It was almost the same things for the past few days, which turned into weeks. How long have they stayed there? Kuroko honestly wouldn't be surprised if it's been a month.

Akashi has had multiple troubles with his throat as he kept acting rude to Vlad, which got him harsh punishments. Sometimes his throat would even bleed if the electricity broke through the skin. Though even when they got it helped, they never removed the collar.

Kuroko could feel himself slipping everyday, just losing himself. Even if he slept with Akashi, soon enough his thief side still visited his dreams. Soon enough, he just couldn't fight anymore. He couldn't get much sleep or even eat anymore.

One night when he returned from stealing, and walked into the basement with Vlad, he wasn't even chained up. "You won't be trouble, will you? Just stay down here. You'll get a treat if you don't try to escape." Vlad had said, before leaving the room.

"Now's your chance." Akashi said hoarsely, a pained wince escaping at the simple action. "Tetsuya, find the keys."

Kuroko just glanced back at him, before looking back at the door. He made no movement to get up, just staring.

"Tetsuya...?" Akashi whispered with dawning horror. "Tetsuya please..."

"I'm tired." Kuroko said simply, before laying on his side. He didn't even look back again.

Akashi's eyes darkened, a spark, the only spark of him that had been in his eyes, disappeared. He stood up and walked as far away from Kuroko as he possibly could before he collapsed. He didn't even look at the mirror or door, he just blankly stared at the wall.

Kuroko slightly looked over and watched him, before facing the door again. He slightly sighed, closing his eyes and began resting his mind.

Over the next few days, Akashi didn't move, didn't speak and didn't eat. His body was getting weaker and weaker to the point he knew he wouldn't live for much longer. Then came the day that he was tired.

He didn't know if this would snap Kuroko out of it, or if this would kill him. He was beyond the point of caring. He knew that Vlad knew that he was no longer needed, Tetsuya didn't mind if he was there or not. Vlad had no reason to keep him alive.

So that night when Vlad came down, Akashi attacked him with both words and fists. As he thought, Vlad began to electrocute him and he was relentless. If it kept up, he would die and it was time to see if Kuroko would care or if he was truly gone.

In Vlad's eyes, Kuroko had been doing so well. He was stealing more and more each day, and had gained even more of his trust and appreciation. Though he never even thought about removing his collar.

When Akashi had attacked Vlad, Kuroko didn't know what to think of it. He started at Akashi as he was being shocked, before something told him to get Vlad to stop. It could kill Akashi. Though he felt like he couldn't move.

Lately he wasn't even in control if his own body, and he still wasn't now. It was just his dirty little thief side. So he began begging it, to save Akashi. At first it would ignore him, but it was starting to get annoyed.

'Kuroko' had walked up to Vlad, placing a hand on his arm. "Continue to hurt him and I won't steal anymore for you."

"You will keep stealing, even if I continue. And you will listen to me." Vlad said, but stopped the remote for a second. "What happened to being a good little thief?"

Akashi weakly coughed and blood dripped out, his eyes unfocused and glazed. He slowly moved and looked at Vlad.

"That's no longer Tetsuya, I am not longer needed. Kill me." Akashi croaked, even though it pained him to do so. He looked at the mockery of Kuroko and he gave a small sorrowful smile. "You don't care about me, all you care about is stealing. So, kill me."

Kuroko glanced over at Akashi, growling just slightly. "But he is getting annoying, he keeps screaming to save you." He then looked at Vlad, frowning angrily. "And I don't steal for anyone else, I only steal for myself. I won't steal for you any longer."

He slightly collapsed as he felt the pain in his neck, landing on one knee, coughing a bit. But he was stronger now, much stronger willed about his stealing then the other Kuroko was. So he slowly stood up, still growling, before swiping his arm, knocking the small remote out of Vlad's hand.

Akashi didn't say anything he collapsed from where he sat, his head cracking on the floor. Blood began too ooze out lazily as he fell unconscious, but even as he did so, all he felt was despair.

Something in Kuroko made him jolt when he saw Akashi fall unconscious. Kuroko suddenly hit Vlad as hard as he could, pushing him back against the wall. He then quickly moved down, locking Kuroko's chain onto Vlad's ankle. While he was stun, he reached into his pocket, taking out the chain key.

"Give that back!" Vlad said, reaching for him, but Kuroko quickly ran to the other side of the room. The chain was too short to reach across the room, so he began dragging Akashi that way.

Akashi felt himself being moved and he began to weakly open his eyes. He looked at Kuroko but his gaze was too unfocused to really get a good look at him. He coughed weakly, some more blood dripping out of his mouth.

"Dammit... Stop!" Kuroko said, but not to Akashi or to Vlad, but to himself. Kuroko just began to release Akashi of his chain, but also began to yell at himself, telling himself Akashi wasn't important.

Akashi jerked his ankle away from Kuroko before he could take it off. He sluggishly sat up, wavering and coughing some more. He gripped Kuroko's wrist as firmly as he could muster before he looked at Kuroko's face.

"Let me die. I won't go with you unless you're the Tetsuya I know." Akashi said as blood dripped down his face. "Tetsuya, unless you fight him, I will die."

Kuroko looked at him, before frowning angrily. "This is what I get for helping you and him. I was only out for a few days!" He said angrily, but he couldn't control his hands anymore. They gently held Akashi's hands, even as Kuroko growled.

Akashi began coughing, doubling over in pain. His body was beyond the limit from starvation, dehydration, and being continuously being electrocuted for disobedience.

"Love you Tetsuya.." Akashi murmured brokenly.

Kuroko stopped, staring for a moment. The growling died off, leaving a slightly tired Kuroko. Though he looked at Akashi. He still loved him? Even though he almost got him killed? He moved again, beginning to unlock the chain again quickly.

Akashi felt his ankle being freed and he tried to weakly jerk it away, not wanting anything to do with the thief part of Kuroko but he didn't have the strength. He just sighed a little tiredly and closed his eyes.

Kuroko held his ankle down gentle, and unlocked it. He picked Akashi up, using the last of his strength to carry him up the steps. He ignored Vlad's yelling, as he opened the door and carefully carried Akashi as far as he could take him. They needed to fix the sound.

"Are you with me Tetsuya?" Akashi asked, his eyes opening in slits.

Kuroko just hesitated, before nodding. He didn't trust himself to speak.

"Good. Stay that way." Akashi said before he forced Kuroko to let him go. He wobbled on his feet, having to lean on Kuroko then pointed to the phone. "Just call the police. Vlad is down there so we should be able to."

"I'll do that soon, you need to get fixed up. I'll take you there, then I'll go and call them while you're getting fixed." He said, beginning to take him to the room where he got his ankle fixed.

"No Tetsuya. Do it now." Akashi said stubbornly. "They'll send an ambulance to fix me but we can't afford to waste time."

Kuroko stopped, before sighing angrily. Though he went back to the phone, making sure Akashi still leaned on him as he began to call the police on the phone. When one of the guards passed by and questioned him, he said that Vlad told him to call an ambulance for Akashi. He told him that Vlad said he was now useless and to have the ambulance and police take care of him. The guard just studied them, before walking away.

Hearing Kuroko make the call and knowing the they would be fine, or at least Kuroko would, Akashi passed out. Blood still dripped from the shallow cut he had from cracking his head against the floor and his breathing was slow.

Kuroko had a bit trouble keeping a hold of Akashi, before getting him to lean on the wall. He then pressed up against Akashi gently, one of his hands holding the back of his hand to try to stop the bleeding. "We need the police... Now... There has been kidnap and practically slavery... and my friend, he's hurt badly, he doesn't have much time." He said seriously, and a bit quickly, just wanting to save Akashi.

It took nearly an hour for the police and ambulance to show up and it was complete and utter chaos. Vlad and the guards were arrested, Akashi and Kuroko were taken to the hospital. Akashi was going to be fine, the worst of it was malnutrition and his neck.

Kuroko was glad when they were taken to the hospital, and even more happy when he wasn't separated from Akashi, as he was told they would heal in the same room. It took the people a long while to get the collars off, since the collar was strong and had wires inside that would shock anyone that broke them and also the person wearing it.

Though they finally got both collars off, revealing missing skin, burnt edges, and dried blood on both of their necks.

There was a whirl of chaos as everyone began tending to the, helping their neck and such. Akashi stayed asleep for it, and the nurses made an estimate that he would remain asleep for a few days. Iv drips and such were hooked into him to give him the nutrients he was missing.

Kuroko had decided to stay awake, dealing with the slight pain that accompanied getting his neck helped and getting a few nutrients himself. Though he knew that it barley matched up to the pain that Akashi felt.

Days passed by and Akashi finally woke up, looking at the white walls and softly groaning. He coughed a little before he turned and flung the blanket over him, not wanting to deal with anything quite yet.

Kuroko slowly looked over, not being able to sleep much. He was mostly awake, only sleeping when the nurses forced him to. "Akashi-kun...?"

Akashi grunted, his eyes closing but he didn't fall back asleep. He took a moment to collect himself before he sat up and immediately looked at his ankle, smiling a little when he saw no chain around it. They were free.

Kuroko watched him, before suddenly shaking his head. "No, he's fine." He said to himself, before humming a bit. "Thank you for helping him." He added, though he wasn't talking to Akashi.

"Which one are you?" Akashi asked sharply, looking at Kuroko with flat eyes, still not trusting him. It was impossible to tell if he would ever truly trust him again.

Kuroko then looked at Akashi, frowning slightly. "It's me, Akashi-kun. It was me ever since you told me you... loved me. Oh, I never got to say I loved you back."

"Good." Akashi said shortly before he turned his attention to the nurses who were bustling about. He answered the questions they asked him and took the shots and such. He was just glad to be free.

Kuroko looked at him, continuing to frown. He then turned over, letting the nurses tend to Akashi. "He's mad at me. He doesn't trust me does he?" He asked himself quietly, before sighing.

Finally they were left alone and Akashi looked at Kuroko before looking away. He shook his head and laid down, curling up a little.

Kuroko then turned back once the nurses were gone, and looked at Akashi. "I love you too, Akashi-kun."

"Love you..." Akashi said quietly, not looking at Kuroko. He meant his words but he still remembered the days where Kuroko wasn't Kuroko.

Kuroko hesitated, before slowly getting up. He slowly walked over to Akashi's bed, sitting down. "Akashi-kun... Please forgive him.. Forgive me. Please.."

"I don't know what to do. Even with our lives at stake it wasn't you." Akashi said as he looked at Kuroko but he couldn't for very long, still afraid that if he did, he would see an impostor.

Kuroko felt a bit hurt inside, but he knew he deserved it. He lied to Akashi. He said he wouldn't give in, but he couldn't.

"Akashi-kun... It's me... He won't be coming out anymore, he promised."

Akashi didn't know if he could believe Kuroko, after all, it was things he had heard before. He had stopped being able to trust his words but as always, he was willing to give him a chance. So he just nodded, giving Kuroko a small tight smile.

Kuroko still wasn't convinced. Akashi couldn't forgive him so easily... He leaned down, softly kissing his cheek. "I promise. It's no more stealing. He promised he won't steal anymore. He saw the actions of his stealing, he promised... I promised."

"You'll need to forgive me if I can't believe you right away." Akashi said bluntly. "I can't. I will eventually but just give me time."

He sighed though and he wrapped an arm around Kuroko, bringing him closer. Even now he still loved him, even after everything.

Kuroko stared at him, before closing his eyes and nodding. He gently held onto Akashi, staying close. He would protect Akashi from now on.

Days inched by as they healed. Akashi's parents came by although they didn't look worried, they still looked down at him in disappointment, as if he had meant to be kidnapped. Still, with their visit came release forms.

They were able to be freed and as soon as they left the hospital, Akashi stood still and just stared up at the sky.

Kuroko was a bit glad that Akashi's parents finally came to pick them up, to take them home. When they were outside, he looked at Akashi, before gently taking his hand. "We can go home..."

"Yeah." Akashi said, still looking out at the sky, actually seeing it and not seeing it through glass. His parents allowed him 5 minutes exactly to enjoy it before he was forced to get into the car so they could drive home.

Kuroko also got into the car, sitting beside Akashi. He doubted anything changed at home, but he wondered what it would feel like to be back.

As soon as they got home Akashi went to his room, wanting to surround himself with familiarity. It was now nostalgic, standing in his room but he was glad. He smiled to himself as he collapsed on his bed, happy to be home.

Kuroko looked around as they entered the house, getting used to everything. He then followed Akashi, looking around at his room. He then walked over to the bed, slowly sitting down.

"It's good to be back." Akashi said to Kuroko, his eyes on the ceiling.

Kuroko slowly moved over, moving next to Akashi. "It is... Even he's happy to be back."

"He?" Akashi asked with a frown, slowly sitting up and looking at Kuroko with trepidation.

Kuroko looked up at him, before smiling slightly. "Thief. The other side of me."

"So he's still there." Akashi said flatly, his eyes going just a little cold.

Kuroko slowly sat up, gently hugging Akashi. "He won't steal or come out anymore, he promised. And if he tries, I'm stronger now, I'll stop him..."

"I see." Akashi said flatly, not hugging back nor believing Kuroko's words.

Kuroko pulled away, but still held onto Akashi slightly. "...Akashi-kun... It'll be okay... I don't think he can leave anyway."

"Alright Tetsuya. One last chance, I can't...I can't keep doing this. So one last chance." Akashi said softly.

"I know. I'm sorry. It's done, it's done now. He won't do it again, I promise.." He said quietly, looking at Akashi hopefully.

"Alright." Akashi said as he pressed a little kiss on Kuroko's forehead. "I'll believe you then."

Kuroko wasn't sure if Akashi believed him, since he said it would take a while just to forgive him, but he took it. "You won't regret it this time..."

"Alright." Akashi repeated, curling an arm around Kuroko and pulling him close. He could give Kuroko one last chance.

Kuroko still held onto him, one of his hands trailing up to lightly touch Akashi's healing neck. "... We'll be better soon, and our lives will finally be normal, won't they?"

"Yeah, don't worry, everything will be fine." Akashi said with a small smile. It was true, they were free now.

Kuroko nodded, before gently placing a soft kiss on his lips. They were finally free. They weren't captive anymore. He pulled away, looking at Akashi. "How... How long have we.." He was wondering how long they have been held captive.

"Three months almost exactly." Akashi replied with a small tired sigh as he rubbed his eyes.

Three months of stealing? No wonder why Thief, he now calls him that since he didn't know what to call him, had escaped. "...We are safe now, though."

"Yeah we are." Akashi said with a small nod.

Kuroko didn't reply again, just moving closer. They were safe, and he won't steal again. "I love you, Akashi-kun.."

"I love you too Tetsuya." Akashi said with a soft smile.

Kuroko returned the smile, before resting his head against Akashi's chest. He was honestly a bit happy. They were home, safe, healing, and he wouldn't steal again. He would finally live a normal life with Akashi.