And finally the fourth chapter has done.. /faints
I'm sorry for the second and third chapter, I even don't have the idea what was I writing about..
And I'm sorry if this update took so long, because I'm too busy with my assignments..
[Even I write this chapter in the middle of my assignment ._.]

But, who cares about assignments, anyway? :p
And here is the fourth chapter!xD /rise and shine /shot

And as I've told before, the excitement START from here, but the complete is in the fifth chapter.. ;w;
But, I wish that you'll be satisfied with this chapter! :)
.

Thank you for reviewing, following, and adding this fanfiction to your favorite list! :D
I really appreciate them, and if it's not because of your supports, maybe I can't complete this chapter.. ._.

.

Warnings : OOC, grammar errors, pairings not decided (maybe no pairings? :v), MAIN SPOILER TO CHAPTER 236-UPPER!
Disclaimer : I do not own Kuroko no Basket AND the picture. All credits go to Tadashito Fujimaki-sensei and the owner of the picture.
And of course, this fict is mine..xD

.

Genre: Mystery
Rated T just for safety

.

* Happy Reading! *


Chapter 4 : The Beginning of Battle

After buying his weapons, Kuroko hurriedly go to his school. He expected that he will be late, but the truth is he come earlier than his friends. He go to his class and sit on his chair, and begun reading his mystery novel. And yes, when his classmates come, how surprised they are when they see Kuroko sitting in the corner of the class like a ghost. Even he doesn't have a low presence anymore, he still shows around like a ghost.

School ends without trouble or problem, just like the other day. In the break time, he just spend time with Kagami and talk about basketball, as usual as always. This is just a mere ordinary day without any special event.

But, it is different from what Kuroko Tetsuya is thinking about. He thought differently now because of the strange letters. He must stay cautious and watch for the people around him, worrying about the Impostor. Moreover, he can't let down his guard even in his home now, because his Impostor can appear anywhere now.

Kuroko let out a sigh and go to the classroom corridor. There is a basketball practice after school. He must attend the practice or the whole team will be suspicious that there is something happening with him, or even worse, Kagami will report it to Akashi that he doesn't attend practice. Akashi will do anything to find the problem of his beloved former teammate, moreover it's unusual for Kuroko to skip practice because he never practice before. So, he must attend the basketball practice no matter what.

Before the letters arrived, he thought that basketball is the only thing that can cheer him up, just like yesterday. But, after he know that his Impostor can appear anywhere, he thinks that he want to avoid the practice or even his friends as often as possible so his friends' life are not endangered because of his own problem.

"Hey, Kuroko. Let's hurry to the gym! You don't want to make the coach angry, don't you?", Kagami said when he point the clock. It's 12.30, 15 minutes before the practice begin.

"I'm sorry, Kagami-kun. I'm not in a mood to walk faster. If you want, just go ahead from me", the teal head refused politely. Kagami noticed that there is something wrong with Kuroko, so he decide to walk alongside Kuroko.

The two walk in the corridor with an intense silence. The two walk alongside, but it just like the two don't know each other. Kagami doesn't like it, so he decides to break the silence.

"Hey, Kuroko. Have you raised your stamina lately? You're so amazing yesterday, you know. When all the GoMs and me were tired, you looked like you were not tired or anything.", Kagami look at Kuroko, hoping an immediate reply. But, Kuroko just stared blankly at the floor, continue walking as if he didn't hear anything.

"Eh? Do you say something, Kagami-kun?", the smaller boy replied a few seconds after Kagami asked him the question.

"Ah, nothing, Kuroko. Just forget about it."

The two continue walk silently. Kuroko's blank eyes stared at the floor, when Kagami's eyes rolled. He recalls the event from yesterday, after Kuroko went to his home.


- FLASHBACK -

"Hey hey, what's going on? Why do all of you here?", Aomine said to a few of high school students around him. There are Kagami and the GoM except Akashi. They are gathering in an abandoned parking lot in an abandoned building.

"Don't know.~ Aka-chin asked me to go here, so I go..*munch* And when I arrived, there were already Mido-chin and Kise-chin here.~", Murasakibara replied, munching his snacks. Midorima push his glasses up and stare at them sharply.

"Me too. I was summoned here by Akashi. He said that I just have to wait for him here, and that's when I meet Kise first, and then the rest of you come."

"So, we must wait for Akashicchi here? How mean.", Kise whined, standing near Aomine. "I'm the first that came here, and I must wait for him? It's already 9.00 p.m. I'm just too tired.. I wanna quickly go home and sleep!"

"Everyone is tired as well, you know. So, stop your whining.", Kagami pressed Kise's face when he is running to him. "Huee, Kagamicchi! What are you doing to a model's face?!"

Aomine feel annoyed, being surrounded by these annoying people. "Ah, whatever, I'm going ho-"

"Where are you going, Daiki?"

All of them suddenly silent. There is only a sound of whirling wind and a pair of snipping scissors. Aomine slowly turn behind him, revealing a small figure – smaller than him, standing behind him, holding a pair of scissors – a sharp scissors. Aomine feel like he want to cry, run away, or something like that, but he just can't. He is shivering and having a cold sweat, his blood rushing, and he just can't walk.

"I thought that I've told you that you must not leave before I arrived, right?". Once again, a sound of snipping scissors echoed in the parking lot.

The rest of them pray for Aomine's soul to be saved.

"So, what do you want to talk about, Akashi?"

Midorima speak after a few minutes of complete silence. All of them has sit nicely on the ground, except Aomine is thanking God that his life is sparred from death, even his training menu is tripled.

"Well, how about we start chatting about today?", Akashi smirk at them. The rest of them look to each other in confusion.

"What do you mean, Akashi?", Kagami spoke to Akashi, feeling that there is something not right here.

"It seems that you've noticed too, Taiga."

Akashi stand up, looking at the sky. "Do you all notice, that there is something not right with Tetsuya?"

All of them quickly glanced at Akashi. So, it's not just their own feelings, after all. Even Akashi noticed about it, too. Akashi look at them with a cool face.

"Well.. So it's true… I think that it is just my feelings, but so everyone feels that too, huh?", Aomine stand up facing Akashi. He nodded, and turned his head to the rest of the people there. "What do all of you think?"

Kagami, Murasakibara and Midorima stand up. "Well, as you can see, I feel that Kuro-chin is a bit odd today. It seems like he didn't as energetic as he always."

Kise still sit on the ground, and immediately stand up. "I think.. Something is not right with Kurokocchi. It feels like he is really troubled. We must help him!"

"Calm down, Ryouta.", Akashi said with a cold voice. "Listen, do all of you think we must help Tetsuya or just leave him be?"

"Of couse, we must help Tetsu!"

"Or at least, we must investigate his problems. I don't want to do it, but if all of you want to go, then I will go too–nodayo.", Midorima push his glasses again. 'What a tsundere guy!', all of them except Akashi thought.

"So, what's the conclusion, Aka-chin?"

Akashi smirk, and he sit on a chair that appears out of nowhere. "Of course, we will investigate Tetsuya's problem."

All of them smiled. "But, how should we do it?", Kagami asked, breaking the happy moments.

There is an utter silence there, not long until Akashi talk. "I need all of you to accompany Tetsuya, even before, during or after school. Even in his practice. This is unusual, but I have a very bad feeling about this."

All of them gulped. A very bad feeling? If it's Akashi that sense it, then there is a big possibility that it is a worst case scenario.

"But, how about Murasakibara and you? Your house and school are very far from Tokyo, right?", Midorima asked, staring at Akashi.

"Well, I'll think about it later.", he replied. "The point is, Ryouta, Daiki, you'll spend more time with Tetsuya. And Taiga, look after Tetsuya in school. You're the only one best suited for this work."

"Yoosh, I'll do it! I promise that I'll do my work nicely!", Kagami shout, smiled at Akashi. He thinks that this is a chance that he will be closer to Kuroko.

Akashi smile at Kagami, and he turn to Kise and Aomine. "Of course, you will attend Seirin's practice, too."

"Hee? How about our practice then? I don't want Kasamatsu-senpai to get mad at me again!", Kise cried annoyingly. Kagami and Aomine feel like they want to punch Kise, and they have clenched their fists first.

"I'll tell your school, coach and captain that you will be attending Seirin's practice because of some urgent and personal business. You'll have a practice with Seirin from tomorrow afterwards until further notice."

"Okay then..", the blonde head and the blue head replied him.

"Shintarou, you and Atsushi will not join them. Instead, the two of you will wander around Tokyo."

"Huh? Wander around? For what, Aka-chin?", Murasakibara replied. The giant is eating his snacks as well, after a few minutes stopped eating them.

"Of course, so if you encounter Tetsuya, you two won't make him suspicious. But, if the two of you follow Tetsuya like what Daiki and Ryouta do, he will start feeling that there is something that's not right. And then, Atsushi, Shintarou, please keep in contact so the two of you won't run to each other in Tokyo. It will make you two less suspicious."

"Okay then, Akashi/Aka-chin…", both of them agreed simultaneously.

"By the way, what will you do, Akashi?", curiously, Kagami ask Akashi the question. He just smirked and that made Kagami confused.

"You'll know when all of this end. Okay then, all of you, please return to your home. I bet your families are worried about you – well, most of you, though. I wish you a good luck for your own work tomorrow.", Akashi turn and exit the abandoned parking lot. One by one left, only leaving Kagami behind.

'Good luck, huh.. I wonder if it really came from the Emperor's mouth..', Kagami wondered. He start to walk towards the exit when he see a shadow behind a tree in the parking lot.

"Who's there?!", Kagami shouted at the direction. There is no sign of living beings there. 'Must be my imagination..', Kagami thought, quickly go towards the exit.

And unknowingly, a shadow with a bright red eyes are watching them from the beginning of the conversation until the end. He smirked and vanished from the tree.

- FLASHBACK END -


"Kagami-kun, we've arrived."

Kagami snapped out from his memories. He look at Kuroko who's staring at him with a confused look. "Kagami-kun, what are you doing? Why do you seem like you're spacing out?"

Kagami rub his back of head. "Nah, forget it. I'm just remembering something."

Kuroko let out a confused look on his face, but he quickly turn away. Kagami and Kuroko walk towards the gym's door and suddenly Kagami shout at Kuroko.

"Oh no! It's already 12.00 p.m! Let's hurry before coach angry!"

The two quickly go in front of the gym's door and quickly open it. But, they see an unusual scene in front of them.

"Kurokocchi! I miss you!"

A blonde guy run to Kuroko's direction, but Kuroko quickly evade his attack. He fell on the floor hardly and whined.

"Kise, I never thought that you're this stupid before..", a blue head male walk towards the two. "Hey, Tetsu. How are you feeling today?", the teen grin at Kuroko.

"I'm fine, Aomine-kun. Anyway, what are you two doing here?"

Kise quickly stand up and go beside Aomine. "Well, our captains said to us to go to practice match together with Seirin, and we don't know why..", Kise smiled, confused of what should he said. Aomine and Kagami just stare to Kise.

"HEY, FIRST YEARS! CHANGE YOUR CLOTHES QUICKLY!", Riko shouted from the bench. She looks really angry.

"Well, I think we should go change our clothes. Let's go, Kuroko!"

Kuroko feels that something is not right here, but he decides to ignore it. "Okay, Kagami-kun. Let's hurry."

Then, the two freshmen quickly go to the changing room to prepare for their practice.


"Okay, for your training today, all of you, 7 laps around the field! NOW!"

"Se..SEVEN LAPS?!", all the Seirin shout. But Kise and Aomine don't shout like the others because it's the ordinary training like their schools.

"And you four! Why do you chat back then, when the practice supposedly begin? 15 laps for the four of you!", Riko shout at Kagami, Kise, Aomine and Kuroko. Kagami, Kise and Aomine frowned. 15 laps? How can they do that? But, Kuroko seems fine and calm.

A few minutes later, they begin their run. First, they look okay, but at the fifth lap, they begin exhausted.

"Is.. Is coach's mood is bad now?", Koganei talk to Hyuuga, who's running in front of him.

"I don't know! Why are you asking me?!"

"Maybe because you're the most closest with Riko, Hyuuga-kun." Kiyoshi grinned behind Hyuuga.

"Shut up, Kiyoshi!"

All of them continue their run. At the seventh lap, all of them stopped except the quartet. They looks tired, but they continue their run. Even Aomine and Kagami are having a race.

"I won't lose from you, Aomine!"

"Heh, the one who can beat me, is me!"

Their speed go up and they start running faster and faster, leaving Kise run and Kuroko run behind them. Kise looks so tired and he panted hard, but kuroko looks okay with his usual stoic face.

"I never know… Seirin's field.. is this big..", Kise say weakly, looking at Kuroko with an exhausted face. 'That's because you underestimated Seirin.', Kuroko think evilly in his mind, smiling to Kise.

But, at the time he turn his head to Kise's direction, he see a shadowis standing on the edge of the court. Kuroko's eyes widened when he see the figure, and he stopped for a bit to see who is it, but the shadow has already gone.

"Hmm? Kurokocchi, what's the matter?", Kise stop for a bit to check Kuroko's condition.

Kuroko turned his head to Kise and run again. "No, nandemonai, Kise-kun."


A few minutes later, Kise, Aomine, Kagami and Kuroko have done their laps. All of them panted hard and lie on the floor, except Kuroko. He just sit on the bench and drink his water with a towel hanging around his neck.

"How can Kurokocchi not feeling exhausted?", Kise whispered to Kagami who's sitting, drinking his water.

"Like hell I know! Why don't you try asking him then?"

The three of them speaks to each other. Kuroko is aware that something is not right, but he doesn't remember what is it.

"Hey, by the way, do you want to do a match?", Hyuuga start talking to them after a bit of conversation the three of them had.

"Oh, me, me! Aomine, let's do a one-on-one!", Kagami quickly stand up, like he has regained all of his stamina.

"Tch, we just have a harsh practice! But anyway, I'm going in.", aomine stand up, smirking at Kagami. Kise quickly stand up and sit behind Kuroko so he doesn't disturb the two.

"Well, Kurokocchi, I wonder, why are you not exhausted? Yesterday, you seemed not exhausted, too."

Kuroko still thinking of what's going wrong. And by the time he thinks about it, he suddenly reminded of the shadow he saw near the field. His eyes widened and he quickly stand up, making Kise a little shocked.

'Yes, weapons!', he thought. How can he forget something really important before? He quickly go to Riko's place, leaving Kise behind, whining to him. She is currently watching Kagami and Aomine doing a one-on-one.

"Coach, can I go to the toilet for a bit?"

Riko turned his head to Kuroko. The teal head just stare at her, and she just stare at the bluenette, too. Riko sighed slowly and said to him.

"Okay, you can go, but please, be quick."

Kuroko nodded, and he hurriedly go to the door to the changing room. Kise wants to follow him, but Riko doesn't allow him, so he just decides to leave Kuroko go to the toilet.

Cautiously, Kuroko turned to his left and his right, wondering if someone will see him. Stating that it's safe, Kuroko go to the changing room and go to his locker. He open it and open his sport bag. He take a plastic bag and take two scissors. He thought that it is enough, so he put the sport bag in this locker and out the scissors in his pocket. After he is sure that everything is alright and safe, he quickly go back to the gym. He run for a bit, afraid if Riko is angry with him if he takes too long time.

But, when he arrived at the door to the gym, he sense something strange.

Sure, the sound of the dribbling ball and basketball shoes with the court is still echoing. Riko and the others is still shouting, cheering for the players that are playing, too.

But, something feels not right.

He hears something strange from their shout.

"Kuroko, try to shoot!", Koganei shout.

"Go, Kuroko!", the trio freshmen shout.

"Kuroko-kun, you can do it!", his coach shout to the player in the field.

And Kuroko saw something strange.

Something really strange…


Well, I think it's enough for now..xD
I know that it's a little disappointing for all of you.. ;w;
It's a little disappointing for me, too.. ;w;

Oh well, and I'm not sure if I can update this fict next week...
I still have a end-semester test, and I have many assignments waiting for me, too..
So, I'm really sorry if I can't update this fict in a long time.. T^T
.
R&R please?^^