Title : Regression
By: revenanttrickster
Disclaimer: Kuroko no Basket is owned by Fujimaki Tadatoshi
A/N: I am so sorry for the late update! *bows repeatedly* Anyway, thanks: Booklover2526, flowingshadows, Kuroshiroryuu, kurie-tibiti, Kuro-Maggie, luchiaseiren, newerher3, Faliara, Crossroader32, AnimeAngelChick, Erika Karisawa's New Sidekick, BrokenBlackCat, kikigirl4321, NekoTama-1110, My Lunatic Crow, BloodyZombie, rinrinlen12, XxDeadSkiesxX, Kuro-Inazumi, Honeydee, Guest 1, xXoAnonymousoXx, Guest 2, Icchan, pollo for those reviews! I'm sorry for not replying but always know that I read and appreciate your reviews. They motivate me :D. And for those who favorite and follow this story, thank you, too! Anyway, enjoy this chapter as well!
Chapter 5: The Antidote is…
Everyone slowly turned around to find out who their new arrival was, only to relieve a sigh when they saw Murasakibara Atsushi, the tall center of the Generation of Miracles and Yosen High School basketball club. He was dressed in his school uniform, munching a cream stew flavored Maiubo on his right hand while the other one carries a shopping bag full of snacks.
"Mukkun!" Momoi greeted the purple haired giant.
"Ah, Sa-chin you're here~. Kise-chin, Mine-chin and Mido-chin are here, too~"
"What are you doing here Murasakicchi?" Kise asked his former teammate. "Akita is far from here."
"Hmm~ I'm here to pick up Kuro-chin. He said he'll show me a cheap store that sells the best pastries," Murasakibara lazily answered.
"Kuroko did? I didn't know he likes to eat sweet stuff," Kiyoshi mentioned.
Murasakibara glanced at the center of Seirin basketball team. "Kuro-chin only likes vanilla flavored desserts but he always recommends me a store or shop that sells the best snacks ever since we were in middle school." After explaining, he looked around the whole gym for the passing specialist. "Speaking of Kuro-chin, where is he?" the purple haired center asked.
"Um, Mukkun don't be surprised but something happened to Tetsu-kun," Momoi said.
Murasakibara tilted his head at his former manager. "What happened to Kuro-chin?"
Aomine answered his question straight-forwardly. "Tetsu turned into a kid by eating a vanilla candy brought by one of them." He jerked his thumb at the Seirin team.
"Don't say it like it's our fault!" said Kagami as he tried to deny the blue haired ace's accusation.
"What? It is your team's fault, you know."
"Hmm~ a vanilla candy that can turn you into a kid. Does that mean I'll turn into a kid, too?" Murasakibara wondered.
"Of course not Murasakicchi! What Kurokocchi ate was a special candy," Kise explained.
"Oh…" Murasakibara was relieved that he won't turn into a kid; he liked being tall, after all he can crush his opponents easily that way. "Then, where's Kuro-chin? I want to see Kuro-chin as a kid."
"He's here," said Midorima as he took a step back so that his former purple haired teammate could see the little teal head boy.
Murasakibara walked towards his former teammate who was reverted into a kid. Kuroko looked up, up at the tall teen in front of him. He was enthralled and a bit scared at the purple haired teen since he was taller than all of his nii-chan.
"You're so big onii-chan!" Kuroko brightly exclaimed.
Murasakibara ruffled little Kuroko's hair, just like he always does whenever he sees his former teammate, much to the sixteen year old phantom's chagrin. "And Kuro-chin is so tiny~"
"What's your name onii-chan?" little Kuroko asked.
"Hmm~ doesn't Kuro-chin remember me?"
Midorima answered his former teammate's question. "The candy's side effect not only changed his physical appearance but it also mentally revert Kuroko to his five year old self. As a result, he doesn't remember any of us."
Understanding the green head's explanation, he introduced himself to the little phantom. "My name is Murasakibara Atsushi. Nice to meet you Kuro-chin~"
"Nice to meet you, too, um, Mura… Murasaki…" Kuroko tried to say the purple head's name but he couldn't pronounce it because it was too long, so he shortened it instead. "Murasaki nii-chan!"
"Murasaki?" the purple haired center asked.
"Un!" Kuroko nodded and pointed at Murasakibara's hair. "Because your hair color is also violet!"
"Just like Midorima nii-chan, too!" he pointed at Midorima. "Green!"
Then he pointed at Momoi. "Pink!"
And then at Kise. "Yellow!"
And finally at Aomine. "Blue!"
"All of you have the same hair color as your name!" Kuroko excitedly declared, waving his hands in amazement.
Kagami crossed his arms and thought deeply. "Now that I think about it, they do have the same hair color as their name."
Everyone looked at him in disbelief.
Sensing everyone's attention on him, he exclaimed, "What?!"
"You only just noticed?" Hyuuga asked his oblivious underclass man.
"And this, coming from someone who always says that he will defeat the Generation of Miracles," Izuki added.
"You really are Bakagami," everyone said in unison.
"Leave me alone!" Kagami shouted in exasperation.
"But why does the Generation of Miracles have the same hair color as their name?" Kiyoshi asked the aforementioned group.
"Please don't ask questions that we can't answer. And it's not like we planned this or anything," Kise replied.
"You could be the color rangers!" Koganei enthusiastically announced his idea.
Aomine snorted at that. "Not like we haven't heard that before. And besides, Tetsu is an exception since he doesn't have black hair just like his name."
"Well, of course. Kuroko is far more normal considering all of your strange habits," Kagami retorted.
"Huh? What's that supposed to mean?!"
"Now, now you two. Don't fight," Kise tried to calm the two hot-headed and Kuroko's former and current light down. "Kurokocchi wouldn't like it if you two start fighting."
The two aces stopped their glaring contest when they heard that, and looked at little Kuroko who was playing with Murasakibara.
"Murasaki nii-chan what's in your bag?" asked Kuroko, pointing at the bag the purple haired was carrying.
"Hmm~ this? Its snacks," said Murasakibara as he showed its contents one by one to the teal head kid. "Dolsot Bibimbap and Squid Ink Pasta flavored Maiubo, potato chips, chocolate flavored pocky, strawberry filling Choco balls, some KitKat, Meiji chocolate bars, Jagariko, Pucca and vanilla candies."
"That's a lot!"
"Does Kuro-chin want some vanilla candies? It might turn you back to normal," Murasakibara said as he gave Kuroko a vanilla candy.
Little Kuroko took the offered candy and thanked his purple haired nii-chan. "But what does Murasaki nii-chan mean when he said I'll go back to normal?" he asked while tilting his head at the purple head in confusion.
Murasakibara opened his mouth to answer when Midorima interrupted him. "Wait, Murasakibara! What are you doing?"
Murasakibara turned to the green head. "Won't Kuro-chin return to normal if he eats another vanilla candy?"
Hyuuga shook his head. "We already tried that when we made him ate the chocolate bar which was Midorima's lucky item and it didn't work."
"That was chocolate and this is vanilla. Vanilla is very different from chocolate so don't compare them. Not only that, but this vanilla candy is considered a special candy. This vanilla candy melts in your mouth when you eat it, the flavor bursting through like a river flowing through the ocean. Its sweet taste can make you feel like you're flying through the heavens and will make you want more. They said that once you eat this vanilla candy, it can change a person so Kuro-chin might return to normal if he eats this," Murasakibara vehemently explained the candy's prowess to everyone's surprise.
Kise, spotting the Seirin team's dumbfounded reaction, enlightened them, "Murasakicchi can be really passionate when it comes to snacks. Actually, you could say that he has more passion when it comes to snacks than basketball."
Kagami couldn't believe it. "Seriously?"
Murasakibara noticed that Kuroko isn't going to eat the candy and tried to put it in his pocket. "Hmm~ aren't you going to eat it Kuro-chin?"
"But I just ate half of Midorima nii-chan's chocolate. Okaa-sama said that eating too many snacks is bad for your health."
"It's fine. It's just one candy," Murasakibara persuaded the little teal head boy.
Little Kuroko looked up at his Riko nee-chan for permission. When Riko nodded her consent, Kuroko ate the vanilla candy which he found was very delicious. "It's delicious Murasaki nii-chan!"
The purple haired center player nodded at his praise, smiled and ruffled Kuroko's hair again. Everyone was waiting if the vanilla candy has any effect to the teal head phantom, but just like last time, everyone was disappointed since nothing seems to be happening.
"You're special vanilla candy didn't work Murasakibara," Kagami stated.
"But Kuro-chin said it was delicious~"
"That's not the point!"
Just like what he did to his other nii-chan, little Kuroko held out his arms to Murasakibara, silently asking to be carried. Noticing what the little phantom want, the purple haired teen picked him up and placed him on his shoulders. "Do you like it Kuro-chin~?"
"Un!" Kuroko nodded eagerly. "Let's go around Murasaki nii-chan!"
"Okay~" said Murasakibara as he walked around the whole gym with little Kuroko on his shoulders.
The little teal head boy was having fun playing with his new tall purple head nii-chan, he was happy since this was the first time to be carried so high and see a new different perspective than usual. He was always the shortest out of all the kids in his school and there were even girls that are taller than him. Not to mention, his weak presence didn't help at all, he was always forgotten by his teachers and his classmates, which was also the reason why he doesn't have any close friends. That's why he was so confused that all of his nii-chan and nee-chan that he just befriended were so nice to him, they even said that he was cute, which was the first time anyone said that to him (his parents and grandmother didn't count). They never forgot about him, it's like he doesn't have a weak presence, more like the opposite, they were clamoring to him. He like that feeling; being the center of attention for once. They may not be the same age as him but he like them already; he was at ease with them, which was a first for him as he isn't comfortable with strangers that easily. They may be a bit odd but it felt like he knew them already which he found weird but he likes it; he really likes all of his nii-chan and nee-chan.
After playing around the Seirin High's gym, the purple haired center of Yosen High put down the kid version of the phantom sixth player of the Generation of Miracles. "Did you had fun Kuro-chin~?" Murasakibara asked.
Little Kuroko nodded. "Un! Thank you Murasaki nii-chan."
Since the tall center player was tired, he started eating the snacks he brought and tried to offer more candy to Kuroko but he shook his head in refusal. The purple haired teen just shrugged and started munching some potato chips happily, oblivious to his surroundings. Suddenly, the teal head boy felt tired and drowsy, rubbed his eyes and yawned cutely.
Kagami noticed his tired expression and picked him up. "Are you sleepy?" Kuroko slowly nodded and buried his face at the dark red head's shoulder. Kagami rubbed his back soothingly, little Kuroko sighed in contentment and immediately fell asleep after that.
Kise cooed at the cute sleeping teal head boy. "Kurokocchi must have tired himself with playing."
"Well, who wouldn't," Midorima said. "Being reverted to a kid even if he doesn't know it and meeting a lot of people he doesn't know, it's too much for a kid to handle. Actually, I'm surprise he lasted this long."
Riko thought that Kuroko sleeping was a good opportunity and ordered her team. "This is a good time. Everyone changed into your uniform quickly. We're leaving."
The Seirin team was going to ask why but seeing the murderous aura their coach was emitting, they hurriedly did as they were told and went to their locker room.
"We're leaving already?" Momoi asked.
Riko nodded. "All of you Generation of Miracles are here except for Akashi. We have to leave before he gets here."
"Um, coach?" Kagami interrupted. "What about me? I can't change while carrying Kuroko."
"I could carry him!" Kise volunteered.
Aomine gave the blond copycat a flat look. "What are you talking about? It should be me, I was his light."
"That has nothing to do with this!"
Riko glared at the two aces. "Both of you shut up. You'll wake Kuroko up." She turned to the dark red head power forward. "Kagami, you don't have to change. You haven't had your warm-up yet and you weren't sweating like the others so it's fine."
Kagami nodded in obedience when he saw his coach pacing impatiently.
The rest of the Seirin basketball team came back, all wearing their school uniform, and panting as if they ran a marathon.
"That was fast," said Kise, marveling at their speed.
Koganei tried to catch his breath before replying, "We have no choice. Either we hurry up changing or experience coach's hellish training menu if we were late."
Riko put her hands on her hips. "Since everyone is ready, we're leaving. Akashi might show up if we stay here any longer."
"Aka-chin?" Murasakibara, who already ate all of his potato chips and was now eating chocolate flavored pocky, asked.
Hearing what the purple head had said, Aomine asked, "Do you know something Murasakibara?"
The center of the Generation of Miracles nodded. "Aka-chin told me to wait here with Kuro-chin. He said that he wants to talk to him about something."
"Wait, you mean to tell me that Akashi is coming here?" Kagami demanded.
The purple haired center of Yosen nodded.
"Now?"
Murasakibara once again nodded in reply.
Riko started to panic. "Then what are we waiting for? We have to leave now!"
Murasakibara shook his head at Seirin's coach. "We can't."
"And pray tell me, why not?"
"Because Aka-chin said so."
"That's not a good enough reason!" Riko protested at Murasakibara's ridiculous excuse.
Midorima pushed his glasses at the bridge of his nose. "Murasakibara is right," he said. "If Akashi ordered us to stay here, we have to do it."
Kagami narrowed his eyes at the present members of the Generation of Miracles. "You know, I noticed that all of you always listen to what Akashi says," he said. "Just like when the Winter Cup began, he summoned the Generation of Miracles and all of you showed up willingly without questions. Why do you have to listen to him anyway? He isn't your captain anymore."
A tense atmosphere surrounded the Generation of Miracles and the Seirin team momentarily paused at the sudden change of mood.
"It's none of your business Kagami," Aomine firmly said.
Everyone was on the edge and although Seirin were a bit curious when they saw the serious expression of their former rivals, they didn't dare ask any questions.
"What's going on? Everyone look so serious."
Everyone whirled towards the gym doors when they heard someone spoke, their eyes widen in surprise and shivered in fear when they saw who it was. Because standing there was the feared captain of the Generation of Miracles and Rakuzan High School, Akashi Seijuurou.
… Not another vanilla candy.
Next Chapter: The Red Knows...
Notes:
Maiubo - Refers to the long corn snack Murasakibara often has in his mouth. The original snack is called "Umaibo". I also included Murasakibara's top 3 favorite flavors, according to Vol. 23's Q&A, which was (1) Cream Stew, (2) Dolsot Bibimbap and (3) Squid Ink Pasta.
Jagariko - Cheese and vegetable flavored potato sticks. Jagariko is a play on the word "Jagarimo" which means potato.
Pucca - Not the cartoons but crackers with a chocolate filling shaped like fish.
A/N: As a thank you for all those reviews (as well as for understanding that I'm a lazy author), I decided to treat you, my dear readers, for a surprise. You'll find out when I hit my 100 review mark. Look forward to it! :D