A/N: Hi guys! So it's been a long time since I've updated only because I'm not really on FF so much anymore. But here goes chapter 9!

P.S., at times I do get confused what words to use when writing in the present tense, so if you have any quick tips for me, that'll really help a lot! Because sometimes, I get to confuse the past and present tenses along the way… I'm thinking of getting a beta reader, anyone up for it? You get to read my fic ahead of others and even become my virtual editor (and friend lols)!


Kuroko went home that evening tensed. Who wouldn't be, he thought, if they were confronted and faced with that kind of confession? Well, less than a confession, it was more like a threat.

As soon as Kuroko steps inside his apartment, he slumps down on the floor lifelessly, the contents of his bag began spilling over on his right side.

Thoughts, memories and visuals whirled in his head, making him confused and farther away from reality.

They're coming to get me! I'm not safe here! I need to leave the city!

All of these things consumed him if not for Kagami's voice ringing a mere distance away from him. It was the voice recorder.

"Kuroko, I'm eating out tonight with some… buddies. Want me to bring you back anything?"

Kuroko's eyes focus where Kagami's voice originated from and he eventually gets back to his senses. Kagami had always been a useful and reliable person for Kuroko. He had become his stronghold and confidant in just a short span of five years. They didn't really hang out much during high school because Kuroko, with every fiber of his being, tried to detach himself from anything basketball related. But Kagami became an exception.

"Kagami…"

Kuroko pulls himself together and quickly stands up. He felt slightly embarrassed by how he acted just now, but thanked the heavens no one could see him act so pathetically.

He fixes his things lying on the floor and dashes into his room, ultimately forgetting Kagami's message.

On the way in to his room, he kept on thinking about what Kise had said just a few hours ago.

Momoi, Aomine… and even him.

They were out to 'get him'.

But why? Why now? Why now that he's so comfortable with his life?

Kuroko's brows furrowed so badly that he had to force himself to stop doing it since it already began to hurt.

For a brief moment, Kuroko imagined a scenario where he had to explain his situation to someone. Normally they would ask, "Why are you so hung up with your middle school classmates?" and "Come on now, it isn't really a big deal, is it?" If he had to come across with someone who would ask him those types of questions, he knew he could never open up with anyone or accept how abnormal his life had become these past six years. For them to understand, they would have to know the mystery that is him.

After the game against Ogiwara's team, what remained of Kuroko's life and spirit had depleted. He saw his teammates' faces so dull when they scored those final points, and at the same time, he could hear the other team's cries. When his eyes moved to Ogiwara's defeated form, and their eyes made contact, Kuroko momentarily choked for some reason. His body felt cold and stiff. Ogiwara's eyes could only water buckets and Kuroko couldn't say anything about it.

If it were only a normal defeat, the two could've hung out together after the game and laugh about it. But it wasn't a normal defeat. It was like murder. The game didn't feel like an ordinary middle school basketball game. It was a battle royale. And Kuroko felt responsible for everything, for no special reason.

His eyes then trailed to someone who seemed to demand attention from him. It was none other than their captain. He had red fiery hair and eyes. Kuroko semi-flinched as the other's face looked so serious. The redhead's eyes then followed to where Kuroko's eyes had were earlier. Kuroko saw and felt something dangerous. Before anyone could do anything, he ran after his captain and pulled his hand. The boy's eyes focused on a shaking Kuroko.

"You're fast," his eyes squint, "Kuroko."

Kuroko's eyes couldn't look straight at his so he moved his head away, and shook his head, pleading, "Please… Let's just leave… Akashi."

After that, Kuroko had no idea how he continued his days in middle school until graduation. He remembers parts and pieces of it, like submitting a resignation letter to their coach, reading books silently in the library and… well that was most of it. And, oh… he swears he could see flashes of Akashi Seijuurou here and there when he felt most alone, but Kuroko's not as sure as to why.

You could say he lived through a trauma. Even Kuroko thought of himself as a victim… a victim of high school, a victim of Teikou, and a victim of the Generation of Miracles. He felt so hurt and scared that time that he even smartly devised a planned to move away from his home when he got into college. From there, he thought he could just wing it. He'll study hard, work part time, and keep himself out of the spotlight… just like he always did.

But now, all that's come to waste.

And for some odd reason, deep down in his mind, he knew they were going to look for him.


"Sir," a soft spoken girl says, "Sir, we're sorry but we're closing now."

Kagami grunts as he slowly opens his eyes and realize his situation. Early after their discussion about Kuroko, Aomine had ordered a couple of buckets of beer to 'celebrate' their 'reunion'. Once it had started to become a drinking contest, the two idiots couldn't hold themselves back so they got drunk to the point of passing out.

Kagami checks his surroundings and sees Aomine drooling in his sleep next to him. Both Momoi and Kise were nowhere to be found. As soon as Kagami felt a slight sense of embarrassment for his and Aomine's state, he pulls himself together and gives a small questioning face at the girl.

Realizing what he wanted to ask, she simply tells him, "We're really sorry, but we're having a little emergency at the bar so we're sending everyone home."

Not one to pry, Kagami nods.

Kagami carefully stands up next to the booth and grabs his belongings. He then looks at Aomine who showed no signs of waking up. He scratches the back of his head and groans angrily at himself.

'It can't be helped.'

He takes Aomine by the hand and swiftly puts him on his back. Kagami looks at the waitress and tells her, "Put it on my tab, please." She nods and scurries back to the counter where two other waitresses were at.

After a couple of minutes on the street, with Aomine still on his back, Kagami can't help but think if what he was going to do was the best or right thing.

'I'll just keep him in my room until Kuroko leaves for tomorrow,' he quietly says in his thoughts.

"Aomine, you'll be staying at our place for tonight…" Kagami mutters with a scowl. "But don't you dare try any dirty tricks while he's in there."

Kagami could feel Aomine slipping a bit, so he props him up a little bit back to his place. Little did he know, a sweet and devious smile crept on Aomine's face at the same time.


A/N: Special thanks to ben4kevin for always messaging me about this story! Seriously, you guys should pressure me a lot if you want this to be finished (not like I'm demanding you to do so, but I'm just really lazy to do anything). I hope you had fun reading and don't forget to stay tuned for more!