Important Note: This is a dark fanfiction. You have been 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. Anyway, I do not own any characters except for the butler and the manager(so far).
This chapter is mostly abuse free.
Two slightly important things:
I have started another story, but it's mostly going to be on the back-burner, as it's not my usual style and it's mostly to get rid of any need for fluff. I am saving interactions with/mentions of the GoM for later, however this is mostly going to be centered around Seirin.
Scenes where Kuroko is not present, or something of the like, will be written in third person. Sorry for any confusion!
Enjoy! Comments, criticism, and the like are all welcomed! Thank you to all of those that favorited, followed and reviewed, it means the world to me!
Chapter Six- Heated Glass
I sighed, sitting on the bench as I stared at the door I had walked in. It had been over ten minutes, and I couldn't help but wonder where Kagami was.. Better yet, where was the entire team? It was quite unlike the Seirin Basketball team to take a day off, even if Riko recommended it..
After a moment of thinking, I forced myself to focus, blinking rapidly as I found my feet bouncing. Perhaps I was simply antsy, but I felt as if I should have already left..
"I'll just go find Kagami-kun and we'll.." I trailed off as the door finally opened. Riko walked in first, followed by Kagami, Hyuuga and Kiyoshi, each of them seeming slightly off...
You should learn how to read me better, brat. Can't you tell..? I'm not in the mood to see you and your hopeful expression..!
I couldn't help it, I felt my expression completely close off and my shoulders tense.
"Kuroko, how are you?" Kiyoshi smiled tightly, placing a hand on my shoulder as he stood to my left. I stared up at him for a second before blinking, not able to truly react.
"Aa.. How're you feeling after the trip?" There was Hyuuga, stopping just behind me as he spoke, arms crossed as he eyed me like one of our opponents. It was beginning to become unnerved to say the least, I realized, glancing around and saw I was almost boxed in..
It probably wasn't on purpose, however, I couldn't help but gaze uneasily from Riko to Kagami. It seemed as though Kagami's strange mood had carried over, I noted as I felt my lips tugging slightly downward. It seemed as though I would not be getting help from him either.. "I am fine, thank you all for your concern."
No one shouldn't concern themselves over someone as pointless as you..!
It was with slight difficulty that I managed not to shrug off Kiyoshi's hand moving while slightly closer to Riko. She seemed to be the only one that could meet my eyes at the moment, if that was anything..
"Why are we here if there isn't practice?" The question was simple enough, if blunt, but the hand that tightened on my shoulder caused me to frown openly. They were hiding something from me.
"Eh? Well, you see.. We had gone to the address you registered under to get into the school, to check, on you of course, and..-" It wasn't like Riko to stumble over her words or to hesitate. It certainly wasn't like me to take a step back from her, or to narrow my eyes at her.
Friends? Why don't you bring them over to play some time, brat..?
"Kuroko.." I glanced around at the disappointed and pained expressions on my teammates' faces as Kiyoshi spoke.. They had..
"Oi, Kuroko, why didn't you at least tell me!?" I found myself backing straight into Teppei as Kagami shouted and took a step forward, towering over me. This was why..
I felt my ears start to ring as Riko scolded Kagami for his thoughtlessness, it was all background noise. I backed up further, glad Kiyoshi's hand had fallen off of me, as I continued a few more steps.
"Kuroko, that is disrespectful.. Your seniors, no, your friends are trying to talk to you about something important." I froze as Hyuuga's voice rang out over the racket Riko and Kagami were making. Of course he was watching..
"Gomen.." The robotic word slipped from my lips, before I stopped, back straightening. It was too much, just too much, and I could feel myself slipping..
You are the heir to this company, brat. All of your snotty little friends should worship you..!
"Demo.. I don't want to discuss my living or family situation, ever." I blinked again, staring blankly for a moment and gathering myself, barely noting that they had gone silent with shock. I could hardly believe the words that had tumbled out of my mouth myself, however, I could not take them back.
I had thrown such a heavy stone..
"Kuroko.." The strained whisper that came from Kiyoshi set me in motion, jolting me from my shock.
"Gomen, Kiyoshi-senpai.." I turned and walked out of the door, barely noticing that I sprinted past an all too familiar face on my way out of the school.
"Tetsuya..?" She called out as her blue-haired son ran past her, her grip again tightening around his wallet as she took in his distressed state.
A frown replaced had his normally calm expression, his jacket was not zipped, his bag was missing, and he was blinking far too much. She could feel her maternal instinct kick in as she scowled and turned, marching straight towards the still-open gym entrance. It had been well over a year since she had been this mad, and now that she was, there was little that could calm her.
Whoever had upset her little boy so badly that he resorted to running away, would answer to her..
"BAKAGAMI!" Riko's fist came down on the taller boy's head with great force, and he sighed, humoring her for the moment. He knew he had messed up..
They had all messed up..
Kagami plopped down onto the bench, staring at the bag Kuroko had left behind in his haste. So much for protecting his tiny shadow, he glared as bitterness seeped into his thoughts, he couldn't even completely earn his trust.
Teppei simply busied himself by examining the box that had held his attention all day. He had not been able to sleep last night and had polished the box, restoring it to it's shiny and delicate glory. The tiny thing was beautifully crafted and carved, probably by hand, and seemed to require a key to open..
Unless he broke it, which he refused to do, as he had found the initials 'T.K.' buried in elegantly carvings on the bottom of it. He had a feeling he knew who's it was, or had been. He would return it eventually, when Kuroko calmed down..
Riko's hand had found her chin and she gripped it, almost too harshly, worrying over what the effect of what they'd just done. Hopefully, they had not completely messed up and Kuroko would come around soon. He was much more sensible than the other first years, although, he could be just as immature..
"Well.. What do we do now?" Hyuuga sighed and uncrossed his arms, finally coming out of his brooding to ask the question that was on all of their minds. If one looked closely, they could see the marks on his palm where his fingernails had cut in, he had given himself the most blame mentally, as he was the captain. Yet, as the captain, he had decided to try and start to fix things.
As Riko opened her mouth to respond, another voice, sharp but quiet cut her off, the owner of it seeming to appear right next to her. "To start off with, one of you can tell me why my son just ran out of here like hell hounds were chasing him."
Her suddenly interrupting their conversation caused all of them to flinch, as none of them had realized anyone had entered the in the gym, let alone gotten so close..!
Kagami blanched, paling as he realized this was Kuroko's mother, and this was the same aura Kuroko gave off when he was angry. "K-K-Kuroko-san?"
Hyuuga glanced from the woman, who held no physical resemblance to Kuroko, to Kagami, mouth dropping open. He was the least susceptible to Kuroko's misdirection, but this woman had even taken him by surprise? She was even less noticeable!
It was Riko that said something first, coming out of her shock and pulling the other's along. "Eh..? You're Kuroko's..!?"
Kuroko's mother..! This is Kuroko's mother.. Wait.. Oh shit, we're dead..!