Important Note: This is a dark fanfiction, I was never well known for sunshine and daisies, but this particular story is going to include hints of parental abuse, so.. You were warned! There may be (hints of) pairings in later chapters, but I think that's about it. This is going to be mostly in character and cannon otherwise, I do not own any characters except the butler.

This chapter is abuse free, however there may be hints of it in his thoughts or words.

Enjoy! Comments and the like are welcomed!

Chapter Two- Rose Tinted Glass

"Kuroko-sama." The voice of his butler called from the crowd, automatically drawing attention from those closest to him. "Tetsuya-sama! I know you can hear me."

Blending in with the rambunctious group that served as my shield, I did not so much as blink until we all began to boarding the bus. Eyes locked onto the back of my light, I felt my other senses extend. After being stuck in a seemingly never ending line, I exhaled and forced myself to leave his side for a moment, only to slink around our mode of transport in a rough circle.

"Hyuga, we're missing Kuroko!" The words drifted to me after a moment from the open window by the plump driver, it seemed that Riko had counted heads already. Inhaling after what felt like hours, I glanced left and right, starting straight for the stairs to the bus.

"Gomen, I needed to attend to some business."

Tetsuya-sama..!

My heartbeat flattered for a moment as the doors to the bus closed behind me, barely protecting me from the extending hand of his desperate butler.

"Kuroko is the last person, ne?" My head snapped up toward the rest of the team and my fist clenched around the handle of my bag as the doors closed. The tap on the head that I received from our coach as a repercussion seemed like nothing, yet the weight of what I had done quickly settled in.

No, I am safe.

"I can't believe we won tickets to that new theme park!" The first real exclamation came from Sinji, a simple spark that started a wildfire. I continually gazed on, observing the onslaught of something I rarely felt. At least truly, anyway.

Sweet happiness.

"Oi, Kuroko.." I blinked as Kagami tapped me on the head. A look familiar, perhaps too much so, painted on his face, concern. "Get some rest, we'll be there in an hour or so."

There was a pause of a few seconds, enough for me to memorize that expression, but as the other first years began to turn around and shoot confused expressions at Kagami and myself, I nodded. My lips and chin already hidden by the seat, I spoke at the minimally required volume. "Hai, Kagami-kun."

Laying down promptly, I closed my eyes slowly, hyper-aware of each bump in the bus' path.

"Who was it that won the trip?" Kiyoshi asked, interrupting the peaceful flow of conversation. "I heard it was Kagami, but he had no idea."

I inhaled sharply, gritting my teeth as my careful lie began unfolding. Having been the one that 'found' the envelope of tickets at the high school, and the one that had placed the blame on Kagami, I could not help but listen in. As papers rustled, and the letter I had hastily typed was looked over again, I noted that the others had fallen quiet as well.

"But.. It has Kagami's name on it." Hyuga said, a layer of suspicion clearly covering his normally level voice. "And Kagami isn't the modest type.."

"Hey!" The almost mandatory offended shout sounded automatically from the seat in front of mine.

Tugging the collar of my jacket up to cover the lower half of my face entirely, I found myself calculating the possibility of getting caught. There were smart people on the Seirin basketball team, but even so, I was often overlooked anyway. Barely opening my eyes, I refocused on the conversation at hand.

"-but Kuroko checked it, they're legit!" The protest that involved my name drew my attention, and my eyes snapped firmly shut as Kawahara continued to speak. "I mean, the bus tickets worked!"

There was a small pause, but as Riko inhaled, I knew that the subject had not been completely dropped. "I guess you're right, but.. I don't like it."

The space in between speakers stretched longer this time, and I pursed my lips, realizing that I would have to do something.. Or the happiness that I had been enjoying secondhand, would not return. Sitting up straight, I realized that the cloud of gloom that had descended was thicker than expected. I felt my lips and eyebrows turn downward by a fraction, before I exhaled and fixed them to the blank expression everyone knew.

"Excuse me, senpai.." I trailed off, standing in between the seats of the upperclassmen. Allowing a moment for the usual shock to wear off, I simply faced Riko, the start of this emotional shift. "The tickets are a prize, and even if it wasn't Kagami that won.. Why ruin something good?"

The pause that followed was more shock filled than anything else, and as my words settled in, I found a large hand unexpectedly settling on my shoulder. Turning toward the owner, I found a new expression aimed at me, housed on Kiyoshi's face, pride.

Who could be proud of you?

"Well said, Kuroko." He squeezed my shoulder and I resisted the urge to shudder, simply nodding and leaving his side. It wasn't his fault that I couldn't stand being touched by certain people..

"I want to go on all the roller coasters!" Furihata said, his outburst completely vanquishing the remains of the gloom.

Perhaps I spoke too much..

Kagami peeked over the back of his seat, assuming he was being discrete in checking on his ' little shadow'. As he turned back around to shush those closest to him, I smiled slightly at the gesture, continuing to fake my slumber.

"Can it Bakagami, if he's out, he's out." He heard Satoshi mutter jokingly. "You're like a fussy old woman."

It became harder not to laugh, or at least smile fully as the others ganged up on Kagami. I decided in the end on yawning loudly, a simple gesture that I knew would shut up those that were teasing my partner.

As the voices became hushed and the conversations harder to hear, my thoughts drifted to the day's plans.

Senkyo.

Everything there would fascinate the normal person, I knew, but as everyone else discussed what they had heard about the new 'amusement park', I felt my dread grow. What exactly was this park like, and what had driven him to pump so much money into it..?

I found my eyes growing heavy as I continued to think over this decision.

Maybe I was too hasty..