Chapter 10

Kuroko stayed with Akashi for the three days he was allowed as he healed.

Akashi felt horrible, humans healed so slowly.

Kuroko went back to after the three days. No one noticed him, so he did not have to hide his cheek and black eye. Kuroko kept Akashi's secret, but then again. Who would he tell in the first place?

Due to the gap in classes, Kuroko only saw Akashi for two hours at student council and they had the weekend free to do whatever they wanted.

Kuroko was starting to fall for Akashi. He still questioned it if others asked him, but deep down, Kuroko loved the vampire. They went on dates to town, talked in the moon dorms, went for hikes in the woods, they did about everything they could think of.

The holidays drew near, the air was growing colder and snow would be coming soon.

Kuroko looked up from his book he was reading in class and looked outside. It looked grey as if it would begin snowing at any minute.

Mr. Yagari dismissed the class and Kuroko walked to the student council room where Akashi was already waiting for him, painting decorations for the dance that was basically 3 months away, the Valentine's Day ball.

Akashi sensed Kuroko and looked up. "Hello."

"Hi." Kuroko said, sitting down. "Starting on decorations already?"

"Yep. The theme is 'You Got My Heart'." Akashi said.

Kuroko laughed softly, that was the worst thing he had ever heard.

Akashi chuckled. "Which means, we have a lot of hearts to paint."

Kuroko moaned. He could not take much more of this painting hearts stuff.

Akashi watched as Kuroko set up his work station and began to paint. He looked around and when he saw that no one was looking. He kicked into mate mode and kissed Kuroko's cheek. "How was your day?" Akashi asked quietly, wrapping an arm around Kuroko's waist.

"The usual. Get enough sleep?"

Akashi yawned and rested his chin on Kuroko's shoulder. "No."

Kuroko laughed and painted a heart frame red.

"What are your plans for winter break?" Akashi asked.

Kuroko shrugged. "I don't have any. I was just going to live with the headmaster for the two weeks, which is what happens when students don't have a family to go home to." Kuroko already told Akashi that his parents died when he was younger and he just lived in boarding schools.

"Well, you are coming with me and my clan. I have a mansion in the mountains. It needs to be used." Akashi said.

"I don't know. Are you sure that it is okay?"

"Kuroko, you are my mate. I want you to come with me. It would not be the same without you."

Kuroko blushed. "Okay. I will go with you."

####

Most students had already left the campus for break; the clan was one of the last to pack up.

Kuroko was finishing packing his bag when Akashi knocked on the door. Kagami had already returned home to America to see his parents. Kuroko let Akashi in and returned to packing.

Akashi wandered in and looked around. This was one of the few times he got to see Kuroko's room.

Kuroko finished packing.

Akashi gently wrapped his arms around Kuroko's waist and kissed Kuroko's cheek. "Done?"

"Yeah."

Akashi picked up the bag. "You may need a hoodie, it is cold."

Kuroko slid on a grey hoodie and followed Akashi locking his dorm room.

Akashi looked handsome in a red sweater with a black scarf. Kuroko had never seen him so casual before and he looked good. Akashi carried it to the limo that was waiting outside. He packed Kuroko's bag and walked Kuroko to another limo where the clan was waiting. Kuroko got in with Akashi. Everyone talked and flirted with their mates. Akashi was constantly threatening to put someone into the limo by themselves if they did not behave, namely Kise and Takao.

It was about a two hour drive, but eventually the limos wheeled up to a beautiful manor, everyone got out and unpacked.

Akashi led Kuroko up to the front door, and unlocked the mansion. He led his mate inside and turned on the lights. It was beautiful and huge, but Akashi kept saying that it was a small manor. It only had six bedrooms, seven bathrooms, a professional kitchen, a study, a fully stocked library, a billards room, weight room, living room, and both an indoor and outdoor pool complete with a hot tub.

Kuroko was amazed.

"You like it?"

"Yes. Oh… wow." Kuroko was in awe.

Akashi led Kuroko to his room. "You get your own room, if that is okay?"

"Yes. Thank you."

"No problem."

"This place, it's beautiful."

"I designed it about 150 years ago, back when it was only me, Midorima, and Kise. I thought six bedrooms would be more than enough, now it is almost not enough."

"This is such a cool place."

Akashi set his own bag down on Kuroko's bed and wrapped his arms around Kuroko's waist and kissed him.

"I love you." Akashi said softly.

"I love you too." Kuroko smiled.

"What do you say for a swim?" He asked.

"A swim? It's like 40 degrees outside."

"I meant in the heated indoor pool." Akashi said.

"Oh. Well, I wouldn't mind that." Kuroko admitted.

"Good. Get dressed. I will be back." Akashi kissed Kuroko and left Kuroko to change in the peace of his own room.

Kuroko unpacked his bag and pulled out his swim trunks which Akashi had told him to pack. He put on the trunks and slid on a white t-shirt. He opened his door and stepped out to see Akashi already waiting for him in red swim trunks and a black t-shirt, carrying two towels.

Akashi escorted Kuroko through the house. They walked through the living room where Kise and Aomine were sitting on the couch watching a basketball game with Momoi and the game was getting heated as they rooted for their different teams in the final quarter. The two kept walking and they walked through the kitchen where Murasakibara and Himuro were putting away some groceries they had purchased before they came, like milk and bread. Vampires did not eat, but they did have a werewolf and a human to feed. Himuro started cutting up some vegetables for dinner for the two. Akashi and Kuroko finally made it out to the pool, but saw that two others were already out there. Takao and Midorima were in the hot tub making out, the two ignored them.

Akashi tested the water. It was cool, but warm enough to enjoy a swim. "It feels good."

Kuroko looked at the water, uncertain. "I will get in when you do."

Akashi took off his shirt and laid it on a lounge chair, exposing his nicely toned chest.

Kuroko blushed.

Akashi waded into the water and looked up at his mate. "Want to join me?"

Kuroko took off his shirt and got in the water with his vampire mate.

Akashi gently took his lover's arms and pulled him close and held him as they swam.

The two were in their own world, completely forgetting about Takao and Midorima who were in the same room.

"When you choose to live with me, we will move here. I have lived here most of the 208 years of my life. No one bothers us. Not many know it is even here."

"Besides the limo drivers." Kuroko said.

"They are other vampires I hired. Only ones that know of this place are vampires and werewolves, the ones Momoi brings around. You are the first human."

Kuroko situated himself in Akashi's arms.

Akashi looked at Kuroko. "Kuroko, can I ask you a serious question?"

"Of course."

"Do you like me?"

Kuroko was thrown off by the question. A lot has happened in the three months since Kuroko had learned that Akashi was a vampire. It was a lot to take in, but Akashi was the perfect boyfriend. Akashi took him out to eat, slipped stupid love note poems into Kuroko's books, and even sometimes those notes were attached to flowers. They were simple things, but that is what made Kuroko fall even harder for Akashi. Akashi did a lot for Kuroko and Kuroko loved every second of Akashi's affection. Over the three months Kuroko even spent time trying to warm up to the clan, though they hardly needed any warming up. He loved Akashi's clan; they were like a family to him already. They were all so nice, but Akashi was definitely the reason Kuroko was so keen to stay. "Why are you asking me that?" Kuroko asked.

"I always feel like I am forcing myself onto you."

"No. I like you, like love you like you." Kuroko clarified and gently kissed Akashi. It was the first time ever that Kuroko had initiated the kiss.

Akashi blushed slightly and relaxed into the kiss. "Let's warm up a bit in the hot tub." He suggested.

"Okay."

The two mates joined Midorima and Takao in the hot tub.

Midorima began to talk to Akashi about something, it seemed important, but Kuroko could not hear their conversation as Takao talked to Kuroko.

"So, has Akashi given you the grand tour?" Takao asked.

"No."

"I will have to show you around then." Takao said.

Akashi wrapped an arm around Kuroko's shoulders. He kissed Kuroko's forehead. "I am going to have to run an errand tonight. So you will be alone with a few members of the clan."

"What? Why?" Kuroko asked.

"We are not drinking those damn blood tablets when we are not at school. We are going to get some fresh bags from the blood bank." Midorima explained.

"I am leaving you here with Takao, Himuro, Aomine, and Momoi. You are going to be in charge." Akashi said.

"Me?" Kuroko asked, in amazement.

"Yep. You are my second in command. I trust you to handle three vampires and a werewolf by yourself." Akashi smirked.

Kuroko gulped.

Akashi laughed. "I am teasing you. They will behave, but you are in charge."

"Oh, great. What can go wrong?"