him in disbelief. âBasketball idiotâŠâ he whispered.
Akashiâs chuckle broke him out of his shock.
âWe all are, arenât we? But this goes beyond that, Tetsuya. We can make a lifeâso to speak,â he added when Kuroko raised an eyebrow, âa life where we can accomplish greater things than we ever dreamed.â
âIâm sure Akashiâs dreams were already on an otherworldly level of ambition, as well as his ability to achieve them.â
âTetsuya flatters me.â Akashâs fond smile made Kurokoâs stomach flutter.
âButâŠdonât I actually have to die?â Kuroko asked quietly.Â
âThink of it as a transformation,â Akashi said with a seductive persuasion that made Kurokoâs knees weak too. âI need to bite you here.â Fingertips ghosted the pulsing throb at his throat. âOne instant of very brief pain, and thenâŠIâll suckâŠlongâŠslowâŠdeepâŠdrinking it upâŠall of your essenceâŠtaking more until you tremble in my arms and feel as if youâll die of bliss.â
Kuroko shuddered.
âOi, get a room, you two!â Aomine called.
âDai-chan!â
âOw!â
Akashi and Kuroko ignored the scuffle that broke out behind them.
âWhat then?â Kuroko said, letting out a shaky breath.
âThen,â Akashi stepped closer. âYouâll drink of me too. Your lipsâŠyour teethâŠsinking into my skin. My scent will surround youâŠsoothe you.  My tasteâŠoh, it will drive you mad.  Youâll drink me while I drink you and weâll pass through each otherâŠmingle our essence until thereâs nothing but pure pleasure singing through every part of us. And thenâŠâ
Kuroko almost whimpered, and he was so very thankful when Akashiâs arm went around his waist. His legs were none to steady and his heartâŠoh, it beat so fast. Akashi looked hungryâŠravenous even. âThenâŠâ Kuroko whispered.
âThen the world will open up to you like you never imagined.â Akashiâs lips nuzzled his threat. His tongue pressed against the fluttering vein so close to the surface of Kurokoâs skin. âThenâŠyou will be mine and I will be yours...forever.â
Kuroko still had so many questions, a few fears, a world of confusion, but he didnât hesitate. Â He couldnât.
gUESS WHOâS BEEN ARTBLOCKED FOR THE PAST MONTH
thatâs right ME but thankfully i managed to draw soMETHING in time ;v; i tried _(:3
I hope you like this drawing nonetheless  /// my sweet Kuroko, Eprime :D
To my lovely, Akashi #61! Happy Valentineâs day! I hope you enjoy this!
~~~
Everybody had known and it wasnât as if he was exactly hiding it from the other, but perhaps the other was really denseâŠmore so than Kuroko thought. And yet here they were. He managed to convince Akashi to join him on their trip to the convenience store little did he know everyone else had decided to leave last minute. He could handle this they were both in high school now.
âWell, thereâs no harm in just us, is there Tetsuya?â Akashi said looking to him.
All he could do was simply nod his head following the other as they went. It hadnât been long since the winter cup and he hoped things between them werenât too bad. The other had gotten used to using his first name and vice versa, Kuroko was used to hearing it anyways. They walked in silence and as quiet as it was Kuroko didnât mind seeing as how he could sneak in short glances to the others face. He was used to watching and reading others, but as usual Akashi remained unreadable to him. And quite unpredictable. He barely caught himself staring before he started taking in the others features. Long red lashes, stunning red orbs, and along with his crimson hair. He eyes begin to wander before the other spoke.
âTetsuya, which flavor do you prefer?â Akashi asked as they had already entered the store.
Kuroko coughed and pretended to look at it instead of the other. âVanilla is my usual.â He replied. Before he could Akashi had already picked up two popsicles and paid for them.
âAkashi-kun, let me repay you.â He said digging through his pocket.
âNonsense Tetsuya, itâs fine.â He replied handing the other his share.
Kuroko sighed softly but accepted it knowing the other wouldnât give in any time soon. He undid his popsicle and began to eat before he noticed Akashi hadnât done so.
âAkashi-kun, is something wrong?â He asked noticing Akashi had picked a flavor different from his.
âIâve never had this before.â Akashi replied doing the same before eating it. âSweetâŠâ
Kuroko found himself smiling softly. He never remembered Akashi coming to join them during Teiko, even if he was invited. The other had always politely declined him. He was glad they could at least do this now.
âIâm glad, Akashi-kunâŠâ He said softly.
âHm, why is that, Tetsuya?â Akashi asked glancing over.
âThat Akashi-kun has joined me again today.â He said looking to the other.
Akashi chuckled softly. âSo am I, Tetsuya. Very much so.â He said taking the others hand.
Kuroko blushed faintly at the others boldness in public. âAkashi-kun is embarrassing.â
âOf course. Although Tetsuya started it.â He said.
âAkashi-kun is unfair.â Kuroko stated pouting slightly as he finished off the rest of his melting treat.
Akashi had done so as well as they walked together hands still laced together. However, Akashi began to notice the many pairs lining the streets and was quite curious as to why? He noted the many couples riding bikes, others eating lunch together, and the stores lined with red and pink that were usually never there. As it dawned on him Akashi felt Kurokoâs lips pressed to his cheek. How could he be so dense? Not seeing the clear signs?
âHappy Valentineâs day, Akashi-kun.â Kuroko said softly into his ear before pulling back.
Akashi felt the sudden dread upon his shoulders on forgetting something like this for the other. He had been busy so perhaps he had an excuse, but surely Kuroko would be devastated. Perhaps thatâs why all the others left. He mentally sighed before turning to Kuroko smiling.
âThank you, Tetsuya, Happy Valentineâs day. But we must leave now.â He said calling his driver.
âEh? Is something wrong?â Kuroko asked tilting his head.
Akashi meerly shook his head as the driver pulled up before Kuroko could blink.
âYouâll be joining me for tonight.â Was all Kuroko heard as he was pulled into the car.
Akashi woke up early the next morning seeing the other besides him. He smiled softly brushing Kurokoâs messy, blue locks away from his face. He looked over the others soft, beautiful features as the others face contorted a bit before remaining peaceful and moving into his warmth. Akashi pulled his arms around Kuroko tighter.
âGood morning, Tetsuya.â He said calling the other to wake.
(My musical inspiration: Come Home and In the Belly of a Mountain.)
Akashi was deep in thought as he drove his usual route to his offices at the Akashi headquarters in Tokyo. The streets teemed with early morning traffic and crowds of crossing pedestrians in shades of salaryman blues and grays and other bland neutrals that transformed them into one homogenous mass. The sky matched â a muggy, sweltering June haze hanging over the cityscape, threatening a downpour sooner rather than later. The humidity was oppressive, almost a tangible weight on his shoulders, tempting him to slump before the steering wheel, even though an Akashi always maintained proper posture. He straightened a barely perceptible degree based on ingrained reflexes and continued to navigate almost purely on autopilot while internally rehearsing his morning meeting speech.Â
On the outskirts of Ćtemachi, a peripheral flashing caught his attention, just as the clouds let loose and the rain started coming down in sheets. Â The passenger seat belt indicator glowed orange and flashed insistently every second or so. Â His briefcase, he thought, casting his gaze to the seat next to him. It was empty. No. The heavy leather satchel, he now recalled, rested on the floor behind his own seat.
He frowned. Was it a malfunction? The car had been recently serviced. Perhaps it was only a momentary quirk that would resolve itself. But the light blinked with steady precision, and his fingers tightened around the steering wheel. Â He could feel his pulse through the tight grip, fueled by his heart beat and seeming to match with each orange flash. He released a short breath, expelling his sudden tension with deliberate focus, but a crack of thunder undid the moment. He jolted and the car wavered in its trajectory for a moment as a jagged fork of light emblazoned an afterimage on his vision.
He blinked it away, and his gazed dropped again to the crude, blinking image of a person crossed by a lap and shoulder belt. Funny how the figure looked more as if it was being X-ed out, negated by the universal ânot permittedâ symbol, rather than depicting a safety procedure. A car alarm started wailing, and the sound of sirens shrilled from far off. Â He flicked a glance at the rear view mirror, but saw nothing but rows of creeping cars and the hypnotic sweep of wipers. Irritated by his distraction, he shrugged off such a minor nuisance. It was of no matter. The upcoming meeting, on the other hand, absolutely was. He reduced his speed slightly, while the windshield wipers moved back and forth in rapid motion.
His lips moved in silent rehearsal of percentages and profit margins, but after a few moments his gaze shifted left again. At the next light he reached over and smoothed his hand over the dark leather, then pushed down hard in the center of the seat. Â The indicator light didnât stop its steady blink.
Akashi drew back and drove on when the light changed. It wasnât until a full-body shiver made the hairs on his arms stand up, even beneath the later of his crisp shirt and suit jacket, that he realized how chilled heâd become. Despite the warmth of the day, the thick, soupiness of the air must not mix well with the air-conditioned chill coming from the vents. He flicked off the A/C and tried to turn his thoughts back to work. Three blocks later, he was still shivering, and he turned on the heat.
He needed to be able to focus, to settle his ideas before the meeting. Not that he wasnât prepared. He always was, after all. But a nagging feeling that he was forgetting something wouldnât quite go away. It was a relief to finally reach the shelter of the parking garage.
The silence in the sudden absence of the drilling rain was a boon. An ache that had manifested behind his eyeballs and crept down to settle in his neck eased a little. He slid into his spot and turned off the engine, feeling a jolt of satisfaction as the errant indicator light died. He murmured polite but inconsequential nothings to the doorman, the elevator attendant, and various others he passed on the way up to his office suite. His secretary met him with a coffee and a schedule that Akashi had already memorized.
His meeting went as expected, and his day passed in uneventful routine. The rain threw itself against the windows all day, distorting his view of the city below. It made him feel wrapped in some invisible cocoon, distanced from sight and sound and other senses. His father called from Berlin, a conversation he navigated with detached expertise well enough to satisfy the manâs exacting standards. A dreary lunch with an important yet painfully dull man who needed his favor took over three hours. He attended back to back meetings the rest of the day, catching up on paperwork well into the evening, and finally finished up with an overseas call to New York.
His body ached as he walked to his car to return home, but his fatigue receded as he settled into the low slung bucket seat. The leather felt cool against his back, and he closed his eyes a moment, hesitating before turning on the car. He was strangely on edge. By touch, he started the car and only when he heard the soft, smooth purr of the engine, did he open his eyes. Â His gaze went right to the dash. The passenger seat belt light stayed dark. He felt oddly deflated. That was that. It had been a temporary glitch after all.
He hardly remembered the rest of the ride home. The monotonous drone of the rain and the unpleasant glare of headlights sent him into a dull haze, and he almost stumbled at his doorstep, a cool night breeze following him over the threshold. He ate and bathed quickly and fell into both bed and sleep with great appreciation.
The next morning dawned as gray as the last. After breakfast, he told himself he should look through the files heâd brought home to read over the weekend, but he was too restless to even open his briefcase and pretend that he might actually do work. Instead, he paced around like a caged tiger. The shogi board was laid out in mid-game, and he studied it a moment before placing a tile, then rested his chin on his hand, studying the board to best counter the move he just made.
His brow furrowed. It was odd. When he played two sides, he always played to win both, of course, but the arrangement of tiles spread before his eyes wasâŠless than optimal.  True, it had been a while, a score of days maybe since heâd played a turn, but he couldnât quite remember how or why heâd made such unusual choices this game. He played out the permutations with rapid skill in his mind, smiling when he eventually saw a move that could have taken the game against a lesser player. Not against him, though. A small smile hovered about his lips as he precisely moved tiles, one after the other laid out in their perfect squares, until the last victorious move. The smile twisted into a wry grimace. Even for him, feeling gratification at a win against himself was a bit absurd.
âI am absolute,â he whispered as if to defend himself, the tip of his forefinger stroking the tokin â the promoted pawn -- that had finished the game. The mild bitterness of the words sat on his tongue like a dissolving aspirin.  It tasted like lies.  Lies andâŠandâŠloss.
Akashi exhaled through his nostrils, making a sound just shy of a snort. When had he ever lost, and why was introspection taking such an uncharacteristic turn? It wasnât like him at all, and he resolved to shake off such useless speculations and make productive use of the rest of the day.
He read through reports, making notes at his elegant mahogany desk, pushing through the relentless tedium, but a faint niggling at the back of his mind remained, insinuating into his thoughts and intruding on his concentration every now and then. Â The silence of the house made his thoughts seem all the louder.
What was it?
He knew himself well enough to know not to discount the disquieting feeling, but he couldnât place the source of it. He ran through a mental list of his commitments, both business and social, but came up with nothing that wasnât already accounted or planned for. The basic mundanities of daily chores were all equally sorted, as well. In any case, dry cleaning or a tailoring appointment or the like werenât something to cast such an unrest over his mind.
It was something that required further attention. But not now. His stomach rumbled, reminding him that he should eat lunch. He made himself a simple meal and ate it under the sheltered small terrace that looked out over the gardens. The rain fell, bowing spring blooms to the wet, green blades of fescue grass whose sharps edges were softened by the misty, humid haze that brewed up within the confines of the protected corner. Aesthetically, the view pleased, but somehow a sense of wrongness pervaded the scene. A flaw Akashi couldnât place.
The chime of a bell interrupted his reverie. The number of people who would visit him unannounced were few, so he wasnât surprised to see Midorima at the door holding a large, transparent umbrella dotted with the images of dark blue raindrops.
âShintarou,â he greeted, gesturing for him to enter. Â He waited for him to awkwardly step in and close the umbrella, and then to remove his shoes and slip on the guest pair that sat waiting in the alcove. âIâll make tea.â
Midorima followed him to the kitchen, still clutching the now furled umbrella in one hand. âWhat brings you here today?â Akashi turned from the small iron tea pot to meet the troubled gaze behind glasses spotted with tiny droplets of water. Midorima accepted the clean towel he offered with a nod of thanks.
âAkashiâŠâ Midorima hesitated, looking young and vulnerable with the glasses in hand as he polished them methodically. His long lashes swept down to touch his cheekbones that reddened faintly. âAre you aware that Sagittarius is ranked second to last today?â
âNo,â Akashi said. âI was not aware.â He looked at Midorima speculatively. âItâs been a while since you felt the need to inform me of such matters.â
âYes, well,â Midorima returned the glasses to his face and seemed to regain some of his confidence with the gesture, âI know you choose to pursue your fate boldly according to your own directions, howeverâŠâ
Akashi shifted an eyebrow up in slight inquiry. âHowever?â
Midorima shifted under Akashiâs sharp gaze. âThis morning I feltâŠcompelledâŠto bring it to your attention.â
âIs that so?â Â Akashi set two cups on the counter and pour tea in to them. Â âMay I ask why?â
âI would rather not say.â
Akashi turned. Midorima looked tense and uncomfortable, but his voice had been surprisingly firm. âSo you came all this way to tell me that I am ranked second to last today?â
âYes.â Midorimaâs chin lifted a little, though neither Akashiâs voice nor thoughts held any trace of derision.
âWho ranked last?â
The unexpected question made Midorima blink. âAhâŠthat would be Aquarius.â
âI see.â Â Although, Akashi didnât. It was peculiar. Not that Midorima wasnât peculiar. But this admonition, this warning, felt all of piece with his own muddled mood. It was starting to rankle that he could find no cause for it.
âI also wanted to give you this.â Â Midorima held out a small key fob from which dangled a tiny orange basketball.
Akashiâs heart skipped when his hand curled around it. Â âItâs been a while since weâve had a game.â
âThat is true.â Midorima sniffed. âThough, itâs to be expected.â
âIs it?â Akashi asked, that pervading sense of wrongness pushing at the corners of his mind again. âWe havenât played, not all of us, not sinceâŠnot sinceâŠâ
âAkashi,â Midorima interrupted, âforgive me for being rude, but I canât stay. I only became becauseâŠwell, because Oha Asa stressed how important it was for you to carry your lucky item today.â
âOf course,â Akashi smiled. âAnother time then. Letâs meet soon. And, Shintarou. Thank you for your consideration.â
Midorima averted his gaze and cleared his throat. âI hope it brings you good fortune.â
Akashi led his guest through the main room, only to be stopped by a soft exclamation.
âAh, Akashi, your shogi piece.â Midorimaâs sharp eyes had noticed the tile on the floor next to the small table. He bent, long fingers plucking the piece from the smooth floor and offering it to Akashi.
Akashiâs eyes widened and looked to the board. It was the tokin he had used to checkmate the King. Â How had it fallen? Perhaps when he and Midorima had entered they had brushed the board.
âIs something wrong?â Midorima asked, peering at Akashi with mild concern.
âNo,â Akashi said slowly, ânothing.â
He saw Midorima out and stood a few moments staring out the open door. Â As if his appearance was the signal, the deluge intensified. The odd tension Midorimaâs presence had brought didnât dissipate with his absence. Akashi stared at his hands, the key chain held in one and the shogi tile in the other. Â So lost in thought was he, that the sound of his phone rattling on the foyer table made him startle. He closed the door and went to answer it with a premonition of some impending revelation.
It was Aomine. Akashi reflected a moment and decided he wasnât surprised by a call out of the blue. Why that was true, he didnât know.
âAhâŠAkashi. HeyâŠitâs been a while.â Gruff voice, awkward phrasing, a casual drawling of words that disguised the kind person beneath. âIâm not calling at a bad time or anything?â
âNot at all,â Akashi soothed him. âTo what do I owe the pleasure?â
âOhâŠwellâŠâ Akashi could perfectly envision the sheepish look on Aomineâs face, the way he was probably scrubbing at the back of his head with one hand. âYou see, this is your number, right? I mean, obviouslyâŠâ Akashi waited patiently. âThe thing isâŠIâm just returning your call.  You called me, right? Late last night, I mean.  Only I was dead asleepâŠhard day at work, you know? And it sort of woke me, but I could only hear these weird whispers, and I guess I thought maybe the connection was bad and that youâd call me back if it was important.â Aomine laughed nervously. âOnly I must have fallen asleep again, and I had really strange dreams all night. Seemed like I heard those whispers all night long. Weird. And then, I woke up really late, and I kind of forgot you called untilâŠwell, until I saw something that made me think of itâŠâ Aomineâs voice faded out, but came back firmly a few seconds later. âSo Iâm just now calling you back.â
Akashi processed that spew of words silently. âI didnât,â he said after a moment.
âWhat?â Aomine asked.
âI didnât call you.â He ignored Aomineâs response to flip through his call log, and there it was: Aomine Daiki. 3:21 AM. Â He lifted the phone back up to his ear. âAomine.â
âYeah? Listen, are you sure? Your number shows right here on my phone. Maybe it was one of those accidental dials. Â Iâve fallen asleep with my phone and rolled over on it an accidentally dialed Satsuki more than once. She gets really pisââ
âThat must be it,â Akashi cut in, though he knew that it wasnât true. His phone hadnât been touched since he left it on the hallway table last night when he came home.
âYeah, got it, soâŠâ Aomine trailed off into awkward silence.
âAre you well, Aomine?â Akashi prompted.
âMe? Yeah. Of course. I mean, todayâs been a bit weird. This whole monthâs been off, come to think of it.â Aomine sketched a laugh. âBut you know, nothing wrong really. Just one of those feelingsâŠâ
âYes.â Akashi did know. âWhat was it that made you remember to call me?â he asked abruptly.
âOh.â Aomine sounded startled. âNothing really, justâŠI was out for a run.â
âIn this rain?â Akashi didnât hide his disapproval. Old habits die hard.
âYeah, yeah, I know,â Aomine groused. âBut I like it sometimes. It helps me think.â
Akashiâs lips twitched as he imagined the rejoinder that last remark would have earned had Midorima been present, or evenâŠ
âYo, Akashi, you there?â
âMy apologies. Please continue.â
âYeah, anyway, so I stopped at a little corner shop for a bit when it really started to pour, and I thought Iâd get a hot coffee from one of the vending machines.â
Akashi made a small noise of acknowledgement.
âBut next to it,â Aomine continued. âThere was a machine with all the sports drinks. They even had Gatorade. Â Not that toxic yellow shit, Kagami used to have his dad ship him from the States, but, you know, the normal Japanese kind.â
âKagami,â Akashi formed the syllables of the name with grave deliberation as if it contained the secrets of the universe. âKagami Taiga.â
âYeah, I heard heâs coming back to Japan in a few months.â Aomine snorted. âBet I can still kick his ass one on one.â
âPerhaps,â Akashi murmured, ignoring Aomineâs bluster. âSo it was the sports drinks thatâŠwhat? Made you nostalgic for our glory days and prompted you to call?â
âGlory days.â Aomine snorted. âWell, it was weird. I thought maybe after all that running a sport drink would be better than coffee, so I put in the change, but instead of the drink I selected, a Pocari Sweat came out. I thinkâŠâ Aomineâs voice went distant, âI think back then IâŠI bought those a lot. It did remind me of youâŠ.â
âI see. Â Well, in that case, perhaps weâd better schedule a game together soon.â
âYeah?â Aomineâs voice brightened. âYouâd have time?â
The eagerness brought a genuine smile to Akashiâs lips. âCertainly. Weâll get all the old crowd together.â
âEveryoneâŠyeahâŠthatâsâŠâ The gruffness returned, not fooling either of them.
âThatâd be all right, I guess.â
âIâll call you then soon. On purpose this time. We can arrange the details.â
Aomine snorted a laugh. âYeah, okay. AkashiâŠtake care.â
âAnd you, too.â
Akashi looked through the rest of his recent call history, but there was nothing out of the ordinary. Quite calmly, he set down the phone and proceed to search the house. He peered into cabinets and closet and under beds and behind curtains, with a curious absence of fear. But every time he turned a corner, or looked over his shoulder, the expectation that he would see something grew. But the feeling culminated in nothing and eventually resolved into a dull, brooding mood. Â Akashi sat in his favorite armchair and didnât read the book open in his lap.
After a long time, he realized he was waiting. But for what? Â He didnât know, but he knew it was coming. His instincts were rarely wrong. It was a relief when the door chime rang again. He teased himself with the possibilities before allowing himself to open the door.
âAkashicchi!â Kise exclaimed, exuberant as ever. A small, wet dog, wagged its tail at Kiseâs feet.
This was not what he had been expecting. The dog cocked his head, looking expectantly up him with round, staring eyes.
âKiseâŠâ Akashi frowned. âWhy did you bring this dog here?â
âWhy?â Kise exclaimed. Â âBecause heâs yours, of course. Â I took care of him during your business trip, remember?â
Akashiâs frown deepened. âBut IâŠâ  I donât have a dog. Do I?
âCan we come in? I forgot my umbrella.â
Akashi stood aside immediately, apologizing for his rudeness and, rather unhappily, let the wet animal and Kise enter. Â The dog didnât relent in gazing up at him with soulful, hopeful eyes, vibrating with anticipation, his tail wagging fast enough to blur.
âNigou,â he said stiltedly, the name falling however awkwardly from his lips and God knew where from his subconscious.
The dog barked once and pranced to Akashiâs side, and Akashi found himself bending to scratch between his ears. The tail, impossibly, moved even faster.
âHeâs happy to be home. Iâm sorryâŠâ Kise trailed off looking uncharacteristically uncertain. âIâŠI was supposed to return him last week, I think. ButâŠsomehow I just forgot.â A fake laugh stutters out of him. âMaybe I just wished I could keep him. He has such a cute face.â
Yes, Akashi thought, looking down at the animal. He does.
âBut then he kept getting into things. It was weird.  He managed to find a box of old photos, and he made a big mess.  Thatâs not like him, but he got a hold of one photo â an old one.  Remember that day we all got together back in high school, and Momocchi took a group shot? It was forâŠit was forâŠahhh!â Kise shook his head frenetically, droplets of water flying everywhere. âI canât remember exactly, but he got a hold of that one and wouldnât let me have it back until I started talking about taking him back home to you.  Thatâs what reminded me, you see, that Iâd forgotten the date.â
Akashi did remember now, vaguely, the day Kise spoke of. He was sure that at some point, he must have received a copy himself. Â âDo you have the photo?â
âWith me? No. I left it at home. Itâs a bit chewed on, and thereâs a weird smudge on it now. Doggie drool, maybe?â Kise grimaced. âBut he was really anxious to get back home it seems, so here we are.â
Perhaps he was losing his mind, Akashi thought with clinical detachment. After all, Kise appearing with a dog he didnât remember at all until a few moments ago didnât paint the picture of perfect mental health. The subtlest of shifts in a far corner of his mind send a delicate frisson down his spine. He wasnât exactly a stranger to mentalâŠirregularities. He confronted the idea unflinchingly, and then dismissed itâŠfor the moment. After all, the oddities heâd experienced recently didnât seem to be confined solely to himself. Whatever strangeness that was manifesting seemed to have at least a mild effect on his circle of friends, as well.
 He would get to the bottom of it.
âThank you, Kise. Would you like to come in and have some tea?â
âAhh, I love to, Akashicchi! But Iâm supposed to meet with my agent this evening.â He sounded truly regretful.
Akashi nodded. âCoincidentally, I spoke to Aomine today about gathering everyone for a game soon.â
Kiseâs eyes widened. âSeriously? Wow, that is strange timing. But so perfect. Itâs been such a long time since we all met at the same time.â
âIâll call you, then, with the details.â
âGreat!â Kise knelt down to give Nigou an enthusiastic scratching behind the ears and under the chin. âBe good, boy! Iâll watch you anytime.â He grinned up at Akashi. âHe really does remind me of someone. I wish I could think of whoâŠâ
Kise left in a flutter of goodbyes, pulling out a purple ball and a small bone for Nigou before he made a full on pelt to his car.
âCome, Nigou.â
The dog followed obediently, and Akashi led him to the pantry off the kitchen where bowls for water and food sat on clean mat on the floor. Akashi found the food in a nearby cupboard and filled both bowl, trying not to think of how he had not even noticed them earlier.
âWhere is Ichigou?â he whispered as he watched the small dog happily eat and drink.
The question settled in the forefront of his mind, weighing there heavily enough to cause a slight headache. Â He felt as if all the puzzle pieces were falling into his lap, even though he had no idea at all yet of the final picture.
Nigou scampered off, yet Akashi stayed crouched in the pantry, thinking back over the events of the day, of the day before, and the one before that, and on and on. Â Why did it seem so hard to remember so many details when he was known for a particularly excellent sense of recall? It was troubling to say the least, and deep down, Akashi felt a seed of anger begin to grow. He didnât like to be thwarted, especially not by the limitations of his own mind. His passivity was something foreign to him, repugnant even, and it was time for him to be proactive.
The purple ball rolled to him and Nigou appeared in the doorway looking entirely pleased with himself. Â His blue eyes daring Akashi to not find him utterly adorable.
Akashi smiled ruefully, and picked up the ball. âVery well, you win.â And he tossed the ball for Nigou to chase. He followed him out and down to the hallway where he picked up his phone again and dialed a number.
âAtsushi.â
âAkachin,â Mursakibaraâs drawl was maybe just a little sharper, more aware, than usual. âDid you call about the cake?â
âThe cake?â Â Akashi thought hard. He didnât remember ordering a cake from Atsushiâs bakery, but then again, he didnât remember Nigou until several moments ago either. âWhich cake is that?â
âItâs the cake, Akachin. The order slip said vanilla layer cake with dark chocolate ganache. I even made it myself, not my assistants,â Murasakibara confided. âBecause it was for Akachin.â
A sudden swift surge of blood made Akashiâs head swim. Â âThe order slip, whose name is on it?â Akashi murmured.
âEh?â
âThe name,â Akashi bit back his impatience and continued calmly. âIs there a name on the order slip that shows who ordered it?â Â He held his breath, almost expecting his own name to be read back to him, as Murasakibara fumbled for the piece of paper.
âHuh, thatâs strange. I wrote the slip, but I donât know this nameâŠâ
âWhat is it, Atsushi?â Akashi pressed.
âIâm not sureâŠthe paper is hard to read.â  Murasakibara mumbled something about frosting and licking fingers, and Akashi repressed an impatient sigh. âKuâŠKurochinâŠthatâs what it says. Whoâs that, Akachin? Whoâs Kurochin?â
âIâŠdonât know,â Akashi muttered. Why did his chest contract so painfully at the unknown name? And even more so at his denial of it. âIâllâŠIâll call you later, Atsushi.â
âEhhâŠbut Akachin--â
Akashiâs phone dropped to the table with a clatter. The ache in his head had swollen to an unbearable throbbing. He stumbled to the bathroom, spilled out a handful of pills into his palm, managed to swallow two of them.
Nothing made sense. Â Nothing. He couldnât think with the pain in his head. Just a moment more and he would have it. Or maybe sleep would help. Yes, just a short nap to clear his thoughts. He staggered to the bed and rolled into a fetal position, cradling his head in his hands.
Another migraine. Already the visual auras were starting. Â Floaters dancing in his peripheral vision, and even with his eyes closed random flashes of orange superimposed on the backdrop of his inner eyelids. They reminded him of the flashing seatbelt light in his car. The image wouldnât leave his thoughts, and it stayed with him as he fell into a restless sleep.
âŠjuurouâŠ
   âŠseijuurouâŠ
      âŠAkashi Seijuurou..
âŠWAKE UPâŠ
âŠoh, itâs you againâŠ
âŠyesâŠ
âŠwhy are you talking to me nowâŠ
âŠwhy else? because once again youâre weakâŠ
âŠIâm notâŠIâŠ
âŠlook at youâŠitâs patheticâŠthe state youâre inâŠ
âŠit will passâŠ
âŠbut you still wonât rememberâŠ
âŠIâm tryingâŠI willâŠ
âŠthese are the words of a loserâŠgive ME controlâŠ
âŠnoâŠnoâŠI amâŠ
âŠI AM ABSOLUTEâŠdonât make me laughâŠ
âŠdo you remember?...
âŠof courseâŠitâs only you whoâs weak enough to forgetâŠ
âŠforget what?...tell meâŠ
âŠwhy should I?...
âŠbecause weâre the sameâŠone and the sameâŠ
âŠthatâs what HE saidâŠ
âŠwho?...âŠWHO?...
âŠpleaseâŠcome backâŠtell meâŠ
   âŠyou must rememberâŠ
âŠIâm tryingâŠpleaseâŠ
  âŠlook in the shadowsâŠ
     âŠshadowsâŠ
Akashi woke to a sound. âNigou?â His voice sounded faint, unlike himself. The words of his other self still rang in his ears. The quietest, stealthiest of whispers seemed to susurrate from one of the corners of the room. âNigou?â he said again, his heart thudding violently against his ribcage. He was, he admitted to himself, deeply afraid.
But of what? Â Finding something lurking in the shadows? Â Or not?
Akashi pushed himself upright and stared into the far corner of the room into the niche between a huge armoire and the door to a closet. He rose with shaky limbs and stepped forward. âKuroâŠKurochin?â he breathed and paused.
Nothing but silence met his faint inquiry.
He took another step and faltered out, âKuâKurokoâŠâ He reached out a hand and grasped nothing but moonlight. Another step forward, and another, fighting through air that seemed denser than porridge, his tongue numbed and clumsy as he tried to force out three syllables, so foreign and so familiar at the same time.  âTetsuya.â
He stepped into the shadows and his arms wound around another. âTetsuya. Â Tetsuya. Tetsuya.â
Wonder and joy and crushing guilt and disbelief all warred for dominance, but he held the miracle of the trembling body in his arms, felt it wracked with sobs, his shirt becoming drench with hot tears. Real and tangible andâŠ
âTetsuyaâŠâ Over and over repeating it until, his own name was given back.
âAkashi-kunâŠAkashi-kunâŠdonât let goâŠâ
âNeverâŠnever ever againâŠmy ownâŠTetsuya.â The name was a declaration. A claiming.
The next time Akashi woke to bright sunlight in his eyes. It took a moment for his mind to clear, and he sat up abruptly in panic until a sleepy voice and the warm form pressed against his side registered. A wave of relief so intense it made him dizzy swept over him, and he fell back onto the pillow and pulled his lover into a tight embrace.
It was the strangest thing. They had talked long into the night and well into morning about the strange period ofâŠfadingâŠas Tetsuya had called it. It had crept on so gradually that he hadnât really noticed or been worried at first. After all, he was accustomed to being overlooked, to being forgotten. By the time he realized how profound his lack of presence had become, even to the extent that interacting with tangible objects became very difficult, it was too late to try and take any precautions or warn Akashi or his friends of what was happening.Â
In the end, it was his desperation, his fear that he was fading even further and faster from any sort of human perception that led him in a last desperate attempt to make himself known to the friends he could reach and Akashi himself of course. It was the sense that he wasnât entirely alone in that terrible nowhere place that filled him with dread. Â Something, something that felt very wrong might be there waiting. Not necessarily a person, though, he thought he had caught a glimpse of someone else while he was trapped in that gray in between existence, even though they had run away before he could approach.
Akashi still couldnât get over it -- how any of them had every been able to forget Kuroko Tetsuya. Their bonds had stood the test of time after all, and though they hadnât seen each other quite as often as late, they still existed. Â He would never be able to forgive himself for his terrible lapse. Â Tetsuya had disputed that, looking thoughtful and somewhat fearful. Â Whatever had happened wasnât Akashiâs fault.
Tetsuyaâs concern was different. What if there were others like him? What if they were marked somehow? What if they were trapped there now or would be in the future? These were the questions that his kind-hearted lover asked. But in the morning, the memory of his ordeal seemed to fade from Tetsuyaâs mind and soon vanished completely. Akashi found that his existence raised no outcry among their friends either. He alone was left with the memories of that inexplicable time. He still thought, from time to time, of Kurokoâs worries. But how many people could there be with a low presence like Tetsuyaâs? It was highly unlikely he would ever stumble across another person with a similar quality. He certainly hadnât before. After all, Tetsuya was irreplaceable. Â One of a kind. Â And Akashi would never lose sight of him again.
eprime answered your question:I find it confusing that though Seirin won in theâŠ
They were the only two brave enough to risk confessing naked in the event they didnât win the winter cup again. ;)
OMG! ha ha ha that is really interesting to know!! shit they had lost the second inter high though (extra game chap1) that just makes me wonder did they do it or not!!Â
Thatâs just my theory, mind you. :) But in the first chapter of the manga during Kurokoâs freshmen year, didnât a bunch of guys drop out after they found out about that? Even though you donât have to say winning the WC is your goal, if I remember correctly. Just has to be something big. Of course, Kagami set the bar high!
Re: Extra Game. I think itâs the ultimate Cup that counts. After all, they lost the Inter High the first time around too. Now that we know that Kuroko can go Super Saiyan (hehe Extra Game Ng Shuu), theyâd all better watch out.
The old masters. I tried not to include most opera composers, since singing/lyrics interfere with concentration. Most of these playlists are at least an hour long:
Baroque (prancing through the flowers with royalty):
Albinoni
Bach
Corelli
Handel
Guerre
Purcell
Scarlatti
Telemann
Vivaldi
Classical (sipping tea with royalty while listening to their woes and gossip):
Beethoven
Haydn
Mozart
Paganini
Romantic (watching a heartfelt, teary-eyed scene in a soap opera):
Berlioz
Bizet
Borodin
Brahms
Bruch
Bruckner
Chopin
Dvorak
Field
Franck
Gade
Grieg
Liszt
Mendelssohn
Rachmaninov
Rimsky-Korsakov
Rubenstein
Saint-Saëns
Schubert
Robert Schumann
Clara Schumann
Smetana
Strauss II
Tchaikovsky
Wagner
Weber
Impressionistic (stargazing in an open field at midnight):
Debussy
Ravel
Late Romantic/Early Modern (dramatically confessing your love in the pouring rain):
Of course, there are countless people who donât have huge channels and maybe only a cover or two. The search bar is your friend. And donât forget to make a playlist!
__________________________________________
VIDEO GAME SOUNDTRACKS
Think about it, there are tons of people whose only job is to get the atmosphere of a game right by carefully composing the right music. And there are plenty of games with beautiful music. I love these playlists:
Remember Me (brilliant mix of electronic and classical)
Papo & Yo (relaxing and tropical)
Rayman Origins (springy, lighthearted, and amazing)
Rayman Legends (energetic, goofy, and wonderful)
Dark Cloud 2/Dark Chronicle (beautiful, bouncy, heart-racing)
To The Moon (dreamy and moving)
Kingdom Hearts (gorgeous, epic, breathtaking)
Mirrorâs Edge (soothing and mechanical)
Hamtaro: Ham-Hams Unite (adorable 8-bit)
Alice: Madness Returns (odd, creepy, and carnival-esque)
Journey (peaceful and atmospheric)
Child of Light (melancholic and powerful)
Trine (epic and mystical)
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter (mysterious and haunting)
Valiant Hearts (pretty and heartbreaking)
Walking Dead Season 1 (depressing and beautiful)
Braid (relaxing, Celtic vibes)
Botanicula (breathy, vibrant, playful)
Machinarium (earthy, futuristic, energetic)
Long, random playlists: Â (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)
Youtube Channels:
VGameOSTs
SoundtrackVideoGame
Video Game Soundtracks
__________________________________________
MOVIE SOUNDTRACKS
Just like video games, movies rely heavily on music to set the mood for the audience. Here are some of my favorite playlists:
Studio Ghibli
Spirited Away
Howlâs Moving Castle
Princess Mononoke
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
Kikiâs Delivery Service (x)
Castle in the Sky
My Neighbor Totoro
Ponyo
Porco Rosso
The Wind Rises
Grave of the Fireflies
random playlists: (1) (2) (3)
Classic Disney piano covers (1) (2)
Lord of the Rings
The Fellowship of the Ring
The Two Towers
The Return of the King
Amelie
How to Train Your Dragon
How to Train Your Dragon 2
Coraline
The Secret of Kells
The Tale of Princess Kaguya
The Piano
Schindlerâs List
Harry Potter
Philosopherâs/Sorcererâs Stone
Chamber of Secrets
Prisoner of Azkaban
Goblet of Fire
Order of the Phoenix
Half-Blood Prince
Deathly Hallows pt 1
Deathly Hallows pt 2
You can also view a full list of Grammy Award-winning soundtracks here
__________________________________________
ANIME SOUNDTRACKS
Youâll look like weeaboo trash, but at least youâll be concentrating. You might need to skip a few tracks here and there if they have lyrics (that messes up my concentration, at least). That said, hereâs some recommended playlists:
Elfen Lied (flowy and pretty)
Tokyo Ghoul âA (powerful, electronic, heart-wrenching)
Like I said, this isnât a complete list but hopefully a good jumping-off point. Feel free to add to areas with your own suggestions. Have fun listening and go be productive!
Iâm a really big fan of anime soundtracks for work music, not just because Iâm a huge weeb. Theyâre a great mix of interesting without being distracting. Havenât listened to Samurai Champloo in a while, eitherâŠI should put that back into rotationâŠÂ
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Since ptw30 kept bugging me for something KnB, I eked out a tiny ficlet because I love her, and because she got me into the awesomeness that is Kuroko no Basuke.
Ćtsubo growled. Day one and already Midorima was making demands.
âCoach told me to forgive three whims of yours a day, but this isnât a whim. Itâs is a freaking Christmas miracle.â
âHow many whims will it take for you to grant me this?â
Ćtsubo glanced about Midorimaâs taller form before shaking his head. âThis whole seasonâs.â
Midorima gritted this teeth but nodded. âFine. Do it.â
ââŠareâŠare you serious?â
No hesitation. âYes.â
Ćtsubo shook his head and walked about Midorima to offer the puking first-year a towel. âWelcome to first string, Kuroko-kun.â
your chosen art form should be self-indulgent. Â create what you fucking want to create, what pumps you up, what you like to wallow in. Â be as self-indulgent as you can possibly be, when it comes to your own art.