My Sword Is Yours

chapter 6: Three Knots

3rd person pov:

As they walk, bakugou can't get the image of the slave smile out of his mind. His chest aches like he's never felt before.

Once at the building. Bakugou walks inside to see a female stepping on a man with black hair.

Mina:"I told you to make the tunic out of linen, not wool! Useless slave."

The man is curled over his loom to protect his work. Once the woman steps. She sees the two men that have entered her shop.

Mina:"Can I help you both with something?"

Baku:"I'm here because of an invitation to the palace, and wish to be fitted for an outfit suitable for the occasion."

The black haired male stands up. Looking at his master. She smiles and nods.

Mina:"Looks like that wool will come in handy after all. Do you remember the rules?"

Kiri:"No outfit shall be a vibrant color. So is to not outshine the emperor. The blander, the better."

The dresser smirks and pulls bakugou into a back room.

Mina walks to the royal slave side.

Mina:"So how is your mom doing izuku?"

The slave grips his upper arm in worry and sarrow.

Izu:"She's..... no longer with us. Once she sent me a letter. That's how master found her. I....... I woke up the next day to see him kill her before my eyes."

Izuku has flashbacks as enji ordered his men to strap her  to a table. Izuku was bound in chains and forced to watch. If he screamed or made a sound. The guard gripping his hair, was ordered to cut out his tongue. Inko was then covered in honey. That's when enji put the cage on her stomach and another on her head. Izuku hears the rats squeak and claw at the wooden boxes. Then her screams ring out. Blood soon drips onto the floor. Izuku cries silently in prayer. Asking for it to stop. Minutes turn to an hour before her screams stop. Then izuku hears the crunch and ripping of flesh and bone. As the rats eat his mother. Once her screams stop and body stops twitching. Izuku is chained up for seven days to watch his mother's body decay before his eyes. Rats still eating away at her until day three. When they break through her back and chest.

Mina sees izuku shivering. So she pulls him into a hug. Causing him to come out of thought.

Mina:"One day you'll be free. Just hang in there."

Bakugou then walks out from the back.

Baku:"So damn itchy."

Kiri:"That's wool for you, but for your look. It works better than linen."

Bakugou turns around to show off the outfit. White tunic with a gray toga and a leather belt made from crockidial hide. His sandles made of snake leather to sell the look of a beast slayer. Kirishima then adds a cloak made of lion pelt.

Mina:"Perfect."

Baku:"Can we go now?"

Mina:"Not yet. Before you step foot on palace grounds. You need to wear the ribbon of life. It's a promise all warriors must do in order to see the emperor. Hold out both of your wrists together."

Bakugou hesitates. So izuku takes the red ribbon from her.

Izu:"I'll do it."

Bakugou holds out his wrists. As izuku wraps it around around both. Tying three knots at different points.

Izu:"One is for your own life. Two for your family and blood line, and the third for your existence in memory. Should you escape this bond by breaking it or wiggling free. Your life, bloodline, and those that remember your existence by speaking your name in public.... will all die."

Baku:"Wait, does that include?"

Mina:"We knew the risks when helping you."

She smiles and sends them on their way. As another carrage comes to pick them up for the dinner.