Akashi was 10 years old when he first started writing to Kuroko. It started as a school initiative to have a pen pal and write letters to them every month to improve the students' writing and reading skills in English. The redhead, living in Norway at the time, was writing to the 7 year old living in Mexico. Akashi learned that both of their families had immigrated from Japan to their respective countries and both of them were studying hard to speak, write, and read English.

As Akashi and Kuroko grew up, they stayed in touch through letters. Even when they entered high school, they continued to write to each other. But when Akashi turned 19 years old, the letters stopped coming. At first, the redhead had tried to continue to write letters but he never received any replies. Eventually, Akashi stopped writing as well.

I guess he decided we should stop with these childish letters… The redhead thought to himself as he packed all the letters into a box.

Akashi's father was a single dad who worked diligently to raise the redhead. The father and son were preparing to move to Canada as Akashi's father had received a job offer. The redhead was finishing up packing his things when he had come across all of the letters that he sent to Kuroko.

Akashi sat in his room to read through all of them and reminisce about his penpal who was more like a best friend. The redhead read through the last letter that Kuroko had written to him,

Dear Akashi-kun,

I hope you are doing well. We've written to each other for many years yet I have never seen what you look like. Would you like to exchange photos some time in the future? High school has been a little rough for me, my family is planning on moving soon but I'm not sure where. I'll be sure to send you the new address so we can keep in touch!
Maybe some time when we both get cellphones, we won't have to write these slow letters. I hope one day I can go back to Japan and learn more about my heritage. It feels weird being Japanese but not knowing anything about the culture. Let's take a trip together some time!
Until next time,
Kuroko Tetsuya

I guess he moved and never got back to me... Ah, I wonder what he's doing now. I wish we exchanged photos sooner. Akashi thought to himself as he brought the box to the truck.

Canada was alright. The weather was bipolar, the people were welcoming, and Akashi even began learning French. University life was stressful, the redhead studied day in and day out. Years went by and Akashi nearly forgot about Kuroko.

Nearly.

At the age of 26, Akashi was now working full time and living in the nation's capital. However, whenever possible, the redhead went to visit his father in the maritime. On his rare vacation, Akashi made the long trip to the maritime.

The weather was much more mild and the redhead felt comforted by the smell of salt water from the ocean. The redhead walked alone along the shore of a beach when he noticed another young man walking alone.

The boy had soft blue hair and eyes that matched the water. He carried his running shoes in his hands as he walked across the hot sand. Akashi stopped in his tracks, he felt something within him resonate with the blue haired boy walking towards him.

The blue haired boy turned his gaze from the water and met Akashi's red eyes. The boy tilted his head and smiled,

"I found you."

"Ah...sorry, do you know me?"

The blue haired boy let out a light laugh that fell on Akashi's ears like rain on a spring day, "No, no. But you look a little lost, it's nice to be found."

Akashi was about to say that he wasn't lost but the stranger continued, "Do you want to get ice cream together?"

A breeze rushed past them, the sound of the waves silenced by the pounding of Akashi's heart. The redhead could only let out a single, "Sure." before following the captivating blue haired angel in front of him.

It was strange. They had just met, yet they were getting ice cream together and talking as if they had known each other for years.

"So, what are you doing here? You're not from around here." The blue haired boy asked.

Akashi chuckled, "Is it that obvious? I work in Ottawa but my dad lives here so I come down to visit as much as I can."

"I see. I moved here when I was in high school and haven't really moved since. I'm halfway through my graduate degree."

"What are you studying?"

"Law." The blue haired boy threw out his popsicle stick in the nearest trash can and suddenly started sprinting after a flock of seagulls on the beach.

Akashi watched, surprised by the burst of energy from the blue haired boy. The redhead smiled, what a free spirit. Kuroko would be around the same age as him.

When the blue haired boy came back panting, he laughed wholeheartedly. Once he caught his breath, Akashi offered to walk the other home. The sun was still shining bright in the sky despite being fairly late in the evening.

As they walked side by side, Akashi noticed that the blue haired boy was talkative. Surprisingly, very, very, very talkative.

"So...I know this is going to sound horrible because you probably got asked this all the time growing up but where are you from? Ethnicity-wise?"

"My parents are Japanese."

"Wow, mine too! Though I haven't really been to Japan, I wish I could go visit some time."

Akashi felt a familiar tug in his chest but before he could continue their conversation, the blue haired boy pointed at his house, "I'm right up here! Thank you for walking me home."

The redhead didn't want this feeling to end. The warmth that spread through his body and blossomed, he wanted to keep that for as long as possible. Akashi grabbed the other's hand gently,

"Wait. Can I...see you again?"

The blue haired boy grinned slyly, "What? Did you fall for me already?"

Akashi felt his face flush and he dropped the blue haired boy's hand, "No! I just...well, I..don't know."

The blue haired boy laughed and teased, "I haven't even told you my name though."

"Then tell me." Akashi whispered.

"Hm, how about you answer one of my questions first? This entire time that we've been together, you've been thinking about someone else. When you look at me, it's like you're looking through me. Who have you been thinking about? Must be someone lucky."

Akashi's thoughts raced a mile a second. He hated to admit it, but he had been thinking of someone else. Despite having the gorgeous blue haired angel in front of him, Akashi could only think of his long lost pen pal.

You. How beautiful you are. How free you are. How you remind me of him. How everything you say makes me think of him. How you give me so many nostalgic memories of him. I've only been thinking of you. How do you feel so close yet so far?

Akashi let out the single name that now filled his every thought, "Kuroko Tetsuya."

"Yes?"

The redhead met Kuroko's gaze, crimson eyes looking straight into the ocean of Kuroko's eyes, "I've been thinking of you."

Kuroko smiled, "You found me, Akashi Seijuro."

Their memories rushed to them like a wave crashing into the shore. The blue haired boy grabbed his lover's hand,

"Hi."

Akashi let out a laugh, "Hi. Did you know it was me the entire time?"

Kuroko shook his head, "Of course not. I was just teasing you. Call it a spontaneous attempt to flirt with you."

The redhead pulled the other into his embrace, "I missed you. Not just you, but my pen pal, my best friend."

Kuroko buried his face into Akashi's chest and smiled, "I missed you too, Seijuro."

Akashi and Kuroko got their tally mark the following day and planned their future together. They lived apart temporarily due to Kuroko finishing school and Akashi's work, but eventually Kuroko moved in with the redhead. They still constantly visited Akashi's father and Kuroko's family in the summer during their vacation days.

Their memories occasionally blurred together. With age, Akashi continued to get confused as to where he was and who he was, but he never forgot Kuroko. The blue haired boy would hold Akashi gently and help him remember. Eventually, Akashi passed away followed by Kuroko one year later.

Author's Note:
As always, I'm accepting prompts to write! We still got many to go ^^
See you in the next life