98 – 89

Seirin lost.

It seemed that the battle is one-sided. Rakuzan claim its sixth championship title. The crowd is cheering for the winning team. Akashi closes his eyes and gasping breath. Winning for him is like breathing and of course he knew that he will win no matter what, because he's ABSOLUTE.

When he decided to open his eyes, the only thing he can see is the former phantom sixth man. He admits that he felt a pang of guilt when he said harsh things to the bluenette.

'old prototype'

Akashi's words still lingers in Kuroko's head. He can't feel his legs, even his own heartbeat. He can't hear anything, can't feel anything. His body becomes numb and unable to move.

From that moment…

The time stops. His time stops.

"Kuroko?" Kagami approaches the bluenette trying to get some reaction from him. He saw him standing, not moving or not breathing. What he saw next horrified him.

"KUROKO!" Kagami shouted as loud as he could and shake Kuroko's body.

His skin… is pale more paler than usual

His hair… faded almost as white as the snow

His eyes… are open but, no color just transparent... no soul

Upon hearing Kagami's voice, Seirin Team, Aomine and Kise immediately headed towards Kagami with Kuroko laying at his arms.

"Kurokocchi! Kagamicchi, what happen?"

"I don't know, I tried to wake him but it's no use"

"His hair! His hair! It faded.. wait, it becomes white… what the hell" Aomine shouted and pull Kuroko's body into him "Tetsu! Tetsu!"

"Tetsu-kun!"

Akashi on the other hand 'what? What just happened? T-Tetsuya! Tetsuya!' his inner thoughts rage like hell. But fuck he can't move.

"Oh—so it's game over for him" the voice came from non-other than, Mayuzumi Chihiro the present phantom sixth man "…hmmm such a short live for him I must say"

Akashi didn't know what Mayuzumi is talking about "Chihiro, you knew something?"

Mayuzumi look him boredly in the eyes "As you can see captain, his time stops"

"Can you stop acting like innocent, spill out" the Rakuzan captain's eyes sharpened as he approach Mayuzumi.

"Don't look at me like that captain. I'll tell you the truth because you're the one who discover me and I'm indebted of you" Mayuzumi averted his gaze to the pile of people circling Kuroko Tetsuya "but, you must first do something with him" then he pointed the bluenette.

Akashi turned around made his way towards Kuroko. "Has anyone called the ambulance?"

"Akashi…"

"I already called them, they should be here—"

"Excuse me, we're here to take the patient to the hospital" the crowd makes way to the paramedics and all they can do is watch as Kuroko being taken away.

Aomine look at his former captain "Akashi… what the hell is going on?"

Akashi sighed "Miracles… come with me"

His command quickly hit the Generation of Miracles like thunder bolt as if there something bad is going to happen. All of them do as what Akashi told; they followed him in the dark corner of the locker room.

There he was, Mayuzumi Chihiro the only person who had the clue on what happen to Kuroko.

"Spill it out" Akashi's voice terrified the Miracles to the bones.

"What's happening Akashi?" Midorima has the courage to ask Akashi in his dark dangerous state. But before Akashi could reply

"Well well well, the Generation of Miracles has gathered in one go" Mayuzumi playfully chuckles at the group and sip his strawberry milk in the carton "Tetsuya sure have lots of friends"

"Tetsuya? You called him Tetsuya?"

"Wh-What's going on! Hey you are the on—" Aomine's palm meets Kise mouth silencing it "Shut your balls you twit. We must hear him first"

After the mood becomes awkwardly silent, Mayuzumi resume his talking.

"What do you know about Kuroko Tetsuya?" he crossed his legs and arms proud of himself that he is enough to make these unbeatable bastards shutting their holes up and begging and determined to get any information about Kuroko Tetsuya.

"Don't play games Mayuzumi. I don't like games." Akashi's eyes are more dangerous than they thought. Their ex-captain is the calm type who handles his emotions fairly and not letting out any weakness.

"Ahaha! Impatient Captain-san. I'll start here first, he is a fallen angel."

Fallen angel.

"THE HELL YOU TALKING ABOUT ASSHOLE?" Aomine grab Mayuzumi's shirt to punch him but Kise stops him.

"Am I hearing it right or your brain just pop out?" Midorima cannot believe what he just hear he wants to laugh at the same time he wants to know the real reason behind Kuroko's condition.

"Seems we can't follow what you are saying" Akashi calmly said and tap Aomine's shoulder to give him the sign to stop.

"Eh? I thought you all were his friends. Surprisingly he didn't tell you who he really was. Okay, I'll tell you the story. Kuroko Tetsuya is the 15th fallen angel who was sent here on earth. He is reborn to a loving family and that would be his family right now. He thinks that everything is going with the flow when suddenly I accidentally met him. I think it was one year ago or more but never mind, on with the story… So, I met him and all the fragments of his past bring him back. He was sent here to finish a mission."

"…okay let us say that we might actually believe you, but how will that mission actually tied from what happened to him. Did he fail?" Akashi said

Mayuzumi averted his head to another direction not wanting to look at the group people in front of him.

"Sadly, yes… he failed"

"What?!" Aomine try to hold his anger and wait for further explanation.

"Tell us… what happened? It's impossible that Kurokocchi failed, he's a strong person I know!"

"Kurochin is strong! I'll crush you if you don't speak the truth" Murasakibara's rage can be felt from the way he chews his food, chewing in a monstrous manner.

"Now that this happened, I admit that I really do care about him." Midorima with all his might he's been able to say that one sentence.

"Don't play games with us, spill the truth—" Akashi slammed his fist to the locker enough to bring their spines and bones to chill.

"…Kuroko Tetsuya wanted to save all of you, Kise Ryota was the one who he saved first, then Midorima Shintarou, the next one is Aomine Daiki and then Murasakibara Atsushi…"

"Save? Wait you mean Kurokocchi saved us but why—"

"Yes… all your thoughts are true, he saved you all except from one person… he failed... because of you…

Akashi Seijuuro."