A/N: I know that 'Something Lost Will Never Return', 'A Crazy Story!', 'Butterfly Effect!', and 'Tick Tock' are not yet updated, but I was challenged by one of my reviewers ( AnetteRuby ) to do something that I'm not really good at, and I'm willing to take that dare.

So here I am again, yours truly, Love-Fades-Mine-Has-021, to make a new KNB story that will make you laugh, crack a smile, chuckle, cry, get angry and hang from a cliff just like what I did in 'Everlasting Requiem', I hope, so TUNE IN, READ AND REVIEW!

Summary:

Everyone in Seirin is curious why Kuroko never removed his jacket or even let others see him without his jersey on. And day after day, they noticed bruises appearing at different parts of his body. It also made them wonder why the members of GoM, especially Akashi Seijuuro who doesn't care about anyone, are so protective of him. When I say 'protective', I mean 'protective.'

"Myself From Once Upon a Time"

CHAPTER ONE:

Kagami yawned as the bell rang and their last subject teacher finally dismissed them from his boring Math Class.

Yes, their last subject was Math and it made all the students of their section wonder if fate was mocking them to place such a subject at the last period. It was like destiny was trying to kill them slowly and painfully.

How ironic. Kagami mentally scolded to himself and placed all of his stuff inside his bag before standing up. "Oi, Ku—" He was cut off when he realized that his 'shadow' was being surrounded by a crowd of both girls and boys, which he rarely saw.

He slowly and sneakingly went nearer and eavesdropped about what they were talking about.

"So how does it feel to beat your own former teammates?" One girl questioned him with a sweet smile.

Kuroko blinked and then emotionlessly replied, "I don't really feel glad, because once and foremost—they still became my former teammates and we hold places in one another's hearts. It was hard and difficult to defeat them, but I only did it to bring them back to their old selves…"

"What old selves?" A guy, from their class as well, prompted with curious tone.

Kuroko blinked again before staring at the fingers which tapped on top of his table. "Their old selves are the ones who love playing basketball from the bottom of their hearts." He answered with an expression as if he just won another victory. Mentally.

Kagami leaned against the wall and listened more.

"Aren't they threatening you or back-stabbing you especially that you defeated them?" Another one queried.

Kuroko shook his head. "The members of the Generation of Miracles are all kind people; they will never do such a thing." He defended.

Another girl raised an eyebrow. "How about Seijuuro Akashi? He's rumored to be a sadist and attacks anyone who opposes him with scissors or anything he'll get a hold onto."

Kuroko cracked a small smile with their definition of his former captain. "You're wrong. He's just really like that since we were in middle school. He loves perfection and wants everything to be in order –in his order—and get annoyed often by stupid people."

The students which crowded him looked at one another, their eyebrows twitched and they mumbled to one another, "Isn't what he said the same as the rumors said?"

"Ne, Kuroko-kun, would you like to accompany us? We're going to the Arcade to have some fun and we're thinking of taking you along since you always look lonely." One of the guys offered.

Kuroko looked up. "I'm not really the outgoing type, so I'm used to being alone, besides I'm often forgotten."

Poor him… They all mentally whispered to themselves.

A girl giggled with his response and took one of his hands which made him flinch. "Kuroko-kun?" She asked in confusion.

Kagami raised an eyebrow and silently watched Kuroko's reaction. Usually, his 'shadow' was a friendly type, someone you can talk to even if you're strangers, and he was expecting that Kuroko would smile slightly earlier and say 'yes' but instead he looked like he suddenly remembered something after the offer was given to him.

The teal-head teen eased his hand away from the girl; stood up and took his bag. "Um, if you'll excuse me; we still have a club practice today and I can't be late. Thank you for the time." He bade and quickly fled the classroom.

"What's up with him?" One demanded when he was out of the hearing.

"We're already the ones being friendly enough to approach him, but he just ignored us like that." Another grunted.

"If only he wasn't part of the Generation of Miracles—I would have already shrugged him off and forgot that he ever existed." Another male grumbled.

More and more criticisms and complaints were heard being spread around the room, and Kagami left their room in irritation.

Although it would sound like a miracle, Seirin won against Rakuzan last Winter Cup with the score 110 to 108 which was thanks to the last dunk Kagami made through Kuroko's unexpected and still-unnamed new pass.

Kagami suddenly realized that he never saw Kuroko without his jersey, jacket, or uniform on right after the Winter Cup. The phantom player also always skipped practice when they have training to the swimming pool since few weeks or a month before the Winter Cup.

His 'shadow' was distancing himself from others, and it's because of a secret—a secret only the members of the Generation of Miracles know. Well, that was what he thought anyway.

"Kuroko! What was that all about? Why did you suddenly leave?" Kagami demanded as he kept with the same pace of Kuroko.

The teal-head took out a book and read. "I just don't like others touching me without my consent…" He lied and continued in reading.

"Hm, touché." Kagami teased and then silenced himself since his companion has silenced himself as well.

"Don't say you eavesdropped us?" Kuroko demanded with unnoticeable annoyance in his voice. "Kagami-kun, can I ask you something?"

"You already asked something, so it's not free anymore."

Kuroko looked at him with unreadable eyes yet those eyes sent shivers down to Kagami's spine.

He kept his dignity in place and replied proudly, "No, I won't say we eavesdropped then, since you don't want me to say it."

"So, you did eavesdrop." Kuroko sighed. "And please answer me properly or I'll throw these books at your face." He threatened as he raised the hard-covered books in his hands.

"You're serious, aren't you?"

"I never have a sense of humor, Kagami-kun. You're the one influencing me in turning me into a bad kind of guy, so you're at fault."

"Wait! Are you implying that I'm a bad guy?" Kagami demanded.

"No, you said it. Not me." Kuroko replied.

Kagami was about to burst a big roar when his 'shadow' suddenly spoke up.

"Kagami-kun…"

He frowned in confusion as he heard fear and doubt at the teal-head's tone. "Yeah?"

"Have you-No, nevermind."

Kuroko was about to walk away rapidly when he grabbed the former's arm. "Wait. What was it? Just ask it already."

The bluenette shook his head. "No. It's nothing. Let me go, Kagami-kun, it hurts."

He grasped it a little tighter. "Kuroko…"

"Ow!" Kuroko gasped loudly and pushed his current 'light' away. "It's really nothing, Kagami-kun." He assured, bowed and rapidly departed.

Kagami just stared at his fleeing figure. "What's up with him?"

~LFMH021~

"Akashicchi~" Kise Ryouta, Generation of Miracles' and Kaijo Gakuen's amazing copycat, called out as they neared to their former captain, Seijuro Akashi – also the owner of Emeperor's Eye which could almost predict the future- and opened his arms for a hug.

Akashi flipped another page of the documents in his hands and took out something from the bag on his side. When the blond was only an inch away from him, he took out his scissors and pointed it at Kise's throat. Its' sharp blade shone with the sunlight. "Try hugging me and these scissors will cut your throat."

Kise walked backwards and rapidly hid behind Aomine Daiki, the ace of both GoM and Touo Gakuen, who raised an eyebrow and glared at the golden head behind him. "Oi, Kise, did you really think that hiding behind me would help?" He demanded.

"B-But, Akashicchi is so creepy that I almost ran to the rooftop and jumped from there." Kise stammered.

Aomine cocked an eyebrow. "Then, why didn't you do so?"

Kise pouted. "Aominecchi, you meanie. Do you really want me to die already?"

"Hm, perhaps?" Aomine mumbled.

Kise threw his hands in the air in protest. "Waaah! Aominecchi, you meanie! You meanie! You me—"

A scissors passed by between them and they were only an inch away from each other. "Shut up, you two or I'll request the members of Rugby Team to throw you into the nearest river."

They both gulped and hid behind a certain violet-head.

While the latter just continued nibbling his lollipop which was given by his partner in Yosen Gakuen, Himuro Tatsuya. "Ne, Aka-chin, what are we doing here in Seirin~?"

Akashi closed the folder of his files and looked up at Seirin's gymnasium. I have to confirm something."

"Confirm? What and from whom?" Midorima replied as he cleared the forming fog on his eyeglasses.

Akashi started to walk towards the door of Seirin's gym. "Kuroko Tetsuya.", was his only answer but recognition was quickly shown in the other four's eyes.

~LFMH021~

"…I'm…tired…" Every regular member of Seirin Basketball Club sighed as Riko Aida, their brunette coach has made a long whistle which indicated the end of the swimming practice.

"...I'm super…duper tired…" Hyuuga grunted and let himself float on top of the pool water.

Kagami emerged from the pool and dried off his hair. "Oi, Kuroko, why aren't you joining our swimming training? That's unfair, you know!" He protested.

The brunette took the letter on top of the sleeping Nigou and lifted it for the others to see. "This' his medical certificate. Looks like Kuroko-kun's body cannot take too much stress especially after his heart started to fail him after the Winter Cup, so his parents asked my permission if it would be alright if he wouldn't join the swimming sessions."

"Ah…" was his teammates' answer and he couldn't help the smile that came out from his lips when they started murmuring, "Let's make that kind of letter too!" to one another.

They all froze, though, when Riko stood up from her seat and stretched her arms in the air. "Looks like most of you want to wrestle with me today, huh." She murmured and suddenly shouted, "YOU IDIOTS! DO YOU REALLY THINK I WILL BELIEVE YOU EVEN AFTER YOU GIVE ME AN EXCUSE LETTER?! WITH THOSE BODIES OF YOURS, EVEN NIGOU WON'T BE FOOLED!" She then turned towards the cute dog that sat beside their phantom player. "Isn't that right, Nigou?"

Seirin's members felt betrayed when Nigou looked at them, then at Kuroko and lastly at Riko –well, saw her menacing and frightening face to be precise—and barked three times.

The brunette then turned to her members. "See? Even Nigou agrees."

They all sadly looked at the innocent puppy. Nigou, you betrayed us… They mentally cried.

It was like their mascot understood them and made its' sad puppy eyes too which were to say I'm so sorry, but I don't want to be barbecued today, masters.

They all sighed and resumed their swimming sessions as Riko continued following their training regimens. "And for you, Kuroko-kun, you will have a double training once we're in the court." She evilly murmured as she directed her sweet smile towards the teal-head on the bench.

Nigou trembled before going inside Kuroko's shirt and hid. The latter gulped and nodded. "Y-Yes, M'am!"

After half an hour, they were finally given their breaks and they all quickly went out of the swimming and glared at it as they panted and tried to catch their breaths.

Nigou went out of its' hiding place and jumped down off the bench and approached its' masters who just came out of the water before barking at them thrice.

They all looked at their mascot and petted it with matching laugh. "Don't worry, Nigou, that was alright. We understood." Kiyoshi assured.

"She is a monster after all." Hyuuga whispered.

They all stiffened when a familiar figure stood from behind them. "What was that?!" Riko growled and started chasing after the sophomores as Nigou chose to bark and play with Kagami with all of people. Yes, Kagami, the tiger looking player who was scared with dogs!

"Gaaahhh! Leave me alone! Leave me alone, I said!" The red-head shouted at the puppy and ran away before hiding behind Kuroko.

Nigou went to the right of the bench and Kagami went right too to avoid it. "LEAVE ME ALONE! Kuroko, help me!"

Kuroko looked at Kagami then at his enjoying pet before he picked up the latter and petted it. "Now, now, Nigou, you don't want to kill Kagami-kun because of fright, do you?" he scolded gently. "Come on now, say sorry." He whispered. He glanced at his 'light' and said, "Kagami-kun, Nigou wants to apologize."

Kagami frowned in confusion. "HAH, What'dya mean—" He froze like a statue when Kuroko neared Nigou to his face and the latter licked his cheek.

"…Kagami-kun?" Kuroko called out and poked his 'shadow's' forehead and the latter fell frozen on the ground. To exaggerate what he just experienced, the red-head even turned into ashes, which was quite unrelated with statues, and flew with the wind, wind that never really entered the swimming pool.

"Ah, you killed him, it seem." Izuki commented and nodded his head as he touched the ashes that were left on the ground. It was unfortunate he ended up in the pool once again when Hyuuga kicked him on his head.

"Just die, Izuki." The bespectacled captain of theirs growled and stomped into one of the empty benches and sat on it and continued drying his wet hair.

"C-C-Cold…." The owner of the Eagle Eye shakily groaned as he emerged from the pool with the help of Mitobe, the silent teammate of theirs, and as kind as he ever was, lent his own towel to the pun lover and helped him warm up under the sun which went inside through the help of some of the glass windows attached on top of each wall of the building they're at.

"Hey, Kuroko, wanna hang out with us later?" Kagami, who appeared technically out of nowhere, offered as he drank the contents of his bottle of water in one gulp.

"You're alive?" Kuroko emotionlessly gasped and whispered at the puppy on top of his lap, "Too bad, right, Nigou?"

Nigou barked at his true master as an agreement and threw Kagami a disappointed look.

"Oi, Nigou, what's with that irritating look you're giving me? Want me to barbecue you?" He arrogantly grumbled and pretended that he was asking a boxing fight with a puppy dog. Yes, he has no shame.

The said dog jumped down from Kuroko's lap and took a step towards Kagami, and the red-head made a step backward. "Oh no, you don't."

"I'm envious on how lively this team always is." A very familiar voice from the door, which miraculously was now open, commented as he crossed his arms. His signature smirk and signature heterochromatic eyes gave way to who he was: Rakuzan and GoM's Akashi Seijuuro.

"I know right? I mean when we visit they're always having fun and chasing one another! I hope we're as close and lively as you are in our team." Another irritating one agreed and pouted his lips. Anyone would recognize him especially that he was working as a model, a well-known model and great copycat: Kise Ryouta.

"Ugh, Kise, shut up, will you? Or do you want me to shut you up using my own mouth? Argh, I'm so sleepy!" A lazy dark (yes, literally) one grumbled and stretched his arms in the air and yawned. As he stretched his arms in the air, his name was revealed through his Uniform's nameplate; the all-arounder: Aomine Daiki.

"I ran out of snacks, do you have any here? Do you~? Come on, give me some, I'm still hungry~" The giant among their five visitors complained and looked at the members of Seirin with pleading and unresistable eyes. He may be childish but that was something that made him different with others; being who he was, he always stayed as one of the unbreakable shields or centers of all High School Basketball Clubs: Murasakibara Atsushi.

"I suggest you stop acting like kids, nanodayo.. You're, what, already in the range of fifteen to eighteen and you act like ten year old kids, nandayo. Grow up, nanodayo." A bespectacled, carrying a titan hello kitty, scolded as he adjusted his eyeglasses with his taped left fingers. Through these, you would recognize him easily; the miracle shooter: Midorima Shintarou.

"Nanodayo, nanodayo, nanodayo. Bah!" Kagami mocked.

Midorima's eyebrows furrowed with the red-head's insult and silently glared at his former teammate's current 'light'.

"That's weird. It has been, like, what, a month or so since any of you visited and now, here you all are. You are complete and ready to make an ambush. What's up, gonna kill one of us or what?" Hyuuga asked, intrigued.

"He's gonna kill us in the window sill." Izuki mumbled with straight face as he looked at the members of the Generation of Miracles.

"GO DIE!" His other teammates growled and pushed him in the pool once again, and this time Koga refrained Mitobe from helping him, so he would learn to stop making puns.

Akashi cleared his throat to gain the others' attention back to him, but he was quite unsuccessful since they were still arguing, jokingly, if they really did need someone like Izuki in the team.

The smaller red-head cleared his throat once again and for the second time, was unsuccessful to gain their attention.

Even Kuroko, himself, felt the tense atmosphere enveloping his former captain and shakily poked his current teammates' shoulders, and if one of them still did not turn—he would grab his neck and turn his face around by force.

"Kagami-kun…" Kuroko mumbled.

Kagami was still busy debating with his senpais.

"Kagami-kun…!" Kuroko started to panic as Akashi's eyes darkened more, so he poked into Kagami's shoulder's bone which made the red-head flinch.

"What the hell, Kuroko—Geeehhh!" Kagami gasped as he saw Akashi's expression. He grabbed his other senpais' hair.

"What the heck, Ka—" They began and took steps backwards in fear as they saw Akashi's menacing expression.

Kuroko unconsciously glanced at his former teammates' and got the same message through their eyes: 'We're triple dead.'

"So, am I welcome to speak now or do I still need to lend you some of my time?" Akashi sweetly –and I said that sarcastically—asked as he gave the Seirin members a smile.

They mutely nodded in fear and waited for whatever the tyrant was about to say.

Kagami silently hid behind his shadow and took a step backward, so he wouldn't be that near with the tyrant captain and he wouldn't get into any trouble.

"This is the first time I've heard of a light hiding behind a shadow." Kuroko commented.

"Akashi Seijuuro scares me to death. If I don't push myself away from him, you might find me dead and lying on the street few days from now." Kagami whispered.

"You're such a coward, Kagami-kun. Face your fears. Here." Kuroko offered and pushed his 'light' towards his former captain who looked at Kagami in confusion and in irritation.

"…Yes?" Akashi arrogantly queried.

Kagami shook his head rapidly and took long strides backwards and stopped right beside his 'shadow'. "You idiot! I almost got killed!" He hissed.

Kuroko looked up at him with emotionless eyes. "Too bad he didn't really did kill you, wasn't it?" He replied.

Kagami raised one pair of his eyebrows. "Let me guess, you're 5% joking and 95% telling the truth, weren't you?"

Kuroko nodded. "Truth be told, I was telling the 100% truth." He corrected.

"To start, actually we came to—" Akashi started when Kuroko suddenly went to a run as Kagami started chasing after him about something he had said.

"KUROKO, YOU BASTARD!" Kagami grumbled as he chased after his 'shadow'.

"You two, will you please stop—" Akashi began when his eyes widened as he realized something.

Kagami grabbed Kuroko's Seirin T-shirt and from that split second, a bruise was visible and was still fresh on the teal-head's upper right stomach.

"What…" Kagami trailed off as he subconsciously released his hold on the phantom player's T-shirt.

"Kuroko…what—" Hyuuga started.

Kuroko gulped and shook his head. "It was just an accident. It was my fault when I didn't see where I was walking to the day before." He replied.

"Are you sure? Do you want us to go to the infirmary and—" Kiyoshi began.

He slightly smiled and politely refused, "No. I don't think it needs such attention. It will heal soon, I promise. It's nothing serious."

The members of the Generation of Miracles silently glanced at one another as they recognized how their former phantom player just lied towards his current teammates.

Riko and Hyuuga glanced at each other and nodded in synchronization. Seirin's coach then turned towards Kuroko. "You're excused with today's training, Kuroko. Treat and let your bruise heal first, and I will let you play again."

Kuroko nodded and took his bag and carefully carried Nigou with his right arm. "If you'll excuse me." He bade and bowed.

"Tetsuya—"

The said boy didn't even turn towards his name's caller and quickly strode out of the swimming pool.

Akashi couldn't help sighing. "He escaped." He mumbled and gestured for Seirin to continue their practice and for the other four to follow him outside the swimming pool.

"Akashicchi, what's wrong?" Kise wondered as he saw the expression on their former captain's face.

The other three, equally clueless of what he had realized, stared at him too with wondering eyes.

"I hope my guess wasn't right." He murmured to himself.

~LFMH021~

Kuroko took out the house's keys from his school bag when the front door of their house opened and he silently waited as his father went out with his own keys in hands and opened their house's gate.

He gulped and mutely walked inside their home and was about to walk up to his room when he heard his father talk, "Why are you late?"

"I…I was practicing basketball with my t-teammates, father." He stuttered in fear and avoided his father's eyes.

But he was not able to prevent his father's abusive hands to take hold of him as his father, Sadaharu Kuroko, pulled him up in the air through his teal hair. "You asshole, I entered you into that school not to play games but to attend school, since I have no other choice, but to inherit you our company since I have no other child but you!" He snarled and threw him onto the bookshelf just few meters away from them. "You're useless that I want to kill you right now! I really want to, Tetsuya! Too bad, it will ruin my reputation." He slowly approached the phantom player and painfully strangles his neck. "Just like this."He hissed and finally let go of him when Kuroko's face was turning blue. He stood up and began to walk towards the kitchen. He made a sideways glance towards Kuroko. "What will you say?"

Kuroko, as painful as he was feeling, breathed for air, as few drops of blood were visible on the corners of his lips, and whispered, "I-I-I'm home, father."

Sadaharu, as similar as he was with his son, made his arrogant smirk and went to the kitchen to get something to eat.

Kuroko grabbed his bag and painfully, while he rubbed his throbbing back, went inside his dark room. He sat on the edge of his bed and began to noiselessly weep.

A/N: I missed you, guys! Next in line to update is either: 'Butterfly Effect' or 'Something Lost Will Never Return'. 'A Crazy Story' is still in hiatus since I'm still thinking of how to make it funny.

Let me think if I'll give you sneak peeks…Hm, tell me, do you want me to give you sneak peeks or leave my chapters as they are, so I'll know what to do on the next chapter. Thanks!

I hope you'll leave me messages or reviews. Thanks. Haha!

Love yah, guys!

Kisses and Kitkat,

LFMH021