The Second Phantom

Daydreaming

The small glints of light that flooded into the room, my head was still throbbing. I could feel that my eyes were puffy from crying, my mind still clouded and memories fuzzy. Must be from the smack I got from Kise-Kun... Ugh I don't want it to be morning... I buried my face into what I was laying on. Or rather... Who I was laying on... Earning a groan and a hiss from him.

"Kuroko... bandage... pain..." He coughed.

My eyes shot open and I recoiled quickly, "H-Hideaki??!!"

His tired chuckle rang through my ears as he opened his eyes slightly, "Yeah?"

I ran a hand through my head, the events of last night flooding through my head, overwhelming me with a rush of feelings, "W-What...?"

Hideaki sat up quickly, his playful mannerisms falling away, "Hey, hey. Breathe, breathe. It's ok, just take a minute." His hand found my face, cupping it gently as he locked eyes with me.

Swallowing hard I took a deep breath and nodded, "I thought... all of it... was, was."

"Was a dream?" Hideaki smiled gently, "Go ahead and take a minute Koinu. I will go make some breakfast before school." Leaning over he kissed my head and got out of bed.

My shoulders fell as I ran my hand through my already messy hair. A smile tugged at my lips, I couldn't believe it. This, all of it was real, I wasn't just imagining things this time. Hideaki was here, actually here, alive and breathing and here.

Covered in bruises and scars and a couple of cuts, but here none-the-less. The argument at the court, and here at his house, the hugs and looks that we exchanged with each other, the jokes he made that pulled me out of rage and bitter sadness.

Every moment of it was real. I scoffed and it slowly transitioned into a soft laugh. Standing up, I shivered slightly as I left the warmth of the bed. I crossed my arms firmly across my chest trying to keep some of the warmth that I had left, yet to little avail as my feet made contact with the cold wooden floors, causing me to recoil back to the carpet.

"Kuroko!" Hideaki called out.

"Yeah?" I shivered.

I heard him laugh a bit, "I'll turn on the heater!"

"Shut up asshole!"

"Idiot!"

I smiled and shook my head, rubbing my eyes that were still burning slightly from the tears that had fallen just last night.

Hideaki came into my line of sight, "Silly boy, stop doing that..." He took my hands away from my eyes and sighed, "You made it worse..."

I blinked a little bit, my eyes dry and irritated.

"Close," He smiled.

"Why?"

"Trust me here, ok?" He chuckled.

I nodded and closed my eyes, I felt his hand go to the small of my back. I went stiff for a moment before allowing him to lead me, God knows where.

"Don't freak out Kuroko, it's just a cold cloth." Hideaki spoke.

Chills ran down my spine when the damp material touched my eyes, "What the hell?" I hissed and recoiled.

He laughed, "I told you not to do that."

I opened my eyes slightly, "What did you expect me to do?"

"As I said dummy, now close your eyes, this well help." He smiled.

Nodding, I obeyed and closed my eyes again. I felt one of his arms coil around my torso, bringing my back into his chest.

"Now you can't run." He chuckled.