Disclaimer: Kuroko no Basuke is written and illustrated by Tadatoshi Fujimaki, published by Shueisha. Nothing belongs to me, but my fanfics and OCs are mine.

Possible Genres: Romance, Drama, Action, Shoujo, Crime, Girls with Guns…

Note to self: Chapter 53 was uploaded on June 7, 2014

Author's note: Warning, be prepared to see more mistakes in this chapter and in the future. Feel free to point them out. =3= Feeling so tired, I wonder why I still edit and update every time at night…?


"Talking"

'Thinking'

Texting


Chapter 53: Shadows With No Light Of Their Own

Blinking a couple of times, Kuroko was observing his friends from the gazebo. He was aware Kagami and Momoi were next to him, whether they were noticing him or not, and he felt secure being between the two of them.

One reason why Kuroko felt uneasy about the scene in front of him. He was not the type to see it, but he could tell. 'Shadows with no light of their own,' Kuroko recognized them in most of the girls. That was his feeling. He had begun to feel concern for these girls, who walked in total darkness.

"So," Aomine gave Ginmori a tired look. "Why are we standing here for?"

She grinned, clearly amused with herself with the Generations of Miracles standing in front of her. A constant thought came to her mind, which she kept hidden from herself over and over. "I thought it would be fun if five of you teach these girls how to play basketball first." All of the guys, but for Akashi, dropped their mouth. "After thirty minutes of practicing, we'll start the game."

"Wha?" Murasakibara blinked. It sounded too tiring to be teaching anyone anything. No way.

"Fouls are allowed, of course," Ginmori noted, snickering as she lowered her head. Fortunately, Ginmori had told the girls behind her to bring more basketballs. They should have more than enough to share.

Maki frowned and tugged Ginmori's sleeve. "Are you serious, Gin?" she demanded rather loudly. "I don't want to learn from these guys! Why can't you teach us instead?"

"It's more entertaining this way," Ginmori smirked down to her. "I don't see Chou having any problems with it."

Glaring, Maki looked to Kurosei. "Hey, say something too!" Maki told her. But Kurosei said nothing and kept her eyes on the ground.

Just after that, Sakai beamed, "I was thinking the same before too! I wanted the guys to teach us—I mean the girls—basketball! Let's do it!"

"I am not going to be a part of this," Midorima remarked with a deep voice. He was annoyed. Why should he have to play along?

Kise shrugged, "I'm fine with this idea." It seemed like fun anyway, therefore it was fine to start out the day like this.

Giggling from the other side, Kotone agreed, "Sounds exciting too, even if some of us girls know the basics already! I'm totally in!"

Moto was nodding and Tomimura knew there was no need to even reject their firm decision.

Stubbornly, Yua grabbed her older sister's arm to hug it "If Koizumi is joining Gin-chan's team, then I'll join Onee-sama's team!"

Ginmori reached out and grabbed the back of Yua's shirt and easily dragged her back. "I will not allow that, Yua," the silverhead calmly uttered. "You need to get the feel of going against your sister, so be quiet." What Ginmori said made Sakai blink with confusion.

There was no way getting around it. Yua merely pouted and obeyed. 'I guess Gin-chan wants me to experience this since I'm a Blade…' she mentally sighed. This might be a good practice too. And someday, Yua might have to kill one of the Bullets here. She must prepare herself for the worst.

"Then," Seki pushed up her glasses, voicing out for the others to hear. "This means each Generation of Miracles will be teaching two girls. Who gets to choose who to teach?" Before anyone answered, Seki quickly pointed back right to Midorima. "I want this man to teach me." Though she never met the greenhead face-to-face before, his glasses were a big hint.

Midorima sweat dropped, "I said I am not going to be a part of this!"

A sigh escaped Aomine's lips and he looked to Akashi, who was staring at Ginmori. She returned a look at the redhead and Aomine noticed the two had already decided on selecting the people.

"I want to teach Tomi-cchi," Kise raised his hand, smiling innocently.

Akashi broke off from Ginmori's gaze and gave Kise a serious look. "I will be teaching Mizuki, Ryouta," he decisively stated. The blonde pouted and was not about to give into his former captain's ways anytime soon.

"I will be the one to choose," Ginmori said, chuckling at them being childish. Everyone turned their eyes on her and there was a smirk on her face.

Over back to Kagami, he was raging and Kuroko and Momoi kept an eye on him from rampaging. Kagami wanted to be the one to teach Yamauchi. Even she felt the same. Did they really have to go along with all of this?

Kensuke turned to Himuro and asked, "…Why are we doing this again?"

"To fight for the right to use this basketball court," Himuro reminded, smiling to his senpai.

"Oh, okay," Kensuke nodded to himself. "But why can't we all just share the place?"

Takao walked to them and snickered, "Aw, come on. Can't you see how serious those mass of girls are?" Kensuke glanced to him and his eyes back over to the front. Takao put his elbow on Kensuke's left shoulder and leaned on him. "They really don't seem to want to share a single millimeter of this court!"

"But we were here first," Kensuke countered, frowning with a sigh.

Himuro chuckled, "Too bad that's not they see it."

"I think this way is better!" Moto stepped up right next to Himuro. She giggled and said, "Battling for the basketball court? I'm totally fighting! No one is going to ruin our day together!"

"Same here," Kotone nodded, slightly leaning next to Tomimura. "Right, Tomimura-tan?"

'I… I disagree,' Sakurai was thinking to himself. The girls who wanted the court to themselves all appeared cruel, aside from being fangirls. 'But Fukui-san is right, we did get here first…'

Tomimura was quiet and tried not to sigh. Truly, she rather return back home. Rising her eyes, she went back to listen what they have determined.

A judgment was made just then. Ginmori gave Midorima a smile, "You will be teaching Kotone and Chou."

The greenhead had a vein on his head. No one was listening to him. While Kotone and Kurosei made slight movements, Midorima uttered, "Like I said—"

Ginmori then looked over to Aomine next to Kise. "I'm going to have you teach Mizuki and Yua."

"Who?" Aomine stared at her, completely bored. He did not know the first names of the girls.

Yua raised her hand for him to notice, "Tomimura and I." The bluehead was even more uninterested and she had to give him a pout.

Over to Tomimura, she was sighing with relief since it was not going to be with Akashi or Kise. But still, she did not want to play basketball. As for Sakai, she was frowning, wondering if Yua would be fine with someone like Aomine: the pervert.

Following after that, Aomine sighed, "Why do I get to…?" He did not finish his sentence when Ginmori talked over him.

"And Ryouta," Ginmori winked. He appeared to be disappointed that Aomine got to teach Tomimura. "I'll leave Shizuka and Sayuri in your hands."

Meaning it was Moto and Koizumi. Kise nodded without objections, thinking why he was even listening to this tall woman. "Fine, leave it to me," he said, wanting to be more positive. If Akashi gave no comment, maybe it was fine to go with what Ginmori thought out.

Under the gazebo, Moto whispered to Himuro, "Why is she calling all of us by our first names?" He just shrugged to her, unable to even think up a reason. Who knew?

When Ginmori glanced to the purplehead, he rushed to say, "I don't want to!"

She snickered at his child-like pout and closed her lips when she was going to pick the girls she wanted him to teach. "…Alright then," she reconsidered. "I don't want the girls to be stuck with someone who's too lazy to even try."

Murasakibara was glad, yet the way she put it made him pout even more.

"Taiga, replace him," Ginmori waved over to the other redhead.

Midorima snapped, "Why couldn't I be replaced?!" Yet again, Ginmori ignored him as Kagami raced forward.

"Great, who do I get to teach?" Kagami grinned, stepping up beside the pissed Midorima.

The silver haired young woman smiled. Then she slowly named, "Takara… and Chiyo."

Kagami almost forgot who Takara was until Yamauchi burst out with happiness. "Yay!" Yamauchi cheered, gigging to herself.

Moto hugged her, pressing their cheeks together. "Good for you, Yamauchi-chan!"

Kagami was thankful, wondering if this was just luck or what.

"This is great," Maki grinned, her eyes over to Yamauchi. Who would have thought the two would come face-to-face and learn basketball together? Wait, that was not good at all! Maki was glaring daggers at Ginmori, who completely overlooked her raging feelings.

Yamauchi's happy voice faded away and she started to feel quite troubled. 'Oh… she and I will be… talking to each other then…' Yamauchi thought to herself, her chest tightening up. She would have never imagined meeting the enemy this way. Was everything going to be all right?

Feeling a bit down, Seki hid it behind her glasses. "I wanted Midorima… but Akashi is fine too," she said, glancing to the redhead. She was the only girl left and he was the last guy to be named. "I'll be looking forward to your teachings, Akashi."

He regarded her with a look and then carried his eyes to Ginmori. "Then, who's the fifth girl from your group?" Akashi inquired. Ginmori had mentioned earlier she was going to choose one of the girls behind her. And Akashi felt entirely jaded thinking about what kind of girl Ginmori was going to throw at him.

The silverhead smirked, licking her upper lip once. "…Etsuko," she called without looking back to her followers.

"M-Me?" a shy voice came from the crowd. The Generation of Miracles lifted up their chins while the crowd moved to make a path open for the chosen girl.

She was rather a short girl, probably the shortest one out of the girls around them. Wearing an oversized gray T-shirt and faded black jeans, she had dark brown thin hair that was tied into a low twin tails. The ends of her hair reached down to her lower back. Her timid eyes were in the hues of gray. Around her neck was a silver dog tag.

When the new girl walked up quickly, making sure not to make Ginmori wait, she went to stand next to Maki. Bowing, she introduced herself, "I'm Muyoku Etsuko… P-Please to meet all of you…"

Maki and Kurosei both turned their heads to Muyoku, having no clue about this short girl's existence until now. She was not even a Blade either, but they were able to tell this girl was similar to them in some way or the other.

"Now that's all over with," Ginmori clapped her hands once, gazing to Akashi one more time. "Should we begin?"

His eyes narrowed. He was more than ready. "Of course," he responded. Victory was already certain from Akashi's quick calculation.

However, why did it seem like Ginmori was not expecting to win? Akashi felt the same about not worrying about the results, but different at the same time. The way she smiled at him, it was like she was just having enjoying herself and gave no concern for losing. Was she truly not troubled by the fact the boys might ignore Ginmori's friends when they teach the other girls?

What was her motive to think that particular way? Earlier, did she not say she wanted them to leave this area? Did that mindset of hers change over the short period of time?

Moriyama had gone to stay under the gazebo with the others and had his own question. "If that woman is calling all of you girls by your first names…" Moriyama blinked, looking at Tomimura since she was closer. "Do you girls know her?"

Tomimura had a pause and the girls all shook their heads. "We don't know who she is," Tomimura quietly answered him.

"I did see her on a magazine though!" Moto noted, smiling like there was nothing wrong. Though, it was information they did not need to know.

~o~o~

Just minutes later, the group of fangirls had all left to go and buy drinks. Mainly for watching the game that will soon take place and they were all excited to see Kise play. Such fangirls indeed.

The practice had not started yet, so Akashi was speaking with his friends about guiding the girls to complete victory. He wanted to be sure they were all serious enough for this, since Midorima was still sulking.

The other guys, with Kuroko, Murasakibara, and Momoi, remained under the gazebo.

"Hey, I just had an idea!" Kotone giggled among her friends. She was with Tomimura, Seki, Yamauchi, and Moto while Koizumi was with the other girls from Ginmori's side.

"What is it, Fukui-chan?" Moto blinked at her, up for anything that was fun.

Seki and Tomimura were quiet as Yamauchi wondered what Kotone wanted to say. She was giggling again and went to play with Yamauchi's long hair. "We should all tie our hair up," Kotone suggested. "Koizumi-tan's style!"

"A high ponytail, you mean?" Yamauchi asked, slightly looking at Kotone, who continued to gently play with her hair.

"Yep!" Kotone chirped. "I even brought hair ties! In different colors too 'cause I thought it would be too hot ta be playin' in de heat."

Sakai's eyes brightened up, "That's awesome of you, Fuku-chan!"

Seki nodded, "Very well. Give one a red one, since Akashi will be teaching me."

"Oh!" Moto beamed, feeling excited about the colored hair ties. "Then that means I get yellow because of Kise!"

While Kotone reached into her pockets, Tomimura was frowning. "I don't like tying my hair up," she told them.

"Just do it," Sakai nudged her. "Fuku-chan, give Tomi-chan a blue one."

Taking out the hair ties, Kotone picked out a yellow first and handed it to Moto. Then she took a red and blue one, giving them to Seki and Tomimura. Kotone then stared at Yamauchi and asked, "What color do ya want? Should we make it purple, even if Murasakibara-tan isn't teachin' ya?"

Yamauchi smiled uneasily, "Why not? I don't mind." And Kotone took the purple hair tie and left it in Yamauchi's palm.

Being the first, Seki softly pulled her own hair up and started to use the red hair tie. The girls watched Seki quietly and when she was done, she blinked at them. "What?" she asked, touching her hair that hung from the back of her head.

Moto snickered, covering her mouth. "Seki-chan, you look pretty good," Moto commented. "It's like you're about to hit someone with a ruler to discipline them."

Smiling, Seki pushed up her glasses, "That sounds like me."

"Make it a green ruler!" Sakai joked, imaging Seki disciplining Midorima. Because he deserved it.

Nodding, Seki chuckled at the thought.

"Okay, my turn!" Moto quickly lifted up her own long hair. Tying it with the yellow bind, she fluffed her hair out and completed it. With a bright beam, she put her left hand on her hip. "How do I look?" she winked.

Kotone hugged her and said, "Ya look so cute!"

"It makes you look…" Tomimura slowly tried to describe. "Like you're ready for a jog."

"That or you're ready to throw a punch with a childlike smile," Sakai rubbed her chin, staring at Moto seriously.

Laughing, Moto hugged Kotone back, "Well, I do jog with my hair like this."

Yamauchi remembered it, "It looks wonderful on you, Moto-chan."

"Thank you!" Moto grinned widely as Kotone let Moto go. "Yamauchi-chan, your turn! Ponytail!"

Tomimura flattened her eyes, 'We're taking turns tying our hair and commenting?' She could not believe this. She was nervous too because there was something she was not able to tell them after all this time.

As Yamauchi put the purple hair tie on her lips, she lifted up her hair at the back of her head and soon bound them together. She blushed and lowered her eyes, "…Well?"

"You look like a different person," Seki smiled warmly at her. "I love it."

"R-Really?" Yamauchi giggled, her finger playing with her left bangs.

Laughing cheerfully, Moto hugged Yamauchi closely. "So adorable!" she shouted out in Yamauchi's ears. "You're totally all set for action, Yamauchi-chan!"

The girls now turned their attention to the last girl who had not tied her hair up. Tomimura realized it was her turn and she was slightly blushing. "Um…" she uttered, holding onto her blue hair tie in midair. "I… don't know how to tie my hair that… high…" she confessed.

Thinking they would have made fun of her, Kotone offered, "Then allow me ta do de honor, Tomimura-tan!"

Without an argument, Tomimura let her do so. Kotone went behind her after taking the blue hair tie. She raised Tomimura's hair, which was the shortest out of the girls. Tying it together now, Kotone stepped around her and smiled.

"I think I'm falling in love," Seki commented first, pushing up her glasses and walking right up to Tomimura's face.

"What?" Tomimura blinked at girl with pink glasses.

Yamauchi giggled, "Your short ponytail makes you look so innocent, Tomimura-chan. It's perfect!"

"I agree!" Sakai gave a thumb up.

"Perfect?" Tomimura made a dry face. The nape of her neck felt cooler, thanks to the hair tie, but seeing her friends all staring at her made her face warm.

A chuckling Moto pointed at Tomimura's face. "You should pick up guys looking like that more often," she chose to say in a teasing way.

"No," Tomimura frowned now. She looked to Kotone to thank her for helping her, but then she realized something about Kotone. Her hairstyle right now was a high ponytail, but it was more on the left side of her head. "Fukui, aren't you going to change your hair too?" Tomimura inquired the very detail.

Innocently, Kotone blinked at her once. "Do I have ta?"

"Yes," Tomimura strongly nodded.

"You should!" Moto encouraged Kotone with a grin.

Sakai felt the same, "You are going to play anyway."

Kotone smiled sheepishly, "I thought I was fine lookin' like this, but 'kay…" She searched for a green hair tie and found there was only one. Taking off the old hair tie out of her hair, she changed the position of her hair to the back of her head and then bound them up with the green one. "There," she smiled. "Happy now, everyone~?"

"Very," Seki chuckled.

Holding in a giggle, Sakai commented, "You look more fierce like that, Fuku-chan!"

Yamauchi and Moto were laughing a little whereas Tomimura was still not satisfied. Shortly, Tomimura looked over to Koizumi with the other different girls. It seemed Ginmori was talking to Koizumi, but as usual, Koizumi did not give much response.

"…I suddenly feel like we should change Koizumi's hairstyle too," Tomimura stared rather determinedly.

"She did walk over to them like a puppet," Sakai pouted and then sighed. She could not understand how Koizumi and Ginmori even knew each other. 'Unless Koi-chan joined Gin-chan's gang…' Sakai concluded with an upside down smile. If only Koizumi knew it was Ginmori who killed Nakano…

Kotone smiled, feeling the exact same thing about Koizumi's hairstyle. "Then ta make Koizumi-tan remember we're still friends, let's go over there," Kotone proposed, winking at the girls.

"Will that really be a good idea?" Yamauchi wondered out loud.

"Well, I'm going first!" Moto jogged right off, her new hairstyle dangling behind her. And then she called right away, "Koizumi-channnn!"

Maki broke off from the group and walked away before even looking at Moto. Even Kurosei followed behind her. Ginmori, Yua, and Muyoku stayed to see what was up as the other girls approached them altogether.

Momoi and all of the guys had turned their attention as well, noticing the girls with the high ponytails.

Koizumi lifted her eyes from the ground and turned around just as Moto hugged her tightly. "Moto…" Koizumi made a sour face. She was always hugging people out of nowhere; Koizumi got used to it, but was this the time right now?

"Take off your hair bind!" Moto giggled, sliding off of Koizumi.

"Excuse me?" Koizumi blinked at her.

Ginmori noticed the girls had their hair up, aside from Sakai. "Aw, don't you all look ready for battle," Ginmori chuckled.

"Yep!" Kotone nodded up to her, holding up her two small fists with a grin. "We won't lose!"

"A-And…" Yamauchi lowered her voice. "We want Koizumi-chan to…" She had to think again, how was Koizumi going to change her hairstyle? She already had a high ponytail.

Moto had that covered though, "Koizumi-chan, you should leave your hair down during our battle!"

Instantly, Koizumi disapproved, "No. It's too hot to leave it down."

"I think you should leave it down too," Seki nodded, approving the idea. It was better than nothing.

All of the other girls were nodding and Koizumi gave them a light glare. "No," she told them one more time. Before Moto was getting excited, even looking like she would force her way to do it, Koizumi glared harder. "Stop annoying me and leave me alone. Go back to your side of the court."

Her voice was heard by everyone. "Ouch," Takao winced, slightly smiling. "What a coldhearted friend…" But that would not stop him from getting along with someone like her. Midorima was a great example!

Moto was clearly hurt and unconsciously stepped back. Koizumi averted her eyes while Muyoku and Yua was feeling uncomfortable about the air around them. Ginmori simply smirked.

Sakai pouted, "Fine, leave Koizumi-chan here for now."

The other girls were saying nothing, but Seki uttered, "Then Koizumi, if we win, you'll have to leave your hair down for the rest of the month."

Shocked, she widened her eyes, "Are you kidding me?" Even if there were only two weeks left, Koizumi could not live with that. It would be horrible and disgusting in the hot weather! Her house did not have AC either!

Now the girls were all smiling. Yamauchi nodded whereas Kotone stated, "I like dat bet!"

Tomimura did not oppose to it either and Moto was giggling at Koizumi's flustered expression.

"And what if I win?" Koizumi frowned.

Sakai smirked and looked up at Ginmori. "What do you want to wager with, Gin-chan?" she asked excitingly.

The silverhead smiled back, "I'll let Sayuri decide for herself since she's the one with the punishment if we lose."

All eyes were on Koizumi, who appeared serious about betting. She did not think long and decided, "If you girls lose to me with Gin's team, then…" Her eyes slowly gazed to the boys and she directly looked at Murasakibara in the eye. He was blinking and hoped she was not going to pick on him. Koizumi then declared, "Murasakibara will have to go on date with Tomimura tonight."

"What?!" Tomimura shouted, her heart jumping. She was completely surprised. And why her of all people?

Moto and Kotone were laughing out loud, Seki shrugged, and Yamauchi smiled with uncertainties. As for Murasakibara, he was pouting at Koizumi's choice. She obviously chose him because of a possible grudge she had for him calling Kotone, 'Fu-Fu,' at the time.

Ginmori let out a soft laughter, "That sounds promising, Sayuri. I like it." Simply it was because picking on the big guy was entertaining to her. His expression was adorable too.

"…Like I care," Murasakibara said, preparing himself for the worst. "If we happen to be beaten and me going out with Tomi girl, then I'll give her the most boring date EVER." That would bring Koizumi down, right?

Tomimura was not happy to hear that and gave the purplehead a dry look on her face.

"Fine by me," Koizumi said, still looking at Murasakibara. He frowned; vexed the fact she was unfazed by his words. "I don't care about Tomimura all that much anyway."

And Tomimura now gave Koizumi the same look she had given the giant.

Aomine and Midorima had no feel for this topic. For the others who did, both Kise and Akashi clearly were not going to let the date come to pass. Now they really must win this at all costs.


Thanks for reading!