He loves England, Kuroko had decided despite the fact they've only been here for a day and hadn't done much. The weather isn't as cold as Japan's coldest weather and isn't as hot as Japan's hottest weather. It was perfect, in his opinion. Obviously, Aomine complained that England's summer wasn't warm enough and that holidays were meant to be nice and warm.

The school holidays were different here in England. The students here got less summer holiday time as they had more half terms while Kuroko and his friend are used to longer summer holidays and less half terms. English students wouldn't finish school until the end of July and so there, unfortunately, wouldn't be as much chance to mingle with English students as Kuroko had hoped.

Kuroko had hoped to improve his English with people his own age as he found it easier to talk to them. Even Aomine spoke better English than him and that was rather modifying considering that Aomine had a reputation as a... less than academic individual. He was grateful for Kagami and Akashi, who were both fluent in the language and happy to translate for him if he didn't understand anything (although, he understood most of the language pretty well – he just couldn't speak it).

Yesterday, after landing, they all went to Akashi's cousin's – a charming woman in her early twenties that had the same red hair and eyes as their friend – house which was large but they'd all expect nothing less of the Akashi family. There were enough rooms for them to have one each but Hyuuga and Kiyoshi chose to share. Kuroko admired the pair for being able to so happily announce their relationship. They'd eaten together and had a peaceful evening in before going to bed, only to be woken early the next morning by Akashi and his cousin who announced they'd be taking a trip into London.

Now, Kuroko walks between Kagami and Aomine, struggling to stay awake as they walk. They round a corner and Kuroko's eyes widen. In front of them, albeit slightly in the distance right now, is the iconic London Eye.

"Akashi-kun, are we going on there?" Kuroko questions, suddenly more awake.

Akashi looks back at the blue haired boy before looking to the London Eye and then back again. "Later, we can, yes. We have tickets booked for the London Dungeon." 

"The London Dungeon?"

"A famous tourist attraction." Akashi answers. "You'll see. Let's not give any spoilers."

Kuroko nods and looks up at the London Eye in awe as they get closer and closer to it, walking right beside it before heading down a street to the left to reach the London Dungeon. There's a very long queue for the London Eye and Kuroko sees a sign that says it's an hour wait. It sounds exhausting to wait that long but he suspects that it will be well worth it. After all, he may never visit England again.

It does take around ten minutes of walking down the crowded street to reach the London Dungeon.

A set of stairs lead up to the dungeon. Kuroko hadn't expected it to look this way – he'd been imagining an old, dull concrete room below the surface with an aging, grumpy man or woman telling them about the various people that had been locked down there in a monotone that would make Kuroko sleepy all over again.

Instead, men and women in full costumes from what Kuroko believes is the Tudor and Victorian era stood outside, greeting people and handing people that passed a flyer or two. Either side of the entrance stood two large statues of a hooded figure. The sign looks like blood has been used as paint to form the words 'The London Dungeon'. Above the entrance, below the sign, there's also what look like those large iron gates you see protecting a castle in films. The points at the end look like they'd hurt if that fell as you passed under. It's all very ominous.   

"Akashi-kun... Is this like a haunted house kind of experience?"

Akashi nods. "Yes, but better funded and educational in regards to the history of London."

"You sure Tetsu's English is good enough for him to understand it?" Aomine laughs.

Kuroko's expression remains neutral but he sharply elbows Aomine, in the perfect position to jab his ribs. The action practically winds the taller boy, making him gasp for air and cough in pain.

From Kuroko's other side, Kagami chuckles at Aomine in pain and needing to gulp down air.

Aomine glares once he's straightened and regain his composure – although he does use a hand to rub the spot where Kuroko viciously stabbed him with that bony elbow of his. He's not glaring at Kuroko, however, just glaring at Kagami. Aomine doesn't seem all that fussed about Kuroko hurting (and embarrassing) him.

Akashi looks back at them before he turns away, deciding that he wasn't interested in dealing with the children. After all, it is a holiday and they wouldn't be young forever. He'd allow them to relax and enjoy themselves as long as they didn't mess with any of the plans he'd made. Akashi would never admit to missing his friends and he would also never admit to being interested in the kind of friend's Kuroko has now. So, he'll just remain mysterious about this holiday and let them think he has some higher motive.

After Akashi's cousin presents the tickets for the Dungeon, they're directed towards a line. The light seems to dramatically drop once they're inside and Kagami automatically presses closer to Kuroko who automatically presses closer to Aomine.

Glancing at them from the corner of his eye, Aomine snorts. "Whimps."

"Shut up, Aomine-kun."

The line reminds Kuroko of the lines you have at theme parks. It twists inside and confuses you, appearing a lot shorter than it actually is. He lets out a sigh of relief when he realises that there is actually two lines and they are in the shorter of the two. The line that ran beside the one they stood in is a line for people who are waiting to buy tickets.

Kuroko mentally thanks Akashi for being so thoroughly prepared in every single thing he does.

They get in quickly and are told to wait by a set of door, allowing people time to go to the toilet if they were in need of doing so. Akashi, no surprise, had asked them all to use the bathroom before they left and they'd easily be able to go the next ninety minutes without using the toilet.

They're the first group of people by the door and they all peer in the glass cases that line some of the walls either side of them. There's also a stand with a 'cage' on top of it. Fake – but creepily realistic – mice and rats sit in the cases and the model cage.

Kuroko could already tell that he'd be blaming one or two screams on women... or Kagami (who had jumped when a worked walked behind him and yelled 'rarr!').

They're quickly lead in once their group gets to the number these tours/shows are designed for. A women is stood on the platform and she runs them through some rules, using Henry the eighth as her reasoning. He wasn't a fan of 'talky boxes' so they had to be switched off and they weren't to touch any of his servants or belongings. Kuroko was very proud of himself for understanding what she was telling them. She'd been afraid that with the historical context, it would make no sense to him but he understood and that just made him glow with pride.

Once the rules are read and everyone has been given time to switch off their phones, doors open and they're lead into a small room that means Kuroko ends up standing much closer to Aomine than he usually would.

It's a lift. But it's not a lift. Chains rattle either side, lights flash and the illusion of moving downwards is created effectively. At least, it certainly is for Kuroko.

His stomach gives an unpleasant lurch and he grips Aomine jacket sleeve in a desperate attempt to have something, anything, stable to hold on to. The taller boy raises an eyebrow at him and all Kuroko can do is continue to sway slightly and press the palm of his hand to his stomach to try and stop the butterflies swirling inside.

Aomine seems to understand and doesn't make a big deal of this out of character situation. Kuroko was normally level headed but maybe there was something about lifts Aomine didn't know. He's unsure if he's ever ridden in one with Kuroko. So, instead of making a big deal of it, he wraps a strong arm around Kuroko and pulls him closer.

Kuroko focuses on pushing his face into Aomine's chest as much as possible so he can just rid himself of this feeling that is, in reality, all physiological as they aren't in an actual lift. Still feels real, Kuroko thinks.

The hug, if it could be called that, doesn't feel odd or out of place to either of them. Back in Teiko, they'd often hug. Kuroko was quick to discover that Aomine was a person that shows affection through physical contact rather than sweet words.

Pressing himself to Aomine and being comforted by his ex-best friend was an indescribable feeling to Kuroko. He'd been dreaming of the day Aomine would once again show him this kind of affection. In fact, he clung desperately to the memories.

"Aomine-kun... Thank you." Kuroko whispers the words and he highly doubts that Aomine had heard but it doesn't really matter. He's sure that Aomine will know he's thankful.

The 'lift' ride comes to an end all too soon (in terms of their embrace) and he hadn't heard much of what the lady in costume had been telling them during the trip down. He feels bad for missing out but hugging Aomine was worth missing a bit of London history.

Aomine lets go of him as the group goes out of another door. They walk together, no longer touching but closer than before. Kuroko ignores any glances Kagami made their way.

Akashi, as ever, had been correct. The experience was certainly educational. It went through 1000s of years of history. They'd been informed about Guy Fawkes and his gun powder plot, the Great Plague and Sweeny Todd.

The actors were perfect, doing their job spectacularly. They were amusing, had wealth of personality and were, indeed, very creepy. The woman from Sweeny Todd's pie shop had a particularly chilling vibe about her. That was by far the scariest part of the tour so far – even Hyuuga had been caused to tremble in fear as the shop assistant of Sweeny Todd's barber shop admired his hair.

So far, the plague had been Kuroko's favourite. They'd been taken through the process of what the doctors would do when examining victims of the plague. It was awfully entertaining and gruesome. Although, the best part would definitely have to be when Akashi was chosen as a 'patient' for the quirky doctor. He'd been strapped into a chair and a curtain closed around the chair, the doctor disappearing inside. As the the doctor worked shadows appeared on the curtain so the audience could guess what was happening. The oddball of a doctor said many mad things while in there and Kuroko's all-time favourite must have been when he exclaimed "Akashi, don't touch me there!"

Now, they're being lead through 'streets' and Kuroko listens as they're told about Jack the Ripper, a deadly murder from 1888 who targeted prostitutes. Soon, they're in a bar and an actress, dressed as a bar maid, continues to tell the story. Outside, they'd been told of one murder and now they've jumped forward in time to another murder.

Kuroko is complete focused on the bar maid's words until the lights go out, submerging them in a toe-curling blackness. Without much, if any, thought, Kuroko grips Aomine's hand for dear life. Aomine hadn't left his side and he was thankful for it now more than ever.

The lights switch back on and the actress has moved to stand by one of the two tables in the room. Those first in had sat there. At the sudden presence, the woman sitting with her teenage son and daughter yelps in surprise.

It happens again. They are plummeted into darkness. Kuroko presses himself against Aomine and a strong arm wraps itself around his shoulder and his fingers are squeezed where their joined hands hang between them.

When the lights return, the bar maid is at another table but there is no screams or sign of panic from the people sitting there.

Pitch black, again. Except, this time. When the lights return, they flash and instead of the bar maid appearing at the tables, Jack the Ripper is there with a dark grin on his face, showing his knife to those sitting.

Kuroko's small cry of terror matches many that fill the room and his face is pressed against Aomine's soft cotton shirt once again.

It happens again. More screams fill the room.

Kuroko whimpers quietly and tries to press his face as far as possible into Aomine's chest but his chin is suddenly being lifted and tilted upwards. Blinking with wide, scared eyes, Kuroko frowns lightly at Aomine. He's aware that he's trembling and he's also aware he's being ridiculous because they are just actors but they really are just that good. They created the atmosphere perfect to scare the living hell out of him.

Aomine smiles that charming smile of his that Kuroko hasn't since in what feels like an eternity. Then he's leaning down – Kuroko only gets to see him briefly as the lights are flashing. The next indication of any kind he gets about how far forward (and down) Aomine is leaning that Kuroko gets is when a slightly chapped and deliciously warm pair of lips press themselves against his.

The shorter of the two can't help but gasp in surprise, pushing himself back to stare up at his friend. He'd never in a million years expect Aomine to kiss him - even if he had thought about Aomine kissing him... He'd never, ever expected it. Shock rocketed through Kuroko right down to his core as he stands there, mouth opening and closing like a fish as he searching for words.

"Aomine-kun..." He breathes in the end, not sure how else to express himself right now.

"Relax, Tetsu," Aomine laughs "You needed distracting so I distracted you." He looks up, seeing the group moving towards a set of doors. He tugs Kuroko along with him. "C'mon, let's catch up."