Days passed, and Kuroko and Aomine had been practically glued to one another. Aomine was beginning to get the hang of this ghost thing. Kuroko was just glad he finally had a friend again, though under such circumstances, he felt guilty for being so.

Aomine didn't seem too upset, though. In fact, the only thing that really bothered him was how Kise couldn't see him even when he was looking directly at him. It hurt his heart, Kuroko could tell, but the boy never said it aloud.

"Come on, there's got to be a way to reach out to them."

Kuroko sighed, he was on this topic again.

"I told you, Aomine, the only for sure way I know of is through Akashi."

Aomine groaned. "But that's just Akashi! I want to talk to the others too!"

Kuroko frowned. "I know. And I'm working on that."

Aomine raised a brow. "How are you working on that?"

"Whilst I've been leaving you with Kise, I've been talking to other ghosts. There is a theory, but I'm trying to look into it more."

"What's the theory?"

Kuroko held still for a moment, debating within his mind. "It might sound stupid," he started, "but as I've mentioned before, ghosts have their own food-like substances, just as the living do."

Aomine nodded.

"And the more substance you have, the easier it is to control where you are or who can see you. But some ghosts say that if you have enough, you can also move things, even let the living hear your voice. And I think it may be possible to make our presences known to the average human eye, just as we would to those of Akashi."

Aomine blinked, long and slow. "You're right, that does sound stupid."

Kuroko shrugged. "I told you I was still working on it."

Aomine sighed, hanging his head. "Shit..."

Kuroko frowned, "I'm sorry, Aomine. It must be tough not being able to talk to your friends."

Aomine looked at him with a skeptical gaze. "Tetsu... did you have friends when you were alive?"

Kuroko shook his head. "No, I was very reclusive. Maybe that's why it was so easy for me to adjust to being dead."

Aomine's face turned to a grimace. "So Akashi and I were your only friends?"

Kuroko's eyes widened, and he stood, frozen, staring into Aomine's eyes. Aomine blinked before realizing what he'd said, a tinge of red crossing his cheeks. "I-I mean, we're the only people you ever talked to, right?"

Kuroko smiled, a small giggle on his lips. "Yes, Aomine," he said softly, "you and Akashi were my only friends."

XXX

As time grew on, the ghost boys began spending less time together. They'd decided that they would hang out with each other during the day, and spend time alone in the evening. Neither had been specific, but they both knew what the other was doing. Whilst Aomine lay next to Kise, trying his best to hold him in his sleep, Kuroko was lying next to Akashi, watching him with an aching heart.

Kuroko was there now, in fact. He stared at Akashi's bare back, wishing he could still be alive, just for this boy. Sighing, the bluenette reached out a hand, fingers lightly tracing over Akashi's skin. Kuroko frowned, wondering what it would be like to truly feel his skin against his own. It'd been so long since Kuroko was strong enough to truly feel other living beings. Once Akashi had figured out what he was, he'd given up on keeping up his strength. It didn't matter now. His only living friend was gone.

Akashi suddenly groaned and sat up, a fierceness in his eyes. "Okay, I've ignored this as long as I can," he said, "I can't see you, but whoever the hell you are, stop touching me! Leave me alone."

Kuroko's eyes were wide, and if he'd been able to cry, he was sure he would be now. Akashi could feel him. He'd been able to for a while. He had ignored him.

"Akashi…"

Akashi was still for a long moment, his eyes darting around the room, daring anyone to lay a finger on him. Finally, he sighed and lay back down, pulling the sheets up to his neck. Kuroko's dead heart hurt more than it ever had when he was alive, but he stayed there by the redhead's side until morning light.

So he couldn't touch Akashi anymore, but he couldn't help but stay with him. Seeing him in the hospital that day, after all that time, had stirred the feelings he'd tried so hard to ignore. He couldn't bring himself to leave this boy again. Not anytime soon.

XXX

The next day, Aomine could tell something was up with Kuroko. He was more curled into himself than usual, and the atmosphere around him was thick and heavy. "Ne, Tetsu, what's wrong?"

Kuroko shook his head. "Nothing, Aomine."

Aomine frowned. "Don't lie to me."

Kuroko sighed. "Akashi's been ignoring me."

The larger male blinked, confusion written on his face. "But I thought you flipped the switch before?"

"I did. But I found out last night he's been able to feel me when I touch him. For a while now."

"How'd you-"

"He told me to leave him alone."

Aomine fell silent. He'd figured it had something to do with the redhead, but this wasn't what he expected. "So… what are you going to do?"

Kuroko sighed deeply, looking at the ground. "I can't leave him again," he muttered, "so I guess I'll just have to be more careful."

XXX

That night, Kuroko had stared at Akashi until he'd fallen asleep, as usual. But he decided he was going to test his theory tonight, since Akashi would be here for a few hours, and Aomine would be expecting him in the morning. He used his energy to conjure a split in reality, shifting through the makeshift portal he'd created.

In this realm, there were many ghosts, most having made peace with being dead, and laughing with their ghostly friends. For once, Kuroko didn't feel so alone here, now that he had Aomine. But there was no time to linger on such thoughts, as he shook them from his hollowed head and made his way to where all of the ghosts' food was kept.

It wasn't like normal food. It was transparent, and had no taste, nor did it have a physical shape. In all actuality, it was merely energy that one could grasp. Kuroko gathered enough to keep him satisfied for a day or two, not really wanting to come back anytime soon, as the process of making such a portal was very draining. He soon emerged back into Akashi's room, lightly feeding on some of the food he'd brought with hm. Once he'd finished, he lay next to the redhead once more, where he stayed, eyes closed, until morning came.