A/N

Hello! I'm back again with chapter two!

I believe I'm going to make Sunday my update day (what better day that the day after HQ day?) but don't hold me to it! University life is a busy life and I'm bad with commitments, so I may be a couple days early or a couple days late (never too late though, don't worry) but I will do my best. As always, reviews would greatly help improve my writing, so tell me what you think. Now, on with the show!

- Chapter 2: "I had rather have a fool to make me merry than experience to make me sad"-

Kageyama muttered angrily as he swatted away the pesky bugs around him. His trek so far wasn't going all that great. Why was he out in the forest anyway?

Because it's not safe in the capital, idiot.

Well, yeah, obviously. But why would he go to the forest? So a damn bear could kill him instead of a dog?

Tsk.

His mind flashed back to a bright smile and messy hair. 'Hinata' his mind supplied. Where had he come from? Why was he so excited to see Kageyama? After forcibly removing his hands from the other, Kageyama quickly said he had to go and parted ways with the odd boy. But even after leaving… Hinata, he still couldn't stop thinking of the bright eyed kid.

Soon, the bright sky turned pink as the sun began to set and Kageyama felt worry gnaw at him. He pulled his bag tighter as he wondered where he was going to find shelter and after that what was he going to eat. Sure, he had bread and dried meat, but his rations wouldn't last long. Not to mention they won't be of much use if he died in the cold.

He slapped another bug as it landed on his arm. Why are there so many fucking bugs when it's almost winter? Wiping the bugs' remains on his slacks, Kageyama continued walking. He froze, however, at the sound of a twig snapping nearby.

He took a quick but thorough look around the forest but saw nothing. Sweat fell from his temple.

"Who's there?" His voice echoed in the quiet forest. He felt ridiculous calling out into the empty woods, as it was probably just a squirrel or something; but his nerves remained on edge while remained in his exact spot, not moving a muscle.

"Hey, hey. Why so nervous? Ha." A loud voice boomed behind him. Whipping around, Kageyama caught sight of a bald head and a menacing grin before he was tackled to the ground. With his chest pressed against the ground and his arm twisted behind his back, he struggled to breathe.

Shit. Shit shit shit.

"So, you wanna tell me what you're doing out here, hmm?"The voice growled from behind his ear. "Come on…" He murmured right before he gave a small tug on Kageyama's arm, eliciting a painful yell from him.

"Tanaka!" Someone yelled, his voice laced with authority. The moment he called out, the man on his back dropped Kageyama's arm and with a tsk the weight from his back was lifted as well. Breathing in deeply before twisting around and jumping up, Kageyama took in the two strangers. He didn't know the bald one – Tanaka – but the other… Daichi. Daichi was his name. He recalled hearing about him and seeing his photo post everywhere. The traitor.

"Sorry about that." Daichi said as he stepped forward. He smiled at Kageyama, albeit guardedly. Kageyama took a step back. "Mind if I ask what you're doing out here?"

"Why, do you own these woods?" Kageyama bit out and Tanaka took a threatening step toward him, while Daichi only chuckled. Shooting a glare at the bald guy, he eyed Daichi carefully. With his deep voice and sturdy build, he was all kinds of frightening without even trying.

"Of course not, but these are dangerous times, kid." Kageyama's eye twitched "So, I'd like to know who's entering these forests and why." He said this with a smile and his voice nonchalant, but his dark eyes bore into him with an unspoken threat. Kageyama cast his eyes to the ground, annoyed with his own fear of this man.

"M-my name is Kageyama. I'm here because the King's Dog is after me." He muttered without looking up from the ground.

"The King's Dog? Why's that?"

Kageyama frowned but did not reply. He wouldn't tell him that. Not ever. After a moment of silent, Daichi gave a thoughtful hm before clapping him on the back (When did he get that close?) and gave Kageyama a large smile once he looked up.

"Come on, you must be famished. Let's go to our camp." A startled shout of protest from Tanaka did not even come close to the surprise on Kageyama's face. All he could think was 'why?' but knowing full well he wouldn't survive out here alone, Kageyama followed the large man known as Daichi and his annoyed friend to their camp with a low okay.

- o - o - o –

P.O.V. switch

"It doesn't look that bad" Kenma tried to reassure Hinata as the boy tugged at a lock of ginger hair with a groan.

"Do you know how long it took me to grow my hair that long? It took forever!" He replied with another helpless tug of his hair.

"Well you want to see the rest of Karasuno again, don't you?"

With a sigh, Hinata nodded his head and tugged on the hat and brushed the dirt off his clothes. "Osu! How do I look?" He gestured to his clothes. In contrast to his usual upperclassman tunics and tights, Hinata bore peasant rags of muted greys and browns –or was that dirt? - and his hair now short.

"Like a… garbage bag?" Kenma offered hopefully, unsure of how he was supposed to respond. From the way Hinata beamed at him, it seemed the right call.

"Good! No one will know it's me then. Let's go!" Hinata paused after pulling the ragged sack over his shoulder. "Why don't you need a disguise, Kenma?"

"Uh-Um… I am, you just can't tell because you know me so well." Kenma averted his eyes. Hinata gave a low oouh and relief flooded Kenma. He bought it. Kenma definitely didn't want to cut all his hair off too.

With that, they both left their homes and headed for the forest.

- o - o - o -

"Hinata?" Daichi stopped him as he tried to sneak to the fire where everyone was gathered.

"Eh?" Hinata looked up at Daichi who had a stormy look on his face. The hand Daichi placed on Hinata's shoulder, lord knows when, was as heavy a threat as the look in his eyes. How did he recognize me? Hinata frantically looked back at Kenma, who avoided his panicked look.

"What are you doing-" Daichi began, before he was cut off by an excited spiky haired boy.

"Hinata!" Nishinoya's hands knocked Daichi's off as he gripped Hinata's shoulders a jumped in excitement. "What are you doing here?"

"Hinata's here?" Tanaka popped up from behind Daichi and once he caught sight of the frazzled but excited orange haired boy his face split in a grin.

"Guys, back up-" Daichi tried to push his way through the two excited boys but to no avail.

"Hey, everyone! Hinata's here!"

Everyone slowly gathered around, all with a mixture of shock, excitement, and happiness on their faces. Questions and greetings left and right began to overwhelm Hinata, although he was still excited to be surrounded by everyone again.

"Enough!" Daichi's voice boomed and everyone froze. It wasn't that often that he yelled, so when he did – it drew attention. The others all looked up at him nervously, and Hinata felt panic seize him. What if he sends him back?

With a sigh, Daichi's shoulders slumped. "He must be tired, let him rest. Someone bring him some food." With that, there was a cheer, and Hinata grinned so wide he feared his face might split.

"Thanks, Daichi!"

With that, Hinata was ushered forward to the fire, with Kenma hanging out in the back, no one having taken note of him yet. Walking to the fire surrounded by all his friends, his family, Hinata was eagerly trying to answer all their questions at once of what was happening at the capital when he caught sight of a familiar mop of black hair and sour face.

"Kageyama!" Hinata broke away from the others and ran to the boy who stared up at him in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

Kageyama furrowed his brow up at Hinata as stopped in front of him. "Do I know you?"

"From the other day, when you were fighting the King's Dog!" he replied eagerly, practically bouncing with excitement. Recognition filled Kageyama's face for but a moment before it settled back into a sour grimace.

"Right." Kageyama simply responded before turning back to his bowl of food, obviously trying to end this conversation.

"How do you know him?" Daichi asked with a hint of concern in his tone. Hinata lifted his head from his intense stare at Kageyama and realized that the others just stood by with surprise one their face. Nishinoya and Tanaka looked at him with confusion and worry as he turned to Daichi, becoming confused as well at the serious reaction from everyone.

"Ah, I just met him a couple days ago when he was attacked by the King's Dog." Hinata straightened up as he turned to face the others fully and placed his back to Kageyama.

"Oh? The King's Dog?" Daichi's concern increased as he watched Hinata fidget. Maybe he shouldn't have told him that.

Suga stepped forward and gently smiled and ruffled Hinata's hair. "You must be very tired Hinata, how about you rest for now and we'll catch up later? I'll have someone bring you your food instead." He gave a pointed stare at Daichi as he said this, who cast his eyes to the side. "And you too Kenma" Suga added, noticing Kenma hanging out in the back with an incredibly uncomfortable expression on.

"Okay, Suga!"

"…Nnh."

Turning around, Hinata realized Kageyama disappeared while he was talking to the others. With a frown and a huff, he waved to the others and jogged away with Kenma lagging behind. Of course, after having left the fire and finding the camps, he quickly realized that he forgot an important thing; he never asked where he and Kenma were staying.

Hinata sighed as he turned around, about to tell Kenma that they had to go back to the fire when he realized Kenma was nowhere to be seen. Ah, he must have lost him while he was running. Crap. That was when Hinata caught sight of a familiar grumpy figure walking a ways away.

"Kageyama, wait up!" Kageyama turned with a glower at ready when Hinata jogged up with a large smile, as if he hadn't completely blown him off earlier. "What are you doing out here?" Hinata gasped breathlessly. Man, he really was wiped out.

"Nothing." Hinata felt a twinge of annoyance at the short reply, and even more so at the fact that Kageyama refused to even look at him. His eyes remained focused on the woods to his left.

"Ah, okay… Well, where's your camp? I have no idea where I'm going to be staying" his reply lacked some of his enthusiasm and his smile was mostly gone, but he still remained cheerful as Kageyama continued to avoid his stare. Finally, Kageyama turned his eyes to him, but in the form of a glare.

"What does it matter?" He snapped and Hinata bristled.

"What crawled up your butt and died?" He sniffed and frowned, which only earned a harder glare from the taller boy.

"Why do you keep bugging me?"

"Why? Because I think your fighting is really cool, okay?" Hinata spat back and Kageyama's eyes widened and his cheeks heated a little bit under the unwavering brown eyes.

"So?" He replied, but his comment had less bite and he averted his eyes again.

"So, I want you teach me how to fight too! Idiot."