The lost continent

Chapter 28

Kirishima’s father grows prouder and more full of himself the nearer to the execution date they get. Kirishima grows nervous, and runs his plan forwards and backwards through his brain. He wonders, absently, if he should tell his mother. If he should tell Eiko. He’s already left unexpectedly once, after all.

He does decide, after much thought and running his finger through his now too-short hair, to tell his sister.

“I already knew.” She says.

Kirishima looks at her, braiding her hair at her vanity. She turns her head to meet his gaze, smiling soft. She’s smart. Smarter than he was at fifteen, at the very least. He stares at her, a little stupefied.

“Every time father mentioned it you didn’t look the least bit pleased.” She says. “And I read your letters.”

“You did?” he asks.

She nods. “I begged father to show me them, when he arrived. I never knew they were for me. He altered all of them before I saw. But… I know your writing. I kept quiet, of course.”

Kirishima frowns. It was an awful lot of work that he put into ensuring no one found out. He furrows his brows. His father could do to trust Eiko more.

“You love him.”

Kirishima feels a shock of embarrassment through his chest. He didn’t remember talking much about Bakugou, but-

“You’re so obvious.” She laughs. “I’m… I missed you, Ei. But you’re different, now. You’re stronger. And if I were you, I’d do everything I could to save the one I love.”

“Eiko.” Kirishima says, softly. He doesn’t know what to say. “I missed you too. And mother.”

She nods. “I’ll take care of mother. “

“Don’t tell her what really happened between father and I.” Kirishima says. “It would break her heart.”

Eiko clicks her tongue- very brash of her, given her usual meticulous propriety. “I hate him.”

Kirishima nods. He thinks he does, now, too.

“Let me help.” she says, turning finally in her seat to face him. “What can I do?”

“It’s dangerous.” Kirishima shakes his head. “If mother lost us both to the court, just imagine it! She’d be left with only him.”

Eiko shakes her head. “No. I’m helping.”

“You’re so stubborn.” Kirishima says fondly. “I wish you could meet him.”

“I can only meet him if you save him.” She says strictly. “So use every bit of help you can get, Eijirou. I’m offering.”

Kirishima takes a deep breath and nods slowly. “Okay. Okay.”

“What should I do?”

“Stand with father.” Kirishima says. “When the signal is given, distract him. As much chaos as possible is the only way I’ll manage to free them. I think that’s enough. The rest is very much a one-person plan, up until they’re free.”

“If that’s the most I can do, I’ll do it.” she nods. Kirishima holds back a sigh of relief.

“Thank you, Eiko.” he says.

He goes back to his room for the night, until the wee hours of the morning. He rises before the sun so he can ready the Crepitus for it’s hasty departure. He’d been back and forth already, loosening knots and smuggling in supplies... For a prized ship, it wasn’t very well guarded. Kirishima thinks it’s because there’s a dispute over who should claim it- his father or his uncle, personally, or have it be handed to the court. Such, it was left in the harbour in view of each party until they could come to a consensus. It worked well in his favour.