In Shadows
Chapter Seventeen
Care for You

Gina grinned and ran up to the gym. She pulled her coat more tightly around her body and secured the scarf around her neck. It was cold, and her cheeks lightly tinted pink due to the cool temperature. She could hear the occasional bounce of the ball from inside the gym and the hum of voices. She couldn't wait to be among her friends again.

"Hi guys!" she yelled, jogging up.

"Hey, Gina!" Kiyoshi called, waving.

Gina grinned and ran up the steps, but her foot landed right on the edge. She felt her ankle give way beneath her and, before she knew it, she was falling to the ground.

A cry escaped her lips as she fell down. Her hands shot out instinctively, bracing her fall. She winced as skin was scraped from her palms, her small frame hitting the stairs hard.

"Gina!" The cry came from many voices as all activity within the gym ceased, everyone instead looking with concern to the girl just limit side.

"Shoot." Gina laughed shakily and began to stand up. "I'm okay, I'm -" A flare of pain shot up like wildlife up her leg. Gina's face scrunched up and she cried out. The pain was too much; she collapsed back to the floor again, the concrete hard and digging to her back. Her hands instinctively moved and clutched her ankle as she breathed in heavy, sharp breaths.

"Gina!"

Kuroko was the first one to reach her side, despite being the slowest on the team. She guessed that had something to do with the fact he had been closest to her. He reached out, gently placing his hand on her back as he assisted her into a sitting position. "Gina, are you okay?" he murmured, looking intently at her.

"I'm fine," she murmured, her voice a little shaky. "I think I did something to my ankle."

"Huh?" The others gathered around, but Gina's eyes stayed on Kuroko's.

"Remember what I was telling you?" she murmured. "I have weak ankles. I used to get injured a lot while playing netball - even when I did sprinting at the track team I had to keep my braces on. Ouch." She winced as she unintentionally moved her ankle, pain shooting up her leg once again.

A small yet warm hand was placed on her shoulder. "Don't worry. You'll be okay." Kuroko's eyes were so sincere. Gina couldn't help but relax with him near.

The blue-haired phantom looked around at the others. "Where's Coach?" Riko would know exactly how to treat her ankle.

"She's not here yet," Kogeani said. "She'll be here in a few minutes."

Kuroko turned back to her. "Can you stand?"

Gina shook her head. "Not very well."

Kiyoshi, the tallest one there, walked forward. "Kuroko, could you move aside?" he asked.

Kuroko hesitated, but moved aside and allowed Kiyoshi to walk forward. Kiyoshi bent down and helped Gina to her feet, picking her up. He lifted her up the concrete steps, and carried her deeper into the gym.

Gina's face was flushed deep red by the time he placed her back down on the gym floor, her back to one of the walls. "Thank you," she stammered.

"Izuki, can you find an ice pack?" Hyuga asked.

Seirin's point guard nodded. "On it!" He ran out.

"Is there any chance you could find a way to elevate my leg, to help stop the swelling?" Gina murmured. If there was one perk of often injuring her ankle, it was knowing exactly how to treat it.

Almost as soon as she spoke, Mitobe arrived with a chair that had been in the corner of the gym. Gina removed her shoe and sock, and rested her ankle on the chair, leaning against the wall. She closed her eyes and breathed out. She wasn't able to feel the pain so much anymore.

Izuki jogged back, an ice pack in his hand. He placed the ice pack on her ankle. Gina winced, seeing how it was already starting to swell. Damn my weak ankles!

Kuroko remained knelt beside her, one of his hands holding her own. He rubbed small circles across the back of her hand in comfort. Gina smiled softly. He didn't even need to speak to be able to reassure her.

A few minutes later Riko entered the gym. "Coach! We have an injury!" Hyuga called.

Riko's eyes widened. "Who is it?" she demanded, her voice rising in panic as she looked wildly around the gym. "Teppei? Has his knee -"

"Not him, or either one of us. It's Gina."

"Gina? What happened?" Riko looked over at where the girl was seated, an ice pack wrapped around her injured ankle.

Gina chuckled, ducking her face to hide her embarrassed flush. "I tripped on the stairs and rolled my ankle. My ankles are already weak, and that twist was too much for them to handle."

"Jeez." Riko sighed, but didn't appear to not be concerned. She turned to the boys. "Don't worry, I can handle this. You boys continue your training."

Kuroko looked back at her briefly. Gina smiled. "I'll be fine," she said. He nodded and jogged back to join his team as Riko's dad turned up to commence the training for the day.

Riko disappeared briefly, but returned with a first-aid kit in hand. The brunette knelt down by Gina's side and gently touched the younger girl's ankle. Gina winced at the applied pressure.

Riko frowned. "It's already swelling. The ice has reduced it a little, but it's still pretty tender." She released her hand. "You're probably not going to be able to put any large amount of strain on it for a while."

Gina rolled her eyes. "Sounds fun."

Rico chuckled softly and pulled the tape out from the first aid kit. "Okay, sit still."

As gently and carefully as she could, Riko wrapped the tape with expert skill and precision. Gina stiffened a few times, but Riko's hands were used to dealing with such injuries, and she didn't feel much pain.

"There," Riko said, as she finished wrapping the tape around Gina's ankle. "Just take it easy for the next few days though. No unnecessary strenuous activity, okay?"

Gina smiled gratefully. "Thanks."

"Just sit there for the rest of the session. Keep your ankle elevated and keep the ice on it." Riko glanced back at the others on the court. "Does anyone live near your home?"

The dark-haired girl nodded. "Kuroko does."

"I'll ask him to help you back home," Riko decided. "You may need someone to lean on if your ankles are that weak. They've accumulated a lot of damage over the past few years."

Gina chuckled wryly. "Don't I know it." She thought back to all the times she'd damaged her ankle while playing netball. Her ankles had been a running joke in the team; there didn't seem to be a year when she didn't manage to spectacularly fall and badly twist or sprain her ankle. Fortunately, she'd somehow managed to avoid broken bones.

For the rest of the team's training session, Gina remained seated, only able to watch them. She didn't particularly mind; it was interesting, watching as they all trained and worked on their new skills.

Kuroko sat next to her during their break, and they were soon joined by the others as they asked how she was. After reassuring everyone that yes, she was fine and no, they didn't need to worry about her, they returned to their training.

When the day's training finished and everyone changed out of their workout clothes, Kuroko was instantly by her side. He helped Gina to her feet once again and stuck close to her, ready to help if she needed it.

"You alright?" Kuroko asked as she hobbled along the lamp lit street.

Gina laughed. "I'm fine." She then chose that moment to place too much weight on her ankle; she yelped and stumbled. Kuroko caught her arm to stop her falling.

"Put your arm around my shoulder. Lean some of your weight on me."

"Okay..." Gina did as he said, finding it much easier to walk now she'd done so.

They walked toward the nearest bus stop and got on the bus. Gina was relieved to sit down and take the pressure off her ankle. She started a conversation with Kuroko about the books they'd lent each other, and they got so deep in conversation they almost missed their stop.

When it came time to walk back to her home, Gina placed her arm around Kuroko's again and leaned on him. She noticed just how close they were to each other and her cheeks heated up. She tried to avoid staring at him, but found that she couldn't keep her eyes off him for too long.

The walk to her house went by quicker than Gina expected. When they arrived at the door Kuroko looked like he wanted to leave, but Gina smiled at him "Oh, you can come in, you know. You're my friend; my parents will have no problem with it. Surely we know each other well enough."

Kuroko nodded and followed her inside.

"Gina!" Her mother rushed up to her as soon she opened the door. "Your friend Riko called a few minutes ago and told us about your ankles! What happened this time?"

"I tripped while running up a small flight of stairs," Gina laughed, closing the door behind her. Now the cold air was shut out, she felt how deliciously warm it was inside her house. "Kuroko helped me home."

Her mother looked across at Kuroko, her face breaking out into a soft smile. "Thank you, Kuroko-kun, for helping her home."

"It's isn't a problem," Kuroko said.

"You wouldn't mind if Kuroko stayed for a while, would you Mum?" Gina piped up.

Her mother smiled warmly. "Of course not. Make yourself at home, Kuroko-kun."  With that her mother retreated to the kitchen, no doubt to return to her usual late-night cup of tea.

Gina hovered nervously in corridor. Kuroko is here. I'm alone in the corridor of my house with Kuroko. I've never been to his house. He's never been to mine. I... I don't know what to do. She was suddenly very nervous.

"It's still not that late," she stammered, after checking the time. "D-Do you want to watch a movie, or something?"

Kuroko smiled. "I'd like to."

"Any preferences?"

"Your choice."

Gina bit her lip. My choice? She wondered what movies Kuroko enjoyed watching, and if there was any in particular he didn't like. Then again, they did share a similar interest in books... did that extend to movies as well?

In the end, Gina decided to go with her favourite movie; The Wind Rises. Kuroko assisted her to the lounge and, once she was seated on the couch, found the movie and put it on. He sat back down next to her as the movie began. Gina flushed, noticing the minimal distance between them.

As the movie went on, Gina relaxed and rested her head on Kuroko's shoulder. He placed a gentle arm around her waist. Gina smiled, and suddenly found that she couldn't focus so much on the movie anymore.

And she didn't really care. 

*          *          *

Gina hadn't wanted the movie to end. 

She wanted to stay here, her cheek pressed against Kuroko's shoulder, his arm around her, and she curled up into his warmth. She couldn't explain how she just felt so safe and at peace with him. She just wanted to stay there and not move - at least not at the moment the movie ended and Kuroko regretfully said he needed to make his way home if he was to wake up on time for school the next day.

Who cares about school? Gina had wanted to ask. But she respected Kuroko's wishes and had seen him off at the door.

She stayed up for another half hour, reading the book Kuroko had lent her to try and keep some of him nearby. When Gina settled down in bed, she heard her phone buzz. Sighing a little, she reached over and grabbed her phone, the notification still glaring on the screen. It was from Kuroko. She quickly opened the message.

How are you? Is your ankle okay?

Gina smiled and quickly typed back her answer. I managed to get into bed. Hopefully it'll be a bit better by morning. 

She'd barely put her phone down on the bedside table when it buzzed again.

I'm glad you're okay. 

Gina flushed. She was glad Kuroko wasn't there to see it.

Thanks, she typed back. Then, quickly: You enjoy the movie?

I did. It was very good.

Gina smiled. Kuroko liked my favourite movie. She couldn't explain why she felt so happy. The smile still on her face, she hastily typed away once again, eager to talk more about it.

She didn't know how it happened, but they ended up texting each other long into the night.

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this has been one of my favourite chapters to write so far :D please, let me know what you think!!