Hey guys! Wow - you guys, I really do love you all. So much. Thank you for all the reviews - I'm tempted to reply to them all right here, but I don't want to spam the Author's Note - but thank you! This chapter is short, but I wanted to give you all something, it's not edited, I'm sorry, but I hope you like it anyway. Please review and as always, thanks for reading!

Some people seem to like lyrics and some don't, so here is what I've got - www. you tube watch ? v= PzeBPLNyjM0 . Add 'com' and a / after youtube This is the link to the song that I imagine Akashi is playing. Just take out the spaces. The lyrics are very beautiful. Also, the english version of lyrics is not from me - search A Born Coward by Rachie on Youtube for those!

Kuroko folded clothes, his hands moving on their own over and over blandly. The soft fabric let him feel useful even as he sifted through all of the thoughts in his head. Even with his emotionless demeanor and strong will, a slow ache grew as he thought more and more about the memory from a day ago. There was no way around it.

He still remembered the meeting that Akashi and his father had gone through ugh when he had told him that he was moving away from Kyoto and going to go to high school with Seirin to be near the bluenette. The following conversation after had been devastating. His father went through all five stages of grief in a matter of minutes, with Kuroko listening in from a doorway away.

At the beginning though, his father hadn't been angry, but confused. For one, Akashi had never said anything about being gay, or near it. He had always been kind to girls and had done everything his family had ever expected, and did it exceptionally well. It wasn't a burden even – to a lesser person it would've been unbearable, but to Akashi it was just another challenge – the competitor being himself.

And then this – a 180, a declaration of love he's never expressed to even his mother, the statement of loving a male without even a single thought of explanation and then a rejection of things that would get in the way; it was enough to make anyone angry.

He put the shirt on the pile. He looked out his window at the view. It was a beautiful one, something that no one else in the entire block likely had. Kuroko's house was perched on the corner of the neighborhood, one side looking out over the hills towards the downtown area so he could see the skyline and lights at night. Right now, the sun was setting, throwing its blazes into the blue and melting them into the warm orange tones that ran the world like a halo. They reflected in those pale blue eyes before he turned back to his laundry.

That slow ache began once more and for a moment, Kuroko let himself feel that seed of self-pity.

The throws of rage had thrown the composed character into a swollen and angry beast. Haruhiko had hands that slammed the tables and waved in the air, unable to do anything he wanted, and always defenseless in the face of his son's cold stance. There was no mercy or repentance, nor even pity for what he was telling his father. It was then that Haruhiko began to say more, spit out more from his head, things that he said not even resonating as approved by his mind.

"He has no experience! No knowledge of your world! Do you think he'll be able to last in the future? He'll run when he understands the pressures – and he is in no way able to do that! Unless you want to leave the company for him?" Akashi's eerie reply would turn everyone's blood to ice.

He said nothing. The eyes said nothing as they stared into those muddled blood shot irises of his father. After too long, he finally said, "Father. I have no intention to leave the company and I will take care of it as I always have and more. This is simply a lifestyle change of my own. I love him. Please, accept us."

He wouldn't tell anyone – especially not Akashi. But one of the reasons why he decided on this singing job was to make up for the lack of experience that his father had talked about. If he could show in some way, he was successful and able to handle the crowds, the pressure, and the press – then maybe he could prove he would not be a shame to Akashi's name if the time ever came.

But instead, the singing group had been considered childish by his father. The pent up hopes that he had built for himself came crashing down, along with the pride he had built. It was now that he had to admit, he did it for himself. Not just to be accepted by Akashi's father but to be vindicated. That he was valuable enough that man would have to admit he was wrong. Kuroko was definitely in the wrong for thinking this way.

His nimble hands stopped suddenly as his ears caught something. The light trail of notes floated mutedly through the doorway. It was gentle and free. Opening the door, the boy followed the song, reaching the study room that had been converted to Kuroko's music studio. Sitting there was his partner, staring at the keys, the soft melody filling the space. The slanted rays shined brightly on the pianist and threw him in a glow.

Kuroko walked over to the bench and sat down quietly. "Hey," Akashi murmured, turning towards him. The boy shook his head. "Focus on the music." The red head nodded and continued to play. The papers shuffled and Kuroko began to sing softly.

His tongue felt thick and unused as he sang in English.

Even if you're nowhere to be found,

The words you said are always on my mind.

There's so much that I wish I could ask you,

But I know I'll never get to hear the truth.

All the thoughts that I keep running through my head,

Are they clean or tainted, I don't know anymore.

Kuroko's voice was clear and pure, rising like a phantom. It was rich that you felt if you reached out, you could touch it – but if you did, it would shred from perfection, tainted by those thoughts. The gentle lull of it made Akashi's fingers slide on the smooth keys. But he didn't stop.

Like a Merry-Go-Round we spin and spin and spin again.

From the palm of my hand,

Trickles out all your love

Is there a way for me to pack it up,

And throw it all away?

Through the lies and deceit

Can I find any truth at all?

Well. I don't really care.

Kuroko sang, the emotion building through his voice and the piano feeling it. The song ended strained and wild, Akashi finishing the ending notes, letting them fade. They rested in silence for a gentle moment.

Kuroko wrapped his arms around Akashi. Akashi was silent for a while. "I'm sorry for what happened."

He hugged the heir tighter. "We'll find a way for him to see it. Don't let yourself down."

"It shouldn't have happened."

The smaller boy continued to hold, his voice louder. "Akashi-kun. Do not worry about me. I am much stronger than that. He placed a hand on his cheek, turning heterochromatic eyes towards the wide blue. Those eyes suddenly wrinkled. Sadness reflected back at Kuroko, felt like he was shot, harder than any hit he taken when he was insulted.

"I wish he accepted you," he whispered. Kuroko replied, "I wish he accepted you."

Neither was sure how it happened, or when their lips clashed violently. The older's hand ran up the smaller boy's torso, furiously tangling one in the bluenette's hair, pulling him forward. The other slipped under the boy's shirt. Kuroko whimpered as the smooth hand ran up, heat flushing through his body in waves.

The two tongues entangled themselves, both just as desperate to get relief, taste the comfort of the other. The musky spice of the heir's mouth was intoxicating, addicting, and sinful. Kuroko pushed deeper inside his mate's cavern. He needed more, more of him, everywhere.

Akashi groaned. The weaker boy's efforts vanished as his tongue dominated, running the wet organ over the bluenette's rough surface. Shivers wracked through the boy's body, lights colliding in his vision.

One moment of weakness was enough. The world flipped as Kuroko was pushed to the ground.

"Mmph –!" Their groins rubbed against each other, and he cried out. Another flood of ecstasy flew through his body. Akashi stared down at him, eyes clouded and dark with lust. Kuroko's heart thumped with terrifying speed. Swollen lips dripped with saliva clashed together again. Weakly, Kuroko locked onto Akashi's neck.

The red head sat the bluenette upright, pushing the latter into his lap. Another whimper escaped the boy's lips as the singer ravaged his neck, tasting the sweet flavor that was his mate. Nothing. There was nothing that would stop him from loving this boy. This thing that was his, and his alone. His hands roamed up and down under the boy's shirt, twerking a nipple that would cause more delicious cries.

Once more, their lips locked in fury, tears collecting in Kuroko's eyes.

The passion subsided slowly. Minutes passed and the kisses grew sweeter, less urgent and much less violent. Kuroko's face was red, an uncharacteristically vulnerable. Akashi loved it, cherished that it was an expression made by him and for him alone. Gently, he kissed the boy's neck, leaving the trail up towards his mouth.

Languidly, they kissed, both unhurried in their care. "We'll need to clean up," Akashi murmured. Kuroko nodded. "You can go first."

Frantically, Kuroko held onto Akashi's neck as he was picked up, flying above the earth. "What - ?" he exclaimed. Akashi smirked. "You're too light. Are you really a boy?"

Kuroko pouted, irritated at his smugness. "I can walk by myself." His face flushed more with this sentence. Scoffing he continued to carry him to his room. "I am well aware." Kuroko didn't say anything else, simply holding tighter onto his partner's warm neck. He nuzzled, smelling that exotic and addicting scent that just rolled off his skin.

"You keep doing that and I won't be able to control myself." A mumbled sorry was all that Akashi got in reply. His smirk grew wider.

After they both had a cold shower – a very cold shower, and had changed clothes (Akashi has a drawer kept in Kuroko's room for sleepovers) they had dinner together. Kuroko's grandma brightened at this and suggested going out for sushi.

It was these moments that Kuroko loved more than anything else. Seeing Akashi smile, make his blunt comments, hold his hand under the table as they ate sashimi and Akashi force his grandmother to accept him paying for the meal. These moments were perfection to him, in everything. He hoped they would never end.

The last couple of days have been something terrible. I feel like a bunch of crap, but this made me feel slightly better. Review if you liked this!