A/N: Input is always welcome.

Disclaimer: This marvelous manga filled with beautiful boys does not belong to me.


Second Quarter

"We should kick Kuroko off the team and find a new fifth player-nanodayo." remarks Midorima one day after practice.

Aomine glares at her, "Why?"

"Her physique isn't up to it. It's not compatible with basketball-nanodayo." replies Midorima frankly, "She can't even do a proper lay-up."

"I agree with Mido-chin~." drawls Murasakibara around a mouthful of potato chips.

Akashi wipes the sweat off her forehead, "I told you. Don't eat during practice."

"Eh…but it's not like we're gonna play against any of the other schools~."

"So what if she's a little on the frail side?" snaps Aomine, "You can't tell a person to quit what they love!"

"She's holding us down!" retorts Midorima, "That's why we can't play against anyone!"

Aomine clenches a fist, "Maybe it's your fault for not being a team player!"

Midorima pushes up her glasses, "Face it. She's useless-nanodayo."

That did it. Aomine grabs her jersey. They are nose to nose, "There's no such thing as a useless player."

Momoi runs up to them and tries to pry Aomine's hand off Midorima, "Oi! Don't fight!"

"Tch." Aomine abruptly lets go of the jersey as if the green-haired girl is the most disgusting thing she has ever seen. She marches out of the gym.

And finds Kuroko leaning against the wall right next to the door.

Aomine freezes at the sight of the unshed tears in her eyes. She winces, "You heard that, huh?"

"Maybe I should quit." whispers Kuroko, averting her eyes to the floor.

~~())~~

"I still say we kick her off." mutters Midorima.

"Actually, I agree with Daiki-kun."

All head turn to the speaker.

"Akashi!" protests Midorima.

"I think Testuya-kun has a special skill that is far different than our own." continues Akashi, "However, I also agree with Shintarou-kun and Atsushi-kun. An additional player will be needed. If my theory is correct, Tetsuya-kun's skill will have limited use."

Midorima eyes narrow, "What are you talking about?"

"It is clear that we have the skills to stand against other, more experienced, schools. However, I believe that if they throw us any surprise attacks, we will not be able to retaliate." Akashi crosses her arms, "Now, if we had a sixth player, who can change the flow of the game when we need it most, that concern can be wiped out entirely."

"And you already know what Testu-kun's special skill is?" asks Momoi. He doesn't like the look in the redhead's eyes.

Akashi smiles, "I have a vague idea."

~~())~~

"What do you mean, you wanna quit?" shouts Aomine.

"If…If I'm not suited for basketball, then there's nothing I can do…" Kuroko smiles ruefully, "I don't want to hinder anyone."

"Don't listen to that Midorima chick." snaps Aomine, "You probably already heard me say it, but: There's no such thing as a useless player. I mean it. I refuse to believe that a person who works their ass off-who practices more than even the goddamn boys' first string-is useless." She places her hands on Kuroko's shoulders, "Heck, you've even inspired me to work harder. To push this team to the nationals. Besides, you won't do yourself a favor if you just give up now." She lets go of her, "Well. You better be there for our one-on-one. I'm gonna hit the showers real quick."

As Aomine leaves, Kuroko takes out a black wrist band out of her uniform pocket and holds it close to her chest.

"It looks like Daiki already gave you words of encouragement." remarks Akashi.

Kuroko does not look up.

"Anyways, I am also inspired by the hours you put into basketball." continues the redhead, "And, there's also something unusual about you. This oddity may be your saving grace."

Kuroko remains silent.

"When I look at you, I don't feel anything. No strength, but no weakness either. Transparent is perhaps the best way to describe it."

"You mean my lack of presence." mutters Kuroko.

Akashi also leans against the wall, "You make it sound like a curse. How I see it…it's your strong point."

The other girl looks at her with quizzed eyes.

Akashi notices the expression, "Ah. Let me explain. I think you have a special skill that can be used to help the team in future games. Kind of like a trump card. You just need to find out what it is. In any case, you will not be a useless player. Not in the least."

"Not in the least…" echoes Kuroko.

Akashi smiles a rare smile, "Exactly. Well. I'm also going to take a shower." Before she leaves, however, she adds, "Oh. And don't think of what I said as hints, but rather, a useful suggestion."

~~())~~

ONE MONTHS LATER…
"HAH?!"

"You got some of the boys' basketball club to play with us?" yells Aomine in disbelief.

Akashi crosses her arms and does the 'lovely spin.' Truth be told, its just a tilt of the head that made the class representative look all the more intimidating, "Technically, it's a joint team comprised of those from both the second and third strings, but yes."

Murasakibara sighs, "Ah, what a pain~."

"Why…?" asks Momoi, "Won't you all be at a disadvantage though?"

Aomine scoffs, "They aren't even the first string. There's nothing to worry about."

Momoi smacks her lightly on the head with his clipboard, "Did I ever tell you that cockiness was one of your downfalls?"

"How did you even talk them into doing something like that-nanodayo?" inquires Midorima.

"I spoke to the captain."

They stare at her. She bribed him…

"So when are they coming?" asks Aomine, overflowing with excitement.

"Ten minutes."

"Eh?! So soon?!"

"B*tch…we're still in school uniform!" growls Midorima. No wonder why you're already in a jersey-nanodayo….

Akashi smiles, "Then get changed." To the team's manager, she instructs, "When I give you the signal, request a player change."

"How will I know the signal?" he asks, confused.

"Oh, you will know."

~~())~~

Aomine's eye twitches, "Are you…kidding me…?"

Midorima pushes up her glasses, "They really don't take us seriously-nanodayo."

"They're so tiny~." mutters Murasakibara.

The team the boys' basketball club gave them to play with are no taller than 175 centimeters, and are skinny as sticks.

Akashi walks by the club's vice-captain and says without looking at him, "Tell your captain that his side of the deal is off."

Sweat trickles down the poor boy's temple, "Yes." He coughs before announcing, "Due to the number of players available, teams will be that of four."

Aomine's scowl deepens, "Yo, Atsushi."

"Okay~."

Midorima cracks a small smile, "Time to 'kick some butt,' as you put it."

Aomine grins, "Heck ya."

The vice-captain, also the referee, blows the whistle and throws the ball up in the air. It doesn't take long for the girls to take control of the ball. Murasakibara is about a head taller than the boy she's against. She smacks it to the other side of the court before the boy can jump for the ball.

Aomine immediately receives it and dribbles it to the hoop, dodging around all who try to block her. One slam-dunk and the first point is theirs. She sneers at the boys, "Come on! Is that all you got?"

From her seat on the bench, Kuroko whispers, "Something isn't right."

Momoi stares at her, "Huh?"
By the end of the first quarter, the score is 11-27.

"The chick in the glasses…" says one of the players between pants, "…does ridiculous three pointers…"

Another wipes his sweat with his jersey, "They're all ridiculously strong…Are they even girls…?"

"We can't loose." argues yet another, "We have too much at stake."

"What are they muttering about~?" asks Murasakibara.

Midorima wipes the sweat from her forehead with the back of her arm, "I have a bad feeling about this-nanodayo…"

By the end of the third quarter, the score is 85-73.

Aomine resists the urge to spit in their faces, "What the…?"

"That's not nice~." grumbles Murasakibara in agreement.

"Shit." growls Midorima, "They're desperate. That's why they're playing so f*ing dirty. That b*stard should have been thrown of the court already-nanodayo. He fouled on Aomine six times, for crying out loud!"

"We're going to be the first string, darn it!" one of the main players yells, confirming the girls' suspicions.

"F*ck." curses Aomine, "Not only did they send us weak shits. They sent us desperate weak shits." She sways slightly. And I hate to admit….but I'm getting a bit light-headed…

For some reason, Momoi feels a chill run down his spine. He looks up to see Akashi looking at him intently.

She wasn't joking when she said that I'll know…

"Player change for the girls!"

Kuroko and Akashi stare at each other for a heartbeat. Akashi nods slightly, "I await to see your performance."

The petite girl walks up to her teammates and looks them straight in the eye, "I…discovered…that I am a shadow. Therefore, I need your help. Please lend me your light."

Aomine laughs, "I have no idea what that meant, but let's beat these sons of b*tches."

"Do you think you can get me the ball?" asks Kuroko.

The blue-haired girl grins as she uses her jersey to wipe the sweat from her face, "Uh, yeah. They might play dirty, but its still like taking candy from a baby."

The game restarts and one of the male players looks around frantically, "Hey…Where's my mark?"

Aomine already has control of the ball and glances around for Kuroko, all the while keeping the ball away from the opposing side. She clicks her tongue and mutters under her breath, "Even on the court that chick is invisible…" Then, out of the corner of her eye, she sees a familiar head of light blue hair. Immediately, she passes it to her.

Midorima doesn't know that the ball is heading her way until it nearly hits her in the face, "Oi! At least warn me-nanodayo!"

"Shoot, you idiot!" yells Aomine. She also doesn't know what's going on, but what she does know is that no one is blocking the green-haired girl at the moment.

"Tch. You don't have to tell me-nanodayo…" grumbles Midorima.

"S-shit!" exclaims one of the opposing players.

"Where did the ball even come from?!"

After the shot makes it in, Midorima whips around to face Aomine, "And who are you calling an idiot, huh, idiot-nanodayo!?"

"You're the one who stood there like an idiot with the ball in her hands!" retorts Aomine.

"You wore the same expression I did! Be quiet-nanodayo!"

"Hey~." scolds Murasakibara, "Stop fighting~."

The two girls glare at her, "Stay out of this."

"Please go back to defense." requests Kuroko as she runs by, "They have the ball now."

The bickering pair freezes. Where did she come from…?

A smile slowly crosses Akashi's lips as she watches the events that are unfolding on the court, "Interesting. So she took that route."

Momoi takes a quick peak at the clock before asking, "What do you mean? And what just happened out there?"

"Misdirection." replies Akashi, "It's like a magic trick. One averts the other person's attention while doing something else, or something like that. It's even more effective on the court because the basketball moves around so frequently. While your eyes and gestures suggest one thing, you actually execute some other maneuver instead."

"Wait…so you're saying that…" Momoi trails off. He can't help but look at the scoreboard again: 90-88. A little over two minutes left for the quarter.

"She encourages the other players to focus on anything but her. Where the ball is…which player she is going to pass to….Thus, Testuya-kun diminishes whatever presence she has even further, becoming a phantom of sorts to those on the court." confirms Akashi.

"Is that what you told her to do?"

Akashi shakes her head, "No. I merely guided her down the right track. How she chose to take the suggestions was entirely up to her."

"Amazing." mutters Momoi, "Aomine is already adjusting to Tetsu's basket. They're an incredible duo…At this rate, we might win." A scowl slowly forms on his friendly features, "Or maybe not…"

"We're not letting you score!" growls the male team's ace, "We may not know where the scrawny one is, but we can block the heck out of the person she passes to the most!"

Aomine grits her teeth. She stole the ball, but she's walled in. The sad part is, it is only two people. The even sadder part? If she holds the ball any longer, it'll be considered traveling. Her eyes dart frantically to whoever is open. Kuroko, obviously, but she's too far away. Midorima's a no. She takes in a deep breath and jumps.

"Atsushi!"

The ball is up in the air in a beautiful arch and lands almost exactly into the hands of Murasakibara. From there, the tall girl takes it straight down the court.

"S-shit!" one of the boys grit his teeth and tries to knock the ball out of her hands, "Oh, no you don't."

Murasakibara stares at him with disgust before making a backward pass to Kuroko.

As Aomine struggles to get through the defense, she yells, "Shoot, Tetsu!" Then she remembers how she had to save a shot that didn't look like going in, "Actually, never mind!" She grits her teeth as she tries to outmaneuver her foes, "Tetsu!" Shit. Atsushi is open again…but what we need right now is a three pointer!

Time seems to slow down as Kuroko decides who to pass the ball to. Her eyes slide over to Murasakibara and is about to pass when an opposing player appears in front of her, "That ball is mine, little b*tch."

The petite girl says nothing in reply; she just passes the ball in the opposite direction, back toward their side of the court. The boy's eyes widen in surprise. What…!? How?!

Aomine grins. They were so busy worrying about getting the ball they forgot about following their mark.

One heartbeat later, Midorima has the ball and prepares for the shoot.

"She's going to aim for a three from all the way back there?!"

Momoi rises to his feet and takes a quick glance at the clock. Only six seconds left.

Five seconds: The ball leaves Midorima's hands.

Four seconds: The ball flies high into the air in a calculated arch.

Three seconds: The ball makes the descent.

Two seconds: The ball approaches the hoop

One second: The ball goes straight in.

Zero seconds: The buzzer sounds.

92-93

Everyone stares at the scoreboard in shock. Aomine; however, is the first one to recover.

"We won!"


In general, I suck at describing action-y scenes. If you have read any of my more serious fanfics, you would know…If there are any good examples out there, please, hook me up with a link!