Author's Note: Hello Readers, please be advised this is a new version to my original FemKuroko story: Shadow Play. Some things will be different from the original and something things will remain the same. This story is a bit of an AU and will have a love triangle between AominexKurokoxKagami. I hope you enjoy it. Updates will be once a week.
Chapter One | Tetsumi
"Better to be strong than pretty and useless."
-Lilith Saintcrow
Tetsumi's team didn't need the points; they were up by thirty-eight points. Teiko Middle School was elite and dominating, though. The more points they could wrack up the better it was. Their opponents had rallied, improving their defense as much as possible. She admired their tenacity, but they wouldn't be able to win with only one quarter remaining. Teiko Middle School would be heading straight into the final rounds.
The roar of the crowds in the stands electrified her. The adrenaline and excitement coursed through her veins like a raging river. Sweat dripped down the side of her face, plastering her arctic blue hair to her cheeks. She loved the feeling of the basketball leather against her palm. Dribbling with a smooth rhythm, Tetsumi prepared to make her move.
The others were covered. She had to make a choice: take the shot or pass and hope for the best. Her shooting had improved, but shooting from the free throw line was too risky. Tetsumi had one other option, force her way to the front. She was small and agile. It was possible, she only had to time it right.
"Shorty! The shot clock!" Aomine Daiki, her teammate and power forward of the team, tried to break free from his defender. When he couldn't break away, Tetsumi made her decision.
She'd take the shot.
"Don't get carried away, little girl." Her opponent blocked her path. "I'm gonna make you regret joining the boys team. Go back to the girls team where you belong."
Narrowing her eyes, Tetsumi whipped around her opponent, darting for the hoop. She'd heard it all before, countless other teams had given her grief for playing on a boys team. It didn't matter if she was good or talented, she was a girl and a nuisance. Not all teams had been rude though, some thought it was a joke. They'd ask why the manager was playing or trying to get her to go on dates with them. No matter what her opponents spewed, Tetsumi would prove them wrong.
Tetsumi glanced at the shot clock: seven seconds remained.
"Tetsumi-chan!" Midorima Shintaro, Teiko's shooting guard, managed to break away.
Going to make the pass, Tetsumi gasped when her opponent, Shota Sasaki tried to steal the ball. She took a step back, dribbling the ball. He wasn't going to let her pass without a fight. Tetsumi didn't have time to mess around, there were only four seconds left.
"Scared, little girl?" Shota asked with a laugh.
"Never." Tetsumi whipped around him, heading into the paint and toward the hoop. Shota a single step behind tried to stop her. Willing her legs to jump as high as they could, Tetsumi leapt into the air.
"I don't think so!" Shota jumped, reaching to smack the ball away.
Their bodies collided. The impact caused Tetsumi's organs to rattle within her ribs. Her eyes remained focused on the ball as she fell from the air. The crowd had gone silent as the ball hit the orange ring, circling it slowly. Tetsumi landed on her feet, staggering back as a sharp pain shot through her leg. Shota crashed onto her, knocking her flat on her back.
The ball circled one more time and fell into the hoop. Teiko's bench erupted into cheers and the crowds went wild. Tetsumi beamed from her spot on the floor and sat up. Her teammates on the court appeared so proud with big smiles and glowing eyes.
"Damn!" Shota huffed as he climbed to his feet and ran back to the other side of the court.
Tetsumi sighed in relief and grabbed onto the base of the hoop to help her stand. Heaving, she pulled herself up and searing pain paralyzed her. Tears formed in her eyes as she fell back. She had never felt something so intense in her whole life. Unable to scream, unable to cry, Tetsumi laid on the ground hoping someone would come to her aid.
"Shorty!" Aomine hollered. "Tetsu!"
She couldn't answer him.
Thundering footsteps pounded on the wooden floor of the court. A shadow loomed over her. Tetsumi swallowed the lump in her throat and tried to stop the tears from falling. Aomine's blue eyes bore into hers.
"Coach!" he shouted toward the Teiko bench before kneeling at her side. "What's wrong, Shorty?"
Tetsumi shook her head. Everything hurt so bad, she had no idea what was going on. Her body was rigid with stabbing pains. She feared the worst when Aomine's eyes fell upon her leg. He ran his fingers through his short navy hair.
"What's going on?" Coach Sanada inquired as he ran over with two others coming up behind him. He knelt down, the glare of the stadium lights blocked his eyes. "Don't move, Kuroko-san."
"Okay," she whimpered as he examined her leg.
"Coach?" a referee stood behind Sanada.
He grimaced and cleared his throat. "Her leg's broken, we need an ambulance. Now."
The referee nodded and darted off.
"Scale of one to ten, how bad does it hurt?" Sanada met Tetsumi's eyes, though he was blurry from her tears.
She bit her lip and let out a steady breath. "Seven."
Aomine snorted and shook his head. "You're pretty tough, Shorty. This is at least an eleven."
"You did well," Akashi Seijuro, Teiko's captain, said as he stood beside the coach.
Tetsumi forced a smile, trying her best to ignore the agonizing pain ripping her apart from the inside out. "Thanks, Sei-kun."
"Keep the others back, Akashi," Coach Sanada ordered, glancing to the redhead.
"Of course." He bowed his head and jogged back over to Teiko's bench. Tetsumi could hear Kise bombarding everyone with questions. She imagined her wanted to be by her side. They all probably did, they'd become close since she joined the team a year and a half ago.
The rumbling of rolling wheels echoed in the arena. Aomine and Sanada stepped away as two paramedics began to prep Tetsumi for transport to the hospital. A woman medic, Amari according to her nametag, examined Tetsumi's injured leg and faced her.
"I'm going to splint your leg," she explained, looking a little worried. "It's going to hurt, just hang in there."
Tetsumi took in a deep breath and nodded, hoping it would go quickly. Her leg throbbed as they placed the boards on either side of her leg. She winced as both medics began to secure it into place.
The male medic, Hatanaka, pushed the gurney beside Tetsumi and lowered it toward the floor. Each medic took an end of the board they had strapped her too. In one swift motion, they lifted Tetsumi onto the gurney and pulled up the safety rails. As the gurney rose, Tetsumi could see her teammates on the Teiko bench. Worry washed over their faces.
"Let's go," Amari said to Hatanaka.
"Wait!" Tetsumi pleaded, holding up her hand. "May I speak with my team for a moment, please?"
The two medics stared at her then looked to one another. "We should really get you to the hospital," Amari said gently. "There is a lot of swelling. You need to be treated immediately."
"One minute," Tetsumi said. "That's all I ask."
Amari sighed. "Very well." She stepped away along with Hatanaka, allowing Tetsumi to wave her friend's over.
The starters of Teiko rushed over to the gurney, surrounding her on all sides. She looked to each of them, smiling as wide as she could. Despite her leg being broken and the pain coursing through her, Tetsumi wanted to make sure her teammates were okay. They wouldn't say it outloud, but they all cared about her and worried often since she was a girl among boys.
"I feel silly for even thinking this," Tetsumi said with a light laugh. "So saying it is even worse, but don't you boys dare lose this game."
Her eyes scanned over their face: Akashi, Midorima, Kise, Murasakibara, and Aomine. She had faith in them, they wouldn't lose. If anything there was a fire raging within each of them. Of course, Teiko was now forty points ahead, they wouldn't lose regardless.
"You'll be okay, right?" Kise asked, glancing at her swollen black and blue leg.
Tetsumi nodded. "I'll be fine. Don't worry about me."
"I should have broken away," Aomine muttered, clenching his fist and looking down in shame. "I'm sorry, Tetsu."
She reached for Aomine's hand. "It wasn't your fault." Tetsumi glanced to Midorima. "Or yours."
The shooting guard pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "We'll win."
Tetsumi chuckled. "Of course you will. Make me proud."
"I'll bring you snacks after we crush these idiots," Murasakibara glowered, gazing across the court at the Kamata West. They were all gathered at the bench, watching with curiosity.
"I'd like that, Mu-kun." Tetsumi nodded to him. "Thank you."
"You better go, Tetsumi," Akashi said. "We have a game to finish."
"Of course," she replied and licked her lips. Tetsumi didn't want to leave them, but she understood there were no other options. Taking in a deep breath, Tetsumi gave her teammates a thumbs up. "Play hard, boys."
"We'll see you at the hospital," Aomine said, taking a step back as the paramedics came to take her away. "Rest easy, knowing we'll demolish these losers." His eyes darted over to Shota Sasaki, who was sitting on the bench.
"Don't get reckless, Dai-kun," Tetsumi said as the paramedics rolled her away. She hoped everything would turn out okay. Teiko would only play harder now after what happened to her.
:::
Tetsumi gazed out the window of her hospital room. She closed her eyes and the tears rolled down her cheeks. The doctor had left a few minutes ago, allowing her some time to think and process. When she'd gotten hurt, she figured it would be bad; broken bones were never good. Tetsumi had never imagined it to be as bad as the doctor had said.
Her ACL had been torn and she had a severe compound fracture. Surgery would be required, and she had a long road to recovery. When she asked if she'd be able to play basketball, the doctor didn't seem confident. He smiled and told her that there was a chance, but they wouldn't be sure until she started her recovery.
Tetsumi brushed away her tears and sank back into her pillows. She didn't know how to tell her team she'd have to quit basketball. After all the hard work, after all the days they practiced and played together, it was over in the blink of an eye. It hurt to think her days of playing with them was over.
A light knock on the door caught Tetsumi's attention. She used the sheets of her bed to dry her tear stained cheeks. Clearing her throat, Tetsumi turned toward the door. "Come in!"
The door slid open, revealing Teiko's manager: Satsuki Momoi. She walked in and closed the door, her pink hair swaying around her ridiculously large breast for being a middle school student. Tetsumi and Satsuki had been friends for a while now. And it was nice to have another girl to talk to. Most of the girls at Teiko didn't like her since she was always with one of the starters of the basketball team. It was jealousy, so she didn't take it to heart. Besides, all the boys were her friends, nothing more.
"The boys annihilated Kamata West," Satsuki said with a smile as she took a seat on the edge of Tetsumi's bed. "They should be here in a little bit. What did the doctor say?"
Tetsumi sniffled, her chest aching with so much grief. She wanted to lie and say that she'd be fine as soon as her bones were set. But she couldn't do that, they needed to know the truth.
"It's going to be okay, right?" Satsuki asked, her eyes soft and hopeful. "Tetsumi-chan?"
Biting her lip, Tetsumi stared down at her hands folded in her lap. "It's not good Satsuki-chan. The doctors aren't sure if I will be able to play again." Her eyes began to sting.
"We'll just have to be positive. You'll get through this." Satsuki forced a smile and reached for Tetsumi's hand. Giving it a gentle squeeze, Satsuki nodded to her. "The boys will help. All of us will."
Tetsumi's shoulders dropped. "I know, but I'm still worried. The last year and a half I've been playing, I've never had so much fun. I've learn and grown so much in basketball. Could it all be over now?"
Satsuki frowned.
Tetsumi hadn't expected a response, after all she didn't even know what to tell herself. She looked to her wrapped up leg, the doctors and nurses were preparing the room for her surgery. They'd be back any minute to take her. It was unlikely she'd see the boys before they took her back.
"Satsuki-chan," Tetsumi said, meeting her friend's gaze. "Don't tell the boys. I'll do it myself."
"Okay." Satsuki nodded and smiled. "I'll just tell them you're going to be all right."
Tetsumi sighed, she wasn't even sure if that much was true. A heaviness formed in the pit of her stomach. "I have a torn ACL, a compound fracture, and mild muscle damage." She gripped the sheets of the bed. "I'm scared."
Satsuki pressed her lips together and stood from the bed. She faced Tetsumi and studied her for a moment. "You're going to get through this. You'll make it."
"Thank you, Satsuki-chan." Tetsumi put on her best smile, trying to believe in her friend's words.
A nurse walked into the room, holding a clipboard to her chest. She smiled and greeted the two of them before walking toward Tetsumi's bed. "They're ready for you."
Tetsumi nodded and glanced over at Satsuki, who gave her a thumbs up. "We'll be waiting when you come out. Stay strong."
"I'll do my best," Tetsumi assured her friend and turned to the nurse. "I'm ready."
:::
Tetsumi's eyes fluttered open and was met by morning sunlight. She had been out longer than she anticipated. Her mouth was dry; she really wanted some water. The boys had probably gone home when she came out of surgery. As her vision came back, Tetsumi noticed someone sitting on a chair in the corner of her room. She blinked and noticed the tan skin and blue hair: Aomine.
A small smile found its way onto her face. He was still dressed in his Teiko uniform. She could only imagine the headache and grief he had given Akashi and Coach Sanada. Tetsumi appreciated him being there though, especially with her father on a business trip in America and her mother teaching a cooking class in Kyoto. She figured the rest of the boys would come around in a couple of hours.
Her eyes drifted to her elevated leg. The surgery must have gone well, at least she hoped it had. Sighing, Tetsumi felt a little weight come off her shoulders. She was alive, she would take comfort in that.
"Hey," Aomine's gruff voice greeted, startling Tetsumi. "How do you feel?"
"I hope you at least showered, Dai-kun," Tetsumi teased, hoping to keep things light-hearted. She didn't want to focus on her injury. "Did you really stay here all night?"
Aomine stretched and stood from the chair, cracking his neck. "Of course I did." He walked to her bedside and gazed to her leg. "The doctor said you have a long road ahead."
"You boys talked to him?" Tetsumi asked with a frown.
"He didn't tell us much," he replied with a shrug. "So tell me how bad it is, Tetsumi."
"Dai-kun," she huffed.
"You can't keep it from me or the others forever." Aomine crossed his arms.
Tetsumi bit the inside of her cheek. He made a fair point, she couldn't keep something like this from them. It would eventually be out in the open. "Okay," she conceded, avoiding his eyes. "I have a torn ACL, muscle damage, and a severe compound fracture. Even with rehabilitation, there is still a chance I may never play basketball again."
Aomine turned away and walked to the foot of the bed. He kept his back to her, but she could tell he was only hiding his emotions. Tetsumi knew he blamed himself for her getting hurt. He had tried to get free, but never managed. It forced her to take the shot on her own. Tetsumi didn't blame him though, not even for a second. Basketball was a sport, and sometimes you'd get hurt.
"Satsuki said you boys did a great job ending the game," Tetsumi said, hoping to break the suffocating tension in the room. "I'm proud of you guys. You don't need me." She smiled and tilted her head.
Aomine snorted. "How can you say that?"
Her smile dropped and she looked down at her hands. "Dai-kun, it was an accident."
"I heard him taunting you," Aomine growled and whirled around to face her. "I should have gotten free. None of this would have happened if I did."
Tetsumi sighed and shook her head. "Stop it!"
Aomine flinched. She didn't usually snap at him like that.
"I'm going to be fine," she assured him. "I'll get better and we'll play again someday."
Aomine took in a sharp breath. "You promise?"
Tetsumi chuckled and held up her pinkie. "I pinkie promise."
He nodded his head.
"Come on," Tetsumi said as she wiggled her pinkie at him. "It's not a real promise unless we lock pinkies."
Aomine rolled his eyes and gave in, wrapping his finger around hers. Unfortunately, not all promises are kept.