Kageyama could not take his mind off of Hinata Shoyou. His bright fiery eyes haunted him, made him feel strange.

Indeed, the longings of an unloved heart were strange.

A week past and Kageyama found himself ordering that Sugawara accompany him to another visit to the town of Karasuno.

Once more, he found Nishinoya. Once more, he returned to the tavern. Once more, he caught a glimpse of the fiery bright eyes that haunted him for the rest of his week. Yet his heart still ached, still longed for something more.

"You should talk to him."

Sugawara suggested gently, the next time they disguised themselves to go to Karasuno.

"Tsukki tells me you have an admirer."

Yamaguchi says to Hinata as they get ready for the day.

"Tall, pale and dark haired, is he handsome?"

He is.

Hinata signals to Yamaguchi, years of living with not saying a word and Yamaguchi not being able to see facial expressions or writing lead to their own language of signals.

"He is."

Yamaguchi confirms, a smile ghosting over his face as his dull milky eyes stare blankly at the wall.

"What do you like most about him?"

His eyes. They're dark blue.

Hinata signals .

"Do you think he'll have the nerve to speak to you?"

Yamaguchi says absentmindedly.

Tadashi hopes he would.

"Uh..hi."

Hinata stares at the dark blue eyed boy in front of him and waves in response.

Kageyama is mesmerized by the boy who is Hinata Shoyou.

Who speaks in writing and signals and laughs soundlessly and blushes when he says something unintentionally sweet. He tries to be unintentionally sweet for that reason.

He doesn't tell Hinata he is king. Doesn't want Hinata to like him because he is king. Doesn't want Hinata to blame him for his destroyed village because he is king.

No.

All he wanted to be was Tobi Yama, the awkward dark haired boy who came by every week and worked outside of Karasuno on the other days.

The boy who is smitten with Hinata Shoyou. The boy that has Hinata's affection.

Soon Hinata is no longer Hinata to him but Shoyou. And he is no longer Yama but Tobi.

One day they watch Tsukishima leading Yamaguchi by the hand, the blond boy staring fondly at Yamaguchi's milky gaze.

Suddenly a small hand wraps around Kageyama's larger one and dark blue eyes meet bright gold. No words are said.

Sugawara watches his king walk hand in hand with the mute red haired boy. He watches them run, racing each other Kageyama's shouting and Hinata's smile is incredibly bright.

Sugawara forgets he is watching his king and sees only the little dark haired boy who finally gets to live the remainder of his stolen childhood.

Kageyama brings Hinata whatever he wishes. A new game, a wooden ornament, a fresh stack of parchment and inks and quills. The first few questioning looks disappear when he tells Hinata that it comes from his work outside of town. The look on the fiery haired boys face is worth more then all his jewels back at the castle.

For once, he wishes that Shoyou would know him not as Tobi Yama but as the King. That he had power to give him anything he desired in the whole world.

But Shoyou doesn't know. And Tobio is not sure how to tell him.

Hinata knows Tobi is keeping something from him.

Realizes it when Tsukishima takes one look at the little gifts that Tobi had been bringing him, the parchment and quills and fine wooden ornaments, and wonders aloud how Tobi Yama's apprentice salary is enough to pay for things like these.

Hinata wonders why he never sees Tobi around town other than their weekly meetings in the tavern where he works. Wonders why no one in the town has heard of Tobi Yama before when Yamaguchi asks around.

Tobio Kageyama relishes victory. He enjoys it as once enjoys a fine glass of wine. The King always wins. Those who fight back will lose everything. Another village of rebels burns before him, the hungry flames reflecting the hunger of his dark blue eyes. No one refuses the King. No one resists against his will. But still now he can hear the sobbing and screaming and cursing, smells the stench of ash and death.

Is it worth it?

One day, Kageyama finally gathers enough nerve and leans down to kiss Hinata.

He pushes him away. Shakes his head.

No.

"Can I kiss you?"

He tries asking.

Another shake.

He tries saying please for the first time in his life.

Another no.

Kageyama huffs in annoyance and storms off.

And on that day, Kageyama Tobio was finally refused of something he wanted.