That day was the last time they saw Kuroko so energized. Kuroko's condition has declined at a rapid pace. He has started to vomited and have nausea throughout the day. His appetite decreased critically where he only accepts water to eat his medicines. Almost every day, he had seizures and confusion. Double vision always disturbs him in the morning accompanied by the dizzy cycles. Worries about Kuroko's declining condition, everyone has stopped going to school. They kept accompanied Kuroko every single time by taking a turn.There a limitation access in one time which allows only 3 people able to stay. Akashi has rent a room near the hospital, thinking that it's easy for them to go in and out of the hospital. With Kuroko's declining condition, no one can sit leisurely now.

Kuroko is sleeping on the bed while Kagami, Murasakibara, and Momoi are silencing themselves ever since they changed their shift with Riko, Furihata, and Kise. Kagami is standing next to the window, Murasakibara is playing with Nigou's fur while Momoi is changing the withered flower with a new one in the white vase. They afraid to accept the fact that Kuroko will die as they keep on begging for another chance to amend their promise to him to play basketball with Kuroko again.

Momoi sits on the chair as she finished changing the flower. She observes Kuroko's face and her face brighten up when Kuroko's show the signs of waking up. "Tetsu-kun?"

A sudden sound from Momoi snapped Kagami and Murasakibara from their own thought. They turn to Kuroko, who starts to blinks his eyes.

Kuroko turns his head to the source of the voice and smiles tiredly "Ohayo". His voice sounds wet and raspy.

"Ohayo Tetsu-kun, how are you feeling?" Momoi reaches Kuroko's hand as warm smile plastering on her face.

"..Tired" Kuroko grips Momoi's hand but its lack of energy. His body keeps on fighting the tumor leaving him weaker than before. Even raising his hand is a hard thing to do lately.

"You should rest more" Kagami walks toward Kuroko.

Kuroko turns to Kagami and replies "But everyone will be here in the noon. I can't keep on sleeping"

"It's okay Kurochin. Everyone will understand" Murasakibara gets up from the chair and puts Nigou next to Kuroko. Nigou looks at his master with a sad look. It too has been quiet and well behaves by the time it inside the hospital. It doesn't want to cause any trouble for his master.

"Nigou.. come here" Kuroko calls Nigou to come closer to his face. Without any sound, Nigou obeys.

With hardship, Kuroko raises his hand and pats on Nigou's head. Nigou closes his eyes, enjoying his master's patting. However, after few seconds, Kuroko grips his fur harshly, causing the husky to whimper.

Momoi force Kuroko to open his grip on Nigou by opening one by one of Kuroko's fingers. Kuroko never has the intention to hurting Nigou unless he is in pain. She observes Kuroko's face and found that Kuroko is holding up his pain, proving her deduction." Tetsu-kun, is your head hurt again?"

Murasakibara picks Nigou back, brushes the place where Kuroko gripped while looking at Kuroko in concern.

Kagami lends his hand for Kuroko to grips it. Although it's giving him pain but for Kuroko, he will withstand it as this is one of the ways of telling Kuroko that he always be there for him. Momoi gets few pills and picks a glass of water for Kuroko.

Kagami helps Kuroko to get up by supporting Kuroko's limping body with his strong hand. Kuroko's eyes are still tightly closed, bearing the unbearable pain at the back of his head. A small whimper escapes from Kuroko's pale lips.

"You need to eat the medicine" Kagami whisper on Kuroko's ear. The bluenette nods his head weakly. When he opens his eyes, he could feel vertigo comes. Everything around him is spinning causing a bile rise up to his throat.

"B..bucket" Kuroko croaks.

Instantaneously, Murasakibara grabs a basket below the bed and place it in front of Kuroko. He puts Nigou on the floor and soothes Kuroko's back. "Calm down Kurochin, do it slowly"

Kuroko pukes on the basket with a harsh sound. Everyone looks at him in concern and worry. They know today is going to be a hard day. Basically, if Kuroko wakes up with a dizzy spell, the rest of the day will go bad. The doctor said that the medicines he has supplied before were slowly lost its effectiveness. Although the dose has been raised, it only helps for few days. At the end, they need to raise the dose again causing Kuroko to feel drowsier than usual. Not only that, he also tends to sleep and lack of response all day long.

Kagami places some pillow at Kuroko's back then pulls Kuroko's body smoothly to meet the pillow. Kuroko rests his limping body while stabilizing back his unsteady breath. The 15 minutes of vomiting series sure has worn him down.

"Drink this Tetsu-kun" Momoi moves the glass nearing Kuroko's lips, help him to drink carefully. Kuroko cooperates well although his movement is a bit slow.

Momoi pulls the glass from Kuroko's lips as he finished drinking half of water. "Here the painkillers" she gives Kuroko some pills while holding the glass for Kuroko. With trembling hand, Kuroko puts the pills in his mouth and drinks the water. However, when Kuroko tries to swallow the pills, he chokes.

"Hey, slowly okay. Take them one by one." Kagami says, trying to calm down the choking bluenette. He asks for Kuroko to try again with new pills. Murasakibara stands at the back of Kuroko and rubs Kuroko's back smoothly.

The second time Kuroko tries to swallow them he still choking although he does it slowly.

"I..I can't.. swallow the pill" Kuroko complaints between his cough.

"Eh?" Momoi confuses.

"I.. can't.My throat..feel different.." Kuroko repeats. It's not like he said it because he doesn't want to eat the pill. He could feel his throat work differently. It's getting hard to swallow.

"You can't swallow? Are you feeling pain? Want me to call the doctor? They can give you a shot to lessen the pain" Kagami continuously asks, worries of Kuroko's discomfort.

"No need..I'm okay" Kuroko replies, acting tough in front of his friend.

"You sure, Kurochin?" Murasakibara watches Kuroko in worry.

"Yeah. I'm sure" Kuroko smiles.

"If you don't want to see the doctor, rest and take your sleep more," Kagami says.

"But. I just woke up" Kuroko complains.

"No. Sleep now" Kagami adds then he help lowering down Kuroko into lying position back

"I agree with Kagamin. You need to sleep to recharge back. Maybe you feel better once you sleep" Momoi says as she pulls the blanket, covering half of Kuroko's body.

Kuroko nods his head as he closes his eyes, trying to make himself to fall asleep. The other starts to do their things, trusting that Kuroko already falls asleep that time. However after 20 minutes passed, Kuroko opens back his eyes.

"I want to take a bath," Kuroko says, looking at Kagami who is cutting the apples.

"Yarghh. Kuroko! I thought you have asleep" Kagami startles. Momoi and Murasakibara are turning back their attention toward Kuroko.

"Why aren't you asleep, Tetsu-kun?" Momoi asks, curious.

"I can't sleep..the dizziness disturb me" Kuroko voices softly.

"That's why Kurochin needs to let the check" Murasakibara sighs.

"Don't want" Kuroko turns his head to other places.

The three of them sigh. When it comes to Kuroko, making him change his decision is a tough task to do. He is a stubborn basketball freak!

"Now, can I take my bath? I stink" Kuroko smells his body.

"No one care about that. Rest back!" Kagami commands.

"No. Not until I get my bath at the bathroom" Kuroko stares at Kagami.

"Fine, we will help you bathing" Kagami sighs again.

"Let me pick you up, Kurochin" Murasakibara picks Kuroko up bridal style.

"Thank you Murasakibara-kun" Kuroko smiles.

"I will prepare his clothes," Momoi says as she opens the drawer next to Kuroko's bed.

Murasakibara places Kuroko atop of the toilet and Kagami proceeds on helping Kuroko removing his clothes. When Murasakibara picks up the pipe, Kuroko stops him.

"I can bath by myself" Kuroko pouts.

"You don't even have the energy to raise your hand, do you think you can do the bathing by yourself?" Kagami complains.

"But.."

"It's already good that we let you bathing here. The doctor already changes you with sponges bathing, remember? Because of what? Because your health has dropped to the point that you can't even do anything by yourself now. Depend on us just for a little" Kagami frustratedly says.

"Kagachin, don't be mad at Kurochin" Murasakibara advice Kagami with a firm voice. When he has shut Kagami out, Murasakibara turns back to face Kuroko with comforting smile "You see Kurochin, I will be glad if I can help you"

"...Okay" Kuroko thinking for a while and changes his decision so suddenly. Kagami gives an unbelief look toward Kuroko. "What the heck?! You agree just like that when that sweet addict asked you so?"

Murasakibara gives provoking smile to Kagami, which make Kagami furious. Kagami moves forward but interrupted by Momoi's question from the outside.

"You guys okay in there? I have prepared the clothes. I put it in the chairs, okay?" Momoi notes them. She can't help with the bathing since Kuroko is embarrassed with her and has requested that she don't ever come in whenever he is having his bath.

"We are okay, Sachin" Murasakibara replies.

"Good. I will wait outside" Momoi adds before going back to her seat.

Kuroko shivers as he could feel the cold air attacking his body. The only cover that he has is only his boxer. His dizziness increases so suddenly causing him to fall in silence, ignoring the two people in front of him. His face shows that he is in a great pain.

Kagami and Murasakibara notice this, looking at each other first before continuing their matters quickly. So that, Kuroko have his rest as soon as possible.

"Kuroko, please open your mouth. I need to brush your teeth" Kagami asks for Kuroko cooperation.

"..kay" Kuroko groans and opens his mouth. Kagami starts to brush Kuroko's teeth but when he pull the brush out, there's a string of mucus between the toothbrush and Kuroko's mouth.

"What is this?" Kagami mumbles in curiosity. He touches it to identify what is the things that come from Kuroko's gums

"What is it, Kagachin?" Murasakibara asks, wondering why Kagami stop.

"Mucus..? " Kagami asks.

Hearing that, Kuroko closes his mouth and looking at Kagami with a frown. He doesn't know about that. He did feel different with his throat but he didn't notice about the mucus. And what this mucous about? Is his health declining again?

Kagami notices Kuroko's change of expression. He could tell what Kuroko currently is thinking. The blunette always freak out when his body changed but always keep it down and cause himself to feel distressed. Kuroko once screamed to them, letting out his build up stress when he felt that the body he has now is not his anymore. Everything changed. That was the time when he had seizures 3 times in a day. That seizure was bad enough to cause him to injure himself as he bitten his tongue and grips his own skin tightly till it bleeds. Everyone tried to keep him calm down but nothing changed. When Kuroko conscious back, his friends' frustrated look, and his body condition was made Kuroko feel stressed and depressed.

Kagami puts the toothbrush away and immediately gives the water so that Kuroko could wash his mouth. "You will get cold if we let you naked too long. Let's get you clothes".

Murasakibara picks Kuroko up again and puts Kuroko on his bed.

"Do you feel refreshing after bathing, Tetsu-kun?" Momoi asks cheerfully as she brushes Kuroko's hair.

"Yes," Kuroko silently replies, looking only at his hand, which resting on his tight securely.

Momoi notices Kuroko's change of mood. Just what happen in the bathroom causing the bluenette to be depressed so suddenly? She turns her attention towards the dark red hair and purple hair with puzzles look. They just give a sign that they will tell her later.

Kuroko looks at the watch. "I still have few hours before they come right? Can I sleep for a while?" He asks them which the others reply with a nod. Momoi helps Kuroko to lie on the bed. Kuroko instantaneously falls asleep once he closed his eyes, feeling tired all of sudden.

When they sure Kuroko has fallen asleep for real now, Momoi turns toward Kagami and Murasakibara "What happen?"

Kagami rubs at the back of his head with a sigh "We will discuss it with the doctor"

***************************

30 January, a day left before Kuroko's 18th birthday. Kuroko has been given the permission to go back home five days before. There is nothing the hospital could do for him right now other than supplying the morphine to him to help with the pain. The nurse that in charge on Kuroko is also brought back to their home to assist with his medication things.

Lately, Kuroko was having nonspecific pain which he can't point out where he felt hurt other than kept saying he didn't feel good. He didn't have a headache but it seems like the rest of his body aching. He winced whenever someone touched him and it's become harder to changed his clothes. His sleeping course also changed. Most of the time he felt drowsy and he slept all day long.

Today's morning, Kuroko woke up with rapid and shallow breathing, taking the attention of others. Kuroko has lost his ability to swallow pills and solids. They connect him to the IV tube in order to put the liquid morphine in his dropper, which directly goes to his blood stream. He is no longer connected to the heavy medication stuff, not even the oxygen mask. His lips tend to get dry since he has stopped drinking. They put some lip balm in order to moist them up.

Everything in his physical has changed except for his hair which has grown back to his usual hair length, just like when he first enter Seirin. He looks so small in his own bed. With bony features, he looks so weak that people thought he could collapse any moment. But his determination in fighting the illness is still strong. He keeps smiling like nothing happened despite his pain and his struggling to stay alive for the rest of his remaining days.

Kuroko blinks his eyes weakly, trying to regain his consciousness despite his 10 hours restless sleep. His body feel so weak and tired. Somehow, sleeping also sucking his energy out since his body keeps on fighting the tumor in his head.

"Kuroko, are you awake?" Akashi is the first one notices that Kuroko has woke up. He always is the observer one.

Kuroko moves his eyes toward Akashi, his eyelid is half open. "A-aka shi- kun" he mumbles between his breaths. Aomine and Ogiwara walk toward him.

"Do you feel hurt anywhere?" Akashi asks in concern

"Aching" Kuroko mumbles under his uncomfortable breathtaking.

Ogiwara puts the back of his hand on Kuroko's forehead. "You're having a fever again. Want me to call the nurse? She can help easing your pain"

"Please.." Kuroko will only plead when he is in lots of pain. Today must be one of his hard days. Ogiwara immediately calling the nurse by using his mobile phone.

Aomine is gripping Kuroko's warm hand "Do you want anything Tetsu? Do you want to drink?" Aomine asks.

Kuroko changes his attention toward Aomine "C-can I have another blanket? It's cold" Kuroko requests.

Aomine looks at the room heater, he frowns when he notices it's already set to the highest temperature but Kuroko still feels the chill. The winter must be one of the reasons that making him feel so cold. "I will get them for you" He exiting the rooms in rush.

Kuroko nods his head.

Akashi brings out a cold compressor from the drawer and puts it on Kuroko's forehead.

"The nurse will be here in a minute" Ogiwara notes everyone.

Kuroko could feel his head start to throbbing. He moves his hand to his temples and massaged it weakly. He closes his eyes, trying to ease the pain as far as he can. Ogiwara sees this and moves toward Kuroko, massages the places Kuroko massaged before. Akashi is massaging on Kuroko's hand, thinking that Kuroko also having the aching throughout his body.

Aomine arrives and wraps Kuroko with another blanket, pulling it until it reaches on Kuroko upper chest.

A knock on the door took their attention, they turn to see the nurse already arrive with a bag full of medication that Kuroko need. They give the signal to the nurse gives her the permission to enter. She walks in.

"How are you feeling, Kuroko-kun?" The nurse asks with comfortingly as she is checking his pulse and taking his temperature. She notices Kuroko is in pain and having the rapid and shallow breathing.

"Aching and my head.. It's hurt" He replies weakly.

"I will give an injection to help you ease the pain and the fever. You will be okay after that" The nurse smiles and proceed on injecting Kuroko's arm with some medication.

Minutes later, Kuroko's body relaxing and his eyes look in a daze, affected by the medication.

Aomine makes a sigh as he sits back in the chair. "At lease, he is okay now".

"Do you know why his breathing change?" Akashi asks. Ogiwara and Aomine turn to the nurse too, waiting for an answer.

"It is called as Agonal breathing. From my previous experiences, the patient will have Agonal breathing when they at terminal stages" The nurse explains.

"You mean, he in his final hours?" Aomine asks terrific.

The nurse nods with sympathy look.

Akashi, Ogiwara and Aomine silent. No, shock actually. They could feel that they unable to breathe. The news shocking them till they don't even know what to response right now.

Akashi startles when the nurse put her hand on his shoulder. "He will slowly lose his consciousness and when the brain function failing, he will fall into a coma. Stay by his side, keeps talking to him although he is unconscious. Hearing is the last to go"

Akashi opens his mouth to reply but nothing's come out. He doesn't know what to say. His mind blank.

"I will wait outside. Call me if you need me" The nurse turns her heels toward the door and exiting the room. She knows, they need their time alone. After all, knowing that your beloved is going to die is the hard thing to be accepted

Aomine turns toward Kuroko, pain look change into tears. "Tetsu.. why Tetsu..Don't leave us" Aomine grips hard on Kuroko's hand. Akashi punches the wall, causing his knuckle to bleed. Ogiwara's tears fall and he falls to the ground as he heard Aomine screams, clutching his hand hard. Frustration engulfs them.

suddenly a memory appear inside Ogiwara's head. His eyes widen and get back his determination. He gets up and runs exiting the room in rushing.

************************

The flowers on Aomine's hand fall to the ground as the painful facts interrupt his thought again.