A/N: PLEASE READ: Warning, this chapter has more angst than usual including bad parenting and resulting anxiety.
ooooooo
November 21, 1998
Faculty: Headmaster Ikkei Ukai
Student(s): Naoki Yachi and Kirika Uragiri
Two detentions awarded and twenty points each taken from both Slytherin and Gryffindor for being out after curfew and using the Quidditch field at improper hours. In addition, fifteen points awarded to Madoka Uragiri for keeping either of the idiots from breaking their necks.
Sitting in the library, far too early for a Saturday morning, Yachi followed the text with a small smile.
Five detentions just in the first few months alone, five stories that Yachi had never gotten to hear before. She wondered if it was strange that she was so absurdly grateful that her father and aunt seemed to be something of troublemakers.
It was something, though. Finally, finally, just a tiny glimpse into people she'd never get to know. People who, by all accounts, were brave and reckless and daring and fun and...well, all the things that Yachi could never really see herself being.
She wondered...she wondered what he'd think of her? What her aunt, her godmother, would think of her?
She hoped they wouldn't be too disappointed.
"Yachi!"
Yachi jumped, looking up from the records books just as a blur of orange swung into the seat next to her.
Walking at a more sedate pace, Kageyama yawned, more falling than sitting in the chair across.
She blinked. "What are you guys doing up so early?"
"I'm always up this early!" Hinata beamed.
"He's always up this early," his roommate said, far more withering and already half asleep on the table.
"The real question is why are you up and," Hinata eyed the book, scrunching up his nose, "reading old detention records?"
"Just look." Yachi slid the book over to him.
Hinata took it, starting to read until he came to the names. He looked up at her, eyes wide.
She smiled, nodding. "It's my dad. And my aunt. Professor Rezei was telling me stories about them and...well, I decided to look here." She laughed. "It, um, looks like they got a lot of detentions. But, well, it's something, you know?"
Hinata reached out, grabbing her hand as he slid back the book.
"That's amazing, Yachi," he said, for once, completely serious.
Yachi took a deep breath. "Thank you."
When she looked up again, Hinata was gazing around the library with an almost distant look in his eyes.
"You know," she said, "maybe one of these record books has something about your parents in it. I can look if you'd like?"
Hinata waved her away. "Don't worry about it. I already checked my first year. Even got a library assistant to help me, no Hinatas. If they were magical, they didn't go to Hogwarts." He grinned. "Guess it's just a mystery."
Yachi cleared her throat, trying to find something to say, when Hinata tapped the book. "So, what else did you find? Other than that they liked Quidditch which makes them super cool already."
"Here, I'll show you," she said excitedly before pausing with a frown, "wait, you never said, why are you here so early?"
"To get you! Duh!" Hinata hit Kageyama back awake. "It's our first Hogsmeade weekend!"
Yachi's eyes widened. "Oh! I'm sorry, I forgot...we can go now if you-"
"Nah." Hinata looked down at the book and grinned. "This first."
Yachi blinked, then slowly smiled back.
ooooooo
Laying face down on a book, Daichi checked once to ascertain that yes, he was in fact completely alone, before letting out a truly pathetic sounding groan.
"Well, that doesn't sound optimistic."
Daichi's head shot up, pages still sticking to his face.
He narrowed his eyes. "It's creepy how you sneak up like that."
"Slytherin." Suga shrugged unrepentant. "Besides, sneaking up on people is how I got most of my friends."
"You know I really can't tell if you're joking or not," Daichi mused.
"And you never will," Suga said before looking down at the pages, thankfully only slightly crinkled by Daichi's face. "Working on the proposal for Noya, then?"
"It's endless," Daichi moaned. "We divided it so it's only twenty or so pages each and it's still endless, Suga."
Suga smiled sympathetically. "Yes, well, it is magical law."
He paused momentarily, sliding the sheets over. "Here, let me help. I've been studying some of the Ministry statutes myself recently, I think I can help interpret."
"Wait, really," Daichi asked, too awestruck to even care that he sounded close to desperate.
Suga smirked. "I've got a few hours before I have to meet everyone at the Three Broomsticks."
"You're amazing," Daichi said, head falling back on the library table. "Suga, have I mentioned lately how you're the best boyfriend a guy could ask for?"
Suga leaned down for a soft kiss. "Once or twice but I suppose I could hear it again."
Daichi reached forward and pulled him in for a longer kiss. "You're amazing. Also, why were you looking into Ministry statutes?"
Suga laughed. "I keep telling you. You're not the only one with crazy friends."
ooooooo
Iwaizumi glared. Oikawa smirked back.
In other words, it was the normal state of things.
"How did you even get in here," Iwaizumi huffed as Oikawa stretched out on his bed like a cat in the sun.
"Oh, please, like it's hard?" Oikawa snorted. "Gryffindor has the worst dorm security ever. Even Hufflepuff's better at it and their common room's open to everyone."
Because he couldn't really deny that, Iwaizumi settled for continuing to glare.
"Really, the only thing I actually had to worry about was whether your dormmates would be here." Oikawa looked around. "Where are they, by the way?"
Iwaizumi decided to give up, shoving at Oikawa until he moved over enough to let him sit on the bed. "How should I know? Asahi's probably in the second year dorm, Daichi's either there or with Suga, and Kamasaki's probably doing whatever people without headache causing friends normally do. Lucky him."
Oikawa hummed, smiling in a way that was particularly infuriating.
"What," Iwaizumi demanded.
"You'd hate doing normal stuff, Iwa-chan. You'd be so booooored."
"How would you know? You never let me try."
"'Cause I know you." Oikawa propped up on his elbow, looking down at him. "Duh."
Iwaizumi tried to hit him with a pillow. Oikawa just laughed and evaded.
"Why do you think you're a Gryffindor," he continued. "You like adventure, the excitement. You like to complain; but, both you and Suga are just as bad as the rest of us."
Iwaizumi frowned. "Take it back. We're not that bad!"
"You are!" Oikawa singsongs, finally laying back and closing his eyes. He hums again. "Face it, Iwa-chan, you'd be soooo very, very bored without me. You've got too much of a saving people thing."
Iwaizumi watched him for a moment. "That why do you make it harder for me?"
"I don't."
"You do."
Oikawa laughed, still not opening his eyes. "If i made it harder for you-and that's a big if, Iwa-chan-then, the only thing you'd have to blame for that is that you're you and I'm me and that's just the way it's going to be."
Iwaizumi was already halfway to a denial before he realized he didn't quite know what he was arguing.
Instead, he nudged Oikawa's foot. "Get up, we're going to be late meeting Kuroo's dad."
"Oh no, how terrible" Oikawa said dryly, but he did get up anyway.
Iwaizumi gave him a weird look. "Why do you say it like that?"
"Just a feeling."
ooooooo
If making a list of things he didn't want to do, this ranked pretty freaking high.
The momentary silence as his father chewed thoughtfully was simultaneously stuffy and the most welcome part of the entire meal. Kuroo almost found himself wishing that either of them would do something as uncouth as scrape their utensils against the plate. At least that would be a preferable alternative to both the silence and his father's attempts at small talk.
Unfortunately, even quiet couldn't last too long.
His father finished his bite. "I take it you've made progress on integrating yourself to the Yamaguchi and Tsukishima families?"
Kuroo nodded. "I got an invitation to the Tsukishima's Christmas party."
His father smiled, looking pleased. Kuroo decided not to tell him that the invitation had come at exactly zero political maneuvering on his part and was probably much more due to events that had transpired long before his father had ever suggested he make a connection.
"And your classes?"
Kuroo rolled his eyes. "I should still be on track for all O's, even with Arithmancy."
"Excellent. Quidditch?"
"We beat Gryffindor by ten points last week," he reported, allowing a small amount of actual satisfaction to drift through. "Even with them getting the Snitch."
"Hmm," his father paused between bites. "You know I was fairly against you taking on Quidditch during your second year, I thought it would be better for you to focus on your studies, but it really is shaping up to be an excellent opportunity. I don't suppose you've reached out to any of the Slytherin team members, have you? Some old families there. Powerful families."
Kuroo squeezed tightly on his fork. "They're assholes."
"Don't judge people before you get to know them, son. Not all Slytherin's are the same, take your friends."
"I know," he gritted out. "That's how I know that the guys on the Slytherin team are assholes." He sighed. "Why do you even care? Most of those families are Traditionalists, anyway."
His father sighed. "Allies are useful on either side of the line. How do you think politics work? It's all about looking like the more favorable option. People trust what they know."
Kuroo stabbed at his plate. "Yeah, then, how do things change?"
"They don't," his father said, moving to reflective. "Not really. All they do is shift until the words become more palatable. Same philosophy, new branding."
"Doesn't seem good enough," Kuroo muttered.
Ozuro smiled. "Don't be a revolutionary, son. Historically, they have a very, very short life span and I raised you better than that."
Kuroo looked down to hide his glare.
That was the worst thing about his father, really. It would be so much easier to just avoid him if he was actually as dumb as he so often sounded. No, instead, the tragedy of it was his father was probably one of the sharpest men Kuroo's knew. And, just as utterly incapable of deigning to look at anything past his own nose.
That combination was always dangerous. Kuroo understood that more than anyone.
Ozuro laid his utensils down on an empty plate and looked up at his son. "Speaking of Quidditch, your mother showed me the paper of your last game. You didn't tell me the Kozume boy was on the team?"
Only years of practice caused Kuroo not to freeze up, instead rolling the tension into an uncaring shrug. "It's a popular sport. Lot of people like it."
"Yes, but not everyone's a fellow teammate." His father sighed. "Honestly, Tetsuro, if you aren't going to make friends with the Slytherin team, the least you could do is get closer to your fellow teammates. Especially our neighbors. You two used to be so close when you were children."
"People lose contact" Kuroo said, smoothing his face into an annoyed frown. "We've changed. Kenma's quiet, I wouldn't even know what to talk to him about."
"Quidditch apparently," Ozuro pressed.
Kuroo rolled his eyes. "I don't think I've even said ten words to him in years. Even with Quidditch. Not everyone's going to be a valuable ally."
"Well, maybe if you tried just a bit harder." Ozuro shook his head. "He's a metamorphmagus, son. Do you have any clue how rare that is? It's even rarer than Legilimency."
"And if I see a chance, I'll take it," Kuroo lied through his teeth. "But, until then just drop it, okay? Kid barely talks to anyone anyway. He's not worth the hassle."
Ozuro sighed. "A pity. You know really that's where the blood purist always get it so wrong. The keep talking about protecting magic as if it's all about how far you can trace back a bloodline. And what does that get you? Just blood curses and inbreeding. Instead, you look at powerful families, the ones who actually succeed, and what do you see? It's not history, son, that's just the most common excuse. It's connections." He smiled, sharp almost predatory. "You tell me, Tetsuro, what do you call the man who has the most powerful people in the world in his corner?"
"The most powerful man," Kuroo answers dully.
"Exactly." His father's smile softens. "That's what I'm building for you, son. For us. I just hope you one day find the ambition to seize it."
Kuroo doesn't say anything.
Ozuro stood, wiping his mouth. "Now, let's get started, shall we? I still have your friends to meet, after all. I don't have all day. Pity we can't talk longer."
"It's Hogsmeade weekend, Dad. They're busy," Kuroo lied, standing as he tried to postpone the inevitable. "Come on, they're probably down stairs already."
His father hummed, pacified, and quickly set off to the tavern's staircase, Kuroo following steadily behind.
Kuroo saw them before his father. Iwaizumi, Suga, Oikawa, and Bokuto all talking right outside the bar, laughing and at ease while Kuroo felt like a guy about to watch a train crash.
He hated this. He hated this because it was all going to go exactly like-
"Hello," his father greeted happily. "You must be my son's friends! So great to meet you, Tertsuro's told me so much about you! I'm Ozuro Kuroo, but you, of course, call me Ozuro." He winked at his son. "I understand my son's already claimed the family name."
-like this.
Bokuto stuck out his hand first, enthusiastic grin already in place. "Nice to meet you, sir."
"Kotaro Bokuto, I assume," Ozuro said, shaking his hand. "I saw your picture in the paper. Great game against Slytherin, by the way."
Bokuto blinked, caught off guard for all of a second. "Thanks! Yeah, it was awesome! I thought you were a Slytherin, though?"
Ozuro waved the worry away. "Sure, sure, but my wife played for Hufflepuff. And either way, I prefer to enjoy a well played game without House politics weighing me down. Wouldn't you say?"
He directed the last question to Oikawa and Suga, both wearing their House scarves
"Have to agree." Suga smiled. "Koushi Sugawara, sir."
"Of course, I should have guessed by the hair. I used to serve on the Wizengamot with your parents." He frowned. "Back when they still used their family seat, that is."
Suga shrugged, easily enough that only someone watching very closely could detect the discomfort. "They preferred to step away from politics a couple years after I was born. Different priorities."
No one mentioned how that also coincided with the fall of the Giant.
"Meh, for the best anyway." Bokuto slung an arm around Suga. "All that political stuff gets boring. That's why my parents just leave it to Great-Aunt Ena."
Suga offered him a small but grateful smile.
"Well, that's certainly the truth," his father agrees with a wink. "Take it from me, back when I first started at the Ministry, I had to take two Pick-Me-Up potions before every meeting."
"Really," Bokuto asked.
Ozuro laughed. "Trust me, if you think classes can get boring, wait until you see some of those old bats at the Ministry drone on. Pick-Me-Up is a way of survival."
Kuroo sets his teeth and doesn't say anything.
"Sounds like Oikawa," Iwaizumi said, elbowing the teen in question, staying oddly quiet so far.
Ozuro's eyes landed on him. "Ah, got another with a bit of a problem with Pick-Me-Up, I see. I'll tell you, son, you're in good company here."
Oikawa smiled just a bit sharply. "I wouldn't call it a problem unless I don't know how to handle it."
"Spoken like a true Slytherin," Ozuro complimented. "You must be Oikawa, then. Congratulations, you caused quite the stir a few years ago. First Slytherin muggleborn in centuries, eh? Quite the accomplishment."
Oikawa shrugged. "If that caused a stir, maybe things need to be shaken up a bit more."
"Couldn't have said it better myself," Ozuro agreed conspiratorially. "I don't suppose you're going into politics?"
"I haven't decided," Oikawa said.
Ozuro smiled, turning to address all of them. "Then, let an old man like me give you some advice. Wherever you go, Ministry or not, friends-allies-are some of the most important things you can have. I'm glad to see my son found some good ones."
Kuroo's fist were squeezed so tightly, his nails dug into his palm.
"Dad, come on," he said, trying to keep his tone mild, "it's almost two, you'll miss your port key."
Annoyance flashed briefly before Ozuro sighed, checking his watch. "I suppose you're right." He turned to the group. "Sorry, I would've loved to chat longer. Tetsuro told me you already had plans so I scheduled a meeting."
Kuroo's heart skipped a beat. Merlin.
Iwaizumi frowned. "We don't-"
"We don't mind at all," Oikawa finished smoothly. He gave a sheepish smile. "I'm afraid the plans are my fault. I already planned a date and Suga agreed to go double. Sorry, we definitely would have moved them if we knew you were coming. Maybe next time?"
"Next time," Ozuro agreed, looking appeased. He chuckled slightly. "I suppose I should have known better than to try to plan around young love."
He turned to Kuroo, pulling him briefly into a hug. "Goodbye, son. I'll give your mother your love."
"Thanks," Kuroo muttered into his shoulder.
"Remember what we talked about," his father whispered before pulling back and pivoting to the rest. "And lovely to meet the rest of you, as well. We'll have to talk more soon."
"Of course, sir," Suga agreed.
Ozuro gave one last charming smile before turning back onto the street and slowly disappearing back into the crowd.
A few minutes passed and Kuroo finally felt like he could breathe again.
Suga hummed. "So, he seems...nice."
The breath stuttered in Kuroo's chest.
"He's not," Kuroo ground out.
Suga gave him an odd look, about to say something, before Iwaizumi beat him to the punch, turning to Oikawa. "Since when do you have a date tonight?"
"I don't," Oikawa replied easily.
Suga raised an eyebrow. "Oh, darn, that's going to make the double date fairly difficult then. Especially, since me and Daichi didn't know about it either."
Oikawa smirked. "Hey, Suga, if you really wanted that double date, I'm sure I could find someone!"
"Wait, so we aren't busy?" Bokuto frowned, looking between Kuroo and Oikawa. "Then, why'd you tell your dad we are?"
"So we wouldn't have to talk to him," Kuroo replied shortly, already pushing back to the castle, the opposite way his father went.
The rest of the group exchanged looks before hurrying to catch up with him.
"He didn't seem that bad," Iwaizumi said carefully.
Kuroo scowled. "He is."
"...okay." Suga frowned.
Kuroo hunched his shoulders, speeding up through the street as if being literally further would help anything. Slowly the crowd thinned away until it was only the five of them, trudging through the snow on the way back to the castle.
"Merlin, slow down for a second," Iwaizumi said, grabbing his arm
"What's so bad about your dad," Bokuto asked.
"EVERYTHING!" Kuroo finally snapped, jerking Iwaizumi off with the force of it. He ran an aggravated hand through his hair. "You don't get it! No one but me ever gets it!"
"Gets what," Suga demanded.
Kuroo shook his head. "Merlin, it's always like this. Every bloody time. I don't know why I bother, it's always the same. Just wasted time." An idea slowly took root. "Or...maybe not entirely wasted."
He pulled the time turner out from under his robes.
Bokuto frowned. "Bro, what are you doing?"
"Getting away from this," Kuroo muttered, already mentally calculating the turns. "Always said talking to Dad was a waste. This time, I actually get those hours back."
"You're kidding me?" Iwaizumi huffed. "What? That's it? You yell some vague crap about us not getting it and then, you're just going to ditch us?"
Suga stepped forward. "Maybe we should-"
"Let him go."
Everyone turned to stare.
Oikawa shrugged, infuriatingly calm. "Let him use the time turner. He wants to leave so bad, might as well let him."
"Seriously," Iwaizumi questioned.
"Trust me, Iwa-chan."
And then, Oikawa looked at Kuroo and winked. "Do it."
Kuroo frowned, caught between not wanting to question his luck and really, really wanting to question it because nothing with Oikawa was ever that easy.
He used the time turner.
Around him, the world dissolved in a blur of white. His ears popped. And when he opened his eyes again, he was standing on a significantly less snow covered road with the sun not quite fully risen.
He was alone.
He stuffed the time turner back in his robes. Great. Perfect. Alone, exactly what he wanted to be.
For some reason, the wind seemed even colder on his walk back to the castle.
It was barely five in the morning, not even late enough for the portraits to be awake and the house elves to start putting out breakfast. Kuroo stalked through the castle without a single person around. Yeah, great, bloody freaking excellent.
His feet led him to the astronomy tower and, without much thought, he climbed through to the roof to watch the sunrise.
"What are you doing here?"
Kuroo's head jerked up. And then, he groaned.
He knew it couldn't have been that easy.
Oikawa cocked his head. "Now, see, I understand the shock of my magnificent presence can make you forget words. But, I think you pronounced 'Joyful morning, my dear friend Oikawa' wrong."
Kuroo groaned again and louder. "Merlin, I just used the bloody time turner to get away from all of you." He slumped down against the roof. "What are you even doing on the astronomy roof anyway?"
"Couldn't sleep, watching the stars," Oikawa answered easily before blinking. "So, I take it I'm talking to future Kuroo then?"
He closed his eyes. "Unfortunately. I knew you were too chill about letting me go without talking."
Oikawa hummed. "I'll assume I'll figure out what that means later. But, since apparently the university and destiny are plotting against you, I have to ask: talk about what?"
"I hate destiny."
"Complain to Bokuto. He's the one in Divination."
That at least got Kuroo to snort.
Oikawa waited a second before reaching out to poke him. "So, you gonna tell me or what?"
Kuroo sighed, feeling like the weight of the world rested on the exhale.
"It's my dad," he answered.
"Ah, dads. Bummer." Oikawa frowned before shrugging. "I mean, I assume. What's up with yours?"
"He's just….he's….," Kuroo groaned, putting his face in his hands. "He sucks, okay? He's an asshole and manipulative and sees every bloody thing as chess piece to move around. Everyone he meets is just someone else he can move around to fit his plan. He just uses and uses and uses them until their all dried up and, then, he has the nerve to ask them to thank him."
"Sounds like a dick," Oikawa said succinctly.
"And, then, he tries to make it seem like he's doing it all for me when really he's just doing for himself and I'm just the unlucky asshole that got born as his heir." Kuroo ground his teeth. "But, the worst part, the bloody worst part is that no one else sees it. Not even Mom. No one ever gets its. Because you meet him and he's...he's like that, he's nice and charming and pretends to care about your interest. But, it's a lie. It's all a lie. But, no one wants to believe that. No. So, I just look insane and everyone else is just...is trapped."
He doesn't finish so much as his words cut off, leaving him with an empty feeling in his chest and the cold roof against his back.
Across from him, Oikawa hummed. "Okay, so let me get this straight. Your dad sucks, yeah?"
"I don't want to talk about this anymore, Oikawa."
"Too bad. Your dad sucks and he's manipulative, right?
Kuroo groaned. "Yeah."
"But he seems super nice and charming so no one ever believes you, yeah?"
"Pretty much." Kuroo closed his eyes again.
"Okay," Oikawa said slowly. "Now, just to check, I'm going to say you didn't tell old us, future us, whatever, any of this and just stormed off like the secret drama king you are?"
Kuroo opened his eyes just enough to glare. "You're a dick. And, no, I didn't. There wasn't any point. You all already loved him already. Why waste my breath?"
Oikawa paused, long enough for Kuroo to entertain half a thought that he'd miraculously given up and was going to leave him in peace.
And, then, Oikawa rolled his eyes. "You're an idiot."
"You're an asshole," Kuroo shot back, defensively.
"Oh, definitely," Oikawa agreed. "Doesn't change the fact that you still didn't even try to convince your fairly intelligent friends of three years that the guy they literally just met was an asshole."
"You wouldn't have believed me," Kuroo yelled.
"Pft, please, you didn't even try." Oikawa looked at him sharply. "And, in case it's escaped your notice, I believe you. You know, the guy you've actually sat down and talked to."
Kuroo was half way to a retort before that sentence actually processed and his mouth clicked shut.
He frowned. "You...you believe me?"
"Honestly, you're an actual legilimens. I think I can trust your instincts when you tell me not to trust someone. Not to mention, you're my friend." Oikawa grimaced and his tone abruptly softened. "Look, I'm sorry you're dad's a dick. And that apparently you've dealt with jerks who'd rather believe him over you, that...that sucks, but maybe...maybe give it another try?" He shrugged awkwardly in the way he always did when the situation got too close to actual emotions that he couldn't just avoid. "Either way, you already got me, alright?"
Kuroo stared at him.
Oikawa flopped back on the roof, blushing slightly.
Finally, Kuroo smirked. "You know if I didn't know you better, I'd say that was actually wise."
Oikawa snorted. "I'm always wise. But, apparently, I'm on a roll. I think I'm going to go bother Iwa-chan before it wears off."
"No way it'll last that long." Kuroo laid down on the roof beside him, watching the sunrise.
"Asshole."
"Takes one to know one."
Oikawa hit him with a mild shocking jinx.
"Ow!"
Oikawa smirked, eyes never leaving the sky.
Kuroo followed his gaze, muttering under his breath.
"Hey, Oikawa," he asked eventually, once the snow started melting in his hair. "What's your dad like? You've never said?"
Oikawa didn't answer.
"Come on," Kuroo elbowed him, "fair's fair. You made me talk."
"Yeah, yeah," Oikawa said, frowning slightly. "It's just...I have absolutely no idea. I haven't seen him since I was three."
"...Oh." Kuroo winced. "Sorry."
"It's fine." Oikawa waved him off. "Why start caring about him when he obviously isn't caring about me."
"Does that actually work," Kuroo asked.
"Mostly." He winked. "When you don't think about it."
ooooooo
A/N:
Sorry for the delay and thanks to everyone for your patience. This chapter was harder to write than most. With that, I will say that the responses included here in the last scene are intended to be views based on the personal views of the individual characters and not necessarily perfect responses to similar situations in real life. As always, thank you so much for all the support I receive on this story and hope you enjoyed! Stuff's about to start going down real soon.
Next Chapter: Things to Come
