Shelter [Kurotsuki]

Chapter 17

Kuroo and Tsukishima stand side by side at the edge of the lake looking out at Mount Fuji in the distance. It's a little chilly out, Tsukishima shifts a bit closer to Kuroo's side. He wants to hold the older man's hand. Kuroo glances at him out of the corner of his eye and grins then bumps his shoulder against the taller man's. "Come on Tsukki it's almost dinner time, let's get back to the Ryokan." There's a smile in his voice. Tsukishima nods and heads back down the road, tugging Kuroo's sleeve to get him to follow.

"How did you afford all this?" Tsukishima asks. The whole trip had been pretty perfect so far. Kuroo had rented a car to drive them to Hakone and booked them a room at a ryokan with private baths. He'd paid for everything along the way and refused to let Tsukishima even touch his wallet, not even for a drink from a gas station on the way.

"Don't worry about the money Tsukki," Kuroo's hand brushes against Tsukishima's as they walk. Tsukishima glances around them then links his pinky with Kuroo's, it should be okay here where no one will recognize them. He figures it's worth it when he sees Kuroo's smile.

"I always worry about money,"

"I'm noticing that. I still can't believe you lied about the scholarship," Kuroo sighs.

"I didn't lie. I just didn't tell you," He rolls his eyes but he does feel guilty. It's not like he'd enjoyed keeping this secret. Especially when he knew that Kuroo and Akaashi worried about all the hours he worked on top of his studies and volleyball.

"Yeah but... I thought, what I mean..." Kuroo scratches the back of his neck. "Look I'm gonna offer something and I don't want you to get offended or anything okay?"

"What?"

"Well... I mean you've been around my family a lot. My grandfather's company is doing really well... I mean I get a decent allowance from my mom and my grandparents cover my living expenses and my tuition..." Kuroo takes a deep breath. "My family likes you a lot, especially since you did so much for us when my father passed. They all think you're like the best thing since sliced bread. So... when I stopped by their house before I picked you up I might have mentioned that um... Well, I mentioned that you hadn't been by to see them because you were working to pay your tuition and my grandpa... heofferetopayyourtuition," Kuroo finishes the last part so quickly that Tsukishima almost can't understand it.

"What?" Tsukishima stops and holds onto Kuroo's hand, pulling him to a stop. "He offered what?"

"He offered to... pay your tuition," Kuroo focuses his gaze on their hands, he intertwines their fingers together, tugs Tsukishima a bit closer.

"He wants to... pay? But why?" Tsukishima furrows his brow. He doesn't understand why someone would want to pay his tuition when his own family doesn't care enough to.

"My grandpa is like the stupid kind of rich Tsukki... money means nothing to him and he really liked you. He thinks that education is like the most important thing in the world. So... consider it at least, please? I hate seeing you so stressed all the time. You're too skinny as it is."

"Kuroo I... They don't.... If they knew what I am..."

"You're the same as me Tsukki. They know about me... They were confused but they accepted it. They'll accept you too. They'll... accept us together," Kuroo brings Tsukishima's hand to his lips and presses a kiss to the back of it. For once Tsukishima isn't worried about who might be looking at them, all he can think about is how Kuroo's lips feel against his skin. He wants to know what they feel like against his own lips. Even though they've talked about it several times Kuroo still won't kiss him, he says he's waiting for the right moment. Tsukishima wants to kiss him right now.