The lost continent

Chapter 27

Before, perhaps Kirishima would have stayed in bed for days. Before, he’d have fretted and worried himself down to nothing. Before, he’d have sought the comfort and aid of another.

But he’s not the same man as before. He’s stronger. He’s proactive. And he’s in love. Which is why instead of crumpling in from his pain, he is pushing outward and doing everything he can to make sure that the people who helped him grow live to see their beloved watery home once again.

Kirishima goes to his wardrobe. He lights a lamp and sets it beside him as he throws open wide the large wooden doors. He frowns at his uniform, pressed and clean, pristine, the first thing hanging before him.

He dons it.

He dresses fast, and clips on the medals he received when his father’s ship docked. For bravery. For capturing an entire crew of pirates. For finding a treasure map for Iwa to follow towards more riches, more land, more glory. They rest heavy over his heart.

He glances at himself in his mirror. He looks like the epitome of a Kirishima. Buttons to his collar, and his hair cut short once again. He refused to be bathed by the maids, embarrassed at the jewelry hanging from his belly button, and the scratches and bruises still telltale on his skin, not yet totally faded away the day he arrived.

He straightens his jacket and takes a deep breath.

It’s been a two weeks since they returned. That’s two  since the crew has been thrown to the prisons. Since Bakugou has been in the prisons. The trial was held without the public, Kirishima included, much to his annoyance, to keep all the excitement for their hangings the following Sunday.

Two weeks since he’s seen him… He remembers his face, when he was marched off his own ship, grey and haggard and seething hatred from between his teeth. He didn’t even look at Kirishima. Kirishima looked at his feet, lest his father see his expression.

After the panic subdued,  he thought of nothing but a plan of escape. He forced his turmoil down to keep a clear cover, and convince his father he was every bit the man he thought he was. He went to work almost immediately, stealing out into the night, not nearly as dark as a night at sea, mapping and planning and gathering supplies. It’s not easy when you’ve been gone for so long, and everyone wants to catch up and hear about your cunning plan and success- which is exactly why he’s dressing up now.

A ball, in his honour. While Kirishima will be  trapped drinking wine and eating fancy shrimp, Bakugou and Mina and everyone are trapped, starving beneath his feet.

The gallows date is approaching quickly, and Kirishima knows he must let Bakugou know about his plans as soon as possible.  Whether or not he’ll accept them- whether or not he’s in a state to accept them, is uncertain. Kirishima’s heart aches for him. Half of his lack of contact comes from his father’s slight distrust that Kirishima needs to waive until the final moment, and from his own decision. He knows if he asked to see him, for whatever perfect lie of a reason, he’d be accompanied, and there’s no way he would be able to  look at Bakugou without his face giving him away.

So he’ll go alone, when the party is in full swing and everyone’s forgotten the reason of the occasion.

The music that would usually sound so beautiful feels like it’s shrieking in Kirishima’s ears as he runs through the evening’s plans. He wishes he had just a bit more time to go through it all in his head. He still needed to steal Bakugou’s hand grenades from the crepitus in order to help start the fire in the government house, and he can’t cut the government boat ropes until the night before the plan goes into action… there was still the trouble of making his way undetected to-