Eeek! Chapter 10 already!

Thank you so much for all your support!

I didn't actually edit this chapter as much as I normally do...so..ya know...mistakes...they happen...alot.

Disclaimer: I do not own Kuroko no Basket :)

Murasakibara slowly opened his eyes. The throbbing pain in his head had been reduced to a dull pounding and he could finally breath in and out of his nose. He groaned, his body still very weak, as he shifted...when he felt a hand in his. His eyes trailed to the hand, then to the arm, then to Kuroko, who had his back turned to Murasakibara. "Kurochin~" Murasakibara huffed softly. Murasakibara widened and he felt his heart stop for a moment as Kuroko slowly turned - purple eyes meeting blue. "You're awake, Murasakibara-kun? How are you feeling?" Murasakibara heard Kuroko say, but the words didn't register. Murasakibara had heard of romantics saying how they felt like they could get lost in their lover's eyes...and Murasakibara had always felt such sentiment to be rather stupid. But here, in this moment, Murasakibara felt suspended in time. Those blue eyes seemed to be as vast as the sky itself. He felt that even if he had an eternity to explore, he would never quite see all he wanted in those beautiful blue eyes. "Are you O.K, Murasakibara-kun?" Kuroko asked, getting more and more concerned as the purple haired giant said nothing and simply stared at him. Murasakibara continued to stare. His heart thundered in his chest and he felt as though he couldn't breathe. How could anyone look away from Kuroko's eyes? How could anyone not want to stare at him forever?

But the moment could not last forever. Murasakibara watched as his world slowly went to black as Kuroko gently covered Murasakibara's eyes with his coarse hands. "Maybe you should go back to sleep, Murasakibara-kun" Kuroko sighed. "But I want to look longer..." Murasakibara whined, picking up Kuroko's hands and moving them to his chest. Murasakibara flattened his one hand over both of Kuroko's on his chest. "Look longer at what?" Kuroko asked, feeling how the teen's heartbeat was pounding under his hands. "At Kurochin" Murasakibara smiled. "At me?" Kuroko cocked his head to the side, "Why do you want to look at me?"

"Kurochin is...hard to find" Murasakibara started, trying to find the right words, "Kurochin...is rare...like...like an oyster".

"An oyster?" Kuroko chuckled, gently pulling out one of his hands from Murasakibara's grasp and running his fingers through the silky purple hair. Murasakibara nodded and leaned up into Kuroko's touch, "Like an oyster...holding a pearl...not many people can find them, you know. But when you do...ah...its...so..."

"Its so what? Murasakibara-kun" Kuroko gave the giant a small smile. "Its...like..." Murasakibara closed his eyes, tiredness quickly taking hold of him. "Its...everything." Murasakibara mumbled before falling asleep again. Kuroko pulled the blanket up to Murasakibara's chin and gently tucked in the sides. "I wonder what you meant" Kuroko whispered, feeling entertained, "Ah well...sweet dreams Murasakibara-kun"

Kuroko was preparing soup for Murasakibara when he felt eyes on him. Kuroko turned around and found Aomine standing in the doorway looking at his feet. After a silence, Kuroko sighed, "You know it's bad luck to stand in a doorway? They say they're portals to other dimensions or hell and if you stand there too long, a demon will latch on to your shoulders". Kuroko fought back a smile at the way Aomine scrambled to come into the kitchen, a terrified look on his face. "Thats not true, is it?!" Aomine barked, shaking. Kuroko shrugged, "Its an urban legend of sorts...you're home earlier than the others."

"It was self-practice" Aomine sighed, "I...had something to do, so I came home"

"What was it that you had to do?"

"Apologize...to...you..." Aomine mumbled. Kuroko cocked his head to the side with a raised eyebrow, "Really?"

"Yes really!...I...this morning...acted..." Aomine stuttered. "...like a child?" Kuroko offered with a smile. "Gah...yeah...like a child...a spoiled brat. I shouldn't have thrown things at you. It was wrong. I'm sorry"

"Well, at least it wasn't a book"

"...someone threw a book at you?"

"Un. Midorima did"

"That...that bastard! He could have really hurt you!" Aomine yelled grabbing onto Kuroko's shoulders. "It was just a book. I wouldn't have been hurt that bad, and besides, I caught it. In any case, you started it - with the whole throwing of things"

"Yeah...but...hah...I guess you're right"

"I know"

Aomine chuckled, "I take it you forgive me?". Kuroko smiled, "Of course I do. I value your friendship very much". Aomine blushed, "Friendship, huh?" Kuroko merely nodded and went back to his cooking. Aomine slumped down in a nearby chair and held his head in his hands. He slowly moved his hands so he could see Kuroko. Kuroko said nothing as he silently stirred the soup he was making. Aomine felt that if he hadn't kept his eyes on Kuroko, he would just fade away. "Hey...Tetsu?" Aomine mumbled, his heart began to ache and his hands felt clammy. "Yes, Aomine-kun?" Kuroko asked, not even turning around. "I...uh...Tetsu..." Aomine began to stutter. His mind was racing to find the right words. Aomine felt himself stop breathing for a moment when Kuroko turned around. "What?" Kuroko asked with a very tender, gentle tone that made Aomine shiver. "I...I think...no...I know...I really..."

Kise froze outside the kitchen door. It couldn't be. 'Aominechi...he's not thinking of confessing right now...is he?!' Kise thought, his hands balling into tight fists. He listened as Aomine stuttered and Kuroko waited patiently. "Look, Tetsu...you need to know that I-" Aomine started. But Kise didn't want to hear the rest - he didn't want Kuroko to hear the rest. He couldn't. Kise quietly opened the hallway closet door and slammed it as loud as he could. He stayed out of sight of the kitchen as he made loud stomping noises. "Tetsu, I-!" Aomine tried to finish before the impending interruption. But Aomine hesitated for a moment, allowing Kise to burst into the room. "Kurokochi!" Kise forced himself to sound as cheerful as always. "Oh, Kise-kun. Welcome back" Kuroko said.

"Good to be back, Ku-ro-ko-chi!" Kise sang the syllables happily, but was eyeing Aomine carefully. Aomine glared at the blonde model - a fury building in his chest. "What did you want to say, Aomine-kun?" Kuroko turned to Aomine. Aomine shook his head, "Nah, forget it Tetsu...I'll tell you later."

"You can say anything to me, Aominechi!" Kise smiled and wrapped his arms around Kuroko from behind, and used Kuroko's head as a chin rest, "I will listen" Kise smiled at Aomine, a challenge in his eyes. Aomine's eyes narrowed as he stood out of the chair. "Yeah, right. Screw you, Kise" He growled before leaving the kitchen. "Aomine-kun is quite moody today" Kuroko sighed as he watched the tanned teen go. "Mah, it's probably his time of the month"

"Oh. I should get him some midol then"

"Good one, Kurokochi" Kise laughed. "Well, it was just a play on your joke, Kise-kun" Kuroko shrugged. "Eh? I wasn't joking" Kise smirked, trying to keep his laughter down. "Ah! Kurokochi?"

"What is it, Kise-kun?" Kuroko asked. "Hows Murasakibarachi?" Kise asked looking at his feet. "Better. Not at 100%, but better. Its good to be worried about your friends, but trust me, I'm taking very good care of him"

"I..I have no doubt...but...honestly I kind of wish I was sick too...then Kurokochi would dote on me" Kise smiled, a slight blush appearing on his face. "That's no good, Kise-kun" Kuroko sighed. "Its...not...huh?" Kise mumbled, feeling disheartened and looking down. Kuroko gently ran a hand through Kise's hair, causing Kise to look up and into Kuroko's eyes. "If Kise-kun was also sick...I would feel very worried"

'Because two sick kids would be the worst' Kuroko sighed, but thought that wasn't necessary to say out loud, especially since Kise looked so happy.

"Then I promise to stay super healthy! I won't make you worry, Kurokochi!" Kise hugged Kuroko tightly. "Yes, yes, that's wonderful. Now, please let me go"

"NEVER!" Kise cheered happily.

"My, my, my...it seems you need more discipline, Ryouta" Kise and Kuroko looked to the doorway to find Akashi leaning against the frame. "I..I didn't mean anything, Akashichi!" Kise stuttered, backing slowly away from Kuroko. "Hm, yes well, I'm still tripling your workouts"

"But!..."

"Don't argue with me, Ryouta" Akashi smiled. Kise nodded, tears running down his cheeks. "How is Atsushi, Tetsuya?" Akashi asked, turning his attention to the housekeeper. "Better" Kuroko shrugged. "Excellent. I imagine you have been by his side this whole time?" Akashi asked, advancing towards Kuroko.

Kuroko nodded, "Yes, I have".

"You're a good person, Tetsuya" Akashi sighed standing directly in front of Kuroko. Akashi gently ran the back of his hands against Kuroko's cheek. "But staying by a sick person can also cause you to fall ill. That is not something I want to see. In fact, you're looking a littler under the weather, Tetsuya..."

Kise held back a scream when Akashi leaned down and gently pressed his forehead against Kuroko's. "Your temperature seems a bit high as well" Akashi smirked at Kise before taking a small step back. "Do I?" Kuroko asked, putting his palm on his forehead, "How strange...I feel fine...but you're right, Akashi-kun. I will be careful. Thank you for your concern" Kuroko smiled and Akashi smiled back.

"Ah, but where is Midorima-kun?" Kuroko asked after a while. "Shintaro? I think he went to reflect on himself" Akashi shrugged. "Un. He told me he threw something at you. He seemed pretty down about it, even if that stupid tsuntsun would never admit it" Kise added. "There's no need for him to feel bad" Kuroko sighed. "He could have hurt you" Akashi started, "And that minor possibility is enough for him to need to reflect"

Kuroko nodded, not fully understanding. Kuroko poured some of the soup into a bowl. "I'll go give this to Murasakibara-kun" Kuroko said, giving a slight nod to Kise and Akashi. "Un. Be careful. Don't go to fast and hurt yourself" Akashi smiled. Kuroko chuckled, "I am not a child, Akashi-kun. I will be fine"

When Kuroko was gone, Akashi and Kise stared at each other. "I hope you're not thinking about making a move on my Tetsuya" Akashi narrowed his eyes. "Kurokochi isn't your's. And you may be the boss of me on the court, but not here. I have every right to try and court him as much as you do. It's not like you're afraid of me, is it?" Kise smirked. "A minor threat like you isn't even on my radar" Akashi growled. "Yeah, we'll see how 'minor' I am. And you should know, I had to stop Aomine from confessing today. Shouldn't he be the one you need to torture?" Kise quickly walked out of the kitchen. Akashi froze, his brows knit. He swiftly pulled out his phone and sent a text to Aomine: Daiki, starting tomorrow, your training will be doubled. Akashi smirked when he heard Aomine groan and curse from upstairs.

After Kuroko had given Murasakibara the soup, he decided his work was done for the day and started to walk home. On his way, he saw Midorima in a nearby park walking in small circles. He had one hand on his chin, the other behind his back and he looked to be in deep thought. Kuroko walked up to him, purposely standing in his path and making Midorima run into him. "What the...what was...Kuroko!?" Midorima yelled, adjusting his glasses. Kuroko merely nodded, "It's late...and very cold out, Midorima-kun"

"I know that, stupid!"

"You should be at home"

"Well, I'm a little busy!"

"Yes, I see that. But you know using a shovel to dig a circle in the earth would be much more simple than walking in tiny circles for hours"

"I haven't been out here for hou-"

Kuroko pointed to the ground, and sure enough, the path of Midorima's pacing was clearly seen - as the green grass was crushed until the dirt was showing. Midorima blushed, "That doesn't mean anything!"

"You're right. I did hear that children were beginning to make these weird circles all over the place. A new game, perhaps"

"You're making fun of me!"

"No, if I was making fun of you I would have made a joke about you, your green hair, and crop circles"

"You're insufferable"

"You think so? What a shame. I happen to like Midorima quite a bit"

Midorima's blush deepened and he found himself at a total loss of words. Kuroko couldn't help but smile, "Care to tell me what you're doing?"

"Reflecting" Midorima mumbled curtly. "So I've heard. About what?"

"My behavior"

"And?"

"And what?"

"What have you and your pacing come up with?"

"I...need to apologize..." Midorima mumbled. "Are you apologizing now?" Kuroko asked. "Trying...to" Midorima sighed. "Then, I forgive you"

"I didn't even-"

"It's enough for me. I forgive you. Now, please go home. It's a school night"

Kuroko turned to walk home when he felt an arm wrap around his waist. "W-wait!" Midorima stopped Kuroko. Midorima took the husky keychain from his pocket and dangled it in front of Kuroko.

"Is this for me?" Kuroko asked, reaching up to take the key chain when he felt Midorima nod. "It's nothing special. Other people could get better gifts, I'm sure. If you don't like it you can throw it away..." Midorima began to babble, slowly becoming more and more aware that he was practically hugging Kuroko.

"I would never dream of it, Midorima-kun. This...this is a lovely gift. Thank you" Kuroko smiled, clutching the keychain to his chest. Kuroko wiggled out of Midorima's grip in favor of giving the tsundere a proper hug. Kuroko held in a chuckle when he felt how Midorima froze in his tracks, unable to move, when Kuroko wrapped his arms around Midorima's waist. After a moment, Kuroko gently pat Midorima on the back and let him go. "I will treasure this" Kuroko smiled and gave Midorima a small bow before heading home.

Midorima stood frozen where he stood. His mind racing and his heart pounding from the hug. It wasn't until a couple minutes after Kuroko was already out of sight that Midorima was able to move again. Midorima looked at his hands and smiled, remembering how Kuroko had taken the key chain. His smile widened as he pumped both fists in the air, silently cheering at his success. Midorima sighed contently before walking back home.

...that night, Kuroko and Nigou had a fun time scaring the crap out of Kagami with the key chain.

Ah, goodness...I fit all the GOM in there. WOOO

RIGHT ON

Thank you all SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much for all the reviews! It's absolutely amazing and I love each and every one of ya lovely readers!