Author's Note: Oh my god, y'all, I am so sorry. I am here and alive, fresh with a new chapter for you to enjoy while I work on the next one. I moved back in February and started with THREE new jobs on top of looking to apply for grad school, so the fact that I managed to get this done was nothing short of a miracle. If you'd like an update, I'll be updating my bio with a little more on why I disappeared and what to expect moving forward. Thank you all for your continued support, and I hope you enjoy!

Thanks to KorosuPoison for the follow and CrazyFanGirl48 for the favorite! 3

Disclaimer: I don't own Kuroko no Basuke or Haikyuu, the characters or make any profit from this story. All characters and concepts belong to their respective owners. I only own Kotomi. I just like writing. Please support official releases.

Chapter 7: Welcome Home

Momoi Satsuki wasn't sure what to think when Akashi and the others returned late that night. She was worried by the look in their eyes, but also quite incensed when she found out about the lock on Kotomi's door. Concern turned to shock and disbelief when she realized that Kotomi's doorknob now had a new latch that hadn't been there before. It suddenly wasn't a mystery what Akashi had been whispering to his butler about just a few hours ago.

But as much as she loved Kotomi, Momoi knew better than confront Akashi alone. Kotomi was unaware of her unique station, being the only one who had any kind of sway over the immovable heir of the Akashi family. So, she resolved to wait a day. When her friends returned home earlier than expected, without Akashi, Momoi was quick to make her case through them.

"There you guys are!" Momoi cried as they skulked through the door. "Where's Akashi-kun? Did you guys know about Kotomi's door? Akashi-kun put a lock on it!"

At the sound of their childhood friends' name, there was a range of reactions. Their expressions soured and contorted in some unspoken pain that chilled Momoi, as it even registered on Midorima, who was normally so careful about his expressions.

"Satsuki…" Kuroko began cautiously. Momoi's brows furrowed with confusion, then distress.

"You guys knew? That's awful, that's like imprisoning her!' A harsh scoff from Aomine directed her glare at him, but he threw his things at a maid passing by and stormed away, hands shoved into his pockets.

"Fuck this. I'm going to bed."

"Dai-chan!" When she received no response to calling after him, she huffed angrily and puffed out her cheeks. "What's gotten into him?"

"I'm leaving, I feel sick." Murasakibara said, sounding quieter than usual. Midorima left without another word as he clutched his Lucky Item like a lifeline, even more so than usual.

"Momoicchi…" Even Kise sounded drained. His eyes were heavy, and a deep sadness marred his normally beautiful face. "Kotomicchi, she…she hasn't been home."

"What? Where is she? Is she hurt?" Momoi felt panic building as she realized that their moods and Akashi's disappearance might have something to do with Kotomi. Kise's eyes filled with tears. He took a deep breath and fought back whatever emotion was trying to strangle him.

"Sorry…I can't…I have to go." He disappeared down the halls with a quick stride, which left Momoi and Kuroko by themselves in the foyer.

"T-Tetsu-kun, what's going on? Has something happened? Why are you all acting like this?" Momoi asked, closing in on him in the hopes of clarity. Kuroko wasn't willing to look at her, but he did place a hand on her back, and pressed face into her shoulder in a half-hearted embrace.

Momoi blushed, and normally she would use this as a chance to hug him. But her concern for her troubled best friend overwhelmed her desire to progress in her relationship with her first love.

"…Kotomi-chan…she's…gone." A long moment passed, as if each letter had to sink into her skin before it struck her all at once. Her eyes widened in horror and she pushed him back. She cradled her heart through her shirt, as it had dropped into her stomach, leapt up to her throat, and then deflated, finally flopping lifelessly against her ribcage.

"Gone?" She echoed numbly. "Like, she's gone on a trip. Run away from home?" Kuroko shook his head.

"The rebels...took her. She was hurt, and..." Momoi's heart jolted back to life, only so it could freeze. Those friends Kotomi told her about. The ones she said were harmless. The ones Momoi chose not to investigate, or report to Akashi, because she trusted Kotomi's judgement.

"They brainwashed her into thinking that we weren't to be trusted. During the struggle," Kuroko's voice cracked at this point. He shut his eyes as he tried in vain to shut out the image of the puddle of red as it spilled out from her abdomen. But it was there when he closed his eyes, too.

"No, Tetsu-kun…stop talking…" Momoi begged him in a shaky voice.

"She was shot." Momoi's eyes filled with tears and she covered her face. She would have fallen to her knees, but Kuroko held her up by her shoulders, then let her cry into his chest as he fought back his own tears. He had to be strong for her, too. He felt so many things he couldn't share; guilt, grief, anger, betrayal, frustration all swirled inside his chest and suffocated his lungs. And regret tore into his heart a hole so big that he was sure would never be full again.

Kuroko was unaware that Momoi was feeling the same thing. Momoi knew that Kotomi had been sneaking out, that she'd been seeing people. And now she was dead because of them? It felt like it was only yesterday that they were both resting in bed together with their favorite snacks, chatting about everything under the sun. And now she was supposed to believe that she would never hear Kotomi's voice again?

"Can we…see her..?" Momoi whispered, tears running down her cheeks. Her voice never stopped quivering. "Is she…at the morgue…?" It burned to even speak of her like this.

"They took her body. We don't have it." Out of shame, Kuroko couldn't meet her eyes. Momoi gaped, her eyes widened in disbelief. There was just too much to process all at once.

"You…you don't have…her body? We can't even bury her?"

"Aomine-kun said there was no point in trying to get her back-"

"Dai-chan is an idiot. You should have tried. Did she die right away? Did you see it, or was she still alive?"

"They won't be able to keep her alive, not with the conditions out there. We tried to get her-"

"No! You left her!" Momoi wailed. She started slamming her fists against Kuroko over and over, her voice raising into hysterical shrieks of anguish and rage. "You gave up on her! She was right there, and you just let those monsters-!"

Kuroko grits his teeth and collapsed into a bow, almost prostrating himself to his friend. Tears fell in droplets on the marble floors they all tracked mud on as children. The fact that there would be one less pair of footsteps roaming these halls was unthinkable to them both.

"I know!" Kuroko suddenly shouted, which surprised Momoi so much that she ceased her crying, watching him with concern as he covered his face. "I know…I know I should have tried harder to get her back. I should have argued with Aomine or gone on my own. There was so much I should I have done..."

"Tetsu-kun…" Kuroko pulled away from his groveling only momentarily and stared at his hands as if they were some foreign entity.

"I had her in my arms. If only I had been a second faster. If only I had held her tighter…. What do I do from here on out?"

Momoi watched him, her heart aching for both him and her best friend now. She was still angry at every single one of them, and herself.

Momoi knew that the absence of their friends left Kotomi feeling vulnerable, so she should have suspected that she was more susceptible to opening up to someone else. She should have been more concerned about Kotomi sneaking off on her own. Perhaps if she had seen it coming, or if she had investigated her newfound friends, Kotomi would still be with them.

And even then, as selfish as it was, she couldn't bring herself to admit that share of blame before the boy she loved. The fear that he might find fault in her, or the fear that she might make him feel worse stifled the truth in her throat. Was she so horrible that she would let him shoulder all this pain just so he wouldn't think poorly of her?

"I…let's get through this together, Tetsu-kun. We can still hold a memorial service for her, right?" Kuroko looked up at her and slowly nodded. When he stood up, Momoi threw her arms around him in a warm, but bitter embrace. After a moment, Kuroko found himself wrapping his arms around her again.

"Thank you, Satsuki…" Momoi pursed her lips; she felt worse now.

That was the cruel reality of this world. It was bound to catch up with them, no matter how many days they spent underneath that plum tree. So Momoi resolved herself to stand beside Aomine. To stand behind Kuroko. Because if they were all she had left, she had to hold on whatever she could. So, she couldn't condemn him. Not any of them.

I'm sorry, Koto-chan…so sorry….

SDPA Base

Kotomi found herself sitting on the edge of the bed, legs hanging over the side as she wiggled her toes and tested out the ground. She pressed her toes against the gritty, uneven floors of the derelict hotel-turned hideout, pursing her lips.

She wasn't quite sure how much of her body was affected by her various injuries, but she hoped that she could be on her feet soon. Being so still and indoors made her anxious.

If she planned to live up to the promises that she made to Ushijima, there was no time to be sitting around. Gingerly, she placed her feet on the ground, inch by inch slipping her body off the bed into a standing position. Her wound tingled, but she felt at the very least the gaping hole in her abdomen would behave.

If she moved too fast, she would collapse; but she could move, and that was the most important thing. Kiyoko, one of the few females in charge, who had been helping her recover these last few days, opened the doors.

The young woman's gaze met Kotomi's, with her mouth a small 'o' of surprise, and Kotomi was drawn to the beauty mark by her lips, which Kotomi found herself envying just ever so slightly.

"You don't have to get up now, there's no rush." Kotomi was so busy admiring the young woman, that she almost forgot to answer until the girl tilted her head and called her name again, which finally brought Kotomi back to reality.

"I-I'm better now! Thank you for your concern. Your name was…Shimizu-san, isn't that right?" She nodded, her expression fairly impassive, but polite.

"That's right. I'm sorry that the boys were so noisy around you. I hope you were able to rest some after I kicked them out."

"Well, it was a little less lonely when they were around, at least…" Kotomi covered her mouth to giggle, which seemed to relax the other teen.

"You haven't even met everyone yet. It's so lively it's troublesome."

"Ahaha, if it's any worse than being with the others, then I might be in trouble indeed..."

"Would you like to meet the rest, then? It's about time for them to get out of training, so we can introduce you as they're coming in." Kotomi hesitated and bit her lip.

"Is...it okay?" She asked cautiously. As much as she wanted to get to know everyone here, she was hyperaware of her status as an outsider. And if they were anything like the Citadel, then she had to tread carefully. She didn't want to make a bad impression, considering she was going to live here. But Kiyoko seemed read her mind. The beauty grasped Kotomi's hand and squeezed it reassuringly.

"Don't worry. No one outside of the ones who were in your room earlier know who you are. As far as they're aware, you were saved from the Citadel prisons in our last raid. And that's all." Kiyoko offered a gentle smile, so pretty it made Kotomi blush and avert her gaze out of respect. It seemed like it was really easy to fall in love with this girl.

"...Okay. Thank you, Kiyoko-san." Kotomi took a few testing steps; her abdomen ached, but the pain didn't cripple her. They walked together through the halls, and Kotomi had the chance to examine her surroundings. Most of the rooms looked similar to her own, containing empty beds with dirty blankets and that decaying wallpaper.

"It's not much," Kiyoko admitted, "But we're a relatively new organization."

"How long?"

"Only about 3 years. This is probably going to be our Headquarters. We've grown so big, moving constantly is too risky."

"How do you guys fund yourselves?"

"Ushiwaka-san's family.."

"Ushiwaka...?"

"Ushijima Wakatoshi. We call him Ushiwaka for short. I hope he didn't intimidate you too much." Kotomi thought back to her interaction with the young man.

"He was…intense." Kiyoko's hand immediately went to her mouth, probably to hide a laugh.

"That's the general evaluation."

"He was interesting, though."

" That's good you think so. He liked you too, I think."

"You can tell…?" Kiyoko giggled at Kotomi's clueless expression, glancing back at her.

"You learn, after working close to him. I don't think he would have let you stay if he didn't like you, or if he thought you weren't worth giving a chance to." Kotomi shuddered to think what could have happened if he hadn't liked her.

"I don't think I said much to impress him, though…" Kotomi shrugged it off for now. She was out of the woods with him, so she didn't have to think too hard on the matter.

"He might have judged that your potential as an ally outweighs your potential as an enemy." The cornflower-eyed teen's lips fell into a frown. Kiyoko glanced back at her silence.

"Sorry, it's a bit early to be talking like that now, isn't it?" Kotomi shook her head, not willing to make such a kind person regret her attempts at making her feel welcome.

"No, it's alright. I'm happy to be here, and I want to be able to help. I understand I don't have the liberty of sitting around and feeling sorry for my situation, since I am fortunate to be able to stay here."

"Well, don't feel like you have to up and about just yet. Oikawa and the others spoke highly of you, so I trust their judgement." Kotomi tried not to look too bashful, pretending that she was focusing on trying not to fall. Kiyoko seemed to spare he and followed beside her in silence, only warning her of the uneven flooring every now and then as they safely arrived in the lobby of the old hotel. It had been converted into a cafeteria/lounge, with the remains of a restaurant acting as a kitchen.

There were other young women and two older men working there, putting out giant vats of curry and rice and soup. A young woman with a rounded, bright blonde bob cut stood at the head of the operations, calling out orders from her station in the kitchen. When her eyes fell on Kotomi, she grinned amicably and waved.

"Oi, Kiyoko-chan! She's finally awake!" Kiyoko walked toward the kitchen and nodded for Kotomi to follow her. "So this is the infamous friend of Oikawa and the others?" Movement in the kitchen stopped and Kotomi found all eyes on her. Did everyone know about her? How much did they know? Were they going to give her a hard time? The blonde woman looked Kotomi up and down with a gaping mouth.

"Holy shit! So you were in that insane prison break, huh!? Those dumbasses couldn't even bring you back in one piece!" Prison break? Kiyoko had mentioned it earlier too, but wasn't she the only one who was broken out that day? But she had no time to she had time to process her words, the woman pushed a heaping tray full of food into her hands.

"Tell me sooner, Kiyoko-chan! I would have made a little extra! You need to eat to heal from those wounds! My name's Saeko! Call me Saeko-nee, got it kid? What's your name?" Kotomi felt a little dizzy from all the talking. So much energy…

"Fujisaki Kotomi…thank you very much." She was relieved that she was so friendly, at least. She glanced at the kitchen. The two older men, who seemed to oversee delegating portions and ingredients, glanced at her and gave small, polite nods before turning back to their duties. Kiyoko took her into the cafeteria again, where other girls were placing the same set up of food that Kotomi had on her tray. Saeko waved to them from the kitchen, grinning happily before she disappeared from the window.

"She's pushy, but a good person." Kiyoko insisted, to which Kotomi smiled and nodded. As she finally felt some relief, the doors to the hotel opened and young men flooded into the room, much to her shock and slight dismay. There were so many of them... All eyes fell on her as they began to fill in the spacious area. Some were cautious, some were friendly, and some were in awe. When Kotomi smiled and waved, they only gaped at her, which made Kotomi feel even more like an outsider than she already did. The anxiety returned, and her eyes sought out a familiar face in the sea of strangers.

"Don't worry about them, Kotomi-san." Kiyoko suddenly spoke. "They're not used to seeing new girls; eventually, they'll ignore you like they ignore us."

"When will that be?"

"...you should eat." Kotomi shot the girl an incredulous expression but left it at that. She was suddenly aware that she must have looked awful to these young men. Her hair hung in uneven and loose segments. The smell of singed hair lingered on the many bandages that shielded her wounds from the open air and her own clothes. After agonizing under their heavy gazes for what felt like the span of an hour, finally, a familiar voice made her perk up.

"Shimizu-chan, why did you let her out of bed? Is she okay to be walking around like this?" Oikawa asked worriedly, which earned incredulous looks from the little posse of young men entering with him. Iwaizumi was among the posse, but he quickly switched his attention to Kotomi, who twitched and was quick to return a brief nod and smile.

"She was getting restless." Kiyoko countered. "A good emotional and mental state is important for healing, as well."

"Shimizu-san is right." Kotomi agreed, though Oikawa simply gave her a look of exasperation. He stepped forward.

"I don't want to hear a single word out of you until you learn to dodge bullets." Without waiting for her to retort, Oikawa pushed her toward a table and sat her down with hands so gentle that Kotomi wasn't quite sure if this was the same Oikawa Tooru as the one who used to relish in knocking her into the dirt. Once she was seated, two bodies immediately occupied either side of Kotomi, sandwiching her in between a rowdy Bokuto and Kuroo, though both were cautious not to brush up against her. They were all in their training outfits, black tank tops and grey cargo pants tucked into combat boots. They were smeared with mud and dirt, and they smelled like the earth after it rained.

"If you really wanted to come and see us so badly, little bird, you could have just asked me to carry you." Kuroo purred, grinning as per usual, while he ignored Oikawa's offended squawk of indignation.

"Oi." Oikawa growled in warning, but Bokuto leaned toward Kotomi, grinning with his usual wild energy.

"Already walking around?" Kotomi giggled softly at his bouncy energy.

"Unfortunately, sleeping without your lap is just impossible, Bokuto-san." Kotomi flashed him a teasing curl of her lips. In response, Bokuto's face turned bright red. Kuroo laughed and poked at his friends' face while Iwaizumi rolled his eyes. Oikawa looked like he was about to pop a vein. Begrudgingly, he sat across from Kotomi. But his efforts to remain the center of her attention were quickly swept away by the small crowd that began to gather around her.

"Hello," greeted a handsome young man with a beauty mark by his right eye, silver hair, and warm brown eyes. He had a soft look to him. It was hard to believe that he was a rebel, his beauty more suited towards a Citadel socialite. "I'm Sugawara Koushi. You must be the little bird everyone's been talking about."

"That nickname is a little embarrassing…" Kotomi laughed, waving a hand dismissively. "Please, you can just call me Kotomi."

"What!?" Oikawa shouted in disbelief. Kuroo covered his hears and glared.

"What the hell is your problem?"

"Really? I will, then! It's nice to meet you, Kotomi-chan."

"You as well, Suguwara-san." Kotomi ignored Oikawa as he began to rant, as he usually did.

"I wasn't allowed to call her by her first name when we first met!"

"Oh! You beat us to it, Suga." Continuing to ignore Oikawa's raging, a handsome teen with a chiseled jawline, a dark crew cut and tanned skin approached, with a taller brunette with long hair tailing behind him. He seemed quite reserved, making eye contact with Kotomi before his eyes darted away. But the dark-haired boy offered Kotomi a hand, which he squeezed when she met him halfway with her own hand. His touch was calloused, but also warm and snug.

"Hello," Kotomi said softly, earning a smile from the more outgoing teen.

"My name is Sawamura, and this scary looking guy is Asahi."

"Daichi!" The brunette whined unhappily. "Don't make her scared of me!"

"You do that on your own, Asahi." Suguwara teased before he grinned at Kotomi. "Don't worry, he's harmless. You could probably beat him, Kotomi-chan."

"Oh, no, I don't think-"

"No, I think anyone could beat him." Daichi gave her shoulder a reassuring pat, which earned a cough of disapproval from the displeased brunette.

"Quit being a jealous kid." Iwaizumi scolded, to which Oikawa responded with a glare.

"I'm not!"

"You're so possessive, Gorilla-chan…" Kuroo teased before dodging a spoon thrown his way. Kotomi blinked a few times upon hearing that nickname again.

" Now that I think about it, why do you keep calling him Gorilla?"

"Oh, so now you heard! Don't answer that question, Kuroo you bastard!"

"Because he fights some kind of territorial animal." Iwaizumi deadpanned, and Kotomi responded by nodding immediately in understanding.

"It fits."

"You're so cruel, Kotori-chan! I thought we had a connection!" Oikawa flung himself at her, but Iwaizumi threw his arm out to block his path.

"Don't bother her, she's still wounded, Shittykawa!"

"Kiyoko-san!" The previously quiet young woman tensed and immediately got out of her seat as Kotomi just barely perceived two blurs as they flew past her. The taller boy looked a lot like Saeko, but with a shaved head. The other was much shorter, a dark-haired boy with spikey hair and intense dark eyes, and a patch of blonde hair with strands that fell on the bridge of his nose. As Kiyoko held them both at bay; they seemed quite happy to even be in contact with her, even as she began to scold them.

"Tanaka! Nishinoya! Don't be so careless. We have an injured girl." Kiyoko chided, hitting them both on the forehead. They both cried out in apparent bliss, falling back, hands folded in prayer.

"Kiyoko-san hit us."

"She touched our heads." Kuroo slipped an arm around a bewildered Kotomi. No one seemed particularly concerned.

"Try not to stare at them for too long, little bird. Their weird is contagious." Kuroo blinked when he spotted a familiar young man with blonde hair fading into its natural black color, waving down his childhood friend.

"Oi, Kenma!" The blonde looked up and met Kotomi's eyes. There were so many pretty people here. Even if he was hunched over, and his golden eyes were averted and downcast, they were still quite intense and beautiful. If Kuroo was the wild, sly alley cat, then his friend was the timid, pretty, but elusive house feline. She didn't get to admire for long. The young man grabbed his tray and bolted, much to Kuroo's chagrin.

"Hey! Don't run!" Kuroo sighed, shrugging his shoulders as if it couldn't be helped. "He's shy, don't take it personally." And Kotomi didn't. How could she? These people were far friendlier than she expected them to be, especially considering who she was. Even if it was still a secret, she felt the difference in them was clear as day. Kuroo glanced down at her, his cattish expression softening into something more vulnerable, almost. "Hey, little bird-"

"If it's alright with you, Kotomi-san, since you're new, we'd like to welcome you at a little party tonight." Daichi interrupted Kuroo's lead in, though the messy-haired teen didn't seem too devastated, slowly pulling his arms away from her. Kotomi's eyes widened and her shoulders tensed up as she opened her mouth to protest, but Oikawa quickly shoved a piece of bread into her mouth to stop her with a grin.

"Don't even try, Kotori-chan! We went to so much trouble to capture you, after all, we get to decide how to welcome you."

"Besides, once you're all healed up, it's back to training. So enjoy it while it lasts." Iwaizumi added in between bites, looking at her with a small grin. Kotomi found the corners of her mouth turning upwards. She pulled the bread out of her mouth and chucked it playfully at the brunette. While he pretended to be injured, Kiyoko touched Kotomi's hair with a gentle hand and ran her fingers through the slightly singed ends.

"Kotomi-chan, why don't I cut your hair, tomorrow? It's quite uneven." Kotomi blinked, having forgotten about her hair. Her side ponytail was gone. Chunks of her hair were still as long as her lower back, but more than half of her hair was about the length of her shoulders now.

"Pleased do, thank you, Shimizu-san."
"Call me Kiyoko."

"Oh, I don't…"

"It's fine, we're the same age after all. You don't need to be too proper, so don't worry…"

"It's not that, I just…" Calling people by their first names was reserved for them…Her face fell as she looks down at her lap. "No, it's nothing…"

"I wanna call Komi-chan by her first name, too!"

"Bokuto-san, you already have a nickname for her." Oikawa shot up suddenly, pointing at Kotomi as if she'd done something wrong.

"Kotomi! Don't you dare get too familiar with anyone before me, I'm your best friend, got it!?"

"When was that decided?" Kuroo asked in slight annoyance.

"Don't make such stupid proclamations, Shithead."

"Tell them all I'm right, Kotomi!"

"I…"

"Sensei, the Gorilla is pounding his chest again~" Kuroo called out to the imaginary guardian.

"Don't call me gorilla!"

"Oh, he's mad!" A couple of other young men called from across the table, earning more protests from Oikawa as he shifted his focus. Kotomi watched as chaos unfolded with a fond smile. She felt that she could get used to a place like this, at least a little. But her optimism wavered, as a food fight broke out amongst the others. It was nostalgic and Kotomi never thought she'd be smiling as she dodged flying piles of rice and curry, drinks, and occasional batches of salad. It was much preferable to a silent, cold hallway, devoid of warmth…

While she lost herself in less than fond memories, someone threw a plate of vegetables at Oikawa. The young man dodged it. But he threw his head over his shoulder as the plate nailed Kotomi dead center in the face, sticking there for a long moment. God knows what Miya Atsumu put on the plate to make it sticky like that. The room fell silent, the pause lasting about as long as it took for the plate to slide off Kotomi's face, which left a trail of baby corn and canned lettuce stuck to her face and her fringe. Then…

"UWAAAHHHHHHHHH!" Collective screams, the loudest being Kuroo, Bokuto, Oikawa, and Asahi, for some reason.

"Oikawa, you bastard!" Bokuto screeched.

"I didn't throw it!" Oikawa wailed right back.

"Take your greens like a man, you damn gorilla!" Kuroo scolded heatedly.

"Look, she's so upset, she's crying!" Oikawa turned to Kotomi, whose shoulders were shaking as she carefully wiped at her face with the napkin that Kiyoko hurriedly passed to her. Oikawa swallowed. Worse than crying, if she was mad, then…

"K-Kotori-chan…I…"

"Pfft!" The mood shifted into something light and fluffy as they finally caught a glimpse of Kotomi's face. Her eyes were shut, cheeks pink, and lips turned up in a grin, one she covered with a hand. Her eyes moistened as she giggled, then laughed so hard no sound escaped her throat at first. Her laughter seemed contagious, as a few others joined in, some in relief, some simply because the mood was right. Kotomi looked around as the room returned to a busy chattering, though laughter still echoed all around. Oikawa found himself smiling with her, and his eyes warmed when they made contact with Kotomi's gaze.

"You look better when you smile, Kotori-chan." Kotomi nodded in agreement, giggling again as she tried to expel all the laughter from her lungs.

"You're right. Thank you."

"Bokuto, don't take my share of meat, you damn owl!" Owl and alley-cat hissed and swatted at each other. Despite the excitement earlier, Daichi decided the fun didn't have to stop there. People rotated turns cooking meat on portable grills stolen from a supply truck. Meat, vegetables, and other perishables had to be cooked immediately. It was a rare treat for the rebels, and Kotomi appeared at an auspicious time.

"Mphhg hghsf ishyful!" Bokuto screeched through a mouthful of pork and lettuce.

"I can't understand a word you're saying!" Kuroo shot back, half ready to throat punch the other young man.

"Bokuto-san don't speak with your mouth full. You'll choke." Akaashi spoke calmly as he watched his friend inevitably begin to hack and cough. Kotomi tried not to cringe when Bokuto coughed up the meat he had swiped from right under Kuroo's nose in a nasty pile of mush. Oikawa, who had been clinging to Kotomi's side since the end of lunch, ignored the chaos in front of them, holding up a spoonful of soup to Kotomi's lips.

"Kotori-chan, you need to eat more!"

"I can feed myself, Oikawa-kun…"

"You're embarrassing her, Shittykawa." Iwaizumi deadpanned.

"Then, you can feed me!" Kotomi sighed and picked up a napkin and tapped away excess crumbs from the corner of his mouth with the disapproving tone of a mother with her uncooperative child.

"You're not even getting any food into your mouth. What's gotten into you? You're acting like a baby." Oikawa's expression softened into a more mature, conscious kind of gaze. He took her hand and squeezed it gently, running his fingers over the pulse of her wrist. His hand lingered there, as if trying to convince himself that her heart still beat.

"I'm just…really happy you got out of there. Before it got bad." One of his hands trickled down a loose strand of her hair, through dark locks and playing with the split ends. "I was really scared." Kotomi smiled a little and looked down. With a deep breath, Kotomi nodded in agreement.

"Me too. Thank you for coming for me." Kotomi's eyes closed in relaxation. Oikawa watched her with a strange expression, leaning in slowly with his gaze set on rosy lips turned up in content.

Clink!

"Sorry." Iwaizumi immediately leaned over to use a napkin to mop up the spilled water glass, as he shoved his arm in between Oikawa and Kotomi. The latter immediately moved in to help, missing the tense but wordless exchange between childhood friends.

"Ahhh! I think I'm going to get some fresh air! I'll be back!" Oikawa announced. Iwaizumi stood up as well. Kotomi looked up at them, blinking cluelessly.

"Are you guys okay?" Iwaizumi placed a hand on her head, ruffling her hair affectionately.

"We'll be back, just sit tight and eat." The two teens walked away side by side, leaving Kotomi to nibble at some meat while in thought.

"Hey!" Kotomi glanced up at Nishinoya, flanked by Tanaka. They peered at her with bright, expectant expressions. Nishinoya's intense, gold-colored eyes made Kotomi shrink a little as she tilted her head. The silence was unnerving for her.

"H-Hello…?"

"What's it like?" Her brow furrowed and she tilted her head.

"What's…"

"Kiyoko-san treated your wounds, what's it like?" Their eyes shined with such curiosity, but Kotomi started to understand why Kiyoko seemed so stern with their infatuation of her.

"She's very kind. But firm. I think those are good qualities to have in a medic."

"Kiyoko-san isn't our medic," Tanaka quickly corrected her, grinning proudly and gesturing to the young woman who was eating beside who Kotomi believes was a young man named Ennoshita. "She's our supervisor!"

"Since we don't have a medic, she does what she can since she got here a year ago. Isn't she so kind?"

"No medic…?" Kotomi pursed her lips, remembering how Oikawa came to her when Iwaizumi was hurt. She thought it was because they wouldn't have made it home in time, but perhaps it was because there was no one who would have been able to help. Kotomi found herself looking down at her hands. She could still help. Could still heal. But it wasn't for who she thought it would be.

"Oi, Fujisaki?" Tanaka seemed to notice her quiet, right away. But Kotomi quickly brushed away the concern, waving a hand.

"Sorry, I'm going to get some air." Kotomi stood up and walked off, her busy mind urging her to wander aimlessly. She found herself outside the hotel, staring out at the horizon while holding her side. So much has happened, she hardly had any time to process that she was really gone from her home. Would they come after her? Did she want them to? Her heart ached as she thought of her friends back home, as she recalled their faces.

They really just wanted to protect me. Even so, it still didn't seem right to stay by their side. That she didn't regret. Not one bit. To regret leaving them would mean she regretted coming to the side of Oikawa and the others, and that didn't feel right either.

"Little bird?" Kotomi glanced over her shoulder to spot Kuroo. She bit back a smile, eyes dancing over the new scratches and bruises likely made by Bokuto.

"Kuroo-kun, you're done beating up Bokuto?" Thin shoulders shrugged upwards as he sighed, walking over to stand beside her.

"I'll just get him back when we go to training tomorrow. Shove a bunch of anchovies in his mouth. Fish is good for that empty brain of his."

"Why anchovies?"

"Because he hates them and there's fish oil in them."

"Ah, fish oil has an acid that's good for your brain, right?"

"Docosahexaenoic Acid." Kotomi turned to Kuroo, eyes wide. He turned his nose up, arms crossed triumphantly. Kotomi raised a brow in incredulity and scoffed with a shrug.

"Oh, forgive me, I wasn't aware I was in the presence of a scholar."

"That's alright, I can't help that my scholarly charm leaps out in bounds when I'm around you." He gushed with a dramatic flourish of his hand. Kotomi laughed more genuinely this time. His expression softened a little, and he reached down so he could stroke her hair affectionately. "Speaking of, my scholarly brain isn't very good at reading people's emotions. 'Fraid that that part is still a work in progress. Are you okay, little bird?" He wasn't surprised when her expression faltered. He moved his hand so that he could rub the back of his head.

"Guess not. You left a lot behind, after all. I wanted to tell you earlier, but I want you to be able to talk to me about how you're feeling."

"I'm fine, thank you-"

"We all know that's not true. And to be honest, I would be a little nervous if you didn't feel anything about leaving. That place was your home, after all. They were your family, even if they're our enemies." Kotomi bit back all the frustrations she wanted to share with anyone, not just Kuroo. It wasn't as if she didn't trust them, she just wasn't ready to talk and wasn't expecting Kuroo to be the one to breach the topic first. She knew right away he was no idiot, but since they were such close friends, she assumed Kuroo was a lot like Bokuto in terms of reading the room. It didn't occur to her at all that maybe Kuroo was a perfect fit for Bokuto not because they were similar, but because they were so different. Kuroo doesn't even need to talk to Bokuto to understand him. When did it become the same for her?

"Fair enough. I'm not sure how I'm feeling now, to be honest. I'm just trying to make sense of it all in my head. I don't feel comfortable sharing my thoughts just yet." Kuroo deflated a little, his small sigh seemed not so much directed at her as it was directed at his inability to help.

"You don't have to talk about it all now. I just want you to know you don't...You don't have to act all grown up here. You can be a kid and be upset. Don't make any sense, scream, cry, whatever makes you feel better for even an hour." Kotomi looked on with an admiring smile, which seemed to be enough to convince him to keep talking. Kotomi's gaze found the the horizon again as she absorbed his words; their talk prevented her from noticing the sun as it began to set, muting the horizon and their figures in a harmonious sunset of yellows and oranges dying the everything the light touched.

" For now, I'm just glad to be here. "

"We're all glad you're here too. And we…I hope you'll stay." Kotomi scoffed with less emphasis now and pushed some hair behind her ear.

"It isn't as if I have some place to run off to, after all." Kuroo shrugged.

"Some days, it seems like the Wasteland is preferable to living with so many dudes. Bokuto can get pretty annoying. Oikawa, too. And it looked like Nishinoya and Tanaka were about to induct you into their weird little Kiyoko cult. You could always run before that happens." Kotomi coughed to disguise her inadvertent laugh, but it melted into a genuine one moment later as she gave him a light shove.

"That's so rude." She turned way to hide her face, unaware of his admiring gaze, which melted further into a warm, but nervous expression. "It's only been a day, but I think I might have my work cut out for me. If it's anything like healing you guys…well, you know I love a challenge."

"Little bird," This time, there was no distraction as Kuroo took Kotomi by her wrists, pulling her closer to him. Kotomi looked up at him, tilting her head and blushing slightly at the proximity. Kuroo tried not to make a face, cheeks burning.

"Kuroo-kun, are you okay? You look a little uncomfortable…"

"Shit." Not exactly the image he wanted to show to her. But in all honesty, he wasn't sure how to do this, just yet. He hardly had any contact with any females except for Kiyoko, who was constantly guarded by her little fan club all the time.

"Shit…?"

"I…I just…" Kuroo shook his head, as if changing up what he was about to say. Suddenly, he put his arms around Kotomi's waist and pulled her close, trapping her in a sudden, but far from unwelcome embrace. Kotomi's blush darkened. Something about how rigid he was made her just as nervous, unlike Kise and his insistent confidence with physical affection. His warm, spicy scent calmed her shock only a split second later as she nuzzled him.

"What's gotten into all of you? You're so touchy."

"No idea what you're talking about." Kuroo was grateful his nerves were completely masked by his cheeky tone, but he held a hand over her head, so she couldn't pull away and see how red his cheeks were. He had been waiting to do this since she opened her eyes. "Just sit back and let me be your shoulder to cry on, little bird~" Despite his joking tone, he meant it; even if Kotomi wouldn't take the offer. He felt small, but warm palms find purchase on his back. Kuroo couldn't help but revel in the feeling of how the contours of her small frame seemed to fit perfectly with his.

I am totally nailing this. He encouraged himself with a smirk. Just call me Casanova-

"Sorry, am I interrupting something?" Kuroo twitched as he met the unamused gaze of an annoyed Oikawa, who raised a brow at their position. Reluctantly, the messy, black haired teen slowly let go, scratching the back of his messy head and smiled down at Kotomi.

"Not at all. I'm gonna head back in. I'll talk to you again later, little birdie."

"Thank you, Kuroo-kun." The dark-haired teen waved and walked off, but not before exchanging a pointed look with Oikawa. Once they were alone, Oikawa sighed and approached the clueless young girl, running a frustrated hand through his hair before letting it fall again.

"You really are troublesome." Kotomi furrowed a clueless brow. She huffed and puffed her chest out, crossing her arms.

"What's troublesome is your mood swings. Where's Iwaizumi-kun?"

"Don't worry about that, he's around. You have plenty of time to see him, now." Oikawa pouted a little and looked away, rubbing under his nose with his index finger. "It kinda annoys me. We were friends first, before everyone else. But it feels like I'm constantly fighting for your attention." Kotomi rolled her eyes a bit.

"You really are a territorial animal. You only feel that way because you're an attention hog." Oikawa gasped, following his offended expression with the infamous hand pressed to his chest as if her petty words had wounded it.

"You're so mean!" Kotomi shook her head and laughed aloud. They were always so good at making her laugh when she was meant to be sulking. The girl took Oikawa by the hands and squeezed them tightly. They were already bigger than hers, and he still had plenty of time to grow. Somehow, she looked forward to becoming older with all of them.

"But…if it will make you grow up a little...you introduced me to a world I didn't know I was curious about. You taught me to fight, and you gave me courage when my heart wavered. Of course, everyone else is wonderful, but you started it all. Because you chose to raise your fist against me before you offered your hand to me. It helped me open my eyes to the truth I was so ignorant about. So, don't worry about me not giving you attention. You'll always be a part of the Kotomi now and the Kotomi in the future. That's something that's reserved, just for you."

Oikawa's eyes were wet by the time she finished. The words he'd wanted to say for the last year or so threatened to make themselves known.

I want to kiss you. I like you. I like you so much, it's crazy. Oikawa bit his lip as Kotomi stepped back, cheeks pink in embarrassment from such an admission. She fanned her face and turned around towards the hotel again.

"I'm getting kind of hungry. Promise that you'll stop being all crazy so that I can eat in peace?" Oikawa forced a smile on his lips.

"No promises." Kotomi giggled and made her way back inside, only pausing to wave to a waiting Iwaizumi, who stopped next to his friend, with his hands shoved into his pockets. Oikawa looked up at the sky, now littered with stars and clouds, with only the dim lights of the dingy hotel to illuminate the pitch-black night.

"I thought you were going to tell her. Kuroo might beat you to it, at this rate."

"He almost did, but he didn't."

"Because you know she's not in the place to accept what you have to tell her?"

"She's still hurt. And that won't go away any time soon. I don't want to make her think about things that don't matter just yet."

"It's good she's tempering that shit personality of yours." Oikawa only chuckled.

"I'll wait until the right time, to confess my feelings for her. When she's happy and healthy. Then I'll make sure she never cries again." Iwaizumi huffed, smirking.

"I'll be sure to give my all, too." Oikawa looked to his best friend, eyes glinting with something intense, before it melted into his goofy, childish whine.

"Iwa-chan, you can't even get a girlfriend, you can't compete-"

WHACK.

"Do you realize what you're asking for, Akashi?" Nijimura stared down the heterochromatic teen with an incredulous glare. His General pin sat shiny and new on his lapel, glinting softly in the back drop of the camp tent just outside of the city.

"I do."

"Give me one good reason why."

"It will minimize the losses we sustained today in the future."

"Or give our enemies a chance to surround us. You want us to pull back from our camps? To invalidate the death of every soldier that gave up their lives to secure them?"

"The city was attacked twice now. The citizens here are non-combatant. They're helpless. It's out duty to ensure their safety and the city's progression."

"And you think a handful satellite teams surrounding the perimeter is enough to hold off rebels that escaped from you?" If Akashi was perturbed by the blame in Nijimura's voice, he didn't show it.

"Elite teams to protect the perimeters, while the border is reinforced by the soldiers pulling back. Once we've settled, the elite teams will have been in their respective regions for a year or so. They'll know the areas, and our teams will be even with the rebels in terms of turf knowledge."

"Then, the teams 'search and destroy' every rebel hideout they come across." Nijimura leaned back in thought, genuinely considering his offer. Granted, it was not the path General Shirogane envisioned before he took ill, but it wasn't a bad idea.

"I will allow a trial run for this year and this year only. Get a team together. You'll have a year to produce results. If you can wipe out a rebel hideout, then I will allow deployment of the satellite teams."

"Yes, sir." Akashi bowed respectfully at the waist and turned to leave, but Nijimura wasn't quite finished talking yet.

"Akashi. I heard about your friend." This stopped the crimson red heir in his tracks. He didn't turn to face his superior when he spoke.

"It was quite the blow, yet we can do nothing but move on…but thank you for your concern. This will not affect our performance in the least."

"I think it's important that you address grief before it buries itself too deep. You're all so young, and this death was-"

"Kotomi was manipulated by enemies who snuck into the city. They're the reason she died the way she did. And I won't let anyone suffer the same way she did, nor will I allow any family to be torn apart, either." Nijimura raised a brow as the golden color of his eye seemed to intensify, as if a fire raged on behind the cool, mild-mannered tone of his voice.

"So this is revenge?"

"It's progress. At this rate, we'll be overrun. Replenishing soldiers isn't enough. It's inefficient, and I am merely doing my part as part of this army. I won't fail; it's not possible for me to fail, because I am absolute." Nijimura looked quite concerned as Akashi made his exit, only bowing shallowly and without being dismissed. It was so subtle that he questioned his perception of Akashi entirely, but it seemed as though there was something almost…insubordinate about his behavior. At least, compared to how he was as a trainee. But things weren't looking good for them these days; and with Akashi's almost flawless performance thus far, there wasn't much incentivizing a need to look into a circumstantial observation.

Akashi is still Akashi, after all…

Akashi returned home, handing his things to the servants and heading for his office. With the trial run approved, there wasn't much time to rest. Kuroko and the rest were still holing themselves up in their rooms, they weren't in any shape to take out on such an important mission.

"No matter." Akashi said to no one in particular, pulling out a roster gathered by Momoi containing the statistics of the other soldiers. He had his eyes on a new team already. Once grief subsided, revenge would drive them to move once more. They would join him, soon. He knew because like them, the same hole in his chest ached with a need for blood and flesh to keep his heart pumping.

"Thank you for waiting." Akashi said politely as a maid opened to door to his office. Four teens, a year or two older than him, entered. They all regarded the young man with varying levels of scrutiny.

"My, what could the Akashi Seijuro want with us?"

Mibuchi Reo.

"I want you four to assist me with a new mission."

"Does it pay? Will you pay us? This place is huge! I want a house just like this someday!"

Hayama Kotaro.

"Never mind that, I could go for some meat. I'd be okay, as long as I get to eat a whole lot. Those portions are too small in the cafeteria, I could lose muscle mass. "

Nebuya Eikichi.

"Whatever it is, I'm not interested…"

Mayuzumi Chihiro.

Four top scorers in the squad of soldiers a year before them. While the first three were similar in talent and success on the battlefield to Akashi and his friends, they lacked proper leadership. The fourth young man didn't have any outstanding stats, but he did remind Akashi of a certain phantom assassin, but with more potential. Akashi felt his fingers twitch to reach into his pocket, knowing that a certain red little charm sat inside waiting to comfort him as he began the briefing. Akashi's lips turned up in a smile, one lacking warmth and kindness, the kind that sent chills down the back of anyone there to witness it. The visitors quieted down as Akashi raised an open hand, closing it slowly into a fist.

"I want to offer you a chance to be great. A chance to change life as we know it. A chance to pave the way for a brighter future for all of us."

Kotomi, I promise you…no one else will die in our family. I'll keep my promise to you. Anyone who dares stand in the way of the future you dreamt of will be shown no mercy.

"We're going to wipe out the rebels."

Kotomi wasn't sure when it happened, but she had fallen asleep at the table and woken up in bed in the infirmary again. Judging by the positioning of the moon in the sky, it was probably early in the morning, but not long after midnight. She looked to her right side, where a sleeping Oikawa sat and held her hand.

"You can throw him off, if you want." Kotomi looked to her left now, spotting Iwaizumi while he cleaned his gun at the table in the corner. She noticed in the far corner of the room. Bokuto and Kuroo were sleeping on the couch, using each other to prop themselves up, while Akaashi slept on the floor, a pillow behind his head and a blanket draped over him. Kotomi looks back to Iwaizumi.

"I'm fine, but…why is everyone sleeping in here? Afraid I'll run off in the middle of the night to join the other rebels?" She joked half-heartedly.

"I don't think they really meant to. We all came in here because you seemed uncomfortable outside, and these idiots wore themselves out over who had enough muscle to carry you to bed. And while they were fighting, I tucked you in." Kotomi slapped a hand over her mouth, not wanting to wake anyone up. Iwaizumi's eyes traveled to Kotomi's abdomen, a question gnawing at his bottom lip in the form of his own teeth.

"You worried it's going to scar?" Kotomi paused to think for a moment, but then she shrugged.

"Not really. It's proof I'm alive." This time, Kotomi's eyes landed on Iwaizumi's stomach. She placed a palm on the spot she stitched him up all those years ago.

"Did this leave a bad scar?"

"It could have been much worse. I didn't ever thank you properly for saving me. Even though you knew we were supposed to be our enemy."

"I don't think life is really that black and white…we're all trying to survive, that's all. Survive and protect. I just wanted you to live, that's all." Kotomi shook her head a little as Iwaizumi's expression turned thoughtful. When he spoke again, it was much softer than his normal voice.

"We'll probably run into them again, someday." Kotomi nodded absentmindedly. It was something she did ponder on when she had moments of peace.

"It's not something I want to consider right now, but I'm aware it's inevitable."

"Will you return to their side?"

"I don't think it's possible."

"But if it was?"

"I think it's too early to say…I couldn't return a free person, though. I'd spend the rest of my life in one form prison or another if I ever returned."

"You sure you're not gonna just kick and bite your way out?" Iwaizumi teased lightheartedly, to which Kotomi turned pink. Puffed a single cheek out.

"Don't start calling me a gorilla, too."

"Want to be an owl or a cat instead?"

"No." Iwaizumi smirked, crossed his arms and leaning against the wall, turned his nose to the air to feign deep thinking.

"A hummingbird, then."

"Again, with that?"

"We already call you a little bird, I'm just specifying now."

"Why a hummingbird, though?" Iwaizumi's fond expression was clear as day, softening his normally angular features.

"Because you're small and annoying." Kotomi gasped indignantly, but quickly quieted down, as Oikawa groaned and squeezed her hand in warning. She'd never get to sleep if he woke up. She whined instead, pouting at Iwaizumi so hard that he had to stifle his own laugh.

"Call me what you wish…"

"I planned to."

"You're just as bad as Oikawa, sometimes."

"You're healed enough that I can smack you. Don't compare me to that creep." After a moment of silence, the two shared a single snicker, then gazed at each other for just a moment too long, though it never got uncomfortable. Finally, Iwaizumi shifted, as if he forgot where he was for a moment.

"I'm going to bed, now."

"Goodnight, Iwaizumi-kun…sleep well. I'll see you tomorrow." Iwaizumi picked up after himself, and headed for the door, stopping at the doorway before he looked back at Kotomi with a smile that had her heart skipping a beat.

"Welcome home, Kotomi." Her heart warmed at the gesture. She brought her free hand, the one not occupied by Oikawa's, to her chest as it fluttered in her chest. Somehow, talking to a few of them tonight calmed the whirlwind inside her.

I am so lucky. Kotomi felt her heart tighten and her eyes began to sting, but before her tears could go anywhere, she felt fingers curl around hers.

"Kotori-chan…" Oikawa murmured in his sleep, nuzzling her blanket. She found her smile grow, her free hand running through his brown locks again as she settled back into bed. Her heart still ached for her old friends, for her old life, and for her dream to fight beside them. But too many people cared about her to let an old wish like that destroy her. It wasn't one she was responsible for.

"Live on, Kotomi. Choose your fate with your own hands." A familiar, but welcome voice reverberated through her as her eyelids fluttered with the return of sleep. It comforted her in her resolve to do what she could to protect her friends and her home.

"Live on, no matter what."

No matter what.

-Six years later…PROLOGUE END-

Author's Note: AHHHH Finally. I've been wanting to get this out to all of you for so long. I'm glad it finally happened. We are hitting a huge time skip, now. We are coming back to Kotomi and the others when they're 22! So prepare for things to become a little more…adult. ( ' –') As in potential adult content including but not limited to sexy times and gratuitous violence. I'm thinking I'll be posting actual sexy times on AO3. What do you guys think? Let me know! Until Next time!