Chapter 8 – Surprise

A/N: This will be the last 'main' chapter but I'm writing another chapter to come after this that I'll hopefully be able to post in the next few days. It'll only be about 1000 words though, just to pre-warn you. (Also, I'm bad at endings - sorry)


The journey back was long and rather boring, with only Nigou's occasional antics providing Kuroko with entertainment. After about a day and a half of walking, Kuroko and Nigou finally made it back to the kitsune's cave.

"Akashi-sama!" Kuroko called as he entered the cave, heading towards the fox's bed.

"Tetsuya." Akashi murmured upon hearing the human's voice. He was relieved that the boy was finally back. "Thank goodness."

Akashi was still curled up in bed just as he had been when Kuroko left. "I told you I'd be fine out there." Kuroko said triumphantly. The teal-head knelt down to be at Akashi's side and held up the medicine. "And look, I got this. It's not guaranteed to work but there's a chance. At the very least it should ease the symptoms for you."

"Well done Tetsuya. You exceeded my expectations. I didn't think you'd actually find anything of much use th-"

"Well, well, well. Looks like Hideo was right. This kid does know the almighty Akashi Seijuro-sama." An intruder sneered.

Akashi's gaze snapped to stare behind Kuroko at a group of trespassing thugs who had entered the room. "Who are you?" Akashi hissed as he attempted to sit up, barely managing to lift his torso from the bed.

"Just some guys who think this place would be a lot better off without you."

"Get out now or I will burn you." The kitsune growled in an effort to bluff.

"Now I don't think you will. We heard this kid in town looking to help his friend who was 'an ill kitsune'." He said, gesturing to Kuroko. "I doubt you could even stand up right now, let alone fight us."

Knowing that these men were going to hurt Akashi, Kuroko stood in front of the supernatural being in a protective manner. "I won't let you harm Akashi-sama." He said, trying to be intimidating.

"Tetsuya, don't." Akashi said in a hushed tone. He didn't want the boy to be involved in this. If these men were going to kill him then so be it, but dear god let them leave Kuroko alone.

"Oh kid, thanks for leading us all the way here and giving us the heads up about his weakened state. You were real useful." One of the strangers laughed. The truth was, one of them had heard Kuroko speaking with Kagami and Himuro in the physician's shop. After discovering that Akashi may be ill and unable to use his powers he returned to his comrades to inform them so that they could stalk Kuroko back into the forest, to where the kitsune lived.

"No…I didn't…I didn't mean to…" Kuroko's voice and body began to shake.

"Grab the kid. We can sell him to slavers or something."

No. Akashi thought, his eyes widening.

Two muscly men moved forward to grab Kuroko. Akashi grasped the back of the boy's shirt to try and keep him by his side whilst Kuroko himself struggled against the aggressors' attempts to take him. Nigou clawed and bit into one of the offender's legs, but he was easily kicked off seeing as he was still only a small puppy. Unfortunately, both Kuroko and Akashi were far too weak as well and the men pulled Kuroko away with ease, batting Kuroko's flailing arms away.

"No! Please no!" Kuroko shouted as one of the thugs restrained him. He didn't want to lose Akashi. He didn't want to be taken away.

"Shut up." A man said, punching Kuroko in the stomach, silencing his begging. Tears began to run down the boy's face.

I can't let them take him. I can't leave him…Akashi thought. It would be bad enough if they were just going to kill the yokai, but if they sold Kuroko to slavers too? Slavers were cruel and abusive, treating slaves as expendable property not as an individual. Kuroko would never be free to do as he pleased again. Not to mention, they rarely lived past their mid-twenties. Illness or accidents frequently claimed their lives long before their time.

The red-head mustered all of his power to get out of bed and stand up. As he did so, one man stepped forward, drawing an iron sword.

"Uh uh uh. It's time to put you down Mister All-Powerful Fox."

Akashi breathed heavily with the effort of moving, his head pounding and body aching. "You will not take him." Akashi panted. He wouldn't go down without a fight.

One bandit hit Akashi in the face, causing his mind to swirl, as he fell to kneel on the ground another raised his sword above his head and prepared to cut the kitsune down.

"Akashi-sama!" Kuroko shouted in fear.

The crimson eyed man was on his knees and looking down when the sound of a blade cutting flesh and a small cry of pain echoed through the cave. He heard the noise but he didn't feel the…

He picked up his gaze and saw Kuroko facing him. Eyes wide and face frightened. And blood…blood was pouring out of his shoulder and torso. The bandit had cut the boy from the top of his right shoulder and down 5 inches into his chest.

Somehow Kuroko had managed to escape the aggressor's grasp and had run to protect him.

Tears began to well in Akashi's eyes as Kuroko fell forwards and landed on his chest, causing the ill yokai to fall backwards so that he was lying with his back on the floor.

"T-Tetsuya?" Akashi said, his voice trembling with emotion.

Somewhere off to the side one of the offenders was cursing Kuroko for losing them some extra cash. But Akashi didn't care about them anymore. All that mattered was how still Kuroko was being.

Shakily, he raised a hand to the boys shoulder as he willed for any power that was left in him to heal the teen's wound. But nothing happened. He choked back a sob as tears began to fall from his eyes.

"Tetsuya." He whispered. "Tetsuya stay with me. Please." He implored as he hugged the boy close and began to quiver in fear. Kuroko had yet to respond to any of his actions, likely due to the shock of the impact and the vast amount of blood he was losing. Eyelids began to droop over cyan eyes while Akashi stared at the human and grasped onto the boy's clothing with one hand while lifting his other to cup his face tenderly.

"Just finish them already. Jeez." Some guy huffed. The bandit with the sword raised it once again, preparing to stab through both Kuroko and Akashi and finally finish the job. Whilst he lifted the sword however an arrow pierced his hand, causing him to fumble the weapon.

A rush of wind was felt by the band of raiders before the sound of one of them screaming penetrated the room. Dark blue and blond hair was seen in a blur as the outlaws were brought down by a nekomata and an inugami.

Akashi was aware that something was going on, but his hazy focus remained on Kuroko, whose breathes were slowing with every passing second, his skin growing deadly pale. Akashi thanked every god known to him when an emerald eyed tanuki knelt by his side, quickly dropping his bow and placing his hands on Kuroko. A light glowed from Midorima's hands as he healed the boy. The green haired yokai had realised that Akashi must have been unable to do so himself.

"Shintaro." Akashi breathed emotionally.

"Be quiet. You need to rest. The others are handling the bandits and I can handle Kuroko. You have no more need to worry." Midorima informed him curtly.

The kitsune heard the words and understood them, but remained still. Grasp still firm and clutching Kuroko to him, even as he saw that the blue haired human's breathes were becoming stronger and more regular despite his lack of consciousness.

"Thank you." Akashi whispered.


A couple of days after the Generation of Miracles had dealt with the remaining thugs, Kuroko stirred awake, now lying in a bed and buried in blankets beside Akashi.

"Akashi-sama?" Kuroko said sleepily, his throat dry.

"Tetsuya. You're awake!" Akashi said with a smile, though his face still looked weary from worry and his illness.

"W-What happened?" He asked. The memories of what occurred before he passed out were slowly returning to him but he still couldn't figure out how he was still alive.

"Shintaro and the others came to our rescue. We're safe now Tetsuya." He replied, nuzzling his face in azure locks.

Kuroko digested the information for a moment. "But won't they get ill if they were near us?" Kuroko questioned, concern lacing his voice.

"Only Shintaro came close enough to become infected. He and I took some of the medicine you brought back. I gave some to you too. It seems to have prevented the illness from settling in him and I'm starting to feel better already. You did very well Tetsuya."

Kuroko was thankful for the praise but he couldn't eliminate the feeling of guilt taking root in him. "I'm sorry Akashi-sama. I led them here and they almost…they almost killed you." The boy stuttered.

"That's not your fault Tetsuya, you didn't know they were following you back here. If anything, I'm sorry that I couldn't protect you at a time when you needed me to most. I've failed you twice now." Akashi said with a saddened tone. He began to wrap the teen into an embrace, bringing his fluffy tails around to hug him close with. "Anyway, we're both safe and sound now, so there's no need to dwell on the issue, okay?"

"Okay." Kuroko accepted the fox's words, choosing to snuggle into Akashi's hug rather than fight him on the topic.

"The others are just outside. We've been waiting nearly two days for you to wake up." Akashi informed the human.

"Ah, I'm sorry if I worried you all." Kuroko said with a yawn.

"It's alright. I'm just glad you're okay now, though you should probably drink and eat something. I expect you're quite thirsty and hungry after two days." Akashi said as he began to get out of the bed. Kuroko tried to follow him but found that as soon as he sat up he felt incredibly dizzy, quickly flopping back down into the bed. Akashi, who had observed the event, hastily reprimanded him. "You need to take it slow Tetsuya. As I said, you've been asleep for nearly two days straight. Your lack of movement and sustenance over the past couple of days will affect you. I promise I'll be back in a minute with food for you." He informed the teen, leaning down to tenderly kiss the crown of his head before leaving.

When the kitsune returned with a cup of water and some fruit, he sat on the edge of the bed and used one arm to help Kuroko sit up gradually. "Just take it easy." Akashi encouraged, as he brought the cup around for Kuroko to drink from. The boy took the cup and tilted it slowly so that he could sip from it, but he was soon trying to gulp the liquid down in an attempt to quench his thirst. "Woah, woah slow down." Akashi laughed lightly as water spilt down Kuroko's chin.

After lowering the cup and gasping for air, Kuroko apologised. "Sorry…"

"It's fine. There's plenty of water and I'm not going to take it away so just take your time, okay?"

"Okay." Kuroko conceded, keeping true to his word by slowing his drinking pace.

Soon, Kuroko had already downed two cups of water and Akashi was placing a piece of fruit in his hands for him to eat. It was at that point that an excitable puppy jumped up onto the bed, making haste to lick at Kuroko's face.

The boy smiled at the act of affection. "Hello Nigou." Kuroko said, lifting a hand onto the dog's back to stroke him. A gentle 'arf' was given in reply before the dog continued to nuzzle Kuroko, though he backed away a bit to let his owner eat.

"He was pretty worried about you too - kept whining at the side of your bed." Akashi told Kuroko, watching the two fondly."Kise wasn't much different now that I think about it." Akashi joked, earning a minute giggle from Kuroko. "As you could probably guess, the others are keen to see you too. Do you think you're ready to see them?" Akashi asked, wanting to make sure Kuroko was up for seeing the rest of the Generation of Miracles.

"Yeah, I just feel kind of tired but it would be nice to see th-"

"Tetsuyacchi/Tetsu-kun!" Kise and Momoi cried in unison as they burst into the room, having been eavesdropping by the entrance after they saw Akashi take food and water in there and waiting to hear Kuroko finally confirm he was okay with seeing them.

They ran up to Kuroko's bedside before leaning down to cuddle him alongside Nigou.

"We were so worried about you Tetsu-kun!"

"We just came over to see you guys and then all those mean guys were stood outside. We were so scared that they'd-" Kise started.

"Stop smothering him you two." Midorima said irately, having followed the two into the room alongside Aomine and Murasakibara. "He needs space and rest."

"Tetsu's had plenty of rest, he's been asleep for 2 days!" Aomine retorted.

"That's not the point. I may have healed him, but the shock wo-"

"But we all want to see Kuro-chin, Mido-chin." Murasakibara complained.

With that, Midorima sighed before conceding. "Fine."

"Hello everyone." Kuroko greeted. "Thank you for rescuing Akashi-sama and I. I'm very grateful."

"It was nothing Tetsu. That's what friends are for right?"

Kuroko looked around the room, at all the friends he had made in the past several years and he wondered how he got so lucky. Previous to his meeting with Akashi, he'd had no friends beyond his mother and was shunned by most of the village for his lack of presence and weakness. Now he had half a dozen companions surrounding him, all fussing over him to make sure that he was okay and that he felt safe.

Whilst the others were all bickering and chattering, Akashi turned to Kuroko. He noticed tears shimmering in the human's eyes as he observed the others. "What's wrong Tetsuya?"

"Nothing." Kuroko said, wiping the water from his eyes. "I just love you all so much."

"Tetsuya..." Akashi was touched. He leaned in to give Kuroko a ruffle of the hair and a delicate peck on the cheek before whispering "We all love you too Tetsuya."

A/N:

Thanks for the reviews, follows and favourites! I hope you enjoyed this chapter

Next chapter: Epilogue - Snow