Update!
Now I gotta write this down or the ideas will seep out of my head when I go to bed!
This is part two of our little flash back. Kuroko met Ogiwara-kun and they became friends immediately!
This chapter is a bit dark (character death), and there's a lot of revelations. Actually this explains Kuroko's current demeanor.
Thank you to those who reviewed chapter IX, namely , Riomi-senpai, Sarekkandarikulover, EclipseKuran,hitomi65, Demfeels,mitsuyo-chan!
This work is un-betad. Ignite Pass Kai me for my mistakes.
Kuroko no Basuke © Tadatoshi Fujimaki
Now without further ado:
CHAPTER X: FORGOTTEN
Days became weeks and weeks became months, Kuroko was able to survive school and the bullying of his classmates all because he had a new found friend in the form of Ogiwara-kun. They hang out at the old school gym after school; playing basketball and during lunch break, eating and talking at the school's roof top. Being friends with Ogiwara-kun, Kuroko changed a lot in both ways
His parents noticed that he comes home livelier than before, he became talkative again and his grades improved. However, there is also a downside that only people surrounding him noticed.
Kuroko only talks about his new friend, Ogiwara-kun of whom his parents haven't seen before. He became more detached with his other teachers and classmates; those who tried to reach out to him found it hard to befriend him since he distanced himself from them. Only during class did Kuroko interact with them.
Every lunch break and after classes, Kuroko would disappear from the room and no one would ever know where he went.
No one except Kuroko and his friend Ogiwara-kun.
"Neh Kuroko, your bento's really tasty!", Ogiwara complimented, swallowing a natto onigiri.
"Anything cooked with natto tastes great to Ogiwara-kun" smiled Kuroko. He picked one Tamagoyaki and chewed on it.
"Natto tastes good and it's healthy for you!", Ogiwara defended the natto, knowing that Kuroko disliked the foul smelling beans.
It's always a breath of fresh air, away from the whispers and disgusted glares of his classmates. Kuroko shared his problems with Ogiwara and he didn't hear any accusations from him. Ogiwara-kun believed in the supernatural and that some are gifted or cursed of having the ability in seeing them.
However their time was not spent talking about those unpleasant instances but on their light and fun experiences. Once in a while, Kuroko was able to forget the horrendous things he had seen.
After lunch break Kuroko and Ogiwara would go to their respective classrooms (which are located on opposite ends of the hall). Kuroko was tidying up his now empty lunch box when he froze.
Haizaki and Ikeda are both leaning on the wall beside the classroom's door.
"Huff"Kuroko exhaled. There's nothing they can do to harm him. There are a lot of students coming back from the cafeteria and a few of their classmates are already inside.
Or so he thought.
"Hey, Kuroko why don't we head out for a little walk?" Haizaki smirked as he embraced Kuroko's neck with his arm.
Ikeda followed through with the same evil grin.
"Where are we going Haizaki-kun?"Kuroko choked, don't panic! Call out for help! Someone! "HEL-" Kuroko's mouth was gagged by a rope. "Hmphf!"
"Tch, tch, tch. Now now, be a good kid or I will bring you to hell with me", Kuroko jerked his head up and seeing Haizaki's expression, Kuroko really believed that Haizaki will do what he said.
He's no human. Kuroko realized; his eyes widened in horror.
"Oh you finally figured it out!" Haizaki's grin grew to a full blown evil smile, displaying a hundred set of needle like teeth. "I was actually growing tired of hiding you know."
Confusion can be seen in Kuroko's eyes.
"Aw, you don't remember me Kuroko? I'm hurt. Haizaki dramatically clutched his chest, pulling out old pieces of paper.
"Maaaaaybe, this will refresh your memory" And Kuroko's drawing when he has a kid was displayed in his face. Now horror can be seen in Kuroko's small face.
"Hahahahahaha! That's more like it!" "Oops sorry, where are my manners" and Haizaki removed the gag from Kuroko's mouth of which, to Kuroko's horror was Haizaki's tail.
"I am an Akuma" Haizaki bowed," that goes by many names; so my name doesn't really matter. Feel free to call me anything you like."
Haizaki started circling Kuroko, only then did the later notice where Haizaki took him. They're on top of their apartment building.
"Why did you bring me here? What do you need from me?" Kuroko's voice quivered. Someone, someone help him! What did I do for me to deserve being played like this?! His mind shouting silent pleas, hoping someone would come to the roof top.
"Oh don't feel too important you brat!" Ikeda spat. He's standing at the edge of the building probably acting as a guard.
"Shut up", Haizaki snapped. "Actually I need something from your granny Kuroko. You're my leverage to make sure that she gives me what I want". Haizaki flicked Kuroko's forehead.
How can Haizaki-kun be a demon? We grew up on the same neighborhood. This doesn't make any sense.
"Your grandparents are too guarded, so I simply possessed this boy" Haizaki stretched his arms. "He's too lenient, his nature fits me perfectly. He has the making of an akuma", Haizaki laughed.
"My grandparents won't come, they don't live here", Kuroko attempted to bluff.
"Don't underestimate your grandparents, boy. If they we're easy to dispatch I won't be needing to hostage you," Haizaki replied. "Let's wai- Oh, here they come"
The roof top door slowly opened, revealing his Obaa-chan and Ojii-chan.
"No, no-Jii-chan, Baa-chan!" Kuroko was again hushed by the Akuma's tail. He's no longer recognizable, his skin is gray and his silver hair became longer, his eye are all black.
"We were getting bored waiting, we thought that we'd play with little Kuroko", Haizaki teased.
"Don't harm the boy, we came here without telling anyone and without any shikki" Shinji spoke calmly.
"I know you will"
"I want to end this quickly"Haruna spoke, her voice laced with fury. Shinji is a man who uses reason and Haruna is a woman who is preceded by her actions, a woman of strength even at her old age. "Here is the book, now give us Tetsuya".
"Uh,uh uh" Haizaki acted like a teacher reprimanding her students.
"Before that, properly relinquish your ownership of the book", Haizaki's mood turned a total 180 degrees out of the blue.
"Don't treat me like an idiot, you lowly humans," he growled. He picked Kuroko up and dangled him on the edge of the building. "Piss me off like that and I can't guarantee you that you'll be getting him back in one piece".
"I will banish you in the depths of hell once this is over" Haruna muttered. Her hands nearly clumping the Book of Names.
" I am surrendering this book and all the names written on it to you Akuma," Haruna spoke, every word leaving her mouth like poison.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA," the book zoomed to Haizaki's hands. His eyes now of pure greed, he lifted Kuroko up in the air beyond Shinji and Haruna's reach.
"Tetsuya!" Shinji pulled out a paper charm, to summon a shikki but Haizaki was fast. He grabbed the old man's throat and held him up. Shinji's face turning red. "Pity"
Crack!
" .GO", Haruna's voice echoed in the open space. Ikeda was on the floor, dead by the looks of it. Her eyes glaring at the demon holding her husband and dangling her grandson in midair.
"Or what Haruna? You relinquished the Book of Names! Don't act high and mighty on me!", Haizaki tightened his grip of Shinji. "Or you want me to end both of their lives right here?" Kuroko was floating higher and higher.
" Obaa-chan, Ojii-chan!" Kuroko screamed, seeing the situation below, he can feel that his Ojii-chan is in a bad condition.
"Haruna.," whispered Shinji.
Out of disperation, Haruna chanted her strongest spell, however, "Winds—!"
"Oops!" Haizaki's hand was faster. Shinji's body dropped on the floor, blood spouting from his mouth, ears, nose and eyes.
Even he was high above, Kuroko saw clearly how his Ojii-chan dropped on the floor, lifeless. He can't make a sound, his mouth agape, trying to scream, to let out this emotion. No, NOOOOO!
"- Judgement!"
"You're still doing this?!" Haizaki shouted in disbelief as the air accumulated around the roof top and there was a bright light. Kuroko shielded his eyes as all those on the roof top were swallowed by the light.
Kuroko was falling, falling fast to the streets below. He's gonna die.
Kuroko woke up in the hospital.
He sat up and looked at his side. His mother was asleep with her head pillowed in her arms.
Someone's missing, he shouldn't be alone here, there should be three of them.
Kuroko pulled out the IV needle and slowly went out of his room. It was night, and there's no one in the hallways. He was scanning the names in the neighboring rooms. Near the elevator, he found Obaa-chan's name. Only then did the truth slowly dawn to him. He's dead.
His Ojii-chan's dead.
He sat on the floor not bothering if the nurses will see him, tears welling in his eyes.
"Mom, please don't talk like that", Shosuke's voice sounded stern. That brought Kuroko back to his senses.
"Boy, I'm weak and I know I'm dying. Before I leave this world, I want you to promise me that you'll be going back home." Haruna didn't sound weak at all.
"But why? You said so yourself that the ayakashi there are pain in the ass, that's why you and Dad left."
"Yes, but what your son has witnessed will haunt him for life if you don't follow what I instructed you to do", now Haruna was the one who sounded stern.
No one spoke for a while, and Kuroko started wondering, Haunt me? as the scenes flashed in Kuroko's mind he flinched. "How can everything go back to normal? No, it's impossible."
"Come in Tetsuya" Shosuke called out to his son, he may not be able to see yokai but he inherited his parents' sharp senses. "You'll be punished big time for escaping your room, you now that, right?"
"Yes", Kuroko mumbled. His father immediately hugged him.
"I'm sorry Tetsuya" his father whispered. Tetsuya didn't get it. What was his father apologizing for?
"Come here Tetsuya," his Obaa-chan beckoned him. "Whatever happens, always keep in mind that not all ayakashi are bad. Just like human beings, there are some bad yokai and good yokai", she patted Kuroko's bed hair. "So never fear them, don't hate all of them; however be wary of them. Trust your instincts".
As Haruna kissed Tetsuya's forehead, he immediately lost consciousness.
Shosuke cradled his son and looked sadly at his mother, "did you really have to do it? You used your remaining strength in modifying his memories. I'm torn you know, imagine your mother willed herself to die".
"Hush Shosuke, I did it for your son. He stepped into the "other world" on a wrong footing. We can't permanently close his eyes from seeing the ayakashi. If we want him to be able to live with it; to live a life closest to being normal as possible, this is the only way. Don't worry, I only alter the ones involving all his encounter with the ayakashi."
"Now bring him back to his room before Amami wakes up with an empty bed", Haruna shooed her son with a weak hand.
"Ok, I'll be back Mom" and Shosuke walked out of the room hesitantly.
The next morning, Shosuke was crying silently as he was holding his mother's cold hands.
Ogiwara was a little under the weather. Kuroko was absent from school for almost three weeks. He heard it from the faculty office that Kuroko's grandparents died in a car accident. But three weeks seems to be too long for mourning.
"Idiot, since when did you become a heartless friends?" Ogiwara slapped his face. "Don't worry, he'll be back today, I heard it from his teacher".
Three weeks without seeing Kurok; Ogiwara realized a lot. You don't get this depressed and loss you appetite when you're missing a friend. And a normal friend won't get restless nights thinking about this certain friend.
He knows what he is going through. He wanted Kuroko to know, but that can wait. For now, he needs to see Kuroko.
He was heading to the school roof top nearing noon. If he could fly the stairs he would've.
He sat there waiting, beaming at the door. His smile is ready to welcome the blue head.
The alarm rang, signaling its noon. Ogiwara's jittery. Any minute now.
Minutes passed by, but no Kuroko appeared. Where are you Kuroko? Did you really get to school?
Ogiwara went down to the classrooms, lunch break was over and students are going back.
Kuroko wasn't there.
He was going to head to the gym, when he saw a tuft of sky blue hair stepped outside of the principal's office.
Nothing registered to Ogiwara, not Kuroko's father beside him, not the dialogue between his father and the principal about his processing his transfer paper. No, nothing.
The only thing that filled Ogiwara's mind was Kuroko, " Kuroko!"
Ogiwara ran towards him, "How've you been? I haven't heard from you for weeks!" He smiled, " you owe me lunch for abandoning your friend".
Kuroko passed Ogiwara, like he was was passing through thin air.
"Hey! Now that's just cold. Why are you ignoring me?" he grabbed Kuroko's hands.
"Huh? Oh, sorry. Did I bump into you? asked Kuroko politely.
"No, but you did ignore me," Ogiwara grinned.
"I'm sorry, I didn't hear you. Do you need anything? "Kuroko's face puzzled.
"Well I need an explanation why didn't my friend contact me for the past three weeks!" Ogiwara was starting to get pissed.
"I'm sorry, but I don't know the person you're talking about".
"It's you Kuroko! You're the one I'm talking about!" Ogiwara exclaimed.
"Why? Have we met before? I'm sorry but I don't know your name", Kuroko looked disturbed with him raising his voice.
"Tetsuya, let's go. I can pick up your transfer papers by tomorrow", his father tugged his hand.
"I'm really sorry if I said something to offend you, well we'll go ahead", Kuroko bowed at Ogiwara who is still stunned.
"Who are you talking to Tetsuya?" his father asked.
"To that boy, standing outside the Principal's Office. He said he' my friend and he was a bit angry when I didn't contact him when I was absent".
A yokai? He made friends with a yokai at school? Shosuke gave thehallway one last look before leaving.
Ogiwara was walking aimlessly. His mind still on the last conversation he had with Kuroko.
Why Kuroko didn't notice me the first time I called out to him?
"Why? Have we met before? I'm sorry but I don't know your name",
What happened?!
No! He needs answers! He needs to speak with Kuroko. He needs to find out what happened.
He hovered over the crowd, through the busy streets until he reached Kuroko's house.
Ding! Dong!
However the name address is now empty.
Ding! Dong!
Ding! Dong!
"Will you pipe down? Are you a pin-pon-dashi?!" An old woman appeared on the neighboring apartment.
"No, uhm sorry about that. I was looking for my friend Kuroko Tetsuya," he asked embarrassingly scratching his head.
"Then you won't find him there. They moved out, don't ask me where because no one here knows", the woman said closing her door.
They moved out?
Kuroko left? Where?
I-I can't let that happen.,
He was walking thoughtlessly. His mind not really capable or kept on denying to accept the truth.
Ogiwara didn't realize that he reached his home.
"Welcome home waka-sama"
"Waka-sama would you like to have some snacks? I have prepared natto onigiri and some genmacha",
Pipped the tiny servants.
Some were cleaning the hallways and some were scurrying, preparing for dinner.
"Where is father?" Ogiwara asked quietly.
"He is at the western hall, having his tea" the yuki onna replied.
Ogiwara's steps were decisive. He's mind resolved.
I can't let that happen.
I need to find him.
Ogiwara kneeled at the sliding door, "Father, I need a favor".
Sip. "What is it brat? You have the nerve to ask me that after you left the house without our notice".
"I need to borrow the Hyakki Yagyo," Ogiwara spoke without hesitation.
PFFffffffttttttt! His father spewed his tea, " (cough) the WHAT?!"
END NOTE:
And that ends Chapter X!
Hyakki Yagyō, variation: hyakki yakō, (百鬼夜行; lit. "Night Parade of One Hundred Demons") is a concept in Japanese folklore.
Legend has it that "every year yōkai led by the yokai Nurarihyon, will take to the streets during summer nights." Anyone who comes across the procession would die, "unless protected." Protection refers to handwritten scrolls by anti-yokai onmyoji spellcasters. Only an onmyoji clanhead is strong enough to pass Nurarihyon's Hyakki Yagyo unharmed. The children's game Hyakumonogatari Kaidankai was based on this idea.
Source: wiki/Hyakki_Yagy%C5%8D
My hands are killing me., ,.(~TnT)~
Whew! Done, and it's 2 AM here, and I've got work tomorrow.
And guys hold your horses. I may have stated my desire for the KisekixKurokoXKagami and to me there is no definitive pairing yet.
To be honest I want all of them to fight over little Tetsuya. (Evil Grin)
Share your thoughts!