Chapter 7: Soul Bonded
Awareness returned to Kuroko slowly, in fragmented segments. The sensation of a soft weight, a murmur of voices. Kuroko pried open her eyes, blinking to dispel the slight haziness before taking in her surroundings. Registering that the ceiling above her in no way resembled the wooden boards of her attic room, she began to quietly panic, throwing off the blankets on top of her and shifting to get out of the bed, only to be hit by a wave of vertigo upon attempting to stand. Kuroko fell to the floor, head aching and the room swaying sickeningly.
Alerted by the muffled thump of weight hitting carpet, the Generation of Miracles barged into the room, the beginnings of panic rushing through them when Kuroko was not immediately visible. "Kurokocchiiii!" Kise wailed, hysterical at the thought of his new bond-mate vanishing. Aomine, meanwhile had walked round the bed and was smirking down at the girl sprawled on the floor "Yo, Tetsu." The smirk was met with a deadpan glare but Kuroko still accepted the hand held out to help her off of the floor.
Slightly ashamed of her mild freak-out, Kuroko stayed silent, a barely noticeable tinge of pink colouring her pale cheeks. Noticing that her hand was still in Aomine's grasp, she hastily tried to let go, looking anywhere but at the tanned male. Sensing her distress, Midorima stepped forward, a stern look in his green eyes. "How are you feeling, nanodayo?" he asked, frown pinching his brow as he observed the girl critically. "Yeah, Tetsu, you just keeled over. Gave us all a damn shock." Aomine chipped in, grip tightening on Kuroko's hand. "Kuro-chin should eat more." Murasakibara commented in his slow drawl, handing Kuroko a bag of vanilla cookies. "Thank you, Murasakibara-kun." The girl murmured, accepting the bag mechanically, overwhelmed by the open concern she was being faced with. "Atsushi is correct, Tetsuya." Stated Akashi, eyeing her frame critically and immediately drawing all attention to him. "You are much too thin."
Kuroko watched, slightly dazed, as Akashi ordered Murasakibara to cook breakfast for everyone and then proceeded to shoo the rest of the Generation of Miracles out of the room. "Tetsuya." The red-head began once the door had shut behind the last person (Kise). "Please, sit down." He gestured to the bed before taking a seat himself, smiling as Kuroko sat next to him. "You will have to forgive our bond-mates. I'm afraid they can be quite exuberant at times."
"That it quite alright, Akashi-kun." Kuroko said quietly, staring at her hands. "I'm sure I will get used to it." The red-haired male frowned faintly at the girls wording but ultimately didn't comment. His mid flashed back to their bonding and how she had just collapsed.
(Flashback)
Kuroko slumped in the chair, her bond-mates still wrapped around her. Akashi, who had the clearest view of her face, let go of Kuroko's hand, frowning slightly and moving closer to frame the girl's face in his hands. His frown deepened at the lack of response the action received and he called out sharply "Shintarou." At the sound of Akashi's voice, everyone shook themselves from the euphoria of the bond forming.
Midorima stepped forward (it never paid to ignore the red-head) "Akashi?" he inquired, following the others line of sight with a deep frown. Eyes tight with concern he barked out rapid-fire instructions, not taking his eyes off the girl slumped in the chair. "Kise, my bag. Aomine, make up the spare room. Murasakibara, help Aomine." Midorima then proceeded to kneel in front of Kuroko and begin examining her.
"Well?" Kise asked, impatient, tears in his eyes as Midorima made to stand after finishing. "Kuro-chin will be fine, right Mido-chin?" Murasakibara chimed in, bag of chips unopened for once.
Midorima paused several moments, staring at the boys gathered behind him. "She is fine, nanodayo." He stated slowly, pushing his glasses up his nose as Kise and Aomine heaved a sigh of relief and there was the rip of a foil packet as Murasakibara dove into his snacks. "What happened, Shintarou?" Akashi asked, marginally relaxed now that there was confirmation that his last bond-mate had not suffered serious harm. "I would surmise that Kuroko's loss of consciousness is due to having the bond-links snap into place at once." Midorima began, carefully avoiding eye-contact with anyone. "Though she had already established a link with Kise and myself, Kuroko still felt the other bonds forming simultaneously, and the overload caused her to pass out."
(End Flashback)
As Akashi finished speaking, Murasakibara come back into the room carrying a tray piled with food. He carefully set the tray on Kuroko's lap and ruffled the tiny bluenette's hair gently, murmuring "enjoy, Kuro-chin" before leaving again, heedless of the wide-eyed, startled look Kuroko gave the giant.
"Eat Tetsuya." The red-head ordered when Kuroko made no move to do so. "Your ribs show beneath your uniform and are far too light to be healthy." "Akashi-kun, I cannot possibly finish all this food." Kuroko protested, picking up a pair of chopsticks and starting to poke at her food but making no attempt to eat any. "I am in no hurry, Tetsuya, and neither of us will be moving until you have eaten." Akashi's voice was mild but his eyes were sharp and his tone brooked no argument. Kuroko heaved a quiet sigh but picked up a bowl of rice. For several minutes there was silence apart for the gentle clinking of cutlery as Akashi watched the girl like a hawk to ensure she ate a decent amount. Kuroko managed half the tray before putting down her chopsticks and fixing the red-head with a dead-pan stare.
"Akashi-kun," she began, voice unwavering despite the intense gaze directed her way, "I have never had a large appetite. If I try to eat more than I can take I will be sick." Akashi met the girl's even stare, then surveyed the half eaten tray. "Very well," he said at length. "You will simply eat more later." Ignoring Kuroko's exasperated sigh, he called Murasakibara back in to take the tray away before Midorima examined the girl again.
After Midormia had pronounced Kuroko to be mostly recovered she was allowed out of bed. Akashi watched her like a hawk the entire time the girl was being examined then followed her out to the sitting-room where Kise glomped her as soon as he saw her. "Kurokochiii!" the blond wailed, holding tight to the blue-haired girl, "We were so worried!" "Kise-kun." Kuroko quietly murmured, the feeling of concern emanating from the bond with Kise softening her voice. "Let her go, Kise." Aomine came up, pulling the emotional blond away from Kuroko and standing in front of her. "Yo, Tetsu." He said, raising a clenched fist. "Hello, Aomine-kun." Kuroko replied, giving the fist a gentle "bump with her own knuckles while a small smile played on her face.
"Tetsuya," Akashi called, drawing the girl's attention back to the red-head. "What are you going to do now?"
"I do not understand, Akashi-kun?" Kuroko questioned, looking at the red-head in some confusion.
"Stay with us Kurokocchi!" Kise wailed, clinging to the girl desperately. "Kise-kun," she gasped, "I cannot breathe." Aomine came forward to drag the excitable boy off the poor girl. "Kuro-chin stay, please." Murasakibara took his turn to beg, turning pleading amethyst eyes on the Kuroko.
"I will need to get my things." Kuroko muttered eventually, eyes training on the floorboards, she was still somewhat overwhelmed by everyone's attention.
"Great! We'll come with you Kurokocchi!"
Seeing the girl hesitate at this offer, Akashi intervened. "We do not have to accompany you if you do not want us to, Tetsuya."
A brief flash of relief crossed her face, she had no desire for her new bond-mates to see her living conditions, or worse, run into her father. Kuroko nodded and made to leave, but stopped when Akashi held out an iphone to her. "All of our numbers have already been input into it." the red-head said. Kuroko made no move to take the device. "Take it, Tetsuya, and stay in contact with us while you are gone or allow at least one of us to accompany you. It is your choice." Levelling a mild deadpan look at the audacity Kuroko took the iphone and turned it on before the red head stepped aside to finally let her go.
Kuroko hurried through the streets, avoiding eye-contact with anyone as much as possible. She did not trust any of her bond-mates to not change their minds and come after her if they felt she was taking too long. Glancing down at her new phone once she'd arrived she found Kise had already sent her a text. Rolling her eyes slightly Kuroko typed out a response as quickly as possible 'Arrived safe. Be back soon.' before letting herself into the house.
It took almost no time at all for Kuroko to gather her meagre possessions into a couple of bags; three sets of her school uniform, a handful of faded threadbare casual clothes and a few cheap pieces of jewellery she never wore but had sentimental value. Placing her only dress into the bag she quickly closed it and set off again, locking the door behind her. At this time of day her father would be hitting the bars, spending what little money he earned on getting as drunk as possible. Kuroko had no desire to cross his path; he was not a pleasant drunk.
Making her way back to the nicer part of town, Kuroko hoped that she wouldn't inconvenience her bond-mates too much by staying with them. They had offered, and she had accepted, but they had no idea what she had to do to keep herself in school and off the streets like so many Inferiors were.
"Kurokochi!" Kise exclaimed after opening the door when she knocked.
"Welcome home, Tetsuya." Akashi greeted, prying Kise off the girl and allowing her to enter the flat, somehow also managing to take her bags in the process.
"Where's the rest of your stuff, Kurokochi?" Kise asked, looking somewhat mystified by the two bags. "That is everything, Kise-kun." Kuroko said mildly, heart sinking when she spotted the blonds horrified expression.
AN: That was a long break. You would not believe the trouble this chapter has given me and I'm not happy with it. It hasn't been beta'd yet but when it has I will update this chapter.
You should all know that I'm currently at university and I'm afraid my degree takes precedence to fanfic writing unfortunately. Because of that I cannot guarantee a new chapter anytime soon, especially not since I'm working on another fic as well.
On a much happier note, thank you for all the reviews and follows and favourites I've gotten for this fic, you are my light in the darkness and the reason I keep writing this. I love you all