"You're free now?" asked Akaashi seeming to appear out of nowhere a week later making Kuroo jump.
"I am," he admitted quickly shooting off a quick 'with Akaashi' to Kenma as promised. Today was technically a school day, but he was a third year in advanced classes and he had a couple of free periods in the morning, "wither shall we wander?"
"Hmmm," there was a hint of a smile on Akaashi's mouth and Kuroo considered it a victory, "Have you ever been to an apothecary before?"
"I can't say that I have," said Kuroo falling into step beside him.
"Do you at least know what it is?" asked Akaashi.
"Old style medicine?" said Kuroo scrunching up his face uncertainly.
"Sometimes. The name is Western, but Japanese apothecaries have been around for much longer than they've carried that name. All it really means is that they are a distributor of herbs and chemicals. They used to be the main suppliers of ingredients for medicines, but that's mostly been replaced by pharmacies and chemists although they still get business from naturopathic physicians and homeopathy doctors." Akaashi explained pulling him down a side street, and then another, till Kuroo was totally lost.
"If they've mostly been replaced, then why are they still around?" asked Kuroo. Akaashi looked pleased that he'd caught on to that.
"Doctors were the main buyers, not the only buyers. They're first and foremost suppliers, and there is still a demand." Said Akaashi with a sly smile.
"But from who?" grinned Kuroo catching on a bit to why Akaashi would bring him there.
"The ones normal people can find? Older women and young people trying to be edgy." Shrugged Akaashi.
"And the others?" asked Kuroo and he caught his breath as Akaashi's smiled turned devilish.
"You'll see."
"Whoa… it's like witchcraft." Breathed Kuroo. They were sitting on stools in the basement of a shop in the Ueno district. All around them were barrels of powers, there were shelves stuffed with boxes and plastic bags of unknown substances, herbs dangling from the ceiling, crates full of unmarked bottles and jugs. There always seemed to be a steady stream of the most eccentric looking people Kuroo had ever seen in all his wanderings. Sometimes they came in to pick up orders. Sometimes they'd browse and chat to each other about this or that project (cooking maybe? It didn't always sound like it). Sometimes they'd sit right down and start measuring out formulas.
"Witchcraft is generally just a name people give to activities that are foreign to their understanding of how the world works." Grumbled Akaashi. It looked almost like a sore subject for him.
"Oh? Are you one of those 'magic is just a science that we don't understand yet' kind of people?" asked Kuroo a little teasingly sipping his drink. He didn't know what it was this time either, enjoying letting Akaashi order for him again. It tasted like spring sunshine… if that was even a taste, but Kuroo didn't know how else to describe it.
"No, most people's ideas about what they call magic I think are rubbish. It just bothers me how other perfectly legitimate practices that can be explained by science are dismissed so quickly because they are not widely taught or known about. Like, nobody accuses a contortionist of being a witch because they can do things that are uncommon. And voice actors can often can do a whole range of things with their vocals, even sometimes throw them. Those skills are recognized so why not…" Akaashi trailed off frowning unhappily.
"Why not what?" Kuroo prompted.
"…I don't know. It is just confusing to me why something's are socially accepted and others not." Akaashi said at last raising his cup to take a sip. Kuroo was pretty sure that was not what Akaashi had been going to say, but he let it rest. He had a feeling Akaashi was just as extraordinary as the people who visited this shop, just perhaps not in a way that was immediately obvious.
"Keiji dear? I am really sorry but I need you to go for today. I love having you here, but it get's hard when the store get's more than a few hours off of the averaged tick." Said the kindly lady who seemed to own the place.
"I understand." Said Akaashi rising with a small bow and a reassuring smile.
"You're getting a lot better, I look forward to when you can come around more often." She praised even as she hurried them out, "Bring Bokuto next time, he always makes for good company!"
"I will." Promised Akaashi.
"Who's Bokuto? And I don't really get why we have to leave, we weren't there very long." Frowned Kuroo.
"Bokuto is… difficult to explain. But sometime I'll let you meet him maybe." Akaashi told him as they climbed the stairs, "And I think we were here longer than you might think, it's probably time for you to head back."
"Ah, time flies when you're having fun huh?" Kuroo said nudging the other because Akaashi seemed a bit down.
"So I've heard." Said Akaashi with a soft look at him, before he frowned again, "But really, we need to get you back."
"It should be fine." Kuroo tried to reassure him because Akaashi was seemingly with drawing into himself. Kuroo glanced at his watch trying to see how late he was for his next class, it should be fine even if he missed a bit because his grades were perfect, and made a face when he realized it'd stopped working again. It kept doing that, perhaps he needed a new one.
"This was fun," admitted Akaashi slowly, "I don't often get to be around other people besides my teacher's and Bokuto. There are some other… homeschoolers that I occasionally am with, but not very often."
"Does that get lonely?" asked Kuroo worriedly, his mom senses kicking immediately after having grown up around Kenma.
"Not usually, I am pretty introverted so working alone is very relaxing. But I enjoy going out now and then. It'll get easier once I… well, you know, once I am older… among other things." Said Akaashi simply. Once again, it seemed like there was a lot not being said. Whatever it was, it seemed like it was a bit of a heavy burden on Akaashi and Kuroo wished he'd share it with him. Then again, they probably weren't close enough for that yet. But Kuroo could feel the potential there for a deep strong friendship, and it was difficult to wait the necessary time for that to develop properly.
"Hey," Kuroo said nudging him with his shoulder, "Today was fun. We should do it again sometime."
"Maybe." Said Akaashi, but he didn't look like he believed that was a good idea.
"I mean it, here, let me give you my phone number and you can at least text me or whatever when you're bored." Kuroo said digging a pen out of his pocket and writing his number on Akaashi's hand.
"Ah you say that now, I might end up being a pain in the ass." It was said with a slightly sarcastic tone, but Kuroo felt like there was a bit of a warning there. Somehow that made him all the more determined.
"You're offering to be a pain in my ass after only the second date? My Akaashi, you're being quite forward." Kuroo teased back wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. Akaashi gave a little snort of surprised amusement.
"That was horrible." He informed him looking a little done, but underneath it he seemed disproportionally pleased. Kuroo wondered how alone he really was most of the time.
"I do try."
"Mmmm." Hummed Akaashi, but he typed in his number anyway and soon Kuroo felt his phone vibrating with a message from him. Akaashi hesitated for a moment, "Just warning you know, I get terrible service. I might not get messages right away."
"That's fine. I-" Kuroo didn't finish his sentence because suddenly his phone was buzzing like crazy. He fumbled with it seeing Kenma's name, "Sorry one sec- Hello?"
"You missed practice." Kenma greeted him with.
"What? How is that possible? It's not even noon yet." Blinked Kuroo, Akaashi tensed beside him.
"Kuroo, schools over. You've been gone for hours." Kenma informed him frankly.
"I- what?" Kuroo's mind was reeling. Akaashi was muttering something under his breath twisting his fingers. How was that possible? His internal clock had never been this bad. Then again, hadn't the shop keeper mentioned something about hours? And Akaashi about it being a bit later than he thought? Quite suddenly the light seemed to shift and Kuroo felt momentarily disoriented. He glanced at the sky and noticed that the sun was indeed in the west now. How had he not noticed that?
"Kuroo, are you okay? There was a lot of static on the phone." Kenma sounded reservedly concerned.
"I- I am fine. Just can't believe I missed school." Said Kuroo rubbing his head. Akaashi was watching him closely looking extremely troubled.
"Kuroo, are you still with Akaashi?" Kenma asked suddenly.
"Yeah, we were just about to split." Replied Kuroo.
"Well stay together, I want to meet him. Where are you?" asked Kenma. There was no room for debate in his tone.
"Uh, my friend want to meet you, do you know a good place for that?" Kuroo asked the other, holding the phone away from his face. Whatever Akaashi felt about this development didn't show on his face.
"There's a square not far from here." Akaashi said rattling off an address quickly that Kuroo repeated into the phone.
"See you soon." Kenma said and hung up.
"Geez, what a mess." Muttered Kuroo pocketing his phone.
"I am sorry." Said Akaashi softly.
"Not your fault," Kuroo dismissed, Akaashi looked like he was swallowing something back, "I am the one whose sense of time is botched."
Akaashi closed his eyes as if the news pained him, "You have a headache."
It was not a question.
"A little one, not bad. I just need to eat something and I'll be fine." Kuroo tried to reassure him.
"Have you been having a lot of these?" asked Akaashi as they walked.
"Not often, no." Kuroo shrugged. Akaashi looked like he wanted to ask more but by then they'd reached the square. Kenma was already waiting for them somehow. Kuroo wondered if he'd sprinted across the city. Then again this was Kenma so there was no way he'd do that. Maybe he'd just been really close when he'd called.
"Yo, Kenma." Kuroo greeted sauntering over to his friend. Both Akaashi and Kenma paused when they caught sight of each other. Not aggressively… more like the kind of twitch of attention a dog might give when it catches a whiff of something familiar.
"Are you….? You are, aren't you?" Akaashi asked quickly. Kuroo didn't think he'd seen his eyes that bright before.
"I am not sure exactly what you mean, but… perhaps some things make a little more sense now." Kenma said slowly assessing Akaashi with alert gold eyes. Kenma glanced at Kuroo and then back at Akaashi before nodding to himself, "Hello, I am Kuroo's friend Kenma. And you must be Akaashi."
"A pleasure to meet you." Akaashi replied shaking his hand. Kuroo felt really confused. Something had just happened. Kenma didn't take interest in people. Ever. But he was now. And there was a sort of… crackling energy. Like two storm fronts meeting. But instead of crashing into each other they seemed to… hold one another carefully at bay and in place.
Kuroo needed to stop thinking in metaphors.
"Here, next time you two hang out text me so I can pick him up. It should make the transition easier. He was nearly sick after the last one." Kenma said bluntly handing over his phone number.
"I am so sorry. I was worried about that." Grimaced Akaashi gratefully accepting it before pausing a licking his lips, "Why have I never seen you around with the masters?"
"I think I sort of know what you're talking about but not completely," Kenma said slowly, "But I've gone to school with Kuroo my entire life. I've never had any outside instruction if that's what you're asking."
"Incredible." Murmured Akaashi his eyes alight with admiration.
"…Can someone please explain?" said Kuroo giving up trying to follow the conversation. He didn't know if they were being purposefully vague to keep him out of the loop or they were just talking about things he didn't understand.
"Kenma can explain if he likes, but if it really is as late as you say then I really need to go for now." Apologized Akaashi tilting his head slightly at the two of them.
"Alright, I text you later." Sighed Kuroo unhappily as Akaashi gave them each another nod before hurrying off.
"Let's head home before our mom's get on our case." Kenma said softly tugging at his sleeve.
"Yeah," Mumbled Kuroo staring after the other for a moment longer before joining his friend, "Yeah, Okay. What the hell was that Kenma?"
"I am really a bad person to explain it," Sighed Kenma, "All I know is that sometimes I can make things go fast. But I stopped because it was bugging the people around me."
"Make things go fast? What does that mean?" frowned Kuroo incomprehensively.
"Like… I don't know. If I want something over with sometimes I can sort of… will it to hurry up and finish? I don't really understand it and I don't really want to." Said Kenma hunching his shoulders defensively, "I never wanted to stick out, so I made sure I didn't."
"Is that why you never mentioned it? Did you think I'd think you were a freak?" asked Kuroo softly. Kenma's silence was telling enough, "You know I'd never think you were a freak."
"I am a bit of a freak by definition, Kuroo." Sighed Kenma, "But thanks anyway."
"And Akaashi… he's like you?" asked Kuroo hesitantly. The conversation about why Kenma had bottled up this worry wasn't over, but Kuroo didn't want to push too hard right at the moment.
"I think so?" Kenma frowned, "If so though, he's a lot stronger than me. That why you've been getting so disoriented I think."
"So Akaashi's, what, making me not notice things happening faster?" Kuroo tried to articulate. He steered away from things like 'making time go faster' because that seemed a little unrealistic, and Kenma seemed a little sensitive about the subject.
"I guess." Shrugged Kenma, "You'll have to ask him."
"Yeah, I will." Said Kuroo already mentally cataloging all the things he wanted to ask about. It was a good thing he had his phone number, or he might have been going crazy about now.
"Just be careful Kuroo." Kenma warned softly watching him with concern.
"Huh? Why? I thought you decided he wasn't dangerous." Blinked Kuroo leaving out the part where his friend had basically given their friendship the green light by implying a 'next time' in his negotiations.
"One, I never said that. He could still be dangerous, though I doubt it's be intentional after meeting him. And two," Kenma hesitated, "You've been a bit fixated. I know you really like him but… just be careful this doesn't just become about you getting a fix for something "wild" or "interesting". If you're going to pursue Akaashi, don't let it just be the " idea" of Akaashi. That's not kind to either of you."
Ouch, that hurt a bit. But it was a valid concern and Kuroo would never want to do that to Akaashi. Because he'd already grown to care about him in the short time they'd known each other.
"I'll be careful about that." Promised Kuroo, "I'll try and take this slow. I'd like to see if we could be something but, more than that, I want to be his friend. The rest would just be a bonus."
Kenma didn't outwardly respond, but Kuroo could feel his approval of that statement so that was enough.
True to his word Kuroo tried to keep things slow. It was actually harder then he thought it'd be. Akaashi was surprisingly responsive to him and Kuroo became aware of a whole other dynamic that he'd have to be careful of:
Akaashi was lonely, and more than a little starved for affection.
He learned that Akaashi hated to talk about his "gift" so most of Kuroo's knowledge of it was still through the limited things he could get Kenma to tell him. Though from what he'd gleaned from passing comments, Akaashi had lived a large portion of his life in near isolation. His parents had died before he could really remember them and since then he only really had his teacher(who'd stop by several times a week) and more recently Bokuto.
It took a couple months, but eventually Kuroo convinced him to let them meet.
Kuroo nearly said something really stupid when he found not a human, but an owl. A fucking huge owl with horn like feathers and eyes more intelligent than any "animal" ought to have.
"Well hello handsome," Kuroo had laughed after he'd gotten over his surprise. Akaashi let out a soft sigh of relief and Kuroo took that to mean that this had been a good response. Well that, and the fact that Bokuto very obviously puffed out his feathers with pride. Somehow, Kuroo didn't have any doubt in his mind that the bird had understood him perfectly.
After that, Kuroo was allowed to visit Akaashi's home more often. They never out right talked about it, but Kuroo had started to casually hold his hand. In public and when they were alone. And if Kuroo was sitting on the couch, sometimes Akaashi would come and wordlessly curl up next to him. These sorts of little things made the fluttering this in his chest go wild, and judging from the redness at the tips of Akaashi's ears, he wasn't much better off.
Kuroo had also started to watch for the little glitches in the world around him. They were getting less frequent, but his watch would stop working and Kuroo knew he'd lose track of time and sometimes be hours off when he finally got home(sometimes with a light headache to boot, but he was getting better at ignoring those). He learned very quickly that going and taking a nap with Kenma or Yaku or both was the fastest way to get over what he liked to jokingly call "Akaashi jet-lag".
Sometimes he'd bring Kenma and the two would either talk for hours or not talk at all and simply enjoy each other's company. Kuroo liked to give them space, especially because neither Akaashi or Kenma would talk about the gift they shared if he was in hearing range, but he thought it was good for them to have someone they would commiserate and talk things through with, so he made sure to give them their space.
Times like these Kuroo would often fool around with Bokuto. The more time he spent with the bird, the more his deep hoots and screeches started to sound like words. Until he didn't even have to look at the owl to be able to hear the cocky, or sometimes whinny voice in his head. Bokuto had also taken to sitting on the back of Kuroo's chair and preening his hair, making his wild bedhead even worse than normal.
"It means he trusts and likes you." Akaashi told him quietly.
"Aw, I like you too Bo." Kuroo made mock kissy faces at the bird who clicked his beak right back at him.
'Bro, you're the best! 'kaashi's been really happy since you came around too!'
"Bokuto." Chided Akaashi sharply. Kuroo had to muffle a snort as the Owl's feathers visibly drooped. Akaashi quietly muttered out the side of his mouth, "I can't believe you taught him the term 'bro'. It's like his new favorite word. I can't get him to shut up about you. Ever."
"What can I say 'Kaashi? It was meant to be." Kuroo teased. Akaashi rolled his eyes and Bokuto snickered from the back of the chair.
"Stop teaching my roommate bad habits when I am the one who has to live with them." Said Akaashi making a little face at him which made both Kuroo and Bokuto cackle.
"How does it work by the way?" When Akaashi looked at him questioningly, Kuroo nodded towards Bokuto who had flown to his treat tray and was ripping off bits with relish, "How is it that we can both hear what he's saying when he's not, you know, actually making the noises?"
"I don't really know." Admitted Akaashi, "And neither does Bokuto. There's not many like him left in the world, and he was an owlet when I found him. But I suspect it's on the same lines how some people, like married couples and the like, have non-verbal communication. Nobody's talking, but if you've known someone long enough it almost doesn't matter: you can hear them just fine. Some people can do it better than others. Some animals can too. I bet that cat of yours probably could, if he so designed to."
"Yaku?" asked Kuroo in surprise.
"Yeah, you got him from the cat shepherd right? He's hardly a normal cat." Commented Akaashi before making a slightly exasperated face, "The again, what is a normal cat anyway?"
"Hey, I like cats." Complained Kuroo bumping shoulders with him. The room glitched slightly.
"I noticed." Said Akaashi dryly before sighing slightly, "We should probably get you back."
"Yeah okay," agreed Kuroo readily going to grab his shoes.
"Did you text Kenma?" Akaashi asked as they headed out. Kuroo relished the fact that is felt more and more natural to take his hand.
"Nah, I don't think we need it today. You've gotten better, I don't we got more than an hour or so off." Kuroo joked. Akaashi tensed slightly and Kuroo filed that away. So they were actually "losing" time when Akaashi made things glitch.
"I'd really feel better if Kenma would come pick you up." Muttered Akaashi.
"I hear that, but I am saying I don't always need it. And," Kuroo continued before Akaashi could interrupt him, "Kenma wasn't feeling well so I didn't want to bother him."
"Oh." Said Akaashi frowning, "Tell him I hope he feels better."
"I will." Smiled Kuroo.
This time when they reached the halfway point where they usually met Kenma, Kuroo pulled Akaashi to the side out of the public view.
"Kuroo, what are you-?" Akaashi began looking a little perplexed.
"'Kaashi, would it be alright if I kissed you?" Kuroo asked a little nervously.
The world stilled a little as Akaashi's eyes got a little wider, a little brighter.
"Please." He breathed.
Kuroo cupped Akaashi's cheek and time seemed to slow around them even further. He pulled their faces together in a kiss. He'd intended to keep it quick and chaste, but Akaashi was winding his arms around him and kissing back and Kuroo's self control wasn't that amazing at this point. It was electric, it was warm, it was Akaashi pressing against him with just as much fervor as him and knotting his fingers in his hair.
Then the air seemed to buzz around them and things started to get distinctly... wrong.
Kuroo tried to drop his arm to wrap around Akaashi's waist but it suddenly seemed like his body was moving through molasses instead of air. And then it seemed to stop all together around him. He couldn't move. Nothing moved. Except Akaashi.
Kuroo's heart would have been beating fast if it could beat at all.
Akaashi's seemed to realize this and jerked away sharply.
"I- god I am so sorry- I shouldn't have- I am so sorry Kuroo." Akaashi looked absolutely horrified and more than a little unraveled. And then, before Kuroo could blink, he was gone.
Time seemed to jerk back into motion so fast it felt like whiplash. Kuroo staggered, head spinning, and heart and breath seeming to be working over time for the moments they lost. Unable to help it, he leaned over the trashcan and puked.
He'd be thinking about how unromantic that was, except he couldn't stop shaking. He knew he needed to go find Akaashi, because he was probably doing that thing where he pretended everything was fine but internally he was shutting down, but he couldn't even stand. Kuroo tried to pull out his phone to call someone, he didn't really have a plan who, but something about the way that motion moved his head had the world shimmering and before he knew it he was blacking out completely.