Series: Kuroko no Basket
Genre: Angst, Family
Rating: PG-13/T
All original characters belongs to Fujimaki Tadatoshi. OC characters belong to me. Contains some OOCness.
Momoi walked him to the kindergarten. When they reach their goal she kissed him on the forehead and waved him goodbye. Then went to her work.
He was all alone. He sighed and clapped his cheeks with his palms.
It was 6 a.m. because Satsuki was going early to her work. Uncle always saw him off at about 8 a.m. He was sometimes that early, and always had same problem.
He yawned and turned around.
Maybe he should just sleep somewhere...
Taiga woke up at 3 p.m. In zombie-like mode he went to the bathroom to take a quick shower. He was sweaty from yesterday's hard work and he didn't want to scare people with his smell.
"I must compensate him for this..." He whispered to himself looking at the clock at the same time.
The man took his bag and grabbed the car keys.
He turned off the engine and went out. The weather was cold even though the sun was shining. He huffed and tightened his clothes around himself to get some cover from the wind.
He walked to the front door and then got near the reception desk.
"I'm here to take Retsuki..." He put his elbows on the desk.
The dark-haired woman from behind the counter looked at him. He didn't know her.
Maybe it was her first day at the job?
"Retsuki... Kuroko-kun?" She asked tilting her head slightly.
He nodded.
"And you are Kagami Taiga-san...?" She questioned looking through some papers before her eyes.
"Yes..."
After awhile of revising her documents the woman looked at him.
"Please wait a moment..." She stood, bowed and vanished in the door behind her leading to the official section of the kindergarten.
Kagami didn't wait too long before he heard a loud shout. He would recognize this voice anywhere so he smiled.
"Uncle!"
The little boy ran to him with beaming eyes and a smile on his lips.
"Oi Retsuki, how ya doin'?!" He picked him up and threw him into the air.
The boy's blue hair waved in the air.
"Good!" He then put him down on the floor.
The taller one hunched down in front of his charge. He felt somewhat guilty. It was his job to take care of him, but...
"Sorry I couldn't take you home yesterday. I had something to do at work..." His words were a little quieter than usual. He had done it to him so many times.
The boy blinked but smiled anyway.
"Don't worry. I know you must do it..." Retsuki said.
But it wasn't right. Something in his mind was blocking it. Like he shouldn't do it.
"So to compensate I'm taking you to the restaurant..."
"Res... Ah Koga-restaurant?" His eyes glittered, although something looked like it was holding him back. "Yup"
He knew that it didn't make up for every fault. But he must try.
They went out, got into the car and started to ride.
On the parking lot there were few cars.
The restaurant was called "Magnolia". It was an old building made from stone. In the front of it there were many pots with colorful flowers. In the windows hung violet curtains. But the most eye-catching thing in this restaurant was the sign-board. Words were written in the old ways. Next to it was a magnolia flower drawn with crayons. It gave a nice feeling to customers.
They walked in.
Some tables were occupied by families, but there were still some free seats. Voices of people ringed in their heads.
"Good evening!"
Somebody behind the counter looked at them and showed his toothy smile.
"Kagami, Retsuki!" the man shouted and left the plate which he was cleaning and jumped over the counter and ran to them.
"Yo, Koganei-sempai..." Taiga scratched the back of his head.
"Konbanwa Koganei-san" Restuki bowed. He was always so polite.
This man was smaller than the redhead. He had a cat-like smile plastered on his face and always had happy eyes. His dark brown hair wasn't very styled. He wore a black waiter uniform with a white apron on his hips.
The man pointed at them and furrowed his eyebrows a little bit.
"Tch, tch, tch... not Koganei-san... Just Koga..." He shook his finger in the air.
"But, I..."
He would feel so weird around adults when he couldn't call them with proper honorifics. It's not that he didn't acknowledge them to his closest environment. He really did. But his inside voice still told him to be polite.
"Koganei-san is so official. I feel like an old man." Shinji looked a little bit down. His eyes were somehow sad.
"Or just Koga-san?" Retsuki asked with hint of hope in his voice.
Koganei blinked and suddenly laughed. He swabbed tears from his eyes.
"Yup, this is better..."
After that he turned to the taller man.
"And... I'm not your sempai, stop calling me that!"
Here we go again...
"But I can't call you differen..." Kagami started to excused himself. It was true, he was used to call everyone by their old names.
Koganei opened his mouth to say something, but a yell coming from kitchen cut him off.
"Oi Koga, take the customers to their seats!"
Everyone in the restaurant jumped and looked around.
"Ah roger, master!"
He breathed a sigh of relief. The brunette looked at them with a spark in his eyes.
"Near the window?"
"Yes." They beamed together.
That was their beloved place. From there they could watch the streets and people in them. They sometimes commented their hastiness or just had compassion when someone on the other side didn't pick up the phone. From this seat the world was always the same, like it never changed apart from its seasons.
He took the menu and lead them to the table in the corner with puffy dark pink sofas on which they sat.
"Here is your menu!"
They took it.
"I'll be back in a bit!"
"Okay!"
And then the man walked off to the counter to allow others customers to pay for their meals.
Retsuki waved his legs in the air. They didn't touch the floor.
"Nee... uncle..?" He started looking at him.
"Hm..." He didn't pull his eyes away from the opened menu.
What should he do? Lately he felt a little left behind. Taiga started to have more emergencies, and Momoi picked him up many times. He didn't mind, but...
From since he could remember, Kagami was always the closest person to him. He was like a parent he didn't have. He just need a simpler topic.
"Tell me something about Mama!"
Retsuki asked that so many times. It links them together every time, never failing.
Kagami smiled and put the menu away.
"Again? I told you about Mommy just two days ago..."
Even if he sounded like he was complaining he actually wasn't. Maybe it sounded weird coming from him but he could talk about it all night.
"But I want to hear more." Ocean-colored irises brightened and his cheeks turned pink with excitement.
"Why don't you ask the others?" He grinned.
The blue-haired boy blinked and suddenly lost all his cheerfulness. His arms fell down the same way his look did.
"I can't..." He whispered not staring into his eyes.
Something was on his mind. Kagami knew it.
The red head put his chin on his palm.
"Why?"
"'Cause..."
Someone suddenly approached them and put his palms on the table.
"So, what do you want to order?" Asked Koganei, looking at both of them.
Kagami quickly opened the menu and glimpsed at the options.
Retsuki looked at the window. He was biting his lower lip.
"Maybe the same as always?"
The boy nodded not taking his eyes from the running man at the other side of the glass.
"Okay, two big pizzas with bacon and tomato..." Koga smiled and yelled, turning his head in the direction of kitchen. "Two Rimario for table 3!"
"Okay!" Somebody answered from the kitchen.
The brunette turned and went to the counter humming some song under his breath.
Taiga sighed.
"So... why can't you ask someone else?"
He needed to end this topic. It was his duty, but he cared for this kid. He didn't like to see that sad face.
"When..." Retsuki started.
"Hmm?"
"Once, when I asked Midorima-ji, he then... suddenly turned... and... said he knew I gonna ask about it... b-but... his voice was... somehow... different..."the bluenette stuttered on his word, like he didn't know how to make a proper sentence.
Taiga frowned. He should have known it.
"And then he turned to me... and smiled... but not as happy as before..."
"And..."
"And I didn't ask him anymore..."
Lately Retsuki started to ask others about his Mom. Until now his questions about family were few and far in between. But lately he questioned it more and more. It didn't disturb him, but what were others thinking... Especially Midorima...
He turned to the window. Maybe Retsuki just misunderstood it. He knew Shintarou was a tsundere and weirdo, but...
"Here are your pizzas!"
The dinner appeared on their table like from the touch of a magic wand.
"Have a good meal!"
Kagami took the knife and cut the pizza. He put then one slice on Retsuki's plate.
"Eat..." He murmured.
The boy took a fork and a knife. There was silence between them while they ate. Very heavy atmosphere. Only a ringing sound of forks hitting the plate and people talking in the restaurant.
Taiga sighed for n-th time this day.
"You know..."
The boy raised his head.
"Midorima is very hard to understand... But... I think he.." Kagami scratch his cheek with finger "...loved your Mama from the bottom of his heart as a friend. That's why he acted like that..." He breathed hard in and out and opened his eyelids to look at the kid "...when you asked about Mama he just remembered some old memories."
The boy lowered his head and slowly his eyes filled with tears. He tightened his grip on the cutlery.
"But I think... he wanted to tell you..." He murmured slowly respiring.
His eyes grew a new light and blinked.
"R-really?" In his voice was so much hope.
"Yes. It's gonna help him..."
He didn't have to carry on, even if he wanted to.
The bluenette smiled.
Looking at that face brought back memories and Kagami caught himself thinking about someone else. But he couldn't help himself. They were so similar in the end.
"It helped you too, uncle?"
He paused for awhile in his eating and looked at the ceiling thinking about what to answer.
"Yes, 'cause I remembered how amazing your Mama was" He finally said and beamed. It was all true.
"Whatcha talking about?"
They jumped a little. Koga leaned on their sofas with a catlike smile playing on his lips.
Retsuki put the pizza in his mouth, which was lying untouched on his plate till now.
"About Mama" He grumbled between his munching.
Koga sat next to him and took one slice.
"About Mama…" He licked his lips after he swallowed one bite.
"Your mama was just amazing..."
"In what kind of way?"
"Every!" Answered Shinji making circles with his hands in the air.
The boy pouted.
"That's not an answer!" He replied.
Kagami laughed.
"Koga-sempai means that your Mama was a nice person" He said between still laughing.
"Yup, very kind and veeeery silent..." the brunette took a finger to his chin "Ah, and always scared us!"
That was surprising for the boy.
"How?" There was fire in his eyes.
"His appearance. It was so hard to see your Mom..." Complained Koga.
Kagami grinned from ear to ear.
"That reminds me of old times..."
There was silence, but in a different way. Everyone was smiling and Retsuki couldn't guess why.
The smallest one took another piece and put it in his mouth chewing on it slowly.
"So sempai, how is your life?"
"Ah good~" he said winking.
"And how about~?" Kagami showed him his ring finger.
Shinji's face in one moment turned into a bright red one. It looked like his eyes were spinning.
"Still beautiful as always~" He mumbled scratching the back of his head and with a stupid smile plastered on his face he started to scout the restaurant.
"You took the final step?" an evil smirk played on the redhead's mouth.
"Nah, not yet... I don't know how her parents are gonna react to it..."
If possible Kogane's face went into a vermillion red.
Let's go further with the teasing.
"You gonna get old if you don't ask her hand~" He said in a cheerful voice.
"Which hand?"
They turned to the girl that appeared in front of them all.
"Don't tell your parents about..."
Koga slapped a hand on Retsuki's mouth not wanting to slip in another word.
A big man glared from the kitchen door. Everyone trembled in the restaurant like the temperature went down a lot and very fast, but it didn't.
The girl blinked looking at them with an obvious lack of understanding in her eyes but smiled. She then bowed to the customers.
"Good to see you again Kagami-san, and hello Retsuki-kun"
The boy drank his cola and after that he bowed a little.
"Konbanwa~"
She smiled and then showed her big green eyes. Like leafs in spring. Fresh and vigorous.
"How is kindergarten?"
"Good!"
"Next year are you going to school?"
"Yup, Horiyama elementary school! And then..."
She listened to him with pure joy.
Matsuki Toriyama was kind, silent, a little bit private, but just looking at her pure face made her trustworthy. She had middle long hair the color of wheat. She was the only child of the owner of this restaurant, so she was making her best to work hard at this job. She was 5 years younger than Shinji and going out with him for 3 years already! After he proclaimed about their relationship everyone congratulated him (which wasn't very nice) and told her about feeling sorry for her for having this useless boyfriend. She laughed and said that she didn't mind.
Finally all of Seirin incited Koganei to propose to her. He turned red in that moment, but everyone knew better - he was thinking about it.
"Ah! I totally forgot! You can come visit us Friday! I invited everyone from the Seirin team for coffee." Suddenly Shinji shifted.
Taiga looked up and raised his eyebrow.
"Everyone?"
"Hyuuga and Riko will be there too. With Amane of course!" The older one grinned.
"Ahh, she's so big now..."
Taiga looked at the window.
"Yep, so at 5 p.m."
"Okay~" He agreed with no problems. He knew that Retsuki was coming with him too.
The girl just smiled.
"Shinji, why don't we give it to him now?" She asked Koganei while clapping her hands. A tray was under her arm at the right side of her body.
He smiled.
"That's a good idea" he snapped his fingers and turned to looked at the kid "We have a present for you Retsuki!"
"Me?" Boy jumped "Hooray!"
"Okay, come with me for awhile" the woman suggested and waited until the boy got out from his chair. After that the boy looked at his uncle. He smiled.
"Go, I'll just turn on the engine while I wait."
The red-head closed the door of "Magnolia" and took out the keys.
The sky was totally clear. It seems that yesterday's storm drove off all the clouds.
Looking at it made him feel light. Like there were no problems.
But that was a lie.
He opened the door. At the corner of his eyes he saw something. Something was under the windscreen wiper.
He stretched his hand and caught the little paper.
He looked at it.
And crushed it in his palm.
"There you go!"
Retsuki took the box and look over at it. It wasn't small but not that big either. He shook it. Something inside made a quiet noise.
"Thank you very much!" He bowed.
Matsuki just smiled at him and knelt.
"Open it in your room. And don't tell Kagami-san what you got" She touched his nose with her pointing finger.
"Okay I'm not gonna tell!" The boy nodded, not particularly understanding what the older one meant.
She patted his head.
"Let's go!"
The cat-smile man went out of the restaurant. He spotted the other man standing next to his car but not moving. He looked like a stone statue, all his muscles were tense. He could tell just by looking.
"Oi, Kagami!"
He looked at the man's face. Kagami looked angry. He had deep wrinkles on his nose and was biting his lower lip.
Koganei patted his arm.
"What happened?"
The taller one turned and slowly showed him his hand. Then relaxed his fingers.
"This is..." Shinji whispered
On his hand laid a little parking ticket.
But that didn't make his eyes widen.
It was what lay written on the end of the sheet. He knew very well that name.
"What!?"
He looked disbelieving at his friend. Taiga said nothing.
"We're here!"
Both men turned to two people coming out from the building.
"Uncle, I had a present!" he showed him the small box.
Taiga smiled at once. Like the previous situation didn't happen. Like everything was alright.
"That's good!" He tried to sound happy.
The girl stayed silent, looking at her boyfriend with wondering eyes.
The little kid looked up at his uncle. Right into his grinning face.
"What happened?" He asked gazing into the red eyes of the older man.
He blinked then quickly put the paper in his pocket.
"N-nothing important. So, let's go!" He mumbled.
The boy said nothing, he said goodbye to Koga and Matsuki and entered the car, went to the front passengers' seat and put on his belt.
He turned.
"Thanks for the meal. We'll visit you on Friday! See ya!"
"Bye, bye" The said in unison.
Kagami went in as well and then drove off.
The girl stood in front of the door to their workplace, making it impossible to go in.
"What happened?" She asked and she wanted a proper answer. Right now.
Her eyes were open and turned into the dark shade of green Shinji knew that she meant business.
"It's just... the mandate" He gabbled looking at the ground.
She blinked and then slowly, like she didn't want to make any unnecessary moves, walked up to him and took his hands in hers.
"I know... I know..."
The navy blue-haired man took his pad and wrote something on the first page. Then he put it behind the windshield cleaner. He wanted to go forward but stopped and looked to the window of restaurant.
Then he turned and quickly went the same road he walked to here.
"Go change your clothes! I'll make something to drink."
The kid ran fast to his room. He shut his door with a loud bang and knelt on the floor.
He tore the paper right away then opened the box.
Inside were two leg sleeves. The same which they use in basketball. The same which were too expensive. The same which he dreamed about.
"Waah~~!" He whispered.
He took them out to take a good look.
The cloth was elastic and of good quality. Everything was sewed perfect.
He put them on and beamed at the sensation.
He jumped around and did some stretching.
They were just perfect!
"Retsuki!"
He jumped and took them off. He wanted to put them inside but something caught his sight.
From the bottom of box he took a book and looked at the cover.
"Retsuki!"
He couldn't take a good look at it. Kagami was waiting for him so he put the box under his bed, and book under his pillow and ran off.
Retsuki looked behind his bed sheets to see if his uncle had left his room. He was telling him goodnight, like he always did.
He got up and lit the lamp. After that he took the book from under his pillow and opened it on its first page.
Retsuki had always loved reading. When other boys and girl were playing on the playground he was browsing magazines and books for kids. And playing basket of course.
Retsuki didn't know how long he read when his eyes started to slowly close.
Kagami at the same time woke up in the middle of night. He stood up and went to the hall.
He saw a small light coming from the slightly open door from the bluenette's room. He looked in and smiled. Then he walked in on his toes and turned off the lamp.
The man woke up at 7.26 am. He didn't tidy up his bed. He just walked to the toilet and looked at himself in the mirror in the faint light from the old light bulb hanging on the ceiling.
He saw a very tired face. There were dark circles under his eyes. He had very dry skin on his cheeks and lips.
The man washed his hands and then raised his hand to grab the toothbrush.
He then stopped as an old memory assaulted him.
'Daiki, use your own brush...'
'But I like using yours...'
'Mou...'
The man suddenly put down his hand and went out.
He was just gonna have to buy liquid tooth cleaning gel.
"I'm gonna pick you at 4.p.m like always."
"Yup!"
Retsuki waved his hand at Taiga who was going to work now and went in with his kindergarten teacher.
"So go to our room. I'm going to meet the others." Kurika smiled at him and nudged him in the direction of their classroom.
"Okay!"
The boy ran there and opened the door. When he entered he heard shouts and screams of his class. They were playing tag on the soft new carpet.
He pouted and hugged his bag.
All this noise somehow made him a little tired. He wanted to read his book.
"Come play with us, Retsuki!"
A little girl with long black hair caught his hand. He looked at his friend.
"Later..." He smiled and bowed a little.
The girl grinned and went to the others telling about him.
He squeezed his book once again and backed off.
Maybe the fresh air would be better?
He told his mentor about his place. She at first didn't agree but another woman from a different group which was going out right now said she would could take care of him.
Outside he sat on the swing and opened his book.
"Oi Himuro!"
The man with black hair turned to the yelling person.
"Kagami, what'cha doin'? Going to eat lunch?"
Taiga ran to him and stopped to look at his former "brother".
"Yep, wanna go somewhere together?"
Tatsuya smiled.
"Of course. I just need to buy something to drink and we can meet in the park~" He said.
"Okay!" Kagami nodded and turned in another direction.
He went out of the building into the back park. Then he sat down near a tree which was the closest to the building on the ground. Soon, someone sat next to him.
The sun was shining brightly. The few clouds that were swimming on the blue ocean slowly got pushed by a light wind in the air.
"How's your life, Tatsuya?" He bit his bread looking at the people walking in the park and talking to each other.
"Not so bad. And yours?" answered the smaller one unpacking his sandwich.
Some bird sang in the leafs under them.
"Good. How's your health?"
The older one tossed up his bangs laughing.
"It was just the flu. Stop it. I'm not gonna die" His voice was calm as were his narrow dark irises that looked at his friend.
"I just worry about you..." Kagami mumbled under his breath turning to the other side.
The other smiled and patted his friend's back.
"I know! You don't have to worry that much" Himuro waved his hand and took another bite.
"Retsuki has been asking about you all the time."
The black haired man blinked a few times and then covered his mouth with a palm.
"Hehe somehow I feel happy about that~" His voice sounded cheerful.
"He didn't give me enough sleep." Kagami harked
The man laughed this time. He stopped eating and looked at the sky. His eyes closed.
"He was the same..." He mumbled directing his head at the oceanic sky.
Kagami put the bread down and looked in the same direction.
"Yes..."
He didn't want to make him worry. Lately there were many problems on his mind, but telling them here would be meaningless. He must arrange them from the most important to the less. Then he will tell him everything.
"It would be amazing if he were here..."
Listening to the voice of his "brother" make him nostalgic.
Tatsuya could do it. Make him sad and happy at the same time. It was like magic.
He gulped.
"Yeah, I know..."
Then he took another bite and started to munch slowly.
Himura pointed at something on the sky.
"Look, that cloud looks like a dog!"
Kagami smiled a little and indicated another one on his side.
"And that one like a tree!"
Tatsuya knew him too well.
"Retsuki-kun! Your uncle came to pick you up!"
The boy brushed his sore eyes and stood up. He yawned and tiredly stumbled to the front door with Kurika-sensei on his side.
There in the center stood Taiga.
"Hello uncle" He said sleepily.
Kagami stopped writing something in the kindergarten book and looked at him.
"Didn't sleep well?" he asked smiling softly.
"Mhm..."
He brushed his eyes once more.
When they drove home he fell immediately asleep.
Thank you for reading!
Sorry for this long time of waiting. But I have not much time lately.
Great thanks to:
Raphael Argai Thanatos - who is doing amazing job with correcting my fanfiction
Setoshi - the same, and giving me courage to write it.
See You in next chapter!
Thanks everyone!
