My Sword Is Yours

Chapter 17: Mocking Birds

3rd person pov:

Bakugou looks up to see aizawa standing before him. Only shadows cover his eyes.

Baku:"Now I'm seeing ghosts? I'm screwed."

Aiz:"Get up. You know how to get out of this. I taught you how. Now put the knowledge to use."

Baku:"I could never figure it out as a child. What makes you think I can now?"

Aiz:"You have purpose to live now. He's waiting for you."

Bakugou feels the threaded edges of the ropes for the thinnest strand.

Aiz:"Bigger it is."

Baku:"The more it'll gain a hold on me."

Aiz:"Once it tightens on the pull."

Baku:"I push back."

The rope begins to dig in his wrists. So Bakugou pulls against it until it snaps. Then the rope unravels.

He then does it faster with the others and stands up. Only to fall over from his legs going numb.

Edgeshot hears the slap of skin against stone. So he opens the door with a cloak in hand.

Edg:"Once you warm up. It'll be my turn to teach you."

Bakugou snatches the cloak and wraps up.

Baku:"Bring it."

By morning, izuku and his guards begin their walk. Since a carrage would draw too much attention. They've decided not to until the journey back. As izuku walks out of the gate. He sees bakugou give him a thumb up and smile before Edgeshot walks him away for more training.

Every town izuku visits. He sees slaves abused, people starving, and local governing officials abusing power to take more taxes to line their own pockets. After a week of traveling. They arrive at a massive one hundred acor farm full of workers.

As they step onto the land. Two guards with plague doctor masks approach them on horseback.

"What business do you have here?"

"Leave before we cut you down."

Mic:"We bring a message from the capital. Please escort us to the owner of this land."

The guards walk them up to the main house. Once inside. They see a man with short black hair sitting by a fire while reading.

Chisaki:"speak quickly. Time is money."

Izuku walks up with a letter in hand. Chisaki takes it and reads it.

Chis:"Leave us guards."

They nod before leaving.

Chis:"So what does the emperor want with little oh me? You're too clean to be a commoner."

Izu:"You are to come to the capital with me to negotiate the terms of your apology to one of my guards. You sold him as a child."
Chis:"I've done nothing wrong. The law says nothing about age of a slave. Some are born into it. Now if that's all you want. Leave my land."

Shoto points a dagger at chisaki.

Izu:"It's not a request. I intend to change the system. You'll be the first example I make."

Mic shackles chisaki and escorts him out.

Guards:"Boss!"

Chis:"It's okay. I'll be back in a week free of all charges."

Izu:"Where's your carrage?"

Chis:"Follow me."

They follow him to the stables and get in the carrage. While mic drives them back.

Meanwhile, bakugou has been training hard. From sit-ups on a bar while a fire burns below him, standing on red hot coals,  waterboarded, swimming in ice water while chained to weights, and tests of pain tolerance until he's unable to feel anything anymore. Twenty days of training has passed.  Bakugou has been sleep deprived for the last five days as the last part of his training with a battle he has to win before he can rest. By the last day when izuku is supposed to return. Bakugou gets ready for the battle. Only for kirishima to run in.

Kiri:"We got some bad news!."

Bakugou stops putting on his armor to take the paper out of kirishima's hand.

Kiri:"The trumpet is at it again. Only this time he has information that he shouldn't have."

In the capital stands a man with shoulder length black hair on a stage. In his hand is a drawing of izuku with very detailed depiction.

Koku Hanabata:"This is your current empower. The one who wishes to hide his face from you all! Is this the man that should rule over us? No! I'll be a better leader. As I'm not afraid to hear the people, or even greet you all. Let's show him how we really feel-"

Bakugou runs over to town to capture the trumpet. In hopes of finding who gave him the information.

While on stage. Izuku sees the man and takes off his hood before walking up to the stage.

Koku:"Well, well, well. So after I expose you. Now you show your face?"

Izu:"I was in a important mission. I wanted to see the nation and its people without the pageantry of a ruler. Now that my mission is complete. I'll make my first rule. I izuku midoriya! Son of all might! Third emperor of our great land! Here by give this nation a 200 year contract to abolish slavery by. After the time has passed. Collars won't be needed. As everyone will be employed as equal paid workers. Think of it as an investment. These with money pay others to do work. In exchange, they'll get a tax reduction. As more money will flow from the workers. Equal split taxes. I'll also be investigating guards to take off the top. No more will the corruption hurt those who just wish to live. Instead of sons being sent to fight in wars. I want to open trade with other countries. I apologize for being late on revealing my face, but rest asure it was to see what needs to change for the better of everyone."

Bakugou runs up and tackles koku to the ground.

Izu:"We'll have two trials in three days for these villians. I'll let the people decide their fates. As they've been responsible for hurting those like yourselves."

Bakugou looks up to see chisaki in chains. The sight brings him nightmares of those days.

Crying, and screams of pain as his men held him down. With a brand to an ass cheek. He howls out. Only for chisaki to call him filthy before stepping behind him. Fabric moves before skin to skin contact. Then the pain of the unthinkable while his men watch. All smirking before taking turns. It happened day after day until aizawa saw him so sale as blood dripped down his legs. Luckily the man that took bakugou away, made sure it wouldn't happen again.

Baku:"Kai chisaki."

Bakugou grits his teeth in anger. While chisaki smirks.

Chis:"You've been doing well blood boy."

Bakugou remembers chisaki's men pouring the bucket of his parents blood on him. So as bakugou grabs his sword. Shoto escorts chisaki back into the carrage. While mic takes koku.

Izu:"It's alright kacchan. He won't get away with what he's done. Now let's go home."

Mic and shoto stay in the carrage to guard the men. While izuku walks with bakugou through town to get to the palace. As izuku greets the people and hands out coins to help those in need. Even buying food to give out on the way back.

Once back on the palace grounds. Izuku reaches to hold Bakugou's hand. Only for his to pull away.

Baku:"Head inside. I'll keep watch over the grounds while you settle back in."

His voice feels cold and distant to izuku. Leaving him to head upstairs in a melancholy.