Happy New Year 2014!

Kuroko no Basuke is copyrighted by Fujimaki Tadatoshi-sensei. Give him the best regards for creating this great manga!

The OCs are mine.

Warning: Akashi x OC. Later on it will be Midorima x OC, but the main story is focused on Akashi.

Alluring Gaze

Chapter 16

Cold and Fever

After that night, no conversation was initiated between Akashi and Sakuya.

The redhead didn't raise any words even as he ushered Sakuya back to her room. He immediately left before Sakuya had a chance to ask him what happened. The next day, Akashi also didn't talk to her like he usually does, even didn't respond her greetings. He only nodded at her and left her again before he was being asked again.

Of course his unusual behavior was noticed by his teammates. They asked Sakuya what happened, but she shook her head and said she didn't know. They asked Akashi, but their captain said he didn't know either. However, the redhead assured them that he and Sakuya didn't have a fight and demanded them not to worry about him. They were reluctant at first, but decided to follow their captain's order.

"But I am still worried for Sei-chan," Mibuchi muttered as he walked side-by-side with Sakuya. After the team arrived in Kyoto, they went back to their home except Akashi; since his house is in Tokyo. Mibuchi offered himself to walk Sakuya back to her apartment, which the girl agreed without complaints. "Sa-chan, are you sure you don't know what happened between you two?" he asked back, earning a shook from his favorite girl.

"I don't know…" Sakuya trailed off. "We didn't have a fight. But it feels like Akashi-san is avoiding me from this morning."

Mibuchi nodded at that. "Maybe there's something that makes Sei-chan like that?"

Sakuya thought for a while, but she didn't get any clue. She shook her head again.

"Oh well, I guess we just let Sei-chan off for a while," Mibuchi sighed.

"Reo-senpai," Sakuya looked up to her upperclassman. A worried look showed on her usual expressionless face. "I'm worried that Akashi-san hates me…"

"NO WAY!" Mibuchi hugged Sakuya while rubbing her head to comfort the girl. "There's no way Sei-chan hates you, Sa-chan!"

"I hope so," Sakuya sighed. "I don't want Akashi-san hates me."

Mibuchi smiled to Sakuya. "He won't, Sa-chan. I'm sure of it."

Sakuya stared at Mibuchi's eyes thoughtfully. She then gripped her senior's jacket and buried her face on Mibuchi's chest. Her behavior sure makes Mibuchi blushed, since he never thought Sakuya will do that to him.

But he can feel her small hands are trembling.

"Sa-chan…" Mibuchi knows that Sakuya is still worried of his captain. But he also can't stand it when the girl is in this state.

Once in his lifetime, Mibuchi wants to slap Akashi.

"Why don't you try to realize your feeling, Sei-chan?" Mibuchi sighed. The black-haired man really wants to slap Akashi so his captain can get back to his senses and realize his situation he had stepped into. "It will be alright, Sa-chan," Mibuchi comforted Sakuya. When he touched the girl's cheek, it felt warm. "Huh? It's warmer than usual…"

To make sure his guess, Mibuchi put his hands on the girl's shoulders and pulled her away from him gently. When he saw her face, he was surprised. The girl's cheeks are flushed. Her nose is red. Her lips are chapped. "Oh no…" he then put his hand on Sakuya's forehead to check her temperature. Much to his surprise, her temperature is high. He can feel the hotness from the skin contact.

Sakuya is having a fever.

"Reo-senpai…" Sakuya closed her eyes. "I feel dizzy…"

Hearing that, Mibuchi immediately hold Sakuya. "S-stay strong, Sa-chan!" he exclaimed and carried Sakuya's bag on his left shoulder. The next thing he did, he lifted Sakuya in bridal style. He tried not to be panicked in this kind of situation. "Sa-chan's apartment is near! I should hurry!"

With Sakuya in his hold, Mibuchi jogged as fast as he can to reach Sakuya's apartment.

Mibuchi gently laid Sakuya on the sofa in the living room. When he got there, he met with the landlady who owns the apartments there and asked her help to unlocked Sakuya's apartment door. Fortunately, the landlady understood their situation and unlocked the door with her master key. Then she asked Mibuchi to take care of Sakuya and left to her grocery shopping.

The black-haired man put their bags on the floor and he hurriedly went to the kitchen to wet the small towel he had with cold water. He went back to Sakuya and put the now wet towel on the girl's forehead.

"Her body is hot…" he muttered when he touched the girl's neck and arm. He then observed his surroundings. "Now, where is that medical kit Sa-chan mentioned to me the other day?" When he found the medical kit, he took all the necessity needs. He used the thermometer and let Sakuya put it inside her mouth. Mibuchi was surprised to see the result. "39 degree Celcius… This is very bad…"

Mibuchi sat on the floor near Sakuya and rubbed her head to comfort her. "You should rest, Sa-chan. Do not push yourself if tomorrow you are still hot."

Sakuya nodded weakly. "I will, Reo-senpai," she said with her hoarse voice. "Thank you."

"It is my duty to help a sick lady, Sa-chan," Mibuchi smiled to her. He then kissed Sakuya's cheek. "Just sleep. I will stay here and make something for you when you wake up."

"Is it alright for you, Reo-senpai? I do not want to trouble you taking care of me…" she said in concern. But Mibuchi shook his head and assured her that he is fine with it. "Then, can I sleep now?" she asked with her sleepy eyes.

Mibuchi chuckled. When the girl is sick, Sakuya acts like a child who asks her parents' permission whenever she wants to do something. "Of course, Sa-chan. Sleep well~" he replied, and Sakuya closed her lids and drifted off to her dreams.

Making sure that Sakuya had asleep, Mibuchi took off his grey jacket and put it on Sakuya's body as a blanket. He rubbed Sakuya's head once more before he stood up and went to the corner of the room. He took out his phone and searched for someone's contact, until Sakuya's small voice stopped him.

"Please… do not tell… Akashi-san…"

Mibuchi glanced at Sakuya with his widened eyes. "Sa-chan?" He hurriedly approached Sakuya and sat near her. "I'm going to tell Sei-chan about your condition."

However, Sakuya shook her head. "I don't want to make Akashi-san worried."

"But if I don't tell him, Sei-chan will be mad later," Mibuchi smiled sheepishly. "He really concerns about you, Sa-chan."

Sakuya shook her head again. "Please, do not tell him," she asked again. "I… do not want to trouble Akashi-san."

"You're not going to trouble him, Sa-chan," Mibuchi assured her as he caressed her cheek. "But," he paused for a moment. "If you really don't want Sei-chan to know, I will not tell him."

"Then, please don't…" Sakuya replied weakly as she snuggled herself with Mibuchi's jacket. Mibuchi can only smiled at her behavior.

"Why you don't want Sei-chan to know, Sa-chan?"

Sakuya thought for a while before answering. "I have a feeling that Akashi-san has something on his mind and he is trying to figure it out by himself." Mibuchi blinked at her reply. "I should respect his effort by giving him some spaces."

"I see. That's why you said you don't want to trouble him," Mibuchi nodded in understanding.

"Although," Sakuya said, making Mibuchi blinked again at the contradiction. "I also have a feeling that Akashi-san is restraining himself."

"Restraining? Sei-chan?"

Sakuya nodded. "He is restraining himself whenever he is with me." She set her gaze to look at her apartment's ceiling. "I don't know why, but it seems like that to me."

"Why? Did Sei-chan do something to you that makes you depressed, so he is restraining himself because of that?" Mibuchi then realized something. "By the way, what happened when Sei-chan waited for you yesterday?" He asked, referring to the time when his teammates left Sakuya for privacy with Midorima and Akashi offered himself to wait for the girl to finish so they could go back to the hotel together.

"Oh, about that…" Sakuya trailed off, remembering that night she had with Akashi. "Akashi-san suddenly became weird. He walked faster than me, almost left me behind. I must call out to him a few times so he would stop. I asked him what happened with him, but he said he didn't know either. When I mentioned that maybe he was in anger, he suddenly hugged me and didn't initiate any words."

"Sei-chan did what?" Mibuchi couldn't believe what he had heard.

"Akashi-san hugged me," Sakuya repeated again, making Mibuchi gaped. "From that on, Akashi-san stopped talking to me."

"Oh my," Mibuchi can't help himself but blushed. He never hears his captain hugs a girl. But now, Akashi Seijurou had hugged one, and that was Sakuya.

"I was confused why he hugged me when I said he was probably angry, but I didn't mind it. He didn't do something depressing to me, yet after that he is restraining himself today," Sakuya sighed. "I still don't understand, though. There were times when he would embrace me without my consent, but he never reacted like now so far. I wonder-"

"W-W-W-WAIT!" Mibuchi cut Sakuya's words.

Sakuya blinked at her senior's antics. The black-haired man was blushing. "What's wrong, Reo-senpai?"

Mibuchi looked at Sakuya with disbelief. "Sa-chan, did you say… Sei-chan embraced you without your consent?"

"Yes, often," Sakuya replied innocently, making Mibuchi shrieked. The man put his palms on his face to cover his embarrassment and excitement.

Mibuchi doesn't know his captain can act that bold towards Sakuya.

"I-I see…" trying not to be more embarrassed by it, Mibuchi put his thoughts away. "Now now, you should rest, Sa-chan. Get a good sleep, okay?"

Sakuya hummed in reply and she immediately shut her eyes, while Mibuchi still stayed beside her and made sure to change her towel later on.

Today is indeed rare for Akashi Seijurou.

He suddenly catch a cold.

For some reasons, after he arrived at his house in Tokyo, he sneezed a lot. He also feels that his body is freezing. It is such a rare occurrence because Akashi never gets sick even in this cold season. Before it is going to be worse, Akashi decided to take a hot bath after he drank his medicine. He leisurely enjoyed his time in his bathtub while pondering to himself.

"I am acting like a coward today," he muttered under his breath. The redhead then splashed water on his face. "Just what is happening to me? I can't bring myself to be near Sakuya after that night."

Akashi recalled the night he had with Sakuya yesterday. He just hugged Sakuya out of the blue after the girl said he might be angry. That time, he realized he was feeling enraged because of Midorima. Also, he realized that he was feeling jealous; the first time he would ever feel that way.

...Or maybe not. He actually was jealous whenever Sakuya talked about Midorima.

But that is not what makes him worried.

He won't know what he will do to Sakuya if she is with him. He doesn't want it to happen, because he is afraid he will hurt the girl.

He doesn't want to make Urenomiya Sakuya miserable because of him.

That's why he decided to distance himself from her. He must control that wild urge inside him before he can be near her and act normally just like their routines.

Finishing his bath, Akashi dried himself and wore his thick clothes. He decided to make something warm to fill up his hungry stomach. When he went outside his room to the kitchen, he widened his eyes.

His father is sitting in the dining table; waiting for his son.

For Akashi, it is a rare sight to find his father has come home in this hour. His father usually works until late and won't bother to disturb his son if he comes home late. But now, that tall man with short dark red hair bearing the name Akashi Renshin is looking at him with his sharp pair of red eyes. His formal clothes told him that he just got back from work.

"Father?" Putting his thoughts away, he walked to his father and greeted his old man. "Welcome home, father."

Renshin nodded to his son. The aged man's eyes observed Akashi for a while. "Just took a bath earlier?" he asked with his calm demeanor, which earned a nod from Akashi. When his son is going to the kitchen, Renshin stopped him. "Take your seat, Seijurou," he demanded. "I have told the chef to make you something warm."

Akashi didn't understand what his father had said to him, but he just did what his father demanded him to. He took the seat across his father. "It's very rare to find you this afternoon, father," Akashi muttered, trying to initiate a conversation with his father.

"My work has finished earlier, so I came home," Renshin replied shortly.

"I see," Akashi retorted.

Silence filled the air around the two Akashis. Truth to be speaking, Akashi is not that close with his father. He only sees his father often because of the man's work, since Renshin owns a renowned company in Japan. His work sometimes makes him to do travelling abroad twice or more in a year, in a long period, too. Despite his rush, Renshin is the one who has raised Akashi to be a capable man who will take over his role in the Akashi household.

"Only those who excel in everything to be called deserving in Akashi household," suddenly Renshin muttered the family's philosophy to Akashi. Hearing that, Akashi knows what his father will remark later. "Explain to me about your loss in the Winter Cup final."

Practically, his father doesn't know that his son will actually lose in that game. Renshin believes that his son will take the crown this year, but his prediction was proven wrong. He then showed Akashi a magazine which reports the summary of the Winter Cup final's battle. It seems the aged man just read that news. "This is the first time I hear about your loss concerning basketball. I already let you join that activity which spends a lot of your time for doing more meaningful things. Then, why suddenly bring out this disgraceful state?" Renshin asked with his eyes narrowed.

As calm as ever, Akashi answered his father's demand. "They have gone beyond our expectations, father. We never thought they would pull those tactics to stop Rakuzan. As far as I can say, Seirin has showed their shine and prove themselves as a worthy opponent," he explained and smiled to himself. "It is indeed my loss, our loss. But that doesn't mean we will remain lost forever. We have experienced what victory is."

Renshin observed Akashi thoughtfully, before crossing his arms. "Victory?" he scoffed. "You have lost, Seijurou. Still, you are saying that you've won?"

Hearing that, Akashi chuckled. Renshin was surprised when he heard his only son suddenly chortled like that. "Father, you always say to me that I should excel myself at everything so I am deserved in Akashi household. You're expecting me to win at everything. Now, you are seeing your son who has tasted the feeling of defeat. Isn't that enough for you?"

"What do you mean by that?"

Akashi softened his eyes. "Winning is not about being the best in academics nor gaining the championship. It also understands the meaning behind the victory itself. After all, there will be times when we must realize that winning is not granted for us."

"Victory is granted for those who work hard, polish their skills, gaining trust, claiming to be the top, and also experience what defeat is," Akashi said as he set his gaze to Renshin. "Just like yourself, father."

A surprised look painted on Renshin's face. Just like Akashi said, Renshin has experienced defeat in any aspects of his life; his work or his life. As he tried to observe Akashi's demeanor once again, he took a deep breath and sighed afterwards. "I see," he muttered under his breath. Not long after, he smiled in satisfaction; the first time Akashi sees his father smiles like that to him.

"Father?"

Renshin stood up from his seat to approach Akashi across him, and he patted his son's head gently. "Well done, Seijurou," he remarked. "I just wanted to check on you when I heard you have lost. Turns out, you will be fine for now on. After all, you are my son."

"So, the reason why he asked me this is because he was worried?" Realizing the truth behind his father's demand, Akashi can't help himself but smiled. "I am going to be fine, father. I am Akashi Seijurou, after all."

"Maybe," but his father countered. "This is the first time I see you catch a cold, Seijurou."

Akashi widened his eyes. How did his father know that? But he quickly dismissed his thoughts when their maid came and put a bowl of chicken soup for him. After Akashi thanked the maid, she bowed and went back to her place. "Finish it and rest after that, Seijurou. Tomorrow you will attend school. I don't want you to slack off just because of a mere cold," Renshin told Akashi with his demanding tone; the usual tone he always uses whenever he disciplines his son.

"I will, father," Akashi replied as he used his spoon to taste his soup.

His father went back to his seat and took the magazine to read it again. The older redhead then remembered something he wanted to ask before. "Seijurou," he called his son to gain his attention. "Who is Urenomiya Sakuya?"

That familiar name stunned Akashi. He looked to his father with arched brows. "How do you know that name, father?"

"From this magazine," Renshin answered calmly, didn't notice Akashi's reaction earlier because his eyes are focused on the articles in the magazine. "It is said that Urenomiya Sakuya was the manager of Rakuzan, practically filling the absence of Higuchi Shouta. However, I didn't see any of her photos in this magazine, while the others have their own photo at least one."

"Is that so?" Akashi mused while smirking. Actually, Akashi had asked all the media to put down any of their filming and pictures of Sakuya in every Rakuzan matches. He did that in order to keep the girl's privacy. He doesn't want some kind of stalkers following her and makes her uncomfortable. "Why do you want to know her, father?"

Renshin looked to Akashi with his amused look. "Of course I want to know her. To think a girl becomes the manager of a strong basketball team like your school is interesting for me. This girl must have taken your interest as well."

"Indeed she is," Akashi remarked proudly. "She has a sharp observation. She is also good at taking care of people, especially me and my teammates. She is very well-mannered for her age, too. But that's not all. What makes her interesting is her way to amuse me in her own way."

"Oh?" Renshin realized Akashi was suddenly in good mood when he was talking about this Sakuya girl. "Is that so?"

"Yes. She always surprises me with her blunt remarks and silent actions. Her honest compliment is also endearing. She also has that sweet-" when Akashi wanted to continue his words, he realized that he was about to spill the things he doesn't want his father to know.

"Sweet?" Renshin leaned forward to hear more about his son's interest. He was expecting something from Akashi. "What is it that sweet?"

Akashi shook his head. "It's nothing, father. All I can say about her is unique," he retorted calmly and continued to consume his soup.

The aged man was disappointed Akashi didn't want to explain any further about the 'sweet' thing. However, he covered it with his poker face. "I see," he looked to the girl's full name in the magazine. "Urenomiya Sakuya, hm?" he repeated her name again. "Is she in the same class like you, Seijurou?"

"Yes, she is."

Renshin hummed. "I want to see her in person."

That statement sure made Akashi almost choked his food out. Fortunately, he was able to act calm in front of his father. "Why do you want to see her, father?"

"I just want to know what kind of girl she is that picks to your interest," Renshin smiled. "Because this is the first time I witness you so eagerly telling me about a girl."

Akashi looked at his father with disbelief.

His father said he was telling about Sakuya so eagerly? Does it show on his face that clearly to him?

"How about bring her here some time, Seijurou?" Renshin offered. "Just tell me when you will invite her here."

"About that…" Akashi trailed off. "I think I can't do it."

Renshin raised his brows. "Why?"

Akashi wanted to say that he is keeping his distance away from Sakuya, but he can't bring himself to say it. He sighed while ruffling his hair. "Father, have you ever been in fear?"

That sudden question picked Renshin's interest. He never thought his son would ask that. "I have," he replied calmly.

"When?"

Renshin thought for a while. "When I can't control myself," he paused. "To someone."

"Someone?"

"Someone important for me," Renshin closed his eyes; reminiscing his past with that someone of his. However, he didn't want to spill who is this 'someone' to Akashi, although his son maybe knows that he was talking about his mother. Renshin decided not to bring that topic concerns about his mother even if Akashi asked for it. "I must ask you. Why did you suddenly ask me that, Seijurou?"

Akashi sighed again. "I have been in fear, father. I'm afraid I'm going to hurt someone I don't mean any harm into," Akashi retorted as he looked to his own hand. "I'm afraid this hand will do whatever I never intend to. I'm afraid this uncontrollable urge of mine will cause them pain, will cause them things they don't like."

Renshin hummed in reply. "Then, what it is that you want to do?"

"I'm trying to control it; my desires."

"Then it means you have found the solution, right? Why are you still in fear?"

"Because," Akashi frowned. "They will be taken away from me before I am able to do that."

"Ah," Renshin chuckled. "The fear of your belonging being taken away by someone; possessiveness, I assume?"

"Perhaps."

"I see," Renshin chortled. "I don't know what words I should give to you regarding this case. But let me tell you one thing." Renshin stood up from his seat and walked past Seijurou to another room. He is going to his own room. Before he left, however, he told Akashi, "Wanting someone badly means you must be ready to lose them eventually."

Akashi turned his head to see his father stared at him with dignified gaze. When he wanted to retort, his father added, "Do not rush things, Seijurou. As long as you believe your own decisions, you will be fine. After all, you are an Akashi." Renshin then turned away from Akashi, but the redhead can see that smirk plastered on his father's face from behind. "Being an Akashi means you are guaranteed to gain what you desire, whatever the obstacles are," the aged man muttered and left after that.

As Akashi saw his father went to his room, the redhead processed his father's words. He never thought he would tell his fear to his father, but he also never thought his father would consult him with the Akashi's way to handle things.

Realizing the truth behind his father's words, Akashi can only chuckle to himself. He didn't know if he must be grateful or be chagrined for having Akashi Renshin's blood.

Because that means he will take what should be his with his own way.

Be it good or bad, it doesn't matter.

"As long as I believe my own decisions," Akashi smirked. "Everything will be fine, according to my plans."

Thankfully, his cold has gone away. Akashi had used his time effectively yesterday to rest so he doesn't need to worry about school today.

He decided to continue his own morning routines; take the train to Kyoto and fetch up Sakuya along the way. He felt that he didn't need to distance himself from Sakuya anymore. He had enough of it. He just needed to act just like usual with the girl. Eventually, she will get along with the line, too. Akashi has suspected that Sakuya will not worry about it too much.

However, he is the one who is worried.

Akashi stood for about fifteen minutes in front of the girl's apartment, but the one he waits for didn't show up. Sakuya is the type of girl who doesn't want to make people wait for her too long, he knows that. She will eventually show up whenever Akashi just arrives at her apartment. And also, she is an early riser.

What happened to her today? That's what Akashi thought.

Akashi decided to knock the door a few times and waited for the reply. However, there is no answer. He knocked again, but only silence greeted him back.

"Did she leave without me?" Akashi thought, but he shook it away. There's no way the girl will ever do that.

The redhead knocked the door again, before he heard a clicking sound. "Ah. So she's still here," he thought when the door was opened and saw Sakuya standing in front of him. The brown-haired girl stared at him with her sleepy eyes and her body was trembling. She didn't wear her uniform; a rare sight for Akashi. But what he noticed was her flushed face.

"Akashi-san?" Sakuya muttered his name with hoarse voice.

Akashi frowned while looking at the girl's state. "Sakuya, what happened with you?"

"I apologize. I was on my bed when I heard-" the girl can't hold herself any longer and she almost fell, if Akashi was not reacting so quickly to catch her.

"Sakuya!" Akashi shrieked in panic. When he felt her temperature, he was shocked. Sakuya is warmer than usual. She had a fever.

"I guess… my fever hasn't gone down from yesterday…" Sakuya muttered weakly.

"You had a fever yesterday…?" Akashi didn't believe what he heard, but that's not what he should be worried about. Akashi lifted her up in bridal style and went inside her apartment to lay her down on the sofa in the living room. He rubbed her forehead and was surprised to feel her temperature. "Do you need something?"

"I need water…"

"Wait here," Akashi demanded as he stood up and went to the kitchen. He took out a cup and filled it with water before he went back to the living room. He helped Sakuya to sit and gave her the water. "How did you suddenly get a fever?"

Sakuya shook her head. "I don't know. I suddenly felt hot on my way home. Fortunately, Reo-senpai was there for me. He took care of me after that."

The mention of Mibuchi's name perturbed Akashi. "Reo was here yesterday?" Sakuya nodded at that. "Then, why he didn't tell me about Sakuya's condition? If I knew, I wouldn't make Sakuya get out from the bed when she was still not feeling well…"

"Please do not blame Reo-senpai, Akashi-san," Sakuya retorted when she knew what Akashi was thinking. "I was the one who don't want you to know about my condition."

Akashi rolled his eyes. "Why?"

"Because I don't want to trouble you."

Akashi only chuckled at her honest answer. "You know I won't be troubled because of that, Sakuya."

"I know. I just didn't want to disturb you yesterday," Sakuya looked up to Akashi to observe him thoughtfully. "It seems you have found what you searched for, Akashi-san."

Akashi blinked. "What do you mean?"

"Yesterday, I thought that maybe you were distancing yourself from me because you had something on your mind. But seeing you now," Sakuya smiled to Akashi. "I guess you'll be fine from now on."

The redhead was quite astonished hearing that. "I see," Akashi sighed. He is grateful to have Sakuya as his friend. The girl actually understands his situation he was dwelling in. She didn't mind his strange behavior, because she knows there is something he needs to take care of. "I indeed have found that answer. I don't need to worry whenever I am near you like this," he stated calmly. "Because," he caressed Sakuya's cheek just like he always does. "I am going to do it with my own way, whether you like it or not, Sakuya."

Harlequin eyes stared at mismatched eyes confusingly. "I apologize. I do not understand what you have meant, Akashi-san."

"It's alright. You will find out in future." Akashi then helped Sakuya to lie on the sofa again. "You should not attend school today. Do not worry about the notes. I will bring them to you after school."

Sakuya nodded curtly. "Thank you, Akashi-san. I appreciate it."

"Do not need to thank me. It is my duty as your class president, after all," Akashi remarked proudly. "Hm… I should take you back to your bedroom so you can rest well there."

Akashi lifted up Sakuya again, while the girl used her left arm to pin on Akashi's shoulder. "Your room is upstairs, correct?" he asked to make sure.

"Yes. You will find it easily because there is only one room upstairs," Sakuya explained.

"Understood." Akashi brought Sakuya upstairs. He didn't have any difficulties stepping his foot on the stairs because the girl is very light. Just like Sakuya said, the second floor only has one room, practically her room. Akashi excused himself inside the unlocked room and inspected it. The room is quite large. There are a double-bed, a study desk, a coffee table, and a rack of books inside. There is another door inside the room, which is supposed to be the bathroom. White and pastel green colors; Sakuya's favorite colors, dominate the entire room. The first time he entered it, he scented a sweet aroma, probably vanilla. The redhead put Sakuya on her bed and covered her body with its blanket. "Do you need something else?" Akashi asked as he sat near her and rubbed her head.

"No. This is enough for me," Sakuya replied monotonously.

"Very well." Akashi then took a peek at Sakuya's study desk to find more books, stationeries, and a photo album. "Oh my. A photo album?" Akashi took the red album and inspected it. "Could I see it, Sakuya?"

Nodding weakly, Akashi thanked her and opened the page one by one. On each pages, there are two photos with their description below. Judging by the photos themselves, the album occupies Sakuya's high school lives. "Who took all these photos, Sakuya?"

"Katagiri-san. But sometimes I took a few of them with my phone," Sakuya answered while looking at Akashi engrossed himself on the album. "Well, Katagiri-san is actually the one who insisted me to put the photos in that album. She said that I should have one to keep the memories of our first year in high school be remembered."

"Memories, huh?" Akashi chuckled. "Well, there is a possibility she will be separated from you in the second year. I quite understand how she feels, though."

When Akashi turned the next page, he saw a photo of himself wearing a pair of horns in his head. He is wearing his uniform without his blazer and smiling proudly. "Oh, this is the one you took on the first day of the school's festival," he remarked. As he turned the next page, he saw a photo of himself wearing his Demon King's costumes is embracing Sakuya with her Goddess' costumes. "And this is the one Katagiri Hyoko took." He smiled to himself, remembering how bold he was when he embraced Sakuya for the first time. Well, it was just an act, actually.

But when he saw the photo of Mibuchi is kissing Sakuya on the cheek, he can't help himself but feels jealous. "Ah. I should be the one who make Sakuya blushed that time," he mused.

He decided to close the album and put it back to its appropriate spot. He looked to his watch, checking the time. "I should be going." Akashi approached Sakuya and rubbed her head once more. "I am going to the school now. I will tell the teachers about your absence later."

Sakuya hummed in reply. "Please take care on your way to school, Akashi-san."

"My, thank you. Now, you should go back to sleep."

Without words, Sakuya closed her eyes and immediately drifted off to her dreams. Akashi waited for her to sleep so he can go to school without any worries. After a few minutes, the redhead decided to leave her as the girl has slept so soundly.

However, he didn't leave just like that.

Believing what he did is right; Akashi scurried over to Sakuya and silently gave her a kiss on her forehead. The girl didn't notice, of course, since she had asleep. Leaning his lips away from her, Akashi whispered, "Get well soon, Sakuya."

And he left the girl's apartment and walked to his school, with a smirk plastered on his face along the way.

Author's Note:

Well, I almost lost my inspirations. But hey, I finally finished it!

Akashi suddenly caught a cold (but he quickly recovered) and Sakuya got a fever. Akashi's father gave his son a consultation which ended up in the Akashi household's way to handle things. Akashi can only pray that Sakuya won't mind him doing things he believes are right. After all (just like Renshin said), being an Akashi is guaranteed to gain what you want, whatever the obstacles are.

Next are the special chapters: Akashi's birthday and Christmas celebration. I will also put up the New Year's event, too.

Thank you for those who follow, favorite, or giving reviews! Sorry if this chapter is too short for you *laugh*. Happy New Year 2014!