Kagami wasn't kidding when he said you could do whatever you wanted in a blanket fort. Kuroko spent pretty much the rest of the day there. Despite the expansion, it was a bit cramped when all four of them were inside: Kuroko, Kagami, Aomine, and Nigou. But they made it work, with a bit of jostling and grumbling from the two giant basketball players. Kuroko hid his smile in his hand and was grateful, for once, to be short and slight.

The first feat was breakfast. Kagami was nervous about someone spilling maple syrup on his hard work, so they lay on their stomachs inside the fort with their heads out of the opening and their plates on the floor. Nigou sniffed around the plates, begging for scraps, until Kuroko picked him up very firmly and draped him over Aomine's legs. "Pancakes are bad for dogs," he told him sternly. "And so is chocolate."

Nigou panted, bathing Kuroko's face in dog breath, and licked his nose. Kuroko patted his head and lay back down between Kagami and Aomine. Nigou wouldn't stop whining, though, until Aomine wolfed his pancakes and sat up to play with him.

The pancakes were good, but very sweet. Kuroko ate about half of his plate and felt accomplished for succeeding that much. Kagami shoveled food steadily into his mouth, never slowing down. They were lying so close, though, that Kuroko could feel him shiver and start every time Nigou made a loud noise or wiggled too strongly, shaking the fort.

Kuroko looked at him in concern. Sweat was beginning to stand out on Kagami's temples, and his face was set in a scowl. Despite his relaxed posture, his muscles were stiff and tense.

"You really are scared of dogs," Kuroko murmured sadly. "Even after all this time? You seem all right when I bring him to basketball."

Kagami shook his head. "I'm usually okay with Nigou," he mumbled. "I think it's...just because he's so close right now. And...um...in my house."

"I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault." Kagami turned his head to give him a painful smile. "It's just...uh...I was bit by a dog a long time ago, when I was a kid in LA. Actually, it was more than one dog, and... Well, anyway. It was really scary. And even though I know Nigou is a good dog, and he would never bite me, my body still reacts like I'm back in that situation. I'm sure I'll get used to him eventually. It will just take more time."

Kuroko folded his arms under his chin and stared forward, thinking about this. It was the same way for him, he was beginning to realize. His body had learned a lot of reactions, responses to his father, to the fear that lived in that place. Kuroko was going to have unlearn them. He knew it distressed Kagami when he flinched at sudden movements, when he hesitated to speak. But with this story, he knew that Kagami understood the reasons, too.

Kuroko turned his head and looked back at Kagami. "Is it too overwhelming for you to have Nigou here? I'm sure Aomine-kun would be happy to keep him."

"Oi!" Aomine said. "Don't speak for me!"

Kuroko looked at him. "Was I wrong? You don't want to keep my cute puppy for me?"

Aomine frowned. "I didn't say that. But won't you be sad without him?"

"You can visit often, right? Or would that be too troublesome?"

Aomine hesitated. Kuroko sighed and looked down. He was trying to avoid being a bother to either of his friends, but it seemed that he must trouble one or the other.

Aomine nudged him in the side with his knee. "Hey."

Kuroko looked up at him.

Aomine's face was open and honest. "I want to visit you, all right? That would actually work out really well for me. I just..."

"You didn't want to say it aloud." Kuroko nodded. It all made sense now.

Kagami nudged him, too. He looked relieved by the decision. "I'm sure I'll get used to Nigou eventually," he said again. "Just be patient with me."

Kuroko blinked. "Of course." Kagami was being infinitely patient with Kuroko, after all. He couldn't imagine not returning the favor.

He sat up and took Nigou from Aomine so he could cuddle him in his lap and whisper in his ear. "Nigou, you must be very kind to Kagami-kun, all right? I know you like to nip playfully sometimes, but you must not nip at him. And try not to bark too much. You are very cute and he will grow to love you as much as I do, but we must both be very patient. He is the kindest person we know, and we need to value him as he deserves."

Nigou seemed to understand. He wiggled a bit in Kuroko's hold, then went still, curled up in Kuroko's lap with his chin resting on his knee. Kuroko scratched his ears.

Kagami cleared his throat and began crawling out of the blanket fort, gathering the plates as he went. Kuroko glanced up in time to see the bright shade of red on his face before he disappeared into the kitchen. Kuroko looked at Aomine.

"Was that too embarrassing?"

Aomine gave him a helpless look. "It was ridiculous, Tetsu. You're ridiculous."

"Mm." Kuroko ruffled Nigou's fur and blinked, long and slow. "But you are here, sitting with me in a blanket fort. You must not mind being ridiculous that much."

Aomine shook his head. He was watching Kuroko carefully. "You're...very open right now."

Kuroko considered. He knew he was acting oddly. His face was still too warm, and he felt a little floaty and detached. "I think I have a fever," he said solemnly. "Also, I cried for a very long time yesterday. Everything has broken down for me in the last couple of days." He laid a hand on his chest, pressing it over his heart. "I can feel a brokenness inside me. Did you know I can't play basketball anymore? That happened yesterday, too. It was why I cried."

"No, I didn't know that," Aomine said softly. "It must have been rough."

Kuroko nodded. He looked down, staring at Nigou as he rubbed his back with long, steady strokes of his hand. "I told my father that he could have anything he wanted from me. I would do whatever he told me to do, be whatever he wanted me to be. When he was...whipping me, yelling at me about how I had to show him proper respect, I had to be a good son. I told him I would do whatever he wanted. But I couldn't give up basketball. It was the only thing I had to keep, because it was mine, and it was precious to me."

His hands clenched into fists, trembling. Nigou whined and wiggled around to lick at his fingers, but Kuroko couldn't bring himself to respond. He thought he might cry again, but no tears came. It had only happened yesterday, but already this felt like an old wound. It was crusty and scabbed over, painful and never healed, but still nothing to weep about anymore, because there was nothing to be done.

He raised his head and looked at Aomine again. Aomine's face was drawn and pale. Kuroko was sorry. He hadn't meant to hurt anyone with this. He just wanted Aomine to understand what was happening to him. "I told him he couldn't have my basketball. But when I tried to play yesterday, I couldn't. Everything was gone. He took it away from me. I don't have anything left."

Aomine pulled in a breath. It sounded rough and shaky. His eyes were bright in the dim light that filtered in on them. "So you had a bad day," he said, and his voice was rough, too. "So what? Bad days happen. It doesn't mean your basketball is gone."

Kuroko shook his head. "I told you. I can feel the brokenness in me. It's very deep and it's very bad."

"Then we'll get it fixed. We'll get it fixed for you, Tetsu. Nothing is broken forever."

Kuroko went very still. He wanted to believe it. "Kagami-kun said that, too."

"Kagami is an idiot. But even idiots can be right once in a while."

Kagami cleared his throat. They looked over to find him crouching in the opening of the fort. His face was red again, or maybe it was still red from last time. "I'm right here, you know."

Aomine nodded complacently. "I know."

Kagami growled a bit in exasperation, then visibly let it go and focused on Kuroko. He held up the tube of gel in his hand. "I thought we should..." His face was apologetic, and he glanced at Aomine. "Unless you don't want him to see..."

Kuroko shook his head. "It's all right." He'd already told Aomine all of the worst parts. After losing basketball, his sore back seemed like nothing at all.

He looked at Aomine. "It might bother you, though. You might not want to see it."

Aomine looked mystified. "I don't even know what you're talking about."

Kagami frowned at him. "Weren't you listening? Kuroko told you that his father whipped him."

Aomine's face turned even paler. He opened his mouth, then closed it again. Kagami shook his head and crawled into the fort, situating himself behind Kuroko. He lifted the over-large t-shirt over Kuroko's head with no trouble, and Kuroko hunched forward, wrapping his arms around Nigou. Nigou whimpered and wagged his tail, thumping against Kuroko's leg, and let himself be held. Kuroko closed his eyes.

He heard Aomine moving around, manuevering himself so he could see Kuroko's back. There was a sharp gasp, quickly cut off. Then Kagami's hand, cool and gentle, began its familiar work.

"Aomine. Played any good basketball games lately?" Kagami was still determined to provide distraction, too.

"What? What the hell does that have to do with anything?"

"Just answer the question, idiot."

Aomine was quiet for a moment. Then he started talking. Kuroko hid his face in Nigou's fur and let the words wash over him.

When it was finished, Kagami helped him back into the t-shirt. Nigou jumped out of Kuroko's lap and leaped on Aomine, too energetic to be still anymore. Aomine grumbled and batted at him with his hands, but made no serious effort to stop him.

Kuroko moved around to face Kagami. Then he held out his arms. It felt natural now. This job wasn't finished until he'd gotten a hug. Kagami cut a sideways glance at Aomine, just daring him to say anything. But he was already leaning forward, and then Kuroko was wrapped in those strong, gentle arms again. He leaned his head on Kagami's shoulder and closed his eyes.

He was tired. A lot had happened in a very short time. He was glad to have Aomine and Nigou here, but it was also exhausting, having to interact with so many different personalities. His fever wasn't helping, either, and the sweet, syrupy breakfast weighed him down.

He must have been leaning into Kagami more heavily than usual. After a long moment, Kagami's hand tightened on his shoulder. "Kuroko?" His voice was faintly alarmed. "Is something wrong?"

"Just tired," Kuroko murmured. After another moment to soak in the sun, he gently disengaged, pulled back, and dropped down on his side into the soft pile. "Is it all right if I sleep here?"

"Of course. You can do whatever you want."

Kuroko took him at his word and closed his eyes. He drifted off to the sounds of Aomine and Kagami hesitantly talking about basketball. Right before it all faded away, Nigou nosed his way under Kuroko's arm and snuggled into his chest, letting out a doggish whoosh of air once he was settled. Kuroko couldn't imagine a better and more comfortable place for a nap.

The rest of the day followed very comfortably from that beginning. Kuroko slept and woke, ate more of Kagami's food, read a light novel he had packed in his duffel, and played with Nigou, all without emerging from the blanket fort unless he needed to use the toilet. The four of them did not remain packed in there together at all times, but Kuroko was rarely alone.

When Kagami was busy working in the apartment, Aomine sat with him and pestered him about the novel he was reading. When Aomine took Nigou out for a run, Kagami stayed with him, lazing around in comfortable silence. When Aomine and Kagami removed themselves to the kitchen to fight over what to make for supper, Nigou stayed in the fort, demanding infinite belly rubs. Kagami made sure Kuroko ate and drank and took his medicine, even when Kuroko had no desire to. Aomine accepted that the best he could do was just be with him, for as long as he was able. Nigou was Nigou, and Nigou was perfect.

Kuroko tried not to think about the Saturday basketball practice that they were all missing. Saturday practices were always a lot of fun, and Kuroko longed to be there with a deep and abiding ache in his chest. Aomine and Kagami said nothing about it, but Kuroko saw the way Kagami's fingers twitched at his side, as if he wanted to be dribbling a ball, and Aomine ignored several texts from Momoi-san on his phone.

When darkness fell, they all packed themselves into the blanket fort and watched Ponyo on Kagami's laptop. Kagami made popcorn (on the stove, not from a bag), and made them use napkins so they wouldn't wipe the grease on his blankets. Aomine started out skeptical that a kids' movie would be worth his time, but he fell under Ponyo's spell quicker than anyone Kuroko had ever seen, staring at the screen without blinking and growling in protest whenever someone jostled the laptop or obscured his view for a split second. Nigou snuggled with all and sundry and tried to eat the popcorn, forcing them to struggle to keep it away from him. Kuroko couldn't stop smiling for the entire hour and a half.

They watched all the way through the credits, transfixed. Kuroko hummed along, tapping his fingers on Nigou's head. Nigou tried to catch his hand in his mouth, and Kuroko let him. He shook him gently back and forth while Nigou pretended to gnaw on him. When it was finally over, Kagami closed the laptop with a satisfied sigh and tucked it under the nearest chair. They sat in silence for a few moments to absorb the magic. Kagami had left a light on in the hall, and it filtered through the blankets just enough for them to see each other's content expressions.

"I'm ready to talk now," Kuroko said, when a sufficient interval had passed.

Aomine and Kagami both turned their heads to look at him. "...What?" Kagami asked.

Kuroko gave him nod. "That promise I gave you last night. I said I would tell you everything. I'm ready now."

Kagami watched him carefully. "Are you sure?"

"Yes. Thank you for today. It was all very good preparation. I am rested and nourished and content, and I'm as ready as I'll ever be. I can talk to you now." He looked at Aomine. "And to you, too."

"Okay." Kagami reached out an arm to him, and Kuroko shuffled closer and leaned into his side. "If you're sure."

"I am."

And Kuroko began.