Tanaka Ryuunosuke felt something digging uncomfortably into his back, a slight breeze making something he couldn't identify brush his nose and causing him to sneeze. His eyes twitched as he shifted and he realized that he had fallen asleep sitting up. Sleepily, and without opening his eyes, he moved his leg so he could start to position himself in an attempt to get up, only for his leg to meet open air and shift his whole body that direction.

Tanaka's eyes snapped open and he jerked to the side. He fell for only a second before he hit the ground with a grunt, displacing the leaves around him. He groaned, rolling onto his back and blinked a few times, unseeing. He rubbed his eyes and focused on the overlapping design the branches made above him, obscuring the sky.

He laid there for a moment before he slowly sat up. He rubbed his aching back and looked around. He was sitting in the middle of a dirt path, sides blocking the rest of the forest with handrails. Other than the path having a bend about a hundred feet away there was nothing but trees in every direction, thick and close together. He grumbled as he brushed leaves and dirt off his clothes, "Ow, dammit. Where the hell am I?"

The last thing Tanaka remembered was leaving practice with Nishinoya. Daichi was going to treat the team with food and Tanka remember that he couldn't wait to sink his teeth into a delicious meat bun. But this wasn't Ukai's store. Not even close. How did he end up here? Was the meat bun spiked or something? Had he walked here himself or did someone leave him? Was it just him? Were the others alright?

Tanaka growled slightly as he got to his feet and started walking gruffly down the path, shoving his hands into his tracksuit pockets, 'Like hell, I'm going to stay here.'

He walked in silence, every once in a while kicking a stray rock. The wind lightly grazed his face and neck making him shiver. He scrunched his head down into his collar to block some of the cold. He hoped that everything was okay, that he was just an idiot and got lost in the woods, and it was nothing serious.

'I'll find my way back.'

Each step he took was rough, yet determined.

'I'm sure it's nothing serious. . .'

He continued to walk, hands still in his pockets.

'I'm just an idiot and got lost on my way home. . .Sis is going to be pissed.'

Listening to his own mantra in his head he followed the now twisting path. It was getting stepper as he climbed and Tanaka took his hands out of his pockets to stabilize himself. He was sure if it wasn't for the constant cardio he did at practice he would have been out of breath. The path started to even out and up ahead Tanaka could see that it was turning a sharp corner, the rest of the path blocked by the abundance of trees.

Tanaka got to the top of the incline then stopped dead in his tracks at what he saw. Sleeping on a bench a foot away was Ennoshita Chikara, one hand resting on his stomach and the other hanging limply, hand brushing the ground. He was wearing the standard practice attire, black shorts, and a white t-shirt, and his face, neck, and arms covered in band-aids. His normally neat hair was slightly disheveled and his face was pressed against the wood of the bench seat.

Tanaka paused only a moment before he took the few steps so that he was close to Ennoshita. Bending down he shook Ennoshita's shoulder, almost too hard, "Hey! Ennoshita, bro, wake up!"

Ennoshita's face scrunched at the sudden noise, his head moving away from Tanaka, "Calm down, you're too loud."

Tanaka grunted indignantly, it almost coming out as a growl.

Ennoshita sighed, turning back to the other boy and opening his eyes. He stared at Tanaka for a moment before he sat up. He looked around at his surroundings before turning back to the other boy, "Where are we?"

Tanaka made a face and Ennoshita was unimpressed. He leaned back on the bench, looking at Tanaka with slight disappointment, "What did you do?"

Tanaka took on a more intimidating and intense look, "Huh!? Why the hell would you assume this is my fault!"

Ennoshita eyed him for a moment before getting to his feet, brushing off the dust that had clung to his clothes and fixing his hair, "I know you too well."

Tanaka's eye twitched, "You wanna fight!?"

Ennoshita, nonplussed, started to walk away, heading down the path. Tanaka grumbled as he hurried to catch up with the other. Once Tanaka was beside him and keeping pace Ennoshita spoke up, "What happened? Really."

Tanaka looked away from Ennoshita's questioning look, stuffing his hands in his pockets again, posture less than acceptable, "I don't know."

Ennoshita nodded after a few beats and turned away, ending the conversation. It wasn't an awkward or uncomfortable silence. If anything the company was nice compared to when he was alone. Tanaka glanced over to the other and he could see under the reservation he usually showed was a small frown.

He's worried.

Tanaka looked away.

This brought Tanaka back to his previous thoughts. Where the hell they? If Ennoshita was here did that mean the others were as well? What could that mean? If anything happened to his precious kouhai. . . to Hinata. . . to Yamaguchi. . .Kageyama. . . even Shittyshima. . .

. . .

"I'm sure everything's fine."

Tanaka looked up as Ennoshita put a hand on his shoulder, not quite comforting but it was a firm and solid presence. Tanaka didn't say anything right away, his eyes looking from Ennoshita to his hand and back, "Yeah."

They continued on in silence and the hand stayed there for sometime before it almost reluctantly slid down and off Tanaka's shoulder, brushing his wrist before landing back at Ennoshita's side.

The path formed into a zig-zag pattern that led further upward. At the top, the two could see that it lead to an overlook. Maybe that could help them finger out where they were. Tanaka tripped on a rock that was jutting out of the ground and fell face first, ripping the side of his pants, and taking Ennoshita down with him in the process. They untangled themselves and moved on, both deciding not to mention what just happened.

Once they reached the top Tanaka gripped the handrails that protected anyone from falling and stared on. Outstretched before him was miles of greenery. Most of it was gentle hills compared to where they were but all of it lead to a huge expanse of water that glinted in the sun, large rocks sprinkled in to disrupt the flow. A long line of sand separated the green from the blue and it stretched on for what must have been miles before turning and disappearing behind more land. Tanaka turned to the left and saw that it was almost the same view.

But with one major difference.

Near the beach was a building that Tanaka assumed was some kind of hotel. He could make out a parking lot and a road that disappeared behind the mountain. The 'hotel' also seemed to have some room in the back. Tanaka couldn't tell what was there exactly but it was a fairly large area with a few blotches of gray dotted in the green. The trail they were on seemed to be turning towards the building, sloping down the mountain and disappearing into more trees.

Both of them stood there, not really able to comprehend what they were seeing. Tanaka was the first to speak turning to Ennoshita, "Do you. . . know where we are?"

Ennoshita's eyes were uncharacteristically wide, "No."

"Shit." Tanaka gripped the handrail harder.

This wasn't good, not at all.

"I think. . .we're not in Sendai anymore," Ennoshita let go of the handrails and took a shaky step back. He gestured to the nearest tree," I was thinking on the way up here that I didn't recognize any of the of this looks familiar at all. If I had to guess. . . I'd say we somehow were dropped off here by someone. I don't know how but. . ."

Ennoshita sighed, breath coming out unevenly through his lips.

Tanka's brain was in overdrive. He was having trouble truly processing the information. He was lost, that was for certain, but it was worse than he thought. This wasn't just him being an idiot and walking through the forest near his house and getting turned around. No, this was something bigger. He had no idea where he and Ennoshita were. And it might not just be them either. The others could be here, stuck just like they were. Or even worse. . . . If anything happened to his teammates, Tanaka shook his head.

Was his sister looking for him? Was she worried that he never made it home? Had he even made it to Ukai's shop in the first place?

Ennoshita was talking and Tanaka was barely able to listen, catching on after a few sentences," . . . best bet would be probably going to that hotel. Maybe they'll have a phone or a map we can use."

Tanaka's face morphed, and he unclenched his aching hands from the handrail. He spun on his heels and aggressively kicked up dirt as he stomped toward the trail, "Alright! Let's go! We're getting the hell out of here!"

Ennoshita blinked, startled before he smirked. He jogged to catch up with his now fired up teammate.

"There's the Tanaka I know."

Tanaka took the path much faster than he should, sliding and losing his balance in some areas. It was all downhill, not in sharp, abrupt zigzags but more straight with gentle curves. Ennoshita fought to catch up to him, losing sight of the other many times. Starting to get out of breath Ennoshita slowed down yelling out to Tanaka," Hey, slow down!"

Tanaka glanced back at him before sliding to a stop, almost falling in the process, a little bit out of breath. Ennoshita fell into step beside him. They started again at a much slower pace, the urgency still there but less potent. The trail is a long one but they continued to walk as the sun moved through the sky. Once in a while, they would be able to see their progress, the building getting closer and closer with each peek they were able to get.

They finally reach the bottom and the trail straightens out for a long time before it splits into two branching paths. They take the left path and after a few minutes, Ennoshita hears it:

A low murmuring coming from his right, away from the path and in the trees.

He stops and puts his hand up to stop Tanaka, "Do you hear that? It sounds like someone talking."

"Hmm?" Tanaka stops walking and he hears it too. They look at each other and Tanaka takes the lead, stepping past Ennoshita and off the path. He shuffles past some trees and finds a much smaller path, maybe made by an animal. He follows it and the talking gets louder.

". . . and get five points."

The voice is familiar and Tanaka speeds up. He knows who it is and he has to see him.

"That's great, Yamaguchi!"

The second voice throws him off for only a second. He recognizes the other person as well.

He's here too? How many of us are here? At least Yamaguchi isn't alone. . .

He's relieved.

"Thank you. . . ."

"You're welcome. . . now if someone would work on his receives. . ."

Tanaka almost flings himself through the trees, Ennoshita right behind him, "Yes! Look Ennoshita! Look, there are people over there! Woo!

Sitting on the ground in front of him where Yaku, Lev, and Yamaguchi. Yamaguchi jumps at his entrance, startled and eyes wide. They're caked in dirt but they looked relatively okay. Except for Yaku, who had his leg bandaged up, sitting uncomfortably against a tree.

Tadashi is on his feet when Ennoshita and Tanaka get closer," Tanaka-senpai! Ennoshita-senpai!"

Yamaguchi looks so relieved to see them. His face stretching into a happy smile and Tanaka can't help but smirk back at his kouhai. He grabs Yamaguchi in a side hug and ruffles his hair. The other takes it without any complaint and Tanaka can't help but be selfishly happy to see the other despite the situation," Yamaguchi! I'm so glad to see you!"

And as Tanaka hugged him, his fingers shuffling Yamaguchi's hair back a forth, he makes a vow to himself. A vow to be strong for him. He wasn't going to show fear no matter how rough or dangerous the situation becomes. He had to be the bigger person and help however he can. He wouldn't let Yamaguchi feel the slightest bit scared. And if the others were there too, somewhere, he would do the same for them.

Because Tanaka Ryuunosuke was a good Senpai.

And no one can change that fact.

I feel so bad! I forgot to post the chapter here, it's been on Ao3 for like two weeks! I'm so sorry!

Um. . .in other news I'll copy the A/N that was on the original:

Sorry for the long wait! I've started going to college and it's been a crazy few weeks. I'm so happy for the support I have been getting for this story. I'm so glad you guys like it. Also, if you want you can find this story on Tumblr under #empoweredfic

You are to free to ask me anything.
I've also gone back to previous chapters and touched them up a bit.
Thanks, guys.