Don't We All Break Into Castles With Sworn Enemies?

"You good?" Hinata reaches a hand for her. Mizuki slaps it away harshly.

"Shut up," she groans, wiping tears from her eyes. Her hair is in a complete mess from not undoing it properly before falling asleep. Hinata throws more clothes at the back of her head, making her halt abruptly in her place.

Her gaze falls to the clothes that are now scattered across the floor. "Couldn't you be more considerate?" she sniffles.

"You wouldn't want my pity regardless," Hinata steps forward, looking down on her. Mizuki hates how she can't look intimidating to Hinata with their difference in height, that he'll always have an advantage by simply towering over her. Spitefully, she picks up the clothes roughly, flouncing out till Hinata calls out behind her. "We're breaking into the castle."

"We're breaking into WHAT?" Mizuki's head whips around in shock.

"The castle," Hinata repeats blandly.

"Have you lost your mind?" Mizuki bellows incredulously. "Absolutely not. I'm not going to help you with this. You're so fucking—"

"Hirashi," Hinata cuts her off in a cold tone. Mizuki tightens her grip around the clothes in her hand, not turning her back to face Hinata. "You're not given an option here."

"Oh? And what will you do to me, huh? Kill me, mentor? Is that what you'll do?" Mizuki points an accusatory finger up at him. She says this while dragging the 'mentor', making it sound derogatory in her condescending tone. "I know you lie to me, Yasui. It's only a matter of time until I find out what you're keeping from me."

"CAN'T YOU COOPERATE FOR ONCE?" Hinata raises his voice, seething with rage. "I'm doing this for your own good."

"Yeah and I'll listen to everything you say then I'll magically be out of here again," Mizuki screams in a strained voice, tears welling in her eyes again. Cursing under her breath, she turns away, pulling the cloth out of her hair and throwing it against the table. Storming to the bathroom, she knocks her hands against the sink. She hits them again and again until they flush red with fresh scratches. I don't want to do this. I don't want to do this.

Mizuki undoes her corset, praying to dear god that she gets it right lest she'll have to go to Hinata. When it slips off without leaving her injured, Mizuki thanks the heavens, slipping the sleeves of her dress off her shoulders.

Mizuki steps out of her clothes, sliding into the black pants that Hinata has given her. She forces the thought out of her head reminding her that they're Hinata's clothes. She fits into the leather armour she has before pulling a black cloak over her head, bringing the hoodie down to her neck.

She hangs her dress up at a side, pushing the bathroom door open as she combs her hair with her fingers. Hinata stands with his upper thigh against the table, arms folded in thought. She fits the leather eye mask over her face.

Hinata turns her head to the sound of her footsteps, now wearing a ceramic fox mask over his face. The most part is black to match the rest of his tight-fitted outfit with the snout up till the ears painted red. Intricacies are painted over in gold, adding a touch of nobility. "Hurry up, we don't have much time. Our only opening is at midnight."

"Yeah, that's the plan," Mizuki pulls the cloak over her head. She tucks her sheathed daggers into the belt around her waist, making sure they pull out fine. Mizuki pushes the door open, hurrying outside. She can guess it's somewhere past eleven thirty, especially if she's expected to reach the castle by midnight.

The wind is awfully strong at this time of day, so much so that she has to hold onto her cover to prevent it from blowing off her head. "Weren't you the one asking me to hurry up?!" Mizuki sneers at Hinata who totters out of the house.

"Right," Hinata holds himself back from saying anymore, making big steps forward towards the palace. He follows any route where there aren't any guards to avoid question, navigating his way to the back of the castle.

The closer they get, the more Hinata picks up his pace, leaning forward so the top of his head won't get seen whilst running across walls. Mizuki follows his face, keeping her hands on the hilts of her anelaces as she dashes. The gates that once opened the route to the plaza have now been shut, guards circling the perimeter of the open plaza in the gates beyond.

Hinata snaps his fingers to Mizuki, gesturing for her to hide against the pillar opposite of his. A nearby soldier turns towards the sound, taken aback for a few seconds before returning to his scouting. Mizuki holds her breath against the pillar, pressing her palms against the cold marble. Hinata turns his head warily, beckoning her over.

Mizuki gestures frantically, pointing backwards with her thumb. They're going to see me!

'There's no other route!' Hinata mouths before making a run for it. Mizuki mutters a prayer, side-glancing surreptitiously and dashing forward. Once she catches up to Hinata on the other side of the gate, she jogs a little slower to allow herself more room to breathe. A couple of minutes pass and soon, they find their way to the palace's exterior.

"Don't you think this is a bad idea? Won't guards see us climbing?" Mizuki yanks Hinata down as he tries to step himself up with the dents in the architecture.

"How many people try to break into a castle?" Hinata frowns.

"I don't know how to climb," Mizuki blurts. Hinata shrugs.

"Now you do," and then he climbs. Mizuki inhales deeply, looking behind her. Just a couple hundred metres away from the palace is the ocean. The back gate is only accessible from the inside, out to the private docks where Mizuki can see a fleet of ships.

The wind is much heavier here, almost like it's going to blow her off balance. She looks up at Hinata fearfully and then back down, estimating how hard she'll fall once she does.

Mizuki tries to gulp but it starts to feel as if her heart is stuck in her threat. No, I can't do this. There's no way I won't die from this fall.