The Twisted Tale of The Little Merman

_-*Chapter 34*-_

Tendou POV

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I would've whipped around, except my body wasn't responding. My breathing hitched and I eventually forced myself to face the second to last thing I wanted to see.

Kyoutani. Lucifer himself.

I felt detached, like I was not inside my body. I was watching from a distance. My body was still there, I just didn't control it anymore.

I watched as Oikawa and Iwaizumi drew their swords, both intending to protect the other. Kageyama too drew his sword and moved in front of Hinata who, like my body, stood frozen.

Sakusa stood protectively in front of Atsumu, but Atsumu wasn't frozen. He didn't seem afraid either. But I knew he was. Atsumu felt fear differently. It didn't make him scared, it made him furious.

Wakatoshi pulled my body into his protectively and stared at Kyoutani with a level of anger in his eyes.

I was scared. No. I was beyond scared.

I was petrified.

I didn't want Wakatoshi to die. I didn't want any of my brothers to die. And most importantly, I didn't want them to die because of a foolish mistake of mine.

I started to hyperventilate, my lungs compressing and decompressing quickly. I wasn't in my body. I was not in my body. I couldn't do anything. Anything.

I tried to scream but no sound came out. I was like a ghost. There but not really there.

But then, in the middle of my storm, I heard him.

Wakatoshi's voice whispered in my ear.

"It will be okay, Satori. I'll protect you. I promise."

My breathing calmed almost right away and in the next few moments, I returned to reality. I could feel myself in his arms, I could feel the water around me. But most importantly, the fear was gone.

Wakatoshi said it would be fine. So it will be.

I didn't need to gather my courage because I no longer felt afraid.

"Kyoutani," I said, my voice not wavering even for a second, "Why are you here?"

I could feel my brothers' gaze on me, all three shocked when I spoke first. I was never the bravest, not compared to Atsumu or Oikawa.

"If you intend to harm us, I can assure you we will not hesitate to fight back. Brutally," I added, slipping out of Toshi's arms as I moved forward, a steely look in my eyes.

"That's not my intention," Kyoutani raised his hands, his sword remaining sheathed at his side, "I came here to offer my services. I want the king gone as much as you do."

Iwaizumi looked skeptical, "You followed orders to the very letter. You worshiped the king. You did everything for him like a loyal dog. Why would we believe you?" His hand tightened around the handle of his sword.

"That's exactly why," Kyoutani sighed, gritting his teeth, "That's all I was. A dog. A pawn to be used and discarded. I thought maybe when you left I would be able to prove myself worthy of a better position. But the king didn't care. All I will ever be to him is a loyal dog who will follow him to the ends of the sea if I'm asked."

Iwaizumi lowered his sword slightly, Kageyama and Oikawa following suit. Their guard was still up, but they were willing to trust his word.

"The king sent me on a mission to find and kill you," Kyoutani looked at me, I felt Wakatoshi stiffen behind me, "but he didn't give me a reason. Every time I was tasked to kill someone, I had a reason. But you hadn't done anything wrong. It messed with me. And then I saw you, sitting on the reef, not looking like someone who was worthy of death. I realized that the king didn't care about reason. If he wanted someone dead he would just kill them without a second thought. I cannot follow someone like that," Kyoutani admitted, "It goes against my morals."

"But how do we know you aren't just lying?" Atsumu asked, with a hint of anger in his tone, "what if you're just saying that so we let our guard down and you can complete the task for the bastard king."

"You don't have to believe me, I had a feeling you wouldn't," He shrugged, "I was planning to leave the kingdom if you didn't accept me anyway."

"M-maybe we should trust him, Atsumu," Hinata spoke up, peeking over Kageyama's shoulder, "He wouldn't just waltz into the same room as an armed Oikawa and Iwaizumi if he wasn't planning on being entirely truthful."

We were silent. I couldn't really argue with that logic. Both Iwaizumi and Oikawa are formidable with a sword, and to take both of them on together...

Even Kyoutani would fail.

Oikawa and Iwaizumu glanced at each other. For a few moments, they were conversing in the silent language they've done since they were children; they both lowered their swords.

"Kyoutani," Iwaizumi stood tall with an air of authority as he sheathed his sword, "we will allow you to join us."

Kyoutani nodded grimly, knowing there was a second part.

"But," Oikawa continued after Iwaizumi, "you will need to work from inside the castle, with our other spies."

It was obvious Kyoutani was displeased with his placement but he didn't object, "whatever it takes to end the tyrant's reign," he bowed slightly towards Iwaizumi, "May I ask who the other spies are?"

I raised an eyebrow and looked at Oikawa. He shrugged and I groaned.

"It's only for the sake of the operation that he must know their identities," Oikawa argued and I huffed. Turning to Kyoutani, Oikawa replied, "Matsukawa and Hanamaki. You might know them."

Kyoutani narrowed his eyes slightly, no doubt remembering the mischievous schemes those two came up with without a watchful eye, "I've...heard of them."

"Be warned, Kyoutani," Kageyama said, his hand still resting on the hilt of his sword, "We don't tolerate backstabbers, as ironic as it is."

"As you should," Kyoutani nodded grimly, "but I'm not doing this for you," He glared pointedly at Oikawa, "I'm doing it for...someone else."

"Ooh, a secret lover~" Hinata giggled and the slightest blush tinted the other's ears.

"Alright," Atsumu clapped, over the discussion already, "we do have important plans to execute right now. Such as alliances."

"Indeed," Iwaizumi placed a hand on Kyoutani's shoulder, "Kyoutani, Sakusa, and I will negotiate terms with the Octalio," Oikawa pouted, displeased at the thought of not being by Iwaizumi's side 24/7.

"Tendou, Ushijima, and I can go to the Swordfish," Atsumu piped up.

"I'll go to the Jellyfish with Hinata," Kageyama added.

Oikawa nodded approvingly, "Lev and I will remain at base, and then, when you return," He turned to Iwaizumi, "You and I will visit both the Barracudas and Orcas."

Iwaizumi nodded.

Now, the discussed teams dissolved into different tasks. Gathering gear and supplies for the journey, planning the negotiation (mainly Oikawa telling others what to do), and securing the base for our absence.

Finally, our plan may be coming to fruition.

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