A/N: Oh wow, I'm so pleasantly surprised by how much attention this fic received with only one chapter! Thank you all of you very much for all the follows, favourites and reviews. Your support is much appreciated :)

Also, to answer the FAQ: child!Akashi is around 6-7 years old and Furihata is about 16 when they first meet. Note that they do age as we go along the child!Akashi moments.

Chapter 2: Latch

Summary: In which Furihata picks Akashi up. Twice.

For ten months since he's started working as his caretaker, Furihata only ever sees Akashi exclusively in the Akashi mansion. The first time Furihata encounters him outside of the household is on a rainy day, when Furihata is heading home from school with other First-years.

"Eh? Seijuuro-kun?"

Furihata spots Akashi across the road, hiding from the rain under the shelter of a bus stop, small body huddled into a little ball on the bench. His white yukata is pulled tight around himself so that only his small red head is poking through. The boy is alone – an unusual event, because Furihata knows for a fact that Akashi is never left unaccompanied outside of the mansion. One of the Akashi servants are always with him, either that or his driver.

Concerned, Furihata decides he should go take a look and tells his friends to go ahead without him. Then, he jogs through the rain over to the bus stop. As he approaches, he notices that Akashi's white yukata is dirty with splatters of muddy water and that the patch of fabric stretched over his small knee is stained red. Furihata speeds up.

"Seijuuro-kun!" Furihata immediately crouches down in front of Akashi as he reaches him, now seeing that the red stain is obviously blood. Furihata panics, fussing over the child. "A-are you okay? Seijuuro-kun, w-what happened? Why are you all alone?"

"...Kouki," Akashi murmurs with wide eyes when he sees Furihata, visibly relieved. His tense body relaxes a tad as he explains, "There was a large, busy crowd and I got separated from my driver. Then it started raining, so I thought waiting here is the most logical course of action." Akashi shuffles in his seat and winces when the yukata brushes against his legs.

"Are you- are you hurt?" Furihata tugs on the yukata to unveil Akashi's knee. As he predicted, it is bleeding and quite badly scraped. Furihata looks up at Akashi's face worriedly, "Your knee!"

"...I fell." Akashi admits quietly, reluctantly, not meeting Furihata's eyes.

"Does it hurt? How long have you been sitting here, all alone?" Furihata places a hand on Akashi's head, rubbing it gently, comfortingly, as he always does.

"About an hour," Akashi sniffs.

"Oh, Seijuuro-kun..." Furihata wraps his arms around him without a second thought. He cradles Akashi into his arms and embraces his small body – feeling even more protective when he feels how cold Akashi is.

Akashi is stunned. He freezes in the spot, both arms by his side, and blinks rapidly at the sudden intimacy.

Furihata's hand is smoothing his hair, murmuring softly, "Does it hurt? You can tell me."

"It doesn't." Akashi says immediately.

"Really?"

"Really."

Furihata sighs, "You don't have to act tough, Seijuuro-kun."

Akashi pauses, then shakes his head decisively, "I can't."

"You can't?"

"I can't be weak." He frowns.

Furihata thinks that that is probably the saddest thing he's ever heard from a child and hugs Akashi tighter. He says, firmly, "I'm not Junichiro-san."

"No," Akashi shakes his head again, with more force, eyes blazing, "Kouki is nothing like Father."

"T-that's right. So, there's no need for that in front of me at all," Furihata picks up one of Akashi's small hands and places it on his biceps. He squeezes his own larger hand over Akashi's, feeling Akashi's small fingers dig into his muscles, a sheepish smile on his face. "I'm weak too, see?"

Akashi stares down at their connected hands, registering the information. Furihata waits patiently for his response, still holding Akashi close to him. By now, Furihata has spent enough time with Akashi to know that his thought process is unusual. Unlike most children, Akashi rarely gives a reaction straight away. Instead, he takes all the details in first, processes everything thoroughly, and then act.

After a long moment of silence apart from the pit-pattering of raindrops, something shifts. Akashi's free arm moves to curl around Furihata's back – slowly, assiduously, as though he is doing something forbidden.

Then, he rests his forehead on Furihata's shoulder and mumbles into his shirt in the smallest voice. "It... hurts. A little bit."

"I know, Sei-kun. You've been very brave." Furihata coos, fingers sifting through red hair. "Now, let's take you home, ne? Everyone must be worried sick."

"Okay." Akashi's face is still buried into Furihata's shoulder, embarrassed by his earlier admission.

Furihata chuckles fondly and releases Akashi from his arms. He then stands to remove his raincoat before draping it over Akashi's head – the raincoat so big on the child that it envelopes him almost entirely. Furihata beams at the adorable sight. Then, he crouches down to the floor once again, but this time with his back to Akashi. "Come on, then."

Akashi stares at him. "What?"

"Your knee is injured. It's better if I just carry you home."

Akashi just continues staring. "That's not necessary. I can walk."

"But walking hurts, doesn't it?" Furihata turns his head backwards to glance at him.

Walking does hurt. But Akashi is also taught to be independent. And this- this is so far from what his father means by 'independence', Akashi is sure. What will Junichiro say if he saw Akashi being piggybacked like some immature brat? And what will his other servants think of him? But walking does hurt. Plus, he really doesn't want his knee to start bleeding again. Akashi frowns until his two little red brows are almost tied into a knot, mentally arguing the points in his mind.

Furihata sees the frown and shakes his head lightly, a knowing smile on his lips, understanding exactly what the boy is thinking. He decides to take matters into his own hand and grabs for Akashi's wrists, hooking Akashi's small arms securely around his neck. After that is done, Furihata reaches behind with both hands and places one on the back of each of Akashi's thighs. Then, in one heaving movement, Furihata lifts Akashi right off the bench and straight into a piggyback. "Up we go."

Akashi makes a cute tiny squawking noise, both incredulous and indignant. Then, a displeased, "Kouki!"

Furihata only laughs and starts walking. "If it were up to Sei-kun we'd still be sitting there when the sun goes down."

"That does not mean you can suddenly pick people up without their permission. That's- rude." Akashi grumbles. But despite his complaints, Akashi's legs has already automatically fastened themselves firmly around Furihata's waist. Furihata takes that as enough permission from Akashi to continue carrying him.

The rain starts to fade as Furihata carries Akashi back to his mansion. Along the way, they talk about the books Akashi is set to read for the week. Akashi then tells Furihata about his previous visit with Yukimaru, and then recites some new words he's recently memorized from his daily Dictionary reads – 'tyranny' being his current favorite. Furihata wonders vaguely whether he should be worried about that. Akashi also manages to debate his way into receiving yet another bowl of tofu soup from Furihata, saying that it is only fair since he's been picked up unwillingly. Furihata counts this as the seventh bowl this month. Akashi is just too good at getting what he wants.

Five minutes away from the house, Akashi perks up his head as though he's suddenly remembered something. "'Sei-kun'," he says, "Just now, back at the bus stop, you called me 'Sei-kun'. Twice."

Furihata nods, "Ah. Yes I did, didn't I?"

"You've never called me that before. You've always called me 'Seijuuro-kun'." Akashi's voice is very serious.

"E-eh? Do you mind it? I just think it's easier to say. And it's a cute nickname."

"Cute." Akashi repeats, blinking slowly.

"Ano... if you don't like it I won't call you that, ne?"

Akashi leans his neck to look at Furihata's bashful smile. He looks at Furihata's hair, the usually fluffy brown mess now flat and damp with rain. Then, Akashi looks at Furihata's raincoat which is wrapped around himself, covering him up so sufficiently that not a single drop of water is on him.

Akashi shakes his head.

"I don't mind it at all."

"Is that shogi?"

Furihata comes into Akashi's study room one day to find the boy sitting in front of a shogi board, appearing to be playing with himself. Furihata crawls over to sit next to him, watching in amazement as Akashi makes one strategic move after another.

"I am trying to improve so that I can win my bet with Father in a few days." Akashi explains as he moves the final piece to end the game.

"A bet?"

"Yes. If I win, I get to an extra visit with Yukimaru this week."

"And if you lose?"

"I won't." Akashi says confidently as he resets the board for the next game. "I always win. Even if it is Father."

"I- I see," Furihata nods, slowly. It seems to be that even after a whole year with the Akashis, the strange dynamic of the Akashi-Father-Son relationship remains a mystery to him.

After Akashi is done resetting the shogi pieces, he stares down at the board for a moment before he turns to look at Furihata, considering him. Eventually, he nods. "Kouki."

"Yes, Sei-kun?"

"Play with me." Akashi motions towards the shogi board.

Furihata gapes and points at himself, "E-eh? Me?"

Nine shogi games later and Furihata has been beaten by Akashi – a child almost ten years younger than him, less than half his age – all nine times straight. Not to mention very quickly and easily every single time as well. It should've been more embarrassing, but Furihata sort of knew this is how it is going to turn out from the beginning.

"You're not very good at this, Kouki." Akashi observes as he beats Furihata in yet another game. "It's a given that I would win. But you make it too easy."

Furihata can only smile dryly, scratching the back of his head, "Ehh... your level is just way too high, Sei-kun. I'm nowhere near as amazing as you are."

Then, Akashi does something completely unexpected. In one striking movement, Akashi reaches over the shogi board and pinches Furihata's cheek sharply once with his small fingers.

"Ow-!" Furihata squeaks, because that just now actually hurts – Akashi went full-force. He lifts a hand to cup his aching cheek. "W-what was that for?"

Akashi is glaring at him, "You always talk down about yourself. Stop it."

"But it's tru- ow, ow, ow-! I give up! I'm sorry! I won't do it anymore!" Furihata quickly says, frantically waving his hands in front of himself in mercy when Akashi starts pinching his other cheek even harder than the first time.

"Good." Akashi nods and retreats his hands, satisfied.

"Sei-kun is ruthless," Furihata puffs out his cheeks, massaging them with his palms.

Akashi crosses his arms, "I dislike it when you say negative things about yourself. I dislike it when you're blind to how inestimable you are."

"Inestimable?" Likely another Dictionary word of the week. Furihata tilts his head, confused.

"Invaluable." Akashi says, looking straight at Furihata with his intense red eyes. "Priceless. Precious-"

"I- I get it!" Furihata stutters, flustered by Akashi's words. "Please, t-that's enough. Thank you, Sei-kun, really. But you think too highly of me. I'm just an average-"

"Do you want me to pinch you again, Kouki?" Akashi narrows his eyes.

Furihata instantly shakes his head, "N-no, not at all."

"Good." Akashi says, and actually smiles a little this time. But not in the same way he does when he's with Yukimaru or when he had just downed a whole bowl of tofu soup. It is a smile of one who's had a taste of victory and knows exactly how he will achieve it again.

And Furihata goes home thinking, for the hundredth time ever since they met, that Akashi is terrifyingly intimidating for a child. Where did he learn to narrow his eyes like that anyways? Even Furihata cannot pull that off.

Still, it is nice to know that Akashi thinks so highly of him. Furihata smiles to himself.

Akashi's first proper friend arrives in the form of a green-haired boy with matching green eyes, glasses, and long lashes that will likely be the envy of every girl in the world.

"Midorima Shintarou." The boy politely introduces himself to Furihata, giving him a perfectly-angled bow, not a centimeter deeper than necessary, before promptly returning to a heated chess game with Akashi.

Akashi tells Furihata that he had met Midorima on his first day in second grade at the same primary school. Apparently, the megane boy had caught Akashi's eye with his sharp intellect and the peculiar way he did everything with almost obsessive precision. Furihata watches them interact during the game and immediately understands why Akashi has taken a liking to him. Indeed, Midorima is very intelligent, so much so that he is almost on par with Akashi in their games. Of course, Akashi still wins every time – because Akashi – but it is clear that Midorima offers him some challenge.

"What is that, by the way?" Furihata cannot help but notice the giant baby-pink stuffed alpaca sitting beside Midorima, the doll taller than Midorima himself.

"Alpacasso." Midorima says without looking away from the chess board. "He's my lucky item for today."

"Oh." Furihata says, because that is the only response he can come up with. And 'he'? Furihata blinks at the little frilly ribbons tied onto the stuffed alpaca's ears doubtfully.

"Checkmate." Akashi says after moving his queen piece. He turns to look at Furihata, small lips quirked in an amused expression.

Midorima sighs, pushes his glasses up his small nose, and turns to glare at Alpacasso as if it is all his fault.

"I'm not surprised that you like Midorima-kun," Furihata says one day, after Midorima is picked up by his parents in the evening – both doctors, not to mention, big shock there – carrying back with him a basket full of rubber ducks. Midorima has been coming over to the Akashi mansion quite often and Furihata has had the privilege of seeing a strange and wide variety of 'lucky items' the green-haired megane boy brings with him each time.

"No?" Akashi tilts his head curiously. The two of them are sitting side by side on the couch, watching an animal planet documentary together.

"Not at all. He's very smart, and so is Sei-kun. Midorima-kun also doesn't speak more than necessary, which I know you like."

"Hm. It is fun playing chess and shogi with him."

Furihata smiles and nudges Akashi's shoulder teasingly, "It's more fun than playing against me, I'm sure."

"Kouki." Akashi turns his head away from the television screen to look at him, warningly.

"Uwah- don't pinch me!" Furihata raises a hand to cover his face in defense.

"You owe me one more bowl of tofu soup for next week, then."

"Hai, hai," Furihata nods easily, giving Akashi a playful salute before lowering his hand to pet Akashi's hair. He smiles as he thinks about how his mother now makes a huge bowl of tofu soup every week, knowing that the young master Akashi will request a serving one way or another.

They fall silent after that, attention on the documentary which is showing quite a graphic scene of an orca tossing and tearing apart some poor seal. Furihata is so engrossed in the images that he doesn't even notice when, half an hour later, Akashi sleepily leans his head against his shoulder.

"Kouki," Akashi calls out his name softly.

"Ah-" Furihata's focus breaks and he turns to Akashi, raising his eyebrows when he sees the boy leaning against him, though he says nothing of it. "What is it, Sei-kun?"

"I do quite like Shintarou. He is a much better opponent for strategy board games than you are," Akashi says flatly, eyes on the television screen.

Furihata's smile falters just the slightest bit, "Oh. O-of course, Midorima-kun is-"

"I haven't finished." Akashi cuts him off mid-sentence.

Furihata stays quiet.

"Even if Shintarou is a better challenge in games," Akashi's eyes flits up to meet Furihata's own, a dainty hand sneaking its way into Furihata's palm and intertwining their mismatched fingers. He squeezes Furihata's hand once, and continues, straight-faced, never breaking eye contact as he speaks, "Even so, I still like Kouki best."

A strange warmth blooms in Furihata's chest, and he can't help the wide, bright smile that splits his face.

"Seijuuro-kun," Furihata squeezes Akashi's small hand back amiably. Then, he leans over the smaller boy and plants an affectionate little kiss on top of Akashi's head. He murmurs, still smiling, "Thank you. I like Sei-kun a lot, too."

Akashi stares at Furihata for a long while after that, as though he is still ruminating over what Furihata had just said and done. Until eventually, he squeezes Furihata's hand back once again and they go back to watching the documentary – now sitting slightly closer than before.

Furihata's concentration returns to the screen, so absorbed right back into it that he completely misses Akashi's deep red eyes glancing back to him frequently throughout the duration of the documentary, sometimes even staring at his face for full minutes.

Furihata doesn't see Akashi looking at their linked hands, doesn't see Akashi's eyes, doesn't see the way Akashi looks at him.

In their second summer together, Furihata asks for permission to take Akashi to a fireworks festival at a nearby temple.

Seiko is over the moon to have her little boy experience some freedom and fun like other children and tells Furihata to leave it to her to convince Junichiro. When Furihata looks uncertain about that, Seiko taps his nose with a fan. "Don't you worry about it. I am his wife for a reason."

And so, on the evening of the festival day when Furihata arrives at the Akashi mansion to pick Akashi up, he is pleasantly surprised to see Akashi all dressed up and ready to go. Akashi is wearing a pure white yukata with light blue patterns, adorned with a crimson obi tied around his small waist. The color of the obi matches his hair and brings out his eyes and the hues in his plump cheeks, making Akashi look quite delightful.

"We match," Akashi points out as soon as he sees Furihata.

"E-eh?" Furihata looks down at his own yukata and lets out an 'ahh' sound when he sees that he is wearing a light blue yukata with red patterns along with a black obi. Their outfits actually look coordinated. "Ah! That's right – what a lovely coincidence!"

"A lovely coincidence." Akashi parrots, as he often does.

Furihata strokes Akashi's hair fondly, as he often does.

"Oh my, aren't you two just adorable?" Seiko appears from behind the door, holding a LOMO camera in her hands. "I need a photo of this. It's Seijuuro's first fireworks festival, after all."

"Ah- I can take a photo of Seiko-san with Seijuuro-kun if you want-" Furihata starts to say.

Seiko cuts him off, "Don't be silly, Furihata-kun. I'm not going to the festival and I'm not dressed up. Now, be a dear and go take a photo with Seijuuro."

They take a photo with Furihata crouching down to his knees next to Akashi so that they are of the same height, shoulder-to-shoulder. Akashi takes one look at the photograph and decides that he is pleased with it – so pleased that Akashi asks/demands to bring the camera with him to take more photos at the festival fair. Seiko agrees and goes to send the boys off at the front door, telling them not to be home too late and whispering to Furihata to take lots of photos of Akashi.

The festival is everything Akashi has read about and more. It is loud, eclectic, crowded, and so filled with energy that the atmosphere is warm around them. Akashi's round eyes survey everything around him with intrigue, whilst Furihata follows behind him quietly and enjoys seeing Akashi take everything in. It is almost like watching a wild animal being released into the jungle for the first time, the way Akashi approaches everything with equal caution and curiosity.

When the two of them reaches a part of the street which is particularly crowded, Furihata takes hold of Akashi's hand, leaning over to speak into his ears so that he can hear him over the crowd noise. "Wouldn't want Sei-kun getting lost in a crowd and scraping your knee again, now."

Akashi stares at their hands, then stares up into Furihata's kind brown eyes illuminated by both moonlight and many faerie lights hanging around the festival, and says nothing. He does, however, bring up the camera hanging around his neck with his free hand and snaps a photo of Furihata.

"H-huh? I wasn't ready!" Furihata blinks rapidly, stunned by the flash.

"I am aware," Akashi says, nonchalantly, as he slips the photograph into his kinchaku.

Furihata is half-dragged and half-tugged from store to store after that – Akashi taking full advantage of holding Furihata's hand by utilizing it as some sort of leash. Furihata can only trail behind him and take photos along the way. As it turns out, Akashi becomes particularly interested in game booths and ends up going on some sort of quest to win the biggest prize in every single game there is in the festival.

"Come, Kouki," Akashi says with that determined look flashing in his eyes.

Furihata shakes his head resignedly, having seen that look too many times before and knowing that it is futile to stop Akashi now.

An hour later and, as expected, Akashi has accomplished his mission. As a result, Furihata is struggling to carry an over-sized cream-colored doll which looks suspiciously like a tofu cube, five different Pokemon masks, a bag of about a dozen mini Shogun figurines, a basketball, four water-filled plastic bags – each with one fish swimming contently inside – and, lastly, Akashi's favourite out of all his prizes: a huge fluffy white stuffed unicorn just small enough for Akashi to be able to carry without having its tail drag on the floor.

"Chibi-Yukimaru." Akashi entitles the unicorn with a satisfied nod.

Fortunately, a servant from the Akashi household comes to take all of Akashi's winnings off Furihata and back to the mansion before the fireworks display actually begins. Furihata then finds himself and Akashi a perfect little spot far away from the crowd where they can sit and watch the fireworks on a river bank. Akashi comments that the grass makes him itchy, so Furihata lets Akashi climb into his cross-legged-lap and sit there for the duration of the display.

"Beautiful," Akashi remarks after a particularly fancy explosion went off in the sky, sending multiple spirals in all directions. He shuffles in Furihata's lap and leans back against Furihata's torso to get more comfortable.

"Isn't it?" Furihata hums, lifting a hand to touch Akashi's soft hair absentmindedly.

Akashi lets him, and a gentle silence forms between them. The fireworks are still going off all the time, but the booms and the crackles sound distant now – like someone has turned down the volume on a video even though the pictures are still moving. Instead, their breaths, which are usually inaudible, sound even louder than the explosions going on before them. But it isn't uncomfortable, not at all.

By the time the display has ended, Akashi has already fallen fast asleep snuggled up to Furihata's chest.

Furihata chuckles at the adorable sight, before nudging Akashi gently, whispering, "Sei-kun, it's time to go home..."

Akashi's eyes flutter open slowly, like a butterfly testing its wings, and gaze up at Furihata, slightly perplexed. "Kouki?" He lifts his hands to rub at his eyes. "The fireworks ended?"

"Yes, just a few minutes ago. Shall we head back? Seiko-san is waiting for you."

"Very well." Akashi nods and wraps his arms around Furihata's neck. He then rests his head snugly upon Furihata's shoulder, closing his eyes.

"H-huh?" Furihata blinks, confused.

"I'm sleepy. I give you permission to carry me back home." Akashi says in an authoritative voice, without opening his eyes. And just like that, the boy's breathing slows again and he slips straight back into sleep. Just like that. It is almost like Akashi fully expects Furihata to comply to his demand without any question.

Which is fair enough, because that is exactly what Furihata does.

"Ah, really, Sei-kun," Furihata sighs even though he is smiling and his tone is clearly fond. He lifts Akashi up into his arms, a task which is becoming increasingly difficult as the days go by and Akashi grows both taller and heavier, and carries him in a reverse piggyback – their fronts facing each other, Akashi's legs wrapped around Furihata's waist and Furihata supporting Akashi's weight by hooking an arm under him.

Halfway back to the mansion, Akashi wakes up. However, he remains silent, not alerting the other. Instead, Akashi peeks open one eye to see Furihata carrying him back home, exactly as he expected. A wicked, satisfied little grin spreads across Akashi's lips.

Of course. Akashi is always right, after all.

Akashi decides to say nothing the rest of the way, even though he is fully awake. Partly because Akashi gets a strange thrill every time he tricks Furihata; partly because Akashi simply enjoys being held in Furihata's arms.

A/N: If you haven't figured it out yet, this fic is kind of a big ball of fluff. The M rated stuff comes later when Akashi is actually, you know, legal (AND has reached puberty), you cheeky hentais. For those who are impatient, there will probably be just one more chapter of child!Akashi. Thanks for reading this, everyone :) I'll try to update weekly!

ps. Alpacasso is a real stuffed-toy you can find, by the way. Google it.