*randomly appears in your screen* WELCOOOME! WE'RE DOWN ON CHAPTER 6! DID YOU MISS ME? I missed you guys, but KICCHIN IS NOW BACK TO GIVE YOU THE LATEST UPDATE OF MIZUIRO TO BENI KOI! So it's a no class day here in my side of the world btw, WEEKEND! Whoaaaa! anyways, thank you guys for all the support you are giving me and Mizuiro to Beni Koi! Thank you to everyone who are reviewin and giving a fav and follow to Mizuiro to Beni Koi!

So what will happen now that Kuroko is a part of the Kagami's band? WHAT AWAITS HIM AND THE MIRACLES? Just how they will meet? Are you guys curious? AHAHAHAHA, so I shall not make you wait any longer than this-also I can't really way too long in with the screen and stuffs since author-san is currently sick-anemia's a b**ch *sighs* AH BUT I MUST MENTION OUR LOVELY REVIEWERS LAST WEEK Ern Estine 13624, Bubbles9595 and AJ-san! THANK YOU AND I HOPE YOU LIKE THIS UPDATE *makes dramtic anime pose*!

also...REVIEW PLEASE? Ohohoho! Btw the chapter's title is a song from HoneyWorks(listen to it when you have time *winks*)

Chapter 6: A Promise That Requires No Words

"Memories warm you up from the inside. But they also tear you apart."

For the past few years that Aida Riko spent as Kuroko Tetsuya's manager, she had never seen the other smiled so much in a day. She had never seen Kuroko so excited over a simple contest, maybe he was the kind of person who loves competing or maybe it was those people he met recently. At one point Aida thought that Kuroko wouldn't be able to be comfortable with a band after the break up of the Generation of Miracles a few years ago. He remember Kuroko Tetsuya's face whenever he hears the name of any of those five's name. His face would not change but in his eyes you will see his heart shattering over and over again. He had lost trust in those people, so bad at it almost look like he had been traumatized. And she thought that he wwill never get over that.

And then Kagami Taiga happened.

Aida watched as Kuroko strumming a foreign melody in his guitar, in his side was a brunette—Furihata Kouki watching him and talking to him about something. Kuroko turned to him and smiled a little replying in his usual quiet voice. In the other corner of the studio was Takao Kazunari teaching Kagami the new song they came up with. Aida smiled, the scene looked strangely beautiful in her opinion. It was what those cerulean eyes longed for so long ago.

A few days ago, Kuroko came to Aida's office with his usual gentle and polite gestures.

"Thank you very much for everything."

When Kuroko said those words Aida knew already, Kuroko will end his career now as a solo artist. He had found it, that light he had been looking for. Aida was ready to let him go, she knows from the start that one day, this will happen. Kuroko will earn his own wings and be able to soar on his own, even higher. However what Aida wasn't prepared for was the next moments—

"Would you…kindly please, accept us your new talent, if it isn't that much that is."

Shock took over her as Kuroko said those words to her, he said them with happiness. And who was Aida Riko to dare say no to something like that. Kuroko Tetsuya was a Miracle, if he chooses her again as a manager, how dare she was to decline such tempting offer, and now that with those renewed glow, Kuroko Tetsuya was even more. Aida accepted the offer and met the rest of the band. Unlike Kuroko's previous band, it was filled with average young adults, except that Kagami Taiga.

Kagami Taiga seems exceptional with his vocals, Takao's about the same level, but still in terms of raw power, Kagami comes first. Takao is good with the instruments, especially the bass guitar, however he can provide the vocals as well which is good, meanwhile Furihata was the most strange of them all. He looks average, but the way Kuroko seems too inclined and interested with the brunette is a whole new story. Now that she thinks of it, Furihata…somehow…she had heard of that last name before.

Looking in her hand Aida smiled, in her hand was the application form, and fortunately, the acceptance letter and the mechanics of the contest. It was the right move to do, any band starting from scratch sees this as the best opportunity to get the media's attention to them. And this goes the same for Kuroko and the rest of the band. This is the perfect opportunity to get noticed. Since the agreed with the suggestion they send the application and started with their rehearsals and practices every single day.

Kuroko had facilitated the song writing along with Furihata, and Kagami and Takao helped with the tune. There was not a single unproductive day for these four. And Aida saw the equal determination on the four boys. Aida cleared her throat calling the attention of the busy bodies there, the four stopped and inevitably turned to her.

"I have some good news and bad news." Aida said.

Takao slid off his head phones and let it hanging around his neck, "Eh what about it sachou?"

Aida sighed, Takao looked older than he looks like and sometimes whenever he calls her that it feels and sounds like sarcasm. Aida walked towards them and handed Takao the papers in her hand. Takao's eyes widen in disbelief, "T-This is-!"

"Yes, congratulations everyone!" Aida said smiling, "You're now officially one of the participants of the annual battle of the bands."

Kuroko's eyes visibly turned into a globe of glowing happiness. Kagami meanwhile raised a brow at Aida, "How about the bad news?" the red haired vocalist asked.

Aida sighed directed her words towards Kuroko, "You see, this year he will be there." Kuroko blinked in confusion silently asking the manager to clarify her words, "Kise Ryouta."

This time Kuroko's eyes widen and his eyes visibly darken. His shoulders stiffened.

"Kise is one of the panel of judges this year," Aida explained, "for the past few years he had been declining all the invitation to become one of the panel of judges. I don't know what changed this year, he just agreed, or so I heard."

"Kise…Ryouta?" Kagami asked, "Who the hell is that?"

Takao blinked and placed a finger in his chin, he certainly heard that name before, "Kise…" he mumbles quietly before the thought finally struck him. "AH! I remember! The model! Kise the model!"

Aida nodded, "He was part of a famous boy band before…right , Kuroko-kun?"

Kuroko nodded, his hands clenched into a fist in his side. Kagami raised an eyebrow, Kuroko's breathing were shallow, he looked paler than usual as well. Something wasn't right.

"Is there something wrong if he's the judge? Is he like a biased guy or something?" Kagami asked Kuroko. To Kagami's dismay Kuroko didn't answer and looked down instead. "What? Oi, are you liste—"

"Would you excuse me please, I need some air."

The three blinked in surprise as Kuroko suddenly dashed out of the studio with long and sloppy strides. Aida sighed and crossed her arms over her chest, maybe he really hasn't entirely gotten over that incident yet. She turned and found Kagami frowning. "Maybe you should just let him be for now, he'll come back soon trust me." Aida said eyeing the door where Kuroko left through. However to her surprise she found Kagami rushing to the door as well. "Oi, where are you going?!"

Kagami frowned as he turned to Aida to answer her, "Of course after him!"

"Eh?"

"You don't let people who are depress alone!"

Aida was shock, the words died down in her throat as she found Kagami simply opening the door and leaving the room. Takao chuckled and went back to whatever he was doing. Furihata on the other hand walked close to Aida. "Kagami-kun's just like that, you'll get used to it." Furihata said smiling.

.

.

.

Kagami looked around as he got out of the studio, Kagami paused as he found the sight of the lump of teal hair in the corner sitting with his knees raised in his chest and his back leaning against the wall. Kagami quietly approached the other. He didn't understand what makes the other feel this way, who exactly was that Kise Ryouta to him? Kagami slumped on the floor next to Kuroko and examined the other, his shoulders were slightly trembling and her hands were clutching the material of his maroon long sleeves button up.

"You wanna talk about it?" Kagami asked. Kuroko raised his head from to peek at the other's figure. "No?"

Kuroko shook his head and looked forward, "Why did you come after me?"

"Huh? Isn't that obvious? Because you can't just let people like you on your own."

Kuroko was quiet for a moment, "…I used to like it so much…" Kuroko started, "I used to like performing in a lot of people, with lots of lights and cameras…not anymore. Now I'm just scared and…and my stomach churns whenever I see a flashing light. Have you ever had that feeling Kagami-kun? Have you ever…hated something you used to love?"

"I…No, I guess I don't share your feelings."

Kuroko buried his face in his knees again and began talking, "Kise-kun was one of my previous bandmates."

"Huh?" Kagami raised a brow as Kuroko confessed that. "And so?"

Kuroko raised his head sighed as looked at Kagami with his obvious insensibility of whatever Kuroko was getting into. Kuroko straightened up and flickered Kagami's forehead—

"OW! That was uncalled for!" the taller male complained as he nursed his forehead.

"Kagami-kun really needs everything to get spelled out for him, doesn't he?" Kuroko sighed as Kagami grumbled curses under his breath.

Kuroko found himself pausing, then he realized something…for a moment there…he felt…better. Kagami realized Kuroko's change in expression making the taller male grin in triumph, "Feeling better?" Kagami asked.

Kuroko realizing the other's intention found himself blushing in embarrassment, "I…Y-Yes…thank you."

"If you're ready, you can tell us." Kagami said smiling at the other, "You don't have to take it on your, we're a band, this ain't one man team, 'kay?"

Kuroko pursed his lips, and blushed even deeper at the other's words that never to fail to make him feel a hundred times better.

"Kagami-kun…is so cool."

This time it was Kagami's time to explode in the same shade of his hair, "W-What the—can you stop being embarrassing?! Y-You're m-making u-unnecessary c-compliments."

"I'm just being truthful."

Kagami avereted his eyes, how can Kuroko simply look at him straight in the eyes and say those words. "Damn it," Kagami cursed before lightly punching Kuroko in the shoulder, "Get some expression in that face."

Kuroko found a smile grazing his lips seeing Kagami, a six feet guy blushing over a simple compliment. His smile was the most genuine thing he had seen in these past few years, it was something new, like a calming heat from the furnace after spending a day outside in a snow storm. After so long he thought that it will never come again when he needs to tell anyone what happened, his own memory of those days, he didn't know that a day will come that he would feel relieved to tell anyone about what happened. He thought he was strong enough to hold it in…until now he hadn't realized how weak he had been to try doing everything on his own.

And it was stupid of him to think he can carry it all by himself.

"Then…Kagami-kun do you promise never to look at me differently when I tell you what happened"

Kagami with a firm resolve nodded.

.

.

.

"Kise-kun was one of my band mates…back then we we're called the Generation of Miracles."

"Then they stopped being the people I thought I knew. Their eyes became dull like there was nothing to be excited about anymore, the fan letters were just a pile of scrap papers in colourful envelop…all because there was nothing to be scared anymore."

"Whenever we appear the crowds would gather, we didn't need any advertisement, whenever anyone mentions Generation of Miracles, there was no need to say no more…the thrill died with that. And I lost my friends that very moment. That moment I became…really a shadow."

"And whenever I see any posters where we were it makes my stomach flip upside down, fake smile, fake everything…that's not us. Those weren't my friends."

"It was me…I was the reason the band broke up."

"I couldn't do it anymore…they stopped me from forming any friendship outside the band, it wasn't needed, they said."

"They drew the last straw and I decided to leave…I never heard it from the news…that anyone of them admitted that I left, but after that, it made it to the news that the Generations of Miracles disbanded."

"I swore to them I'll prove that there is something more than fame. That enjoying it was more than the fame."

Kagami sat in the couch of his apartment holding an old magazine he got on his way home. It took him half an hour to actually find anything that has the Generations of Miracles in it. The old magazine were dated a few years back, on the cover was a picture of six young man, one of them look awfully familiar to him—the guy standing on the left leaning against the white couch, the tanned skin guy with navy blue hair, he was in that stage performance where Kuroko was. The picture depicted the six members wearing a similar white button up styled in all different ways in an all-white backdrop, with the floor looking like pale colored wood, the tallest one with lavender colored hair had his hair tied in a ponytail, and the sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, next to him was a tall bespectacled guy slightly covering his face by his hand which seems to be pushing up his eyeglasses, next to him stood a smug looking guy with scarlet hair and mismatched eyes with arms over his chest—Kagami could imagine the guy with a crown and some caoe behind him, yep the image fits—next to him someone who you would easily miss, wearing the same clothes with suspenders making him look the youngest of everyone in the picture with his teal blue hair slightly shorter than he has now, and next to him was a blonde standing some few feet taller, his posture and smile told Kagami was used to being photographed, his white button up was accented with a black vest that was unbuttoned, and next to him was that Aomine who had three buttons from his neck unbuttoned showing the expanse of skin.

The picture was awfully simple, they were all just standing and some leaning in the wall, and it was boring in an a very ordinary case but something about the various color of the hair ade the picture look impossibly interesting, and the way they all seem to have different expression made the picture looks like it was depicting six different things all in one picture.

When Kagami bought the magazine the female cashier stared at Kagami for a moment before chuckling—

"A fanboy?"

Seems like the reason of the shortage of the magazine copies were the fact that during the glory days of the band there was always these huge number of people buying the magazines that has anything to do with the six. It wasn't a surprise anyone bought things that has to do with them. Luckily that magazine was the last copy the store.

Kagami flipped through the pages and stopped as he found one interesting photo, it was the six in a school uniform walking down an old railway. Kagami quietly read the text next to it—

An old railway behind Teiko Academy of Music was said to be the Generation of Miracles' favourite hangout spots, the railway was abandoned ten years ago after the way became unstable for trains to pass.

Kagami flipped to another page, this time it was an individual photo, unfortunately as Kagami scanned through them, Kuroko's face didn't appear again. On the last page was an interview and the list of the songs that the band was to have in their newest album. It was then when Kagami found the name he had been looking for—Kise Ryouta. It was that blonde, Kagami thought reading through the article.

Who would have thought something like this, a beautiful friendship could lead to something that would bring you nightmares every single waking day of your life. Kagami remembered the way Kuroko told him those things, like he wanted it to be pleasant but his whole existence were retaliating, and he was almost in the brink of tears. How can they leave Kuroko alone, why didn't anyone of them came after him, why didn't anyone stop Kuroko from leaving? Or maybe…Kuroko was the one who didn't allow them to stop him. Kagami wondered if anyone knew what Kuroko really felt, did they ever asked what was wrong?

If anyone of those idiots asked Kuroko that moment that they had, would it had been different?

Kagami couldn't help but to feel angry in Kuroko's stead, it wasn't fair, and all those years Kuroko was the one who carried the lone consequence of the disbandment…

"..because I was the least lustrous."

Least…lustrous, Kuroko was the only one who would feel left behind, and yet knowing that he bravely left them, with the undistinguishable hope that he will be able to find it, and be able to prove to those five that it wasn't just fame. Kagami unconsciously gripped the magazine's edges a little bit tighter. Inside without the red haired knowing a powerful flame started burning as he stare at the image in his hands.

.

A FEW DAYS LATER...

.

Kise sat among the four other panellists as they all stare at the lit stage. One of them was a famed producer, while one was a music critique and reputable singer and song writer, Kise quietly watched the third performance that evening. Nothing special had strike him yet, and somehow agreeing with this idea was starting feel like a bad idea. Kise tapped his pen on the table relentlessly causing him to earn a look from the singer sitting next him. The first band had some difficulties showing or owning the stage, or doing anything new at all. Their song was beyond boring. And the second band was a disaster. Kise urged to ran away or fell from his seat and roll over the floor. Meanwhile the third…well yes, they were good but nothing special besides their pretty faces, Kise sighed the umpteenth time that day as the crowd cheered for them.

NOPE, Kise said to himself as he started putting notes and scoring the third group. He just want this to be done over but unfortunately there are still ten of them. Kise looked back at the stage, the vocalist seems to be experienced but due to that none of his bandmates could keep up with him. A band is allowed to sing two songs of their choice or even their own composition. Kise preferred bands who could bravely present their own songs, new things were always Kise's fad, and new songs were really interesting. To someone like Kise who easily remembers tunes and lyrics, a song that was performed by other felt like there was no originality anymore. Only few artist could give justice to a song that wasn't originally theirs.

"THANK YOU VERY MUCH!" The vocalist exclaimed as the song finished, he went to the front of the stage and bowed gratefully to everyone.

Kise saw the camera turning his way and he instantly straighten up and smiled. As soon as the camera was gone Kise slumped back to his seat. He reread the papers in his hand and frowned, was he being unnecessarily cruel with these scores? Kise bit his lower lip, was he letting his feelings go in his way?

"Kise-san?" Kise almost fell from his seat in attempt to put himself back into the professional mode, only to find his co-judge looking at him with concern. The producer smiled awkwardly to the man, "S-Sorry for surprising you, but are you…uhm…feeling unwell?"

Kise chuckled as he straighten up, "No, d-don't mind me, I-I was just a bit tired today."

"Must have been hard, ne?" The man asked, "You're an in demand talent after all."

"Ah, you give me too much credit."

"Oh by the way did you know the next band was introduced by Aida Riko of Seirin Productions," The producer said taking a breath, "A few years back I remember her putting that young man, Kiyoshi Teppei as her talent and you know what, the guy from God knows where became Tokyo's top selling artist—in all sorts of fields!"

"Eh? Really?" Kise was shock, a rookie held by a reputable production? Kise reached for the scoring sheets, flipping through the pages his eyes blink in confusion.

Band Name: [光 の 王]

Kise blinked, the name translates into…KING OF LIGHT. Somehow his heart started drumming in his chest loudly.

"Hi…kari…"

"What do you think about them Kise-san?"

"Huh?" Kise asked blinking as he looked at the producer, and the man pointed towards the stage.

"Them I mean."

And it that moment everything stopped for Kise Ryouta, flashes of memory came surging at him. His body reacted on its own, and he stood abruptly from his seat, the chair fell and stumbled behind him as he leaned his hand on the table staring right at the boy walking up the stage with three other guys. He couldn't mistake that color from anyone else's, he could never take him for someone else, he could see him everywhere and know which one is real and which isn't. And he knows that this guy right there slowly turning towards Kise's direction…was the real one.

The real Kuroko Tetsuya.

"Kuroko..cchi…"