Broken Wings - BokuAka

Chapter 9

- Akaashi

"Bokuto-san?" I asked incredulously. Bokuto was staring down at me with wide, disbelieving eyes, lips slightly parted in a cute manner. Strands of his black and white hair fell onto his forehead, and I had the urge to push them back up. A million emotions pooled into my chest, my throat beginning to close. I wanted to tell him right then and right there how much I had missed him and how much I loved him.

"Bokuto-san, please get off me," I said instead, and color rushed to Bokuto's face.

"Sorry!" he apologized hurriedly, rolling off me and sitting up beside me. "Are you okay?"

I also sat up, wincing a little as I rubbed the back of my head. "Yeah, I'm okay. Just, don't do that again, okay?" I suggested, and Bokuto looked at the ground in shame.

"I'm really sorry, Keiji," he said, and his tone was soft and genuine. His gray kimono was covered in dirt, and I knew mine was too. I laughed a bit.

"It's okay," I assured him, and Bokuto gave me a weird look.

"Why are you laughing?"

"Oh, nothing," I said sweetly, smiling at him. "I was just thinking that the first time we met, it was me that got all dirty, but the tables have turned, huh?"

"Yeah, I guess they have," Bokuto chuckled.

"Hey! Are you guys okay?!" came Kuroo's panicked voice, and he landed, folding in his wings as he ran towards us.

"We're fine, thanks," I said, and Kuroo stopped in front of his, hands on his knees as he tried to study his breathing.

"Bo, you can't just fly off like that, man!" Kuroo scolded, and Bokuto smiled sheepishly.

"Sorry, Kuroo," he apologized, and Kuroo crossed his arms.

"It's fine. Anyway, Keiji, you're really back!" Kuroo smiled at me, and I nodded. I had met Kuroo a few times before I left, and he seemed nice enough. He and Bokuto were extremely similar personality wise.

"Yes, but I don't know for how long," I admitted, and Bokuto frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"My grandparents just sent me here to see if I could find a place to live and a job since I'm almost nineteen," I said, and Kuroo and Bokuto both looked at me, confused.

"What?" they both said in unison. I sighed.

"Basically, I'm going to be kicked out of the house when I turn nineteen, so I need a place to stay and a job so I'm not homeless," I tried to explain.

"Ohhh," they both said in unison again. Bokuto looked at me, the same stupid grin that I had come to adore on his face.

"Well then, if you're looking for a place to stay, why don't you stay at my place?" Bokuto suggested, and I looked at him, surprised.

"Are you sure? I don't want to invade your home without asking," I said, but Bokuto shook his head.

"Trust me, my family will be overjoyed to see you again," he assured me, but I was still uncertain. Bokuto must have sensed this, because he laughed.

"Oh, stop worrying all the time, Keiji!" Bokuto said, grabbing my hand and pulling me to my feet. Oh, how nostalgic this felt. I had also forgotten all about Bokuto's habit of grabbing my hand when I was away.

"See you later, Kuroo!" Bokuto waved, dragging me behind him.

"See you guys later! And don't do anything stupid!" Kuroo called after us, but Bokuto ignored him.

We continued our walk back to Bokuto's new house, and I looked around me, memories long forgotten finally resurfacing. My first time meeting Bokuto. Going back to his house. His kindness that knew no bounds. Our countless races. Waiting lonely outside the school building for Bokuto as he finished class, since my family was too poor to send me. Bokuto teaching me how to read and write along with basic math in his free time. My birthday present. My parents and Bokuto's mother being murdered. I gulped. The kiss.

"Pretty nostalgic, isn't it?" Bokuto suddenly piped up, and I looked at him, startled. I hadn't expected him to read me so easily.

"Yeah. . ." I said, trailing off. "Oh, and Bokuto-san?"

"Hm?" he answered, and I bit my lip.

"Thank you, for everything," I told him, and he gave me a surprised look. I smiled at him.

"For what?" he asked, and I almost laughed. Bokuto honestly looked like he didn't know.

"If it wasn't for you, I would probably be dead. And if I had survived by some miracle, I wouldn't know how to read or write, I would have no friends, and so many other things," I said firmly. Bokuto suddenly stopped in his tracks, not turning around to face me.

"Bokuto-san?" I asked timidly, wondering if I had done something wrong.

"Keiji, you seriously don't realize it, do you?" Bokuto asked, and now it was my turn to be confused.

"What do you mean?"

"Keiji!" Bokuto exclaimed, finally whipped around to face me. I took a step back on accident, but mostly it was out of pure instinct.

"Did you think that all this time, it was only me helping you?" Bokuto questioned, and I nodded slowly, shame written all over my face.

"You're an idiot," Bokuto said, and before I knew what was happened, I was pulled into a warm embrace as strong arms wrapped around me. I flinched at the sudden contact, it wasn't often that someone hugged me.

"You've done so much, much more than you know," Bokuto promised me. "You gave me a reason to smile everyday, a reason to wake up feeling like I could conquer the world. After my mom was killed, I almost lost myself to anger, but you pulled me out of it. If anything, it should be me thanking you."

"W-what?" I stuttered. I couldn't believe this. Why was he thanking me?!

"So please, don't thank me. I would do anything in the world for you, Keiji," Bokuto said, confidence lacing his voice. Heat rose in my cheeks, and I was suddenly glad that Bokuto was taller than me.

"Stop it, you're embarrassing me!" I said, gently pushing Bokuto away.

"Sorry, Keiji. I know you don't like physical contact all that much," Bokuto apologized, rubbing an embarrassed hand behind his head. I stared at him incredulously.

"Did you really not hear a thing I just said?" I asked, and Bokuto laughed, taking my hand again.

"Come on, Keiji! My family is going to be really happy to see you again!" Bokuto said excitedly, and he continued to drag me behind him once again.