Chapter 4: Stubborn Acceptance

Akashi was nervous. He had only noticed Kuroko because of the bandages peaking out from under her sleeves and on her face, and would probably have missed her otherwise. Making a split-second decision, he followed her outside and watched as she ducked behind a tree, hidden from prying eyes. Narrowing his eyes at her obvious injuries, he silently observed her, the ginger way she held herself, and the occasional flashes of pain in her eyes.

Checking his watch, Akashi satisfied himself with the knowledge that there would still be some time before he was missed. He approached, as one might a skittish and injured animal. She was what society dictated as an Inferior, which would probably mean that she would be nervous around him. Not to mention that she was already injured, and that most Superior's found him to be rather intimidating. There was a high chance that she would bolt.

Tetsuya felt a shadow fall across her, and she heard someone clear their throat. "Excuse me." She snapped her head up so fast he was worried she would injure herself further. "I was wondering if you were alright." Akashi continued, trying not to get lost in the depths of the stunning sapphire eyes he was now faced with. He had the unnerving feeling that this beautiful girl was staring into his soul.

"Thank you for your concern, Akashi-san. But I will be alright." He was startled out of his thoughts at the sound of Kuroko's voice. It was clear and melodious, soft and respectful, but firm. Akashi found his opinion of Tetsuya Kuroko rising. Not just anyone could maintain such perfect composure when approached by him. Most tended to become stuttering messes.

"How do you know my name?" Akashi asked, to keep the conversation going. Kuroko smiles slightly. "Who in this school doesn't know your name would be a better question, Akashi-san. You are, after all, the Student Council President." "Touché." Akashi gave a small smirk in return. "In that case, I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage, Miss…" "Tetsuya. Tetsuya Kuroko." Her smile faded into a wary look.

"Well, Tetsuya," Akashi wanted to savour this time with her, but knew it wouldn't be much longer until his absence was noticed. "You really should get those injuries seen to. I could accompany you to the infirmary if you would like?" He phrased it like a question, already guessing she will not want to go. As expected, she refused. "That's quite alright Akashi-san, it is not serious enough to require medical attention. Besides," she looked down, "the nurse will ask questions." "For my own peace of mind, Tetsuya." Akashi persisted, wanting to know the full extent of the damage. "I will take you to see Shintaro, he will not ask questions."

Kuroko heaved an internal sigh, wondering how she had managed to get suckered into seeing someone about her injuries. She highly doubted this 'Shintaro' would stay quiet and there was the risk that her status as an Inferior would be uncovered. She didn't want to think about the consequences if that happened.

Kuroko followed Akashi through the school hallways until they stopped outside a door labelled Student Council. It was a reasonable choice, she thought, surveying the large table in the centre of the room and the chairs surrounding it. There would be the space to examine her and there was little risk of being interrupted. The room looked clean, but unused. She sat in the chair Akashi indicated and watched as he withdrew a phone from the back pocket of his school trousers. Kuroko didn't take her eyes off Akashi as he ordered the person on the other end to come to the unused Student Council room and to bring his equipment.

Finishing the call, Akashi turned to find himself pinned by Kuroko's gaze. He offered a small smile. "Shintaro will be here soon." He said before sitting down across from her. Kuroko nodded in acknowledgment but remained silent. Several minutes later, a green-haired boy wearing the Teiko school uniform barged into the room with a fierce scowl on his face. "Akashi, where have you been?" he growled out. Kuroko noted the resigned tone to the boy's voice and guessed that the illustrious Student Council President had a habit of pulling disappearing acts. Akashi merely nodded in Kuroko's direction and said, "This is Tetsuya Kuroko. Tetsuya, Shintaro Midorma, the Student Council Vice-President." This caused Midorima to stop short in his tirade as he noticed the other person in the room.

Kuroko inclined her head respectfully then looked up to see that Midorima was staring at her, face completely red from a blush. "Shintaro." Midorima's attention snapped to Akashi at the note of command in his voice. "Tetsuya requires your expertise." Midorima turned his gaze back to Kuroko, noticing for the first time the bandages and medical gauze wrapped around her head and peaking from her sleeves. He strode into the room, placed the medical bag he'd brought with him on the table before kneeling in front of the girl. "May I?" he requested in a soft voice, waiting until Kuroko nodded her consent before pulling on surgical gloves to gently poke and prod at his patient, meticulously checking for injuries. His examination was conducted in relative silence, with only the occasional question of whether something hurt.

When finished with the examination, Midorima stood and reached for his bag, pulling out several rolls of bandages and gauze before proceeding to unwrap the dressings on Kuroko's head. His face turned stony upon seeing the bruising that covered her forehead beneath the bandages before gently, almost reverently wrapping them again. He did the same for the other injuries to her face and neck before stepping back.

"I'm going to need you to take off your shirt to treat your chest and arms." Midorima said, blushing faintly. Kuroko stiffened. "I would rather not." She replied hesitantly, fiddling with cuffs on her sleeves. "Tetsuya, allow Shintaro to treat you properly." Akashi said, voice softening at her obvious distress. "We will leave the room while you change, and Shintaro will treat you." Kuroko considered this, before reluctantly agreeing. "Very well." Akashi and Midorima left the room and Kuroko quickly removed her shirt and the t-shirt she was wearing under it. She folded them both before placing her left hand beneath them, making sure her wrist-cover was completely hidden before calling Midorima back into the room.

Midorima took one look at Kuroko, blushed profusely, and then pulled himself together with visible effort. He walked up to his medical bag, removed several lengths of bandages and started bandaging Kuroko's ribs and chest. Kuroko could not suppress a wince of pain at the pressure being put on the bruising around her ribcage. Midorima's mouth was pinched but otherwise he gave no sign of discomfort at seeing a girl half-naked.

Upon pronouncing himself finished, Kuroko hurriedly started to put her clothes back on, freezing when she heard Midorima give a startled gasp. She looked up. He was staring at her in shock. She followed his gaze to see that he was staring at her left wrist, more specifically, the silver wrist cover. She quickly pulled her shirt on, sleeve hiding the gleaming silver from view. She looked down, unwilling to see the revulsion on one of the only people who had ever shown her kindness. She turned to go.

"Kuroko…" Midorima started, not wanting to let her go. "Don't!" Kuroko cried, just wanting to leave. "Please, just don't." She turned, trying to get out of the room. Midorima reacted fast, grabbing her hand before she made it two steps. They both gasped in shock at the bond slamming into them.

Kuroko, having already experienced this recently, took only a moment to recover. She bolted, fleeing the room and pushing past Akashi who had been waiting outside the door. Akashi let her go, having felt the echo of a bond forming in his mind.

Inside the room, Midorima was still recovering from the suddenness of having the bond form. He barely registered Akashi entering until he felt a hand on his shoulder. Akashi guided Midorima to a chair, and he collapsed into it, dazed eyes staring at Akashi.

When he had recovered, he said "She is an Inferior." "Yes." Akashi replied, knowing that this would have to be addressed. "That is why we could not find her. Why she ran from Ryouta." "It will not be easy to convince her, nanodayo." Midorima stated, logic reasserting itself in his brain. "Indeed." Akashi agreed. "She has obviously suffered a great deal. But convince her we will. She is ours. Ours to love and protect and we will help her to understand that. We will never let her be hurt again."

Midorima nodded, determination setting his face. Regardless of what it would take, they would make Kuroko theirs. It was where she belonged, after all.

Author's Note: My deepest apologies to all my devoted followers. It is with great regret that I inform you that technical malfunctions have caused this chapter to be over a week late. There are no excuses and they have, hopefully, been fixed.

I give my eternal gratitude to my Beta, DoctorK71 for helping me to make this chapter worthy of publishing. I could not do it without her.