Chapter Text
Osamu stared out over the sea. The sunset painting the water pink. The wind blew his hair in his eyes, but he didn't mind. He felt the stares of the people behind him burn on his back, yet he didn't turn around. Instead, he knelt before the block.
The wood felt sharp on throat, and he desperately tried to keep his eyes on the sea instead of on the bloodstained bowl his head would soon be in.
He saw the axe rise from the ground and tried to keep his thoughts under control.
Atsumu's betrayed you. He's just left you to die here, saving his own ass. He's just walked away, just as he did ten years ago.
Lost in thought, he jumped as he suddenly stared at his reflection in the axe. He gasped and slowly rose his gaze up to meet his brother's.
Stunned, Osamu stood up, a bit shaky, adrenaline leaving his body like a waterfall pouring down.
Atsumu laughed and put a hand on his brother's shoulder. ''I bet you thought I wouldn't make it.''
''I was... beginning to wonder,'' Osamu said and chuckled a bit. He immediately felt another worry rise inside him. ''The Book?''
''I did my best,'' Atsumu murmured and shrugged, ''wasn't enough.''
''No. You came back anyway.''
Atsumu looked Osamu right in the eye, a soft smile on his face. ''What else could I do. My brother.''
Osamu couldn't speak. He took a step back, with a sad frown on his face. He watched as Atsumu turned to the block, he looked so defeated, yet he seemed to accept his punishment.
Without any troubles, the man knelt before the block and leant his head forward, giving the brute a free sight on his neck. Atsumu closed his eyes and let out a long breath.
The brute raised his sword and stroke it down. But what happened, scared Osamu, because instead of his brother's head falling off its body, the sword broke into a million pieces.
The sky darkened around the execution spot and from the shadows appeared a woman, her ice-blue eyes stood angry and were fixed fully on Atsumu.
''How dare you?!'' she screamed. ''Everything was going perfectly. And now... YOU DO THIS!''
Atsumu took a step back, confusion written all over his face. ''Kiyoko, I don't understand!''
''Don't play coy with me, Atsumu,'' Kiyoko murmured and looked at the people gathered around, ''maybe you can fool these people, but I know who you are. You're a selfish, unprincipled liar !''
''Wait a minute,'' Atsumu murmured, ''I didn't lie. I came back! That's why you're here, this was all part of your test! I told the truth!'' The man crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. ''And wasn't there something about being bound for all eternity?''
Kiyoko's eyes widened and an 'x' appeared on her left shoulder. She balled her fist and groaned with frustration until finally, with a sigh, she snapped her fingers and in a flash of light, the Book of Peace appeared.
Atsumu grabbed it and chuckled. ''Well, well, well, this has got to be a little embarrassing for you, Kiyoko.''
''Don't push your luck, Atsumu,'' Kiyoko murmured. ''You're cute. But not that cute.'' She sighed. ''And lucky for you I've got places to go, things to destroy, stuff to steal... Tah!'' She snapped her fingers and in a cloud of shadows, she was gone.
Osamu had no idea what had just happened, but when his gaze met Atsumu's he couldn't be more than happy. He dipped his head as Atsumu seemed to ask if he had the permission to open the Book.
''You sure?'' the man asked.
''Just do it.''
Atsumu chuckled before he opened the Book. Light shot out of it and broke through the shadows. The sun crashed through the clouds again and shone bright over the land.
After a few moments, Atsumu sank down, panting. He looked up as Osamu came up to him and helped him to his feet. ''You know, for what it's worth, I think the council believes you now.''
''You think?'' Atsumu said and walked to Kita. He bowed deep. ''King Kita,'' he politely said, but pulled the Book back as the king wanted to take it from him, ''woah, hey, how much you got on you?''
Kita chuckled a bit. ''I offer you the gratitude of the Twelve Cities and the apology of a King.''
''No, really, how much?''
''Atsumu.''
Atsumu handed the book over to Kita and was about to leave when Osamu wrapped an arm around his shoulders.
''Come on. This is going to be one heck of a party,'' Osamu said excitedly. ''Everyone's going to want to hear about the voyage.''
Atsumu pushed the arm off and shrugged. ''Fair winds, calm seas. Nothing much to tell.''
''What's the matter? Not fun if you're actually invited?''
''No, it's just...'' Atsumu was quiet for a moment. ''There's a hammock in Fiji with my name on it.''
Osamu smiled. ''Good sailing, Tsumu.'' He knew he couldn't force his brother to stay, if Atsumu wanted to go somewhere, he'd go there. What he didn't expect was that Sakusa turned her back on him and walked away. Shoulders hunched together as if she were close to crying.
Osamu followed her to find her standing on the same balcony they stood together ten days ago. He stood beside her and smiled a bit.
''Just another uneventful day in Syracuse.'' Osamu gave Sakusa a sideways glance. ''You know, I stood here with a woman once. She looked over the ocean and wished she could sail beyond the horizon. She saw such wonder.''
''What happened to this woman?'' Sakusa whispered, keeping her eyes on the sea.
''She got her chance,'' Osamu murmured. ''She sailed the seas... And she fell in love.''
''Osamu, I...'' Sakusa began and looked at the prince with a guilty look in her eyes.
Osamu put his hand on Sakusa's shoulder. ''Follow your heart, Sakusa, mine is here in Syracuse. Yours-'' he wiped a tear from the woman's cheek, ''-yours is sailing with the next tide.''
Sakusa let out a shaky breath and held the man close. ''Oh, Osamu...''
Atsumu couldn't keep his eyes off the palace. His gaze was sad as he knew, the woman he loved was somewhere there, getting married to his brother.
His lover was never meant to be answered. He took a deep breath and sighed he turned to Suna and dipped his head. ''All right, Suna, take us out,'' he softly said and walked toward the railing of his ship. He wrapped his legs around the rope that held the sail in place and held his eyes on the sea.
Suddenly, a rope landed on his head. The captain jumped and pulled the rope off with rage. ''Hinata!''
''What?''
Confused, Atsumu turned to see that Hinata hung upside down next to Bokuto, a mischievous smile on his face.
''Excuse me, Captain! You need to replace these rig points soon, the mizzen ropes need the support!''
Atsumu smiled as he recognized the voice. He looked up to see Sakusa standing in the crow's nest. ''These joints were from the Jasmine Sea!'' the man shouted, ''that halfway around the world!''
Sakusa smiled. ''Then we better get started.''
Atsumu grabbed a knife from his belt and cut the rope he was holding. It shot him right in the air and he landed gracefully on top of the sail. ''You know, that means going through the Hydra's lair.''
''Mhm.''
''The Minotaur's Haven.''
''Mhm.''
''The Cyclops' Den.''
''Mhm.''
''Under the Swansea Bridge.''
''Mhm.''
''Through the China Seas,'' Atsumu ended his list, ''that's a very long voyage. And it's very, very dangerous.''
Sakusa chuckled. ''Don't worry. I'll protect you.''
Atsumu ran his hand through black curls and their heads slowly came closer to each other, he closed his eyes until with a soft movement, their lips finally met. He felt Sakusa's arm wrap around his neck and together they sailed away into the sunset.