Series Summary: There are multiple ways things could go regarding Kagome's personal life could go in Miracle Kagome. And various other things could have also been different in that universe. In fact, Yoruko has almost changed her mind about the pairings multiple times. This is a series of oneshots depicting a few of the ways things could be different.

Chapter Summary: Kagome and Kise have always been close. She fell for him long before she even met Inuyasha, Kouga, or even Hojo. However Kagome had given up on him long before she even left Teikou. How could any girl think she stood a chance with the guy she liked when she thought he seemed to be in love with his male best friend? After she left Teikou she expected to never see him again, and to try give up on him on the off chance that she did. But when she joins her high school's basketball team and the coach sets up a practice match with Kaijou High, a national level team, nothing goes the way she thought it would….

Pairing: Kagome Higurashi/Ryouta Kise, references to kikuro (aka Kise/Kuroko)

Notes: This is a MK-verse reality where Kuroko is a guy like in canon. This is pretty much a window into my interpretation of how my story would change if Kuroko stayed male. It's easy to see Kise as being gay or at least in love with Kuroko. (In fact question of whether Kuroko does or ever could feel the same aside it's my head-canon.) But at the same time I like the idea of Kagome paired with Kise partially because I thought that if she could get pass the issue of his fangirls they'd make a good match. Especially with my head-canon for pre-well Kagome. Naturally there would be a lot of drama or confusion. So here's a MK-verse world where Kuroko is a guy yet Kise really is straight like he claims to be. And if I haven't posted a chapter where Midorima makes an appearance yet in Miracle Kagome, he's Kagome's cousin and I'm interpreting him as a tsundere whom Teikou morphed into a kuudere with tsun-tsun tendencies. So he's pretty much been too busy either with school work and basketball or acting like he doesn't care to be a part of Kagome's life. Otherwise with how I imagine them to be like as cousins he'd know about her time traveling. And respond by trying to curse Inuyasha. And before you flame or annoy me about supposed plot holes over how she's in the boys' team, Prince of Tennis/Inuyasha x-overs and gender-bender fics of sports anime & manga have been doing the same with little to no explanation for years. Like all of those fics already do, assume that she's taking advantage of the lack of a rule actually stating girls can't play on a boys' team.

Disclaimer: If I owned Inuyasha Kagome would have ended up with someone else who wasn't Kouga or Hojo and Kuroko would be paired with a guy that isn't Aomine or Kagami. So since in the end Kagome married/basically married Inuyasha and Momoi's crush/former crush is supposed to mean/imply/be a sign that Kuroko is straight- and I don't like sports outside of anime- it's pretty obvious that I'm not Rumiko Takahashi or the mangaka for KnB.

Misunderstood Bromance

"-We'll be sure to put plenty of first years into play." Riko finished with a smile, a very contrary image to how the team she coached was taking her news.

Kagome frowned. 'So soon? And Kise of all people…'

Kagome couldn't dwell on it for long before Riko started practice. The black haired girl was thankful for the distraction. Before long, practice was interrupted by some sort of ruckus. The sound was all too familiar to Kagome. It was the trademark of fangirls that had caught the poor fool their attention was currently focused on. Everyone looked to the source to see an all to familiar- for Kagome and Kuroko, at least- blonde guy her age surrounded by what she wagered was nearly half of the girls in school… He apologized sheepishly and closed the door so they would have some semblance of peace while he sorted things out.

Fifteen minutes later he had finally gotten rid of the fangirls and re-entered the gym. Now that he was up close the sight of him for the first time in at least a year made Kagome's heart skip a beat. Only for her to frown sadly when he zeroed in on Kuroko yet completely failed to notice her standing next to him. Kuroko noticed her change in mood but only had time to glance at her before Kise and most of Seirin started up a conversation about who Ryouta Kise was and his status as a member of the Generation of Miracles.

"That didn't happen to me." Kuroko said finally, refuting Kise's statement about bullying.

"Eh? It was just me?!" Kise exclaimed incredulously.

"You're just as strong as the rest of them, just less experienced." Kagome cut in, "If anything they messed with you because you were the only happy go lucky one of the bunch. Whenever my cousin wasn't around I was the one people picked on since I was the only girl."

"Kagomecchi?" Kise's eyes widened before he grinned, "It's been so long, how have you been?"

Kagome smiled in spite of herself, "I've been all right. You seem to be doing as well as ever, the only difference is you look older and taller."

"I see you grew your hair out." Kise noted, "It looks cute."

Kagome blushed, touched and secretly pleased that he'd noticed so quickly. But the moment was ended by a basketball coming dangerously close to hitting Kuroko on the head. Only for said ball to be caught by the blonde, who was right in front of him. To no one's surprise, it turned out to be Kagami. The redhead, who was similar to Aomine in many of the wrong ways, managed to goad Kise into a one-on-one match which was one-sided and over very quickly.

"I can't keep quiet anymore." Kise said, and then he bowed suddenly, "Please hand over Kurokocchi!"

Kagome's heart sank and her eyes dimmed as she looked on. 'It's happening again. Why is it always like this? With Ryouta, Tetsuya-kun stands out and I'm the one who's practically invisible…'

###########

When Seirin arrived at Kaijou, it happened again. When Kise met them so that he could lead them to the gym the match would be held in, he only acknowledged Kagome long enough to greet her. Then they got to the gym, and the coach's condescending manner got on all of Seirin's nerves. Kagome glared at the fat man but kept silent, appeased by how he cowered after he glanced her way. And even though he had a point since unlike the other four he was still reaching his potential the line about having no right to talk about defeating the Generation of Miracles if they couldn't beat him was so arrogant and unlike Kise that it was like a jab in the chest. Then the game started. Kagami quickly made a dunk, but the hoop came down with him.

Kagome facepalmed when the redhead was surprised that he would probably have to pay. "Bakagami…"

Soon after the apologies the entire court was clear and they were ready to start again. This time with Kise on the court. When the fangirls arrived Kagome's only reaction beyond eye twitching in her annoyance was surprise that she was still so used to the pests in female form bugging the boy she once thought was he friend. She ignored Hyuuga questioning the oddity… Until she saw the captain of Kaijou aiming a foot at Kise out of the corner of her eye. She couldn't have that, and showed off her speed while in this time for the first time.

Before anyone could blink Kagome was between Kise and his captain holding the dark haired boy's ankle.

"Never use violence on a friend or teammate unless they do something despicable or they're being a jerk." She growled, "It may be stupid of Kise-kun to keep the female looking pests' hopes up but that won't stop me from making you regret that you've ever heard of basketball if I catch you trying to hit him again."

Kasamatsu was too shocked to properly respond or even put his foot down. "What the-"

Ignoring the dark haired boy Kagome turned to head back to her team. "Keep your guard up, Kise-kun. I've had to hurt fangirls for trying to bully me and Tekkun just for being close to their targets."

Kise suddenly remembered an incident from their days in Teikou back when Kagome still attended.

"Kagomecchi, your knee is bleeding!"

"Hm? Oh, this? I just tripped on a pest, that's all." if he noticed a hint of sadism in her smile at the time but ignored it, it was because he had figured it was because he had figured a jealous second string member of the club had tried something stupid with Kuroko again, "Tekkun's already off to find bandages before Shikkun freaks out. Would you keep me company in the meantime, Rikkun?"

He had grinned, fooled. "Of course, Kagomecchi."

Then, it hit Kise like a ton of bricks and he resembled a kicked puppy. "Kagomecchi…"

"Hm? Something wrong, Kise?" Kasamatsu asked.

"Kagome didn't call me by my name." Kise said quietly.

Kasamatsu blinked. "What are you talking about? She said your name."

"When we met me called each other by our last names for a week before we both insisted that the other use our given name. She hasn't called me Kise even once ever since, even when she was mad." the blonde explained, somewhere between whining and genuinely distressed.

Later, Kise accidentally elbowed Kuroko in the face. He immediately kneeled at the fallen boy's side. Kagome was the first from Seirin to reach them. She quickly helped Kuroko sit up.

When she turned to address Kise, the blonde finally realized what was wrong. "I can take it from here. It was nice seeing someone I don't really know worry about a friend, though. It makes me worry less about what will happen to Tekkun when I'm not around."

Kise stared at Kagome as she walked away with Kuroko, eyes wide with shock. 'Kagomecchi… treated me like a stranger. Why is she acting like she doesn't know me? Is it the same reason she left? What drove her to leave us behind?'

##########

The practice was over. Kise was kneeling on the ground, crying. Through his tears, Kise saw slender legs approach him. He looked up to see Kagome crouching down.

"Ne, why are you crying over losing one simple game? You didn't even try your best or seem to enjoy it." she said, "You need to straighten out your priorities. If you like basketball, learn how to play properly. If you don't like it, you should quit. The only people that belong on court are those who actually enjoy basketball."

"Kagomecchi, why-"

"Stop! I won't let anyone but Ryouta call me that." Kagome interrupted.

"What are you saying?" Kise asked.

"The Generation of Miracles I knew-the Ryouta I knew- would have never even when arrogant shown cruelty to someone who didn't deserve it. They played actual basketball, not some battle simulation where it's every man for himself." She said, "When I left Teikou behind Tekkun was the only one I had seen in a month. And even if you were Ryouta, seeing you would just be painful."

"Oi, Higurashi!" Hyuuga called, "We're getting ready to leave!"

"Coming!" she shouted, "I'll be going now."

When Kise was outside washing his face before he changed Midorima approached. At first, the conversation was mostly the greened haired boy complaining about the way Kise and Kagami handled basketball. Then they talked about Kuroko. He was incensed at the blue haired boy's choice of high school and clearly found Seirin weak, as he thought they stood no chance.

"Unfortunately, you'll have to give up on revenge." the luck obsessed boy stated.

"…" Kise looked at Midorima searchingly, less certain, "Did you at least talk to Kagomecchi?"

Midorima didn't seem to understand the change in topic. "Why do you ask?"

"Midorimacchi, are you saying Kagome's own cousin didn't recognize her?" Kise asked incredulously, "At this rate you'll be completely unprepared to play Seirin."

"She's been writing Kuroko? Or are you saying she attends Seirin?" Midorima tried to clarify.

"No, I'm saying she joined Seirin High's basketball club just like Kurokocchi." Kise said, not understanding how his former teammate could misunderstand something so obvious or fail to notice the black haired girl.

"I thought she quit basketball…" Midorima muttered.

"Ne, Midorimacchi. Do you know why she acted like there were two of me?" Kise asked, "She called me 'Kise-kun' and said 'Ryouta' as if it weren't my name."

"Keep me out of your lover's quarrel, nanodayo." he complained, "I won't help a guy who hasn't proved himself worthy of my cousin's affection. Talk to her yourself."

###########

Kagome and Kuroko were sneaking out from the team's celebratory dinner. They were only just out of the door when they were stopped in their tracks. Kise, who was presumably on his way home, was right there.

"…Kurokocchi, Kagomecchi. This is good timing." Kise said, "Could you two talk for a minute?"

In the end he asked why they left after telling them that he saw Midorima. Kagome flinched at the mention of the boy who was supposed to be her cousin. She was hurt that he hadn't contacted her even once since she left Teikou. Kise then wrote off his having invited Kuroko to join Kaijou as a joke. He finally moved onto his point after that. He finally moved on to his point, asking why they left the team. Kuroko admitted that Teikou almost made him hate basketball. But Kise didn't understand. Then he told Kuroko that if what he liked about Kagami, who was still coming into his potential, was his attitude towards basketball, then he would end up disappointed one day.

"… I must admit, Tekkun, if liking basketball was what you were looking for you could have done much better than a hothead that enjoys the adrenaline rush more than the game itself." Kagome admitted, "He's too much like his predecessor for comfort for me."

Just when Kise turned to look at Kagome and get her side of things Kagami interrupted. Then before the redhead had a chance to be stupid Kuroko noticed some bullies abusing basketball for their nefarious purposes. What ensued was a four-on-five game that the bullies lost horribly. When what was intended to be scolding descended to mostly one-sided bickering between the shadow-light pair Kise saw, Kagome could tell by his smile, how the budding friendship might be good for Kuroko. So he showed his acceptance and acknowledgement by calling Kagami 'Kagamicchi'. That was when the rest of Seirin showed up looking for the three MIA members.

"I should head off now." Kise said, "I'll walk you home, Kagomecchi. We didn't get a chance to talk anyway."

Kagome's heart skipped a beat, and she almost dared to hope. "…All right."

"Have you eaten? It's been too long since I've seen you." Kise said as they walked away, oblivious to the chaos Kuroko's answer to Riko's query about what was going on was causing.

Kagome and Kise only got a couple of blocks before the blonde pulled Kagome over to a ramen stand. It made Kagome smile when Kise started off by ordering her oden. She hadn't really expected him to remember her favorite food.

"You still haven't answered my question." Kise said, finally starting a conversation as he started to eat his beef flavored ramen.

"There's not much left to say. Kuroko said most of what I hadn't said at Kaijou." Kagome said, her expression sad, "Daiki's talent exploded, and shortly after you and the other three finally began coming into your full potential. Then Momoi started doubling as an information gatherer, and the games started to be too easy. Slowly five of the six best friends I'd ever had started to become strangers playing a game they didn't enjoy, headed on a path of self-destruction. Dragging my oblivious sixth best friend along for the ride. When White Day went by without any sign of anyone beside Tetsuya noticing I gave them chocolate, that it had been a month since I had a real conversation with any of you, that was the straw that broke the camel's back."

"Kagomecchi…" Kise's face was a picture of realization, shock, and guilt, "Even your cousin?"

"He hasn't been to the shrine since Souta's eighth birthday. That was the last time I saw Shintarou." she admitted sadly.

"… I think I finally know what wanting to punch someone feels like." Kise muttered, and then said, "Why did you say seeing me would be painful?"

"I should have known you never noticed." She sighed sadly, "Any girl would find being near the guy they like painful when it's clear he doesn't feel the same way. It's even worse when the person he likes is another guy."

"I still don't get it. It's almost like you said you have feelings for me, but I don't like guys." Kise said, blinking in confusion.

"Is being blunt the only way for you to understand?" Kagome asked bitterly, "I'm saying I've liked you since we were thirteen but you've been too busy trying to woo Tetsuya to notice, baka!"

"Kurokocchi's just a friend; it's not like a have a crush on him. I'm not even gay or bi!" Kise refuted, but it was too late.

"Don't give me that, it's obvious! You follow him around like a puppy and you try your best to spoil him or be allowed to touch him without being hit!" she said, nearly in tears, "No one goes as far for someone they don't like as you do for Tetsuya! It took you five minutes to notice I was even there when you came to Seirin. For crying out loud, you invited him to Kaijou with you, and you were so focused on the issue you didn't notice that I pretty much admitted that I love you!"

Kagome covered her mouth with a gasp, having never meant to confess. Kise's eyes were wide, her words putting what he'd valued most about their time together in Teikou in a new light. Then he realized Midorima and Akashi had known from the start. Maybe even before Kagome did. Kagome tried to get up to leave, but Kise grabbed her wrist.

"Kagome, wait!" he begged.

"Why? I already know you don't-" Kagome's words were stopped in their tracks when Kise tugged her wrist so she came towards him.

Then, Kise was kissing her. Kagome slowly gave in, entranced by the sensation. She never knew a chaste kiss could be so passionate. When he pulled away neon green eyes met gold, and she saw something even Kuroko never had. Instead of his usual grin or smirk, Ryouta Kise was smiling.

"Still think I like Kurokocchi?" he teased, "Of course I love you back, Kagomecchi. I was just slow realizing it."

"I don't know, Ryouta. I think I need more convincing." She teased back, grinning.

"I think I can handle that." he said, and then he thought of something, "Ne, if you thought I liked Kurokocchi what about him?"

"… As in, is Tekkun gay?" she confirmed, amused.

Kise nodded. "Yeah."

She chuckled. "I thought it was obvious in the way even Momoi-chan's blunt confession didn't get a single word or reaction yet Buchou's mother-henning elicited all of the reaction Momoi-chan whined that she wasn't getting."

Kise was dumbstruck.

"Eh?! Kurokocchi has a crush on Akashicchi?!" he exclaimed in shock.

"Had a crush." Kagome corrected, "I don't know what became of the guy that used to be Seicchou, but Tekkun got over him without even going through a heartbreak phase."

"He doesn't like Kagamicchi now, does he?" Kise asked, slightly green in the face.

"Adrenaline junkie Bakagami?" Kagome laughed, "He's too much like Daikkun was before Ahomine first appeared. No, he'll probably fall for a fellow basketball otaku."

"… You're right." Kise said, a sweat-drop forming on his forehead at the thought, "I bet he'll be weird, too."

In a hospital room not too far away, a brown haired guy whose height could nearly match Murasakibara sneezed.

Owari