~CHAPTER 12~

Midorima frowned, looking at the gymnation with confusion, the mentioned place having some decorations, with a large banner hanging at the top of the stage with the words 'Pinkish Nightmare: Tonight Surprise!' written on it in bright pink and black letters.

The green head was about to order his fellow companions to tear the decoration apart when suddenly a familiar white head appeared from the side to stop him. It seems that she was.. inspecting for the lack of better word.. the place before they did.

"Shiro.." Midorima acknowledged, bowing a bit. "What are you doing here nanodayo?" He said after straightening his posture back, his voice having a tinge of confusion.

"Oh, Midori-chan, it's you.." Shiro said, looking around before facing Midorima again. "I was just having a check around before I head out and rest. Why?"

Midorima fully knew that the white-haired girl doesn't sleep, or rest, at all. Powerful beings just like her don't really need it, unless they overexert themselves, which is kind of impossible for her. But he didn't really comment about it, and answered her question instead with seriousness. "We were having a patrol too. And we need to tear the decorations down, they don't have permission--"

"Let them."

Midorima widened his eyes. "But.. Shiro--"

"I gave them permission, don't worry about that!" Shiro said cheerfully. "At first I thought of giving them detentions, but exams are coming up, and I thought students here might need some inspiration so I let them."

"But what Akashi said--"

"Doesn't matter." Shiro said, smile still plastered on her face. "Don't worry! Tell Aka-chan that."

Midorima threw a glance on her. "Shiro, you do realize Pinkish Nightmare is a band from that Battlefront right? They might be planning something, or worse, already doing it as we speak."

Shiro laughed, amusement clear in her eyes. Midorima swore Shiro is like a girl counterpart of Akashi, although Shiro is more of a follower (of God) than a leader, and seemed to be short tempered. "Let them! Duh.. If you really ARE the Generation of Miracles, you can stop them. Heck, you always do, right?"

"W-well, yeah.." Midorima widened his eyes when he realized that he stuttered, but he didn't care. If Shiro had let the Battlefront do their tricks and plans, then that means she also had something planned. A very big one at that.

Shiro flashed a fake grin once again. "Then, I shall take my leave!" She said before exiting the gymn, humming a song of Pinkish Nightmare.

Midorima pressed his earpiece while looking at the white-haired girl's retreating back. "Yuuri. Looks like we need to watch out for Shiro too."

The greenhead heard a 'tsk' from the other line. "I hate this.."

-*-*-*-*-*-*-

Akashi Seijuurou surveyed the room.

He knew that if anyone saw him looking around Kuroko's clean and organized dorm room, they would eventually think he's a burglar, or a stalker, which isn't good to hear either way.

Okay maybe he IS stalking.

But it isn't a weird thing to do for him anymore. It is his duty as God's representative to take care of the amnesiac souls and making them remember slowly, and it includes adjusting the things to a more familiar position or introducing them if they are an integral part of their life (just like Kuroko and milkshakes, which makes him sigh everytime Akashi remembers the tealhead's addiction).

He walked around the room and noticed that it isn't just clean, it's also not that full of decorations. There are some paintings hanging on the wall, a what it seems to be a bulletin or notice board which is located above the study table (which is full of sticky notes and pictures of the factions of Battlefront with some arrows leading to the picture of Generation of Miracles, which made Akashi crept out for a second), and a large wardrobe which is placed beside the door. Even if the dorm does seem small, Kuroko being organized made the space seem wider. He smiled when he saw two picture frames standing silently on Kuroko's study table, which is full of school supplies, books, and some accessories like basketball keychain. One of the pictures showed the whole Battlefront together with Kuroko, which have serious faces and the Battlefront logo behind them. The other one, however, showed a cheerful picture of the Seirin faction laughing together. Kuroko was there, of course.

Even though the group of people which Kuroko had been hanging out these past few months have been trying to take them down, and maybe even doubted the tealhead's existence in the Afterlife, Akashi is glad to know that they still accepted Kuroko and cherished him. Even if the level of the cherish isn't on par with how the Generation of Miracles cherished their Phantom Sixth Man, Akashi is at peace knowing that a lot of people care about Kuroko if they can't.

And no, he's not jealous at all.

Akashi approached Kuroko's bed and sat down facing the bedside table, feeling comfortable with the bed's soft foam. The table have some common things you can see in other bedside tables: a lamp, an alarm clock, a book (a mystery book in Kuroko's case), a picture frame (faced down in Kuroko's case), and two drawers below the table. Although, he is annoyed when he saw a pistol, five magazines, and three knives in the first drawer, something he wouldn't want Kuroko to have. In the second drawer, though, he was glad to see variety of books, with the exception of books Aomine really likes to read.

Also, he noted that Kuroko's bedside table's picture frame doesn't have any picture that explains why it is faced down. Smiling, he inserted his hand to his pocket and pulled it out to reveal Kuroko's smiling portrait, which is similar to what he has in real life, back when they were still alive.

He also entered Kuroko's dorm bathroom. As expected, the bathroom is clean, but he saw the soap, shampoo, and perfume that he uses, he frowned. Akashi also utilizes the sense of smell to make someone remember as quickly as possible, and Kuroko's hygienic products are far from what he actually use when he's still in real life.

I watched as Daiki knocked the door in front of him, which is the door of Tetsuya's house. I'm not that grateful of my position that day, being the man behind Murasakibara, but Yuuri don't really care at that moment, being the dominant personality at that time. I have something else in my mind.

When I saw Tetsuya opening the door and showing a shocked emotion in his eyes, I prevented myself from chuckling. I am amused, and honestly I'd like to see it more.Making sure that Tetsuya is still busy entertaining our teammates, I quickly sneaked up to his bedroom and smirked when he left the window open. Skillfully climbing through the branches of the tree which is near his bedroom, I entered it through his window and looked around and found myself being amused by the fact that Kuroko still manages to clean his room, even if he is guy. Not that I'm dirty. Maybe I just got used with Atsushi and Daiki's behavior when it comes to cleanliness.

I heard a faint *clink* in his bathroom and quickly rushed in, only to see a bird flying out of the bathroom window. I discovered that Tetsuya's toothbrush and plastic glass had fell into the sink, so I took the responsibility to arrange it back. How did his bathroom had a little window, I don't know.And it didn't escape to me either that even though there is ventilation, a pleasant smell had engulfed my nostrils. Looking around, I saw a rack and found some things used in hygiene. I remembered them before going out, which is, on cue, Kuroko arrived.

And there goes his surprise face again, which didn't suppress my chuckle this time.

"What are you doing here, Akashi-kun?" He said, surprise still evident in his tone. "Maybe I really should have cut the branches."

"Don't be silly, Kuroko." I said, smiling all the way. "I still want to sneak up here and stay."

Tetsuya sighed. "I didn't say you're not welcome here. I'm just saying that the door has its uses."

"Oh, where are my manners, maybe I should go apologize to the door." I teased, which made the tealhead laugh slightly.

No one really knows, but I always drop my intimidating aura whenever I'm alone with Tetsuya. And also I go and sneak here if I have time to take refuge and rest from the world. From reality. From everything that keeps us apart. Whenever I go here alone, it's usually at night, and have sleepover and sometimes dinner if his grandmother and parents aren't here. We would either talk all night, or just sleep. Yeah, cuddle included. And I'm thankful about that, actually. I can smell Kuroko's shampoo whenever I rest my chin on his head or the combination of his soap and perfume when nuzzle on his pale collarbone. The same can be said about Tetsuya.

"Yeah, you can go now and say sorry to the door." Tetsuya said, joining the fun. I nodded, still grinning, and got out of the tealhead's bedroom with him.While going to the stairs, I whispered something that made him halt and be surprised again.

"Don't think I haven't seen my red shirt lying down on your bed."

Tetsuya turned to face me and showed a surprised face, yet again, that made me smirk. However, it faded and he pouted instead. Damn it, why do you have to be so cute?

"Don't blame me, Akashi-kun. I do miss you." He said. "And it's the only way that I can think you're beside me. B-but don't jump into any dirty conclusions! I just.. you know.. hug it when I sleep.."

When he saw me trying to prevent my laugh, he became annoyed and turned around and planned to leave me, but I caught his wrist and pulled him to me, my arms wrapping his waist and my face buried on his shoulders.

We stayed there for what felt like hours. I can hear his heart beating loud and fast, and I can feel my heart synchronizing in his beat.

"Don't worry.. I do it too." I admitted, Tetsuya's intoxicating scent of leather, petrichor, and book paper entering my nostrils. "And I'm always beside you, Kuroko Tetsuya, even if I'm not there physically. I will always be there for you."

"Oi Kuroko! Don't forget tomorrow!" Akashi heard Kagami's voice booming outside Kuroko's dorm, which only meant that the tealhead's already here.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-

"Yes, I know. Don't tell me twice." Kuroko said monotonously against Kagami's broad retreating back. After the he can't see the latter anymore, he pulled out his key and opened the door. He frowned slightly when he saw the lights are on. Didn't he turned it off before going to his class?

He closed and locked the door behind him before putting his bag down. He then looked at the notice board and stared at the pictures of the Battlefront factions to remind him everyday, in his no-past-memories brain of his, that he's in this place called Afterlife to get it back.

His frown came back when he saw a sticky note covering the picture of the rainbow-haired angel group and pulled it out, which read:

Bath soap bar - orange peel extract

Sky blue shampoo - menthol extract

Basuke cologne - color blue

Kuroko was confused. Although the writing looked like his own, he definitely didn't remember anything about writing this. Well, there's no use dwelling in it now. He's too tired to care how the heck did this sticky note existed.

He laid down to his bed and felt a lump under his back and was confused to find a red shirt when he lifted his own body up. He also couldn't remember how he owned, or even wore it.

The tealhead sat down to his bed, staring at the red shirt in his hands. He even turned it around to see its outline. It looks familiar, Kuroko mused. He instinctively smelled the shirt and widened his eyes when he suddenly felt the rush of wave of mixed emotions as the scent of velvet silk, morning dew, and paper entered his nose. Comfort, familiarity, happiness, want, sadness... miss...

...love.

"I do miss you..""..it's the only way I can think you're beside me.""I'm always beside you..""I will always be there for you."

Kuroko Tetsuya was too late to realize that his tears are already flowing from his sky blue colored eyes and that he was already sobbing. The emotions, the fragmented and blurred memories it came, it's too much.

"Who are you?!" He shouted through the silence, which is not like Kuroko at all. "Who the hell are you?! Why are you always doing this to me?! I always see you in my memories but not your face! Why do I.." He continued to sob. "Why do.. Why do I.. want you.. miss.. you so much.." He hugged the shirt tightly, as if he's scared to let it go and vanish, just like his memories. "I.. need you.."

He laid down to his bed while still crying and hugging the shirt for dear life, and he remained in that position until he fell asleep.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

Hanamiya Makoto was just sitting in his swivel chair, having fun and just relaxing and backstabbing both the Generation of Miracles and Battlefront in their own headquarters when suddenly a white light emerged at the center and knocked out all of the occupants of the room except him.

Which isn't fun.

His head was spinning and his vision was blurred, but when he got up he knew that every Kirisaki Daichi members are unconscious, except him of course. When the white light was gone, he saw a figure of a lady with white hair and eyes.

Hanamiya grunted in pain. "Fucking principal.. What the hell do you--"

But even before he could finish his sentence, he found himself being pinned on the nearby wall by an invisible force, knocking his breath out and causing great pain in his back that made his eyes close. He opened them seconds later and saw the lady's palm directed to him.

"Damn it! What the hell do you want, woman?!" He shouted in pure rage.

The lady smiled innocently, as if she's not the culprit of the sudden appearance and Hanamiya's humiliation at all. "The name's Shiro, moron. And I'm here to stop you from wrenching the balance of this world."

"You say like you don't bitch the fucking balance of the living world either!" Hanamiya spat. "You, and that damn boss of yours, you like to play around our little lives and then take it back suddenly!"

Shiro's smile faltered a bit. "Okay, dark green haired moron, if you cooperate with us, maybe you could use that little power of yours into somewhere you should use it."

"You've got to be kidding me. Now you're gonna use me?!" Hanamiya said before laughing sarcastically. "I'm fucking tired of fucking following orders, you useless bitch. And besides, I already have a plan. I'm gonna sit back and watch you guys destroy each other and when the other one loses--"

"Shut. Up!" Shiro was about to slam him to the other side of the room but paused and looked up for a moment.

Don't. If he won't cooperate it's fine. I have other plans for him.

Shiro sighed, calming her senses down. "Yes, I understand." She said before dropping her control on Hanamiya, which also meant him falling on the floor.

Yet he still laughed. "Hahaha.. People like you.. Too dependent on your autho--"

Shiro didn't wait for his answer and her eyes glowed. "Forget and sleep."

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

A/N: Sorry for being late! Sorry if you think Akashi and Kuroko are OOC, but it is essential.

So I decided that the Flashback Arc won't be happening anytime now. Maybe soon. I will just insert the memories of the Battlefront members if I see any opening. The thing is, I decided that the Flashback Arc will be centered around the Generation of Miracles and Kuroko, and how everyone took part of their lives even before dying.

I just wanted to thank you guys for all the support, the reviews, the faves and follows, EVERYTHING. I mean it. I've been under a lot of stress lately and.. well.. I'm trying to manage everything. I'm fine, though.

So.. See you next time :)