Chapter Text
Kageyama closed his eyes as he heard the screams and instinctively pulled his little sister as close as he could, almost unbuckling the seat belt. Frustrated for a fraction of a second he made the most idiot decision possible, unbuckled himself from his seat belt and bent over the frightened little girl in an attempt to protect her from the car that was now spinning several times without any control.
What seemed like hours of agony probably lasted about 2 minutes, and all that went through Tobio's mind was "protect Aiko protect Aiko Aiko Aiko" - this was his first thought when holding the little girl on her first day of life and will probably also be the last thing going through his mind, his last thought dedicated to the little human that belongs to him.
Aiko's first few months were stable, almost good enough for Tobio to believe that something had clicked in his parents' minds and that with a second child they would review the attitudes they had taken in the past. However, he soon discovered that possibly nothing would change their situation.
It was on Aiko's first birthday, when his parents had traveled three days earlier promising to return with balloons and candy that the last drop of hope drained from his mind.
He counted - thirteen days - until his parents returned.
Thirteen days in which Tobio had zero contact with his parents, his only proof of life were the pictures on the beach posted on a social network, which Kageyama tried to send messages to, but none were even opened.
Thirteen days in which 12-year-old Tobio had to learn how to take care of a 1-year-old baby.
Thirteen days without his caregivers, and no one noticed. Not that he was going to ask for help, he would do everything himself and everything would be perfect.
When he noticed that his parents might never return, he rushed to bake a cake for Aiko, put the little girl to sleep after much crying, because he had not fully understood how to feed a 1 year old baby and everything she needed. With much research she discovered that sugar was only bad for babies' bodies, so she committed himself not to give her anything with sugar.
The cake was made with oats, and sweetened with honey. Kageyama thinks he did very well, put a candle on top, and filled some balloons that he found in the attic.
When the little girl woke up, they sang together and he felt in the rigth to ask her for something, since the only thing she could think of at that age was to bite things.
Blowing out the candle, with his eyes closed he said softly hugging his little girl "that we belong to a family."
The next few birthdays were similar, his parents traveled for weeks and each time Kageyama didn't know if they would return, it was the 4th birthday when he wished they wouldn't.
Aiko was 6 now, her next birthday was in a few months and Tobio had decided with the girl to celebrate on the beach.
His parents' indifference to Kageyama never bothered him that much, he had always been independent and thought all families were similar. When he started going to school and hearing stories from other children he knew he was different. But this feeling only turned to hate when his sister was born. He would accept any punishment, any blow or humiliation thrown at him, but if an ugly look was shot in the girl's direction he would go to hell to protect her.
Fortunately there were rare incidents with his sister, what used to be days of punishment and pain became days with no one at home, restrictions with food, hygiene products and basic things, but they never laid a finger on the girl, either for a kiss or a slap.
At this moment, much of his life just flashes through his mind, the childhood marked by aggression and pain, the lack of love and support, the loneliness... The light entering his life with the birth of Aiko and the hope fading, the adolescence being stolen little by little, the maturity molding itself from a task that was not to him, the responsibility of raising a human being weighed heavily on his hands, but every little action was worth it at the end of the day, when Aiko looked at him with those big blue eyes, telling him she loved him.
He could think of his team - his friends - and how he didn't thank them for bringing nothing but joy into their lives. They had always been very kind to Aiko.
He could take time out from the chaos to think about Hinata, his best friend. He thought about how incredible it was to spend that first night in his house, even if it was just the two of them and the children there, you could feel the warmth and care in the atmosphere. Hinata said that his mother had gone to visit his stepfather's family and that they would be back the next day, and that she could call someone if he wanted company and since Natsu was staying, it had been a good idea to call the Kageyama brothers. Tobio doesn't know how Shoyo was so sure that his mother was really coming back the other day, he didn't understand at the time why Hinata wasn't breaking the locks on the cabinets to get some food for the next few days, but he didn't question anything. In time, the girls slept and they went to the living room to watch TV. Hinata offered some snacks but he refused, it was possible that his friend's mother was not coming back, he needs that food, so why is he offering it like this? Hinata insisted and the two decided to make popcorn, as they entered the kitchen, Tobio was surprised - the cabinets had no locks - poor Shoyo, not having something physically stopping you must be even more agonizing when you are hungry.
Hinata opened the cabinet and pulled out a few packages of crackers and one of popcorn and started humming around the kitchen, tidying up. That's where Kageyama couldn't sit still. Was he an idiot? Clearly they are going to notice these things missing, he has to get them from the bottom if he wants to eat something.
That was the clearest thought he had in the midst of the chaos, as he was careless and then forced himself to talk a little about his situation at home. He remembered, the movie had been forgotten and Hinata was listening to him intently, with a trace of a tear, which he didn't let fall. Kageyama however couldn't do the same, that had been enough, years of being strong ended the second he felt the warm embrace of the shorter boy. He made Hinata promise not to tell anyone, and the next few days were filled with surprises for Aiko with fruit and candy, which Kageyama kindly accepted, having achieved 3 and a half sugar-free years for the little girl, of which he was very proud. Hinata began calling him to sleep over more often as well, his family proving very sweet and the comfort in the air making sense.
He would miss that, Shoyo's family.
However, his thoughts were cut short when the world finally stopped spinning, his ribs aching as as he took off his belt he was thrown in several directions in an attempt to stay on top of Aiko, who was crying uncomprehendingly.
As soon as the movement stopped, he quickly released her from the car seat and drew strength he didn't even know he had to open the door and get the two of them out. At this point he didn't care about his parents, and he almost felt bad for it.
He ran.
And then a deafening noise and a flash came and soon it was very hot, Aiko was still screaming in his arms but he couldn't stop now, as he looked back he could see the high flames, which were slowly consuming everything he could call family. He didn't dare to cry.
As he walked up to the track, he placed the frightened little girl on the ground looking for injuries, satisfied when he found none that were alarming, he hugged her tighter than he probably should have, she was fine.
And then she started crying in panic again, and he didn't understand what was wrong until he saw red on her previously white shirt. Damn it, he couldn't even feel whatever was making him bleed like that.
With trembling arms he carefully lifted his shirt, shuddering as the cold air rushed past the cut on his chest. He assessed, and decided that he would survive, so he took off his long-sleeved shirt and tied it tightly, hoping to stop the bleeding.
Evaluating his options, he decided to go the opposite way from where they were going. Tobio knew they were not far from their city, he couldn't remember exactly where they were going but he knew that his parents never traveled far with their children.
So when he felt strong enough to get up and go, he took Aiko in his arms and walked.
Unlike before, his mind was now empty, no specific thought was running through his head, he didn't even know what he was going to do now. His cell phone was at home because his parents didn't like him to bring it when they went out and he was scared.
After walking for what seemed like a little over an hour, he comes to a gas station, and sees a phone booth. Totally out of money, he calls the only place he knows he will be taken in, his mind doesn't even process the call, and Tobio doesn't know why he got it that number right away, almost unconsciously.
The person who answers is not Shoyo.
"Hello good evening..." a sweet voice speaks on the other end of the line and Kageyama almost cries upon hearing it.
"Hi auntie, it's Tobio" he manages to speak, despite his shaky voice
"Tobio my dear, where are you? It's so late, are you okay?"
"Auntie I need someone to pick us up, I don't know where we are" Kageyama stumbled over the words, trying to make the problem clear but failing with the clipped words.
"Hey, go easy my love, tell me where you are first, what can you see around?" the sweet voice remained steady but you could feel an urgency, and in the background noise of keys and loud footsteps running"
"I don't know, we are at a gas station, Aiko go see the name please"
As soon as Aiko leaves the booth, a little reluctant to leave her brother but determined to help, Tobio feels his world come crashing down.
"Auntie I..." - and he breaks down - "I'm so scared, the car went off the road and then all I knew was how hot it was and the fire and it was so loud I just wanted to get out of there with Aiko" he tries to explain as best he can with crying cutting off his words.
"Hang in there honey, we're coming okay, be strong, it's going to be okay" her voice was even but now her concern was explicit.
"Bi, Bi" comes Aiko speaking "there's an S and an H and two letters E and an L but I still don't know what the S and the H sound together.
"We're at the Shell station" he manages to transmit
"Don't go anywhere okay? Stay safe, we're coming, are you guys hurt?
"Aiko's fine, she's just scratched and-" the call drops. But it's okay, someone is coming for them.
"What's going on, where are Mom and Dad?" Aiko speaks for the first time in a long time.
"Mom and Dad aren't coming back now Aiko, it's just you and me.... Aunt Mayumi is coming to take us home.
"They came back last time..." Aiko speaks gloomily.
"Kageyama ends the conversation and sits up as comfortably as he can, shuddering as he applies more pressure to the cut on his chest.
Aiko starts to cry softly again and Kageyama says nothing, just points to sit beside her and holds her head close to the side of her chest that wasn't oozing blood and lets a few tears fall.
"It's just you and me Aiko, our little family"
About 20 minutes later he could see a car coming towards them, the light irritates him so he closes his eyes, Aiko fell asleep at some point and he enjoys the last few seconds of peace. And then he hears fast footsteps towards the two of them, and sirens in the distance.