Author's Note: Here we are with Akashi taking their relationship even further, Kuroko opening up about his issues and a hopeful ending.

Publishing a 15.000+ word story in a week was quite a difficult journey for me - especially a story this emotional. As with all my fast-written stories, I hope there are no plot holes and if there are - ignore them! :D

Thank you everybody! I hope you liked the story! And especially big thanks to the organizers of this event who gave us the chance to rekindle our Kuroko no Basket feelings again.

Hope to see you again!

7- Stupid and Not-so-stupid Questions

Akashi decided that traveling was easier than waiting, tightening his hold of the paper shopping bag. His eyes were glued to the arrivals screens outside of the station.

For the rest of the week, his conversations with Kuroko touched no heavy subjects - and did not indicate Kuroko's thought processes. In case their relationship ended today, Akashi came with his White Day present.

Along with more gifts - for other probable endings of today's date.

His eyes moved from the screen to the door when a crowd appeared. The moment he saw the familiar light blue head, his stomach tightened.

While walking towards him, Kuroko scanned him head to toe, then glanced at the bag before focusing back to his face. When he smiled, it was large and easy. Akashi tried for one with his numb lips and frozen jaw.

"Hello, Kuroko," he said slowly when Kuroko reached his waiting spot just outside the crowd. He wasn't sure he wanted to start today's date.

Kuroko gave a smile that would compete with the one on his birthday with its brightness. "Hello, Seijuro," he said.

Akashi blinked - did he hear wrong? But Kuroko rocked on his heels, his expression expectant and hopeful. A volcano of emotion burst inside him and Akashi opened his mouth to reply in kind - but his bottom lip trembled -

He yanked Kuroko into his arms. It wasn't enough - he pulled him closer and pushed his face to Kuroko's scarf. He tightened his hold until he could feel Kuroko's ribs through his coat - it still wasn't enough - because Kuroko - Kuroko - dear, wonderful, cherished Kuroko! -

Freeing as much of his arms as he could from the tight hold, Kuroko returned his hug. With an appreciative hum, he leaned his head to Akashi's. And Akashi took a deep breath for the first time since their conversation, in this cocoon of puffy coats, warmness and Kuroko's scent.

"Hello, Tetsuya," he mumbled.

In reply, Kuroko kissed his temple. Noticing the shudder that went through Akashi, he put another kiss to his cheek. To retaliate, he kissed Kuroko's cheek too.

Then, Kuroko kissed the corner of his lips. Akashi raised his head and reached forward too but - he hesitated, looking at Kuroko's lips. His stomach clenched for a different reason this time and he felt too hot.

In this busy station, their time stilled: Kuroko's warm breath hit his cheek. With a shiver, Akashi raised his eyes to the blue ones and watched them rose from his lips. He suddenly had the impulse to lick his lips - or breathe out and watch Kuroko shiver - but he also saw in Kuroko's eyes: Not yet.

They had to talk.

So, mourning the loss of heat, contact and - well - Kuroko, Akashi took a step back but didn't release Kuroko's hand. They gazed into each other's eyes and - smiled. Akashi vaguely noticed the crowd thinning around them and then thickening again.

He jolted when a passerby bumped into his shoulder and continued on his way with a "sorry," over his shoulder. Akashi blinked after him, disoriented. Then faced Kuroko, who seemed equally confused.

"Tetsuya," he said, the name feeling so familiar yet different from his lips. Kuroko's eyes shone when he looked at him. Akashi coughed and pulled him outside the station. "We will go to the river and watch all the flowerless and leave-less sakura trees today," he announced.

Kuroko chuckled. "And you will do magic tricks with the stuff in your bag?"

"It is my early White Day present." He saw Kuroko's taken aback look to the shopping bag. "Because I received my chocolate early too."

Kuroko reached and put a kiss to his cheek. Akashi demonstrated Kuroko's shy smile-blush combo but reciprocated the kiss. Looking too warm for the weather, they grinned at each other.

Then they turned to the street leading to the river; the freezing wind blew as if it took offense at their warmness. Akashi chose this place because it wouldn't be crowded in this season - maybe he should have stopped to consider its reason.

"I talked to my parents," Kuroko said, looking ahead, as the wind messed with his hair. Akashi's whole focus turned on him, disregarding their direction, the street, and the weather. "It was about our relationship, my self-confidence issues and how one triggered the other."

Akashi bit his lip and waited for Kuroko.

"It took one conversation; my relationship status was obvious to them."

Kuroko's embarrassed head-shaking was too familiar. Akashi nudged him. "I want to hear the tale."

"It wasn't as dramatic as the one with your father. More on the side of - a scolding."

Akashi startled. "For our relationship?"

"No, for my insecurities." Kuroko paused at the end of the street and stared at the river. Then, slowly, they walked to the riverside. The wind was stronger here. Akashi glanced at Kuroko's scarf to see if it was secured tight; any penetrating cold would freeze him.

"I've told you how I couldn't see myself a part of your life with your success, money, and status. And though you drew a cozier and smaller image," he threw an apologetic smile to Akashi. "I am sorry, Aka - Seijuro. I didn't believe in that picture." Akashi tightened his hold on his hand to show his forgiveness; Kuroko was here now, it was the important thing. Kuroko put his head on his shoulder.

"I didn't believe in that picture, our relationship or your emotions because admitting to any one of them put me face-to-face with my insecurities. I couldn't accept myself at your side because that person stood as straight and confident as Akashi-kun and - I didn't believe in myself either."

Akashi waited but Kuroko seemed to have finished his words.

"And now?"

"You have always brought upon change and I was resisting it. Now - I won't." Akashi heard Kuroko's smile in his voice, "this is the part Seijuro has to help with. If you would accept it?"

"Of course I would!" He hesitated, swallowed and said in a small voice, "but I don't want you to change. Kuroko is Kuroko and I quite like this Kuroko." He blinked, "I mean, Tetsuya is Tetsuya."

Kuroko raised his head and caressed Akashi's cheek with his free hand, his lips quirked at his slip. "You have always been my initiator of change; in middle school, through your belief in me, I've found in my basketball. Now, I will find my place next to you."

"You don't need to change to be with me."

"Yes, I do."

"No, no, you don't -"

"Seijuro, to stand by your side, I need to learn to stand straight. Believe in myself, and us and - that I deserve that place."

In a small voice, Akashi asked, "what about - until now?"

"I stalled," he gave another sorry smile. "Doubted myself and drowned in stupid questions. My parents were quite adamant about the 'stupid' part."

"I like them already."

Kuroko nudged Akashi and started walking at the riverside. "They will like you too."

Akashi quirked a smile and looked at a sakura tree. He glanced at Kuroko, then at his shopping bag before returning his gaze to another tree. His stomach rolled slowly.

Reluctant but curious, he asked: "What were those stupid questions?"

Kuroko directed them to a bench facing the river.

"Things like 'do my looks suit yours' or 'am I good-looking enough to be by your side'. 'How ambitious and successful do I need to be to fit in' and 'without any knowledge of the customs or any higher education, would I only disgrace you' and 'why would his family accept an ordinary person like me' and 'what would I do if he gets bored of me?'"

"Bored!"

"And my parents had to remind me that you accepted me - even your father accepted me and that you wouldn't expect me to know any - posh stuff."

"Kuro - Tetsuya, my mother had been a housewife."

"And a member of one of the most successful families of the country."

"My father came outside the family, with no higher education, as you said."

"But he was ambitious enough to earn a place for himself."

Akashi groaned. "I wish my mother was here so she could tell how much she would like a son like you!"

Kuroko grinned. "They are stupid questions, I get it now. My parents dissected them, one by one, thoroughly."

Akashi wanted to counter-argument them too. So he could see Kuroko understand it - he would say them how many times Kuroko needed to -

One of them, he didn't comprehend though: "What was it about boring?"

"Aomine-kun," he said, Akashi winced. "Our friendship wasn't the most healthy at the end of middle school - and I had combined his regard to me with his regard to my basketball." Akashi squirmed, Kuroko glanced at him. "It wasn't the easiest being - well, me - in between five geniuses."

His heart sank; their attitude didn't help, surely.

"It is fine, I defeated all of you this year." He winked, Akashi huffed. "It was what you needed - I saw that but it took some time."

"But it damaged your self-confidence until then."

"Yeah, playing with all of you was the best and worst thing that happened to me." He pulled Akashi's hand to his lap, playing with his fingers. Both of their hands were freezing. "Last week I noticed I had to prove myself for everyone else - except you. You saw potential in me and just - waited for me to find the right path, I guess. You had already accepted me."

"Again, you are giving me too much credit."

Kuroko shook his head. "Imagine yourself wanting something you are so bad at - as bad as you can get anyway - and in this despair, the person you idolize sees potential in you. He doesn't even say that you can do it; he just says to come to him when you achieve it."

"I wasn't as - philanthropist as you make me sound like."

Kuroko laughed. A bright, light sound with the wind playing with his hair.

"You never are. I don't care." When he smiled, he shone like a star - Akashi didn't understand how he could have a low presence. "Believe in me again, Seijuro. This relationship will work!"

"I always believe in you." Akashi wrapped his arms around Kuroko, pressing him to his chest. Kuroko put his head to Akashi's shoulder and together, they watched the - grey river. As unromantic as that sounded.

"It is because I move too fast, right?"

"Hm?"

"Like, talking about a future together and assuming we will - like -"

"Get old together."

Akashi cleared his throat. "Yeah, something like that."

"Most high school students don't think that far, true. But I also understand where you are coming from."

"Would our issues resolve before becoming a problem if we took more time? Do you want me to slow down?"

"Might be - probably." Kuroko raised his head to give him a fond look. "But I also know you, Seijuro, and myself. We would have stalled until they became even larger problems." Akashi gave a relieved breath. Then stiffened when Kuroko narrowed his eyes and said: "If I don't want you to slow down - what more will you want?"

His smile was sheepish when he replied. "That you meet my father. And that I meet your parents?"

Kuroko chuckled. "I know there is more."

"And that we go to the university in the same city so -" he hesitated and blushed. Kuroko, expecting his wish, already had a smile on his lips. "So, we can live together?"

"Do you also have a ring ready?"

"Not a ring but -"

"What?" Kuroko jumped and faced him on the bench. "You didn't -"

"What did I didn't?"

They looked at each other, both refusing to admit their thoughts.

"Seijuro," Akashi loved hearing his name from Kuroko! "What is my White Day gift?"

He extended the forgotten bag with a flourish. "It is a lovely shirt the color of your eyes."

"And?"

He opened his eyes wide. "You want more?"

"Se-i-ju-ro."

Oh. So Kuroko wouldn't need to resort to using his surname when he got angry. Cool!

"And two tickets to the basketball show in the summer," he took them out of his pocket and put it on the shopping bag on Kuroko's lap.

Kuroko raised one eyebrow and waited. Akashi tried for a cooler look too - but his heart rate kept picking up speed, he started tapping his foot and now that he had the chance to present it, his hands sweated.

When he saw it a few days ago, the hopeful wish to give it to Kuroko encouraged him for the weekend but now that he could give it to Kuroko -

Well, he said he was moving too fast already.

And - this was Kuroko. Tetsuya.

Also - he wanted to see it on him.

Akashi reached to his chest pocket. "Even I can see it is too early for rings -" Kuroko huffed. "But still, I thought - I really wanted - to have something on you, that reminds you of me -" He took out the necklace from its small packet and put it on Kuroko's open palm.

He watched his expression as he took in the white gold chain - because he didn't want Kuroko to take it off and silver was an allergen - with the tiniest red stone pendant on it.

With his other eyebrow raised too, Kuroko said, "is this a 'belongs to Akashi Seijuro tattoo'?"

Akashi's cheeks were burning, even with the cold wind blowing. "I - well - not like - possession or something -"

"Are you wearing the bluestone one?"

He froze. "No," he said slowly. "I didn't know if - I would give it to you."

With a decisive nod, Kuroko stood up. "You bought this from Kyoto, right?"

Akashi nodded.

"We are buying the bluestone one - and then wear it until we can buy each other rings." With a gasp, Akashi threw himself to Kuroko's arms. His boyfriend stumbled before returning his tight hold.

"We can meet our parents in the summer holidays -"

"I want to show you our spot with father in the kitchen! And the swinging chair in the TV room. And the library! You'll love the library!"

"And I want to see my mother's reaction when you notice her in one look. Then my father's reaction to you. My grandmother will love you!"

Akashi raised his head and looked at Kuroko. "I think my father also has a personality disorder."

He grinned. "Should I be surprised?"

He barked out a laughter. "No, just - he can be hard to deal with."

"As long as I am by your side, I can deal with your father." His smile turned impish, "do you think defeating him at anything would help?"

Akashi laughed. And laughed some more.

"I love you!"

"I know," Kuroko murmured, rising to put a kiss on the corner of Akashi's lips. "I love you. I will tell you how much in detail at the jewelers while putting on your necklace so I can see how much you blush and stammer in a warmer environment."

His cheeks alight and warm laughter on his lips, Akashi held Kuroko's hand and they ran together.

The End.