In the middle of the night, Akashi stirred for a brief moment. There was a rustle from Kuroko's bed, and Kuroko, who was snoozing lightly in a chair by the bedside, immediately jolted awake.

"Seijuurou-kun?" Kuroko whispered, scooting closer to the bed. He hovered over Akashi. "Can you hear me?"

Akashi moaned quietly. "Tetsuya?"

"Shh, don't speak – you've lost a lot of blood," said Kuroko.

Akashi reached forward to stroke Kuroko's cheek. "Are you okay? You're not hurt, are you?"

Kuroko chuckled softly. "I'm alright. You should be more worried about yourself – I healed the stab wound but I cannot recover your blood loss," he told Akashi. "Wait here – I've made something for you to drink to replenish your blood."

Kuroko hastily left his room to make his way into the kitchen where he kept the flask with the herbal concoction. He poured some into a bowl and brought it back into his room.

Kuroko helped Akashi get into a sitting position. Then, he gave the bowl to Akashi. "Drink slowly," said Kuroko. "It's still rather hot."

Akashi thanked Kuroko and drank from the bowl. When he was done, Kuroko tucked him back into bed under the blankets. "You should go back to sleep. Your body needs it to generate more blood cells," Kuroko informed Akashi gently, kissing him on the forehead.

Akashi closed his eyes, and then he was out like a light.

Akashi spent most of the following day sleeping. When he woke up, it was to two pairs of curious feline eyes peering at him.

"Aomine, Kise…" Akashi murmured with a warm smile at the two cats. "You guys did good, leading me to Tetsuya." He reached forward to rub Aomine and Kise on their heads. "Thank you."

Aomine tapped Akashi's nose with his paw, as if to say, Don't mention it. Besides, we love him as well.

Kise licked Akashi's cheek affectionately, purring as he did so.

Akashi smiled. "I like that sound," he commented.

Kise stopped purring. He blinked in confusion.

"Your purring," said Akashi.

Kise broke into a grin and resumed licking Akashi's face but with more enthusiasm.

"Kise-kun, please don't suffocate my boyfriend," instructed Kuroko as he walked into his room, holding a towel. "I'd rather him be alive, you know."

Both Aomine and Kise's faces disappeared from Akashi's view. Out of the corner of his eye, Akashi could see them run towards Kuroko cheerfully to greet him. Kuroko responded to them with gentle pats to their heads. Then, Aomine and Kise headed out of Kuroko's room.

Kuroko shifted his attention to Akashi. He strode to the bed and placed his hand on top of Akashi's. "Seijuurou-kun, how are you feeling?"

"Much better," replied Akashi with a smile. "I don't feel so tired anymore."

Kuroko squeezed Akashi's hand. "That's good – it means that your body has managed to restore the blood you've lost," he spoke.

Akashi gazed at Kuroko lovingly. "Thank you, Tetsuya."

"Don't be silly," Kuroko scolded Akashi. "You don't have to thank me – I love you. Besides, I should be the one thanking you for saving me. I don't really know what happened, but I know that if you hadn't showed up, I'd probably be dead."

Akashi laughed at Kuroko. "I love you too, you know," he said. "I would have done anything for you, Tetsuya."

Kuroko knelt down and leaned over Akashi to kiss him on the mouth. There was a contented hum from Akashi, and he kissed back with enthusiasm.

When Akashi and Kuroko broke apart, Kuroko pressed the towel he was holding onto Akashi's hand. "Do you want to take a bath?"

Akashi heaved his body upwards with a loud groan. Then, he grinned cheekily at Kuroko. "Take it with me?"

Kuroko immediately flushed a bright red. "I… I don't know…" he stammered.

Akashi sighed, but he was looking at Kuroko with an amused smile. He thought that it was adorable how Kuroko could still be embarrassed about seeing his unclothed body. Akashi and Kuroko had seen each other naked many times, while taking baths and showers together, and sometimes while swimming in the river, but they hadn't had sex yet. "Tetsuya, what are you still so embarrassed about?" teased Akashi. "We've been naked together countless of times. Moreover, it's not like you have anything to be embarrassed about – you're gorgeous!"

"Seijuurou-kun!" Kuroko's face was beet red, and Akashi could just picture smoke coming out of his ears.

"Cute…" Akashi mumbled to himself, reaching out to run his finger down the side of Kuroko's face. "So?" This was directed at Kuroko.

"I… I'll take a bath with you!" yelled Kuroko with his eyes squeezed shut in flusterment. He was still blushing. "I'll draw the bath for us," Kuroko muttered, before practically fleeing into the bathroom.

Akashi beamed smugly at Kuroko's disappearing figure.

A short while later, Kuroko returned to Akashi's side. He tugged on Akashi's trousers. "Aren't you going to get undressed?"

Akashi winked at Kuroko. "How about you undress me?"

Kuroko sighed, but he was smiling at Akashi. "You're incorrigible."