DRAGON'S BROOD (Kirishima x Bakugou)

Chapter 33: Commander Aizawa

Kirishima's PoV

The whole day we hiked between the trees at the edge of the Niwa lake. Since Katsuki told me about his past, I hadn't let go of his hand. His past and tragedy had touched my heart and even though it hurt me to see him so worn out, I was glad he had told me everything. I understood him better now. I understood his hatred and his grief. Understood what it meant to him to be a dragonslayer and became even more aware of how much it must have cost him to change his image of the half dragons.

Already in the early evening we were both tired. Last night we had slept very little and the hike had exhausted us. We chose a sheltered place a little away from the lake shore and spread out our blankets.

"Should I go hunting today?" Katsuki asked when I started looking for some dry branches for a small campfire.

"Would that be okay? In this shape I'm not exactly a skilled hunter," I scratched the back of my head, embarrassed.

Katsuki smiled at me briefly, pulled his iridescent blade and disappeared between the trees. I piled up the wood, but waited to ignite it. Actually a campfire was much too conspicuous in our situation, but we had no other choice. The nights became bitterly cold in the meantime. In my dragon shape I wouldn't mind, but Bakugou was still there after all and we also agreed that I was far too conspicuous as a dragon near Kyotawa.

I went to the lakeshore and drank some of the clear water and filled up our water skeins. Then I went back and sat down on one of the blankets and waited.

And waited.

I nervously brushed through my red hair and stood up. How long had he been gone? The minutes passed and I became more and more restless. I walked up and down and thought. Should I go looking for him? Maybe that wasn't very smart, because it could easily happen that we missed each other. But when a little time passed, I couldn't help but go searching.

Bakugou's PoV

Once again I was glad that the area around the water was so fertile. It didn't take long for me to find and kill a rabbit. That should be enough for now. I laid the dead animal over my shoulder and headed towards our camp. But then I hesitated and stopped alert.

I heard something. Was it just an animal in the forest? Or was there more behind it? Concentrated I closed my eyes. Undoubtedly. That was the sound of hoofbeats! In panic I opened my eyes again and ran off. Our pursuers were not allowed to reach the camp before me, and surprise Red! I ran diagonally towards the lake, knowing that our pursuers would surely take the beaten path along the lake we had walked a few hours ago.

But as the hoofbeats grew louder, I slowed down. Were those really the King's henchmen? Because there was no doubt: they were only hoofbeats from one horse. Now I did not hesitate any longer. If it was only one person, I could stop them before they could get to Red.

I reached the path before the rider could but hid again behind the trees in case it was not one of our pursuers. But already from a distance I saw the bright red cloak of the Country Guard. I squinted my eyes together and hardly believed what I saw. The rider was tall and slim and had long black hair.

Without thinking much about it, I stepped onto the path and confronted him. The commander Aizawa pulled the reins and the stallion opened his mouth because of the strong gesture. We stared at each other for a moment.

On closer inspection, Aizawa looked even more tired than he usually did. His face was pale, the rings of his eyes dark and his beard had become longer.

"How did you manage to catch up with us so fast?" I asked suspiciously and put a hand on my sword. Even though we walked that one day, I would have considered our lead to be larger.

Aizawa took his time with the answer, got off his horse, pulled out his weapon and finally turned to me. "I rode day and night, changed horses and slept on their backs. I haven't rested since you fled from Ariko. That's why I'm alone, no one else was willing to take this upon themselves. But I had to find you."

I frowned. "Why? Do you want to kill me?" I asked calmly. He was an excellent strategist, but far inferior to me in swordplay.

Aizawa lowered his sword and looked me in the eye. "No Bakugou. I ... just want to understand," he said seriously. "Bakugou. We've known each other for so long. I know your hatred, but also your sense of justice. But I just can't understand it. What has driven you to desert, to give up all that you have earned through your ambition? I could believe, like everyone else, that you are insane or that this damned dragon's brood has tempted you, but I know you too well. I have always trusted your decisions. So I ask you: Why?"

Astonished, I let my hand sink, which had just lay on my sword handle. Had he really taken all this upon himself just to ask me that? "Red didn't deserve to die," I said quietly. "No, he's the best person I've ever met, and he deserves nothing more than the be-"

"Not person. Dragon's brood." Aizawa interrupted me harshly.

"Half dragon." I corrected him with a sharp undertone as well.

Aizawa shook his head. "What difference does it make? He's an enemy of the empire!"

"He's not! He grew up among humans and has nothing to do with dragons," I shouted angrily.

"At least that's what he's telling you!"

I sighed annoyed. "When you questioned the director of the orphanage in Tamio, you said yourself that her version, in which Red had only protected a little girl, is most likely for you," I said calmly, although the blood was boiling in my veins.

Aizawa sighed and scrubbed over his face. "You can't be serious. You know the stories, they are dangerous!"

"Yes. I know the stories. They are stories! How many half dragons have caused trouble and attacked us over the last decades or even centuries," I replied irritated.

"None. Because we didn't let it get that far," growled Aizawa.

I was about to return something when a rustling interrupted our argument. We both flinched when Red showed up behind me.

He saw Aizawa, drew his twin blades and growled. The commander also raised his sword.

"Are you serious, Bakugou?" Aizawa growled as he watched Red from top to bottom. "Did you teach him sword fighting, too? As if he wasn't dangerous enough already!" He watched every one of Red's movements closely. "Do you really think you can control your pet so well?"

The very moment he said that, I felt the anger Red expressed at the word pet.