So this chapter only covers Saturday, another chapter for Sunday will follow at some point. Again, I don't get much writing done atm, so I can't say how long it will take.
On the bright side, I am almost done with my thesis.
~Friday ~after
Kuroko takes a nap after Aomine and Kagami has left. The two of them have done their best to exhaust him, and he'd rather rest now than fall asleep on Akashi later. What's supposed to be just a short and refreshing nap turns into Kuroko basically passing out the moment his head hits the pillow, which is not what he intended, but all for the better anyway, as he is woken by the gentle touch of his lover.
No matter how great his week was, nothing could ever hope to replace the feeling that settles in his heart whenever he sees Akashi. It's like the world brightens up, the air seems lighter, but he's long since given up to find the proper words to describe just what exactly Akashi's presence does to him. There simply are no words that could ever do it justice.
Akashi finds him passed out on the living room couch, which is an all too endearing sight. The couch seems to have gone through quite the rough times from the looks of it, but that is a riddle he'll sort out later. He carefully sits down next to Kuroko's sleeping form. The week has worn him out and he feels quite tempted to lie down with him. Instead he gently places a hand on Kuroko's face and rubs his thumb over his cheek.
Kuroko's eyelids flutter and a moment later, he's looking into cloudy sky blue as recognition slowly dawns on his lover's face. His lips pull into a lazy smile, faintly so as Kuroko's emotions always show subdued even when wide awake. Akashi's hand stills and he takes a moment to just look at Kuroko, tries to read in his face what he missed during his absence, tries to regain some of the time he's lost, but of course that's impossible. That's why he hired his old middle school friends, if hired is even the right word. They are the only ones he trusts to give Kuroko what he needs in his place.
"Welcome back." Kuroko says, still with that hidden half smile of his. He's blinking the last sleep from his eyes and the sight is so adorable Akashi can't help but kiss him.
"I'm home." He whispers against Kuroko's parted lips. Kuroko wraps his arms around his back and pulls him deeper into the kiss. A tongue probes entry against his lips and he lets it, welcomes Kuroko after a far too long absence. It starts out chaste enough, lips on lips and then tongue against tongue, but at some point Kuroko's arms around him tighten their grip and Akashi winds his hands into the messy locks of hair. Soon after, Kuroko is already panting, cheeks flushed and more aroused than he should be after this short amount of time and Akashi wonders just what he's been doing.
Kuroko's fingers flutter over the front of his shirt, struggling with the buttons in his effort to open them. Akashi gently catches his hands and stills their movement, breaking their kiss in favor of looking at his lover.
"Akashi-kun." Kuroko complains; lips parted as he puffs out the breath Akashi has stolen.
"Tetsuya." Akashi levels, but he can't quite keep the smile from his voice. "I can bend you over the table later and fuck you to your heart's content, but for now, how about you tell me about your week?"
"Akashi-kun, if you want to cuddle, just say so." It's trademark deadpan, but it's a fraction of a second too late to convince Akashi. Kuroko's an expert at hiding his true feelings, but after years spent together, Akashi can read him as easily as a book. So Kuroko's attempt at nonchalance doesn't fool him, although Kuroko can't be faulted for that, he does seem kind of affected.
Akashi smiles warmly at Kuroko and pulls him against his chest. Kuroko lets him and when Akashi nuzzles his nose into his still unruly hair, he even lets out a small sigh of content. They sit like that for a while, Kuroko's breath has evened out and he seems all too happy wrapped up in Akashi's arms. The truth is, Akashi used to jump his lover as soon as he returned from his week of work, which would continue through most of the weekend, as he'd been intent on making up as much lost time as possible. Only, making up lost time with sex only neglected a very essential part of their relationship. And then, one day he had discovered a book about 'the intricacies of growing succulents' on the coffee table, and with that he had suddenly realized that he had no idea what was going on in his lover's life anymore. He had made it his habit then, to spend a quiet Friday evening with Kuroko, making sure they talked about what moved them, what had happened, what they wanted, or even just quietly cuddling and relaxing.
Sex, of course isn't off the table, but that is for later.
"What's for dinner?" Akashi asks, his breath moving a few valiant and upstanding strands of blue hair. Kuroko stays suspiciously silent. "Tetsuya?" Akashi prompts and notes to his slight amusement that Kuroko's ears have turned distinctly red. "Did something happen to the Kagami?" Kagami has found himself a place in their little arrangement, more or less through cohesion, but Akashi's determined his suitability early on, as he a) deeply cares for Kuroko and b) has an even deeper crush on Aomine. And most importantly, he tends to cook dinner for them to eat on Friday. Not even Murasakibara can beat Kagami when it comes to cooking.
Kuroko clears his throat. Kagami, bless his soul, had actually offered to get up and prepare dinner like usual, but since they'd been in a very messy but very comfortable pile of post-threesome bliss and limbs, no one had had the energy or the motivation to untangle enough to let Kagami go. In the end Aomine had convinced them to order pizza. And that's just not something he can admit to his lover. Not that Akashi wouldn't understand the whole threesome gig, he'd probably congratulate Kuroko on finally getting the two idiots together, but he's actually a bit embarrassed that not three hours ago he had so little care in the world he let Kagami rope him into a game of janken to determine who was going to open the door to get the pizza. And then he lost and probably scarred the poor pizza delivery guy for life as he'd forgotten to put on pants.
But, then again, it is Akashi we're talking about.
"We ran into a slight… mishap." Kuroko says. Akashi hums in reply. His chin is a warm and slightly heavy presence on the top of his head and he has yet to find a place he likes as much as Akashi's arms. "It involved Aomine-kun." He can feel Akashi's chin push faintly into his head as he pulls his face into a grin.
"I see." He says and there is no doubt about his amusement. "Was it nice?"
Kuroko's lips curl into an involuntary smile. "Yeah."
Akashi's fingers lace with his. "That's good."
Despite his own exhaustion, Akashi cooks. His skill doesn't come near Kagami, but he's decent enough. Kuroko offers his help and Akashi gratefully accepts. They just prepare a quick stir fry with vegetables and leftover rice but it's delicious all the same.
Neither has the stamina nor the will to stay up much longer after dinner, and after taking a long and relaxing bath together they fall asleep wrapped around each other.
~ Saturday
Kuroko is not a morning person. The same could be said for Akashi, only that a life of waking early had kind of turned that on its head. He still didn't like early mornings, but he had somehow lost the ability to just sleep in. He isn't exactly complaining though, not when as a result, he can lie there in the gentle morning sun with Kuroko's warm body wrapped in his arms and not having to get up and do anything other than relaxing.
He runs a hand through Kuroko's hair, a futile attempt at battling his very serious case of bed-hair. It's a thing of mystery, really, how his hair invariably ends up like the most faithful representation of a birds nest each and every single morning, although Kuroko barely moves while sleeping. Kuroko frowns slightly and then sighs, face relaxing once more as he sinks back into sleep. Akashi pulls him closer and closes his own eyes, in hopes to catch a bit of sleep before the day starts.
Kuroko wakes to lips on his mouth and the distinct sensation of something hard pressing into his thigh. Akashi's breath is warm on his neck, slow and steady, despite the pressure he must be feeling. But that's just how he is. One of his hands rests warm and sure on the small of Kuroko's back, under the shirt Akashi insists he wear, since sleeping naked is bad for your health.
Akashi smiles down at him as he blinks the last of his sleep from his eyes. "Good morning, Tetsuya." He says and kisses him again, firmer this time, now that he's awake.
"You couldn't sleep again?" Kuroko asks in lieu of a greeting. Not that he minds, but he can't help but worry that Akashi's overexerting himself. The worry is short-lived though as Akashi's hand draws lower at the same time he pulls him into another kiss.
"I napped for about an hour after waking up." He murmurs, breath moist against Kuroko's skin. "I got plenty of rest." He says and rolls them around with that effortless ease he seems to have absorbed from birth. It's downright unfair how little effort he has to put into things like this. But it all works out in his favor anyway, because now he's the center of Akashi's undivided attention.
Akashi works his lips on Kuroko's neck, playing all the spots he knows make Kuroko weak. It doesn't take long for Kuroko's body to catch up with the proceedings and soon after he's achingly hard. He puts a hand on Akashi's chest, warm and firm through the shirt he's wearing, but he has no time now for clothes and so he tugs until Akashi relents and helps him get it off. He doesn't get the time though to marvel at Akashi's naked chest, as Akashi goes right back to work on his sensitive spots. And Kuroko has a lot of them.
Kuroko's nail scratch over Akashi's back, leaving thin red lines on his skin as Akashi prods his tongue against his nipples, teases it until it's perked up and hard. He rubs the other between his fingers, until Kuroko's hard pressed to keep all the sounds in. Akashi blows a breath over the nipple he's worked on with his tongue and the cold hit of air sends a shudder down Kuroko's spine. As close as he is, he must be able to feel the frantic beating of Kuroko's heart. He drops one of his hand from its purchase on Akashi's back, puts it on the side of his neck for lack of a better option, on the search for that same heartbeat that thrums through his body.
Akashi sighs against his chest, quiet as a whisper. "Do that again." He says and his breath tickles a low moan from Kuroko's lungs. He rubs his thumb over the space right beneath Akashi's ear and there's that sigh again. Kuroko grazes his nails lightly over the skin and he can feel the shudder running through Akashi with his own body. He tugs at Akashi's arm with one hand and he obliges, moving up to meet him in a kiss. Kuroko doesn't let up until Akashi's breath is as uneven as his own. Akashi has a thing for drawing it out, but that's not what he wants right now.
He wraps one arm around Akashi's neck to hold him in place, while the other sneaks down the lengths of their bodies to close around the bulge in Akashi's shorts. Akashi 's obviously caught by surprise as he lets out a breath that sounds more like a moan and he drops his head to rest on Kuroko's shoulder as he struggles to gather his bearings.
"Tetsuya, I wanted to…" Kuroko steals the breath from him with one well-timed twist of his hand and Akashi's words disperse in the heat of Kuroko's skin.
"I don't want to wait." Kuroko whispers into his ear, his own voice coming throaty but that's just fine. Akashi shudders at the sound of it and Kuroko wonders just how long he's waited before he woke him. Akashi presses his face in Kuroko's shoulder, muffled noises spilling with every tug of Kuroko's hand.
Akashi no longer has the strength to hold himself up, but he doesn't want to collapse his weight on Kuroko, so he drops to the side in some kind of awkward roll, pulling Kuroko halfway with him and they end up sprawled out next to each other.
"Akashi-kun." Kuroko says, and there's that hint of need in his voice he only ever gets when he's really desperate.
"Where's the-"
"Top drawer."
Akashi rolls on his other side to dive for the lube. By the time he has gotten it out of its drawer Kuroko has already divested himself of all clothes and rolled on his stomach. Which is as much of an invitation Akashi needs.
He quickly pushes off his own shorts and straddles Kuroko's legs. Kuroko's face is buried in the mattress, but it's not enough to completely muffle the sound he makes when Akashi's cock slides in between his h thighs. Akashi, for his part, has to bite his lips, partly to keep the sounds in but majorly to keep himself from building up too fast and ending up coming prematurely.
"How do you want it?" Akashi asks, sliding a finger down Kuroko's cleft. Kuroko groans something unintelligible in reply, pushing up his hips slightly in lieu of a proper response. Akashi can't help but grin. He can barely hold it together himself, what with the spectacular view sprawled out in front of him, but there's just something irresistible in teasing Kuroko when he's like this. But no matter how satisfying the view of a writhing Kuroko is; Akashi is close to his limit and he definitely recognizes that ultimately it's more beneficial to both of them if he gets going.
Kuroko obviously doesn't want him to go slow, so he doesn't. Akashi takes the barest of time to work him open, just to the point when three of his fingers can slip in easily enough. He pulls out and slathers a generous helping of lube on his erection, before he pulls Kuroko's hips upwards to meet him. Kuroko gasps and presses his face deeper into the mattress, as Akashi slowly pushes past his entrance. Even after all this time, the feeling is still outside any proper description. It's hot and tight for sure, but that's only scratching the surface of it. Having only as much as the tip inside and he already feels overwhelmed.
"Tetsuya." He whispers into the bent of Kuroko's back. The skin under his lips shivers as a moan wrecks through Kuroko's body. Akashi wraps his arms around Kuroko's torso to pull him up against his chest. He places open mouthed kisses on the curve of Kuroko's shoulder blades, while he keeps the slow but steady rhythm of his hips, sinking deeper and deeper until he's slid in completely.
Kuroko's legs quiver under the strain of keeping him upright while Akashi is buried so deeply within him. He wants to bend forward and hide his inflamed face in the covers of their bed, but Akashi's hands are so warm and reassuring on his chest he can't find the will to move. He leans back against Akashi's chest and closes his eyes, lets the feeling of Akashi's heartbeat thrum through his body, perfectly in sync with his own.
Akashi exhales shakily, his arms tighten slightly around Kuroko. They stay like this for a while, Akashi counting his breaths to calm down enough to move without risking to come too soon. Kuroko's attempts of calming his breath fall short however, the position allowing for enough friction on his prostate - minor as it is - to keep his blood pumping.
"Tetsuya, I'm going to move now." Akashi's voice is a hoarse whisper. His arms tremble slightly as he lifts Kuroko up to get a better angle. Kuroko relaxes as much as it is possible in this situation and then Akashi is moving and all his thoughts disperse. He would have collapsed after the first few tender thrusts, weren't it for Akashi's arms around his chest and Kuroko's every effort to hold his own weight is thwarted by yet another well-angled upwards thrust.
"Akashi-kun." He moans, and he thinks there is something he wanted to say but the words get lost when Akashi suddenly leans them forward and thrusts in deeply in the same motion. And then Akashi stills, holding them both up with pure upper body strength, Kuroko's hands just shy of reaching the covers.
"Tetsuya, you know what to call me." He murmurs with that soft undertone of disapproval, he only ever gets when they're like this. And Kuroko failed to call him by his given name. Part of Kuroko is aware that it's not so much forgetfulness, but rather that small flip his stomach does, whenever he hears that voice.
Kuroko bites his tongue. Akashi is not moving, but he's fully sheathed and the tip of his cock is pressing against his prostate and he just wants him to move again. He knows of course what he needs to do, but he doesn't quite trust his voice right now not to shake and even after all this time, it's still kind of embarrassing.
Akashi's hand splays over his chest and he carefully lowers them down until Kuroko is able to reach the bed with his hands. He's still not moving but he runs his other hand down Kuroko's body, leaving a trail of warmth behind that fuels the heat in his lower region.
"What do you want me to do?" Akashi noses his shoulder blades, breath uneven, but his voice betrays little. "Come on, Tetsuya. Talk to me."
Kuroko sucks in a shaky breath; his entire body is quivering with need.
"I'll do whatever you want me to do."
"Move." Kuroko finally says, but it comes out so much a moan, he doubts Akashi understands. Akashi's hand stills millimeters above his cock, a burning warmth that drives Kuroko crazy. "Move," he repeats, louder this time. And then, "Seijuro."
He can feel Akashi's smirk, pressed against his shoulders and then Akashi pulls out, almost to the tip and snaps his hip forward so hard it almost throws Kuroko off. He barely has the time to recover from that before Akashi's hand closes around his cock, pumping in rhythm with his thrusts, and it takes an embarrassingly small amount of time for Kuroko to come. He spills all over Akashi's hand, breath ragged and vision blurry with the force of it.
Akashi slows down his rhythm, but keeps rocking, slowly and gently as not to hurt Kuroko. His lips have latched on to Kuroko's shoulder and he places kisses and soft bites all over his skin, and even though he's just come, the contact still sends tingles through his body.
It takes a few more slow thrusts, before Akashi tenses up and shudders through his orgasm; grip tightening around his lover until he's spilled all of his seed. Akashi is quite during sex, voice barely rising above a sigh, except for when he comes. It's a groan so loud it could as well be a scream, the low sound resonates through Kuroko's body every time, setting his blood to a low simmering heat, no matter how spent he is.
Akashi collapses after his orgasm, ending them both in a pile on the bed, with Kuroko too exhausted to try and hold them both upwards. "I love you so much." Akashi breathes into the sweaty skin on Kuroko's back.
Kuroko closes his eyes as the emotions well up in him. Sometimes he thinks, he'll never get used to the strength of emotions Akashi causes in him. To that overwhelming feeling of bliss and happiness; there are days he thinks, it'll drive him mad. There are days when he doubts he can come up with anything that comes even close to equaling Akashi's feelings.
"Tetsuya, look at me." Akashi says gently. His face is still flushed red, and his skin is covered with a thin sheen of sweat, but despite his post-orgasm exhaustion he's focused completely on Kuroko and his well being.
No, Kuroko thinks, he might never be able to equal the depth of Akashi's feelings, simply because Akashi's heart is so much bigger than his own. But that doesn't mean he cares for him any less. He laces his fingers with Akashi's and squeezes gently. "I love you." He says to the blank white ceiling. "Seijuro." The sound Akashi makes is so sweet it makes Kuroko's heart soar.
They somehow managed to take a shower separately. Akashi went in first, allowing Kuroko a few more minutes of rest before, it's his turn. Akashi goes and prepares breakfast while Kuroko takes his shower, and they meet again in the kitchen. Akashi has laid out a pamphlet next to Kuroko's breakfast plate - scrambled eggs and bacon - and Kuroko reads it while he eats his food.
"What do you think?" Akashi asks with that soft smile that says he knows exactly what Kuroko's thinking.
Kuroko puts the pamphlet down and gives Akashi a questioning look. "Gero Onsen?"
Akashi beams at him. "It's time for the Gero-onsen-matsuri."
"That is a terrible waste of…" He stops himself before he can finish that sentence. Of course it's a waste of resources; Akashi knows that very well himself. But that's not what this is supposed to be about. Akashi's face falls just slightly and he reaches out to take the pamphlet back. Kuroko snatches it back before he can reach it.
"I like it." He says and that's not even far from the truth. He's somewhat weak against hot springs, but that never kept him from enjoying them. And he has a lot of fond memories from his school days, when they would go and visit a nearby onsen after training camp.
Akashi smiles warmly. "The car is ready whenever you are." And that's a bit surprising really, since Akashi usually would take the plane for this distance. Akashi must have read his thoughts, because he tilts his head slightly and says, "I know you don't like to use the jet for small distances."
"Are you going to drive?"
"No, Chihiro will. I plan to make out with you on the back seat the whole ride." Kuroko's feels his face heat up so he fakes a sudden interest in his orange juice. Akashi doesn't give away if he noticed, neither gives he any indication that he was joking.
It will be an interesting journey, no doubt.
Akashi was halfway joking as it turns out. They spend a good portion of the ride kissing and cuddled close together, but that's as bad as it gets. He wouldn't put Kuroko in any embarrassing situation and Mayuzumi deserves more than playing taxi for a couple of sexaholics. No matter how easy it is to forget that he's actually there.
Other than that, the drive is unspectacular and Kuroko spends it napping, head resting on Akashi's shoulder while he works through some business. It's not the most comfortable position for either of them, but they spend too much time apart to really care.
Eventually Akashi closes his notebook and drops it on the seat that's supposed to be Kuroko's, but he's moved onto the middle seat as to be closer to Akashi. Akashi wraps his arm around Kuroko's warm form and pulls him closer. He buries his nose in Kuroko's hair, taking a deep breath to inhale that impossible vanilla-scent that clings to Kuroko no matter what.
Kuroko wakes shortly before they reach Gifu and Akashi pulls him into a sweet but chaste kiss. "Rest well?" He asks after.
"Yeah." Kuroko says, voice still soft with sleep.
"You sleep way too much." Akashi says, but he can't hide his fondness.
"On the contrary." Kuroko says evenly. "You don't sleep enough. It's bad for your health."
"I proxy-sleep through you." Akashi says and Kuroko raises his eyebrows.
They're interrupted by Mayuzumi clearing his throat. They've arrived at their destination. Mayuzumi has pulled the car up in front of a cozy looking ryokan surrounded by ancient trees. It's built in traditional wooden style, making it somewhat stand out in the midst of all the modern steel and concrete buildings that make up most of the other hotels.
Akashi insists on opening up his door for him, although it requires Kuroko to wait patiently until he has rounded the car. But Akashi reaches out his hand to help him out and he's smiling that small sort of smile he's exclusively reserved for Kuroko, so who is he to complain? Akashi pulls him directly into his arms and kisses him, taking his sweet time, tongue and all.
Mayuzumi in the meantime pulls their luggage from the trunk, unperturbed by the public display of affection his boss and his lover currently engage in. He's used to worse, and also he gets to spend the weekend at an expensive onsen resort on his boss' payroll; there is literally nothing wrong with this picture. Except for the suitcases, they don't look wrong, but they are way too heavy for whatever a couple could have planned for an impromptu hot spring weekend vacation. It's moments like this that he wishes Nebuya would show up and put his muscles to good use for a change.
Akashi reliefs him of half of his burden after thoroughly disheveling Kuroko, leading the small party up to the front entrance of the hotel resort. Mayuzumi lagging behind for a few moments, to instruct the valet that had appeared from his small booth nestled hidden between two oak trees. Inside awaits them a lobby held in that very rarely achieved well balanced combination of luxurious and comfortable while pulling of the feeling of just walking into a cozy mountain cabin.
They are greeted by a smiling lady behind the receptionist counter. Akashi slaps a business card on the counter, returning her smile, although much less reminiscent of a tooth paste commercial. The woman quickly files their data into the system and produces two keys hanging from what looked like wooden chips with the room numbers burned in. The whole thing takes less than ten seconds.
Less than a minute later they are walking down a wooden walkway that spans one side of the rectangular main hotel building. Since this is an onsen resort, and since there is always a huge demand for rooms with built-in hot springs, the hotel spreads sideways rather than upwards. The result is endless walkways with so many intersections and cross sections, not to mention a less than intuitive labeling system for the rooms, that it's all too easy to get lost. Like in a real forest, only with more ponds and stone gardens. The view, Kuroko has to admit, is spectacular, especially when they pass what seems to be a scalding hot sulfur spring that gives off clouds of pearlescent steam.
Akashi on the other hand seems to have no problems maneuvering the complex labyrinth of walkways. "You have been here before, haven't you, Akashi-kun?" Kuroko asks after they cross a bridge spanning over a koi pond. Kuroko is no expert but some of the fishes swimming their lazy circles beneath them seem like they'd made a small fortune.
Akashi chuckles quietly. "Never personally, but Reo was so kind to provide me with a detailed description." He stops in front of a large door that leads into a small secluded building surrounded by a beautiful garden. Kuroko can see a tea house in the distance and more steam clouds that indicate more hot springs. A bamboo fence secludes an area to their left, which seems to house the public bath of the hotel.
Inside is a mixture of Japanese tradition with all the comforts of modern architecture. The bedroom contains a western style bed, but there is also a small tatami mat room with a futon cabinet. There is a large bathroom, complete with shower and bathtub, but considering the adjacent outdoor area, hot spring and all, Kuroko doubts they'll use it.
Mayuzumi drops off Kuroko's suitcase, before he retreats to his own room somewhere in the common section of the hotel. Kuroko can't help but think that they could have just let him stay in their room, what with all the unnecessary space and everything, but he's also kind of glad that they don't. He gets along with Akashi's Rakuzan friends turned employees, but there will always be that small nagging feeling of envy that they've been privy to a part of Akashi's life that's closed off to him.
It's a small voice of discontent, but Akashi picks up on it nevertheless. "Are you mad I brought Chihiro?" His voice is gentle but with an edge of worry and immediately Kuroko feels bad. He knows his fears are foolish, but it's been so long, the response has become conditioned.
"No, of course not." He gives Akashi a smile that comes way easier than he expected. "He just reminds me of your tyrant days. I don't particularly like to be reminded of that."
Akashi's eyes dance with slight amusement as he steps closer, but the worry is completely gone now. "Good." He says and his voice has dropped just into that range of frequency that sets Kuroko's blood tingling. "I'm glad." Akashi's smile is, for lack of a better word, dazzling. "I'd hate to have him fired. He's a good assistant." He's close now, speaking directly into Kuroko's ear and his words send shivers down his spine, despite their questionable content.
"You wouldn't do that." Kuroko says flatly and Akashi chuckles.
"Of course not. Do you know how difficult it is to find someone as capable as him these days?"
"I'm glad to know I'm that high up in your priorities."
Akashi's hand ghosts over his cheek, before it comes to rest on the bend of his neck. "You're my highest priority, you're my everything." He whispers, right before he kisses him. It's sweet and gentle, but it contains so much of Akashi's emotions it makes Kuroko's head spin.
"Akashi-kun is cheesy." Kuroko says once they break the kiss up, but the words don't come out as flat as he intended. His voice definitely shows signs of being affected. Akashi rubs his thumb over the nape of Kuroko's neck and gently bumps their foreheads together.
They stay like that for a while longer; just relishing the fact they're here together.
That is until Kuroko decides they've wasted time long enough and he starts fidgeting. Akashi pulls back with a soft laugh on his lips and takes Kuroko's hand. "Let's go change and visit the festival." He offers, but doesn't wait for Kuroko's reply, before he pulls him along to their neatly stacked suitcases.
"Change?" Kuroko inquires, confused. They're dressed perfectly fine, why the need to change?
The answer lies neatly folded on the top of Akashi's suitcase.
Kuroko stares with no little amount of surprise at the pair of kimonos Akashi pulls from his case. He didn't even know Akashi had gotten him a kimono. He carefully reaches out a hand to touch the garment Akashi is holding out to him. It's soft and cool to the touch, silk probably, the color a bluish kind of grey, with swallows and lilies mingling on the expensive fabric.
Akashi's has a rusty red color and is printed with chrysanthemums and bright yellow birds that are reminiscent of phoenixes. Suspicion dawns on Kuroko.
"Did you custom order these?" Akashi just smiles and Kuroko feels a rush of warmth in his chest. It's one of those unnecessarily expensive gifts, but he knows how much thought Akashi put into it. It's not just the symbolism but also the occasion. Kuroko's mentioned once that he'd like to go to a festival with Akashi, traditional and all, but he'd never thought Akashi would come through like this.
"Tetsuya." Akashi's worried voice pulls him out of his thoughts and he realizes with a start that he's crying.
"I'm sorry." He says and his voice comes out wet. "I'm just so happy, Akashi-kun."
Akashi's expression is soft and he gently pulls the kimono from Kuroko's hand and puts it down. He rests a hand on Kuroko's cheek, rubbing at his tears, but somehow that makes it worse. It's moments like this when he feels the most like he'll never be able to match up to Akashi's feelings. Akashi is not exactly the jealous type, but it must be hard for him to leave Kuroko in the hands of others while he's busy at work, but he does it anyway, because he knows how much Kuroko hates loneliness. And yet he never stops giving.
"You know this is nothing, right?" Akashi's thumb has stilled, but his hand remains warm against the cool wetness of Kuroko's cheek. "You don't have to keep tally." It's amazing, truly, how well Akashi can read him.
There's so little he can give, except for his company, so Kuroko says the one thing that's on his mind right now. "I love you." Akashi's face softens impossibly into a look of pure happiness and he just looks at Kuroko as though he's the most precious thing on the planet.
There is little doubt in Kuroko's mind right now, that to Akashi he is.
Akashi helps Kuroko into his kimono after he has calmed down. He's a bit surprised that the kimono does indeed fit, but it's not that he changed that much since that time Akashi had him a suit custom fit. And that despite how much his food intake has increased ever since he got into an open relationship with a crazy good hobby cook and a professional chef.
"How do you like it?" Akashi asks after he's tightened the obi around his waist. Kuroko stares at himself in the mirror. He's a bit of the odd picture, all dressed up in a fancy kimono, next to casual Akashi with his loose shirt and dark jeans. But aside from framework, he does look good. The thing with brightly colored hair is that it tends to clash easily with clothing colors, but Akashi wouldn't make such an obvious mistake. It's a nice color that doesn't overshadow him, instead it brings out his natural charms, even if he says so himself.
Kuroko runs a hand over the smooth fabric, drops it to his side and laces his fingers with Akashi's. "It's beautiful." Akashi smiles at him through the mirror, eyes warm with feelings. He doesn't say anything, but Kuroko knows him well enough to guess his thoughts.
"What?" Akashi asks softly, raising his hand to smooth a strand of Kuroko's hair from his eyes. Something must have shown on his face.
"I want to see Akashi-kun in a kimono." Kuroko replies with the tiniest hint of a smile. Akashi chuckles, shaking his head softly.
"Alright. If Tetsuya asks me that nicely, I can't refuse, can I?"
Kuroko blows out a puff of breath in a forego of a laugh. There's really nothing he wants to say to that and Akashi knows it. He quickly changes; putting his kimono on with so much ease it would spark Kuroko's envy if he so much as cared about any person's given kimono skills. As it is, someone has to be able to put on traditional clothing, he's just glad it isn't him.
It's no surprise that Akashi strikes a dashing figure in his perfectly tailored kimono. Kuroko says as much and earns another soft smile and a kiss in return. He holds out his arm to Kuroko with a smile. "Shall we?"
Akashi leads them out of the room and through the hotel area. They follow a throng of people; all dressed up similar like them, as they walk down the trodden path that winds through the small forest surrounding the hotel and onto the main streets of Gifu. He places a protective but probably unnecessary hand on Kuroko's interlocked with his arm. The streets are already full of people and he can hear the sound of drums from further down.
It's still early, only just beginning to set on late afternoon, and the festival's official opening parade won't be until much later but streets are already teeming with guests. Kuroko gives him a knowing look, but doesn't object to the hand that covers his.
"Do you want to get some food?" They didn't eat since breakfast and he doesn't even want to think about the lecture Kagami would give him if he knew he had let Kuroko go without food for the better part of a day.
"Yes." Kuroko says absently. His eyes are rapidly scanning the crowd, a force of habit he never quiet managed to shake. Akashi gently squeezes his hand and Kuroko blinks slowly, as though he's waking up from a long dream. This sometimes happens. Kuroko is so used to analyzing people that he sometimes gets lost in it, pulled in by all the people around him, the people and all the stories they carry on their sleeves.
Kuroko looks at him, vaguely confused and Akashi pulls him close against his body to give him as much comfort as he can. "Food?" He repeats and Kuroko nods slowly. Akashi leans to whisper into Kuroko's ear. "Focus on me, if it's too much for you." It's not so much the words, but the close proximity that does it for Kuroko. He shivers slightly as Akashi's breath skims over his earlobe and the ringing in his ears from all the information subsides. It rarely ever happens anymore, but new places with lots of unfamiliar impressions still throw him off balance.
Akashi pecks a quick kiss to Kuroko's temple, before he leads him down the street. There are lanterns hanging from every tree and lamp post, but since it has yet to get dark, none of them are lit. There are multiple festival sites strewn throughout the cities, Akashi stirs them to one of the smaller, more hidden ones. They reach a small plaza, built around a crystalline salt formation that vaguely resembles a human. There are only a few booths here, but the atmosphere is just as cheerful as everywhere else.
Akashi offers to get them food, while Kuroko rests on a nearby bench but Kuroko gives him such a flat and disapproving stare, that he shelves that idea as soon as it's out of his mouth. It's not that he thinks Kuroko is weak and needs the coddling, but rather that he has the overwhelming wish to take care of Kuroko in every possible way. Kuroko is the most precious thing in his life after all.
Kuroko winds his hands with his, giving him one of his small hidden smiles, as though he's read his mind. Akashi squeezes his fingers.
"What about takoyaki?" He offers as they pass the first stall.
Kuroko gives him a flat look. "It's too hot for takoyaki." Akashi can't really argue the point. It is kind of hot to wear a kimono in the middle of summer.
"Okonomiyaki?"
Kuroko hums but pulls him along.
Akashi lets him, even though it leads to them passing the row of stalls twice, before Kuroko finally comes to a decision. He's not really surprised when Kuroko pulls him to a stall offering crepes. It is the perfect solution though; there's sweet, there's savory, there's a mixture of the two, simply put; there's everything.
Kuroko takes one, predictably, with vanilla flavor, so Akashi opts for something savory, french cheese and mushrooms. After, Akashi gets them a daifuku each and Kuroko even manages to find a stall that sells milk shakes.
Akashi watches as he takes his first sip. Usually he gets this somewhat dreamy and happy expression when he drinks one of his maji shakes, but this time it's slightly different.
"I think, this is with real vanilla." Kuroko's eyes are slightly wide and he carefully, very carefully takes another sip. This time he delivers a perfect imitation of a pretentious wine connoisseur. He blinks two times and swallows, before wordlessly handing the cup over to Akashi.
He takes a sip and rolls it around on his tongue. Akashi never had been one for sweets, so he isn't really an expert on stuff like this, but he did sample genuine vanilla spicing at some point in his life. Which is to say, he still can't tell if this vanilla is real.
Akashi flips off the cap and checks the liquid inside. "It is real vanilla." He concludes and hands the shake back.
Kuroko takes it with a slight frown. "That's cheating, Akashi-kun."
"Well, my taste buds simply aren't as refined as yours."
"Please don't make absurd jokes." Kuroko deadpans and goes back to his vanilla shake. Akashi smiles and hooks his arm in Kuroko's elbow.
"Come on, the parade will start soon."
The sun is setting behind the horizon. They have been floating with the crowd for quite a while now and as the sun sinks out of view, the sound of drums starts up in the distance.
"Parade?" Kuroko inquires and tries to look over the heads of the many people obscuring the view down the road.
"Yes. Every year at the Gero-onsen-matsuri festival there is a procession with dragons and a shrine. I've heard there even is a samba parade." The last one might just have been one of Mibuchi's bad jokes however.
Kuroko's eyes light up unsurprisingly at the word dragons. The crowds coalesce, as the sound of drums comes closer. Akashi and Kuroko follow the sway as the people move to either said of the road to make way for the parade to come. An expectant silence falls over the crowd, only interrupted by drums and faraway cheers.
They actually hear the dragons before they see them. There must be a sound machine involved or something, because the procession is heralded by loud roaring and growling and then the first dragon comes into view. It's not as huge as Akashi expected but it's still impressive. It's made of paper or something similar, carried on sticks by a bunch of half naked men who also carry fire spitting torches.
Cheers follow the procession as more and more dragons come into view, dancing on their sticks and roaring as flames spout from hidden contraptions in their mouths. Kuroko's hand tightens almost imperceptibly on his elbow. His face is stoic as usual, but there is a small smile tugging on his lips and the firelight reflecting in his eyes gives him a supernatural vibe. Akashi finds he's more entranced by the sight of the man next to him than the dancing and coiling dragons.
He pays little attention to the rest of the parade, too absorbed by the play of darkness and firelight on Kuroko's face - and by the simple joy that shows in his eyes.
He truly is lucky.
They follow the procession in a throng of people. The lanterns hanging from trees were lit now, dipping the night in the mellow light of candles. After they lose sight of the last dragon's tale, Akashi pulls Kuroko out of the crowd and into a quieter side road. He's been wanting to kiss Kuroko for the longest time now, and he finally decides it's time.
Kuroko sinks against him, soft and pliant and all too willing to return the kiss. Akashi rests a hand above Kuroko's obi and uses it to nudge him closer. Kuroko's hands tighten on his arms and his lips fall open with a soft moan. Akashi slides his other hand to the nape of Kuroko's neck, angling his head , so he can get a better reach into his mouth.
The crowd bustles past them, unheeding of their slow and passionate moment.
They break apart. Kuroko's cheeks are flushed faintly, Akashi's eyes are dazed even fainter.
"How about we go back and try our indoor spring?" Kuroko's eyes are shaded in the dark of the night, but the jump of his breath speaks more than enough."It's still early." Akashi trails a finger over the bent of Kuroko's lips. They are still wet from their kiss and Kuroko's eye lids flutter as he lets out a soft little sigh.
"You're bad with hot springs." Akashi says with a soft smile.
Kuroko's eyelids twitch faintly and he pulls himself together to give Akashi a disapproving look. "Then you shouldn't have brought me here."
Akashi's smile widens and he leans in for another kiss. "Maybe it's all part of my plan." He winds his hand in Kuroko's and pulls. "Let's go." Kuroko lags a moment, before he catches on and hurries after Akashi.
They dive back into the bustle of the main streets, illuminated by lanterns and firelight. It's unfair, Kuroko muses, how well the colors harmonize with Akashi natural fiery affinity. It's like he's added a magical layer of glamour to his already overwhelming presence. But no matter how elevated and out of reach Akashi might seem at times, he'll never ever let go of Kuroko's hand.
He's earned that knowledge the hard way, so he just grips Akashi's hand tighter and catches up to him. Akashi's smile is dazzling.
Lanterns line the paths that wind through the hotel's garden. They're a bit redundant, and Kuroko can't honestly say he hasn't grown tired of the overdone light imagery set, but the evening's really nice otherwise and he won't let a bunch of brightly decorated paper lanterns ruin it. Of course it's hard to let anything get on his mood, when he's together with the love of his life. And Akashi's focus is entirely on him, not deterred at all by lantern decorations.
Akashi opens the sliding doors for him and holds on to his arm while he toes off his sandals. If anything, Akashi is even fussier than Kise, but he's doing it in a more subtle and unobtrusive way. And Kuroko finds himself more inclined to let him do as he pleases, but then again, this is Akashi Seijuro and some things simply don't change.
But letting Akashi have his way, almost always pays off.
Kuroko follows Akashi into the bedroom where they plan to take off the kimonos.
"I suppose I should warn you, I do entertain a fantasy where I have you while wearing these." Akashi drags a hand down the folds of Kuroko's kimono and drops to his knees in front of him, fingers tangling in the smooth silk of his obi. He's always known to play a perfect scene.
Kuroko quirks the faintest of smiles. "Maybe we should leave that for tomorrow?"
Akashi pauses in the process of unwinding his obi. His look is quizzical but then his lips pull into a smirk. "What is it with you today? You are rarely this demanding." Even in the dimness of the ambient bedroom light, Kuroko can see the warmth in Akashi's red eyes. Sometimes he still reminisces how odd it is to see the same warmth that was amiss in one perfectly golden eye, in two flaming reds.
That thought is maybe what inspires his response. "I missed you."
A shadow passes over Akashi's face, regret and guilt. "I know." Akashi's still kneeling, but he stops in his efforts to open the folds of Kuroko's kimono to look up at him. No matter how much Kuroko loves his surrogates, they will never make up for the real thing. And Akashi knows that.
Kuroko foregoes the apology on Akashi's tongue by putting his index finger on his lips. Akashi's eyes widen, but his lips pull into a soft smile.
"You're making more than up for it." Kuroko says and then Akashi is back on his feet and kissing him. The process of gentle undressing is forgotten as Akashi shoves the garment from his shoulders, expensive fabric rumpling to a heap on the floor. Akashi winds his fingers in Kuroko's hair as he parts his lips with his tongue. Kuroko lets him in without a fight, instead welcomes him with his own tongue until they're locked in a messy and passionate kiss.
Kuroko scrambles his hands down Akashi's sides, pulls at the obi that won't budge and earns a soft breathy chuckle against his lips. Strategically, it's safe to say he screwed up. Akashi has full access to his naked body, while he himself is effectively covered by the smooth yet unyielding fabrics of his kimono. And Akashi, being the man that he is, takes unrestrained advantage of that.
He pushes Kuroko back until he's leaning against the clothes' cabinet. Akashi puts a warm hand on the nape of his neck and kisses him again. His other hand trails down Kuroko's back, leaving goose bumps in its wake. He licks over Kuroko's lips and then pushes in to tangle their tongues. Kuroko's breath comes in puffs and he feels dizzy with the warmth that floods his system.
And of course, Akashi doesn't give him the opportunity to catch his breath. He slides the hand from his neck down his chest, makes a short detour to rub both his nipples into hardness, before he drops down to his knees again. Kuroko vetoed loincloth underwear, so he's still wearing his boxers, but Akashi wouldn't be stopped by either.
The air inside is warm, but Kuroko still feels a faint shiver as his groin is exposed. Akashi opts to ignore it for now, as he kisses the inside of Kuroko's thigh, right at the joint of hip and leg instead. Kuroko shivers again, but this time for different reasons. Akashi's lips are warm and he makes liberal use of his tongue as he trails lines of heat over Kuroko's skin.
Akashi takes his sweet time teasing him. He's paying close attention to every inch of skin surrounding, but stays clear of the area Kuroko really wants him to pay attention to. Kuroko's hard by now, without Akashi ever laying an actual hand on the area of effect.
"I thought we were going to take bath?" Kuroko's voice comes out irregularly, more so than he would have liked. Akashi pauses in his current endeavor to make him squirm by simply licking the dip of his navel. One hand is firmly planted on his left thigh, thumb resting in the crease of his legs, only millimeters away from where his balls hang heavily and looks up.
"I have to make you dirty first, don't you think?" He has a devilish smile on his lips and he applies the tiniest amount of pressure to the base of his cock with that maddeningly misplaced thumb.
Kuroko's air leaves him in a whoosh and what little strength he's retained in his legs drains away as Akashi finally, finally, puts a hand on his erection. It's just a soft stroke of a finger though, before Akashi has to catch Kuroko as his legs give way under him. It's a small miracle, really, that he didn't come from that.
"Are you alright Tetsuya?" Akashi went down to the floor with him and is now supporting most of his weight. Kuroko's skin feels hotter than it should and his entire body seems flushed. He's worried all of a sudden that he might have gone too far with the teasing.
Evidently he hasn't, when Kuroko pulls him into a heated kiss only moments later.
"Don't stop." Kuroko breathes against the clash of their lips, but to Akashi it sounds more like a moan. He's not inclined to ignore Kuroko's plea. Akashi reaches behind himself to undo his obi, while he pulls Kuroko in with the other. He pushes his tongue into Kuroko's welcoming mouth and earns another moan in response. The plan had been to take it slow, but now Akashi can't find the will to go through with it. Not when Kuroko's hands are pushing under the folds of his kimono, impatient and unwilling to wait any longer.
Blunt nails scrape over his chest, the moment the obi is off and the kimono falls open. Kuroko doesn't waste time in conquering each freed centimeter if skin that is freed with his hands first and then with his tongue as he attacks Akashi's chest. Akashi gives back as good as he gets.
Soon they're a heaving mess on the floor, Akashi's kimono bunched up even worse than Kuroko's but neither can really say he cares. Kuroko is on top of Akashi, legs to either side of him and his erection is a heavy and hot weight on his stomach. His own is just as hard, but still confined by his underwear. Kuroko has a hand splayed on his chest, finger tips just shy of his nipples and he's using the other to tease the bulge in his briefs.
There's no denying it that Kuroko is, for lack of a better word, horny.
"Akashi-kun, may I enter you tonight?" Kuroko has the habit to fall into even more formal speech when he's single minded on something profane, but that's not what Akashi's focusing on now. His heart jumps in his chest, sending shivers of heat and anticipation through his body. Kuroko seldom feels inclined to be the active part, if he does, Akashi knows something special is in store.
His voice predictably fails him as he tries to give a reply. Which is a reply all in itself.
Kuroko's eyes gleam with a knowing shimmer and he squeezes Akashi's erection once before standing up. Akashi follows him to the bed and lets Kuroko push him down onto the soft cover. Kuroko makes a quick detour to their suitcases and retrieves the bottle of lube Akashi had put in one of the outer compartments, in expectance of this or a similar outcome. He tosses the bottle on the bed next to Akashi and retakes his position, straddling his hips.
Just like Akashi, Kuroko is not interested in taking his time. He shoves down Akashi's briefs in the same motion he uses to kiss him and from there it's only seconds before his hands have hit their mark. Akashi surrenders immediately.
Akashi fists his hands into the sheets and lets Kuroko take over for the both of them. Kuroko strokes his cock a few times, uncharacteristically hard for him, but it's the exact thing Akashi needs right now. He's panting harshly, blood zinging with fire and liquid pleasure and he's so close to bucking his hips into Kuroko's touch. In the end he does it simply to provoke Kuroko into a reaction.
Kuroko does not disappoint. He digs the fingers of his other hand into Akashi's hips as a clear warning and Akashi is well tempted to test his limits. He doesn't get to it though, as Kuroko flicks his hand and Akashi is too busy riding the wave of bliss that rolls through his body. When he comes down again, Kuroko's already moved to kneel between his legs and is about to take him in his mouth.
Akashi's eyes fall closed as that warm, wet heat envelops him.
Kuroko swallows him down on his first go. Akashi can't hold back the moan that falls from his lips, nor can he hold back the involuntary bucking of his hips. This time Kuroko's reprimand comes in form of teeth grazing over his cock, gently still, but with a careful edge of warning. It sends bolts of sizzling hot lightning through his veins.
Kuroko pulls back slightly, closing his lips around the head and pushes, blunt and exquisite pressure. Heat draws his balls tight and he can feel his climax nearing, built up by the steady pressure of Kuroko's lips and tongue.
"Tetsu…" Akashi's breath comes out in loud short gasps and he can't quite wrap his tongue around Kuroko's name. He tries to pull back, but considering his position, there is not much space for him to go. But Kuroko's always been the perceptive type, so he doesn't miss the rising tension in Akashi's body.
He pinches the base of Akashi's cock, stemming the impending release after pulling back. Akashi's vision narrows for a few moments, the edges blurring white as the peaking pleasure recedes.
"Not yet, Akashi-kun." Kuroko's outward calm is a fickle façade by now; red riding high in his cheeks and lips glistening wet with saliva. But he does put effort into appearing unruffled. It makes Akashi want to unravel that façade, until Kuroko's writhing under him, helpless to the pleasure he invokes. And Kuroko is very much aware of that.
Kuroko still has a hand on the base of his cock, the pressure barely let up and Akashi has little ways to offer in restraint. He's trying to move his body into Kuroko's touch, because if it's not that, it's overthrowing Kuroko and taking what Kuroko is so willfully withholding. And that's really what sets Akashi's blood pumping, that ultimate control Kuroko can execute over him - not by force, but by Akashi's own will.
His bucking gives him little satisfaction, as Kuroko pulls his hand back immediately. It's his luck, really, that Kuroko's fighting his own arousal, otherwise he would be subjected to a lot more relentless teasing. As it is, Kuroko wants release just as much as Akashi does and he is loath to wait much longer.
Akashi isn't as used to it as Kuroko is, so preparation does take a while, but Akashi has little reason to complain. Kuroko keeps teasing lips on his cock, just enough to keep him constantly on edge. By the time Kuroko has three fingers inside of him, Akashi is very close to begging.
He doesn't have to, as Kuroko twists his fingers one last time, making Akashi's back arch off the bed, before he pulls out. Akashi's breathing is erratic and burns in his lung, but it's a pain he doesn't want to miss.
Akashi's hands are wound tightly into the sheets, but he goes through the complicated motions of unwinding one to reach out to Kuroko. As tactile as he is usually, he can be distant when he's taking charge like this. He still takes his cues from the wrong person.
Kuroko's eyes are dazed and he looks at Akashi's outstretched hand for a moment, as though he's unsure what to do with it. Akashi bends his fingers in an invitation; Kuroko's name a soft whisper on his lips. Kuroko shudders and then he surges forward, hand clasping Akashi's and the kiss he presses on his lips is sweet and wild and wanting, all at once. Akashi wraps his hands around Kuroko's body and pulls him on top of him, immerses himself in the feeling of skin on skin and the heat they share between them. Kuroko gasps against his lips and he takes advantage of the opening. He pushes in his tongue and swipes it over Kuroko's, wet and warm and oh so good.
"Akashi-kun, may I?" Kuroko is breathless, eyes wide and glazed over and Akashi can feel the tremors wrecking through his body, as he tries to keep a leash on his own want. Akashi lets out a shaky breath. His own erection is straining with need and he can barely hold it together.
"Tetsuya," is all he can say in response, the word barely above a strained whisper. Kuroko's fingers are steady, despite his labored breathing as he slicks himself up and takes up position. Akashi spreads his legs to accommodate him. They lock eyes for a moment and Akashi smiles at the man that holds his heart.
Kuroko swallows once. The head of his cock nudges against Akashi's entrance. Akashi lets out a sigh and relaxes as Kuroko leans over him and puts his hands on his hips. Kuroko squeezes his eyes shut and his grip tightens as he sinks in slowly. Akashi throws back his head and twists his hand into the sheets again. Kuroko prepared him well, there is no pain and no feeling of discomfort, only the slow burn of pleasure as Kuroko slowly stretches him open.
Kuroko leaves him no time to catch his breath after being fully sheathed. He starts moving immediately, setting a fast and steady rhythm that has Akashi curl his toes into the sheets. Pleasure pulses through him with every thrust, but the feeling pales in comparison when Kuroko changes the angle of his hips just so and Akashi's vision explodes with white.
They're hands are laced together when he's back to coherency and Kuroko is peppering kisses all over his neck and face. Akashi lets the sensations take over his senses, allows Kuroko to carry them up and up until they're close to the peak. Kuroko's thrusts come faster now and he's stopped kissing in favor of breathing hotly into the nape of Akashi's neck.
It takes one more thrust for Kuroko to go tense and come, his whole body shudders as the orgasm wrecks through him. Akashi holds him through it, pressing their bodies close together until he can feel the tension drain from Kuroko's body. He goes boneless and collapses on top of Akashi, too strung out to support his own weight.
Akashi is still hard, but he ignores it in favor of stroking Kuroko's sweat damp hair.
"I love you Tetsuya." He whispers softly. He can hear the strain in his own voice and apparently Kuroko picks up on it too, because in favor of a verbally response, he sneaks his hand between them. Akashi's so hard and aroused, all it takes are a few sharp twists and tugs and he comes with a shudder, body shaking with the intensity as he spills his seed.
"I love you too, Seijuro." Kuroko says so soft his voice is almost lost over the backdrop of Akashi's harsh breathing. But he does hear and the sound of his given name from Kuroko's pleasure wrought tongue floods his whole body with warmth.
They do end up enjoying the perks of their outdoor hot spring pool, despite the late hour. But since they unanimously agree on the necessity of at least a shower, they might as well go all in.
The water is hot enough for small steam clouds to hand billowing over the water. The night air cool and wakes goose bumps on Kuroko's skin and he sinks into the hot pool with a contended sigh. Akashi watches him with a lazy sort of attention. Kuroko has a long history of hot spring failures to his name and Akashi knows better than to meddle, but he can still watch out for impending blackouts.
Kuroko leans back against the rocky surface of the pool's edge. Unlike most other outdoor pools, this one is actually built on top of an actual hot spring. He closes his eyes and lets his thoughts float on the bubbling surface of the steam frosted water.
"You never used to smile this much." Akashi says after a while, and Kuroko hadn't been aware he has indeed been smiling.
"I never had this much reason to smile." Kuroko replies, eyes still closed and lazy content seeping into the very core of his bones. It's not just the water or the gentle peace of the night, but also the presence of Akashi next to him. This is where he wants to be for the rest of his life, with Akashi in touching distance and the assured knowledge at the back of his mind that he has a place in all of his friends' hearts.
The water moves gently and then there's a tap on his arm. Kuroko's eyes flutter open and he's instantly caught in the brilliant red gaze of Akashi's eyes. They hold eye contact for a moment, until Kuroko lifts his arm and rests pulls Akashi in for a kiss. It tastes like salt and minerals and the tiniest hint of sulfur.
Akashi pulls back first and smiles at him. "Look." He puts a gently hand on Kuroko's cheek and directs his gaze off to the side. He's already taken note of the beautiful star dotted night sky; a sight impossible to behold in the dusty nights of Tokyo, but that isn't what Akashi wanted to show him.
Fireworks explode in the distance, the area too far off to hear them, but the display is just as beautiful. Lights flicker through the night sky, green and red and blue and Kuroko sinks in Akashi's arms as they watch fire dance over the sky.
The perfect end to a perfect day.