Chapter 1: "Blow, blow, thou winter wind, thou art not so unkind as a man's ingratitude"

A/N

Hello! I haven't been on here or written at all for a... very long time. However, I decided to write again! After finishing 'As you like it' I couldn't resist making a Kagehina fic. I'm mostly just taking the scenario they were in, but my fic is vastly different from the play, so don't pay any mind to it. My chapter names will be named after my favourite quotes from the play though! This will probably be a pretty long fic (I wont give any estimations for fear of being drastically off) and my updates will not be routine, but will be often! My self-esteem is low from not writing in so long, so please leave feedback to keep my motivation up! Enjoy ~

The cold air bit Hinata's cheek as he sat across from his long-time friend, Kenma, in the courtyard. The scent of winter hung heavy in the air as it approached that time of the year again. Occasionally, Kenma would make a comment on the weather, or a new book he read. They had been sitting there like that long past nightfall, but Hinata hardly heard anything Kenma said. His dazed look frightened Kenma, but the anger that randomly showed itself was no better.

"It makes no sense!" Hinata abruptly shouted, his anger once again bubbling up and his eyes focusing; yet Kenma remained unfazed. This was perhaps the millionth time Hinata said these words and the only response Kenma gave was a slight frown, uncertain of how to comfort his friend. "Daichi has only ever helped this country and its people, and the king just… threw him out!" A lump formed in his throat as his hands trembled slightly. His vision unfocused again as the anger which had flared up so quickly faded into resentment, angst. "It makes no sense…" He trailed off.

"Hinata?" Kenma cautiously placed a hand on his shoulder with worry in his eyes, but Hinata was already gone. It's been almost a month since it happened. Almost a month since the King issued the banishment of Daichi, since he parted ways with Daichi and the only family he ever knew. He could still recall his last conversation with Daichi with perfect clarity.

The strong hand firmly gripped his shoulder as the tears stuck in his throat threatened to spill. Behind Daichi, Hinata could see Suga giving him a sympathetic smile, but he simply turned his head. He stared at the ground as Daichi's eyes bore into him. The look demanded that he meets his eyes, but he couldn't, not after what he just asked – no, commanded him to do.

"Hinata, I know it's hard, but you need to stay here. The king doesn't think you're a danger right now, but if you come with us, he'll target you too. We can't see you get hurt because of us." He paused long before murmured a quiet "I'm sorry".

Hinata trembled under Daichi's hand, his mind spinning. He was right. Of course he was right! But Hinata couldn't just sit back at the capital while the only family he has ever had leaves him. He didn't want to be alone.

Daichi squeezed his shoulder once more before releasing him. Standing up, he tugged the bag strap firmer over his shoulder and hesitated only a moment before turning away.

A hand smacked Hinata's back, nearly knocking him off his feet.

"Hey, it's not like this is forever! Cheer up, man!" The familiar voice of Tanaka boomed over him with a kind of confidence that seemed unfathomable right now. With that, they all turned and began walking away. Goodbyes were muttered, but Hinata didn't hear any of it. Incapable of lifting his head to watch them set off, Hinata listened to the padding of their feet grow more and more distant as warm tears spilled down his face. He choked back a sob.

He was alone. Again.

"Hinata!" Yamaguchi's nervous voice pulled Hinata out of his reverie. While Hinata foggily blinked up at the frantic boy, Kenma stepped forward quickly.

"What happened?" Kenma's calm voice carried a note of anxiety as he approached the panting Yamaguchi.

"I-it's the King's Dog!" Yamaguchi replied breathlessly and Hinata's blood ran cold. "He's attacking someone!"

- o - o - o –

Breathe in.

The glint of the blade in the moonlight nearly blinded Kageyama as he swayed just barely out of its way, the knife barely grazing his shoulder.

Breathe out.

He brought his arm back as his fingers curled into a fist. The man, the King's Dog, regained his balance from the missed attack with ease.

Aim for the nose, but not directly. Tilt upwards.

Arm snapping forward, his fist connected with his target. He allowed a sliver of satisfaction when he heard the vicious snap and felt warm wetness coat his hand. However, as he began to pull away, there was a flash of cold metal on his stomach, then pain sliced across it. Kageyama winced.

Fuck.

He jumped back and took in his opponent. Blood covered his lower face but was splattered everywhere else, and his nose stood at a shockingly awkward angle. The man's eyes narrowed into a glare that was both laughable and terrifying in his current state.

Faster. Have to be faster.

The man lunged at him anew with the blade at ready.

Faster.

With his left arm raised, Kageyama pushed the man's arm so as to shift the direction slightly and leaned as far to the right as possible without compromising his balance. Simultaneously, he pulled his right arm back and snapped it forward once again and landed a swift but hard punch to the man's jaw. The King's Dog stumbled from the blow while Kageyama stretched his fingers, searching for any injuries. Relieved there was none, he returned to facing the mutt before him.

- o - o - o -

Hinata stared in fascination at the two in front of him. He had hurried over here as fast as possible, but now stood still in amazement at the sight before him.

Before him, the King's Dog and some man he had never met danced back and forth at an almost inconceivable speed. The Dog as usual was brutal and fought with sheer brute, all the while with a stern face. However, each blow he aimed at this stranger, filled with malice as it was, was avoided and returned in the same moment. Hinata felt himself fill with awe at this man who moved like his body was made of water, his movements beautiful yet powerful. No more than five minutes after he arrived, the stranger swiped his leg under the Dog and toppled him. Leaping on his back, the stranger pulled his head back by his spiky, brown hair and with one quick slam on the ground, the King's Dog was out cold.

The stranger stood and wiped sweat from his brow, taking note of the rather large crowd gathered around him. He was a lot taller than Hinata and was rather handsome, in a brooding kind of way. Not noticing the glare on his face nor his wounds, Hinata leapt forward and grabbed the stranger's hands with an excited yell.

"That was a~mazing! You went all, bam, woosh, pow! How did you learn to fight like that? That was so cool!" The words all tumbled out of his mouth so fast that Hinata was left absolutely breathless as the stranger stared at him with his mouth slack and eyes wide open.

"Uh-umm..." He stuttered while inching away from the enthusiastic Hinata.

"What's your name?" Hinata grinned up at him eagerly.

"K-Kageyama…" He murmured while avoiding Hinata's sunny gaze.

"Kageyama, huh? I'm Hinata!"