Disclaimer: I own neither Inuyasha nor Haikyuu! and make no money from these writings.
Home Is Where the Heart Is
Chapter One
The train ride from Miyagi to Tokyo, even at two and a half hours, hadn't felt nearly as long as the drive from the train station to Ushijima's new home, only a few minutes from the station by car. Of course, he hadn't been stuck in a train car with the father he hadn't seen in years.
Ushijima was in Tokyo to be in the best place for the next stage of his life. An offer to join Tokyo University's men's volleyball team wasn't something he could turn down. With the athletic department helping to pay a portion of his tuition, he would be able to work on getting a degree while gaining more experience in a higher field of volleyball before he joined the national team. He hadn't been officially offered a spot on the team yet, but as a previous junior representative, he was confident that it was only a matter of time and his experience.
But even with moving to a new city - and a large one, at that - and attending a prestigious school where he would have to juggle his classes and volleyball practice, none of that made him as tense as the thought of where he'd be living through it all. He briefly thought back to his mother as she saw him off at the train station in Sendai. She'd told him how proud she was of him and how much she loved him, and after making him promise to call as soon as he was settled in his new home, she gave him a tight hug and a kiss on each cheek. He hadn't really understood at the time why she started crying, and she'd waved him off with a smile when he asked. Maybe she had known that this move would be difficult for him in a personal sense.
He'd still been young when his parents divorced. It hadn't been messy or angry, at least not in any way that he could remember. From what he'd been told when he got older, they'd just become different people and grown apart. It had apparently just been agreed that it would be better for all of them if they split up instead trying to make the marriage work when they didn't love each other in the same way anymore. That was probably the reason his mother hadn't had any big objections when his father had called one evening with a proposal.
That was more or less what his father's role had been reduced to in his life. Takashi wasn't originally from Miyagi and had left after the divorce because he'd been offered a transfer for his job. After that, Ushijima would receive phone calls when he reached an achievement in school or volleyball. Takashi would usually visit him on his birthday and on holidays, but those visits became fewer and fewer once his job started taking him overseas for stretches of time. Then, one day when Ushijima was sixteen, Takashi had shown up saying that they needed to talk. His parents had already spoken before he'd gotten home that day, and his mother encouraged him to have a private talk with his father and left them alone.
His father had remarried. Takashi said that he would have liked for Ushijima to have been there, but it hadn't been a large ceremony by any means. It was both of their second marriages, he being a divorcee and she being a widow, and it had been in Tokyo which was a long trip for a teenager to make for something as small as the civil ceremony they'd held. Takashi explained that he'd moved in with his new wife and her family since his work still took him overseas sometimes and he didn't think it was fair to make them leave the home they knew to be in a new home he would only live in part of the time anyway. He also explained that he had two step-siblings; a step-sister who was his age and a step-brother who was six years younger.
At the time, Ushijima had accepted it without much real thought. His father was remarried with a new family. He wasn't going to divorce this woman that he likely loved just because Ushijima had an objection. And why would he object? He didn't know these people. It had little to no bearing on his life. Besides, with more family tying him to Japan, maybe his father would be in the country more and be able to attend more of his matches. Well, he'd been partially correct. His father was in the country more from what he understood. But he spent most of his time in Tokyo. He still called to congratulate him on achievements and birthdays, but he wasn't able to work his schedule around Ushijima's tournament matches.
Was part of Ushijima a tiny bit bitter? Yes. Here was his father making more of a life with his new family instead of with his own son. He realized that there were other factors like time and distance, but it still stung at a small part of him. What did this new family have that he didn't?
Well, he was going to find out firsthand very soon. The proposal Takashi had called his ex-wife with involved Ushijima and his move to Tokyo. Instead of making him live in student housing or spending the extra money on an apartment, Ushijima could live with his father, step-mother, and step-siblings. The family - specifically the family of his step-mother's late husband - ran a Shinto shrine in Shinjuku and had room in their home to accommodate him while he was going to school. His father also stressed that he really wanted to use the opportunity to get to better know his son again and let his son get to know the extended family he'd yet to meet.
There had really been no reason for him to turn down his father's offer, and it would ease some of his mother's financial burden. When his mother had first discussed it with him, Ushijima had agreed without much, if any, pushing.
Of course, that was all before he'd actually met his father at the train station in Tokyo. Their reunion hug had been awkward at best. Ushijima was now taller than his father, something that had changed from the last time they'd actually seen each other, and their hug had been much more stiff than the hug his mother had given him before he left Miyagi. But Takashi had pressed forward, apparently determined to make things work. He'd taken two of Ushijima's three bags and led him out to the street where he got the two of them a cab.
"I think you'll like it here, Wakatoshi," Takashi finally told him after several tense and quiet minutes in the car together. "It's different from Miyagi - bigger, busier, more people - but there's so much to do and see. And of course you'll have school and the volleyball club."
Ushijima nodded as he stared out the window, looking at the fronts of the buildings they were passing. He was listening. He just really didn't have much to say in response at the moment.
Takashi cleared his throat before he started speaking again in a voice laced with a nervous tension that hadn't been there a moment ago. "You...you still like volleyball, right?" He asked. "You don't just play it because I pushed you into it when you were a kid, do you? Because if there was something else you wanted to do, another sport you wanted to play, I wouldn't be upset."
This actually caused Ushijima to turn his full attention to his father. What? Was that a serious question? Of course he enjoyed volleyball. He certainly wouldn't have dedicated as much time and effort to it as he had over the years if he didn't like it. Sure, he was good at it and had the build and natural talent for it, but he wouldn't have stuck with something for so long if it made him unhappy, father's approval or not. Even if most people seemed to think that he was a simple person, and maybe he was, he still had his own thoughts and interests and goals. They just happened to include the sport his father had introduced him to as a child and seeing how far he could take himself in that world. But during the time Ushijima had been trying to process his surprise at his father's question, Takashi started talking again.
"That's something I've worried about for years," Takashi laughed while rubbing the back of his head in what was likely a nervous habit. "I've always wondered if you enjoyed playing volleyball or if you were just doing it to make me happy. Ever since you were a baby, you haven't been much for smiling, so it can be hard to tell when you're happy or upset sometimes. I just-"
"I enjoy volleyball," Ushijima interrupted.
Takashi closed his mouth and blinked at his son before grinning in relief. "Is that so? Well, that's good to hear, Wakatoshi."
"I started playing because you wanted to share it with me, but I still play because it's what I want to do," he explained a little more at length.
"That's great!" Takashi laughed, obviously more relaxed now that one of his anxieties had been cleared up. "You know, since you're so accomplished, maybe you could give your step-brother, Souta, a few pointers." When Ushijima's brow creased, Takashi explained, "He used to really like soccer, but he's started getting more and more into volleyball. He even joined his middle school's club last year. I guess I have a habit of spreading my enthusiasm for it."
Ushijima was about to say something along the lines of not really knowing how to practice with children when their cab came to a stop and the driver told them that they'd reached their destination.
Once the two of them were out of the cab with Ushijima's bags and the fare was paid, Ushijima found himself staring at an impressive set of stairs.
"It's not as bad as it looks," Takashi reassured him with a smile and a pat on the back before he started up the first few steps. "And you get used to them!"
It wasn't that he couldn't handle what really amounted to only a tiny amount of cardio in comparison to his usual workouts. He was staring at the tall staircase more in wonder that the general public climbed them to visit a shrine. Though he kept that to himself. It wouldn't matter to him either way how other people handled the stairs. To him, they would make a good warm-up and cool-down for his runs.
The top of the stairs opened up to a wide area that looked pretty typical of a shrine. Smooth cement covered the ground while paving stones laid out more specific walkways. The main shrine was visible from the top of the stairs, but what caught Ushijima's attention first was a large tree. It was much larger than any of the other trees that surrounded the shrine grounds, so it was likely much older. As he walked closer to get a better look, he saw that there was a small fence around the base of the tree. He was just wondering what could have caused such a large scar in the bark when he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Impressive, isn't it?" Takashi asked. "This tree is probably my favorite place on the grounds. There's just something calming about it." When Ushijima nodded in agreement, Takashi grinned and patted his son's shoulder. "Well, you'll have plenty of time to look around later. Let's get inside. Dinner should be ready soon."
Ushijima followed his father across the shrine grounds and through a small gate that lead to a grassy yard with a narrow stone walkway that lead to a house. There were a few trees - though they weren't nearly as large as the tree on the actual shrine grounds - and some shrubs, and it was obvious that this area was meant to be separate from the actual shrine. This was a place just for family.
"We're back!" Takashi called out as they entered the house and closed the door behind them.
Ushijima slipped off his shoes while still in the entryway and took the slippers his father offered to him. They were his size and obviously new, just for him. His stomach felt tight at the thought of meeting these new people, the family his father had spent most of the last few years with. But as he inhaled in an effort to relax, he caught a very familiar scent that helped take some of the edge off. He would swear he could smell hayashi rice.
No sooner had the thought occurred to him than a small woman came into view, dusting her dusting her hands off on her apron. "Welcome home," she smiled at them before zeroing her attention in on Ushijima. "And you must be Wakatoshi. I've heard so much about you! I'm so happy we're finally getting to meet." She was then interrupted by a beeping from what Ushijima assumed was the kitchen, and she took a couple of steps back. "Oh! Excuse me. I'm just finishing up dinner, so it'll be ready by the time you get your things settled in your room."
Ushijima offered a "Nice to meet you," and watched as she smiled with a small wave before making her way back into the kitchen.
"Her name is Risa, by the way," Takashi offered with a soft laugh. "I think she's just excited to have you here. Come on, I'll show you where your room is."
Following his father through the house, they passed by the door to a more formal dining room where the table had already been set with plates and then through a living room area before finally reaching a set of stairs to the second floor.
"Your room, along with Kagome and Souta's rooms, is on the second floor," Takashi explained as they started up the steps. "My and Risa's room, along with Grandpa Higurashi's, is on the first floor." As they reached the top landing, he continued by pointing to a door at the immediate left, "That's Kagome's room." They continued down the hall with Takashi pointing out each door as they passed them, "That's the bathroom that the three of you will share, that's Souta's room, and this is your room."
Takashi opened the door on the opposite end of the hall from the one he'd pointed out as his step-sister's room. It was a decent sized room, mostly barren except for his dresser, full-size bed, and the boxes of his things that had already been shipped to his new house. He could work on unpacking his things later that evening. Maybe then it would actually feel like his room instead of something borrowed.
"This actually used to be Risa's sewing room," Takashi explained as he set down the two bags he'd been carrying. "She and Kagome have been working on cleaning it out and getting everything ready for you." He smiled when Ushijima looked at him in question. "I'm not the only one who's excited for you to be here."
As if on cue, loud thuds were heard rushing down the hall until a boy appeared in the doorway, hands braced on either side and smiling brightly. "He's here?" He asked excitedly and slightly out of breath before his eyes finally landed on Ushijima. He stared for a moment before finally breathing out, "Wow...tall."
"Souta, this is my son Ushijima Wakatoshi," Takashi introduced. "Wakatoshi, this is Risa's son, Higurashi Souta."
"Were you really a national junior representative?" Souta blurted out as he took a step into the room.
"Yes," Ushijima answered without hesitation.
"That's so cool," Souta grinned. "I just started playing volleyball last year. Think you might want to practice with me sometime?"
"No." His answer was honest, but when he saw Souta's face fall, he felt the need to clarify his reasons. "I'm not good at holding back when I practice. You might get hurt."
Souta's face lit up again before he asked, "In that case, will you show me some of your moves?"
Ushijima nodded and watched as Souta cheered. After meeting his step-mother and step-brother, he was beginning to wonder if being this open and friendly with people they'd just met was a family trait.
"Souta!" They heard Risa call up the stairs. "Did you actually tell them that dinner was ready yet?"
"Oh yeah," Souta mumbled before he turned back to look at the other two. "Dinner's ready!"
"Okay," Takashi laughed. "Let's go. Wakatoshi, you can unpack after you eat something, yeah?"
Nodding, Ushijima followed after his father and Souta as they made their way back down the hall. They were just reaching the stairs when they heard the soft sound of quick footsteps. All three paused when a young woman reached the top step and immediately reached for the nearby door handle.
"Kagome," Takashi called out in a slightly louder tone than he'd been using in the house.
Kagome startled and turned to face the small group behind her before pulling the earbuds out of her ears and smiling. "Oh, hi!" She exhaled as she continued to dab at her face and neck with a small towel. "Sorry, I didn't see you guys there. I was just on my way to get changed before dinner."
"Did you have a nice run?" Takashi asked with a gentle smile.
"Yeah, I did," Kagome nodded. "It's finally warming up so that it isn't freezing on my runs, but it's not hot yet either." Pausing to look over Takashi's shoulder, Kagome stood up a little straighter and smiled a little brighter as she stepped closer. "Oh! Are you Wakatoshi?" She asked. "Do you mind if I call you that?"
"Yes, Kagome," Takashi confirmed to answer her first question. "This is my son. Wakatoshi, this is Kagome. You'll actually be starting together at the same school in a couple of weeks. Kagome was recruited by the track and field team."
Extending her right hand and not hesitating to look directly at him, even if she had to look up, Kagome said, "It's nice to meet you."
Ushijima was careful in taking her hand. He didn't really have that much experience in dealing with girls. He'd been popular enough in high school as the volleyball team's ace, but most people, especially girls, apparently found him intimidating and didn't go out of their way to talk to him. So he was surprised by how firmly Kagome gripped his hand. It wasn't that she was squeezing his hand all that hard. He was pretty sure her hand was too small compared to his to get that much of a grip. But is was a steady and confident pressure that, combined with the open way she spoke to and looked at him, spoke enough about her personality.
Yes. This was definitely a shared trait among the Higurashi family.
"It's nice to meet you too," Ushijima finally told her.
"So what would you prefer I call you?" Kagome asked again as she retracted her hand.
"Either my family or given name," he answered. "It doesn't matter to me."
"Wakatoshi it is, then," Kagome smiled up at him.
"I'm not joking," Risa called up the stairs for the second time. "Dinner is going to get cold if you don't come down here soon!"
"Oops," Takashi smiled at the other three. "We should probably hurry. Kagome, we'll see you downstairs."
Nodding, she said, "I'll be down in a few minutes once I change out of my running clothes."
And true to her word, the family was just settling around the dining room table after Ushijima had met Grandpa Higurashi when Kagome lightly jogged into the room and joined them at the table. Taking the seat across from Ushijima, Kagome smiled and waved at him again as Risa began to dish out rice for everyone. Part of Ushijima was happy to see that he had been correct earlier. Risa had been cooking hayashi rice.
"I heard that this was your favorite food," Risa told him as she set his plate in front of him. "I thought it would be a nice way to welcome you to our home."
"Thank you," Ushijima said sincerely as he picked up his spoon.
"Why are we eating in here?" Souta asked his sister quietly. "We never eat in here."
"Mama's trying to make a good impression," Kagome giggled before she started eating.
Pointing at both of her children, Risa tried not to smile as she said, "Hush, both of you. It's nice to eat in here every now and then."
Ushijima listened as dinner continued with talk of everyone's day and a level of bickering and teasing he'd never really known growing up. He was an only child from a single-parent household. He'd never really considered his teammates his siblings - friends, at best - but the dinner sort of reminded him of they way his old team acted with each other; close, comfortable, and friendly. But then, he'd been more comfortable with his teammates than he was here at this family's dinner table. He wondered if he would ever be able to reach that level of comfort in this house. He certainly didn't like feeling like such an outsider.
Once the meal was finished and everyone thanked Risa for a delicious meal, Ushijima headed back upstairs to his room to start unpacking. He wasn't sure how long it had been - long enough for him to get his clothes put away and his sheets on his bed - when Kagome appeared in his doorway, knocking gently on his door.
"I just wanted to see if you wanted any help with all of this," she offered when he looked up at her from his position in the floor where he was unpacking another box.
"No, thank you," he declined.
Nodding once, Kagome told him, "Fair enough. I can understand wanting to do it yourself. If you change your mind, I'm right down the hall." She departed with a small wave, allowing Ushijima to continue his unpacking.
It wasn't until later in the evening, on his way to the bathroom, that Ushijima overheard a conversation in Kagome's room. With her door cracked open, the voices filtered out into the hallway.
"So what do you think about him so far?" Souta asked.
Someone was moving around in the room as Kagome laughed and answered, "I don't know, Souta. We just met him today, and I haven't had the chance to have an actual conversation with him."
"I think he's really cool," Souta opined. "He so tall! And he's supposed to be really good at volleyball too."
"But?" Kagome prodded.
"But I don't know if he likes me," Souta admitted. "He didn't seem as excited to meet me as I was to meet him. I don't think I've seen him smile since he got here."
Kagome sighed. "I'm sure it's not you, Souta," she tried to console. "Some people just don't smile as much as we do, and there's nothing wrong with that. It's just how they are. Besides, think about it, he just moved away from the only place he's ever lived and into a house full of people he doesn't know. Well, except for Takashi, but from what I understand, they didn't see each other all that much while he was growing up." Pausing for a minute, she continued in a softer voice, "It's really hard to suddenly be in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar people. Give him a little time to get settled and used to everything. Once he warms up to us, I'm sure things will get easier."
It was at that point that Ushijima realized he'd been eavesdropping and decided it would be best to continue on his way to the bathroom. Once he was back in his room, he laid back on his bed and thought about what the Higurashi siblings had said. Apparently, at least one of them was as uncertain about him as he was of them. But the other, Kagome, seemed to understand his situation. He was a little out of his depth with what was happening, but it wasn't anything that he wasn't sure he couldn't handle. It would just take time. It seemed like his father and step-mother, though meaning well, were trying to get him to fit into their family without giving him time to acclimate. He wasn't part of this family. He couldn't suddenly act like he was. But now he knew that there was at least one person in the house who was going to give him his time and space. That, in itself, was a relief.
Suddenly remembering that he'd yet to call his mother, Ushijima picked up his phone from where it was charging on his nightstand and pressed redial for the last person he'd talked to. "Hello, Mom," he greeted with a small smile when she picked up after the second ring. It was good to hear her voice, something familiar and comforting. "I'm fine. I managed to get most of my boxes unpacked earlier." He listed to her talk for a few minutes, questions and concerns about whether or not he was happy and doing well. "Things are uncomfortable right now," he admitted. "But the people here are doing their best to make me feel welcome." After promising his mother that he was at least content with where he was and that he would call if there were any problems, Ushijima ended the call and stared up at the ceiling.
He would be fine in the Higurashi house. It would just be a matter of time and finding his new place in this family.