A/N: Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the reviews, minna-cchi!

I love you guys! You're all so kind and caring of me, I might start to cry.

Thanks to all those who PMed and chatted with me. It always makes me happy when I see your names in my Inbox. Thanks, really!

: D

Enjoy the seventh chapter, everyone~

"Myself From Once Upon A Time"

Chapter Seven:

"Tetsu?" A new voice called out from behind his room's door and even with knowing who it was, he still stiffened and gulped.

"…Yes, Mom?" He replied and stood up.

She leaned over, since her voice sounded nearer and clearer this time, and spoke up, "Are you alright? I just prepared dinner, so…wanna have supper with Mommy?"

He took a deep breath and tried to calm his even breathing and tried to make his heavily-beating heart stay still. He was used with the way his father called him—the way he would bang open Kuroko's door and pull his hair to drag him downstairs. When he was in a very bad mood, he would even grab his belt and threateningly whip anything near Kuroko. The way Sadaharu's eyes looked at him had always penetrated and hurt him in and out. "Don't treat me as a kid, Mom. And yes, I would love to have supper with you. I'll be out there in a minute."

She became silent for few moments and he almost thought she, somewhat, saw right into his lie until she giggled and responded, "Alrighty then, I'll be waiting downstairs."

When he heard her footsteps fading away slowly, he finally realized that he had been clenching his hands on his sides and biting hi bottom lip in fear. He was also glaring at the floor and holding his breath without knowing it.

"I'll finally find a reason to kill you."

He blinked and shut his eyes tightly. "No, it's okay, it's alright. Calm down, Tetsuya Kuroko. This is unlike you. Compose yourself."

He took deep breaths before approaching the door. He steadily took hold of the doorknob and twisted it gradually. He closed his eyes and opened the door in one, forceful pull. He opened them and found no Sadaharu Kuroko outside his room. For the first time, he heard no one yelling his name to hurry downstairs and prepare dinner.

"Tetsu?" His mom called out.

He shut the door behind him and ran down the stairs. "I'm coming."

"I'll finally find a reason to kill you."

You won't. I won't let you kill me. I'll kill you first.

~LFMH021~

"YOU STUPID SON OF BITCH! YOU ANNOY THE HELL OUT OF ME! DIE!"

He squirmed and tried to push away the memories, the words his father threw at him, the curses he always received. But it seemed like the more he pushed them away, the more they held onto his feet and dragged him into darkness, anxiety and despair.

"You stupid brat! You're supposed to be my child not because your stupid mother gave birth to you but because I want you to be someone who'll serve me! Someone who'll become my slave, my follower! So, stop fooling around, you fucking trash!"

"Leave me alone…" He mumbled and shut his eyes tightly.

"If I need to make you disable, I will, if it's necessary, you garbage."

"No…No more slaps…" He grunted and hugged his legs.

"So, you're fighting against me now, huh, Tetsuya Kuroko? You want to feel pain and my wrath that badly, you bastard?!"

"Don't. Go away." He whispered in fear and covered his ears as if he could the words being thrown at told at him again. It was as if his own father really was before him again and would pull his hair any minute now.

"Go kill yourself."

His eyes widened and he let out a scream.

In just few seconds, his mother broke open his room's door. She was panting and her eyes portrayed shock and anxiety. She looked like a person who was truly afraid to lose him. He felt so special with the way she treated him. He felt like, somehow, he still had a worth with the way she sprinted off to his room right after he screamed.

"T-Tetsu? What happened?"

He covered himself with his thick, white blanket as he shivered, shuddered and trembled in fear. He couldn't even look at his own mother's face for he might just slap her hand away. "I-It's nothing."

She exhaled and sat beside him. She gave a minute of silence before persuading the matter at hand by gently pulling away the thick cloth separating the two of them. "Tetsu, talk to me. Please, son."

Hearing the word: son out of her mouth with so much gentleness and tenderness—his heart somehow cracked. He blinked and slowly poked his head out. "M-Mom?"

She smiled warmly at him before reaching for his cheeks. "Mom's here and she won't leave you alone again. She's here to listen to her precious son's words, complaints and cries, so let them out."

He stared at her before murmuring, "I…His words always echo in my head. It was as if he was already mentally haunting me. I can still feel the pain of his slaps, of his smacks, of his throws, of the way he whipped a belt at me, of the way he would, sometimes, pull my hair, and of the way he was not a bit hesitant to kill me anytime."

Seeing hot tears slowly trickling down her son's face, her heart started to crack and in an instant, it shattered into pieces. "Oh, my dearest Tetsu…" She sobbed and tried to hug him when he pushed her hands away and backed away.

"N-No…" He mumbled and covered his face with the blanket. "Don't come near me."

She leaned closer, though. "Tetsu—"

"No! Go away." He snapped, which quieted them both. Sensing the suddenly awkward atmosphere that he developed in the room, he gulped. "I'm sorry. It's just I feel like any hand that would touch me right now would want to kill me or hurt me."

She frowned and sadly stared at him. "What is your thoughts about being touched, Tetsu?"

"Touched?"

"Like…what if I hold your hand tightly?"

"Don't." He immediately replied and covered his mouth in surprise. "I…I'm sorry."

"But you let me touch your cheeks earlier?"

"That's because I haven't fully seen your face yet. I, somehow, started to tremble once I see someone's face and that someone suddenly touches me." He explained and clutched his pajamas tightly in a fist clenched.

"What about touching…hm, my hand?"

He blinked and slowly extended his arm but when his hand was already an inch away from one of hers—his heart beat quickened and he quickly hid under his blanket again. "W-What's happening…?"

"Your dad had beaten you up so much, cursed at you so much that your body remembers them all even with him gone. Hm, I actually think his disappearance triggered this more since that also means he might suddenly appear again, which your body fears."

~LFMH021~

"The practice will commence….now!" Riko announced and blew her whistle.

With that said, she threw the ball into the air, and Kiyoshi and Kagami jumped at the same time to tap it towards their own team. Kiyoshi's hand was just two inches away from the ball when Kagami shouted, "Uwaaaaaaaaahhhh!" And extended his arm before slapping the ball. "Kuroko!" He called out.

"I understand." A small voice replied and in an instant, the ball passed through the eyesight of all the second years and was suddenly in Kawahara's hands.

"Get them!" Hyuuga growled and turned to run towards the other court.

"Shoot it! Make our first point!" He, Kagami, shouted as he landed on his feet.

Kawahara stiffened, turned and ran towards the hoop when Mitobe suddenly appeared before him. He shrieked in surprise and dribbled the ball with no other choice to choose from. He gulped and looked around.

Fukuda waved his hand.

Kawahara blinked and quickly passed the ball towards his friend.

"I'm gonna get it now-" Koga started when Kuroko appeared before him.

"Hello." The teal-head greeted and tapped the ball faster towards Fukuda.

"Shit!" Hyuuga gasped.

Fukuda received it and made a three-pointer after few more moments.

"Oh Yeah!" Kagami and the other first years celebrated.

"Our first years are growing up, I'm gonna cry." Kiyoshi mumbled.

"Shut up! What are you, their mom?!" Hyuuga, who was holding a camera all of a sudden, growled.

"What is that camera for, Hyuuga?" Kiyoshi queried.

Izuki sniffed. 'Our freshmen are growing up, so we should treasure every moment that they're all still innocent. Just look at those carefree and joyful faces. Ah~"

Koga jumped and gave each freshmen a basketball. "Play with that, will you?"

"F-For what?" Furihata wondered.

Mitobe smiled as an encouragement, so each just dribbled, spun and shoot the ball into the ring.

"Ah~ Look, look, they're like kids playing with their toys and laughing with one another~" Koga sighed.

After few more seconds, they all winced when a fist came smacking their heads. Hard and painfully. "You idiots! You're all just a year older than them!" She reminded and sighed. "Just how hopeless can you guys be?"

"We're not hopeless. We really just love our club's freshmen." Hyuuga defended.

"Isn't that the same?!"

"Wait." Kiyoshi cut in before the brunette even punch their team's captain again.

The second years all turned towards him as the freshmen continued playing inside the court. "What is it, Kiyoshi?" Tsuchida whispered.

The team's founder then pointed at someone. "Doesn't that look weird?"

They all turned, this time, towards where his finger pointed and blinked in confusion.

In the court, among the five, only Kuroko separated himself from his fellow kouhais. He stood meters away from any of them, holding the ball tightly between his soft two palms and stared at it as if he was questioning it about something.

"Doesn't he usually hang out with them and sometimes…he even laughs or smiles with them…I wonder what's up."

Slowly, the seven approached their phantom player, who was being himself today. "Kuroko." Hyuuga called out and reached for his shoulder.

Kuroko winced and slapped it away. "Don't."

"Oi, what's up?" Kiyoshi wondered and tried to pat the teal-haired's head when the latter backed away.

"No."

That was when even the freshmen, themselves, finally felt the tense atmosphere enveloping the court suddenly, and turned towards the cause of the ruckus. "W-What's happening?"

"No one can touch me. And I can't touch anyone." Kuroko mumbled.

Kagami raised an eyebrow. "What's up with that? Don't say you haven't taken a bath?"

He was sent flying into the stage.

"No one can touch me. And you can't touch anyone?" Hyuuga repeated.

"Maybe he suddenly got caught of fleas and now afraid that we'll be passed on with then." Kagami tried.

And he was sent flying into the lockers.

"What do you mean with that?" Kiyoshi whispered.

Kuroko raised his head. "Try holding this hand of mine." He mumbled and offered a hand.

"Maybe his hand has—"

Kagami was sent flying outside this time.

"Will he be fine?" Kawahara murmured.

"Probably." Riko replied.

The sophomores looked at one another. Izuki nodded and slowly reached for Kuroko's hand when the said guy slapped his hand away and even pushed him away.

"Whoa." The pun-lover gasped and found his balance after awhile.

"Can that called 'Aphenphosmphobia' or 'Haphephobia' right? The fear of being touched?" Riko explained as she placed her forefinger on her chin in a thinking position.

"C-Coach, how did you even said the Aphen—bleh…" Koga tried.

"Oh? Aphenphosmphobia?" Kagami emerged.

Mitobe blinked.

"You know about this, Kagami?" Riko gasped.

"Nah. Too bored to even—"

That was when their coach finally pushed their ace towards his partner.

"N-No way!" Kagami shouted and quickly looked for something to refrain himself from colliding with Kuroko.

Opening his eyes, Kuroko amazedly stared at his 'light' as the latter sighed in relief before grinning at him. "I didn't touch you, did I?"

He shook his head.

Kagami grinned even wider.

~LFMH021~

Riko screamed when Aomine's face popped before her right after she opened her eyes after getting some rest.

"What's up, Riko?" Kiyoshi asked as Seirin Basketball's team members emerged from their changing room.

Riko tried to calm her breathing before backing away. "T-This dam Generation of Miracles always appear out of nowhere!" She complained.

"We're here again ssu~" Kise greeted and waved.

A shoe came flying into his face.

The blonde picked up the shoe that hit his forehead and stared at it in curiosity. "Who owns this—" And before he could even finish his question, he collapsed into the cold ground of Seirin gym.

"O-oi, Kise!" Midorima gasped and knelt down to shake his former teammate's shoulders. "Kise, what happened?" He repeated and opened the copycat's eyelids to check his pupils. "He seems fine…just fainted. W-What just happened?" He mumbled and turned towards the culprit. "Kagami, what was in that shoe?"

The red-head blinked and picked up the shoe he threw at Kise's face. "There's nothing in this. It's just one of a pair of shoes I found lying inside our changing roo—Gwaaaahhh…" After few more seconds of speaking, the taller red-head, himself, fell face-first into the floor.

"E-Even Kagami?!" Izuki gasped.

Hyuuga kicked the shoe Kagami held onto and glared at it from afar. "I think that shoe is cursed!"

"It isn't." Akashi interrupted, calm and composed as usual. He approached the shoe that made both Kagami and Kise collapse before taking out a plastic bag from his bag and placing the shoe inside. "Look, it's even emitting some green thing-y. It's so old, abandoned and unmaintained that it had turned like this. It's filled with germs, bacteria, and seriously smelly now." He tied the two handles of the plastic bag tightly before throwing at Aomine, who barely caught it in surprise.

"W-What am I supposed to do with this?" The bluenette demanded.

Akashi shrugged. "Hit the two with it inside the plastic bag. That'll wake them up."

Aomine blinked, neared the two, bent down and hit the two's foreheads with all he got. "Ayaaaah!"

"OW!" Kagami growled.

"Ouch!" Kise grunted and sat up. "What happened—Oh, Kurokocchi~" He exclaimed and ran towards Seirin's phantom player.

"No! Don't touch—"

BAM!

Kise flew into the stage. It was a miracle he was still alive and smiling.

"W-What…? Tetsu…did you just punch Kise?" Aomine mumbled in surprise as he approached his former 'shadow.' After awhile, he finally cracked up and started laughing. 'Damn, you're so strong! I never knew. You should have—"

"No, don't—"

CLANG!

Aomine ended up in the nearest trash bin.

"What are you doing, hitting those two? When have you turned violent, Ku—" Because of being logical, Midorima took a step backward before Kuroko's fist even hit his face. "What the—You almost hit me straight at the face. Don't you know this pair of glasses is quite expensive?"

"Don't touc—"

"Kuro-chin~ Why are hitting people? It's so unlike you~" Murasakibara commented and was about to pat Kuroko's head when Kiyoshi grabbed his hand to stop him. "Eh~"

"Don't touch him."

Aomine stood up and rubbed his head. "W-What'dya mean?"

Kise emerged from the stage and slapped the dusts away from his pants. "Ssu~ It's so unlike Kurokocchi to act this way… Kurokocchi, do you hate us now~?"

"If that 'us' only pertains to you, then yes. If it pertains to all of you, then no." Kuroko answered.

"That's mean!"

The teal-head sighed and sat down on the floor. "I don't actually know. But Mom said that I have Aphenphosmphobia. The fear of being touched. Ever since Dad was kicked out of the house, I've started to feel conscious of anyone who tries to touch me and about the thought of me touching anyone. It's like I just instinctively slap your hand away if you try to touch me." He explained and looked at his teammates.

"Like this." Koga volunteered and reached for Kuroko, but the latter kicked the hand away. "See? He even kicked it. Kicked it! Whoa!"

"No way! Kurokocchi~" Kise whined and started to sob. "I like hugging Kurokocchi because he's so soft and fluffy…Why…~"

"Let me punch you again, Kise-kun." Kuroko mumbled.

"NO! That hurts!" Kise protested.

"No one can touch him?" Akashi silently gasped and tried to reach for the teal-head but Kuroko started to tremble even if his hand was still a meter away. "Even me?" He murmured in unnoticeable pain.

Kuroko nodded. "S-Sorry, Akashi-kun, I…"

"I can touch him." A voice interrupted and pulled Kuroko up. "There you go." He added and raised a fist of a little victory. "For some reason, I can touch him."

It didn't surprise them that someone could still touch him.

What shocked them was the person who could. It was no one else but Kagami. But not Akashi.

Akashi's eyes unnoticeably turned darker than usual. And as his signature smirk appeared, he also took steps forward towards another red-head. He raised his head and purposely glared at Kagami. "Die."

Kagami blinked before grinning—an act he purposely did to tease and piss Akashi even more. "I cannot die just because you said so, Akashi."

Akashi crossed his arms before his chest, and frowned. His eyes portrayed coldness, anger and hatred and they were all directed towards Seirin's ace. "I've been noticing this for days now, Taiga Kagami. It's just that I didn't want to bring it up until this very second. But, is it just me or are you, somehow, interfering with the relationship –a relationship that was almost ruined- I and Tetsuya just formed?"

They all wanted Kagami to deny it. Just so that Akashi won't get more pissed. Just so that they could all go home. Just so that no more arguments will emerge.

But like always, he was Bakagami.

"Yeah. Am I that obvious?" The taller red-head replied and grinned wider before patting Kuroko's head. "This guy's my shadow. This guy's my partner. But I have been noticing that things have been getting pretty well between you guys. It's not that I'm envious or jealous. I just feel like you don't even have the right to be Kuroko's friend anymore. Shit, I mean, seriously? You did all of those and now you'll come back as if you've done no damage? Well, shit! Let me tell you one thing I realized: His phobia might have been really triggered by you and not by his dad."

"What was that?" Akashi coldly murmured, his annoyance slowly becoming noticeable through his feature's changes.

Kagami huffed. "I may be an idiot, but I have learned everything from Kuroko, himself, so I am much aware of the things you've done back in Teiko. Don't you think that you were really the first one to trigger his phobia and the very first one who had hurt him?"

"Now that mention it…" Furihata murmured in realization.

"I think Kagami has a point…" Izuki added.

Hearing words of blame, accusation and hatred slowly being thrown at his back, Akashi took a step forward and removed his necktie. "You're starting to get on my nerves, Taiga Kagami."

Kuroko blinked. "Akashi-kun, what—"

"I challenge you, Taiga Kagami in a one-on-one. Let me make you taste how defeat tastes like when you lose from me." Akashi demanded and removed his blazer uniform. "Here in Seirin's gym. Right now."

"W-What?!"

Kagami shrugged and removed their blazer uniform as well. "Sure. Oh, is there something to bargain here?"

Akashi's eyes glanced at Kuroko in a second, but his eyes instantly turned back towards Kagami again. "I actually wanted to answer you with: 'Whoever wins gets Tetsuya,' but I changed my mind." He honestly replied and took the ball Nigou nose-pushed towards him. "Why, thank you."

"Arf!" Nigou replied.

Kagami frowned and backed away when Nigou barked at him as well. "What do you mean?"

Akashi smirked, turned towards the others before dribbling the ball. For the first time, his eyes didn't portray pride, but confidence. For the very first time, the smirk he took out didn't hold the intimidating aura in it, instead it felt like he was just enjoying himself. "It's obvious. Tetsuya's already mine." He stated and stared at Kuroko, who only dumnfoundedly stared back at him.

A/N: I know, I know. It doesn't have a cliffhanger. It doesn't have drama. It doesn't have romance. It doesn't have humor. Damn, what's happening with me?

What's happening with this dam brain of mine?! Grrrrrrr!

I hope you still liked it, even if it turned out lame, boring and gaaaahhhh!

Let me kill myself.

SNEAK PEEK:

"Then, I will be going now." Kuroko bade and turned towards the door. Just when he was about to twist the doorknob, the lights suddenly went out and thunders and lightning sounds were the only things you would hear besides their beating hearts. "It's a brown out." He mumbled and after doing so, the heavy rain started pouring onto the roof.

A hand reached for his hand and he started to squirm away until Akashi leaned over and kissed the crown of his head. "After this typhoon and rain, a rainbow will appear. Will you stay with me until then?"

"I—"

"I'm just asking you to stay with me until then. We can stop seeing each other after that. I promise."

Yeah, maybe there'll be feels at the next chappie. I repeat: 'maybe.'