I wanted to thank anyone who left a message and had such kind words to say about my work! Hopefully, this next chapter lives up to your expectations!

Chapter 2: Reunion

Kuroko drew his knees closer to his chest. The central gym of Teiko Middle School was smaller than he remembered and much colder. As he tried to control the involuntary shivers that racked his body, Kagami approached him silently, tossing a warm bundle of cloth at his head. Years of training made him automatically reach up and catch.

"I thought you might need the hoodie," Kagami explained when Kuroko looked at him in question. "Once in America, I walked past the site of a car crash. Some of the witnesses were in shock and shivering. The paramedics explained that after seeing something so traumatic the body could go into hypothermia."

Kuroko blinked.

"Thank you, Kagami-kun."

He silently pulled the navy material over his head before resuming his blank stare into space.

Seeing this, the red head huffed a little. He understood though, he himself was still in a state of disbelief. Kagami could only imagine what his partner was going through. Knowing that Kuroko needed time and space, he continued his inspection of the gym. He still didn't know what they were doing here at Kuroko's middle school but he trusted him implicitly. But if they were to remain alive and intact he was going to have to fortify this place before the sun went down. After all, in all zombie movies the creatures seemed to be more active in the absence of light. And this was assuming that they were, in fact, dealing with zombies. Kagami shrugged mentally, they were unnatural, undead, and ate brains – in his book, that was enough.

Kagami noted two entrances to the gym as he finished his course around the court. One faced a back alley way that lead to what he assumed were the soccer and baseball fields, the other lead to the main buildings of the school. Having located the storage compartment, the red head considered his options. There were the usual fold up tables and chairs that were used for examinations, they would make a decent foundation to a barricade; foam mats would be used for bedding, the metal racks holding basketballs and weights could add needed weight to the tables, and once Kuroko was up to it, they would be able to move the metal lockers from the change rooms to further strengthen the blockades. But first, he should arm both Kuroko and him. Kagami was surprised to see a collection of baseball bats at the back of the storage space and after giving one of them a test swing he nodded in satisfaction.

After dropping a smaller and lighter bat next to Kuroko, he proceeded to carry the tables and chairs out. Pausing briefly, Kagami reached into his back pocket, flipping open his phone, hoping to see some bars of signal.

Still nothing.

Slowly but surely, the numbing haze lifted and Kuroko began to become aware of his surroundings. With clarity came pain; intense, blinding pain that gripped his heart and refused to let go. He squeezed his eyes shut when he felt the tell-tale burning that proceeded tears and clenched his fists, digging blunt nails into the soft flesh of his palm. No matter how hard he tried, the scene in his kitchen continued to replay on loop.

His father. Dead.

His mother. A monster.

He wanted to scream and yell and curse the heavens but the logical, rational part of him chided him, 'You can't break down now. There will be time for that later. You need to get up. Help Kagami-kun.'

Kuroko drew a deep breath, pushing down the torrent of emotions. He was good at that; hiding what he felt.

Pushing himself to his feet he was surprised to find that Kagami had already been at work. The back door of the gym was locked and barricaded with a neat stack of interlocking tables and chairs with training weights reinforcing the entire structure. The red head was currently in the process of putting the final touches by taping over the windows of the door with sports tape.

A tiny smile passed over Kuroko's face, "Kagami-kun is surprisingly reliable."

The tall teenager whirled around, flushing, "What the hell do you mean by that?! Of course I am, there's no surprise about it!"

Kagami could see the mocking look in his friend's eyes and could only feel relief that Kuroko was up and at it. "Come on," he said gruffly, "I was thinking we could use the lockers in the showers to block the other door."

Wordlessly, Kuroko followed him.

He was hit with a wave of nostalgia as he entered the change rooms. He had shared so many happy hours; laughing, joking, teasing, and playing pranks with Aomine-kun and the others here.

Aomine-kun.

Pale blue eyes widened, and panic rose, occluding his throat. He grabbed at Kagami's arm desperately, "Kagami-kun!"

"What? What! Did you hear something?" Kagami was already moving back to the gym with the baseball bat raised over his head.

"Is your phone working?" the bluenette was frantically thumbing his own phone open. No signal. "No," the word came out as a drawn-out, dismayed groan, "Aomine-kun…"

'Was he all right? He had to be. He was strong. Stronger than anyone Kuroko knew.'

His thoughts were a frenzied whirlwind as his mind conjured up unwanted images of a mangled tan body. Kuroko's breathing quickened and he could see the edges of his vision turning black

"Kuroko!" Kagami roughly shook his partner. "Snap out of it! Come on, deep breaths, I won't have you fainting on me over that piece of shit."

Kuroko shook his head desperately, trying to do as his friend instructed.

"In and out. In and out," Kagami cajoled.

Slowly as Kuroko's breath steadied, his vision cleared and the cold that had seeped into his fingers faded as blood returned. Kagami sighed, relieved, "Thank God."

Trying to lighten the mood, Kagami quirked an amused eyebrow at the smaller boy, teasing, "I knew it. I thought there was something more than friendship between you two. No one works that hard to see a friend smile again. Especially not for that lump of basketball idiot."

"Oi! Who do you think you're calling an idiot, Bakagami?"

Kuroko's head shot up and hope warmed his chest at the familiar rough tenor of his light.

"Daiki! Don't go starting fights," the pink haired girl beside Aomine smiled slyly, "Especially when Kagamin is right."

"Not you too Satsuki! That moron-" Aomine's words were cut off when a small but strong form collided with him. Looking down, his gaze softened as he raised a hand to rest fondly against light blue hair. His other arm wrapped around his shadow, holding him tight. He could hear Kuroko's faint, muffled chanting of, "You're alright, you're fine, you're alive."

"Tetsu," he breathed. "I'm glad you're ok too."

Kuroko pressed his face closer into Aomine's chest, eyes closed but tears still escaping. Now that he had Aomine's strong arms wrapped around him, Kuroko could let go. He had assured himself that there would be a time to break down – later.

Later was now.

Feeling the soft shudders that shook Kuroko's shoulders and the dampness seeping through his top, Aomine lifted a startled questioning gaze.

Kagami shrugged helplessly, mouthing, "His parents."

Aomine's expression spoke of mourning before hardening. He gently lifted the smaller boy into his arms and moving quietly into Akashi's former office that was an offshoot to the change rooms.

Momoi watched as the two most important men in her life disappeared into the room. She shared a helpless look with Kagami. They might not be able to help Kuroko like Aomine could, but she and Kagami could ensure their survival for at least tonight. With that, the two of them began to manoeuvre one of the metal lockers into the main gym.

Aomine sank down on the soft leather of the chair – he could totally see Akashi ordering it, no plain wooden chair for their captain – and lifted Kuroko into his lap. He kept a tight grip on his shadow, settling his chin on the shorter boy's hair. As Aomine listened to the strangled sobs tearing through Kuroko, he let his own grief rise to the surface.

He had never had a close relationship to his parents. His dad was a drunk, not violent – just lazy. After a work accident, his dad's back had never returned to normal and he had not sought further help. He was satisfied with lounging at home as long as he had a can of beer in his hand. Aomine's mother had worked hard in compensation, holding down two or more part jobs at a time. This left little time for her son, whom had practically raised himself. Ever since he was a child, Aomine made his own meals, signed his own permission slips, and had never had either of his parents turn up for any of his official basketball matches. He was fine with his situation, he knew that there were kids out there who had it a lot worse, and at least his parents weren't abusive or purposefully neglectful. But he had also not known the warmth that a parent could give their child.

Until he met Kuroko.

Back in middle school, when he and Kuroko were best friends, it wasn't unusual for Aomine to spend several nights a week at his shadow's house. Kuroko's parents had always been welcoming, truly liking their son's new friend. He was a little rough around the edges but they could tell that he had a big heart.

Aomine could still remember Kuroko's mum's soft warm hands as they straightened his tie, patted down his hair, or handed him a home made bento before he left for school. And he would never forget the proud smile that Kuroko's dad had gifted him after a particularly gruelling match, patting him on the shoulder fondly and telling him, "Well done! That was a good game, it was close at the end but I believed in you. You truly have a talent, and I know you won't waste it."

Tears burned his eyes as he reminisced. He tightened his grip on Kuroko and grieved with him.

Kuroko's desperate sobs had slowed to occasional sniffles.

"Tetsu…"

Kuroko hummed softly to let Aomine know he was listening.

"Look, you know I'm useless with words, so I'm most likely going to screw this up, but…I'm sorry about your parents," Aomine paused, searching for the right words. "I really liked them. Th-they didn't deserve to die like that. I'm really sorry…"

Although his light's words were spoken haltingly and at times clumsily, Kuroko appreciated his effort. He tucked his head further under Aomine's chin, and cuddled closer to his warmth.

Aomine wasn't finished, "I-I just want you to know that no matter what happens from here, I'll be there for you. They would have wanted you to fight, survive…live. And as long as I'm alive, I'm going to make sure nothing happens to you." He added softly under his breath, "I owe them and you at least that much."

Kuroko stiffened. He didn't want Aomine pledging such an oath because of some misplaced sense of gratitude. He wanted more, so much more. Knowing that Aomine sense his change in mood, Kuroko forced himself to relax.

'One step at a time', he told himself.

Both boys lifted their heads up at the soft, hesitant knock on the door.

Momoi stuck her head in with a sheepish smile, "Hey, sorry to interrupt, but there's been a new arrival."

Knowing that his time was up, Kuroko savoured his light's warmth for a second more before sliding himself off Aomine and headed towards the pink-haired girl. He paused before wrapping her into a brief hug, "I'm glad you're here, Momoi-san."

Aomine rolled his eyes at the blindingly giddy smile that spread across his childhood friend's face as she squeezed Kuroko back fiercely.

"Come on," the tanned basketball player called gruffly, before snickering, "We shouldn't be leaving Bakagami alone for too long, he could have offed himself by accident by now."