Title : Regression
By: revenanttrickster
Disclaimer: Kuroko no Basket is owned by Fujimaki Tadatoshi
A/N: Thanks: Faliara, BrokenBlackCat, Calico Neko, loliconkawaii, gypsydancer529, newerher3, luchiaseiren, Quetoa, Angel of Insania, miki565, Booklover2526, XxDeadSkiesxX, Kuro-Inazumi, Failing Mentality for the reviews! And for those who favorite and follow this story, thank you, too! Enjoy reading this chapter :D
Chapter 7: When a Tiger Cooks
The ace and power forward of Seirin basketball team, Kagami Taiga, stared at the duffel bag in front of him. He and Kuroko were now inside the teen's apartment, sitting in the living room with the teal head boy marveling at the spacious apartment and its minimalistic features, Kagami gave him a tour upon arriving there. Aside from the glass-top coffee table, a small sofa, a sound system, a metal shelf which held some books and magazines as well as a television, there's wasn't any more furniture in the living room. The kitchen was the opposite though, the pots, pans and other kitchen utensils were stack neatly, the foods in the refrigerator were arranged efficiently, and there were even herbs and spices that were labeled accordingly. It seems like the dark red haired teen likes to cook in his free time. As for Kagami's room and the other rooms, he hasn't seen them yet, the boy wondered what it looked like.
The teal head boy looked at Kagami who was still staring at the bag in front of him. "Kagami-kun?" he asked, trying to catch the teen's attention. "You've been staring at that bag for a while now."
The dark red head nodded. "It's from Akashi."
"From Sei-nii?"
Kagami nodded his head again. He was shocked and a bit wary when he saw two men wearing a black suit standing in front of his apartment complex as well as an expensive car parked in front of it when he and Kuroko arrived there. He got more cautious when they called his name. It turns out they were sent by Akashi and was ordered to give him a bag full of necessities for little Kuroko, they immediately left after handing him the bag. How Akashi knew where he lived and how he prepared Kuroko's things in a short amount of time, he doesn't know nor does he have any intention of ever finding out. He valued his life, thank you very much.
"What's in the bag?" the little phantom asked, snapping the ace from his thoughts.
"It's your things," the dark red head answered and started checking the bag. It was full of children clothes in just the right size for little Kuroko and they seem brand new, too, personal items like toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, body wash and such and some toys. The bag was full of complete things that Kuroko will need for the whole week, as expected from the captain of the Generation of Miracles.
The teal head boy peeked at the bag as well. "Did Okaa-sama prepare that? But I haven't seen those things before and they looked new, too."
The dark red haired ace doesn't know what to say to that. "Ah…yeah…" he hesitantly replied.
The little phantom noticed that Kagami was getting uncomfortable and changed the subject. "What's for dinner, Kagami-kun?" he asked. "You said that you'll cook tonight."
Kagami blinked at the sudden change of topic but still nodded in confirmation. "What do you want for dinner?" he asked the boy. "I can make you anything you want."
Little Kuroko thought deeply and quickly made his decision. "Curry!" he exclaimed, flashing a bright smile to the teen.
The dark red head was glad that he can finally control the urge to blush whenever he saw the teal head's dazzling smile. It makes him question some things. He grinned at the boy and ruffled his hair. "Curry it is then." He went to the kitchen to start making their dinner but stopped when he remembered something and turned to his shadow. "Do you want to help?"
Little Kuroko blinked in surprise, his mother never asked him that. He tried lending her his hand once but instead of helping, he distracted her even more because of his weak presence and almost ruined their dinner. He never offered his help again after that. That's why he was so happy that Kagami asked for his help although he was still reluctant since he might burden him more if he accepted.
Kagami could see the hesitation and a hint of happiness in the kid's azure eyes, he could never read Kuroko like he does right now. "Don't worry," he said, reassuring the boy while scratching his left cheek timidly. "I already know about your weak presence and I, uh, think I can work with you despite of that." And besides, I'm used to it, he finished in thought.
The teal head boy smiled at the awkward teen in front of him. "Un!" he finally agreed. "I'd like to help Kagami-kun!"
"Then, come over here," the dark red head beckoned the boy. Little Kuroko did as he was told and eagerly went to the kitchen.
They started working at once, Kagami asked Kuroko to pick the potatoes, carrots and onions while he started to cook the rice, prepared the beef, the pot and the chopping board. Just like when they play basketball, the two worked silently and efficiently. Vegetables suddenly appearing beside the chopping board to be chopped by Kagami just like a basketball being invisibly passed to him out of nowhere to be shot. After chopping the vegetables, Kagami heat up the pot with oil and added the vegetables to be cooked. He then added the beef and waited for it to cook before adding enough water; he covered the pot and let it simmer.
The teal head boy watched in awe at how at ease Kagami looked while cooking. Kagami noticed that the boy staring at him and asked him to fetch the curry blocks, which the boy happily obliged. After a minute or two, Kagami added the curry blocks that Kuroko fetched and also added some spices for flavor. The delicious aroma of the curry wafted through the kitchen. Little Kuroko sniffed the air in hunger.
"Hungry?" the dark red head asked when he saw what the boy was doing. Kuroko nodded and rubbed his stomach. Kagami grinned and patted the boy in the head. "Almost done," he said while stirring the curry. He took out a spoon for a taste and nodded in satisfaction when he got his desired flavor. He turned the stove off and asked Kuroko to help him set up the table. After that, Kagami went back to the kitchen to bring their plates.
Little Kuroko sat in front of the coffee table waiting for Kagami. The dark red head teen arrived from the kitchen carrying two plates of curry rice; he placed the smaller plate in front of the boy since he knows that Kuroko doesn't eat that much. The teal head boy stared at the food in front of him; it looks appetizing not to mention smells delicious, too. He couldn't wait to taste it.
After saying their prayers, the pair eagerly digs in. The little phantom hummed in appreciation when the sweet with a hint of spicy flavor of the curry burst in his tongue. And with his eyes sparkling, he beamed at Kagami. "This is so good, Kagami-kun!"
The dark red head swallowed before ruffling the kid's powder-blue hair affectionately and grinned at him. "I'm glad you like it." It's just curry though.
The light and shadow pair ate in comfortable silence with Kagami finishing first and went back to the kitchen for more as well as fetching some water for little Kuroko. He came back and handed a glass of water to the boy and went back to eating. The teal head boy drank his water after finishing his meal and watched the dark red haired teen as he ate. Kuroko still couldn't believe at how much Kagami can eat. He just ate twenty seven burgers at Maji Burger and now he was halfway through his second serving of curry rice.
The ace of Seirin stood up for another serving and noticed that Kuroko was staring at his plate. "Do you want more?" he asked. The boy shook his head in refusal. The teen shrugged, fixed his third serving and went back to the table.
Seeing as he wasn't doing anything, little Kuroko decided to ask Kagami about some questions nagging through his head ever since they first step at the apartment. "Where are your parents, Kagami-kun?" he asked point blank.
The dark red head promptly choked at the boy's out of the blue question. The little phantom offered him some water which Kagami thankfully drank. After checking that he won't die of suffocation, he looked at the mini version of his shadow. "Why do you ask?"
Little Kuroko shrugged in reply.
Kagami sighed. "Actually, I live here alone," he said. "My parents are in America. I also grew up there and came back here in the last year of my middle school."
"America?" the teal head boy said, eyes widen in amazement. "That's pretty far!"
"Yup, pretty far."
"But is that okay?" the little phantom asked forlornly. "Leaving you here all alone?"
The dark red head took a spoonful of curry rice before answering. "My old man—I mean Dad was supposed to stay here with me but something came up and he went back. I decided to stay here though."
"But still, isn't it lonely? Living in this big apartment by yourself?" the boy insistently asked.
"At first, yeah, it was lonely," Kagami grudgingly admitted. "But ever since I started high school, meeting my teammates in Seirin and playing basketball with them, the sadness slowly fades away. My thoughts were filled of playing basketball, beating the Generation of Miracles and winning the Winter Cup with my teammates. My days were full of basketball practice, polishing up my skills and making myself stronger. Because of that, all I feel now is the excitement whenever I play basketball, the rush of adrenaline when I'm in a match, the rivalry with my opponents and the—" He stopped when he realized that he was baring all of his emotions to a kid (yeah, it was Kuroko but even so he's now a kid). Kagami stared at the teal head boy who was raptly listening to his story. "Sorry, I guess I was rambling," he said while scratching the back of his head. "Did you even understand what I was talking about?"
Little Kuroko smiled. "A little," he said. "But I did understand one thing."
"Yeah? What's that?"
"Kagami-kun really, really loves basketball so much!" the little phantom exclaimed and beamed at the teen.
Kagami ruffled the boy's powder-blue hair warmly. "Yeah, I do," he confessed, smiling slightly. "Anyway about being here alone, I wasn't the only one living here these past few weeks. Alex was here, too."
The teal head boy blinked and tilted his head at the teen. "Alex?"
"My mentor," the dark red head answered. "She taught me all I needed to know in basketball when I was a kid."
Little Kuroko looked surprised. "She? Alex-san is a girl?"
"Yeah," said Kagami, nodding his head. "Her full name is Alexandra Garcia."
"Then, where is Alex-san?" little Kuroko excitedly asked. "Is she coming home tonight?"
The ace of Seirin didn't want to upset the kid but still decided to tell the truth. "Alex isn't here. She went to Osaka."
"Oh…" the little phantom said in disappointment. "I would have liked to meet her."
Well, I don't. Who knows what she might do when she sees you like this. Good thing she decided to go for a vacation, Kagami thought. The dark red haired power forward took the dirty dishes to the kitchen to be washed with the little phantom following him.
"Do you need some help, Kagami-kun?" the teal head boy offered.
"Nah, I'm fine," Kagami said while washing the plates.
Little Kuroko nodded but didn't leave and stayed in the kitchen, watching the dark red haired teen do his chore.
The ace glanced at the mini version of his shadow beside him. He thought that Kuroko must be bored since he doesn't have anything to do. "Kuroko do you want to take a bath?" he asked as he dried his hands with a hand towel.
Little Kuroko nodded. "Un!"
"Then, why don't you watch some TV while I go prepare your bath," Kagami said as he led the way to the living room and opened his television.
"Okay!" the teal head boy readily agreed when he noticed that his favorite program was showing.
The dark red head patted the boy on the head before going to the bathroom and picking up Kuroko's duffel bag on the way.
i.
The dark red haired ace of Seirin sighed in contentment when he dipped his whole body in the bathtub filled with lukewarm water. He watched the mini version of his shadow in front of him played with the water. They just finished washing their bodies and were now soaking their tired bodies away. Kagami was supposed to bathe after Kuroko but he reluctantly agreed when the boy asked him if they can bathe together (as if someone can say no to that cute face).
"Hey, Kuroko?" Kagami called the little phantom. "Do you take a bath alone or with someone?" he couldn't help but asked. He doesn't know that much about Kuroko's family since his shadow doesn't talk much. A good example would be his time in Teikou. It took beating the Generation of Miracles until the night before their match with Rakuzan when Kuroko told his teammates in Seirin about what happened during his middle school.
"If Otou-sama was home, we go together," the teal head boy answered the teen's question. "Okaa-sama stays with me if Otou-sama is busy."
The dark red head leaned towards the boy. This was a good opportunity to know more about Kuroko. His mini version doesn't seem to mind him questioning. "Are you close with your family?"
Little Kuroko looked up at the dark red head and nodded. "Why do you ask Kagami-kun?"
"No-Nothing," Kagami stuttered. "What about your weak presence? Are they having a hard time because of it?"
"Sometimes," the teal head boy replied. "They can easily lose sight of me especially if we were in a crowded place like a mall. But Obaa-sama is different. She always knows where I am."
Oh yeah, I remembered Kuroko told me one time that his grandmother lives with him, Kagami thought. "What's your parent's job?" he asked. Got to keep asking questions while I can.
"I don't know," little Kuroko said as he shook his head. "But they always go out in trips."
"Do they always leave you with your grandmother then?"
"No," the teal head boy said while playing with the water. "Most of the time, Obaa-sama and I joined Otou-sama and Okaa-sama on their trips."
"Oh…" Kagami wanted to know more but Kuroko wouldn't like it if keeps probing his mini version for more information. Not to mention, little Kuroko doesn't seem to know much, which is a given considering he's a kid.
"Okay, I think we've stayed here long enough," Kagami said as he stood up and picked little Kuroko out of the bathtub. The dark red head dried himself and Kuroko before putting on their pajamas. He put his towel on the back of his neck to catch some droplets of water on his nape and dried Kuroko's hair and then his. After that, they went back to the living room.
The ace of Seirin stared at his shadow's hair, they were sticking out everywhere. "Uh, Kuroko?" he asked. "Do you want to brush your hair?"
The teal head boy touched his messy hair before shaking his head.
"Are you sure?" Kagami asked, narrowing his eyes at the kid.
Little Kuroko nodded.
"Okay, whatever you want," the dark red head said, shrugging his shoulders. "Do you want to sleep now or watch TV?"
"Watch!" the teal head boy said as he pointed to the TV.
Kagami turned on the TV and was about to leave so he could set up Kuroko's bed when he remembered something. He turned to the little phantom. "Kuroko, who do you want to stay with tomorrow?"
Little Kuroko looked up when he heard the teen's question. "Aomine nii-chan!" he answered without a second thought.
"Huh?!" the dark red haired power forward shouted in surprise. He sat beside his shadow. "Why would you pick that—" he stopped before he could curse in front of the kid. "I mean, why Aomine?"
The teal head boy put his finger in his chin thoughtfully. "Because Aomine nii-chan reminds me of Kagami-kun."
"What?! How?! In what way?!"
Little Kuroko stared at the dark red head before answering. "Both of you seems strong, determined, stubborn, and hot-headed and even has a short temper."
"You only met us for a short while so how can you say that!" Kagami reasoned.
The teal head boy shrugged. "Kagami-kun and Aomine nii-chan seems to be close because you're always talking to each other."
"No, we're not!" the dark red head said in frustration, refusing to believe at his shadow's unreasonable excuse. And we weren't talking, we were arguing! As if I could be friends with that guy!
Little Kuroko wasn't even fazed at the dark red haired teen's outburst and just intently looked at him. "I want Aomine nii-chan," he determinedly said.
"Fine," Kagami sighed in defeat, it seems like he can't change Kuroko's mind no matter what he do or say. "Aomine it is then," he said. "I'll go and call him."
The teal head boy nodded and returned to watching his show.
The dark red haired teen went to the kitchen for some privacy; he took out his cellphone only to remember that he doesn't have Aomine's number. Great, he thought. Now what am I supposed to do?
It seems his prayer was answered when his phone suddenly vibrated, indicating that he received a message.
From: Unknown
Subject: Contacts
Here are the Generation of Miracles' contact numbers
The dark red head stared blankly at his cellphone. How? Who? Don't tell me, this is— His train of thought was interrupted when he received another message.
From: Unknown
Subject: None
Yes, it's me. Akashi Seijuurou.
How the hell does this guy know I need Aomine's number?! His phone vibrated again.
From: Unknown
Subject: None
Because I know everything.
"Stop answering what I'm thinking!" Kagami had enough and shouted at his phone angrily. Jeez, all of Kuroko's teammates in Teikou are weird. He was startled when his phone started ringing. He nervously gulped; he hoped it wasn't the red haired captain. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw it was the blond ace of Kaijou who was calling him. "What do you want Kise?" he answered, only to be almost gone deaf when the blond screamed at his ear.
"Kagamicchi! Tell me! Did Kurokocchi pick me! Please tell me he picked me! Where is Kurokocchi! I want to talk to him!"
"No Way! And No! Kuroko didn't pick you!"
"Eh?! What do you mean Kagamicchi?! Tell me—"
The dark red head wasted no time and promptly hanged up on the blond, annoyed. He hurriedly dialed Aomine's number before Akashi could send him another mysterious message or Kise calling him again or worse, the rest of the Generation of Miracles calling him. He waited for Aomine to pick up.
"Hello?"
"Yo, Aomine. It's Kagami."
"Huh? Kagami? Why the hell are you calling me?"
The dark red haired ace told himself to calm down. Talking to Aomine really ticked his nerves. How could Kuroko say that this guy and I are the same? Kagami snorted at the thought. "I'm calling about Kuroko."
"What about Tetsu? Damn it!"
Kagami could hear the sounds of bombs exploding and guns firing through the line, it looks like Aomine was playing a game. "Kuroko chose you. I'm calling so you could pick him up at my place tomorrow."
"Woah! Really? Tetsu picked me! I—Hey, Satsuki!"
The dark red head took his phone away from his ear when Momoi shrieked.
"Kagamin! Is it true?! Tetsu-kun picked Dai-chan! What about me?! Tetsu-kun could stay with me. I live near Dai-chan anyway. Kagamin, why aren't you saying anything? Talk to me!"
How could I when you don't even give me a chance to talk, Kagami thought. "I don't know. It was Kuroko's decision."
"Eh? But Tetsu-kun—Ah! Dai-chan! Give me my phone back Satsuki! No! I want to talk to Tetsu-kun! Satsuki!"
Kagami listened to them argue, he doesn't have any intention of stopping the two students of Touou Academy squabble like children.
"Oi, Kagami. Let me talk to Tetsu."
It looks like Aomine won. "Why?" the dark red head asked, suspicious.
"Tch! Just let me talk to him."
"Don't order—"
"Kagami-kun?"
Kagami paused when he heard the teal head boy spoke. He turned to find little Kuroko peeking up at him.
"Are you okay?" the little phantom asked. "You were shouting a lot."
"Don't worry. It was nothing."
"Is Tetsu there? Give him the phone."
The dark red haired ace forgot that he was talking to his blue haired rival. "Fine," he grudgingly agreed and held out his cellphone to Kuroko. "Here. Aomine wants to talk to you."
The teal head boy took the offered phone. "Hello? Aomine nii-chan?"
Kagami wondered what they were talking about since the boy kept nodding his head.
"I don't mind." He heard little Kuroko said.
"Okay! Bye Aomine nii-chan! Bye Momoi nee-chan! Good night!" The boy gave the phone back to Kagami after saying his goodbyes and went back to the living room.
"What did you talk about?" the dark red head curiously asked.
"None of your business Kagami." Aomine then hanged up.
Kagami stared at his phone. He was angry that Aomine had the gall to hang him up. Damn you, Ahoumine! he furiously thought. He tried to relax lest Kuroko would see his angry face and worry. He went to the living room where the teal head boy was currently watching.
Little Kuroko glanced up at when he felt the dark red haired teen near him. "Are you done talking to Aomine nii-chan, Kagami-kun?"
"Yeah," Kagami answered. "Anyway, I've been meaning to ask you this for a while now but why are you calling me Kagami-kun when you called the others nii-chan or nee-chan?"
The teal head boy tilted his head in thought. "I don't know. It just felt right."
"…Ha," the dark red head sighed. Sometimes he really can't understand Kuroko; even his kid version doesn't make any sense. "Let's go to sleep. It's getting late."
"Okay!"
After brushing their teeth, the pair went to the guest room where Kuroko would be sleeping. The teal head boy stared at the big bed in the middle of the room. "Is this your room, Kagami-kun?"
"Um, no. This is the guest room," he said. "My room is beside this one."
"Then," little Kuroko said and shyly looked up at the dark red head. "Can I sleep with Kagami-kun?"
Kagami was a bit surprised at the teal head's boy request. He glanced down at his shadow's puppy dog-eyed look. He sighed in defeat and nodded his head in agreement. Only someone heartless can say no to that hopeful face, he grudgingly thought.
"Yay!" the little phantom exclaimed, took the teen's hand in his and led the way to Kagami's bedroom. Kuroko excitedly jumped on the bed, lay down under the comforters and patted the big space beside him for Kagami.
The dark red head inwardly smiled at the teal head's action and lay down at the offered space beside his shadow.
Little Kuroko turned to face the teen. "Kagami-kun, tell me a story."
"Huh? Aren't you too old for bedtime stories, Kuroko?" Kagami bewilderingly asked.
"Not those kinds of stories," the teal head boy said. "I want a story about Kagami-kun."
"But why?"
"Because I want to know Kagami-kun more."
Having heard the boy's reason, the dark red head had no choice but to comply. "What do you want to know?"
"Hmm…" little Kuroko thought hard. "Kagami-kun really loves basketball so I want to know when Kagami-kun started playing."
"Okay," Kagami agreed and started telling his story. "My parents migrated to the States when I was in third grade because of work. Since I'm not that good in speaking English yet, I didn't have many friends. But one day, this guy invited me in his team to a street basketball match. His name was Himuro Tatsuya. He became my brother."
"Eh?" the teal head boy asked shocked. "Kagami-kun, you have a brother?"
"Uh, no, we're not really blood related. Tatsuya and I were so close that we treat each other as brothers. We even have our own rings as proof of us being brothers," Kagami said and showed his ring that he was wearing as a necklace to little Kuroko.
"That's so cool," the little phantom said as he stared at the ring in wonder. "And then, what happened?"
"Oh yeah, where was I? Hmm…after that match, Tatsuya and I always played basketball," the dark red head continued his story. "He taught me the basics of playing basketball and how to keep a hot heart and a cool head."
The teal head boy pouted. "Kagami-kun, what does that mean?"
Kagami grinned at the boy. "It means that I need think first before I act. At first, I really didn't understand what he meant because I'm, uh, reckless and impulsive and tend to act first. But I understand it now."
Little Kuroko giggled at that. "So I'm right that Kagami-kun is really hot-headed."
The dark red head smirked mischievously and tickled the teal head boy in retaliation. "So I'm hot-headed, huh?"
Little Kuroko laughed heartily and tried to stop the teen. "I give up, Kagami-kun!"
Kagami grinned and stopped tickling his shadow. He ruffled the boy's powder-blue hair soothingly. "You want to hear the rest?" he asked.
The teal head boy nodded.
"One day while Tatsuya and I were playing, we met Alex. At first, Alex ignored us; she wasn't interested in teaching a pair of brats some basketball. But we were stubborn and kept playing until without realizing it, Alex played with us and taught us what we need to know in basketball and then we became her first pupils. She now teaches kids basketball. And I guess that's it," Kagami said, finishing his story.
The little phantom looked at the dark red haired teen doubtfully. "You're not telling me something, Kagami-kun," he accused.
"I-I'm not," Kagami stuttered. "Anyway, let's go to sleep." It's not like I can tell a kid how Tatsuya and I came apart, played in a match with our rings on the line and then defeating him in the Winter Cup. And besides, he wouldn't understand any of it, he thought.
Little Kuroko didn't pursue more since he was getting sleepy. Hearing the dark red head's story, he wants to experience playing basketball as well. It seems fun. "I want to play basketball with Kagami-kun, too," he drowsily said.
"Don't worry. Someday, we'll play together," Kagami reassured the teal head boy.
"Promise?" little Kuroko asked and held out his left pinky finger to the dark red haired teen.
Kagami intertwined their pinky fingers together and said, "I promise."
The teal head boy smiled and snuggled closer to the dark red head. Kagami pulled little Kuroko in his chest protectively. The light and shadow duo of the Seirin basketball team slept soundly that night, holding each other contentedly.
Next Chapter: Basketball and Ice Cream
Notes: Just to clarify, after Kagami Kuro-chan will pick the GOM as his caretakers (although, technically, it will be me picking). Not because I don't like Seirin. I do. It's just that, for me, the GOM are the easiest characters to write. I can put them in any situation I want and anticipate their reactions, what they'll do or even say. Meanwhile, in Seirin, I mean, I can think up some ideas for them but for some weird reason it doesn't feel...genuine. I'm sorry, I can't explain it well. But I do hope you understand. So for those who wants Seirin with Kuro-chan, I'm sorry. *bows* But don't worry, Seirin will show up, they won't just disappear in this story. They'll have their turn.
A/N: Finally finished this! *cries tears of joy* This was a hard chapter to write. It took me more than a week to finished this but I hoped you enjoyed reading it.