Shangri La Pt. 1

81: Wanting

"This is yours as well, isn't it? I'm sure it would be yours since you did wear this at the ceremony last night, and I'm sure you must have been quite worried that you lost it?" the Empress hummed as she held up a hairpin, a hairpin that Izumi got as a gift from Katsuki. 

'My hairpin! I thought it was at Melissa's, but I actually was wearing it and dropped it last night? Oh no, it must've been when I decided to bring Katsuki to my shed!' Izumi thought.

"Quite a delicate piece in which I'm sure someone very near and dear to you gave it to you, yes?" the Empress questioned. 

Izumi wanted to beg once more, but she's already at the point in which begging isn't an option after this, so the only option she had was to lie. 

"Ahem– No, Your Imperial Majesty, that was... something I bought for myself after I saved up a bit of money recently." Izumi answered, as she knew that the only way to answer was to answer while directly looking in the Empress' cold gaze. 

The Empress grew unsure on if the greenette was lying, but knowing that she'd answered her without faltering or wavering led to the Empress to believe it was the truth. 

"Hm, I see. Then you may have it back." the Empress sighed as she tossed the hairpin into the air for Izumi to catch a few seconds later. 

"Best if you keep your precious items hidden from society, who knows if someone finds it and decides to steal it." the Empress warned. 

"Y-Yes, I will be going now." Izumi finished as she clutched the hairpin into her hand and took one final bow before leaving.

Just as the greenette left, the Empress' most trusted soldier entered after telling Izumi to wait right outside as they were to escort her to the city. 

"Your Imperial Majesty, might I request that I travel with the Emerald in case she tries to bail on the mission?" the soldier questioned. 

"Hm~ Quite tempting to ask, but denied, as I know I will need you to continue keeping tabs on the area where the Great Pisces is located. More importantly, I already have someone that will be driving that wagon to the West to make sure that Emerald doesn't leave until she arrives at the Scholars shrine. And besides, it's not important to watch her return, as those Scholars will be commanded to have a soldier kill her the second they read the letter I've given that girl." the Empress laughed as the soldier remained unfazed. 

"Tactical as always, Your Imperial Majesty." 

"Yes, but there are plenty more plans up my sleeve. You may go and escort the girl now." 

"I will continue to do what you wish."

( Meanwhile )

After dancing the night away with a certain Great Pisces, Gin trotted back to the training grounds with utmost joy, but soon noticed that this feeling wouldn't last long. When he returned to the training grounds, he looked to see all his fellow knights crowded together and keeping a far distance from the center of the training area, almost like they were all in fear. 

"Hm? What's goin' on with you guys?" Gin asked as he approached the situation to see them all jerk their heads to look at their Vice Captain. 

"Acri~ it's Bakugo, he's mad again~" Kaminari whined. 

"Huh? Why're you crying?" 

"Because~ we thought since he's been in a good mood recently that he would be happy this morning, but he's been like that all morning!" Sero answered. 

"Like what?" 

All the knights turned and pointed to where their Captain was and Gin turned to look at the scene and could tell the blond was back to his normal hotheaded self. There Katsuki was going at it with his sword and repeatedly slicing dummies made of straw with a face full of fury and a fire that could not be extinguished so easily.