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Hope you enjoy this chapter! Happy Reading!
Chapter XVI
Piles of Emotion
Thursday morning. Approximately 25 hours before the bone marrow puncture day would come. Akashi noticed how the smaller teen had gotten more easily distracted. Sometimes the red haired would see him staring blankly out of the window. Sometimes, in the middle of a conversation, the bluenette's mind would wonder off somewhere. One day, Akashi caught him looking at a calendar with extremely worried and frighten face. The kind of look that he would let it show when the bluenette thought Akashi wasn't looking.
Seeing all of those had made Akashi thought of something. He looked at Kuroko who was silently eating his breakfast. Akashi took a sip from his cup before he started. "Tetsuya, what time your study ends today?"
"I think it should be before lunch time."
"Alright." Akashi smiled. "Tetsuya, after lunch time, I am taking you on a short date." He added.
"Huh? Don't you have classes today?" Kuroko looked really confused. It is almost time for exams and being an elite school, the teachers would give them extra classes until late.
"I do. But after lunch time it will be a self study time."
Kuroko sighed and looked at him with disapproving look. "Then, you should use it for studying, Akashi-kun."
"Tetsuya, I have studied enough. In fact, now I'm studying the third year course." He said as the matter of fact.
"Then maybe you should rest. You must be exhausted from all the work and taking care of me."
"I never got tired because of you." The red haired stated in serious tone. "In fact, I want to go out and relax ." Before the smaller teen could make another excuse, Akashi cut him off. "Just consider it as you giving me reward after those hard work. What do you say?" Akashi gave him a charming gentle smile.
"But..."
"Please?" Akashi somehow managed to give him an adorable pleading look. Kuroko felt an arrow just struck pass his heart as he felt warm on his cheeks.
Kuroko blushed and mumbled "That's foul play, Akashi-kun."
"Midorimachiiii!" The copy cat team suddenly ran and bumped his back, making the other teen popped a vein. Cursing himself for doing an errand without his lucky item.
"Let's go visit Kurokochi together after school! We must give him support." He said in super loud chirpy tone while giving him a friendship hug.
Midorima freed himself and adjusted his glasses. "No. We can't."
"Eh~ But I wanna see Kurochin~.."
"Why can't we go? Wait! Did something happen to him?!" Aomine grabbed his shoulders yelled, making the glasses teen burst in annoyance.
"He's doing good! And for a thousand times, stop making ruckus in school, Aomine!"
"Tch! Then explain! Why can't we see Tetsu today?!"
"It's because he's going on a date with Akashi."
"Huh?"
"They. Are. Going. On. A. Date."
"W-what?! With Akashichi? Where are they going?!"
"Wait! What do you mean 'on a date'?" Aomine demanded.
"I don't know." He shrugged. "Now, will you step aside? I still need to finish this errand." He said walking away as fast as he could.
As the vice captain walked away, he secretly smiled. I am glad you found the answer, Akashi.
"Ara ra~ I hope Kurochin will give me date souvenir~.." Murasakibara said while staring at the gaping Aomine and Kise.
"Akashi-kun, where are we going?" Kuroko asked as Akashi opened the door for him.
"You will see later." The captain gave a playful smirked and sat beside the blunette. "By the way, you look great in that sweater."
Kuroko pouted. He knew the red haired only wanted to make him feel better. Who would look great in three layers of long sleeves shirt and a sweater in the beginning of fall? And worse, it didn't make him look fat at all. Sometimes he wondered, how much more weight he had lost.
"Please don't compare my look to yours. It's like comparing a poor peasant and a prince."
"So you are saying I look like prince?"
Kuroko knew Akashi took the opportunity to tease him. So, he decided to ignore him."I dunno... maybe." He shrugged, trying to look uninterested.
"Which one is it? A yes or a no?"
"Somewhere in between?" He looked away and faced the window.
"Oh really? Then you are not just a poor peasant. You are my long lost princess. The one I have been looking for around the world. "
"W-what…?" The surprising cheesy line caught Kuroko off guard. He turned to the red haired fast as Akashi predicted. The sly teen took this opportunity to give him a kiss.
It was a quick and short kiss. Akashi pulled back first. A satisfied smile was on his face when he saw the bluenette looked completely flushed.
Akashi ruffled his soft hair. "My princess is really cute."
Kuroko pouted and turned away again, trying to hide a blush. "That's another foul play, Akashi-kun."
"So, here we are."
"Tokyo Planetarium?"
"Yes. I saw you reading a book about this place. So, I figured you want to come here."
"As expected of Akashi-kun." Kuroko smiled in amusement.
"Shall we go?" Akashi held out a hand and soon the cold one grabbed it. "Yes. Let's go in."
They spent two hours watching star constellation. Akashi would explained the things Kuroko didn't understand.
And then they moved to another place. It took sometime before they entered a quiet area somewhere in Tokyo. From the window, Kuroko could see green and a touch of red brownish colored trees. They continued to drove up hill and stopped at the peak. The driver opened the door for them and Akashi was the first to step out as he helped Kuroko. He leaded the bluenette to a bench and sat down
"This is a place where I would visit every time I feel anxious, down or stress out." He took a deep breath and continued. "Looking at the peaceful scenery makes me forget all problems. Don't you agree?"
Kuroko nodded in awe. He was too capacitive by it. Well, who wouldn't? Seeing a big lake and tress, surrounded by nature creatures from on top of a hill in Tokyo. Kuroko thought this place was only exist in dreams. Or maybe this whole date is the dream.
"I wanted to share you this scenery. I hope this would wipe out all your worries and pull back your spirits."
Kuroko turned to the red haired. He suddenly understood the whole meaning about this date. He felt thankful as well as ashamed about his ever gloomy attitude for the last couple of days. He should have realized that it wasn't only him who felt anxious and scared but so did Akashi.
"I am so selfish." Kuroko gave a sad chuckle while he looked at the lake.
"Why you said that?"
"I never really thought how you felt. I only think about myself. How shameful..."
"You are not the only selfish being here. I also am, selfish."
"You are not, Akashi-kun!"
"Then, I will soon turn into one." Akashi said as he stood up. He squatted in front of the bluenette. He held both of his cold pale hands.
"Tetsuya, I love you. And I want you to stay here by my side forever..."
The bluenette was lost of words as he felt his heart beat faster. A tear fell down to his cheek and Akashi gently wiped it out.
"You are so selfish, Akashi-kun." Kuroko said in a low whisper. Soon more tears came out.
Akashi slightly smiled as he pulled him into a hug. "I just said I will turn into one."
"I might leave you one day."
"I will make sure that won't happen."
"But what if I do?"
"Tetsuya, whatever happens, I am still thankful that I got to meet and fall in love with you." Akashi said as he stroke the bluenette's hair. "Don't ever forget that."
Kuroko felt his heart clenched as he hugged him tight. He buried his face deeper. Back then, he didn't care that he's dying. All he wanted was to spend his remaining days peacefully, away from anyone he knows, his aunt and uncle. He did his best not to attract attention or be friends with others. He believed it is the best to disappear without people knowing. He thought it was the best choice.
Until he met Akashi, the guy who wanted to end his life. The one who wanted to throw away everything. The one who wanted to disappear. The one whom was unwanted by people. The person he thought was the same as him.
But when Kuroko saw Akashi's eyes that day. There was warmth and hope deep inside him. Those things made Kuroko realized, he was different from him. The difference later made Kuroko unconsciously held out his hands and save his. That was the reason why Kuroko proposed the idea in the first place, to save him.
But in the end, it was Kuroko whom he saved. This person had given him hope to live on. He managed to lit up his will to live. He gave him reasons to continue living. He made Kuroko once again want to fight this sickness.
But he could feel his burning desire. Every part of his body shouted. His mind was the loudest of all. I wanted to live. I wanted to stay by his side. I want to cherish him... Every day, every hour, every minute... I really do love him...
"... l love you..." he managed to crack a voice.
"I know."
They hugged each other for a long time, none of them wanted to break free. They stayed still until they were showered by the late afternoon sun. It was bright red and warm. It showed exactly what Kuroko feels now. Kuroko opened his eyes to see it. He remembered what Kise said before about Akashi being the sun and himself as the moon. And now, he fully understood. It was indeed true. He couldn't be without him.
Kuroko broke the hug and wiped his face. Then he pulled Akashi's face and gave him a quick kiss.
"That's your punishment for being selfish, Seijuro-kun."
Akashi was surprised by the bluenette sudden boldness. Another something he did that failed his prediction. But he recovered in seconds. He smiled and touched his cheek. "From now on, I'll be even more selfish. Please do prepare yourself, Tetsuya." And then he leaned in for another kiss.
End of Chapter XVI: Piles of Emotion
BabyNightmareLady: Thanks for the review! :D
shirotani: Thanks for the review! You will have to read later chapters. Though I hope you won't hate me! *smiling nervously
Rinfantasy: I couldn't agree more! XD Thanks for the review! :D :D :D
I would like to thank RyokoKitty, ILOVEGAARA, Naielle, Shiraishi'sEcstasy, troublesome1220, aka. su for adding the story in your favorite and follow list!
Thank you all! See you on the next update! Have a great day! :D
