Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Le Maree Della Guerra (The Tides of War) ❯ Distrust ( Chapter 13 )

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Le Maree Della Guerra (Tides of War)

Movement 13: Distrust

By: Revamp

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Angla, Moegi, and Doku all returned to the Northern Capitol with heavy hearts. The journey back was silent, no one spoke to each other and every once in a while, the tears of Nautica's princess could be heard through the murky waters. It was a sound that sent sorrow through the hearts of both Doku and Moegi, but they knew that she was inconsolable at this point.

“We're here,” Moegi's disheartened tone reach the ears of her friends as they stood before the great, white structure.

They walked inside and saw no one but guards that stood at the doors. The long hall was void of people and the welcoming room that once held so many smiling faces was dead of life and silent. The castle was no longer a happy, bustling place of visitors and laughter but a void space that felt lonely frightening.

“No one seems to be around,” Doku broke the silence of the group. His red eyes glanced around, trying to find any sign of life.

“Maybe they're all in the Meeting Hall,” Moegi figured that they might be engaged in another meeting of some kind, or discussing what to do next. The Sea Kings had a lot on their plate right now, especially with their new found information.

“If Isatsu is here, then I think that's where they would be. He's probably rubbing it in their faces,” Doku knew that the orca couldn't wait to shove the mistake of Nautica's royal court down their throats. That orca was always looking to start a fight with someone.

“I don't want to see him,” Moegi's expression changed into one that looked unsure.

“None of us do,” Doku could agree to that, especially with how much Isatsu harassed him.

As her friends talked among themselves, Angla continued to advance down the hall. Red eyes reflected the pain and sorrow that she felt, and her body felt as if it was composed of concrete. Every step was languid, every sway of her arm felt as if it took a monumental amount of effort to move. As she came into the view of other members of the royal court, they all stopped their activities and stared at their battered princess.

Oro called out her name and rushed to her side. Worry crossed his usual stone-cold face and he asked her what happened.

“What does it look like? She got beat up,” Isatsu thought that was pretty obvious. Did he have to be such a drama queen about it?

“Doku, why haven't you helped her?” Orzo wasn't too pleased that the adviser to his daughter was simply letting her walk around with a gaping wound in her torso. He better had a good reason for his actions.

“I was instructed not to.” It wasn't as if the octopus didn't want to help her. He wanted to do the opposite but the princess was being stubborn.

“I only showed up to tell you all that the Beast King has betrayed us,” Angla closed her eyes, her voice downtrodden as she walked off to let the others mull their thoughts over on the news. The anglerfish was tired and hurt, in more ways than one. She just wanted to rest at this point and nurse her wounds.

“So…it is true,” Oro couldn't believe that orca was correct.

“Told you,” Isatsu continued to rub salt in his wounds.

“This is terrible. It's just what I feared. Symphony was the one letting Accord in,” Orzo closed his eyes with a stern expression. He had his suspicions since it was brought up that there might be a traitor among them. He just didn't want to believe that it was true. The Sea King's good faith did him in.

“She controlled all of the barriers…didn't she?” Oro was pretty sure that the Rockhopper penguin was responsible for them. Then again, his memory wasn't the best at times.

“No,” Doku refuted his statement.

“Huh?” Did he know something the Tope shark didn't?

“The three barriers were put into function by me, Symphony and another powerful sage,” Doku shed some light onto that situation.

“How did you not notice before?” Oro was a little skeptical of the octopus. If he helped control the barriers then surely he'd know if someone infiltrated them, or if Symphony was letting people in. Was he in on this as well?

“My guess is that she manipulated the magical flow. If she does that, then no one can know she's letting them in,” Doku figured that the penguin was rerouting magic to make it appear as if the barriers were fine when they weren't. It was a clever ploy to act as a double agent.

Otsune's gaze fell to the floor and her heart was heavy. “I don't understand. What is so bad about Nautica that she'd want to get to the bottom of it?” As far as she knew, they did nothing but treat Symphony with the utmost respect. They accepted her, despite her commoner blood.

“Something happened,” Angla clenched her fist with her back turned to her sister, “I don't know what, but I want to get to the bottom of it.”

“I take it you ran into Symphony,” Isatsu seemed amused with that notion.

“I did,” the anglerfish verified.

“Did you kick her ass?” He wanted her to tell him she did.

“She ran away,” Angla's voice lowered.

“You need to rest. Let us handle things,” Oro knew her state was bad. She smelled strongly of blood and earth. It was time for her to stand down. He didn't want to see her get hurt any more by this. He imagined it was already hard on her to find out that her friend betrayed her.

“I'll be fine,” Angla dismissed his worry. “I just want to be alone. Like I said, this was all I came here to say.”

“Please, go rest,” Moegi looked on with concern as her princess walked down an adjacent hall and retreated to her private quarters.

“Wait,” Isatsu stopped her in her tracks. “Let me help you out.”

“You're not staying with me.” Whatever Isatsu was trying to do, she wanted nothing to do with it. Angla wasn't in the mood for orca games right now.

“I just want to make sure you get to your room.” For Neptune's sake, it looked like the anglerfish was going to drop dead where she stood. For once, his intentions weren't nearly as sinister as she might have been thinking.

“You can do that,” Angla decided to let him have his way. She was too tired and in too much pain to defy him.

“But-“ Oro tried to protest before he was cut off.

“Its fine,” his princess stressed her answer. She didn't want any more fighting right now. Angla had enough of her friends attacking each other for one day.

Oro opened his mouth like he wanted to say something, but he merely shut it again and closed his eyes. He muttered a begrudging `as you wish' and let the two of them retreat. The shark didn't want to leave his princess in the hands of that orca but there was nothing he could do. Oro trusted that she would take care of herself if something went astray.

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Angla's room was extravagant, adorned in the richest shades of blood red. Her large bed was dressed in velvet sheets and pillows and gold and white accented most of the objects it held. She felt a sense of comfort being in there, surrounded by her possessions. The castle walls were like barriers that shielded her from the turmoil going on in her kingdom, drowning out the screams and sounds of the canons. The only thing that unnerved her was the presence of the orca.

After a few moments of silence between the two, Angla turned to him with a look of irritation. It wasn't much of a secret as to why he had followed her, or why he even pretended to care about her condition. Well, not exactly pretended, she was sure that a part of him cared but for the most part the duplicitous orca was only after one thing.

“You're just attracted to my blood.”

“Maybe,” the predator smirked.

“If you want it that badly, I'll let you have it.” It was better than fighting him on the issue. She wasn't going to do anything with it anyway. At this point, Angla really did just want to be alone and if she could get him away, then she would.

“I like the offer, but that doesn't make it fun.” Isatsu would have rather her challenge him so that he'd have to force it out of her. Angla really was being boring this time around.

“Killer whales…” the anglerfish sighed.

“Anglerfish,” Isatsu winked playfully.

“You're so stupid,” Angla cracked a small smirk.

“And you're acting like a weakling,” Isatsu felt the need to point out her flaws. Where was her fighting spirit? She couldn't tell him that she was broken just by a little upset. What kind of princess was she? He didn't want to think he overestimated her.

“What would you do? I don't know how to handle this,” Angla turned to him with a lost expression. Part of the reason she wanted to be alone was to think on things. She didn't want to kill her best friend. She didn't want to do any of this.

“Kill her,” the answer was simple, really. Isatsu doubted that she would do it, however.

Angla stared at the orca for a while, red eyes searching his for some kind of hint of regret, some kind of confliction within the man, but she couldn't find anything. “Didn't it hurt? To be betrayed by your family?”

Surely, it had to. Surely the orca had to have something close to regret. Isatsu killed his brother, his father and Meraco. Didn't he stop and think about it? Didn't he wonder if he made the right choice? Orca didn't usually kill each other in that kind of manner.

Isatsu's grin twisted as he let out a small laugh. “Are you kidding? I grew up being hated. For me, it was exactly what I needed. A break in sanity, a release of pain, a self-validation,” he then turned and opened her door, standing in the door way for a few moments. “Go ahead.”

“You can come with me,” she offered.

“Oh?” The orca's tone once again transformed into something that held amusement. “Let's make this private,” he glanced over his shoulder, giving her a playful wink.

The anglerfish frowned and held a visage of disappointment and irritation. “Get in here before I smack you so hard those little white tufts of hair come off your head and go sailing across the ocean.”

“Sexy,” the orca purred before he felt her hand grip his wrist and pull him in harshly. “You do have some fight left in you. If you wanted to play rough all you had to do was say so.”

After he shut the door, the playful atmosphere was killed by Angla's drop in mood. Her expression fell and sorrow reflected in her eyes. Confliction spread across her face like a virus and her tone lowered. “I should hate her, but I can't bring myself to do it. Does that make me awful?”

She didn't even really want to ask that question but she knew that the orca would give her an honest answer. It was something that she appreciated about him. Above anything else, he would never lie to her, even if it hurt.

“Yes,” the answer came so quickly and without a second thought, “in war you expect everyone to betray you. Your friends become your enemies and your brother becomes your murderer. Power, greed, the thought of domination whisper sweetly in their ears. It did to the penguin, did it not?”

It felt like a stab to her heart, but Angla couldn't deny that it wasn't true. There was some way that Accord had persuaded Symphony to become one with the Deep Sea, and whatever it was he was able to fashion a relationship with her from it.

“She loves him, Isatsu,” Angla averted her eyes from the orca. That alone was painful enough to say. All that she could think about was their conversation, everything she had overheard from her ex-friend and the shark who opposed everything that Nautica stood for.

The orca choked back a laugh and jerked his head towards her. He looked like he wanted to laugh, but he wasn't sure if she was just making an awkward joke. “You're kidding, right?”

Please tell him this was a joke.

“No, she loves him. She said so herself,” Angla put more infliction on her tone to get her point across.

“For how long? Do you know?” Isatsu got the point and decided to act in a serious manner.

“I don't,” the angerfish shook her head. “I think it's longer than even I know.”

If it was long enough for someone like her to fall in love, then Symphony may have faked her friendship with her for far longer than she can remember. Just how long had it been like this? How long had she been deceived? Were they ever friends in the first place? Was everything the two of them had gone through in the past merely an artistically painted lie?

“All the more reason to kill Accord in the most violent way possible. If you kill him, you get rid of Symphony's issue.” It was the best plan that Isatsu could think of. If Angla was worried about her loving that piece of garbage, then just kill off the garbage.

“Or I make it worse,” Angla's eyebrows knitted in worry. She didn't want Symphony to be twice as spiteful, and she knew that it could very well be an outcome. If she killed Accord, Symphony may be convinced to come to their side, but she could also take the right-winged route and become twice as spiteful and go against them even harder than before.

“I say kill her too. That's what you do with traitors, you kill them or they will kill you,” Isatsu stood firm on his beliefs. It was far better to get rid of her and not risk another betrayal. If she did it before, she was going to do it again.

“What did Accord do for her that made her hate us?” Angla really wanted to know. She didn't understand what great deed he did that made him worthy of her love, much less her praise.

“Who knows? Sharks are the worst. You can't trust a single one,” Isatsu never liked sharks beyond the point of eating them. To him, that's the only purpose that such creatures served. When he defeated Accord, he'd eat him as well.

The fish princess sat on her bed, the cush of the fluffy covers and mattress were comforting to her battered body. It was cold and inviting. If Isatsu wasn't there, she would have gone to sleep but she knew better than to leave herself vulnerable against someone like him.

She would wait to do such things after the orca decided to get out of her presence. After all, Angla would need the rest if she wanted to better combat her enemies in the war. Above everything else, she was still a princess of her kingdom and she still had something to defend.

“I wish I could be more like you.” It was so easy for Isatsu to be able to make such decisions. It was so easy for the orca to kill mercilessly and without remorse. He was even able to kill members of his family, and yet she could do no such thing. Even when she knew that killing Symphony was probably her best outcome, she still hesitated. Angla still thought there was far more to living than that. She believed that people deserved second chances, and she wanted to so desperately believe that her friend wasn't as bad as to backstab her like that. Angla wanted to wake up one day and find that this was all some torturous, cruel nightmare.

However…it wasn't.

“Don't we all?” The orca boasted and closed his eyes. He looked quite proud with himself. He was the strongest predator in the sea, and he had a knack for being ruthless and violent. In times of war, it was better that denizens be on his side than against him.

“You're outspoken. You don't care what other people think. You can beat up anyone, and you're so carefree.” They are things that the princess wished that she had. Angla found herself caring far too much about what her people thought of her. She always had to make a good impression and project herself as a good role model for her kingdom. She feared rejection and she always thought carefully about her choices and the consequences behind them unless she was running on pure emotion alone. What was it like to do things with reckless abandon? To not care about position or reputation?

She didn't know.

Isatsu opened his eyes, “I guess so. I can see how you'd think that was appealing.”

“Is it not?” Angla was a little confused. He said that with a strange tone, like he doubted it as genuine.

“Oh, it completely is,” his tone picked back up, “I do what I want, kill who I want…it's the good life, but it cost me a lot to get it. Your blood is really strong in my senses.”

Isatsu decided to change the subject. He wasn't really too keen on ripping up old wounds of the past. The killer whale was a little distracted by her blood, but he wasn't going to admit that the distraction was minor compared to his real concern.

“I'll do something about if it bothers you that much,” Angla knew that predatory senses could be strong. She didn't want to simply tease him.

“You make me want to pounce on you, and I don't have an affinity for Anglerfish,” the orca ran his tongue across his lips before he was told to come near her. Isatsu followed her command to see the princess running two fingers over her wound and coating them with blood.

She lifted her hand and stuck her blood-coated fingers into his mouth, sliding them past his pointed teeth. The taste of copper and slick substance coated his tongue as he paused for a moment before licking it off gingerly.

“There,” Angla sighed a little, “maybe that will quell your predator instincts.”

She was hoping so, anyway.

The orca took her fingers from his mouth and ran his tongue seductively up the length of them, “or make them worse.”

“If you promise you won't bite me, I'll let you lick my wound clean.” It was the least that she could do, given he had told her how to truthfully handle the situation. Angla knew that Isatsu might not have been the best of company but he was the most honest form of it. Rewarding him for what he's done wasn't such a bad idea…was it?

“So tempting,” the orca teased with a finger to his lips, “how kind of you. The last thing you need is another traitor in your midst.”

“I don't usually do this, so one word about it and-“ She tried to be firm with him, only to be met by glove fingers to her lips, silencing her.

“It's not like we're eloping. I'm just drinking your blood,” Isatsu leaned in close, his voice lowering in pitch.

“After you do, stay with me. I want to talk,” Angla needed more advice. She knew he would give it to her if she gave him what he desired.

“About what?” He was curious to know.

“I want your advice…” Angla's features were determined before she glanced down. “…on how I should deal with her. Make me not care.”

“I can't make you feel what you don't. That's your job,” the orca said as he fell to his knees before her. The ripped flesh and smell of blood was close and strong in his senses.

“You're right,” Angla sighed, removing her clothes and stripping down to her black, lacy bra and panties, “Maybe I'm saying it because I'm in pain.”

That's the excuse she wanted to try and use, anyway.

“You are, in all honesty, that's not the Angla I know. Don't get me wrong, I love it when you're letting me take this opportunity.” The orca reached behind her, running his hands along her body and feeling her toned body below his hands. The princess was a fighter and always kept in pique physical condition. Her body was made for speed and force. “But,” he leaned in, running his tongue across the wound as he began to lap up her blood, “your dignity is lacking.”

She flinched at his touch, the wound stinging as his tongue made contact with her injured flesh. “You're right. Where is my pride? I still have something to fight for.”

She had her kingdom and all of the denizens in it. Even now, they were dying for their freedom, for their cause and all that she and her family had built it on. The kingdom of Nautica was founded on the ideals of her father, the Great Sea King, and she would uphold them in any way that she could.

“Symphony isn't my only friend…” She said that in a sorrowful tone, as if she were forcing herself. Then again, Angla knew that it was true. She couldn't deny it any longer. “But, her betrayal hurt the worst.”

Her thoughts were cut short as the hungry orca stuck got more aggressive with his licking, probing his tongue deep within her wound. It earned a response of pain as the Fish King gritted her teeth together and uttered the word `you' darkly before she drew her fist down and struck him on the top of the head. He recoiled and placed his hands on the top of his head in pain.

Red, cold eyes glared down on him, angry with the fact that he was taking advantage of her. “Stop overstepping your boundaries.”

Isatsu rubbed his head and closed one eye, flashing a smile with those pointed teeth of his. “I just wanted to see that pained look on your face.”

Angla folded her arms over her breasts and frowned deeply. “Jerk, you can't even be nice for five minutes.”

“I like you, in my own way,” the orca smiled as he rose from his feet.

“I should be glad you're not like Ketzel,” the princess sighed. That would have turned out far differently, she was certain.

“I'd kill myself,” Isatsu didn't even want to entertain the thought of being a lowly shark, “besides how do you feel about him?”

Angla stopped in mid-process of retrieving bandages to wrap around her wound. “He's a good friend but I don't want to date him.” She spoke as she picked up the wrappings and began to bind her wound.

“Is there anyone you're interested in?” Isatsu was curious. He wanted to know her thoughts on her many suitors.

“Why?” Angla didn't really understand his curiosity. If he was doing this to figure out if he was closer to her than the others, she wasn't going to answer the question. Something about the tone in which he asked it seemed…off, like he was trying to gather information on his competition somehow.

The fact that Isatsu didn't give her an answer and just stuck his hands in his pockets didn't make him any less suspicious.

“I don't have anyone in mind,” she wasn't lying. Getting a lover was the last thing she was thinking about.

“What even is your type?” The orca continued to prod.

“Should I be worrying about that? We're in a war. I don't have time for a lover,” Angla continued to wrap herself, making sure that the bandages were secure but not so tight that she couldn't move. The last thing on her mind was romance. Where the hell were his priorities?

“Just don't date any weaklings. You deserve a superior predator,” Isatsu wanted to give her that last bit of advice. He didn't know what she'd do if she dated some pathetic shark.

Angla arched an eyebrow. She knew what he was getting at. “Do you mean like an orca?”

Isatsu said nothing, only further sealing away his feelings and making them all the more obvious by his actions.

“Out of all of the times for you to be silent, that was the most awkward,” the princess felt the need to take notice of his strange actions.

Isatsu laughed a little, “I'm just flattered you find that to be true.”

“I'll never understand how you work,” Angla finished bandaging herself up.

“It would be impressive to see you with an orca,” Isatsu decided to give her some leeway. After all, he did love her. If there was ever a time that he should woo her, this was it. No one could interrupt their moment.

“You're the only orca I know,” Angla smiled a little.

“You and I?” The king placed a hand to his chest. “Well, we would make one hell of a team.”

“We already are,” Angla replied. They were allies, after all.

Isatsu let out a small laugh in return and said nothing further on the subject. He knew where to place his boundaries.

“Even if you are a douchebag, you're a good friend,” she smiled at him as she retreated to her closet.

“I like what we have,” he couldn't really complain. Well, he could but he wasn't really into doing that and killing what he had at the moment. For now, this was good enough for him.

“I'm glad I got to talk to you like this. You actually helped me a lot.” Not to mention, the Orca King made her feel safe, as if she had nothing to worry about beyond the castle walls.

“Ah, good, I-“ Isatsu trailed off.

“You?” Angla turned and looked at him with a bewildered expression.

“Being with an orca might be nice,” he said wistfully. Isatsu was stuck on that notion. His voice was subdued and calm. It was strange, something she rarely saw from him.

“Isatsu…” the anglerfish felt her heart flutter at such a comment. What was he implying? Never mind. She knew exactly what he was implying. Dare she consider it, but it was very sweet of him to think something like that. She couldn't help but feel flattered.

“We will always be two superior apex predators,” Isatsu smiled as he noticed that she was flushing the smallest amount of pink.

“Isatsu…do you-“ She tried to speak, only to have his fingers put to her lips.

“Let's not talk about trite things. We're in a war, right?” Isatsu didn't want to delve too deeply into this. There were some things that didn't need words and this was one of them. He was fine with not knowing the depth of her feelings right now.

Angla smiled a little and nodded, “you're right.”

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In the Meeting Hall, a small group of the castle's royalty had been gathered to discuss the current matters, and what to do about the fact that they were betrayed by one of their own. The large room held a lot of tension and sorrow as the members talked among themselves. They were trying to figure out their next plan of action and they needed all of the help that they could get.

“It's safe to say that Symphony won't be attending any meetings. Not from here on out. I think she's realized that was futile,” Doku spoke from his position beside of one of the many chairs that encircled the round table in the center of the room.

“What's Accord's status in this war? Do you know?” Oro asked, sitting on a nearby chair with one leg crossed over the other and his arm draped over the back of the chair.

“They were losing. However, they still have information on us,” Doku wanted to remind them of that.

“Symphony is no longer a Sea King. She's a traitor that must be stopped. We need to find another who can lead the Beast Army,” Orzo wanted to take care of that fact. They were short a commander because of their circumstances. They needed to recover in some way. It could mean the difference between failure and victory.

Doku turned his sights towards the king, “nominate another Sea King? So soon?” That didn't sound like the best idea when there was so much unease and suspicion going around.

“She does have a brother, but can we really trust him?” Oro almost didn't want to bring that up.

“You mean Hiroto?” Moegi frowned deeply even mentioning that penguin's name.

“Hiroto is…terrible,” Doku wasn't fond of the idea, either.

“You think everyone is terrible,” Oro replied.

“He really is terrible,” Moegi argued the fact. “Hiroto is lazy and all he does is smoke. He smells bad, too.”

“He's Symphony's brother. How problematic,” Doku would rather not deal with all of the baggage that present was going to come with. Who even knew if he would help them? Not everyone was so willing to kill their sibling.

“He could be a traitor, too,” Moegi didn't want to risk it at all.

“He's friends with Isatsu. Send him down there to talk to him,” Oro didn't like enlisting the help of the Orca King, but at this rate he really had no choice in the matter. If anyone could talk Hiroto into it, then it would be someone he was friends with. If King Orzo wanted this man on their side so badly, then he would have to bite the bullet.

“He is?” Orzo glanced to the shark.

“I think Hiroto is Isatsu's only friend,” and that wasn't him being facetious.

“I have never been told this,” Doku's voice was colder than usual, and he began to stare at the shark with an expressionless visage.

“Why do you care?” Oro thought he hated that orca.

Doku said nothing and continued to stare.

Oro stared right back at him, and the two were silent. They never broke contact.

“Uh…maybe we shouldn't ask him right away,” Otsune decided to try and play it safe. She inched away from the two denizens, who were just staring holes into each other's faces at this point. Their intensity and the tension between them made her feel uneasy.

“Or, maybe we should,” Cyra debated. “He might know why things turned out like this.” It was true that she wasn't really sure what kind of relationship the two had, but surely there was some knowledge to gain from Hiroto.

“What if he's a traitor, too?” Moegi didn't want another Symphony incident to happen. She didn't trust any of those Rockhopper Penguins at all.

“Why do you care?” Oro pressed the question, still not breaking eye contact with Doku as the two continued to stare intently at each other.

“You're making me uncomfortable,” Moegi's voice shook a little. She didn't like the silent build up between the two. If felt like they were going to jump from their positions and start fighting or something, and she didn't like it one bit.

“It's a simple question,” and Oro didn't know why Doku couldn't answer it.

“No, it isn't,” the octopus wasn't going to give someone like him an answer.

“What's with you?” Why was Doku being so weird about this? Oro didn't understand that damned octopus.

Doku said nothing.

“What?”

He remained silent.

“Stop staring at me,” Oro was growing irritated at this man's actions. He was glad that he was blind so he didn't have to see Doku's cold, dead eyes boring a hole into his soul, but he still felt them and that was bad enough.

“I can talk to Hiroto,” Doku finally offered up his assistance on the matter.

“Y-You can? Why not let Isatsu do it?” Otsune was a little surprised that he wanted to talk to Hiroto in all honesty. He was the brother of a traitor and someone who was friends with the Orca King, someone she thought Doku despised.

“It's an offer,” the answer was cold but he wanted to be the one to do it. He hoped that the royal family gave him that chance.

“If you want,” the albino anglerfish didn't see a problem with it, even if she didn't understand his reasoning for it.

“If it's in the arctic, then won't you freeze?” Oro wanted to know how the cold-blooded octopus was going to handle the chill of the climate. Coconut Octopodes didn't really hang around places with ice.

“I can take care of myself,” Doku didn't know why Oro of all people was worried about him. He had magic, he could do just fine.

“I think it would be most fitting if Istasu went,” Orzo spoke up and dashed Doku's dreams of going alone. “If there is to be a peaceful resolve it will be with someone who knows how to talk to him. Hiroto isn't exactly the nicest being to deal with.”

It was important to get Hiroto on their side at the very least.

“So be it,” Doku said begrudgingly and closed his eyes in defeat.

“What crawled up your ass and died?” Oro didn't understand why he was being so pissy about all of this.

“You emotions,” the octopus said coldly.

“You-“ Oro growled before the princess cut him off.

“Please stop,” Otsune cried out. “We don't need to fight over this.” It wasn't important who did it. It was important that it got done. Her father was making the best choice he knew how, and the two of them needed to understand that and respect his decisions.

“Doku, go and get the Orca King. You can both go together,” Cyra thought that would be the best idea. If Doku felt so strongly about going then she would let him go.

“Is that wise?” Orzo questioned.

“I think he'll be fine,” his wife smiled at him. “If he wants to do, then let him. I'm sure if they run into a bad spot then Doku can help.” Doku was good at mediating and he had the most level head out of the three of them. Cyra was certain that having him around would be good for the situation.

“Who will help Lady Angla?” Oro knew that the elder princess was still hurt. Someone needed to keep an eye on her.

“That will be your job,” Orzo instructed. He knew that his daughter would be in good hands with the Shark King.

“Yes, I understand,” Oro nodded in agreement.

“Take good care of her, or I'll rip you apart,” the octopus gave his final warning glare before he turned to leave the room.

“Shut up,” Oro grumbled, “worry about your own issues.”

Meogi turned to the Great Sea King and gazed upon him with lost eyes. She was very weary of the recent turn of events. The little shark didn't want to think that King Orzo would lead her astray and she knew that his judgments were for the best, but she couldn't help but feel bad for questioning them at the same time. “What will happen now?”

“I'll think of something and call another meeting. Until then, move out,” Orzo needed time to strategize and doing that would depend on what Hiroto's answer would be to his request. There was nothing anyone else could do but wait it out.

Everyone said `yes, my king' in unison before they got up and moved from their places, exiting the meeting room.

Doku walked down the long hallway, he retreated to the quarters of the royal court and headed down another hallway that was aligned with doors, pictures and decorative seaweed in fancy pots. The plants waved in the currents and he watched them for a few moments. Such a sight soothed his soul in such a time of turmoil.

Just then, Angla's door opened and he stopped a short distance away. Instead of the princess, Isatsu came out of it. The orca turned to shut her door gently and when he turned back around from completing that task he stood toe-to-toe with the octopus.

“Hey there,” he greeted Doku quaintly enough.

“If you did one thing to her, I'll twist your head off and shove it up your butt,” Doku threatened him. He knew very well what the orca's perverted intentions were and he wasn't going to have any of that. How dare he think he can take advantage of the princess while she was injured.

Isatsu flashed a brilliant smile at him, “too late! We had a hot, passionate mating session.”

Now it was time to watch Doku fume, and just like clockwork, he earned that same piercing glare that he always did. It was so fun to piss him off!

“It was so good I wore her ragged,” the orca's playful tone lowered into a sultrier one as his friendly smile twisted into a more sinister grin.

Doku just continued to glare a hole through his face, speechless.

“I'm joking. She fell asleep,” Isatsu decided not to push him anymore. He didn't want to get in trouble for waking her up after he already played a little too much with her.

“I resent you,” Doku's words poured from his mouth like venom, and it was uncharacteristically bitter, even for him. It sounded like he was damning the orca to hell and wished he'd drop dead in that moment. Usually, he just said things like that out of irritation. This seemed worse.

“Ah, good…but this feels a little different than usual,” Isatsu looked a little nervous, like he was trying to keep his happy façade and barely managed to keep it together.

“Then go play with someone else,” Doku's cold lashings continued.

“You're my favorite,” Isatsu tried to lighten the situation.

“You're vulgar and vile. Detestable, wretched, scum bag. I hate you. I hope you die,” the insults continued to pour from the hateful octopus' mouth and never had he ever before sounded as filled with malice as he did at that point in time.

“Calm down, there. You're going to get me hot and bothered,” Isatsu hoped he could try another tactic and play it off with a perverted joke.

“Go flirt with your penguin friend,” then the real source of the hatred came boiling to the surface.

“Penguin friend?” Isatsu immediately jumped to a conclusion upon Doku uttering those words. “Symphony and I are hardly friends. Are you trying to call me a traitor?” His hands curled into fists and his playful look slowly morphed into irritation.

Not this shit again.

“Hiroto,” Doku corrected him before the orca could act out of impulse.

Isatsu untensed and linked a little. “Hiroto? Ah, my old friend! I haven't seen him in ages. We don't play. Not this much.” If Doku was worried about that, then his feelings were hardly valid. Hiroto lived in the arctic, so he didn't have much to worry about.

Besides, Isatsu liked playing with the octopus more than he did his little penguin friend. Doku really shouldn't have gotten so jealous over nothing.

“Die,” although it wasn't as simple as that with him.

It never was.

“Are you really jealous?” Isatsu arched an eyebrow.

“Kill yourself.”

It was beyond amusing to see Doku like this.

“What's with you?” Isatsu really didn't understand the source of the other male's anger.

“Stupid…”

“Get it out, Hate me,” the orca threw his arms out to either side and shrugged. Doku was going to do what he wanted to do. There was nothing he could do to stop him anyway. The octopus might as well get it all out and unload on him now.

“Why didn't you tell me?” Doku's voice lowered and he tilted his head down. Deep red bangs fell across his eyes, shading them from the other male.

“About Hiroto?” Isatsu arched an eyebrow. “Well, because-“

Just then, he was cut off with something far darker. It was a subject that the orca wasn't quite ready for, or knew how to talk about. Doku was about to deliver a nail into his heart with the words he spoke.

“About your crucifixion.”

…To Be Continued