Chapter 1

-x-

Edited:

26.07.14

-x-

"What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from." – T.S. Eliot

-x-

Three more minutes from now, he would be dead. He would be lying in a puddle of his own blood, surrounded by a sea of strangers who would be speaking in hush whispers, attempting to stifle their torrent of overwhelming emotions in respect to the dead: Him. But he couldn't possibly have known that this would be coming now, could he?

Flomp!

"And if this was a formal match, that would be a buzzer beater, couldn't it?"

Tilting his head triumphantly, a gentle smile gradually found its way to the lips of the teen. Raven locks caressed his cheeks as he went forward to collect the ball, poking his three little adorable opponents in the forehead in an almost playful manner.

"You're still a hundred years too young to face me." He teased.

The gaping children shut their jaws with a snap, looking away with identical pouts.

"Tch! You won again!" The first stomped his feet childishly, clenching his fists.

"We'll definitely beat you the next time!" The second harrumphed, throwing his head up in a pompous manner. "We'll find a way to counter those new moves you have, and we'll defeat you!"

"Ara…" The teen chuckled, patting the child's head fondly. "Ja…I'll just have to make up more moves before our next match, ne?"

The kid only sulked more, drawing a soft laugh from him.

The teen blinked when the last child tugged at his shirt.

"We lost…" The kid looked up with teary eyes. "So that means…no juice?"

'As usual, such the glutton you are, Kiyoshi-kun,' the teen thought fondly. Out of the three, the one who has been visiting this court the longest, just so he could play with him, was the little brunette with those accursed puppy eyes that never failed to melt his heart. His name was Kiyoshi Teppei, one of the children around this area who was most skilled and passionate about basketball, almost like the Kiyoshi from one of the anime, 'Kuroko no Basket'. It was one of the things that drew the teen to the child, even though he had never said it outright.

He smiled as he rested the ball on the brunette's head.

"Mah…Seeing how you've all worked hard today, consider it my treat this time." The three children perked up immediately, eyes twinkling as they chorused a phrase of thanks. He laughed softly as he ruffled their hair. "You're welcome."

That would be his last laugh in this world before his face is squashed mercilessly into the ground. And had he known that offering that juice would lead to the following sequence of events, he would not have done it even if the child had fallen to his knees begging for it, making his heart swell with unbearable guilt.

Another two minutes.

Amber eyes looked blankly ahead at the vending machine. He frowned as he hummed contemplatively, fingering his chin. Would the children like Fanta, or simply Green Tea?

…Fanta, it is.

Meanwhile, over at the court, the three children had challenged each other to a round of shooting to see who could get the most goals.

"I'll definitely win!" Little Kiyoshi announced as he leapt, throwing the ball forward.

Clank! The ball made a rough noise when it hit the backboard, bouncing off to the side of the road.

"Ah…My bad, I'll go get it!" The child smiled cheerfully, chasing after the ball.

"Wait! Kiyoshi-kun!" Another one of the children cried, but he was gone by then.

The brunette tried to regain his breath as he reached the edge of the road, hunching over as he laughed quietly to himself. Even though he was certainly skilled for someone of his age, playing his sensei had still taken a lot out of him, even after three years under his tutelage. As proof, he was tired after just a little jog. But it was fun nonetheless, despite the loss.

The child was about to lean forward, bending down to pick up the ball when a sudden gust of strong wind sent the orange object bounding onto the road.

"Ah! Mate! (Wait!)" Little Kiyoshi rushed after it without a second thought.

The street lights turned green.

BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!

"KIYOSHI-KUN!"

The cans slid right out of the teen's palms the moment he heard his student's name mentioned. Amber eyes widened as he dashed across the street, opposite to the court where he had left his three little students, only to catch the brunette's soft whimpers as he stayed, helplessly rooted to the spot.

"So…Somebody…Help…" Kiyoshi quaked. "Help me…"

Brown eyes were watery and wide and the rumbles of one incoming truck were still continuing despite the screams of the passer-bys for the vehicles to stop. Most of them had stopped at the traffic light, leaving that one sole truck that was making its way to the kid, honking noisily on the way.

And from the opened windows of that truck, one scream of terror found its way to the rest.

"IT WON'T STOP!"

In that moment, it was almost as if he could see it all: The unnaturally wide and blood-shot eyes of the driver as he realized that the brake was jammed, the muted yells from the clamorous crowd, the quivering small child quaking like a leaf on a stormy day. He could see it all in his mindscape.

The teen did not even hesitate to dash towards Kiyoshi.

"What are you doing?! LOOK OUT!"

BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!

The deafening honk that followed the horrified yell sent tremors throughout his body, but he ignored it all and rushed forward.

Even without eyes, he could see poor Kiyoshi.

Kiyoshi – so small and vulnerable – was trembling with fear, his pale lips parting to allow a soundless sob to tear from his throat. Large globs of tears fell from milky brown eyes, travelling down the span of his cheek to land on the rough leather surface of the ball, passing through the bumps before falling to the ground. Lacking the strength to hold it, the ball, too, fell from Kiyoshi's trembling fingers with a dull thud.

The sound was like a punch in the gut.

Even if he wants to save Kiyoshi, he himself knows best how much his limits could extend to. There was no way that he would reach Kiyoshi in time and get the both of them out of such a situation. In fact, with his current speed, the truck would definitely end up colliding with them just as he reaches the child.

Then again, there was the option of leaving Kiyoshi, but…There was not a single chance in hell that he would abandon the child to death's clutches!

He gritted his teeth as he forced his legs to go faster, even faster than before. 'Wait for me…Kiyoshi-kun!'

With a weak exhale, the child was enveloped safely in his arms, an astonished gasp expelled from his chest. There were soft whimpers as the trembling brunette clung on helplessly to his only source of comfort, finally giving voice to his sobs. The teen only smiled at his student sympathetically. The knowledge that he was going to die, that they were going to die seems to have sunk in.

'But sorry to disappoint you, fate,' Blank amber eyes sharpened into a calculative glare. 'I won't be letting you harm anyone today.'

Briskly, he folded Kiyoshi into a small ball, ignoring the wondering brown eyes that were blinking up at him. When he was done, he smiled comfortingly to the boy as he gave him a final pat on the head, a soft whisper settling on his lips.

"Live, Kiyoshi-kun."

"What are you-?"

Before the astounded brunette got a chance to speak another word, he found himself lifted high into the sky, dangling barely from the teen's slender arms. His breath choked in his throat. Kiyoshi parted his lips opened, and –

"A…Ah…AaaaaaAAAAH!"

…Screamed as he was tossed perfectly through the air.

The child flailed wildly until he saw his friends extending their arms towards him in an attempt to catch him and reassured, quickly swivelled around just in time to catch the small wave that their sensei sent them.

'-yonara.' The word was barely finished before the truck collided, splattering blood over the entire area.

Time froze.

Time went torturously slow as the teen fell limply to the ground, tossed aside roughly like a rag doll abandoned by a child. He fell, bounced once, and hit the side of the road before he became motionless with a blossoming pool of red under his frame. Unseeing amber eyes, the only constant that remained, were staring straight at them.

Milky brown eyes widened.

Kiyoshi barely registered the impact as he was caught numbly by his friends, his eyes lingering on the bloody body of his friend, rival and sensei. His small hand felt around for his friend's shirt and desperately, he tugged at it.

"This…this is a lie, right?" His quivering lips shaped the foreign words, tears leaping to his eyes.

The numbness was spreading. Even though the crowd has started screaming, everything seems incredibly muted. He could barely hear his friends' muffled sobs.

But somehow, in the midst of the hazy layer of tears that covered his eyes and solemn silence that stuck itself between him and the world, his mind registered one orange ball rolling its way to the teen, stopped only by the dirtied fingers that were twisted in an angle not quite right.

The tears ran freely.

"This…Everything is just another prank of yours, right, Kazune-sensei?" He wailed.

No answer came, but it was clear enough for him.

Shiori Kazune had died.

-x-

Year 2

Pain. Overwhelming pain – that was what he had been expecting to feel.

Afterall, what was death without any pain? The sudden explosion of pain when the truck collided with his body, crushing his entire body; the dull throb of loss and realization that enters his heart when the shattering realization that he had died hits him; He had been expecting either one of these two to happen anytime now, yet surprisingly…there was no pain.

Instead, there was an astonishing miracle that had him choking on his saliva, his eyes wide with disbelief as he looked around, and for once in three blind years, seeing the things around him.

What happened?

He warily thought back to his last moments, just before the truck hits.

He had waved to the three children, his three adorable musketeers, as he liked to call them, and murmured his last goodbyes just before impact had collided, knocking the breath out of him. Up until then, everything was as per normal – his eyes were still blind, and everything was still their pitch black darkness, then…

He blinked when he remembered.

Light.

A sudden beam of light had engulfed him from all directions, though he was fairly certain that it only happened behind his blinded eyes, and the next thing he knew...He was here, with a set of perfectly and wonderfully unblemished, working eyes.

What happened?

The thought repeated itself in his mind as he stared blankly at his own reflection, his brain shutting down on him briefly.

What happened, indeed.

The answer came to him in the form of a perplexed looking baby boy staring back at him inquisitively, lips pulled unconsciously into a small pout. The child was slightly small for his age, with an angelic expression on his face that might get him onto multiple television shows. Framing that doll-like face was a charming array of orange curls, highlighting the gentle sizzling fire that burned in large round amber eyes – the same shade as the ones he had before. The frail looking child looked to be no older than two years old, but was standing steadily, not wobbling in the slightest.

To put it in short, the child was an angel.

Shiori Kazune remained staring at his own reflection for a long time, frozen in shock.

Then, he hesitantly pinched his own cheeks and wallowed in despair when he saw that the image in the mirror followed his action.

That cleared his doubts.

He tried swallowing the bitter truth as his mind reconnected itself, engraving his new (embarrassing, young, childish, painfully adorable and not manly in the slightest) appearance into his memory.

The reflection is of an infant.

The reflection is his.

This means that he is an infant.

He was reincarnated.

Translation: He was doomed.

"WUAAAAAHHH!"

A sudden cry of despair coming from elsewhere seem to echo his thoughts exactly. Only, unlike the owner of that cry, he forced himself to gulp down that bubble of horrified scream which he wished to let out so much.

Tears were budding at the corner of his eyes, courtesy of his new childish hormones which crippled his ability to control his emotions, but he pensively wiped them away, staring blankly at his image in the mirror.

In truth, when he takes a step back now and observes his old life, he realizes that he should not have much to despair over. In his past life, he never had a family and rarely had he ever spoken his schoolmates, who had tried to avoid him due to his troublesome disability. The only people who he might miss would be his three adorable students, but he was fairly certain that they would fare well even without him, if only after a few drop of tears.

As for basketball…it is a sport that could be played anywhere. He will be able to play it in this life, even if it is only until a while later, when he has regained full control over his limbs. And this time, he might even be able to improve with his new eyesight. What's more is that the fun of starting from square one, of challenging opponents stronger than him would slide right back to him.

Everything would go back to like before – a life built solely around basketball!

…Who was he kidding?

Kazune sniffled as more tears escaped his shaking, tiny figure, burrowing his face into a stray pillow that was abandoned on the ground – and screamed.

He had been fairly satisfied with his previous life, even if he had not built many relationships with others. Looking over his students as they grew stronger every day in basketball, knowing that one day, they would be strong enough to challenge him, defeat him and maybe even challenge the world, had been his one pride and joy in life, but now, even that is stolen from him!

Basketball had been important. It still is. But even though the fun will still be there when he challenge others, it just isn't the same without having all his skills back. What he wanted was to share the joy of being able to play your hardest with his opponents, to spread the love for basketball, and to find a worthy opponent who was capable of playing toe to toe with him at his full power.

But now that his skills are gone, those things might as well be flushed down the drain.

He wondered what meaning life had to him now, with this unwanted second chance at life.

"Wa…aaah!"

Kazune stilled, looking up with a sniffle.

That cry was neither him nor his imagination.

Throwing his own troubles to the back of his mind, the teen-turned-child listened, with his still sharp ears, to the wrenching harsh sobs of a child, the cries occasionally cut off by hiccups before rising periodically. The sounds of the infant, trying to gather himself, broke his heart, reminding him of his Kiyoshi. His heart ached when he thought of how his student was probably crying back at the roadside now, sobbing his poor little heart out.

Without even realizing, Kazune had stood, toddling towards the origin of the sound, and it was not long before he found himself outside a door, staring wide eyed at the room's occupant.

Red.

He was red, was Kazune's first, stunned impression.

The sniffling child has to be around his own physical age, with only a slightly taller stature. Short scarlet locks that gleamed vibrantly under the light framed the child's refined features, creating a stark contrast against his smooth, pale skin, and forming a red halo above his head. Almost like an angel… Kazune was taken aback when the child opened his eyes, revealing striking scarlet that was the exact shade of his hair.

Akashi Seijuro!

Kazune gasped, hands flying to his gaping lips whilst he took a step back, astounded.

He recalled the few glimpses he had of the manga just before he was blinded, then almost like a whisper beside his ears, Kiyoshi's description of the Teiko Basketball team's captain replayed itself in his mind.

'Red haired and red-eyed…Akashi Seijuro is so cool, with those eagle-like eyes of his! Kazune-sensei may not recognize him since you cannot see, but I'm sure you'll be able to tell just from the emperor aura that surrounds him!'

This was followed by a hard pat on the shoulder as he told the child that manga characters do not come out alive, but his own words then were hard to believe now, with the character here before his eyes.

He was reincarnated, and not just to any random place.

He was reincarnated into a fictional world.

He was reincarnated into Kuroko no Basket.

What could that possibly mean…?

A hiccup broke his trance, and it was only then that he noticed the angry red scar on the child's arm, a river of blood flowing down and the forlorn scissors that lay abandoned at the side, gleaming maliciously.

A sharp pang of worry hits him.

The teen-turned-child didn't even hesitate.

Kazune staggered forward on unsteadily legs, gathering the poor wailing child in his short, short arms and gently rubbed his back soothingly, humming a soft happy tune to calm him. The child – Seijuro, he reminded himself – sniffled in confusion at first but gradually, his sobs turned into muffled whimpers, and these turned into small hiccups.

When he finally calmed, Kazune smiled as he released the child, meeting the large curious scarlet eyes that were still glazed with tears, but no longer in pain.

He couldn't resist it. Leaning forward, he gave a short peck on the forehead to the adorable infant, ruffling the mat of scarlet locks fondly, reminiscent of the way he pampered Kiyoshi with head ruffles.

But the one before him was not Kiyoshi. All thoughts about the little brown headed child had ran off, and the pain in his aching heart quelled just a little as he looked into those innocent scarlet eyes, ones that seem to draw him in and pulled out an irresistible urge to protect Seijuro from the dangers of the world.

Kazune smiled warmly.

"It's fine now, Akashi. I'm here."

"Ish fah naw, Akashi. Ai'm her."

He froze in horror, choking on the horrible mess of words that came out. Well, it's just another thing to add to the long list of what he would have to regain. He was relieved that 'Akashi' came out right, though unknown to him, it was Kazune's first word.

Drip…drip…drip.

"Oh, rait, ve stil hav to trit dat woun! (Oh, right, we still have to treat that wound!)" He exclaimed, jumping up in shock.

And as he fretted and fussed tirelessly over the long gash on the other infant, he failed to notice the adoring yet protective gleam that came into fiery red eyes of Akashi Seijuro.

-x-

Akashi Seijuro

Alone.

He was alone in the big house.

Parents. They left him. Again.

Then a gleam. Shiny.

He wants it.

But it hurts.

Injures.

Harmful.

He hates the thing.

It hurts.

It hurts.

Then orange.

Orange hair. Orange…eyes.

He smiles. Hugged him.

Touches…head.

…Nice.

He is nice.

Smells nice, feels nice.

He likes him.

Wants. Him.

His. His. His. His.

HIS.

Haruka is his.

-x-

Year 2 Week 1

A smile.

A pout.

Frown.

Scowl.

Puppy dog eyes.

He sighed. No matter how many times he looked at himself in the mirror, he still could not get used to his new appearance.

In this life, he is supposed to be Sorenji Haruka, cousin to the would-be basketball and shogi prodigy, Akashi Seijuro, son to a renowned wealthy businessman who he has yet to meet, and temporary charge of the head of the Akashi Cooperation, aka, Seijuro's father.

So far, all the servants have accepted him as 'Sorenji Haruka', considering the fact that he had arrived in this world the day that Haruka was sent here, destroying the differences in behaviour patterns which Haruka's parents would probably know, but something here still feels…off, despite that.

He doesn't belong.

And in the mirror, his own forlorn, wistful expression was reflected back at him.

No matter how much he acted, or how much the others accepted him as the 'rightful Haruka', this wasn't his body. He was Shiori Kazune, in another's body. He was an invader, an anomaly.

"Ah."

Large amber eyes blinked.

From the reflected image from the polished mirror, he saw a little redhead standing blankly by the side of the door, half-hiding, yet with such an unshameful expression that it made Haruka almost want to chuckle at his situation.

Clearing his thoughts, he stood and swivelled around, tilting his head in a welcoming gesture.

"What's wong? (What's wrong?) You can cam in if you laike. (You can come in if you like.)" He smiled calmly. It looks like his speaking training over the week had paid out.

But Seijuro said nothing and merely stared at him. Then, he opened his mouth.

"Sad…You…sad."

"Eh?" Haruka was briefly stunned by the observation before noticing the presence of another behind Seijuro. "Eiji-san…"

The most trusted butler of the Akashi manor gave a deep bow, his old bones creaking as he did so, and stood to his full height.

"I apologize for interrupting your time, Haruka-sama, but Seijuro-sama has something that he likes to give you." He explained.

"Seijuro? Gif me something? (Give me something?)" Haruka tilted his head, puzzled by this sudden turn of events.

He barely flinched when the other infant walked towards him, pushing a plate of strawberry cake into his hands as if forcing him to accept it. But Haruka knew better. From what he had heard from the KnB game, Seijuro's persistent mothering showed that he was never one to show affection through words and meaningless promises, only through his actions…

The orange child looked up, smiling brightly as tinge of warmness spread through his chest.

Even though it was a simple and sweet motion, it made him feel at home. The knowledge that his relationship with Seijuro is not fake is a relief, at least.

"…Arigato." He whispered.

Seijuro nodded and frowned.

"Sei…juro?" Amber eyes were wide as a pale hand moved forward, over his head, and patted him gently, almost hesitantly, comfortingly.

A kiss was then planted on his forehead, leaving him confused and just the slightest abashed at the gesture, when he heard the words whispered so softly he had to strain his ears to hear them.

"Haruka…no more sad."

He blinked once. Twice. Trice.

And he laughed at the similarity between this and their meeting, sitting the plate down as he wrapped his arms around his adorable little yet bigger redheaded cousin in a fond hug to show his appreciation for his concern.

"Yes. Haruka…no more sad." He smiled through the tears that threatened to overfill his eyes.

-x-

Year 2 Month 6

It's odd, this relationship he had with Seijuro.

They would spend time so often together, seeing how there was nothing to do in this large empty manor, that they were rarely seen without the other. He would pamper Seijuro as much as he could, but Seijuro would always try to refuse his affections and instead, try to take care of him through his actions.

Yet as amusing as it is to watch a two year old try to look after the sixteen year old that he is, Haruka still couldn't help but find it puzzling.

"Ne, Eiji-san, why is it-" Haruka asked thoughtfully one day. "- that Seijuro is always trying to look after me?"

"…Haruka-sama," The grandfatherly butler squatted down to his height, smiling knowingly and just the slightest bit sadly. "Even though you are quite intelligent for one your own age, you seem a bit oblivious to the happenings around you. You should try to look at the things around you with wider eyes."

He didn't understand.

It wasn't until the day that Seijuro fell sick that he realized what Eiji meant.

Squeezing out the water from the cloth, he gently placed it on Seijuro's forehead, worriedly peering down at his cousin who was curled up into a small ball under many layers of comforter.

Seijuro's face was flushed with red, yet not a single noise escaped him, his breathing silent as scarlet eyes slowly parted to stare into amber.

"Seijuro," He whispered, trying to push him down as the boy sat up. "Seijuro~ Sleep, try not to tire yourself out."

"Haruka…" The ever quiet child murmured softly. A pale hand reached up to encircle his wrist, and Haruka tilted his head adorably in mild frustration at how he lacked the heart to shake it off. "Gomenasai…I troubled you…with my wellbeing."

"Eh? No…You didn't trouble me at all," Haruka scrunched up his face.

"Two year olds should not look after fellow two year olds." Seijuro said wisely. "You should be playing out in the gardens, chasing after butterflies…"

"What about you, aren't you the same?" The orange head smiled lightly, playfully prodding his cousin's face. "And I'm not a girl! Chasing after butterflies…"

"…an…"

"Hm?" Haruka leaned in, smiling encouragingly. "What is it?"

"…Did…anyone come to see me…at all?" Seijuro suddenly asked quietly, looking away with a touch of wistfulness in his eyes.

Haruka breathed. Amber eyes blinked, growing larger with his epiphany.

It was then that Haruka realized that perhaps, Seijuro's protectiveness of family was formed from a lack of affection given by his parents since young.

His father had not come to visit him even once since Haruka's arrival.

The realization came as a spine-tingling jolt, and the pity must have shown in his eyes, because Seijuro immediately added.

"It's okay if you don't answer."

Haruka inhaled sharply and leapt onto his cousin's bed, straddling Seijuro as he pulled his eyelids down, rolling his tongue out.

"Funny face!" He squealed.

"…which is not funny in the least." Seijuro deadpanned. "Are you sure you should be doing this to a patient?"

"I shouldn't now, should I?" Haruka dropped the expression, laughing. "But Seijuro is larger than me, so I suppose it's fine~!"

"It's not. You're heavy. Get off."

"Sei~" Haruka smiled as he pushed his forehead up to the other child's forcefully. "Did you know? Research has shown that people who like to hide their true emotions tend to have a shorter life because of their higher level of stress." He tilted his head with a knowing smile. "We've been together for half a year already…Don't you think it's possible for you to show a little bit of your real emotions in front of me?"

"…I will not need a long life." Seijuro reluctantly said, turning his scarlet head away.

"Oh! But you will have it, regardless of what you think!"

Haruka grinned cheekily as he dragged his fingers up and down the redhead's sides, watching as Seijuro's face turned redder with the effort to hold back the laughter, before soft chuckles filled the air.

"Stop it-! Heh…Haru…Haha…Stop it!" The uncharacteristic laughing only amused him further.

Haruka smiled widely when he saw a bead of tear slide down the pale face, and he paused, watching as Seijuro touch it lightly, as though surprised by the wetness that was there.

"See? It wasn't so hard showing your emotions."

Seijuro quickly wiped away the tear, only to blink as more rolled down his cheeks uncontrollably.

Haruka smiled warmly as he joined Seijuro under the comfy covers, snuggling up to the slightly larger and silently crying boy. He reached a stubby hand up and ruffled the scarlet locks.

"I will stay here, right by your side, so cry. Cry and when you're tired, sleep," He said.

"I am not crying." The denial made him chuckle.

"Whatever you say." Haruka lied on his side, fondly pulling the other's face into the crook of his neck. He laughed – the sound of bells tinkling through the room. "Mr. Sandman just put too much sand into your eyes, ne?"

And even though the excuse is pathetic, Seijuro only closed his eyes and wrapped his arms tighter around the orange head's middle.

"Yeah."

-x-

A/N: After spending a month with my SnK fanfic, I finally came back to KnB with a new writing style! Even though it's wordier than before, I hope nobody minds this change. As most people would have noticed, the demon tutor section is gone. I thought it was a little bit sudden and didn't really show much of Seijuro, even though it did show Haruka's sadistic, protective side, but no worries, it'll return later on, if I feel up to it.

There are many changes, but one of the more obvious will be the new portion in front, which shows the OC's life before his death. I thought it was strange how Haruka's life before is so detached and the many accidents are just unnatural, as Infinite Skye kindly pointed out to me, so I added Kiyoshi Junior inside. With this, my idea of the ending of this story is also more solid now and you, my beloved readers, will be able to see this story to its end.

For those who are still reading this A/N up till now, I would like to ask if you could please kindly review and tell me if you like the last 'Chapter 1' or this one better. If the other receives more likes, I might just change the ages and leave things as they are, picking off the story from where it stopped.

Finally, as a last note, thank you all for your patience up till now! I know I took too long a time just to rewrite this chapter, but the fact that there are still people looking at my story now really makes me feel loved. I mean, what did I do to deserve you all?

Please review, favourite or even follow, and let me know what you think!