The Shadow Kingdom
Chapter 5: Dragon Country
Shoto had only been unconscious for two minutes. It took those villain bastards two minutes to take Izumi from him.
He'd never forgive himself...Izumi had seen his resolve weaken and had taken it upon herself to make sure he wouldn't give in. Now she was gone... kidnapped, and alive...but gone nonetheless.
"I ought to kick your teeth in you damn useless noble. How dare you take off with what's mine and then lose her to a bunch of scum?!"
"She's not yours!" Todoroki grit his teeth. "You took yourself out of the picture. You pushed her away!"
"Tch I wouldn't have if she'd told me the damn truth!" Bakugo shouted at him and then turned up his nose. "I don't know what possessed her to lie to me, but I know the truth now and I'm willing to forgive the stupid rabbit providing she behaves herself."
"You're still treating her like she's your property and she's not. Go back to your village, barbarian, my group and I will find and save her. Your assistance is not needed."
"Tch, I'm the one that'll save her, and I'm not entrusting my mate to you or this lame group of yours! Droopy eyes!" He whirled on Shinso who was adjusting his bow. "Find us some horses or something. We're going to Dragon Country!"
"The name is Shinso and find horses where? The nearest town is another day's walk and frankly I'm not taking another step until I've gotten food, and a nap."
"You want to rest after we just found out Izumi's been captured? What kind of a-"
"Look, hot head…" Shinso shouldered his bow with a sigh. "I want to find Izumi as much as you do but we won't be of any help to her if we're worn out before we can get to her. I say we stop for the night, and reconvene in the morning." Shinso said logically.
"Im with him," Sero put in. "Not everyone has your stamina Bakugo. We need a break."
"If that's the case," Toshinori stepped forward. "Come rest at my home. I need to assess the damages these mercenaries have done. Our wagon and the horses we bought in Kamino are located there as well."
"There," Shinso motioned to Toshinori and walked over to their side. "Sensible."
"Tch fine but I'm warning you, if anything happens to my offspring I'm completely blaming you lot!"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah" Shinso waved him off.
"You sure we should wait?" Todoroki murmured to Toshinori.
"They may be mercenaries but they took Lady Midoriya as a valuable hostage. They'll keep her confined, and in good condition."
"I hope you're right." If anything happened to her… Todoroki thought with a sorrowful expression… I'd never forgive myself.
~Meanwhile~
Izumi wished they'd at least let her wander around. It's not like she knew where she was or could escape with the entire camp eying her. The various deadly eyes left her feeling shrunk and intimidated and the queasiness refused to let up.
"Man…" she sighed heavily and let her eyes wander around. The cavern at least was interesting to look at. It was very warm which made her wonder whether or not there was a dormant volcano beneath the mountain.
There was scripture on the wall which told her this used to be home to primitives and probably one of the first signs of man. She eyed her book bag and bit her lip. She made a grab for it and yelped when a hand slapped over hers on top. She jerked her head up and went tense staring into a pair of intimidating blue eyes hidden under a thick black hood.
"I wouldn't try anything, lady." The hooded man said, his eyes burning into hers in a way that left her shaken. His scarred hand released hers and grabbed the bag lifting it up and out of her reach."The men can be hostile..." He set down a bowl of stew in front of her in its place. "...when provoked."
"Eh?" Izumi looked at the food then back up at the man. "I don't have anything in there but books and journals… I just wanted to read."
"That a fact?" He opened the satchel and took a gander at what was inside. He let out a short laugh when he found nothing but research items inside. "We're a bit of a bookworm I see."
"I guess…"Izumi pouted and she lifted her hands twiddling her thumbs together nervously. "So can I have my bag back, please?"
"Eat first…" he told her and sat across from her putting his sword over his lap in a kind of warning. "Then if you behave I'll provide you with some entertainment."
"I'm not all that hungry…" She said truthfully, still feeling a bit queasy from before.
"You're feeding two aren't you?" He pulled his hood down to run fingers through his thick black hair. Izumi's chest tightened, for a moment she could see Shoto in that face… but the scarred tissue differentiated him, not to mention this man was at least five or so years older than Shoto.
"Yes…" She lay a hand on her belly and eyed the stew. "I'm just too queasy to eat anything right now."
"Eat slowly… queasiness can also be caused from a lack of food." He brought up a knee and admired her face as she contemplated taking that first bite. She was no ethereal beauty, nor was she sinfully attractive to his eyes. The way he summed her up was a sort of nurturing and motherly appeal… the kind of woman you married because you knew she'd breed well. Which would explain her delicate condition. "You don't have to eat it all, but you should keep up your strength or you won't be in any good condition when I bust you out of here later."
"Huh?" Izumi had started to lift the spoon to her lips but his words caught her off guard. "What?"
"Shhh…" he tapped a finger to his scarred lips and winked at her. "Eat… and relax, Milady. Prince Touya is not a man who hurts women."
"Prin- oh!" She dropped the spoon and frantically fidgeted with her hands again. She glanced around seeing the nearby members had paused to look in her direction and she quickly lowered her head as to not draw attraction.
Prince Touya… Former Prince Touya if she was being accurate. The eldest son of Endeavor had been removed of his title after challenging his father for the throne and losing. Izumi had heard the commotion of it when she was still young. It was supposed to have been a one on one sword duel, and Endeavor had nearly burned his son alive when it appeared he would lose. Still, there was no rule against the use of magic… and Touya had been forced to accept his loss, and banishment.
"No wonder you reminded me of him just now…" she whispered now so as not to be heard. "You're Shoto's brother."
"Ah… I suppose I am." He leaned his cheek onto his knuckles. "I suppose this means you're my future sister in law?"
"Ah, I… that is…" She fidgeted. "Not exactly."
"Is this not yours then?" He pulled something out of his pocket and held up the black box Shoto had presented her with before. He tossed it at her and Izumi caught it, fumbling a bit before opening and nearly crying at the sight of the diamond inside.
"I never said yes… I didn't get the chance to." She closed the box but held it protectively to her chest. "Prince Touya…"
"Dabi… I go by Dabi now that I've been removed of that stuffy title and crown." He told her and sat up straight again.
"Dabi then… you said you would help me escape… why?"
"Well, for starters I don't approve of kidnapping or killing pregnant women. I may be a mercenary, but even I have jobs I won't take. That damn Shigaraki does as he likes and frankly I'm getting a little sick of it." He paused when some wandering eyes and ears pass by and he gripped his sword tightly prepared to fight if someone came too close. "Secondly…" He continued and relaxed when they were alone again. "This job was given to us by Endeavor… so I get personal satisfaction in seeing it crumble to pieces."
"Won't your teammates be mad at you for this?"
"I hardly call us a team. The majority of us work as private contractors with single target missions… only on occasion do we work as teams for big game." He explained. "However, I'm not the only one who's going to be helping you. I've a few other members who are tired of how Shigaraki is running things and want out."
"Not that I'm complaining but… you don't have to help me in order to get out, right? So why?"
Dabi looked her straight in the eyes and his lips smirked.
"If we're leaving… we're gonna do it with some style. Full out rebellion is more fun than abandonment, wouldn't you agree?"
"I guess so…" she lifted the bowl to her lap suddenly finding her appetite. She then looked back at the walls again as she ate. "Do the marking go all over the cave?"
"I guess so… why, you interested in a tour?"
"Yes." She said honestly her eyes gaining some sparkle. "Please."
Surprise lit his face and Dabi had to laugh again, a slow bubbling chuckle that ripple in his chest. This girl… he thought with vast amusement… was quite a find.
"Alright… finish your food." He pulled out a leash. "Afterwards I'll take my cute little pet for a walk."
"Your pet…eh?" Izumi's brow twitched at the leash and was suddenly glad Kacchan wasn't there to see her like this.
~Bakugo and Shoto~
"Dragon Country has the largest colony of dragons and mythical beasts known to man, hence the name of the vicinity. It's a large valley completely surrounded by mountains and holds a large lake right at its center." Torino explained motioning towards the map on the table.
"I was told that Dragon Country was uninhabited by Humans because of the large mythical beast population." Bakugo grunted tapping his fingers impatiently along his forearm.
"It is… which has me believing that their base is located in one of the mountain caverns just off the main roads." Torino circled his finger along three separate points.
"Great… so how do we narrow it down from there?" Kirishima inquiredeying the map enthusiastically. He, like many of their tribe, had never been outside the vicinity of Tattooin and the further they were from home, the more excited he became.
"Convenience and concealment." Shoto explained leaning into the map now. "They'd need easy access to nearby water sources, food and other necessities." He tapped the far left road entrance. "This here… there's a river just a mile up the path, and plenty of vegetation. The volcanic soil of the dormant volcano is very fertile and is perfect for growing crops. That area there is my best bet."
"I agree…" Iida nodded his head. "The other two locations are too far from any direct water sources, and even if they could make their way to the lake, the epicenter there is littered with all manner of mythical beasts that would surely love to feast on human flesh."
"So we're all in agreement to go down this path?" Toshinori crossed his arms and eyed the time. "It's just past midnight… let's get some rest and reconvene at sunup. Until then gentleman… goodnight." He steps away from the group and Torino follows him out.
Shoto rolled up the maps and set them in his bag as the others broke apart to retire for the night. He let out a long sigh and held his chest trying to steady is throbbing heart.
Shoto…
Izumi's voice was so clear, and he could perfectly imagine her sparkling green eyes smiling up at him. Had it really been too much to hope for to have a simple and happy life with her? Would his title and past force him to be parted?
King Shoto, the kind and the brave…
King? He didn't want to be a king… he didn't want to be what his father was… a dictator who gave orders and demanded to have his way no matter what the cost. That wasn't who he was, that wasn't who he wanted to become.
You don't have to be a slave to your lineage… become the King you want to be.
That sudden voice caught him off guard and he dropped the bag with the maps and parchments inside. He held his left eye his body shaking some. He hadn't thought of his mother in years, had shoved her out of his mind after she'd taken her own life.
Don't look at me! You're unsightly! LEAVE ME ALONE!
He took a seat at the table and held his left eye where his scar lay. Many believed this scar to be the result of battle… but in truth his own mother had given him this scar. Until that day he'd loved his mother unconditionally, had sworn he'd do everything he could to protect her from his beast of a father… but as he grew, and the similarities in appearance became more apparent, the more frightened his mother became of him… until one day she just broke.
Unable to live with the fact she'd harmed one of her own children she'd slit her own throat, and the memory of her had slowly died with her… until now.
"Why? Why am I suddenly thinking of you now?"
"My Lord?" Iida came back in. "Is everything alright?"
"What?" Shoto looked up at him, pale and a bit glassy eyed. "What is it, Iida?"
"Nothing… you should retire your highness. You must be exhausted. Do not worry, we will find Lady Midoriya. I promise you." He put a hand to his heart.
"Yes… you're right." He stood up and rubbed his face letting out a shaky sigh. "I shall sleep… and hopefully the memory of her will fade away again." He whispered to himself and head upstairs. He paused briefly in front of Izumi's room noticing the door cracked open, but shrugged it off stepping into his own room.
In Izumi's room Bakugo lay on the bed, indulging in the softness of the fabrics and imagined Izumi laying next to him by cuddling up against a pillow and stroking it. It had been so long since he'd held her… touched her… kissed her.
"Usagi… Izumi…" He buried his face into the pillow breathing in her scent. "I will find you… I swear it. So stay safe, stay alive." he gripped the pillow tighter to him. "I won't let you go this time."
~Dragon Country~
"I've never seen anyone so fascinated with doodles and rock." Dabi murmured as he let Izumi scribble in her journal murmuring to herself over the depictions and ancient text. He pulled out a pocket watch from under his cloak narrowing his eyes on it. "Those fools are late."
"Hmm?" Izumi looked over her shoulder at him. "Did you say something?"
"No… don't mind me, indulge yourself a while longer." He tugged a bit on the leash and had her going blue. "Just don't wander too far."
"Is this really necessary though?" She held up the lax leash.
"Until we're joined by my crew, and are clear of the camp it's a necessary precaution." He smirked. "Besides it suits you."
Izumi's temple throbbed. This guy was lucky she couldn't use magic right now or she'd have sent him flying through the mountain for that statement
"Right…" she turned her attention back to the scribbles. After writing for five more minutes she heard footsteps coming in their direction and she tensed up and closed her books putting them back in her satchel. She stepped instinctively closer to Dabi when she spotted a group of figures heading their way… Dabi's hand on his sword ready to attack in case the wrong group found them. His lips slowly curved and he relaxed when the figures he spotted were the ones he'd been expecting.
"Bout time you lot showed up."
"My bad!" Twice held up his hand guiltily. "I had to make sure the clone was in place… it wasn't my fault!"
"As contradicting as ever I see…" Dabi muttered and looked to the others. There were five of them in all. He'd originally planned on recruiting more, but their alliances were split up. In the end he had enough people, but worried their combat strength was too weak.
"Are you sure you want to do this tonight?" A masked man known as Compress asked Dabi. His specialties included alchemy, slide of hand, and illusion, which made him a great thief and escape artist. "With some time to plan I could have come up with a more solid escape route."
"It has to be tonight, otherwise that fool of a prince and his party will walk right into their trap. We need to intercept them before they do." Dabi explained rubbing the back of his neck. "Twice's dummy of our lady will keep Shigaraki and the others oblivious for the time being, but we need to move out of the mountain quickly or they'll find us easily enough."
"Very well…" he turned to Izumi and bowed. "I beg your pardon, My lady, allow me to introduce myself. I am Sir Compress, at your service."
"Oh… a pleasure." Izumi managed a wary smile.
"The name's Twice, but you can call me Twice." The elaborate cloner posed and expressed himself with wild gestures reminding Izumi of Iida.
Izumi nodded and then tensed up as the girl in the group stared sparkly eyed her hands looking ready to paw.
"My names Himiko Toga! I'm so happy to meet you Izumi-chan!" She held her cheeks looking flushed and a bit craze which had Izumi fidgeting uneasily.
"Toga stop staring at her like that. She is a covert mission not a sacrifice." Dabi pat Izumi on the head trying to calm her nerves. "No cutting this one."
"Gomen, gomen, Dabi-kun." Toga, a pretty blonde girl dressed like your average tavern wench, but she had knives strapped to her thigh and boots and even stabbed into her twin buns like decorative chopstix. "She's just so…" Toga leaned into Izumi her eyes sparkling. "Cute! I want to play with her!"
Izumi stepped further back from her, the leash tugging on her throat and she was in obvious distress over the closeness of this female.
"Down, Toga." Dabi smacked the back of her head making her hold it and pout in a corner. "Geez, what a crew." He rested a hand on the hilt of his belt and turned to Izumi smiling. "They're not much, but they're all you've got, Milady. Allow me to introduce The Vanguard Action Squad."
Izumi took stock of the characters she was faced with. She didn't have much of a choice but to put her life and the life of her child into the hands of the people in front of her. Still… as they walked down the path and further into the volcano Izumi wondered just what the hell had she gotten herself into.
~Ask Briry~
Briry: Yay! I heart Dabi! He's my favorite villain both in character design and personality. I've been waiting a long time to get him in the story!
Next chapter: One Wild Ride