Hahaha, why is this so long, this wasn't supposed to be so long, what am I doing, my hand aches: A memoir.

Disclaimer: I'd be rich enough to afford ergonomic writing utensils.

"Tsukishima-kun!" Kei turned around to see Yachi standing behind him, a woven basket clutched to her chest. "W-what are you doing out here?" At his pointed look to the herbs in her basket, she stuttered, "N-not that you can't be here, of course! This isn't my herb patch or anything like that! It belongs to the town. But obviously, you know that, of course, since you and Suga-san use it all the time-,"

"Yachi," Kei sighed. "It's okay." He nodded to the patch of purple hooded flowers near the edge of the plot. "I was just gathering some wolfsbane."

"Wolfsbane?" Yachi blinked up at him, alarm spreading through her face. "Are you hunting werewolves?"

Kei snorted. "Hardly. Suga-san's teaching me how to heal poisonings." He leant down and poked one of the purple hoods with his gloved hand. "We're healing rats, before you ask."

Yachi giggled nervously. "A-ah, I wasn't going to!" She shifted nervously from foot to foot. "You know, even a brush against it is enough to kill you, right?"

"I know. It's why I'm wearing a glove." Kei frowned suddenly, causing Yachi to give a meep and shuffle back a step. "Did you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

Kei stood up, looking into the tree line. "I don't know. It sounded like-,"

"Daichi!" Daichi whipped his head around to see Suga jogging up to him, a small frown on his face.

"What's up, Suga?" He may have sounded a little too earnest, but he resolutely ignored the slight sniggers coming from behind him all the same. He'd just have to give Tanaka and Noya a few more laps to run, that's all.

"I'm sorry to bother you, especially in the middle of your training," Suga looked past him to beam and wave at the rest of the panting soldiers behind him. "Good afternoon, guys!"

"Good afternoon, Suga-san!" They all chirped at the same time, straightening up and smiling widely, the hypocrites.

"Don't worry about it," Daichi shook his head. "We were just about to break for lunch." He pretended he didn't hear the "Since when do we get lunch breaks?" "Are you kidding? We'd get the day off if Sugawara-san asked for it."

"In that case," Suga grabbed his arm and started pulling him away. "I hope you don't mind me taking your captain for a bit, boys."

"Not at all, Suga-san!" Did they practice that synchronization? Why couldn't they practice their drills with the same diligence?

"Don't eat too much, you're all running laps once we get back!" He basked in the loud groans for a beat before turning back to Suga, smile dropping at the worried expression on his face. "What's wrong?"

"Ah, I'm not sure if something is wrong, actually," Suga smiled nervously. "I was just wondering, have you seen Kei today?"

"Tsukishima?" Daichi frowned. "No, I don't think so. I think the last time I saw him was yesterday. He was antagonizing Kageyama and Hinata in the marketplace."

As if summoned by the thought alone, an orange blur sped by them, quickly followed by a black one.

"OI, GET BACK HERE DUMBASS!"

"MAKE ME, BAKAGEYAMA!" Hinata turned around to stick his tongue out, only to yelp and leap into the air as a bolt of blue light narrowly missed his legs. "Watch it, stupid!"

"Shut up! It would have only numbed your legs!" Kageyama snapped, shooting another bolt of light in the path of the shorter boy's descent. "This one should turn them to stone!"

He didn't get to find out though, because Hinata hit the ground and dashed to the side, an innocent barrel taking the brunt of the attack. They all watched as grey spread out from from the point of impact, slowly but surely turning the entire thing into granite.

"Huh. It actually worked." Hinata looked amazed, and Kageyama slapped him across the head.

"What's with the surprise, dumbass?"

"What are you two doing?" Daichi watched their spines stiffen instantaneously before they turned as one to look at him.

"Ah, Daichi-san!" Hinata refused to look him in the eyes. "We didn't see you there."

"Obviously," He deadpanned, looking at Kageyama, who immediately started sweating. "Aren't you supposed to be at your runes lesson with Takeda-sensei right now?"

"And you," He turned on Hinata before he could so much as smirk. "I'm sure Asahi is wondering where you are right now. You were supposed to meet him at the smithery, weren't you?"

"Of course," Kageyama started backing away, dragging Hinata by the collar. "We'll just, be, going…" He trailed off once they were just out of his reach, and then he bolted, Hinata hot on his heels.

"BYE DAICHI-SAN, BYE SUGA-SAN!" Hinata called happily as he easily bypassed Kageyama, just spurring the other boy on all over again.

Suga's light laughter called his attention away from his scowling. "You should see the expression on your face." His smile was fond while he said it though, lessening the impact of his words. "You're such a dad, Daichi."

Daichi forced down his instinctive urge to blurt, "I'll gladly be the father to your children." That would be bad, very bad.

"Yeah, yeah," He said instead, nudging the grey-haired man's shoulder gently. "What were you saying about Tsukishima?" He could have kicked himself when the easy mirth dropped from the other's face.

"He was supposed to meet me this morning with some wolfsbane, but he never showed up." He shrugged a little helplessly. "Kei's never missed one of our meetings, and his brother said he left the house this morning and hasn't come back."

"That is weird," Daichi frowned. "Have you talked to Yamaguchi yet? If anyone's seen him, it'll probably be him."

The smile that spread across Suga's face put Kageyama's light orbs to shame. "Why didn't I think of that?" Suga punched him on the shoulder. "Look at you, proving that it's not all brawn and no brains in there."

"Hey!" Daichi laughed, rubbing his shoulder. "Aren't you supposed to be taking the pain away, not dishing it out?"

"You're right," Suga was definitely silently laughing at him as he reached for him again, a soft white glow around his hand. "I'm sorry for thinking the big, bad, captain could handle a little tap."

"You and I both know your punches are anything but taps," Daichi murmured, concentrating on the pale hand rubbing his shoulder. Suga just hummed, and Daichi told himself that the warmth he felt spreading through his chest was from the healing, not Suga's smile.

The warmth stayed with him until the official end of their daily training, when he turned to see a pale Suga standing at the edge of the field, an equally ashen Yamaguchi standing next to him holding a very familiar woven basket.

"The youngest Tsukishima boy and Yachi-chan?" Ukai huffed and continued aggressively cleaning the glass in his hands. "You sure they didn't just run off together or something?"

Daichi snorted into his tankard, taking a long drink before answering. "Tsukishima's not the type. Besides, I'm sure Yachi would have worked herself up into a panic before they even got past the first stores, let alone the edge of the woods. No," He shook his head. "I don't think they would run away, not by a long shot."

"You said neither of them went back home last night, right?" Ukai leaned over the counter, eyebrows arched inquisitively. "So what do you think happened, Sawamura?"

Daichi grimaced. "I'm not sure, but whatever it was, I don't have a good feeling about it."

"And when did you develop a sixth sense, Sawamura?"

Daichi looked Ukai straight in the eye and asked without missing a beat, "Please tell me you put something in here to make me hallucinate."

"Afraid not-,"

"Hey, Sawamura! Long time!"

"You're not imagining that one either," The older man added before straightening up to face the newcomers. "Kuroo, Bokuto. What brings you two to Karasuno?"

"Not pleasure, unfortunately," Long limbs invaded Daichi's periphery as their owner slinked into the seat next to him. "We have a bit of a problem, and it sounds like you're having the same one."

Daichi finally turned to face the taller man, taking in his appearance for the first time. He certainly looked better than he had the last time he'd seen him, but anything was an improvement over "shirtless and on top of a tavern table." He was wearing a high-neck leather jerkin, a weapons belt strung neatly over his hips, and well-worn traveling boots on his feet. The only things that hadn't changed over the last few months apparently were the shit-eating grin on his face and his ridiculous mop of hair.

"Kuroo," He leaned past him to see Bokuto waving cheerfully at him from his other side. He was wearing a thick tunic with an open long vest over it, his distinct grey and black hair flattened by his peaked archer's hat. Daichi couldn't see his dual swords from where he sat, but he was sure they were close-by. "Bokuto. What do you mean we have the same problem?"

"Sounds like you're missing some people. So are we." Kuroo nodded at Bokuto. "One from Fukurodani, two from Nekoma."

Daichi frowned. "You both traveled to Karasuno because of three people?"

"You don't understand," Bokuto leaned over Kuroo, wide-eyed. "Akaashi wouldn't just wander off, something has to be wrong."

"You know Kenma," Daichi's eyes snapped up at the mention of Kuroo's cherished best friend. "He's not the type that likes to even leave his house, let alone run away. And I'm sure you remember Lev." Kuroo paused, probably to allow Daichi to full reimmerse himself in the memory of watching the half-Russian giant toss Hinata up fifteen feet in the air, to the tune of his joyful whoops and Suga's horrified yells. "He disappeared before his lessons with Nekomata-sensei, and yeah, Lev was always late to those," He shrugged, "But he always showed up. We haven't seen any of them in three days."

"I was in Nekoma when Akaashi disappeared," Bokuto looked absolutely heartbroken, prompting Ukai to slide a tankard his way, only to have it be immediately intercepted by Kuroo. Emotional drunk, he mouthed. "I got the news by owl the same day we realized Kenma and Lev were missing."

"We waited a day and then set out," Kuroo picked up where Bokuto left off, patting his friend on the shoulder gently. "Nekoma is directly to the North of Fukurodani, so we continued on the path, and it looks like we were right to do so." He leveled Daichi with a grim look. "How many are you missing?"

"Only two," Daichi admitted. "Tsukishima and Yachi disappeared yesterday afternoon."

"Tsukishima?" Bokuto cried out. "I like him! He's feisty." He frowned. "I can't imagine he would be easy to take."

"Woah, woah, woah," Ukai finally butted in, waving his hand in the air. "'Take?' You think that they were kidnapped?"

'Well, yeah," Bokuto said. "What else could it be?"

"It's not likely that five different people across three towns just decided to run away at the same time," Kuroo added.

Daichi was tapping thoughtfully on the table. "How did you guys travel?"

Bokuto blinked at him. "We tagged along with a merchant who was heading to Shiratorizawa. Karasuno was on the way and he didn't mind."

"So you guys traveled by horse and wagon, but Tsukishima and Yachi disappeared a day before you got here." He continued tapping. "That means if someone is behind this, they managed to not only out-travel you, but they did it while holding three hostages."

Kuroo sighed. "Please don't say dark magic."

"Oh shit, it definitely might be dark magic," Bokuto gasped.

"I'm not saying that," Daichi snapped. "You're a Ranger, aren't you?" He nodded at Bokuto. "There's probably ways to travel quickly through the woods without being seen."

"Well, yeah, if you're alone, bro," Bokuto raised his eyebrows at him. "It's going to be kinda tough to do if you're dragging people around."

"I do not like dark magic," Kuroo took a mournful gulp from the tankard still in his hold.

"No one's saying it was dark magic!" Daichi groaned.

"You're not saying it's wasn't either," Bokuto added unhelpfully.

Ukai slammed a hand on the counter in front of them, watching them jump with unbridled glee. "And all I'm going to say is talking this to death isn't going to get you anywhere. It's already nightfall." He lit his pipe with a breathe, watching Daichi through the smoke. "Enforce a curfew, Sawamura, and maybe have some of your guys stand guard tonight."

"We'll help!" Bokuto volunteered.

"That's not-,"

"We're sticking around anyway," Kuroo interrupted. "We're waiting for Yaku." He tilted his head towards the window, where the edge of the woods could be seen in the distance. "He went on ahead, to see if he could find anything." He turned back to Ukai with a quirked eyebrow. "Do you have any rooms available?"

Daichi sighed and rubbed his forehead. The real question was, how long could he keep this from getting out?

Yuu hummed thoughtfully, watching the stretch of woodlands in front of him with a wary eye. He had grown up playing between those trees, running in and out without a second thought, hiding from Ryuu and Saeko deep in the woods, laughing like a little maniac the entire time, and not once had he ever felt anything similar to the unease he felt now.

His fingers tightened around the hilt of his sword without his consent as he started deeper into the darkness. When nothing so much as twitched in the treeline, Yuu huffed. All this talk about Tsukishima and Yachi was starting to get to his head, and he couldn't fight down the bubble of frustration welling in his chest. He was Nishinoya Yuu, Guardian Deity of Karasuno, the youngest Weapons Master in the militia! He didn't get scared of anything, especially not trees.

Yuu nodded to himself, giving the treeline one last hard look before turning away, only to almost jump out of his skin when he saw something lumbering in the distance. It took less than a heartbeat for him to have his curved sword out in front of him, but it took two for him to actually recognize the other person.

"Kageyama?" He called. "Is that you?" He didn't get an answer, but that wasn't surprising. Kageyama was prickly on his best days, let alone the dead of night. Speaking of which…

"Oi," Yuu jogged up to him. "You know there's a curfew, right? Daichi-san doesn't want anyone-,"

"Noya-san," Kageyama interrupted him, glaring into the distance with a look only marginally more pissed off than his normal one. "Can't you hear that?"

Yuu blinked and glanced around. "Hear what?"

"It's so loud," Kageyama muttered, raising a hand lazily in front of him. "It woke me up."

"Uh, I don't hear anything," Yuu looked closer at the younger boy's face, noticing an odd light in his eyes. "Tobio, are you-," He was interrupted once again, this time when Kageyama jerked back with a gasp, gripping his wrist. Yuu could only watch with growing alarm as an angry purple-red color bloomed like a burn on the back of his hand. "What the fuck-!"

"DAICHI-SAAAAN!"

Daichi looked up from his coffee to see Tanaka bursting into the shop, chest heaving and eyes wild. He already had a bad feeling about this, and it wasn't even seven in the morning yet.

"Wha-,"

"Daichi-san!" Tanaka wheezed. "Yuu wasn't at his post when I went to relieve him, but I found this," Daichi's stomach dropped into his boots when Tanaka held up a curved short sword with a very familiar lightening bolt etched onto the pommel, "At the edge of the woods."

Daichi was standing up and taking the sword from Tanaka before he even knew what he was doing, noticing for the first time the fine trembling running through his fingers. "Anything else?"

Tanaka was opening his mouth to answer when Suga rushed in, brown eyes lit with fear.

"Kageyama is missing!"

Daichi swore vehemently, watching the other two twitch in surprise. He was usually much more composed than that, but this was getting out of hand. "So is Noya."

"Daichi," Suga breathed out, hands clenching and unclenching in the air. "What are we going to do?"

The brunet ran a hand down his face, tightening his hold on Noya's sword with the other. "I don't know, but I think it's time we had a town meeting."

The town meeting was pure chaos. Daichi stood at the front as the representative of the military force in Karasuno, and predictably, everyone was falling on him for failing to keep their children protected.

"If you knew this was happening," Kageyama had definitely inherited his scary face from his mother, "Then why weren't there more guards on patrol?!"

"Shakaku-san," Daichi said. "Every soldier I could spare at the last minute was on duty last night-,"

"Not nearly enough of them!" Kageyama may had gotten his magic from his father's side of the family, but Daichi could swear he saw sparks actually flying from his mother's eyes.

"Shakaku-san," Suga interceded smoothly. "I'm sure you're familiar with the size of our town, especially in comparison to the size of the militia," He nodded to where the rest of the soldiers stood spread out along the the walls of the townhouse, shifting on their feet and casting overly-cautious glances all over the place. "Even if everyone had been on patrol at the same time, it would have been impossible to have every inch accounted for. Besides," His expression dimmed a little, but he carried on, "One of the soldiers went missing as well. I'm not sure more guards would have changed any of this."

Shakaku deflated in the face of Suga's earnestness, but she still cast a tired glare at Daichi. "Find my son, Sawamura. Tobio wouldn't run away."

Daichi dipped his head stiffly. "I know he wouldn't, and I will."

He watched Shakaku march back to her husband's side before letting out a breathe. "I don't know what I'd do without you here, Suga."

Suga for his part just patted him on the arm. "You'd be fine. You have a steady presence, people respect that."

Daichi snorted. "Not right now, they don't. Everyone's looking at me like they want to rip my head off." And it was true. At no give time weren't there at least seven different people glaring at him from all corners of the room. "I think the only thing stopping them is you standing next to me. No one wants to risk you getting caught in the crossfire."

The slighter man punched him in the arm with a small huff. "Why, because I'm a healer?"

Daichi impulsively grabbed his hand before he could retract it. "No, because you're Suga, and everyone loves you," He rubbed his thumb across the soft skin on his knuckles. "You're the peacekeeper in this town, the heart of it." Before he could change his mind, he pressed a quick kiss to the hand he held captive. "I don't know where I'd be without you to keep me grounded, " He finally looked up, taking in this best friend's flushed face. "So thank you, for always being here."

"Dai-,"

"ATTENTION, EVERYONE! SETTLE DOWN, THIS MEETING IS ABOUT TO COMMENCE." The mayor was wringing his hands, the sweat on his forehead clearly visible in the bright orb lights. "Sawamura, where-, oh, there you are! Come on, you're needed over here!"

Daichi sighed, dropping Suga's hand and squaring his shoulders. "Alright, let's get this over with."

"Good luck, Captain," Suga's flustered smile made the walk to his doom at least one hundred times easier to bear.

Daichi stifled a yawn with the back of his hand, giving his head a furious shake to ward off the creeping tendrils of sleep. He was exhausted; the town meeting had gone on well into the night, with people shouting questions and accusations at him from all directions for hours. And then there was the question of trying to corral Hinata, easily just as agitated as Kageyama's actual family, but with the added factor of being just as stubborn as the missing boy. He'd had to assign him to a guard post for the night just to give him something to do, although he'd had the presence of mind to pair him off with Ennoshita. He wasn't running the risk of having the town's baby Dragon-born turn up missing just from his own stupidity; he had enough on his plate right now.

As it was though, the night had been quiet, save for the sound of the wind rustling through the leaves as he patrolled the outermost edge of what constituted as the town's property. A couple more yards into the woodland area, and he would officially be in no-man's land. It was a familiar patrol, but despite the fact that he could already see the sky lightening up to the East, he couldn't quite shake off the feeling that the night wasn't quite over just yet.

His thoughts traveled back to Bokuto's words right before they had gone separate ways for the night guard, despite Daichi's insistence that he and Kuroo didn't have to concern themselves.

"Nah, don't worry about it, Sawamura!" Bokuto had slapped him hard on the back. "We want to do this. You think we'd be able to sleep easy knowing that you guys are disappearing all over the place? Besides," He had tossed a curious glance at the darkening woodlands. "Something doesn't feel right about those trees, you know? I want to check it out."

"Something doesn't feel right about the trees," Daichi had repeated, looking at Bokuto's earnest face skeptically.

"Yup!" Bokuto bopped his head up and down repeatedly. "The crows are being quiet."

"I'd believe him, if I were you," Kuroo had drawled as he walked by. "Bokuto usually knows what he's talking about when it comes to that stuff."

"Thanks, man!" Bokuto beamed.

"But, the crows?" Daichi pressed.

"Yeah," The ranger turned back to him. "The crows around here are usually more animated, friendly, they like to chat. I haven't really heard any since we got here."

Now that he mentioned it, Daichi supposed that Bokuto was right; the crows were a staple in Karasuno, it was in the namesake after all. They could usually be seen flying in and out of the trees, and stalking the market for unattended wares, but there had been a distinct lack of black birds around for the past few days.

"What does that mean then?" Daichi frowned.

"I'm not sure, but that's what I want to find out," Bokuto had saluted him them. "See you at dawn, Capain!" And then he'd dashed into the tree line with a hoot before Daichi could protest the title.

Now, Daichi could see more clearly what Bokuto had been talking about. He had barely heard or seen any animals the entire night, only one raccoon that had darted out of the treeline out of the corner of his eye, and a couple of owls hooting that could have just as easily been Bokuto himself.

He was approaching Tanaka's patrol area when he heard the sound of shuffling feet back the way he had come. He jumped around, a hand already closing around his sword when he registered exactly who he was looking at.

"Suga?" He would be able to recognize that light hair anywhere, especially shining the way it was in the sparse moonlight. He had already taken a step forward when he realized that the other man was still in his bed clothes, a simple white shirt and a pair of sleep trousers. As he watched the healer stumble forward he realized that he wasn't wearing any shoes either. "Suga!"

Daichi watched Suga falter in his steps, a shudder spreading through his shoulders before he appeared to jerk forward again, right towards the treeline, he realized with a sinking heart.

"Suga!" He tried again, racing towards him. "What are you doing?"

Suga stopped so suddenly that Daichi had to backpedal rapidly to avoid slamming into him. Daichi watched him shakily turn his head, half of his face finally visible in the rising light, although Daichi was sure he would have been able to see the purple ringing those brown eyes even in the darkest hour of the night.

"Daichi…" Suga whispered. "Help me."

"What?" Daichi looked him over rapidly, only then noticing the way he had his left arm extended away from his body, almost as if he were being pulled. "Suga, what's going on?"

"I don't know!" Suga's body spasmed forward again, but he held his ground. "I can't stop!" The tears Daichi could see pooling in Suga's violet-tinted eyes were what finally jarred him into action.

"Suga-," Just as he was reaching for the other's arm, several things happened at once. He watched, confused, as a purple-red mark suddenly bloomed around the wrist he was inches from touching. Suga gasped, fingers tensing as his entire body was yanked forward, a terrified expression blooming across his face as he glanced beyond Daichi.

"Daichi, watch out-!"

The last thing Daichi saw before pain erupted across his temple was the purple glow overtaking the brown of Suga's eyes. And then everything went black.

"CLEAR!" Ryuu frowned as he answered Hinata's wordless screech with a much more sophisticated hollar of his own. He heard the rising and falling pitches as various soldiers checked in along the perimeter, including Kuroo's, "I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY," and a rather impressive barking-hooting-yelping combo from the trees that he supposed was Bokuto. But the one he hadn't heard yet was Daichi's scream directed at all of them to be serious. The captain's patrol was the closest to his own, so he should have honestly heard him before anyone else.

Ryuu fingered the hilt of his sword as he ventured westward into Daichi's patrol area. As he walked he couldn't help but remember doing the same thing the morning before, and finding his best friend's favored weapon lying in the dirt, like a discarded trinket, Yuu nowhere in sight. He grit his teeth and fervently hoped that he wouldn't be finding his captain's sword abandoned in the same manner.

He felt his blood turn to ice as a figure lying prone on the ground suddenly became visible up ahead.

"This isn't what I meant, this isn't what I meant!" Ryuu shouted in his head as he broke into a sprint cursing under his breathe. He cursed again as the figure's slackened face came into view and revealed itself to be none other than Daichi himself.

"Fuck! Daichi-san!" He skidded onto his knees. "Please don't be dead, please don't be dead," he muttered, rolling Daichi onto his back. "Oh, thank God," he breathed, watching as his captain's chest rose and fell steadily underneath his hand. There was a slowly oozing gash on his temple, matting his black hair to his head, but other than that, he could have just as easily been asleep.

"Shit, shit!" He rubbed at his shaved head furiously, glancing around. Nothing else seemed amiss, Daichi's sword was even still strapped to his belt; he hadn't even unsheathed it. Whatever got him, must have taken him by surprise.

Another round of Hinata's distinct screeching rang out into the air, this time with a definitely questioning lilt to it. They were probably wondering where they were, Ryuu figured. Even Hinata must have realized something was wrong when Daichi failed to check-in.

"OI!" He cupped his hands around his mouth. "MAN DOWN, MAN DOWN!" He glanced up in time to see Bokuto drop soundlessly from a tree a few yards up, already sprinting towards them. From behind, he could hear the familiar sound of booted feet running towards them as well.

At least Daichi hadn't disappeared though. That was an improvement, right?

"So," Ukai rubbed furiously at the bridge of his nose, watching Daichi with keen eyes. "Sugawara was walking away himself?"

"But not willingly," Daichi stressed, barely flinching as Shimizu spread a topical gel on his temple. "He asked me to help him," He clenched his fists in his lap. "And all I did was pass out as he was kidnapped."

Ukai reached over and prodded him on the head, ignoring the apothecary's unimpressed stare and Daichi's grunt. "You didn't pass out, you were attacked. Consider yourself lucky that you weren't taken too."

"Or killed," Kuroo chimed in, leaning back in his own chair with a thoughtful look. "Sounds like Sugawara was targeted specifically, if there was," he gestured at his own eyes, "You know, magic going on. You could have easily become a casualty."

"So you think everyone was taken for a reason," Ukai hummed. "What do they all have in common then?"

"They're all men," Tanaka immediately proposed.

"Except for Hitoka," Hinata muttered, swinging his feet from his perch on the counter. "She was taken first."

"No," Bokuto shook his head, dual-colored hair shaking back and forth. "Akaashi was taken first. Yachi was taken," He counted quickly. "Fourth."

"Ages?" Ittetsu proposed, glancing around a little nervously. After Daichi had been found he had been carried into Ukai's shop as quickly and quietly as possible by the first responders, startling the poor runemaster half to death. Then Tanaka and Hinata had proceeded to barricade the shop, declaring a state of emergency; no one came in, and no one went out. The only person allowed out had been Ennoshita, to round up the soldiers and inform the mayor, and the only person allowed in had been Shimizu, in order to tend to Daichi's head.

Ittetsu had only wanted to buy some mead, and now he was stuck in the middle of an impromptu war meeting with two Dragon-borns, the captain of the militia, one soldier, and two foreigners. His mother had warned him stuff like this would happen if he drank too much. He should have listened.

"Yachi's seventeen, same as Kageyama and Tsukishima," Daichi offered. "Noya's eighteen, and Suga," He visibly swallowed, "Suga's nineteen."

"Kenma's eighteen," Kuroo said. "And Lev is seventeen too."

"Akaashi's eighteen also." Bokuto frowned. "The oldest person is Sugawara, but it's pretty evenly spread between everyone else."

"So that's out," Ukai huffed. "What else?"

"Virgins?" Hinata flushed as everyone turned to stare at him. "What? Aren't virgins the first thing anyone takes during these things?"

"Well," To Ittetsu's great horror Kuroo actually looked thoughtfully. "Kenma's a virgin, and unless Yaku has hit it, Lev's probably still a virgin too."

Hinata snorted. "Kageyama's defintely still a virgin, and Tsukishima too," He made a disgusted face. "I can't imagine anyone would want to touch him."

"Hinata-," Daichi warned.

"Sorry, Captain!" He ducked his head. "I, I don't know about Hitoka, though."

"Well, Akaashi's not," Bokuto declared, puffing out his chest proudly. "I can attest to that."

Kuroo eyed him curiously. "Does it really count if you were both drunk?"

"How'd you know about that?" Bokuto squawked indignantly.

Kuroo shrugged. "You just told me."

"Ah," Daichi interrupted them, crossing his arms and looking away. "Suga isn't either."

"Woah, really?" Bokuto turned to him, previous mood forgotten. "Way to go, Sawamura!"

"Didn't think you had it in you to make a move," Kuroo shot him a thumbs up. "Good for you."

"It wasn't me."

Bokuto sucked in a breath between his teeth. "That's tough, man."

Kuroo reached over to pat him on the back. "Sorry, bro."

"So it's not gender, age, or purity," Shimizu interrupted. "What are their classes?"

"Ah," Ukai dipped his head. "Good thinking, Shimizu. Sugawara and Tsukishima are healers-,"

"And Kageyama's a mage," Hinata said.

"Yuu's the best Weapons Master we've ever had," Tanaka boasted proudly.

"And Hitoka is my apprentice, so an apothecary," Shimizu added before turning to Bokuto and Kuroo's corner.

"Akaashi's a psychic," Bokuto said. "Psychokinetic, specifically." He waggled his fingers near his head. "He can move stuff and mess with people's minds. It's pretty scary."

"And Kenma's a psychic too, but he just has Sight," Kuroo added. "And Lev's a squire, technically, but he's Dragon-born."

"Haiba's Dragon-born?" Tanaka bellowed. "Since when?"

"Since he was born," Kuroo deadpanned.

"Focus," Daichi barked, leaning forward. "So it's two psychics, two healers, one Dragon-born, one apothecary, one mage, and one Weapons Master." His frown deepened. "That's not exactly a narrow group of talents."

"But it is pretty well-rounded," Tanaka pointed out. "They have defensive abilities and offensive abilities evenly distributed between them."

"So are they building an army?" Hinata asked.

"Eight people is too small for an army," Kuroo said.

"But eight powerful people may be enough for surprise attacks," Bokuto gasped.

"And you don't know if they have anyone else that you haven't heard about yet," Ukai threw in.

"Ah," Ittetsu started sweating as all eyes turned towards him. "This is still a lot of supposition," He pointed out. "I don't want to be the one to say it," he swallowed down the bile creeping up his throat, "But how do even know that they're still alive?"

That caused a hush to settle down over the store immediately.

"Yuu wouldn't go down without a fight!" Tanaka exploded. "No way!"

"And Kageyama is strong!" Hinata leaped off the counter. "He's scary and strong and stubborn, no way he's dead!"

"He is," Ittetsu nodded, "He's one of the best students I've ever had, but if there's dark magic afoot…"

"It wouldn't make sense to take healers just to kill them," Daichi shook his head resolutely.

"That would be a lot of trouble to go through, just for murder," Kuroo agreed. "Besides, I think I'd know if Kenma was dead."

"You have a sixth sense now, Kuroo?" Daichi raised an eyebrow at the taller man.

"No, but I can sense Kenma's magic," Kuroo didn't miss a beat. He tapped his temple lightly. "I can tell when he's checking up on me, but even when he's not, there's a sense of it." He glanced around. "I was his anchor when his abilities manifested, so I'm pretty sensitive to his magic."

"Can you feel it now?" Ukai asked curiously.

"It's faint," Kuroo admitted. "But it's still there."

"So if Kozume's still alive, chances are everyone else is also," Daichi let out a sigh of relief, before looking back at Kuroo. "Can you follow it?"

"What, Kenma's magic?" Kuroo shook his head. "I'm no ranger. Besides, it's not an actual magical signature, it's just a feeling."

"But it's better than nothing," Tanaka nodded at him.

"Sensei is right, however," Ukai pointed out. "We really don't know what's going on. Hell, we don't even know if that's all the people they plan to take."

"I think they're done," Bokuto said, nodding towards the windows. "The crows are back."

True enough, there was a big, black bird perched on the windowsill, cleaning its wing like nothing was amiss.

"The crows…?" Ittetsu asked.

"Yeah, they were missing. A lot of the animals were missing, actually," Bokuto got a faraway look in his eyes. "I haven't ever spent a night that alone in any woods before. It was kinda scary."

"Do animals not like dark magic, or something?" Hinata questioned.

Bokuto hummed. "Animals are usually pretty skittish around all types of magic," He shrugged. "It's not natural to them, so it spooks them. They're pretty simple like that."

"Well, that explains why every animals hates Kageyama," Hinata said. "He's always oozing magic."

"Oi, animals don't exactly like you either, Hinata," Tanaka pointed out. "You can't even walk by the stables without causing a stampede."

"That's because I'm Dragon-born!" He shot back. "They don't like Ukai-san or Asahi-san either!"

"Bokuto," Daichi interrupted. "Would you be able to track them?"

"What d'you mean?"

"Would you be able to track the animals' disappearances?" Daichi clarified. "Through the woods. Is that something you can do?"

"Well, yeah," Bokuto blinked at him quizzically. "That's pretty easy to do."

"What are you planning, Sawamura?" Kuroo asked with a tilt of his own head.

"I'm not sure yet," Daichi stood up and made for the door. "But what we just discussed here, stays here. And I mean that," He shot Hinata and Tanaka an especially pointed glare. "No telling Saeko, no telling Natsu, no telling anyone. This stays between us, am I clear?"

"Sir, yes sir!" Hinata and Tanaka immediately saluted, Hinata almost toppling over under the force of his own enthusiasm.

"I'm going to ask you to keep this to yourself too, Sensei," Ittetsu jumped a little, seeing Daichi giving him a grim smile. "I know you were kind of dragged into this, but it's really important that people don't panic right now. I'm not going to be able to keep Suga's," he took a ragged breath, "Disappearance a secret, but we don't need the entire town freaking out over half-baked ideas."

"Of course, Captain," Ittetsu nodded solemnly, watching as Daichi gave a tired chuckle.

"Sensei, please. It's just Daichi," And with that, he was gone.

"He's planning something," Bokuto declared seconds after the door shut.

"He's definitely planning something," Kuroo nodded.

"Of course he's planning something," Ukai rolled his eyes. "Let's just hope it's not something stupid or crazy."

"That's crazy, Daichi!" Asahi looked absolutely terrified.

"What's so crazy about it?" Daichi crossed his arms and leveled a glare at the blacksmith.

"What's so-," Asahi sputtered. "You're talking about going on a manhunt, through the woods, without any idea of where you're going! That's insane!"

"I'll have an idea," Daichi protested. "I'm taking a ranger with me."

"You want to take Bokuto with you," Asahi corrected. "Bokuto who likes to sit in the rafters and talk to the owls."

"It's something he can legitimately do though, don't make him sound crazy."

"Bokuto is crazy."

"Probably," Daichi shrugged. "But it's the kind of crazy I need right now."

Asahi sighed, rubbing the back of his neck tiredly. "Who else do you want to take?"

Daichi hummed, settling against the table at his back. "I can't take Bokuto without bringing Kuroo, so he's probably in-,"

"Kuroo who also likes to sit in the rafters, but in order to jump down on people's backs," Asahi deadpanned.

"He's stealthy and quick," Daichi pointed out. "That I can work with."

"Are you taking any of us?"

"Tanaka," Daichi immediately answered. "He's already invested and he's a strong warrior too. I could use his support."

"Not to mention that he'll actually listen to you." Asahi added.

Daichi chuckled. "It'll be nice to have at least one person who does."

"Is that it?"

"No," Daichi took a deep breathe. "It's what I wanted to talk to you about, actually. I want to take Hinata too."

"What?" Asahi's eyes bulged and his throat glowed. Daichi knew this was going to happen. "He's just an apprentice!"

"But he's your apprentice," Daichi stressed. "And you may be glass-hearted, but I know you haven't gone easy on him with his training. He's strong."

"He's still learning, Daichi," Asahi huffed. "You know its been hard; we're not from the same line of dragons, it's not that simple."

"I don't expect him to be you, or Ukai-san. I just need to know that he can fight with what he has."

Asahi closed his eyes and swallowed hard, smoke trailing out of his nostrils as he took a breathe. "He can jump, and he's getting the hang of his vocal pitches. And he is strong. Not superstrong, but strong enough to swing that," He pointed to a short and broad weapon, more of a machete in appearance than a sword, with a straight hilt laying on one of the tables to the side.

"A falchion?" Daichi eyed it appreciatively. "You need some power to use that."

"He's strong enough," Asahi repeated. "And he can use it while jumping."

"You've trained him in a lot more than just Dragon-born skill handling, haven't you," Daichi didn't bother phrasing it like a question, watching as Asahi squirmed under his gaze.

"Like I said, there's only so much I can actually teach him about that stuff, so I'm teaching him what I can."

"And that's good enough for me," Daichi nodded to himself. "So he can fight?"

"Daichi-,"

"Can Hinata fight, Asahi?" Daichi pressed.

"He can fight," The Dragon-born conceded reluctantly. "But I don't think he should."

"We'll leave that decision to him," Daichi offered.

"You and I both know what he's going to say," Asahi sighed, more smoke curling out from the corners of his mouth.

"Kageyama is missing, Asahi," Daichi reminded him. "Kageyama and Noya, who he idolized. Not to mention Yachi, who he grew up with, and Suga, whose everyone's second mom. And Kozume, his best friend from Nekoma." He spread his hands helplessly. "Hinata is going to follow me, whether I invite him or not. I rather it be on my terms, with your blessing."

"I don't have much of a choice, do I," Asahi looked tired, and Daichi realized that people had probably been coming in and out of the smithery demanding weapons on short notice in the wake of all the disappearances. Everywhere he looked he could see different projects, started, finished, and everything in between.

"Suga is missing, Asahi," Daichi clenched his right hand into a fist, the same hand that had almost touched that red-purple mark. "He was taken right in front of me, and I couldn't stop it."

"Dai-,"

"I'm getting him back," Daichi powered on. "I'm getting him, and everyone else back before anything can happen to them, but I need help."

Asahi sighed again, but when he looked up, it was with a steely expression on his face. "What do you need me to do, Daichi?"

Daichi tried not to let the relief show too blatantly on his face. He had a feeling that he failed anyway. "I'm leaving Ennoshita in charge of the men," He started. "But I want you to patrol with them."

Asahi frowned. "Why? I'm not a soldier, Daichi."

"Actively," Daichi reminded him. "But once a warrior, always a warrior. They could use your skillset to fill the gap left by Noya, Tanaka, and me."

"Those are big shoes to fill, Daichi," Asahi said helplessly.

"Well, it's a good thing you have big feet then," Daichi couldn't help but snark back. "I need you to do this, Asahi. For me, for the town, for Noya, Suga, and everyone else."

"I'll do it," Asahi promised. "But, Daichi, do you really think something is going to happen?" He shuffled on his feet. "That we're going to get attacked?"

"I don't know," Daichi admitted. "I hope not, but I really don't know."

True to Bokuto's prediction, that night was filled with the soft sounds of nighttime animals going about their businesses; hunting, gathering, chattering, but nothing more.

No one disappeared that night.

"I should have actually bet Sensei some money," Was the first thing Ukai said to Daichi when he entered the shop at dawn the next morning.

Daichi just blinked at him. "What?"

"Takeda-sensei," Ukai clarified. "He didn't think you were going to do anything reckless. We all knew better."

"We?" Daichi repeated.

"You're slow this morning," Ukai rolled his eyes. "How's the bump?"

Daichi ran a finger over scab on his head. "Healing. It'll probably scar, but I should be fine. Shimizu knows what she's doing."

"She's a smart girl," Ukai agreed. "It's why I asked her to add some salves to the packs." With that, he hefted a small travel pack onto the counter, "Here's yours. There's some room left for your clothes and stuff, but food, drinks, and the works are all accounted for. Gotta travel light."

"What?" Daichi couldn't help but ask again.

"You're a little easy to read, Captain," Ukai drawled, breathing onto his pipe. "The guys are waiting for you near the herb patch."

"How did they even-,"

"They didn't, really," Ukai told him. "But Tanaka and Hinata weren't going to stay behind, and Bokuto and Kuroo are a package deal, so since you were obviously going to take the ranger…"

"Right," Daichi huffed, emptying his own bag into the pack on the counter. "Glad to know I'm predictable."

"You're reliable," Ukai corrected. "Your townspeople are disappearing, one of them's your boyfriend," He ignored Daichi's sputtering, "Obviously, you were going after them. It's the kind of person you are, Sawamura."

"I couldn't forgive myself if I didn't do something," Daichi muttered, shouldering the pack.

"Reliable," Ukai repeated before leveling Daichi with a hard stare. "Be careful, Sawamura. You don't know what you're up against, and you guys are at the obvious disadvantage." He cast a meaningful stare at the simple travel tunic and trousers that Daichi wore. "They may not know you're coming yet, but they'll find out. They always do."

"And we'll be ready," Daichi replied with conviction, tightening the sheath on his belt.

Ukai sighed, smoke curling lazily around his head. "For all our sakes, I hope so."

True to Ukai's words, the figures of Kuroo, Tanaka, and Hinata were easily visible just inside the treeline as Daichi walked past the herb patch where Tsukishima and Yachi had disappeared.

"Took you long enough, Sawamura," Kuroo drawled from his slouch against a nearby tree. He was back in the leather jerkin from the first night, but this time his belt clearly displayed his daggers. "We were starting to get worried."

"It's not as easy for the captain of the guard to disappear as it is for a traveler," Daichi shot back, ignoring Kuroo's wounded hand to chest motion. "Where's Bokuto?"

"Scouting," Tanaka answered him, standing at attention when Daichi glanced at him. Like Daichi, Tanaka was just wearing a tunic and a pair of trousers, although his top was sleeveless. His sword was strapped to his waist, same as Daichi's. "He said he'd let us know when he had a trail."

"Good," Daichi nodded. "What did you tell your family?"

"Ah…"

"Tanaka," Daichi growled. "Please tell me you let them know. We can't have them thinking you disappeared too!"

"I left a note!" Tanaka declared. "I even left it where I know Saeko is going to find it. After she get back from Tsukishima's. I told her the older one liked her pie." He shrugged. "She has a crush on him."

"That's so smart, Tanaka-san," Hinata sighed. "I just stuck my note to my parents' door and then ran out." He pouted. "Not as cool."

Daichi took the moment to look Hinata over too. He was wearing adequate traveling clothes too, although his own top was made of stiffer material, almost like Kuroo's jerkin, but with some sleeves as opposed to the sleeveless look the other favored. His boots were also thicker soled than normal for long distance traveling, but when Hinata caught Daichi staring, he clarified. "They have to be thick, because of the jumping. Anything else wears out too quickly."

Daichi quirked an eyebrow at him. "Can you walk in them?"

Hinata puffed up. "Of course, Daichi-san!"

"Then it's fine," He glanced at the sword strapped to the younger boy's back. "Asahi let you bring the falchion?"

"Yup!" The redhead reached back to pet the hilt gently. "He said I had been practicing so much with it, it was as good as mine." He smiled, a little nervously. "I'm not really good with any other weapon."

"Don't worry about it, Shrimpy," Kuroo said, spinning one of his daggers around his hand pointedly. "Most of us are really only one-weapon people. The Weapons Masters are the ones expected to have versatility. As long as that thing can keep you and us alive, it's fine."

"Kuroo's right," Tanaka shook Hinata's shoulder roughly. "No one's expecting you to be Yuu. If Asahi-san says you're good with the falchion, then you're probably great with it! Don't worry about it."

"Worry about it a little bit," Daichi muttered under his breathe, just as a loud hoot rang through the early morning air.

"And that would be the signal," Kuroo pushed off the tree just as Bokuto dropped down between them.

He stood up, adjusting his archer's hat more snuggly on his head. "Oh, Sawamura! Just in time," He pointed to their left. "The trail's that way."

"To the North?" Daichi questioned, receiving a grim nod in return. "What town's in that direction?"

"Seijou, I think," Bokuto adjusted the swords on his back. "Five days travel the normal way."

"And your way?"

Bokuto grinned widely. "Three."

"Alright!" Tanaka cracked his knuckles. "Let's go then!" Hinata chirped in agreement, bouncing on his toes.

"Well, Captain?" Kuroo asked.

"You know you don't have to call me that," Daichi rubbed at his neck. "I'm not your captain."

"Ah, but you are," Kuroo smirked, amber eyes flashing. "We follow your lead on this adventure, Sawamura."

"No, we follow Bokuto's," Daichi rolled his eyes, gesturing the other man forward. "Lead the way, Ranger."

"Aiy aiy, Captain!" Bokuto saluted with a smirk as he sauntered into the woods, Kuroo starting to slink after him before stopping suddenly.

"Oh."

"What's wrong?" Hinata already had a hand on his sword, Tanaka similarly alert next to him.

"Nothing," Kuroo shook his head, eyebrows furrowed thoughtfully. "It's just…" He smiled. "Kenma's checking in." He chuckled. "We're coming for you, Kenma. Hang in there."

"Can he actually hear you?" Tanaka asked.

"Yes," Kuroo replied easily. "He can See and Hear."

"In that case," Tanaka cleared his throat noisily. "YUU, WE'RE COMING FOR YOU, BUDDY. I EVEN GOT YOUR SWORD FOR YOU." Daichi hadn't even noticed the second sword strapped to Tanaka's pack.

"OI, KAGEYAMA," Hinata joined in. "WE'RE COMING TO RESCUE YOUR DAMSEL IN DISTRESS BUTT, DUMBASS. DON'T DIE BEFORE THEN."

"You really don't need to shout," Kuroo blinked at them. "It's like he's standing right here-,"

"TSUKISHIMA, YOU BASTARD," Tanaka was undeterred. "HOW DARE YOU LET YACHI-CHAN GET SNATCHED."

"YEAH," Hinata echoed. "HOW DARE YOU."

"You get used to them," Daichi mumbled as he strode past a dumbfounded Kuroo.

"We're coming, Suga. Just wait for us."

Koushi came-to groggily, a faint, golden light shining in his face as a greeting. He blinked slowly, watching as the glow reformed itself first into three blobs, then into Kei's eyes and hand.

"Kei!" He shot up, throwing his arms around the younger boy. "You're alright!"

"I was about to say the same thing to you, Suga-san," Kei answered stiffly, but that was par for course with him. "You were the last to wake up."

"The last-?" Koushi pulled away from Kei, only to be hit by two small blurs around the waist.

"SUGA-SAN!"

"SUGA-SAN!"

"Yachi! Noya!" He hugged them back. "You're both alright! Is-," He looked around, eyes falling on Kageyama sitting a little farther away, but close enough for him to pull close with a gentle tug.

"I'm okay, Suga-san," The blackhaired boy muttered, but he accepted the headbutt to the temple all the same.

"I'm glad," Koushi breathed. "I'm glad you're all alright. We were so worried."

"Do we get hugs too?"

Koushi blinked, vision suddenly filled with narrow, green pupils and silver hair. "Lev?"

"You remembered me!" Lev smiled happily. "Do I get a hug now?"

Koushi couldn't help but laugh helplessly, pulling the taller boy down into the huddle. "Why not?" Kageyama managed to squirm away, a horrified look on his face as Lev wrapped his long limbs around Koushi, Yachi, and Noya indiscriminately.

"Is Kenma with you?" Koushi asked into the mouthful of hair suddenly in his face.

"Kenma-san is here," Kei offered distantly. "He's trying to See outside this room."

"I hate to interrupt," Another voice interjected smoothly, "But does anyone know exactly where we are?"

Lev finally detached himself and Koushi was able to look around for the others. He could see Kenma a little way across the room, sitting still with glowing eyes, presumedly using his powers. Closer by, a leggy, black-haired boy that he had only met a few times, but he immediately recognized.

"Akaashi-san! You're here too!"

Akaashi nodded at him, a small smile twisting his lips. "I am, wherever here happens to be."

Koushi finally cast his glance around the rest of the room and immediately gasped, pulling Yachi and Noya closer to himself.

"Where are we?"

That's chapter one. It was only supposed to be an expansion of the prologue, but 25 pages later...it's a very long expansion of the prologue. If you have an questions, feel free to let me know in a comment or at my Tumblr (same as this username). I'm going to try to type up a character class sheet and a weapons one for the characters too, if anyone's interested in that also.

Now I'm off to ice my hand.