Day 19: Bruises and a Lover's Rage

Summary: Kuroko tried to play hero and he was beaten to a bloody pulp. The fear isn't for his own well-being, it's how his significant other, Akashi Seijūrō will react to it.

Warning: There is descriptions of violence in this chapter and if you aren't a fan of that/get triggered by that, then please skip this Day!

Bruises adorned his body, marking his pale skin in cringing shades of green and violet. Streams of crimson filled his arms from harsh scratches. His usually bright sky blue eyes failed to hold the same amount of shine as they had this morning. One eye was shut, the cringing shades of purple masking the eyelid in the formation of a black eye, the other eye remained open and unharmed, minus the darkness, dull and lifeless gaze that covered its iris.

His clothes were filthy, ruffled and covered in mud after being pushed into a mud puddle. His sky blue hair was matted with dirt and soaked, his bangs clung onto his forehead like glue. Overall, Kuroko looked like a battered mess.

How was he supposed to return home looking like this? And how was he supposed to explain this to Akashi? He had no idea how his significant other would react, and to make matters worse, there was no way that Kuroko could hide the damage that he's been given mentally and physically.

The phantom walked home slowly, his muscles aching with pain and his teeth gritting in response. He shouldn't have been so careless. However the fearless side of him couldn't just walk away from what had happened.

So what exactly happened? Well to keep it simple, Kuroko was walking home from the library when he unexpectedly became a witness for an attempted mugging. It reminded Kuroko of a stereotypical thieving; a woman was fighting off some street thugs who were attempting to steal her purse. However, there were 3 giant and menacing looking men crowding over her, and Kuroko couldn't help but fear the worst. That poor woman was going to suffer and Kuroko didn't want that to happen. So he confronted the thugs, attempting to order them to leave the woman alone. They did, but it only caused them to seethe in rage that they were disturbed, that some "little boy" was trying to play hero. He was able to distract them long enough for the woman to get away, but his reward for doing so was getting beaten to a pulp by 3 men obviously way too strong for poor Kuroko to handle. They punched him, kicked him, one guy had a knife and started cutting him and his clothes before they beat him into the mud covered ground, where they eventually left him. By the time he was left alone, Kuroko was in the same condition that he just briefly described earlier; bruised and broken.

He arrived at his porch step too soon. His entire body ached with pain and the last thing Kuroko wanted was a commotion, but he knew that he couldn't hide, nor could he run away. He needs a first aid kit, and it was only a matter of whether or not he would get to it by himself, or with Akashi's knowledge.

He opened the door to their apartment slowly, hoping to get into the house as quietly as he could. The lights were off and the house was silent. Kuroko breathed a sigh of relief. Hopefully he can just make it to the first aid kit in the bathroom to clean the open wounds and then he'll have to figure out something creative to hide the bruises and black eye since he doesn't own makeup.

Stepping inside and turning a light on, his heart sank when he heard the loud barking of Nigou, racing out of nowhere and into Kuroko's legs. His tongue was hanging and tail wagging with excitement of his owner returning. Kuroko had to admit that he forgot for a split second that Nigou always reacts very loudly like this whenever Kuroko returns home.

He tries to shush Nigou, placing a finger over his lips but Nigou ignores it, continuing to bark in excitement as he stands on his hind legs, his front paws scratching at the dirt covered khakis Kuroko wore. Kuroko quickly stroked his fluffy back, before the puppy ran across the hallway, tail wagging and dashed into another room, outside of Kuroko's vision.

"Welcome home, Kuroko!"

Kuroko's heart sank even further when he heard Akashi's call. So Akashi was home after all. He didn't want Akashi to see him so pathetic, so wounded and battered. And now he can't escape since he already knows that he's home.

"Ah, I'm back, Akashi-kun. Where are you?" he questions, noticing that Akashi didn't come give him a welcome home kiss like he usually does.

"I'm just washing my hands, I'll be out there soon, my love!" he responded. Kuroko wanted to breathe a sigh of relief, but he knew that that wasn't an option. His whole body was sore, he's in pain and he only wants it to stop. However, he doesn't want to burden Akashi with his own problems.

He clenched his hands in frustration. To be beaten down so easily like that, Akashi will only be ashamed. Kuroko's a man and men are not supposed to be brutally beaten like that. It really showed him just how weak he is outside of the basketball court.

"Kuroko, I was wondering if you-?" Akashi began to speak to Kuroko as he left the bathroom and entered the hallway. His voice died out at the sight of the brutally battered Kuroko. His clothes bathed in dirt and his arms and face painted in frightening, cringing shades of green and violet. His eyes widened at in pure shock, his body becoming as still as a statue, and Kuroko only wanted to die from shame. Akashi should never have seen him like this, but there's no going back.

"Kuroko…" he almost ran towards his lover, getting a closer look at the injuries. Kuroko looked away, his face towards the ground and his one good eye downcast and refusing to look into his lover's eye. However, that only gave Akashi a perfect view of his darkened black eye. He wondered what Akashi was thinking, mostly likely disappointment that Kuroko couldn't protect himself, or shame that Kuroko wasn't strong enough, maybe even disgust because he thought Kuroko didn't try hard enough.

"Kuroko, who did this to you?" Akashi whispered, his tone low and dark. Kuroko felt a chill roll down his spine, he only hears Akashi speak like that when he's in pure rage. However, Kuroko couldn't bring himself to speak, his fist clenching even harder and he became completely covered with shame and guilt.

"Akashi-kun, I-I'm sorry I-"

"Kuroko Tetsuya. You will answer me. Who the hell did this to you?" Akashi firmly grabbed Kuroko's chin, forcing the two of them to make eye contact. Akashi's eyes were pure slits, crimson eyes flaring with rage, and Kuroko thought for a second that he could see the tiniest speck of gold in his left eye.

"I-I don't know, Akashi-kun. They were thieves and they-"

Akashi interrupted once again, "They? You mean that a group of people attacked you?" his teeth gritting in seething anger.

"Yes, but let me explain, Akashi-kun."

"What's there to explain, Kuroko? A bunch of thieves just attacked the love of my life and now look at you! You have a black eye, your arms are covered with bruises and you're covered in mud. These lowlifes just brutally beat you half to death. I swear to you, Kuroko that I will find them and I'll make sure that they rot in hell," Akashi was fuming, and Kuroko knew that he needed to calm him down, regardless of his shame and embarrassment.

"Akashi-kun, you need to calm down," he tried to soothe Akashi, trying to taking a battered arm and place it on Akashi's cheek.

"I can't calm down, Kuroko! Not after what they've done to you!" he all but shouted, swatting Kuroko's hand way with a slap.

Kuroko yelped in pain, retreating his arm back after the slap, teeth gritting from the pain. It was at this point where Akashi became silent, scarlet eyes widening in shock when he fully realized what he had just done to Kuroko.

"Kuroko…Kuroko I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you," he frantically rambled, trying to take back Kuroko's arm to kiss away the pain but Kuroko refused, stepping back from Akashi.

"I-I know you didn't mean it, Akashi-kun. But please try not to touch me, it hurts…" he mumbled, his eyes staring into the dull carpeting of their hallway floor.

Akashi was silent for a moment, taking in Kuroko's pathetic appearance while Kuroko continued to stand there, not looking at Akashi but not running away either, not like he could anyway. Kuroko didn't want this, not any of this. He noticed how Akashi wasn't shaming him but when he gets taken over by pure rage, that's when he becomes more…intimidating. He didn't want to say scary since he was Kuroko's significant other, but he can't help but admit the chills that go down his spine when he sees his lover enraged.

Akashi sighed, causing Kuroko's good eye to flicker over towards his lover's direction, though he refused to move his head.

"I can't promise you that I won't touch you, since I need to give you first aid. However, I can promise you that I'll be gentle, okay?"

Kuroko looked up, noticing that Akashi was giving him a sad smile. He had a feeling that he would say that. He knew that Akashi didn't mean to hurt him, but he still feared that he would do something like that again, though he needed the first aid treatment.

No, he's thinking too much, these rambling thoughts were starting to not make sense. He needs to worry about getting the first aid, that's all.

Kuroko nods shortly after. "Alright, Akashi-kun."

He walks over towards the bathroom, where the first aid kit was with Akashi right next to him for support. He knew that Akashi wasn't going to let this escape from memory. Whatever he says, goes basically. However Kuroko wasn't through with it either. He wants to truly know how Akashi felt about him getting beaten to a bloody pulp that wasn't just rage. Deep down, was he truly disappointed, or embarrassed, or even disgusted? Kuroko didn't really want to know, but he knows that he needs to know or else he wouldn't be able to live with himself.

But for now, treatment is his number 1 concern and priority. So he'll let it go for now, but he's knows that this incident is far from over.

Notes: In case you were wondering about the ending, yes I will be making a sequel to this Day so don't worry about that.

So with that out of the way, reviews, critique, etc are welcomed and appreciated! :)