THE KIDS

chapter two

Ryuji never wanted his kids to grow up and be like him and for that he would send them to school which was behind their house. It was a school started by the social workers a few years ago so that the kids won't waste their time in the streets. The school fee was really low but still it was beyond Ryuji's income.

Kuroko loved school. He loved studying and he loved his teachers. Going to school gave him a slight slip from his mother. But at the same time he hated it. He hated the way older kids would come to him and push him in the mud, staining his uniform. He hated it when the called him "smelly rat" or "poor rag". The bullies at first never took notice of him. They walked pass him as if he never existed but then Kuroko bumped into one of the guys and then the ragging began.

Kuroko had seen some parents coming to the school and complain about bullying and harassment but Tetsuna never did the same. Kuroko did try telling her but she shrugged it off by saying "Aren't you one huh, Tetsuya?"

There was this one day that Tetsuna hated the most. It was the medical checkup day. This was the day when she never sent kuroko to school. The reason? Because she was scared. She was scared of the questions that the doctors would ask if they saw the teal-heads body. More importantly his back.

Sunday was the bath day. Tetsuna would undress both brothers and would wash them thoroughly because Sunday was the only day when they got more water. Once, suffering from a very light fever Kuroko said. "Mommy I do not want to take a bath today"

"I cannot keep a smelly rat like you, in my house Tetsuya, now in the tub!" she said but as stubborn as he was, he ran. Bad mistake of course. In order to get a hold of him Tetsuna lunged at him, her nails dug deep in Kuroko's skin and peeled his skin from shoulders to his wait. Blood spluttered out as the young blue head lay there shouting and crying. They had to take him to the hospital with an excuse that he fell from the roof and scratched his back on the fence.

Once Kuroko and Taiki both decided to run away. Taiki being older suggested that by throwing soft pillows on the ground they can jump. The pillows will reduce the momentum and they'll not get hurt. But this plan was quite difficult for both young brothers. Therefore it was not put into action. But that didn't stop Kuroko from thinking that it might be the only possible way to run away.

On the medical checkup day as usual, Tetsuna locked Kuroko in his room. In the previous year's Kuroko thought of jumping out of the window but he was too young. Now that he was 13 he decided to do it. In the morning, after Tetsuna locked him, he opened the window and threw his and Taiki's pillows out. They landed in the perfect position. He smiled like an idiot.

"FINALLY" he cried in his mind. He got on the window sill and positioned himself and with a long breath he jumped. As planned he landed on the pillows. Smiling to himself he ran to the school.

The bell rang as he ran inside the classroom. As unnoticeable he was he quietly sat at the back of the class.

"Class, the social workers will be here in a few minutes. I want you to be in your best behavior. And you must do whatever they tell you to, okay" the class teacher said in his snobby voice. The class grunted in agreement. The only one looking forward to the medical checkup was Kuroko.

The social workers came and called all the students, turn by turn. By the time, kuroko got a weird feeling. Sure they were poor and Tetsuna was really violent but still he had a home and a family. Moreover he felt like betraying Tetsuna by telling the workers about her awful deeds. He really wanted to turn away but at the same time he wanted to stay.

"Kuroko Tetsuya-kun, please come outside."  A worker called. The blue head stood up and ran outside. But what he saw was quite a surprise.

"Mom?!" he cried. His hopes shattered like glass. Tetsuna looked like a monster ready to gnaw Kuroko. "You unfaithful little scumbag, you're coming home this instant. And yes, you will get a nice punishment this time" she said in her venomous tone. Kuroko felt water on his pale blue cheeks. He looked at the social workers but they pretended that he didn't even exist.