A/N: Whaddupp?

Yeah bit of a shorter chapter today. Got stuff going on, mostly tests and exams coming up. Anyway, this chapter introduces Kise, which I know a lot of you are excited for!

As part of a couple housekeeping things, I will be moving this story to the PoTxKnB crossover section. If I'm honest, I'd rather leave it here, but it's not in the right category and people are going to yell at me for it so I'll just get it over with. Some people have asked me for a warning before I shift it, just in case, so this it. This is my heads up to let you know that by 18/0ct/2014 this story will be moved to the crossover section. If you'd like to keep updated with it, I suggest you add it to your alerts or favourites (this is genuine advice, not me trying to drum up numbers, I promise!) alternatively, I guess you could just check the crossover section frequently.

After I move it, I'll be putting up the next chapter pretty much straight after so if you guys don't get an alert for it, let me know and I'll try to figure stuff out.

Anyway, moving on. I'm going to address some reviews because I want you guys to know that I do read them and that they mean a lot to me

Kise playing tennis; a lot of people would like me to write this scene, so it shall be done! You guys have given me a lot of ideas so I'll definitely try to incorporate them. Please don't be afraid to give me lengthy plot summaries, if that's what you'd like to do. I enjoy being inspired by them :D

I'm going to keep that chapter as plausible and in character as possible, so please don't fear that I'm going to make Kise some weird god of tennis who beats Ryoma blindfolded. Nor am I going to allow Seigaku to single-handedly kick his ass. It'll be enjoyable, you'll see ;) but more on that when we get there.

Some people have suggested that Kuroko could technically join both clubs if they held different training times. At the moment, Kuroko doesn't want to do basketball so that's not an issue, but in the future, I don't know how plausible that'd be. I'll address that later too. Probably.

Anyway, enough from me; please enjoy the story!

~Changing Pace~

Chapter 4: Our Friends Have Not Forgotten

The next few days went by normally. Ryoma and Kagami were fast becoming mortal enemies, with Kuroko and their love for pissing each other off their only connections. They argued over every insignificant thing and, when their spats got heated, they would convert to English. This was partly because Kagami felt more comfortable in the language and partly so that they could swear at each other without teachers telling them off.

Lunch was usually a quiet affair. Ryoma left the two in order to eat with his middle school friends, who would not leave him alone nor would they take no for an answer. They often invited Kagami (and Kuroko when someone remembered his presence) to eat with them, but both declined. Kagami often sat inhaling his humungous lunch in the classroom. Kuroko would watch him with disguised and slightly disgusted awe as he nibbled on a convenience store sandwich.

After school, Ryoma and Kuroko had tennis club while Kagami had basketball. Tennis was going well for Kuroko; he was getting better and his double plays were becoming more effective as he began learning how to control his hits. He found drop shots the easiest to make. The Seigaku Regulars praised his quick progress and unique play style. He was able to partner with most of the Regulars and give the golden pair, or any other pair, a decent run for their money. Surprisingly, though, he found it harder to team up with Kikamaru or Oishi. He realised that they were too used to sharing the stage and, thus, their individual lights were not strong enough to shadow him. He worked best with Ryoma who was easily one of the brightest players on the team. However, the captain himself had yet to partner with Kuroko.

After training, the Regulars would often go home together. Kuroko went with them part of the way, then would drop by Maji burger for a vanilla milkshake. Ever since their fateful first meeting at the diner, Kuroko had developed a habit of scaring the living daylights out of Kagami, who would invariably occupy Kuroko's booth without realising he was there.

Kagami would then regale Kuroko with tales of how basketball training was going. Kuroko listened with avid interest, though he kept his face as expressionless as ever. He enjoyed hearing about the games they played and the progress the team was making. Kagami often griped about the coach being a demon in disguise, saying that her training menu was crazily tough.

Kuroko offered his comments and sometimes they would play a game of basketball after they'd finished eating. Kuroko was a terrible player in Kagami's eyes, but after all the talk about his training, Kagami found it impossible to sit still and even Kuroko was better than no partner. After about twenty minutes, Kagami would invariably thrash Kuroko, who took it in stride, saying that he enjoyed playing with Kagami all the same. The two would eventually call it a night and say their goodbyes for the day, ready to see each other again in the morning.

A couple of days had passed and school was finally over for the day. Kagami was in the gym, playing some warm up matches against the other first years, spinning on his heel and dunking the bright orange ball into the hoop with a flourish.

"That was amazing, Kagami kun!" One of the first years praised the red head.

"So fast! So co-ordinated!" Others agreed, slapping him on the back with friendly encouragement. Kagami grinned and wiped his face on his bright yellow bib.

"Guys, listen up!" The coach bellowed as she skipped, literally skipped, into practice.

"This isn't going to be good," the second year captain groaned, motioning for the players to come gather in.

"I've scheduled us a practice match against Kaijou!" she beamed happily, presenting them with a piece of paper. On it was the time and date of the match.

"What the heck, why would you schedule it for tomorrow?" Hyuuga bemoaned loudly, "We'll have no time to prepare for it!" The other second years agreed that it was very soon.

The first years were confused at their senior's reaction. The second years took it in turns to exposit some of Kaijou's stats. The first years were suitably impressed.

"They've also got Kise Ryouta; a member of the Generation of Miracles!" Riko added. Hyuuga's frown deepened.

Kagami felt his blood begin to heat up. He couldn't suppress the excited grin that split across his face; finally, a member of the famed Generation of Miracles! He couldn't wait to test his skill against the so-called prodigies.

He was broken out of his competitive fervour by squeals of excitement.

"What the heck is happening?" The coach asked angrily, looking toward the source of the commotion. Her jaw dropped when she noticed a mop of blonde hair sitting on the stage, an apology on his lips.

"Kise Ryouta?!"

"Haha, sorry about this, could you guys wait a moment?" He asked as he finished signing various autographs. After a couple of minutes his fans were appeased and he jumped off the stage.

"What are you doing here?" the second year captain, Hyuuga, asked suspiciously, eyeing the blonde.

"I heard Seirin was going to be our next opponent. Then I remembered Kurokocchi goes here so I thought I'd say 'Hi'," He grinned simply, "Kurokocchi?" He asked, looking around.

"Who's 'Kurokocchi'?" Hyuuga whispered to Riko who shrugged, watching Kise jumping around excitedly, looking for his friend, with a mistrustful eye.

"You're misdirection's getting a lot better, Kurokocchi!" Kise called loudly to thin air, still apparently unable to spot his friend. Suddenly, his eyes narrowed and he flung out a hand to stop a basketball from connecting with his face.

"I don't know who you're looking for, but how about playing a game with me, Ikemen?" Kagami growled with an animalistic glint in his eye.

"Kagami!" Riko admonished angrily.

Kise grinned. He straightened his back, giving up the search for his friend for the moment, "As thanks for showing me something interesting, I guess I can spare a couple of minutes," He threw off his blazer and began dribbling the ball that Kagami had thrown earlier.

Kagami immediately formed a screen, planning to block the golden haired model. Kise charged forward, but at the last minute, spun on his heel, feinted left and made a perfect shot, the ball flying through the air into the hoop without hesitation. The players were stunned; it was the move that Kagami had just performed. Except that it was faster, more powerful and he had forced his way past Kagami's larger frame.

"Copycat, Kise Ryouta," Riko muttered to herself. No, he doesn't just copy moves. She thought to herself, It's more than that. He takes them and he makes them better! Riko's eyes widened as she realised the disparity between the first year standing before her and any high schooler she'd ever met before. Kagami stood below the hoop, also in shock. His eyes were glazed over; he had never imagined the skills that these Japanese players had to offer.

"If this is all Seirin has to show me, that's pretty boring," Kise yawned, "So where's Kuroko?"

Riko felt a vein in her head explode, "We don't know who this 'Kuroko' is!" She growled at the boy.

"Eh? Seriously? He goes to this school though!" Kise looked at the coach, genuinely shocked. He then shook his head with something akin to abhorrence, maybe even a touch of disgust, "You have our Phantom Sixth member and you're not even using him? What a terrible waste!"

"Wait. What?!" Riko screeched, "The Phantom Sixth member is real?" They had all heard the rumours about the Phantom Sixth man; a player never seen on court, but acknowledged by all 5 of the Miracles.

"Of course he's real," Kise said rolling his eyes, "He's about this tall, light blue hair, absolutely no presence," Kise rattled off a description.

"Wait, Kuroko Tetsuya?" Kagami asked, pulling himself out of his shocked stupor. Suddenly, he remembered Kuroko's words from that night at Maji's only days ago. "I went to the same middle school as they did….I would like to help"

"That's him!" Kise exclaimed, "Where is he?"

Kagami's pupils narrowed. He felt his anger surge. "That little bastard!" He growled, "I'm going to kill him,"

Training was instantly forgotten as Kagami dashed from the gym. Hyuuga, Riko and the rest of the basketball club members watched in confusion as the red head darted from the gym.

"Don't you dare hurt Kurokocchi!" Kise yelled, instantly chasing after Kagami.

After she got over her initial shock, Riko followed suit; "Oi, Kagami, you can't skip practice!" she screamed after him, following after Kise.

"Riko!" Hyuuga growled in frustration. He ran after her. The rest of the basketball club members wondered for a moment what to do. They shrugged to themselves; they too, were curious as to what in the world was happening. They dashed after their coach and captain.

End of Chapter 4

Kise's made his dramatic appearance! Is this how you guys envisioned it? I hope I've surprised and delighted you. Get ready for the absolute craziness that will accompany the next chapter.

Let's just say; shit's going to hit the fan.

Anyway, let me know your thoughts and your hopes for the next chapter. Do you think Kagami's going to get a chance to strangle his small friend? I don't have a story/plot related question for you guys this time, but I'd love you to drop a review anyway :D

Thanks!

:D Laughing on the Inside :D