Day 20: War's Brutality and Tearful Reunions
Summary: Akashi and Kuroko are separated after their country goes to war. 2 years later, Akashi returns home after suffering a war injury, but there's no word on Kuroko's status.
It was during these times of war where even the strongest men can feel the greatest of fear.
Akashi had seen it all, heard it all: guns firing, bombs bursting in harsh, casualty causing explosion, the screams of terror from civilians and the last gasps from former comrades. All sights that no man, no person should ever have to live through.
He had lost count of the number of soldiers he had shot, that he had killed in cold blood. So much that it sickened him. These times of war brought out the worst in mankind, and even in himself, and it was something that Akashi would have to live with for the rest of his life.
The war was reaching its end, but he wasn't at the front-lines. Hell he wasn't even in the military at all. Why? It happened so suddenly. One minute he's sitting in a military vehicle with a bunch of other nameless soldiers, the next minute there's a deadly explosion and there's searing agony and pouring crimson coming from his left leg…or at least what was his left leg.
Luckily an infirmary was close by, his leg couldn't be salvaged and they military doctors were forced to amputate his left leg up to the knee. They deemed him not well enough to fight in the war and he was shipped back home. That was 6 months ago.
However, the loss of his left leg was the least of his worries. Before the war, he was a CEO of the Akashi Corporation, a job that didn't require 2 working legs. However, the compulsory draft forced all men to fight in the war, and the love of his life was still out there, fighting tooth and nail just to stay alive.
That man's name was Kuroko Tetsuya. Before the war, the two of them were teammates in their middle school's basketball team, and they became roommates in college after finding out the two of them were accepted into the same university. He hadn't noticed the attraction he had for the man back in middle school, but after being able to room with him in college, watching the sky blue haired phantom mature into a kind, gentle and dedicated man, he couldn't help but fall hard for the man.
He found it astounding when he later realized that his attraction was requited, the way that the sky blue haired man blushed whenever Akashi took his top off, the way that his soft touches grew more frequent and lingered ever so slightly, and the way his sky blue eyes flickered towards his lips, as if yearning to kiss them. The redhead, being the master analyst that he was could see all of it and confronted him about it. To put it simply, they started dating shortly after.
Now in their late twenties, the couple had been dating for 8 years and were engaged to be married. Kuroko Tetsuya was supposed to become his beloved husband…had it not been for the war. The two of them were both men, so they were forced to apply for compulsory military service, Akashi being sent to the Army and Kuroko to the Air force. He hadn't seen his lover in 2 years, and he hasn't heard word of him since. No letters, no phone calls, nothing.
After returning home, Akashi called his closest friends, acquaintances, Kuroko's family and friends, anyone that could possibly know about Kuroko's fate. All he received was that Kuroko was still fighting at war and hadn't been heard from in 2 years. Luckily, he's not M.I.A nor has he been reported dead, however Akashi has seen face to face the terrors, the dangers and the brutality that war brings, and as much as he had faith in his lover, every day is a battle of life or death and at any moment, his lover could be killed and that idea scares Akashi to death.
Though Akashi could only wait; wait in elongated agony on any news regarding his fiancé's condition. It wasn't just whether or not he was alive that concerned Akashi, it was also his mental condition. War changes people, and Akashi had to learn that the hard way. If he gets to see his fiancé once again, will he be the same Kuroko Tetsuya that he fell in love with. The one with the gentle smile, bright eyes clear as the sky, and kind expression. Will Akashi get to see that Kuroko again? Or will the suffering of war have completely changed his beloved? Ghostly eyes that saw nothing, battle scars that carved both deep into his body and soul, a cold gaze that had killed countless people, just as Akashi had once?
No, that couldn't have happened. Not to his Kuroko. He may be kind and gentle, but he was strong willed, his heart and mind were strong, he couldn't' become too traumatized from war to not return to his original self.
But still, the paranoia that that could happen to someone like Kuroko terrified Akashi to death. He could only wait, wait still for his lover to return, so they could put the scars of war past them and actually be together.
2 months later, 8 months since the loss of his left leg, and a peace treaty had been signed between the fighting nations. The war was over.
Akashi's crimson eyes were dull like dried blood, lifeless over the traumas of that hellish war, and the lack of news regarding his fiancé. The realization hit him, that this horrible part of his life was officially in the past, but he can't rest until his significant other, his precious Kuroko was safe in his arms once again.
He might as well be M.I.A. There was still no news regarding his condition, however they say that no news is good news.
He sighed, the redhead has become too occupied with war news that it's basically become his new life. He wonders if this prolonged exposure to war news is even giving him anyway. Is it comforting? Torturous? Akashi had no idea. His heart felt numb. He felt incomplete and empty and just tired. Tired of everything. The war had exhausted him and honestly, the only thing that could give the war veteran any comfort was the gentle hold of his fiancé, his tender kiss, his warm, loving and inviting hugs and his loving, affectionate words that make his heart skip a beat. Oh how Akashi longed for that, yearned for that once again.
But no, he couldn't have that. Not now. Glancing side to side, the redhead looked into the dark and dreary rooms of his… no, their house. The pastel walls appeared dull, the furniture lonely and dreary and the window curtains were pulled, not allowing any light to escape into the depressing rooms. The lights were off, the only light coming from the television standing a few feet from Akashi. This house felt empty, just like a lonely cavern without his significant other by his side.
The war may have been declared over, but the war inside Akashi won't be truly over until Kuroko returns.
A week had passed and on a cloudy, dreary day, Akashi was returning home from an afternoon jog. Well more like an afternoon walk.
He used to go jogging in the morning before he went to war. But he hates the idea of jogging or running altogether now because of his injury. His prosthetic leg allows him to walk and jog as if he still had both legs, but he never realized just how much of a toll his body takes when he uses a fake leg instead of a real one. It's exhausting yet there isn't anything Akashi can do about it.
He's almost there, to the lonely building that he calls home when he notices that the lights are on. That's odd. Akashi hardly ever turns the lights in his house on anymore, only when he really needs them. And even in cloudy days such as today, where the sky is so dark that it might as well be night, he keeps the lights on. So why are they on?
His heart sank into his gut, and he tried to swallow a lump in his throat. There's someone in his house, he's sure of it. Akashi wasn't expecting any visitors today nor did he ever give anyone a key into his house, so Akashi immediately feared that someone had broken in.
This was the last thing Akashi needed. He's gone from hell and back, he's even lost a leg for it. The last thing he needs is to be robbed.
He walks a little faster, careful not to put too much stress on his leg and he heads towards his front door, catching his breath. The criminal was likely not here anymore. Most likely finished their thievery and left, forgetting to wipe away the evidence. Though Akashi can't help the pounding of his heartbeat. Must a strong man have to suffer so much? The loss of his belongings, the loss of any of Kuroko's belongings is too much to handle. If Kuroko never returns, then his stuff will be the only remembrance that Akashi will have of him. The only evidence that he was alive and existed on this planet. No, Akashi doesn't want that, not ever.
With sweaty palms, he opens the front door and steps into the hallway. The hallway lights were on as well as the lights from the living room. He closes the door, the sound of the door closing echoed through the entire hallway. The house was silent, minus Akashi's heavy breathing. Akashi didn't know what to expect. His body moved on autopilot and his mind silent, attempting to not overreact before he could analyze the evidence.
He steps into the living room. The furniture, the paintings on the wall, the television and even the laptop that he left sitting on the coffee table…were still there. The living room looked exactly as he left it, only with 2 differences.
One was obviously that the lights were on, however, in the lounge chair right next to the television, was what looked like a person.
The figure stood up, clad in an Air Force uniform and his sky blue hair was shaved in a buzz cut. He turned around, facing the redhead, bright sky blue eyes gazing into Akashi's scarlet one's, flickering with happiness and a gentle, peaceful smile escaped his lips.
"I'm back, Akashi-kun," the silk and loving voice that escaped from those lips was more than enough to bring Akashi to tears.
"K-Kuroko…" he whispered, his voice choking up and tears threatening to stream.
It didn't take long after that for the two of them to run into each other's arms, closing the distance with a passionate and loving kiss, Akashi wrapping his arms around Kuroko's waist and Kuroko tangling one hand in Akashi's hair and the other draped around his shoulder. To think that his fiancé would be the one waiting for him, it was something that inexplicably escaped Akashi's mind. His lover was alive, here in his arms, kissing him passionately after two longs years without any kind of affection. Akashi allowed the tears to flow, the Kuroko Tetsuya that he fell in love with is right here with him. The two of them had suffered and survived through war, pain, suffering and battle scars that they would always adorn. However for now, none of that mattered. Only this moment mattered.
Akashi pulled away, placing his forehead on top of Kuroko's staring into his beautiful azure eyes, Kuroko doing the same, all the while keeping that gorgeous smile on his face, his eyes red with the flow of tears. No words needed to be spoken. This couple were separated by war and they both returned from war. Kuroko and Akashi will always be together. Not even the brutal monstrosity of war could truly separate the two of them.
Notes: So I'm now 2/3 done with the fanfic challenge! Thank you so much for all of the support and reviews that I've gotten! It makes me so happy to know that you enjoy reading these fanfics just as much as I do! 3
So I've gotten some asks about Day 19 and whether or not it will have a sequel. The answer is: Yes. There will be a sequel. I just didn't post it today because I wasn't in the mood to work on it today. You can expect the sequel of Day 19 to be posted in the next day or two :)
So with that out of the way: reviews, comments and so forth are encouraged and appreciated! :)