Akaashi Keiji was the best at keeping secrets. The reason? He hated it when people knows a lot about him, so he tends to speak less and listen more, to memorize what people told him for future use.

Although, there's always some exceptions.

Keiji was born in a rich, wealthy family, and with the way his parents treat him, taking part in a gang would be the little break he needed. Kenma was the one who got the idea first, and Hajime agreed, so the three of them decided to make it true.

And Keiji enjoys it. He was raised in a quite cruel way, after all. Even though he had golds raining on him, he was raised with cold love and ignorance, with expectations and punishments, with alcohol and violence.

And he was grateful for his friends. They could understand him, they don't judge him, and he could act like himself with them.

Another exception is Bokuto Koutarou.

They were complete opposites, he's quiet while Bokuto is loud, often to be oblivious, not mentioning his mood swings.

Simply said, Bokuto is troublesome.

But Keiji somehow enjoyed his presence. Their contrast personalities help them to get along, they have known each other for long, so all in all, they're like brothers (or even more).

There's a lot Keiji didn't tell him. Bokuto doesn't know about his past, his family, his gang life, and many more. It's not like Keiji avoided it, but Bokuto never ask. And Keiji never starts talking about it, too.

The thing is, Bokuto knows the real Akaashi, but he doesn't know who Keiji is.

And Keiji knows there's no secret that can be kept forever.

Keiji was doing his usual routine, playing his violin as some passerby stopped to lisen to him, or drop some money into the black violin case in front of him. He enjoyed music, it was one of the few things he love since young. His favorite is the violin, he learned how to play and he never stops since then.

He had just finished his song, bowing in appreciation at his spectators, when suddenly his phone vibrated. A call: Bokuto-san.

"Hello?"

'Akaashi!!! I can see you from my office! It's you, right? Not far from the ramen restaurant, playing the violin!'

Keiji's breath hitched. "Yeah. It's me, Bokuto-san."

'Why do you play in public? I thought you said you don't really like it?'

"I have to."

Keiji could hear a soft hum from his friend, 'Oh? What's the occasion? Did someone threaten you? Whom do I have to beat up now?'

"No one, Bokuto-san. Calm down."

'Hey, Akaashi...' Bokuto trailed off in reply, 'Are you hiding something from me?'

Keiji stayed silent.

'I think I'm free tonight, Akaashi. How about we watch that movie? I'll be home at around eight, you can come after that.'

Akaashi sighed slightly, "Are you sure, Bokuto-san?"

'Totally. So?'

"I'll be there, don't worry."

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Kuroo, most of the times, was able to control his anger. Basically, he was a patient person with a high tolerance, and he only get mad about work.

And his enemies.

A few hours after his encounter with Neko, Kuroo returned to the office early in the morning to prepare for the interrogation. Sawamura came  not long after, bringing the criminal with him.

Typical Sawamura. Taking a criminal to his apartment, saying 'I have to keep an eye on him 24/7', while what he meant was, 'Unfortunately, I'm not cruel enough to leave a suspected gang member in a prison alone for one night because he actually looks good and I'm currently looking for a boyfriend.'

Doesn't really matter, it's in the past. As long as they don't fall in love.

Kuroo sat on the table, across the young man, the suspect. He looked so friendly, and far from threatening, he noted. Kuroo gave Oikawa a nod, and as the brunet turned on the recorder, Kuroo began the interrogation.

"Name?"

"They call me Kou. Leader has told me a lot about you, Kuroo-san."

Kuroo hummed, as he turned to look at Sawamura, who was scribbling down his notepad, "Sugawara, that's his name. I was picking up my niece from the daycare but she couldn't stop talking about a cat drawing on her sensei's arm. So I decided to investigate."

The ravenette nodded, and landed his attention back on the young man, "Daycare, huh? Interesting."

Sugawara smiled, "I like kids. That lead me here, but well, that's a risk I have to take."

"May I see the 'cat drawing'?" Kuroo asked, using his fingers to make some quotation marks in the air, "On your arm, right?"

"Yes, officer," Sugawara replied, pulling up his right arm's sleeve, to reveal his tattoo. A small tattoo on the inner side of his upper arm, the silhouette of a cat's head. Under the cat was a short text, "TGC", capitalized and underlined.

"Ah, I never thought it would be this cute," Kuroo mused out, "But still, you're a criminal, a member of The Golden Cats. I'll ask nicely now: what's your goal?"

"I only joined the gang for a friend, Kuroo-san," Sugawara said, "If you want to know our goal as whole gang, only the founders know. And before you ask, I won't tell anything regarding our members."

"If you do, your punishment may not be as heavy as it will if you don't cooperate," Yaku reminded.

"The Golden Cats' principle is that we will never do anything to harm our fellow members. We may be a group, but if we got caught we will face it as individuals."

Kuroo sighed, "Well, I'll-..." Kuroo paused, as he felt his phone vibrated. He picked it up, and placed the phone beside his ear.

"Hello?"

'Good morning, Tetsu-chan.'

"... Neko," hearing Kuroo's nickname, Sugawara smirked.

"Put it on speaker," Yaku suggested. Kuroo nodded, doing as he was told and put the phone on the table.

'Now, Tetsu-chan, I believe you have one of our members.'

"Yes, I'm here," Sugawara spoke up, earning a glare from Kuroo.

'Good. Are you hurt, Kou?'

"No, not yet."

The voice chuckled, 'I'm glad. I just want to warn you, Tetsu-chan. You shouldn't lay a hand on Kou. For each wound you gave him, I will kill one of your underlings.'

Kuroo growled, "You wouldn't..."

'I take that as a dare. After all, I'm not joking. You know me, right?'

"Do you expect me to know you that well? I only met you in person just yesterday, and you're lucky I didn't pull the trigger."

'It's not luck; I know you're not cruel enough to kill someone. But let me rephrase my words: You used to know me.'

"What are you talking about?" he demanded, but Neko clicked his tongue.

'Ah, I thought you were smarter than this, Tetsu-chan. But you don't remember, so it can't be helped. Although, I think I understand your words from that time.'

Kuroo stayed silent.

'Isn't it more fun having enemies you can't seem to beat?'

With those last words, Neko hung up.

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