A/N: Happy Valentine's Day for everyone and also Happy Friday the 13th depending on the time zone! ;)

Thanks again for Megumi for being a great beta!

I fell in love with akafuri the second the scissor scene happened. The emperor/coward pairing has so much potential, it simply needs more stories!

- Enjoy! -

He was hot, sweaty and everything hurt.

Whatever made Furihata agree to this torture named running practice was definitely not worth it. Why he was dehydrated well before the others was also one of life's unsolved mysteries.

The vending machine was starting to form a clear shape in the distance and he was determined to crawl over there if it was the last thing he did.

He would just take this small break and go back to his rounds.

Just a few more steps.

He slid his hands into his pockets for the small change, could read the labels on the variety of cool liquids. One of them will slide down his perched throat so sweetly in half a minute.

"You there, from Seirin."

The words were soft spoken, but Furihata's thoughts just stopped, frozen.

An instant flashback hit him while turning in the direction of his recent nightmares. When their eyes locked he wasn't able to move under the spell of that stare.

"I have a message to Kuroko. Tell him..."

The following words blurred together as the edges of his vision started to sparkle. Furihata fought really hard not to faint into a disgraceful, sweaty heap.

Next thing he knew was that he lay on a bench in the shadow.

Akashi was sitting on the same bench next to him, drinking. Furihata tried to take in more of his surroundings carefully and spotted another can beside him.

Then he felt the predator looking down at him. Furihata quickly tore his eyes from the drink, like even sampling the other's possession was desecrating it. Locking eyes with the monster up that close in that horizontal position was worse than anything he experienced in regard to Akashi.

"It's useless to try hard at training if you don't take care of your body and faint from dehydration."

Furihata just kept staring, hardly comprehending the situation. He felt like he was on the verge of a panic attack.

"As I was saying before, I have a message to Kuroko."

Akashi paused then, leaning closer, only a few inches from Furihata face.

His aura started pressing down harder on Furihata but it was even more mortifying as the eye changed its colour, eyebrows were drawing together. The words were still soft, but made Furihata stomach twist.

"Are you listening to me?"

Akashi's gaze slid down to Furihata chest, rested there for a moment then the eye change back.

"Are you even breathing?"

Akashi kept watching intently till Furihata's face became purple and he let out a gush of air. Then Furihata was hyperventilating and shaking.

Akashi made an audible exhale in disapproval and raised his hand.

In an instant Furihata brought both arms up to protect his face. Small, muffled sobs filtered out.

Akashi put back down the cold drink he was about to offer.

He regarded the submissive pose thoughtfully.

"Are you one of those abused kids or are you really that afraid of me?"

There was no answer, Furihata just froze again, face still covered.

That spoke volumes to Akashi.

He lifted himself from his spot slowly to walk away.

"I will have to contact Kuroko in person."

He stopped for one last thing.

"Drink is on me."

- tbc -