DOTF: Alas! It's the final chapter! I still honestly think that the ending could be better, though. I hoped you have enjoyed 'Blood is Thicker than Water'! Thank you for your support, everyone!

ANYL: Thanks to everyone for the support… I'd think my sister is too deep into the fandom of Kuroko no Basuke, so I tried to pull her out of it using 07-Ghost, but I think I faile-

DOTF: I told you the unexpected-to-be-fandom fandoms stick in my head longer. Don't worry, I'll migrate back to Uta no Prince-sama when the anime's season two is out.

ANYL: Yes, and do look out for her next work to keep away the up-coming Uta-Puri fandom… *sighs*

DOTF: Do you mean Parallel or the other one?

ANYL: … You had two? I do have a crossover in mind, but…

DOTF: Your crossover can wait, Sis. Let's start the chapter!

ANYL: Uh-huh. Let's get going! *lethargic*

Disclaimer: We do not own Kuroko no Basket and its franchise.

Blood is thicker than Water
Final Part
"Bond of Blood"

After they had graduated, the members of the Generation of Miracles were split up. Kise admitted to Kaijou, Midorima to Shuutoku, Murasakibara to Yousen; each school well-known for its prowess in basketball. Even Akashi himself entered the prestigious Rakuzan High, the defending champion of the Winter Cup Tournament and obviously the best school in the country when it comes to the sport.

He was at the top; where those who emerge victorious stand proud and tall over all others.

Yet for some reason, Akashi felt strangely ticked off. Every single time he remembered how Kuroko had looked at him, which that wretched look in his eyes…

The thought had just made him grit his teeth in mild, or perhaps more than that, annoyance.

Akashi hadn't heard about Kuroko in ages. Since that little 'incident', Kuroko had avoided all contact with Akashi, even at those small family gatherings organized by their grandparents. They stopped seeing each other outside of school, too. And since Rakuzan was located all the way in Kyoto, Akashi didn't have to worry about coincidental meetings with his cousin, too.

His uncle must've guessed that something had happened between them, Akashi thought. The man could always tell what was on the mind of his only child; and probably took measures to separate them. Not that Akashi minded not being able to see his cousin, either way. The man only wanted what was best for his son, after all.

In either case, Akashi was sure that Kuroko would no longer play basketball. Even if he did, he'd probably be stuck playing with a bunch of losers anyway.

And he was right, as he always was.

It wasn't until the finals of the Inter-High Tournament that he heard about this team: a new school called Seirin, whose team was almost spanking brand new to the world of High School Basketball. He had heard from Daiki, who casually mentioned to him that they had defeated Kaijou in a practice match and Shuutoku in the Inter-High.

Akashi was mildly surprised at the fact that both Ryouta and Shintarou had lost to the nobodies, but that wasn't the only thing Daiki had to tell him.

Tetsuya, the little weakling who had decided to run off with his tail between his legs in Middle School, had entered Seirin. Apparently, he was now one of their regulars, with this guy named Kagami as his new partner. So looks like even his uncle couldn't stop Tetsuya from playing again, huh?

But it was not like Akashi cared one bit, though.

The weak will always remain weak. The weak will always drown in failure and can only watch helplessly as the strong claim their righteous position as the one who is victorious. Even if Tetsuya were to challenge him straight on, he would still crush him, with no hesitations at all.

Fortunately for him, that chance would come during the Winter Cup. It was then that Akashi had decided to meet up with the whole team again; to remind them of the pact all six of them had once made. And he made sure that not a single one of them had forgotten about it.

Including his pathetic cousin.

Akashi hated Kuroko. He had always hated the sight of his little happy family, something that he never had. He had hated their elementary school days, when Kuroko would follow him, just like a puppy that obediently follows after its master. He had always hated how weak he was at basketball, yet possessed that ability that no one else had. But most of all, he hated his guts.

Even as he stood in the stadium, watching with mild disgust as Seirin struggled to put up with the ever-evolving Aomine Daiki of Touou. Akashi could not understand their persistence to keep trying.

Why bother trying so hard for a game that you know you'd lose?

Akashi turned his back away from the match, his thoughts trailing back to his cousin.

Despite everything that had happened between them in Middle School, Akashi knew that they were still cousins, a bond that was one of blood and could not be cut. Even if they hate each other to the ends of the Earth, they cannot deny the fact that they are family.

Kuroko himself was aware of that fact too.

He did not want to face Akashi if he could avoid it, but he knew he had to. And he will face him, with everything's he's got; cousins or not.

Even if they had to stand on the same court to face each other in the game that had brought both good and bad memories for the both of them, that invisible bond remains.

Even if they had to bring each other down.

Even if one of them would have to wither in defeat while the other stands tall.

No such thing as holding back.

No mercy.

No tears.

No hesitations.

No regrets.

No excuses.

No going easy.

They will not stand down in the face of the challenge.

They will bring the other down.

In the end, only one of them can stand victorious in the spotlight, the other fated to drown in the despair of being a failure.

Only one of them could win; but who would it be?

Blood may be thicker than water, but things like that no longer mattered.

Even at this moment, winning is everything.

Akashi chuckled darkly, flicking a shogi piece high into the air with his thumb and letting it fall into his palm.

"Come at me… Tetsu!"

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