Bakugo POV:

"Shut up you two! These walls arent as thick as you think." I whisper, hushing Mina and Jiro. These crawl-spaces were much smaller than I anticipated, barely fitting my shoulder width.

Our mission had gone flawless so far, Momo played her part perfectly, and we got in with ease. I would've thought that the second richest kingdom would have better defense..

Two hollow knocks come from down the tunnel, signaling Momo had some information. Her current guest room was placed among the rooms of the royal family, and the Princess herself was her neighbor.

Shuffling my way through the tight and dark crawlway, I peek my eye into the hole we drilled in Momo's room, and tapped twice on the wall.

"Bakugo?" I hear from the hole, I tap three times for confirmation. "Dinner is held at six, and the king heads to bed at ten, although I think he stays up a little bit after in his study.."

"You got all that information in less than twenty-four hours? Thats impressive." I whisper, wondering how she figured it all out so fast.

"Yeah, did you manage to find the tunnel to his room?"

"No, I have Sero and Todoroki looking about. I wish these tunnels were lined throughout all the walls, it would be easier that way.."

"I'm sure they'll figure it out soon."

"Keep gathering info on his sleep patterns, those are the most important."

"Sure thing, and also, they just sent a messenger to my kingdom, alerting that I'm safe and what not."

"Oh. What time is it?"

"About four in the afternoon."

"Okay, so we have about two days before your parents get the news.. Are they going to escort you home?"

"They were, but I told them I feel extremely unsafe and would only accept being escorted by my own guard. Buying us a little more time."

"Nice move."

"Okay, you should go back far into your tunnel. Maids should be coming to check on me soon."

"Okay, tap three times when the clock strikes ten. I won't respond but if we find the kings room soon, you will know later tonight when we strike."

Scuttling back down the tunnel, I make my way back to the small split of the tunnel where we set up a small camp. Our bags were grouped in the middle, and small blankets were laying along the ground for when we sleep.

It looked like Jiro and Mina went off to join the other boys, looking for the king's room. I prayed that they could find it within the next hour, the quicker we got this mission down, the sooner I could see R-.. be safe.. 

Tap Tap Tap Tap Tap

Five taps, they found it.. Of course the second I start thinking about it they finally find it. And its about time too, they have been searching all day.

Now which tunnel was it, thats the real question. The taps echo through the whole tunnel system, so I can't exactly track down the source exactly. Crawling to the direction of the taps, I take the tunnel to the right, listening for any other taps or noises that could help me find the idiots.

Sure enough, another small five taps ring through the tunnels once more, coming from directly ahead. Beginning to become more and more excited, I go faster through the crawl-space.

"Which tunnel?" I breathe out, hopefully loud enough to receive a response, and sure enough, I hear another five taps from the tunnel coming up on the right. 

Turning to the right, I see the idiots at the very end, poking a hole into the wall with a nail. Did they know if he was in there? They can't just go around poking the holes anytime they want!

"Hey!" I whisper yell, Todoroki stops making the hole and the group turns to look at me, "Do you guys know if anyones in here?"

"No sounds have been heard for the past ten minutes, and its too late for a nap and too early for bed. So yes, nobody's in there." IcyHot said, going back to putting the nail through the wall.

"You guys are idiots, do you still remember the layout of the room?"

"Yup. But we still need a hole right?"

"I guess, but be quiet. We are in too far to get caught now." 

Watching Todoroki finally break through the wall, he sticks his face up to it, and nods in satisfaction. Backing away, letting the rest of us see his work. I nod in approval, as a soft whistle is heard in the back of the tunnel.

"Iida's back." I say, shuffling around to head back to the small make-shift camp we had set up.

Luckily the king's room wasn't as far as we anticipated, and it was only two turns away from where we sleep. Which leaves me to wonder why it took so long for them to find it..

Seeing Iida sitting on one of the blankets, I head over to a spot close, but not too close, and sit down. The others made a small circle and sat around, all waiting for Iida to speak up.

"He's in the thrown room, and someone of high importance is coming. I'm not sure who, but the king had to rearrange his schedule to see him." He said, his face read worry and nervousness.

"That can't be good.. who could he possibly be seeing?" I wondered aloud.

"I don't know, he never rearranged anything for anyone when I was in the castle.. He was always the important one, people rearranged for him.." IcyHot butted in.

"We need to go to our perch, before this mysterious guy arrives." Jiro says, I nod in agreement, and begin to crawl in the direction of the thrown room. Straight, straight, left, up, and we should see a trapdoor..

Following Iida, he leads us through the tunnel, going straight, straight, left, and up, as I remembered. The ladder up was some rusty metal hand bars, and if one were to break, it would be a long fall..

As we reach the top, I hold a finger to my lips, reminding everyone to stay silent as I slowly open the trapdoor. The trapdoor was on the ceiling of the thrown room, and hidden by a chandelier. 

The chandelier didnt conceal the hole all the way, but it sure made it much more difficult to spot us. Surrounding the trapdoor, we each peek our eyes over all four of the rims, looking down past the lights and at the ground.

We were set just above the steps to the five throwns, but only one was occupied, and there sat King Enji Todoroki. Laying patiently, waiting for the so called 'important meeting' to begin, a man finally arrives.

Looking closely, I could make out red clothing and a familiar head of dirty blonde hair. Seriously? This guy? What could a measly hotel owner have with the king?

"Keigo Takami, I see you had easy travels."

"Oh drop the titles Enji, you should know by now that you can just call me by my first name.."

"Just get on with it and give me your report."

"He is in town. He dropped off his horses yesterday afternoon. But the dragon was not with him."

"You're kidding!" The king slammed his fist on his arm rest, nearly splintering the wood. "Where did he stop imbetween? You followed him right?"

"No, he flew away after kidnapping the Princess, we couldn't track him after that."

"Argh! How does he always manage to get away?!"

I couldnt listen anymore, I sat up, covering my mouth. How did he know? This Takami guy, he had been stalking us, following our every move! How could I be so stupid, not realizing it sooner..

Punching myself in the head, I snap out of my trance, and turn back to my crew, who were all staring at me with confusion and worry in their eyes. They were pitying me..

Tapping once, I make my way back to the ladder, and slowly climb back down. I needed to clear my head, and to think rational again. What good am I if I can't kill a king?

if your guy's goal was to make me cry, you are succeeding.. i cannot believe i am recieving this amount of love and support on this book, it truly means the world and if it weren't for you guys, i would be in a terrible mental spot.

and just a little fyi about his book, if some of you were wondering..

    i try to keep all chapters above 1100 words, and work for 1300 not including any a/n

    i do have plans for this story after the mission is acomplished, so dont expect an ending        anytime soon..

    this is all orginial and i came up with this plot all by myself, so props to me ;D

    and more angst is yet to come, i enjoy tugging at people heartstrings

but thank you guys for everything, and i hope you stay safe and healthy <3

-1354 words-

~tragedy out <3