AN: Merry New Year Minna-sama~! Here's part one of my (late) Christmas and New Year update. Sorry if it's a bit late, I had too much fun this Christmas- How 'bout you? Anyway, here it is.

Warnings: Cursing and some sensitive topics, typos and grammar mistakes

Disclaimer: Kuroko no Basuke and its characters does not belong to me, the OC's do. Although... Nevermind. /shot

Chapter III: Golden Prince

The smell of ale, perfume, cigarettes and tobacco-
He had always hated it.

Home...
There wasn't anything like that for him.

Six years old of age and an only child, his mother works as a prostitute and is often away from home; or if she is- There was always a man beside her. Ryouta inherited his mothers looks, blonde hair, golden eyes and flawless skin, but he hated everything about it. A few times he was almost abducted to be sold off as a slave but he knew he had to learn to fight for himself for his mother doesn't.

His mother had always treated him indifferently. She treats him as a burden, a mistake; so she usually just lets him be of sometimes acts like he wasn't there. It hurt, he had no one to lean on, no one to share his thoughts with, and no friends because the kids around the town treats him as the son of a dirty slut.

Staring blankly out the window was Ryouta's usual activity; if not running errands from the town to earn money so that he could eat. It was 7'o clock in the evening and his mother was still out, not that he's worried or whatever. She's been gone for two days- Heck, she even disappears for a week without leaving any money.

"How boring." he mumbles with a sigh

Giggling and sound of shoes being thrown was heard just outside their door made Ryouta roll his eyes in annoyance. Obviously, his mother brought a man home again. Just like she had always did, he walked to the door to see the man, but he made sure to maintain a certain distance.

The two adults were too busy in their own world to notice the glaring blonde who was just a few feet in front of them.

The man was first to notice, he stopped kissing the blonde woman and stared curiously at the boy.

"Hey, who is this?" the man directed the question at the woman but his eyes were still glued to the boy

"Oh, him? Don't mind him, let's go upstairs and continue."

Ryouta's eyes twitched.

"Is he your son?" the man's hands dropped to his sides causing the other to grumble

Ryouta looked at his mother who was obviously irritated, after the man's questions he noticed that the woman's eyes visibly widened before she sighed and was a about to answer a n-

"Yes, I am." Ryouta mischievously declared

Now his mother looked very irritated. Judging by the man's looks, he was wearing an elegant white garb which was made form the finest silk, and he didn't look like those past men that were like the drunkards you see in pubs; he was definitely of high status. But there was something from the man that Ryouta finds... Frightening.

"I see, I see! May I know your name lad?" the man strode towards Ryouta; ignoring the woman he was making out with and crouched down to his eye level. His mother stood frozen rage palpable in her golden irises

"Who are you?" Ryouta returns the question

The man gave an amused laugh

"Pardon me. I am Izanagi Kokatsu, you are?"

"Ryouta."

"Mm. Say, Ryouta, would you-"

"Kokatsu, how long are you going to keep me waiting~?" the blonde woman teasingly says that broke their earlier conversation

"Ah! Excuse me!" the man teases back. He stood up and turned to walk to the blonde woman, the smirk from the man's lips did not escape Ryouta's eyes.

It was almost a month since his mother brought Izanagi Kokatsu, it seems that he and his mother now have a steady relationship, not that they openly display their relationship; but it was disturbing that they return at least two times a week in the middle of the night and do their late night activities. It was a nightmare for Ryouta.

Little did he know that it was only the beginning...

One night, his mother returned alone. Ryouta somehow felt the urge of approaching his mother, it was weird and somewhat eerie.

"Neh, where is he?" he asks

His mother's head was cast down, her locks covering her eyes, Ryouta didn't know whether she was angry or dejected; either way, it bothered him.

"Ryouta, pack your things." she orders bluntly

Ryouta blinked in confusion with slight annoyance.

"Why...?"

"Just pack your things." his mother repeats

"...Why should I follow you?" he asks in a harsh tone

"JUST DO IT!"

Ryouta flinched. He couldn't see his mother's expression. He complied robotically before hearing their front door open before closing once again. He continued his actions but he could hear a muffled conversation downstairs. After packing a few of his clothes and some important items, he strapped up his inventory sack on his right shoulder and went downstairs, he was greeted by none other than Izanagi Kokatsu.

"Good day Ryouta!"

Ryouta raised a brow. He continued his calculated steps before stopping in the middle of the adults.

"What's going on?" Ryouta seethed

"Ryouta."

The latter looks at his mother questioningly.

"From now on this is not your home," his mother mumbles but it was enough for him to hear "You are to go with him."

"Wait! What do you mean I am to go with him?!"

"Exactly as your mother said Ryouta, she had a huge debt that she couldn't pay. And-" Izanagi explains but was ignored by the lad

"YOU SOLD ME?!"

The woman remained silent

"How... How could you?! After all these time, you never really cared did you?!"

"Come, Ryouta." the man was now dragging Ryouta on his arm.

"Don't touch me!" he bellowed as he flailed in the man's grip "COLD-HEARTED BITCH! YOU LOWLIFE!"

His mother still had her back faced at him. Not once did his mother turned to look at him, tears started to pool in his eyes, but it never fell.

"I HATE YOU! I wish I never had you for a mother!"

At first he thought that the man would simply take him to his place, but he ended up being sold as a slave. Apparently he was a handsome price because he had the looks, but it didn't deter him to not fight back. He was beaten up, tortured and there were even instances that his chastity was almost lost; he was broken. He even crossed to the point where he wanted to end his dear life, but there was something unknown that prevented it.

So that night, the night where many lives were lost and ashes covered the grounds- It was the night of his salvation. During the chaos, he managed to slip out of the slave traders when the flat they were kept in was hit by a burning arrow. Many were unfortunate, they were buried deep in the rubble along with some slave traders. A twisted smile crept up to his face as he watched every flat that they were kept in, burning.

After the long hours of battle, Ryouta scavenged the town for food or belongings that he could sell, he was digging from rubble to rubble to find something; then, a glint across the village street caught his eyes. As disturbing as it sounds, a corpse's hand was sticking out of the burnt rubble and it wore a gold bracelet. Hurriedly, Ryouta carelessly crossed the street and the next thing he knew was a stallion almost flattening him.

He stood there frozen because of the shock when the horse neighed violently.

"Do you wanna die that badly, boy?!" a soldier bellows

Ryouta remained silent and stared at the group of men in awe, it was the first time he had seen knights up close, but that didn't matter, he was starving so much that he couldn't think straight anymore, the last time he ate was four days ago, anymore than that and he knew he'll die. The boy desperately begged them for food but the soldiers looked at him with disgust, some in pity. But there was one knight who bothered to give him a piece of bread, he gladly took it and gobbled it up like a hungry wolf.

"It's okay, that's all yours." the man chuckles

Ryouta shyly looked at the knight.

"Hey, mister. Thanks..." he mumbles between bites

"Your'e welcome."

The boy continued to eat, afterwards the man gave his gourd to the boy to let him drink.

"Shougo!" a mightly voice called on his steed

"My Lord." he faces the man and kneels

"May I ask why you are taking your time?"

"Forgive me my Lord,"

"It's fine." the King went down his horse and walked his way to the boy behind his knight. He stared at the boy who was confused and at the same time, overwhelmed by the King's presence, not that he knew that, that was the King.

"Young lad, what is your name?"

"K-Kise Ryouta..." he meekly answers

The older man scrutinized the boy and found him very thin, his legs had broken cuffs on them and a purple bruise was present indicating that it was on for quite a long time now. Nijimura shifted his gaze to Shougo before sighing fondly

"I see."

"Shougo, bring Ryouta to the camp immediately and tend to his wounds, remove those horrid chains off and give him something to wear." the King then turned to leave, the soldiers following suit.

Shougo shot his head to the King which was responded with a nod. Shougo then turned to Ryouta whose eyes were wide like saucers.

The knight smiled and placed his hand on the boy's shoulder.

"It's okay. Your'e in good hands now."

The boy nodded and let his head hung down to hide the tears falling from his golden orbs.

As you have noticed, in this AU, Kise was adopted earlier than Aomine. I think it was more appropriate. They are still of the same age by the way, except Aomine was taken in at the age of nine while Kise was eight. Shougo took pity on Ryouta because he too experienced being a slave. When Nijimura was still a prince his men raided the dungeon they were kept in and was taken in by him; from then on he swore to protect Nijimura and stay by his side until his last breath. I wanted to cut him some slack, he was always the bad guy. ;_; Poor bby.

Anyway, rate and review~
Happy Holidays!