HELLOH AGAIN FELLOW READERS. I'm back with Chapter 2~ I sincerely apologize for the really late update and the next chapter's update is going to be even later because I'm going on a vacation to Japan. YEP. THE HOLY LAND JAPAN. Anyway, I'll just leave chapter two right here—

Tanaka: Um, Writer-san?

YOU DARE INTERUPT ME AGAIN, MORTAL?!

Tanaka: *freaks out* E-EEEPP! I JUST WANTED TO KNOW WHEN I'LL APPEAR!

That again?! *sighs* FINE. How about the next chapter?

Tanaka: *jumps for joy* WOOOHOOOO!

*sweatdrops* A-Anyway… I don't own Haikyuu! and majority of the plot. I changed the plot a little so it won't be exactly the same and so that the story won't drag on. IT'S STORY TIME~~

Chapter 2: Perfect Daughter

Yuina's feet dragged as she led Kira back home and through the front gate from the matchmaker's. She sighed as she thought about the day's events. She was half an hour late to meet her mother and grandmother at the bather's, had her long white hair done in a very uncomfortable but respectable hairdo, shoved into an equally uncomfortable and tight kimono, had her face caked with thick layers of makeup that she could hardly recognize herself and decorated with lucky trinkets like Christmas tree by Grandmother Hoshikawa.

But that wasn't the reason why Yuina felt so down. She didn't mind dressing up like that just to please her parents. When she arrived at the matchmaker's, she accidentally spoke when she wasn't allowed to, forgot some of her lines from the script on how to be a perfect woman, and nearly tripped when asked to bring the teapot. And worst of all, her lucky cricket fell into the matchmaker's cup of tea which resulted with Yuina having to pull the cup from the matchmaker, spilling the tea on the matchmaker's clothes. She was then called a disgrace in front of the many people around the place and was told that she would never bring honor to her family.

As the matchmaker's words screamed in her head, Yuina saw her father waiting at the gates for her, smiling hopefully. She gulped. Crap! She couldn't face him! Especially with the fact she failed the tests! She couldn't bear the shame and disappointment in his eyes when he learned of her failure. Yuina hid behind Kirs as she led him back into the stables. As Kira drank from his trough, she stared at her reflection in the water.

She had tried to play the part of the perfect bride and the perfect daughter, but she had failed again and again. Yuina bit on her lower lip, tears threatening to come out. "If I were to truly be myself…" she thought. "I'd break my family's hearts. I'll never be able to bring honor to them!"

Yuina wandered into the garden to take the thoughts off her mind and sat down on a bench beneath a tree heavy with pink blossoms. Thinking of her mother's shame, she removed the beautiful pink flower comb from her hair. As she fiddled with the comb, she heard someone clearing his throat. Yuina, whipped her head to the back and gasped.

"Dad! Surely by now he must be aware of my disgraceful failure!" Yuina thought. She knew she deserved a scolding. She bowed her head obediently, waiting for her father to speak.

Hibiki sat down beside her. He took his time, as if searching for the correct words. But when he finally spoke, his voice held no anger. "What beautiful blossoms we have this year." he said, staring at the tree above them. "But look." Hibiki's hand touched a blossom that had yet to open.

"This one is late." He said softly. He took the comb from Yuina's hands and tucked it into her hair. "But I'll bet that when it blooms, it will be the most beautiful one of all, my dear girl." Yuina could hardly believe it. Her father was not angry! She smiled at him. Her father's gentle words soothed her troubled heart.

Suddenly, a sound like raging thunder rumbled through the garden. Hibiki rose to his feet and leaned heavily upon his cane. A frown creased his brow. Yuina stared at her father with concern in her eyes.

Together, they joined Taeko, Nana and Grandmother Hoshikawa at the front gate. A villager was pounding a huge drum as soldiers galloped on horses into town. Yuina watched in curiosity. What on earth was going on?

"Yuina, Nana," her mother called sharply. "Stay inside." Behind them, Grandmother Hoshikawa winked and motioned them towards the wall. Quickly, Yuina and Nana scrambled up so that they could see what was happening.

"F-Fellow citizens!" cried Takeda Itettsu, the emperor's aide. "I-I, Takeda Itsttsu, Emperor Ukai Keishin's chief aide, bring a proclamation from the Imperial City! The Seijoh soldiers have invaded Tohoku!" The crowd gasped. This was frightening news indeed! Yuina clenched her fists. She had heard stories of the evil Seijoh soldiers and how mercilessly they attacked.

Takeda held up the proclamation and read: "B-By order of the emperor, one man from every family must serve in the Imperial Army!" Then, he began to call out the names of each family.

"The Sawamura family!"

A well-built young man came forward to take his papers and bowed. "I, Sawamura Daichi, will serve the emperor once again." Daichi was one of the boys Yuina played ball with and the one who told her about the Seijoh soldiers.

"The Sugawara family!"

Yuina and Grandmother Hoshikawa stared as they watched a bent old man with his son, the young seller of good luck charms, Sugawara Koushi. The young man took his father's papers and bowed.

"I, Sugawara Koushi, will serve the emperor in my father's place." Koushi said, having a serious look on his face. Takeda nodded and called out the next name. "The Ushijima family!"

A tall, strong-looking young man came forward. Yuina knew this lad. He started serving the emperor at the age of fifteen ever since his father retired early. He was Ushijima Wakatoshi, one of the Imperial Army's top soldiers. He was known to defeat the Seijoh soldier's leader Oikawa one-on-one during the last few attacks. Wakatoshi took his papers and bowed.

"I, Ushijima Wakatoshi, will rise to serve the emperor." Wakatoshi declared. The villages nodded in approval. They had faith the man to bring down the Seijoh soldiers once again. Takeda continued to call the names. Finally he came to the long-awaited name.

"The Hoshikawa family!"

A chill went down Yuina's spine. "No!" she whispered. The crowd murmured. Everyone knew of Hoshikawa Hibiki's past service in the emperor's army. And they knew of his leg injury. Hibiki handed his cane over to his wife. Then, gathering his strength, he proudly stepped forward. "I, Hoshikawa Hibiki, am ready to serve the emperor."

With her worries for her father getting better of her, Yuina jumped over the wall and ran into the street. "Dad!" she cried. "You can't go! You can't!"

"Yuina!" Hibiki said, his voice full of warning. Yuina stared up at Takeda.

"Please, sir," she begged the chief aide. "My father has already fought bravely for the emperor!"

Takeda, feeling lost, didn't know how to answer the girl. " U-Umm… How should I put this…?" He turned to Hibiki. "I-I apologize, Hibiki-san-" But Hibiki wasn't listening to Takeda. His face was already clouded in his pride.

"Yuina," he said curtly. "You dishonor me." Yuina froze at her spot, petrified. These were last words she wanted to hear coming out from her father. She felt a hand on her arm as Grandmother Hoshikawa led her away. Behind her, she heard Takeda tell her father, "R-Report tomorrow to the Nekoma camp."

"Yes, sir," Hibiki replied. Then he walked proudly past Taeko. With the eyes of the villagers and soldiers upon him, he refused to take his cane.

Takeda called out the other names. Yuina heard none of them. Only one name mattered to her: her father's.

Later that day, Yuina and Nana peeked into their father's room. Of course, Hibiki was there. He stood before the cabinet that held his armor. He took out his magnificent sword. With great skill, he sliced the shining blade through the air, as if challenging Oikawa himself in battle.

Suddenly, Hibiki gasped, grasping his leg in pain. The sword clattered onto the floor as he crumpled to his knees. Yuina tried to keep silent as her father slowly and painfully pulled himself back to his feet. Nana noticed her sister's expression and kept quiet.

Yuina pressed herself against the wall so her father would not see her. Her heart pounded as she faced the truth. If her father went to war, she knew he would never return. Yuina bit her lower lip. Nana stared worriedly at Yuina, holding onto her hand. "Onee-sama… Will Daddy be okay? He'll come back from war, right?" Yuina patted her little sister's head, trying to smile.

"Of course, Nana-chan… Of course he'll come back home safe." She assured Nana. But deep in her heart, she knew Hibiki would be in great danger if he went.

~*****~

That night at dinner, Yuina could hardly eat. Her father, mother, and grandmother ate in silence. Even Nana was just staring at her food. Yuina gritted her teeth in boiling rage.

"How the heck can they be so calm?!" she thought angrily. "This could be our last night together… Forever!" At last, Yuina could hold it no longer. She slammed down her cup, spilling tea onto the table. She glared at her father. "YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO GO!" she cried.

"Yuina…" Taeko cautioned her daughter. But Yuina completely ignored her mother's warning and jumped to her feet. "There are plenty of young men to fight for Tohoku!" Hibiki looked up from his rice bowl and said calmly.

"It is an honor to fight for my country…and my family."

"So you'd die for honor?!" Yuina challenged. "That's totally absurd, Dad!"

"I will die doing what is right!"

"But if you-"

"I know my place!" her father bellowed. Nana started crying because of the quarrel between her sister and father. Grandmother Hoshikawa attended to her. Then, Hibiki's voice grew quiet and stern. "And it's about time you learned yours."

At those words, tears stung Yuina's eyes. How could he speak to her that way? Didn't he understand the concern she felt for him or even the huge risk he was about to take? Without another word, she ran from the table out into the night. She would not listen to the calls of her mother and grandmother nor would she hear the shouts of Kiyoko and Hitoka who were passing by. Yuina did not stop running until she reached her favourite gazebo.

There, all alone, she let her tears flow.

OKAY. I think I nailed this chapter! Thanks for taking some time to read this and feel free to send a review or maybe some criticism if needed~ I know some of you wanna see Tanaka as a dragon but wait just a little longer. I'll update once I get back from vacation! That's all from me~ Jya ne~