The Merman and the Prince

Chapter 13

Kuroko's Pov

I lay on the deck, linking my hands behind my head and watched the clouds. The Red Emperor soared through the waves, the wind pushing us to greater speeds. I thought back to the night at the tavern.

Akashi had kept an arm around me the entire night and I hadn't complained but he had also told to keep my face hidden. He wanted to gauge the atmosphere and see if word of a blue haired merman had gotten to the isles. When someone had called out a story about Teiko I had flinched but Akashi simply pressed down on my arm, willing me to sit still. Murasakibara who had sat on my other side 'dropped' his spoon and when he bent down to pick it up he whispered to me, behind my back so nobody could see.

"Somebody is testing us. They could suspect you or they could just be trying to suss out Akashi to see if the rumours are true of him coming from Teiko."

Akashi had pulled me close as I involuntary shivered as he kept a smile on his face but I could see his eyes scanning the back of the room. Afraid I would be recognised I kept my head bowed and listened to the song. After some time Akashi urged us to our feet and we filed out of the door.

"Are we going to the inn?"

They had walked slowly but Akashi's grip on my hand was tight and I could see they were all a little tense.

"No. if someone is poking their nose in our business then it's time to move on. We have resupplied so we leave at the next tide."

And so in the middle of the night we sailed away from the isles and whoever was chasing me.

"You'll get burned if you aren't careful."

Pulled out of my musings as a shadow fell over me I looked up to see Akashi leaning over me, a smile on his face.

"Come to my cabin, I have a surprise."

He held out a hand and helped me to my feet and still holding it led me inside. On the small table there I saw a bowl with some fruit and a kettle that had the most delicious smell coming from it.

"What is that?"

He sat me down on the chair and poured out a cup of steaming brown liquid and the sweet smell swelled around the room, my mouth watering.

"It's called vanilla bean. When you put it with coffee it makes a sweet drink and I thought of you."

Cradling the cup in my hands I took a sip and hummed with pleasure.

"It's delicious!"

Without warning Akashi bent down and kissed me. I was startled and he used that moment to plunge his tongue in my mouth, gripping the back of my head and deepening the kiss. When he pulled away he licked his lips, looking down at me, his eyes shining.

"Yes it is quite."

Blushing a deep shade of pink I took another sip of the vanilla coffee while Akashi sat down across from me and began to cut some of the fruit with his dagger. I glanced at him as he did, marvelling at his hands and my eyes roving to the V in his shirt that showed off his chest. He hadn't done up the ties today and it gave me a view of his toned and perfect chest.

"Like what you see Tetsuya?"

I blushed even redder as I realised he had seen me looking and took another sip. We hadn't moved further than kissing and the occasional touching in our relationship and I couldn't help but think it was time we did.

"Here."

He held out a slice of fruit and I leaned forward to eat it up, nipping his finger playfully as I did so. He inhaled as he watched me eat the juicy slice, licking my lips when I was done.