I'm gonna be honest, I forgot it was Saturday. I went through my whole day like "I feel like I'm forgetting something". And here we are.
They walk through the roads of Balance, escorted by Oikawa's Enforcers and Akaashi's Watchers. Yamaguchi, Matsukawa, and Tendou keep toward the back, and Kuroo has come alone.
Shouyou keeps Kageyama and Yachi in his sight at all times. He's sure that Yachi is in a similar state of heightened emotion, he's trying to wrestle his own into order as they walk. He knows, however, that what happens next is going to decide the rest of their lives, and he can't risk messing it up. Yachi almost acted against Akaashi, her rage too heavy in her heart.
Shouyou worries.
He gives her flowers as they walk, a belt blossoming around her dress, budding vines curling up her arms. She gives him smiles in return, and leaves the flowers where they grow.
Kageyama is quiet, eyes fixed on the ground.
Shouyou knew from the first instant he saw Kageyama, could see through the facade of Law with ease. He didn't approve of what happened, but he was happy all the same. Every time Kageyama stepped foot on Consumption, Shouyou cheered from within his Patron Space, urging Yamaguchi to listen to whatever Kageyama said. Kageyama was stressed, no doubt, all those years spent out of sorts, in the body and mind of another, all the while wholly focused on his own goal.
Shouyou's glad that he has a body again, he's glad that Kageyama was successful.
He just wishes there was a way they could have done it so that they wouldn't risk losing Kageyama.
Oikawa guides them to the Keep and into his personal office.. The Enforcers, Watchers, and other Leaders remain outside as the door shuts behind them.
With a wave of his hand, Oikawa summons three chairs in front of his desk. Yachi and Shouyou leave the middle seat for Kageyama, taking one of his hands each once they're all sitting down. Oikawa takes his time getting behind his desk, seemingly drinking in the room.
"It hasn't changed," he says at last, easing into his chair.
"I figured it would be best if it hadn't when this was all over," Kageyama says, eyes still fixed on the floor.
"Thank you for that. Now, we have quite a bit to discuss. I'd like to start by saying that I'm not angry, not really."
Kageyama flinches and Shouyou tightens his grip.
It's strange that Oikawa isn't angry. Shouyou's pretty sure that if he went to the Resting Place for something he didn't do, and had his identity stolen, he'd be pretty upset. Well, he's still upset about being deposed, about being forced to become a Patron in order to keep from fading, about going through this whole mess because the predecessors were a bunch of-
He's glad that Oikawa isn't angry. That doesn't mean he understands why though.
"I'd like you to tell me your story," Oikawa says, "how we got to this point, if you don't mind."
"We can do that," Shouyou says when his two companions say nothing. "We were the first three Leaders to exist. We all showed up around the same time. Then, a few special flowers showed up in our Gardens and-"
"Gardens?"
"Yes," Yachi says. "The Gardens grow flowers, each flower is a being. There are separate plots for mortals and for beings in the Realms."
"I see. My apologies, please continue."
"Well, new Realms showed up after the special flowers showed up, the new Leaders. Your predecessor, Akaashi's, then Yamaguchi's." Shouyou knows, even as he says their names, the Silence blurs them into a messy warbling sound. He can't help it, he'd seen their flowers, knew them before they came into existence, it feels strange to call them by their titles.
It's the same with Kageyama and Yachi.
He doesn't bother clarifying who he's talking about though, Oikawa's smart.
"I was deposed first," Yachi says, "Fable saved me by turning me into his Patron before I faded."
"And why were you deposed?"
"They didn't like how I was doing things. I made heros, and I stopped when they told me to, but they didn't like the uncertainty that it brought to the world below."
"You made heros?"
"I granted a few mortals access to my Realm, gave them abilities through the golden petals in my Garden, it's where the various legends come from."
"Very well. And afterward, your Realm was repurposed?"
"I told them it was stupid," Shouyou nearly shouts. "Consumption needed Life to keep the Rot back, but they didn't listen. They changed Life into Creation and Consumption started getting bad."
"I see, and this opposition is why you were deposed as well?"
"Yes. Yamaguchi's predecessor backed me too, but he quieted down when they threatened to depose him."
"And how were you saved from fading?"
"Kageyama?" Shouyou squeezes his hand again. He hasn't said anything since his comment about Oikawa's office.
:"Uh, I made him Consumption's Patron. I already had Oasis, I couldn't take two, and I didn't trust any of the other Leaders."
It takes hours. Yachi gets Kageyama to talk more about their shared time. They were lost, floating, both existing and not at the same time. Kageyama talks about his plan, how it changed, how it evolved. He talks about his panic when Oikawa was taking him to the Resting Place, how he did the first thing that came to mind. He apologizes.
Shouyou listens, his flowers glowing in time with Kageyama's breathing.
It's...difficult, to say the least, to listen. The emotions, raw and overpowering as they are now, fight for control. Shouyou wants to scream, wants to fight his way out of this. It's not fair. Not fair what happened, and not fair that they're on trial now, informal though it may be.
So he focuses on Yachi, focuses on Kageyama. He knows Yachi is doing the same. They can't afford to blow up.
"What's your decision?" Shouyou asks when Kageyama falls silent.
"Slow down there, Repose, I still have a few questions."
Shouyou bites his tongue. He just wants to know if Kageyama is going to jail or not!
"First, with your presence returned, is there any way that Consumption can be saved without destroying Creation?" He turns his attention to Yachi, who sits up a little straighter.
"I'm all that's needed to purify the Rot," she says. "My Realm was a vessel that allowed me to do so without much thought. I will have to make regular trips into Consumption, but it can be done, yes."
"Do you harbor any ill will against us successors?"
The three of them stay quiet for a short time, and when it doesn't seem like Yachi or Kageyama will speak, Shouyou answers.
"No, you weren't the ones who deposed us, we can't be upset with you. " He leans forward, fixing his gaze on Oikawa, meeting his eyes. "Are you mad at Kageyama? At Fable?"
Oikawa leans back in his chair, eyes closed, and breathes deeply for a moment.
"If possible, I'd like to discuss that with Fable, alone."
Kageyama nods, giving their hands a squeeze before letting go.
"Kageyama-" Yachi and Shouyou speak up simultaneously.
"I'm fine."
They share a look before standing up together. They each spare a hand to pat his shoulder before exiting the office.
Everyone who escorted them initially still remains in the hall. Some are sitting against the wall, others leaning against it. Yamaguchi, Kuroo, and Akaashi stand huddled together, heads bowed in discussion. As soon as Shouyou and Yachi close the door though, all eyes are on them.
"Fable and Law?" Kuroo asks.
"Still discussing," Yachi says.
There's a new face in the crowd of beings, one that carries the colors of Knowledge in his levels. He's an ordinary being, with the faint remnants of Watcher ability in him. Shouyou remembers this flower, he was Oikawa's friend.
Iwaizumi Hajime sticks close to the edge of the crowd, standing amongst the other Watchers.
"Oasis, can I speak to you a moment?" Kuroo asks.
Shouyou reaches for Yachi's hand, giving it a squeeze before she steps further down the hall to speak with him. The crowd parts as if shoved aside by a force field, and Shouyou makes sure she remains in his sight.
"Uh, Repose? I wonder if I could talk to you as well?"
Yamaguchi steps up, one hand fixed on what remains of his Patron Stone.
"Of course."
Shouyou doesn't move, simply waves his hand. A few of his flowers glow and a shimmer falls over the two of them, cloaking both their sounds and words.
"Uh, from what I gather, you were Consumption's Patron?" Yamaguchi asks.
"Yeah, you're a good leader, Yamaguchi."
"Ah, well, thank you, but I think that was due to your guidance."
"I don't think so." Shouyou leans against the wall "You did just fine even without me speaking up all the time, and I think you'll do even better now."
Shouyou knows. As the Patron, he was tied to the Realm, and Yamaguchi. He could sense how Yamaguchi felt, could sense his thoughts. Yamaguchi was willing to do anything to buy his Realm and its occupants any amount of extra time. He accepted Kuroo's beings on his Realm to relocate their surface population and expand the citadel. He was willing to break into the Hidden Matter, even if it meant being deposed and potentially fading away in the Resting Place.
He'll do just fine without Shouyou.
Yamaguchi offers up a sheepish grin.
"Well, we'll see about that. Um, I hate to ask, given what's going on right now, but now that you're back, will the Rot be fixed? You guys know how it was kept in check before, right?"
"It'll be fine now, Yachi- Oasis will visit and purify the Rot, there's nothing to worry about."
Yamaguchi throws his arms around Shouyou and squeezes, almost lifting him off the ground.
"Thank you."
Shouyou just lets out a small laugh, trying to cover up the strangely intense pain from the hug.
Yamaguchi moves away to speak with Matsukawa and Tendou, and in that time, Yachi has finished her discussion with Kuroo.
"What did he want?" Shouyou asks. He blocks his words from being seen, and maintains his silence over Yachi as well.
"He wanted to know if I would volley for Creation to be dismantled and returned to Life."
"And what did you say?"
"I said I wouldn't. I have Change now, and that's enough. I asked him about my Garden and he said it didn't exist, that he didn't know what it was, so I'm a little upset."
"You can always spend time in my Garden."
"Thanks, Shouyou."
"I was thinking, if we merge Death and Change, then we could stay together, the three of us. Change was a bridge so I don't think there would be any issues"
"I'd like that."
Shouyou leans into her, the two of them side by side, and sighs.
"What do you think will happen to Kageyama?"
"I don't know."
"Oikawa said he wasn't mad."
"The other Leaders don't seem angry either. Well, Akaashi seems irritated"
"I think that's just because the Hidden Matter was broken into, twice. You think we'll be okay then?"
"I hope so."
There's no more conversation and the longer the silence stretches, the more worried Shouyou gets.
What are they talking about? How many questions is Oikawa asking? No doubt Akaashi filled him in on the break-in, is he asking how they managed? Kageyama won't implicate Yamaguchi, so he'll be lying, which isn't going to help them. Oikawa can divine truth from lies, but Kageyama's time in his place honed his skills at weaving words.
He turns his face into Yachi's shoulder and wills down his tears.
It seems likes years pass by, no one says a word, they wait, still as statues, in the hallway.
When the door opens, Oikawa is the first one out. Kageyama darts out behind him, directly to Shouyou and Yachi. Shouyou moves so Kageyama can rest between the two of them. Kageyama doesn't say anything, just takes their hands in his.
"Well, what a dour looking bunch we've got here. I thought you all would have gone home by now," Oikawa says, closing the door behind him.
"You know we wouldn't, Law, let us not play games, what is your verdict?" Akaashi asks.
"Of course, by all means, let them go."
"You're serious?" Kuroo asks.
"I am. Fable will return the scroll to the Hidden Matter, they're free to do what they want with their two Realms remaining. Creation will stay as is, and Oasis will make regular trips to Consumption to keep the Rot in check. I think it best that we proceed as normal. I, of course, will need some time to reinstate myself, check in on my Realm and all. Bronze, if you could speak to your Head of Communications, explain the situation and issue a statement. Leave out the body swap part, just that we have new Leaders. I'll write up a draft for you. In order to make up for the damage and general panic caused, Fable, as well as Oasis and Repose, will help in correcting our records. Their returned existence should be enough to keep the Archivists of Knowledge busy. Leaders, we'll meet later to discuss what was shared with me, I'd like us to be on the same page. Well then, that's my verdict."
There is silence, a deathly still, that fills the hallway.
Kageyama tucks himself close to the two of them, and Shouyou wraps him in a hug. From Yachi's feet, flowers bloom, covering the floor and climbing up the walls.
Akaashi looks like he wants to say something but Oikawa begins speaking again.
"Let's get settled before we start questioning my decisions, shall we? I've been in prison for quite a while, and I'd like to get some rest. We can host a formal meeting soon if you wish?"
Oikawa waves his hands and his Enforcers and Warden leave immediately. Kuroo follows rather quickly, disappearing from the hall in the blink of an eye. Yamaguchi hesitates but takes hold of Matsukawa drops through the floor. Tendou winks at Shouyou before dropping too.
"If you think it's for the best, I won't argue right now, but I have questions that I expect to be answered," Akaashi says before taking his leave. His Watchers follow, leaving Iwaizumi the last outsider in the hallway.
"I'll have Bronze send a few builders to install communications to your Realms," Oikawa says. "For now, why don't you make up for lost time?"
They nod and make their leave, Shouyou leading the way. The grid plot roads of Balance make it easy enough to find the Bridge again. Shouyou can sense the hum of Death already, and his flowers glow brighter the closer they get.
The threshold stands before them and Shouyou places his hand to the light.
"Tobio?" Yachi's voice is quiet, Shouyou almost misses it. He turns around in time to see tears falling down Kageyama's face.
"Let's go home," Shouyou says with a smile.
The light turns black and he takes hold of Yachi and Kageyama's hands.
And they're home.
Almost at the end of this wacky journey, all that's left is the Epilogue, which won't be up until after New Years. So I'm wishing you all an early Happy New Years! Hope 2019 treats you well!
