DRAGON'S BROOD II (Kirishima x Bakugou)

Chapter 18: Ideas of Hope

Kirishima's PoV

The Guardian's eyes widened for a moment. Then he laughed openly. Yeah sure, YOU are a Kirishima, he replied mockingly. He shook his head and laughed heartily, as if he hadn't heard anything so funny in a long time. I stiffened a little, didn't know what to say and how to prove it to him. But before I could think about it any further, he had regained his composure and the growling laughter stopped. When he looked at me, his eyes narrowed into slits. Come on, get out of here if you don't want any trouble!

I stared at him helplessly. B-but that's not a lie! I AM a Kirishima. I am a half human and came from the Human Empire to meet my clan! It was nothing more than a desperate attempt to convince him.

You know that counts as a denial of the ruling clan, don't you, little hatchling? And yet you insist on your tall tale? The Kirishimas have given up fathering half humans, you little lying rat! His tone had changed from mockingly amused to threatening.

I-I can prove it! I can shift into a human right here!

Are you threatening me? he replied upset. His eyes radiated nothing, but pure rage and I began to tremble. Fine you good-for-nothing, you have earned a free ride into the palace! He had licked his teeth, put one of his mighty paws on my shoulder and one of his claws lay threateningly on my neck. As if frozen, I looked at him. He bent down to me. Suddenly not so rebellious anymore, hatchling? You've probably never been taught decent manners before, but don't worry, you'll learn them NOW. I returned nothing. I was almost paralyzed with fear.

The guard looked past me and focused on Tetsutetsu. Go away, kid. Make sure that you get away, otherwise you'll have the same fate!

I couldn't see Tetsu's expression because he was behind me. I could only hear him stepping back a few steps uncertainly. But it seemed that he hesitated because he made no attempt to fly away. Tetsu, I said quietly. You should go, I must go alone.

I believe in you, Eijirou. You will convince them, he replied almost whispering. Then I felt a breeze and heard him pushing himself off the ground.

The guard's grip was adamant, and I dared not move while we waited for another guard to lead me away. What should I do now? I hadn't expected them to believe me directly, but I had at least hoped that they would listen to me. It was easy to prove that I was a half human, but I had noticed from the guard's reaction that they would perceive a transformation as a threat. And if I turned into a human being in the midst of dragons who perceived it as provocation, I was probably dead faster than I could say a single soothing word.

Finally, a dark blue, almost black dragon came towards us. He was significantly smaller than the guard, who was still holding my shoulder. With his head raised high and strangely stiff movements, he approached us. You called me? he asked in formal tone and let his gaze wander from me to the senior dragon.

Yes, I did, Tenya, he replied and his grip on my shoulder became stronger. I felt two of his claws penetrate my scales and and gasped for breath in pain. This little bastard here not only insulted the ruling clan by claiming that he was also a Kirishima. No, he also threatened to transform himself into a human being to convince me by force.

That's not true! I said in my defense. But I did not get any further, because now the guardian's claws dug completely into my shoulder and I whimpered in pain.

The dragon named Tenya frowned as he noticed the blood running over my red scales and dripping to the ground hissing. It's not up to me to point this out to a senior dragon, but it's not up to us either to hurt our prisoners, he said and straightened his shoulders.

That's right, it's not up to you, the bluish-green dragon simply replied, but let go of my shoulder just to give me a strong push, so that I fell in front of Tenya's claws. Now do your job and take him to the dungeon.

Tenya straightened his shoulders a little more and nodded stiffly. When he told me to follow him, I stood up laboriously. My shoulder hurt like hell and I limped. But I did not resist, because I knew it was useless. There were too many dragons here that would overwhelm me effortlessly.

Tenya led me over some of the bridges to a tower that lay relatively far inside this gigantic building complex. He scrutinized me critically from the side. The blood on my shoulder had gradually begun to clot, but it still hurt terribly. It was not right that he treated you like that. But you still have to answer for what you did, he said again in that strangely formal tone.

I didn't reply. After all, I hadn't committed a crime, I had simply told the truth. Tenya led me along a corridor until the tract with the cells finally began. Most of them were empty. Only from time to time did I feel a curious pair of eyes stare at me. Then the dark blue dragon opened one of the barred gates and instructed me to go into the huge cell. Sighing, I did him the favor.

All right, now I need your name. I have to report that, he said and looked at me while he kept standing in the gate.

Eijirou Kirishima.

You're sticking to your story? he asked with a slight astonishment in his voice.

Yes.

You're really brave. I hope that this will not be your downfall at some point, he said quietly. Then he closed the gate and locked it. I watched him walk away.

Sighing, I lay down on the stone floor. That had certainly gone terribly wrong. When would they let me out again? And if they did, what would I do? Was there a trial where I could defend and justify myself? I had to somehow manage to talk to one of my clan. But now I was locked in that cell and I doubted that anyone from the ruling clan would just come down and visit the dungeon.

Then my gaze wandered to the gate that had closed before me with such a finality. It was barred with strong vertical steel struts. If I tried, I might just be able to reach through with my paw. But there were only four horizontal struts over the entire height. It would be impossible for a dragon to get through.

A little smile laid on my lips. It wasn't as hopeless as it seemed at first. Because fortunately I was more than just a dragon.

An idea came to me. But I also knew that it would be unreasonable to march injured and without plan through the palace. For this idea I would first need some information...

Bakugou's PoV

With a little distance I looked at the city wall of Shimaya. How many times had I seen these gates in my life? Too often probably, because the mere sight of the white fortress wall made me think of the numerous missions I had done at that time.

But now I was standing here. Undecided. Without any idea. I had taken off my red cape because I knew it would attract too much attention. Instead I wore a plain white shirt whose sleeves I had rolled up a bit.

I squinted my eyes together to take a closer look at the crowd in front of the city wall. There were two entrances. On the left side, where dozens of people queued, was the entrance for the normal population. On the right side was the entrance for trade. Numerous carts with the most different goods stood before it and waited to be inspected.

Should I be hiding on one of them? But I didn't know exactly how thoroughly they were being examined and if I was discovered and outside the walls, the effort would have been in vain. For a while I pondered, then I saw a movement out of the corner of my eye.

A troop of soldiers rode towards the wall. The familiar red cloaks of the royal land guard shone brightly. I watched them approach.

And then a contented grin fell on my lips. Fuck, I actually had some luck in my life once! Because nobody else rode ahead than the commander Shouta Aizawa.