Here's another story. I couldn't help myself; I just had to write them as children. :D

Disclaimer: I do not own Kuroko no Basuke

Chapter 1 : Meeting

In the prestigious Teiko Academy that caters to students from nursery to high school, there is an orphanage. Mostly the children in this orphanage are current students who have recently lost their parents and have no other guardians left to look after them. Sometimes, gifted children are brought there so they could enroll as students at the academy, funded by Teiko's many sponsors.

Being an institution for the elite, it has been expected that no one remains at the orphanage for too long since there are either a lot of parents who are interested in adopting these special children or the children who are simply not special enough are moved to other more charitable institutions. It is therefore no wonder that the children dubbed as the 'Generation of Miracles' became notorious both inside and outside the walls of Teiko.

These children, despite being lumped together, initially had little to no interaction with one another. They have little in common and their only similar trait is their distaste for the hypocrites that pose as well-meaning wannabe parents.

All of these change with the arrival of one Kuroko Tetsuya.

The bell has been ringing for five minutes now. Could it be Daiki and the fire alarm again? Akashi doubts it. They made sure he couldn't trip those alarms again the last time—though Akashi doubts if it could actually stop the boy. With a shake of his head, he laments the foolishness of their adult caretakers.

Directing his attention back to his game, he picks up a piece—the one that looks like a horse—and sets it down. He stares at the board, nods to himself, then lets himself down from the chair only to move to another one at the opposite side of the table. He struggles a little bit at climbing—really those growth spurts can't come too fast—and settles himself. He cups his chin with his hand and agonizes his next move. This process is repeated indefinitely.

The only reaction Midorima has to the incessant ringing is to increase the radio's volume. Oho Asa is not yet done announcing Cancer's horoscope for the day. It seems there would be a lot of surprises that could happen today.

A frown makes its way to his features. He doesn't really like surprises or anything that one can't prepare for. One time, he went so far as to file a formal complaint against a previous helper for throwing him a surprise party that ended up with part of his hair being burnt off—hence his distrust of birthday cakes, flammable hair products, and fussy adults obsessing about making your hair look good for birthday pictures. As luck would have it, his lucky item for that day was a portable fire extinguisher; he becomes Oho Asa's most devout follower.

He waits patiently for the broadcast to finish before going into the gardens to dig the biggest turnip he can find.

Aomine yawns. That bell is so noisy! Maybe he'll do something about it later. He lazily wonders what they would be calling them for before eventually drifting back to sleep, deciding that it can't be anything fun at all. Grinning, he wonders if the noisy blond is still looking for him. Tough luck! No one can bother him up on the roof after all.

He rubs his sore butt and glares at the tree. Aominecchi made climbing it seem so easy. Maybe he really is part monkey? Ah well, he wasn't in that one either so maybe he's hiding in one of the bedrooms? Kise thinks he better hide as well before they realize that he is absent when they do a head count. Whatever they're calling them for can't possibly be fun and besides, he's sure Aominecchi won't be there as well.

Murasakibara munches lazily on some chips he found in the kitchen. He hears Shogo being dragged by his ears to the front of the staircase where they are to assemble every time the bell is rung. He does not like it when they take away his snacks so he walks to the opposite direction, not the least bit interested.

The current caretaker is a nondescript black-haired man whose name the children couldn't be bothered remembering. His eyes take in the group of children in front of him before bringing a hand to pinch the bridge of his nose. There are five children missing. Again.

His gaze shifts to the cook holding a grumbling gray-haired boy in place by the ear and he thanks god for small mercies. At least they got Haizaki—who, although isn't the most difficult, is probably the one likely to get in more serious trouble—accounted for.

The helpers are probably already looking for the missing children anyway so he decides to just get on with his announcement.

"Children, I would like you to welcome the newest addition to our family." Excited whispers break out—new children are very rare and would mean that there is either a new prodigy, a terrible tragedy or both— and the children frantically search for the new kid.

The caretaker chuckles and turns around to beckon the little boy out of hiding behind him. He sees nothing of the boy who just moments ago he could have sworn was sitting obediently on the stairs.

With a blank look that belies his curiosity, Kuroko walks silently along the halls of his new 'home'. None of the children or adults he passes pay any attention to him—not that they even notice him—nor does he pay them any special notice.

He likes watching people almost as much as reading his picture books. Both books and people tell interesting stories but sometimes the stories tend to be the same and he grows uninterested. Right now though, he has been walking for a while and has yet to encounter anyone. Perhaps there is something important happening?

He pads on in silence dragging a stuffed toy, by what he presumes is a paw, until he hears a curious sound coming from one of the open doors.

Crunch... Crunch... Crunch...

Drawing the ragged stuffed creature—they wouldn't allow him to bring Nigou inside so they give him a poor substitute which he named Kawari-san—closer to his chest, he sneaks a peak by the door frame.

He blinks.

Kuroko approaches the purple-haired boy. He is sitting on a stool against the kitchen counter, eyes closed, hands automatically moving from a bag of chips to his mouth, and mouth stuffed, continuously chewing.

He relaxes his grip on Kawari-san, making it touch the floor, then drags another stool right in front of the seemingly sleeping boy. With some difficulty, he manages to climb and tentatively waves a hand in front of the boy's face. No response.

He looks down at the bag of chips and notices that it is almost out. He hops off the stool and returns promptly with another bag. He waits.

Kuroko experimentally pokes a puffy cheek. A single eyelid blearily opens, followed by another, before focusing on him. Unabashedly, they stare at each other, neither looking away, while Murasakibara continues munching away.

It is only when his hand comes up empty that Murasakibara blinks and looks away from the strange expressionless kid to peer at the now empty bag in his hands. Before he knows it, another bag is thrust at his lap. Looking up, he is puzzled to find that the strange boy is gone and the only indications that he had been there are the unopened bag of chips on his lap and the glimpse of a toy-dog's head disappearing round the doorframe.

Shrugging, he opens the bag and resumes eating.

Kuroko eventually finds himself outside of the big house. His thoughts wander to his puppy, hoping that he is fine on his own and that he will come visit soon—Nigou is a smart pup, after all.

At the gardens, by the area where they plant the edible crops, he sees a huddled figure shaking and whimpering. Near it is a furious cat, hissing and glaring at the frightened boy.

Attempting to scare off the cat, Kuroko makes his entrance known by trying to walk louder. It isn't very effective as neither boy nor cat notices him.

Eyes closed, the boy continues to hold his head close to his chest with his hands, causing his glasses to fall. Kuroko is curious about the huge turnip tucked under his chin but also notices a red scratch mark on one of the boy's hand.

Deciding that the poor boy has been tormented enough, he crouches in front of the cat and holds out Kawari-san to it. Startled at his seemingly sudden appearance, the cat swipes at him. He flinches but maintains his pose until eventually the cat bolts away.

Turning back to the green-haired kid, he picks up the glasses and taps a shaking shoulder.

Midorima almost screams. Almost.

He assesses his surroundings and, finding no wild animals that would endanger his being, regards the boy in front of him.

"I'll h-have you know that cat was r-rabid." He takes the offered glasses shakily and composes himself. "I was only attempting to make myself a smaller target. Basic survival tactic, you know."

He gets a good look at the boy, eyeing the scratched hand holding a mutilated stuffed toy. The scratch was deeper than his and currently bleeding. Somehow, it annoyed him a little that this boy does not seem the least bit fazed.

Kuroko follows his gaze and notices Kawari-san's condition. His lips minutely tug downwards.

Noticing, Midorima amends, "You did not get bitten so you probably won't get rabies if we clean the wound."

Kuroko does not seem to pay him any attention and proceeds to lay Kawarima-san on a hole on the ground—the same hole where today's lucky item, the turnip, is from—and proceeds to cover him with dirt. Kawari-san lived a short but meaningful life, Kuroko laments.

Scandalized, Midorima grabs both of his hands. "You could get an infection from that! Have you any idea how bad it is not to clean an open wound much more expose it to dirt! Not that I care but..."

He stops as Kuroko stares at him then lowers his gaze at the half-burried Kawari-san. Midorima sighs and hands him the turnip.

"At least do it properly." He grabs the spade he used for the turnip and finishes the makeshift grave. They say a few parting words. Well, Midorima attempts to.

"May his soul pass on to a place where he will be more fortunate." A pause. "And where there are no rabid cats."

He allows a few more seconds of silence before turning back to his companion, fully intending on cleaning the scratch wound and continuing his lecture on hygiene, only to find himself alone.

Lying close to his feet is his lucky item and beside it is a freshly pulled carrot. Somehow conscious that he is wearing orange overalls, he feels affronted.

He grabs the turnip and starts looking for the boy—who really needs to get that wound cleaned, not that he cared.

It is by pure chance that Kuroko sees what looked like a leg dangling on the roof. He is in the middle of trying to figure out whether toys go to heaven as well, especially since Kawari-san died a hero. Squinting, he determines that it is indeed a foot and the owner is very much in danger of falling.

Glancing at the solemn boy in front of him, Kuroko decides that Kawari-san would understand why he couldn't stay and finish the funeral—he himself being a lifesaver—and that he shouldn't disturb the ceremony as a show of respect. He plucks out a carrot, thinking that the boy would better appreciate it, and leaves it beside the giant turnip as thanks for honoring Kawari-san.

Hurriedly, he walks back inside the house and moves to the upper floors. He does not know the quickest way to the roof and he knows he cannot climb neither the pipes nor the trees but he has seen an open window on a dormer on the opposite side that would allow him easy access. If he can only find it.

He opens several rooms, all empty save one with an energetic blond boy rolling about in the floor who does not notice him, before coming across the correct one. Feeling something on his foot, he glances down and finds a wooden figure. Across the room, a redhead is on all fours, seemingly looking for something.

Akashi is only mildly startled by the unexpected intruder who taps him and hands him his missing pawn piece. Before he could express gratitude or ask questions, however, the boy hurriedly turns to the window, dragging one of his chairs, and climbs out.

Kuroko crawls over to the sleeping boy—walking is difficult because of the uneven sloping surface—and gives him a gentle shake.

Aomine wakes up to find someone's head hovering above his. His first instinct is to panic and scream out—which he does—until he realizes that one of his legs is dangling over the edge. He must have rolled here from the ridge in the middle where he originally was. With practiced ease, he rights himself to the astonishment of the other boy who almost falls down himself due to Aomine's abrupt motions.

"Whoa there!"

Aomine catches Kuroko by the hood of his shirt and promptly drags him to the middle of the roof where the ridge is wide enough for him to sit on without sliding down. Kuroko can only watch with envy at the other boy's effortless movements.

"There you go little buddy! I guessed you saved me back there. Then again, you almost gave me a heart attack..." Scratching the back of his head, Aomine plops down beside him. "Say, you're new here aren't ya? I'm Aomine Daiki. So what's your name?"

The grin on Aomine's face does not waver even as Kuroko does nothing but stare. Seeing Aomine move about, Kuroko wonders if he even needed saving from the start. One thing for sure, though, he was the one who ended up being saved.

"I'm Kuroko Tetsuya. Nice to meet you."

Whatever Aomine was about to say next is interrupted when a helper suddenly picks him up by the collar and takes him away, ignoring his protests that he isn't alone and they're leaving someone behind. Kuroko is left on the roof contemplating the best way to get down and follow.

Considering that he is sitting on the steepest part and any attempt to move towards the window would result in him sliding down towards the edge, he attempts to call the helper back. Any sound that might have escaped him is silenced by the distinctive sound of the window slamming shut.

With no other options, he draws his knees close, hugs his legs and waits patiently.

Chapter end.

AN: Kuroko, how could they? :(

Anyway, tell me what you guys think? I personally find the linebreaks annoying but if you don't mind then it's ok, I guess.