Over a Winters Season

To Town We Go!

 (Sorry i haven't posted in a while, my teachers piled up a bunch of work this week along with a few tests i had to study for. So I didn't really have a lot of time to write this week. But here you go! time for some serious fluff.) 

 After enjoying a warm meal under the setting sun, more emotional tears and a near loss of a spoon, the duo decided to head back inside. Since the next storm predicted to be really bad- because one good day is really all they get- they bunkered down for the night. Kenma curled under the covers as Hinata put some wood on the fire, "If your cold then feel free to add some more wood or get another blanket. Goodnight!" 

"Goodnight Shouyou." He watched the Tengu light a candle and fly up to his makeshift perch to wrap himself in his own fur blanket. Then wrapping his black wings around himself blocking him from view, reminding Kenma almost of a bat blocking out the light. It was a strange habit he'd noticed Hinata did at night, that and he moved a lot at night- having fallen from the rafters about a week ago scaring the crap out Kenma. 

The next morning Kenma woke up first for once, Shouyou still wrapped up in his wings but had seemingly migrated onto his stomach letting his arms hang over the side of the beam. It didn't look that comfortable, actually sleeping in the rafters didn't seem that comfortable at all. 'Maybe i should let him sleep in his own bed tonight.' He thought as he reached out from under the comforter to grab his cloak before rising. Luckily his soft padded feet made his steps practically silent as he gathered wood from the box beside the stove to put inside, intending to keep his promise on cooking breakfast. After about ten minutes going through the cabinets and baskets he gathered what he needed for the meal and placed them on the table. A perfectly sized rabbit that was wrapped in some paper along with some leeks and rosemary, he also grabbed some rice, potatoes, carrots, celery, onions, several herbs and spices and fresh flour. He settled on making rabbit dumplings with a side of rice and potatoes. He took out a pan and placed it on the hot stove, adding some oil and began to sear the rabbit until it was tender on the bone and could easily be picked off. He put the meat aside leaving the juices in the pan to cook the vegetables and herbs down letting them simmer as he mixed the flower with milk and seasoning forming balm sized balls. He placed the balls in a deeper dish before mixing the cook rabbit and vegetables, opened the hot oven and struggled to put the heavy pan in without dropping it or burning himself. 

He had just closed the oven door when Hinata woke up- nearly falling when the oven slamming startled him. After greeting Kenma as he pulled on his coat and boots, stepped outside to grab some more milk from their underground cooler. Half an hour later Kenma set the table and Hinata took out the pan- he was a lot stronger then he looked, it still shocked Kenma sometimes- and they  sat down for a warm breakfast. Hinata had only taken one bite before he started gushing over how good it was, immediately gulping it down at lighting speeds making Kenma chuckle. He ate a bit slower, tail happily swaying back and forth as he listened to the enthusiastically talk about god knows what. It was nice, it almost reminded him of mornings back home with Kuroo. The heaviness in his heart didn't stay long as Hinata eagerly asked for seconds before he had to leave. "Are you going out to get more wisps? I thought your stock was filled yesterday." 

"It is, but i have to go into town to deliver them and get some stuff from the market." He sighed, smile still there but Kenma could hear the undertones of dread. Kenma didn't say anything as he helped Hinata pack up all the jars in a giant bag. "would you like anything from town while I'm there?" 

"No I'm alright, you don't need to get me anything." 

"But I want to! How about something from the bakery? I think I remember you mentioning you liked baked goods the other day. I'll bring you back something as a thank you for breakfast." Kenma tried to argue but found it useless as the ginger just ignored him and took off with his giant bag- that honestly should have slowed him down but it didn't seem to bother him. 

Hinata made it to the village higher up the mountain, landing right in the square were he ignored the pointed looks and glares. He kept on his smile as he started delivering the jars to the other Tengu, some happier to see him then others as they handing him his coins. He either exchanged his wisps for money or goods, usually saving the latter for last so he could visit the people that actually liked him. He ran into Tanka and Noya as he made his way to the market, the two happily joining him since they were on their break. He stopped by a book/medicine store run by Suga and his roomate Daichi both sweet tengu who acted like Hinata's parents. 

He often stopped in for a new medicine book, paper, or just to chat with the two, along with the villages messenger Asahi who was dropping off mail. Then he went to the produce stand run by Yamaguchi and his childhood friend Tsukishima, they both liked Hinata (Even if Hinata wouldn't admit it) since they too were also newcomers to the village. Him and Yamaguchi related a lot so he stayed a bit longer and was swayed into trading for extra peaches. He then bid the grumpy blonde goodbye who just gave a small sound in return. After a few more stops and the dodging  the one person he was avoiding like the plague he made it to Kiyoko's bakery. "Afternoon Hinata, you haven't come in in a while. What can i get for you?" 

"Three loafs of bread and. . . a piece of that apple pie please!" 

"Is the pie for you or your roommate?" Kiyoko asked as she put the loafs in a bag and the pie in a small wicker box. "My friend, I'm assuming Tanka and Noya told you? anybody else know?" 

"No i don't think so, but i'd avoid Kageyama for a while, He's been grumpy the past couple days and i dont think you would want him to show up at your house." 

"Thanks for the advice Kiyoko, here's your batch." He handed her her jars in exchange for the bag and left, passing Tanka and Noya who had been distracting Kageyama for him. He bid them goodbye, securing his treats in his bag before he spread out his wings to take off. "Hold it right there you boke! you cant ignore me!" Kageyama came out of no where, screaming at him while pointing an accusatory finger at him. "Uh oih. Uh cant talk now Kageyama! bye!" he took off with Kageyama right on his heels, the grumpy tengu was pretty fast but Hinata could still out fly him enough to get away. 

But being partially weight down by his heavy bag he was lagging slightly not to mention they were in a wide open space with no obsticles. Hinata spied a large group of pine trees just around the bend and groaned, "This is gonna hurt!" he sped up, took a sharp turn around the rocks and dove into the thick trees. He pressed himself against one of the trunks even though the branches and needles dug into his exposed skin and wings, pricking his feathers and covering them in sticky sap. He held his breath when he heard Kageyama fly past grumbling, and once he was sure he was gone he pried himself from the trees and took off home.

  He landed on his porch and pulled the bag from his back placing it down before checking the damage on himself. The green and brown needles stuck out of his clothes and wings, he already new that his feathers were also covered in sap since he could feel them stick together as he flew, not to mention the sap had picked up other stuff like dirt, dust, and a lot of smells on the back. Cursing to himself about how it was going to take a lot pf preening to get his wings clean but he'd worry about that later. He pushed open the door and greeted Kenma who was sitting in front of the fire pit reading a random book from Hinata's small collection. "What happened to you?" 

"I uh, ran into someone I didn't mean to and had to escape. Hey, after we put everything away how about we go to the hot springs nearby? I'm sure your hair and fur could use a bath by now aside from in a bowl." A hot bath sounded pretty good but the trek didn't sound as fun, "Isn't it a bit to cold for that?" 

"No, it's only a five minute flight, I can get us there and back easy!"

"Wait fly? Fly me? I don't know about that, i-i don't really like heights." 

"Come on! It'll be fun! I promise i wont drop you and you can keep your eyes closed the entire time. Please! I haven't been able to bring anyone down there in forever." Kenma couldn't saw no to the brown pleading puppy eyes and the sound of a hot bath did sound nice. "Alright, I-I guess we can go." 

"Yay!"