AN: I decided to start a second fanfic for Kuroko no Basuke! I hope you would enjoy this story and I thank you for reading it. Also, if you haven't read my other Kuroko no Basuke fanfic, please do try it out. I hope to hear of what you think of this spin-off from Kuroko no Basuke. I have yet to decide a final pairing but I'm leaning toward making this an Akakuro story although I've started with OgiwaraxKuroko. I might add in other charactersxKuroko because I enjoy Kuroko harems!

Kuroko no Basuke belongs to Tadatoshi Fujimaki.

Chapter 1: Preparations

"Princess, are you sure of this decision?" her servant questioned once more, worry evident in his voice.

"Yes, Kagami-kun." Kuroko answered him calmly, almost as though explaining to a child, "It's the best for this country. Father has been pressuring me to make this decision for a while now, especially since he fell ill a few years ago. If anything happens to father, the throne would most likely fall to our cousins because I'm a female and does not have a husband who could inherit. You know they had their eyes on the throne for a while now."

"Still," Kagami begged, "you could have simply chose another prince. Why, out of all the princes, would you chose him? You've heard the rumors surrounding that prince, right?"

"I've heard the rumors, but it so happens the prince is interested in our kingdom, and I happen to need a husband, Kagami-kun." Kuroko replied with a tint of bitterness. Kagami glanced at the princess and couldn't help but feel that she looked extremely weak and small at that moment.

"Besides," Kuroko continued coldly, "a princess must put the kingdom first, no matter what."

Kagami, unable to say anymore, gritted his teeth and complied, "I understand, Princess."

He left the room, leaving Princess Kuroko alone in her room to rest. She walked over to her desk where a letter sat innocently. On it, the words resigned Princess Kuroko to her fate. It was a reply, from the country of Rakuzan, stating that the prince is willing to discuss the issue of a political marriage. The paper had crumbled from being clenched so long by Kuroko's hands and it was stained with tears fallen from her sky-blue eyes. Yet, no matter how much she wished for the words to disappear, the letter remained in front of her, taunting her with its presence. The engagement has not yet been confirmed, let alone made official, but the letter meant one step closer to losing what little freedom she possess. From the rumors circulating around the prince on his dark and cold personality, it's very likely he would not see her as anything more than a tool to get her country, a trophy for achieving his goal.

Yet, even with that, she would rather resign herself to this fate then let the country she loves dearly and its people to fall into the hands of her family's distant cousins, the Haizakis. They've been after the throne for quite a while. Princess Kuroko had only met them once, and that one meeting had led her to hate them for the rest of her life. They possess little care for the country or its citizens, focusing only on the power and riches the throne would bring. Shall such people take the throne, Kuroko decided, then the country will break.

So she yielded to the fate of marriage, to make sure the country she, her parents, and many generation before that, built and loved, can continue to thrive. She chose Rakuzan, precisely for its power. The fact that they do not necessarily need Seirin can probably assure the country to be left in peace and still hold a ruler who can keep it safe if danger approaches. If this can be achieved through the simple act of giving herself to the prince, then she would do so willingly, albeit sadly as well.

As she was about to retire for the night, a knock came from outside her door.

"Tetsuya, may I come in?" a familiar voice rang out.

Only one person calls Princess Kuroko by her name besides her parents, and Kuroko smiled before calling out, "Come in, Shige-kun."

"The letter has reached the princess yesterday." Akashi Seijuro, the Prince of Rakuzan, stated as he focused on the shogi board. Across from him sat Midorima Shintaro, Prince of Shuutoku, who twitched an eyebrow as Akashi took another one of his piece, trying to calculate his next move.

Although the prince presented a statement, Mayuzumi replied out of habit with a simple, "Yes, my Prince."

"Good, then she will arrive within the next week." Akashi spoke, placing another piece down, he smirked and said, "Checkmate."

Midorima pushed his glasses up and replied, "It was a good match, but don't expect me to lose like this next time." Deciding to satisfy his curiosity while Akashi appears to be in a good mood, he asked cautiously, "Just now, you were talking about the Princess of Seirin, Kuroko Tetsuya, right?"

"Yes," Akashi replied, picking up the pieces and placing them back in their box, "I've been interested in Seirin for a while now. Its location and its resources made it thrive despite its short history."

"Why an engagement, though?" Midorima inquired, "Rakuzen's powerful so such a small country as Seirin wouldn't be necessary. Plus, if you really wanted it, you could have simply captured it with your army."

"Waste all that energy over Seirin, Shintaro?" Midorima flinched at Akashi's intense gaze, "I expected you to have a better understanding than that." He held the board up with the box of pieces on top, handing it to Mayuzumi, who bowed before leaving to store the shogi set. "True, marriage is not necessary, but I prefer it to wasting my energy over such mundane matter. I merely thought Seirin would be nice to keep as a back-up for future purposes, it just so happens that their princess is desperate for a marriage partner, so I took the chance. Father has been pushing for an engagement as well so, this way, I get to decide my partner while my father gets a daughter-in-law. It's a winning situation for all involved, don't you think?"

"Of course, Akashi." Midorima complied taking a sip out of the tea placed by his side.

Akashi smiled, sending a shiver down Midorima's spine. Whenever Akashi held such a feature on his face, it usually meant that he is planning something.

True enough, Akashi calmly offered, "Would you like to stay for a while longer, Shintaro. You can meet her if you want."

Midorima nearly choked on his tea, and had to give a small cough to calm the itch in his throat.

"You are fine with that, Akashi?" Midorima asked, knowing Akashi's 'offers' are usually demands.

"Of course." Akashi replied, his smile widening, "In fact, why don't we invite Atsushi, Ryouta, and Daiki over as well. We haven't seen each other for so long, after all."

Knowing that resistance is futile, the other princes would most likely come. Midorima sighed in compliance and said, "Very well, Akashi." Turning to his sevant, he said, "Takao, go send news to Shuutoku. Tell them something came up so I'll be staying in Rakuzan a while longer."

Takao bowed in understanding and replied out of courtesy, "Understoood, my Prince."

Akashi smirked in satisfaction.

"Are you really heading to Rakuzan tomorrow, Tetsuya?" Ogiwara questioned, wistfully watching as Kuroko sat down elegantly in front of the mirror, completely different from his usually cheerful demeanor.

"Yes, Shige-kun." Kuroko replied as she started to take her headpieces from her hair, causing it to cascade down her back. Ogiwara resisted the urge to touch the silky strands as he listened to Kuroko's bell-like voice state the cold truth. She no longer belong to him anymore, not that she ever has. Still, he clung on to that small hope that she still belongs to him throughout their time together. Now, because of that small, yet vile, letter, she belongs to someone else.

Ogiwara's head bowed down as he glanced at his clenched fists, hating how weak he is that he can't even keep Kuroko with him, as he muttered, "I see."

Kuroko paused before placing a cherry blossom clip down on the table and turned to look at Ogiwara. Trying to lighten the mood, she softly commented, "You look like someone just died, Shige-kun."

Ogiwara gave a bitter laugh, "I feel like someone just died." Seeing Kuroko's guilty face, he softened his expression and said, "You know how I feel for you, right?"

Kuroko tensed at her childhood friend's implication and replied, "Such a thing cannot be possible now, Ogiwara-kun."

Ogiwara's face showed pain at Kuroko's change to his surname, but he schooled his feature into a smile, leaned closer to Kuroko, and said, "I know. Which is why I came to say goodbye."

"Shige-" Kuroko started, only to be cut off as she felt his lips descend upon hers. The two stayed like that for a moment, savoring what would most likely be their last kiss. Kuroko can feel Ogiwara's heart-break and understanding, causing tears to well up in her eyes as they broke apart. Ogiwara gently wiped the drop of salty tear that escaped from her eye away and whispered comfortingly, "You shouldn't cry, my Princess. I'm sure no matter what type of person the prince is, he would love you, and you would learn to love him in return so don't shed tears for me, please."

Kuroko closed her eyes and took a breath to regain her composure before reopening them to glance into Ogiwara's dark-brown eyes.

"I can only hope, Shige-kun." Kuroko replied, feeling her eyes water once more, she turned away from Ogiwara and whispered, "Leave me to rest now, Ogiwara-kun. I'll always treasure our memories."

Ogiwara glanced at the fragile back of his princess sorrowfully for a moment before giving a deep bow and left. Once Kuroko heard the door slide back in place with a soft click, she let the tears flow freely down her cheeks.

"The last time." She softly told herself over and over as she fell into a restless sleep, "This will be the first and last time I cry for you, Shige-kun because, from here on out, I now belong to another."

Tomorrow, she shall begin the journey.

Back in Rakuzan Akashi called for Mayuzumi to his chamber.

"What do you need, my Prince." Mayuzumi asked stoically after giving Akashi a deep bow.

Akashi wordlessly handed him three letters as he glanced off into the direction of Seirin. Mayuzumi, glanced down at the letters. On each of them, the names, Murasakibara Atsushi, Aomine Daiki, and Kise Ryouta were written in Akashi's handwriting.

"I will deliver them immediately, my Prince." Mayuzumi spoke in understanding and bowed before preparing to leave. As he was about to step outside the door, Akashi finally spoke, "What do you think of the Seirin princess, Chihiro?"

Mayuzumi paused, carefully considering his next words, before answering, "I've only met her once along with you at the feast years ago. However, I felt that she would have been someone worthy of becoming your future empress, my prince." Then, deciding to take a chance, he continued, "If I must say, you appear, taken, with her from that short meeting." He left quickly, not wanting to hear Akashi's response to his words.

If he had stayed to listen, he would have heard Akashi say to himself, "Of course I was taken by her. It's the first time I've met someone who I cannot predict with my eye. Tis only a passing curiosity that led me to this decision though. I do not believe in frivolous things like 'love'." Unknowingly, he gave off a cold smile and continued, "She probably doesn't even remember our meeting anyways."

The night passed and morning came as the sun rose from the horizon. Kuroko woke up unusually early, having cried over Ogiwara through most of the night. She went through her usual preparations of bathing, dressing, and eating. Even as a princess, she hated having to rely on others to do everything for her. Therefore, she learned to prepare herself every morning, with the exception of cooking a meal. When she walked out the palace doors, the carriages were already waiting. Kagami stood in front of the main carriage, much to Kuroko's surprise.

When Kagami saw Kuroko's questioning look, he gave a grin and called out, "You can't possibly think I'll let you go into the lion's den all by yourself, Princess? Plus, Ogiwara would probably have killed me if I didn't come with you."

Then, despite everything dreadful that has been happening, Kuroko couldn't help but give a small smile to Kagami. Maybe things would take a turn for the better.