I'm surprised as well. This is for TheAwesomeCocoPuff. Hey girl :D/

*.*.*

Yamaguchi Tadashi felt empty.

He never thought he would see Tsukishima again. And hell, did he missed him so much.

After so many years - 8 years to be exact, Tsukki was still the only person in the world that makes him feel this way.

And when Tsukishima hugged him earlier, he wanted to curl and cry and just melt right into his arms. He missed Tsukishima. His savior, his bestfriend, his everything.

If only he could go back to his old life..

"Tadashi?"

Taiyou's voice brought him back from his thoughts. He looked at him behind the steering wheel but didn't say anything.

"You okay?"

Tadashi didn't know how to respond to that so he just kept quiet. He tried to make a small smile though.

"Is it about your Tsukki? Did he say anything to you?"

Tadashi shook his head. This shouldn't be a big deal anymore. He already left everything behind him. It was all in the past.

"I'm sorry, Taiyou."

Taiyou reached out and held his left hand. "It's okay little Tadashi. I understand."

No you don't, Tadashi wanted to tell him but thought better against it. So he just squeezed Taiyou's hand instead.

*.*.*

Tsukishima couldn't sleep.

Meeting Yamaguchi had been his wish for a very long time, after all.

Yamaguchi had been in his arms. He had been within his reach and yet he let him go. And now he couldn't make him his again because someone is already holding him.

Oh, how he regretted every single thing he had done and what he hadn't done that caused Yamaguchi to drift away from him.

If only he can go back and change everything just so he would not lost Yamaguchi..

He heaved a heavy breath and rolled onto his back. He put his arms over his eyes and tried to shut the world off.

Tsukishima Kei never cry. But that night, tears fell from his eyes as his heart ached with the loss of his only love.

*.*.*

For years, Karasuno volleyball club has always been in touch. They meet occasionally to have a drink and talk about the latest happenings to their life.

They'd been best of friends since the beginning. And time just made their bond even more stronger.

And tonight, they were celebrating Takeda-sensei's birthday.

His and coach Ukai's bar and restaurant was closed for tonight's celebration. But that did not make the place any quieter, what's with the whole club messing around like teenagers again.

The only thing that changed is that they're now grown ups with works and responsibilities.. and of course, each of them now has their own lovers.

"'Twas really confusing I was nervous! There are so many buttons and next thing I knew, papers are going gwaaash! And then baam! So I went GAAAAH I almost fainted right there at the spot."

Hinata was telling them the first time he used the xerox machine in their office. Everyone laughed with his misfortune and animated storytelling.

Kageyama beside him grumbled, "You were such a dumbass you should have been thankful I was there to save you from being killed by mass of papers."

"Oh yeah? Right, thank you honey boo boo." Hinata teasingly said, playing Kageyama's chin with his fingertips.

Kageyama blushed, "I- I told you to stop calling me that!"

Tsukishima sipped his glass of wine while people around him cooed and laughed at the two lover's antics. Couples around him, he didn't feel like having fun right now or even make his usual snarky remarks.

An arm snaked around his shoulder and a familiar bald-headed face appeared on his right, "Hey Tsukishima! Why don't you smile? The night is still young to be so glum!"

"Right! What's the matter? Aren't ya happy to see us all?" Noya-san asked him on his left side, with his lover, Asahi-san beside him looming possessively as always.

"Nothing." He said while sighing even though he didn't want to talk. Even uttering a single word feels so hard to do with the lump in his throat and a heavy mass of despicable feelings in his heart.

He just wished his friends will leave him alone tonight. He only agreed on attending the celebration because as much as he hated to admit, these people had been an important part of his life and he already considers Takeda-sensei as his second parent.

Another reason is that he needed distraction. But Noya and Tanaka's questioning is doing the complete opposite.

Takeda-sensei and Coach Ukai came back from the Kitchen, another set of food and drinks in hand.

Daichi-san eyed him from the right end of the booth, his chin resting on Suga's right shoulder. "You know Tsukishima.. You seemed gloomier than usual."

Nishinoya and Tanaka nodded animatedly.

"Yeah. What's wrong Tsukishima? Confide to us, your senpais!"

"Is it work? Trouble in paradise?"

I can't even have my own paradise.. Tsukishima thought sadly, Yamaguchi's image with that Taiyou guy marring him.

He closed his eyes and sighed.

He didn't want this. He didn't want to look vulnerable to everyone. He didn't want to be the end receiver of their pity. He didn't want to be pathetic.

He was about to stand up and walk out when Yachi-san who was sitting across him beside her long time girlfriend, Shimizu, speak up which made him froze.

"Um.. I don't know if I should say this right now but.. I.. I think I saw.. Y-yamaguchi-kun the other night.."

The loud commotion was suddenly gone, just to be replaced by the erratic beating of his heart.

Tsukishima opened his golden eyes and saw his old teammates looking at him and Yachi-san with different expressions on their faces. Confusion, shock.. understanding.

They know.

They connected the dots and finally know why Tsukishima was acting differently tonight.

This must be about Yamaguchi Tadashi's return, is what they all thought.

"What do you mean, Yachi?" Sugawara-san asked as calm as ever while the other crows still tries to consume Yachi's sudden declaration.

"Yeah! What do you mean?" Hinata leaned on the table to face Yachi-san. "I mean, when? Where? How? W-why? I mean.. I mean.. We haven't heard anything from him since the day he went away without telling us and mmmpph!"

"Shut up, Hinata." Kageyama scolded him, his large palm covering Hinata's loud mouth.

This was such a big news to the whole group. Eight years ago, Yamaguchi Tadashi just suddenly disappeared. One day, while on their usual practice session, Takeda-sensei told them that Yamaguchi will not be able to join them anymore.

He dropped all his subjects.

He even changed his address.

No one knew where he went. Even Tsukishima.

And then he was gone, just like that.

They never saw him ever again.

The whole Karasuno Volley ball team was worried about him. They even tried to search for him, but to no avail.

No clue. No news. No trace. No anything. Yamaguchi Tadashi was like a bubble that popped, gone in a blink of an eye from the face of the Earth. Just the memories of him left behind.

"Please explain what you said, Yachi." Daichi encouraged her. And then list of questions and comments were pointed at Yachi (mostly from Tanaka, Noya, and Hinata obviously) which made her fidget on her seat nervously.

"How was he? Isn't this good news?"

"What did he say? You should've invited him tonight!"

"Aww ~ I missed that freckled boy so much. He should've contacted us at least!"

"I'm gonna spike a ball at his face for making us worry for such a long time!"

"That's bad Hinata."

"So was leaving us without saying goodbye! That was mean!"

"He should've had a good, reasonable reason for leaving, right Yachi?"

"Please don't ask a lot of questions to her all at the same time. You're making her uncomfortable." Shimizu interjected, putting a protective arm around her girlfriend.

There was silence.

"Sorry." The over-energetic trio mumbled.

Ukai-san clapped his hands, drawing all attention to him. "Okay, one question at a time kids. I know this news is totally sudden, much less unexpected, that's why we are all over-excited but let's try to deal with this like adults, understand?"

A collection of mumbled okay and yes.

Ukai turned to Yachi, "Where did you see him?"

Everyone was quiet and all ears as Yachi recounted that fateful night he saw Yamaguchi.

She was fiddling with her fingers and appeared to be melting in Shimizu's arms, "I didn't actually got a chance to talk to him honestly. I just got out of a bookstore when I saw him. At first I thought I was just imagining things because - well, we didn't see him for such a long time and his physical features kinda changed just like everyone else did and he was with this guy and I was stunned for a moment and.. and next thing I knew they were out of sight."

There was a collective silence after that and Shimizu, being the dutiful girlfriend that she is, rubbed circles on Yachi's back effectively soothing the blonde lady.

"I'm sorry."

And that's it, everyone was out of their own bubble of thoughts, reassuring Yachi that they aren't mad at her for totally missing the chance of talking to their once-lost-but-now-returning-friend.

Tsukishima Kei however, was quiet throughout the episode; his mind in haywire and his heart a thumping mess.

Someone saw Yamaguchi.. Yachi.. She also saw his dear Tadashi.. with Taiyou apparently. They must have gone on a date. He winched at the tiny ache on his chest.

"But don't worry!" Yachi's sudden cheerful voice made him look at her. "We'll see him again, I promise." She must have seen the look on Tsukishima's face because she smiled at him warmly he almost believed her words.

The key word being almost.

"Yeah sure. That's only happening if something as twisted as fate make you bump into him again." He snapped venomously before he even had the chance to stop himself. He felt a little bit guilty but tried to swallow an apology because he hated feeling helpless. It's like the whole universe conspires to make fun of him and his feelings, giving him false hopes only to crush his heart till it turn into sorry mass of powder.

Tanaka and Noya chastised him for being an asshole to Yachi who only gave him a knowing look.

"Well, in that case then Fate must be on our side this time."

His breath suddenly get rugged.

"That guy who's with Yamaguchi-kun that night.. I know him."

"..who?" His voice a hoarse whisper.

"He's Hasegawa Taiyou."

And in that moment, Tsukishima Kei was a total goner.

TBC.

*.*.*

Akaichi: I swear this was literally unexpected, totally unplanned. But after reading TheAwesomeCocoPuff's review, few dozen fanfics and BL novels and a surprise visit from a naughty plot bunny.. it just spiraled out of control. *facepalm*

I want and will try to make this one short like my KuroKenma fic 'Kiss' though, maybe 3-5 chapters who knows.

Anyways, thanks for reading :) Please leave a comment if you have time. Stay awesome!