Chapter Text
Kuroo, son of the head of the Nekoma clan, had fallen in love with Bokuto, son of the head of Fukurodani family.
It was a pure, sincere, young love. They were both teenagers at the time, experimenting with life, testing their emotions, putting desperate efforts into something that could hurt them. As it turned out, their relationship was a good investment for their elders. Where Kuroo and Bokuto saw only their passion, their clans saw an opportunity to win a powerful alliance.
When Oyabun Nekomata told Kuroo that Fukurodani had offered Bokuto’s hand to him, the young heir was only 17. Still, he eagerly accepted the tie. He wanted nothing more than to promise Bokuto everything.
Their clans agreed to marry them once they would reach adulthood. The engagement ceremony had been celebrated only a month after they both finished high-school. They were 18 when they became fiancés.
Quite young right? As if they cared. They had each other and that was all they cared about.
Bokuto met Akaashi when he was 19. The man, a year younger than him, entered his service unexpectedly. He had been rescued from his family debts by Bokuto’s generosity and in exchange pledged his life to the older. He turned out to be ruthless and deadly efficient in all aspects of the life of a gangster. Almost as if he was born to be one of them.
They immediately felt they matched. At first, they ignored it or mistook it for respect and friendship. The pull between came to a point it became a balancing act. Bokuto was definitely in love with Kuroo, but he couldn't ignore the attraction he felt for Akaashi. And frankly? He was to become the head of his clan, leading a whole organization, he had the right to decide what was good for him.
So, at some point in the year of his 20, he decided Akaashi was as good for him as Kuroo. He wanted to talk to them both before anything happened of course, to make sure they would be good with that. He mentionned it to Akaashi first.
His henchman was wary about the idea. Kuroo was his boss's fiancé and head of another clan. Akaashi had to respect that. Because of it, he first refused Bokuto’s advances. He ignored the flirt and closed his heart to the treacherous feeling threatening to invade him. He didn’t want to get in the way. But Bokuto was a persistent, egoist bastard. He somehow managed to convince Akaashi to abandon himself to his feelings and to forget about the guilt. The man was so certain Kuroo would accept them.
Akaashi wasn’t that sure but he was curious about the heir of Nekoma. He hadn’t had lots of occasion to bond with him but so far Kuroo didn’t mind him and even showed a friendly behavior. To be honest, Akaashi truly wanted to get to know him beyond the polite meetings and status. He knew that if Kuroo was as easy to love as Bokuto, he would give him everything.
He remembered the first time they met. It was at a clan’s meeting a few months after Akaashi had entered Fukurodani. Everyone in the room was paying their respect to the elders but mostly to the future head of clans. Bokuto and Kuroo kept throwing glances at each other, not having the occasion to say hi yet. Akaashi remained straight by Bokuto’s side. His eyes wandered more often than not over Kuroo who was flanked by two uneven henchmen. The russian was taller than him and seemed happy as a puppy to be there. The other one looked very short beside Kuroo and the russian. With his bleach hair and bored expression, he seemed to hate his life at the moment. On several occasions, their eyes met, and Akaashi was surprised that the man quickly averted his eyes as if he was going to be punched if he kept staring. How funy to think they would become good friends only a few months away.
The black suits of the henchmen contrasted with Kuroo’s crimson outfit. The russian looked more like a model than a gangster. That could be said for Kuroo as well of course. Akaashi was mesmerized by the sight of the heir of Nekoma. He was nothing like the pictures Akaashi had glimpsed in Bokuto’s phone on several occasions. He was better. Akaashi was eager to meet him properly.
Finally, the groups moved and Kuroo and Bokuto walked over each other. Immediately, something less ceremonious filled the air. Akaashi knew they were fiancés, but suddenly he witnessed it and it was a completely different perspective. The way Bokuto’s hands moved to circle Kuroo’s hips, how Kuroo’s hand settled in the lower part of Bokuto’s back, their eyes filled with tenderness and maliciousness. Seeing them like that, it was obvious they were made for each other.
Then Bokuto turned excitedly and asked Akaashi to step closer so he could introduce him.
Kuroo had no idea who that guy was when Kenma first mentioned him a few months before. He hadn’t asked for more information, considering that he was just a new henchman to Bokuto. Upon meeting Akaashi for real now, he understood why Bokuto made him his right-hand man so soon. Akaashi gave off an undeniable wit and sagacity, paired with stunning features.
Kuroo easily admitted that with his serene face and pretty eyelashes, he was very seductive. For the first time in his life then, he felt threatened. He hoped that it wasn’t all it took for Bokuto to be smitten.
He plastered a fake smile on his lips and followed the flow, offering his hand to Akaashi and saying something like “Look after Bokuto” or “I'm counting on you”. Something that he didn’t mean.
During the meeting, Akaashi was sitting behind the heirs, with Kenma. While the business was going on, Kuroo didn’t miss all the eager looks Bokuto threw at Akaashi over his shoulder. After that day, the name of the henchman was on his fiancé’s lips almost every day. No need to be a light to understand what was going on.
Kuroo didn’t say anything though. He wished to temper his jealousy before confronting Bokuto about it. Until he couldn’t.
The night of Bokuto 21th birthday, they went to a club to celebrate. Neither Kuroo or Akaashi could legally drink but since the place belonged to Bokuto, no one stopped them to smash themselves in liquor. The music was terribly loud in the club. The spotlights sent different rays of colors on the walls and the floor to the rhythm shaking the place. On the dance floor, the bodies moved like waves crashing on the shores. For hours, Bokuto and Kuroo lose themselves in the dance, kind of following the music, kind of not.
Bokuto had Kuroo pulled against him possessively, his mouth never leaving his skin. He kissed his lips as much as he kissed his jaw and neck. He basked in the hotness his fiancé radiated.
With so much alcohol in their system, their minds were foggy. Kuroo’s glass hung dangerously of his hand, lazily resting on Bokuto’s shoulder. As Bokuto attacked the area between his jaw and ear, he moved to wet his mouth with the forbidden drink. Finding his glass empty, he removed himself from Bokuto’s hold with a quick peck and made his way to the bar.
The bartender immediately rushed to serve him. The man poured an illegal amount of mixed alcohol in a new glass and slid it to Kuroo, whose eyes were already back on the dancefloor, looking for Bokuto. His pleasant dizziness suddenly turned sour when he found his fiancé. Bokuto was still dancing, but now, he had another body pressed against his. Akaashi’s face was pushed in the crook of his muscular neck, his arms wrapped around it. Bokuto’s hands were sliding from his shoulders to his ass far too easily.
Before he fully processed what he was seeing, Kuroo’s legs were taking him to the dancefloor.
“You fucker!” He ripped them apart with so much strength the two men parted several steps.
“Tetsu jeez!” Bokuto groaned, not happy to be disturbed.
“Don’t jeez me as if I was at fault here.” Kuroo groaned.
Bokuto blew heavily. The little commotion was attracting too much attention. Understanding that he’d have to settle the matter tonight, he waved Akaashi to follow them before he took Kuroo’s hand.
“Don’t touch me.” the heir of Nekoma hissed, trying to dodge him.
“Fucking come with me Tetsu.” Bokuto ordered with a voice leaving no chance to argue.
He led them to the private part of the club, a balcony overhanging the dancefloor, where there was barely anyone. He instructed his henchmen to get rid of the few couples making out in the darkness and went to sit on the massive couch in the middle of the area. Kuroo refused to sit with him. As for Akaashi, he knew better than to make himself too important before being asked and stood next to the rail.
“So?” Bokuto asked as if he wasn’t guilty of anything. “What was that for?”
“You tell me.” Kuroo offered, crossing his arms on his chest, exacerbating the opening of his red shirt over his pectorals.
“We were dancing, so what?” Bokuto shrugged, ignoring Akaashi's roll of eyes at his clear denial of the problem. The alcohol inhibited his senses and totally clouded his common sense. Sober Bokuto would never disrespect his lover like this. Drunk Bokuto was definitely a self-centered asshole.
“You think I’m an idiot?” Kuroo hissed angrily. “Or do you think I’m blind?”
“I know you have 10/10 on both eyes baby.” Bokuto grinned.
“I’m going to fucking punch you Kou.” Kuroo warned, his voice dropping one octave and his face harboring a cold threatening expression.
“I like it nasty.” Bokuto teased, not realizing the dangerosity of his play.
He was soon taken back to reality when Kuroo suddenly erased the distance between them and hit him in the face. The shock threw him flat against the couch. Behind them, Akaashi forbade Bokuto’s other henchmen to interfere with a quick sign.
Kuroo leaned over Bokuto, grabbed his collar and spat. “Listen to me, drunkard son of a bitch, you better take this seriously before I beat the shit out of you.”
A drunk laugh answered him. “Fuck you’re so hot when you’re angry.”
Bokuto wet his swollen lips. It was turning into a fight, a stupid, meaningless fight, drove by alcohol.
“You had your warning.” Kuroo groaned. He raised his fist again, but before it fell again, Bokuto grabbed both sides of Kuroo’s shirt and flipped their position. In the movement, Kuroo’s left wrist hit the couch in a twisted angle. The alcohol immediately sedated the pain, and he didn’t realize. Finding himself pinned on the couch, he struggled under the sheer strength Bokuto pressed on him. The heir of Fukurodani caught his hands in one grip and pinned them above his head with a victorious smile.
“Fuck- You bastard!’ Let me go!”
“Not before you listen to me baby.” Bokuto said, more seriously than before. Kuroo groaned but unable to free himself, he was doomed to listen to his lover.
“I love you.” Bokuto blurted. “I love you and you know that. But I also love Akaashi now.”
Kuroo felt his heart falling to the ground. He could almost hear it breaking into millions of pieces. All that was left to do was to step on it to truly end him. However, it wasn’t Bokuto’s plan.
“He loves me and he loves you too.” his fiancé said, his voice barely audible with the music beating in the club.
“Bullshit!” Kuroo groaned.
“Fucking true.” Bokuto’s grip tightened. “We are in love with each other and with you and I fucking want it to be OK.”
“That’s not OK?!” Kuroo snapped. “You can’t throw this at me and hope I’ll be OK sharing just because you want to?!”
“You have no choice!” Bokuto rolled his eyes, letting the alcohol speak for him. What a bad idea.
“You don’t get to choose for me, asshole! I’m not your fucking doll!!”
“You’re my fucking fiancé!” Bokuto yelled, pinning Kuroo harder.
“That doesn’t give you any right over me!”
“I fucking want it that way! Why can’t you see that’d be nice! You get to ahve twice the love!”
“That won’t fucking happen!” Kuroo screamed back, this time pushing Bokuto away. “It’s me or him but you don’t get to have us both like some sort of harem!”
“You’re not making me choose.” Bokuto warned, throwing his hands in the air.
“Then I’m choosing for you.” Kuroo shouted. He rose from the couch and walked over to the stairs. Akaashi, who had witnessed the drunk argument in silence so far, moved to get in his way, hoping to make things right.
“Kuroo-san it doesn’t have to be this way.” he said with a composure that immediately got on Kuroo’s nerve.
“Move.” he growled.
“Bokuto-san said the truth. I love him. And if you allow me, I’d like to-”
“Didn’t you hear me?” Kuroo snapped. “I said move. I don’t care if you love me. I don’t like you. I despise you. You’re a slut and a nuisance. You should fucking die and if you don’t get out of my way I swear I’m going to settle this problem and throw you over the rail.”
A pained expression broke Akaashi’s usual stern face. It did something to Kuroo’s guts but he refused to acknowledge it. He heard Bokuto groan after him from the couch, something about leaving Akaashi alone, and that was it. He moved Akaashi out of his way and ran down the stairs. Ignoring Akaashi’s pleas, he stormed out of the club.
He was too emotional to have a decent conversation now. He might regret how the party ended in the morning but for now he needed to get as far as these two as possible. Blinded by tears of rage, he drove like a mad man through the city. His sobs were getting louder in the deafening silence of his car. His breathing was too fast to be effective. The pain in his wrist was slowly reaching his brain. He was considering pulling to the side road to call Kenma when suddenly, one of the tires blew up. The car slid in a concert of metallic squeaks and rolled on itself several times before crashing into a wall.
In all his misery, Kuroo had lost consciousness at the first roll. He didn't feel the pain in his body, the loss of blood, the hit on his head. He didn’t hear the calls of the first drivers who tried to help him. He didn’t hear the siren of the ambulance screaming in the night.
.
He woke up disoriented. Sedated as he was, he wasn’t exactly awake. The strong smell of pharmaceutical products filled his first conscious breathing and he immediately understood where he was. It took him a moment to hear what was going on around him. Even longer to open his eyes. He was laying in a medical bed in a pristine white room, with a turned off TV on the wall in front of him. The door was closed but he still could hear the rush in the corridors.
His left arm was in plaster from hand to elbow and he felt sore in his legs, like he had run for days. With a grunt, he tried to straighten to move them. A hand fell on his valid arm almost immediately. His head turned to meet with teary golden eyes, flushed face and fluffy blond hairs.
"Tetsu?"
The mattress dipped beside him as the young man sat closer. Gentle hands cupped his face and lips pressed against his. Kuroo was shocked by how soft they felt. They kissed him several times until he found himself answering the kisses.
“I was so scared.” The man whispered, his forehead pushed gently against Kuroo’s.
Kuroo allowed himself to receive another kiss before he forced his valid hand to move to gently push the man away. The blond moved back with a smile. He was crying again. Kuroo brushed away the tears, stunned by the beauty of this stranger.
"Who are you?" he asked.
The man froze. His eyebrows twitched in confusion. Or was it anticipation?
“You don't know?" He said with a little apprehension.
Kuroo frowned. A vivid shot of pain crossed his head and the shadow of its effect reflected on his face. The blond grabbed his hands in worry. As a matter of fact, Kuroo realized he couldn't even remember his name. Who was he again?
A sudden wave of anxiety washed over him and he tried harder to fight the sheets and regain some freedom of movement.
"I-where am I? Who.. I? What happened to me? Why-"
A finger pressed against his lips to shush him.
"It's OK." the blond said. "You're Tetsu, my husband. You had an accident. The doctors said you may have a little trouble remembering things because of the concussion."
Kuroo stared at him, processing the information. The blond looked very young to be his husband but maybe he was just blessed by nature?
"You're my husband?" he repeated in puzzlement.
"I am. I'm your Kei." the man said, beautiful eyes filled with tears contrasting the sad smile he bore.
Kuroo moved immediately to wipe them away. He didn't remember loving this man, but he knew that if he did, he would never make him cry this much.
“I’m sorry.” He said. “I’m OK.”
Kei smiled and kissed the palm cupping his cheek. “I’m going to call a nurse. You need to be checked.”
He moved to rise from the bed but before he fully did, Kuroo’s hand closed on his wrist.
“I-... I have so many questions…”
“I know.” Kei smiled. “You’ll have answers but for now we need to make sure you’re OK.”
Kuroo hesitated. He didn’t want to let go of this mesmerizing man. Kei gently stroked the hand holding him back and leaned to kiss the knuckles. “I’ll be back before you know.”
Kuroo then realized how stupid he must looked like, holding on Kei like a child. He nodded, fearing that his voice would fail him and let go of the hand. Kei gave him a long loving look, before he turned on his heels and left the room.
He walked over to the nurses desk, but instead of slowing down as he reached it, he went past it and opened the door to the staircases. There, he checked his surroundings, before he pulled out his phone.
“He woke up.” he said, barely a second into the phone call. “No memories. I can make him my puppet. [...] No, no sign of them yet. [...] Yamaguchi is down there with Asahi, guarding the entrance. [...] Understood.”
He ended the call as abruptly as he had started it and made another one.
“Green light. We’re taking him out now. [...] No time for this, Sugawara will check on him once we’re back.”
Once more, he ended the call. He took a second to gather himself and forced a few tears in his eyes. Then he opened the door to the floor and walked to the nurses’ desk.
.
Kuroo trusted his husband and when Kei had told him they could leave if Kuroo was OK with that, he had of course said yes. Against the medical opinions, Kei took Kuroo out of the hospital less than an hour later. Kuroo was relieved to get out of this place. Even without his memories, he knew he wasn’t fond of places like this. His guts were telling him something unpleasant had happened at some point in his life in a hospital. He couldn’t recall what yet, and wasn’t sure he wanted to.
He was too tired to truly realize what was happening and especially that he was not in fact, in shape to leave the hospital when Kei settled him in a wheelchair and pushed him out of his room. Kuroo was too focused on dealing with the slow pain in his body to notice the two men who immediately fell in steps with them once Kei exited the elevator. He didn’t notice them either when Kei helped him inside his car, while they settled in a black BMW just two spaces away from them. As they exited the hospital park, he was now falling into a curious chit chat with Kei and didn’t notice the car following them. Or the line of cars stopping in a hurry at the front of the hospital.
Bokuto, followed by Akaashi and two of his men, entered the hall like a hurricane. He didn’t give a shit that all eyes fell on him the moment he stormed at the front desk, scruffy clothes testifying a long night of party. His expression told a different story though.
"Kuroo Tetsurou please. He was involved in a car crash last night." he asked the nurse with barely controlled haste.
The nurse, used to worried visitors, checked her computer and immediately frowned.
“Kuroo-san left only a moment ago." she announced.
"He left?" Bokuto repeated, dumbfounded.
"His husband signed his discharge papers." the nurse confirmed.
"His hus-?! Listen here, I'm Bokuto Koutarou, his FIANCÉ. Kuroo has no husband!" He snapped, both palms hitting the desk.
His sudden anger startled the nurse. Behind him Akaashi made a move to calm him.
“I assure you everything was in order. His husband took responsibility of him-”
“He doesn’t have a husband!” Bokuto cut her harshly, ready to grab the woman by the collar.
Akaashi interfered and pulled him away. “Excuse us a second.” he said to the nurse.
Bokuto let himself be dragged away, conscious he had to calm down to handle the situation. Akaashi’s next words only confirmed it.
"Bokuto-san, calm down please."
"Don't ask me to calm down.” Bokuto groaned. "These fuckers let Tetsu leave with a stranger! He's surely disoriented; he doesn't know the danger he could be in!"
"I know Bokuto-san. We're going to find him but right now, what we need is to remain calm in order to make cold headed decisions." Akaashi reminded him.
His composure was upsetting for Bokuto who was on the verge of nervous breakdown. In other circumstances he would be fine with Akaashi’s control, but right now he wasn’t in a good state of mind to accept being told what to do.
“Don’t fucking tell me what I have to do. I’m not calming down until my fiancé is back with me.”
Akaashi’s face twisted slightly. He was too good at hiding his emotions though and the shadow of distress that passed on his face quickly vanished.
“You better. Or else we won’t find him.”
That took Bokuto by surprise and he finally realized that his bad temper wouldn’t help. Coming to his senses, he took a deep breath and nodded, keeping his anger, fear, worries in him for the time.
"Keiji, he’s not even of age.” he breathed. ”How could they believe he was married? I don't understand.”
"We'll figure it out." Akaashi promised, relieved that Bokuto was listening to him. Trusting him. He patted his forearm before turning to their men who were coming back from a second interrogation exchange with the nurse.
"We have the husband's name." Washio announced.
"Pretend husband." Bokuto corrected bitterly.
Akaashi ignored his remark and took the paper to read it. His face, usually so apathetic, morphed into a worried expression.
"What's the name?" Bokuto groaned.
"Tsukishima Kei."
Bokuto frowned. "I know this name."
"You better Bokuto-san.” Akaashi's eyes snapped up. “He's one of Sawamura Daichi most trusted men. One of the bigwigs of the Karasuno's clan."
The name Karasuno rang a deadly bell in Bokuto's head. The dangerous rival clan of Nekoma flying from the north. The crows, enemies of the cats. Fukurodani had never come across them but Bokuto had decided not to like them years ago.
And now, Kuroo was in their hands.
"They left just before we came in.'' Akaashi stated, reading the paper Washio had retrieved from the nurse.
Bokuto clenched his fist so tight it was probably painful but he didn't seem to care. There was going to be a war.
“Call Kenma. Tell Nekoma we’re going to take back Tetsu.”