Thunder rumbled in the sky. Iwaizumi bit the inside of his lip, a nervous habit he had picked up. Kageyama patted his back, and the two kept walking.

They didn't have to trek much further to get the base of the mountain leading up to the castle. It was huge, with spires that towered over them and loomed above the forest. Dark clouds swirled around it, despite it not seeming possible. How did Oikawa even get here in the first place? It's so...dark. Not like him at all. Sugawara hugged him and Kageyama and wished them good luck, then stood back, so that they could scope out the challenge that laid ahead.

Iwaizumi began to climb up the mountain. The higher he climbed, the more grueling it got, and the brighter the flashes of lightning became. The thunder had slowly ascended from a distant rumble to a booming throb in his ears, and his hands were starting to blister. Looking to his left, Kageyama seemed to have the same troubles as him. They both knew why, of course. Oikawa didn't want them to make it.

Despite their excellent endurance from playing intense volleyball for extensive periods of time, the two boys still needed a break about three quarters of the way through. They stopped to rest at a small cliff overhanging the forest they had traveled through, and although they had nothing to nourish their bodies, some energy was still restored nonetheless. Signaling to Suga that they were okay, Iwaizumi and Kageyama continued to climb after a few minutes.

Reaching the top was no easy task, as rain had begun to fall a few moments after they had continued their journey up the mountain. Multiple times, Iwaizumi or Kageyama had almost slipped off, and needed the other to catch them. They tied their jackets to Suga and Daichi's, which they then tied together, and used the clips from each of their bags as a sad attempt at making a belay. They hung it on rocks and cliff edges as they climbed. It caught Kageyama once, though, so it wasn't completely worthless. Iwaizumi would have to remember to buy them new jackets and bags if he survived.

When he survived.

Finally, after what seemed like and eternity and a half, Iwaizumi's hand grazed what he could only assume was grass. He hoisted himself up, and Kageyama did the same.

And there, awaiting them, were the doors to the castle, left wide open, almost inviting them to come in and push their luck.

Watching from above, Oikawa smirked. He descended into the castle that he had built for himself, and set forth the horrors that were sure to scare the two away, if they didn't kill them first. 

Tohru watched the pair walk inside with a somber expression on his face. I hope you know what you're doing. And for all of us, dear God, I hope it works.