"I would rather spend one lifetime with you, than face all the ages of this world alone." - Tolkien.

Chapter 17: Home

Valentine's day had always been Hinata's favorite holiday. The love, the intimacy, and the changing of pink soulmate strings were always at its highest on this particular day. It made sense, as the silly holiday was aimed toward others appreciating their loved ones. From children to the elderly, most celebrated it in one way or another. It meant that the day was filled with work for the god of love and his helpers, barely giving him time to breathe. He loved it, knowing that all of his hard work would result in the happiness of the people of earth. Even if some did get their hearts wounded in the process, the small god was able to see the benefit of having such a positive holiday showering the earth with feel-good emotions for twenty-four hours.

And yet…

"Hinata?" The god blinked as his eyes lifted from the spot of grass he had been staring at, losing their dazed state to take in his surroundings. Izumi, the assistant who had called out to him, tilted his head in concern, his hands glowing with a pink light. "Did you hear what I said?"

"Ah, sorry!" The forced laugh that came from Hinata hurt his lungs, but the god of love made it as realistic as possible for the pair now staring at him. "I spaced out for a minute; what did you ask?"

"He said we've got fourteen strings about ready to switch over." The second assistant, Koji, filled in the answer for his friend, a soft sigh showing the fatigue of the dwindling holiday was getting to him. "It's going to be our final sweep on earth before we call it a day. You've got Suzuki and Mori's teams coming in to assist you for the night. Do you need anything else before we go out?"

"Nope, you guys are all set to go." Hinata gave a grin and a thumbs up, hoping his enthusiasm would overshadow the twisting pain gripping his heart.

"Okay then." But Izumi didn't move, keeping a soft gaze on the god of love. It took a moment for the blonde to speak, showing the concern his features already gave away. "Are you sure that you're doing okay?"

"Why wouldn't I be? I got my job back, didn't I?" There were no repercussions for the trial, according to Ukai. He had earned his title, fair and square, since he had completed his mission. He knew that Ukai wouldn't hold a grudge, and had believed in him despite the hard task. He was a good leader, and wouldn't set someone up for failure. Knowing that Ukai had faith in him should have made him happy. All he ever wanted was to be recognized as an equal as the other gods. Finally, he had proven his worth.

"You just seem quieter than usual." Koji's observation made Hinata's answer tangle in his throat. He wanted to push away his friend's concern, knowing that if he didn't, they would press the conversation into a place that Hinata wasn't sure he wanted to go. Yet even as the two men stared at him, the god of love remained silent.

"Shouyou is still adjusting to being back here." The sweet voice of the fertility god caught the attention of the group, Suga giving a friendly wave. "Sometimes it takes a little bit to get back into the swing of things."

"R-Right." Hinata gave a sharp nod, moving to stand by the older god. Feeling a warm arm drop over his shoulders gave the short god the confidence to look back at his assistants and smile. "So don't worry about me, and go share the love."

"You got it, boss." In seconds the two lesser gods dispersed, leaving Hinata and Suga alone. A slow sigh dropped from the short god's lips, giving a grateful glance up to his friend.

"Thanks."

"No problem, though I can understand why they're worried about you."

"What do you mean?" At Hinata's question, Suga smiled, though it didn't seem to reach his eyes. The look made Hinata uncomfortable, the younger god taking a step away from Suga in order to face him.

"I know that the transition back here must be hard for you."

"It's not. This is my home, after all. Why wouldn't I want to be back here?" He hadn't meant to sound annoyed with Suga's observation, but the snap in his voice gave way to his true feelings. If Suga noticed, he didn't voice it, instead moving closer to place his hands onto Hinata's shoulders.

"You could come down and see them, you know." Suga's quiet words made the inside of Hinata's throat itch, keeping him quiet as he tried to swallow the scratch away. The fertility god took the moment to continue, his voice gentle and understanding. "I know today would be hard for you, as you're so busy and most of them already have plans for the night. But the team misses you, and since you left so unexpectedly-"

"I can't do that," was Hinata's reply, forcing the words through a tightened throat before staring down at the ground. His fingers clenched into fists by his sides, and he noticed an increase in the way his eyelashes blinked. "The last time I let my personal feelings get in the way of my job, I screwed everything up. I want to prove that my position as the god of love is the most important thing to me."

"Is it, though?" There was no judgment in the demi god's voice, but it still hit Hinata's chest hard enough to knock his breath away. The quietness of the meadow surrounding them gave no reprieve to the god, who tried to avoid looking back at his friend. If a month ago, someone had presented the question of Hinata's commitment to his job, he would be furious. Nothing had mattered more than helping love bloom in the world under him. Even if Oikawa had snaked his way into making Hinata momentarily lose focus on that, he had down what his place in the world had been. But now, the question swam in his head with more sway than the god wanted to admit. Days had passed since he had come back, and he wanted to feel at ease with that. This was where he was supposed to be.

Right?

"Why aren't you with Daichi? I thought Ukai gave you permission to go see him tonight?" Switching the subject felt safer to Hinata, brown eyes only rising back to Suga's face when hearing him answer.

"I was on my way to see him before I saw you over here. Our reservations aren't for another few hours." Suga's eyes no longer held the pain or confliction they had before when speaking about the captain. Suga was truly happy with Daichi, and seemed to have no qualm in sharing his responsibilities of the fertility god. Because of the lower status, Suga's role did not require the constant attendance that Hinata or Takeda's position did. A spark of envy boiled in Hinata's stomach for only a moment, though it was quickly submerged by guilt. It wasn't Suga's fault that he had been chosen to have the position or soulmate he did. Having any negative feelings for the kind demi-god was out of line.

"But you should still be taking advantage of the time you can spend together! Don't let me keep you." Hinata made sure to emphasize his smile to make up for his previous envy, Suga's observant gaze seeming to pick up on something that the shorter god wasn't aware of.

"I was planning on checking in with Kageyama while I was down there. Would you like me to say hello for you?"

"Kageyama…" The name felt strange falling from his lips after actively avoiding it. Whether it was sharing stories of his adventure on earth to other gods, or giving reports to his parents on the soulmates he mended, the dark-haired spiker's name was always absent. Despite this, there was a tingle in his mouth after mumbling the name automatically. Fearful of the emotions that immediately started to surge in his chest, Hinata shook his head, desperate the escape the pain now nipping at the edges of his eyes. "N-No way! Why would I want to say anything to Bakayama? It's not like I care about him or miss him or...or..."

"Shouyou...it's okay."

"I'm fine!" Hinata protested instantly, his body tensing when Suga calmly pulled him into a hug.

"It's okay. He misses you too." Warm words swept over his ear, followed by gentle fingers running through his hair. The soothing motion was paired with a painful memory of a particular roommate using the same method to relax him. Though Sugawara had done this same motion hundreds of times in comparison, it was the moment with Kageyama that stood out to him. Hinata's eyes closing tightly at the onslaught of emotions bouncing in his stomach and chest, little arms trembling from the helplessness he felt. Even if he banished Kageyama's name and face to the furthest part of his mind, one motion brought all of it barreling back through him like a hurricane.

And even with the pain and unspoken anger he felt, it was the gaping hole of want that truly sidelined him. He just wanted to see his roommate. To look at him, to hear how his voice tightened when he was annoyed or see the changes his eyes made when he was feeling anger or joy. Hinata wanted to watch Kageyama's flawless jump serve and then laugh at how clumsy the man became when Noya rushed to compliment him. The moments of frustration and happiness that the two shared always begged to play through Hinata's mind at random moments of the day, whether he was alone or in crowds of gods. If he didn't keep his head filled with tasks for the day, questions about his roommate and partner in crime would bubble up without permission. And each time they did, the burn in his heart made the unexplainable ache in his soul grow.

"It's okay, Shouyou; let it all out." The comforting words made Hinata's lungs gasp for breath, the god realizing his cheeks were soaked with tears. Once limp hands were now clutched into Suga's shirt as if clenching the fabric would eradicate the pain now coming out as cries from the god's throat. A dam that Hinata hadn't know he had built was now broken, and the god couldn't stop the wails from coming between clench teeth. Empathetic rubs of Suga's hands on his trembling back made Hinata feel safe, soft words of comfort being spoken to him. So he cried, letting his heartache and pain finally consume him. In this moment, the god saw the one downside to such a beautiful holiday he had always celebrated.

Unrequited love had no place to call home on Valentine's Day.

"Hinata didn't tell you when he was coming back?" Yamaguchi's concerned question made Kageyama shrug, the setter keeping his stare down on the salad his fork was currently poking at. The desire to eat the leafy meal had left him the second the god's name came from his friend's lips, but Kageyama tried not to make that obvious by taking a swig of his milk. The setter heard the pinch server give a displeased sigh, glancing up to see Yamaguchi lean on his arm. "And he didn't say why he had to go back home?"

"No." Blue eyes glanced toward the door of the college cafeteria, wondering if he could make a simple escape from the conversation by leaving. They had been there for some time, and the setter could make the excuse of having to go back to the apartment before class. It wasn't that he hated spending time with Yamaguchi; the neighbor had become a good friend over the past month. He didn't want the brunet to get the wrong idea.

"Considering he left in the middle of practice, I doubt that idiot had anything planned." He would, however, have no problem walking out on Tsukishima. The blonde blocker gave a roll of his eyes when Yamaguchi poked an elbow into his side. "I'm just stating facts."

"Suga-san said he left because it was an emergency. I'm just happy to know it wasn't too serious since Suga-san was able to come back for valentine's day." Yamaguchi, as well as most of the members of the volleyball team, had not been present when Hinata had been pulled back to his homeland. Daichi, Sugawara, and Kageyama were left with little time to come up with an excuse for the sudden disappearance, but the fertility god was a quick thinker. When moving back into the gym, Suga took the lead, grabbing his and Hinata's stuff while explaining a sudden text that the spiker had received from his parents. The fair-haired setter made sure to 'keep in contact' with the team about the situation when he visited, reporting that Hinata wouldn't be back for a few days. He kept the details vague about the emergency, saying that it wasn't his place. He would always tell the team that it was Hinata's choice to tell them when he came back.

That had been three days ago. Though the occasional question about his short roommate would still come up, most of the team soon became distracted by the lover's holiday. Suga had told Kageyama to keep Hinata's room as it was in the apartment, for the time being, hinting that packing up any of his things would cast suspicion from their observant neighbors. The plan was to inform the team that Hinata would have to take some time off from school after a week, making a claim that the emergency required him helping his family out back home. Though Kageyama felt uneasy with lying to his team about the situation, he knew there was nothing else he could do. After all, telling them that Hinata was the god of love and was sent to fix all of their relationships before going back home was completely out of the question. Even having Daichi know the information was strange, though the setter felt confident in his captain being able to keep a secret.

"The apartment complex has been kind of lonely with Hinata," Yamaguchi mumbled quietly, swirling his spoon through his applesauce with a frown. Kageyama forced his lips into a straight line of indifference, his tongue swelling with guilt as he spoke.

"It's better this way."

"Do I sense a lover spat?" There was a coy glimmer in Tsukishima's eyes as he arched an eyebrow at Kageyama, the setter reflexively clenching his fingers around his newly bent fork. "Or is the king simply trying to hide that he misses his peasant lover?"

"Tsukki," Yamaguchi started, but both roommates jumped at the sound of Kageyama slamming his hand onto the table.

"I don't love Hinata." The growl that rolled across his lips warned of either man to challenge him, sending a heated glare toward the stunned blocker before pushing out of his chair. His half-eaten salad was dumped into the nearest trash can as he stormed out of the cafeteria. The coldness that bit at his cheeks was barely felt as Kageyama stuffed his hands into his pockets, silently cursing when his bare arms were riddled with goosebumps. He had left the dining room so fast, he had forgotten his jacket on the back of the chair. Knowing he couldn't go back and face Tsukishima's smug smirk at getting under the setter's skin, Kageyama pressed his arms closer to his side and sighed.

To say his mood as of late was dismal would be taking an optimistic view on the situation. His lack of concentration in school was apparent, though he had to admit that it had never been the best, to begin with. The sudden occurrences of zoning out in practice, however, were alarming. Though he wanted to be there, Kageyama couldn't keep his head in the game. His setting was off, his spikes were easily blocked, and his serves were comparable to a middle schooler. He wanted to blame it on the lack of sleep he had been getting, or the stress of homework. But it was hard to point the finger at either of those situations when both of them could be solved with Kageyama simply going back to his home at a reasonable time. The lack of time the man had spent in his own apartment over the past three days was abysmal. And yet Kageyama continued to offer to close up the gymnasium after practice or keep Yachi company at her job late into the night. Because when he was forced to go to his apartment, he felt...empty. And he knew on a subconscious level that the feeling wasn't going away anytime soon.

"Kageyama!" The setter puffed out a cloud of white smoke before turning his head, catching sight of the freckled neighbor now jogging toward him. Tucked in his arms was a familiar jacket, the brunet holding the piece of clothing like a peace offering. "You left this in the cafeteria."

"Uh, thanks." Kageyama was grateful for the warmth that the coat gave to his body when wrapping it around him. The moment of comfort was washed away when he noticed that Yamaguchi hadn't moved from his side, an ulterior motive obvious in his gaze.

"I also wanted to say sorry about Tsukki. He doesn't mean to be insensitive about the situation, he just doesn't know how to admit that he misses Hinata." The explanation took Kageyama by surprise, Yamaguchi giving a soft smile to show he was speaking the truth about his stoic roommate. "Hinata isn't just your roommate; he's become a member of our volleyball family. I'd be more surprised if someone didn't miss him."

"Tsukishima doesn't seem torn up about it," Kageyama replied, scowling.

"He's not the biggest on showing how he feels, but he's not the only one."

"What's what supposed to mean?" He knew he sounded defensive at Yamaguchi's implication, but the pinch server didn't react to the curt reply. Instead, he glanced around them, his cheeks reddened by the coldness of the winter air.

"It's okay to miss him. He's your roommate, your best friend, your...well, you know." Then the brown eyes were back on him, an openness making them darker than Kageyama was prepared for. "He's your person."

"I...I don't know what you're talking about," Kageyama evaded, trying to keep his face from breaking from his displeased frown. Yamaguchi didn't relent, however, taking a small step closer to his neighbor.

"I know that you two haven't had time to really talk about your own relationship, since you've been busy helping everyone else fix that doesn't mean that the feelings between the two of you aren't real." Something about the confidence in Yamaguchi's statement made Kageyama wonder if the brunet knew more than he let on, but he didn't have time to question his thought. "It's written all over Hinata's face when he looks at you."

"I've got to go to class-" Unwilling to get swept up in the current of emotions now flowing in his veins, Kageyama tried to move from the situation, though stopped when Yamaguchi's hand snatched his wrist.

"It's love, Kageyama." Yamaguchi's words made Kageyama's spine tense, his eyes widening despite his desire to remain unaffected. Slowly turning back to his neighbor, the setter's throat dried up to keep him from forcing the conversation to end. Yamaguchi took his chance, nodding once to show the other man had heard him. "Hinata looks at you like you're the best thing that's ever happened to him. He truly is in love with you, even if he hasn't been able to tell you yet."

"That's...not true," Kageyama mumbled, his free hand quick to yank at the bottom of his jacket in discomfort. Though the temperature outside hadn't changed, he suddenly felt too hot, wanting to bury his face into the closest snow pile.

"I wouldn't lie to you."

"He can't love me." Because he had no soulmate string. Because he was a human and Hinata was a god. Because Hinata was nice and caring, and could never truly love someone as dark and grumpy as him. Because Kageyama didn't deserve him. Because-

"Would you reject him?" The question that Yamaguchi posed was unexpected, leaving little time for Kageyama to stop himself from answering.

"Never." It wasn't the words that took Kageyama by surprise, but the confidence that he had when saying it. But the firm answer only brightened Yamaguchi's smile, releasing the grasp on Kageyama's wrist to step away from him.

"Maybe you should think about why that is before Hinata comes back." There was a moment of silence between them, but it was quickly broken up by the chiming of the clock tower. Glancing up, Yamaguchi gasped at the time, quick to move away from his neighbor with a wave. "I've got to go to work, but we're having lasagna tonight if you want some dinner. Text me!"

"Okay." The setter wasn't sure if his friend heard his response from how quietly he had spoken, watching in silence as Yamaguchi ran out of sight. The bustle of the campus was background noise to the art student as he walked back to his apartment, his eyes staying on the way his feet scraped against the sideway. He tried to mentally go over schedule, yet even his mind lacked the ability to focus. And his heart…Kageyama couldn't explain the happiness now filling his heart or the implications that came with it.

He's not coming back, his mind reasoned, a fact that he knew to be true. No matter what anyone thought or felt, Hinata had made his choice. It was a decision that he had shoved in Hinata's face on the night he left. He had known from day one that Hinata was never meant to stay with him. There was no reason to. Hinata would continue on with his life as a god spreading joy and love, and would probably never think twice about the setter he had been forced to room with. Hinata didn't love him. And yet his heart couldn't be silenced. Underneath the anger, the sadness and the pain, there was one thought that flickered with hope.

But what if he did?

"I shouldn't do this." Even as Hinata's words left his lips, the smaller god found himself slowly lowering to his knees beside the pond. These waters were the same that had bared witness to Hinata and Oikawa's fight, and had always been a favorite place for Hinata to go when he was free from his obligations for the night. He could spend hours with his fingers dipped into the water, watching the soulmates on earth. Seeing these couples sharing happiness always gave him purpose and reminded him of why he loved his job so much. They gave him the strength to continue when a day had been rough or when a couple hadn't been able to make the connection he knew they so desperately needed. It was his favorite place to be, one that he had never thought could be replaced by a dingy gymnasium on earth.

Just a little peek wouldn't hurt; it's my responsibility to make sure that their strings are still strong. The argument sounded reasonable in Hinata's mind, the little god giving one strong nod of commitment before pushing his hand into the water. The water accepted his touch with no resistance, the glow of his power quick to fill the pond. In seconds, Hinata's eyes matched the glow, staring down at the first image that had appeared in front of him. The small apartment that now showed up was a familiar sight to Hinata, as well as the pair on the beat up couch. Tanaka looked frustrated as he shouted at the television in front of him and Ennoshita, a game controller being clenched in his hands. His boyfriend, in contrast, had a sly smile on his lips, his own hands relaxed as they guided their joystick through whatever game they were playing. The 'Player 2 wins' flashed over the screen, Tanaka's defeated face proving that he was the loser. Though Hinata couldn't hear the words spoken by the film student, the mirth in his eyes proved it was a teasing statement. Tanaka didn't hesitate to jump onto his boyfriend, the two engaging in a 'fight'. The mood shifted when the bald man kissed his boyfriend, a hint of a smile still apparent on Ennoshita's face as he easily forfeited the fight and kissed him back.

Kiyoko and Yachi weren't at Yachi's job, a place that the two normally had to meet up at because of the blonde's hectic school and work schedule. Though Hinata did not recognize the location, he did know from his own experiences on earth what the two wooden structures in front of them were. Each had their own easel with a small canvas for them to use. Paints were shared between the two as they looked up to the instructor in front of them, who seemed to be teaching the group what to put next on their pictures. Despite the concentration from the others in the room, the two girls seemed in their own world, sharing glances and mutual blushes each time their eyes made contact. Their hands were rested on top of each other's next to their art supplies, paint-splotched fingers messily entwined to enhance their connection.

At first glance, Asahi and Noya looked like a mess. One of their kitchens, Hinata assumed, was now decorated with several different foods and messes that the god of love couldn't clearly decipher. Noya himself was splashed with colors of all different kinds, though the bright grin that was plastered on his face seemed to show that he didn't mind. Asahi's face lacked the pure joy of his boyfriend, though it did have a streak of orange sauce along his cheek. In front of them sat a complete meal, which seemed to be the main contributing factor of the disaster zone. Noya's excitement was radiating off of him as he looked back at Asahi in joy, pointing to the meal they had made together with pride. And like magic, Asahi's previous look of anxiety melted to contentment, a change that his co-cook picked up on. The stain on Asahi's cheek was quickly covered by Noya's palm as the younger man pulled his boyfriend down for a loving kiss.

In comparison, Tsukishima and Yamaguchi seemed serene in their moment. The library was a comfortable place for the two, both men engrossed in their own tasks. Tsukishima was organizing items on one of the shelves in the library, implying that it was his time at work. Yamaguchi was transfixed by the book in front of him, scattered papers and a glowing laptop showing his homework was his focus. The dimly lit area looked scarce of other students, though Hinata knew from experience the library was not a place people dwelled on Tuesday nights. Maybe the isolation was what made Tsukishima pause in his walk back to the front desk, touching the shoulder of his roommate with enough pressure to jostle him from his homework. The blonde leaned over to whisper something in Yamaguchi's ear, and though the comment was short, it was enough to erupt the pinch server's face with color. A smirk was evident on Tsukishima's face as he walked away from the scene of his crime, Yamaguchi dropping his head to the table and covering his embarrassed smile with his arms.

If Hinata hadn't known how fresh the relationship between Suga and Daichi was, he would have assumed that they were married. As the couple strolled through a park that look familiar to Hinata, there were no nerves or signs of hesitation. Their arms were entwined in their stroll, their eyes only leaving the others to watch the path they were walking. Both wore smiles that weren't bursting with excitement or nerves. They were warm and comfortable, like they knew there was no where else in the world they needed to be but with each other. The pain, the hesitation and the obstacles that the two had to go through to get to this point no longer mattered. Even the simplicity of a walk through the park was enough for the two, so long as they were together. And just like the four couples before them, their pink soulmate strings were glowing with healthy, pure love. It was a sight that filled Hinata's heart with warmth, and he slowly pulled his hand away from the water as he gave a silent sigh.

But his fingers pause on the edge of the pond, his stomach flipping when the idea of checking on one more human crossed his mind.

"I...can't. I shouldn't even be thinking about him," he whispered, his fingers curling away from the water to dig into his palm.

"You really are hopeless, Chibi-kun." Hinata's eyes widened at the voice next to his ear, though he didn't have the reflexes to pull away from the slender grasp now dragging his hand back into the warm water.

"Oikawa? What are you-"

"Iwa-chan's in some stupiding meeting and I'm bored." The statement was said with a flippant tone that proved that it wasn't the topic that Oikawa planned to stay on, his own eyes flashing with power as their hands illuminated the water again. "So let's see what Tobio-kun is up to, shall we?"

"Wait!" Yet the god of lust didn't bother to listen, and Hinata felt his desire to fight dissolve when an image appeared in front of him. The gymnasium was a sight for sore eyes, despite how empty it was. In fact, there was only one person who currently inhabited the building. Slender fingers grasped the colorful volleyball before tossing it into the air, black hair swaying with the man's movements. Blue eyes that made Hinata's blood heat were focused and sharp as they zeroed in on their target, a loud smack echoing in the gym from the powerful serve. It was only then that Hinata was able to see the floor littered with volleyballs, each seeming to come from the man now scowling at the net which had caught the brunt of his serve. Sweat was pooling off of Kageyama's face and neck, while the darkness under the man's eyes was concerning. He looked beyond tired, even as he went to grab another ball to serve. Despite how angry Kageyama looked, Hinata couldn't keep his eyes off of him. It felt unreal seeing the setter again, and he could feel his palm itching by his side. The only problem was he wasn't sure if it was to hit another spike or to hold Kageyama's hand again.

"He does this every night, you know." The bored way that Oikawa spit out the information made Hinata blink, hesitating to respond.

"Why do you know that?"

"Because I've got a bet going on with Iwa-chan, you see, about which one of you would realize it first. But honestly, it's been four days and this is pathetic. You of all people should be ashamed, since this is your department and all." Oikawa's words made Hinata's eyes pull away from the water, watching the god of lust given a dramatic sigh. "I mean I guess it makes sense, since you can't see it, but still-"

"See what?" The older god paused at the question, his face taking on a look of contemplation. After finishing whatever mental argument he was having, Oikawa gave a roll of his eyes and yanked their hands out of the water.

"Just so you know, Chibi-kun, I'm only doing it this because I want brownie points with Iwa-chan." The god of lust didn't elaborate much as he flipped Hinata's wrist in his hand, letting his fingertip tap over the pulse once. "Tobio-kun has a soulmate string."

"Wh...what?" Oikawa nodded once at Hinata's breathless reply, his eyes staying trained on the pale wrist. Unable to accept the sudden declaration, Hinata shook his head, trying to pull away from Oikawa's strong grip. "But th-that's not possible! I never saw a string-"

"Remember when you told me that I had a soulmate string, but I couldn't see it? And then you said that gods can't see their own strings?" The implication was heavy in the brunet's voice, and the world seemed to slow when Hinata caught on to what the god was hinting at. Humming when seeing the realization Hinata made, Oikawa slipped his grasp away from Hinata's skin, shrugging once. "I can't see yours at the moment, since you're up here. But I can still see his. When I first met Tobio-kun, he had a white string. I was tempted to tell you, but I figured it was something I could hold over your head later on, so I kept mum about it. Then the club fiasco happened. The next morning, not only was it pink, but it was connected to you. I probably didn't even notice you had a soulmate string because I wasn't looking for it. I gave you a hint and everything about it, and yet here we are."

"This...isn't possible." Unable to accept the words coming from Oikawa's mouth, Hinata pushed up to his feet, his body trembling with anger and confusion. He tried to glare at Oikawa, who gave a shrug of his shoulders while he pushed up to his feet.

"If you don't believe me, go talk to Takeda. It's not like he'll lie to you." Hinata didn't hesitate to run away from the other god, barely hearing Oikawa's "you're welcome!" as he sprinted to where he knew Takeda would be. The thoughts and feelings filling Hinata were jumbled and overwhelming, the god of love continuing to glance at his wrist during his sprint. No matter how many times he tried to activate his powers, he couldn't see a thread around his wrist. Was Oikawa lying? Was he just trying to kick Hinata when he was down? He wouldn't put it past the man who had spent years tormenting him. It had to be a lie, because if it wasn't...

"Takeda!" Hinata's voice echoed in the large room as he entered the building, his eyes frantic as they searched for the god of fate. His chest heaved from the lack of air, but the pain in his lungs was thrown to the back of his mind when the familiar brown eyes of his father appeared in front of him.

"Hinata? Are you okay?"

"I don't know," the younger god answered honestly, swallowing once before he held up the wrist that Oikawa had held previously. "I just spoke with Oikawa and he said-am I Kageyama's soulmate?!"

"You...yes, Hinata." The confirmation made any air left in Hinata's lungs disappear, the god gasping as he dropped to his knees. He wasn't sure if he wanted to laugh or cry, his emotions tearing him in different directions. Takeda was slow as he knelt in front of the young god, Hinata tensing as a warm hand cupped his cheek. "You are Kageyama's true soulmate."

"This isn't possible. You told me Kageyama's doesn't have a soulmate."

"He didn't, at the time at least. I wasn't lying to you. Do you want me to explain?" Instantly Hinata nodded, lifting his head to give his full attention to the soft-spoken god in front of him. "People are designated with soulmate strings before they are born, but their strings aren't created up here; they're created on earth. That's because it's expected that their soulmate is also living on earth as a human. But I believe that this is the reason that Kageyama didn't have a soulmate thread when he was born. Daichi's string appeared because Sugawara was born on earth, so even when Sugawara returned and his string disappeared here, Daichi's still remained. Just as Sugawara, Oikawa and Iwaizumi's string are unable to be seen here, so we were unaware that they were soulmates until you saw them on earth. Kageyama didn't present with a string because the soul that he was destined to fall in love with hadn't come to earth yet."

"When did you realize this? Why didn't anyone tell me?" There were a thousand questions that Hinata had flipping through his mind, but he could only get his mouth to form two. If he asked any more, he was scared he would break down completely from the shock he was feeling.

"The same reason I couldn't stop your fight with Oikawa or tell Sugawara about his soulmate string; there was a time and place for you to make this discovery. If I had disrupted any of the paths, it would have changed your fates and had the potential risk of breaking your soulmate string." The small smile that lifted Takeda's lips was humble, proving yet again that the god would never think to abuse his immense power for his own gain. Hinata felt all traces of anger slip away from him at the explanation, knowing that his father had been able to look at the greater picture. But the pain and sadness over the results remained intertwined with Hinata's joy.

"But...Kageyama rejected our soulmate string." Using his other hand to cover his wrist, Hinata winced at the implication.

"I must admit, in all the years that I've been the god of fate, I've never seen a human like your soulmate." Takeda's tone was light and humorous, which took the younger god by surprise. Seeming to notice the confusion, Takeda pulled Hinata closer to him, keeping a warm brown gaze linked with amber eyes. "Have you ever wondered why we let humans believe we are nothing but myths?"

"Not really," Hinata admitted, realizing that it wasn't an absurd question to ask, but he didn't understand was what it had to do with his current predicament.

"There's a truth behind the saying 'there is power in knowledge'. The second a human knows about the gods, they aren't as susceptible to our powers. It's not to say they are impervious; Kageyama was able to resist against Tooru but not completely ignore Tooru's...skill set." The blush that Hinata saw stretch over Takeda's face showed his naturally shy demeanor, the god of fate pushing through his embarassment to continue. "In this case, I had foreseen Kageyama confessing to you the night you were pulled back here in fear of losing you forever. But he didn't do that; Kageyama fought his fate and sacrificed his own happiness...for yours."

"For me?"

"Kageyama is still under the impression that he doesn't have a soulmate string. No soulmate string means no true love bond. He thought that staying with him wouldn't make you truly happy. In the end, he decided not to confess to you so you could continue being the god of love without feeling guilty over his unrequited love."

"But it's not unrequited!" Scrambling to grab Takeda's hands, Hinata's fingers trembled as he stared up at the taller god in earnest. "I love Kageyama. I'm in love with him!"

"Then you have a decision to make, Hinata." Giving the hands a gentle squeeze, Takeda placed their hands into his lap and spoke quietly. "The god of love needs a focused mind and complete dedication. This isn't a power that can be slacked on or split up like others. The power of love is crucial. If you truly want to be with Kageyama, you'll have to step down from being the god of love."

"I'll...lose my godhood?" Hinata whispered quietly, Takeda giving a soft shake of his head.

"You'll still be a god, and our son. Nothing will ever change that. No matter what you choose, we will be proud of you and stand by your decision." The slight pain that appeared in Takeda's eyes made Hinata tense, pausing his breath as he waited for the other god to continue. "If you choose to stay Kageyama's soulmate, you'll have to transition out of the position as the god of love. You may have some aftereffects, such as seeing soulmate strings. But you won't have any power to change them or influence their romance if they start to break, other than your natural charm."

"And if I don't?"

"If you choose to stay the god of love, the soulmate string between you and Kageyama has the high chance to become toxic. In order to stop that, I'd have to perform a soulbreak on Kageyama. He truly will not have a soulmate string."

"He'll...he'll feel nothing for me?" Hinata whispered, the words feeling like glass crossing his lips. Takeda gave a slow nod, and the god of love felt his stomach clench. "I...what am I supposed to do?"

"Unfortunately, only you know that answer." Takeda's words made Hinata close his eyes, fearing they would shed the tears he felt filling them.

"I'm the god of love. I fought so hard to prove that I'm the right person for the job. But I love him." The words choked Hinata up, his hand reaching up to clutch over where his heart thudded in his chest. "I'm in love with Kageyama. What am I supposed to do?"

"Hinata." Instantly the smaller god was pulled into the warm hug of Takeda, who placed a gentle kiss onto his temple. "I don't want to sway you one way or the other, but I do have one thing that I feel you need to know before you make your decision. Do you want me to say it?"

"Okay," the god answered quietly, taking a slow breath to try and calm himself. Being over-anxious could make him jump to the wrong answer, and he wanted to be as stable as he could be when Takeda spoke. Focus. He needed focus, the same thing that Kageyama-his soulmate-had helped him find in order to complete his mission. The older god seemed to understand this and waited silently for Hinata. It took some time for the emotions to subside, and Hinata nodded once to show his calmer state. "Okay."

"If I do the soulbreak, then he won't feel anything for you. Which means...it will be like he never fell in love with you."

And instantly, the god of love knew his answer.

"Fantastic."

Kageyama stared down at the test in his hand, which was displaying the failing grade in the right hand corner of the paper. It had been a horrible score, and the teacher had made Kageyama set up an appointment Wednesday afternoon between work and practice to speak with him about it. Though he was never the scholar of his friends, art was something that came naturally to him. Art history was something he found interest in, and this had been the first time that he had failed in the class. The conversation was embarrassing for the student, as he had no reason to give to his professor for why he had failed. The man offered a make up exam the next week, saying Kageyama could average the two scores to keep his grade from slipping too far. It was a gracious offer than the setter didn't hesitate to take.

Sighing quietly, Kageyama stuffed the test into his backpack before slinging it over his shoulder, shoving his hand into his pocket to fetch his phone. His stomach was growling, reminding him that he hadn't eaten since that morning. The meeting had given him little time to think of making dinner, and he wasn't in the mood for cafeteria food. Maybe Yamaguchi had saved him some of their dinner. Ever since Hinata had left, the pinch server had taken it upon himself to make sure the setter was eating. It was a weird situation that Kageyama felt too uncomfortable to talk about, so he simply went with the flow. Yamaguchi was a good cook, and it beat the fast food and soggy cereal that the art student had been forcing himself to eat while avoiding his apartment.

But when he turned his phone's screen on, his eye twitched. His other neighbor's name was displayed on his screen, with the words 'New Message' now taunting him. Had he found out about his meeting with his teacher? The last thing he needed was a text taunting him about his lack of a brain or need for 'peasant tutoring'. Letting out another weary sigh, Kageyama swiped open the message, his eyes staring in surprise at the caption that lingered just under a eerily familiar picture.

I want a reward for finding him. -Tsukishima Kei

Kageyama nearly dropped his phone from how quickly he sprinted to his apartment. He ignored the strange looks that people through the campus gave him as he ran, the cold wind and snowy weather forgotten as he sprinted across his parking lot. His feet skipped a few steps in his hallway as he moved, his shoulder screeching in pain when he rounded a corner too quickly and smacked into it. The setter ignored it to stumbled through his hallway, barely giving notice to the closing of his neighbor's door before skidding to a stop in front of his own. His hand was turning the knob the same time his other hand was pushing it open, nearly slamming the door into the wall as he burst into his living room.

"Gah!" A squeaky voice from the couch made Kageyama's eyes snap toward it, his spine tensing when catching the wide-eyed gaze of amber he never expected to see again. The orange hair looked more vibrant than he remembered, and the couch looked ready to swallow the smaller man. And yet even when Kageyama blinked twice, the image on his sofa stayed.

"Hi-Hinata?!"

"Uh...I'm back." A moment of silence broke through their interaction before Hinata's eyes flickered to the laundry station. "So Tsukishima said to switch his laundry over before we go to practice as his reward or something-"

"What the hell are you doing here?" There was a nervous edge to the smile that his roommate gave him, and Kageyama instantly narrowed his eyes as he shut the door behind him and walked toward the couch. "Don't tell me you did something stupid again."

"It's kind of more complicated than that," Hinata protested quickly, shooting up to his feet when the setter stopped next to him. Unable to understand exactly where his emotions were planning to settle, Kageyama growled down at the smaller man and glared.

"How can you be this stupid? Complicated, you say? You've only been gone five days! What the hell could you have done to get sent back down here?!"

"Stop yelling at me!" Kageyama had planned to do the exact opposite of that, but the small hands that grabbed his shirt and yanked him forward caught him off guard. His mouth had already parted when lips were pressed against his own, the pressure of Hinata's kiss taking him by surprise. Hands that had once pulled him closer were now shoving him back, the two tumbling onto the couch beside them. Their lips didn't separate as Hinata crawled onto the setter's lap, continuing to press deep kisses against his mouth. There was a moment of hesitation from Kageyama before he easily gave into the feeling, his hands grabbing Hinata's waist while he poured his emotional upheaval into their connection. It was a kiss fueled by the culmination of their relationship, from unlikely partners to inseperable. Their lips were bruised from the kisses shared, Hinata tilting Kageyama's head with his hands to get a better angle at his lips. Kageyama took the opportunity to finally pull away from Hinata, forcing his eyes open to focus the spiker on more than trying to meld their mouths together.

"We can't do this." Because with each kiss that the two shared, Kageyama knew how much harder it would be to let go of the man sitting in his lap. Letting out a slow breath before he spoke again, Kageyama tried to keep his scowl strong. "You've got to go back home."

"I am home." There was no hesitation in Hinata's voice as he stared down at Kageyama, who gave a roll of his eyes to try and hide any sense of hope his heart was trying to ignite within him.

"This isn't your home, idiot. You're the god of love, not some student-"

"I stepped down." The interruption of the setter's argument was quiet, but loud enough to pump the breaks for the dark-haired man. Stunned, he stared up at the man above him, who gave a weak shrug and glanced to the window. "I mean, I'm technically still the god of love for the moment. I've got to train my replacement still, but he's a fast learner so it won't take long."

"What are you doing?" This time the growl was real, Kageyama quickly shoving his hands under Hinata's arms to lift him off his lap. The loud protest from the smaller man was loud, but Kageyama ignored it as he started to shove him toward the door. "You need to go back and talk to whoever it is you need to talk to and tell them you made a mistake."

"Wait a minute!" But even as Hinata tried to squirm away from his grasp, Kageyama continued to talk.

"All this time, you've been yapping about love and how important it is to you, and you just give the position away? Why did we do all of that work? What the hell would make you think this was a good idea?"

"Because of you, Bakayama!" The god slammed his feet hard into the ground, finally stopping their forward movement. Kageyama stepped back as his roommate spun around, the setter quick to cross his arms to guard himself.

"I told you already, I don't-"

"Will you just listen to me?" Hinata's eyes shifted from irritation to something that pinched at Kageyama's heart, shoving any vocal signs of protest back down his throat. Seeming to take the silence as an agreement, Hinata took a slow breath before he spoke. "There's no easy way to say this, so...gah, this all sounded so cool in my head before I got here! But now you're here and my heart's doing the 'bwah' thing and I don't know if it's cause we're soulmates or just because I'm still adjusting from coming back into this body-"

"Soulmates?" Kageyama broke his attempt at staying silent at the word, his eyes refusing to stop blinking as the bomb of information that came spewing out of the god's mouth. "You just said...but you told me I don't have a soulmate."

"I didn't know you had a soulmate!" Hinata defended, his hands waving around him showing he was just as overwhelmed as Kageyama. "Okay, well nobody really knew you were my soulmate until after I already came down here. But we are, and so I had to make a choice."

"Which was?"

"Either I stayed the god of love or I stayed your soulmate. If I chose you, then I had to step down from my position. If I stayed the god of love, they would have had to sever our soulmate bond and I…" Hinata's cheeks burst with color as he stared down at his fingers, which were jamming together in front of him from his sudden nerves. Kageyama's chaotic mind started to slow as he watched the spiker squirm in front of him, starting to piece the puzzle together as the silence lingered. When Hinata finally continued, his voice had lowered to a quiet murmur. "I didn't want that."

"You chose one soulmate thread over the job you loved and dedicated your whole life to?" Instantly Hinata shook his head, the god stepping forwards to grab Kageyama's hands. It was only when the god linked their fingers together did the setter notice his own trembling, though he wasn't sure why.

"That's not it, idiot." Amber eyes lifted to stare up at Kageyama, the art student unprepared for the bright smile Hinata gave him. "Kageyama...I love you."

"Wh-what? Why would you-what the hell..." Unable to shield his face from Hinata's admission, Kageyama felt his cheeks light up with color, his scowl automatically battling the smile that wanted to burst across his lips. Hinata's face perked up at the reaction, his hands squeezing onto his while he stepped closer to Kageyama.

"All this time, I'd been trying to convince myself that I couldn't be with you. And when you told me you didn't want me around, I was sure that meant that you really didn't feel the same way I did. Maybe my heart didn't believe if, but my mind wouldn't change. I thought the best thing was to leave you alone and let you move on with your life without me. But when Takeda told me that breaking our soulmate bond meant that you'd fall out of love with me, I realized it meant you did feel the same things I did. I was so happy! And that's why I'm not going to change my mind about stepping down."

"You…" The words of protest didn't make it far, as Kageyama stared down at the man in front of him.

"You do love me, right?" The pause of silence seemed to rattle Hinata, who suddenly lost his smile for a look of slight panic. "Takeda's the god of fate and all, but he said you're a weird human and sometimes you fight against stuff because you're stubborn and I know you think soulmates are stupid-"

"They are." The words were followed by the dipping of Kageyama's head, kissing the fumbling words out of Hinata's mouth. There was a squeak of protest muffled into his mouth, but the setter ignored it to deepen the kiss between the two. Their fingers tightened against each others as they prolonged the connection, Hinata's body relaxing from its previous tense state. Kageyama parted his lips against the god's, his tongue sweeping across a familiar lower lip and pushing forward when Hinata gave him no resistance. Their bodies pressed closer than before, and the spiker gave a happy hum at the affection that the setter gave to his mouth. Kageyama took his time pulling away from the sweetness of Hinata's mouth, his breath brushing over Hinata's lips as he spoke. "They make you fall in love with idiots."

"Hey!" The cry of outrage was quick to disappear when Hinata thought over the comment, Kageyama feeling the shorter man pull back to stare up at him. "Wait, you just admitted that you love me."

"We're going to be late for practice."

"You really love me." Kageyama quickly pulled away from Hinata, ignoring the victorious grin now splashed on Hinata's face to move to his room.

"I'll leave without you."

"You're really not going to say it properly?!" He paused at the entrance, his hand resting on the door frame as he stared at the oak in front of him.

"Hey." Sending a glance over his shoulder, Kageyama watched as the pouting Hinata looked back at him.

"What now?"

"Welcome home."

"I'm...I'm home," Hinata whispered, and Kageyama felt something in his soul fill when seeing amber eyes filled with happiness. As the joy poured over Hinata's face in tears, Kageyama realized what it was that had shifted inside him.

For the first time, Kageyama knew what it meant to be truly be loved.

~*BONUS*~

"-and that's basically why Takeda said we had to do that mission in a nutshell."

"So...because you're a screw-up, you completed your fate?" Hinata let out a huff into the night air, rolling his eyes as he jabbed his elbow into Kageyama's arm.

"Well, if you weren't such an annoying jerk, maybe it wouldn't take the god of love to be your soulmate." The two sent equal glares at each other as they walked down a familiar path toward the gym, Hinata's smile growing when seeing the gymnasium in the distance. Despite only being away for a few days, he knew that he was looking forward to seeing all his friends and getting back on the court. The downside of having a mountain of homework to catch up on (which Kageyama had pointed to right before they left the apartment) was small in comparison to how happy Hinata was to be back on the campus.

"You know, you never told me who is taking over your spot as the god of love."

"Oh, I thought it'd be obvious." When his roommate gave him an arched eyebrow, Hinata grinned up at him before answering. "Iwaizumi."

"W-what?!" The shock from Kageyama made Hinata laugh, nodding despite the horrified look on his setter's face. "How is that obvious?"

"Okay, maybe not obvious to a human. But for me, it's a no brainer! Takeda knew that I was going to choose to be with you, so he told Ukai to interview someone for the job. I guess Iwaizumi was already working with this god named Kyoutani to take over the next new god opportunity. Except Kyoutani's not...well, he's a little intimidating, so Ukai thought it'd make more sense to have Iwaizumi take over my position and Kyoutani can be the guardian god. Plus, having Iwaizumi would mend some tension between the god of lust and the love department."

"Somehow, I feel like Oikawa isn't going to be as happy about this as you," Kageyama muttered, though Hinata shrugged.

"If Oikawa get's too annoying, Iwaizumi will probably just beat him up. Another reason it works out!" Hinata hummed in satisfaction before hopping up the stairs of the building. He felt his feet stop at the edge of the doorway, amber eyes staring into the gymnasium. He could feel the natural pull of the soulmate strings now decorating the gym, and for a moment he wondered if he would miss the feeling when he truly stepped down from his position. Takeda wasn't sure what parts of Hinata's powers would stay or go, as transfers affected each god differently. Maybe he wouldn't even be able to see the strings by the end of it.

"You can still change your mind." Hinata peeked up at Kageyama, his hand being warmed by the palm that was now pressed against his. The setter kept his eyes focused on the team across the floor from them, but Hinata knew that the conversation was directed at him. "I've already thought of what to say to them if you wanted to go back to being the god of love."

"That's the trouble with soulmates." Hinata's statement did catch the interest of his soulmate, Hinata's smile refusing to dim as he squeezed the hand in his own. "We're so busy trying to make the other person happy, we don't realize we're the ones who make our soulmates the happiest. Am I right?"

"...Dumbass." But the deep blush that covered Kageyama's face proved that Hinata's point was made. Even if he would miss his job, and the moments of happiness that it gave him, nothing would compare to seeing the man standing next to him happy.

"Shouyou!" The call of his name brought both of their attention to the team, Noya and Tanaka already sprinting over to them. The look of panic on Asahi's face looked funny compared to the angry shout from Daichi at the rambunctious duo, Suga placing a soothing hand onto both male's shoulders while he smiled. Yamaguchi laughed at the antics while Tsukishima rolled his eyes. Kiyoko gave the god a gentle wave before turning her attention back to the phone on her lap, probably informing Yachi of his return. The moment felt surreal, and Hinata's mind took a snapshot of the scene, feeling his heart warm at the sight.

He was finally home, and nothing would ever pull him away again.

I hope that you all enjoyed this story as much as I have enjoyed writing it! It was a lot of fun, and I plan to write another story sometime in January. For now, please don't hesitate to read my other story, The Wedding, and leave a review on what you thought about this! =)