Disclaimer: I own nothing but the story

"Thoughts"

"Normal speech"

A/N: This is going to be really slow, just lots of bonding, coz you know…attraction happens at first sight but love comes when you get to know the person


The late afternoon light beamed down through the skylight on the two figures below. Both were seated at the sofa and both were immersed in their own tomes. The halls of the bibliotheca was muted and filled with whispers and shuffles. To the two figures, stretched out on the sofa below, were in quiet contentment. Their silence a comfortable presence to the both of them.

"You never told me where you went last time," Akashi said leaning back on the sofa the two were currently sitting on.

"Pardon?" Kuroko asked turning the page of his book.

"Where you went off to last time, where did you hide such that I could not find you?" Akashi adjusted his body so while he was leaning back he could face Kuroko.

"What makes you think I did not leave the library and just went home?"

"I know you didn't"

"Why are you so sure?" Kuroko said tilting his head up and cocking it to the right.

"I am always right"

"You're always right?" Kuroko cocked an eyebrow at that.

"Of course," Akashi said smugly. "I am absolute."

"You've never been wrong?"

"Never"

"Even as a child?"

"Even then. Although it was annoying to defend myself all the time when anyone tried to prove me wrong."

"I can image," Kuroko smiled

"Really?" Akashi prodded.

"Yes."

"Why?"

"It would have been so adorable," Kuroko grinned even wider.

"EXCUSE ME!?" Akashi frowned.

"Look at it from my point of view," Kuroko calmly explained. "A child running about like he owns the place and looking up at you with big eyes telling you 'he's absolute'. Then he totally does a 180 and you have to hold his hand or wipe away his tears or chase away nightmares. A really stubborn but vulnerable child would be so cute."

"I was not vulnerable"

"You weren't a cute child?"

"I think cute is a strong word"

"Cute babies grow to become beautiful people," Kuroko bargained.

"…I'm having difficulties coming to terms with your explanations," Akashi chuckled.

"Fine then," Kuroko sighed. "Imagine myself as a child."

"You would be a cute baby," Akashi nodded. "Remember to ask Tetsuya for baby pictures," he mentally noted.

"So I'm told, anyway supposing my child self would like vanilla cake before a meal what would you allow me to?" Kuroko said gesturing Akashi to play along.

"Of course not you would spoil your appetite," Akashi followed.

"If told that I would stubbornly deny," Kuroko cocked his eyebrow.

"I would insist you eat it after your meal."

"If I insisted I could eat both the cake and dinner?" Kuroko challenged.

"I wouldn't believe you," Akashi muttered slowly.

"You should because 'I am absolute and I can eat both the cake and dinner'," Kuroko mimed.

"That would be cute," Akashi laughed.

"Right? " Kuroko said with a small smile. "And soon afterwards I would stubbornly stuff myself full of food even though I really did lose my appetite just to prove you wrong."

Akashi laughed.

"In my case I wouldn't need to force myself, it would be true after all," he said.

"What's it like?" Kuroko asked.

"Being right all the time?" Akashi asked to which Kuroko nodded.

"Well," Akashi started shifting himself, "It can be extremely satisfying, " he concluded.

"But?"

"Why do you think there is a but?"

"That's it? Satisfying?"

"What would you believe then?" Akashi prodded.

"I would think it would be exhausting. All that pressure, everyone relying on you and depending on you…" Kuroko trailed off.

"I'm used to it" Akashi sighed.

"Used to it?" Kuroko repeated.

"You do know who I am right?" Akashi said.

"My crazy, obsessive stalker?" Kuroko answered immediately.

"Is that what you really think of me?" Akashi stared at him in mock shock.

"It is who I see," Kuroko said sarcastically.

"So I guess you are unfamiliar with my family," Akashi crossed his legs and sat up straighter, his face schooled into a cool expression. "The Akashis are-"

"Extremely rich, extremely powerful and extremely influential, I know" Kuroko interrupted before Akashi could delve into his family's clout.

Akashi sharply glanced at Kuroko, "So why did you say that you didn't know me?"

"I did, I do not you at all, all I have is a face to your name," Kuroko shrugged. "You don't ask anything and you don't tell anything either. I don't know you at all. We're technically acquaintances."

"But you know of my family?"

"Yes you are an Akashi, but I don't know your likes and dislikes, your dreams, your secrets, all I have is you and your very annoying company."

"I thought I grew on you," Akashi teased.

"More like I resigned myself to your perseverance," Kuroko shrugged once more.

"So you don't care about my family?" Akashi routed back to questioning.

"Should I? It's not like we're engaged and you're going to introduce me to them anyway," Kuroko brushed off.

"Yet you don't ask me anything," Akashi said.

"You don't either," Kuroko countered.

"That is true," Akashi conceded. "We're practically strangers aren't we?" he laughed.

"Well, that is not entirely true," Kuroko cocked his head.

"Why?" Akashi asked.

"Well," Kuroko began. "I know you're not constrained to specific topics. You like everything and is interested in anything: art, politics, fiction and journals, you read them all. I also know that you are aware that you can be a little intimidating sometimes and you use that to your advantage when you queue for the library books and cut ahead of everyone else. You are particularly incessant with your questioning but you seem to value silence a lot. You also- what?"

Kuroko looked at Akashi shocked face.

"I think that's the longest you've ever spoken," he breathed out in amazement.

"Where you even listening?" Kuroko pouted.

"Of course I have! Why do know all those things?" Akashi quickly asked.

"I have a tendency to unconsciously observe people a lot, why do you look so surprised?"

"You, you… I always thought you ignored me," Akashi finished.

"Well, you know I think you're annoying. And creepy. And irritating. And-"

"But?" Akashi cut in.

Kuroko glared at Akashi but then continued, "But, I don't think you 're that bad."

"I think that's the best compliment I have ever received," Akashi said seriously.

"Were you even listening to the first part?" Kuroko added.

"It's still the best," Akashi smiled genuinely at Kuroko catching him off-guard.

"I don't think it even classifies as a compliment," Kuroko mutters.

Meanwhile Akashi was elated. "He doesn't care about my family's wealth and he doesn't hate me after all!" he happily thought. "I knew he was special."

"Akashi-kun, Akashi-kun," Kuroko's voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Yes Tetsuya?" he called out.

"What are thinking about?"

"Nothing important," Akashi smiled.

"Somehow I don't think so," Kuroko narrowed his eyes at him.

"You don't trust me Tetsuya?" Akashi cheekily challenged.

"Since when are we so familiar to each other Akashi-kun?" Kuroko sidestepped.

"You can call me Seijuro if you want to, " Akashi replied.

"Akashi-kun is fine."

"I insist."

"Akashi-kun," Kuroko whined.

"You said you wanted us to know each other better," Akashi raised his index finger.

"Akashi-kun."

"Tetsuya."

"Akashi-kun."

"Tetsuya."

"Akashi-san," Kuroko cocked his brow.

"Tetsuya."

"Akashi-sama," Kuroko crossed his arms across his chest.

"We'll work on that next time," Akashi sighed.

"Looks like you're not absolute at all, Akashi-kun," Kuroko triumphantly said.

"This is what you call a tactical retreat," Akashi defended.

"So you surrendered Akashi-kun?" Kuroko said with an over polite tone.

"I did no such thing," Akashi narrowed his eyes.

"But you still surrendered."

"I did not surrender. Surrendering means I give up. A retreat, which I repeat is what I did, is a tactical decision to fight a battle another day."

"Mou, Akashi-kun you're no fun," Kuroko pouted.

"I told you Tetsuya, I am absolute," Akashi proclaimed.

Kuroko lifted his book to his face and rolled his eyes.

"I saw that," Akashi said.

"Forgot about the mind reading," Kuroko whined.

Akashi chuckled as if he had heard him aloud and also began to turn to his book.

"Do you not like your family?" Kuroko asked behind the book.

"What makes you say that?"

"You looked pained when you were going into the Akashis-are-rich explanation."

"I did?" Akashi perturbed said.

"Well, if I would describe it, you looked like you closed yourself off, detached yourself from that despairingly creepy persona you seem to be. Like an actor reading lines from a script only with cold indifference." Kuroko pointedly said.

"Insightful," Akashi muttered.

"I told you I observe people as a habit," Kuroko shrugged, "Nothing to be impressed about."

"Well, I find it remarkable," Akashi smiled comfortingly.

"I told you it's nothing," Kuroko blushed.

"It's nothing to be shy about," Akashi teased.

"Akashi-sama, please drop it," Kuroko sarcastically said hiding his blushing face behind his book.

Akashi smiled back at Kuroko before looking back down to his own book.

It was only after the two parted from the library that Akashi realized Kuroko's deception. "Damn, he distracted me again. Why does he have to hide where he went the last time?"


Kuroko was missing for two days. Akashi was torn between being worried or intrigued. He could tell that Kuroko loved being in the library and wondered what could keep him from it.

"Maybe he has enough books and decided to read it at home? No, he only took out one book yesterday. Fever? Probably, but he had no signs of being unwell. Lost? Yeah right." Akashi mused.

"I don't even have his number," Akashi muttered running a hand through his red hair.

Still, he waited diligently for Kuroko on that day. "I think I understand how Hachiko feels…wait did I just compare myself to a dog? I am not a dog! Well, at least he was obedient, and loyal" Akashi trailed. "Definitely getting his number next time."

"Ara, Tetsu-kun is still gone?" a voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

Looking up he saw a kind-eyed librarian, smartly dressed in the library's uniform armed with trademark librarian glasses hung on a beaded necklace around her neck.

"I'm afraid so…" Akashi's eyes trailed to her name tag, "Suzuki-san."

"When he comes back please tell him that I reserved that book that he's been waiting for," she smiled.

"Of course Suzuki-san, I'll inform him right away," Akashi said politely.

"That boy is so well mannered and quiet," she laughed, "I can look pass the scares he inadvertently causes."

"Does that happen often ma'am?" Akashi queried.

"More than you think, but at least it keeps us on our toes," she jokingly said.

"You're not bothered by it?"

"We used to be at the start, but Tetsu-kun's apologies are so heartfelt that you can't help but forgive him," she wistfully said. "Before we all knew it the library became haunted but we wouldn't have it any other way."

"I see that you think fondly of Tet-Kuroko-kun?"

"Oh all of us do, with him here every day he slowly became one of us," she giggled.

"I'm sure Kuroko-kun thinks highly of you all as well," Akashi said.

"I'm sure he does." Suzuki laughed once more.

"I know it's not in my place to say it but please take care of him," she gently said. "You're the first person I've seen him with and with him in here all day I sometimes worry about whether or not he has friends."

"I promise Suzuki-san," Akashi confidently smiled.

"Thank you," she nodded and began moving away, "Also Akashi-kun, if you hurt him don't count on being able to enter this library anymore," she smiled threateningly.

Akashi stared at Suzuki until her figure disappeared behind the shelves.

"Tetsuya won that over?" Akashi wondered, "Impressive as always."

On the fourth day Kuroko came back. However, he looked paler and he had shadows under his eyes.

"What happened?" Akashi asked.

"Good afternoon Akashi-kun," Kuroko nonchalantly said.

"Tetsuya what happened?" Akashi glared, "You look like shit."


A/N: Alright, which KNB character would you want me to introduce in the next chapter? (and why if you're not too lazy)