Disclaimer: Kuroko no Basket is owned by Fujimaki Tadatoshi

Summary: Kuroko noticed that Akashi was acting weird and finds out that he's sick.

Setting: Second Year

Pairing: AkaKuro

A/N: Thanks to: asyadreamer09 and maybe143 for the reviews! Thanks to the favorite and follow alerts as well.

Day 9: Fever

Kuroko once again glanced at his red haired captain, silently observing him as he watched Akashi drank his bottle of water. His eyes slightly narrowed when he noticed how tired and exhausted Akashi looked, he even was panting so hard when they only just did their usual practice menu.

Kuroko had enough and walked towards the red head. "Akashi-kun," he greeted.

"What is it Kuroko?" Akashi asked and turned to the phantom player only to blink in surprise at Kuroko's action.

Kuroko gently cupped Akashi's face and lightly pressed their foreheads together.

Everyone from the first string basketball club members gawked at how close their captain and passing specialist are and even the regulars were shocked at the display. Kise choked on his drink and had Murasakibara absentmindedly patting his back while staring at Kuroko and Akashi. Momoi dropped the towels she was carrying and gaped wide eyed at her crush and captain. Aomine had his jaw dropped open and wondered when Kuroko became so bold.

Midorima, on the other hand, wasn't that surprise or shock as the others were since like Kuroko; he also noticed the unusual actions of his captain. And if he guessed correctly, Kuroko was checking if both of their suspicions are right.

"Hmm…Akashi-kun feels hot," Kuroko said and peered into Akashi's hazy red eyes. "Akashi-kun has a fever." He took a step back but was close enough in case Akashi needed help.

"Eh?" was everyone's reaction to what Kuroko had just said.

"Wait, Akashicchi you're sick," Kise said and ran towards the red haired captain.

Akashi glared at the blond. "I am not," he objected.

Kuroko sighed at the willfulness of Akashi. "I didn't know Akashi-kun can be stubborn as well."

Akashi turned to the phantom player coolly. "Kuroko, I am not sick. I don't have a fever."

"Are you sure Akashi-kun?" Momoi asked and finally noticed how worn out the red head looked. "We should go to the infirmary and check."

"I can carry you if you want Aka-chin," Murasakibara offered.

Akashi frigidly stared at the purple haired center. "There's no need for that Murasakibara. I'm fine so stop worrying."

Aomine laced his hands behind his head as he watched his captain and the rest of his teammates hover him. "Well, you sure don't look like you're fine Akashi. Just go to the infirmary."

Akashi glared at the blue head. "How many times do I have to say it, I'm fine."

"Akashi-kun," Kuroko interrupted. "If you really are feeling well as you said then it's fine if we go to the infirmary to check, right? It would give us a peace of mind if Akashi-kun turned out to be all right."

Midorima pushed his glasses up to the bridge of his nose. "Kuroko is right, Akashi. Everyone will worry about you and be distracted in their practice."

Akashi watched as his teammates regarded him worriedly and sighed, rubbing his head as felt another headache coming on. "Alright, I'll go to the infirmary," he acquiesced. "Midorima, I'm leaving you in charge."

"Of course," Midorima readily agreed.

"Akashi-kun, I'm going with you," Kuroko volunteered before the red head could leave.

Akashi looked at the phantom player. "You don't have to do that Kuroko. I can go to the infirmary by myself."

"I insist Akashi-kun."

Akashi gazed at the determined expression on the teal head's face that he always sees whenever Kuroko plays basketball. He knew that Kuroko wouldn't back down when he sets his mind onto something. "Stubborn as always, aren't you Kuroko?"

"Akashi-kun can be difficult at times, too," Kuroko quipped before taking the red head's right hand in his.

Akashi raised an eyebrow at Kuroko's action but didn't protest and just gripped the teal head's hand. "Let's go then."

Akashi turned to his teammates, who was staring hard at his and Kuroko's intertwined hands. He almost smirked at their surprise and jealous reactions. "I expect everyone to finish their training even if Coach and I aren't here. If I find out that anyone slack off, their training will be tripled," he threatened offhandedly.

With that settled, Akashi left the gym with the phantom player in tow.

xXx

Kuroko entrancingly watched his red haired captain sleeping with a peaceful look on his face. They were now at the infirmary alone as after giving medicine to Akashi—who seemed vexed that he really had a fever—the school nurse left to do some errand and just advised Akashi to rest for a while. Akashi was reluctant and wants to go back to practice but Kuroko persuaded him and said that he'll get worse if he insisted and told him to rest so he could go to practice tomorrow. He offered to stay with Akashi to which the red head grudgingly accepted.

Kuroko continued to watch Akashi. He never saw the red head this unguarded before and committed the scene to his memory. A cool breeze flown by from the opened window making Akashi's red tresses sway lightly.

Suddenly, Kuroko had an impulsive urge to touch Akashi's hair and ran his hand through it. He quickly shook the thought aside and wondered if he caught Akashi's fever since he's pondering up some things he normally didn't think of. He turned his sky blue eyes back to the sleeping red head.

Maybe he could do it for just a second. No one was there except from him, and Akashi was still sleeping so no one will know. He was just curious, that's all.

And before Kuroko knew it, he was touching those red locks that just like it looks felt so soft. It was only supposed to be for just a minute but he soon found himself tenderly running his hand through Akashi's hair. He was so engrossed in what he was doing that he didn't notice that Akashi was awake until he spoke.

"Kuroko?"

Kuroko's hand froze and he really wished that a comet would hit the school so he could escape this awkward situation. He cleared his throat and removed his hand from Akashi' hair. "Akashi-kun…I was just…" he trailed off when he couldn't come up with an excuse.

Kuroko frowned when he saw Akashi smiling in amusement at his embarrassment. He blinked when the red head took his left hand and gently caressed his knuckle with his thumb.

"I don't mind Kuroko," Akashi said, softly gazing at him. "It actually felt nice."

Kuroko was surprised. "I…if that is what Akashi-kun wants," he hesitantly said.

Seeing as his left hand was still in Akashi's grasp, Kuroko used his other hand to stroke the red head's soft hair. At first, it felt a little uncomfortable since Akashi was staring intently at him but he soon relaxed when Akashi sighed in contentment.

"I'm glad you're here Kuroko," Akashi said, smiling gently at the teal head.

Kuroko softly smiled back at Akashi. "I'm glad to be here Akashi-kun."

xXx

Murasakibara lazily glimpsed inside the infirmary with the open gap in the door. "Aka-chin's hair looked so soft. I want to touch it, too."

"Tetsu-kun! Tetsu-kun!" cried Momoi over and over again, crouching below the purple head.

"I'm so jealous! I want Kurokocchi to touch my hair like that, too!" Kise whisperingly wailed as he crouched down below the pink haired manager. "Ah, Kurokocchi!"

Aomine stared at them languidly while spinning a basketball with his finger as he leaned against the wall. "Didn't Tetsu ever do that to you?"

Both Kise and Momoi whirled at the blue head for that.

"Wait, you mean that Tetsu-kun did that to you, too!" Momoi exclaimed and fisted Aomine's shirt with her hands. "When!? How!?"

"Let me go Satsuki!" Aomine complained.

"Stop changing the subject and answer us!" Kise joined in and grabbed the blue head's arm so he couldn't escape.

"Jeez, okay! Just get away from me!" Aomine yelled and stepped back away from the two when he was released. "It happened at Tetsu's house. I had a headache and Tetsu let me sleep on his lap so he could give me a head massage. He ran his hand through my hair after I felt better."

Momoi glared at her childhood friend. "So not only you get Tetsu-kun to touch your hair like that…"

"…But you had Kurokocchi to give you a massage and slept on his lap?!" Kise continued and stared at Aomine with a serious expression, his amber glinting sharply.

"Lucky you, Mine-chin," Murasakibara added unhelpfully, now watching the rest of his teammates instead of Akashi and Kuroko while eating his Maiubo.

Aomine sweatdropped and raised his hands in a placating manner. "Woah! Aren't you guys overreacting?"

Aomine was saved from the angry retaliation of Momoi and Kise when Midorima arrived, glaring at all of them.

"I knew it. So this is where all of you were," Midorima said. "When I said it's time for a break, I didn't mean to go to the infirmary where Akashi and Kuroko are."

Murasakibara pouted. "But I was worried about Aka-chin."

Midorima coolly stared at the purple head and crossed his arms. "Really? It doesn't have to do anything with the imported chocolates that Akashi brought in his locker?"

"That, too," Murasakibara unabashedly admitted.

"Anyway," Momoi butted in, "we came here to check how Akashi-kun was doing."

Aomine snorted. "Or more like stalking Tetsu," he muttered under his breath.

"Shut up Ahoumine!"

Aomine's vein the head popped angrily. "Stop calling me that! And it was true!"

"Stop arguing and go back to practice!" Midorima snapped at all of them. His left eye twitched in annoyance when he was ignored. "Oi! Listen to me!"

Unbeknownst to the Generation of Miracles, their bickers and argues were being heard by their captain and phantom player inside the infirmary.

Akashi, with his eyes closed, whispered to Kuroko. "Kuroko, remind me to double everyone's training tomorrow."

"Yes, Akashi-kun," Kuroko obligingly said with an amused smile on his face.