I am so sorry. It's been almost a year since I last updated ad most of you are most likely pissed. I had gone in a writer's block for a while and when I had finally gotten out of it, we had lost internet and then the chapter erased and I had to rewrite it only to not like how it turned out causing me to rewrite again and...

I'm sorry.

I just hope you'll still enjoy it.

A funeral was being planned for the 20th of January and everyone was grieving and they were grieving in their own ways as time passed.

Kagami walked into the gym in his dark sleeveless shirt and grey basketball shorts. Once he walked in however, everyone was gathered near the center of the court. He sighed and knew waht this meant.

The whole Seirin team before practice would have a moment of silence before they started. The length of how long it lasted could differ from five minutes to half an hour.

By the looks of it, little training was going to be the results for today. Kagami just sighed once more and headed over to the group.

Midorima and Takao stopped having extra training after practice. Takao now spent every minute with Midorima, in case he were to break down. Which at one point after school, Midorima had started crying while the two were in hark-eye's room. As an instinct, Takao had wrapped his arms around the taller teen and quickly whispered soothing words to him.

Midorima and Takao were currently in the tsundrere's room. Said tsundere, wasn't up for being a tsundere. Midorima was currently sitting next to Takao on the bed, crying into the hawk eyed teen.

That was, until he uttered the words 'It hurts me to see the one I love cry.' With that, the two had ended up confessing to one another about their longing feelings.

Murasakibara was grieving by not eating more, but by eating less. He just ate less, he didn't stop eating. Though if Himuro wasn't there, that would've been the case. Murasakibara no longer snacked during class or practice. If it wasn't for Himuro, he wouldn't be eating at home either. With so much support from Himuro, the giant started getting these weird feeling whenever he was around him. Murasakibara just took it as a feeling linked to the grief.

Kise was found often going to either Aomine or Momoi's house were said teens would grieve together and reminisce about their teal haired friend that had past.

Akashi hadn't gone to school ever since the news of Kuroko had been announced. The grieving process of Akashi was unknown, but the sight of chestnut haired teen being picked up by a limo was questionable. After being questioned by the Seirin team, Furihata admitted that Akashi was just in a depressed state of mind and just wanted someone to comfort him. The team still wondered why the short red-head was so close to Furihata all of a sudden.

Aysel and Taiyou were taking the news of their son really hard. They just stayed at home most of the week crying and preparing the funeral for their only son. They had only left the home once to visit the cemetery for the funeral (though they didn't have a body, but they still wanted to have a proper funeral). Once the funeral was over they would be returning to work, but for now it was family time without Kuroko.

Kagami had, actually been acting weird ever since the announcement. He had been seen talking to midair and seemed to be taking the situation smoothly. This would have been any other regular day, except that was with Kuroko. Everyone was worried for him. If anything, Kagami would have been the one taking the situation the hardest but there he was, looking as if everything was fine. It was confusing and questionable.

His friends were worried for him. So, they decided to confront him.

It was a chilly night tonight. It was January 16th, a week after Kuroko Tesuya had been pronounced dead.

It was 7 at night and Kagami was practicing at the nearby court, but something wasn't right.

First off, Kagami was practicing strangely. He was practicing like someone was there. He wasn't pretending, it was like he was with someone.

Second off, someone was there. Not just someone, but some people. The Generation of Miracles, Momoi, Takao, Himuro, Riko, Hyuuga, Teppie, and Furihata were spying on the tall red-head from behind the bushes near the court. They kept taking quick glances from the fence from time to time.

The Seirin team had alerted the Generation of Miracles about Kagami's behavior over the past week. They were worried for Kagami, seeing as he was the one who cared for the teal haired teen the most.

Hearing Kagami start to make a move, a majority of the group looks over.

Riko had been worrying for Kagami, he just wasn't acting right and it was probably from the news of their friend's death.

Kagami started dribbling down the court. He was halfway through when he threw the ball to his right, only for it to hit the fence. He cursed and walked over to the ball to pick it up.

The bystanders watching from afar frowned at this.

"What's he doing?" Aomine had asked, confused at the action that the red-head had done.

"I don't know." Hyuuga was confused by this as well.

"This is odd." Himuro was worried for his brother. "This isn't like my brother."

"Wait." It had finally clicked in Riko's head. He wasn't doing what she thought he was doing. "It looks like he was trying to pass..."

What Kagami said next confirmed her fears.

"Damn it Kuroko, what happened? You used to be so good at catching and passing the ball." Kagami had said after he picked up the ball.

This baffled everyone. He was facing and talking to air! No one was there! He even claimed to be talking to Kuroko, their dead friend! With that, Riko had had enough. She separated from the group and headed towards the entrance of the court. Everyone else eventually following suite in a slower pace.

Kagami sensing 'another' presence, looked over to see Riko coming over to him with an angry look in her eyes. Soon he saw eleven more people follow, which he soon recognized as the others. They soon started to gather around the super jumper in a 'U' shape manner.

He was about to ask why they were here, only to be beat by Riko asking her own question.

"What are you doing?!" she asked the taller male with a hint of anger in her voice.

"Um, training with Kuroko." Kagami stated as if it was obvious.

"What are you talking about?!" Hyuuga interjected.

"I said what I said. Me and Kuroko are just practicing."

"Like hell you are!" Aomine didn't like what he was hearing.

"Taiga, what's going on?" Himuro was now officially dead worried.

"Kagami-chii, Kuroko's dead don't you remember?" Kise didn't understand what was going on.

"..." With that, Kagami fell silent and looked away from everyone.

"Kagami, we're worried for you. We know Kuroko's death did a number on you."

"I'm sorry Teppie, but I don't know what you guys are talking about." Kagami faced everyone again with genuine confusion on his face.

"Damn it Kagami!" Everyone looked over at Midorima from his outburst. "Stop being in denial about all this! Get out of your own fantasy and face reality! Kuroko's dead! He's dead and there's nothing we can do about it! He's dead and we can never see him again!"

"Don't you think I know that?!" Kagami had it with his friends. "Don't you think I know that my best friend is dead?!"

"Kagami..." Riko felt hurt along with a few others. Kagami had began to tear up.

"Don't you think I miss him?! Of course I'm going to be in denial! Wouldn't you?!" Everyone was speechless at Kagami's sudden change in mood. "Of course I'm going to miss my shadow!"

"Kagami stop this, now." Hyuuga stepped in. "We know it's hard! It's been hard for all of us!"

"It doesn't give you the right to go and pretend like nothing happened!" Aomine was furious. " You're his light! I know it must be hard, but you can't ignore it!"

"That's another thing! Kuroko always went on and on about him being a shadow and someone being his light!" Kagami was starting to yell louder. "You know what, Kuroko isn't a shadow!"

"What do you mean?" Himuro was really worried for his brother now.

"Kuroko was never a shadow!" Kagami couldn't take it anymore. " He was a light! He was a light so bright, he was blinding. That's why you couldn't see him!"

"We know that!" Everyone looked over at Akashi who had been quiet. "Of course he was a light, but that light is dead now! Kagami you just have to face the fact like the rest of us! Kuroko is never coming back!"

With that, Kagami tightened his fist, restraining himself from retorting back. He looked over at everyone. As he did, he noticed the mutual feelings on each of there faces. How could he not, those tears were all saying the same thing- Please.

Kagami was about to say something, but stopped. He noticed a soft presence. He looked over to his right to the entrance. What he saw left him speechless. Everyone else followed his eyes noticing something catching his attention.

Everyone gasped in shock. Standing at the entrance of the basketball court in a dirty white T-shirt and ripped up basketball shorts , was Kuroko Tetsuya.

Everyone was in pure shock. Kuroko had been gone for over a month and was assumed dead, but there he was. Even he had a look of worry and shock. There was dead silence until someone spoke up. Himuro was the first to recover from the shock to ask one of the questions everyone was thinking.

"H-How long have you been there?"

Kuroko seems startled by the question and slightly jumps. With wide eyes and a scratched up face, Kuroko looks over everyone until he landed on Kagami. They made eye contact and that was when Kuroko decided to answer the question given to him without breaking eye contact with Kagami.

With tears, a shakey voice, and a trembling bottom lip, Kuroko says the phrase everyone had been longing to hear for over a month.

"I've been here the whole time."

With that, Kuroko ran to Kagami who excepted him with open arms. They collided and embraced each other. Kuroko began to sob at the action.

Kagami embraced the bluenette like if he were to let go, Kuroko would disappear again. Kagami couldn't believe it. The one he loved was missing for a month and now he was back. He had thought he had lost him, forever. Kagami started to let the tears fall. Kuroko was back; he was really back.

"I'm so sorry!" Kuroko cried out. "I overreacted! I should have never gotten mad at you!"

"Shh, it's ok. I'm sorry, I should have never said that." Kagami was never this relieved in his life. This grief he had built up for the past month had finally been lifted. Kagami tightened his hold on Kuroko.

With that, everyone ran and thew themselves at their precious friend they thought they had lost. Many had started to cry from sheer happiness. Others cheered. It was a moment of pure happiness and relief. Kuroko had had to calm down Kise and Akashi to stop them from crying any further, reassuring them that he was in fact here and that this wasn't a dream.

After they had been able to achieve said calming, everyone back away from the blunette within the embrace of two redheads.

"I'm so sorry everyone." Kuroko looked down at his feet, felling ashamed. "I made everyone worry..."

Akashi looked down at the shadow inbetween him and Kagami. "Tetsuya, what happened?"

"You're not going to like it." Kuroko had replied.

"Well even so," Aomine stated, " We still want to know. What happened?"

"Why do you look all beaten up?" Midorima had interjected.

Everyone kept on asking questions hoping for answers. Kuroko was overwhelmed. He wanted to answer all of them, but he wanted to do so in the presence of his parents. He had yet to show himself to them and he was yearning to see them. Seeming to sense his partners distress Kagami spoke up.

"Hey guys, lay off. I'm pretty sure Kuroko hasn't seen his parents yet."

"Let's go then." Everyone nodded at Momoi's suggestion and started to walk out of the park's court, with full intention of walking the phantom player home in a group. While leaving, Akashi had turned around, momentarily halting the mini migration of teens, and looked over at Kuroko.

"One more question," He had started and continued with a soft, almost motherly protective tone, "Are you ok?"

Everyone looked at Kuroko waiting for an answer. Said teen smiled, bent down to pick up the forgotten basketball and looked around the group of people that was his friends. His eyes fell upon Kagami's once again and smiled wider.

In a soft and happy tone he said, "I am now."

With that everyone's mood escalated and they continued their small trek towards Kuroko's home.

They got their friend back.

I'm not sure if I want to continue with my original idea or shorten this, because to be honest I lost my passion for this story. Even so, do not fear because I will finish it. Again, I am so sorry for not updating. Me and Tara had had school and I was on writers block and I rewrote this chapter several times. I'm still not satisfied but I didn't want to make you guys wait any longer. Hope I mad people's days.

Love,

Tory