Warning: Dark!Kuroko theme

Prologue

Kuroko safely dribbled the ball behind him, looking fiercely at the tanned male guarding him. The pale teen easily saw the hint of surprise that coated the other male's face, expression twisted into that of disbelief. Kuroko understood why and it was as well the reason why their opponent deserves to lose – crushed by his own hands. Nevertheless, time was not yet upon them. He only maintained the ball away from the taller male, making sure that it was out of the latter's reach. If the person blocking him could provide that solid defense, then Kuroko might as well have to change his tactics.

His pupils darted to his right, which quickly made the other teen in front of him react to that direction. Kuroko would have smiled a little, but such gestures would only expose his schemes. As his lips remain stagnant, he made a quick turn to his right, effectively pushing his opponent into that way as well. Nevertheless, the opponent never knew what hit him when the ball – which was seconds ago were dribbled by Kuroko – had vanished from his vision. He remained stunned for a brief moment and was only pulled into realization when the ball was already sent into the net, Kagami grinning as he held on the basketball ring.

The dunk had been made against him. He quickly sent a betrayed expression towards Kuroko. He was surprised and pained at the same time. He knew by heart that the only possible reason why Kuroko went against him was all for the purpose of confusing him. But then another spectacle happened before his very eyes. The ball disappeared from his sight, only for him to realize that Kuroko only paved the way for a dunk to make against their team – against him. He was only able to grit his teeth.

"Aomine-kun," Kuroko now spoke, observing in full detail the face that the taller teen made. "I am going to defeat you with my play." He said, raising the aggressive remark Aomine made when he joined the Tōō in that quarter. He saw Aomine flinch. The narrowed look that marred the dark-blue-haired teen was still present, but Kuroko could feel the tension rising inside his previous light. He only watched as Aomine made a feral grin, that of a trapped predator. Kuroko mentally frowned at the sight and hoped that Aomine was prepared for a 'renewal.'

"You speak big, Tetsu." He snarled at the shorter teen. He raised his arm and wiped the sweat off his forehead. "I told you to say it once you've beaten me," the remark was still bellicose, but Kuroko did not cringe at the statement. Kuroko only continued to stare deeply at Aomine's orbs. "There's no way that you're going to beat me, even with that play of yours." He just added, irked by the complacent look Kuroko seemed to wear. The only response he first got was a slight tilt of head from the teal-head teen – previous partner and friend.

"Then I only need to prove it to you, Aomine-kun," Kuroko said, turning away from the taller teen. "If there is anyone here that knows about how serious I always am, then it would be you," he added, not sparing Aomine a single glance. The pale teen walked on ahead.

Aomine Daiki only looked at his previous partner's back as he walked away from him. Midorima did warn him about this, but he only believed that the only person who could defeat him was himself. He hadn't even care to believe those words from that fortune-crazed shooter. Now he saw the real thing.

Then the clock was back on the count. His team now sped against Seirin's defense. Imayoshi took the ball and effectively overtook Hyūga's guard. However, Tōō's captain knew trouble when he saw it; immediately after moving against Seirin's captain, Izuki and Mitobe rushed in to defend the ring. Imayoshi made a silent remark and attempted to pass the ball to Aomine. The tanned teen grinned as he waited for the ball.

But the ball never made it into his hands.

Kuroko just appeared in front of him, seemingly trying to enjoy the surprised look which embellished Aomine's face.

He dashed forward in order to steal the ball away from Tetsu, but, at the exact moment he reached his position, the teal-head was already gone from his sight. He only felt a presence that moved behind him. Aomine quickly twisted and was met by the towering countenance of Kagami. "You?" He only said at first, but his attention was with Kuroko at that time. The teal-head ran away with the ball, teammates and opponents in tow. He tried to follow the rest but Kagami stretched his arms wide and shielded from Aomine's efforts. The redhead was only able to smile.

"Orders are orders," Kagami said as he glanced at the other players struggling to get the ball. He quickly looked back at Aomine. "He is going to crush the Generation of Miracles. Of course, I won't miss the chance to take part," he continued to say.

Aomine made a deep growl. "What the heck are you saying?" He asked, obviously challenged by Kagami's words. "I can't care about the Generation of Miracles. What's important is that as long as I stand, no one would be able to defeat me," he said. He faked a move, twisted and finally escaped from Kagami's defense.

But he was already too late. Seirin's captain received the ball, which seemed to have appeared from nowhere. In an instant effort, the ball was thrown and a perfectly executed three-pointer went into the net. Aomine stopped, not because the point was already made, but because Kuroko appeared again to him, as if living the moniker he earned for himself. "Aomine-kun," Kuroko called his attention once again. "We can go on like this for the whole game," he mentioned first. "But still you should know that the way you play will be of your own burden,"

Kagami slowly circled around Aomine and gave him a lingering look. He only stopped moving when he reached Kuroko's side. He gave fleeting glance at the teal-head, slightly pleased that Kuroko was still on top of his condition, despite playing real hard. The redhead returned his gaze against Tōō's ace after taking the time to check on Kuroko.

"What are you mumbling about, Tetsu?" Aomine raised, still confused as why Kuroko spoke to him as if he was an enemy. "If you can defeat me, then play me seriously!" He argued, while he fisted his hand and looked at it momentarily.

"You will have to understand," Kuroko just stated, eyes never looking away from Aomine. The teal-head kept his face directed at the tanned male, delivering silent messages, words that Aomine would not comprehend – not that time. "Kagami-kun," he called the attention of his light and partner. The response he got was a heavy hand that softly landed upon his head; Kuroko let his friend rest his hand for a while. "We will give up this game." It shocked Aomine. "We will submit and let Tōō win. We will show Aomine-kun the despair that pushed him to change. We will make sure that he learns from it."

The result was 112-55, a score that was even in favor of Tōō.

However, the feeling of success was not even painted in the faces of Tōō's players. All of them looked accusingly at the basketball team that they had played against, the same team that had played with all that strength and might. Seirin was even able to pressure all of them – especially Aomine – but something had happened at the end of the second quarter. For all the skill and prowess that they showed during the first half, all of it seemed lost when the second half began, as if all of their motivation was seeped from them, as if all of their power was taken from them… as if Seirin voluntarily raised the white flag and admitted defeat.

Imayoshi looked at Seirin's players, observing them, judging them for what they'd done. However, never did he see a flake of regret in their expression. Imayoshi did not see the gloom of defeat that often layered the faces of those who were crushed. Seirin appeared impassive at their apparent 'defeat'. There was an ominous gleam that outlined their countenance, a mask that covered something.

Nevertheless, Imayoshi's eyes nestled to where Aomine stood. He felt that something was bothering their ace, and, at the end of the game, Aomine only stood silently, giving out an incredulous expression. His eyes rattled on their own, as if he was watching a scene that played upon his mind alone. The tanned teen's breathing was in hitches. Aomine was obviously apprehensive. But of what? Imayoshi placed that question on his lips, in cases that he had to blurt it out in that second. As he approached Aomine, he felt the lingering anger and pain and confusion that wrought their ace.

"How does it feel, Aomine-kun?"

Imayoshi heard Kuroko – supposed to be Aomine's teammate back in Teikō – spoke to their ace. He stopped moving forward.

"How does it feel to crush another team completely?"

Aomine was still silent.

"I understand the reason why you changed, even if you deny forever." Kuroko continued to speak. Even though sweat beaded his face, he still appeared calm and composed. "You started to think that none of those around you are worthy of your skill. You only thought that the only person who can defeat you is yourself." The teal-head continued.

"Tetsu, you teme!" Aomine growled and tried to grab the shorter one but Kagami was quick to stop the other male. "You made us win on purpose!" He spat. "That is not even a game! How dare you turn your back on a game!" He yelled out loud, now attracting the attention of the nearby players. Wakamatsu and Sakurai were quick to respond, and immediately restrained Aomine and pulled him away from Kuroko. "You gave up the game, teme!" He said.

"Let me tell you one thing, Aomine-kun." Kuroko continued to speak even though Aomine struggled from his teammate's hands. "Right now you think that there is no worthy opponent for you. You do not care for the efforts of other players. You would not even give them your best when you play." Kuroko smiled a little, which vanished as soon as it formed. "Please do not think that the right to play as you wish is only reserved to you. Even I have the right to play with those I find worthy,"

"Kuroko," Kagami's voice sounded worried, but he was easily silenced when the teal-head looked at him innocently. Kagami only held a sheepish grin.

"When I have played against Kise-kun and Midorima-kun, I have told them things different from you, Aomine-kun."

The tanned teen was only surprised.

"But I will have to tell you that I am going to crush the Generation of Miracles. I have defeated both Kise-kun and Midorima-kun–" Kuroko sent a brief gaze at the audiences' balcony "–to show you that you are not the only players who have changed." He already spotted the other two players even before the game started. Kuroko slowly placed his head back to Aomine.

"What are you planning to do?" Aomine asked.

"I will make the Generation of Miracles mine, Aomine-kun." Kuroko declared, surprising Aomine at that second. "I will claim which we have not achieved back in Teikō. I am going to challenge Akashi-kun." He only said. "I am going to wipe off all your victories, and make you all submit to me."

Kagami Taiga gave a wide grin once again. He placed his right hand over Kuroko's head once again, and ruffled it affectionately. "Don't leave me out," he commented, before he and Kuroko turned to their backs and approached their waiting teammates. Aomine only gaped back at them, still concerned about the deliberate statement Kuroko just told him.

"Tetsu, just what the hell happened to you?"

- Prologue End -