A/N: Thank you for your suggestions! Here's an update as a thanks!

Chapter Nine: Lucidity

When Kuroko had finally opened his eyes, he had felt a wave of inexplicable clarity wash over his head.

Perhaps having a few moments of rest had given his head a chance to cope with everything or perhaps now that the headache has subsided, he could think better, but either way, he found his current predicament a lot more reasonable compared to how he had regarded it this morning.

For a start, Kuroko knew his limits and his capabilities. He knew that he was basically invulnerable when it comes to harmful diseases and illnesses, and he knew that the people from that place ensured to develop countermeasures to prevent poisoning and infliction of damage within (or outside) his body. He assumed that the research facility had attempted to make him just as impenetrable when it comes to defense as he is in offense and intellects.

And so, contrary to his prior belief, it wasn't the pain that overwhelmed him; it was the unfamiliarity. It was what had incurred and caused his disoriented state for he knew that though he was completely alien to the aspects of vulnerability and weaknesses – given the circumstances -, pain wasn't something foreign to him.

Secondly, he had thought that it was safe to assume that the reason why he was having a hard time manipulating his physical – not to mention inborn – propensities and tendencies was because of the 'headache' which pretty much hindered his ability to control himself properly. The sign had shown itself the day he had unconsciously crushed a glass within his grasp. (-which, I would like to add, had happened literally 4 chapters ago...)

Thirdly- well, this one, he was slightly unsure about. He had thought that the headache might be an aftereffect of suppressing his real potential down to the point where not a single hint of it could be detected- be it physically or mentally, but then again, if that was the case, he would be having great trouble dealing with his situation. It meant that he would have to keep experiencing and suffering through this at a daily basis.

Of course, that didn't mean that Kuroko was choosing that choice just because that's the only choice he had. He also had the option to exploit his inhumane abilities, but he chose not to because Alexandra had made it a point to never rely on them. She believed that if he used it too much, the government might use what was left of the research facility (there was a 50/50 chance of it happening, given the amount of time ever since the event) to track him down and get their hands on him to manipulate him and his strength. As of now, that was what Kuroko was trying to avoid at all costs: To be found and to be noticed. The fact that someone – Kazunari Takao, to be precise – had the ability to see him had posed a great threat towards his safety because that particular characteristic of Takao's which naturally opposes his ability to hide away could be used against him at any given time. It was due to this mentality that he held Takao at a certain level of distrust because even if the raven-haired teenager insisted on friendship, it would be near impossible; especially not with his inborn instinct of pushing others away when they get too close.

Hell, not even Alexandra made it pass through his barrier. (She might have, however, if she hadn't…)

Anyway, pushing all these thoughts at the back of his mind, Kuroko focused on his current condition instead.

He could make out what had probably happened when he fell unconscious in the middle of their conversation, recalling the way how Takao had literally dragged him away from the classroom to briefly visit the school nurse in order to verify his condition. They were searching for the school nurse, if he remembered correctly, before the headache suddenly acted up. What followed afterwards probably involved putting him on one of the hospital beds within the room.

"I should thank Takao-kun later," he muttered absentmindedly. Though he did admit that he doesn't trust Takao, it doesn't hurt to be polite, right?

By the way, speaking of Takao… where was he?

Kuroko gingerly pushed himself upright to get a better grasp of his situation - and maybe to find Takao so that he could thank him - when he suddenly felt something wet fall on his lap. Slightly startled, he looked down and realized that it was a white, soaked towel. (Someone must have placed that on his head, then?) He folded the white towel and neatly placed it on the wooden desk fixated beside the hospital bed that he was currently sitting on, before deciding to stand up and head back to the classroom to make sure that no one had taken note of his disappearance, no matter how unlikely it was.

He slowly stood up and adjusted his school uniform before pushing his way through the white curtain that separates him from the rest of the room.

Momentarily glancing at his sweaty palms, he considered the idea of stopping by the restroom before completely heading towards the classroom.

OoOoOoO

"…He's gone." Takao muttered with a large, strained grin on his face as he pushed the curtain to the side, his gaze falling on the unoccupied hospital bed where a certain blue-haired teen was resting on just a few moments ago.

He had gone around to try and look for the school nurse, intending to question the person's reason for his/her irresponsibility because he had nothing better to do than watch over Kuroko, and now that he's back… Kuroko was nowhere to be found.

"What's wrong, Takao-kun?" Momoi asked from behind him as Aomine stood behind her, lazily yawning into his hand.

Takao looked at them, his eyes wide and tone urgent.

"I need your help."

OoOoOoO

It was break time by the time Kuroko had gone out of the Infirmary and he had guessed that perhaps he hadn't slept as long as he had originally thought.

Students loitered around the hallways with their friends and some larger groups of students chose to head towards the cafeteria to buy their food. Some other students preferred to stay inside their classroom and Kuroko noticed that most of the students chose to that. The blue-haired teen inwardly wondered if it had something to do with some students taking scholarship and the school's high standards.

Kuroko walked at a leisure pace – not too hurried yet not too slow –, his body instinctively and unconsciously avoiding any type of physical collisions against another student. He had happened to make this mistake by the gate of the school and his headache was partly to blame for it but now that he was perfectly awake, he had told himself that making the same mistake should be evaded.

When the blue-haired teen finally reached the restroom, he let out a grateful sigh. It was truly a relief that he hadn't bumped into anybody at all.

He quickly opened the door and headed for the sink, intending to wash his hands and face because he did feel slightly sweaty (which, unknown to Kuroko, had been caused by the onslaught of pain he had gone through moments ago) for whatever reason there may be. The blue-haired teen was just about to begin when a blond-haired teenager suddenly entered the restroom with a panicked expression on his face, breathing heavily as if something utterly frightening had come to chase him from the depths of hell.

Kuroko chose not to speak of what he had just witnessed as he continued to wash his hands, even as the blond proceeded to do his business at a nearby stall.

TBC.