Taken Away

[One Year Later]

Tetsu finished dinner prep, and checked the time. He still had a little time to walk the dogs and then meet Megumi and the boys at their bus stop. The boys were coming home later, after volleyball practice. Tetsu grinned, still amused that their sons went to Shiratorizawa Academy, even though they started there for their first year of middle school. Now, as 2nd year high schoolers, they were doing well in both academics and their volleyball team was poised to make yet another appearance at Nationals.

He made it to the stop just as Megumi’s bus was leaving. She smiled as she saw him, and ran over to him, jumping into his arms. Both Kou and Kei had once agreed that she would be their little track star, and Tetsu had to agree. She liked volleyball well enough, but she loved running more, and next year, she would also enroll at Shiratorizawa.

“Daddy, what’s for dinner?” she asked as they made their way to a nearby bench.

“Beef teriyaki, fried rice, and pickled veggies. Your uncle Keiji is bringing some dango home for dessert, too.”

“I love dango!” Of course she did. Kei got her hooked when she was still a toddler, feeding her tiny pieces and laughing at the excited little faces she made when she ate the sweet treat. When she was a little older, she would hold out both tiny hands for a piece of dango, and wouldn’t leave until both hands were full. “ I hope he gets a lot!”

“He might,” he smiled down at her, mussing her hair, which made her look at him sideways. “But he might also eat your share before he gets home.”

She snorted. “He wouldn’t do that,” she said confidently. But then, not two seconds later, “would he?”

“I guess we’ll see,” he told her, winking.

Unable to sit still for more than a few minutes put together, his daughter hopped off the bench and took the dogs with her for a run. He turned so he could keep an eye on her, and see the boys’ bus when it came.

Life was not quite back to normal, but it was… steadier. They’d made a few changes to their routines in order to make it that way. It went without saying that they all still missed Kei, and there were still rough patches to deal with as they came, but overall, things had balanced out on a relatively even keel.

Tetsu had opted for a position at the JVA that kept him home in Sendai. He was also able to telecommute, so he stayed home most of the week. This was a big help for the kids, who were used to coming home to someone waiting for them. That someone had usually been Kei, who was home first from his work at the museum. So, with Tetsu stepping into that role, the transition was easier than if it had been Kou or Keiji. It also helped him, too, as he was able to spend more time with his kids and his nephews.

Keiji did the same, choosing to telecommute more often. He was home on the days Tetsu had to go into the office. He also joined Tetsu and Kou at the boys’ volleyball games, cheering as loudly as they could, but also groaning at the irony that this was Shiratorizawa they were cheering for, and not one of their old high school teams. Nevermind that both Fukurodani and Nekoma were in Tokyo, and Karasuno was an hour and a half from Sendai.

Kou still played volleyball, but not for MSBY Black Jackal. Originally, he’d decided to play part time to help raise the kids. But now, he did it as his tribute to Kei. He started playing for the Sendai Frogs, who were more than happy to welcome him. They even honored his request to wear Kei’s #17.

Tetsu and Keiji shared cooking duties, and Tetsu could just imagine how proud Kei would be of him. Even Keiji was impressed, and he was still the better cook of both of them. The boys also helped out, learning as well as making at least one dish for the family for weekend meals. Megumi, however, showed absolute zero interest in cooking whatsoever. Any attempt she made ended up in disaster, anyway. In this, she was exactly like her Uncle Kou, so she became his sidekick in cleaning duties.

Since Kei’s death, both Mom and Akiteru visited a lot more often. In fact, Mom was considering moving in with them, to which no one had any objections. If asked by any of the kids, she’d tell them it was because she loved them so much, and hated living by herself, so why not live with them? But, when Tetsu asked her one night after dinner, she shrugged and said that what she told the kids was her biggest reason, but Megumi would need another female in the house soon enough, as well.

Tetsu smiled softly. He couldn’t ask for a better family, and couldn’t wait to see what awaited them in the future. Truly, he really was happy to be a part of such an extraordinary group of people that he could call his own. They supported him when he needed them, and vice versa.

But even so, he still missed Kei terribly. He missed seeing him, talking to him, just being in the same room with him. He missed hearing his voice, his laugh, even the slightly off-key tone of his humming as he cooked. He missed touching Kei, and being touched, especially when Kei was the one to initiate. There were still nights he could swear he felt Kei beside him, wrapping himself around him, holding him. Those nights were the worst; Tetsu would wake up, half expecting to see Kei’s gentle smile and the love in his eyes… and force himself to remember that he’d never see it again. Night ruined, he’d get up and ramble around the house, or go sit on the porch.

There’d be no one else in his life like that. No one else could ever replace Kei. He never even considered taking off his wedding ring, which helped fend off any interested individuals. He was grateful for the eighteen years they’d had together, but mourned the loss of what could have been so many more.

Blinking away the tears that threatened to fall, he smiled when Megumi came running back, her timing as impeccable as ever. As she sat down beside him, catching her breath, the dogs panting at her feet, he saw the bus approaching. They stood up, and Tetsu took the leashes from Megumi when the dogs started tugging.

“Hey, Dad!” Akira said, smiling when he saw Tetsu. “Hey, lil sis!”

“Hi Akira! Hi Juni!” she smiled and waved, waiting until they got off the bus to run up and hug her brothers.

Right behind them, Chika and Kaoru hopped off the bus, taking their turns hugging Megumi.

“What’s for dinner, Dad?”

Tetsu laughed and slung his arm around Akira as the bus drove off and they started walking home. “Ask Megumi. She knows.”

“She isn’t going to help cook, is she?” Juni asked, acting horrified, and dodging a wild swing from his sister.

“No. Your uncles should both be home by now, so Keiji probably started cooking.”

“Uncle Keiji brought dango home!” Megumi sang, skipping ahead of them. She squinted at her brother over her shoulder. “Race you!” and she was off and running.

“Beat you there!” Juni took up the challenge, racing after her as he always did. Chika and Kaoru took off after them both.

“Not going with them?” Tetsu asked Akira, who stayed with him.

“Nah,” was all his son said. They walked the rest of the way in easy silence.

Tetsu spent time like this with each of his children. Akira and he had started this after the kids had gone back to school, just walking and occasionally talking. But mostly, it was the two of them making sure they were both okay. They didn’t have to ask that question out loud. The answer was in the way they looked and sounded. If it had been a particularly bad day, for either or both, they’d take a little more time walking home.

With Juni, they would binge watch episodes of a favorite show, or watch a movie that no one else was interested in. They’d sit on the floor in Tetsu’s bedroom, with snacks and drinks on a tv tray, and no one bothered them. If they needed to talk, that’s what they did instead, even with the tv running.

Tetsu’s time with Megumi was often right before bed. She’d had the worst time with nightmares, being the first to find Kei. At first, she slept with him, unable to sleep alone for fear of those nightmares. Eventually, she was able to sleep on her own, and their special time was spent with her playing with his hair, painting his nails, having evening tea parties, and doing all sorts of little girl things. When she fell asleep, he’d tuck her in bed, kiss her head, whisper ‘I love you,’ and then watch over her for just a few minutes more before leaving the room with her door cracked open.

As a family, the dads would help the boys with their volleyball skills, which usually ended up as a 3-on-3, with one keeping score. They’d rotate one out after half a set, so that everyone got to practice. After a full set, they switch sides and mix up their teams, so that each of the boys practiced something different. It would often come back to them that the coaches were impressed with the boys’ playing style and skills, nevermind that all four dads had once played in high school, and until last year, two dads still played.

Tetsu worked with Akira and Jun on their blocking and floor defense, both of whom were middle blockers on the team. Kou worked with his sons on spiking and attacks, while Keiji helped them learn setting. Both Chika and Kaoru were wing spikers, even though Chika preferred to be a setter. It was his hope that he’d be able to replace the current setter next year, after the 3rd year setter retired. All four boys were in the starting lineup, just like their dads had been.

After the kids were in bed, the dads met in the kitchen for a nightcap, and talked about their day. It was something Kei started years ago, and they saw no real reason to stop. They still set out a cup or glass at the table for him, even a year later, because it felt wrong not to.

They were missing their moon. They were missing an integral member of their squad, their family, who could always be counted on to be there for them in a pinch. Someone who stepped in to help when anyone needed an extra pair of hands. Someone who could be counted on to bring them up short if they were about to do something stupid.

They missed Kei. They always would.