I'M SORRY FOR THE SUPER LATE UPDATE SO SORRY

If I didn't update for the next two weeks you may kick me while saying I have to update since yes, I won't be mad if you do and I'll love you so much if you would just kick me because I'm a bad author for always giving late update

Unbeta'ed (Thousand I'm sorry is never enough but still, sorry.). If someone interested on being a (temporary) beta for this, just tell me in PM or in review or just anywhere (I put a few links in my bio on how you could contact me) even for only this fic, I'm completely fine.

Thank you Microsoft Spelling for proofreading my works, I'm sure there would be many typos if you're not in Microsoft Word. By the way, I had fix the typos in Chapter 11 so I guess it became better.

Edit : This chapter is already beta'ed by C.C Brittania

Enjoy reading~

Chapter 12 :Their Name, Seijuurou and Tetsuya

Akashi had rushed to his family's mansion as fast as the horses could take him. Kuroko was sitting in front of him, back leaned against his chest and his head right below Akashi's chin, unconscious. Kuroko's horse was following right behind them, but he couldn't be bothered by mere horse when all his senses were focused on the unconscious male in his arms.

After one and half hours of riding with insane speed, they finally reached his family mansion's gate. Fortunately the gate was already open; even if it had been closed Akashi was quite sure he would have blown it away. Curse his big family mansion, the distance from the gate to the building was approximately fifteen minutes by walking.

By the time they got to the house, several servants were already waiting. Without wasting any time, Akashi dismounted from the horse with Kuroko in his arms. He had suspected that Kuroko's fever was because of the poison, and he was right. Kuroko's right leg was turning blue, bruised. If they waited any longer and the poison reached his heart, he would be dead in an instant.

"Prepare medical aid for Tetsuya! His right leg was infected by the dragon's poison." Akashi commanded, bringing Kuroko inside. Akashi walked to the medical room, the servants were already running in and out, preparing the necessary treatment.

Kuroko was unconscious, his breathing labored. His cheeks were very red and his temperature was higher than when Akashi had touched his skin before. He was practically burning. Akashi cringed when he touched Kuroko's forehead, he couldn't help getting more worried. Several 'what if' scenarios started playing through his mind, but he dismissed them.

His major concern right now was Kuroko's safety, not the final outcome from late treatment.

However, he couldn't stop himself from thinking about all the possibilities, like he always does in unpredictable circumstances.

"It's been a long time, Seijuurou." A red haired male said from his chair. His hair was a shade darker than Akashi's. Akashi Masaomi. "How is Tetsuya?" He asked, gesturing at Akashi to sit beside him. Masaomi sat on a lounge couch, sipping on the tea - that always accompanies his book reading time - every once in a while.

Akashi strides calmly to his father's side. "Yes, it has been a long time." He said as he carefully sat beside his father. "Tetsuya is resting, the bruise from the dragon's poison is still there but it's getting better. This is all because your dragon fought us unnecessarily."

"I have to test him. He has to be on equal standing with you if he is to become your mate for life." Masaomi smoothly said, like he had rehearsed his lines and knew that Akashi would ask them.

"He's on equal status with me. The Kuroko family, although our branch family, is as strong as we are. Like the light and shadow. The brighter the light, the darker the shadow."

"I had to test his strength."

"The result of the test?"

"He passed. In an unexpected way. Of all things he could have done, I didn't expect him to sing." Masaomi said.

Akashi smiled a little, a knowing smile. "Yes. He always does unexpected things that exceeds my expectation."

"Do you know that from his memories? I heard you two shared memories."

"No. He first exceeded my expectation by fully giving his protection to me when the hunters attacked my office. Me, a total stranger to him. He was ready to risk, to lose his life for me. I've never seen anyone acting like that before." Akashi explained.

"I see..." The room was silent for a few minutes, before Masaomi started to talk again. "How are your feet?"

"All fine." Akashi answered, almost too fast.

"It's no use lying to me. I've studied all kind of contract and I know for certain that you're not fine."

"My right leg is still throbbing, but it's better than yesterday."

"Have you told Tetsuya about this?"

"He's unconscious. How am I supposed to tell him this?"

"No, I meant about the contract's effects." Masaomi said. "The contract also connected both of your nerves. If Tetsuya is wounded, you also will also feel the pain. That way, Tetsuya pain is lessened by half, while the other half is experienced by you."

"Tetsuya already knew that, without me telling him. He's not some kind of clueless man, he's smart. He has many knowledge from many books which I didn't even know existed." Akashi said. "He knew all the contract's effects from my memories." He added.

"I see... I'm sorry for underestimating him then." Masaomi said. "You may go back to your room then." Right after he said that, Akashi immediately stood and bowed.

"Excuse me, father." Akashi curtly said after bowing. He walked towards the door, but before he could turn the door knob, his father's voice stopped him in his track.

"You've changed, Seijuurou."

Akashi did not return to his room, instead he went to the medical room. In reality, ever since they arrived Akashi had never slept in his own room. He always spent the night in the medical room, looking after Kuroko constantly, even to the point of foregoing his sleep.

Akashi sat beside Kuroko. His eyes visibly softened seeing as Kuroko was safe and still sleeping. The lower half of his body was covered by blanket, and Kuroko's steady breath was the only sound in the peaceful room. Akashi touched Kuroko's temple, checking his temperature. His fever had gone down, but his body was still warm.

Akashi let out a sigh, as his hand moved up to ruffle Kuroko's hair.

'I've changed, huh?'

"Akashi-kun?" Kuroko's voice took him by surprise. Akashi immediately retracted his hand from Kuroko's hair.

"I'm sorry. Did I wake you up?"

"No, it's alright. Anyway, is your foot alright? I was so preoccupied with the pain in my feet that I almost forgot you also feel the pain."

"It's alright. My feet only throbbed, but that's it." Akashi answered. "How about you? Do you still feel any pain?"

"My legs feel numb..."

"They put an anesthetic so that you won't feel the pain when you wake up." Akashi reassured.

"Akashi-kun..."

"By the way Tetsuya, call me by my first name. You're already a part of Akashi. It's weird if you call me Akashi-kun when you are an Akashi yourself." Akashi said.

"But it's not polite to call someone by their first name, especially if we're not close..."

"We're already close."

"Eh..." A few seconds of silence. "I guess so... Se... Seijuurou..." Kuroko's voice softened when he called Akashi's name. "-kun..."

"-kun? You don't have to add honorific to my name."

"B... but, I feel like I'm being rude..."

"Well... I guess it's fine. As long as you call me by my first name." Akashi said, smiling a little. "You should rest more. I'll wake you up when it's dinner time. You would be hungry since you haven't eaten for two days."

Kuroko nodded. "You have to rest too. You haven't slept since we got here right? I can feel that you're tired. Go to sleep, Seijuurou-kun." Kuroko's voice was small and soft, desperately.

"Yes. I will sleep soon. For now, you have to sleep. I'll stay here until you fall asleep." Akashi said. His eyes were staring at everywhere but Kuroko.

This made Kuroko suspicious, Akashi always looked at his eyes whenever they speak to each other. "Then, would you like to sleep here with me?" Kuroko asked, which received a surprised look from Akashi. "Knowing you, you might not sleep, let's sleep together." Kuroko said as he moved to the other side of the bed. Kuroko patted at the empty space in the bed.

"Tetsuya... I'll sleep later."

"I don't believe you. Come, sleep with me." Kuroko said with a straight face. Seeing that Kuroko was really stubborn and that he won't sleep unless Akashi sleeps with him too, Akashi sighed and slipped in to the bed. "It's quite cramped..." Kuroko mumbled. Since the bed is a single bed meant for only one person, the addition of Akashi's body just barely fit in it.

"Do you want me to get out then?"

"No, it's alright." Kuroko said quickly. "You're warm." He snuggled closer to Akashi. They ended up in a position where Kuroko's head was at Akashi's arm that was outstretched. His body was turned to Akashi's side, as he clinged to him. While Akashi just stayed silent as Kuroko adjusted his body so that they could sleep comfortably.

"Then, good night... I guess?"

"It's still mid-day but since we're going to sleep, good night."

"I see... good night then." Kuroko said as he closed his eyes. Akashi waited for Kuroko to fall asleep. When his breathing became steady, Akashi closed his eyes.

"I'm sorry... All of this is because of me..." Akashi whispered. Maybe what his father said about him changing was true. He, Akashi Seijuurou went as far as apologising for things that Kuroko insisted he didn't do.

"Hmm?" Kuroko slowly opened his eyes. "Don't be sorry. It's not your fault. So please, rest." Kuroko said, before closing his eyes again. Akashi smiled a little.

"Thank you."

However, Akashi felt uneasy, there were dark clouds of uncomfort in his heart. As if something was wrong, but Akashi was unable to pinpoint what was wrong. Yet.

Akashi was roused awake because of the movement from the male beside him. When Akashi opened his eyes, his eyes immediately darted towards the source of movement. What Akashi found was a struggling Kuroko. Kuroko was curled up, both of his hand gripped his throat as he forced himself not to scream. His whole body was shaking, and sweat covered his body.

"Ah... I'm sorry... for waking you up..." Kuroko breathlessly said.

"No, that's not important. What's wrong!?" Akashi almost shouted seeing Kuroko's condition.

"I... don't know..." Kuroko said. Even talking seemed to be taking a huge toll on him. "My throat hurts... it's... painful..."

"Throat?"

'Tetsuya didn't do anything to hurt his throat so why?'

"Why... it hurts... hnngghh Aka-Seijuurou-kun... help..." Kuroko desperately said. Tears started to well as Kuroko's hand gripped the bed sheet, which tore apart from the force of Kuroko's gripping.

Akashi sat on the bed as he helped Kuroko to sit too. "Do you know what's causing your throat to hurt?"

"N... No..."

Akashi thought more, trying to figure out what was behind this unpredictable event. "Is it because of the singing?"

"No... I don't think so. Mother... never told me there was any side effects from... singing."

"Then... why?"

More possibilities... more... Where did Kuroko get hurt?

Then, it hit Akashi.

"Did you overexert yourself?"

"O...verexert?"

"Did you force your body to work harder? Did you force your body when you sang? Your mother told you that singing is exhausting. That it drains all of your magic to sing to dragon." Akashi once again dug through his and Kuroko's shared memories once more.

"I... guess so. When singing, I... actually have to focus all of my magic... to singing." Kuroko took a breath. "But I... kept up the barrier around us and... continued to sing..."

"That explains it." Akashi said. "Pushing your body to sing along with keeping barrier is a burden to your magic power. So, to ease that burden, your blood was used as the magic power."

"My... blood?"

"It's the |Exchange| magic. Usually, this magic is activated if the user wishes it, but it seems that it is an exception for you. Your parents must have set it to be automatically activated when the natural magic power you have can't hold the spell you're using anymore" Akashi explained. "And since the spell you're using with the blood is a singing spell, your throat got the damage. It's a double edged blade."

"Then... what should I do?"

"Drink my blood." Akashi said as he showed Kuroko his neck. This time, without thinking twice, Kuroko immediately bit Akashi's neck.

Kuroko buried his fangs at Akashi's vein and suck the blood out from the holes he made. He couldn't endure the pain any longer. His parched throat was relieved when Akashi's blood flowed through. Instinctively, Kuroko let out a growl as he sucked more of the blood. He sucked so hard that the area where he bit was turning red.

Kuroko messily drank Akashi's blood. He keeps on using his fangs to re-open the punctured holes that already closed because of Akashi's regeneration ability. It hurt, but he stayed still until Kuroko was done. Kuroko took as much blood as possible and Akashi let him.

He started to slow down the pace at which he was drinking Akashi's blood. Some of the red liquid had started dripping down to the white sheet and some other dried on Akashi's skin before Kuroko backed away. Without being able to say anything, he fainted in Akashi's arm.

Akashi scooped Kuroko's body and hugged it tightly. His hands rubbed Kuroko's back in a soothing manner, and Kuroko snuggled closer to Akashi- Into his comforting touch.

Akashi has never seen Kuroko act like that, even with Kuroko's own memories. He never showed that kind of... animalistic side of him. He was always reserved with minimal emotion showing on his face.

'I'll ask about it later...'

Akashi, due to exhaustion and sudden loss of blood, fell asleep while hugging Kuroko. Even with throbbing pain from the two punctured holes, his face showed relief.

Somehow, in his heart, he was happy that he's able to release Kuroko from his suffering