-sometimes you have to lie to find the truth- Scott Westerfeld

-Sweat was glistening on the skin of the youth basketball players.

It was a known fact, that Teikou has a hard basketball practice regime. It's also said, that only the strong one's are able to stand in the first string, so it's a wonder to see a boy puking on the ground.

Kuroko Tetsuya, a 14 years old boy who jumps from third string to first string, would be described as one muscular and huge guy with immense speed- you won't be able to see him, are only rumors. The true was frightening when you get a glimpse of the real powder-blue head. He was slim, not very muscular, morbidly pale and with lifeless eyes. His stature was stoic and his only skill in basketball would be his sense of teamplay and the talent for misdirection. If he lacks the latter, he couldn't dream of staying in the third string. Not to mention he was only 1,58 m tall.

Akashi was aware of all that.

It was pretty late and already dark outside. At this our most supermarkets will be closed by now. Akashi was lucky that the nearby supermarket near their gym was still open. Going inside he searched for the candy department. Reaching it he was surprised to see his teammate there.

"Oh? Hello there, Kuroko-kun." Hearing the soft calm voice of his captain, he turns to the source of the voice before nodding slightly.

"Good evening, Akashi-kun. It's a surprise to see you here."

Chuckling softly, crimson eyes peered at the product on the shelvers.

There rested umaibos in many colors and flavours and different sizes and other imported sweet stuffs like Oreo-cookies. Taking one umaibo version original from the shelves he put it in his shopping basket gently, while eyeing other sweet products.

"I was busy cleaning the court alone, so I couldn't join you guys for your enjoyment."

"You should have said something. I would be glad to stay longer with you."

Turning to Kuroko, Akashi sees him smirking. Seeing Kuroko out of character was starting to become frequently. Sometimes it was getting really creepy, like now.

"Being a captain, it's my responsibility to take care of my teammates. You of all need the rest after the practice the most, so keeping you longer is out of question." He is about to turn to the corner before giving Kuroko a last glance.

"That's solicitous of you, I'm deeply touched. By the way, why all the candy? I never knew you were a sweet-tooth, too."Watching his basket, Akashi smiled softly. "It's not for me. You guys practiced hard so I planned to give it to Momoi, so she could distribute it to the others."

"How comes, you are alone here Kuroko-kun?" he added curiously.

Taking small steps he reached the crimson head before glancing slightly up. "I just forgot something I have to buy. It's good to have come back after all."

Akashi feels a bit irritated leaving the pale boy alone in his own world with nothing more to say. At the cash register he folded his bought things in a plastic bag before heading outside. At the park lot he was again surprised by the boy. He was standing in the shadows near a car. The street lightning wasn't good, so he first thought it was a robber or something. Turns out it was just his teammate.

Still recovering his shock, he was about to leave Kuroko again, before that said boy catches the hem of his blazer.

"I will accompany you, Akashi-kun. It's dark and dangerous to walk alone at this hour."

"Well, thank you. I get picked up. Isn't it better if my driver drive the both of us home? After all it's dark and dangerous outside."

Kuroko nodded. It doesn't took much until the promised car picked both boys up.

"Thank you very much for driving me home. I will treat you the next time Akashi-kun." Bowing politely before closing the door, he climbing up the steps before ringing his house bell.

Akashi who sits outside, awaits that his smaller teammates reaches home secured. But it looks like no one seems at home and Kuroko still didn't entered his house. It was starting to get odd. Akashi get out of his car and makes his way to Kuroko.

"Akashi-kun, I totally forgot that my parents work abroad and that my grandmother visit my aunt for, today."He said and stared at the closed door.

A worried look graced the handsome face of Akashi. He reached his hand out before grabbing Kuroko's gently.

"That's rather suboptimal. My house have a guest room, so you can stay for tonight at my place, if you don't mind."

"I don't. At this hour it's dark and dangerous outside, after all."

When the car arrived infront of a huge black gate, the driver independently opened the gate before he goes back to the car to drive further to the park lot. From the car window Kuroko could make out Akashi's house- or more like a mansion. The exterior fassade was made of red brick and a dark green under roof was at the big entrance door. After Akashi get out of his car, his driver took his backpack and sportsbag. With empty hands he and Kuroko went inside first.

"Welcome back Bocchan!" the maids welcomed their young master at the entrance hall. One of them wants to know if Akashi would like to have dinner or taking a bath first.

"Neither of them. But you can guide my friend Kuroko-kun to one of our guest room. He will stay over night at this place."

"Yes, young master. Please follow us Kuroko-sama."

Nodding Kuroko followed the women. They both wore typical french styled maid outfits. Just now he took a glimpse of a butler, who seemed to be Akashi's personal butler and leading him to the master's chamber. To be honest he had thought Akashi would be the person to guide him to his guest room and not some subordinate of the red head.

"We're here. This is your bedroom. Inside this room is also a bathroom. It's the door next to the bookshelves, you see? We will let the clean clothes inside the bathroom. Please make yourself comfortable. If you are of need of something, the hall on the left side will lead to the dinner hall. The butler will take care of everything else." Bowing a last time politely, the maids closed the door of the guest room, leaving the powder-blue colored head alone inside.

After he was assured that he was alone, he put down his school bag and sports bag before taking a shower, unknowingly to him that Akashi visit him 10 minutes later.

When Akashi entered the room, he heard the water run inside the guest bathroom. Before he was about to leave he took a glimpse of Kuroko's opened sportsbag. He couldn't believe his eyes. Right infront of it was a key ring, with a bunch of keys.

If it's there... then why would Kuroko say that he forgot it?

The bathroom looked really luxurious. There are grey marble ornaments on the wall and white marble tiles on the floor. The bath euipments looked really high tech. So it took a moment to test out how it actually functionate.

After a while I finished the steam shower and cleaned myself up. It has been so long since I took a nice hot shower. The showers in the gym are always cold or lukewarm not even compareable to this. It was really soothing for the tense muscles.

I slowly picked up the clothes which hangs on the heating rod, near the shower and changed myself in the cloth that the maids have prepared for me. It's amazing that the pajamas fit. Going inside the bedroom, I folded my school uniform neatly on the chair next to the desk, before heading to my bed.

Who would have thought that today I would sleep at Akashi-kun's mansion? He knew that his parents work abroad. They were abroad since last week and about his grandmother visiting his auntie wasn't exactlx true. She took last weekend a journey to Sapporo, so she won't be home for another week. At first I had planned to have a sleepover at Aomine-kun's place, but because of some circumstances he had to decline it. So he had spent hours in the supermarket to buy something to eat and to his luck he met Akashi-kun. Out from all to meet him there was really surprising. Even though all the first stringers teammates of his (regulars) hangs out with him at this supermarket never once Akashi had joined them, so seeing him there was also a little shock as well, as finding out that he bought sweets for his teammates. The thought was really cute somehow.

Smiling softly I layed myself on the soft comfortable double bed, before shutting down the table light at the nightstand. Slowly I slips into the land of dreams.