A/N: The first actual Akashi/Kuroko drabble. (Yes, the first.) Also the first drabble that shows that yes, this is not chronological order. I still don't own KnB or KHR.

IV. Rivalry

He did not like this girl, who was trying to steal Akashi's attention away from him. Kuroko subtly (or not) tightened the hold he had on Seijurou's hand.

Seijurou smirked, as if pleased by this sudden display of possessiveness (or was it jealousy?) Kuroko was tempted to pout, but he would not give his Sky the pleasure of seeing his envy. He would not give the man any more material that could be used as evidence of his adorableness. Akashi, however, did not seem to be perturbed by Kuroko's stubbornness.

"Tetsuya," he murmured, squeezing Kuroko's hand gently. "Do you, perhaps, not like my company?"

Flushing, Kuroko replied with, "Of course not, Seijurou-kun." He did not mention that it was Seijurou's companion that he abhorred.

However, it seemed as if Seijurou picked up on his unspoken thoughts. "It really is adorable. Maybe I should make you jealous more often."

The forgotten girl, who had given up (not that she was trying too hard) to get Akashi's attention, wished the Mist Guardian luck; it was the Sky Guardian who asked her for this favor, and she obliged if only because it would be interesting.

"I am not jealous," Kuroko deadpanned. The girl admitted that it was a lie, and that she had not needed the Vongola's infamous Hyper Intuition to pick up on that lie.

"Of course not," Seijurou agreed easily. Too easily.

The only female in this room left after hearing that—she had no need of her limited psychic ability to know how this would turn out.

"Seijurou-kun, you do not believe me, do you?"

"You really are adorable, flushing like that and pouting."

Kuroko could not help but blush at his comment. "I am not pouting nor am I adorable."

"Yes, you are."

"Seijurou-kun, you are just cruel."

"Perhaps, but I am only cruel to you," he replied easily.

Kuroko was tempted to slap him (or worse), but he refrained from doing so—he prided himself in his ability to stay calm and level-headed in any situation. "I do not know why I stay with Seijurou-kun if he is cruel to me."

The somewhat playful banter continued on, even as they walked towards a yakuza hideout.