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Chapter Text

The winds blow without warning, whispering ancient secrets among the branches, carrying leaves and security alike. They push us, sometimes gently, other times with the force of a storm, toward paths we would never have imagined taking. They are the messengers of fate, capricious and elusive, dragging us along hidden routes, leading us relentlessly toward the future that belongs to us, even if we don't yet know it.

We move through life with the illusion of control, convinced that every choice belongs completely to us, as if our will were enough to hold the helm amidst the waves. But a single gust, a single out-of-place circumstance, is enough for the course to change without warning. And it is then, in that moment of revelation, that we realize that we were never entirely free. That every decision, every stumble, every detour was silently guiding us toward that from which we were perhaps trying to flee.

Change always lurks on the horizon, latent, like a promise or a threat. We live in a perpetual balance on the thin line between stability and transformation, swaying to the rhythm of fragile hopes. We cling to the idea that, when the final wind comes to bring us down—the one that always comes, sooner or later—the place where we fall will be kinder than the hells we've already known.

Because that's what we are: walkers carried by invisible currents, navigators of a sea of ​​uncertainty, who can only hope that the next wind will push us toward a destiny less cruel, or at least, brighter than the shadow we leave behind.

Chapter Text

A letter that would change someone's destiny forever reached Kageyama's hands. The battered paper felt strange in his hands, as if it carried an extra weight, and his instinct screamed at him not to open it. He considered not doing so; after all, it wouldn't be the first time he hadn't responded to a job offer because he had more important things to do. However, upon checking the sender, a mocking smile escaped his control.

The letter came from Hoshigamine, a town whose leader was an old acquaintance of Kageyama's, someone who had once made him feel inadequate for yokai hunting: Oikawa Tooru. His restless instinct was silenced by the pride that only a humiliated 20-year-old could possess. Despite his young age, the young man had been considered one of the best yokai hunters since he was 12.

He opened the letter with some desperation and hurriedly read the contents. In it, Oikawa recounted how his village had been experiencing a wide variety of problems, ranging from violent winds that ruined crops, attacks on people strolling in the forests, especially those who were harming nature, and even the disappearance of children who approached the mountain. By then, the villagers were already imagining that it was a yokai living somewhere in the forest; however, no one had the power to control the situation.

Oikawa emphasized the need to arrive as soon as possible, as the yokai's powers seemed to be increasing, lengthening the time the children were disappearing and putting many people's lives at risk due to the force of the wind.

Kageyama didn't need to read any further. He stuffed the letter into a satchel he carried around his waist and began preparing for his trip. The isolated cabin where he lived was located on the outskirts of one of the busiest towns in the area, but more than three hours by horse from Hoshigamine. It was going to be a tough trip.

*****

It had been dark for a few hours, and Oikawa sat in the middle of the already empty town square. He knew Kageyama Tobio would arrive soon, as it was the perfect opportunity to humiliate the man who had done it to him before. He hated having to resort to him, but it was undeniable that he was the best hunter in the area, perhaps due to his background.

The clatter of a horse's hooves interrupted his thoughts, drawing his gaze to the front where, with almost supernatural grace, the young man was dismounting. An irritated sigh escaped Oikawa's lips; he couldn't understand how he had ended up in such an exasperating situation.

Iwaizumi Hajime, one of the village's most respected workers and Oikawa's right-hand man, approached Kageyama to help him get what he needed to complete his mission. The boy thanked him as they walked toward where the village chief was waiting for them, his expression of exasperation undisguised. Tobio didn't seem to even notice.

Immediately, the hunter was bombarded with the same information described in the letter, interspersed with a few mocking remarks. He couldn't help but wonder why he had written so urgently if he was wasting his time with unnecessary details and cheap insults he didn't even fully understand.

Hajime seemed to notice this detail and poked his companion in the ribs. After groaning in pain and glaring at him, Tobio paused his tireless mouth to listen to what Kageyama had to say.

"It seems to be a karasu tengu." The tone was cold and emotionless, as it always had been, giving the impression that he was sentencing Oikawa to death. The older man had to admit he wasn't familiar with such creatures, which is why the direct and sharp tone had seemed intimidating.

For his part, Tobio only thought that it was the first time he'd seen one of those and that this yokai had surely been bothering Oikawa, since these creatures hated those who were arrogant. This last thought made him smile, which, in the eyes of the men in front of him, seemed undoubtedly terrifying and sinister.

"Where is the shrine?" The question was directed at Iwaizumi, which deeply offended the village chief. However, before he could retort, he was interrupted by Hajime, who was giving the boy directions. Kageyama bowed in thanks and headed into the forest without another word. Oikawa's calls continued until the hunter crossed the forest boundary. In fact, it was as if all sounds ceased to exist; only the wind rustling the leaves was audible, almost as if they were welcoming him to the place.

He looked up, spotting a crow perched in one of the trees. The animal's eyes were fixed on his, and Kageyama knew he had to follow it to reach his destination.

The bird spread its wings and took flight, the hunter trailing behind. They crossed the forest to a dark, steep area where a cave formed in the hillside. It seemed that the people had taken advantage of the natural shape of the cave to build a small shrine to the mountain gods to pray for their protection. This was the place.

Kageyama entered the shrine and sat on the ground, placing a small light source in front of him. With his eyes closed, he began to recite a soft melody that imitated the howling of the wind. He knew it would generate interest in the curious yokai.

A gust extinguished the fire in front of him, gently caressing his cheeks, affirming in his heart that the tengu was seeking someone's attention, and he would give it to it.

He opened his eyes, surprised by the wind spirit's appearance. Typically, in his experience working with yokai, they tended to take the form of older men or beautiful women, even animals. However, in front of him stood a boy who appeared to be the same age as the black-haired mane, with enormous eyes and hair as red as the fire emitted by the sun. He had feathers on his temples that continued their journey to his head, standing out among his reddish mane, and enormous black crow-like wings.

The only thought on Kageyama's mind was how beautiful the creature before him was. He had never seen anything that made such an impression on him, and he felt his heart leap at the surprise of the playful smile that had just formed on the tengu's lips.

"You've finally arrived! I've been waiting for you," the tengu said in one of the most expressive and cheerful voices he had ever heard.

Chapter Text

The spirit's words took him by surprise. He'd been doing this for years, and it was the first time a yokai had seemed so impatient for the arrival of someone who was going to exorcise it from its home. Even he found it unfair at times, but it was the only way he knew to make a living.

He looked again into those enormous eyes filled with emotion and determination. He wasn't sure what to say, so he asked the spirit directly why it seemed so happy to see him, knowing that he had come to get rid of him.

The young tengu only smiled wider, making Kageyama even more uncomfortable than he already felt. He decided he wasn't interested in it, although, in truth, it intrigued him, and a desire within him begged for the answer to his question.

Luckily for Kageyama, the redhead decided to tell him the truth. He declared with indisputable confidence that their paths were already destined to meet, at that moment it was just them and it was the only thing that mattered. He apologized for the disturbance he'd caused in the village, but he really needed them to call a hunter who wanted to make a deal with a mythical creature.

Tobio let out a bitter laugh; the situation was too strange, and he didn't understand why the tengu thought he wanted to be part of such madness. He was about to say something to get rid of the creature, but it just looked at him while laughing, as if fascinated by the facets of humanity that dwelled in the young hunter.

“You truly are the one.” It was as if he had read the doubts inside Kageyama's head and decided that he was going to answer them without any hesitation or doubt. “Before you say no to me, you should let me tell you what the deal is about.”

With a nod of his head, he urged the yokai to tell him what he wanted to accomplish. He told him that since the beginning of time, there were souls that were destined to find each other; he knew that his was somewhere, so he had traveled through all the existing towns in search of it, obsessed by the idea of meeting that person who could complement him. Unfortunately, he had been brutally murdered in that forest before he could find it, sowing within him a frustration so great that it had led him to become the guardian and protector of that mountain; nevertheless, he wanted to continue exploring, to discover the world he'd never been able to fully explore, and to find out what would have awaited him had he not lost his life so young.

For him, it was impossible to escape the connection his spirit had made with nature; after all, it was the forest that had given him a second chance at life in exchange for the protection he could provide. Although he was deeply grateful for it, he wanted to get out of there so intensely that nature itself had told him what he needed to continue his adventure. And that's where Kageyama came into the plan, because only a hunter with enough power could create a stronger bond with him, compelling him to remain by his side until the end.

The hunter remained silent, his expression serious and stoic as ever. For his part, the winged young man finished telling his story, closing with the agreement: in exchange for Tobio creating the magical link between them, he would stop tormenting the village and would protect it from any other creature that Kageyama had to face in his job as a hunter.

Once the silence was established, the hunter closed his eyes, letting all the information stop its incessant fluttering in his head. He didn't want to accept having to carry anyone else; he was used to spending time alone, a peace he would never have again if he complied with the request of the yokai in front of him, who was still looking at him expectantly, awaiting the possible response he might give. Furthermore, he had to admit that bringing with him a creature that was considered a calamity could put him in danger from other yokai and humans, who considered his birth a bad omen. The tengu noticed the almost imperceptible change in Kageyama's face and, almost as if he could foresee the rejection, he quickly commented that this bond would bring great benefits to the hunter, stating that he could also use its strength and power to defeat the most dangerous yokai he knew. The one who had taken what he loved most.

Tobio looked surprised; it was inevitable. How could a spirit he had barely met know about the greatest loss of his life?

The last statement had reminded him that he was still searching for the oni his grandfather had been unable to get rid of, losing his life in the process and leaving him alone in the cruel world of the living. He couldn't help thinking that the boy in front of him might be the only way to defeat that beast.

Still with doubts in his mind, he agreed to help the tengu in exchange for support and strength to finally put an end to the monster that still haunted his nightmares. The young tengu became excited as a bright and beautiful smile lit up his face, making Kageyama feel like he had just made the best pact of his life.

Tobio began to recite a few words, a ritual that bound the tengu's existence to his own. Despite how complex it sounded, it was a simple spell; however, not everyone was capable of performing it, as the hunter's soul had to be compatible with the yokai. Fortunately for both of them, the bond formed without complications; they both felt each other's emotions flow through them, as if the connection went beyond what they had imagined.

"By the way, my name is Hinata Shoyo." It was ironic that the boy with sunfire hair called himself that, at least until he mentioned that it was the name he had been given by the forest since, after his death, he couldn't remember his human name.

"Kageyama Tobio, though I'm sure you already knew that." Hinata just smiled playfully. He had heard a man from the village curse the hunter's name while lamenting having to call him to get rid of the spirit. He wanted to ask him why that arrogant man hated him so much, but he would have another chance some other time.

The hunter had to collect his reward, but he knew Oikawa wouldn't be too pleased to see Hinata near the village, so they agreed to meet at the forest entrance so the tengu would have time to take what he needed and say goodbye to the forest that had welcomed him when he needed it most.

After that, Kageyama's mission was clear: track down and kill the oni who had taken everything from him.

Chapter Text

Kageyama couldn't help but regret having made the pact with the tengu now accompanying him. It would never have occurred to him that the cute boy was so talkative that he seemed like he needed to talk or else he would die. Hinata hadn't stopped looking at everything as if it were the first time he'd ever done so; it reminded him of a little boy seeing a world he didn't know. Furthermore, the whole situation intensified when he felt the electric current of overwhelming emotion that overwhelmed the boy flying beside him.

What he was grateful for about the whole situation was that, whether intentional or not, Shoyo's flight generated small breezes that lessened the intense heat of the sun. It almost made all the noise the tengu made worth it.

They had been walking aimlessly since Tobio hadn't yet been able to find a clear trace of the oni's location, and it was difficult for him to focus on the smallest traces due to Hinata's incessant chatter.

Suddenly, he stopped. Kageyama halted the horse almost the instant the tengu's voice ceased. The boy's feet touched the ground for the first time since they had left the forest, and his wings were folded back in a threatening position, as if he had sensed imminent danger. This was what most caught the hunter's attention, and he drew his sword without dismounting, glancing at his companion's nervousness.

They had been in that position for a few minutes, and Tobio was beginning to think Shoyo had overreacted to an animal when he sensed the presence of a spirit rapidly approaching them. Recovering his battle stance, he prepared for the worst.

A fox appeared from some bushes, stopping in front of the hunter. Kageyama quickly recognized it, replacing his katana in its sheath and giving Hinata a reassuring nod.

"What do you want, Atsumu?" The young tengu was amazed at the hunter's casual way of referring to a kitsune whose power was so great that he had sensed it from so far away. The kitsune, for its part, took on its human form, revealing a young blond man with malicious, shrewd eyes fixed on the other yokai present. Not even he could deny that the raven-winged youth was very cute, making him want to eat him.

A click of his tongue interrupted the newcomer's train of thought, drawing his attention to the hunter, who was still waiting for an answer. It was undeniable that the fox's expression upon seeing Hinata had bothered him greatly.

Atsumu proceeded to explain that he knew what he was looking for and that he could help him in exchange for a small favor. Tobio could only roll his eyes in frustration. He should stop accepting favors from immortal beings; it seemed they kept coming to abuse the hunter's abilities.

Before Kageyama could refuse, Atsumu told him about a large number of kappas in a nearby village, causing mischief that greatly affected the local population. The young hunter asked him why he was interested in this situation when it didn't affect the fox's life, earning an embarrassed smile from the kitsune.

Although the gesture meant nothing to Tobio, Hinata could understand that the fox wanted to help someone who lived in that same village, but was too embarrassed to tell the other young man directly.

Kageyama felt Shoyo's emotions shift, an intense desire to help emerging from the depths of his soul. He couldn't refuse, even if he had tried; the tengu's willpower was far stronger than his own. It wasn't even worth arguing; it was more than obvious he would only lose, and he didn't want the mocking kitsune in front of him to have any more material to laugh at. With a resigned sigh, he asked Atsumu to guide them to the village. The fox wagged his tail excitedly, returning to his animal form, and urged them to follow him, setting off on a walk toward the unknown village.

*****

It didn't take long for them to reach their destination, and indeed, it was filled with kappas running around, playing with each other and causing havoc in the process. One had even collided with Atsumu, falling to the ground before the fox's mocking gaze.

Kageyama hated being in that situation. Kappas were like little children who didn't understand that their actions had consequences; they just liked to play and cause havoc, which they found entertaining. The problem was that they didn't understand reasons, but they weren't dangerous enough to exorcise their spirits. Besides, he knew that other yokai didn't like it when these creatures were hurt, and judging by Hinata's expression of absolute tenderness, he was one of them. The tengu had picked up a kappa who, amazed by the enormous black wings, had approached to touch them. Shoyo hated having his wings touched, but he allowed other curious kappas who had noticed his arrival to stroke them. A tender smile appeared on his lips, drawing a look of astonishment from the now-human Atsumu.

Once again, the unpleasant sensation surged through Kageyama's chest, giving the fox a look of annoyance. The fox didn't even seem to notice, though a shiver ran down his spine.

Before Tobio could say anything, Hinata had already come up with an idea. He told the other two that the kappa were fascinated by their wings, so he would lure them with them and then fly them to a lagoon far from the village. The hunter thought it was a good idea, though he also pointed out that there were too many of them to do everything in one trip.

Shoyo looked momentarily discouraged, which, for some reason, sent a pang through Tobio's heartbeat. He walked away and grabbed some cloth a couple of kappas were playing with. With a few quick words, the cloths fused together, creating a trap they could use to transport all the kappas on one trip.

Hinata understood the idea as if he were in the hunter's head, so he began to attract the other kappa to the center of the cloth, tying it like a bag. Once secured, Shoyo held the makeshift sack tightly and took flight on his strong wings while Kageyama and Atsumu watched in awe of the tengu's strength and grace.

The two waited for a few hours, helping to clean up the mess around the village. At one point, Atsumu noticed someone among the people and ran up to him. Kageyama noticed it was a tall boy with unruly curls and two moles above his eyebrow, who had an annoyed, serious expression until he saw the kitsune. His expression changed completely; his eyes softened and shone with recognition and appreciation, his body relaxed, and a hint of a smile appeared on his lips.

That was when Kageyama understood the feelings that had sprouted in Hinata hours before. He wondered if he would ever find someone who could make him feel whole and make him act on impulse, even going so far as to ask favors from people he couldn't stand.

Shoyo appeared behind him unnoticed; he understood that he had to be stealthy if he and the hunter didn't want to get into trouble with the other humans in the village. The young man looked at him, searching for a gesture that indicated everything had gone well, to which the tengu responded with a gentle, genuine smile. Tobio smiled back.

Atsumu appeared at their side, causing the crow to jump so much that it nearly flew back into the sky. The fox laughed and thanked him for the help, handing Kageyama a map that showed exactly where the oni they were looking for was. He gave them a brief bow and walked off again, heading for the boy with the curls.

Hinata looked at them, a feeling of nostalgia for something he'd never known welling up from deep within him, even invading Tobio, who, to escape the atmosphere, gently took his arm, indicating that they should leave before people noticed the tengu.

The two vanished into the nearby trees, following the map he now had in his possession. Something good had come out of that.

*****

Night fell, and both boys had decided to light a fire to keep warm. Kageyama liked walking at night, but he knew his horse needed rest; besides, the risk of encountering other yokai increased, and he didn't want to waste any more time and energy on it.

For his part, Hinata was eager to get to know Kageyama better. He could feel all his emotions and understood some of his gestures, but he was truly a very mysterious person, and that intrigued him greatly.

He was looking for a way to ask questions about his past when Tobio got there first. He wanted to know about his life before becoming a tengu.

Shoyo hesitated at the question, feeling that his companion had been overcome by a deep sadness. However, he didn't dare ask about it. He answered the question honestly, confessing that he didn't remember much, only that there was a person he cared about who had told him about the intertwined souls and how the winds always indicate which way souls should head to meet. He wished he could remember who that person was; perhaps then he would know where he should go. Then he only remembered the day he was murdered but not the person who had done it, much less why.

Kageyama thought about what to say to him. Hinata's story was quite tragic, especially since he couldn't even remember the best things that had happened to him in his short life. He didn't have to think much, as the redhead then asked him about his past.

At first, he wasn't going to answer; he knew they had a bond, but he didn't want the yokai to also consider him a monster. However, he felt he owed it to him after he had been so honest and genuine. He began by telling him that since he was very young, he had been alone, wandering around the area and begging for a job wherever his gift was accepted.

This resonated in Shoyo's ears, and he gave the hunter an inquisitive look, who, with a sigh, continued his explanation. He had been born during one of the longest eclipses in history, where the sky had remained dark for days, worrying the population about the end of the world. Furthermore, he had been unlucky enough that his mother died during childbirth, as if it were an old curse that was finally being fulfilled. Because of this, many people in the village, including his father, had wanted to kill him for what he represented; however, his grandfather had prevented it, he knew that what others called a curse would be of great importance to all people. He agreed to take care of him and teach him everything he knew about yokais.

This had given a home and a family to a young Kageyama, who would have been discarded as if nothing had happened by those who were supposed to protect him. However, the wind before a storm is usually violent, and they were no exception. One afternoon, when Tobio and his grandfather were returning from exorcising a rokurokubi, an oni was violently ravaging their village. His grandfather quickly sprang into action and began the ritual to get rid of the creature. Unfortunately, he wasn't strong enough to accomplish such a feat, much less when the oni pounced on his grandson. In his attempt to protect him, he ended up losing his life right in front of him.

Before his soul vanished from the earthly plane, his grandfather reminded him that people would treat him badly, but that he should not hold grudges and should only become the best in order to survive another day. He had to live, that was the final wish of his mother and now also of his grandfather.

Despite his loss, the village began to treat him as a truly bad omen, banishing him for fear that killing him could unleash the wrath of the gods. Fortunately for him, a yokai hunter more experienced than his grandfather found him and, seeing the same potential that his grandfather had seen before, decided to teach him everything he knew, thus becoming the renowned and powerful hunter Kageyama Tobio.

There was a moment of silence. He didn't feel entirely uncomfortable, but Hinata was still trying to think of what to say next. It was a rather tragic story, and he didn't want to say anything that might hurt his companion's feelings.

"I'm sorry for using your grandfather to manipulate you." It was the most sincere apology Tobio had ever heard. When Shoyo had mentioned his grandfather earlier, he hadn't felt attacked in any way, nor had he even felt it was a persuasion strategy; on the contrary, he had been amazed that the young tengu knew that. Now the tengu realized he didn't know the details of the story, only that he needed to convince him. Kageyama murmured a soft "It's okay" in response.

The redhead, frustrated, replied that no, it wasn't right for him to take advantage of his most vulnerable point to get what he wanted. That would never be right, and he felt deeply sorry, especially after hearing how important his grandfather had been to the young man. Silence fell again, and Kageyama couldn't help thinking that this was the first time someone had cared so intensely about his feelings. He adored his grandfather and was deeply grateful to his mentor, but not even they would have reacted as effusively as the young winged man had.

Hinata broke the silence again, pulling Tobio from his thoughts. He asked him if he wanted to see his grandfather, receiving a look as shocked as it was confused from the hunter. He quickly explained that it would be an illusion based on his deepest memories, but that it would feel so real that it could help him communicate with him as if he had never left.

He thought about it for a few moments. Finally, the young human agreed to the tengu's offer, who, with a small smile, asked him to close his eyes and not open them until he asked. Kageyama did as instructed, and when he opened his eyes, he found himself under the cherry blossom tree where his grandfather had been buried. There he was, beside him. An older man with a solemn, calm gaze, a body built from working so hard, and that almost imperceptible, sincere smile. Tears were escaping the boy's eyes; however, he didn't want to miss a single second of that moment, so he approached him. His grandfather turned his gaze toward him, paying attention to his grandson's sincere apology. A huge smile, the one that was only reserved for moments of greatest pride, appeared on the man's face as he affirmed to the boy he loved so much while he was alive that there was nothing to apologize for, he was keeping his promise to stay alive and help others. That was all that mattered.

Tobio couldn't hold back his tears anymore and fell into a deep embrace with his grandfather. The gratitude for the life he had given him hadn't stopped rising in his throat, along with sobs of nostalgia and deep sadness. He looked up and met his grandfather's gentle smile just before the dream faded.

In the blink of an eye, he was back in front of the warm campfire, with the redhead looking at him with the same warmth as the fire in front of them. That was enough for Kageyama to throw himself into the arms of a very confused Shoyo. He whispered a sincere thank you in his ear. That boy genuinely didn't know how much he had fixed with just an illusion. He could finally let go of the final image of his grandfather and replace it with that moment under the cherry tree.

Hinata said nothing, just returned the hug somewhat awkwardly. His wings also wrapped around their bodies, covering them from the night cold that had no mercy for two young people who were beginning to strengthen a bond that neither expected to have at some point.

Shortly after, and thanks to the warmth, both boys fell asleep in each other's arms, with nothing to disturb them.

The peace of the hurricane's eye.

Chapter Text

It was the fourth time Kageyama checked the map to make sure the oni was indeed at the spot the kitsune had marked for them. They were still some way off, but he had to admit he was worried about not feeling the evil energy the yokai must be emitting.

Several days had passed since that night, and they had both allowed themselves to be vulnerable in front of each other. This had strengthened the bond between them and allowed them to get to know each other better over time. Hinata no longer felt the need to talk to himself since he knew Tobio was always listening; for his part, Kageyama no longer felt as if the entire weight of his past was on his shoulders, thanks to Shoyo's actions. Neither of them had realized they sought each other's touch whenever they had the chance. Their hearts beat faster and harder when their hands accidentally brushed while walking. They had begun to sleep together, like that night, and both always felt comfortable when their gazes connected under the stars, seeing beyond what was visible, traveling to the depths of their souls. It was a connection deeper than any friendship or romance ever written.

Once, under the constellations, and at Kageyama's request, Hinata carried him in her arms so he could see the moon and touch the clouds. That night, the gentle breeze kissed their cheeks calmly, as if they both belonged to the sky, as if the night were their best ally and the moon their closest confidant. It was just the two of them in that moment, which would forever be etched in their memories.

As good as everything was, Kageyama couldn't stop thinking about the goal behind that long journey. He was beginning to lose hope in avenging his grandfather's memory and bringing the beast that had hurt so many people under control. Besides, he now also feared for Shoyo's safety. Yes, he was a yokai with powers strong enough to defend himself, but that didn't stop a growing concern from blossoming in his chest. He didn't like the idea of ​​seeing that boy hurt; he felt like he couldn't bear it.

Out of nowhere, Shoyo stopped walking. It felt similar to how he had several days ago, only this time, he wasn't so defensive; instead, he had simply taken a stance of maximum caution, preparing for anything that could suddenly get out of hand.

They continued walking, alert to their surroundings and feeling that energy begin to increase. Their bodies tensed, knowing they would need to give everything they had to win the battle and survive together.

They stopped at the entrance of an abandoned and desolate village, the energy coming from somewhere within the town. Before entering, Kageyama tied his horse nearby in case they had to flee. They both looked toward the destroyed houses as they began to move deeper. Shoyo's hand took Tobio's, making sure he knew he was there to support him, infusing some of his power into the hunter's body. It was like electricity running through their fingers, but it didn't hurt at all.

They stopped when, in the center of the village, they spotted a tall, burly figure feeding on what used to be the villagers. The scene was grotesque and violent, leaving both boys with a deep sense of fear that they desperately tried to erase. It wasn't the best time to want to run away.

The oni didn't take long to notice them, recognizing Kageyama's strong spiritual presence as an imminent threat. While Hinata wasn't that intimidating, the creature couldn't ignore him. It immediately understood that it was a matter of kill or be killed, so without a word, the three of them launched an attack.

The oni was the first to pounce on the hunter, who deftly dodged the blow, which, as it hit the ground, caused the earth to crunch. Tobio seized the moment to slide beneath its legs, striking the tendon in its knee, creating a wound from which black liquid began to flow. The beast let out a shriek, preparing for a counterattack.

Little did it know that, above it, Shoyo was preparing for an attack from the sky. It was too late when he realized it, as the tengu had already thrown amulets at him that burst into flames, scorching the oni's red skin and eyes, emitting a deep, terrible wail of pain.

Kageyama leaped onto its back, stabbing it deep between the ridges of its spines. The oni howled, but grabbed his arm and tossed him like a ragdoll into a pile of wooden debris. One of the wooden poles sticking out of the pile had lodged itself beneath the young man's ribs.

The pain radiated so rapidly that not even the adrenaline of battle could erase the immense suffering he was experiencing. Hinata, who was in the air, had also felt the pain, nearly knocking him off his feet.

As Tobio regained some of his strength to deliver the final blow and thus finally exorcise the oni, Shoyo began to stun with violent winds that attacked the demon from all sides, causing it to almost lose its balance.

A few words, a spell traveling through the air as a final stab pierced the yokai's heart, was what finally brought down and exorcised from the earthly plane the oni who had caused nothing but havoc and unhappiness since his arrival.

Kageyama sank to his knees as blood gushed from his wound. His vision began to fail as the adrenaline drained from his system, bringing the rest of his body to the ground with a crushing blow. The unbearable pain was weakening him even more than the wound itself. He wasn't sure he was going to make it out of this situation alive, and all he could think about was that Shoyo must be suffering the same intolerable pain inside him, and that if something happened to himself, the raven's life would also be at risk.

The last thing he saw was Hinata landing with great difficulty in front of him, a look of worry and pain expressed by tears streaming from his beautiful, big eyes. I wish I could have told him how much I loved them.

Then, everything went dark.

Chapter Text

It had only taken a few seconds for Hinata to reach the ground. It was difficult, as the stabbing pain in his abdomen continued to spread like waves so strong they surged through his entire body, weakening the strength of his wings and preventing him from landing gracefully. Instead, his shoulder acted as a landing gear.

With great difficulty, he got up and reached Kageyama's side, who was already unconscious. He lifted the hand the boy was using to press the wound to prevent bleeding and found a hole that had pierced his left abdomen.

The tengu cursed under his breath. He didn't know how serious the situation was, and he wasn't going to wait to find out. He had to get to the nearest village as soon as possible.

Much to his chagrin, he couldn't just pick him up and fly there, since the pain barely allowed him to stand. His wings wouldn't have the strength to carry them both indefinitely while they found a place to treat him. Despair was taking his breath away until he remembered the horse was still tied up outside and the map was in one of the sacks Tobio had left there, as there were only provisions inside.

Determined, he took the hunter's unconscious body in his arms and took flight toward the village entrance. He quickly felt the heaviness of his wings, but he made the effort to keep flying until he reached the place where the steed was. His vision was beginning to blur from the exertion when he finally arrived.

Even with Kageyama in his arms, he collapsed to the ground as his wings completely gave out. He had to take a few breaths to recover from the effort and wipe the sweat running down his forehead so he could continue.

He quickly and delicately picked up and unfolded the map to avoid tearing it. Desperately, he searched for the nearest village and found a familiar name written there: Kitagawa. He immediately remembered the first night they spent together. It was the village where Kageyama had grown up with his grandfather, from which he had later been banished like nothing more than useless trash.

He didn't want to take him there; it felt like a betrayal. However, when he looked at Tobio and how fragile he looked, he knew he wouldn't get another chance. Kageyama wouldn't be able to resist reaching another village. It took him enough strength to lift Kageyama onto the horse and then himself, but he finally managed it and began riding toward their destination.

He tried hard not to think about all the bad things that could happen when he arrived with someone who was not welcome, to not think that Tobio could die in his arms, to not think about what he would do without him. It never occurred to him that he too could die if the hunter did.

Instead, he began to imagine what they would do once Kageyama recovered. They could continue working as exorcists, travel all over Japan, and see everything there was to see. It didn't sound bad at all, much less if it was in the company of that boy with blue eyes like the night sky that captivated him as if the stars themselves lived inside him.

Kageyama Tobio was the cool summer breeze in the forest that used to be his home. And he didn't want to lose the feeling of being home.

It didn't take long for them to arrive; it was as if the horse understood that its rider was in danger and needed help as soon as possible. Hinata thanked it as he climbed off its back.

Carefully, he picked Tobio up again in his arms. He no longer felt as if he were so heavy; on the contrary, he felt light, as if Shoyo had regained the strength that the pain had taken away. He knew it was a relief to know his companion was almost safe.

As he entered the village with the boy in his arms, the people who were busy with their own activities turned to see the yokai. The horrified screams soon began; mothers ran for their children and took them into their houses while men ran to grab their weapons in a foolish attempt to confront the creature. For his part, Shoyo couldn't stop thinking about how cruel people could be when they were afraid, so, taking a defensive position, he spread his wings enough to intimidate the few brave ones who wanted to confront him.

A girl with black hair and blue eyes spotted the boy Hinata was carrying; however, before she could react, Shoyo noticed his presence and resemblance. He approached her, but the girl backed away in fear from the intimidating presence.

Noticing this, the tengu realized he wouldn't be able to get close, so in order to get help, he carefully placed Tobio on the floor and then stepped back a little to allow his sister to approach him. The girl lunged at his chest to try to detect a heartbeat, surprised to find it there. Tears escaped her eyes.

She turned to look again at the creature in front of them, noticing for the first time the black and red bloodstains. She immediately assumed the worst and began calling for help to defeat the monster that had injured her brother.

This action surprised Hinata; he didn't understand why the girl would react this way when he had been responsible for bringing her brother to safety. And then, he remembered something from his past, something he thought had just been a nightmare. His younger sister was stoned to death by a mob who believed she was cursed simply because she had a sun-shaped mole on her cheek. People feared what they didn't understand.

Stones began to strike his wings as he stood lost in thought. He didn't react until a man with a katana lunged at him. Shoyo began to dodge the movements; he didn't want to attack anyone, he truly had never done so; besides, he was too weak to summon the winds and ask for their help in such a harrowing situation.

Out of the corner of his eye, he watched as a healer slipped into the midst of the battle to try to heal Kageyama. Then he realized two things: Tobio's sister truly loved her brother and wouldn't allow him to die, and the bond between them was fading with each passing second. It was only a matter of time before Hinata ceased to exist, so he pushed through the crowd swirling around him to get closer to the only person who mattered to him.

His sister wanted to prevent that move, but Shoyo's pleading eyes stopped her thoughts. He apologized to her for not protecting his brother enough. Before she could say anything, the tengu was beaten away. He began to be hit with tools, his soft feathers were ripped off, and he was stabbed in various parts of his body. At some point, Hinata felt like they were going to amputate his wings; despite this, he no longer had the strength to fight. The pain was too much, and he knew Kageyama could still feel it when, amidst all the commotion around him, he could hear the hunter's loud moan.

There was no other choice; he had to break the bond. With what little strength remained in his soul, he broke the tie that kept them together and Hinata alive, tears escaping his eyes as he felt his life force fading. The wind grew violent, trying to drive away the people who were hurting the nature spirit, who had collapsed to the ground without a single shred of strength left. To some extent, he felt he deserved that beating for not protecting his little sister in the past, for not protecting Kageyama in the present.

The howling of the wind stopped, the people moved away. Hinata's body languished on the ground.

The healer had managed to bring Tobio back to consciousness by stabilizing the wound and restoring the fluids inside him. The first thing he saw when he focused his vision was the watery eyes of Miwa, his sister, and the first thing he felt was a hole in his heart, as if something important had been stolen from him. He knew it.

He got up as best he could while his sister begged him to stay down, he just ignored her. He stumbled, moving slowly toward the fragile and damaged body of the yokai who had accompanied him, the boy who made every moment better with his eternal joy and optimism. Now he was bleeding and bruised, but a smile lit up his battered face as he saw Tobio approaching him.

The boy knelt, tears falling from his face, wetting the ground like summer rain. A question escaped his mind, interrogating the tengu about the non-existence of the bond that allowed him to feel his pain and warmth in his heart.

Without wiping the smile from his face, Shoyo confessed that he had had to break the bond so that he wouldn't feel the atrocities that had been done to his body. He couldn't let the lone hunter who had kept his promise suffer the consequences of another's ignorance again. For the first time, he wanted to be someone's hero.

Tobio cried harder, a bitter smile appearing. They both knew what fate had in store for them, and it wasn't good. Gently, he leaned down and placed a soft goodbye kiss on the pale, bruised lips of the boy to whom he hadn't been able to confess the love that was beginning to grow within him.

Hinata laughed, not because the situation was funny, but because he was happy to know that the cold, serious boy who had won his heart felt the same way.

"In the end, I did find what I was looking for. Thank you for letting me find you." Tears escaped Shoyo's eyes while Tobio continued to mourn the loss of a love that was just beginning.

"I'll see you in another life." And with those last words, in a sigh, Hinata Shoyo took his last breath. A gust of wind swayed the trees, taking with it the tengu's soul, which could now rest in peace. His body turned into the leaves of the forest where he had spent most of his life as a spirit. The breeze soon blew the leaves away, leaving Kageyama alone.

He knelt for what seemed like hours but was only a few minutes. The response to Shoyo's last words had been caught between his lips.

"I was looking for you too, without knowing it."

Chapter Text

It was the first match of the volleyball season, and Hinata Shoyo, a third-year middle school student, was ecstatic to be on the court for the first time since joining the club.

He knew it was going to be very difficult to advance to the next round with a team that had only just been formed that day; however, he remained optimistic despite the situation.

Behind him, a team of very tall boys glared at him as he stood in the middle of the entrance. When Hinata noticed, he quickly moved to the side to allow them to pass. However, he felt an electric shock when a boy with black hair and blue eyes walked past him. For some reason, at first, he saw the boy dressed in traditional attire, with a katana strapped to his waist and a cold, intelligent gaze. Then, it seemed he was wearing a cape and a king's crown. Finally, he realized it was a uniform like the rest of his team. That event shocked him too much, but he decided to ignore it.

Later, as he listened to some of Kitagawa Daichi's younger players mocking his team, he felt that same electric shock run through his body again when the boy from before appeared and scolded the younger players. He still didn't know what was going on, but he found himself arguing with that setter about who would win.

For his part, Kageyama Tobio, setter for Kitagawa Daichi's team, couldn't stop thinking about how brave the short, red-haired boy was to argue with someone who was clearly better than him. He even wondered if he was crazy.

However, during the match, he saw that boy jump and black wings sprout from his back, propelling him higher and higher. This sight distracted him enough for the other team to score a point. When he saw the redhead again he realized that there was nothing strange about him, but an electric current ran through his spine and an ancient phrase crossed his mind.

"The winds guide travelers toward their destination, in search of that place where there is more light, where they can find the soul with which they are intertwined. They can only be reached by allowing themselves to be guided by the invisible currents that are unnoticed by the world."