This chapter is a little shorter than normal!
I apologize~
Disclaimer: I do not own KnB :)
Kuroko stared at the clock. The big red letters blinked a bright 5:30 AM. He rubbed his eyes and sighed, moving slowly to swing his legs over the side of the bed. He winced when his feet made contact with the hard cold floor. And then he froze...the events from yesterday quickly came rushing back to him.
He had quit.
He had quit being the GOM's housekeeper...
Kuroko never quit. Ever.
It was a foreign feeling for him. He sighed and flopped back into bed, his legs still dangling off the edge of the bed. He had done it for their own good. Kuroko was pretty confident that Haizaki wouldn't do anything to the teens, but he wasn't willing to risk endangering the GOM. Kuroko smiled when he heard Nigou's feet clicking against the wooden floors. Nigou laid his head on the bed and looked at Kuroko with his big blue eyes. "Good morning, Nigou" Kuroko said softly, leaning forward to give the dog a small peck on the nose.
"Gross" Kagami groaned. Kagami stood in the doorway and was brushing his teeth with his nose scrunched up. "Good morning, Kagami-kun. Are you going to work or did you just get back?"
"Just got back" Kagami grumbled, reaching a hand under his shirt and scratching his chest. "Why are you up anyway? The center doesn't open for another couple hours."
"Un. It seems I woke up this early out of habit" Kuroko sat up and shrugged. "Hnn...want me to stay up and hang out with you a bit? I can walk you to the center if you want?" Kagami fought back the need to yawn. Kuroko chuckled, "Thank you, but no. I will be O.K. You should get some sleep, Kagami-kun"
"Right...Hey...Kuroko?"
"Yes, Kagami-kun?"
"You know I'm here for you, right?"
Kuroko nodded and gave Kagami a small smile, "I know".
Kagami gave Kuroko the biggest, cheesiest smile he could manage at 5:30 in the morning, "Good"
Kuroko figured he could just go to the center a hour or so early, just to get some extra paperwork done. He was surprised to see three people already standing in front of the center. "Takao-kun? Himuro-kun? Kasamatsu-kun?" Kuroko called out when he was nearing the gate. Takao charged at Kuroko the second he heard his name, quickly wrapping his arms around Kuroko. Takao said nothing as he tightly held his friend. Kuroko gently stroked Takao's back and looked up at Himuro and Kasamatsu. "What's going on?" Kuroko asked.
"We got a call from Riko-san" Kasamatsu said, shoving his hands into his pockets. Kuroko nodded and wrapped his arms around Takao. "I'm fine, you know? I'm not hurt or anything" Kuroko whispered softly. "We didn't really let Riko-san finish talking. We only got that Haizaki was after you again and..." Himuro walked to Kuroko and placed a hand on the side of his face, "We were really worried about you, Kuroko"
"What does that guy want anyway?" Takao asked, finally letting Kuroko go. "I'm not quite sure myself" Kuroko sighed as Himuro moved to hug him from behind, "but I would like some answers". Kuroko felt Himuro stiffen.
"You're not thinking about talking to that guy, are you?" Kasamatsu asked. "Of course I am. How else can I get answers?" Kuroko replied. "That's stupid Tetchan!" Takao yelled, balling his fists up. "What if he hurts you again?! You can't!"
"Takao-kun..."
"No! It's not right! Your life isn't just precious to you, you know!? Your existence means a lot to all of us!" Takao argued.
"He's right, Kuroko. Do you know how much it would affect the rest of us if something bad happened to you?" Himuro offered in a gentle tone.
"Again" Kasamatsu added with a frown. Kuroko leaned back against Himuro, unsure of what to say. He didn't really think about it that way. Kuroko was used to doing things his own way...or else...used to other people not noticing him...
Kasamatsu stared at Kuroko, "Don't tell me after all these years...you still don't get? We're friends. Good friends. You're irreplaceable to me, to Takao, to Himuro, to all the Seirin guys, and even to those GOM brats"
Kuroko thought for a moment, a very light blush gracing his cheeks. The change in Kuroko's previously lonely world had happened so gradually that even he didn't notice it. Kuroko no longer walked alone and unnoticed, but had loving, caring friends that always looked after him. He suddenly realized how loved he was, and while that made him really happy, it also was a little embarrassing.
"You guys are irreplaceable to me too" Kuroko said softly, "But there are some things a man has to do"
"Tetchan!" Takao yelled, but Kuroko interrupted him, "...and I will do my very best to stay safe. I promise to call you if I feel even the slightest bit in danger".
"What if we don't get there fast enough? What if you get hurt!?" Takao barked. "I can handle myself until someone gets to me. Don't you believe in me, Takao-kun?"
Takao's eyes teared up, "Of course I believe in you Tetchan!". Takao ran into the hug with Himuro and Kuroko. "But that doesn't stop me from worrying!"
Himuro smiled and looked up at Kasamatsu and waved at him to bring him into the hug as well.
"Thank you for your concern" Kuroko bowed when they ended the hug. "Don't be so polite, Tetchan! We're friends after all! Ah! You know what? You should try calling me by my first name!" Takao smiled brightly.
"That..." Kuroko paused.
"I want you to try that for me as well" Himuro smiled.
"Ah...then me too" Kasamatsu added.
"I don't really see the need for that" Kuroko shrugged.
"Then just once!" Takao pleaded.
"Please calm down...Kazunari...and Tatsuya...Yukio" Kuroko sighed. Takao, Himuro, and Kasamatsu froze after hearing Kuroko call them by first names. "T-too cute, Tetchan! Again!" Takao bounced happily.
"I don't think I could handle that again" Kasamatsu smiled. "I agree. I might just die" Himuro chuckled.
Takao, Himuro, and Kasamatsu decided to spend the day helping Kuroko around the day care center. Thanks to them, Kuroko was able to go through all the paperwork that had been piling up on his desk over the time he had taken on the housekeeping job. They took Kuroko out to dinner and walked him home at the end of the day as well. Kuroko wanted to protest, but he figured they felt the need to be extra protective.
Kuroko was sitting on the couch, Nigou snuggled up on his lap, when he heard a loud grumbling. Kuroko looked down at Nigou and poked his nose. "Are you hungry?" Nigou simply wagged his tail back and forth. Kuroko chuckled and went to the kitchen, Nigou at his heels. Kuroko opened the kitchen pantry and was surprised to find the box of dog food completely empty. Kuroko reached into the box and sighed when he felt his hand go through a hole. "What do you think Nigou? Rats?" The dog looked up at Kuroko was puppy eyes. Kuroko sighed, "All right, all right. I'll go to the store. Keep the house safe O.K, Nigou?"
Kuroko walked through the isles and quickly found the dog food, but seeing as he was in no rush, Kuroko decided to wander the store. After a while he looked down and noticed that at some point he had picked up a can of red beans. Kuroko cocked his head to the side and took it out of his basket and examined it. 'If I remember correctly...Midorima-kun's favorite food is red bean soup' He thought. Kuroko stared at the can blankly before placing it back into the basket. 'Red bean soup is healthy...I guess'
He was walking through the rest store's isles when he noticed Aomine standing in front of the assorted ramen section, looking at two different brands in his hands. Kuroko walked up to him and listened as Aomine grumbled about the fact that there was too many types of ramen. Kuroko chuckled, bringing Aomine out of his personal rant. "T-Tetsu!? What are you...How long were you there?!" Aomine yelled in shock. Aomine flinched when he heard the ramen packets pop. "...shit..."
Aomine and Kuroko sat together outside of the store and ate ice cream. After Aomine ranted about the fact that he had to pay for the ramen packets he popped, a silence settled between Aomine and Kuroko. Aomine shifted, uncomfortable with the weight of the silence, "S-so...has that guy showed up again?" Aomine coughed.
"Ah, no. But it's only been about a day" Kuroko shrugged. Aomine nodded, "That's right...but we...definitely feel you missing...at home".
"It will be O.K. I'm sure Riko-san will find a replacement soon enough"
"We're not getting a replacement."
"What do you mean, Aomine-kun?"
"We...we all told Riko that if it's not you, we don't want a housekeeper"
"Then...what are you going to do?"
"We'll manage...until you come back, Tetsu"
"But I may not-"
"We'll convince you...somehow" Aomine smiled at Kuroko. "Ah that's right..." Kuroko smiled back, "We're friends, huh?"
Aomine looked down at his hands, "Y-yeah...friends. I better be getting back. Thanks for the ice cream, Tetsu...I hope we see each other again...soon"
The next day-
"Hurry up and do your stretches, Kise-kun!" Riko barked. "But my hearts not in it..." Kise whined back. "Soon, you heart won't be in your chest if you don't hurry up!" Riko yelled back. Kise's eyes widened and tears flowed freely from his eyes as he began to stretch. "Why are you so tense, Riko-kun?" Momoi asked. "This game against Rakuzan...it just has me on edge" Riko mumbled.
"We'll win in the end" Akashi folded his arms over his chest, "There's no way we would lose"
"and our numbers have never looked better" Momoi added as she flipped through her clipboard.
"Minechin has been coming to practice. We're in tip top shape, Rikochin" Murasakibara hummed as he wiped the sweat from his brow. "Don't you have 100 more laps to do, Atsushi? It's not acceptable to slack off" Akashi glared at the giant. Murasakibara slumped down slightly and whined, "Nyaaaaa...why is Akachin being so mean...". Nevertheless, Murasakibara began to run more. "Yeah, why are you being so hard on him?" Riko asked.
"No reason..." Akashi smirked as Murasakibara ran.
"Murasakibara-kun, stop for a moment and have a short water break!" Riko tossed Murasakibara a water bottle as he came back around. "Hahhh...thanks Rikochin..." Murasakibara mumbled.
"Hehhh...aren't you a little easy on your players...Riko?"
Riko and the GOM spun around to see Haizaki standing in front of them with a smirk on his face. "What are you doing here?" Aomine growled. "Ahhh...is that anyway to greet an adult?" Haizaki laughed. "If you're planning to cause trouble, we'll call the police" Midorima said. "And they'll pick up whatever is left of your body" Akashi hissed, glaring at the grey haired man. Haizaki laughed again, "My, my, my you've got some attitudes on you...that's ok though...I'll enjoy crushing you all the more"
"I think you're misunderstanding who is gonna get crushed" Murasakibara walked up to Haizaki and looked down on the man. "I don't think I am" Haizaki smirked, "Though if we were to fight fairly, I would lose in pure strength to someone like you but...I never play fair. And I'm not here to fight" Haizaki smiled and took a step back. Murasakibara stared down at the man. Haizaki might have been the one to back away, but Murasakibara felt like he was the one to back down.
"Kuroko-kun isn't here" Riko said firmly. "Oh yes, I know. Kuroko is safe at the day care center isn't he? With those annoying people...I forget their names. They've been rather protective of Kuroko. I haven't been able to get close to him"
"What? Are you stalking him now?! Stay away from Kurokochi!" Kise barked. "Oho? Kurokochi? That's a mighty cute nickname you've got for him" Haizaki laughed, "Don't worry your pretty little girlish head. I won't do anything...yet. Though...I was surprised that Kuroko quit being your housekeeper."
"How do you..." Midorima started. "I'm good at keeping tabs on people" Haizaki interrupted.
"You should get the hell out of our gym, asshole" Aomine took a step towards Haizaki.
"You should listen" Akashi added, clicking his scissors for effect.
"Didn't your mother tell you not to play with scissors? Oh right, your mommy is dead" Haizaki growled out. Midorima quickly stopped Akashi before he could get to Haizaki. "Let me go, Shintaro" Akashi barked.
"What are you here for..." Midorima asked. A sick sinister smirk made its way to Haizaki's face - so disgustingly evil it sent shivers down Momoi's and Riko's spines.
"I thought it was courtesy for coaches to meet each other before a game"
"You...you can't be...who would hire a monster like you?!" Riko shouted. Haizaki glared at Riko, "I am not a monster, Riko. No...I am something much, much worse...and you will watch your tongue...or I'll cut it out"
The GOM moved to stand in front of Riko defensively. "You won't lay a finger on Riko" Aomine barked. "Oho, how nice Riko...having young men guard like this must make you feel so special...In any case, I should formally introduce myself shouldn't I? My name is Haizaki Shougo and I am the new coach for Rakuzan. My team is the one that will be destroying you"
WHEEEEEEEEEEEE~~
Anyway - THANK YOU SO MUCH for all the kind reviews and the love!
I FEEL IT and it makes me happy! Oho, I have so much inspiration...I need to find the time to type it all out~
Review if you would like - otherwise, I hope to see you in the next chapter!
Thanks again!