Story Orientation:

I don't own any of these characters and won't make any money off this story. I haven't read the manga and have significantly deviated from the plot in the anime. I intend that most of the characters themselves should stay fairly close to anime-renditions. But we'll see how it goes. In my KnB world Rakuzan goes from kindergarten through high school so that I could get this to work the way I wanted. I don't have a beta reader and all mistakes are my own. It's also my first attempt at a fanfiction so we'll see what happens. And yeah, there's eventually going to be BL/yaoi in here.

The Shadow Stratagem

Chapter 1

At the prestigious Rakuzan Academy, there were certain implicit rules that everyone understood, despite their not being recorded in the student handbook. First, basketball was the dominant sport of the school from kindergarten through high school, and second, the high school basketball team's captain, Akashi Seijuro, was absolute. He was popular, handsome in a cold, severe way, a brilliant student, and ruthless competitor. He brooked no disobedience among his peers and even his teachers were in awe of him.

Kuroko Tetsuya, by contrast, was largely invisible. He was mild-mannered and wanted only to be left alone. He did everything he could to avoid trouble and his small stature along with almost indiscernible presence meant he was usually safe from unwanted attention. In fact, most of his classmates would have been surprised to know he was even in the same room as they were most of the time. He was quiet, unremarkable in most respects, but was intelligent and usually good at getting out of difficult situations. His best friend, Kagami Taiga, was the only exception to his customary loner status. Kagami was athletic, brash, and extremely loyal, but not the brightest student Rakuzan had ever had. He was a transfer student; having lived in America until just before the new school year and had been placed in Kuroko's class at Rakuzan.

They made for an odd duo, but Kagami had found himself befriending the quiet teen almost accidentally. One Saturday while at lunch at Maji Burger, Kagami had sat at what he thought was an empty table, only to have a shy greeting make him jump in his chair.

"Hello." Kuroko offered quietly while sipping what looked like a vanilla milkshake.

"Who the hell are you? When did you get there?"

"I was already sitting here, Kagami-kun."

"Huh? How do you know who I am?"

"I'm in your class. I'm Kuroko Tetsuya. I sit behind you."

Although he initially had a difficult time believing the 'empty' desk behind him actually belonged to this person, Kagami laughed as Kuroko detailed several instances from class when Kagami had gotten in trouble for sleeping or being unprepared. It seemed that while he had just overlooked Kuroko, it had not gone the other way. He tossed Kuroko a hamburger from his massive pile and said "Maybe you'd be more noticeable if you bulk up a little. Is that seriously all you have for lunch?" They'd found themselves hanging out that afternoon as Kuroko showed Kagami around the area and had given Kagami more information about their school. Kuroko mentioned that club tryouts were next week and Kagami's eyes lit up when he heard how strong the basketball team was supposed to be, he couldn't wait to try out!

Kagami quickly found his way to the Rakuzan basketball team's practice during the testing period and Akashi, taking notice of his prowess, accepted him on the first-string squad. Kuroko was happy for his friend, but he did not anticipate the loss he'd feel by being alone as Kagami's time was eaten up by the commitments to practice. He was slightly jealous, but he understood. Rakuzan's team had the Generation of Miracles, a group of talented prodigies that had all reached stellar heights of skill during the middle school level and they made every player practice to their limit to stay on the first string. Failure meant demotion and Kagami loved the game too much to even consider slacking off. Kuroko offered only that he would miss their conversations on the way home, since Kagami would leave later in the evening due to practice. Kagami, in a rare moment of awareness, suggested Kuroko could study in the gym while he practiced and they could leave afterwards together just like before. Although Kuroko was initially worried about his causing a problem by being there, he figured he could easily stay out of the way and continue to be unnoticed. Kuroko smiled at his friend while softly agreeing to the plan. He could study almost anywhere and the gym, while noisy, had a certain rhythmic pattern that didn't interrupt his studies.

It became their habit for Kuroko to study quietly up in the bleachers while the team practiced and after Kagami was finished and cleaned up, they'd head to the station and make their way home since they lived near each other. Kuroko would occasionally observe the practice if he was taking a break from studying and knew all the athletes' names and most of their skills. He had even developed a habit of writing down his thoughts on potential strategies and comments about their practice games, not with any real purpose; it was just a natural part of his observations. He'd never shared he was doing this with Kagami, but he would sometimes give him small hints as to how to improve his playing, but always provided them as if he didn't know what he was really saying.

This routine went on for weeks until one afternoon when Kuroko's calm world was upended. He couldn't have said what exactly tipped him off, but he felt a basketball coming toward him at high speed and instantly ducked to avoid being hit. Kuroko heard some yelling as a player was being scolded for their careless aim, but then found himself hoisted up, up, into the air away from his notes by the purple-haired giant known as Murasakibara.

"Hey! Put me down!" Kuroko tried to squirm free but his efforts proved futile as he was held easily aloft.

"Akachin, I think we have a spy" the giant rumbled as he grasped the collar of Kuroko's uniform lazily in one hand while passing the errant basketball back to the court with the other.

"Don't be absurd, Murasakibara. He's wearing our school uniform," this rational observation came from a green-haired player that Kuroko knew was Midorima.

"OI! Put Kuroko down, Murasakibara!" Kagami's voice slashed through the gym as he noticed Kuroko's predicament.

"Hmm? Taiga, do you know him?" Akashi's quiet, cultured tones made for an odd contrast to the harsh sounds of the other athletes practicing. The crimson-haired teen took in the situation quite calmly, but it was clear he was annoyed by the interruption.

"Yeah, that's my friend Kuroko. He's in my class."

"Another transfer student? How curious. Atsushi, you may put him down."

"Okay Akachin. I'm getting some snacks now." Murasakibara gently set Kuroko down and peered at him briefly before lumbering away to rifle through his snack collection.

Kuroko blinked at the retreating form while trying to calm his own breathing. He wasn't hurt, just startled from the whole experience and unsure of how to proceed. He shot a quick glance around and after seeing more and more of the team was stopping their practice to observe the confrontation, he quickly began collecting his things as they'd been disturbed when he'd been so unceremoniously lifted up.

"If not to spy, why are you here?" Kise's question cut straight to him, even though he was some distance away from the blue-haired teen. "Surely you are not intending to try out for the team?" His golden gaze spilled over Kuroko, noting no particularly athletic qualities about this boy.

Kuroko looked up and over at him, meeting his eyes briefly before continuing to gather up his belongings. "No, Kise-kun. I have no such aspiration. I apologize for interrupting your practice. I was only waiting for Kagami-kun." He paused before shouldering his bag and began moving toward the door. "I will wait elsewhere from now on."

He turned to exit but stopped and addressed Akashi again, "And if I may correct one thing, I am not a transfer student. I have been at this school just as long as you have." Akashi's face showed his surprise; he prided himself on his awareness of the student body but he had never taken notice of this person before. To learn that, apparently, this other boy has been in his year since primary school? He couldn't believe it!

"Hey, Kuroko, are you alright?" Kagami's voice revealed his concern for his small friend. It was unusual for him to react like this after all.

"Yes, I'm fine. I should have sat higher up but Haizaki-kun's girlfriend was in my usual spot." He gave a small bow and then looked over at Kagami, "I will wait by the entrance, please work hard." With that, he slipped out of the gymnasium.

"His 'usual spot'? What's that mean? How did he know that's Haizakicchi's girlfriend?" Kise asked curiously.

"Well he's been studying in here since I got on the team. He's probably seen her before." Kagami offered this without realizing he had inadvertently raised Akashi's interest in his friend.

"Oho! How adorable, he waits for you to be done! Is he your boyfriend, Kagami?" The teasing comment came of course, from Aomine, Kagami's rival and sometimes mentor on the team.

"Don't be an asshole Aomine. He's my best friend!"

It appeared the two were prepared to continue trading insults when suddenly a piercing whistle sounded through the gym. "Enough of this. Back to practice everyone!" The coach was undeniably angry they had wasted time on such a trivial incident. Everyone moved back to their tasks with exceptional quickness to avoid adding to their already extensive training menu.

But Akashi wasn't through thinking about the blue-haired teen who had dared to meet his eyes and defy him, however minimally, by speaking back to him. He slipped over to the bleachers, reaching for a notebook that had fallen out of Kuroko's sight. Kuroko had been a bit unnerved once more of the team had begun to look at him and Akashi thought that was probably the reason the other boy had failed to notice he was missing one. He put it into his own bag without comment. Kagami didn't notice this, but Midorima did and raised his eyebrows at Akashi in question. Akashi merely smiled and shook his head. Midorima understood, shrugged, and went back to shooting his powerful three-pointers.