Hello there again! This time, I've come back with a non-genderbent and non-romantic fanfic! I hope that you guys that read it will like it and will leave me a review! Also, for my other fanfictions, NO I HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN THEM AT ALL! Just trying to get the creative juices flowing in my brain again.
Also, since this is a non-genderbent fanfic, everyone will look the same and everything will basically be the same as it is in the manga/anime series except for one rather important detail. The summary should give you a hint as to what's different…So, please enjoy!
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN Kuroko no Basuke.
Chapter 1: Prologue
"…oko…uroko…Kuro…Kuroko! Oi! Are you okay?! Can you hear me?! Answer already!" someone's voice screamed at me. I wanted to tell that person to be quiet.
"…my head is killing me…everything hurts…I want to sleep…" I thought as sounds faded in and out of my ears.
I could feel a sharp pain coming up my legs and arms…actually, my entire body felt like a deadweight. I couldn't grasp what was going on around me. Before I knew it, I blacked out.
There's an annoying buzzing sound in my ears and I feel as though someone is trying to get me to wake up. It hurts. Who's talking? I can't tell. All I know is that I can feel that something pricked my arm and once again, the darkness of sleep was calling me. Who was I to reject its calls?
Pain. That's all that I've been feeling lately. Darkness? Is it already nighttime? When did practice end? How come I can't remember what happened before? Was coach's training so brutal that I fainted?
Rustle rustle…click…click…click…click…
What's that sound? Is someone near me? I'll ask…
"Um, excuse me? Where am I?"
There was about a minute long pause before I heard some scribbling noises and murmuring. What are they saying?
"…unresponsive…parents? Ah, then we should…" was all that I could hear.
Judging by the smell of antiseptic and the steady beeping that's been going off beside me, I'm most likely in a hospital. Why though? Did I injure myself or someone else with my passes? That's highly unlikely…ah, it seems like they're ready to answer me.
"Kuroko Tetsuya-kun, right?"
I nodded my head the best I could. Now that I'm more awake, my entire body feels stiff…but not from practice…like it's being held back…or held in place…?
"How do you feel?" the stranger- most likely a doctor- asked me.
I responded, "My body feels stiff…or like it's being held in place…"
"How does your head feel? And your eyes?"
"…I have a slight headache and my eyes…they feel…like…noth…ing." I gasped. Why do my eyes feel like nothing? What's wrong? Why is my head hurting?!
"Calm down first please, Kuroko-kun," the doctor asked.
Taking in a deep breath and letting it out slowly, I opened my eyes…strange…
"Um, excuse me, but do you think you could turn a light on please? It's kind of strange to talk to a doctor whose face I can't see," I explained.
"So that's how it is…" the doctor tried to whisper. But I caught every word.
Strange, how come I can hear him perfectly clear?
"Kuroko-kun…you were in an accident. Your body feels stiff because your arms and legs are in casts and your back is being supported by a splint. Your head hurts because when the car rammed into you- ah, your friends told me when you were brought here- and the way you fell to the ground knocked you unconscious…also, apparently there was a broken glass bottle and it damaged your eyes…" the doctor seemed reluctant to continue but I pushed on.
"And?" I asked.
He sighed before continuing. "I don't know any other way to tell you this. You were in a car accident and the force of the cars' impact broke two of your ribs. Your back will be fixed in no time- it's more a matter of you getting up and about than anything else. Your arms were heavily bruised and the bones were fractured in different places. Your legs were broken. You had a concussion and have been out cold for the last month."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Well, that would actually explain why my voice sounded softer than before. It would also explain why my head hurts and my body is stiff. It could have been worse- I could have died. Ugh, even though I'm the one who thought of that, I can't help but shiver. I might not have been able to ever wake up…speaking of which, he said friends…
"What about my friends, doctor?"
"Ah, don't worry about them! Though it's still sad and kinda harsh to say, unfortunately and fortunately, you were the only one who was hurt…well, you and the person who was driving the car that rammed into ya…hehehe…I'm not helping you, am I?"
I could only blink. Wait, blink? I'm opening and closing my eyes, of that I'm sure…wait, why is everything pitch black?!
"Doctor?! Why is everything pitch black?! My eyes…what happened to them?!" I asked him in a rather panicky tone.
"…I'm sorry…broken ribs, fractured bones, head concussions are things that we can deal and help you with…your eyes, however are a different story…I'm sorry to tell you this, but due to the car accident you were involved in, you are now permanently blind."
…what? Blind? Me? No way…it has to be a lie!
"Like I was saying earlier, when you fell, there was a broken glass bottle there…it cut your eyes pretty badly…there is no possible way to repair your eyes. I'm sorry, but from now on you will have to live in a world without a light…you'll have to live in darkness."
I still couldn't believe my ears. It was happening way too fast for me.
"You'll have to learn how to read braille and also how to walk with a walking stick. For your headaches, when you're released from the hospital, you will be provided with pills to stop the headaches. Your friends will be coming here soon. Do you want them to come in?"
He didn't ask if I wanted to see them or not. …Oh, that's right. Even if I wanted to, I can't…any…more…
Pitter patter pitter patter pitter patter
Eh? Why am I crying? Shouldn't I not be able to?
"It's good to see that you can still shed tears. If you couldn't, you'd have more eye problems than only being blind," the doctor said.
I can hear the sounds of footsteps, though somewhat muffled, coming to a stop. I must be in a room of my own…
Knock knock…creak
"Doctor, how's Kuroko-kun doing?" coach asked. She's the only one who actually calls me that aside from my own mother. So they've come to see me.
"Good news and bad news. Which do you want to hear first?" the doctor asked them. I think he got up from his seat that was rather close to my hospital bed.
Silence. I guess they're debating whether or not they want to hear the bad news at all.
"If you don't mind, bad first then good," Kiyoshi-senpai asked.
"The bad news besides him being badly injured and having had a concussion to make him comatose for a month is that he is permanently blind."
Way to drop the bomb, doctor.
"No way…why…WHY DID IT HAVE TO HAPPEN TO KUROKO-KUN?!" coach shouted.
"Are all of you here this time?"
"Y-yes," she answered him.
"Alright, everyone come in and close your eyes. Oh, and don't forget to close the patients' door behind you," the doctor asked.
More footsteps…more like shuffling sounds are coming towards me. They must be inching to the bed instead since their eyes are closed.
"Okay, before you open your eyes, here's some of the good news. His tear ducts were, surprisingly undamaged. This is good news because now we only have to worry about how he'll deal with his new impairment. The bigger part of the good news is this- open up your eyes!"
Nothing. Then, "KUROKO-KUN/KUROKO/ARFF ARFF! YOU'RE AWAKE! FINALLY!
"I'm sorry for making everyone worry. Ah, Nigou, come," I called out to my dog. Two seconds later and I felt the pressure of him being on the bed and making his way towards me.
"Sorry, I can't pet you for now. How've you been? Has Kagami-kun stopped freaking out every time he sees you?" I asked in a slightly amused voice.
"Arrrr arfff grrrr…" Nigou answered me.
"Hmmm, I see…so he hasn't…Kagami-kun, you're there aren't you?"
"H-how could you t-t-tell?" came the shaking voice of my light.
Making sure that I didn't smile to show my amusement, I replied, "I can practically smell your fear from over here."
"Liar!"
Everyone in the room chuckled. Good. At least I was able to alleviate some of the tension.
"So, umm, just to let you know, we've been taking notes for you for all your missed classes. We'll bring them from your home- ah, actually, do you want us to call your mom and dad? They'll be happy to see you awake again and they'll be able to bring you your missed work. Since you're awake now, it'll help to alleviate your boredom," Kagami-kun enthusiastically said.
"You…BAKAGAMI! HOW DO YOU THINK HE'LL BE ABLE TO DO THE SCHOOL WORK?! NOT ONLY IS HE BEHIND BY A MONTH, BUT NOW HE HAS TO LEARN HOW TO READ BRAILLE BEFORE HE CAN DO ANYTHING ELSE! JUST HOW MUCH OF A BAKAGAMI ARE YOU, BAKAGAMI?!" coach tried to whisper.
Ah. The awkward tension is back. I sighed. What else could I do?
"You don't have to walk on eggshells around me. I'll be fine. In fact, having Bakagami-kun say those things makes me happy. I'm not being treated differently by him at all. Also, it's amusing to know that he's still scared of Nigou," I smiled at them or in the direction I thought them to be.
Nobody said anything for a while. I guess they were thinking about how they should respond.
"Please call my parents. Since my mom doesn't actually have a job, she'll be able to help me with my missed schoolwork. She can be my eyes for the work. I'll just have to improve my memory for the time being. Also, if you don't mind, could one of you also help me? Ah, but if you have plans or something like that then-," I felt a hand on my head. A rather LARGE hand.
It must be Kiyoshi-senpai.
"Are you kidding us? Our kouhai is in need of our help and it's the first time you've asked for help. Of course we'll help you out! Oh, Riko already called your mother. She called your father as well and they're on their way now. How do you feel?" he asked me.
"I have a little bit of a headache and I feel stiff. My nose itches. Not being able to use my hands is troublesome…" I complained.
Just then the doctor spoke up. "Ahem, you know, since you've been unconscious for a month, your bones have already started to heal. In fact, the reason I was coming in today, besides a regular check-up, was to take off your arm casts! After they're taken off, you'll be able to itch your nose and pet your dog."
Nodding my head to the best of my ability in my current position, I waited for him to get started.
"If you want to get something to eat, you can go to the cafeteria. Also-," coach cut in just then.
"Actually, we already asked Kuroko-kun's parents to get him something to eat and we brought food with us. Is there anything that you want though, Kuroko-kun?" she asked me.
Thinking for a bit, I replied, "Could you tell me how the accident happened?"
Not hearing anything, I added, "Please?"
Sigh. "Okay, Kuroko-kun. Do you mind waiting though until after we get seats? That way we'll all be comfortable and won't look down at you…"
I said, "Sure."
I heard some more shuffling, some soft thuds- most likely them putting their bags down, before some more shuffling sounds were heard.
"It'll just take me a minute. Don't worry, it won't hurt to have your arm-casts removed at all," the doctor reminded me. Wow. I already forgot that. I really will have to work on memory exercises.
I felt my arms being lifted and then I realized just how heavy they felt- whether it was because of the casts or their lack of usage for the past month, I'm not sure. When I felt something cold press against the skin of my arm that was showing I tensed up.
"Don't worry. I need to get this stick in there in order to break the cast off. Just wait one minute…"
Snap!
Ah. It was mainly the cast that was making my arms feel heavy. Though he only took care of the one so far- what's that smell?! Is it coming from my arm?! Ugh, I hope my senpais and classmates don't smell it…
Cough cough
They smelled it. It's rather embarrassing…To think that this foul smell is just from one month of being in a cast…I wonder how bad my legs will smell when they get their casts off…
Another cold feeling…on my other arm this time.
Snap!
Ugh. I really can't handle the smell. I hope I don't faint before I get to eat…
Now something cold and wet is pressing…and sliding across my arms!
"I'm just cleaning your arms off for you. This will help get rid of the smell as well as the dead skin. Please bear with it for a while…" the doctor said.
Ten minutes later and both my arms smelled clean and felt light.
"Thank you, doctor," I thanked.
"No problem, Kuroko-kun. Now, your parents probably won't be here for a while. I'll just let you all discuss the accident. I'll be back after visiting hours are over to help clean you, Kuroko-kun. Please enjoy their company."
With that, I heard the door to my room close and the doctors' footsteps as he walked away.
A moment of silence passed- again- before I sighed and asked, "Kagami-kun, could you please help me wake my arms up?"
"Eh? Uh, sure Kuroko," he responded.
I felt his and another pair of hands on my arms and I realized that they were coach's hands. After all, she is our coach. She's probably trying to help get feeling back in my sleepy arms.
After five minutes, it worked. I could move my arms around. Though I couldn't really sit up on my own, I found the adjuster for the bed- well, Nigou found it and gave it to me- and I made it so that I could sit up more. After getting into a more comfortable position I said, "Please tell me- what happened? How did the accident happen? How did…I end up like…this?"
…..
Dun dun dun da~! Hear ye, hear ye! I come with a new story- again. Wow…this is my longest prologue ever. Well, I hope that you found it interesting! I'll- hopefully- update two of my other fanfics by today, so if any of you are readers of my other fanfics, look forward to it! Now that I've said that, I better actually type them up! O.O Please review!
