Thanks to these people for reviewing~~ XD

Rea, Pri-Chan 1410, Sapphyre Lily, C-J-V , SkyMadien1, Kiri0918, luchiaseiren, Scarlet Aki-chin, Cerulean Twin, SuperMegaAnimeLoverLilla, akemi, fostine . foli

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ClockWorks 01

Akashi

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(I recommend listening to 'Nutcracker' while reading this part)

After hearing the clicking of the door, 'Akashi' gradually smiled. There was happiness in the simplest ways Kuroko did to him. It was so simple yet it was enough to give him warmth inside those nuts and bolts. His two hands twitched closed and open—repeatedly until the motion was smooth. The same method was done with opening and closing his eyes. The shoulders rolled counter-clockwise motion then he stretched his arms forward.

With a slight push, 'Akashi' landed on the floor, falling like the toy he was in the process. His knees buckled as he tried to stand up. He wobbled to the table leg and stayed like that until he wasn't wobbling anymore.

He stretched his limbs to get his joint functioning. He contracted his arms then relaxed. Contract… Relax… Contract… Relax… Until the movements ceased to move in a robotic manner.

'Akashi' tilted his head left and right with a smile filled with complete happiness. His hands slowly made its way up to the mouth painted with a smile.

"E…gao…" He slowly said. His voice was rusty due to the long time he was being stuck to just a toy for display. "S…S… Smile…" He repeated. Something inside him started to beat, making his other hand slowly make its way up to his chest. "Haa…ppy…" Not a moment to lose, 'Akashi's smile shifted into a grin as he knew what was going to happen next.

"A…Ka-Ka-Ka-Ka-shiiii..!"

Steam seeped out of the toy. His limbs grew longer and became 'fleshier', the clothes also grew in size to match the sudden growth, and soon enough, he turned into human.

…

…

…

(Ib- Memory)

From Kuroko's room, he could hear the gentle sounds of the music boxes he made. The sound was gentle yet so lonely. It reminded him of the times when he would help people and get nothing in return. Along those lines, it reminded him of the other times when people came to forget him.

That was already a given that he's the type to be easily forgotten, but he's also human, and he can feel the pain of being forgotten. It made him feel lonely. So lonely that the memories of the past resurfaced and replayed along with the gentle sound of the music box.

He tucked himself further inside the bed sheets and pressed the pillows to his ears. I don't want to hear any of those! He mentally shouted. Faint voices from his memory already played without his consent.

Images of the fading smile of his mother, the missing warm hug of his father, and even the neglected understanding coming from his grandmother appeared right before him—how he wanted those feelings to come back. Those sensations bore a hole in his chest.

Of course, there were children who frequently visit his shop but it was always rarely that someone actually buys something.

But in all actuality, no one seriously knew his name. It was just the common 'Puppet Maker-san' and sometimes 'Onii-chan'—whichever the party decides.

By then, Kuroko realized that there was an intruder in his shop. He kicked off the bed sheets and sat up straight. His face was filled with internal turmoil upon knowing his thoughts. He swooped his feet out of the bed and onto the cold floor. The floor eerily creaked with every step Kuroko took.

He quietly opened the door—to which he greatly regretted for the sound of the creaking door was louder than he expected it to be. Standing before him was a man just a few centimeters taller than him.

The moonlight illuminated the man who was before him.

There was steam at the bottom part of the room. Sprites of different colors surrounded the man who held a music box Kuroko made out of a whim.

"Memory… is the title of the music in this music box, right?" He said, leaning lightly against the windowpane. The moonlight enhanced his features especially in the eyes. One was crimson red while the other was golden yellow. His clothes were that of a prince taken out of a fairytale story. The white coat beautifully lit an illuminating color, matching the cold season. His red inner shirt with indigo necktie had a good combination with the light settings before him.

"Aka…shi..?" Kuroko managed to mutter in awe.

Akashi showed a heart-warming smile as he trailed the fine details on the box with his finger. "It has a gentle tune… yet it is so lonely…" As if on cue, the music box stopped playing and automatically closed itself. Akashi raised a brow at the simple mechanism of the music box. "There is history in this…" He also mentioned.

Some sprites flew up to Kuroko and dissipated along the process. Small wonders made the teal haired male try and catch—or atleast touch them—with his hands. So many flew up to his direction but none were able to land on Kuroko's palms.

Akashi noticed this action and blew the remaining of his rainbow-colored sprites to the puppet maker.

It was like being awake and conscious while inside a dream. The colorful sprites gently pressed themselves on Kuroko. Some were at his feet, some rested on his head and shoulders, and the remaining was cradled in his arms. They were warm and welcoming just as how he imagined them.

"Memory…" Kuroko started. "Like the name suggests, it was based from my forgotten childhood…" Along those lines, the colorful sprites lifted up and spread out. The whole place looked mystical and the colorful sprites looked like fireflies from afar. One happened to light up Kuroko's face. His face was hiding something, an emotion.

Akashi saw the brief pain in Kuroko's eyes. That guy may be monotonous in terms of speaking, but he was still human. Kuroko was bound to feel something. That expression was more than enough to show Akashi's point. He slightly tilted his head in curiosity. "You said 'forgotten childhood'… what happened?" He felt like he was shoving his nose in Kuroko's private space.

The shorter male ran a hand across his bed ridden hair and clutched a tuft of it, "I don't know… They're all fragments… I have no recollection of any of it…"

"I noticed… you're awfully open…"

Kuroko slid his hand down to his nape and rubbed it in a soothing motion, "People tend to judge a book by its cover—only a few would care and look inside." He sighed and hugged himself, as if he was protecting himself from the outside world, "That's why I tell them…" so that this pain would lighten…

"I see…"

By then, the sprites faded out, leaving only the moonlight as their source of light. Akashi slowly walked up to the shorter male and pried off Kuroko's self hug then engulfed him in his own arms. "You don't have to worry anymore…" He whispered into Kuroko's ear, "I'll stay by your side."

He dearly caressed Kuroko's soft hair and tightened his hug.

…

…

…

"For my heart started to move once more all because of you…"

…

Soft chirps of the birds were heard as the morning sunlight graced upon Kuroko. It was a chilly start as the season was approaching. He woke up back in his bed, tucked in, with no signs of the toy that goes by the name of 'Akashi'. He may be not there but the warmth of last night made him feel that it wasn't a dream. He sat up and felt the pounding in his chest.

A part of him wished that it wasn't a dream as he ran out of his bedroom and out to the main store.

The door opened with a bang and saw no signs of Akashi. He looked at the side where he last left the toy.

He wasn't there.

A sharp twinge of pain stabbed the teal haired male directly at the heart. Just when he finally thought that he found someone who can help him ease the pain, he met nothing.

Footsteps gradually became louder then Kuroko felt a hand caress his hair.

"G' Morning…"

Kuroko turned around to see that Akashi wasn't actually a dream. Akashi quirked an eyebrow at the shorter male's actions. As if realizing the reason, he red haired male let out a good-mannered chuckle.

"I'm not going anywhere."

Like a surprise attack, Kuroko showed a pure smile of happiness towards Akashi, "Thank you… very much."

Akashi pressed his forehead against Kuroko's. He had a light tint of red as he returned the smile the shorter male gave, "No… I, thank you."

In Akashi's eyes, Kuroko was like a child who knew the darkness of the world but remained who he is. He was definitely weak but at the same time, he was also strong. His heart remained pure regardless of his circumstances. He knew how to hide his emotions and turn a blind eye against all negativities.

He was too nice, Akashi concluded.

~TO BE CONTINUED~

It's still short. I know…

-Care to drop a review?

Ciao~!