It was dark. He rubbed his eyes and looked around. He could barely make out the forms of the furniture and was that someone sleeping beside him?
He gasped. He was in someone's room. And there was somebody sleeping beside him. He inwardly panicked. Where was he? Why was he here? Crap, his eyes hurt. They swelled when he cried. Was he at the redhead's house?
He looked around again. He can make out a sleeping form beside him. He can hear his breathing. He sat on the bed, not knowing what to do. He could go back to sleep again (but that would make him uneasy) or he could wake the person up. He decides on the latter because, this isn't his house. He wouldn't feel comfortable sleeping in the softness of another's bed other than his own.
He pulls the blanket down, uncovering the sleeping figure's face. God, he thinks, what or rather, who is this innocent looking person sleeping so peacefully? Oh Akashi-kun. He thought. Ah, he let his guard down. Guess he'll be going back to slumber because he really is still fatigued from crying and his eyes hurts badly. His eyes floated down to the redhead's parted fringe. Mustering his courage, he kissed Akashi's forehead and whispered a 'goodnight' and pulled the blanket over the both of them.
A ghost smile graced upon the lips of the sleeping Akashi.
-line-
He woke up to the smell of a delicious smell wafting in the air. The space beside him was dipped but the warmth has long left.
He was wrapped in the warmth of the blanket, masked with Akashi's scent. He snuggles further into the blanket and wriggled a little, feeling great from a good night's rest. Just as he was about to delve deeper into the blanket and into the bed, the door opened.
Akashi chuckled at the sight. Kuroko had the blanket wrapped around his body as he stared wide eyed at the sudden intrusion, namely Akashi. He sat on the bed, gesturing Tetsuya to come over. Kuroko did as he was told. He got out of the blanket and crawled to Akashi, like a kitty. Akashi had to hold in his urge to hug the teal haired boy to death.
"Good morning, Tetsuya." He kissed Kuroko's forehead.
"Good morning, Akashi-kun." He returned the action.
Looking at each other's bedheads, they automatically started fixing it for each other. Kuroko felt a sense of nostalgia as tried to smoothen the ends of the redhead's hair. He personally likes the sensation of having another fix his atrocious bedhead. Seeing as he isn't the only one waking up with a bedhead daily makes him smug.
When they're done (Akashi had to take a longer time fixing Kuroko's hair), he interlocked their hands together and led him out of the room.
"I've only prepared this much. Do enjoy, Tetsuya. I hope your tastes haven't changed since the last time." He said as he served Kuroko.
Kuroko took a bite. This… This is really good! He brightened up and dug in. Seeing the satisfied look on Kuroko, he is pleased. They spent their breakfast eating in silence and wound up goofing around in the kitchen when washing the plates. Kuroko becomes mischievous in Akashi's presence. He enjoys playing together without any disturbances (because he wants to annoy Akashi).
Now that they both are soaked, Akashi went to take a change of clothes for the both of them. Akashi thought about the image of his beloved, wearing his clothes. His imagination makes him swoon. He wants to say boyfriend's clothes but damn. They aren't an item… yet.
Kuroko took a walk around as though he knows every nook and cranny of the apartment. Unconsciously, his feet brought him to a corner of the house where all the pictures are framed against the wall. He bent his knees a little and looked at the picture. All the six of them were crammed up together taking a group shot, all with funny hand-signs. He smiled as he recalled the times. On the frame, it wrote: First year.
His gaze shifted to the second frame on the wall. All of them weren't as close as the first. It was kind of formal, all lined up. There was barely anyone who smiled. The one who stood furthest away from them was… him? Tetsuya thought he saw wrong. He thought he loved his teammates. Why would he stand so far away from them? The frame indicated: Second year.
He has a bad feeling about the next picture he is going to see. The pictures are put according to chronological order. It shows the different times they have won throughout their years together and the closeness they had with each other. He can see the distance between them as he scans through the pictures.
He picked up a frame labeled Third year. He noticed that he wasn't even in the picture. No one was smiling even after clinching the champion trophy. He suddenly felt a chill down his spine as he observed the picture further. His eyes set onto the person- red haired, hard features, cold as ice eyes and his mismatched-coloured eyes. He grabbed his head as a migraine came.
He could barely breathe properly; he was breathing in stutters. Different images, different scenarios flashed into his mind. It hurts. His vision blurred. The picture pulled a trigger in him. He knows the person in the picture. He wants the pain to go away. He grabbed a fistful of his hair in an attempt to soothe the pain.
Flash!
Akashi glanced down coldly at Kuroko who has fallen onto the floor.
"The team has no place for a weakling."
He ignored his presence and left the boy on the ground. No one looked at his side, no help was given. All was focusing on their plays but it was all for show. They have no more fire in them. Everything was just for the sake of winning. Their win was always absolute. They have no need for a liability to pull their team down.
They are strong as they are alone on court.
With hazy eyes and a terrible ache, he soon became unconscious.
Flash!
A smack resounded across the room. He grabbed his own face in an attempt to lessen the burning ache. The slap would probably give him a bruise the next day. His eyes – full of misery and anger – was covered by his hair, his tears were threatening to drop. But no, he will never allow it. He will not shed a tear for this ruthless man in front of him.The red head scoffed. "No one shall ever disobey me, much less talk back at me."Flash!
"What's this? A love letter?" The redhead glanced at the card on his hand. "Who would ever appreciate you? You don't have a strong presence and it equates to you not having a place on this world." He smiled sinisterly to the trembling boy who had actually mustered up all his courage to give the letter to him.
He heard a rip. He went wide-eyed before slapping the hell out of Akashi. He hoped that will make him come to his senses.
Kuroko was beyond hurt. It wasn't really that much of a love letter. It is just a piece of paper containing his feelings.
The redhead bore holes in the pale boy's head before striding off. "You'll regret you had ever done that." He had too much pride.
Flash!
He was surrounded by the second and third stringers. They laughed hysterically in his face before mocking him. He never cared about what the others thought of him. He didn't want to listen. He tried blocking the voices out. He carried on with his façade until he was out of the gym.
No one cared about him. Akashi is gone. His lover is gone. His friends—he has no friends anymore. It is just him; just him alone, facing all atrocities in the world.
He felt a tear slip down his face before someone wiped it away. He was stunned for a moment when it was the same hand that caressed his face whenever he was in a mood.
"Whatever are you crying for, Kuroko?" It was the same sweet voice, the oh-so-loving voice.
He doesn't want to believe he's back. He doesn't want to turn around to face the devil.
He got up quickly and ran away, but not before giving a quick glance to his back then running with an uneven smile on his face.
"Tetsuya!" Akashi shouted. He was panicking. Why is Kuroko's face contorted in pain? He's not responding to any of Akashi's words. He was still as tense as he keeled over in pain, clutching his head.
Kuroko wanted everything to go away. Those mismatched-eyes haunted him. It scares him. He wants to escape. He wants to run. He needs to run. He wants to disappear. He senses a soothing presence beside him, calling his name so frantically.
Flash!
"Tetsuya."
He spun around when he heard his name. There was no malice in his words. It was warm. It was loving. It was the old Akashi. He couldn't believe it. He was back, back to normal.
Suddenly, Akashi grimaced. "Tetsuya, believe me when I tell you I love you. The Akashi Seijuurou you know will always be beside you, in you, in your heart. I can't keep up with his presence anymore. He's fighting me." He smiled awkwardly. "Till the next time, Tet-chan."
He couldn't believe his ears. The Akashi Seijuurou he knows resurfaced. He missed him dearly. He wants the soothing figure to be with him always but it will never happen again if it is his other self taking control of the body.
Kuroko's eyes jolted open. He was sweating buckets, his hair matted against his forehead. On instinct, he hugged the living daylights out of the person beside him. He inhaled deeply and sighed. He feebly made out an "I'm so glad you're back, Sei-kun." before losing consciousness once again but this time, into a dreamless sleep.
-line-
He lay down on the bed together with Tetsuya. He had carried the boy Kuroko is too light, he thinks) to his bedroom and helped him change out of his wet clothes. He swore he almost had a heart attack on the spot when he saw Kuroko thrashing about on the floor.
When Kuroko's face contorted in pain, he couldn't help but feel his heart being wrenched. Kuroko didn't push him away despite regaining his memories. He had wanted Kuroko to shove him off because he has damaged him too much.
Kuroko is a fragile person, but he stood firm and strong on his own grounds. He didn't let anyone in to his life. He doesn't trust people easily. He didn't want others to view him as someone who is weak. He is easily affected by people around him. He doesn't show it but—Akashi knows. Akashi knows everything. Kuroko is the strongest person he knows. He is stronger than Akashi himself.
Akashi didn't deserve to be let off the hook. He should go through the same thing Kuroko experienced. Yet here he was, combing through the pale blue locks with his fingers and hugging the sleeping boy close to him.
He doesn't want to leave Kuroko alone in the room. He doesn't want Kuroko to be alone in the room when he wakes up thinking that he has left him. He doesn't want Kuroko to be hurt and lonely.
He brings the boy closer to himself. He nuzzled his nose against the pale blue hair and closed his eyes, trying to get some rest after getting his energy drained.
I'm back, huh...
I hope this isn't too rushed and that I don't disappoint! I tried to make the flashbacks fast-paced but I'm not sure if that turned out well. I enjoyed writing this chapter and I hope you guys enjoy reading it!
