I've posted an informational update on tumblr explaining the game plan for the next month

Moniwa's not in his guard tower when Kei arrives at the Palace gates. It's not like it's all that important for him to be there. They may make a show about locking up the gates, but they aren't in war time, not at the moment anyways, and the magical barrier is more than enough to keep out anyone unwanted for the time it takes to alert Palace occupants.

Kei's arms are heavy with Ennoshita's schematics. Usually, he just sends them with Yamaguchi, given the other's frequent attendance at the Palace, but he was out when Kei woke, and there had been a burning need to simply do something.

As he pushes the door open, he's met with a mess of signatures. There's Sugawara, pulsing bright hot and nearly blinding; Daichi, strong and grey and steady: Yahaba, a mess of purple paired with flashing points of green; Kyoutani, faded pink spirals beating erratically against black; Hanamaki and Matsukawa, all twisted currents of sky blue holding back magic older than Kei. Kozume's present as well, his signature littler more than a low hum of blue nearing black; Kindaichi and Watari stand together, signatures twisting into little more than a mess of grey and dark red.

And there.

Deep, thrumming low and long, green as the darkest trees. A signature so widely encompassing that it takes up nearly a whole wing of the Palace.

Iwaizumi's awake.

Kei nearly drops the schematics, but manages to hold on to them as he makes his way to the infirmary. No one bats an eye when he walks in, and rightly so. His back is starting to burn again, spiraling out and down his arms.

Iwaizumi's still lying down, but his eyes are open, spiraling neon green through tree leaves. His skin runs dark and uninterrupted until his torso. The scar stretches from his hips to the center of his chest in a shape akin to an arrowhead. The lines are jagged, torn through by magic that Daichi wasn't able to smooth over when the healing coma began. His arms are decorated in tattoos; swirling black lines, varying in thickness, and moving with each breath he takes.

Daichi's at Iwaizumi's side, a white glow around his hands, as he explains that the war is over; Kozume's there too, his glow is blue and he's running his hands over Iwaizumi's arms, across his torso, down his legs; a diagnostic check.

Healing comas vary depending on the injury. Iwaizumi's had nearly killed him. His signature had been nothing but a barely glowing dot of green when Daichi got ahold of him. The only thing to be done was to put him in stasis, freezing his body and the magically induced injury running its course through his system.

There's a flash of light, near tangible, and a cross between blue and white, then the infirmary is nothing but a buzz of signatures.

Sugawara's biting his knuckles, the only thing keeping them from bleeding are his gloves, and Kei takes the few steps to move closer. He sets his free hand on the older god's shoulder, catching his attention.

"Tsukishima," he says softly, "He's finally awake."

And while that's well and good, Kei gets the feeling that things are going to get irreparably more complicated from this point forward.

All the same, having Iwaizumi around has its own benefits. It's just a matter of what Sugawara decides to do.

Daichi helps him sit properly before getting a robe for him. The second he has his arms through the sleeves, Hanamaki and Matsukawa rush him, followed closely by Kyoutani, Yahaba, Kindaichi, and Watari.

Kageyama is in the infirmary as well, nervously chewing on his lip as he leans against the wall, eyes fixed on the green light rising from Iwaizumi's body. Kei knows Kageyama feels partly responsible. Iwaizumi's magic has more than enough offensive power, but he had a weapon from Kageyama, a set of gauntlets that channeled his magic in a manner better suited to his fighting style. However, that conductive ability had to be chosen over frequent use, so Iwaizumi hadn't been able to wear the gauntlets every time he fought.

Kageyama stays where he is though, doesn't join the mass hug happening just a few steps away. He'll wait until they're done, or just stay against the wall, Kei isn't sure.

Iwaizumi gives a groan of protest, no doubt his body is still riddled with pain, but he wraps his arms around whoever he can. One of them happens to be Kyoutani, the other is Hanamaki. After a moment, Matsukawa taps the latter's shoulder and they switch places. No one says a word as Iwaizumi hugs his team. While it may feel as though he's only woken from a nap, Iwaizumi knows just how long it's been since the others have seen him, so he doesn't mind how tightly they hold him.

Once his group has had their fill, Kageyama approaches, hesitantly.

"I'm glad you're awake," he says quietly.

Iwaizumi gives him a tired smile before pulling him into a hug.

"It's good to see you too, kid."

Kei finds himself smiling slightly, it's really nothing more than a muscle twitch.

After far too long, Kageyama pulls back and returns to the wall. Kei sees Iwaizumi glance around, can practically see the confusion clouding in his eyes.

"Where's Tooru?"

No one moves, no one breathes. Kei casts a sidelong glance towards Sugawara, whose gaze is alternating between Daichi and Yahaba.

Kei has half a mind to summon a key, but if Daichi stays, he won't have to. Just because Sugawara can't say everything doesn't mean Daichi can't either, he never locked this memory into a key.

"We should let Suga explain," Yahaba says after a moment, voice cracking as he tugs on Kyoutani's arm.

"Explain what?" Iwaizumi asks immediately, "Shigeru, explain what?"

Yahaba practically drags his team from the infirmary, shoving them past the doors and into a portal that probably sends them to their wing of the Palace.

Panic and fear rest heavy in Iwaizumi's features as he turns to look at Sugawara. His signature is getting shaky and Kei takes a step back on instinct, not wanting to be anywhere in the immediate vicinity should Iwaizumi lose his grip on his magic.

Kozume vanishes, nothing but a shimmery mist of blue to even suggest he was there to begin with. Kei makes eye contact with Kageyama and gestures towards the door.

"Suga, what is going on? Where's Tooru?"

The doors shut behind them and a soundless barrier rises to obscure the rest of whatever conversation may take place.

"He was put in stasis before it happened, wasn't he?" Kageyama asks quietly. His hands are twitching, a bad habit he hasn't let go of since the war. So used to having a weapon in his hands, Kageyama's associated emotions like anxiety with the memories of fighting. Now, he either balls up his fists to the point that he bleeds from his palms, or chews at his fingers.

Either way, the outcome is unfavorable.

"Yes," Kei says simply.

"He doesn't know."

"No."

"He's not going to take this well."

Kei doesn't respond, just shifts his grip on the schematics he's still holding.

"Are those Ennoshita's?" Kageyama asks after a moment. There's something heavy in his voice, but Kei's almost entirely certain that it will fade after a few sentences.

"They are."

"Stop and say hi to Shouyou before you leave, he's at the outer training field with Tanaka and Nishinoya right now."

Kei waits because Kageyama obviously has more to say. He watches, mildly delighted, as Kageyama struggles to string the words together.

"And thank you, for helping him with combat magic practice." Kageyama rushes off, heading in the direction of the forge entrance, and Kei only smirks.

It fades off his lips the second a wave of magic hits him. He stumbles, the schematics falling from his arms as his knees hit the ground. It's nothing but raw emotion, white green interspersed with black and Kei feels bile rise in his throat as the aftershocks roll through.

It's not grief though. Grief would feel suffocating, crushing, it would have forced Kei flat on the ground.

This is anger, rage, pure and undiluted fury.

And Kei knows exactly what Sugawara told Iwaizumi.

He stands up and uses a small gravity field to pick up the dropped schematics. By the time the moon rises, Sugawara will bring Iwaizumi by, to lock up the secret, Kei will need to have a key ready.

Ennoshita's workroom is much like Kei's, nearly all of the gods with creation aspects have similar work spaces but that's beside the point. Where Kei's glows mostly blue, and is home to floating moons, Ennoshita's workroom is multicolor and hazy, filled with novas and planets. The completed systems are contained in stasis, while the unfinished ones swirl around the room as they please.

Kei ducks to avoid a planet and makes his way to the main table where Ennoshita's hunched over his current project. He's frustrated, that much is obvious. When he takes note of Kei, he throws down his tools and whatever he was trying to work on flies off to some corner of the room.

"Tsukishima, it's not often I see your face around here." His tone is calm, despite his frustration prior, but Kei knows that tone.

It's what he uses when he tries to guilt Kei into visiting more often.

"I've just come to return these."

Ennoshita takes the charts and Kei's halfway to the door when he speaks up.

"Iwaizumi's awake, isn't he?"

"Yes."

"So that wave…"

"Sugawara told him what happened." Kei cuts himself off before the key makes him choke. Technically, he's both lying and telling the truth. Sugawara told Iwaizumi what happened. Kei is only fudging the details a little in his delivery and intent.

Ennoshita gives him a questioning look, but nods all the same.

Kei may be the secret holder but most gods won't question him if he tells them something, though they may be a little uneasy about it. The only reason that Yamaguchi does is because they'd known each other forever. Yamaguchi stayed with Kei and Akiteru at the Palace, and they all trained together.

"Shouyou's down at the outer field with Tanaka. I believe Bokuto went down there not too long ago with Lev and Yachi. You should go say hi."

There's already a scowl on his lips at the mention of Lev. Kei's not overly fond of the other god. All long limbs and glowing eyes, Lev towers over everyone else. He came into his aspects late, and awkward, and with poor control. For what felt like the longest time, Lev brought terror down on the Palace, chasing everyone with illusions, bending reality, and making himself a general nuisance. Eventually, Kuroo took care of him, teaching him to control his powers to the best of his ability. Lev still makes no effort to control his nightmare eye, and every time Kei sees him he wants to punch the younger god across the forest.

His wings are fragmented and black, beautiful really and Kei can't stand it because Lev has never bothered to use them properly. Their shape gives him the means for graceful flight maneuvers but he wants broad wings, built for power. He doesn't appreciate what he has.

That's what pisses Kei off the most.

"Kageyama already made me aware."

Ennoshita has the nerve to smile as he waves Kei out the door.

Regardless of his usual front, Kei makes his way to the outer field. The inner field is within the Palace's magical barrier, the outer field is used by gods with a tendency towards destruction. It's where Tanaka practices, along with all their heavy hitters. It's open, and most of the ground is spelled so that, should it catch, fire won't spread to the surrounding area.

He passes through the main hall as Iwaizumi, Sugawara, and Daichi walk out of the infirmary doors. Iwaizumi takes a few steps and has Kei backed up against the wall.

Kei would be stupid to not be afraid. Iwaizumi is a threat that is not to be underestimated, he could match Sugawara, and Kei isn't so arrogant as to believe that he'd stand a chance himself. But he doesn't think Iwaizumi will hurt him at this moment.

It is rather intimidating however.

Iwaizumi practically blazes, angry and green and with sharp intent focused entirely on Kei. Magic swells, his signatures shifts, running an undercurrent of black instead of silver. Instinctively, Kei's own magic surges, gathering at his fingertips.

Oh, what he would give to have his wings right now.

"They don't know," Iwaizumi says softly.

Kei takes a breath.

"Only the four of us. As well as Yahaba and Kunimi."

"I'm going to catch up with my team, and everyone else. But afterwards, take me to see him. Sugawara won't go, I'll stop by with Shigeru."

Kei casts his gaze past Iwaizumi's set in stone features to lock eyes with Sugawara. The older god nods, and Daichi looks at the ground.

"Of course."

Iwaizumi moves away and Kei sucks in a breath to calm himself. There's pain clearly inscribed in Iwaizumi's face, but the rage keeps it at bay. Rage at Sugawara for making such a decision, rage at Daichi and Kei and Yahaba and Kunimi for allowing it to happen. Rage at himself for not being around.

He's understandably upset, but Kei's known him long enough to know that he'll eventually come to understand.

"Kei," Sugawara starts, his tone void of any gentleness. "Things will begin to change. Once Hinata becomes official-"

"I understand, I'll have the keys set aside for when that time comes."

Kei walks as fast as he can without looking bothered. He ignores the chatter from the wall, ignores Sugawara's eyes at his back, and just moves. He breezes through Kiyoko's garden and a few short stretches of trees.

There's too much happening.

The thought of another war is nearly too much to handle. Kei doesn't want to think about it. He knows Sugawara doesn't want to think about it, but it's unavoidable. They're not going to do this the same way they did last time, they're not leaving anything up to chance. Sure, their enemy may be less numerous than they were at the start, but age old grudges have a tendency to compensate for numbers.

Kei shakes his head as he gets closer to the outer training field. He can hear Bokuto, Nishinoya, and Lev cheering, can feel the heat waves rolling through.

Tanaka's engulfed in flames, his brass knuckles glinting as he moves. Shouyou is in a similar state, his staff is in two and his eyes are blazing. They clash at the center and a rush of hot air blows past, nearly lifting Kei's glasses off his face.

"Hey, Tsukishima!" Bokuto shouts, jogging over.

"Bokuto."

"Did you come to see Hinata? He's doing really good. Tanaka and Nishinoya are putting him through the ringer, but he's gotten better."

Bokuto propels him towards the others.

"Come on, Shouyou! Keep your guard up!" Nishinoya shouts. Lev lets out a shout of encouragement, followed closely by Bokuto.

"It's not too often we get to see your face around here," Lev says, turning to face Kei.

His eyes are mismatched; one an empty pool of black, the other glowing yellow.

"There's a reason," Kei says, moving to stand beside Yachi. The nymph gives him a smile before turning her gaze back to Tanaka and Shouyou.

"Bokuto's right, Hinata's doing really well," she says. Her blossoms are bright pink today, her signature as bubbly as it always is. "He said you helped him?"

"With magical aspects," Kei says, "I just gave him pointers."

"Well, they helped a lot, he's doing better against Tanaka than he has before."

The practice ends with Tanaka pinning Shouyou to the ground.

"Better luck next time, kid," Tanaka chuckles, helping him up.

Shouyou grumbles something before turning, his eyes catch Kei's and he's up in the air in a second.

"Tsukishima!"

"Hello, Hinata."

"I didn't know you were coming today."

"I had to drop off a few things, Kageyama suggested I stop by."

Shouyou smiles and flies up to perch himself on Kei's shoulder.

"Tanaka helped explain magic more, and Nishinoya's helping me with defensive techniques, he says I suck right now."

"You could use some more practice," Kei admits.

"You should train with us," Nishinoya says, "Shouyou says you've been helping him, it'll be good to have different skills with this."

"I just came to say hello, there are things I need to do today," Kei says. He knows if he doesn't cut it off now, he'll have the whole lot of them badgering him to come by more.

"But you'll come some other time, right?" Shouyou leans over so his body is half slumped over Kei's head. "You're a good teacher."

Damn him.

"I'll see what I can do."

Iwaizumi doesn't have any keys, Kei's not entirely sure what to do. Aesthetic isn't really a big deal right now, with the urgency of the situation, but he refuses to put out anything half hearted. He sits down at his worktable and takes off his glasses.

He closes his eyes and allows his magic to pour down his arms. He'll choose blindly, instinct may prove to be useful as his analytic thought process has apparently taken a nap.

After a few minutes he opens his eyes.

The key mold presents him with a blockish form, about the size of Kei's hand, wrist to fingertip. He selects a silver metal liquid and fills the mold, adding varying shades of grey and green as he goes.

His finished product sparks the memory of his initial meeting with Iwaizumi.

For as long as Kei can remember, they've always been allied parties, dating back prior to the first war. But until that moment, he'd never met Iwaizumi. Kunimi and Kindaichi were around occasionally, usually with Kageyama, and Yahaba could usually be found talking with Moniwa along the guard tower.

Akiteru knew him though. As Iwaizumi passed through the gates, Akiteru stood up, Kei had been reading with him, and stood up to greet Iwaizumi. Kei remembers sensing his signature for the first time. It was powerful, such that it knocked him to the ground. Iwaizumi was overwhelming, the amount of magic within him left Kei slack jawed and frightened.

That ebbed over the years, Iwaizumi never failed to be a source of amazement, but Kei knows him now.

Yahaba and Iwaizumi arrive soon enough. Kei makes his way outside and waits while Yahaba opens a portal.

"I apologize, I was somewhat out of line earlier, I shouldn't have gotten in your face like that," Iwaizumi says after a moment.

"It was warranted."

They step through the portal and Kei guides them down to the black door. Yahaba unlocks it as always and Kei takes a deep breath.

Kunimi isn't expecting them, that much is clear. His eyes, perpetually violet so long as he's using his magic, widen at the sight of Iwaizumi. He closes his eyes as the purple threads of magic flicker.

"What's going on?" he asks after a moment.

He doesn't get an answer though.

Iwaizumi makes his way to the center of the room and drops to his knees.

"Sugawara said…"

Kunimi turns his gaze to Yahaba and the latter sits down beside him to explain. Kei sits opposite Iwaizumi, crouching down. His chains are rattling around his wrists again, just in case. He waits, watching as Iwaizumi's hands begin to tremble.

"There's a new Sun God?" he asks aloud, shaky.

"Yes," Kei answers.

"And once he's officiated?"

"We'll have the force necessary to win a war properly." He keeps his voice low, wraps their conversation in a veil of obscurity so that Kunimi and Yahaba can't hear.

Properly, because there's obviously a proper way to a win a war. Even if such a thing existed, it isn't this.

Kei can't blame Sugawara, he really can't. Sometimes wars must be won through whatever means necessary. War tactics labeled 'cowardly' lose their bite when measured against the loss of a friend.

"And then?"

"Your captain wakes up, matters are explained, we go to war."

Kei's own hands are starting to shake, he doesn't like the feeling. Iwaizumi's wrath is nothing compared the sleeping god before him. Kei thinks he may understand, self sacrifice for the greater good and all, but he'd rather not be in the vicinity when the news is broken.

"Can I stay here for a while?" Iwaizumi asks, voice quiet, dark eyes fixed.

"Of course. Sugawara would like this locked in a key when you are done, just in case. Considering the way things are panning out, it won't be locked away for long, you don't have anything to worry about. Just come by before nightfall."

Kei pushes up onto his feet, dips his hand into his pocket to curl his fingers around the key. Yahaba steps out to open a portal for him and Kei doesn't say anything as he passes through.

Yamaguchi's waiting for him.

Not a word passes between them as they make their way to the cliff. It's still daylight so there aren't any stars to look at, they both stay standing.

"I heard Iwaizumi woke up."

"He did."

"That's good."

"It is."

I'm still kinda iffy on this chapter, it's a bit of a filler and I wanted to get it updated before I hit test week. In any case, Iwaizumi is here!

I've gotten some lovely questions over on tumblr, and some of them have story information in their answer, so if you'd like to check that out, do so! There's also a page for the characters that will be updated as details in the story are revealed.

Thank you all for sticking with me! If you've got questions or thoughts or anything, please feel free to let me know!