Note: Unedited. No Beta. Crossover. Mentions (implied or direct) of Slash. An apparently extreeeemely slow update.

Secrets of the Phantom

04:

Time Skip

Five Months Later:

Black.

Black everywhere.

Kuroko stared at the casket in front of him, right where his mom is lying peacefully. She look beautiful even in death.

There were no tears in his eyes.

There were no emotions.

He just continued staring even as many came and gave their condolences. He only stared at them blankly before nodding, never saying anything.

He didn't want to.

He didn't need to.

Someone sat right beside him and he turned just to see Kagami-kun there along with the rest of his previous and new Seirin teammates. All looking at him with sympathy and concern.

They didn't really know about his mom having cancer and that it was the reason for his absences. Even his senpai's who already graduated and are in college didn't really know about it. Only Kagami-kun really does. It wasn't until Kiyoshi-senpai saw her in the hospital while he was once again visiting his mom that they knew.

And she was already almost on her death bed. They all saw her a week before she died.

"Are you okay Kuroko-sempai?" First year Hinamoto Kazunari, Seirin's new three-point shooter asked him hesitantly. Kagami-kun whacked Hinamoto-kun's head, irritation clear in his eyes.

"Of course he is not!" Kagami-kun said with his loud voice. Aida-senpai then smacked Kagami-kun with her hand.

"Be quiet, Bakagami!" seeing the familiar pattern on his new and former teammates, his lips twitched a little into a smile.

"I'm fine,"

"Bullshit," Kagami-kun deadpanned. This time, it was Hyuuga-senpai who smacked Kagami-kun.

"Watch your mouth, idiot," Kagami-kun grumbled and then looked at him seriously. He looked like he was about to say something when there was suddenly a commotion behind them.

He, the rest of his teammates and the few people who came to give their condolences swirled around to look behind them.

First he saw were flashing lights. He blinked his eyes rapidly at that. It was too bizarre seeing flashing lights that reminded him too much of cameras in a funeral.

When he saw a car in front of the door, his eyes narrowed. It seemed like the car was the one the flashing lights are following. A moment later and the car opened, making the noises reach high levels before suddenly winding down when a tall and intimidating man got out. By the way his eyes were staring at the crowd - that he now realized are reporters - it was no wonder they parted all at once and their voices lowering when the man's mouth opened and looked like he was saying something.

Then he was followed by a teenager who looked somewhat in his age with a cap on his head. His eyes held confusion now at the strangers who looked like they came specifically for the funeral. Though he thought he recognize the teenager but couldn't quite tell who it was. He's standing behind the intimidating man after all. He didn't remember telling anyone famous about his mom's death. His Teiko teammates didn't even know, though he was certain Akashi-kun already knows without him saying anything and is now on his way along with the rest.

He was still frowning a little in confusion when he caught sight of a woman whom he'd rather not know but unfortunately recognized and abruptly stood up.

It was his mom's older sister and his aunt. The now retired model Hattori Shizuka.

. . . . .

Heiji looked around him - ignoring the reporters following them just like he always do - saw the sign on top of the building in front of him, looked inside and saw people wearing black clothes and a casket right there on display and sighed.

He didn't like funerals. They are a sad affair. He especially dislike this event being that this is the funeral of the aunt he never even saw and thought much of until yesterday.

He still couldn't get over that. He knew his mother has family of course. He also know that she has a younger sister. He just thought she's already dead since his mother never mentioned anything about her being alive.

So it was a shock when his mom came home with tears in her eyes, mouth covered by her hands to muffle a sob and told them that her younger sister is now dead.

His dad, who was standing in front and leading them of course - there wasn't a better crowd controller than his dad with his scowl on his face - with her mom beside him walked towards the door. He reached for his mom's hand and squeezed it gently. She gave a trembling smile.

They were now inside when suddenly, his dad stopped. He froze a little actually. He blinked at that, looked in front of his dad because it looked like he was looking at someone when he knew for certain that there was no one there earlier, and blinked rapidly when there really is a person there.

It was a teenager with slight build and a shock of baby blue hair. He had pale skin and was looking at them with an emotionless expression on his face.

Though he had a feeling that he was actually frowning at them. It wasn't seen on his face though. The teen has the best poker face he had ever seen on anyone who tried and thought did excellently.

"Who are you?" he asked bluntly. A tall teen with dark red hair came to the other teen's side and gave them a furrowed stare.

"Were the Hattori family. We want to pay respect to the deceased," his dad said in a no nonsense voice.

"I haven't seen you around when mom was still alive," the teen said, still in an expressionless face. For some reason, Heiji felt himself sweating.

"We are family," he finally butted in, especially when he felt his mom shaking beside him.

"No you're not," he said. That was when he remembered what the teen said.

"I haven't seen you around when mom was still alive,"

He is my aunt's son, he thought to himself and at once understood what the teen was saying when he said that they weren't family.

They weren't around. He could see why the teen wouldn't know of them. But still, can't they just give their respect? He didn't want to have a fight in a funeral.

Especially in his aunt's funeral.

"Kuroko, just let them see your mom. There is nothing wrong with that. Come on," the red head said lowly. He looked like he only wanted this Kuroko teen to hear him but with his loud voice, even when he was trying to whisper he could still hear it.

The teen named Kuroko looked at them intently, staring at his mom in particular before nodding and allowing the big teen to steer him back towards the bench in front.

That's a tense way of meeting a relative. It was actually worse than meeting his mom's parents.

At once, he remembered how Kuroko had that invisible aura that sneak on you while you are underestimating him until you can feel yourself sweating and freezing in fear and shuddered.

For a small teen, he's on par with his intimidating dad.

Probably even worse.

. . . . .

Living is not that different from before, Kuroko decided. It was the same, after his mom had to be co fined to the hospital. He's the only one in the house. He has to clean after himself, pay for bills, study hard, wake up on his own, do the laundry and relax for a little bit.

The only difference was that he didn't have to go to the hospital anymore. Instead, he now goes to the altar to talk to his mom if he so wishes, even if she doesn't answer anymore.

And he didn't have to be BLANK anymore. He didn't have to spy, or hack for information. He didn't have to meet his regular clients to exchange information for money.

He didn't have to risk anything.

Somehow, that knowledge made him a little sad.

He might not be like Kagami-kun and Aomine-kun in regards to idiocy, and he might not be someone who regularly risk his health for something so stupidly reckless, but he still liked adrenaline rushes.

He liked thinking he knew something others do not. He liked knowing that he was knowledgable about something and was needed by others, even if he had to be paid for them to know those knowledge. He's happy to know that he was good at something more than just basketball and academics. That his invisibility that he had before seen as something of a curse was now helping him become even more helpful.

Even if he was indeed one of the people government agencies were looking for to be one of their 'official' assets.

As if they weren't already using his services.

In this instance, he liked being reckless. Because he knows he can take care of himself. He has several contingency plans in place whenever he goes to meet his clients. He has allies. He has regular costumers. He likes the thrill of taking information, whether staking personally, hacking, undercover, stealing and many other ways he employs whenever he starts doing his 'mission assignments'.

Maybe he should continue?

It's his business. His brain-child. His hard work.

He also likes having another identity.

You're recklessness infected me Kagami-kun, he muses inwardly.

Perhaps there is merit for being reckless... just a little bit.

His personal phone rang and he looked at it just to see his cousin's name flashing on the screen.

Hattori Heiji.

He feels conflicted. On one hand, he didn't like associating with the Hattori family. On the other, he didn't want to be a person who lets his emotion get the best of him that he might have been being biased to an innocent person.

Should he even allow his association with Hattori Heiji? He is his aunt's son yes. But Hattori-kun hasn't done anything wrong to him. And he does want to get to know him.

But according to his research, Hattori Heiji is on par with Shinichi Kudo in intellect. He is also a well-known detective in Osaka.

In case he wants to continue his 'business', does that mean Hattori-kun will hunt him down once he learns about the existence of BLANK? After all, his alter-ego is wrll-known in the international givernment agency as they are also one of his clients before...

The call stopped and rang again and he is still indecisive. To answer or not to answer?

It stopped and rang again after a few seconds. It was clear that Hattori-kun has no intention of stopping. After all, he kept on calling him even after a week of meeting each other passed. Once he got a hold of his number, he kept calling.

Feeling a little exasperated, he took it and pressed accept.

[Hello? Is this Kuroko? Finally answering?] Hattori-kun's voice drifted onto his ear.

"Hattori-kun."

[Finally! I thought you would continue ignoring me!]

"..." He had nothing to say to that because frankly, that was his initial plan.

[Oh? Speechless?]

He looked at the wall of his room, unimpressed with whatever it is Hattori-kun was pulling to him. His tone was too overly friendly and it was making him a little uncomfortable.

Yes, because he still felt indecisive about this association.

"What is it Hattori-kun?"

The person on the other line went silent for a few seconds and Kuroko cannot help feeling like the air between them became serious.

And to think they are still on the phone.

[You don't like us, do you?]

He didn't have to ask what he was talking about. He also didn't answer. He felt like whatever he say will be damaging for the other teen. He'd be lying if he said no and he knew that Hattori-kun would know about it. The way he was with them that funeral day was already telling. If he said yes then it's a firm and decisive confirmation.

There was no proper response for the question. Even now talking with the other teen, he still felt doubt in his heart.

He's usually silent, quiet and don't really went out of his way to tell others what he feels. But he's brutally honest with himself.

And he knows that anyone closely associated with Hattori Shizuka, he will be also closely scrutinize.

[I guess I understand. You don't like mom and in turn, don't like us.]

If the other teen is waiting for his response then he'll be waiting for a long time. He heard a sigh on the other line.

[I hope you at least get to know me. Were cousins. I want to get to know you]

Well... It's probably safe to associate with Hattori-kun, he thought lightly to himself. A trial... Will he disappoint me? Kuroko really hoped that Hattori-kun isn't the same as his mom. Abandonment... He had enough of that experience.

"I'll talk to you later Hattori-kun."

[...Really?] Came a disbelieving question. He frowned lightly.

"You don't want to?" Well, I tried. I guess he's not really that intereste-

[Yes! No! I mean...] There was a deep breath taken and release on the other line after those panicky words came before the teen finally spoke again. [I want to. Let's talk later. I'll call!] The other cheerily said, his glee and relief can be heard on his voice.

Kuroko's lips involuntarily twitched upwards.

"Alright."

TBC.

A/N:

OhMyGod. FINALLY! A year! It took me a year! Dang! I'm extremely lazy! Or my muse is slooooooooow... I am so sorry.

Are you people still here? So... How's the bomb-drop? Haha...

Review!