"Tick Tock"

Chapter Two:

Kuroko Tetsuya, the phantom player of the Generation of Miracles and also the one who lost his capability of playing inside the court again, gulped before slowly peeking inside the door of the gym. Just as he expected, the other members of Seirin have already started their practice. He clutched his bag's handle and took a deep breath.

"Nothing will change even if I only stay here outside." He mumbled to himself, opened the door and went inside.

No one turned his/her head to look who came in. Or, maybe, as usual, none felt his presence.

While walking towards the benches, his cellphone suddenly vibrated, he took it out from his pocket, and read the message sent by 'Kise Ryouta'.

To: Kuroko Tetsuya

From: Kise Ryouta

Subject: Kurokocchi!

Message: Kurokocchi, where are you?! Didn't Akashicchi text you that you need to meet with us outside 'Cigam Convenience Store', where we usually hung out at when we were still in Teikou? Everyone's already here and we're just waiting for you! Akashicchi's starting to explode! . Please come here now or else we'll die! Waaah!

The teal head teen sat beside his coach, who is still unaware of his presence, and sighed. A meeting? I didn't receive such notice. He thought and opened his inbox…Oops, he did miss a message which was sent few hours ago before dismissal by 'Akashi Seijuro'.

To: Kuroko Tetsuya

From: Akashi Seijuro

Subject: Let's meet.

Message: Members of Generation of Miracles, go to 'Cigam Convenience Store', where we often went to right after practice when we were still in Teikou, right after your dismissal. We shall talk about something that concerns Kuroko's sudden incapability of playing basketball.

Shoot…

"Where's Kuroko?" Kagami asked right after they were given their break.

"He's skipping today?" Izuki added.

"Is he still incapable of playing with us?" Koganei queried.

"Just when I wanted to try receiving his 'Ignite Pass Kai'." Kiyoshi mumbled, disappointed.

The blue-head boy blinked.

They still can't see me, when I'm already right infront of all of them?

"Woof!" Nigou barked, sitting in front of Kuroko, and wagged his tail in greeting. "Woof!"

"What is it, Nigou— Kyaaaaaa!" Riko screamed when she turned and found a pale-looking Kuroko Tetsuya beside her.

Everyone turned and had different reactions.

"When did you get there?!" Hyuuga demanded.

"Uh, I've been here for about 8 minutes now." The questioned boy replied with his usual emotionless tone.

"How did you get misdirection? I want to try using it!" Koganei insisted.

Kuroko looked at the opposite direction. "Please be careful what you wish for."

"What do you mean with that?"

"It's because—" Kuroko was cut in mid-sentence when the door suddenly burst open.

"Kurokocchi!/Tetsu!/Kuro-chin!/Kuroko!/Tetsuya!" Five voices shouted.

Everyone turned his head and found the members of Generation of Miracles standing right outside the door of their gymnasium.

"Tetsuya." The former captain of Generation of Miracles, mumbled with a warning tone.

The said boy quickly stood up and faced his former captain. "G-Gomen, Akashi-kun. I just read your notice few minutes ago."

The smaller red-head frowned. "You're not lying, are you?"

The teal haired teen shook his head. "I will never lie to you, Akashi-kun. You know that."

The said boy's eyes softened and he inverted his eyes to the members of Seirin. "You didn't let Tetsuya practice, did you?"

Riko raised an eyebrow. "No. Why?"

"He'll only get in the way." The former captain of Teikou, bluntly responded.

Kagami placed an arm around his shadows' shoulders. "You're too blunt and stern." He commented.

The smaller red-head eyed that arm which is around his Kuroko's shoulders. "Let him go."

"Huh?"

"Aka-chin ordered you to let Kuro-chin go."

The Seirin's ace cocked an eyebrow. "Why am I going to let him go? Am I doing something wrong?"

The former light of the phantom sixth player removed Kagami's arm around Kuroko's shoulders. "That was what you were doing wrong."

"How did that become something wrong?" Tsuchida asked.

"That's because Kurokocchi is ours only." Kise placed himself at the shadow's back. "Ours ONLY." He repeated.

Midorima stared at the tennis ball between his palms. He thought about it for some time before deciding on what to do with this excess lucky item of his. He already brought one before Takao even picked him up, but the latter still gave him another piece of his lucky item, so instead of throwing the one Takao gave—he threw the ball he brought first at Kagami's head. Bull's eye!

"Ouch! What the hell was that for, Midorima?!" The red-head ace of Seirin demanded.

Midorima pushed his glasses. "When Akashi says 'let go', you should let go." He replied instead.

"Aren't you guys being too protective of Kuroko?" Seirin's point guard curiously blurted out.

Five shoulders stiffened, but the captain of Rakuzan quickly composed himself and put on a poker face. "Too dense. Did you just notice that now?" He hissed and smirked. "Aida-san, can we take Tetsuya now?"

"Uh…but—"

Akashi played with the scissors in his hand, which he always places in the pocket of his uniform. "Yes?"

Scary! Is he really a freshman?! The seniors of Seirin thought at the same time. They took a step backward, then another, then another, and another until they were leaning on the stage—which is opposite of where the Generation of Miracles, Kuroko, and Riko stood.

Riko sighed. "I admit my defeat. Yes, you can take Kuroko-kun now." She surrendered.

"Let's go, Tetsu." Touou's power forward and ace offered a hand.

The said boy glanced at his current light first. "Kagami-kun…"

The taller red-head turned and raised his eyebrows. "Yeah?"

Kuroko frowned but no one noticed it except Akashi, Aomine and…Kagami?!

Seirin's power forward grinned and patted his shadow's head. "You're worrying about me, aren't you?"

"Kind of."

Kagami smiled. "I'll be fine. There's no scheduled match yet besides, when we have a practice match—I'll definitely snatch you away from the Generation of Miracles for you to be able to watch, at least."

His shadow couldn't help smiling back. "I wonder if you will succeed with that, Kagami-kun." He replied, and then raised his first.

The red-head grinned wider before bumping his fist with his shadow. "Recover soon, so we could finally play together again, alright? The light is nothing without his shadows, always remember that."

The teal-haired teen was moved with his light's last sentence. "Yes."

The Generation of Miracles couldn't help feeling a bit envious. Envious of Kagami Taiga. This American didn't just enter the zone, he also found way to make Kuroko open up to him.

Kise pouted as he watches Kagami making a little 'see you' chat with his Kurokocchi. He can see a smile at the sky blue-head's face and he suddenly wondered why he couldn't do the same when he's with Kuroko. I've never seen Kurokocchi smile as happily as that before…What does Kagamicchi has that we don't have?

Midorima pushed his glasses with his left hand's middle finger. He's not that bothered especially when he already has Takao Kazunari at his side. Still, Kuroko is one of his former teammates and he admits that he only saw the teal-head smile for only two or three times when they were hanging out together at the library, back in their Teiko days. How close are they? Just how did Kagami make Kuroko open up with him when, we, the Generation of Miracles, only got close to him when we became third years.

Murasakibara let his pocky hang between his lips. He's watching their phantom sixth player. Observing what has changed with their Kuro-chin. Back when they were still in Teiko…Kuroko wasn't that close to anyone. Even though he was always with them, he still became distant from the Generation of Miracles. He's often alone, but right now…He made the initiative to worry about someone. Is Kagami Taiga that important to Kuro-chin?

Aomine bit his lip and turned to another direction to prevent himself from pulling Kuroko to his side. He hates the way their fist-bump made him jealous. Yes, it made him jealous. It's not that I like Tetsuya…I just—Ugh! Yes, I like him! So what? He already has Kagami. And I'm no longer his light. I'm not important to him. I'm no longer the one he always smiles at. Kagami already owns him.

Akashi placed his scissors back in his pocket, and then he narrowed his eyes. Kuroko has always been his through the oath and through their bond as Teiko's Generation of Miracles. But he has never seen Kuroko smiling happily just because of such a simple thing. He has never made Kuroko happy. Tetsuya has really drifted away from us.

"You should say goodbye to Nigou, as well." Kagami suggested.

Everyone looked down at the ground but found no dog. "Eh, where's Nigou?" Koganei, the one in-charge of taking care of Number Two, mumbled.

"Ahh!" They heard someone gasp.

Everyone turned his head and found Akashi sitting on the floor; his face being licked by Nigou. "A-Ah! What is this dog doing?"

Kuroko stood up and picked Nigou up. "No, Nigou, not Akashi-kun."

The former captain of Teiko stood up and tried to clean his pants. "So, he's Nigou. He has the same eyes as you."

"Oh, he does! That's weird!" Aomine added.

"So weird~" Murasakibara repeated.

"Anyways, we need to get going now. Tetsuya."

The said boy put his dog down, took his bag and went beside his former captain. But, before leaving, he turned to his teammates. "Thank you. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yeah, see you!"

They walked to the empty court behind 'Cigam Convenience Store' and decided to play a little.

"We will start with simple passing exercises. We will split into groups of two and—"

"Woof!" The red-head was cut off when he heard a bark. He looked down and found Kuroko's dog beside his foot.

"Tetsuya. Your dog's here."

Kuroko, startled, approached Nigou and picked him up. "Why did you follow us?" He asked to the dog.

Nigou made a sad face and whimpered.

"What is it?"

Nigou licked Kuroko's face before facing Akashi, who is standing right beside them. "W-What?" He stammered.

"Akashi-kun, don't you like dogs?"

"It's not that I do not like them. I'm simply more fond of cats." Akashi replied and took off his jacket.

Nigou made a pouting face which struck at Akashi's heart. "But, I can make an exception." He added and petted the dog's head. "Be a good boy as we play, alright?"

"Woof!"

"Try passing the ball here!"

Kuroko, still unsure, passed the ball to Aomine.

"That's quite good, but do your stunts."

Aomie passed it back to Kuroko. Midorima guarded Kuroko as Murasakibara guarded Akashi and Kise against Aomine. With a blink, Kuroko disappeared from Midorima's view. Akashi went past Murasakibara and suddenly found Kuroko near him. Kuroko tapped the ball and Aomine barely caught it.

"Yataa! You got it."

Kuroko froze.

"Kuro-chin?"

"My hands are trembling. They are numb." Kuroko stammered.

"Ah, so Tetsuya has become weak…LOSER!" A familiar irritating voice teased.

They turned and found Haizaki Shougo outside the court, grinning.

Kuroko, as he saw the braided head, trembled more and slumped onto the ground.

"Cannot do your stunts? That's because I stole them."

Once Haizaki steals your move, it is quite impossible to get it back.

"Damn it!" It was Aomine who cursed. Akashi's eyes narrowed as he tried to use his emperor eyes to psychologically kill Haizaki. Murasakibara tried punishing Haizaki by throwing pieces of his potato chips at the maniac-looking guy. (Excuse my words.) Midorima removed the tape wrapping his left hand's fingers, preparing to attack.

"Kurokocchi…"

The said boy looked at his trembling hands. Now he remembers again why he experiences trauma when overexerting his strength and why he hated basketball back then.

Back in Teiko…Right after the Generation of Miracles won another match. As usual.

Kuroko was the first one to go back to the locker room. Not afraid of ghosts, he decided to change alone. He took off his top jersey before sighing. "That was so tiring."

"Nice view." A familiar voice commented.

He turned and found Haizaki already inside the locker room. The latter locked the door and strode towards the teal-haired boy. "H-Haizaki-kun…"

Haizaki smirked before he went near the terrified boy. "Hey, Tetsuya, want to experience pain?"

"W-What..Ahh!" He gasped as Haizaki grabbed him and pushed him against the wall. His head hit the concrete wall hard and his surroundings started to spin.

"Basketball sucks! You both suck!" Haizaki shouted and kicked Kuroko's stomach. "Because of you and Kise, I was removed from the team. Now, you are so famous and even called one of the Generation of Miracles. Cut that shit! I hate you!" He yelled.

Kuroko blocked Haizaki's kicks by using his arms.

"Tough, eh? How about this?" Haizaki kicked the blue-head with all the force he could muster which made Kuroko's head and arms bleed.

"You want another one?"

"NO!" Kuroko shouted and covered his face.

The door suddenly burst open and the other members of Generation of Miracles entered. "Haizaki! You-!"

Haizaki grinned, opened the window and jumped outside.

"Tetsuya, could you hear me? Tetsu—"

"Woof!" Nigou barked, went out of Kuroko's bag and ran outside the court.

"What is that dog planning?" Aomine mumbled.

Nigou went out and bit Haizaki's leg. "Ah! What the hell is this dog doing?" He cursed.

"He hates you, that's why." Akashi stated.

Almost immediately, Haizaki was surrounded by the Generation of Miracles. "W-When did you—"

He received a kick from Murasakibara. A punch from Aomine. Kise hit his head with the hardest thing he found: the basketball (what were you expecting? XD). Midorima took out all the tennis balls he has in his bag and one by one he threw at the jerk's face (He brought many in case he accidentally dropped one of them, then at least he has extras). And lastly, Akashi approached him with an expression full of menace. He snapped his scissors open and close.

"Ready to face doom?"

After about half an hour, Haizaki went back home with no hair, ripped clothes, a bleeding nose and a ruined face.

"Aah…Murasakibara-kun, put me down already!" Kuroko pleaded as he blushed. He's pressed against the back of Murasakibara and he feels uneasy being in such a high place.

"No way." Murasakibara stubbornly replied.

"Please Akashi-kun, tell him to put me down."

"No."

"Why is everyone so cold to me?" Kuroko asked before sulking (something he expressed as much as his pokerface would allow).

"Ne, Kurokocchi, do you hate us?"

"Huh…I will never hate any of you, Kise-kun."

"Then, who is more important: Kagamicchi or us?" The yellow-head murmured as he sadly stares at the ground.

Startled and speechless, Kuroko looked at all his companion's faces. They all have the same expression. He sighed. "That's not an easy question, Kise-kun and you know that." He mumbled before slurping his vanilla shake and enjoying the view. "But…no matter what happens. I'll always love you guys because you showed me where I am good at. I was useless until I met you guys. All of you are special to me."

Warning. Warning. The-sudden-urge-to-hug-Kuroko-because-he's-too-cute meter has reached its limit.

Murasakibara put Kuroko down.

"Attack him!" Kise shouted and they all hugged Kuroko, well, except for Midorima—he just stood there beside the five, watching intently with a tiny smile on his face.

Yes, we'll love you forever too, Kuroko/Kurokocchi/Kuro-chin/Tetsu/Tetsuya. Forever.

A/N: Sorry if my update is kinda late.

I was busy. T.T

Thanks for your reviews in the first chapter!

Love you guys!

PLEASE REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW!

A BIG THANK YOU TO MY BETA-READER MIDORI-EMMI! SORRY FOR MAKING YOU MAD WITH MY ERRORS. XD (She's also a great author, so better read her stories, you will never regret it! :))

Sneak Peek:

"We need to sub Kuroko in!" Riko exclaimed in distress.

Everyone gasped at her decision.

"What? No. We can't force Kuroko to play when he still hasn't recovered yet." Hyuuga replied.

"But, we cannot afford to lose. You know what will happen if we lose to Hanamiya." Riko mumbled.

"Of course we do. Kagami and Kuroko will…quit the club." Izuki murmured.

(AUTHOR: -evil laugh-)