Author Note: I realize that some of you have been waiting for what probably feels like forever. I don't apologize for the wait. Finals have been over for a while, and I don't have an excuse except that I've got two jobs and am having a rough time right now. So be nice, please, and enjoy the chapter. I'll try to start working on the next installment really soon because you all have waited long enough, and I know the wait can be frustrating.

Chapter Twelve:

They say that what can make sex great is the anticipation. All the angst, anticipation, and wanting mixing chaotically inside of a single person until a spark ignites it and the combustion burns beautifully- a multicolored fire or the sea during a great storm. But Kuroko was beyond waiting. Sure the months were flying by and they were still a new couple but the chemistry was magnetic; the two were inseparable. Aomine would inform Kuroko of his work schedule and he would then attend the pool at those times religiously. Every one of the lifeguards knew him by name now, and he'd finally met Kise and become good friends with him as well. Momoi, Kuroko's closest friend, no longer pestered him, dragged him to lame parties, or tried to get him to do a lot of things wither her. Her refusal to interrupt Kuroko's time with Aomine was admirable to Kuroko because she was respecting their space.

However, sometimes the boundaries needed to be pushed concerning space. Aomine's space to be specific.

The guy's being too . . . nice? was all Kuroko could think. It didn't matter how far gone either of them were. They could be engrossed in a 'hot 'n heavy' make-out session or simply cuddling sweetly while watching foreign films and Aomine would pull back, setting boundaries that had no apparent causation to Kuroko. His confusion was causing a considerable amount of frustration, leading to several uncommon bursts of anger . . .

~oOo~

"What's wrong, Kuroko?" Aomine was beginning to worry. His boyfriend never acted frustrated or lashed out in anger. Could I have possibly done something wrong? Kuroko had just stared at Aomine in shock and frustration as Aomine pulled back from him, pushing the hands that roaming across his tanned chest out of reach by grabbing each thin wrist and them above Kuroko's head. He had tried to make it cute, waving their arms to the music that was playing on the loud speakers at the pool.

It was after hours, they were still on the premises with other lifeguards who were flirting and dancing and getting drunk near the water, but they weren't the only ones in the water. Kuroko had complained of being overheated while dancing, and wading into the shallows had seemed like a good idea. But when Aomine went to kiss him, Kuroko had pushed him against the ledge of the pool and turned the sweet, concerned show of affection into something hotter, rougher. At some point Aomine had set Kuroko on the ledge to make it easier to bend down and reach his mouth. But that didn't matter. What mattered was that neither of them had wanted to stop. The kiss, a mixture of teasing tongues and touches while they pressed their bodies together in what was once cool water, was lasting their eternity but only a fraction of a second at the same time. There would never be enough for either of them, and they couldn't breathe. They didn't want to breathe if it would mean letting go of this feeling.

And then Aomine had pushed Kuroko away. No explanation given; no justification. He just left Kuroko hot and needy there in the shallows with two feet or so between them and Kuroko's hands waving above his head for some reason only Aomine could give. It was like the music in the loud speakers was cut, short circuited by the sparks of anger in Kuroko's eyes.

"Nothing's wrong, Aomine. Why would anything be wrong?" Kuroko asked with his head slightly cocked to the side and his eyes popped a little to give the appearance of innocence in an efforts to contain his anger.

"Well, you're not saying anything, and I thought, maybe, you would wanna go dance now?" Aomine brushed off Kuroko's remark like it was nothing. (Because how was he supposed to know if Kuroko's angry if Kuroko never says he's angry?) Before Aomine even made the choice to let go of Kuroko's wrists, his love had somehow removed his person from Aomine's grasp, gotten out of the shallows, and was moving to dry off. Kuroko's uncanny ability to 'disappear' shouldn't have worked if Aomine was solely focused on him, but there Kuroko was drying off with his towel and packing his belongings into his pool bag, readying to leave.

And Aomine was scrambling to get out of the shallows, trying to catch Kuroko before he left Aomine behind approximately knee deep in water that was suddenly freezing.

I can't let Kuroko walk out of here alone. I can't let Kuroko walk out of here alone. I can't let Kuroko walk out of here alone . . .

Kuroko simply slipped on his sandals, waved goodbye to a puzzled Kise, and headed for the exit as fast as he could move. Don't look back at Aomine. Don't look back at Aomine. Don't look back at Aomine . . . And he stopped to look back after he got out of the building and found himself face to face with a solid, tan, wall of abs and solid chest. Kuroko had forgotten how much taller Aomine was than him, which was really infuriating.

I knew I shouldn't have looked back.

Aomine just grabbed on to Kuroko's shoulders to prevent his turning around and stomping off again. Something was wrong. Something was very wrong, and Aomine didn't know what it was. He needed to figure this out.

"Kuroko, babe, what. Is. Wrong?" Aomine was done playing around, but he needed to try and stay calm because Kuroko was obviously not going to be able to.

"Nothing!"

"Obviously something is!"

"Why can't you just let go? You don't want to touch me or be with me at specific times and are fine with pushing me away, but if I do it to you it's wrong? Go back to your lifeguard friends and dance with them if you want, but I refuse to dance with you and grind up against you like you'll want me to when I can't even touch and kiss you without being pushed off you. So excuse me, but I'm going home."

Kuroko was furious. He was sick of being held and pushed away, kissed and forced back, loved and then tossed backward five steps when it was convenient for Aomine. He didn't care if he was being harsh or mean. He was tired of feeling like a toy, a plaything that could be put on a shelf when the owner chose. So he yanked his shoulders out of Aomine's grip and walked off without him.

Aomine was shocked. He didn't think that this was a big deal. Was he really pushing Kuroko away? It's not that he didn't want Kuroko. How could he not want his hot, usually shy, boyfriend? All he could feel was confusion and hurt as he watched Kuroko walk away. His first instinct was to run after him, turn him around, and give him what it was he was naively asking for, but something told Aomine that this would only ruin what they had together. So he watched Kuroko walk away, hoping Kuroko would again look back.

You're going to be strong and not look back. You're not going to be drawn to his light; you're going to resist playing the good little shadow. You're going to be strong and not look back. You're going to resist the temptation to see if he's as hurt as you feel. You're going to resist looking to see if he feels as awful on the outside as you feel on the inside. You're going to be strong and not look back . . .

But he did peek back. Just once. And that look on his face—blue eyes wide and shocked looking with eyebrows raised as tears fell, a slight forced smile on his face, and every muscle defying the urge to acknowledge a break down—nearly broke him. But Kuroko kept walking. He would not be the one waiting, hand in the air, and feeling nothing but air when there should be another hand; he would not wait for something that would never happen.

Author Note: So, don't hate me. Just breathe. Stay calm. And wait patiently for the next chapter. (It's called angst for a reason). Though I will admit that I'm stalling with this story for specific reasons . . . I hope you all at least enjoyed it? Message me your comments, good vibes, happiness, general news about the chapter, etc. Laters, Friends ;P