Stay With Me

“Kaashi, how close are you to Himeji?”
“Less than two hours. We had to stop in Hiroshima.”
“What for?”
“Hinata might not be enough to convince Tsuki we’re trying to help him. I’m picking up my trump card.”
“Who?”
“You’ll see.”
“Okay, but either way, you and your team need to get here, ASAP.”
“You found him?”
“Technically, no. Kuroo brought him here.”
“Kuroo’s there, too? Bokuto, you have got to be the luckiest…”
“Nevermind that. Just get here, okay?”
“Already on my way.”
“See you when you get here. Love you.”
“Love you too.”

Akaashi turned to his team, who was seated around him in the compartment. The newest among them leaning nonchalantly against the door.

“Once we get to Himeji station, I’ll need you, Shimizu, and Hinata to hang back,” he said to the newcomer.
“Wouldn’t it just be easier for Tsuki to see us first?”
“Probably. But I want him to see everyone else first. We shouldn’t gang up on him, and there will be plenty of unknown faces.”
“Makes sense.”
“Tanaka and Noya are already there, but haven’t made their presence known to Tsuki.”
The older man chuckled. “Surprising. Those two were usually the noisiest among us.”
Shimizu laughed. “Accurate. Until you add the first years.”
“We were Crows in name and attitude,” Kinoshita added with a smirk.
“That’s very true,” Narita agreed.
“Alright, guys,” Akaashi interrupted, and they turned their attention back to him. “Narita, you and Kinoshita will stay with me, Fukunaga, and Atsumu. Hinata, you’ll take Shimizu and that one,” he gestured to their new member, “with you.”
“Right. And we’ll stay hidden until absolutely necessary.”
“Exactly. I’ll use the usual signal when I need you to make your appearance.”
“Got it.”
“You three will wait for us to leave the station. And then make your way to the hotel.” He told them the address. “If you can, find Noya and Hoshiumi, and stick with them.”
“Yes, sir.”
“What will the rest of you be doing?” The newcomer asked.
“Meeting with Bokuto and his team, and likely Kuroo and his aunt. Or maybe just his aunt. I haven’t clarified that with Bokuto.”
“Not Tsuki?”
“Bokuto will fill us in on the situation when we get there.”
“Why does this sound like something went sideways already?”
“Everything has run fairly smoothly, so far. I mean, aside from us chasing Tsuki all over Kyushu and Kansai. And that’s if we get a lock on his trail.”
“What do you mean? His height alone should be noticeable.”
Akaashi grinned at the newb. “He’s a chameleon.”

He watched the new guy’s expression as it went from confusion to understanding in seconds. With a nod, Akaashi shifted in his seat and looked at his team.

“With all of us in one place like we will be, it’ll be difficult to keep it under wraps. We’ll need to be extremely careful in how we handle this going forward. Understood?”
“Yes, sir.”
Akaashi checked his watch. “We’ll be there in a half hour. Do what you need to prepare.”
“Yes, sir.”

His team stood up and filed out, with another verbal scuffle cropping up between Fukunaga and Shimizu. Shaking his head, he waited until the door was closed before standing up and fully facing the newcomer.

“I’ve been out of this for so long,” he said quietly. “Are you sure you need me that badly?”
“We’ll only need you if Tsuki still refuses to believe us. We’re hoping with all the familiar faces of his former teammates, including you, that it will go smoothly. Hinata was supposed to be the key player, before I thought of you.”
“You really think I can help?”
“You were one of his favorite senpais, right?”
“I don’t know about that…”
Akaashi smiled. “You’ll be a huge help, if it comes down to it. If not, then consider it a reunion… of sorts.”
“Maybe,” the other shrugged. “Not much of a reunion if Shimizu and I are the only ones left of the original team’s third years.”
“I’m sorry.”
A gentle smile appeared on his face. “I’ll help you. And like you said, it’ll be a reunion, of sorts.”

Akaashi had nothing else to say, and he bowed respectfully as the older man quietly left to join Hinata, Narita, Kinoshita, and Shimizu.

~*~

“Welcome back, Tsukishima-san,” Yui said calmly, smiling as Tsuki turned his head in her direction.
“Thanks,” he replied, his eyebrows furrowed for a few seconds. “Aunt Yui?”
“The one and only! How are you feeling?”
“Better,” he replied. “I think.”
“Well, you’re certainly looking better. Your fever finally broke yesterday afternoon, which is good.”
“I had a fever?”
“Yeah. We managed to bring it down.”
Tsuki grinned. No need to ask who ‘we’ meant. He turned to look fondly at Tetsu, still sleeping beside him. “How long have I been here?”
“You don’t remember?”
“Not really. I barely remember boarding the train to come here. Everything after is a blur.”
“Tetsu found you at the station, after texting you. He brought you here, and called me for backup care.”
“Thank you,” he said again. “But…”
“Three days. Almost four.”
“Damn,” he cursed and tried to sit up. His world immediately spun, and he was flat on his back again.
“What are you doing? You aren’t in any shape to move right now,” Yui said urgently. “No, Tsukishima-san! Stop trying to get up!” She attempted to hold him down, but even in his weakened state, he was still stronger. “Tetsu! Wake up!”

Before he knew it, an arm wrapped around his midsection, and a leg was flung over his, and he was slowly dragged closer to Tetsu until his back was against Tetsu’s chest. He tried to escape the hold, but Tetsu was the strongest of them both, right now, so he settled down again. Not that he really needed much encouragement. He missed being this close to Tetsu. Hell, he missed being even closer.

“I don’t think so,” Tetsu said, his deep, raspy voice sending shivers down Tsuki’s spine. “You stay here until you’re better.”
“I’m better,” Tsuki insisted.
Tetsu snorted. “Like hell you are. You were burning up with fever for who knows how long before I found you. I’m not about to let you do it again.”
“If I need to go, I will,” Tsuki argued. “I’m not about to let them catch me.”
Tetsu sighed, his hold tightening. “I get it. You’re in flight mode, and if you’re truly determined to leave again, then you will. Regardless of your health.”
“Tetsu…”
“Stay with me, Kei. I’m only here for another three days. One more speech, and then I’m all yours.”
“How could you refuse an offer like that?” Yui said sarcastically.

She smiled brightly at both of them when they lifted their heads to look at her where she sat on the chair by the bed.

“Forgot I was here, did ya?”
“Yeah,” Tetsu said.
“Something like that,” Tsuki muttered.
“For what it’s worth… you’re welcome!”
“Lookin awful smug, there, Auntie,” Tetsu said, but he was also grinning.
“You two look adorable together. I give myself full credit. Way to go, me.”

There was nothing but silence for a couple minutes. But soon, Tsuki snorted, then started chuckling, before finally breaking out in full-belly laughter. Tetsu buried his face into Tsuki’s neck, but was also laughing within seconds. Yui’s smile grew to near blinding.

When they finally calmed down enough to hear her without yelling, Yui’s smile dimmed slightly.

“We do need to talk, Tsukishima-san, and before you leave, too.”
“Okay, but only if you drop the honorific. Call me Tsuki.”
“Deal!” She slapped her hands down on her legs and stood up. “Now, I’ll see about dinner. Tsuki, you’re only getting soup and maybe bread.”
“So little,” Tetsu said. “He should eat more.”
Yui gave him a stern look, and then turned her gaze to Tsuki. “How much have you eaten since you left Tokyo?”
He had to think about it, and when he hadn’t answered to her satisfaction, she snorted. “Let me guess: only enough to take the edge off your hunger, right? Not even a full meal, or even anything healthy.”
“Not the full meal; I did try to eat healthy, though,” he defended himself. “But you’re right.”
“For the love of…” Tetsu muttered from behind him. “It’s no wonder you caught a fever. You’re lucky it wasn’t worse.”
“I know.”
“So given that information, you get soup and maybe bread. If you can hold that down, then we’ll try something a bit more substantial.”
“Yes, Auntie Yui,” Tsuki said with his usual sarcasm.
“That’s better. Now, just keep it to either Auntie, or Yui, but never both at once, okay?”
Tsuki squinted at her. “Is she always like this?”
Tetsu laughed. “Always. You’ll get used to it.”
“Good grief.”
“Same.”
“Keep that up, and it’ll be soup and bread for you too, nephew of mine.”
“The horror!”
“Smartass.”
“All thanks to you, Smartass-sensei.” He ducked as a damp washcloth sailed overhead. “You’ll get used to that, too,” he told Tsuki, who had also ducked.
“Has she ever landed one?”
“Couldn’t hit the broadside of a barn.”
“I’m not even trying,” she replied off-handedly. “I’ll go see about fetching dinner,” she added as she picked up her purse and opened the door. “I’ll be back soon.”

Once the door was closed behind her, Tetsu moved Tsuki so that they were facing each other. His eyes searched Tsuki’s, and then flitted over the changes his love had made to himself. He had to admit, it was a good look for him, but he loved the way Tsuki had looked in Tokyo and Kyoto; blonde hair, golden brown eyes, lightly tanned skin.

“I can see what you’re thinking,” Tsuki said with a tiny smile.
“Oh yeah? What’s that?”
“You don’t really care for my new look.”
Tetsu shrugged. “It’s not bad, really. I know why you’re doing it. But, still…”
He lifted a hand and lightly brushed his fingers through auburn locks. “Guess I prefer blondes to redheads,” he said softly.
“You better,” Tsuki teased. “It’s a bitch trying to make this color look believable.”
Tetsu smiled, and then he took his hand away and looked into Tsuki’s eyes again. “What are you going to change it to?”
“Dark. Like yours.”
“And your eyes?”
“Gray. Like yours.”
“Why?”
“As long as I’m wearing the disguise, I’ll be reminded of you.”
“So romantic,” Tetsu teased, even as a light pink appeared across his cheekbones.
“I thought so, too,” Tsuki deadpanned.

They stared at each other for a few moments, and then they were kissing each other. It started out carefully, as if Tetsu wasn’t sure how much Tsuki could handle after being in a fever-induced sleep for a few days. Little nips and sips that both teased and tempted; kisses that made Tsuki feel adored and loved. And also frustrated.

It was Tsuki who strengthened the kiss, deepened it, made it feel as if this were the only thing he’d wanted since leaving Tokyo. Since leaving Tetsuro.

They both used their hands… everywhere. Gliding along expanses of bare skin, making it feel as if they left trails of fire in their wake. Tsuki knew where to touch Tetsu that drove him absolutely wild. Tetsu knew where to touch Tsuki that earned him a full-body shiver, and a gasp that broke the kiss.

But Tetsu didn’t stop there. He maneuvered his way down to where Tsuki’s neck met his shoulder, and renewed his mark. He trailed his lips along Tsuki’s collarbone, and then just below it, leaving yet another mark.

He stopped once he got to the area above Tsuki’s heart. There was no kiss; instead, he pulled Tsuki closer, and rested his forehead against his chest, feeling the strong, yet quickened, beat of his heart, letting out a shaky breath.

“Tetsu?”
“Don’t do it again,” he said, his voice muffled.
Tsuki said nothing, but wrapped his arms loosely around Tetsu’s head.
“Don’t do it again,” Tetsu repeated. “Please.”
“I can’t promise…”
“You scared the shit out of me,” Tetsu nearly growled. “If your fever hadn’t broken, we wouldn’t be here right now. You’d have woken up in a hospital, which I can only imagine you wanted to avoid.”
“I’ll take better care of myself,” Tsuki said.
Tetsu huffed. “Liar.”
“I’ve never lied to you,” Tsuki replied seriously. “I’m not now.”
“You better not be. I don’t want to find you burning up, half delirious with a fever, and too weak to stand ever again. You don’t know how much I wanted to go straight to a hospital and get you proper care.”
“You and Aunt Yui did a great job.”
Tetsu nodded. “I just did what I thought would help, but she did the rest.”
“Thank you.”
“Just don’t do it again.” Tetsu moved so that he could look Tsuki in the eyes.

If there was a moment when Tsuki knew he’d fallen so deep in love with Tetsu, it would be this one. Oh, he’d been in love with Tetsu for quite a while, that wasn’t the issue. Seeing the love, worry, anger, mingled with joy that they were together again, even for such a short amount of time, all in those beautiful gray eyes… Tsuki’s heart now belonged to Tetsuro Kuroo. Every last broken piece had been mended by his tall, dark, and sinfully handsome boyfriend.

“Okay,” he whispered, barely trusting his own voice.
“Yeah?”
“I promise to take better care of myself. I promise to get more sleep, and eat healthier. I promise to slow down…”
“No,” Tetsu said, but another voice spoke at the same time.
“About that…”

“Auntie, you absolutely have the worst timing ever,” Tetsu said without looking away from Tsuki.
“Actually, I think it’s the perfect time. We really do need to talk, Tsuki. But, it can wait until we’ve gotten some food into you.”

Mood effectively shattered by one tiny, determined, Aunt Yui, Tetsu levered himself up to sitting position, and helped Tsuki do the same. With all the love and care in the world, Tetsu and Aunt Yui helped Tsuki to his feet and over to the table, where she’d put down the bags of food. He ate as much as he could, which wasn’t much at all, but it at least satisfied the two most important people in Tsuki’s life.

“Thank you, Aunt Yui,” Tsuki said.
“You’re welcome. But now, we really should talk.”
“Okay…”

~*~

In a little out-of-the-way area of the Princess Sen Peony Garden, on the grounds of Himeji Castle, all but three people of fifteen met for a quick meeting. The first several minutes were spent reuniting with friends. Bokuto and Akaashi simply embraced each other, and held hands while they waited for everyone else to settle down.

Naturally, the former Karasuno team members gravitated to each other, quite like the Crows they were. Akaashi smiled seeing them all together like that. He smiled softly, knowing there’d be three more to join them soon. His smile turned bittersweet, remembering that five of them would never meet again.

And then there was Tsuki; the one crow forced to fly alone.

But soon, if they managed to persuade him to let them help, he’d be back with his former teammates, with a few additions to the flock.

“Okay guys,” Bokuto announced, bringing their attention to him. “If we’re successful, Operation: Guardian will be in full effect. We’ll regroup, and reassess our options, and then move forward from there. We’ll be switching up team members, as well.”

“Everyone?” Suzu asked.

“No, just a few.We’ll work that out as well. It may just be easier to keep Karasuno together, since Tsuki would feel more comfortable with them. But, we’ll see.”

“We seem to be missing a few,” Eita noticed. “Where are…”

“They’ll be here soon,” Akaashi interrupted. “I told them to wait a bit before joining us. And they won’t be out in the open, so keep that in mind.” He glanced around, noticing that Hoshiumi and Noya had withdrawn, too.

“Just so you know, Tsuki is recovering from a fever, and we likely won’t get to meet him until the last day of Kuroo’s stay here.”

“A fever? Is he okay?” Noya’s voice came from the shadows.
“He’s fine. Now. Kuroo and his aunt nursed him back to health.”
“What happened?”
“He just ran himself into the ground. His arrival here was his utmost limit.”
“Shit.”
“He’s fine, Noya. You and the rest of the Crows need to figure out how to bring him back into the flock,” Bokuto said firmly.
“Yes, sir.”
“Now that that’s out of the way, I need to know everything you guys did since we were deployed.”

Akaashi went first, and started telling him of their wild goose chase, trying to catch up to Tsuki, who kept eluding them.

~*~

“Found them, Boss,” Terushima said quietly.
“Where?!”
“Himeji, in Hyogo.”
“How many?”
“I can only count eight from where I am. Any closer, and I may be chased off.”
“Can you tell me who we’re dealing with?”
“At least four Crows, two Owls, and a pair of Foxes.”
“The Owls and Foxes are easy enough to figure out. Odd that you haven’t seen the entire murder of Crows.”
“Nor will I,” Terushima answered. “Five are out on patrol, and you know it.”
“Right.”
“What do you need me to do?”
“Keep on them. Report back the moment you see our targets.”
“On it.”