Hello! So, it´s me again and I know I have a fic I need to be working on, and I did try to work on my AoKise fic this past week, but I also said the NijiAka I slipped in there was killing me, and it did… because I began this story, which basically occurs in the same timeline as "Whiplash" and it gives us the background story as to how these two got together. I don't think this one will be very long either, but let´s see what happens. Either way, thanks so much for taking the time to read this!

Chapter 1: A Matter of Loneliness

The opening ceremony hadn´t been what he´d expected at all. He had hoped for an elegant, serious, even spiffy act of protocol given the reputation the university had on a national level, but what he got instead was a too informal, too mushy and too short kind-of-celebration.

He was, to say the least, disappointed.

But now it was over. The terrible event had finished ten minutes ago, and now students were free to roam the campus and its surroundings until classes began the next Monday.

Akashi had to admit the only thing he liked about the opening ceremony had been the people, his future classmates. The girls he´d sat down next to had been nice and civilized to him. They´d been cautious of him at first because of the superior aura he gave off, but as soon as he smiled at them, they began talking to him like they were old friends. He´d been overwhelmed at how easily they confided in him, yet he enjoyed it.

Even after he suppressed the more competitive side of his mind his first year in high school, he´d already earned himself a reputation, and most Rakuzan students kept their distance. The basketball team didn't treat him like a fellow classmate or even their captain, either. They treated him… like a crazy king, really… and he had to live with it for three two more years.

Still, his being Akashi Seijuurou meant he didn't take notice of it until he attended the university opening ceremony –where he was a stranger, where he could start over– and was treated with human warmth and amicability.

He never thought he of all people needed it, much less that he wanted it.

Akashi chuckled at his own thought, then rubbed his palm over his forehead to ease the headache he was getting for looking way too deep into things he had no knowledge about. "Such emotional thoughts. I am so not used to them," he whispered to himself as he walked out of the building in which he would receive classes come next week. Having gone for a career in economics, Akashi had chosen the university with the best economical record he could find in the Tokyo area. Could he have stayed in Kyoto? He could have, but he´d grown up in Tokyo and wanted to return.

Of course, his decision meant he got to go to a university that gave a special, almost elite treatment to those future economists. The building he´d just seen was proof of it. After having toured the Law and the Humanities structures as well he was sure he would study in the best environment.

Which he deserved, because he was the best and…

"No, stop thinking like him," he muttered, and rubbed his forehead with faster, harsher movements. He would not allow himself to get carried away with power and dominance thirst again. He would not. He would still be a prideful, sort of snobbish individual, but he would also do his best to be a human being. It didn't matter if the whole planet forgot he was a man in the end; he never did, and he would become a good, proud one again.

Or at the very least he would try.

Oh, how the rest of the Generation of Miracles would laugh if they knew he was thinking such mundane stuff. Not that they would ever know of the new man he was trying to become anyway. He probably wouldn't keep in touch with any of them anymore. Murasakibara had gone overseas, Kuroko was too busy dealing with Kagami, and Midorima was going to be neck-deep in books and lectures form the very first day of class. He´d heard Kise was out of the country as well, and Aomine… well, he didn't have a lot to say to the former Teikou ace.

Which left him all alone when he was just starting to live his life.

"How sad." Oh, another thing. He had to stop talking to himself. Good people didn't do that. Not out loud anyway.

He sighed, then kept on walking. Outside the building students milled in every which way. They couldn't be doing anything else, he supposed, since it was everybody´s either second or third time in university. The campus was unfamiliar, it was a labyrinth, unexplored territory. It was also his future and chaotic home.

Nonetheless, it was much more cozier than his house. What with his father around, Akashi never felt as if he could even sit down without getting criticized or mocked.

"Akashi."

He stopped walking, then raised an eyebrow at the tall sandy blonde who now stood in front of him. He was gangly, his hair longish, and Akashi knew he´d met him somewhere before. It took him a few seconds before he remembered who the guy was.

"Shuutoku´s small forward," he said in the end.

The blonde frowned. "You´re a rude kid, not even remembering a senior´s name."

Akashi raised his other eyebrow. "We played only once, and my memory is not perfect. Also, I do not believe we were formally introduced before," he said.

"I suppose not." The taller man rolled his eyes. "I´m Miyaji Kiyoshi, while we´re at it."

"Akashi Seijuurou."

"Yeah, I know. I recognized you, and he told me." Miyaji jerked a thumb behind him. The redhead shifted his eyes, and when he saw who was walking towards them, his eyes widened a couple of millimeters.

Lips pulled back to reveal even white teeth in a smile Akashi knew from days long gone. "Long time no see, kiddo. How are you doing?" Oh, that voice. It hadn't changed much since he´d last heard it. Maybe it´d gotten a little deeper, or maybe it was his own mind making things up.

Either way, this was surprising.

"I heard you had gone overseas," he said, voice soft.

"I returned three years ago, in time to begin university here."

Akashi blinked, and he was at a loss of words for once in his life. Therefore, he kept quiet.

Miyaji snorted. "Last I recall, you were not the quiet type."

"Oi, go easy on him. He must be surprised to see me is all," Nijimura said, gave Miyaji a soft push and stepped forward. He weighed Akashi with his eyes. "You okay, kid?" he asked, a fraternal worry filling his deep grey eyes.

Even though Nijimura called him 'kiddo' and 'kid' and actually dared to look down on him… Akashi didn't kill him on the spot for two reasons. First, it wasn't the first time he did it; it had happened back at Teikou too. Second, Nijimura was one of the very few people he respected and even considered was his equal at some levels, plus he was two years older and therefore…

Oh, darn. There he went again, getting obnoxious thoughts and ideas. It was going to be hard to break those habits.

He shook his head, shaking off all his previous thoughts and nodded at Nijimura. "I am fine, but as you said, I am surprised. I did not think I would see you ever again,"

"It´s my fault for not getting in touch with anyone when I returned but I figured the Generation of Miracles wouldn't want anything to do with an ordinary player like me."

"Oh, don't bring that up. If you try to talk about the subject I´ll run you over," Miyaji grumbled, reminding the other two he was still there.

Akashi looked at him. "I believe Midorima once told me you have never been too fond of us."

The blonde gave a rather sadistic smile. "Fond? Why would I be fond of some fucking brats who think of themselves as the kids of the world just because they´re gifted where fucking basketball is concerned? Life is much more than a damn sport," he said, and his voice sounded odd.

Akashi glared. He´d never had anyone speak to him in such an insulting and sour manner, not once in his nineteen years of life.

"What right do you have to insult us?" he retorted. He knew his eyes now held a warning.

Miyaji didn't look the least bit regretful and neither did he look scared. "And what right do you have to act like you´re everyone´s boss? You´re still a…"

From Nijimura he could take it, but not from anyone else. If Miyaji even dared whisper the word 'kid' Akashi was going to commit some serious violence.

Thankfully enough, the former Teikou captain stepped in at the right moment.

"Stop messing with him. You know from what Hayama has said how difficult it is to deal with him," Nijimura said, stepping between them.

A vein popped up on the blonde´s forehead. "Do not utter that idiot´s name."

"Why not? You were on your way to meet him, weren't you?"

"And you were coming with me, remember?"

"I will, but go on ahead. Just give me a moment to talk to Akashi and I´ll be there to keep you from murdering Hayama, okay?"

Miyaji frowned, cursed under his breath, then nodded. "Make it quick," he snapped, shoved his hands into his pockets and walked away.

Akashi watched him go.

"He´s vulgar," he said when the blonde was out of earshot.

Nijimura chuckled. "Compared to you everyone´s vulgar, but don't be too harsh on Miyaji. He´s had some rough last days, and what with Hayama jumping all over him… he´s not at his best."

"Hayama Kotarou?"

"I heard you guys played together in high school?"

"We did indeed."

"Yeah, well, Hayama´s been trying to woo him or some nonsense since last year and Miyaji is not good with that stuff. He wants to run the kid over with a truck and be done with it, but of course he can´t. I mean, he can but he´s not allowed to."

Akashi hummed. "I still think he´s vulgar."

"Of course you would." Nijimura looked back at the building. "Economics?"

"Yes."

"I´m not surprised, given all the businesses the Akashi family owns."

There was an awkward silence in which Akashi just waited for the elder to speak. Nijimura sensed it, and then he found himself saying, "Miyaji and I are going bowling this afternoon. Well, he and Hayama are, but since I don't want to go bail Miyaji out I offered to go as well. Why don't you join us? If you do I won´t feel like a third wheel, and we can talk. Five years is… a long time."

For some reason Akashi couldn't understand, his lips curved upwards at the invitation, almost as if he´d been expecting it. It wasn't the first time Nijimura invited him to join into recreational activities either. When they were younger, Nijimura would often encourage him to join his teammates when they went to eat popsicles. Sometimes Nijimura would buy just for the two of them, and they would eat the freaking ice cream while talking about either the team or just other small talk.

Nijimura Shuuzou was the only person he had ever talked to about the weather, about how he preferred winter to summer, and about how he didn't like the cherry trees his father had planted in the backyard because of all the mess they made in front of his bedroom window when the petals fell off. He was the only one Akashi ever chatted with because Nijimura had always known which buttons to push and which to dodge to stay on his good side. Also, his being older made it easier for Akashi to talk about subjects his other teammates would simply never understand.

Maybe, in the end, I am not all alone, he thought, then said, "It would be my pleasure to join you. I have missed Nijimura-senpai quite a lot, if I am to be honest."

Grey eyes flew wide, then they warmed up with incredulity and amusement.

"Like you´d ever be a good kouhai," he smirked, then began walking away.

Akashi let out a dark chuckle, then fell into step not behind him, but right next to him.

.-'¨'-..-'¨'-..-'¨'-..-'¨'-..-'¨'-..-'¨'-..-'¨'-..-'¨'-..-'¨'-..-'¨'-..-'¨'-.

The food smelled odd. The food looked odd. The food even felt odd. He wasn't being picky, mind you, but the truth was he´d never been presented with such a poor meal. And could he even call it a meal? It was more a snack than anything else, and a very unhealthy one at that.

"Stop staring at it. It´s not going to bite," Nijimura said, rolling his eyes.

"I know it will not bite me, but am I supposed to bite it?"

"It´s food."

"I doubt it."

"What bothers you about it?" Nijimura asked, then intertwined his hands on top of the table and leaned his chin on top of them.

The redhead frowned, his eyes still trained on the gooey mess Nijimura called food. He recalled how Hayama had ordered nachos and hamburgers and other stuff for the four of them, but nothing looked like he thought the food would look like.

Thinking about Hayama made him glance to where he and Miyaji were bowling. Just like Akashi remembered, Hayama was oversized, hyperactive puppy, and he also appeared to be deeply attracted to the taller blonde.

How did he know? It wasn't that hard to figure out when all Hayama did was say, "Oh, what a surprise! Hi, Akashi!" before ordering food without even looking and then dragging Miyaji away.

They´d been at the bowling alley for about half an hour now, and Nijimura and Akashi had been sitting down by themselves at the tables for about twenty five. Akashi was wearing his socks because he had refused to put on some stranger shoes and had also declared he wasn't going to play. Nijimura, amused, put on bowling shoes but also said he wasn't going to play. Not that either Hayama or Miyaji had heard them, and not that it mattered anyway. The two of them had tagged along, after all.

"So, are you going to eat one of these?" Nijimura asked as he scooped up some cheese into a flaccid nacho.

Akashi made a face. "This is not food. It is rubber."

"Don't make such a deal about it. You have to know not all food may look fancy but it still tastes good."

He shook his head.

Nijimura gave him a suspicious glance. "Wait a moment. Tell me, have you eaten junk food at least once in your life, any type of it?"

"You used to give me ice cream."

"You know what I mean, Akashi."

The redhead sighed, then shrugged. "Father used to control all the food I ate, and he deemed food like this–" he made emotion to the greasy mess, "–unhealthy and unfitting for me."

"And your mother never gave you a treat?"

"She loved cooking, and treats meant homemade cookies or cakes, but even then, Father would only allow me a tiny piece." His face clouded over.

Nijimura tsked. "Sorry, don't get mad. I didn't intend to bring up bad memories."

"It is not the first one I share with you."

"Yeah, but still, I remember how hard it was for you to talk about your family." The blackhead scooped up some more cheese and nachos. "You should try this. Your father isn't here anymore."

"But this looks disgusting."

"Then don't blame it all on that man. You´re acting like freaking royalty because you feel like it."

Akashi stared. "Royalty?"

Nijimura nodded. "Yep, you always have. I mean, you walk like you expect people to kiss the very ground you walk on and you are elegant in everything that you, plus you talk to people…"

"I know. I am trying to change."

He stopped talking, kept quiet, then, "For real?"

"Yes. I want to live a normal life from now on. I do not wish to be… royalty or a tyrant anymore."

Nijimura snorted. "You've got a long way to go, kiddo."

"I know" And Akashi really did, but with Nijimura right there with him he somehow felt he could do it because maybe, just maybe, he wasn't as alone as he first thought he was.

To be continued…