Absinthe (Haikyuu Vampire AU X OC)

Kuroo

Walking down the hallway, the man huffed a tired breath out of his nose. He wasn't the one who was supposed to be taking messages. Nor the one delivering them. Pounding on the closed door, he waited. Next, he jiggled the handled. Locked.

"Open the damn door, Kenma!" Kuroo shouted.

Shuffling was heard on the other side of the door. Grumbling came next. Finally, the door swung open. "Huh?"

"We need to prepare to move out tomorrow morning," Kuroo handed his friend the paper in his hand. "Remember the meeting in Barren Falls?" He pushed his way into the room.

"Yea," Kenma took the paper. Reading, he managed to say, "What about it?"

Kuroo sat down in the chair that occupied the space before Kenma's desk. The electronics behind him took up the entire expanse of the table top. They were ancient relics that Kenma was trying to resurrect. The younger male kept shitty hours for a vampire.

"Oh," Kenma finally said as he pushed the door closed. Rubbing his eye, he added, "Do I have to go?"

Fighting the urge to roll his eyes, Kuroo said, "Of course you have to go. You're my advisor."

"Can't you-"

"No," Kuroo pushed to his feet, "Go back to sleep. But make sure you're ready in the morning."

Yawning, Kenma pressed the paper to Kuroo's chest. Once he took it, Kenma kept his pace as he walked to the same chair Kuroo had vacated. Kuroo watched as his friend began working. No reply was given. Shaking his head, Kuroo left the room.

As Kuroo walked down the hallway, he heard a familiar voice around the corner. As he turned the corner, he had to move quickly to not run into the taller man. Lev stumbled back as he stopped himself as well.

"King Kuroo," Lev greeted his friend, and king, "I was coming to let you know that Suna is in the throne room."

Kuroo arched a brow, "I've told you that you don't have to call me king if we're not in a political setting, Lev." Kuroo sighed, "Did he say why he was here?"

Lev shook his head, "Nope."

"Alright," Kuroo clapped his friend on the shoulder, "Thanks."

"No problem," Lev's smile was always infectious.

"Oi!" Kuroo shouted as he stopped walking, "Make sure Kenma is packing!" He called out to Lev who was around the corner already.

"On it!" He heard Lev yell back.

As Kuroo made his way to the throne room, he thought about why Suna would be there. It likely had to do with the meeting in Barren Falls. Always curious to know what Suna had to deliver, he quickened his pace.

Pushing open the doors, Kuroo spotted Suna near the fountain in the center of the room. He was heatedly speaking to someone as he grabbed at their waist. Kuroo's brows shot up as he noticed it was a woman. Stripping.

"Am I interrupting?" Kuroo's voice held amusement.

Suna's head snapped around as he helped the woman into her shirt. "Forgive me, King Kuroo," he turned his head to harshly whisper something to the woman, "She has an issue with water that she can submerge herself into."

Chuckling, Kuroo continued his approach to his throne, "The water might be a little cold for swimming."

"That's why I have Suna to warm me up," the woman's words caught Kuroo off guard.

Turning, his eyes landed on a beautiful woman. Very human. Long and curly hair cascaded down to her low back. It was coffee colored, with sun-kissed highlights. Her eyes. Pale, lavender, stared back at Kuroo as he assessed her. Kuroo's cat like eyes dipped, catching sight of her bare feet. Her calf-high boots lay beside her.

Eyes back up, Kuroo smirked, "This must be Val," the woman perked up at her name, "I didn't know she was such a... voyeur."

Narrowing her eyes, Val buttoned her blouse, "I am no such thing." Pulling her overcoat on that Suna held to her, Val snapped, "I simply enjoy the water more than people."

What an interesting concept. Kuroo had never thought of enjoying an object over people. Human or vampire. Was there anything he preferred over the company of another? Sleep, maybe? A good book? Shrugging it off, Kuroo went for his seat.

"My apologies, Your Majesty," Suna again offered an apology.

Sitting, Kuroo waved a hand lazily, "No need to apologize for a little nudity."

Val snorted as Suna shot her a look that begged her to remain silent. Suna focused on Kuroo, "I brought information from Barren Falls."

"They're requesting a meeting, yes?" Kuroo knew that much.

Suna nodded, "To ask for aide from the Kingdoms. A member of the royal family has gone missing."

Kuroo's brows lifted again, "Have they stated who?"

Reaching into his pocket, Suna approached the small dais, "Princess River."

Taking the picture from Suna, Kuroo looked at the faded image. The brunette was smiling at whoever was behind the camera. Her hair was in a thick braid as it fell down her back. Her face was scrunched, making her eyes hard to discern in the photo. Her body was clad with a cream colored peasant top, cropped below her breasts. He could see a thick belt, black leather, at her waist, and brown pants.

"Do they have any clues?" Kuroo asked as he studied the portrait.

"She was last seen with a member of the royal family's inner circle," Suna explained, "Advisor Ukai."

Curiously, Kuroo asked, "Is there a reason for concern that she was last seen with him?"

Deciding what parts to omit and what parts to share, Suna added, "Only that Advisor Ukai was readying the Princess for her arranged marriage to Duke Sawamura."

Interesting indeed. In what capacity did he mean 'readying'? While the humans and vampires didn't communicate often, they relied on people like Suna to pass information between everyone. Rumors circled about the Princess. And the royal family. Kuroo could only wonder what was fact and what was fiction. Time would only tell.

Handing the picture back, Kuroo asked, "Does this mean the two of you will be traveling with us?" His eyes darted to Val for a moment longer than needed.

"Yes," she chirped as she stepped closer to Suna. "If that's alright with you, Your Majesty."

Standing, Kuroo moved to stand in front of the apparent couple, "The more the merrier."