Cats don't share
Series: Haikyuu
Pairing: Kagome x Kenma
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters or series.
If there was something Kagome had to admit, it was that her family knew her better than she'd given them credit for. Even if they couldn't quite understand what she'd been going through as she time traveled or what the girl felt once the well was closed off for good, they could still tell she needed their help to readjust to normal, everyday life. The sort of life that included no monster fighting or life saving.
When her mother calmly explained how it would be better if Kagome were to change schools so she could focus on getting her grades back up and escape the sickly girl title that now haunted her, the young priestess had admittedly been mad about it. Not because she wanted to stay in that school but because the plan included rooming with her aunt's family since they lived closer. Still, the girl bit her tongue and bitterly agreed; her mother had done so much for her during her travels it would be cruel to throw a tantrum and refuse to move out. At the end of the day, Mama had been right.
Going away gave her a chance to take a breather from the memories that, while beloved, had been slowly pulling her mood into a black hole that threatened to slowly consume her. Besides, her cousin was an annoying but overly understanding person who knew just how to push her.
It was only due to Kuroo's insistence that she agreed to take on the empty manager role on the Nekoma's volleyball team. And it was only thanks to that, that she realized how much she'd closed herself off and finally began reconnecting with other people within this era. The boys in the team were all definitely something to witness, each and every one of them had a strong personality that still managed to mesh well with the rest of the team. And they accepted her into the fold with ease. In a way, the team had breathed new life into her. In response, the girl was determined to give back as much as she could in the little over a year and a half she'd have left as their manager. If her knowledge about natural remedies and first aid ended up looking a bit odd, no one ever commented about it after she began to act, not only as their manager, but the team's self-appointed doctor.
And that was why she was racing through the halls of an unknown school looking for their volley court.
Nekomata-sensei told her not to worry if she couldn't make it in time for the practice match; there was no helping it if her grandpa needed her help with the shrine. But everyone knew their old coach held Karasuno with a definite fondness, and she refused to push her responsibilities onto him. So she hurried her steps as she closed her eyes and subtly looked for the familiar auras of her team.
"Excuse me," she called out while opening the door. The sound of her voice brought most players to a halt. "I'm sorry for my tardiness, I'm…"
All eyes fell on her, and she could feel the heat of embarrassment creeping up to her cheeks, causing her to trail off.
"Kagome-chan, come on here." The ever-present smile on Nekomata-sensei's face widened as he turned to explain to the pair of adults that had to be Karasuno's supervisors. "This is our reliable manager who actually succeeded in making her way here after helping her family out."
"Ah, there's no problem." The man with glasses nodded her way.
Bowing down while apologizing a couple more times, the girl crossed the space and thanked what had to be Karasuno's manager, who'd moved to pull a chair for her. Accepting a clipboard from their supervisor, Kagome almost winced, their younger coach was most certainly a good teacher, but Naoi-sensei was far from the best when it came to keeping organized notes. Still, her mind focused on the meaning of the scribbled mix of symbols on the paper, trying her best to tune out the influx of chatter her late entry caused. Insisting on wearing her school uniform in the feudal era, Kagome had gained good practice ignoring comments surrounding her appearance. Hearing her cocky cousin all but brag about her to the other team, however, made her ears burn just as much as her brow tick.
"By the way, Kuroo, please don't tell me you just lost us a point because you had to gawk at open doors?" she said, lifting her eyes to glare at the black-haired captain.
"What do you mean?"
"You are holding the ball with both hands." The girl quirked a brow at him before pretending to note something down. "So, easily distracted by external factors…"
"What?! You've got to be kidding!"
"Nope, the captain must be focused on the game at all times, right, Nekomata-sensei?"
"Well, that is something I've said before." The old coach chuckled.
"Oh, come on…" the third year slapped his hand against his face. "You are the worst sister ever."
"We're just cousins."
"I am not helping you study next time."
"Yes, you will," Kenma added from the center of the court before waving at her with his characteristic low energy.
"You damn traitor." Kuroo pointed an accusing finger at their setter before sending the ball with an underhand pass to the other side of the court and smirking. "Fine, fine, mark the damn point. We're winning this set too, anyway."
She didn't bother to bite back her laughter.
Back when they were really young, the black-haired boy had been quite shy, often hiding behind her back whenever he had to interact with strangers whenever their families visited. Volleyball helped embolden him, and their roles somewhat flipped with the school transfer. This time, he was the one looking out for her, but he still went along with her whims while mumbling about being a responsible older brother.
With a loud clap, Nekomata-sensei had everyone back to the game, and the girl offered an apologetic smile to the rest of the Karasuno staff before looking back at her team. This was their regular roster, so it wasn't surprising to note that their teamwork was on point. Going by the scoreboard, they'd managed to win their first set and were well on their way to win the second one as well. While she could see the potential in their rival team, it felt quite…new, like they were all still trying to find a comfortable way to fit in. Later they could become a threat, considering their setter was clearly beyond exceptional, but, as for right now…
The thumping sound of someone jumping forced her gaze back to the court in time to see the shortest player jump to spike.
"So, what do you think?" Nekomata-sensei asked.
"…that number 10…how was his performance for the first set?"
"Same as right now." The old coach shook his head with a smile at her subdued reaction. "I swear, between you and Kenma, our brain is very much in top shape."
"I'm not as fast as Kenma is," she mumbled.
"Perhaps, but I feel confident our team will remain strong next year as well," he said. Taking a moment to laugh at the shock on their opponents' faces when the lazy setter gained a point thanks to a dump shot. "And both of you will make sure to find suitable successors."
At first, she hadn't thought there would be a lot of use for the skills she developed during her travels, but it turned out basic medical skills were not the only thing that could be used. It was one thing to fight against a mindless youkai with nothing but brute force, but that wouldn't work against Naraku. Learning to be strategic while they fought had been essential for survival. That said, she hadn't been their main strategist, and she couldn't help but admire how the somewhat lazy setter could think a mile a second while executing his role in the court without letting the tension get to him. Sure, the risks were insanely different, but his quick logic was incredible to witness anyway. Even if that skill was developed by playing games.
It had been an offhand comment made a week before the start of her second year. One she made after Kuroo finally agreed to rest with the volleyball practice and play one of Kenma's video games, and she realized her cousin was losing miserably. The setter's eyes sharpened, and he began asking for her input from time to time, even asking for her strategy during practice games. Surprisingly, it had been fun. Attracting his interest had been a bit unnerving at first. Kenma was way too observant, and he'd obviously picked up on several oddities that were the result of her time hopping. Kuroo even admitted he'd been asked about the contradictions between her official camping story and reality. Still, both cousins trusted the boy, and the girl had come to really enjoy his company. To the point that, when Kenma fought against what had to be a tsunami of anxiety and confessed, Kagome could do nothing but nod her head while trying to cool down the flush in her cheeks. She'd realized her feelings before, but fear forced her to be content with the status quo. Her first love had turned into a memory that fought between being bitter and sweet a bit too often for her liking, despite her and Inuyasha coming to terms with the fact that it just wouldn't work. If Kenma could push past his self-consciousness, however, then so could she.
Finding time for them to go out wasn't exactly easy, but with both of them being on the same team, at least they got to spend time together.
It still amazed her how the quiet boy had enough patience to deal with her cousin dragging him around for training. Then again, she wasn't about to complain about it, though Kuroo did like to act a bit like a chaperon, even when they both tried to kick him out. Then again, it could be worse.
With the older boy acting so overprotective when the guy she was dating was a childhood friend, she didn't want to imagine how he'd react if her interest had been pulled by a total stranger, or worse, by a player from a rival team.
If there was one thing Kagome would have to admit about Karasuno, it was that they were impressively persistent.
When she asked about the team before, the monikers she'd gotten as a response made her expectations lower somewhat, and to a degree, she'd been right to do so. Even though they'd played for far longer than anyone expected to, Nekoma won every single set. Of course she thought her team was strong, but they'd always had a slow start. Their play style was centered around the idea of having an adaptable and reliable defense that chipped away at their opponents' composure and stamina. It wasn't uncommon for them to lose the first set.
And yet, gazing at the bright orange-head boy that still had enough energy to be jumping around Kenma, she could see why their setter took the time to add his encounter with Karasuno's number 10 to his short texts from this morning. There was something about the short middle-blocker that piqued the blond's interest.
It was in the way the orange-haired boy kept jumping around, refusing to let his exhaustion restrict his movements; even when she'd thought he'd be too tired to jump, he'd call for the ball. Really, she could already see how the boy had easily turned into an intriguing opponent in Kenma's mind. If this team could pull itself together by the time the tournament turned around (and as long as both teams won their places in the brackets), it could become a very interesting match. A part of her wondered if maybe she should feel bad for them. So far, Kagome had only gotten a slight glimpse during one of their practice matches, but if Kuroo was to be believed, then Kenma's attitude could easily become quite nasty. Judging by how tired he looked while trying to keep up with number 10's overly excited chatter, maybe the one she should pity was her own boyfriend.
Biting back her laughter, the young priestess bowed her goodbyes to Shimizu-san and made her way to the small crowd that would probably end up suffocating their poor setter soon.
"Hey, hey, what is your training Ike during the holidays?" How the younger blocker was still so full of energy, even Kagome couldn't understand.
"Only what our captain can drag him into, if Kuroo-nii is to be believed," she said with a short laugh as she walked into the group. "I'm actually surprised we didn't need a sub for this training session. Hínata Shouyo, right?"
"A-ah, yes!"
"I do finish our regular training…although you've given Nekomata-sensei more annoying ideas for that," the setter grumbled, but his glare softened as he looked at her.
"So any win we have from now on will be in part thanks to that." The girl smiled at him before looking at Shouyo-kun. "I think we should prioritize Karasuno from now on. I've never seen Kenma spend so long without complaining about being tired."
"That wasn't…"
"Of course!" Shouyo-kun cut the lazy second-year off. "I'll make him get so into it. He'll hate it when we win!"
Yes, she could already tell this would be an entertaining year now that Karasuno had entered the picture. It'd also help the team's strategist remain motivated after Kuroo graduated next year. It was clear he cared enough about his teammates, and the girl didn't believe he would ditch them after her cousin left, but it would be better if he could find a tangible rival and goal to strive for. Shaking her head, the girl let out a laugh at the sight of Shouyo's grin, man that was a confidence Kagome could've used back in the feudal era.
"Now, that's a match I'd like to see, but we'll only grow stronger from here on too."
"Now that's my younger sister," Kuroo's voice came from behind her as his hand fell on her head, messing her head before she swatted him away.
"I'm sure Souta-kun will be glad to hear he has an older brother who'll help him out with soccer practice." Behind her, Kenma added, receiving a scoff from their captain.
"Don't worry about missing practice. I'll make sure we reach national," Kagome teased.
"Hahaha, I have to say, it seems like your manager has some good sense." Karasuno's captain grinned with amusement. The older boy had caught up with them along with what looked like the rest of their third years.
And then, she felt Kenma's arms warp around her, nuzzling his nose against her hair and grumbling. The setter had pushed her cousin away. "We should start getting ready, or we'll end up being late; come on."
"That's a sight you don't see every day," Kuroo laughed, entirely ignoring the glare sent his way. "Here I thought you weren't the jealous type. I mean, you've never complained when our team hangs around Kagome."
"As if I had a chance of doing anything about that." The words were probably not meant to be heard, but mumbled as they were, she was still being held in his arms.
The girl shook her head but bit her tongue.
At times she couldn't help but wonder if maybe there was more to their team's mascot than it seemed like, because her players made her think of cats in distinct ways. And despite appearances, the one who was far more alike to the felines the team shared their phonetic sound with, was Kenma himself.
From his general laziness to how his strategies could almost be described as a cat playing with its food, he was just cat-like. So she wasn't surprised the boy was beginning to show signs of jealousy. She'd noticed before, but the boy was very much conscious of others around him, and he'd sometimes throw a random comment about his physical condition. Even if he could keep up with the training regimen, he was always the one who struggled the most, and Kagome had been asked to keep a closer eye on him than the others by both her cousin and coach Nekomata. He knew it too. And while he could keep that jealousy under control with the team, all bets were off with everyone else.
Used as she was to eyes landing on her after practice matches, the priestess hadn't really noticed that a number of Karasuno's players had gotten closer. Last year, from what Kuroo-nii told her, their blond setter often got fevers after taxing matches, so Kagome tended to stick close to him in the after-match cooling time, which meant she remained within the team's fold. Now that Kenma was actually bothering to mingle with someone from the other school, he ended up being overly conscious of how many gazes landed on her.
"Oh right, you guys probably wouldn't have guessed." With a somewhat irritating grin, Kuroo crossed his arms. "Unbelievable as it might be, our lazy ass setter is dating our hardworking manager."
Unsurprisingly, that loud declaration earned them a chorus of loud exclamations, and it was now Kagome's time to huff. She knew her boyfriend was a bit unassuming, but did it have to merit such a big reaction?
With very purposeful movements, the girl disentangled herself from the blond setter, only to turn around and leave a soft kiss on his lips.
Giving a smile and a wave to her outraged cousin, the girl intertwined her hand with Kenma and moved to help the coaches finish packing. Behind her, she could feel the setter follow; the tension that had been there as he hugged her was gone. Really, it was mildly insulting. Especially considering it was Kagome who couldn't help but wonder if the boy would remain interested in her after he unraveled her secrets. Kuroo-nii had waved those fears away when she'd confided in him. Kenma was not the kind of person who would play with her feelings. Feeling the warmth of his hand clasping hers, the girl pushed those fears away, she was happy right now, and there really was no need for her to worry about things like that. Once the tournament began, there wouldn't even be time for her to worry about it.
"Gotta say, this is definitely bigger than I thought it would be." Behind him, Kuroo whistled as he walked around the house he'd just rented. "Why not go to Roppongi Hills, though?"
"Because that's a boring idea…besides, this suits my needs better." Kenma took another look at the old-style Japanese house he'd signed for. Hopefully, he'd either find something similar enough he could buy, or he'd convince the owner to sell.
"Heeeh, your needs huh…wait…no way." Color drained from his childhood friend's face as the realization dawned on him. "No way. You can't be implying you want Kagome-neechan to move in with you?!"
"Going over to hers is exhausting," he grinned at the disbelief.
It had been quite enjoyable to visit the shrine (as tiring as those damn stairs were) Mrs. Higurashi was kind and always ready to offer tea and snacks, and even though Souta was pursuing soccer, of all things for a career, the younger boy had very good taste in games. If only the girl hadn't been convinced to move by her old-time friends with them…
When he finally found out the truth behind the reason for his girlfriend's transfer, Kenma's world turned upside down. But there was no denying the powers share retained…or the very inhuman nature of the friends that found her while they played the preliminaries for the Spring tournament during their second year. She'd been overjoyed, and he'd been glad to see her happy, but it was beyond exhausting having to deal with all the youkai that tried to monopolize her time. His one saving grace was that, apparently, he'd earned the approval of the Lord of the West, thanks to his intellect. That, and that his playing with the stock market and the company he'd started on a whim had succeeded. Now that they were about to start university, he'd much rather not have to try and outsmart the hyperactive fox to get some time alone with his girlfriend.
"This is big enough for me to have a decent gaming room; and for her to keep all of her art supplies."
"You do know those guys will try and bite your head off," Kuroo scoffed while he clapped him on the back. "But she'll like this, and yes, she'll probably agree to move in, you silent ball of anxiety."
"That's not why I asked you to come around."
Yes, it was.
"Right, right." His friend's laughter was just as annoying as always. "Well, this will do nicely, and it is still close enough to the shrine and both your campuses. Have you been looking for a ring?"
"Do me a favor and just leave…" Kenma's words were accompanied by a shove.
They'd been together for a little over three years already, and he had every intention to progress with their relationship, so yes, maybe he was already beginning to look for rings, but he was not about to share that little detail. Because as much as he appreciated Kuroo, the young man would probably try to give him advice. And he really didn't want to rely on anyone else for this. This would have nothing to do with price tags or rare rocks. Thanks to the connections she had, his girlfriend was set for life. But most of all, Kagome wasn't the kind to care for that, she looked for more, and it was on him to figure out what. So he'd keep looking in secret and find a permanent home on his own, no matter how tiring it might get.
A/N: Just a little something while I try to re-arrange my schedule thanks to my school moving finals by two weeks out of nowhere, to the points that even my teachers are scrambling to modify their lesson plans.
As always thank you guys so much for reading, and any and all reviews/comments/criticism are greatly appreciated.