When Hinata awakes, he's greeted by a pair of large, unblinking yellow eyes. With a jolt of panic, he swings his arm over to Kageyama and smacks wildly at him, his eyes never leaving those of the black owl.

"Tobio!" Hinata hisses. He continues swatting even once Kageyama starts cursing at him, indicating he's woken up. "Wake up! Hurry!"

"What's wrong?" Kageyama says, sitting up quickly. He rubs at the spots where Hinata hit him, but worry seems to be winning over annoyance.

"Remember when I said an owl lured me away from my family?" Hinata whispers urgently, as though trying to keep a secret. He hasn't broken eye contact with the bird this entire time. "Look!"

Kageyama does look, and seems startled, which Hinata finds relieving.

"You see it too?" Hinata asks, feeling crazy.

Kageyama responds by chucking a pillow at it. The owl dodges easily, then lands on the bed just out of their reach, still staring, still unblinking.

I've been told to bring you downstairs for your answers.

Kageyama's reaction is immediate. He leaps from the bed and starts searching the room for intruders, not listening when Hinata tries to explain the voice is coming from the owl. With a sigh, Hinata lets Kageyama rampage on, and instead returns his attention to Keiji.

"You're like Kenma," he says, and it's not a question, but he does want an answer.

Yes.

"So, is Bokuto a part of— this—" Hinata starts to ask, but then has to pause for air, feeling his panic rising. He's had panic attacks before, and held Yachi through many dozens more. He recognizes the signs of one rushing at him now. "—with my family—" he tries to explain, wondering who else he shouldn't trust. The witch seemed nice too, at first.

He feels his body dip as Kageyama's weight returns to the bed. He must've given up looking for intruders, or possibly just finally realized Hinata was talking to an owl, or freaking out. He wraps his arms around Hinata protectively.

You don't have to worry about your family. I lured you to Bokuto because I knew he'd try to keep you. He's desperate for a child, that's all. He didn't know I was using him.

"That's fucked up," Kageyama points out. "You shouldn't manipulate people." Hinata happens to agree, but he's too busy focusing on breathing to chime in, so he settles for scowling his disapproval.

The owl flaps up and flies back a few feet, clear of the bed. Hinata isn't sure how he misses it—there's no puff of smoke, no loud bang, nothing spectacular—just a blink. The owl is gone, replaced by a man he recognizes from a very long time ago; a man with short black hair and blue eyes wearing a simple black tunic. He looks incredibly sad.

"I know," Akaashi concedes. "Now get dressed and come with me."

They're met in the grand hall by a strange assortment of people. Iwaizumi and the witch are both there, standing against the wall in opposite corners and looking bored. There's a tall man in red robes that Hinata has never seen before, smirking, and he's standing beside yet another, shorter man with dirty-blonde hair. It's this shorter man's yellow, catlike eyes that catch Hinata's attention. He knows immediately that this must be Kenma.

Hinata narrows his eyes in fury and looks away, eventually deciding the floor is a good place to stare. Beside him, Kageyama is also seething, he can just feel it, likely directed at Iwaizumi. Neither of them seem to know where to direct their anger, so they just clutch at each other and wait.

Everyone is quiet, the tension in the room too great. When Hinata dares a glance, he regrets it immediately. Kenma looks on the verge of tears.

"Hey now," the tall man says. He's still trying to look cocky, but it's clear he's already starting to lose his confidence. "If you want to direct your anger at anyone, it should be me. My name is Kuroo and I'm the reason for all of this. So you should forgive Kenma and hate me."

Hinata shakes his head no, what kind of idiot does this guy think he is? You can't just, undo a betrayal like that—

"No?" Kuroo says. "What if I had a really good story for you?"

Realizing this stalemate could last for hours, Kuroo takes a few steps forward and starts to explain, keeping his eyes on Hinata. Even full of resentment, Hinata can't help but feel there is something sincere under there.

"Let's say Kenma loved someone," Kuroo explains, "Just as much as you love Tobio. But he's given a duty, one that keeps him away from this person he loves, for ten years. He has to protect a child he doesn't even know. Now, luckily, this child is special, and he comes to really love him, so protecting him doesn't even feel like a chore. Still, ten years go by, he's accomplished his important duty, and now he can return to his old life. He can even start to have a more honest relationship with this child—now a young man. But oh, some idiot goes and puts up wanted posters all over the kingdom, and suddenly the young man's in danger when he wasn't supposed to be, and Kenma has to do something horrible to protect him, even knowing it means he might never be forgiven by this person he loves so much. Now, isn't that a sad story?"

"How," Kageyama asks, clutching Hinata tighter, "Can you call what he did protection?"

"He's so damn conspicuous," Iwaizumi interjects, blinking as though looking at Hinata literally hurts his eyes. "That hair, those eyes, do you know how rare that is in this kingdom— or any other?"

"What's wrong with my hair?" Hinata asks, feeling wounded. He suddenly wants to reach up and touch it, offended on its behalf, but his arms are trapped to his sides by Kageyama's embrace. Given the direction of this conversation, it's not an unwelcome feeling.

He waits for his answer while the others all look at each other, as though each is telling the other, no, you do it. Finally, Kenma speaks up, nudging Kuroo.

"It's your prophecy," Kenma says, quietly.

"Fine," Kuroo says, giving Kenma's head a fond pat. "So here's the thing, kiddos, there are a lot of people who want control of this kingdom. Your grandparents," he says, addressing Kageyama, "Created a lot of strong alliances which awarded them the loyalties of many powerful magic-users, but when your parents died, leaving a petty narcissistic in charge and only one heir who happened to be an unloveable bully— uh, no offense," he adds with a grin, though Hinata can't see how it was anything but offensive.

"Tobio's not a bully," Hinata interrupts, scowling. He wiggles free of Kageyama's arms and gets ready to charge, should it be necessary. "And he's not unloveable!"

"Not anymore," Iwaizumi corrects. "Do you really not remember how badly your first meeting went? Remember, I was there."

Hinata scoffs and crosses his arms. When he can't win an argument, he settles for refusing to acknowledge he's lost.

"They have a point," Kageyama mutters, undermining Hinata's strategy.

"Shut up, Tobio," Hinata hisses. "These people have been manipulating me my whole life!"

"Hey," Akaashi says, sounding very upset. It's the first time he's spoken since this morning. "We all have people we care about in this kingdom, and we all had to make sacrifices to keep it safe."

Hinata doesn't have to be especially bright to figure out Akaashi's sacrifice, so he bows his head, momentarily cowed. "But what's that got to do with me?"

"Go on," Kenma says, nudging Kuroo a second time. "We all know you Seers love your flowery language."

"Tobio needed a special kind of light to balance out all his darkness," Kuroo says, looking very pleased with himself indeed. "That's the best kind of ruling pair," he explains. "One to build alliances, and one to scare off enemies."

"The other kingdoms wanted to keep us weak," Kenma explains. "So once word spread—Kuroo isn't the only Seer, even if he's the best one—they started looking for children who might fulfil the prophecy, to get rid of them. Thanks to Akaashi, we knew they were coming, so we got you and your family out in time."

"Why won't they just try to kill Shoyo now?" Kageyama asks, tugging Hinata back against himself.

"It's one thing to kidnap a random child, but once you're King, and everyone comes to know you and your, uh, Queen," the witch says, still seeming a little dissatisfied with his choice of Hinata, "It would take an open act of war to go after him. It's too late now."

"So that's it?" Kageyama asks, sounding annoyed. "You're all going to leave us alone now?"

"The prophecy clearly stated that Tobio would need heirs," the witch reminds everyone.

"Yes," Kuroo says, rolling his eyes. "There was some, uh, disagreement about that. Shoyo and his sister look very similar so we couldn't be sure which one would fulfill the prophecy, so we separated and protected them both."

"It's obviously Shoyo though," Kenma says. He avoids Hinata's eyes, possibly trying to forget certain things he may have witnessed to convince him of this.

"There are other ways to produce heirs I suppose," the witch says, and Hinata does not like the look in her eyes one bit.

"Hey," he says, shouting a little too loudly. "You guys better not put any more spells on me."

"They wouldn't do that," Kageyama says, sounding amused. "You think they'd turn you into a girl or something?"

Hinata turns to gape at him, realizing that somehow, some way, Kageyama still doesn't fully believe in magic, despite everything they've seen. Also, has he not been listening? These maniacs have been manipulating and putting spells on people for ten years. He also realizes, worryingly, that nobody's spoken up to reassure him that they're done doing so.

"Oi," Kageyama says, seemingly realizing this as well. "No more spells on Shoyo."

"Fine," the witch says, sounding disappointed. "I suppose there are other—less glamorous ways."

Hinata turns to Kageyama and punches him hard, giving him a look that clearly says, See? See!?

Growing up, Hinata was exposed to many books by his adoptive parents. Daichi and Suga struggled to teach all their kids to read, and while Hinata never adapted that particular skill well, he absorbed every story read to him, especially the fairy tales.

Never, not once, was there ever a happy ending that involved so much studying. Now, as the hero of his own fairy tale, one who successfully seduced a handsome king, he feels cheated.

First comes the literacy classes. He needs to learn to read, and properly. It's a special kind of hell for him and Kenma, though somehow the misery brings them closer together, finally healing the lingering distrust between them.

Then comes the memorizing of titles and family trees, so many family trees, of every neighboring kingdom, of which there are many, and the ridiculous ways he needs to address each of these people. He knows he shouldn't be so annoyed, but nothing makes him want to throw a book or a punch like the words 'duty' or 'sacrifice'. He loves Kageyama, though, and wants to spend his life helping him, and everyone says this is how he can best do so.

Sometimes, though, it really doesn't feel worth it.

"Shoyo, you've almost got it!" Kenma praises, stroking his hair fondly. "You just need to memorize the six children of the second queen consort and you'll be finished with the entire Swan Kingdom's royal family. That's the last really important one!"

Hinata lets out a pathetic cry in response, sinking low in his chair and sliding to the floor. "Why?" he croaks miserably. "Why does any of it matter? Just let me die buried under books."

"Because Tobio's got a surprise for you," Kenma tempts. "But you can't have it until I tell him you've passed."

It's a struggle for Hinata to pull himself back into his chair but he manages, and just over an hour later, Kenma dismisses him from the library.

"Tobio's waiting for you in the garden," Kenma says.

As soon as Hinata approaches to find Kageyama sitting in the garden surrounded by flowers, he knows he's about to get proposed to. It's not Kageyama's fault that it won't be surprising or romantic; they've been yanked toward this moment by so many forces, it's almost as if they don't have a choice. Of all the duties one could have, though, this one is no sacrifice at all.

"So I've made a decision about who I'm going to marry," Kageyama says, much in the same way he'd announce the purchase of a new horse cart.

"Yah?" Hinata says, sitting down next to him. "Shimizu finally convinced you to go with Natsu, huh?"

Kageyama looks miffed. He's still not very good at reading sarcasm.

"No," he says, annoyed. "I'm going to marry you."

Hinata can't help but smile, has to bite hard on his lower lip to keep it from spreading too much. He's happy, of course, but also charmed at this reminder that Kageyama still hasn't changed that much in the year since they met. He likes it this way, because it leaves opportunities open for teasing.

"You can't just tell people you're gonna marry them without asking," Hinata pretends to scold, letting his smile show. He has to be careful; Kageyama can still be sensitive. "Everyone knows that. It's the rule."

"Are you sure the rule isn't just for peasants?" Kageyama counters.

"God!" Hinata says, rolling his eyes dramatically, but he's beaming now, obviously joyful. "Yes I'm sure!"

"Fine," Kageyama says. "Then I'm asking."

"Asking what?" Hinata presses.

"Will you marry me?"

The wedding is more public and pompous than either of them would prefer, but their team of advisors (or manipulators, depending on their mood at the time) insists it must be. It's followed by a grand tour of the kingdom, a chance for the villagers to meet their newly-coronated King and his consort, to see Kageyama isn't a horrible shadow demon after all. They love Hinata especially, and he appreciates the chance to charm and mingle with villagers, momentarily allowed to forget the fancy titles and return to his authentic roots.

They even make a visit to the new Oikawa-Iwaizumi household, an upscale cottage in one of the wealthier villages, Oikawa's reward for showing restraint when he had unchecked power as well as for 'voluntarily' stepping down.

Daichi and Suga's house continues to expand, growing larger each time Hinata visits, a fistful of gold in hand, their stipend as the first official royal orphanage. As their children come of age, they're offered the chance to stay on and work as caretakers for a small salary. Tsukishima, somewhat surprisingly to everyone, is the first to accept. By the end of the first year, they've become parents to over a hundred children.

Bokuto visits the orphanage with even more frequency than Hinata, but otherwise resumes his life of solitude in his tiny purple cottage. Akaashi flew off to visit Bokuto shortly after Oikawa stepped down, but returned to the castle that same day and didn't speak to anyone for a week. When Kageyama and Hinata visit Bokuto, he doesn't ask about Akaashi.

"Guys," Kuroo says, using the closest thing to a formal title either will allow.

"I wish I was dead," Kageyama states glumly, staring down at his feet.

"That sounds so peaceful," Hinata agrees, slumping forward.

"Your Majesties," Kuroo tries, wondering if this will get their attention. He watches as Hinata lets out a great yawn and curls up in the throne that was clearly designed for someone much larger than him. Hinata pillows his head in his arms and falls asleep instantly.

Something paws at his cheek and Hinata is pulled back to wakefulness. Every molecule in his body fights it, his mind heavy and painful with exhaustion.

"No," Hinata mumbles, on the verge of actual tears. "Please, Kenma, have mercy."

Shoyo, listen! Kuroo has really exciting news!

"Yachi had a vision," Kuroo explains. "We know what to do about the girls."

Kageyama and Hinata both sit up straight, suddenly alert and very, very attentive.

The girls. The heirs they were told they needed to have for the sake of the kingdom. The children that they love very much, but that scream and shit and never sleep. The children that, despite a castle full of attentive servants and potential nannies, only want one specific person and won't stop shrieking until they get him.

After politely but firmly declining magical help from Shimizu, it was decided that Natsu would be their surrogate. She seemed happy to offer her assistance and it seemed like an easy solution. There was another discussion about the exact wording of the prophecy, whether or not the heirs needed to be from the actual sun that actually cast out the King's shadows, but nobody could see how surrogate-Natsu Hinata children could possibly bring about any kind of destruction. Most importantly, Kageyama and Hinata had a huge vested interest in Hinata staying male and not-pregnant.

While it didn't bring about the kingdom's destruction, Kageyama and Hinata were still punished by unseen magical forces. As much as their subjects loved them, nobody could handle little Miya's screeching for more than an hour, which meant an hour was usually the longest Hinata could get away from her. Worse, the second one was already growing in Natsu before they realized their curse. Little Hishou followed, and she, too, demanded to be in Hinata's presence at all times, less her displeasure be heard in the next kingdom.

"Are her visions reliable?" Kageyama asks, urgent and hopeful.

"Yes," Kuroo assures them. "I've been working with her for over a year now. Her gift is very powerful. There is someone the girls will respond to besides Shoyo."

"They won't have to sleep in our bed anymore?" Hinata asks, tears welling up.

"Who is this person?" Kageyama asks. "How much do we have to pay them? We'll triple it."

Payment isn't really the issue.

Nobody travels faster than Akaashi in owl form, so he is sent to retrieve this nanny savior. It makes for an uncomfortable scene when he returns with Bokuto in tow.

"Do you mind if we do a test?" Hinata asks, stepping over to Bokuto. He and Kageyama agreed on a policy of honesty when it comes to magical nonsense, and it's especially important with Bokuto, one of their closest friends who was also hurt the worst by all of it.

"What kinda test?" Bokuto asks, but he's already distracted, kneeling down and amusing Miya with silly faces. She's beside herself with laughter.

"Yachi says if I leave the room, they won't scream." Hinata explains.

"Sounds easy! No problem!" Bokuto smiles as he's handed the infant Hishou. He doesn't seem concerned at all, even looks around as if hopeful to find a third kid lurking around.

"Okay," Hinata says, anxiously, and sneaks out the closest doorway. He waits there, out of view, and waits, and waits. There's no screaming.

"Please," Kageyama begs from the other room. "You have to be their nanny, or godfather, or uncle, or you can be their third father if that's what you want. Please. We'll give you anything."

When Hinata pokes back in, he can see right away that they've put Bokuto in a tough spot and feels badly. Bokuto is cradling Hishou against his chest with one hand and clutching Miya's tiny hand with the other. It's clear how badly he wants to say yes, but his eyes keep darting to the owl perched in the corner.

"You can have whatever you want," Hinata presses, trying to be gentle, but he also really wants his sex life back.

"I asked Akaashi if he'd stop traveling, and he said he couldn't promise me that," Bokuto says. "Something about needing to spy, an important duty, keepin' people safe. He works for you, right?"

"Consider him retired," Hinata decrees, waving his hand through the air.

"No," Bokuto says, still thoughtful. "But no less than twice a week, every week, I want a playdate with Akaashi and the kids!"

"Anything you want," Kageyama says.

"Maybe it wasn't a curse because we used Natsu," Hinata wonders aloud. It's nearly afternoon but they haven't left bed, too eager to catch up all the rest and alone time they'd missed over the past year. "Maybe it was because we knew Bokuto and Akaashi were both miserable and didn't try hard enough to fix it."

"I hate magic," Kageyama supplies unhelpfully.

"You hate everything though," Hinata counters.

"Not everything," he mumbles, glancing at Hinata out of the corner of his eye.

"I sure hope not," Hinata says, crawling onto Kageyama's chest. "'Cuz I think you're stuck with me whether you like it or not."

He means this to be lighthearted, an obvious tease, but Kageyama looks worried.

"What's wrong, Tobio?"

"Do you think," Kageyama starts to ask, and then falters. He's clearly very nervous. "Would you have loved me without the magic?"

"Of course!" Hinata shouts a little too loudly. "It's not like they gave us love potions or anything. Iwaizumi made sure you could have visitors. Kenma made sure I was one of them. That's it! The fact that we like each other, that we love each other, that's just us! Nobody could force that."

Kageyama is still frowning, still doesn't look entirely convinced, so Hinata presses their faces together and squishes his cheeks.

"I said," Hinata repeats, "No amount of magic could make me love anybody else, you stupid king."

"Don't call me king," Kageyama grunts, but he's not angry, and the distraction worked. Kageyama doesn't look worried anymore.

"Um, that's literally what you are, so I don't see the problem," Hinata says.

Kageyama grabs Hinata and rolls them over, pinning Hinata into the mattress.

"As your King," Kageyama growls, "I command you never to call me king."

"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard," Hinata says, laughing hard. He leans up to kiss Kageyama. "I love you," he says, and then because he can't help himself. "You stupid king."

A/N: Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed, please consider leaving a comment or following me on Twitter at dayoldcupcake!