Obviously, I own none of the rights to either of these series. Those belong to J.K. Rowling and Haruichi Furudate, along with whatever publishers, producers, etc., are involved with both series.

Hermione sat in her bed, hunched over one of the books she'd gotten from the Tsukishimas, lumos lighting up the pages.

During the Edo period, Miyagi prefecture was ruled by-

A wave of anxiety passed through her.

Hermione frowned at the book in her lap. She felt anxious. Scared. She couldn't focus. But why? Today had been a good day. Her time with Tetsurou had been wonderful, as had the party. Yes, there had been stressful things recently—namely the ambassadors, her NEWTs, and the looming wedding fiasco, but there was no need to be anxious about those right now.

She just wanted to read one of the books the Tsukishimas had given her today.

Was the anxiety coming from Tetsurou? But he was asleep… His emotions usually felt muted…

Hermione frowned. Usually she fell asleep first, which meant that she entered her dream-cycle first, so they both ended up in her dreams… Was Tetsurou having a nightmare? She couldn't remember the last time she'd been in his dream, not the other way around. If it was a bad dream, though, she'd just have to talk to him about it in the morning.

During the Edo period—

A scream.

Tetsurou's scream. It was reverberating throughout her head.

She apparated to his side.

The book fell to the floor of the tent and she barely registered her own nausea. The screams were so much louder here, echoing in her head and all around her. Tetsurou was writhing in his bed, covered in sweat, all his sheets had long ago been tossed to the floor in a crumpled mess.

"Tetsurou!" She rushed forward, pulling him into a hug. His body fought against hers, shoving her away. "Tetsu!" She pulled him close again. "Tetsu it's ok!"

Another shove. Why did he have to be so bloody strong?

Again. She wrapped her arms around him. He needed to wake up naturally. The shock of casting enervate at someone having a nightmare would only make them more determined that the nightmare was actually reality. "Tetsu, you're ok. It's over." She projected as much calmness through their bond as she could. His shoves were at least weakening. "I'm here. It's ok."

He twisted, shoving her back once more. She winced at her harsh landing on the floor. Hermione looked up, only to see his wand pointing straight at her head, quivering.

She froze.

His emotions were everywhere, eyes open but unfocused. She didn't dare move, but reached out over the bond, sending him more calmness.

"Tetsu."

"Kuso." He threw his wand to the corner of the room as if it burned, shaking his head. He groaned, slumping back into the bed. "Gomen, Mio."

"It's fine." She shakily stood up.

"I held you at wand point. That's not fine."

"You were hardly aware of what you were doing. I know the dangers of waking up a distressed wizard." She sighed, "I just didn't realize you kept your wand so close to the bed."

"I do now." He leaned his head back against the headboard of the bed, clearly exhausted. "It stays in the seam of my shorts, like at practice."

"Alright, I'll take that away in the future, then."

He groaned. "I don't want this to happen again, Mio."

She tentatively approached the bed, sitting down next to him. "Nightmares like this rarely go away after one appearance, Tetsurou."

He didn't respond.

She reached over to take his hand, holding it as he steadied his breathing. Hermione forced herself to be patient. He would tell her when he was ready.

The silence stretched on.

"I killed someone."

Hermione blinked, "We don't know—"

"We do." Tetsurou closed his eyes. "That…woman. She told me. Yelled at me while I was laying there, bleeding. So much blood." He paused, taking a deep, unsteady breath. "She said I was a useless blood traitor of a wizard and the only reason I won was because I caught him by surprise." He shuddered.

"I killed someone, Mio."

His voice sounded so quiet, broken almost.

Hermione turned to throw her arm around him, leaning against his chest in a half hug as they lay on the bed. "I've killed too, Tetsurou. You were defending yourself. It was kill or be killed; it doesn't make you a bad person."

He shook his head, annoyance lapping at the bond. "I know that. I know it doesn't, but Mio….all I feel is happy. Relieved. How can I be happy that I killed someone?"

"Oh, Tetsu." So that was what was upsetting him. That he didn't feel remorse. She hugged him tighter, "Because those you love aren't dead."

His arm slowly wrapped around her, pulling her closer. "Right." His voice was tight.

"There's more, isn't there? It's not just about being happy you killed someone."

He made a noncommittal noise at the back of his throat.

Hermione just waited. She could feel his internal turmoil as he debated what to say, or whether to say anything.

"Well, there's something else related to that, I guess."

She waited.

"It's just…people who are happy when they've killed someone, they usually do it more than once, right? And I don't want to hurt people, but I can't…. I can't just give up potions. I can't. But I used them to make something horrible, just like I used my wand to do something horrible, and… I don't want to hurt people."

"And as long as you have that desire, Tetsurou, I know you won't."

He scoffed.

Hermione's eyes narrowed at the disbelief, terror, and self-deprecation she felt radiating out from him. She sat up and gave him a stern look. He didn't move.

"Tetsurou, look at me." He slowly turned his head. "I know you won't hurt anyone with your magic, not unless it's in self-defense. I can read your mind, I feel your emotions, I can see all of your memories and motivations. I've met plenty of killers who enjoyed it. You're not one of them."

His emotions were calming slightly, but he still refused to look her in the eyes. "But what if I become one?"

"You won't, but if it helps, I won't let you."

That startled a laugh out of him. His eyes searched hers. She didn't let any emotions appear but calm assurance.

Finally, he spoke: "I guess that's true."

There was a knock on the wood next to the opening of his room.

Tetsurou frowned. "There's a ward. Would you cancel it?"

Hermione eyed him carefully as she pulled out her wand. His emotions were now calmer and he at least seemed better….

He gave her an annoyed look at her hesitation. "I'd do it myself but my wand is all the way across the room. I may suck at wards, but finite isn't hard."

She sighed, quickly cancelling the silencing spell. She had wondered why Kenma hadn't come in when Tetsurou had been screaming.

"Who is it?" Tetsurou's voice sounded almost normal, just slightly hoarse from screaming. Hermione summoned a cup and cast aguamenti, then handed it to him. He nodded his thanks.

"Just let us in, you overgrown cat."

Hermione raised an eyebrow. What was Kei doing in the tent?

Tetsurou sighed. "Just come in, it's not locked or anything."

The tent flap slowly opened, and Kei entered the room, followed by Kenma. "So you are here. I heard you apparate but couldn't figure out what had happened."

Oh. "Gomen, Kei-kun." Hermione frowned, "I didn't mean to worry you."

"The others didn't wake up, so they're still inside. Is everything ok?" He looked between the two of them in confusion, "I doubt you came out here for no reason."

Tetsurou released a soft laugh. "I'm just that irresistible, Tsukki."

"Stop it."

Tetsurou's eyes widened as he turned to look at his annoyed friend.

Kenma was glaring at him. "You made the room silent, didn't you."

Tetsurou was quiet. "I may have. I asked Bokuto to do it a while ago, though. It wasn't just for tonight."

Kei shifted nervously, "I think I'm going—"

"Why?" Kenma voice was sharp as he cut off Kei. His glare had softened at the knowledge that the ward wasn't made to keep specifically him out, but he still looked annoyed.

"Nightmares. You know we have them."

Kenma's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Kuro."

"It's fine, Kenma. Nothing you can help with."

"Anyone can help with nightmares."

Tetsurou sighed. "It was just a nightmare, I promise."

"About what that woman did to you?"

Tetsurou shuddered but shook his head.

Kenma frowned. "Then what?"

Silence hang in the room.

Tetsurou sipped from the cup of water, refusing to make eye contact with anyone.

Kei looked at the three of them uneasily. "I just came to make sure nee-san was here. Maybe I shou—"

"Why are you hiding something, Kuro?"

He shrugged.

"What won't you tell me?"

Hermione entered Tetsurou's thoughts, but all she could catch was a panicked stream of "he can't know."

"Why did you have a nightmare? Why is this one affecting you worse than the others?"

Tetsurou! Can't you see your silence is hurting him?

Knowing that I killed someone will hurt him more. You saw how he reacted to the fact that I brewed the potion and used it.

He's already aware that it's a possibility, Tetsurou.

But he doesn't know for sure. He's in denial. He won't think about it at all.

"Stop it!" The both of them looked at Kenma, startled. "Stop talking to each other. I can tell. You get all…spacey." He glared at them.

Hermione bit her lip. Please tell him Tetsurou. He's your friend. He won't leave you. At least tell him why you don't want to say anything.

Tetsurou closed his eyes next to her, breathing slowly. "You'll be scared of me."

"I won't."

"Kenma…" His voice sounded weary.

"I'm going to leave." Kei was still looking between them uneasily but appeared relieved to have finally gotten that sentence out without being interrupted. He fled the room without waiting for a response.

Kenma came closer and sat at the edge of the bed, still facing them. "I won't be scared of you, Kuro."

"You hate that I brewed that poison. That I used it."

Kenma flinched. "I do. But I understand why. I don't… I don't understand your world, but I do know that without you I'd have died in the forest. You…" Kenma paused, frowning, "people with magic face more danger than most people right?"

"Not necessarily." Kuro looked away. "It's more like… people can specialize in it or not."

Kenma nodded, his eyes evaluating Hermione. "You do."

"Unwillingly, yes." Hermione nodded.

Kenma turned back to Kuro, "You don't."

Tetsurou slowly nodded, "I do potions for other reasons, but they can be dangerous."

"That's why I don't like it."

Tetsurou blinked. "What?"

Kenma blew out a sigh of frustration. "You're so dense sometimes. I hated that you brewed the potion because I know you hate hurting people. You avoid your wand like the plague because of all those years ago, but you love potions. I was worried you'd start to see potions as dangerous and hate them."

"Oh."

Inwardly, Hermione marveled at how well Kenma knew his friend. She hadn't even realized that Tetsurou might have that reaction…. She should have, she'd known about the fire, but she hadn't. Kenma had thought of it the second he was told.

"Stupid Kuro." Kenma sighed, looking down at his hands. "So the nightmare was about the poison?"

"Kinda." Tetsurou rubbed the back of his neck.

Kenma stared at his friend while he fidgeted. Finally, Tetsurou looked up and met Kenma's eyes.

"I killed him, Kenma. I killed someone."

Kenma slowly nodded. "We already knew that, right?"

"Not for sure."

Kenma groaned. "Baka. Idiot. Stupidhead."

"Oi!" Tetsurou stared at his friend incredulously.

Kenma eyed Tetsurou critically. "You were in denial."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Hermione shook her head, amused at both of them accusing the other of being in denial, "You were, Tetsurou."

"See? She's in your head. She would know."

"Stop ganging up on me!" He looked between the two of them, annoyed. "And she hasn't been in my head recently. She promised not to for the birthday surprise."

Hermione's eyes narrowed. "Tetsurou, did you make me promise that so you could avoid talking about this?"

Her anger grew as his pause lengthened. "Tetsurou…" She growled his name in annoyance.

He sighed, "Not entirely? I did want to surprise you."

"Tetsurou!"

"So your nightmare was about killing someone?"

Tetsurou fidgeted, rubbing the back of his neck in unease, "Yeah."

"And." Hermione glared at Tetsurou. Tell him the whole thing. Surely you can tell by now that he won't hold it against you.

Tetsurou gave her a dirty look.

"And?" Kenma's golden eyes stared at his friend with unwavering focus.

"I don't feel bad about having killed him."

Kenma blinked. "Of course."

"Of course?" Hermione could feel Tetsurou's shock over the bond. "That's it? Of course?"

"Well…yeah." Kenma tilted his head to the side. "You shouldn't feel bad about that. Not when they were going to kill you, first."

Tetsurou stared in disbelief.

"Idiot." Kenma sighed and pulled out his game system from his pocket. "You good now?"

Tetsurou slowly nodded. "For now, I guess."

"Good. Stop being stupid." With that, Kenma pressed the on button for his game and walked out of the room.

Hermione could still feel the shock coming from Tetsurou, but she could also feel that he was starting to accept their words, at least.

There was a knock on the wood.

Hermione frowned, but Tetsurou just called out, "Come in!"

Kei walked in, rubbing his arm self-consciously. "Mom and Dad would kill me if I let nee-san stay out here with you overnight."

Tetsurou groaned. "We're practically married! Come on! And it's not like we're going to do anything after I'm exhausted from this stupid fucking nightmare and getting chewed out by Kenma."

"You're not married yet, though." Kei looked distinctly uncomfortable about the idea.

Hermione frowned, "Speaking of that, when do we need to get that paperwork filled out, Tetsurou?"

"Eh, we can do it whenever, really. I suppose by the end of the month would be good, though. It has been a while."

"Do I even want to know?"

"We have to file paperwork registering our bond with the Japanese Ministry of Magic."

Tetsurou smirked, "And then we'll be married in the magical world."

Kei's eyes widened dramatically.

"Tetsurou!" He'd just added that last part to mess with Kei.

He held his hands up defensively, "It's true."

"Yes, technically." She rolled her eyes and turned to her cousin. "It's just a government technicality because they're too lazy to do two sets of paperwork, Kei-kun. Akaashi and Bokuto have filed it already, and they hardly act married."

Kei grimaced. "I did not need that picture."

"What picture?" Kuroo grinned, "Did your mind go somewhere dirty, Tsukki?"

"No!" He spluttered out, looking between them in surprise and annoyance, "Just… them being all lovey dovey or something would be really weird."

"Uh-huh." Tetsurou snickered. "Sure."

Kei looked away from them, flustered. "Whatever. I just came in so that I could make sure Hermione-nee-san didn't stay here."

"And what makes you her chaperone?"

Hermione sighed, cutting off any response Kei might have made, "I assume you'll be ok, Tetsurou?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'll be fine."

Hermione eyed him uncertainly, but his emotions at least seemed stable, now. And her aunt and uncle really would be upset if she stayed out here… though if it was important she would stay, propriety be damned.

"You sure?"

"Go, Mio. We can always keep talking if need be."

She stood up slowly. "Alright." She summoned his wand with a flick of her wrist. Kei jumped as it came flying past him into her outstretched palm. She handed it to Tetsurou.

"Arigatou, love." He fingered his wand for a few seconds, then slipped it into the seam of his shorts.

Kei watched the movement. "That's where you keep yours?"

Tetsurou nodded. "Yeah. Bokuto and Akaashi keep theirs in the same spot, too."

Kei nodded, "Good to know." He bent to pick up Hermione's book that she'd dropped after apparating. "You were reading this?"

She nodded, "It's good so far."

"Of course. We picked it out for you." He smirked and handed it to her, "Maybe just go to sleep when you get back to the house, though."

Hermione rolled her eyes, "Of course. It's 2 am."

"Tomorrow is going to suck." Tetsurou groaned behind her. "At least you can sleep at the school if you want."

"You'll survive."

Hermione let Kei pull her outside of Testurou's room in the tent. If he felt up to complaining about sleep, he would probably be fine.

A/N: As always, feedback is much appreciated! Y'all's reviews always make me so happy.

Emma3mikan: There will be more Yama/Yachi here and there ;)

BrownEyesAngel: Glad you liked the chapter and the gift! It took a while to figure out what would be a good one. And yeah, Kenma's adorable like that. Plus Hermione has a lot of experience with taking boys under her wing, lol