Kuroko did not want nor did he need a bodyguard. He was now 22 years old and would soon inherit the powerful Kuroko mafia clan from his father. He was expertly trained to protect himself whether with his fists or with a gun and he did not, absolutely did not want a bodyguard.
"Tetsuya, this is Akashi Seijuro. He has been assigned as your bodyguard from today onwards."
"But father, I don't need one." Kuroko complained.
"This is non-negotiable. The closer you get to taking over the group, the more dangerous it will be. I know you can handle yourself but I want Seijuro to look after you as well."
Kuroko sighed and left his father's office with his new bodyguard trailing close behind. When he got to his room, he turned to face the red haired man.
"Listen," Kuroko started, "I'm only going to say this once because I hate repeating myself. I will never accept you as my bodyguard. I don't need one. I don't want one. I can take care of myself. Get in my way and I will not hesitate to shoot you."
Akashi stood straight and avoided the young master's gaze, "Understood."
He's the irritating, quiet type. Great. Kuroko shrugged off his shirt as he got ready to sleep. When he slipped under the covers to get some rest, he couldn't help but notice that Akashi was still standing at the doorway. Kuroko sat up, clearly irritated with the situation,
"Are you going to stand there all night?"
"I vowed to protect you. I swore an oath to the boss to protect you with my life. I will not leave your side."
The blue haired boy frowned and let out a sigh, "You don't have to protect me in my own room. No one is going to come here."
"Threats may occur at any point and any time. I must be prepared to aid you when needed."
"So you plan on staying awake all night and all day while protecting me? Are you ever going to get any sleep? Get some rest, are you stupid? You can take the spare room next door, I'll scream if I need you."
Akashi's eyes widened a little as he considered the young master's words, "I didn't think of sleeping, thank you for your concern. I don't usually do it...I will take my leave, please call for me when needed."
He smoothed out his suit and bowed before dismissing himself for the night. The door clicked softly as he left and the blue haired boy was finally alone.
Idiot. He's an actual idiot. Kuroko thought to himself as he drifted into a deep sleep.
The day after was even worse. When Kuroko woke up, he saw Akashi standing at his door. The man was already well dressed in a black suit and white dress shirt, his red hair slicked back to prevent it from irritating his eyes. He stood impeccably straight, his eyes staring straight ahead as if looking at Kuroko was a sin. It made the blue haired boy want to tease him.
Kuroko sat up on his bed, his silk bed sheets slipping away to reveal his bare torso. His skin was littered with small pale scars from previous fights. Although Kuroko didn't do many dangerous jobs within the group, he had been a part of countless fights with other rival groups.
"Hey, why won't you look at me?" Kuroko demanded, his voice still rough and groggy after waking up.
"I can't allow a lesser being such as myself look at your bare body, young master. It would be rude of me."
Kuroko smirked, "I'm not some princess, no need to treat me with such chastity. Besides, what are you going to do if someone grabs me and holds a knife to my neck. Are you going to avoid looking at me when you have to aim your gun?"
Akashi's mouth twitched into a small smile, "Are you implying that you would need me to protect you in that situation?"
This little shit… Kuroko got up and motioned for his bodyguard to come closer. Akashi stepped forward until they were a respectable distance apart, his gaze still staring ahead. The blue haired boy reached up and grabbed Akashi's face before pulling him down to touch their foreheads together.
"Look at me, does it look like I need someone to protect me?" Kuroko asked harshly as their eyes finally met.
Akashi looked at the young master. He had briefly looked at him when they met the day before but this time, he took Kuroko in fully. The young master didn't seem like the type to become a gang leader. Although he had grown, his body was physically smaller than the other members, he was strong but he still had a delicate look to him. He didn't seem like someone who would belong in a world of violence.
"Yes." Akashi said softly.
Kuroko pushed him away and scoffed, "Get out."
"I refuse."
"Are you disobeying me?"
"Bold of you to assume I was following your orders to begin with. Your safety is the boss' priority. Therefore, it is my priority. I will humbly decline orders that interfere with your safety."
It's too early in the morning for this, Kuroko turned towards the bathroom as he kicked off his clothes on the way, "Do whatever you want then."
When Kuroko finished his shower and got dressed for his university lectures, he saw Akashi still standing by the door. It looked as if the redhead hadn't moved but Kuroko noticed that his clothes were neatly folded, his bed was made, and the curtains of his room were drawn back.
Akashi followed closely behind, he drove Kuroko to the university and walked him all the way to his lecture hall.
"Listen, you're attracting too much attention. You really don't have to follow me to school." Kuroko said as he noticed the glances other students were giving him. His last name alone was enough to intimidate most students, but now Akashi's presence was making it worse.
"Kuroko! Hey!" Kagami exclaimed with a smile as he approached the young master and his bodyguard.
Akashi flinched and his hand immediately went to the back of his suit for a gun. Kuroko noticed and quickly grabbed Akashi's wrist in a death grip. The blue haired boy shook his head slowly and gave him a look that said, "Don't speak. Don't move. Don't breathe."
"Good morning, Kagami-kun." Kuroko said as he continued to squeeze Akashi's wrist, "I, uh...have to deal with something, save me a seat in class. Thanks."
Kagami pursed his lips and glanced between Kuroko and Akashi before nodding and heading into the lecture hall. When Kuroko was certain that they were out of earshot of the other students, he yanked Akashi close by his tie and whispered harshly,
"Please tell me you didn't bring a gun to the university and you weren't about to draw it on Kagami-kun."
"I bring my gun everywhere but ok. I didn't bring a gun to the university and I wasn't about to point it at that boy."
Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. He's an idiot. Kuroko pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed, "You're going to stand out here until my class is over. Luckily, this is my only class for the day. Don't do anything stupid."
Akashi stood in place as he waited for Kuroko to finish class. He texted back and forth between the other gang members but other than that, his entire being was focused on protecting the young master.
When class ended, Akashi took Kuroko back home. The bodyguard was briefly sent out on a mission by Kuroko's father so the blue haired boy finally had a moment alone without Akashi hovering over him.
Kuroko lay down on the couch of the living room and scrolled through his phone. Aomine, his father's bodyguard, stood idly in the kitchen to watch over the young master as he made tea for the boss.
"Aomine-san?" Kuroko called out gently. Aomine had always been like an older brother to the young master. When Kuroko was a child, it was Aomine who took care of him, played with him, and taught him many things. He never felt like a bodyguard to Kuroko, he was always simply a friend. The bodyguard popped his head out from the kitchen at the sound of Kuroko's voice.
"Can you tell me about my new bodyguard? Akashi Seijuro." Kuroko asked.
Aomine laughed, "The boss figured you would ask about him soon. Akashi's a bit of an odd case. He used to be in the military, specifically the special forces. He's wild, I'm pretty sure he doesn't even need sleep for a couple days. He's an absolute genius who was trained to kill at a pretty young age."
Genius...huh, I think he's pretty dumb. Kuroko thought but he nodded for Aomine to continue.
"He went rogue shortly after though. I don't know the exact details but I heard he murdered a teammate or something. I don't know the reason why nor did I ask. He was on the run when your father took him in. He actually started working for us when you were about...14 years old? I think? He was about 24 so yeah."
"Why haven't I seen him around then?"
"Oh, he's been in and out of the household. He mainly worked with external affairs but the boss decided to bring him in to protect you."
"I see," Kuroko thought about what to ask next, "is he actually a genius?"
Aomine let out another hearty laugh, "Yes. I've never met anyone more brilliant than Akashi. He has a bit of a one track mind though. Once he puts his mind to something, that's all he can really think about. I'm surprised you don't remember him though, he's the one who-"
"Daiki."
Aomine turned to see Akashi standing at the entrance of the kitchen, his voice was low, his eyes were cold. Kuroko felt shivers run down his spine at the sight of such cold, heartless eyes.
"Ah Akashi, you're back! The young master was just asking about you."
"I see. The boss is wondering where that tea is."
Aomine nodded and quickly left. The atmosphere was tense. Kuroko didn't want to get up from the couch and face his bodyguard. Akashi simply stood at the entrance to guard the young master.
"How was the job?" Kuroko asked as he observed the redhead. His eyes briefly glanced at the bandages covering Akashi's hands, "Did you run into any problems?"
"None at all."
"Your fists say otherwise."
"They weren't as cooperative as I thought they would be." Akashi muttered with a small shrug.
Kuroko laughed lightly and then he gestured for Akashi to follow him. When they got to the young master's room, he sat the redhead down on the bed and went to fetch a medical kit from the washroom.
"You don't have to…"
"I want to." Kuroko mumbled as he gently held Akashi's hands to look at his wounds. His knuckles were bruised severely. There was no skin breakage so at the very least he wasn't bleeding. He rubbed an ointment on the bodyguard's knuckles.
"I used to get into fistfights a lot when I was a kid," Kuroko said absentmindedly as he worked, "Lots of bullying 'cause I'm kind of small, people don't take me seriously. This will help reduce the swelling and it feels cold so that's a plus."
Akashi remained silent. He didn't trust himself to say anything intelligible around the young master. He was already socially awkward so he figured keeping his mouth shut was probably smarter than attempting to start a conversation. When Kuroko finished wrapping Akashi's hands with new bandages, he continued to hold the bodyguard's hands in his own.
"Akashi-san, have we...met before?" Kuroko asked, his eyes glued to their interlaced hands.
"No, young master." Akashi said as he stood up and straightened out his suit. It was a lie and they both knew it but the blue haired boy didn't press any further.
Kuroko's father gave his son a job the following day. It wasn't too difficult. He simply had to collect a debt from a group and rough them up if necessary. It was supposed to be a simple job. A simple job that didn't require a bodyguard so Kuroko snuck out when Akashi was busy. He met with the men alone.
"So what if we don't have the money yet? Why'd they send someone as scrawny as you to collect the debt?" The group of men laughed. He looked Kuroko up and down and spat at his shoes.
Kuroko's eyes twitched and he clenched his fists. Guess this is going to take longer than I thought…
A man yelled as he swung a fist at the young master. Kuroko dodged easily and landed a hard punch to the man's jaw, effectively knocking him out in a single blow. The other men began to gang up on the blue haired boy. He knocked out a couple of men before he was grabbed. Kuroko struggled, his energy drained out of him quickly. He was only able to get one arm free when the leader of the group punched the blue haired boy in the stomach.
Kuroko gasped for air, shit, why is this guy so strong… he swung his free arm at the man as he coughed, his vision blurred slightly.
The arms holding him loosened and he fell to the ground. He heard the men yelling. When Kuroko looked up, all he saw was red. Akashi's red eyes glowed as he flipped a man over his shoulder and punched another. Kuroko knew that Akashi was a trained killer, but to see him fight was something completely different. Kuroko felt scared.
Akashi fought with the same amount of elegance as a ballerina. His movements flowed one after the other, his arm swinging perfectly with the rotation of his hips. The redhead pinned the leader to the ground and held his right arm before pressing a knee hard to the bone.
"I'll break it." Akashi spat out, the hatred thick in his voice.
Kuroko's eyes widened at the scene in front of him as a memory from his childhood surfaced in his mind. A memory which he had forgotten.
"I'll break it."
The man whispered into Kuroko's ear, his voice laced with menace and certainty. The man held his left arm, his knee pressing onto his arm, the rest of his bodyweight pushing his chest against the cold pavement. He should be scared, Kuroko knew he should be scared but he couldn't help but rise to the challenge.
"Do it then, you bastard."
"I want to hear your screams as I break every bone in your body one by one."
"As if I'll give you the satisfaction of hearing my cries."
The sound of his arm breaking, the crack of his bone, the taste of blood in his mouth as he bit down on his cheek to stop himself from screaming, the feeling of hot tears rolling down his cheeks, the pain registering through his body, his vision blurring from the pain, red eyes.
Kuroko got up from the ground and wrapped his arms around his bodyguard, "Stop, Akashi-san! I'm fine, don't worry."
Akashi's body was tense, he grit his teeth together, his pupils were blown wide. So many emotions coursed through him; mainly anger and fear. He continued to hold down the man as he felt Kuroko's arms tighten around him. Akashi's thoughts overflowed his brain, all he could think about was protecting the young master.
I swore an oath to protect you. I swore an oath. How dare these filthy scum touch you? How dare they hit you?
"I don't want to see you like this...please, let's just collect the debt and go home." Kuroko begged, "Look at me. Let's go home, Akashi-san."
Akashi relaxed as he lost himself in Kuroko's beautiful eyes. He dropped the man's arm, stood up to fix his suit, and pushed back any stray hairs. They demanded for their money and left once they made sure everything was accounted for.
Kuroko felt ashamed. He knew it was stupid of him to collect a debt from a group of men completely alone. No matter how strong he was, he was only one against multiple. He usually took at least one other gang member with him but he really didn't want Akashi to follow him around. Somehow Akashi had found him anyway. They sat in the car in a tense silence.
"Are you alright, young master?" Akashi's voice cut through the air like a sharp blade. It made Kuroko want to curl up into the car seat and disappear.
"I'm fine." He muttered.
Akashi scoffed, "You're so stupid."
Kuroko kept his eyes glued to the window but he was able to catch his bodyguard's reflection.
Ah...He's mad. He's really really mad… I don't even know what to say. He's right, what I did was stupid. I can't even argue with him.
He didn't respond. There was nothing he could even say to make the situation better. Akashi sighed and then silently drove back home.
When they got back home, Kuroko kneeled before his father as Akashi summarized what had happened. The blue haired boy got an intense scolding and then his father started to scold Akashi for not being able to protect the young master properly. The redhead stood straight and still.
"If you're unable to protect Tetsuya then what exactly is the point of you. What were you doing?"
"I apologize sir. It is my fault."
"You understand the consequences." His father motioned for some of the other members in the room to grab Akashi. The blue haired boy knew all too well that they would torture his bodyguard.
"No!" Kuroko yelled, "It wasn't his fault! I snuck out of the house while he was away because I did not think I required a bodyguard for the task. I am the one who caused this mess. Don't hurt him!"
His father's expression hardened, "It does not matter if you run away. Seijuro is not supposed to let you out of his sight. The consequences are not severe, it does not concern you."
Kuroko stood in front of Akashi and drew his pocket knife to stop the other members from coming closer, "Don't you dare lay a finger on my bodyguard. He is mine and mine alone."
Kuroko's father sighed, "You never change, Tetsuya. Fine...off you go. But be sure that there is no next time."
The young master grabbed Akashi's hand and dragged him back to his room. He felt embarrassed. It was his fault that this whole mess had occurred to begin with and Akashi was more than ready to face the consequences for him. Kuroko slammed his door shut and pushed his bodyguard against it.
"Don't you have a sense of self-worth? Why would you just accept torture like that when it wasn't your fault?" Kuroko yelled at him.
This whole night has been a mess. Everything has been a mess since Akashi-san showed up. And this stupid bastard doesn't say a word when I yell at him like this. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot.
Akashi leaned against the door and gently grabbed Kuroko's hand. He placed the young master's hand over his pounding heart.
"My life belongs to you, young master. I vowed to protect you."
Kuroko felt the bodyguard's heart beat against his chest. It was grounding. They both stood at the entrance of the bedroom and calmed down. Akashi decided that he wouldn't leave Kuroko's side, even if it was for sleep, so he decided to sleep on the couch in the young master's room from now on.
After the messy situation during the evening, Kuroko didn't even have the heart to argue with his bodyguard. While Akashi was taking a shower, the blue haired boy collapsed onto the bed and started to get lost in his thoughts.
During the fight earlier, he was sure he remembered something. It was like a distant memory that kept wanting to resurface. The sound of his arm breaking, the crack of his bone. Kuroko brushed his fingers against his left arm.
I remember breaking my arm when I was young...But how? How did I break it…? Father told me it was an accident while playing but I don't think that's what it was. My arm wasn't just broken, I had some serious cuts too.
"Is your arm hurt? Let me see."
Kuroko turned to see Akashi wearing nothing but a loose pair of sweatpants, water droplets still glistening against his skin. His hair was down, unlike the usual slick back that he wore during the day. Tattoos of flowers and snake scales traveled up his entire left arm and there were the slight beginnings of another tattoo on his right hip, most likely continuing lower onto his thigh. It made Kuroko want to strip Akashi bare and uncover every single tattoo that the man potentially had. He wanted to trace lines over every secret, every scar, every mark on his body. He wanted everyone to see that Akashi was his. Kuroko swallowed a lump in his throat and he did his best to stop staring at Akashi's chiseled body.
"I'm alright. I just thought I remembered something."
Akashi grabbed Kuroko's wrist and inspected his arm by tilting it to the left and right. When he deemed that the young master was ok, he went to his makeshift bed on the couch and tried to sleep. Kuroko tried to sleep too. Things changed between them after this incident.
Akashi and Kuroko slowly started to get along. More so, the blue haired boy started to tolerate his bodyguard's existence. They traveled together at all times, they went to collect debts together, they slept in the same room together. The only time Akashi allowed Kuroko to be alone for more than an hour was during his university lectures. The bodyguard simply stood right by the lecture hall, ready to spring into action if needed.
Kagami was never afraid of Kuroko. He knew Kuroko was the heir to the infamous mafia group but he didn't let it bother him. They became best friends and have been studying together since their first year.
"Kuroko, about your bodyguard, is he going to follow you around like that all the time?" Kagami asked with a laugh. They sat in class together near the back of the lecture hall so they could whisper to each other.
The blue haired boy let out an exasperated sigh, "Don't even get me started on Akashi-san. That man is insane, I swear."
Kagami raised an eyebrow at his friend and gave me a sly smile, "Yeah but you secretly enjoy his company."
Kuroko felt the heat rise to his cheeks, "I mean he's nice and strong. He's just a good person to have around."
"Hm, says the guy who was complaining every day that he doesn't need a bodyguard."
"And I still don't need one!"
Kagami laughed, "Alright, I'll stop teasing you. Do you think we'd be able to go for lunch after this lecture? Or are you busy with...gang stuff."
Their lecture ended and they packed their bags to head out. Kuroko sifted through his schedule, he was completely free today.
"I can go out! It's been a long time since I ate lunch away from the house."
Just as they exited the lecture hall, Akashi stood with his arms crossed. He was impeccably dressed as always, his gun well concealed on his waistband behind his back, and he was frowning when he overheard Kuroko's lunch plans.
"No, it's too dangerous." Akashi said sternly.
"What if you follow behind us, Akashi-san?" Kuroko tried to reason with him, it was just one lunch. How bad could it be?
"I said no."
They stared at each other with unshaking resolve until Kuroko sighed and dragged Akashi to the washroom for a more private talk. Kagami waited patiently, arguments between Akashi and Kuroko were fairly common and he had grown accustomed to waiting.
The blue haired boy pushed his bodyguard into a bathroom stall and locked the door, "One lunch, please."
"What if something bad happens?"
Kuroko gave a sly smile as he moved closer to Akashi in the cramped stall. He lightly dragged his hands down the redhead's chest until he tugged him closer by the belt loops of his pants, "I have you to protect me, don't I? Nothing bad will happen."
Akashi's hands rested firmly on the young master's hips, preventing him from moving any closer. He pursed his lips, it was true he could easily protect Kuroko but he also had a "better safe than sorry" mentality. He didn't want to see the young master get hurt.
Then again...I don't want to cheat him of his remaining days as an actual student. Once he fully becomes the boss, he's not going to have these moments with his friends…
"Fine," Akashi said, "one condition though. If I say we go, we go. No questions asked."
Kuroko nodded frantically, his eyes glowing with happiness. He leaned up and kissed Akashi on the cheek, "Thank you!"
The lunch went well. Kagami and Kuroko sat at a table together while Akashi stayed a couple of tables away. They had invited the bodyguard to sit at the same table, but the redhead preferred to isolate himself from the young master whenever possible. Akashi listened attentively to Kuroko's laughter. It was sweet. He's loved the young master for 8 years now and continued to serve the Kuroko family for as long as he lived. The young master was kind, beautiful, and brave. Akashi could never find another love stronger than Kuroko.
When Kagami and Kuroko parted ways, Akashi followed closely behind the young master as they made their way home.
"Akashi-san? When will you tell me about yourself?" Kuroko said as they walked slowly. They always walked slow together as if they were trying to extend the time they spent alone.
The redhead replied smoothly, "When you start asking the right questions."
"What did you do in the special forces?"
Akashi flicked Kuroko's forehead, "Wrong."
The young master rubbed the sore spot on his forehead but tried again, "Did you really kill a teammate?"
Another flick, "Wrong question."
"Why did you willingly start working for us?"
Akashi stopped in his tracks. Now that's a good question, you never cease to amaze me Tetsuya.
The bodyguard faced the young master. There were many things he could say to answer that question. He could lie, that would be the easiest. But Kuroko wouldn't accept a lie. Most of the gang members had sworn their oaths by force. Usually due to excessive debt. Akashi on the hand had volunteered to swear his oath. He had walked in with his own two feet, kneeled before Kuroko's father and asked to work for him.
Akashi brushed his fingertips against Kuroko's cheek. They leaned closer together, Kuroko's eyes now half-lidded. Their lips a breath apart. The redhead held Kuroko firmly before their lips could meet and he whispered,
"Because of you."
Kuroko's eyes widened. It was too familiar, everything about Akashi was too familiar. He winced as he felt another memory resurface in his brain.
Kuroko's left arm was broken. He could feel himself bleeding in multiple places where he had been stabbed. He was barely able to stay conscious when he felt an arm wrap around him and loud gunshots. He could hear a faint voice.
"Shit, stay alive. Don't die, kid."
He wanted to say something but all he could do was lie limp in the strong arms that held him. He could only listen to the man's racing heartbeat, he could only hear the gunshots being fired. He saw red eyes.
"This is all because of you."
When Kuroko got over the pain pounding in his head, he saw Akashi's concerned eyes. Those red eyes. Suddenly, Kuroko couldn't take it anymore. He grabbed Akashi's tie and crashed their lips together in an open mouthed kiss. It was messy but it was exactly what Kuroko wanted. He grasped at Akashi's red hair, his fingers pulling it from its usual perfectly slicked back hairstyle. He let out a small whimper when he felt Akashi's hands wrap around his waist. He wanted more. More. More. He wanted Akashi to lose his composure. He wanted to ruin him and be ruined by him. He wanted everything.
The bodyguard pushed Kuroko away, "Young master, this is inappropriate. Let's head back home."
"But-"
"No, we're going. No questions asked, remember?"
They walked in silence for the remainder of the trip but both of them couldn't hide their flushed faces. When they arrived back home, Kuroko's father had another debt collecting job for his son. Akashi and Kuroko didn't speak as they got ready for their job.
They faced each other at the entrance of Kuroko's bedroom. Akashi helped the young master put on his suit jacket and made sure his gun holster was fastened correctly. Their eyes didn't meet. It felt lonely.
Things didn't go as planned. The small group of men who owed a debt to Kuroko's father ended up being a fairly large group of men who wanted to kidnap and use Kuroko as a hostage for a ransom. They had expected 3 or 4 people but were met with at least 8.
They pointed their pistols and knives at Akashi and Kuroko the moment the duo walked into the warehouse. Kuroko raised his arms and motioned for Akashi to do the same. They surrendered.
Akashi and Kuroko found themselves gagged with their hands tied behind their backs. Kuroko was surprisingly calm, he breathed deeply as he tried to think of a way out of their situation.
They took away the guns in our holsters but Akashi-san still has his gun in his waistband...That's one weapon I guess. I still have my pocket knife, I can probably get out of my bindings...It's ok, everything is going to be alright.
Akashi analyzed who he was going to have to deal with. His priority was Kuroko's safety and he wouldn't let anyone get in the way. He just needed time to get out of his bindings.
"How much do you think we can get for Kuroko Tetsuya?" A man said with a laugh, "The young master of such a prominent group…and he's only guarded by one useless bodyguard. This was a lot easier than we thought it would be."
Kuroko grasped his tiny pocket knife between his fingers and frantically tried to cut the rope binding his wrists together.
"Speaking of the bodyguard, what should we do with him?" Another man stood by a table, he sharpened a knife.
"We don't need him. He'll just be a bother if we let him live."
Please...please, cut. Kuroko thought as he worked as quickly as he could manage. One of the men approached Akashi with the knife, please...please...I just need to grab Akashi-san's gun.
The rope binding Kuroko's wrists snapped, he dropped the pocket knife and dove for Akashi. The blue haired boy grabbed the pistol concealed in his waistband and his thoughts raced for a solution.
I can't shoot all of them. They'll just shoot back… I need to stop them from hurting Akashi-san. I need to do something. Anything...something...anything to turn their attention away from Akashi-san.
Kuroko pointed the gun at Akashi and pulled the trigger. The bullet lodged in the bodyguard's right shoulder and Akashi fell back. That should stop them from thinking of him as a threat. Fuck, I really told him I'd shoot him if he got in my way.
Kuroko stood up hastily and pressed the barrel of the gun against his own temple. "Stay back, I'll shoot myself."
Akashi winced in pain but he continued to struggle against the ropes binding his wrists, I can't believe the young master just shot me. This kid, little bastard...he's asking for a beating.
The group of men were hesitant to approach Kuroko now that he had a gun to his head and was threatening to kill himself. The blue haired boy stood in front of Akashi's bleeding body protectively as he eyed the group of men. Obviously if possible, he didn't want to shoot himself.
The stand still didn't last long. One of the men drew his gun and pointed it at Kuroko.
"This is stupid. We just need you alive, doesn't mean you have to be healthy and well. You can lose a limb or two, I'm sure you'll tough through it."
He fired a shot into Kuroko's left thigh. The blue haired boy winced but did his best to calm himself through the pain. He shot two of the men before he got shot in his right arm as well. Kuroko dropped the gun and fell to the ground while clutching his arm.
No! No...I have to live...I want to live. Kuroko felt the pain spread through his body like a wildfire. His clothes began to feel warm as his blood soaked through it. I have to stay awake, I have to live.
An arm wrapped around his shoulder and pulled him close. Kuroko looked up to see that Akashi had freed himself from his bindings and grabbed the gun which he had dropped. The redhead shot fast and with insane precision. Even with Kuroko in his arms, he was able to move and find cover while taking down the men.
"Stay awake, young master. This will be over soon." Akashi's voice echoed in his ears. Kuroko slowly sat up and ripped his shirt to tie around his wounds. The pressure hurt but the compression helped to numb the pain. He searched for a stray gun on the ground dropped by the other men and sat with his back to Akashi's.
"I'll cover you." Kuroko said, his eyes focused, the adrenaline pumped through his body, the pain became a dull ache.
When they cleared the area of danger, Kuroko felt the energy drain from his body. He leaned against Akashi, the blood loss causing his vision to blur.
"Akashi-san, take me home please."
"Of course, young master." The bodyguard gently picked up the blue haired boy and kissed his forehead.
Akashi's shoulder was throbbing from where Kuroko had shot him but he still carried the young master to the car. He drove at an alarming speed to their private doctor and only allowed himself to relax when he was told that Kuroko would be alright. Akashi collapsed.
Kuroko had the most intense dream. It felt like a memory. In his dream, he was a 14 year old again. He was playing in the abandoned warehouses where his father told him not to go when he heard someone cry out in pain. Kuroko scrambled to hide behind a stack of boxes and peeked out to see a man with red hair lying on the ground. He was bleeding.
A group of men surrounded this red haired man, they beat him, they kicked him. The red haired man winced in pain but didn't move. One of the men spat on him and grabbed his hair. The injured man's head was yanked back.
"You thought you could escape us? Akashi Seijuro, the man who went rogue. We're all hunting for you. You thought you could live a peaceful life? Not after you shot the boss like that, you'll never be able to hide. Never."
Akashi laughed weakly, "The boss was a scumbag. He was running a human trafficking business right under our noses the entire time. I was just doing my job."
Kuroko felt himself trembling, he watched in horror as the men continued to beat the red haired man. Akashi's eyes met Kuroko's and suddenly Kuroko was running.
He ran and screamed as he tackled the man who was grabbing Akashi's hair. The man stumbled slightly and let go of Akashi to deal with Kuroko.
"What the- what is this brat doing here?"
"Leave him alone!" Kuroko screamed as he tried to kick the man. The blue haired boy was punched and pinned to the ground. The man held his left arm and pressed down,
"I'll break it."
"Do it then, you bastard." Kuroko spat out.
The man laughed, "So brave for such a young age. So brave and so foolish. Hm, I recognize you. Ah! You're the heir to the Kuroko family. Now what's a young master like you doing in a place like this?"
The blue haired boy struggled against the man's grasp, "Let me go!"
"I want to hear your screams as I break every bone in your body one by one. And then maybe I'll drop you off right in front of your house. I'm sure your father would love to see that."
"As if I'll give you the satisfaction of hearing my cries."
The man broke his arm, Kuroko bit his cheek to stop himself from screaming. Tears streamed down his face but he didn't make a sound. The man let him go,
"I'm not too into beating children so I'll let you off with that. Now back to our traitor."
He started walking towards the red haired man who was still lying on the ground. Kuroko breathed hard through the pain, he was seething with anger. He watched the man walk towards Akashi. He watched as the man drew a knife. Everyone's attention was turned towards the beaten red haired man.
Kuroko stood, the pain coursing through him like lightning, but he put himself between the man and Akashi. He looked up at the scary man, he felt so small and terrified but he stood his ground.
"No! Don't hurt him…"
The man kicked him, "I guess one arm wasn't enough. You're quite persistent. Maybe if I cut you up a little…"
The knife dug into Kuroko's arm. The blue haired boy grit his teeth together as he let out a muffled scream. He didn't want to cry out. He wanted to save that red haired man. He wanted to be stronger.
He felt so useless when the man turned his attention away from him again. He felt completely and utterly useless. The man watched with a menacing smile as Kuroko crawled helplessly towards Akashi. The blue haired boy kneeled in front of Akashi's body, he didn't have the strength to stand anymore. There was something about the way Akashi had looked at him that made him want to do everything he could to save him. Something in his eyes sparked a new emotion in Kuroko.
"Leave him!" Kuroko yelled, "He's mine!"
An arm wrapped around him and pulled him back into a warm embrace. He heard loud gunshots. He watched the scary man with the knife fall to the ground, followed by the other men. He heard someone whisper in his ear.
"Shit, stay alive. Don't die, kid."
He felt himself go limp in those strong arms and he listened to the man's heartbeat. He saw red eyes.
"Hey kid, stay awake. You really saved me there. I wouldn't have gotten up if you didn't say such a bold statement like that. This is all because of you. I'm yours, huh?"
Kuroko passed out. When he woke up again, he was in the red haired man's arms. They were walking somewhere, it was raining lightly. The red haired man rang a doorbell. Kuroko heard his father's voice.
"Who are you? What are you doing with my son? How did he get these wounds?"
Akashi got down on his knees, "It's my fault. Your son saved me...please let me serve you. I vow to give my entire life to your son. He needs help, his left arm is broken, he's been cut up a couple of times...he was trying to help…"
Akashi fell unconscious with Kuroko in his arms at the mafia boss' feet.
When Kuroko woke up with a cast around his arm and bandaged everywhere, he couldn't remember what had happened and everyone around him told him lies about how he got injured. They had told him his memory was probably hazy due to the trauma, he injured himself while playing, it was an accident. So many lies. But Kuroko couldn't forget those red eyes.
Kuroko woke up with a gasp. He was on his bed, his shoulder and leg were treated but still sore. He looked around the room and saw Akashi standing by his bed.
"Young master," Akashi's looked concerned, he hesitantly moved closer, "I'm sorry."
"Why are you apologizing?" Kuroko mumbled. He reached out his hand and brushed his fingers against Akashi's cheek.
Akashi leaned into the touch, "I failed to save you again."
Kuroko shook his head and smiled, "You're always saving me from my stupid and reckless actions. Just like when I tried to save you all those years ago."
His eyes widened, "You remember?"
"Come here." Kuroko whispered as he wrapped his arm around the bodyguard's neck to pull him closer, "Let me have this."
Their lips brushed together in a timid kiss. Akashi held Kuroko's hand as he leaned into the kiss. There was a certain hunger between them that began to surface. Kuroko lay back on his bed, bringing Akashi down on top of him. Akashi smiled into the kiss when he felt the young master run his fingers through his hair. Kuroko whispered against Akashi's lips,
"You're mine, aren't you?"
Akashi hand gently brushed up Kuroko's thigh before trailing under his shirt. He chuckled as the young master tugged him closer, "All yours."
Once they recovered, Kuroko's father gave both of them a stern scolding, as he always does. He called out Kuroko on his blind bravery and that he shouldn't try to pick a fight with anyone and blamed Akashi for encouraging this behaviour. In the end, he also apologized for sending them into a trap and failing to thoroughly check the backgrounds of the men who had ambushed them. Kuroko then announced to his father that he was going to pursue a serious relationship with Akashi. His father laughed and confessed that he had already suspected they would be together ever since Akashi showed up at their front door.
Kuroko took over the group a couple years later at the age of 25 with Akashi by his side as a bodyguard. With Kuroko's reckless behaviour and Akashi covering for him, they were able to grow to be a group stronger than ever.
They regained their memories one evening when Kuroko had demanded to see all of Akashi's tattoos. His fingers traced over every line on Akashi's back as they curled up together on the bed. They got their 63rd tattoo the day after and continued to work together in the mafia group.
Akashi and Kuroko both passed away during a gunfight. They bled out on the concrete and squeezed each other's hands in a gentle affirmation that they would see each other again.