Day 28: Promises and Husband's Deathbed

Summary: Kuroko and Akashi each made a promise. That they would always love each other and be together, and not even the claws of death would stop them.

It was love at first sight.

If you told either Akashi or Kuroko that love at first sight wasn't a real thing, neither of them would believe you for a second. The two of them first locked eyes while in their 1st year of middle school. Akashi knew from the very instant of seeing Kuroko for the 1st time that he was going to have a bright future with him. Kuroko knew he felt something upon witnessing those crimson eyes for the first time, something like a spark had been lit in his heart. He would later realize later in life that that feeling was love.

However the tensions that occurred during their middle school career prevented a blossoming of their fated love and future relationship. However in high school only a few short years later, despite the distance between their schools, the two of them confessed their love for each other after the end of the Winter Cup in their freshmen year. They began dating shortly after, completely willing to tackle the challenges of a long distance relationship due to them going to separate schools.

Luckily at the arrival of their college years, Akashi and Kuroko were accepted to the same university and were able to reunite, began living together and their relationship became closer than ever before.

It's about a year since they graduated college. The two of them were watching the sunset together, a favorite pastime of theirs when a certain promise resonated from the lips of Akashi's beloved phantom.

"I want to be with you. No, I will always be with you, until the very end, Akashi-kun."

Akashi turned his head towards his lover, blinking at the sudden promise. Needless to say, his response was a tight hug, soft lips pressing into his lover's cheek with pure affection. The devotion that Kuroko gives Akashi never ceases to surprise the redhead.

"I swear to you that I'll always love you, Kuroko. Even after death, I'll continue to love you," he whispered into his ear, following his lover's path in swearing an oath to him, and he meant it. At this point, Akashi doesn't see how he could stop loving Kuroko, nor could he see a future where Kuroko wasn't with him. He knew that he would always stay with Kuroko and would never leave his side, and Kuroko would never leave his.

Those words spoken at the ends of that sunset were never forgotten, kept inside locked in their long-term memory for the rest of their lives. Years pass and that still remains true. Akashi and Kuroko have been married for many years now, living full lives in their dream jobs. The two of them now refer to each other by their 1st names, just as Akashi…no Seijūrō once did back when he activated his defense mechanism all of those years ago. However the hushed whispers of his 1st name no longer brought an icy chill down Tetsuya's spine, reminding him of the darker days of his time at school. No, the breath of his name brought feelings he could only describe as his heart fluttering, such a contrast to the past yet Tetsuya accepts it. The two of them are closer than ever, husbands that swear to remain together, and not even the claws of death will stop their love.

A beautiful morning, a sunny sky with intermittent clouds was the perfect day for Seijūrō and Tetsuya to take a morning walk. It was almost like a date to them, being able to enjoy the gardens they passed, the flow of traffic by their side and the wake of forest green trees and colorful gardens at the other side. It was refreshing, romantic and another of their favorite past times.

Holding hands, the small talk that ensued was like any other conversation; peaceful, content and filled with devotion. The two of them smiled at each other in utter peace and their footsteps synchronized as well as their heartbeats. In all honesty, they could die at this moment, and neither of them would mind; the love they have for each other, being together like this, brought forth a feeling of peace and bliss that can't be described in words.

Tetsuya squeezed Seijūrō's hand, thumb softly stroking his fingers. "Seijūrō."

"Hmm?" Akashi hummed in response, crimson eyes darting towards the clouds, a warm smile grazing his face.

"Do you remember the promise I made to you, all those years ago?" he suddenly questioned. Tetsuya doesn't know why his mind suddenly thought back to that promise, but he felt the need to address it.

"Ah, I remember lots of promises, love. Which one are you referring to?" he spoke softly, not quite in a whisper.

"You know, the one I told you during that sunset. Where I said that I'll always be with you, until the very end?"

Seijūrō blinked as the memory returned to him. "Ah, yes I do remember that promise. And I swore to you that I'll always love you, even after death."

Tetsuya smiled at the memory. To think that the both of them continued to remember that precious moment, the words, the affection, everything was imbedded forever into their minds. That was something to be treasured and it brought an indescribable feeling to Tetsuya's heart.

"Yes, I remember that too. I wanted you to know, Seijūrō that I'm still keeping my promise to you, okay?" he squeezed his hand again for emphasis. His gaze moved towards Seijūrō, precious baby blue hues glimmering in an interesting mixture of love and seriousness.

Seijūrō's smile grew even brighter, realizing how serious his Tetsuya was. He knew that he'll always be loved by him, and that the two will certainly always be together, just as they promised. The redhead's thumb stroked over his husband's wedding band unconsciously at the thought.

He soon returned Tetsuya's gaze, crimson orbs filled with eternal love and adoration. "And I too am keeping my promise love, and I always will," he lifted their entwined hands, lips pressing gently at Tetsuya's palm, sealing his promise with a kiss.

Tetsuya could only smile at the gesture. "I'll always love you, Seijūrō," he whispered, leaning forward and his husband quickly followed suit.

"And I'll always love you too, Tetsuya," and their lips pressed. All of the love they have for each other was sealed in that loving kiss. It wasn't passionate and heavy like when they were dating as teenagers, but more soft, gentle but still all the more romantic and filled to the brim with genuine adoration. The two of them closed their eyes, the last image that they saw was of their beloved husband, the one that they would love for the rest of their lives and all the way into eternity.

It's a shame to think that such a love filled scene could be forever ruined by a simple steer of the wheel.

Momoi and Aomine coincidentally happened to be at the hospital, Momoi recently being released from the hospital following a recovery from an unimportant surgery and Aomine about to pick her up.

It was pure coincidence that they walked passed ICU, that they happened to be witnessing two patients fighting for their lives, and the fact that they recognized them immediately.

"Dai-chan, it can't be…" Momoi was stunned, shaken and she felt like she was going to vomit. This couldn't be who she thought they were. Frightened, she looked towards her beloved childhood friend, without words begging for this to be a sick joke. Aomine was just as shocked as she was.

"Tetsu…Akashi…" he mumbled, too stunned to move, as if he was paralyzed. His former captain, his former shadow and close friend, were in critical condition.

The two of them were side by side, each laying in separate beds. Both of them were wearing breathing masks so they could breathe and each of their bodies were covered in bandages and IV's. They looked bruised, broken and battered, about to be on death's door.

However, there was one thing about this situation that Momoi notices immediately, rose quartz eyes beaming with surprise.

"Dai-chan, look! Their hands!" she exasperated, her hand pointing shakily at the window separating the husbands from Momoi and Aomine.

Aomine gazed at the direction of Momoi's hand and noticed their hands, the level of shock he was feeling intensifying. Akashi's left palm and knuckles were covered in bandages and Tetsuya's right palm had a large gauze patch sticking on it, but that wasn't the surprising part. The surprising part was that Tetsuya's hand was resting in Akashi's, even though both men appeared unconscious.

"They're holding hands…" Aomine could only whisper in shock. To think that even though they're bodies have gone through hell, in critical condition and the fate of their lives questionable, the two of them were still holding hands through it all, never leaving each other's side. Aomine felt like this he was being sucked into a sappy, tear-jerking ending to a romance film.

"It's what they would've wanted," another voice echoed from the otherwise empty hallway. Momoi and Aomine turned around in the direction of the voice, not expecting to see a familiar broccoli head clothed in doctor's robes and prescription glasses.

"Midorima-kun, do you know how they're doing?" Momoi asked, head gesturing towards the husbands, unconscious and depending on life support.

Midorima only shook his head, forest green eyes grim. "Not good. Their condition isn't improving. We're not even sure if they'll make it through the night," he replied, eyes downcast.

Momoi and Aomine paled at the realization of Midorima's words. There was no way this was happening. The two of them had just seen the husbands' alive and well only last week. How could they be on the brink of death?

This horrid situation was difficult for them to fathom, eventually nurses left the couple alone for the night and Midorima gave the two of them clearance to enter their room under his supervision. Momoi and Aomine were still too stunned to say anything else, now getting a good view of the dying couple, hoping desperately that they will survive through this, just as they've survived many other crises through this path called life.

It was 5:01pm. The three of them had only been in the room for about 20 minutes in stunned silence when a certain voice shattered that silence.

"This is weird…"

Midorima's sudden comment caused Momoi to become stunned and Aomine to blink in confusion.

"What the hell does that mean? What's wrong?" Aomine asked, desperate to know answers.

"Midorima just gazed at Akashi, utterly bewildered. "Akashi…he's stopped breathing. But his heart monitor is normal. I've never seen anything like it," he muttered.

Shocked and confused, the duo raced over towards Midorima's side to witness the abnormal event. Sure enough, Akashi's mind was completely still, his chest no longer rising, yet the heart monitor continued as if Akashi was still alive.

"Check his pulse, Midorima-kun. Just to make sure," Momoi requested, pointing to Akashi's still body. Midorima nodded, deciding not to reprimand Momoi for telling him how to do his job due to this weird experience. He aimed for Akashi's neck, an area near his jugular where skin showed and he checked for a pulse.

He remained still before he removed his fingers, turning towards Aomine and Momoi.

"I can't find a pulse. Akashi is definitely dead," he responded. The three of them were met with a thickened silence as Midorima's words began to sink in. Their former captain, once known as the absolute emperor just passed away. Just like that.

The silence that followed was deafening. Momoi glanced towards Tetsuya, heart monitor continuing to beat, his chest rising and falling slowly and his hand continuing to hold onto Akashi's still one.

Wait a minute…

"Hey Midorima, Dai-chan! I think I know why Akashi's heart is beating!" Momoi suddenly shouted, her hand waving in the air to get their attention. Aomine only looked at Momoi, not fazed by her behavior and Midorima was a tad startled.

"What do you mean you know, Satsuki?" Aomine asked, confused.

"It's because they're holding hands!" Momoi explained, pointing to their entwined hands. "I think Tetsu-kun's heartbeat is flowing into Akashi-kun's because their hands are connected."

The two of them were stunned, staring at the couple. Another way this could be seen is that Tetsuya's heartbeat is connecting the two of them, making them share a heartbeat. They were connected and together, even when stepping on death's door.

The realization sank in for a few minutes, Midorima checking on Tetsuya's condition while Aomine and Momoi continued to watch the couple in silence, praying that Tetsuya's condition will improve, however as the minutes ticked by, their fear continued to increase.

One hour had passed by, Midorima was jotting down notes in a clipboard, Momoi sitting by Tetsuya's side and Aomine reading a magazine when Tetsuya took his last breath.

Both heart monitors flat lined.

All three of them couldn't move. It had been exactly one hour since Akashi took his last breath, and now Tetsuya has taken his. Midorima glances at the clock.

"Time of death: 6:01pm."

Momoi's tears began to pour, her vision blurring, the only thing she could see was Tetsuya's peaceful expression and his hand holding Akashi's.

She buried her face into her face as she cried, Aomine coming to her side and wrapping an arm around her shoulder, her face leaning into his chest and her tears stained Aomine's shirt.

Aomine was on the verge of tears himself, however before he completely broke, he made one last comment.

"I should've known. You went to Heaven's gate first so you could hold the door open for him, didn't you Akashi? A true gentleman even after death…" he muttered to himself, Momoi too busy sobbing to hear him.

With that note, he broke down, Midorima calling in nurses to take care of the bodies.

None of them realized the true extent of their deaths. The promises Seijūrō and Tetsuya made all of those years ago, they swore that they would be together until the very end. The promises that they made to each other were kept, until the very end of their lives.

Notes: Yes I foreshadowed this in yesterday's fic, in case anyone was asking.

Sorry I'm a bit rushed because I'm trying to submit this before midnight.

Reviews, comments, etc is encouraged and welcomed! :)