First of all I am very sorry for updating very late, my internet was done and my laptop isn't at its best. So this came very late.

BUT WORRY NOOOOT FOR CHAPTERS 10-14 is already done I'll post the ASAP, no actually, as soon as my neighbor's wifi is going and my laptop is cooperating, which means NOW. Secondly..

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND BELATED MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE, how was your holiday? LOL mine was very boring.

Now for reviews, OMG thank you guys btw, for waiting most especially, forfujoshinechan I'm sorry for making you wait, I hope you like this chapter too. It makes y day too, just reading your reviews, there will be answers to your question on this chapter, but if you still have a bit of confusion on the story feel free to ask via review or PM. ILOVEYOU TOO*winks winks*. For Bubbles9595Haizaki's gonna show up soon with a BANG lol, and yes Kagami's role to Kuroko's health is BIG, and that'll be shown in the following chapters*drum rolls* I hope you enjoy this chapter too! BreeBBreakDance-san YES AKASHI SHOULD COMFORT FURIIII, lol actually that was the original plan(how did you know, are you a psychic, kidding), Furi getting hurt or so, BUUUT there came a conflict with my plot and I decided to make a tiny bitsy changes in that so that we could have BOKUSHI and ORESHI appear too. To Mandarin-san KYAAA THANK YOU! I hope you like this as well! AJ -san Thank you again! Yes I seem to love putting them in very conflicting situations, maybe because I of my writing style that I like putting my characters in a really difficult situations? I mean sometimes some couples love stories are like that, don't you think? I mean love and all its a very difficult thing to get.

I wont be holding on too long so here you go Chapter 10

ANYWAY EVERYONE THANK YOU AND PLEAAAAAAAAAAAAASE REVIEW!

I LOVE YOU ALL!

Disclaimer: Kicchin is writing a fanfiction meaning yeah, Kichin doesn't own Kurobasu even in my wildest dreams.

Chapter 10: FOXTROT

His mother, Sayuki Kise, a beautiful lady with a charming smile, was married to a wealthy merchant, Ichiro Ustumori. Sayuki had three children, two young boys, and him. He didn't know what he should call himself. Even he was confused, was he human or something else? His mother was forbidden to be with him, but sometimes she would sneak out in the middle of the night and read him books. She is a kind hearted woman. But she never told him much, and he never asked. He never asked the things that makes his heart feel like it was hollow, he never asked why people feared him, why he had to stay locked up in that mansion, far away from her, from his father, or his brothers. He thought she was all that he needed, he thought it was okay. He thought nothing will ever go wrong.

He didn't grow up like normal kids did, his physical body took longer than normal people do when they grow. At age twelve his body was still of a six years old, at sixteen his body was of an eight years old. His brothers had grown into such splendid young men, as what the servants had told him, while he was yet to reach his puberty. Time was cruel for him, he watched the servants grew old and their hairs turned gray but he was still in his prime of youth. It was slow for him, only for him. He noted his mother found it difficult to sneak out, she was becoming old and he was not.

"Mother." The child asks his mother who was combing his long golden hair. It was midnight, he knew she had a lot of things to do during the morning, and yet she still try and keep him in company. It bugs him, he wanted to be out of that place, to help her especially. His mother hummed to his question urging him to continue. "Mother, why can I not leave?"

His mother stopped and placed her hand on her lap. The boy turned to her with a look of confusion. The woman smiled sadly before cupping the child's face in her hands. "You just look like your father." She said her voice barely above whisper as she lean to him and wrapping him in a warm embrace. The child felt warm tears dripping over his shoulders.

"Mother, why are you crying, are you in pain?"

She shook her head, "No I am not, but my sins, you are the one who is paying for it."

He did not understand, until a few more years. Sayuri died of old age, his brothers and father left. He is an intelligent child, despite having any formal education he understood logic, and logic it was that when someone important dies, people seek something to blame on—and he was the unfortunate one to be. But perhaps it was a good thing too, because if his father—or so he thought—never came that day he would never know about his true nature. The man after his mother's burial, came storming in the mansion, it was his first time ever seeing his face. He was a man with eyes that were mixed of agony, regret and anger, his face was defined by time, and his hair was long and tied just like the shoguns. He wore a black kimono for mourning, and his hand were balled into a fist. His eyes were red and swollen and despite his age, he still stormed through the hallways in a hurried and angry manner, his footsteps were like pounding of the fist against a hard surface. He was in the garden that day quietly mourning for the lost of the woman—the only human who dare to look at him like he was no monster when his father came.

The man grabbed the front of his shirt and threw him on the ground, without a second thought he delivered a punch the face of the boy, the blonde fell on the ground face down. The man panted angrily.

"It is your fault!" he exclaimed, "if you weren't born Sayuri would still be with us! You stupid fox!"

The boy looked up to his father, he didn't know what to say. "Father…I—"

"Don't you call me father! I am not your father! You son of a demon fox!" the boy's eyes widen, the man grabbed him the second time and wrapped his hands on his neck tightening it every single seconds. His vision started blurring and tears in the corner of his eyes. That was why they hated him. He wasn't…he is not a human after all. He smiled to himself, maybe this is how it should be, maybe it is better to die, he didn't belong here.

"Master, don't!" one of the servants exclaimed, the servants all ran up to him and pulled him off the child.

"You will be cursed if you kill a fox demon's son!"

"Master think of the young masters, they will be cursed too!"

The man's grip slipped and the fox demon fell on his knees tears streaming down his eyes. The only reason he was being kept alive was their fear of being cursed. The only reason why his father kept him alive was the curse. His empty heart felt like it was shattering. It felt cold. The knowledge he wanted, the secret he wished to be revealed was the only thing that was keeping him out of the pain, and now it has been known he can feel his heart getting crushed. "You will never leave this place as long as I am alive!" the man said as he stormed out leaving the boy.

Knowledge is a very frightening thing. It has no physical body but it could make you fall to your knees. It was what Kise Ryouta learned. His father never visited him again, never. His servants all grew old in time, and they left the mansion one by one, until there was only one remaining. The mansion was filled with dust and molds, the beautiful garden that was tended to every week had become a mini forest, wild weeds had grown in it, roots of anonymous plants creeping through the posts of the house and even in his room. At first someone would deliver food for him once in a while, a tray of fruits and a glass of water, it was delivered thrice a day, then soon twice, then until it became once a day, then twice a week. Sometimes he'd make do, he'd save the fruits eat just a portion and save the rest for the other day. He had lost track of time with his stay in the mansion. The only entertainment he had was talking to a portrait he drew of his mother. Sometimes he would stand by the garden and wait for small birds to come, he would chase them around.

His clothes were getting smaller in time, it became a dilemma but soon he found a solution. In a small room in the mansion he found some Kimono and made do of it, the designs were obviously not for men, but what was he to complain. The time went on very slowly for him, he noticed the food was not being delivered as frequent as it was then, sometimes he was lucky to even have food once in a week sometimes he waited for two straight weeks. He made do with the wild berries growing in the garden and the water he saved from the rain.

So that day he stood in front of the door, he had never touched it since he was a child, the first time he did he was electrocuted to the point of fainting. Ever since that day he was scared to touch it, his mother forbid him to get close to it to. So he wondered if time had died the bonding force on the door. And there was it, the door cracked as his hand touched it, the wooden material crumbled due to extreme weathering through time. Kise watched in amusement for the first time his eyes met the real world. He sniffed the air, it was cold and new and everything he had ever dreamt about. He reluctantly took as step, and another, and another and he had never felt so free. He was lost for a moment he started jumping around, rolling on the grass, and spinning around.

It took a few moments when it dawned upon him that this world was quiet. He turned back to the mansion where he was kept, a tall shrine had been built on the entry way. The whole placed looked like it was about to crumble any moment, the woods were deteriorated from all the elements, the paint has been washed out by time and the place looked extremely barren. The guards who were supposed to be there were no longer, the talisman hang loosely with the words barely visible on the sheet. He turned and looked at the east where the main mansion was, it didn't look much as he thought it would. It looked cold, and old. The roof has tiles missing in them, and the walls had cracks in numerous parts, and the weeds had grown all over the place. He started walking around wary to see any sign of occupant on the mansion, surely they wouldn't have forgotten him, have they? But as he walked through the halls, the rooms, the closets, he found no sign of life.

He had been left to rot on his own in the mansion.

The kitsune despite the revelation decided to stay in the barren mansion, he went out on the town and learned humans way of living, he started imitating them. He learned arithmetic by watching merchants and vendors, he learned language from the foreigners and the tourist, he learned dressing from the people, he learned them through imitating. But there was more yet to understand about himself. During mornings he would come by the town and sell the objects that were left to the mansion, pots, jewelries, silk and old armors. When he had enough money he bought a small house in town. During his stay he discovered about his true self.

He kept himself from getting agitated, one time when he was at home, there was a robber and he found himself with tails waving back and forth. His pupils turned into black cat like slits. He would change when he feel his possessions were endangered. Since then he tried his best to manage his temper. It was the only thing that made him change into that form, extreme emotions.

Time passes by easily, and he found himself in an era where cellphones were readily available and internet was something everyone has. The existence of Kitsune, or yokai had banished into a myth, which was good for him. He lived peacefully, when someone starts asking him question he leaves, and live another kind of life, in which led him to Tokyo. He became a model, lived the life where everyone loved his beauty, not frightened. They praised his good looks not ridicule and shy away. Everything was going smoothly until one day he had a shoot in his hometown—which no one knew. The wave of nostalgia brought his feet back to the mansion, but before he knew it a hand grab him from the back and he was knocked off unconscious.

The next thing he knew was he was lying on a had surface, everything was dark and a weight was pinning him down. When his eyes adjusted to the light he found a silver eyed man pinning him down and grinning sinisterly. He had a brawl with the man but trying to escape the man's vice grip was impossible, which was something Kise was not used of. He is a KISTUNE, a fox demon, he has an above average strength and yet the man can pin him down! Panic arose from his senses when the silver eyes gleam and the man's hand started morphing into something else—sharper.

The room was eerily quiet, Midorima glanced at Kuroko who didn't look anywhere near okay, both physical and mental. His eyes looked colder than it was supposed to, and he looked worn out. Midorima didn't speak of it though, it wasn't the right time. He continued bandaging the small pale wounded arm of the teal haired vampire, they were full of gashes. If it was Aomine, Midorima wouldn't have bothered bandaging them, they would heal within an hour or two, but it was Kuroko he was dealing with. Knowing he collapsed the other day was not a good thing too, that means his healing had down into a human recovery time which would be bad for such type of wound. Midorima clicked his tongue and turned to pacing back and forth Aomine in the room. "Will you ever stop Aomine." Midorima said before returning to wrapping Kuroko's wounds. Takao who was in the room cleaning after Midorima sighed. "And you," Midorima said narrowing his eyes at Kuroko, Kuroko turned his eyes to meet the emerald green eyes, "you are in no condition to be fighting physically with a kitsune."

"I did not fight with him, kitsune are just quite territo—"

"And you fucking tested his territorial claim!" Aomine exclaimed. Kuroko turned to Aomine with a blank expression. "You knew he was something like that and you still did that!"

"First I did not know it Aomine-kun." Kuroko answered truthfully. "I merely tried to test my hypothesis."

"It does not take off the fact that you did something dangerous." Midorima said pulling the bandage quite tightly making Kuroko wince quietly. "And Aomine, stop shouting, lower your voice will you."

"You have a problem with Kise, you didn't have to do that!"

"Its not a problem of mine Aomine-kun, it's the fact that you are dealing, getting your hands all over a kitsune." Kuroko said firmly, "If it was human I would not care any less with it, but a yokai isn't something we should be idling about, we're both predators and since when have you heard a vampire and a kistune?"

"That's my problem Tetsu! Not yours!" he exclaimed angry.

"Do you not understand? What I am pointing is Akashi-kun would kill him!"

There was silence in the whole room, Midorima sighed as he finished bandaging Kuroko's arm. He turned to Aomine, frozen in his place. Kuroko knew Akashi well, he and Akashi despite having the shortest time of getting to know, surprisingly know so much about each other. Kuroko knew that there was a big risk in letting Aomine with the kitsune especially an aggressive one like Kise. Akashi would think the fox is a danger for them, he'll surely do something to eradicate the kitsune—knowing it is a yokai, Akashi would not hesitate. He didn't care much about yokais, he only cares about humans. It was what he promised with Nijimura after all—humans, protecting them. And Kise was only half human, if he didn't see Kise as human—

"If I didn't do that, if Akashi-kun was the first to know…"

Takao turned his eyes to Aomine, he pitied the vampire. He looked so hurt. Takao turned to Kuroko and he looked as hurt as Aomine was. Whatever happened must have took toll on the two. "I…I didn't hurt Kise-kun, if that's what you are worrying about."

Aomine's frown faded.

"You don't understand."

Kuroko turned to Aomine confused, "What are you implying Aomine-kun?"

"I am saying that I was worried of you." Aomine said huffing, "Didn't Akashi said it? We're done with that shadow thing, you have to start thinking about yourself. If Kise's a kistune, that's going to be my problem, if Akashi found out its my responsibility, its my choice to protect him or not. Its my choice if I want him or not, if he stays or not that's my business Tetsu. I know you're worried, I know. But Tetsu, this—I mean you have your own life, and you can't keep abandoning that for me, for us."

Kuroko's eyes went wide for a moment as he duck his head down. Midorima was surprised at Aomine's words, he did had an idea about the other's worry but the way he delivered it was surprisingly very thorough. Kuroko didn't say anything as Aomine said something about looking for Kise and left the room immediately. Midorima and Takao was left in the room with Kuroko but seeing it wasn't something Midorima could really explain thoroughly he walk to Takao and gave him a silent message. Nodding Takao stood in his place and watching as Midorima excuse himself leaving the two of them alone. Takao waited until the door was closed behind Midorima that he sat on the edge of Kuroko's bed looking at the teal haired vampire whose face despite of looking down on his lap exhibits no sign of visible emotion. Takao had always admire Kuroko's gentle and caring ways, and his ability to keep up with everyone. But sometimes it was his problem.

He cares too much.

The world is a place where selfish beings exist, or more precisely, most of them are selfish. Meeting Midorima's family Takao was surprised to find creatures who leaves their back unattended for the sake of the looking after the other's back. They were ready to take a bullet for the other. But maybe that was because they knew the other would also be looking for him. But that was then, when it was just the five of them. Because there were nothing else, they had no one else but them. But things had changed. Even Akashi did. But it was difficult perhaps for Kuroko. He had worn the mask so long that he had forgotten who he is without it. He had long forgotten how to look really at himself, he had forgotten how it must be like being himself.

"Kuroko-kun." Takao called the other. Kuroko didn't look up perhaps to hide his emotions. Takao understood, Kuroko is quite secretive, as if his emotions were locked up and the key was thrown somewhere. Not even Akashi could make it so that the boy would show them what he really feels. Be it pain, anger, fear, happiness, he never showed to anyone else. Takao had a lot of things he owe to Kuroko, Kuroko was the only one who was able to calmly put up with his annoying attitude when he was getting through the turning phase. "Aomine-kun must have been just thinking about what's best for you. He didn't mean anything bad about it."

"I know…Takao-kun." Kuroko answered.

"Kuroko-kun…you remember what you said when you were sick?" Takao asked.

There was a pause, Kuroko tried his best but he barely remembered anything. "No…"

"Akashi found out about Kagami Taiga."

Kuroko's eyes widen, he looked at Takao whose eyes were soft and gentle. Somehow that assured Kuroko. "I saw the face you made just now Kuroko-kun." Takao said. "You react with the mention of that name without any other need for further details, he's special to you, right Kuroko-kun?"

"H-He's…Its just Kagami-kun is someone who shouldn't be dragged in this matter, or so I believe…"

Takao wondered for a moment, did Kuroko knew, did Kuroko have any idea about Kagami Taiga being an alpha? Did he knew that he was having an attachment syndrome?

"The matter is we're worried Kuroko-kun." Takao said, "The truth is I'm glad, now you don't have to be the shadow, Kuroko-kun wouldn't need to put his life on the line for others. You should start looking at the people you care about, you should start chasing them, before its too late."

Kuroko turned to look at Takao, he looked away turning at the window. "…too late, huh?"

Maybe it was too late. Things are just that way, he can't expect all humans to be like Takao or Himuro. After all what Kagami saw, what would the man think of him was simply a monster. People fear what they do not understand, that was right. Kagami does not understand their nature, and there was no need. Maybe that was good that Kagami was afraid of him, maybe it was good that he's away, maybe it was for the better. It will never work out for someone like him, stories like Midorima's or Muraskibara's.

"This is not like you Kuroko-kun." Takao said interrupting his trail of thoughts, "I…I had always looked up to you 'cause you always was so brave, you didn't care what others said about you, you always speak your mind. You work hard to get what you want. You weren't scared of Akashi, not even afraid of that werewolf, what's stopping you now?"

What was stopping him? What was he afraid of? He wondered about that. Was it Kagami, did he fear him, a human? No. Then what was it? He had nothing left to lose, right? But then what was stopping him. He remembers the way Kagami looked at him, with fear and confusion. He didn't know why, but his chest felt heavy then. Somehow, he wished he would not run. But he knew he would.

He wanted him to run away, at the same time he wanted him to stay, and prove him that he was wrong.

But he ran away, and proved he was right. And it was funny how he got what he wanted but he felt…sad?

"Think about it Kuroko-kun, I will leave you be for now." He said standing from his seat, "Call us if you need anything, I'll be in our room."

Takao prayed and wished, he would sort things on his own, be able to know what was for him truly. There was so much he deserves than this, and he was depriving himself of it. Closing the door behind him Takao wished for the other's well being. He felt like crying. He didn't know but Kuroko's empty eyes had such an effect on him, he felt the sadness behind those emotionless pools of blue. He wondered how his brothers were able to keep up with Kuroko like that, how could they ever stay so motionless looking at those pool of eyes? He stared down on his feet, he felt useless, compared to Kuroko what happened to him could never be compared. He had watched people come and go, he had sullied his hands in the name of his brothers, he had done all of that for them. And he was just there.

Suddenly he saw a pair of familiar pair of slippers right in front of his, then a strong arm sneaked to the back of his head pulling him close, before he knew it his face was buried in a familiar scent and chest.

"Shin-chan." Takao whispered as he wrapped his arms around the vampire's waist. He felt hot tears uncontrollably streaming down the corner of his eyes.

Midorima hushed him as he kiss the top of Takao's head. "He'll be okay."

"That's mean to say!" Takao said as he inched away from Midorima as he gripped on the front of his shirt. "Who are you to decide that for him, he's…Kuroko-kun is—"

"Takao calm down."

"No, how can you say that he's—"

"Kazunari!" Takao was cut as he was called in his first name. He waited as Midorima continued speaking, "We are not kids anymore, trust him."

Takao nodded. Midorima sighed and kissed Takao's left eye, "Stop crying you look like a choke squirrel."

"S-Shut up, I-I'm not!"

Midorima pulled Takao back into the bone crushing hug before letting a chuckle escape his lips. "Thank you."

"Hm?" Takao asked inhaling Midorima's scent, it calmed his nerves down a bit.

"I know you heard me."

"I did, but for what?"

Midorima broke the hug again before leaning to place a chaste kiss on the corner of Takao's lips, "For accepting my family."

The sun was starting to set as Aomine started walking around town, he didn't know where Kise would go, where he would be hiding. He wouldn't surely go to his apartment, the blonde despite all his childish traits surely isn't that much of an idiot to not know he'd have his address. The thing that he was worried that the chances of the kitsune getting out of Tokyo, maybe some secluded place again. He was scared as hell, he knows what he is risking in here. He understand Kuroko, he must be worried for him. They have never been this close acquainted with a fox demon before. Back in the days, they did met a few but they were pure ones, they weren't like Kise. Though they could use a human body, they reeked of the scent of a yokai and most of them were mischievous ones. But Kise—he know he's different. The idiot is probably even scared right now, it was getting late after all. Aomine found himself in an old basketball court, he chuckled to himself, he used to play basketball with his brothers when they first arrived in Tokyo, damn he was great at it.

He suddenly felt an urge to shoot some hoops, he jogged to the court quietly, it was poorly lit, the light posts were not functioning anymore, the lines on the floor were almost unrecognizable—not that it matters to him. He could see in the dark pretty much, he looked around and found an orange ball on the corner. He picked it up and surprisingly was still in good condition, he was about to shoot the ball when he saw in the corner of his eyes a blur of gold. He released the ball a second bit off the momentum, nonetheless his formless shot made it through the ring.

The ball dropped to the ground bouncing as Aomine stared at the cowering figure in the corner, How can he ever think he could hide from him, especially with that blonde hair that even stands out in a sea of crowd. Aomine sighed as he walked closer. The kitsune was practically trying to hide his presence which was impossible, unless he got Kuroko's ability.

"Oi."

He fliched.

"Kise." He called, the blonde didn't face him still crouching on the corner.

"Kise, you—okay," Aomine breathed, this was not the right time to get angry at the blonde,"Tetsu didn't mean to scare you or anything."

Still no response.

"He's just…he wanted to confirm it, you got…well pretty messy then and…"

"I-I'm…I'm sorry." Kise's voice came out shaking. "I-I s-swear I-I-d-din't mean to hurt him I—"

"That's given." Aomine cut in, "Answer me, Kise." Aomine took Kise's silence as a yes. "Question 1, did you know from the start about Haizaki being…not human, and about me as well?"

Kise nodded.

"How?"

"…I-I lied when I said it was dark and I couldn't see much…I saw his face, his big paws and, sharp claws and…" Kise's voice died down, "Aominecchi's…I just knew you were not human…there was no explanation."

Aomine sighed, "Question 2, why did you run away?"

"I-I hurt K-Kurokocchi…"

Aomine sighed and roughly pulled Kise by the arm, forcing the other to turn his way. The blonde kept his head down, Aomine noted the dirt on Kise's white shirt, he has dried blood in the tips of his finger too, and his jeans were ripped in a few parts. "Damn, it look at me!" Aomine said shaking the other. He was surprised to see Kise's face, the blonde was crying. "Why are you fucking crying I haven't even started yet!"

"I-I'm sorry! I'm just, I just keep on hurting others, they were right I'm a curse I'm a monster." Kise cried, "A-Aominecchi's going to leave me too, b-because I hurt K-Kurokocch—"

Aomine snarled as he placed his hand over Kise's eyes before pushing him to the wall. Before Kise could even start Aomine sealed his trails of I'm sorry with a kiss. It wasn't like the kiss they had in the hospital it was just lips pressing against the other. When Kise was finally silent Aomine started to speak, "Monster, you? So what about us? We're pureblooded Kise, I was born from two vampires, I have no mark, nothing to be human-like in me." Aomine let go of Kise cupping his face, "We're vampire Kise, we're not made of glass."

Kise pushed Aomine away, Kise kept his head down, "D-Don't look!"

"What are you—What, stop pushing!" Aomine being his impatient self pushed Kise to the wall holding both his arms in his side preventing the other to push him away. Despite the retrain Kise insisted on his head lowered. "Damn, it why, get your fucking face to look at me, look at me dammit!"

"I said no!"

"Fuck that," Aomie roared, "Look at me dammit or I will permanently snap your neck to face me!"

Kise reluctantly looked up, scared, he knew Aomine would do as he said. Tears were still streaming in his eyes as his amber eyes met navy blues. He can't, he was caught by the spell, a foreboding eyes had a different effect from those they had prayed on, ones they were caught in it there was no saying no—Aomine knew as well. Aomine was right, he was scared. The kistune was shaking, and his eyes were just like that. He looked like a cornered fox caught in some hunter's trap. "I-I'm s-sorry Aominecchi…please…"Kise fell on his knees, Aomine's eyes widen at the display. The blonde started to rub his hands together in a praying manner, crying his eyes out, "P-Please don't leave me alone, p-please don't get mad at me, p-please Aominecchi I-I'll be good, I-It won't happen again, I-I'm sorry just…please…don't leave me like they did!"

They did?—Aomine cocked an eyebrow at that word, who does he mean by they?

"I'm sorry!" Kise started crying helplessly.

Aomine knelt down holding Kise's hand stopping him in the process, "Stop that." He whispered. Kise did stop his hand falling to the ground crying. He didn't know much, but he can't take it, looking at Kise so helplessly, begging for him not to go. "Its okay, I'm not leaving, okay…never." Aomine said reassuringly, he cupped Kise's face, being a kitsune didn't made his face any less beautiful, Aomine wiped the tears off Kise's face with his thumb.

"A-Are…you disgusted?"

Aomine chuckled at how childishly that came out, "Like hell, you're everything but ugly and disgusting." Aomine said before he let go of Kise, he stood up and shed his jacket and draped it over Kise, "You should go home now, I'll come with you."

Kise nodded and stood up pulling the jacket closer to himself. Aomine started walking and he followed mindlessly behind until without noticing Aomine had slowed down so he would be walking side by side with him. Kise's eyes widen when he felt a cold fingertips brushed against his hand, before he could react his hand was snatched and was looped into the other, Aomine sneaked his hands on Kise's without second thought. "A-Aominecchi?"

"Yeah?"

"What are you doing?"

"Telling everyone you're mine."

In the end Akashi could not shake off the thought that Furihata might be the next target, he insisted on that he'll stay with him until he is sure he's safe. Furihata didn't say anything, the boy was quiet all day. It was suffocating, somehow Akashi wanted him to say anything, stutter like he always do. But at the same time Akashi understood the boy's silence was his way of mourning. The boy sat on the living room quietly with Akashi with hands on his lap, his usual smile was nowhere. The way his sadness eradicated the Furihata he knew made him guilty. This was what Midorima was saying, innocent lives getting in the line for their family, he didn't know how heavy it felt like until then. He understood now why Midorima wanted him to realize this soon, it was such an ill feeling. But he know more than anyone, this was no compared to Furihata's current situation. Furihata sighed and looked at Akashi finally, smiling weakly. "It's okay now Akashi-kun you should head home now before it gets late."

"Are you asking me to leave?"

"I-its not that but, y-you have work tomorrow for sure a-and my place is j-just—"

"Are you asking me to go Kouki?"

"I-It's j-just—"

"Yes or no."

Silence

"No."

"Good." Akashi said quickly, "I'm the CEO, if I do not go for work for a day is not a big deal, yes? And I see nothing wrong about your place."

"I-I'm sorry I didn't mean to…uhm…"

"Its alright." Akashi stood from his seat, "Say, do you have coffee in here?"

"Y-Yes, its on the cupboard in the kitchen."

"Hot water?"

"I-In the…thermos." Furihata answered. His eyes widen as Akashi moved to the kitchen, he quickly followed suite and watched as Akashi swiftly moved in the room. He opened the cupboards and finally found the small jar with dark powdered contents. He put it on the counter and moved to the get a coffee mug and a tea spoon. "I-If you wanted coffee y-you could have asked me Akashi-kun."

"Its alright, you should be resting." Akashi said as he carefully scooped an ample amount of coffee and poured it to the cup. He moved to carefully get the thermos and poured the hot water in the cup. The coffee looked nice Akashi thought as he put the thermos back to where he got it. After stirring the coffee he wondered if this would taste okay for Furihata, "Kouki would you mind coming here?"

Furihata just walked there confused of Akashi's actions until Akashi lifted to him a spoonful of coffee.

"Would you mind tasting it?"

Blinking Furihata looked at Akashi to find any hints of mischievousness, but there was none which made Furihata explode in all shades of red. "W-Wha—"

"Is something the matter? You don't have to though if you do not want to."

Furihata felt guilty, why was he getting embarrass about, its just he wanted him to taste it, there's nothing malicious about it, he mentally reasoned out. He nodded and took the spoonful. Unfortunately his tongue was not used to the taste that assaulted his palate making him cough immediately.

"It taste bad, doesn't it?" Akashi said looking at the spoon, he tried, but he just can't know what humans like Furihata likes. "I'm…no, just don't mind it."

"I-It's not that." Furihata said in between coughs, he walked to the cupboard again and reached out for a jar with white powder in it. He placed it on the counter and took a teaspoon. Akashi watched carefully as Furihata put a spoonful of the white powder in the coffee, "I noticed Akashi-kun drinks black coffee…but I don't really like bitter things."

"What did you put?" Akashi asked watching Furihata stir the coffee and closed the jar.

"Its sugar." Furihata answered. Finishing the Furihata did the same gesture Akashi did, this time Akashi did not blink or think twice taking the spoonful. He didn't react as much as Furihata thought he would, he thought he would say something like it was too sweet. Akashi remained calm.

"You like…your coffee with sugar?"

Furihata chuckled. "Yeah something like that."

Akashi smiled at him.

"You're…smiling Akashi-kun did I say something wrong?"

Akashi shook his head, "No but, you laughed just now." Akashi said pushing the mug to Furihata's side. "Its good hearing it."

"W-What?" Furihata's face flushed

A/N: KITSUNE is a fox demon(yokai) in Japanese myth, it is said to have an ability to disguise itself as a human, and when they do they are often perceived as beautiful creatures(women in most cases). That's why in this context Kise is too beautiful. Also fox, or animals are very territorial, yokai are very jealous over their chosen mate too, which makes Kise as what he behaved when Kuroko made it so that Aomine would voice out his concern to him. Meaning he was testing him, agitating Kise who he would shoe his true nature when he get angry.