Seijuro-sama's mother had a beautiful smile. Kuroko Tetsuya, Seijuro-sama's ex-teammate, has a beautiful smile. Come to think of it… the both of them have the same smile… Could it possibly be 'him'?

Prologue: The Spark of Hope

Butler's POV

It all began that one cold evening in the Akashi manor, December 19 to be more specific. I was watching Seiichiro-sama talk to his wife. He looked at her with false admiration as she rubbed her swelling belly. Not that I could blame him, it was an arranged marriage after all.

I knew he was cheating, if you could call it that. That woman he always went out with has been his girlfriend since way back. I did see her quite a few of times, and if there was one word you could use to describe her, it was beautiful.

I meant that in both ways. She had long brunette locks of hair that looked a bit like dark chocolate under the sun. Her eyes were teal of color, and they showed faint expressions – though it seems as if Seiichiro-sama can understand her well.

She was very caring of my master as well. That was all it took for me to know that she was the one for him, if the sign on their foreheads that said 'in-love' was not enough.

If you were to ask me what I like about her best, it would be her smile. It was calm , true, and very rare.

I know Seiichiro-sama loves that smile too.

I frowned at that thought. It has been a while since I last saw her. Perhaps Seiichiro-sama does not want any suspicions from his scrutinizing father.

"Se-seiichi…ro…" Lady Yumeko stated, clutching his hand in attempt to pull him down.

"What is it dear?" Seiichiro-sama said, looking at her with worry. I immediately approached the both of them, knowing what could be happening.

"I think…I think I'm about to give birth to our child!" she finally said, grasping harder onto my master's arm.

My master's eyes widened as he looked at me. I bowed at him as I silently told him "I shall get the car ready immediately". I raised my head and jogged to the garage, giving orders to the maids as I go.

I drove them to the family's trusted hospital, the Midomori hospital.

It was a bit of a blur in my head, possibly because of the smell of hospitals ( I never did like the smell) but I do remember, the next day- early in the morning, Seiichiro-sama hugging a small bundle of joy with the same shade of red hair as his. He told me that Lady Yumeko died in C-section.

" If I may ask, Seiichiro-sama, what shall you name your child?" I asked him as he adjusted his arms to make both him and his child comfortable.

He looked at me thoughtfully, with a hint of sadness, then said "Seijuro…Akashi Seijuro will be his name."

I nodded, giving him an encouraging smile.

"Seijuro-sama it is then."

One week later, something even bigger took place.

I cradled the crying Seijuro-sama, who was startled by the shouting in the other room.

"FIND THAT WOMAN IMMEDIATELY!" thundered the tycoon that brought fame and fortune to the Akashi family. It was my master's father.

"Father! What are you planning to do with her?!" Seiichiro-sama screamed, most likely walking up to his father with heavy footsteps.

" Your wife found out about her, making her stressed, leaving her dead. You had one thing left to prove to me Seiichiro, but still you failed me! By cheating on your wife with a commoner! Due to that, I wish to give both you and that woman a punishment! You have brought shame to this family, Seiichiro! You have no right to go against me in this!" the aged man answered.

"P-please let me go." Said a soft and familiar voice from the hallway. It was Kuroko Terumi.

I heard the doors of the other room open.

"Hush. There there young master, it will be okay." I told Seijuro-sama, smiling at the fact that they kept their voices a bit lower.

"WHAT?!"

So much for keeping their voices down.

"He is my son! He is an Akashi! He has the right to live here!"

"Silence! This is your punishment! That child may be your son, but he is not an Akashi! I will not have an illegitimately born child within this manor!"

"But sir! Who shall take care of our child."

"YOUR child, Miss Kuroko. Leave him at the orphanage, or anywhere for all I care."

"Father! –"

"Stop, Seiichi-kun. When I give birth to my child, I shall leave him to my mother and brother, but I beg of you sir, at least allow me to meet my child once in a while."

There was a long, uncomfortable silence. I feared for the eldest Akashi's reply.

"Very well"

"Thank you, fath-"

"However! Seiichiro, over all, this is your fault. You shall be prohibited to meet her child."

It was a very long night.

"Just this once, let me see him." Seiichiro-sama begged his father.

"Alright then. I shall give you a while, but this shall be the last, so make it count." His father told him.

The elderly Akashi left the room we are in, leaving a sleeping Kuroko- now Akashi Terumi , Akashi Seiichiro-sama, Seijuro-sama, who is sleeping on the right side of Terumi-sama, and the new addition to the family- Akashi Tetsuya.

I tried hard to keep this image in my memory. I told myself that this may be the last time this family will ever be complete.

Seiichiro-sama picked Tetsuya-sama up, cradling him the same way he cradles Seijuro-sama.

I smiled sadly as a tear fell down from his eyes.

" I'm sorry Tetsuya. This is all my fault. Because of me, even your mother is neglected of seeing you as much as a mother should. You were supposed to grow up with your Sei-nii and Oka-san and me, Otou-san. You were supposed to have everything you want, to be spoiled by the family, experience everything a parent would want their child to experience, and be happy with your family."

"Because of a mistake of mine, not only you have to suffer, but your Oka-san too. I love your mother so much Tetsuya. Seeing her cry when my father said that she has limited time to meet you broke my heart. I felt so weak and defeated. I hate weakness. I hate defeat twice as much"

"I will find you someday Tetsuya, and when I do, I can finally have the family I have always wanted. The perfect family I want to give to you and your Sei-nii. Perfect."

I should have known Seiichiro-sama was near on breaking point.

He, after leaving Tetsuya with Terumi-sama's mother, began to change.

He became stricter, and much more serious. He began giving Seijuro-sama numerous lessons in numerous fields, all becoming far too advance for a child far too young.

'He has to be perfect. If Seijuro is perfect, then maybe father would finally allow Tetsuya within the manor. It would be my family's reward for having a perfect son.'

I couldn't help but believe that too at the time. It was only that spark of hope that was left kept the manor bright.

However…

Nearing the end of Seijuro-sama's fifth grade, all hell broke loose.

' Dead. She is dead. I can never have that perfect family ever.'

' Why did you have to die, Terumi. I lost Tetsuya, why did I have to lose too?'

' Everything should have been perfect.'

' This is all my fault.'

' I am too weak.'

' I am constantly defeated.'

'NEVER AGAIN. I SHALL NEVER FEEL LOSS AGAIN'

' Seijuro must be- no, will be perfect!'

' Father loves Seijuro!'

' Someday, he will finally tell me that Tetsuya can live with us!'

' but…'

' My family would never be perfect!'

I heard the rubber band snap that day.

He began giving harder lessons to Seijuro-sama, pushing young master past his limit.

It affected Seijuro-sama as well.

He too changed.

Much like his father…much like his grandfather.

It was scary.

It was sad.

It was depressing.

I thought to myself ' If ever I happen to see Tetsuya-sama, I shall immediately tell Seiichiro-sama. There may still be a chance to bring him back to his old self, and then bring Seijuro-sama back to his old self as well.'

And finally, on the finals match of the Winter Cup, I saw him.

A member of the opposing team that defeated Seijuro's.

A young man who brought the real Seijuro-sama back out.

The others must have thought I had my mouth agape because of the unexpected loss of Rakuzan. No, but admittedly, it was shocking.

It was the young boy's smile.

It looked so much like Terumi-sama's smile.

And those teal locks. Terumi said it reminded her of her late father's.

Those eyes, showing faint emotions.

Caring. He asked if Seijuro-sama is fine.

It's him.

Kuroko Tetsuya

.

.

.

.

.

No. Akashi Tetsuya- Second son of the Akashi group's head.

And at that moment, the spark of hope ignited once more.

HEY! PLEASE READ THIS AUTHOR'S NOTE. J

UST THIS ONCE! ONEGAI! SENPAI! YOU CAN PROBABLY IGNORE THE FUTURE AUTHOR'S NOTES, BUT NOT THIS ONE...COZ I TOLD YOU SO.

Hello! Not really my first fic, but I did delete the real first one… I think? Have I ever posted a story here? IDK anymore. Haha!

I just thought of this after reading chapter 266

Aka-chin's mother had a beautiful smile

But then I saw Kuroko's smile in that smile of hers

For those who still can't relate to it, watch/ re-watch opening 1 of season 2.

Yes. That zoom-in on Kuroko's face as he smiled at the GOM.

Haha.

Now then, I know there are plot holes (not to mention wrong grammar, but who cares nowadays!), but this is a multi-chapter fanfic, a.k.a. I can easily patch up those holes (actually, I already have…in mah brain! Yeah!)

Now for the name meanings

Seiichiro- "Sincere only child"
- For a sincere child, he sure talks a lot to himself :D Then again, I made him that way...

Yumeko- "Dream child" : indicating that she is 'perfect' in her parents eyes…in a nice way, not that crazy way Seiichiro does it. :P

Midomori- Haha! Yes, the Midorima family owns this hospital!

- it means "Green Forest" Mido= green mori= forest...so... Green Forest Hospital~!

Terumi- No, not named after the Mizukage in Naruto(I just like the meaning of the name in general)

-It means " Beautiful light". Quite Ironic if you ask me. Haha! (I just really wanted to do that)

- as a clarification, the word brunette can mean either brown or black...I meant black.

Because I like searching for names… you guys can ask me for the meaning of the names of ANY KnB character!

An example is the last name "Kuroko"

Kuro- black; Ko- child. Together, it means "black hearted child" or Dark child"

Ooooooh. Very evil

Another is Akashi!

Aka- red; Shi- die/ four. Together, it means "Red death" or if you really feel evil, " bloody death"

I don't know what's scarier.

BUT...only the first names. I just really know the meanings of the syllables for those two xD

p.s. Murasaki= purple bara= rose a.k.a. Purple Rose (haha, there you go! Another one!AAAANNNDDD... That is all I know...for now! BWAHAHAHAHA*coughcough*)

BTW, When I said "senpai", I remembered the conversation I had with my friend.

I was like "I can't wait to find someone I can say 'Notice me senpai!' to!"

Then she was like " I know right!"

But then I looked at my uniform...I am at my Senior year... I AM the senpai! *gasp*

It was very shocking... welp! That's all!

Please R&R if you have time!

Till I have a mood~! (haha…yeah...)