A/N:

Haven't updated in months, but I thank you guys for the wait, even though this is unbeta'd! Next chapter is a past arc, so I'll probably finish it in a few weeks after I sort out some stuff irl. In the mean time, check out my recent work, Marrow, that's based in the same AU.

Disclaimer: character spoilers past 204q in the manga

The first thought Kuroko Tetsuya had of the person before him was how Fate could sculpt the image of Death so young and life-like. It was a mockery of what would soon come to pass if it decided to stare you in the face.

Kuroko woke up after a short dreamless sleep, and found himself looking at the figure of the dark clothed samaritan who had willingly come to his rescue with a mere weapon.

It—the youth's voice was deep enough to confirm it was a he—had human features like his own, but for the hard glint in his eyes when he had turned to fight against Haizaki and the fact he could not find a Hollow hole or mask in sight.

Kuroko saw fair skin, short brown hair, and warm eyes. For whom the warmth was for, he did not know.

He had an inkling the smiling man was different from others he had met. His unaffected presence in Hueco Mundo proved he wasn't a human (a normal human's soul attracted the bottom of the Hollow food chain like bait) and the lack of a Hollow hole told him he wasn't like Aomine or Kuroko.

But was he strong? Kuroko and Chihiro thought simultaneously.

Why is he smiling like that at you, Chihiro immediately added afterwards. Creepy guy. I don't like it when people stare.

Kuroko ignored him as usual.

Questioning another's strength was a habit he formed partly from his Aomine's influence. Though, he had to admit, they had never thought of scouring Hueco Mundo for stronger beings besides Hollows. He should have thought of it sooner, before it was too late for Aomine.

Mentally berating himself, Kuroko knew if this person had taken on Haizaki alone, it was certain he was powerful enough to defeat the feline Adjuchas without any blows dealt. He glanced at the man to search for any unseen injuries, and noticed he was watching Kuroko in anticipation.

The stranger was crouched a distance from him, the black clothing he wore seemingly blending together with the shadows from the neck down. The only sign he wasn't a shadow was the white obi tied around his waist , the brown of his weapon's hilt and guard strung to his hip, and the badge strapped on the sleeve of his upper arm. He broke into a smile of relief when he saw Kuroko was awake and began speaking.

"I'm so glad you're awake!"

"I-" Kuroko started to say.

"You can call me Shige, alright?" the stranger said over him.

Kuroko had no intention to speak to the stranger and was going to leave, until "Shige" had spoken before he could take his next breath. Shige's dark head was turned to Kuroko, who was sitting against the massive trunk of a tree, and he tilted it nervously when he only received a blank look to his abrupt introduction.

"Usually," Shige awkwardly cleared his throat, "after a person has said their name, you give yours in return. Please." A polite character he was, though Kuroko could see it was a façade. He hadn't forgotten the first words the other man had whispered to him in an overly familiar and relieved voice, or the casual drop of his own name.

"You already know me, don't you?"

Shige made a startled noise at the back of his throat. "Uh," he said intelligently.

They lapsed into an uncomfortable silence. Shige bit his lip nervously. He was probably thinking of ways to get out of his current situation.

"Do you have two as well?"

Shige jumped at the sound of Kuroko's voice, but asked nonetheless, "Two of what?"

"Two names. Last and first, of course," Kuroko said plainly.

The youth raised his brows at the simple question, obviously expecting him to ask something different. He considered him and ducked his head to the side to mutter quietly out of Kuroko's hearing range. A pained expression flickered across his face for a split second, and he returned to his relaxed demeanor so quickly it must have been a trick of the light.

"Of course. I should have done that in the first place, but I guess I was just getting ahead of myself, huh? Sorry, K-" he paused, and continued abashed. "Anyway, I'm Ogiwara Shigehiro, Shinigami and vice-captain of the 10th Meiko Division."

He caught the hesitation when Ogiwara stopped himself from outright saying Kuroko's name, further adding to his suspicions, but Kuroko would speak with him about it later.

Suspicious and creepy, Chihiro remarked unnecessarily.

Kuroko didn't understand the last bit about divisions, but the word "Shinigami" was definitely familiar. He heard it often in side conversations Momoi had with other Hollows when she was scavenging for information. The term was always spat out in loathing and hatred, and sometimes in fear. It was no wonder Kuroko didn't recognize him for who he was, because he had never seen a Shinigami in person.

"Death gods" were members of an organization who purified souls and Hollows lurking in the Human World. They also sent the worst of sinners to the inescapable Doors of Hell. Many times Hollows bragged about the crimes and cruel deeds they'd done in the Human World, and Kuroko had enough mind of his own to know those acts were the reason they were in Hueco Mundo. But, there were many reasons why Hollows existed in Hueco Mundo, and killing and crime was only one out of several.

Perhaps Kuroko had sinned recently, and the Shinigami had noticed and come to take him away. He knew he had done unspeakable things he thought were worthy of eternal torment; none as cruel as murder, but ones Kuroko thought unforgivable if they were unveiled and brought to light. He wouldn't have the chance to repent if he were caught now.

"Perhaps?" Please, you know all too well what you've done, Chihiro reprimanded.

Be quiet, please, I am trying to not be killed, Kuroko thought back.

"Ogiwara Shigehiro-kun?" Kuroko inquired of the Shinigami, careful to keep his tone neutral.

"Please, call me Shige."

"...Ogiwara-kun, what happened to the Hollow you fought with when I was unconscious?" he asked. He didn't say "when you knocked me out" because getting on the bad side of a Shinigami was not his first priority at the moment. "You couldn't have defeated him that easily?"

Ogiwara let out a chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck. "You shouldn't overestimate my strength! As much as a person of my level could, I gave him enough warning to scare the overgrown cat away with his tail between his legs. Ah," he gave a measuring glance over Kuroko's bruised body, "that guy didn't give you those, did he?"

"No. They were my own doing."

"Huh." Ogiwara backtracked. "Wait, so you hurt yourself on purpose? It's none of my business but-"

Kuroko sent a cold look at the Shinigami's assumption. "Let me rephrase. I got hurt on my own. It should not be in a Shinigami's interest to be concerned over a mere Hollow's accidents."

The youth straightened up at his stony words. "You…" he frowned.

Ogiwara stood up and walked to where Kuroko lay prone against the tree, his expression unreadable with the moonlight obscuring his face from his view. The Hollow found himself unable to move, his injuries still not yet completely healed. If he were with Aomine, the process would have been faster, but the dark-skinned Hollow was somewhere far off yet close, as if he was flickering in and out of two places at once. The excessive pain had also dulled his emotional receptors. Aomine's mind was crying out in wordless agony. His emotional distress must have been immense, because Kuroko could feel it roaring in his ears even with his sensors muffled.

All this he couldn't pay his full attention to because Ogiwara was now crouched in front of him with a fairly calloused hand placed loosely on the hilt of his weapon. His bright eyes were gazing sternly into his light blue one, and Ogiwara made to move toward him.

Kuroko closed his eye as he waited for the worst to happen, but instead of a finishing blow, he felt his hand being gripped in the other's. He blinked to see Ogiwara raise them to show the boy Hollow the decapitated horn he had forgotten was still in his grasp.

"You mean to tell me this-" he roughly gestured to their clasped hands with his free one, "was also an accident?"

The Shinigami sounded furious, but Kuroko could tell his anger was not directed at him. The only ones who got angry on his behalf were Aomine and Momoi, yet he and Ogiwara had just recently met. Kuroko almost didn't ask for his name upon waking up, preferring to keep his savior's name anonymous if he was an enemy. Ogiwara was a strange person, but maybe he was only strange to him in particular.

Creep, Chihiro hummed.

"It was sliced off in the process of running from Haizaki, but I see no reason for your anger, Ogiwara-kun," Kuroko replied. "You do not act the way I would think a Shinigami would be to someone like me."

"What do you mean by that? Do I look that heartless to you?" Ogiwara asked exasperated. "Should I not care if someone is hurt in front of me?"

"But I am a Hollow."

And a liar.

"And a Hollow's heart should not be damaged like this," Ogiwara shot back. He placed his other hand on top of Kuroko's clutched horn and brought them close to the boy Hollow's bare, pale chest. "If you lose this piece of your heart, it'll be gone forever, you know."

"Forgive me," Kuroko started, the pressure of the Shinigami's surprisingly warm hands near his chest a slight distraction, "but I think you are mistaking my mask for something else."

Ogiwara made the same expression he showed before when Kuroko had said something he didn't completely understand; head tilted, eyebrows raised, but without the confused smile. Kuroko felt like he was being seen as a child who had told an adult some gibberish nonsense.

He noticed now that Ogiwara appeared to be about the same height as Aomine, so looking down on Kuroko was correct, at least. The fingers at his chest didn't help his embarrassment either, but he was certain of his knowledge. After all, he had spent most of his time with the most accurate network of information on four legs, Momoi Satsuki.

The Shinigami spoke, breaking into his thoughts. "You're serious, aren't you." It was more of a statement than a question.

"Of course," he affirmed. Kuroko hadn't done anything to make the other think otherwise.

Ogiwara sighed at his answer. "I didn't think you would be that ignorant of the topic of the heart. I figured things would change, but not to this extent." He squinted at Kuroko, hoping to find something in his expressionless face. "I'm not sure if it's a Hollow trait, or just an occurrence that happens to certain people, but it's too uncanny to say it's a coincidence."

"What would that be?" Kuroko asked, not amused, because the youth was acting ambiguous about a trait he apparently lacked. He didn't take to being spoken of like so. No one really liked having their flaws pointed out so blatantly.

"It's just the lack of emotion some of you Hollows tend to not have or know of," Ogiwara explained, brows drawn in thought. "Where do you think your emotions are stored?"

"Obviously in our mind and brain, Ogiwara-kun," Kuroko immediately replied. "But, if there is another place I am unaware of, please enlighten me. Although, I could attest your knowledge with a reliable source of my own."

Ogiwara blinked, temporarily stupefied at his seething bluntness. After a moment of visibly processing what Kuroko said, he let go of Kuroko's hand and brought it to cover his own face. His shoulders shook and the Hollow became alarmed, thinking maybe the youth was having a seizure of some sort.

"Ogiwara-kun?" he quietly, carefully inquired, if any loud noise would cause more fits.

Gasps escaped from the hunched figure, and Ogiwara finally peered through the gaps of his fingers to show the crinkle in the corner of his eyes and the amusement of all things dancing in them. The shaking of his shoulders were from laughing at him. Kuroko could not find anything he said to be funny and he frowned to show his confusion.

"Ah, um," a few more gasps and chuckles, "don't make that face I was just thinking-" a snort "you and that redhead have the same reaction, is all."

A mature peal of giggles took over and the Hollow waited for it to subside to address the Shinigami again. "I know of no redhead you speak of. It would satisfy me if you would tell me what it is you find so hilarious about two strangers' similarities."

After several attempts of catching his regular human breathing pattern, Ogiwara sat back more or less composed and placed his weapon in a comfortable position at his side, a hand relaxed on it casually and his other elbow on a raised knee and a hand propped under his chin. There was nothing unique about the posture, but a trigger within Kuroko was flipped.

He saw an image overlap the Shinigami. The dreary surroundings faded into a lush field of tall grasses; the crystalline trees transformed into an earthy brown and pink petals scattered from healthy branches above; the caved in ceiling transitioned into a sky a tint darker than Kuroko's hair.

A warm wind blew soft breezes to ruffle the Shinigami's short brown hair and a toothy grin graced his slightly younger features. Several white pink petals had fallen on his head and shoulders, as if he had waited for Kuroko for a while. He was still wearing his black Shinigami uniform, but lacked the badge. Round bright eyes focused on Kuroko, spreading their warmth into his own.

The younger Ogiwara stretched a hand toward him and spoke to him animatedly. The wind carried away the sound of his voice, but he could read one word upon his lips.

"Tetsuya."

With his outstretched hand, he gestured for Kuroko to approach. Teenage Ogiwara determinedly raised his weapon out in front of him and proceeded to unsheath it as if in demonstration.

The reflection of the sword's silver blade blinded Kuroko for a moment, and the vision disappeared in a flash. Kuroko was back to himself in Hueco Mundo with the current Ogiwara watching him with a confused expression.

"Hey, you okay there? You kind of just spaced out for a minute," he said, concerned.

In a rare moment of shock, Kuroko could only stare back at him with a widened eye and slack jaw. Never had he experienced those sensations. The feel of the wind caressing his skin and the moist smell of rich soil and the healthy fragrance of unknown trees - they were overwhelming for a Hollow used to the sandy landscape and dim moon glowing across the sky in bland shades of gray and midnight.

Kuroko wondered if the Shinigami had a power to cause hallucinations and illusions. Asking was certainly tempting him to be killed, so he chose to circle around to the first issue. He addressed the nostalgia Kuroko had felt since he had first laid eyes on Ogiwara.

"Have we…?" Kuroko gulped, his emotional mask cracking at the thought of potentially discovering an important clue to his lost identity after so long. "Have we met before, Ogiwara-kun?"

Ogiwara's face hardened, closing himself off to him. Kuroko could tell from Ogiwara's episode of humor he was best suited to bubbling laughter and happy times. The Shinigami answered him, diminishing his hope.

"No. You just reminded me of someone. It's a coincidence you both share the same name."

Kuroko felt a breath he didn't know he was holding catch in his throat. He was correct when he heard Ogiwara say his name when they first met, and then in the vision his first name. Disappointment clouded his mind and he felt he could cry. For a moment Kuroko had a hope, the tiniest hope, maybe he would finally learn who he was through the key presented before him as a Shinigami.

"Ogiwara-kun, did this person happen to look like me?" Kuroko asked, quietly.

Ogiwara kept his eyes to the side, avoiding looking at him. "I don't remember, Kuroko," Ogiwara said, tiredly. "It was so long ago."

"But in the vision," Kuroko began but stopped himself. "Never mind."

Ogiwara glanced back at him. "Vision…?" he trailed off, confused.

"It was nothing."

Ogiwara placed his hands on Kuroko's shoulders and forced him to look at the Shinigami. "Kuroko, what did you see?" he urgently asked, as if his life depended on the answer.

Kuroko felt fear at the sudden change in the Shinigami's attitude. Was he going to be killed if he didn't tell him?

"I-I saw a younger Ogiwara-kun and me," he gulped, his throat gone dry, "sitting under a tree with pink petals…"

"Cherry blossoms," Ogiwara nodded, urging him to go on.

"I know-" How did he know that? "-and you were speaking excitedly and said my first name," Kuroko slowly continued, "in a field of tall grass and a sky like my hair…"

"Your first name?" he asked, voice suspiciously quiet.

"Tetsuya," Kuroko answered, distractedly. His memory was escaping him. "You looked like you were waiting for me with petals on your shoulders and hair, and you wore no badge. Ogiwara-kun was demonstrating how to unsheathe a sword and the vision ended there."

He heard Ogiwara draw in a sharp breath. Kuroko had mostly been looking down at the horn in his hand while speaking but now he dared a glimpse to see Ogiwara's reaction.

The Shinigami wore an expression of disbelief, eyes wide and mouth parted. His eyes shined brightly under the moonlight.

"How do you know that?" Ogiwara whispered, clutching Kuroko's shoulders tightly. "No one knows about that day besides me and-" He cut himself off and dropped his hands to his lap.

After a long silence, Ogiwara finally spoke up.

"How, how could you have become a Hollow?" he shouted, angrily. "Did something happen in your human life so that you became this way? Did you die alone, Kuroko?"

Kuroko was taken aback. What was the other man talking about?

"Ogiwara-kun, I do not know or remember what you speak of. I have no memories before the separation of myself and my companion," Kuroko replied, puzzled.

His words gave the Shinigami pause. "What companion?" he asked, suspicious.

Kuroko hesitated giving out the identity of his friend, but determined it would do no harm.

"My traveling friend, Aomine Daiki."

He saw recognition alight in Ogiwara's face at the name. His reaction confused Kuroko even more. Ogiwara somehow knew them when they did not know him.

"So, you two managed to find each other again," Ogiwara muttered, unhappily. "Should have known after meeting Akashi immediately after I came here."

"Ogiwara-kun," Kuroko addressed him with alarm and urgency, "how do you know of us? Do you know who I, who Aomine-kun and I are? If you do, please, I beg of you, please tell me."

Ogiwara shut his eyes and pressed his lips into a thin line, expecting his questions. Reluctantly, he opened his eyes to gaze directly into Kuroko's wide blue one.

"Yes, I know of your pasts, but not of what happened between your, er, ends and our meeting," the Shinigami admitted. If you don't remember, then those memories will stay blank until you do."

"Then, can you at least tell us of what you do know of us? Grant me this," Kuroko pleaded, reaching out a hand to desperately grasp his sleeve. He had to know. "Please, Shige."

Ogiwara sighed, but gave in to him. "You know I can't say no when you do that. But what I will tell you won't be pleasant," he warned, removing Kuroko's hand from his arm.

"Trust me," Kuroko assured with a small bitter smile, "I am a Hollow and I have seen much that is not pleasant."

"Oh, I almost forgot about that," Ogiwara gave a pained smile in return.

The Shinigami settled himself at a comfortable distance from Kuroko. He made a few movements with his hands and babbled some words Kuroko didn't understand and opaque walls surrounded them in a barrier.

"This is only to make sure we're not interrupted for story time," Ogiwara explained after seeing Kuroko's wondering expression.

He cleared his throat and set his sword across his lap. Ogiwara made sure to keep eye contact with Kuroko to assure he was listening.

"I feel it might be a bit abrupt, but you should know your cause of death first. It makes all the rest seem like fluff and butterflies after finding out. Is that okay, Kuroko?"

"Yes, I understand."

"Good," he grinned.

Kuroko could see how forced his smile was. He realized how fortunate and ill-fated he was, to forget the bad and the wonderful memories.

"You know the vision you had of the younger us in the field and the cherry blossom trees?" Ogiwara began. Kuroko nodded. "Well, it was a memory and very real. The reason why I remember that day so well is because," he inhaled and exhaled deeply before continuing on, "that was the day you died."

"Was I ill with something?" Kuroko asked. He wasn't sure if the Shinigami would spare any details.

"I wish it was as simple as that. Then I could know your death was inevitable," Ogiwara said, bitterly. "But, no. You were killed. An accident with a rogue Hollow and a captain was the reason for your death. I...I'm sorry, Kuroko. Forgive me for not being there to protect you," he croaked.

Ogiwara lifted his sword hand, watching as it shook from painful memories. He fiercely gripped his wrist in his other hand to stop the trembling, not realizing his whole body was shaking. He swore, seeing this. It was a pitiful sight, the Shinigami struggling to keep himself composed to continue speaking. Ogiwara resembled Aomine so much, dealing with suffering Kuroko could not understand unless he had a psychic link. He could do nothing but wait impassively for him to calm down.

"Sorry. I don't know what got over me," Ogiwara said once he got control of himself. "Where were we?"

"The reason for my death."

He laughed, tiredly. "Ah, yes, the worst part. You were attacked and died in the process of subduing the Hollow."

"You mean to say I had no way of protecting myself?" Kuroko pressed, softly.

"No, you were more than capable, even though you didn't have a seated position. Your shikai was beautiful, Kuroko," he casually praised, but switched to seriousness in the next breath. "It was the captain involved who made you hesitate from properly reacting in such a situation. Possession is such a terrible manipulative power."

Kuroko frowned. Even he knew himself to be more level-headed than most people. The captain must have been someone close or important to make him waver in getting the job done.

"Who was the captain?" Kuroko asked, curiously.

From the way Ogiwara spat out the word "captain", it was a person he disliked greatly. Ogiwara did not seem like the type of person to hate someone for a few minor things. Something major must have happened to make him say it in such loathing. Something major like Kuroko's death.

"You already know him, just like I already know you," Ogiwara responded. "In fact, you should know him very well."

No, it couldn't be.

"The prodigious Captain of the fifth Touo Division-"

Ogiwara was lying. How could he have been the one to kill him? They were partners-!

"-the Ace of the Goutei Thirteen-"

Karma's a bitch, Chihiro cut in helpfully, having already predicted the identity of Kuroko's killer after staying silent and listening to their exchange.

"-your precious best friend, Aomine Daiki."