CHAPTER 6
Kagami never knew taking care a child would be overwhelming. Because of what happened last night, Kagami abandoned the dishes and made sure Kuroko was sleeping comfortably in his new room. He was worried that he might have another panic attack and would hurt himself again. To make sure this won't happen, he stayed inside until two in the morning. It was only the first night of having the boy, but Kagami knew something more will happen in the coming days.
One of the reasons on why he accepted the deal was to clear his conscience. Because since their second meeting, he had a feeling that the boy was troubled. The look on his face when he was seeking him out felt all too familiar to him.
At first, he didn't want to get involved in anything aside from basketball, but having parents with strong sense of justice had an effect on him.
Since he was a child, he had been entirely aware of domestic violence and god, how he despises it. He'd been around a few friends back in America who were abused by different kinds of people. He watched a good friend's life sink into oblivion until he reached his limit and—you know what happened. They were only eleven that time, but Kagami knows how it sucks to live through the physical and emotional scars every single day.
With Kuroko's display last night, he can confirm that the five year old has been yet another victim to domestic violence. It makes his blood boil despite knowing Kuroko just recently. This urges him to help him more. Nobody deserves to live through torture.
Speaking of helping Kuroko...
They'll probably head outside after getting cleaned breakfast. The deal is only effective for a month at most. In the first two weeks, they'll probably spend most of their time searching before the traning becomes murderous. Should he seek the others help?
"Seirin...? Might be..." They'll be willing, especially if they see Kuroko. "Those creeps?" He murmured, a brow rising.
Kise, that enthusiastic basta—creep will kill Kuroko with his bone crushing hug. Aomine? That idiot couldn't be bothered if it's not basketball related. Midorima? Meh, that guy's is a tsundere. Takao might pull him along if ever they crossed path though. Murasakibara is out of the question. And Akashi... Nah, Akashi is... Yeah. Akashi.
"They'll mess things out. Moreover, they'll scare him too much."His mind agrees with him too.
Repressing the urge to yawn, he drinks the last of his coffee, then turns the stove off. He placed the final piece of their breakfast in two different plates. Satisfied with the placement, he headed to the table with the afterthought of fetching Kuroko.
"Goodmorning Kagami-niisan."
Kagami's felt his skin crawl at the voice—thankfully, he didn't scream this time and the plates are already on the table. He turned around, ready to berate the blue haired boy until he saw a messy mop of hair that puts a bird's nest into shame.
"Wha..." he gaped.
"Kagami-niisan...?" the boy cutely tilted his head.
"Your hair... what happend to your hair?"
Kuroko patted an offending lock. "They stand up on their own when I sleep."
Kagami resisted the urge to laugh because—Damn it, he looks pretty hilarious at that hair. "We'll brush your hair later. For now, let's eat breakfast first." Despite his inner struggle to laugh, he managed to look neutral to the boy.
The boy wordlessly mounted the chair. "Eat up," Kagami didn't begin eating until Kuroko took his first bite. It reassures him that the boy will eat and not stare... just like last night.
"How's your hands? Does it hurt?" he asked, in favor of breaking the silence. Kuroko glances down to his injured hand with a slight frown, which somehow worried Kagami. "Are you okay?"
The blue head bobs his head lightly. "It doesn't hurt at all Kagami-niissan. It is very itchy though."
Kagami felt relieved. "Don't scratch it or else it'll get infected. We'll replace the bandages later. In the mean time, bear with it for a while." Kagami said while resisting his tongue to scold the boy. They're still new to each other's presence and Kagami doesn't want to push his luck despite the boy's adamancy for help. Instead, he admonished him leniently. "Be careful next time. You had me worried last night."
Kuroko lowered his head and nods once. "I-I'm sorry Kagami-niisan... It won't happen again..." he murmured.
I sure hope so. Kagami thought. "Anyway, after breakfast we'll be heading out."
Kuroko tipped his head to the side slightly. "Are we going to search for mama and papa?"
Kagami grins. "Yeah. The earlier the better, right—H-hey, swallow properly!" he admonished when Kuroko hurries eating. "We'll have plenty of time to go around. Eat slow."
"H-Hai... I'm sorry..." Kuroko said with the same downcast expression he wore, but at least Kagami could see he's beaming internally. He could see it in his eyes.
It took him an hour and a half to finally tame the beast that is Kuroko's hair. It's a struggle, he's telling you. But at least, Kuroko is now decent; tamed hair, black collared shirt, striped shorts, and black rubber shoes. Everything fits into place.
Mitobe-senpai went overboard with the clothes (how did he know that this will fit Kuroko without meeting him is beyond him), but he was nowhere near ungrateful. Kuroko looks like it too (he's not going to look like a kidnapped child going around the city—less trouble for Kagami).
Kagami kept his eyes trained on the boy as they went down the bus to head to the busy street of Tokyo. There were a lot of different people walking around and losing Kuroko to this kind of crowd would be like searching a grain in a sand.
"Hold on to me so you won't get lost, okay?" Kuroko nods and tightens his clutch on Kagami's pants. Kuroko didn't seem to be the one who holds someone's hands so suddenly, so Kagami didn't mind, as long as he's there.
"Where are we going Kagami-niisan?"
"I was planning to head to the police station—I'm not gonna surrender you anything!" He said when a frown appears on Kuroko's face. "We'll just gonna ask if they know where your parents are. It raises the chances of finding your parents faster, don't you think?"
"...Un." his expression clearly says this was not a good idea, Kagami thought.
"Come on, loosen up a little. I already told you that I won't give you back." Kagami said.
"..."
Kagami doesn't know if Japan has this database of thousand of people where you can ask if they were still alive. Heck, he doesn't even know if America has. All he knows is that in the movies he had watched when he was a kid, was that people go to the police station to ask for help for lost relatives then, they find them at the end. It was a long shot, but it's better to have alternatives than none.
The police station was conveniently near the bus stop, so it was a few small walks. When Kagami enters the small establishment, an old man greets him by the front desk. Kuroko, on the other hand, hid behind Kagami.
"Uh..." What was he gonna say? Ask for any Kurokos just like that? Kami, he should have practiced this outside before waltzing in here!
"Ah, excuse me? Are you alright?" the policeman asked.
Kagami cleared his throat, "Sorry 'bout that. I was just thinking if you have any Kuroko's in your records?"
"Kuroko? Hm... never heard of them before, son. But even if I do, we don't give personal information just to anybody, sorry 'bout that." The policeman shrugs, not even batting an eyelash to the computer behind him.
"Is that so?" Maaaan, this idea was really a long shot. Movies make it look much easier. "Even phone numbers? It's just very important, you see."
"Nope, sorry kiddo'" said the policeman. He raises a brow in suspicion. "Why are you asking for them boy? Any business?"
"Uh, no. I was just..."His eyes wander down to Kuroko, to which the policeman noticed.
Now, he's more suspicious. "Now, who's this little fella? I hadn't seen you there." Kuroko flinched. He hid further behind Kagami.
"He's my cousin... from a very distant relative. He's very shy." Kagami gulps. Dammit, why does he have to sound nervous?!
"Hmm..."
"H-He actually wanted to thank the Kurokos for rushing him to the hospital when I was not around. I was on a basketball training that day you see."
The policeman tipped another brow at him.
Come on, old man. Buy it already.
The policeman shrugs his shoulder and backtracks, relieving some sense in Kagami. "Still nothing I can do. Though if ever they ended up here, I will personally deliver the message."
"Thanks." Well, that's disappointing.
He turns on his heels, a scowl painting his face, and left the station before the policeman could remember to ask for their name. Police station is out of the equation. If he told the policeman he has their son, kami, it'll only get complicated from there. He'll be suspected of kidnapping, Kuroko runs away when he's taken to jail, and he won't be able to play basketball anymore!—Argh, dammit, now he's regretting why he thought a police station is such a great idea.
"Kagami-niisan..." Ah, he must have taken notice of his despaired expression.
"Nevermind that. Let's just head over to the park."
"Okay," Cheeky brat looks triumphant.
While they both waited for the stoplight, the people kept on rising in number. He leans down and tries to pat Kuroko near his feet. When the stoplight allows them to cross, it was proven to be even more difficult to keep the boy with him. Not when the boy is small and puny and can be pushed around by anyone who doesn't give a damn.
Kagami clicks his tongue when he felt the breathing burden attached to his legs were gone. It was not a mere act of disapearance. Oh crap."Kuroko!" he called.
For the love of Kami! Where is he?!
"Kagami-niisan...?" Kuroko lost his grip on Kagami's pants when a lady unknowingly pushed him aside. Now dislodged, he looks very small in the midst of the piling pedestrians.
He looks over to the crowd to find the tall red-head. Bumped, pushed, and kicked, he still continued. The people started to decrease, but Kagami was not among those who are running to the other side. He looks side to side, again and again. Still no Kagami.
Did Kagami-niisan left him here?
A shadow looms over Kuroko's back.
"There you are."
His eyes widened and his body gets enveloped by a wave of uncontrollble tremors.
"You've been a very bad boy, Tetsuya."
That voice shouldn't be here. He shouldn't have found him so soon.
"Let's go home, shall we?"
His heart's pounding gets incredibly loud that it swallows the noise from his surroundings. Kuroko was jerking his body forward to create distance, but it was not enough.
He caught him.
Kagami found Kuroko frozen on the road. He called him over to the pavement, but his eyes seemed so distant, like Kuroko wasn't even there.
Then the light becomes red.
He made a quick dash for Kuroko, but he began running away from him. He quickened his pace when an incoming car honks from afar. He snatched Kuroko and runs to the sidewalk.
That was close. Kagami sighs.
Kuroko wiggles his way out of Kagami's hold, only for the latter to secure his attachment. Before he could even ask why he was acting odd, the boy begins thrashing. Kagami jerks his head away from the path of his fist.
"Kuroko, stop it! You're going to hurt yourself!" When the thrashing wasn't receding, he held Kuroko's hands down with his free hand. Because of this, he could feel Kuroko's heart beating violently.
"Kuroko, calm down. It's me. It's Kagami," he whispered softly. "You're okay. Everything's okay."
"... me back..." Don't take me back.
"No-one's going to hurt you Kuroko. We'll find your parents, remember?"
The thrashing dies down, leaving Kuroko with labored breaths.
"We'll find your parents, then you'll be okay. Okay?"
Kuroko stills for a moment, worrying Kagami further. But then, he looks up with glazed eyes—the soul in them finally there.
"Are you okay now?" Kagami asked.
Kuroko twisted his body and entangles his arms around the red-head's neck, crying. "Kagami-niisan..." he murmured.
Kagami patted his back gently and sighs, "You gave me quite a scare again there, Kuroko." But you gave yourself a nightmare in broad daylight. "It'll be alright. No-ones out there to eat you."
Somehow, I'm starting to think otherwise. He thought.
"Come on, we'll get you to the park. We'll eat ice cream there, okay?"
"Un..." Kuroko sniffled.
He propped Kuroko properly on his arms with a small smile. Of course, no-one could resist ice cream. "Great."
"Kagamicchi? Is that you?"
He twitched. Great. Really great.
I'M BACK! WITH A CHAPTER! AND IT'S A BIT LOOOONG! x'D
Sorry for the delay guys. It was a great challenge for me to fix this chapter as this would define Kuroko and Kagami's relationshiop onwards. And I don't even remember what I typed down here since Internet decided to be an *** when I was about to save it. I also raised th ratings to T, since this thing might get a little too extreme for minors. AND aside from that, we have HYUUGA, AOMINE, AND KAGAMI. That alone might have been enough X'D
SHORT NOTICE: Well, I really never envisioned this story to be centralized in domestic abuse, so it took me veeeery long to make this satisfying for both you and me. I tried my best to create it with a realistic edge for better understanding of what is abuse and what it does to its victims. I'm sorry if this things comes out too childish and a bit off and not too realistic at all. And if my story, in any way, insulted you now or in the future, I apologize. My intention is to share thoughts, symphatize, and happiness.
Well, look at who's going to make an appearance next chappie! I'm still wondering when and how I will throw the others in here X'D
Hope this made you happy! Please drop a REVIEW and hit FAVORITE or FOLLOW on your way out. You don't know how this make my day, and it inspires me to improve my writing.