Oh my god... I'm so so sorry for the late update. I hope this certainly-not-so-short-chapter could satisfy you all. It might be lacking in many things because I cannot describe the action part that well, but please forgive me. I'm a failure as an author...

Still unbeta'ed (Again, I'm so sorry...) if someone interested on being a (temporary) beta for this, just tell me in PM or in review or just anywhere (I put a few links in my bio on how you could contact me) Even for only this fic, I'm completely fine.

Sorry for any grammar mistake, typo, and all because it's already late (00.30 AM) in my place and my eyes is not capable on spotting any mistake now. And I don't want to delay in publishing this since it's been a while since I last updated.

Edit : This chapter is already beta'ed by C.C Brittania

Ignore this weird author note, and enjoy!

Chapter 11 :Their Journey –Through The Depth of Abyss-

"Akashi-kun, ah!"

"What?"

"P... Please do it more gently."

"I'm already gentle."

"It hurts!" Kuroko suddenly jerked back.

"Don't move too much!" Akashi reprimanded. His usually calm and composed voice was laced with the tone of urgency. "You will be in more pain if you move."

"Y... yes." Kuroko then stayed sillent, wincing a little when a surge of pain registered in his brain. After a while, Akashi let Kuroko's legs go.

"There, all done." Akashi said. Kuroko looked at his neatly bandaged right leg.

"I don't think you need to bandage it, Akashi-kun. It's only a small wound."

"What worries me is not the wound's size, but it's effect. What caused it was Akashi family's guardian dragon." Akashi said. "It's body is covered in a thick scale, sharp ears that could hear every movement, meticulous eyes that is always alert to everything surrounding it, Nose that could breath fire, and claws that's covered with a several poisons mixed into one."

"And that if its claws just graze a little part of your skin, the poison will flow from the grazed part and slowly kill you." Kuroko continued.

"If you knew that already then you should have realized why I treated and bandaged your right leg." Akashi stated.

"Yes, but you already cleansed my wound with that poison antidote in the form of ointment. There's no need to bandage my whole right leg, from my thigh to my toes. Just the place where the wound is located is enough."

"It's not bad to take a precautionary measure. I'm just afraid that something will happen to you." Akashi said and Kuroko blushed.

"O... of course. If I die, you will die too after all." Kuroko said, more to himself than to Akashi. A silence fell between them for a few minutes. Akashi stared at Kuroko and Kuroko did likewise. It seemed like there was an invisible force that always prevented Kuroko from looking away from the heterochromatic-eyed Akashi.

"Let us spend the night here. If we go through this road in the morning, we'll arrive at my house in three or four hours." Akashi said whilst scanning the vicinity with his golden eyes that had started to shine. As if on instinct, Kuroko's hand reached Akashi's eyes. His fingertips lightly traced the right eye's eyelid. "Tetsuya?"

"Please... be careful in using your eyes." Kuroko said, his voice was soft and low. Kuroko then leaned forward, closing his eyes and softly kissed Akashi's right eye. Just a soft, lingering kiss with Kuroko's lips and Akashi's eye barely touching. He stayed like that for a while and then leaned back.

Akashi's eyes widened, visibly surprised when Kuroko's lips met his eye. When Kuroko leaned back, Akashi closed both of his eyes, his hand touched his golden eye. As he opened his eyes, a small smile graced his face.

"Yes. Thank you, Tetsuya."

Both of them stared at each other once again and an electrifying sensation went through their bodies. Akashi then closed his eyes again and opened it after a while.

"The barrier spell, Tetsuya." Akashi reminded and Kuroko nodded. Kuroko walked about twenty meters and started circling the place where they sat earlier. While he was doing that, Akashi prepared their tent. When Kuroko finished, he walked to the middle of the place, where their tent was located.

"Become one with me, and protect me. Unbreachable barrier, I am Akashi Tetsuya, recognise me." Kuroko recited the barrier spell and a transparent veil started to appear from Kuroko's body, filling the area from where Kuroko stood to twenty meters, surrounding them with it.

Kuroko then walked towards Akashi, where he was already waiting for him. He stood beside Akashi, close enough so that their shoulder touched and held his hand. "Your turn, Akashi-kun." he whispered.

"You must be very tired seeing as you are asking me to complete the barrier." Akashi said softly, his free hand ruffled Kuroko's hair for a while, before stopping because his hair was a mess already. "Perfection lies within me. Unbreachable barrier, become one with me as I am one with Tetsuya. I am Akashi Seijuurou, recognise me." Akashi recited another spell.

"Akashi-kun, please don't suddenly add a spell." Kuroko said bluntly.

"Hm? I didn't add anything."

"The perfection lies within me was unnecessary."

"Is that so?"

"Yes it is so. Anyway, let's continue making the tent." Kuroko said and Akashi returned to his earlier task while Kuroko helped him. In no time, the tent was done. Kuroko laid a cloth to cover the ground then he brought their blanket and pillow inside. He immediately laid down and closed his eyes, Akashi took a spot beside him, doing likewise.

Since it was impratical to bring too many things, they only brought one big pillow and one bulky blanket with a few layers of cloth to cover the ground in place of a carpet. Although they brought two tents, they both agreed to sleep together because the tent was quite big and the pillow was sufficient for their heads.

As they started to doze off, Kuroko recalled the events that occured earlier that day.

"Akashi-kun..."

"What?"

"I... Is this real? Not some kind of hallucinatory spell?"

"Yes it's real, now prepare to fight." Akashi warned. The creature in front of them had a huge body, wings spread out, sharp scales and ready to fight.

"I thought the dragons were already extinct?"

"The Akashi's Family Guardian dragon still exists because we made a contract with it's ancestor." Akashi explained, then he sighed. "Father must have commanded it to fight us."

"Can't you control it?"

"No I can't. It's my father's dragon. It won't listen to my command, even using my voice." Akashi said.

"What's your plan then?"

"We'll attack it, of course." Akashi said. "But don't kill it. This dragon is important for our family. Let's just attack it's weak point until it can't move."

"What's the point of not killing it if in the end it can't move? A dragon that can't move is the same as a statue." Kuroko asked.

"Father will heal it afterwards. It's his dragon after all." Akashi stated as he sheathed his sword. Akashi then took out a small bottle of water and poured it over his sword.

"Holy water, cleanse my sword, make it pure." Akashi recited as he poured the water. "Strengthen it to erase the evil in whatever it touches." He continued. "Sharpen it to be able to break against the Aegis Shield."

"Three spells for one sword?" Kuroko mumbled.

"Yeah. So that it won't break if I use my Angel Summoning spell over it. It's still a speculation though, every sword that I've used always breaks after I use that spell." Akashi said, walking forward. "Support me with your spell, Tetsuya." He commanded.

"Yes, Akashi-kun." Kuroko said as he took a knife from one of his knife pockets and cut a thin line on his wrist. He then crouched and drew a magic circle around him. When the circle was ready, he stood and nodded at Akashi, who responded with a nod.

Akashi leapt forward, his sword in his right hand. He didn't go too far before the dragon got into offensive position. Its claws pierced through the air aiming for Akashi, before the claws hit him, Akashi dodged to the side and began running again.

"Surround him with invisibility, he is not hostile, he is not the enemy. Protect him from harmful eyes." Kuroko recited and Akashi became invisible to everything with the exception of Kuroko. Akashi smirked before he recited his spells.

"Fire, be my sword. Ice, be my shield. Wind, be my weapon. Earth, be my cushion when I fall." Akashi recited, though nothing happened visibly, Kuroko knew better. The basic fighting spell, making the nature one's friend and weapon. "Amaterasu, lend your power to me. Reside in my sword and engulf it with your heavenly fire." Akashi recited another spell and his sword got engulfed with a blazing fire. Akashi's right eye shined and the flame burned brighter.

Akashi immediately stabbed his sword on one of the dragon's weak spot, the place that's not covered by its thick scale. This appeared effective as the dragon hurled his claws at a random direction, trying to hit the invisible Akashi.

"Help us fight with your lightning, Thor." Kuroko recited and a flash of lightning striked the dragon. Not missing the chance, Akashi attacked again but this time it was more effective as blood started to gush out from the wound he made. However, this action seemed to anger the dragon as it started to breath fire in Akashi's direction.

Akashi dodged, but he was a step too late as his right arm was burned. He fell to his knee as he tried to chant a healing spell for his right arm. Akashi felt a little pain at his right eye but dismissed it immediately as his eyes caught the dragon, that while still breathing fire, moved toward him.

'It's actually not the proper spell I should be using on him but this is an emergency!'

"Let me share my protection to my beloved." Kuroko recited and the natural protective shield around him was halved and the rest went to Akashi. The dragon's fire breath was deflected; Kuroko ran towards him without thinking twice.

Akashi started chanting the healing spell for his right arm, while Kuroko chanted the invisibility spell for himself. When Kuroko reached Akashi's side, he also started chanting a stronger healing spell.

"I, Akashi Tetsuya, bow to your supreme power. Heal my other half, Aceso." Kuroko chanted. He then searched through one of his pocket of herbs and placed a type of herbal medicine on Akashi's burned arm. "Bless us with your healing power through this medicine, Apollo." Kuroko chanted again as he press the plant to the wound.

Too immersed in healing Akashi, Kuroko didn't notice that the dragon had started to hurl his claws again in frenzy. Akashi pulled Kuroko to the side when he realized that the dragon's claws were approaching the place where Kuroko stood. Startled by the sudden force, Kuroko lost his balance and ended up falling on the ground.

Right after he fell, the dragon's claws grazed his right leg. Akashi's eyes went wide and he hurriedly ran to Kuroko, carrying him in bridal style to the place where Kuroko originally stood, the middle of the magic circle.

"Akashi-kun!? It's alright, it's just a small wound." Kuroko said in Akashi's strong arms.

"It's not a small wound if it's caused by that dragon." Akashi said as he put Kuroko down. He searched through his bag close to them and found what he needed, a bottle of ointment. Akashi went back to Kuroko and poured a generous amount of it to his palm then carefully spread it to Kuroko's wound.

The cool feeling from the ointment made Kuroko relaxed, it soothed the corrosive feeling he got from the infected wound. From the knowledge he gained from Akashi's memories, he knew that the dragon's claws held several poison. They are severely life-threatening since they are capable of killing anyone in less than thirty minutes. "Thank you, Akashi-kun." Kuroko whispered.

"You're welcome." Akashi replied curtly as he continued working to heal Kuroko's leg. His skillful hands bandaged Kuroko's right leg; just barely enough to hide the wound since there was no time to bandage it neatly.

"Why did you bandage it? The wound won't close if you do that. The ointment made it wet after all." Kuroko asked.

"This is only first-aid. You can't get any bacteria on your wound, if you do, it will worsen." Akashi replied. "You'll be getting a proper treatment once we reach my house." He added.

The time Akashi spent on caring for his injuries was short, but in that period, Kuroko recalled his mother advice about dragons.

"If you face a dragon, especially the main family's guardian, don't fight them."

"Then, what should I do?"

"We're friends with the dragons even though we didn't make a contract with them." Kuroko's mother said. "Just sing. They will understand that you're a member of the Kuroko family." She said softly. "This is also the difference between Kuroko family and other branch families. We're close to the legendary animals."

"What song is it?" Kuroko asked.

"It goes like-"

"Tetsuya?" Akashi's voice returns Kuroko's senses.

"Yes, Akashi-kun?"

"I'm going to fight again. Can you still help me with a supportive spell?" Akashi asked and a subtle smile graced Kuroko's face.

"There's no need Akashi-kun. We could win without fighting." Kuroko stated, Akashi was dumbfounded.

"How?"

"You shared my memories, so you already know that the Kuroko family has a really close relationship with the dragons." Kuroko said, Akashi nodded. "Then, look through my memories in you once again, you will see that my mother taught me how to win against dragons." He said again.

Akashi closed his eyes for a while before opening it again. "You're going to sing?" Akashi asked.

"Yes. Please help me stand, Akashi-kun." Kuroko said and Akashi complied. They both stood in the middle of the magic circle.

"Enhance my voice, make those who hear it feel joy, Muse." Kuroko chanted a spell for his voice.

"Defend us from our enemy, surround us with goodwill. I am Akashi Seijuurou, fighting a beast, in need of protection." Akashi recited from behind Kuroko, and a thin veil of barrier surrounded them. Kuroko then began singing.

"Somewhere, over the rainbow, way up high
There's a land that I heard of once in a lullaby
Somewhere, over the rainbow, skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true"

Kuroko sang, there was no need to get to the chorus, the dragon in front of them already calmed down. The dragon bowed to them, before curling up and closing its eyes. Kuroko and Akashi watched the dragon sleep peacefully, before lowering their guard. Kuroko's legs began trembling leading to him collapsing, Akashi then carried him to the side.

"Can you walk? Can we just go a little bit further?" Akashi asked, worry was laced in his voice.

"Yes, we can go a little bit further. There are still a few more hours until sunset." Kuroko said and stood up. "Anyway, I'm sorry, Akashi-kun."

"Why are you sorry?"

"Well... earlier... you know... when I chanted the barrier spell to protect you from the dragon's fire breath..."

"Ah, the protection shield by dividing your own natural protective shield by half?"

"Yes... Since the normal spell takes thirty seconds to chant, I used the protective spell for... lover instead." Kuroko said, blushing.

"It's alright. I'm thankful that you used it, because of you I'm still alive" Akashi said. Kuroko flashed a grateful smile. "Let's go." Akashi said, and Kuroko nodded, still blushing.

Kuroko walked ahead first, although he was limping because of the grazed part of his skin. It was probably the effect of the poison that made his right leg feel weak. He walked to their horse which had been tied to a nearby tree and mounted it. Akashi followed behind him, carrying both of their bags.

"My apologies Akashi-kun. I almost forgot my bag." Kuroko apologized and took the bag from Akashi.

"It's alright. You must be tired from doing so many spells today. I'm sorry that I insisted on continuing our journey, but if we move now, we will be able to reach my house by tomorrow afternoon." Akashi said.

"It's alright. Let's go, Akashi-kun." Kuroko said and Akashi nodded. Both of them resumed their journey. After a few hours of riding, Akashi noticed that Kuroko's right leg bandage was loose, he proceeded to stop at a wide open space. Akashi deemed the area as a suitable place to rest because it was silent and bordered by several huge trees.

"Let's stop here. It will be dark soon." Akashi said. Kuroko nodded and proceeded to dismount from his horse, only to be caught by surprise when his legs couldn't support his weight. He fell from his horse, eyes wide.

"Eh?"

"Tetsuya!" Akashi rushed to Kuroko's aid. After checking his wound, Akashi tied their horses to the nearest tree. He carried Kuroko carefully in a bridal style to the middle of the empty place. Akashi laid Kuroko on the ground and started treating his leg again

"Ya... Tetsuya..." A familiar voice woke Kuroko from his slumber.

"Nghh... Akashi-kun?" Kuroko's voice was hoarse.

"The sun's already up. Are you alright?"

"Yes. I'm sorry I overslept."

"No, I'm sorry for this whole journey. You had to use your precious power and blood to fight meaningless things." Akashi said, caressing Kuroko's face.

"It's alright. The reason I'm still here, living, is because you made a contract with me. If your father wants to meet me, I have no choice but to meet him seeing as he's my savior's father." Kuroko reassured.

"If you say so..."

"I suppose we have to continue our journey?"

"Yes. It's just a little bit more- Tetsuya!" Akashi almost shouted as Kuroko suddenly fainted. "A fever..." Akashi whispered as he realized how high Kuroko's temperature was.

'Please hang in there, Tetsuya.'

Sorry if they become too OOC, I'll try editing this tomorrow.

And to those that reviewed the previous chapter, I'm so sorry I can't reply to them. But please know that I love every and each one of your review. It means a lot to me :)

Lately, I got some trouble since all of my (fake) friends are being really horrible and I just... Someone please befriend this cute fangirl /slapped

Ignore me and my personal rant.

So, interested in reviewing this chapter too?