In Between Shadows Re-Written Version

[9] The Past

He didn't want to go back!

But he had a mission.

And that was breaking his heart.

Would he be allowed to choose his happiness over the happiness of other people?

Of course not.

Kuroko Tetsuya Never Had A Choice to Begin With

~~

"What is it?" Akashi had said to Kuroko as they had returned to their quarters. The atmosphere was a bit heavy because of what happened to Kuroko's sister. It was hard having your lover disappear suddenly. Akashi didn't want that to happen. He didn't want Kuroko to suddenly disappear on him.

"What would you do if I disappeared?" Kuroko asked, a smile gracing his lips, but his eyes were filled with sadness. He didn't want to think what he would do if the teal-head disappeared again.

"I won't let it happen. I'll chase you Tetsuya. You can't leave me again!" Akashi said gripping Kuroko's arms tightly. Kuroko winced at the pain but felt relieve that Akashi was willing to go miles for him. He felt that the red head would be able to handle handling Kuro's Arcana Pen.

"So, you are willing to sacrifice his life? HA! Kuroko this is too fun!" At the back of Kuroko's mind, Kuro was talking to him. Akashi didn't know that Kuroko was going to give him Kuro Apocalypse's Arcana Pen. Whether it accepts Akashi as it's part owner only Kuro knows.

"Shut up." Kuroko replied, completely shutting off the Labyrinth in his mind. It was not like he wanted to give it to the red head but if Akashi knew there was a way to lighten his burden, he would do so in a heartbeat.

Akashi was someone who could most likely also control the Type Apocalypse.

In the first place, it wasn't supposed to be Kagami but Setsuya that was going to host Shiro Apocalypse, that he knew. Why it became Kagami was one thing that they never ever discussed.

Kagami, was never an Atelier to begin with.

~~

5 years ago

Kuroko Tetsuya was only 12 years old when he first entered Lunar Sun Institute. He was one of the first ever people to try out the technology meant to kill Labyrinths. They weren't even entirely sure if it would work. They were called Humanity's Saviors but at the end of it all they were just guinea pigs. The people that were inside the institute were him, his sister Setsuya, and five other people. They were the once who passed the aptitude test that everyone took. The seven of them, had tested positive for having the L-cell, a cell that could link with Labyrinth's core and infuse to help in linking the weapon of choice.

"Next! Kuroko Tetsuya" The instructor called, and Kuroko went in front but Setsuya grabbed him by the arm stopping him taking a step further. He looked over his sister who was only about 10 years old and a smile graced his lips, even at times like this his sister worries for him.

"Big Bro..." Setsuya said before Kuroko gently removed her hands on his own. It's not like he was going to disappear on her, he'd never do that. Not in a million years. She was his beloved sister; he'd never do anything to disappoint her.

"I'll be fine Setsuya. Stay there okay?" Kuroko said to which the younger girl nodded before standing back. He went towards the examiners before holding out his arm, on it were injection wounds most likely from taking their blood to be examined.

"Kuroko Tetsuya, ID: 01311998, please get your weapon of choice..." The examiner said before handing him a set of cards that looked like child's play cards but with weapons of a variety. He chose something very easy to use that won't have any issues with his Arcanas. He was one of the first Atelier to have more than one Arcana, Maehara and Isogai were his first ones, though they didn't have names, but Kuroko decided to name them anyway.

"Here you go..." Kuroko gave the card to the examiner, the picture showed two guns one white and white black. Much fitting for Maehara and Isogai. The examiner nodded before handing it over to the weapons specialist in charge of creating them. The examiner shooed him away before calling Setsuya's name. The little girl made her way towards the examiner and she also was asked to choose her weapon of choice. Kuroko saw his sister getting a scythe and a sword to which fits her Arcanas too, she also had two Arcanas like her brother. Maybe it ran in the blood?

"Okay. Thanks, little girl" The examiner said before patting her on the head. It was not normal for a girl as young as her to be in the battlefield, but they needed all the help they can get. There were more people without the L-cell then the ones that had one. It was lucky for them that the Kuroko's whole bloodline had L-cell all throughout the generations from Kuroko's father to their youngest child Setsuya.

Kuroko's father looked a lot like Setsuya, with white hair, blue eyes and a clean look, he didn't look old nor did he look too young, he look ethereal, while Kuroko's mother looked a lot like Tetsuya except for the part that her hair was long and flowed in curls instead of a straight.

They were both the lead researchers for the team and has led for many people to discover the L-cell and how they defeat Labyrinths that are starting to conquer their world. At first, they were just small drops of snow like balls. But the more that they were the harder it was to stop the Labyrinths, that's why the Kuroko's eagerly researched about the possibilities of them killing the Labyrinths.

They started appearing at the coast of Japan about almost a year ago, and now they have half of Japan in their hands. Now that they were going to have the Atelier program, it might just be the best bet for them.

A bet they didn't know would sacrifice both of their children.

~~

It was an early morning training for the Kuroko siblings, Kuroko Tetsuya was sweating from head to toe while Setsuya laid on the floor breathing heavily. The weapons they had on their hand where glistening under the morning sun as their mom and dad brought them juice and some snacks to replenish their energies.

They all looked like a picture-perfect family, but they didn't know they would be in for a whole roller coaster.

Cause both where soon to find out that they had mission to uphold in their entire life.

~~

"Run!!! It's Kuro!" People ran around, chaos ensued as the place started collapsing, as the huge cloud named Kuro Apocalypse had wreaked havoc over the once Tokyo City, multiple people where getting devoured by the dark winds that had taken over the whole place.

The Ateliers were nowhere near enough to deal with it. It was like a walking calamity ready to destroy everything in its path, the only thing they could do now was to let it go.

That was until they've made an unprecedented discovery.

"This is insane, it's like humanity gain hope again!" The scientist in the lab had said while holding onto a test tube that was filled with blood. They all looked at it like it was blood that would save the entire universe. It was something that would though.

It was the blood of Kuroko Tetsuya and Kuroko Setsuya, showing reaction to Kuro and Shiro Apocalypses L-cells.

~~