Chapter Text
The ancient legends warn about the danger impending over the world should Land and Heaven meet, for the gates of Hell would open and everyone would be doomed for the eternity, demons, monsters, devils, and all sort of Oni would march out and declare war to humanity, wiping every single human being away from Earth. Whom belongs to the Land should never ever be united to whom belongs to Heaven, their blood incompatible. Therefore, only going to generate all sorts of calamities.
If the two descendants from Land and Heaven will ever meet and unite, the entire humanity will have counted days, and the Gods shall punish them all for allowing and enabling such unforgivable sin. It is not clear who the descendants will be and how they can be recognized, but it is obvious to everyone that who belongs to Karasuno, clan linked to Heaven, will never be allowed to unite with whom belongs to Inarizaki, clan connected to Land.
However, it was not a worry to bear or fear, for the legends also narrate that a violent and ferocious war between these two clans and other four clans broke in the ancient times, which irked the ire of the Gods. Their anger was let loose upon the clans, bringing severe punishment.
Nobody knows how it started, for the Karasuno blame the Inarizaki for their misfortune and for having assassinated their most beloved hero, a tengu warrior famous for his sword’s art and ability in forging weapons; yet Inarizaki accuse Karasuno and declare the fault is only with them, for having tricked their most powerful warrior, sent by the Inari-Kami and with the grace of the spirit of the nine-tails kitsune, in a deadly challenge that cost his power and magic, and thus his dead induced by the guilt of having dishonoured his people.
In the same way, the other four clans – Nekoma, Fukurodani, Aoba Johsai and Shiratorizawa – accuse each other of their own trouble and misfortunes, a strong and exacerbated rivalry in particular tainting the relationship between Aoba Johsai and Shiratorizawa. Less deep and far more measured is the enmity between Nekoma and Fukurodani, for both clans are immensely powerful but as well very cunning, preferring a subtle peace above cruel conflicts.
As the war between Karasuno and Inarizaki also involved the other clans, the Gods decided to take actions and send to Earth one of them, a God who cannot be nominated in written legends but that brought peace among them, giving great power to the Emperor, to watch over his people. War ended and governors chosen by the same Emperor were placed in charge of each region and prefecture, to make sure the ire of the Gods will not be triggered again, that the ancient rules reported by the legends and dictated by the God sent to Earth will be followed without any exception, on pain of life sentence or even death if deemed necessary.
As punishment for having unleashed a long conflict that shed much blood and much horror, the six main clans were banned by the central part of Japan and forced to coexist in the remote prefecture of Mikyogo, part of a faraway region in which mountains were high and pullulating with all sorts of youkai, not to mention the cold sea often angry and restless. The intent was noble and well-thought, believing that once made to live together, on the same land, the six clans would finally learn to respect each other and cease all hostilities. Academies for gifted students were created in which they could study all together, learning how to control and use their magic powers, but as well the necessity of tolerating each other.
Not only such noble wish never came true, but the rivalry between the clans, in particular between Karasuno and Inarizaki, increased and aggravated to the point the hostility turned into pure hatred.
People, with their hatred and distaste for the other clans, lived a life of fictitious and fragile peace, in which the risk of angering the Gods and opening the Doors of Hells hovered above them. But it wasn’t going to happen, because there was not a chance in thousand years to have a Karasuno member falling for an Inarizaki one, and vice versa.
Or so, they believed, unaware of what was about to break upon them all. Unaware that the great illusion had casted a veil on them all, even on the Gods, and that other forces and dark, evil powers were lurking in the shadow, waiting for destiny to be fulfilled and blood to be shed.
What if the descendants from Heaven and Land bear much more than the simple weight of both clans? What if sacrifice was going to be needed and demanded? What if dark powers would unleash upon everyone?
*****
Prefecture of Mikyogo, Japan – Present Time
Younika Academy for Gifted Students, first day of a new academic year:
It was a rather cold day of early April, the breath could be seen while walking down the quiet streets of the city, some small youkai complaining about the still lingering wind even though the trees were starting to blossom; a new academic year began at the Younika Academy for Gifted Students. It was a special day in a way and rather scary in another, because it was when all the different students belonging to the six clans living in the prefecture of Mikyogo met. Hinata Shouyo, age seventeen, belonged to the Karasuno clan and was very proud of it, about to start his second year in the Academy and very much unaware of the events that would soon hit him.
He quickly ate his breakfast, bid his younger sister Natsu farewell with a strong hug, kissed his mum on the cheeks as she handed him the lunch box, and then quickly glanced at the sight of his uniform reflected in the window of the door. A smile rose on his lips, loving that sort of long cloak he had to wear on that day, black like his entire school uniform saved for the inner part of the jacket made of a bright orange material, almost the same colour of his hair. The cloak was slightly tattered at the end, on purpose, and it gave the illusion of giving him wings, meant to in fact resemble wings of crows, a tengu mask hanging at the back of his head. It was more like a crow-tengu than the original old shape, because Shouyo always liked the idea of feeling like a bird, crows especially, free to spread his wings and fly high and above everything else.
“You should leave already, Shouyo,” his mum called from the hall, “or else you will be late and then both Kageyama-kun and Yamaguchi-kun will have something to say.” She giggled, knowing his friends very well, and he snorted at that.
Ugh, of course Kageyama would have something to say, Hinata thought to himself, but replied nothing about it, just storing the lunch box in his school bag and checking his phone, seeing still no annoying messages harassed him.
“Yeah, see you later, I’m going!”
“See you later!”
Right as he reached the end of the street where he lived, he saw his three friends and classmates there waiting for him, Yamaguchi of course waving at him with a wide and warm smile, while the other two tall grumpy ones just tsk-ed him, especially Tsukishima Kei, who had glasses that enhanced his mean look, a guy that reached over the meter and ninety centimetre – very much unfair in Shouyo’s opinions since nature could have spared some extra centimetres for him, considered his 164 of height. Then besides Tsukishima stood Kageyama Tobio, typical blueberry-black hair always styled in the same way, cranky expression on his face and what did he have to say as first thing?
“Oi Hinata boke, you’re almost late.”
“But I’m not late, Baka-geyama!” The taller guy went to hit him, but Hinata dodged it spectacularly and they went on like this as usual until Tsukishima decided to leave them there and Yamaguchi worried, calling for them.
“Guys, we should go because we cannot arrive late, today of all days.” There was a note of anxiety in his voice and Shouyo forgot about annoying Kageyama to concentrate on his other friend.
“Yamaguchi! You look good with your cloak on and why isn’t Tsukishima wearing it?”
“Because it looks stupid,” was the reply said guy gave and Yamaguchi just smiled quickly and lifted his shoulders.
“It doesn’t look stupid, but very cool,” Hinata went on, “it seems we have wings and imagine when we will meet the Inarizaki students in the schoolyard.”
They were scary as hell, sure, far scarier than many youkai that they could meet out there, but Shouyo couldn’t deny that whenever they appeared in school all dressed up, they looked terribly cool and a chill always travelled his back at that view. It was spooky, vibrating with inherent danger and menace, the kitsune spirit strong in them. Yet, very cool.
“I don’t want to see Inarizaki people,” Kageyama grumbled between his teeth and the shorter guy glanced at him with a questioning expression. “You know I cannot stand them, and they are our enemies, especially them, so who cares about seeing how they are dressed and such, boke. This year we will beat their team.”
Shouyo mentally cringed at the harsh way in which his friend expressed his distaste for the rivalling clan, as indeed according to the legends and all they always repeated almost on a daily basis, Inarizaki was their number one enemy. But the short orange-haired guy never really liked this forced hatred, this need to have an archenemy at all costs and hate it with burning passion; sure, Inarizaki people weren’t a nice and friendly lot, true enough, especially those two…but there still was something that didn’t settle right with Shouyo.
“You’re just scared of Miya,” Tsukishima promptly noted, never neglecting to point that out and annoy Kageyama. It was like a habit for him or maybe some sort of hobby, Hinata couldn’t tell and never wanted to get there to understand it. He was partially right though, for truly his tall and black-haired friend was afraid of said Inarizaki Miya student, playing in the same position in the school’s most popular game, but always resulting in losing whenever the two teams played against each other.
Very frustrating in general, because Karasuno couldn’t beat Inarizaki no matter what, and Shouyo was determined to break their winning streak.
“That’s not true! He doesn’t scare me,” Kageyama promptly barked back. “I’m not a scaredy cat like someone else here, right boke?”
“Ah? What are you trying to say, stupid Kageyama? Do you want to fight already? Come at me!” Hinata snapped, putting himself in a karate-like stance, even though he knew nothing of said discipline. His friend mimicked the same pose until Yamaguchi crossed his arms over his chest and threw them quite the dirty look, not to mention Sugawara-san approached them.
“Good morning everyone,” he chirpily greeted, the usual light silver hair looking soft and nicely styled, the tengu mask hanging on the side of his head, Daichi-san right behind him. “Daichi, looks like they are at the same as every day.”
“Yes, I can see that, but today is a special day, so behave well and let us all go to school.”
“Morning Daichi-san, Sugawara-san!” Shouyo immediately said with enthusiasm, having always liked and admired his senpais. “Where are Tanaka-san and Noya-san? What about Azumane senpai?”
“He will meet us in school together with those two troublemakers I made sure to properly lecture yesterday, because we don’t need problems, today least of all days,” Daichi Sawamura, the leader of the Karasuno students, explained as he checked his phone. “Shimizu just texted me she is already there together with Yachi.”
“Ah yes! Yachi also sent me a message this morning,” Shouyo commented, feeling then something on his shoulder. A small and rather cute youkai had decided to rest on it, looking like a super fluffy ball of feathers small bird with white horns. Quite a strange but adorable one and Hinata petted its head, for then being smacked on his neck. “Hey! Why did you do that? And look, you made the little guy fly away,” he complained to Kageyama, obviously the one having slapped the back of his head.
“You shouldn’t be so friendly with youkai, you never know what they’re up to,” he warned him, somehow looking genuinely concerned, which had the shorter guy crease his forehead in puzzlement.
“Kageyama, has anyone ever told you that you look weird when you try to show real worry for other people?” The other guy obviously tried to slap his head again, but Hinata was faster, for then challenging him as usual. “Let’s see who arrives at school first?”
“No need to ask!” Kageyama of course replied and they both sprinted ahead of the others, not hearing that both Daichi and Sugawara called after them. And thus, they arrived at school breathing heavily and sort of tired, the others following after a few minutes and their leader lecturing about keeping their tempers at bait. They apologized and bowed, even though they then grinned at each other. None of them won, but it didn’t matter, they were going to settle it another day.
After a quick meeting in which Daichi-san spoke to all the Karasuno students, they all stood in the schoolyard in ordered and well-organized lines, wearing their black, long, and slightly tattered cloaks giving them sort of wings, masks on their head. On another side stood Fukurodani and Nekoma, both just quietly observing, their respective leaders impossible not to notice at first.
Nekoma students wore cat-shaped masks, all made of different colours and shapes, the usual blood-red uniform jacket arriving at their waist, white shirt underneath, dark grey pants completing the school attire, some also having long red strings of some silky material tied around their necks or foreheads. There was a certain air around them, feeling their keen and crafty eyes studying everyone, ready to eat a canary if the occasion called for it, some exhibiting long and sharp black nails, other earrings or tattoos on fingers. All had their faces covered by masks, exception made for their leader, Kuroo Tetsurou. He kept it to the side, cunning smirk on his face, black unruly hair making him look even more intimidating.
Fukurodani on the other hand wore no masks, just having them either hanging at the side of the head or held in their hands. The leader, Bokuto Koutarou, was at the centre of them all, planted on strong legs set apart, hands on his hips, proud and challenging grin on his face, bright yellow eyes missing nothing, white and black hair spiked up as usual. Just like Kuroo-san, he was one of the most powerful in school in terms of magic. Akaashi Keiji, his closest friend and maybe partner, from what the rumour in school reported, was at his right side, short and curly black hair, eyes of the colour of the sea, calm and apparently detached expression on his very handsome face. But he was also keeping sharp and cautioned, observing everything.
Aoba Johsai and Shiratorizawa students stood on another side of the schoolyard, facing each other with palpable hostility, but without saying anything or acting upon it. Both leaders made sure to keep them in check. Oikawa Tooru, considered one of the most handsome and gifted students in school according to girls, was surrounded by his people and in particular five students, three of them his closest friends, all looking very tall and strong, Iwaizumi Hajime especially. He was known for being among the strongest students in school, but apparently Oikawa’s magic was far more dangerous and vicious. They had no masks, as they never wore or owned any, and their uniforms looked different than the others, the upper part giving the impression of a kimono, white and light green, with touches of blue.
Shiratorizawa stood sterns and silent, no masks, no specific symbols, or signs, just their leader at the centre, Ushijima Wakatoshi, who looked down at everyone. A tall and rather creepy-looking guy stood at his side, with spiky red hair, eyes that looked possessed, moving about a bit, as if he couldn’t stand still. Tendou Satori was his name, and he was one of those guys you didn’t want to meet alone in a corridor. Their uniforms looked very simple and neat, straight white pants, typical Japanese gakuran jacket of a deep purple shade, shirt of the same colour underneath the jacket. Shiratorizawa was known for its power and thirst for it, as it was known for its constant clashing with Aoba Johsai, especially the two leaders.
Only one clan was missing, and it was the Inarizaki one of course. They were not late, but also not yet present there as everyone else, the professors and head of the Academy all waiting for them. As usual, they arrived making quite the appearance and stirring no little commotion among all the students, murmurs and comments filling the air. Some girls even squealed at their entrance and Shouyo knew the reason behind that. He had heard the girls talking about the twins, even though they both scared him, very much so.
After some short time, there they were, the Inarizaki students, marching through the schoolyard as a united front, showing no openings or weaknesses, looking indeed very scary and sort of eerie, all of them wearing kitsune masks over their faces, covering them completely, exception made for their leader, Kita Shinsuke, who left it to the side, an object made of pure white. And then, exception made for the two twins known in the entire school, Atsumu and Osamu Miya.
Kita Shinsuke stood in the middle of the front line while holding a red lantern with the Inarizaki kanji written on it, the two twins at his sides, some light blue flames dancing around them, the blonde one to the left while the silver-grey one on the right, looking like two guarding foxes.
Other different students were at their sides, a very tall dark-skinned one known as Ojiro Aran, another tall one Shouyo never remembered what name he had, just as another one with sort of greyish-sand coloured hair; then stood one quite tall and mean looking, the sneaky slanted green eyes visible even under the dark mask, a tendency to exploit people’s weaknesses if possible, and someone Hinata never felt comfortable to have around. Suna Rintarou, who observed everything and everyone with slicing interest. The twins also made Shouyo feel extremely uncomfortable, for other reasons, mostly linked to the fact nobody could stand a chance against them, their presences so commanding, wild, and screaming of barely restrained raw power.
The twins wore masks that more than anyone else’s mask resembled the expression of an evil Kitsune, long nose and ears, wicked grinning eyes that promised only mischief, one crimson red with white and black lines and details, and the other one made of grey-black with red and white details. Their shape was different because the twins’ masks covered only down till the nose, leaving the lower part and the mouth in display, showing the wicked and dangerous grins, teeth slightly exposed, just like the tip of the tongue for one of them.
Their faces might have been partially hidden, but Shouyo already knew which one was which, and it wasn’t even related to the different shades of hair. Nope, because their air and power surrounding them, even if equally crushing and pretty much overwhelming, felt different.
Hinata stood on his tiptoes watching the entrance of the Inarizaki clan, the entire school murmuring either in awe or distaste, for many in particular disliked them. However, the twins attracted a lot of attention and admiration in all the clans. Girls breathed out and whispered to each other when they strolled over the schoolyard, mask hiding their faces, long jacket of the school uniform buttoned up neatly for one and left open looking like a cloak moved by the wind for the other one. Shouyo felt his eyes widening because, no matter what the legends said, no matter of the distrust everyone had for the Inarizaki people, the fear they instilled, he would always think and believe they looked cool. Super cool!
He noticed how Daichi-san and Sugawara-san adjusted their masks, wearing them so that they covered their faces, and every other Karasuno student followed their example, Shouyo as well; differently than Inarizaki students, they didn’t need to wear masks. For whatever reasons still unclear to Hinata, the fox people had to wear them on certain days, just like on that specific one. It was part of the ancient rules but as well part of their rituals and nature.
He glanced at his friends and classmates, all standing straight and with chins up, not showing any hesitation in front of the rival clan, and he felt proud to stand on the first line with them, Kageyama and Yachi at his sides, his eyes searching for the twins and mentally promising them utter defeat in the next game.
Yet, the Inarizaki students walked and deigned nobody of attention; only Kita Shinsuke acknowledged Daichi-san with a polite nod of his head, doing the same for the other leaders of the different students’ clans, such as Oikawa Tooru from Aoba Johsai, Kuroo Tetsurou from Nekoma, Bokuto Koutarou from Fukurodani and Ushijima Wakatoshi from Shiratorizawa. They all had some sort of tension, small rivalry, very little between Nekoma and Fukurodani, but none of them clashed like Inarizaki and Karasuno. Land and Heaven. Complete opposites and enemies.
Which was why when the fox clan strolled over, the two factions of students froze and stared at each other through their masks, long pure black cloaks for Karasuno gently moved by the breeze, the tension between the two clans palpable and almost suffocating, especially as the two twins stepped forward and spoke.
“Whatcha want from us, Karasuno?” Shouyo swallowed down at the sound of that rough and very aggressive voice, recognizing it belonged to Miya Atsumu, the blonde hair one of the distinctive traits of the twin, aside the very bad and arrogant temper. As he assessed Daichi-san and the other Karasuno students surrounding him, Miya Atsumu’s eyes trailed and stopped on Shouyo, piercing him through the mask, eyes on eyes, intense, penetrating, wicked, scary, searching and then smirking in a way that caused Hinata to feel cold shivers down his back.
What was that?
“We want nothing from you, Inarizaki Miya Atsumu,” Daichi-san calmly yet assertively replied, shoulders pushed back and stance commanding power and strength, even if he was shorter than said blonde twin, who went to reply but was stopped by his own leader that raised his left hand and placed the pure white kitsune mask on his face. It was enough to cool Miya’s temper and Shouyo swallowed down.
Everyone knew what an incredible and very intimidating leader Kita Shinsuke was, for he was the only capable of keeping the infamous Miya twins under some sort of control. He spoke little and always with measured words, but his magical power was deep, full of knowledge and easy to be wielded at his command.
“We have nothing to say, nor we wish any clash, especially today, Daichi-san,” he spoke with even and firm voice, eyes of a peculiar colour swirling from golden to amber, of an intensity that made Hinata feel uncomfortable, as if something crawled under his skin, twitching in his place. Kita Shinsuke extended his right hand and Daichi-san took it, shaking it as they only nodded at each other in silence.
The Inarizaki students thus went ahead, following their leader and taking their designed spot in the schoolyard, red lantern still lit, their long black jackets swirled by the wind, their insides made of a very deep red colour, almost like blood.
A flock of crows suddenly soared over their heads, cawing loudly, and hovering in the sky for a moment, while from far many foxes let out high-pitched and sort of screamy barks and howls, a sound that truly made Shouyo’s blood curl in his veins and feel even more cold. He shivered and tried to push that feeling away.
The principal of the school moved to the centre of the schoolyard and began to talk, but Hinata paid him no attention, his eyes quickly moving from one clan to another, noting their details, the different masks and, well, feeling glances on him. What bothered him was that he couldn’t understand who was observing him. Yet, eyes were on him, and Shouyo could sense it with his instincts, hairs on the back of his neck standing up. Then, he trailed over Inarizaki and again Miya Atsumu shot him a wicked glance, eyes pinning him on the spot, but Hinata made to look away quickly.
This was the first day of his second year, beginning in April, another three years awaiting ahead of him, for the special Academy for gifted students had slightly different rules. It lasted five years and students could begin only if they passed the age of sixteen; earlier than that, it was not possible. Hinata never knew nor understood why because nobody could tell him. He stopped looking around and tried to concentrate on what the principal was saying, but truly, paying attention was impossible, just like staying still for so long.
“Stop twitching,” Kageyama grunted quietly at him, elbow sinking in his side, and Shouyo rolled his eyes, hearing Yachi softly chuckling right at his left.
“I’m bored,” he muttered, and his friend snorted out.
“Same here but stop twitching like that.”
“The ceremony is long,” Shouyo hissed out.
“Don’t remind me of it,” Kageyama groaned.
“Shh,” Sugawara-san warned them quickly and thus, Hinata Shouyo tried his best to stay as much still as possible, which was pretty much a lost battle.
A new year was about to begin, and Shouyo just looked forward to learning more about how to wield his magic, how to increase his power, how to turn shape and reach his true magical nature and so on, very much unaware of the events that would soon swamp him.