Summary: Kuroko decided to leave Teikō but instead of disappear he went to America with his family to regain love for Basketball. In America he found his new basketball. And now he returned to Japan to defeat his former teammates.

A/N: This story won't follow canon closely, Kuroko also have early character development so he might be a bit OOC to you but not overly so. He won't meet Kagami in America, according to canon timeline Kagami spent his third year of middle school in Japan already. I do make few changes though for Seirin. While I love GOM more than Seirin I have soft spot for minor character... I love Hyuga, Izuki and Mitobe... even Koganei and Tsuchida.

The character is Kuroko and Aomine but doesn't mean it's the pairing, it's just I will write the story from their point of view most of the time.

Pairing: None just bromance in GOM but that can change later.

Disclaimer: I own the story but none of the character with belong to the mangaka

Edited 20-06-15 By Amaranthis

March 20XX, Narita Airport

"I can't believe this..." A brunette girl with a boyish hair-cut hissed, staring at her phone as if it was some sort of cursed item. "Kuroko promised to welcome us in airport, but what we get?" She huffed angrily, "A car and a driver to bring us straight to home!"

One of the teens who stood behind her tried to pacify the enraged girl, "Maa maa... coach, you have to understand. It's not like Kuroko knew that Akashi would suddenly summon him to his previous school."

"Technically if we go with the Japanese education year he hasn't graduated from Teikō yet.." Another teen pointed out, "We don't have to wait since he emailed us about it so it's all good." A strike of inspiration came to him as he scribbled furiously on his notepad that seemed to come out of nowhere, "Early notice e-mail is ii-mail (good mail) yosh."

A tick appeared on the glasses wearing teen, "Seriously stop it! Just go and DIE!"

The pun lover ignored the threat, "By the way, Kuroko still comes running whenever Akashi calls him, even though he is no longer in Teikō." He sighed, "It's kind of disheartening."

Suddenly a boy popped out from his back, but the pun lover barely flinched. "Right!" His cat-like mouth pouted, "He should listen to our captain not his former captain." Then he turned to silent boy who stood on the side, "Right?"

"..."

"Ahou!" Said captain scolded them, "Kuroko needs to settle something in Teikō with Akashi, and you know from what Kuroko has told us, how that man would react if things don't go his way." He reminded them, "We should avoid trouble when we can. Besides..." He shrugged, "By next month... the curtain will rise."

"Curtain... wa..."

"I am going to hit you if you don't stop."

Teikō Middle School

Aomine kept his eyes on Imayoshi, who continued his speech smoothly like a veteran politician, inwardly laughing at the Tōō's captain's speech of how naïve he was. While what Imayoshi said about him was spot on, it wasn't something he hid from the others. Everyone on his teams knew, even a number of second string players knew Aomine Daiki was tired of basketball, how he became too strong for his own good.

He'd thought no Coach would put up with his attitude, or any captain but Akashi could handle an Ace like him. Tōō High however was different, from the way Imayoshi spoke, this team was probably a team based on individual skill, not teamwork. It was pretty good for him it seemed. Imayoshi's sub-spar skill in cunning aside, he might fit well in Tōō.

"You're pretty amusing." Aomine said with a smirk, "I'll keep that in mind."

Imayoshi didn't turn back to retort as he kept made his way out of Teikō Middle School's corridor, but Aomine was sure he heard it. The captain was obviously smirking and didn't bother to hide it. Dealing with Akashi for three years had given him a better understanding of how manipulative minds worked. Though he would never understand Akashi completely, none of them would.

Aomine was just about to leave, but on the corner of his eye he saw a familiar boy, heading to opposite direction, as he turned around. His eyes widened in disbelief, and he ran towards him without a second thought. The boy barely reacted as Aomine grabbed his left hand. "Tetsu, you're back?" While Kuroko Tetsuya could disappear, as easily as a ghost, it was as plain to see; he was there in the flesh though the Aomine couldn't suppress his disbelief as his statement came out as a question.

Kuroko, unlike Aomine wasn't dressed in Teikō's winter uniform, he wore casual clothes, more stylish than Aomine had ever seen on Kuroko. A pale blue jacket with zipper, a turtle-neck white short-sleeve with dark blue piping and black pants. "It's been a while…" The phantom player greeted the tanned teen. "Aomine-kun."

Aomine grit his teeth, "A while your ass! Tetsu…" He growled low under his breath, "It's almost six months since the National championship… since you suddenly decided on whim to join that student exchange program to America!"

Teikō Basketball Club, last summer vacation

On the court, it was pretty obvious that Kuroko and Aomine had become distant, though no one in team dared to say anything. (In Akashi's case, it just wasn't worth the effort.) The team itself had another concern, as the next tournament was the Winter Cup. They'd already won their third National Tournament, but for Teikō, there was always the next victory.

With that in mind, they didn't see this coming. In the middle of training, Akashi clapped as a signal for first string to stop for a briefing (or so they thought,) but the smug look on Akashi's face told them that their captain had an important announcement.

Kuroko Tetsuya didn't even blink as he took his place by Akashi's side, facing the rest of first string players (whose numbers barely reached twenty, hardly one fifth of Teikō's basketball club members.) Aomine and the rest of regulars shared confused looks; Momoi was out for information gathering so she wasn't around. Kuroko usually stood between Aomine and Kise, but he hadn't moved to join them. Akashi gathered the team, it seemed the announcement probably had something to do with Kuroko, but what?

Akashi, if anything looked gleeful, a rare look of anticipation plastered all over his face as he surveyed them. Midorima pushed his glasses up, a hint of impatience in his emerald eyes. He usually wasn't one to be impatient, but the stifling atmosphere of silence was nerve-wracking.

"I have something to announce, my comrades..." The Generation of Miracles (other than Murasakibara) mentally rolled their eyes, their captain was sometimes so ostentatious. "Two joyous announcements to be exact… " They doubted that since Akashi looked too happy. When Akashi was happy someone suffered.

"First…" Akashi turned to Kuroko, and smiled as he patted the shorter male's shoulder. "I've decided to make Tetsuya's position as our vice-captain official…"

"!" Midorima's glasses fell, and hung on the tip of his nose. "What?"

Murasakibara's eyes widened for a moment, before he resumed sucking on his lollipop, "Congratulations Kuro-chin." He said lazily.

Kise blinked before he cheerfully reacted. "Wow, that's great Kuroko-chi!"

Aomined didn't say anything, but he could tell something was odd. He wondered why Akashi chose to establish Tetsu's position now of all times. Sure, out of all of them, Tetsu was the one Akashi always left in charge when he wasn't around; most assumed it was Midorima, but it wasn't in the green-haired teen's nature to take care of anyone, especially a team.

If anything, Midorima was a messenger boy for Coach and Akashi. Midorima knew that, and he prefered to do that, instead of dumped with responsibility of taking care of the others (especially Kise). In court, even though Kuroko was his shadow, Aomine knew that while most of the time Kuroko decided the pass course on his own, he was also an extension of Akashi. He didn't like it but if Akashi was the puppeteer, Kuroko was the string and they were the puppets. One could say Kuroko was almost as much as the string to Akashi as he was the shadow to Aomine.

"Second… " Akashi paused for dramatic effect, much to their ire (excluding Murasakibara), they kept quiet. "In one week, our vice-captain, Kuroko Tetsuya will depart to America for a student exchange program."

The basketball players all visibly expressed disbelief as the reserve players began to fuss among themselves. The Generation of Miracles however, didn't even utter a word, though it was obvious they were shocked.

Kuroko unexpectedly began to speak, and all voices quieted down. "Thank you for everything, I hope this last week we've spent in Teikō will be memorable." He said tonelessly, devoid of any emotion.

Akashi smirked before turning around, "There you have it… you're dismissed." He ordered smoothly, "Continue your training…"

Teikō, locker room

BAM!

"Aomine-chi! Stop it!" Kise yelled, as he tried to pry Aomine off Kuroko, who didn't even flinch as Aomine, who would've hoisted him up by his collar, if not for Midorima grabbing Aomine's hand.

Midorima, who was the most composed among them, held Aomine's hand firmer, "Let go of Kuroko this instant, Aomine!" He warned the tanned teen.

Murasakibara, the tallest player in Teikō rubbed the back of his head, as he stood in the back like a spectator. "Mine-chin… that's not nice." He said, but the gigantic Center didn't bother to move from his spot.

Aomine gritted his teeth, "How could you guys to be so calm when this bastard decided by himself to go to America without telling us a thing?" He asked angrily, "Student Exchange bullshit! If there is such program in our school we would be informed ages ago!"

The green haired teen sighed, "Anyone with brain and who know our captain's manipulative streak could tell this just a farce Akashi made up." He admitted with a sigh, "But then again what's the point of being angry at Kuroko?" Midorima asked as he gripped Aomine's hand tighter. "Now… Aomine." Midorima said in warning tone, "Unhand him, Akashi won't be happy if you do this to our Vice-captain."

Aomine Daiki released his hold reluctantly, "Vice-captain your ass! He'll leave us in a week anyway…"

Kuroko rubbed his neck, and for the first time since they entered the locker room, he spoke. "I decided to do this transfer myself… " All eyes turned to their sixth player, "Akashi-kun approved it, in exchange I accepted the position as Vice-captain…"

Midorima snorted then continued, "Which you've refused since second year…"

Now all eyes focused on Midorima (with the exception of Kuroko whose face turned away from them). "Kuroko-chi did what?"

"You think Akashi would've keep it quiet, Kuroko?" Midorima asked with a sigh, "He never told me outright, but he did hint he wanted you to have the position, and you refused." He paused before turning to his team-mates, who stared at him in shock. "Why do you think Kuroko was chosen to be Kise's personal instructor in second year?" He asked his fellow Generation of Miracles.

"I am the one who found Kuroko's talent and I knew he also possessed a stategic mind that could rival my own, if he ever chose to come out of the shadows…"

Midorima recalled Akashi saying so when Kuroko and Kise went to assist the second-stringers.

"For now, he is just extension of my hand, maybe I should place him in higher pedestal, to bring out his true potential?"

Kuroko, of course refused to be placed in higher pedestal.

"It's a pity Tetsuya feels so at home in the shadows."

Midorima pushed his glasses up, "At any rate… our next practice match is in two days."

Silence filled the air, as they remembered the announcement Akashi had made the day before, of a practice match with Mizuho Middle School. It was not a particularly strong school, but in spite of that, Mizuho was quite versatile and they were third runner-ups most recent tournament. Then again, to Teikō's basketball team, they had no equals in middle school basketball circle. The team they faced in the finals last month, gave up by the third quarter, and barely put up a fight in the fourth quarter. At first, they wondered why Akashi bothered to set up a practice match at all. Practice matches for the first string reserves or second stringerswere usually accepted by other schools, but for their regulars? They didn't need an Oha-Asa prediction to know, Akashi somehow pulled strings to force them to accept. No school was suicidal enough to face Generation of Miracles, practice match or not.

But today's announcement made sense, it was the last match they'd have with Kuroko. It was a farewell match for Kuroko Tetsuya.

"Akashi-kun won't participate in this match." Kuroko informed them, and their attention was once again drawn to him. "He will observe our game from the bench."

Aomine grit his teeth, "Does this mean you will be in charge, Tetsu?"

Kuroko sighed as he moved away from them, putting distance between him and his team-mates. "I will be honest… I intended to resign from Teikō's Basketball Club." There was nothing to hide; that would only leave a bitter taste, so he would tell them the truth.

A gasp of disbelief escaped them, even Murasakibara looked shocked. "Kuroko-chi stop joking…" Kise began nervously, "This isn't funny you know…"

Kuroko leveled them with determined eyes, "I never joking, and you know it." He stated tonelessly, "I really intended to quit, however…"

"I would have accepted this letter without much fuss, but I don't think we should let you go like this."

"Then what do you want,

Akashi-kun? You can't stop me from leaving."

"I don't have to… so what if I propose something else?"

"The first condition was to accept the position as Vice-captain." Kuroko explained calmly, "Second… I will be the one in charge for the next practice match." He paused; the last one could be kept to himself. "I can leave, though not on paper… so I am officially still a part of Teikō's Basketball Team, even if I go."

Aomine scoffed, "And that's better how?" He wondered out loud, "You are still leaving us, and instead of quitting the team, and staying in Japan you would rather…"

"My family have business to finish over there, so I am leaving with them." It was not a lie, but he could chosen to stay behind in Japan, (but he wasn't going to tell his team-mates that). No matter what, he had to grab this chance. "Akashi-kun for some reason, felt the need to made up a story about student exchange, but… that aside…" He took a deep breath, "It's all true…"

"… But why do you want to leave?" Aomine asked, gritting his teeth.

In an instant all eyes (excluding Kuroko's) landed on him with accusing stare. Before Aomine could ask why they looked at him like that, Kuroko stopped them, "It's not anyone's fault, the mistake is on my part…"

"But…" Kise stuttered, "Whatever the reason, you don't have to leave Kuroko-chi! Not like this! I am…" He grit his teeth, "I can be your light! So don't leave our team Kuroko-chi!"

Aomine whirled around, eyes widening in shock. "What are you talking about Kise? I'm…"

Midorima blanched at where this topic was going, at this rate their already strained team would... He was about to stop them, but Kuroko beat him to it. "Kise-kun! Aomine-kun!" He warned them with his blue eyes glaring icily. "Stop it."

Both of them tensed, and Midorima breathed a sigh of relief. Kuroko always had more control on Kise and Aomine than even Akashi, and most of the time they listened to him. "Well then Kuroko, can you tell us this mistake of yours, that made you decide to leave the team?" Midorima asked calmly, he wasn't one to pry, but he could tell Aomine and Kise would have another argument, if Kuroko didn't make himself clear.

Kuroko, of course, understood what Midorima trying to do, so he relented. "I looked back to the opponents we have defeated in our most recent Finals match." Aomine, Kise and Murasakibara stared at him in confusion, Midorima in the other hand grit his teeth. Why of all things in the world, did his reason have to be that? "They wouldn't even dare to look at us, their eyes were lifeless like corpses…"

"Kuroko! Don't you dare to pity them!" Midorima warned him, "That's a foolish mistake! Winners don't pity losers and it's not…"

Kuroko shook his head, "I never pitied them, and I am definitely not going to start now…"

Aomine bit his bottom lip, Kuroko of all people knew there was nothing the winner could say to console the team they have defeated. It was one of many rules Teikō instilled in their team, "So now what Tetsu, don't lead us on like this, get to the point!" He demanded hotly.

"Can't you see?" Kuroko asked calmly, "What we've become?"

"Strong?" Aomine asked.

"Genius?" Kise tried.

"Big?" Murasakibara said, munching on his potato chips. Midorima couldn't resist whacking the giant with his lucky item of the day (a thermos) on the head.

"Proud." Midorima stated confidently.

"Everything you said except Murasakibara-kun's." He admitted then turned away, "Those are unavoidable and I can live with that, but tell me… since you are all genii, strong, and proud." He trailed off, "How do you see our opponents? What are they to you? And what are you to them?"

"…"

"…"

Usually they would answer that question easily, but now, they couldn't bring themselves to say it out loud. There was no need to say it anyway; they knew the answer like the back of their hand.

"No answer?" Kuroko wondered out loud, "Then think of the answer, even though you don't have to say it." He inhaled deeply, "Why you can't answer me out loud?"

"…"

"…"

"…"

Kuroko kept quiet for few minutes, the silence was suffocating, but they could do nothing. "In the end… even you think it's a bitter truth of what we've become." With that he left the locker room, and no one dared to stop him, not even Aomine.

Kuroko didn't look back as he recalled a question he asked one of their opponents from the most recent match, surprisingly one of them remembered him. It was only on a whim, or maybe it was a fear he wanted to confirm. The one he asked was a basketball player with exceptional eyes, he couldn't stop Kuroko, but he did catch glimpses of him, and was aware of the presence of the phantom player.

"You are one of those monsters… what do you want, Phantom Sixth Player?"

"Why you called us that?"

"Call you what?

"Monster."

"Huh? Isn't that obvious?" He laughed bitterly, "It's because…"

"!"

"I am going to quit basketball..."

"..."

"I don't want to see you guys again on the court."

"That's right…" Kuroko said to himself, "All of us… including me." He grit his teeth as tears started to escape his eyes, "We've become monsters..."

I just realized I have not enable Anonymous review, I am sorry... it's still amazing in my last story I get 5 reviews in spite of that in my opinion...

Yeah I make Kuroko a rich kid~ but Teikō in my eyes looks like a school for rich kid judging from their uniform. It's just looks elite to me... I know the other GOM like Aomine and Momoi doesn't look like come from rich family but they can always scouted by the school for their skill. Murasakibara is the same case, but if you see the amount of snack he buy everyday you can't believe he has limited allowance. Midorima... you think if he is poor he can afford all of his lucky item? Kise? He is a model, so he must have his own income... Akashi? You dare to doubt he is rich?

Kuroko in the other hand was a nobody in court before he joined first string, so no way he is scouted. Beside... the way he said his house is small is pretty suspicious, but of course Tadatoshi just have to wash my theory away when Kuroko looks annoyed Kagami live in such a big apartment by himself.

My request to you: God help me with Izuki's pun! I seriously won't be able to think it up by myself~

I also an amateur in basketball so I will ask around in mangafox since some people in KNB forum is amazingly knowledgeable about basketball. This would be my biggest hurdle in writing this story, I will try to get by with what I find in internet and asking around.

BTW don't think Kuroko will curbstomp everyone he faced, he is stronger than early Kuroko in canon but not to godly level. He still has his lack and everything... I will only mention his time in America with flashback.

Please note all of my stories will be updated slowly and yeah like all author here, *blush* you have to butter me up with review.

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