Chapter 1

Kagami growled as he missed his next shot. It was not like him to miss, but then again, it was not like him to be practicing alone. How long has it been since Kuroko had left? Around three weeks maybe…almost a month now, today.

He growled again as he grabbed the ball and bounced it on the floor. "It's not working!" he snarled as he squeezed the ball in his hands. Though Kuroko was not a powerful shooter, nor was he a perfect defender either, Kagami felt happier and more fulfilled when he played one on ones with Kuroko. Imagining Kuroko defending him was not like the real thing. It was just not working.

He missed Kuroko terribly and no one in the team could replace that invisible support he held for him on and off court. What was worse was that no one in the team, heck no on in school knew where he was!

Just like that Kuroko had disappeared from Seirin completely, none of his classmates, even his teachers knew where he was. When Kagami went to check his apartment, it was empty, totally deserted, like no one had stayed there for a few months now. For someone who disappeared in one night, it was just incredible and disturbing how quickly Kuroko disappeared. Now, in hindsight, Kagami was annoyed that he had insisted they sleep over at his place ALL the time because it was more spacious. Now he had no idea how long Kuroko's place was like this.

"Damn it Tetsu, where are you?!" he growled as he slammed the ball hard on the street court so hard that it bounced away from where he was playing.

"Shit,.." he grumbled as he went to get it, he was clearly frustrated. His frowning brows were more furrowed than usual.

The balled rolled away and the tall freshman cursed as he had to follow it …until it was stopped by someone's foot.

"Hey thanks …." He said as he looked up and his eyes widened when he saw that it was Himuro. "Tatsuya?" he asked surprised when he saw his friend and basketball brother from the USA.

"Yo," Himuro smiled as he waved at Kagami. "I thought I'd find you here, practicing in your shirt and shorts even when winter is still in full swing." Kagami was such a basketball head, it was as if the freezing temperatures were not affecting him at all.

"This isn't close to Yosen at all, what are you doing here?" Kagami asked as he picked up the ball and noticed that Himuro was not looking at him, and the other male was instead peeking behind Kagami as if looking for something. "What are you looking for Tatsuya?"

"Where's Kuroko?" Himuro finally asked as he couldn't find the shorter Seirin player anywhere near Kagami.

"What you heard too? Are you here to rub it to my face that he's no where to be found?" Kagami grumbled.

Himuro blinked and then frowned slightly at that new information. "So he disappeared too huh?"

This time Kagami's interest was piqued. "Too? What do you mean too?"

Himuro shrugged. "Atsushi's gone, no one can find him, just like that." He sighed and shook his head. "I came here to ask Kuroko about it, if he knew where Atsushi would be. But he's not here either.

Kagami frowned more than his usual frown. "When did he disappear?"

"Three weeks ago."

Kagami's eyes widened slightly and then he resumed frowning. "That's about the same time that Tetsuya disappeared too."

Now it was Himuro's turn to look surprised. "Do you think…. " he frowned slightly as well and turned his heel. "Let's go see Kise or Midorima, they would probably know if something is up."

"If something was up you think they'd tell us?" Kagami asked as he followed after Himuro, his gym bag slung over his shoulder. "Those Generation of Miracles guys have pride, and a world of their own. They won't say anything even if they knew it."

"Around me no, but around you they probably would," Himuro said softly as they walked.

"Eh? Me? I think you got that wrong Tatsuya."

Himuro chuckled and shook his head. "I think I got it right. You have their respect. You showed them that the Generation of Miracles was not unbeatable. And I think everyone respects you as someone on the same level."

"Tsk, whatever gave you that idea huh? Respect my ass."

Himuro chuckled. He knew it and the rest of the guys who went against Kagami knew it. If Kagami had been in Japan during the time of the GoM, he probably would be one of them instead of being a no-namer. He was that talented. He looked at his younger brother of sorts and shook his head. Kagami had no idea how talented he was.

The rest of the way to Kaijo was not that far, but the trip towards it was a silent one. Both Himuro and Kagami were thinking of possible reasons why both Kuroko and Murasakibara had gone missing on the same day.

They both arrived at Kaijo, both silent but with similar grim expressions on their faces. And it quickly changed into surprise when they heard a loud "Damn it!" from the direction of the basketball court.

Quickly exchanging glances, the two boys ran towards the basketball court only to find Takao with his fist slammed against the wall of the court. And right in front of him was Kasamatsu, the captain of the Kaijou basketball team.

"Calm down," Kasamatsu said, putting his hand on Takao's shoulder. As he did so, he caught sight of both Himuro and Kagami and the Kaijou sophomore's brows furrowed. He said something to Takao and the Shutoku player lifted his arm and turned to look at the direction Kasamatsu was looking towards and his eyes widened.

"What are you two doing here?" Takao asked as he looked at Himuro and Kagami.

"We could ask the same," Himuro said softly as he smiled at the two other boys. "You're not from Kaijo either."

Kasamatsu looked at Himuro and Kagami and said in a low tone, "With you two here, is it safe to assume that both Kuroko and Midorima have disappeared as well?"

"Ah," Himuro replied as he nodded his head.

"So they disappeared without telling you anything either?" Kagami asked, his hand clutching the strap of his gym bag tighter. What the hell was going on?

"Then this is indeed troubling," Kasamatsu grumbled. "I would understand if Aomine disappeared, but Kuroko, Midorima, Murasakibara, and Kise would not disappear without saying anything to us four," he said as his brows furrowed and Takao let out a curse.

"Shin chan won't ever go away without telling me about it," Takao hissed. "And I'm sure Kuroko would never disappear without telling Kagami anything."

"He apologized when he left, and didn't explain anyhing," Kagami said grimly. "That's what has me worried. Why would he apologize?"

"Wait…." Himuro turned to look at Kagami. "He told you that he was leaving?!"

"Yeah," Kagami replied as he scratched the back of his head. Of course he couldn't tell them ALL the details of circumstances when Kuroko had told him, there was no way he was gonna tell them all that they were sleeping together. "He said it in a rush too, we were practicing when he got a call," he lied. "And he had to leave so quickly. He couldn't tell me why, he just apologized about it and left."

At this the three other boys looked at each other with a worried expression.

"That's our first clue then," Kasamatsu said as his brows furrowed in thought.

"Our clue to what?" Takao asked in an exasperated manner. "Shin chan would never disappear without telling me anything! And that Kuroko would not tell Kagami why he was leaving is another red flag! It's not a clue, it's like a bad omen!"

"I wonder if Aomine kun has disappeared as well? If he has then we might have a bigger problem in our hands…why did all the players from Teiko's Generation of Miracles disappear and all without any indication why?" Himuro concluded as he placed his thumb on is chin, deep in thought. "Do you think they're being targeted by someone? Someone with a grudge maybe?"

Takao and Kagami immediately looked alarmed. But Kasamatsu shook his head. "That would exclude Kuroko kun, he's too mild mannered to have triggered someone's ire."

"Kasamatsu's right," Himuro said as he crossed his arms.

"So for now all we can do is wait, we don't know what happened to them and no one else does either. Not the teachers, not anyone in the teams, no one," Kasamatsu sighed.

"K'so!" (1) Takao growled as he punched the wall hard.

Kagami frowned and looked up into the clear sky. What had happened to the GoM (2) members? Why did they all disappear like that? And why had Kuroko not tell him anything?

...

There were no more tournaments after the Winter cup, and with the warmth that Spring brought were new changes to the teams. The seniors had finally moved on, deciding to hang up their jerseys and pass on knowledge now that they all had to concentrate on college exams.

Time flew by so fast, within months final exams were over and soon it was summer vacation.

But for the many teams that had gone through a tough Winter tournament, summer was just the perfect opportunity to get stronger and better. Without any exams looming over them, they were all able to focus solely on basketball.

Of course, Seirin, Shutoku, Kaijo, Yousen, Touou, all of them were suffering from the loss of all the GoM members, even Rakuzan. And summer was just the time to try and make up for that gap they all had left behind. The gap was wide, but they all had to make do because up until now no one had any idea where the Generation of Miracles were, and what they were doing.

Kagami, Himuro, Takao, and Kasamatsu found the time to try and investigate and look for the GoM members. It's been months but until now they found no trace of them all. It was worrying and really frustrating… there was more than friendship between them and their respective partners, and to be kept in the dark was more than frustrating for them all. It has not affected their basketball, it has even made them stronger if their coaches were asked. But after basketball, it was hard for them to bond with their teams, having to spend each free time they had to look for those that were missing.

Spring was supposed to be a time when there were no tournaments, and when everyone was preparing for the InterHigh during the Summer. But on the second month of spring everyone was in for a surprise.

Each of the coaches got a personal invitation to an exclusive tournament organized by the same organizers of the Winter Cup. It was a per invite tournament only though and only teams that were included in the Winter Cup were allowed to participate. The tournament was not much of a surprise, since there are some non official and official tournaments that pop out every now and then aside from the Winter and InterHigh tournaments.

What surprised everyone more than anything though...was that there was one school that was added to the many schools in the tournament. One school that no one had ever gone against before, not yet, and not at full force.

Teiko High School.

Chapter 1 - end

...

Author's notes

Seriously, don't tell me that I'm the only one who wonders whatever happened to the basketball club of Teiko high school? Everyone leaves Teiko Middle to go to different high schools and there is no mention of Teiko high school ever ^_^ so I guess everyone now has an idea where all the GoM members are now? :D Please don't kill me for it, I'll try to develop the characters and build up the emotions. I promise angst :D hehe

I know it's shorter than the prologue, but that's because I didn't want to cram all the ideas in here.

Next chapter focuses on the GoM members, look forward to it :3

(1) Kso = damn!/Shit!

(2) GoM = Generation of Miracles