Hey, hello. I'm here with a kinda long oneshot.

This is supposed to be a fic for my first anthology fanbook, Alternates. (if you want to know more about the anthology, please drop an ask on oyakorodesu's tumblr!) But well, for some technical stuff, I can't include this fic to the fanbook. So, here you go! This fic is supposed to be longer and has richer description, but I had to cut some parts so it won't take a lot of pages on the anthology (oh the irony).

oh, and I have a headcanon I insert here, that Akashi has a bad taste of humor. I can't believe it's actually canon!

I posted this fic as an apology of my hiatus. please enjoy.

warning : unbetaed

But I Met You

Mademoiselle Z

Kuroko Tetsuya sat by the pavement before the zebra cross, stunned.

Before him was a car. Inside, the driver sat there and was about to go crazy—shaking head so desperately, refusing to admit that she had just committed a huge crime. She just hit a passerby, and it was a man around Kuroko's age.

The man was brought with an ambulance. And Kuroko was there, sitting beside the man and the nurses. Expressionless, yet scared.

He knew this wasn't the driver's fault. It was his. Ten minutes ago, he received a phone call from an old friend, Ogiwara Shigehiro. From that phone call, Kuroko found out that his ten-year-old unrequited love was not unrequited at all, and he was expected to give an answer to his proposal within a week. That made his mind unfocused and did not notice that the traffic light had turned red. But, somebody saved him and got hit by a car instead.

And in the next three hours, that somebody could not survive due to heavy injuries. Kuroko felt his life was turned upside down upon the official notification of the kind stranger's death.

He braced himself to attend his savior's funeral, in which he found out that his name was Akashi Seijuurou. Judging by the attenders, which mostly were politicians, actors and actresses, and national athletes, Akashi must be a very important person. Funny that an important person died just for somebody insignificant like him.

Kuroko watched various expressions of the attenders. Some were crying, some were crying fake tears, some were stoic, and some were trying to keep their face stoic even though there were hints of relief for Akashi's death in their eyes. He wondered if his capability to recognize people's true color is a gift or a curse.

And he already stood there, among those people, for half an hour, yet he could not find Akashi's family.

"Family, you say?" A blonde man was asked by Kuroko about that.

For all Kuroko could recall, that man was an ex-model who stepped out of red carpet to attend pilot academy. "Nah, you should've known, Akashicchi is…was on his own," both of them cringed at the rephrase. "his mother died when he was very young, followed by his father when he entered college. And he had no relatives, either. This funeral was thrown by us, his ex-basketball teammates from middle school."

"I'm…sorry. For everything."

"You do not need to feel sorry," he laughed. "It's life."

"No, you don't understand it. I'm sorry. He died because he saved me."

"Now that you mention it…I heard something like that, too." Another laugh. "It's just like him, huh?"

Kuroko couldn't help but puzzled at the statement.

Later on, Kuroko was asked to join the man to meet the rest of Akashi's fellows after the funeral at Kise's apartment. They were consisted of five famous people, four male and one female. There were small chats and snacks. But, no matter how open they were, it was hard for Kuroko to blend in. They tried their best not to bring up the topic about Akashi's accident, and talked about him as if he was still alive.

At the end of the day, Kuroko was offered a ride home, in which he refused. He did not return home immediately either.

He went to the graveyard where Akashi was buried. Nobody was there like one would expect. The only people who loved him genuinely was still in Kise's apartment, mourning in their own way. Kuroko bowed down before Akashi's grave.

Kuroko stared at Akashi's grave for long, as if he was a guest expecting to be well-welcomed and get the door opened. Even when the sky started to rain and darkened, he stayed still.

Then, the faces of Kise and the others appeared before him. Kuroko would feel better if they would just blame him with pointing fingers, instead of welcoming him warmly with open arms. They could have shout at him like he had prepared for. He deserved that.

His body started shaking.

"I…didn't mean to make them lose you. I didn't mean to make you lie here. I'm sorry." Tears streamed down his face. "I'm sorry."

"Aren't you cold?"

Then, suddenly, the rain around Kuroko stopped. He guessed somebody approached him and offered him an umbrella. Yet, when he turned around, all he saw was a man around his age with a way too familiar face stood behind him, his hand was raised just above Kuroko's head and stopped the rain around it magically. That man did not seem soaked like Kuroko did as well.

Kuroko's eyes widened. He was not really sure. But, that face was…he could've not mistaken that face…. "Akashi…san?"

"What is it?"

Kuroko should have run. Or at least tremble in fear. He just saw the dead. Yet, his fear was diminished by his curiosity.

And in no minute, even though he fought for it, he fell, eyes closed. Even Akashi's shouts could not help him to stay awake.

"Are you okay?"

The fact that Kuroko did not feel surprised to find Akashi and himself in a foreign room surprised him. He lied on his bed in an a bit loose pajama, with Akashi being next to him.

"I brought you here. It's good that they haven't touched my penthouse. Now I know where to stay at. Well, hopefully no one would find this place haunted."

Akashi laughed, as if he just told the other a regular joke. His rather…unique sense of humor never die even after his death.

"And it's good that I can touch things. I made you porridge. Eat up, so you can drink your medicine and rest until your fever go down. Really, why did you stay in hard pouring rain?"

Kuroko did not move, even for an inch. He was stunned.

"Don't worry, I tasted it." As if that statement could make anyone feel safe for eating it.

But Kuroko accepted it anyway. He ate about half of the bowl, excused himself saying he was full and had a very little appetite, and drank his medicine. He lied down again, still with Akashi beside him. No words were exchanged, only glances.

That time, Kuroko learned that Akashi looked more handsome without blood covering his face.

"You are a ghost." Kuroko broke the silence with a confirmation, and Akashi nodded. "But you can touch things. And eat things."

"Yes, but I don't feel full, and neither do I feel hungry. I can sleep, but I don't feel sleepy."

"Why are you here?" Kuroko asked without a slight hesitation. "Why aren't you in…?"

"Afterlife?" Akashi laughed. "As if I could know something like that. It was not like I believe in something like that, but I wonder why I'm still here, too."

"Something unfulfilled?" Kuroko suggested. As if you have any, he added mentally.

Back in the funeral, he learned that Akashi was an ex basketball athlete and a professional shogi player who ran his family corporation alone—which, according to his will, will be passed to Kise and the others, the only people he trusted—Akashi already had money and position anyone would like to have.

The only thing that was lacking was…. "A girlfriend? A marriage, perhaps?"

Akashi chuckled. "There is no girl in this world that is foolish enough to spend the rest of their life with me."

And even Kuroko could tell it was a big fat lie. The bluenette assumed the other man was just not interested.

"Though, if you're talking about something unfulfilled … perhaps it's just a 'free time'. Something I really needed."

"You have plenty now." Akashi nodded in agreement. "Maybe it's not the free time you needed, but something to do in that free time."

"Working?"

"No." Kuroko answered in a heartbeat. "Something relaxing."

"Then, I want to sit on the sofa, watching whatever's on the TV with a big bucket of popcorn."

Kuroko did not get to hide his soft laughter at the childish request. "I will help you. What kind of popcorn do you want?"

"So popcorn has various kinds?"

"I'm sorry?"

"I only eat popcorn when my friends brought it home. Well, I eat whatever they brought, even the unhealthy ones. They have been doing that since we graduated from college, though they could only get to visit me for a few minutes. My favorite one is the one they called popcorn."

"Was it salted?"

"No. It tasted like caramel."

Kuroko smiled. "Then I will bring the caramel popcorn. Or maybe you want me to buy a lot of them with different flavors?"

"That'll be great." Akashi's red eyes sparkled, contradicting his unnerved expression. "I'm Akashi Seijuurou. We haven't greeted each other properly before my death." He joked again.

Kuroko guessed that was the part he was supposed to laugh, so he did so. "It's Kuroko Tetsuya."

Two days later, after he felt better, Kuroko fulfilled his promise—he brought a lot of food to Akashi's place. The ghost had waited patiently and opened the door upon Kuroko's arrival, which gave a mini heart-attack to the smaller man. He hoped he'd get used to have doors opened by themselves soon.

"I brought groceries to cook here." Kuroko answered Akashi's questioned look. "If you don't mind."

"I don't. In fact, I'm glad. I have nothing in my fridge. Well, you should have bought for your own food. I can't feel hungry, remember?"

"Do you cook, Akashi-san?" Akashi gave a look. "Akashi-kun." Kuroko corrected himself, much to Akashi's pleasure.

"I used to. But in the past few months, I only eat out or order it."

"Then it works. We can cook together for lunch and dinner."

Akashi smiled. "You're brilliant, Kuroko." His cold fingers touched the groceries bag. He actually missed cooking a bit. "And kind, too. Not everyone is willing to visit the dead and cook for them. Or cook together with them. You're not scared at all, aren't you?"

"No, when I was little I could feel the presence of other creatures beside the living ones. I'm surprised I can see one after I grow up as an adult. Well, there are still jump scares, though…." Kuroko hinted the way Akashi opened the door for him. Akashi apologized. Kuroko proceed to prepare the ingredients. "Besides, you don't look scary at all. There's no blood, no head falling from the neck, no limbs showing guts, or anything on you that marked you as the dead. You look like a regular human being at the first glance. My grandma once said it means you're just an untainted soul waiting for your time to go to the afterlife."

"But it seems that I'm the only ghost you can see."

"Now that you mention it…uh, how do you know?"

"You weren't surprised when you entered my living room."

Kuroko's legs felt like a jelly when he heard a headless woman had just passed through him ten minutes ago.

"It's delicious." On the second day of Kuroko's visit, Akashi did not stop praising the tofu soup Kuroko made. "I told you it's better to have it without seaweed. I know I'm always right."

"Whatever you say, Akashi-kun." Kuroko smiled. "You're right, you've been binge-eating since this morning yet you don't seem you're about to puke. Yet I don't see why you're eating a lot since you can't feel hungry at all."

"Because it's all delicious. The food we cook together taste great. I really need no hunger to gulp them all down my stomach."

"Do you still want to watch TV after this?"

"I'm fine. I already know how it feels like yesterday. And I found out that salted popcorn with butter taste better than the caramel one."

"What are you going to do in your abundant free time today?"

"I want to try this." A card set suddenly appeared, flew from Akashi's room. "Poker. I have UNO, too…my friends gave me these, and I didn't get to give them my free time to play these with them in return."

"And you decided having a round with me would be enough."

"Depends on which round you're talking about."

"Playing card." Kuroko responded quickly, inviting Akashi's immediate chuckle. "You're too childish, Akashi-kun."

"It depends on which person I'm hanging out with, really."

"Do I look childish to you? Or do you usually act childish to people you just met?" And impulsively saving them on your first glance and sacrificed yourself instead?, is what Kuroko would like to add.

"I don't know." Akashi smiled. "It's not usual to have someone I just met to make me feel this way, either."

A day passed without Kuroko understanding such statement.

On the third day of his visit, Kuroko decided to bring up the topic he never knew he would dare to. "I deeply apologize, Akashi-kun."

"No, I don't mind reading yesterday's newspaper." Akashi said. He looked pleased to get to read a newspaper Kuroko gave to him. The printed one. He used to check news online. It's more environmental-friendly and less time-consuming, yet it felt different to read right from a paper.

"It's not about the newspaper, though I do feel sorry I couldn't obtain today's one." Kuroko inhaled. "I am sorry. You died because you saved me. I failed your bright future."

Kuroko broke down, something that he wasn't used to do, and Akashi held him and embraced him the moment that body shook from crying. "I failed your bright future. Even though I didn't know you. Even though you did nothing wrong. You did not deserve this. You deserved a life. It was my fault. I was so distracted for a bit and the loss of your life was the result."

It was the first time, after five times knowing Kuroko, Akashi saw the said man crying and breaking that usual unnerved face. Akashi did not try to stop Kuroko from crying. Instead, he stayed just like that, holding him while he poured everything that burdened him like an open faucet. Little to their knowledge that it took three hours until Kuroko calmed down. Akashi hugged him tighter.

"Kuroko, something's wrong."

"What is it?"

"I don't hear a 'thank you'."

A five-second silence.

"Usually people thank someone who does them a favor. Well, it was what my mother taught me when I was little. I don't know how that works in your family. Not that I want you to thank me, but I just feel that that expression suits this situation better than asking someone for forgiveness, don't you think?" There came the faint, yet captivating smile.

"…Thank you, Akashi-kun."

And Kuroko was sure the flying butterfly in his stomach was just his imagination.

On the fourth day, Akashi suddenly wanted to walk a dog.

"It's good that I happen to have a dog." Kuroko brushed Nigou's fur. Nigou barked happily. Then, he approached Akashi, demanding the same treatment. Akashi complied. "Nigou can see you."

"Animals can see spirits." Akashi stated. He greeted Nigou, and it barked in return. "He is a good boy. I can stand him."

"You can't stand dogs?"

"Only the disobedient ones." Akashi gave the collar tie to Kuroko. "But, still, you're the one who will walk him."

"Then what's the point, Akashi-kun?"

"I will walk beside you and talk to you. Actually, I wanted to talk to you with a cup of coffee in the café, but that'd be weird if others see us."

Kuroko humored him. He talked to Akashi and walked Nigou at the same time. Though he had to be careful not to talk to Akashi carelessly, or else he would look weird, as if he was talking to himself. Through their walk, they got to know each other more, to the extent as if they were old friends. Even when there were no words exchanged, they enjoyed the silence, as though they were conversing internally.

It was until somebody greeted Kuroko. "Aren't you Kuroko?"

"Midorima-san." "Midorima." Both Akashi and Kuroko spoke, but only one of those greetings was delivered to Midorima's ear.

"Good afternoon, Midorima-san." Kuroko bowed slightly.

"Good afternoon. Walking the dog alone?"

Kuroko ignored Akashi's soft giggles. "Yes. What about you?"

"I'm just going home after buying some lucky items for tomorrow." Midorima's answer amused both Akashi and Kuroko for different reasons. Akashi was amused because Midorima never changes. Kuroko was amused because he did not know there was anyone who still believe in superstition. "Kuroko, what is your sign?"

Kuroko blinked at the sudden question. "Aquarius."

Midorima looked satisfied. "Do you mind to accompany me while walking your dog? There is something I want to buy. But I don't think I can afford going alone to buy something like this."

"No, I don't mind. What are you going to buy?"

"You will see."

The store was not too far. The two of them—plus Nigou and, of course, Akashi—just had to walk down the street and take left and right turns in every two blocks they passed. It was an antique store.

"One of my favorite stores to buy lucky item." He spoke. He approached a stall inside the store and took two thumb-sized tanuki statue after one-minute judge. "Kuroko, which one do you think Akashi will like? The one with red hat or black? This is his lucky item for today."

"I choose neither." Akashi said, unimpressed.

"We have to pick just one." Kuroko stated to Akashi, though it sounded like a question to Midorima. Midorima nodded and gestured Kuroko to pick one quickly. "I wonder…." Kuroko glanced to Akashi. Akashi sighed and pointed to one of them. "The black one."

Wordlessly, Midorima put down the one with red hat and brought the other one to the cashier. Then he approached Kuroko again. "There is another place I want to go. Do you mind?"

Kuroko shook his head, and let Midorima lead the way once again. This time, the direction was a bit familiar to Kuroko. A five-minute walk, and Akashi knew very well where they were heading to. The graveyard.

It was right for Midorima not to buy any flowers, because there was still a bucket of fresh ones placed on Akashi's grave. He prayed, then placed the 'lucky item' just next to the flower. "

"Thank you. Let me treat you to return the favor." He said.

"No, it's fine. I didn't do much. Besides, I don't understand. Why'd you ask me things like that while I didn't know Akashi-k…-san much?"

"I don't understand it, either. Oha-Asa said that a Cancer just lost a friend lately, but said friend still needs blessings and support. And I can make it through an Aquarius' help."

Kuroko silently eyed Akashi, who hadn't said a word. Akashi closed his eyes and let the wind gently blown through his peaceful face. Though faint, Kuroko could detect a smile on Akashi's lips.

Kuroko and Midorima parted ways after the former politely rejected the latter's offer. Then, he fulfilled Akashi's sudden demand to go to the mall. With Akashi's credit card (Akashi was thankful his friends hadn't blocked it yet), they bought a lot and went to the post office to mail them.

"They are for your friends." Kuroko stated, and Akashi nodded. "Are you going to keep them anonymous?"

A mischievous grin. "Why should I?"

"Figures…." Kuroko could imagine those poor people's scream.

It was supposed to be Kuroko's fifth day of his visit to Akashi's place, but he got a visitor early in the morning instead.

"…Akashi-kun." Kuroko said as he opened the front door.

"I'm merely knocking to fulfill your request, which is to lessen the paranormal activities I cause." Akashi explained.

"No, that's not what I have in my concern—though, thank you very much for that—but what are you doing here? And how do you know where my house is?"

"I've always wanted to visit you." Akashi stepped into the house and looked around. "Well, I figured that you wouldn't notice me following you all the way when you're going home."

Kuroko sighed. "I'm about to make breakfast, do you want some?"

"I do. I miss your cooking already."

"I'm making onigiri, sausages, and salted boiled eggs." A smile rose upon Kuroko's face. He did not know why, but it was pleasant to hear such, especially from Akashi. "No seaweed." He added before Akashi even asked, much to the latter's pleasure.

Akashi waited patiently, watching Kuroko's back while sitting on the dining chairs and occasionally sipping the hot tea his companion made. This is great, he thought. He felt like he could do this forever—sitting and relaxing in an old Japanese traditional house while somebody significant to you preparing homemade food.

"A girlfriend? A marriage, perhaps?" Was what Akashi recalled out of blue.

Later, both of them enjoyed the breakfast silently. Following by Kuroko's cleaning house activities, and Akashi helped a lot. After that, Kuroko made some quick snacks—marshmallow brownies in a cup, salted crackers, and hot ocha—and they watched a DVD of a movie based on a best-selling historical novel. It was until the bell rang.

Kuroko was surprised when he found Ogiwara standing by the entryway. "Ogiwara-kun. It's rare."

"I thought you'd be more anticipated. It's already been a day and a week. But you didn't contact me or anything." Ogiwara's serious expression was quickly changed to a warm smile. "Well, I don't really mind, though."

Kuroko's head worked hard to process what Ogiwara said, and he managed to refrain himself from forming an "o" with his mouth. Foolish, how could he forget that Ogiwara had proposed him a week ago? "I'm sorry, Ogiwara-kun. I was thinking." He lied.

Little did both realize, there was a redhead who was watching them, with so little knowledge to fathom the situation. It was common sense to know that it's rude to overhear people's conversation, but the curiosity was too much for him.

"Maybe I was too reckless. Maybe you're not ready yet. We are friends, but suddenly I proposed you and made you confused." Ogiwara held Kuroko by the shoulders. "I am sorry."

Kuroko loved Ogiwara. And still did. But, for some unknown reason, he minded to have Ogiwara mentioned it in front of Akashi.

"Ogiwara-kun, let's see…." Kuroko inhaled. "It's not your fault. It's just me. I adore Ogiwara-kun since our teenage years, but I just can't figure out what to answer. I…I don't know."

"It's natural, really. It's not your fault either. It's normal to feel so confused at the sudden proposal. Maybe I should take a lighter step first." Ogiwara held Kuroko's hands. "Maybe we can start as boyfriends."

Neither Kuroko nor Ogiwara moved from their respective places, yet, a vase that was placed on the small cupboard by the entryway fell down and broke all of sudden. Not only that, a photo that was placed next to it cracked its glass. Then, there were things flew by themselves and more. Both of them were shocked. Ogiwara, still holding Kuroko's hands, pulled him to exit the house. But, the door won't open even though it was unlocked. "This is unbelievable!" Ogiwara almost shouted. He hugged and protected Kuroko by instinct, afraid of the smaller man getting hurt. "What is happening?"

Kuroko was scared until he realized it was Akashi's doing. The redhead stood by the hall, expressionless, and Kuroko's small furniture floated around him. And what scared him more that another vase was flying to their direction rapidly. He knew it would hurt Ogiwara.

"Watch out, Ogiwara-kun!"

A shout. And Kuroko escaped Ogiwara's arms, and covered him instead. The vase was so fast that not even Akashi could stop it from hitting Kuroko's head. The bluenet's unconsciousness was inevitable.

"Kuroko! …Kuroko? Kuroko! Get a hang of yourself!"

Not more than five seconds later, the paranormal activities in the room stopped. Ogiwara tried to open the door and succeeded, and he brought Kuroko outside to get him to the hospital, without knowing an invisible man who made the mess left the house and disappeared.

Kuroko would prefer to wake up to Akashi in the latter's apartment than in the hospital. He did not know why, but compared to waking up in Akashi's place, waking up here made him uncomfortable. He tried to get up, but the pain in his head prevented him from doing that. His yelp disturbed Ogiwara's sleep on the sofa next to the bed.

"Are you alright?" Ogiwara looked genuinely worried. "I swear I don't know what happened. Even I have to convince the doctors and nurses that I didn't abuse you."

Kuroko chuckled. "Ogiwara-kun would not do something like that to me."

"Of course!" Ogiwara held Kuroko's hand firmly. "I wouldn't do something like that to you. In fact, I'm worried about you." His other hand moved to Kuroko's head, rubbing the bandage that would reveal a fresh stitch. "The doctor said you'll be released from the hospital the day after tomorrow."

"Can I be released now?"

"No." Ogiwara replied in a heartbeat. "At least rest a bit, okay?"

Though hesitated, Kuroko managed to give a weak nod. Yet, he didn't think he would be able to rest. He wondered where Akashi might be. Kuroko patiently waited, and waited. Even though Ogiwara was there. Even though his high school friends visited him. Even though his neighbors visited him. There was still a person whom he waited for, and never came.

Yet, on Kuroko's last night at hospital when he was asleep, Akashi entered his room through the wall. Those red orbs glowed in the dark, staring at the only living person in the room with an unreadable expression. He stayed there and left at dawn with a silent sob.

Akashi was nowhere to be found.

The first time he came back to his house, all he did was searching for Akashi around the whole house. Then, he went to Akashi's place, hoping to find him to no avail. Rather than panicking, he was quite frustrated. He did not want to think that he could never meet Akashi again, because that was what he was scared of.

Quitting Akashi's penthouse, he went to the graveyard where Akashi was buried, hoping he would be there. And turned out he was, floating just above his own gravestone and staring through the sky emptily. There was no one around, for no single sane person would be there in the evening.

"Akashi-kun." The call was given no answer, only a mere glance. "I was looking for you."

"Step out, Kuroko. Now I'm unworthy of your time."

"You're not the one to judge whether you're worthy or not, Akashi-kun. And I'm not mad or anything. I just want to know your reasons." Kuroko gently spoke as he slowly approaching him.

"I overheard your conversation."

Kuroko did not say anything right away. Should he tell him he knew, he wondered. Nevertheless, he held Akashi by the cheeks, gently pulled his face closer. "And…?"

"And I was angry…no, I am angry." Akashi looked right into the pair of blue eyes right in front of him. "You're getting married, and there is nothing I can do. You know him way earlier than me, judging by his guts to fucking propose you." And Kuroko did not know Akashi could use such vocabularies. "Even if I did know you before…take a look—I'm dead. I can't take you away. Even if you don't mind hanging out with a ghost, I don't want you to spend the rest of your life with somebody who doesn't belong to this world anymore."

"Akashi-kun—"

"And before I realized I could not protect you, I hurt you out of my own frustation!"

There came an uncomfortable silence between the two. It was too frustrating to both of them. But, something came upon Kuroko's mind to worry about.

"Why are you telling me this…? No, I did tell you to tell your reasons. But…," even Kuroko was lost of words.

Akashi inhaled. "I love you, Kuroko."

"But…Akashi-kun…." The corners of Kuroko's lips rose. "I think I love you, too…."

"…Really…Kuroko?" Akashi, too, raised both of his hands and held Kuroko by the cheek. "Do you really mean it?"

Kuroko nodded. "To be honest, I was in love with Ogiwara-kun for ten years. But suddenly I was confused. I want to stay with you. I love you, Akashi-kun…." Kuroko didn't get it. He was only confessing to Akashi, yet he felt he could cry any moment. "And I was really afraid when I couldn't find you. I thought you're gone and I can't ever see you again. Please…please stay."

Akashi was as happy as he could be. Really. But, one sudden realization made him unable to feel that way for long. The saddened red eyes stopped to meet the blue ones. "I'm sorry…but…you do realize I'm no longer alive, right? Like…like I said, I'm dead. "

"You know I don't mind."

"Yes I know, but I mind. It's…it's just a common sense not to live or even engage a romantic relationship with the dead, okay?"

"But it's a common sense to want to live with your beloved."

"No, Kuroko. Don't talk back to me."

"Then should I blame myself for killing you again?"

"Damn it Kuroko, no—" Akashi almost snapped. He quickly apologized. "I'm sorry. But how many times do I have to tell you that it's not your fault? If there's anyone to blame, it's me and me alone."

"But I was distracted because of Ogiwara-kun's proposal that time!" Kuroko almost shouted. Akashi was taken aback as Kuroko let go of his face. "It's really funny, right, Akashi-kun…I love you, and you love me, yet the very reason you saved me and turned yourself to the grim reaper was because I was proposed by another man."

"Kuroko…I…."Akashi smiled. "No matter what reason, I don't regret saving you. Never. To be honest, I'm glad. What I've been thinking lately that, I'm glad I saved this precious person."

"Even if you have to sacrifice yourself?"

Akashi nodded. "Even if I have to sacrifice myself. At first, it's just a feeling of 'being glad that I just did a good deed'. But the more I know about you and the more I fall for you, all I think is, I'm really, really thankful that I saved you. I'm glad you're alive. I don't mind being dead like this. What I fear more is that I'd never get to meet you at all." He smiled, once more. "Even if we have to meet this way, I don't mind."

"Akashi-kun…." Kuroko couldn't refrain himself from sobbing. "I…I love you Akashi-kun…and…and….I want to be with you…."

"Me too, Kuroko. Me too…." Akashi leaned down. "Please promise me, you will live with Ogiwara and be happy with him. Please, for me…."

And a long kiss was planted.

As if the first day Kuroko met with 'ghost Akashi' was repeated, he once again lost his consciousness, for he forced his body to move a lot instead of resting it. But this time, he woke up in his own room. And without Akashi. And he knew this time he won't be meeting with him again.

"I love you…Akashi-kun…."

And if we get to meet each other again in another life, I would fall in love with you again. And that time, I will make you mine.

I will make you to cook me breakfast and dinner. I will make you to take me to cafes and find our favorite one. I will keep you in company while we walk your dog together. We will do a lot of things. Together. As a pair of happy human beings.

Is that okay?

.

Epilogue

.

"…and, will you marry me?"

"O-Ogiwara-kun, can you repeat it again?" Kuroko Tetsuya was sitting in Maji Burger, alone with a single cup of his favorite vanilla milkshake and telling his supposed to be childhood friend to repeat him for the third time.

"Kuroko, seriously." Ogiwara Shigehiro laughed nervously. "Is this that surprising? I'm sorry I proposed you this way…I promise I will do the proper one."

"Ogiwara-kun, this is too sudden."

"Will a week give you a peace of mind to think about it?"

"Uh…," Kuroko paused. "I…I think. I'm sorry, Ogiwara-kun, but this really confused me."

"That's okay. Uh, I think I'll see you soon. My boss is about to enter the room."

"O…okay…."

Even after Kuroko finished his milkshake, or even after he exited Maji Burger, that proposal was all he could think about. He liked Ogiwara since long time ago, and he thought Ogiwara only could see him as a childhood friend. But, he wondered why he couldn't reply to his proposal right away. He should've answered 'yes' in a heartbeat, right?

He was really distracted to the point he did not know the light had turned red when he was about to cross the street.

"Watch out!"

Somebody grabbed him by his arms, making him fell onto said somebody's embrace. Just in the following second, a car passed by. That car would surely hit him if his savior was a second late.

"Are you okay…?" A soft voice spoke. "Are you unhurt?"

"Yes…yes I am." Kuroko quickly stood and helped the person who saved his life. He was a man around his age, with red spiky hair and a pair of eyes with matching color. He bowed very low when he saw the other man's attire. "I'm sorry! Because of me, your suit—"

"My mother taught me to thank somebody who did you a favor." The kind person smiled. "Not that I want you to thank me, but I just feel that that expression suits this situation better than asking someone for forgiveness, don't you think?"

"Thank…you. Thank you for saving me."

Was that a butterfly that flew in his stomach?

"I'm Akashi Seijuurou."

"Kuroko Tetsuya." He glanced at Akashi's suit. It must be ripped off when he saved him. "I will take your suit to the tailor."

"No, it's okay."

"No, please. It'd be ungrateful of me if you saved my life and I can't even take your suit to the tailor in return."

That brought a smile on Akashi's lips. "It's okay, really. It's not that I don't want to take your help, but this suit should be fixed in a particular tailor, and it'd be even rude to me if you have to pay it. Instead, why shouldn't we exchange it to something else?"

"Like what?"

"Like…treating me a cup of coffee? There is a café I've always wanted to try."

Smooth, Kuroko thought. He was not sure if that person purely wanted the coffee or if he was hitting on him. But, either way, he did not mind. "Of course."