Disclaimer: I own neither Inuyasha nor Haikyuu! and make no money from these writings.

Volleyball Hearts

Chapter One: Keishin Ukai
Rating: K+

His patience wearing thinner with each volleyball that he heard hit the floor, Ukai was ready to start wringing necks. Really, most of these little idiots had been playing volleyball for how many years now? And they still couldn't complete a decent receive? He checked his watch again for the time and gritted his teeth.

When Takeda glanced to the side to see Ukai grumbling and rubbing his forehead for what had to be the fifth time in the last half-hour, he frowned. "Um, Ukai? Is anything the matter? You seem a little off today."

"It's nothing," Ukai groused as he ran his hand down his face tiredly. "I'm just dying is all."

Alarmed, Takeda exclaimed "Dying?!"

"Not really, you dumbass!" Ukai snapped as he ground his teeth together again and tightened a fist. How he had made it through the last few weeks without hitting someone, he'd never know. He took a deep breath in an attempt to soothe this fraying nerves. It didn't really work. "I just feel like I'm dying right now."

Takeda look his friend over and noticed just how haggard he really looked. He looked exhausted and far more grumpy than usual. "Are you sick? The school nurse might still be here."

Eyes narrowing at the suggestion, Ukai tightened his jaw and said, "I'm good." Watching both Hinata and Tsukishima send their receives flying off to the side of the court, he frustratedly shoved his hands into his blond dyed hair and groaned. "Noya and Sawamura are the only receiving defense you guys have right now! Do you think you can get by with just them? Jeez, guys, you have got to step it up out there!"

"Ah…Ukai," Takeda hedged. "Maybe some coaching that's a little more constructive?" The smaller man actually almost squeaked when the coach leveled a glare his way. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm pretty freaking far from okay," Ukai grumbled as he dropped himself back into his chair and tapped his foot in irritation.

Watching him a little more carefully, Takeda took stock of the man in front of him. Dark circles were under his eyes; a sure sign of poor sleep. He was twitching and tapping his feet and fingers while he grumbled about this and that involving the team. Every now and then he'd take a deep breath in an effort to relax, but he almost always followed it by tightening his fists. As Takeda thought back on it, he realized that Ukai had been like this for a few weeks now. And there was one more thing in the past weeks that had seemed out of place, though he hadn't realized it until just then.

Takeda blinked owlishly at Ukai before he suddenly blurted out, "Did you quit smoking?"

The entire gym fell silent as all of the volleyball players turned wide, slightly horrified eyes to their coach. Was that why he'd been down their throats lately?

Ukai actually felt his eye twitch. "So what if I did?" He asked with a look that dared anyone to be a smartass about it. All of the teens glanced over to Tsukishima, but even he knew not to touch this one.

"Well, it's just," Takeda paused. "It's just that your temper has been a little…short lately. Is there any particular reason you decided to quit?"

"Of course there's a damn reason! You think I'm gonna put myself through this for nothing?" He bit out. How stupid did they think he was? This was torture! His head hurt, he couldn't sleep for shit, he was starving, and he really just wanted to hit something.

Takeda looked to the rest of the team, and when none of them stepped up to ask the question on everyone's mind, he sighed. "So then what's the reason?"

Ukai leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees. Burying his face in his hands, he grumbled out an unintelligible answer.

"Uh…I didn't quite catch that, Ukai," Takeda told him hesitantly.

"A woman!" Ukai shouted as he sat up quickly. "I'm doing it for a woman! Happy?!"

Takeda, as well as everyone else in the gym, was shocked. "You…have a…girlfriend?" Takeda slowly got out.

"Not freaking yet, I don't!" When he saw everyone looking at him oddly, he groaned and elaborated, "I asked her out a few times, but she always said no. When I asked her why, she said she didn't date smokers. So I quit. For her. We're getting dinner tonight, and you can bet your ass that if it doesn't go well I'll be back off the wagon tomorrow."

Seeing how miserable their coach was, Daichi was the first to work up the courage to ask, "Is a girl really worth feeling that bad?"

Just as Ukai was about to answer, a knock came from the open doorway of the gym. Standing there was a pretty woman in a black pencil skirt with a white button-down shirt.

Takeda blinked. He knew her. Well, he knew her in passing anyway. It was the school nurse, Kagome Higurashi. More than one faculty member had a crush on her, and he knew that a few of the students had also suffered a rash of "stomach aches" since she'd started working at their school. She looked different - good different - with her long hair down out of its usual bun.

"Keishin?" She called with a small smile before finally spotting him in his chair. "I'm finally finished with my filing, so I'm ready to go whenever you're finished here." Looking up to see several teens staring at her, Kagome waved happily. "Hi guys! I hope you're practicing hard. I've heard good things about the team this year." Focusing on one member in particular, she asked, "Oh, Tanaka, how's your stomach? Better than earlier?"

Takeda slid his player a knowing look while the rest of the team tried to hide their laughter. Tanaka at least had the decency to look a little embarrassed as he answered "Yes, ma'am."

Standing up from his seat, Ukai sighed. Smiling tiredly at Kagome, he spoke, "I'll be right there." When she smiled, nodded, and walked back down the breezeway away from the gym, he turned back to his team. "Alright, that's it for practice today," he announced. It was a little early, but he really didn't care. He was just about to head out and leave clean up to the team when he paused and called out, "Sawamura." When the captain turned and gave him his attention, Ukai smiled smugly as he said, "Oh yeah, she's worth it."