Author's note: This my attempt at writing a story because I, for some reason, got myself into liking KuroAka but finding that pairing is rare and being frustrated that I couldn't find much I followed the saying "If you want something done, you got to do it yourself" and decided to write this story.

Characters will be as IC as possible because we only know what they act like on the outside in a basketball setting, so we don't know how they would act in other situations. And even though this is KuroAka (Kuroko seme, Akashi uke) they wont be extremely different to fit those categories. Kuroko will still be a little more sensitive and cute. Akashi will be IC in the right times when I include scenes from the Anime/manga.

Warnings: possible OOCness as stated above, spoilers for those who haven't read the manga, mentions of abuse, rape, mental illness, and thoughts of self-harm. Oh and this story has yaoi, male x male. Rated M for reasons stated before and possible smut later on if I learn how to write it.

Disclaimer: Do not own characters, (wouldn't be on this website if I did) except maybe those random OC's to fill in the plot (they wont be big or main, they're mostly family members or antagonists).

Also this is my first attempt at creative writing in general, as well as my first fanfic so reviews would help, especially with motivation.

Also thanks to SnowyHeavens for being my beta for this story and helping me organize and make the story better.

Beautiful.

That is the first and only word that comes to me every time I set my eyes on him: beautiful. And it's not just how he looks, but everything about him. From how he talks to how he walks. From how he carries himself, the perfect image of confidence, to the grace he exhibits when playing the sport he partakes in. And from the way his voice can hold such powerful strength, and yet can also be soft with kindness, to his smile, which always threatens to cloud my self control from jumping him. Even though it's not just his appearance that makes me admire him greatly, his looks alone can drive me mad. His seemingly unnatural bright red hair, and his piercing ruby red eyes, that when gazed on me and only me, make me worry about getting a hard-on right in front of him. Just everything, every single little detail about him, makes me want him so much, and more. So much to the point I refer to him as Ruby, in my mind, because of his ruby red hair and matching eyes.

This love. It makes me absolutely giddy like a fangirl who just got a poster, or even a dusty rag, signed by a world-famous pop idol, or whomever fangirls these days obsess over. However, I'm not like those fangirls... at least, not exactly like them. First off, I'm a guy so if anything, I'm a fanboy... which I am not because I'm not an obsessive fan who stalks everything their obsession does... What? I don't! Just most of the things my Ruby does... I'm trying to control and limit myself, don't worry... I don't follow him home and steal his stuff like those obsessed fans do. Sheesh. I merely observe him, that's all, and maybe go into random explicit fantasies or day dreams whenever I see him, but that's it. I promise... for now.

Another reason why I'm nothing like those obsessive fans is because unlike them, I'm actually friends with my obsession... er, I mean crush. So instead of gazing from afar, wishing for him to notice me, I'm already noticed and get to spend time with my Ruby. Okay, he isn't mine yet... but one can dream, right?

Him noticing me might have been the moment I started falling for Ruby because, you see, not many people notice me in general. Not just my potential or who I am as a fellow human being, since they can't really notice that if they don't even know I'm there!

My parents once told me it was because I don't stick out or have noticeable features, but I really doubt that's it. I may be quiet and lack much outward emotion, but I think my bright light-blue hair should be quite easy to spot. Unfortunately, it's not. Why? Because I just simply lack presence. Don't ask me why because I don't know; I just do.

So when people actually notice me and take the effort to befriend me, someone whose presence is almost equivalent to that of a ghost, that person tends to become very important and special to me and my life. And those are very few.

Before I entered middle school, those that were important to me could all be counted on my right hand alone. Now, the number has escalated. It's still not many, but I don't mind, especially when one of them is Ruby.

Although Ruby was one of the first to notice me in middle school, he was not the first but the second. The first person to befriend me in school was a basketball idiot by the name of Aomine Daiki. But because of Aomine, and I shall thank him silently forever for this, the person who at that time was just an attraction for me, became a part of my life. The captain (though, at that time he was the vice captain) of the first string basketball team of Teiko Middle School.

Instead of my less-than-average abilities that prevented me from playing the sport I love, he was the one that aided me into finding out what made me useful on a basketball team. After I had found my ability, which happened to be my lack of character (I mean presence) to perform misdirection in passing the ball, I joined the first string.

Ruby believed in my ability enough to put me in a game without even witnessing what I could do. It was embarrassing, to say the least. I was nervous and scared, but I wanted to impress my crush. Instead, I had tripped and fell face first onto the court, ending with me humiliating myself and acquiring a bloody nose.

I didn't really care about what anyone else thought, except for my Ruby. I remember I had wanted to go run and hide forever. I was so afraid of what he would think of me. Would he be embarrassed of me or never let me play again? Boat loads of thoughts had rushed through my head, but it was for naught. For my beautiful redhead, with such kindness, reassured me that everything was going to be okay and that I would just prove myself next time. And I did.

After proving my worth on the court, I became accepted into the top of the first string, which included Aomine-kun and my Ruby. I was happy to be a part of this group where I became friends with many- um, what word should I use? Um, unique people. But most of all, I was ecstatic because unlike before, I was getting closer to the person I hold most dear to me.

Akashi Seijuro, the one and only person whom I, Kuroko Tetsuya fell deeply in love with.

It had been a normal day for Teiko basketball club's first string. At least, it appeared that way to everyone. Everyone else, except for me. For I noticed the strange behavior of my beloved captain. Akashi was very skilled at hiding any kind of weaknesses and suspicious behavior because of his calm, collected, confident, and superior outward appearance. It fooled everyone, except for his most keen observer: me (I'm not a stalker! Get that out of your thoughts, now!).

I noticed that, lately, the redhead had been acting strange. First off, Akashi had been cutting practices short; not so often that it was noticeable to others, but enough to make me curious. Also, usually during those practices, our captain would avoid doing much exercise and have the team play scrimmages, only to not participate in them himself. Another thing I noticed was how, recently, Akashi has avoided changing in the locker room by most likely getting there early in the morning before anyone else arrived for morning practice and by staying after until everyone left in the afternoons.

I was contemplating all this in my head, while walking home from an exhausting day at practice, when I noticed that I didn't have two of my wristbands in my pocket, but one. Deciding that I was closer to the school than home, I turned back to go look for it. And remembering that my Ruby has stayed back to practice lately, I increased my pace to a fast walk (not run; I'm not that desperate!).

Please R & R

Hope you enjoyed the prologue/1st chapter.