The train ride... Was just as she expected to be.
And it's because she was expecting it, she didn't eat anything that morning, before she and Shōta left home to meet with the rest of her classmates.
However, she did request for a bag from one of the workers and bought some beef jerky and water from them, just in case fate decided to make her morning miserable by puking her stomach acid out.
She, also, noticed the many looks she's receiving from the other passengers on the trains. Since Class 1-A is still the big talk in Japan, civilians still seem to view them as famous celebrities. And now that she had won the Sports Festival and being a student to All Might, it seems they still can't get enough on wanting to take her pictures or talk about her performance in the Sports Festival.
Sierra had worried that they would try and talk to her, which would make her feel anxious and uncomfortable. Luckily, since the trespassing incident at the school and the information belong reported on the news, civilians learn to not bother any student that attends U.A.
Throughout the entire train ride, besides dealing with her stomach being upset, she spent the whole trip listening to music on her iPhone.
She's listening her brother's latest Album, "Powerwolf"... Nobody would ever believe it, if they were to hear that the band, themselves, had a little help with some of the languages, by the band's lead guitarist and singer's little sister.
...Let alone, that she would sing in some of their songs and play the ocarina and guitar with the band... And, that her god-brother, can play the guitar and sing, too.
Thanks to Inko having them try new things when they were little, in her attempt for them to get over Sierra's ordeal with Arsenius and a counselor in elementary school, the two got into taking lessons on playing guitar from Josh, whenever he, Kyla and Jeremy would visit them. Soon after that, the young-mother found the two singing along the band, Scorpions, to the song, "Send Me an Angel".
...
...
...They were one of Cindy's favorite band, that she would listen to, almost everyday.
In memory to keep the love of music in their hearts as their mothers, Inko helped them with their singing, having to sing in choir in middle and high school with Cindy.
...When he heard her hum to "Rock you Like a Hurricane", while heading to class from the bathroom, it was how Hizashi learned of the girl's love for rock-n-roll music.
...
...
...After almost an hour and a half on riding the train, Sierra found herself at the Nagano Train Station.
She smiled at the city she just came to.
'...Mom would've loved to live here,' she thought. 'With trees, mountains and the possibility of snow to come in the Winter, she would've found her ideal home for all of us to live in.'
The wind blow down on the girl, making her giggle.
'...Well... I better get going.'
She placed down both her backpack and case on the ground... Then, to the surprise of some of the civilians, morphed into her dragon-form. Then, grabbing both the backpack and case in her snout, the girl took off running, before collecting enough wind to take off into the sky.
...She heads for Myōkō-Togakushi Renzan National Park... There, she is to meet someone in the forest, from the Night Flower Hero Agency, who will then take her to meet the Hero and fellow workers she'll be studying under for the whole week.
Sierra couldn't stop the excitement traveling through her entire body from working with an agency she never thought would send her an offer to internship with them... Which so happens to be one of the best agencies, that harbors the most skilled Underground Heroes in Japan.
'Nobody knew where they came from, since they came to be in eighty-six AP, without warning. And since their arrival, many Underground Heroes would go to them to apply to their organization, when many agencies would turn them down. -Her slit-eyes went sad, staring down at the city below her.- ...Back then, many view Underground Heroes as possible threats... Some even believed they're really villains in disguises, all because Underground Heroes don't follow active duties as heroes in the day and/or seasonal do.'
She soon found herself nearing the forest, where she knew it would be best for her to morph back into her human-self. So, she dived down to earth.
Then, hovering over the ground before landing, she sat down her backpack and case on the ground. Then, Sierra morphed back into a human.
She smiled at the trees in front of her, where the trail to Mount Togakushi is just beyond.
With her backpack strapped to her back and her case in her right-hand, she entered the forest.
...
...
...
...The instant she went into the woods, she sensed that she was being followed... Hey instinct telling her that this was the one she's to meet.
A small-smirk came to her face.
'It's true what they say about them; they always know what's going on in the forest, from just a single step on entering their territory.'
While there are a few people walking the same trail as she is, her sense of hearing and smell told her where the person was and how close they are to her.
'They probably would rather we meet in private, rather than in front of civilians.' She thought, continuing to walk down the trail. 'Not a bad idea to be cautious, when a villain may or may not be within the area.'
"Follow the trail. Continue to the The Hōkō-sha Shrine."
Sierra almost stopped in her tracks, when she heard the sound of somebody's voice, whispering into her ear.
...
...
...
...She didn't know who it was or where it came from... But, her instinct tells her to trust the voice and heed its instructions.
She followed the advice of the voice, going down the road to the Hōkō-sha Shrine.
Meanwhile, at U.A...
The instant the car stopped outside of the school, Shōta already had his seatbelt off and came charging out of the vehicle.
...He was seething in rage, if the slamming of the door wasn't enough to inform Nemuri on how enrage her friend is... And she wasn't going to hold it against him for being pissed off.
...She was just as equally angry as Shōta, at this moment.
And, she's very positive, Hizashi is just as furious as the three of them are... Along with some of the other teachers, who are all with Nezu.
...
...
...
...
...And, the 'Bitch' that the Voice Pro Hero told the Erasure Hero.
She went to park the car. Going to meet up with the others, later.
Shōta knew that the principal let the wench into the building; only students, U.A. Faculty and authorized personal can be allowed on U.A. property. Let alone, to get into the building.
He glared up at the building, as he swiftly walked to the building.
He was met with a growling Hound Dog and Ectoplasm... Well, what he thought was to being Ectoplasm, before he dispersed into the air. Revealing to being a clone.
The Hound Hero went up to the angered father... He looked just as furious as the thirty-one year-old.
"...They're all upstairs," he informed Shōta. "...She came, alone."
Shōta nodded his head in thanks for the information, before he and the Hound Hero took the elevator to take them to Nezu's Office.
He remained quiet, during the ride up. Which would be a normal thing of him to do, for always being the quiet-kind of person... But, right now, he was being too quiet and, besides the burning anger in his olive-grey eyes, not showing much emotion.
When they reached the top and the doors opened, the two walked towards the large, double-doors.
...
...Arguing can be heard, crib inside the room.
"I don't care if you're all Pro Heroes! I demand to see her!"
"And as we just told you, Ma'am, she's not here and won't be back for a week. She's interning, with a Pro Hero."
"So?! Pull her out of it! I want her here, right now!"
"We're sorry, Ma'am, but we can't remove our students when they'd gotten permission from the agency they requested to internship in."
"Plus, we can't interfere with their studying. We don't have any jurisdiction to interrupt their training."
"I don't care if it's illegal! I want my granddaughter to be returned to me!"
Unable to stand what the 'visitor' is telling them to do, and to be so smug and be demanding to disturb his daughter's dream on becoming a hero, Shōta pushing the doors open.
...
...
...Everyone turned to see the Erasure Hero and Hound Dog joining them... They ask looked irritated, and very much stressed by the person that demanded to seek an audience with Nezu.
...Hizashi was very tense and was using all of his strength to keep quiet... He only gets like that, when something or somebody, actually, pushes him past his high patience and has to restrain himself from yelling.
...
...
...There, standing in the center of the room, is a woman. She had grayish-blonde hair, straight and resting at the back of her neck. Dark-cold grey eyes, that are dark as thunderclouds. Judging by the harsh wrinkles on her face and the slight sinking of skin against her cheeks, she appears to be older than Toshinori. And she was, being fifty years old. She wore a dark-grey suit, and black-suede high heels. She looks to be dressed for business.
...This is the very person, that the thirty-one year-old male had the unpleasantly to meet.
...
...
...
...The very woman who, not only kicked her own child out of her own house... But, to have the gall to tell his fiancée to abort the baby she was carrying, after learning that the child she had was his.
...
...
...The very same person, who rejected her own granddaughter, and wavered a paper for all to witnessed to see the evidential proof that she renounce a soon-to-be five year old girl as her family... At her own daughter's funeral and memorial.
...
...
...Ayano Kemuri.
The fifty year-old sent a glare of disgust at the Erasure Hero. She scoffed at the sight of the black-haired male.
...
...
...She knew, almost instantly, who he was.
"...So, it's true. You're still alive, after all this time." She sneered.
Shōta's eyes narrowed at her words.
'Even after fifteen years since our last meeting and being over ten years since Cici's death, she's still the same shrew of a bitch as she always been.' "Kemuri." He replied, calmly. "You seem to be doing well, the last time we'd met."
Ayano knew he wasn't commenting her. She simply turned her head away from him, before glaring at Nezu.
"I don't like my time to be wasted," she stated. "Bring my granddaughter to me, and we'll be on our way."
Some of the Pro Heroes turned to Shōta, all wondering on how he put up with this vile woman. Let alone, how his daughter and her half-sibling could end up with somebody so rude and acting like they're more important than anybody for their grandmother.
Cementoss, being the most calm and, hopefully, will seem less threatening for her to take her anger down a notch, took the chance to talk to her.
"We apologize for wasting your time, Kemuri-san." He replied. "But, as we just informed you, we cannot pull out our first-years of their internship. We cannot interfere with their Hero Studying, which the law prohibits us from doing s-"
"I don't care if it's illegal in all of Japan!" Ayano yelled at the Cement Hero, cutting him off. "I am her grandmother and, as her grandmother, I order you to bring her to me!"
Seeing she wasn't going to back down and refuses to be civil with them, Cementoss stepped back.
That time, Hound Dog came up, folding his arms over his chest.
"You are in no position, of any kind, to order us what to do. Especially, when it comes to the attention of our students." He growled, a rumble leaving his chest. He can feel the instinct to bark at the fifty year-old woman.
Ayano gave him a disgusted look, eyeing at his muzzle, before turning to the principal... Being just as appalled at the white-mammal, who simply smiled at her, drinking his tea.
"Is this school being run in a zoo?!" She insulted. "Who in their right mind would allow feral beasts to be part of a school that's been known for grooming civilized Pro Heroes? Let alone, have a rodent as the principal of such establishment?!"
...
...
...
...Many eyes grew large at what she just said.
...
...All of the teachers turned to Nezu... Some looked very nervous... Others, completely terrified. Even Hound Dog and Present Mic, both who were very close to snap at the woman, lost their anger and slowly took a few steps back.
Shōta, just as equally concerned on what Nezu was going to do, sent a glare at his would-be mother-in-law.
'...She just messed with the wrong person... I can't wait how she'll deal with Nezu... When he gets angry.'
...
...
...Slowly, Nezu sat down his cup of tea on his desk, next to his lap, his eyes closed...
...
...
...
...Then, when he opened them up... His smile... Grew, in a maniac-like smile.
'...She's dead.'
'She asked for it.'
'Shouldn't had called him that.'
Nezu hopped off the desk, folding his arms behind his back. His tail slowly swaying from side-to-side.
"...My, you're definitely on how Eraser Head had described you to being." He said, purposely getting her annoyed.
"Whatever that street rat says about me, is no concern of mine and shouldn't be bothered." She barked. "Somebody of his stature, isn't worth the time of day for anybody, even if he is a Pro Hero of some sorts."
Hizashi nearly lost it and would've entered the conversation to give her a piece of his mind, for insulting his closest friend and brother-figure, but was held back by Vlad King.
He may not be close to the Erasure Hero, but even he didn't like the woman's attitude and her behavior towards him, his fellow co-workers, and most of all, any students that are under their care.
Nezu kept his smile, though it did faltered a bit.
"I would advise you to not speak ill towards my teachers, Kemuri-san. You are a guest here, after all." He lightly scolded. "As for your concern of my status as the principal, I'll gladly clear the information for you. Yes, by my origin, I am an animal. However, my Quirk makes me three times more intelligent than most humans. Therefore, parents and/or guardians of our students will have any worry of the education their children will be getting."
Ayano didn't looked interested in the slightest to his explanation of his Quirk, or to the fact that he revealed himself to being an actual animal.
"...Well, after watching the way my granddaughter performed in the Sports Festival, and to the fact that your students ended up getting attacked by villains and nearly killed each other in the games, I think parents should be very much concerned on how you run it, if you're going to let them go wild!"
Hizashi had just about enough of this lady.
"Will you knock off the crap, Lady?!" He yelled, being able to control himself to not trigger his Quirk. "We all know that you don't really care for Ra Ra! Let alone, view her as your granddaughter, on account that you disowned her for over ten years!"
Ayano glared back at the Voice Hero.
"How dare you?!" She yelled back. "I always cared about my granddaughter, since the day she was born!"
"If that were true, which we all know that it isn't, why weren't you or anybody in your family there to witness Sierra's birth?" Shōta growled, digging his hands into his pockets to clench at the pockets. "On that topic... Why did you kick Cindy, your own daughter, out of your home and refused to let her back into the family... Unless she was to agree on terminating the pregnancy of our child?"
Most of the teachers were completely taken back by the Erasure Hero's words, not knowing that his would-be mother-in-law forced her own child to make a terrible choice if Cindy wanted to be welcomed back into the family.
Even Toshinori, in his true-form, couldn't hold back his own look of disgust and horror, never knowing what his successor's god-sibling's family from her mother's side truly was.
The fifty year-old swallowed at the lump in her throat.
"I never said that she had to get an abortion, in order for her to come back home!" She denied. "As for not being there when Sierra was born, we never been informed that my precious daughter went into labor!"
"That's a lie, on both of those claims."
Behind Shōta and Hound Dog, Midnight entered the room... Behind her, was Detective Tsukauchi.
Ayano gaped at the thirty-six year-old male, who gave her a blank stare.
"What are you doing here?!" She cried, going back to her anger and turning to stare at the white-mammal. "Did you contacted him?!"
"I contacted him." Hizashi revealed, raising a hand in the air. "And for the heads up, you've been harassing some of our students on the whereabouts of Ra Ra, since the Sports Festival. Not only that, but you've standing outside of the gate of our school, demanding that we let you enter the school and take our niece out of the school."
Ayano eyes looked to have gone red at his words... Slowly, she walked towards the thirty year-old, looking him dead in the eye through his shades.
"...She... Is not... Your niece." She growled. Then, she turned to Nezu. "You will bring her to me, and after that, you will file for her transferring papers and will put a stop to this charade of yours."
...
...Never, in his entire life, did Shōta wanted to hit a girl, so badly, until now... And, no doubt, the other heroes wished that they could use their Quirks to shut the wicked witch up and throw her out of the school.
...
...
...
...However, Nezu allowed her to come into the building. Therefore, how he decides on how his guest shall be treated, is how they all must treat them.
...
...
...
...And, judging by the tightening of his smile, he was going to give her the treatment that Ayano Kemuri definitely deserve.
The mammal turned his back to the fifty year-old, pretended to think on the matter.
"Well, since you choose to not ask nicely, and are being very rude..." He started, before turning to stare up at the irritated woman. "The answer is still 'no'. -He turned to Detective Tsukauchi.- Will you, kindly, escort Kemuri-san off of U.A. ground, Detective Tsukauchi?"
The thirty-six year-old nodded his head, then went towards a fuming Ayano.
The instant he grabbed for her left-elbow, she yanked her arm out of his hold.
"Don't touch me!" She snapped, glaring hateful daggers at the detective. "And why are you taking orders by that filthy animal, when you should be helping me, by retrieving my granddaughter?!"
The detective glared back at her, as he went back to snatch her arm.
"If you really think you're going to fool anybody into thinking you, actually, care for Sierra, after signing over your rights as her grandmother for over ten years, then you're gladly mistaken." He replied, starting to pull her towards the doors. "And just so you know, the police department had been receiving calls from some of the parents of the students of U.A., that you've been harassing them and disturbing the peace at the school. So, really, I'm here to answer those complaints and take you down at the station. -He turned to the teachers, nodding his head to them.- If you'll excuse us."
Again, Ayano went to remove herself out of his hold.
"I'm reinstating myself as her grandmother!" She yelled. "And once they learn that she's one of the students that's been attacked and not safe under U.A. protection, they'll have no problem on legalizing me as her primary caregiver!"
This time, Toshinori stepped up.
"You're forgetting, Kemuri-san, that Inko Midoriya is Sierra-chan's godmother. And since you renounced yourself as her grandmother for years, by law, you don't have any power to gain any form of custody of her, without first gaining the approval of Shōta Aizawa and Inko Midoriya. And even then, you may not be aware, but Midoriya-san, also, has appointed a godfather to a worthy man that has just as much rights to guardianship over Sierra-chan, should both Shōta Aizawa and Inko Midoriya be unable to care for her."
Hearing that she has a godfather, made Ayano go ballistic.
"That bitch did what?!" She yelled. "How dare she appoint some stranger, some lowlife no doubt, to be her godfather?! On top of it all, without my approval?!"
"Lady, she doesn't need your approval, for jack shit!" Present Mic argued, not having any guilt for using profanities to their 'guest'. "Also, you have no right to disrespect Midoriya-chan, by calling her a degrading insult that you're, actually being! Plus, Yagi-san's right! You can't have Ra Ra, without both Shō and Midoriya-chan's permission, first! Meaning, you're conducting the act of kidnapping!"
She gaped at him in shock, letting out a dramatic gasp.
"I've never been so insulted! -She glared at the heroes, then down at Nezu.- I'm very much to be inclined to sue this school for all it's worth, for such repulsing manners and such accusation, but am willing to keep quiet, if you just hand over the girl."
The heroes all gave her looks of disbelief and irritation. They couldn't believe, especially in front of an officer, that she's still giving them orders to surrender the child she renounced, into her care?
Shōta, no longer able to take it, went over to the fifty year-old woman. He laid a firm hand on her shoulder.
When Ayano looked up to glare at him, she's met with red-eyes and hair standing in the air.
She never seen him use his Quirk before, so she was completely taken back when she saw his eyes had changed colors.
"...Sierra is no longer your granddaughter." He growled. "The instant you waved that paper in the air, showing everyone that you went to the lawyers, before Cindy's funeral and memorial was planned out, you forfeited all rights as her family... And I mean every, single, rights."
Her fears was quickly pushed back by anger.
"Just because you, actually, became a Pro Hero, doesn't mean you have the rights to put your filthy hands on me." She replied, pulling her shoulder out of his grasp. "Also, you have no rights to speak of my daughter's funeral, when you were never there to watch her be buried."
His eyes narrowed at her words.
"...No... I wasn't there on that day, when Cici was laid to rest." He agreed, still hitting himself for not continuing on the search for his fiancée and the children. "...I wished, ever since I learned of her death, that I could be there... However, I was able to see how it went down, when Josh, Kyla, Moo and Amai showed me a video Masaru Bakugō recorded, of your actions, during the memorial. -He slightly leaned in.- ...You may boast and exclaim, right now, on how much you 'care' for my daughter, but that video shows the true color that you still bare. And you have the audacity to even claim you love your daughter, when you cast her aside to fend for herself, the instant you learned she was Quirkless? You still refuse to call her by her name, because to you, she's only going to be known for, and I quote, 'A useless whore, that's only good for spreading her legs to be raped, just to produce brats that will bring you the very wealth you are owed to gain, for all the sacrifices you made for raising the ungrateful bitch.'."
Everyone felt completely nauseous and appalled at the words he repeated... The very words, Ayano Kemuri used, at Cindy's funeral and memorial, when presenting to everyone that she renounced Sierra as her family.
Tears filled Hizashi's eyes, biting at his own tongue to stay quiet and clenching his hands into tight fists.
'...How could she?' He thought, glaring at the fifty year-old woman. 'To say that about her own daughter like that? Who made Shō happy and feel so much love, that he was going to marry? Who gave him a beautiful, loving, sweet baby girl...?! If anyone's an ungrateful bitch, it's her!'
Nemuri was just as equally angry as Mic, tightening her arms over her chest.
'...She's a devil... To say her own daughter was only good for being raped... That isn't a mother, in any word... That's a monster.'
Hound Dog stood behind Eraser Head... And, earning a nod from a frowning Nezu... Something, nobody in this school ever, ever, wants to witness... He decided to tell her off.
"When you signed over your rights as her grandmother, you did more than just renounced her as your granddaughter... You made her into a Cast Young." He growled out the title that he hated to use.
Ayano gave him a sneer at his appearance.
"What the hell does that mean?" She asked, though doesn't really wanting to know and quickly changed her mind. "On second thought, don't tell me and you can go back to whichever kennel you came from, you rabid beast."
In the past, Ryō Inui had to deal with people talking behind his back or calling him degrading name, since he was born with his Quirk. And, it's because of his behavior and appearance, that he had to go through such discrimination, like many Animal Quirk Users had to endure.
...But, unlike most, he was being insulted by a family member by blood, from one of his students that he imprinted as his own pack member. So, for her to call him a 'rabid beast' and telling him to go back to a dog kennel, he almost felt his patience snap and would've gone through an angry rampage of barks and snarls.
He did let loose a low growl, but remained where he stood.
Tsukauchi, knowing to what Hound Dog was going to tell Ayano, stepped up and, for the third time, grabbed for her arm.
"You don't know this, because you don't give a damn about Animal Quirk Users and their law... However, what you clearly don't know, is that their law gives them protection over people who wronged them... People like you."
The fifty year-old can hear the venom and disgust in his voice, so she glared right up at the detective.
"You mean people, who are far more important than those feral miscreants, who are a mistake and a freak of nature?"
...
...
...Whether she let it slip or purposely voiced out what she truly feel towards Animal Quirk Users, everyone were still taken back that she would dare say that about people who developed Animal Quirks... The same people and society her own 'granddaughter' is a part of.
Nemuri, being the first to finally break through from her shock, went over to the fifty year-old woman... And, swiftly, slapped Ayano across the face.
Most of the Pro Heroes gaped at what Midnight just did. Even Detective Tsukauchi, despite finding that the old woman more than just deserved a slap in the face, couldn't believe what he saw.
Hizashi had to cover his face, to cover the fact that he was going to smile and to silence his snickering from the shock and disbelief look on Ayano's face.
...Shōta, just as equally stunned at what his friend just did, kept his composure and blank face... While, on the inside, he was raging to the fact that his fiancée's mother would practically reveal how she truly views Animal Quirk Users as, including his own daughter... And, also, more than pleased that somebody stood up to her and gave her the shock of her life by being slapped.
Ayano Kemuri's face turned from a mouth opened gape, to a red-faced sneer.
"HOW DARE YOU-!"
Midnight caught her off, by grabbing her by the collar of her shirt and pulled her close to her face, so she can see the could, dark look written in her Sky Blue eyes.
"...Listen here, you good for nothing witch." She growled out, her voice so low and deadly. "That precious child you keep calling your granddaughter, whom you, for over ten years, renounced and abandoned when she was a few weeks away from turning five and, just stated, to being a freak of nature because of her Quirk... She isn't, and will NEVER be, your granddaughter. -A sly, cat-like smile grew on her face.- And the reason I'm telling you this, is because we're going to enjoy telling you why you'll never get your greedy hands on our niece."
The fifty year-old looked over to Shōta, who folded his arms over his chest.
"You don't think I wouldn't know the reason why you want to take her back, when it's been over a week since the Sports Festival... Or, to the fact that, in just a few months, Jeremy is going to be turning eighteen. And, when that happens, you won't be getting any more extortion money from Josh, Kyla and Moo's grandparents."
...The fifty year-old woman went pale by his words, as all eyes immediately glared down at her... Clearly, they all know what the Erasure Hero is talking about. Even Detective Tsukauchi, who never knew about it in person until Shōta told him over the phone, showed to be just as easily angered by the old woman for what she's been doing, since she learned about her daughter's pregnancy with Joshua.
"...That's-... That's a lie!" She exclaimed, choking on her words.
Detective Tsukauchi, gently pushing Midnight aside, grabbed for the fifty year-old woman. This time, in a tight grip that made her slightly wince and not going to allow her to break free from his grasp.
"What you just said, is a lie." He growled out. "And don't try and deny it, again. Remember, I have a Lie Detector Quirk. So, if you keep spewing out more lies, it can and will be used against you... Just like how you keep calling Sierra your granddaughter, when you feel nothing but hatred and disgust towards her."
Ayano opened her mouth to do just that, only to have no words she can think up to counter her lie.
Nezu, getting back on his desk, chuckled at the flustered fifty year-old woman.
"It seems, my dear, that you're caught in a tight spot." He snickered, a paw covering his mouth. "And I'm afraid, for you, that we must end our not-so friendly meeting and will require Detective Tsukauchi and Ectoplasm to see you off of U.A.'s ground."
Ayano glared at the white-mammal, trying but unable to break free from Tsukauchi's grip, as Ectoplasm came over to stand on her left.
"Without that brat, I'm not!" She declared, stomping her foot on the floor. "And if you refuse to give her to me, I'll sue this school for everything it's worth! Hell, I'll even convince All Might to bring her to me, and have him turn his back on this school for refusing a concern, grieving grandmother to reunite with her granddaughter!"
...Toshinori almost hacked out a mouth full of blood at her words, feeling completely nauseous at her words and nearly allowed himself to go into his Buff Form to reveal to her that the hero she claimed she'll convince to surrender Sierra over, had been in the same with her the entire time.
When Nezu removed his paw from his mouth... A full on frown appeared on his face.
"...You truly are, what many humans would refer to you as, a 'greedy bitch'." He replied, not sounding the least scared at her threat. "I wasn't going to let you in on this, since you are our niece's grandmother... However, after that little outburst and claim you just informed us you would do... I, finally, reached the end of my ropes with you and will no longer stand by and let you rabble on with your demands. -Without turning his head, he pointed a paw at the top left-corner of his office.- Take a good look up there, Kemuri-san, and you'll see why we're not scared of your threats."
Curious as to what he wants her to see, Ayano looked to the corner... What she saw, made her scared.
...
...
...
...It was a camera, with the lens pointed straight at them.
"And in case you're wondering, it records sounds, too." Higari Maijima, Power Loader, told the stunned woman. "So, everything you said in this room, had been recorded."
She stared down at the short-male, who folded his arms over his bare-chest, his helmet preventing her from seeing his face, who was smirking at her misfortune.
Even without seeing his expression, the tone of his voice told her that he isn't bluffing.
She soon found herself being pulled back by Detective Tsukauchi.
"That video, alone, along with me being present during the event to confirm that your intentions are true, is enough to have me bring you down to the station." He growled out.
"Oh, before you take her out, Detective Tsukauchi, let us give her one more piece of information to our 'guest'." Nezu called out, smiling at the woman being forced out of his office, as Cementoss handed him a Law Book from the bookshelf.
...Only, this Law Book was special.
"This, my dear, is a Book of Law... Based on the Laws that people, with Animal Quirks or animals, such as I, with Quirks, follow. It's referred to as Zodiac's Law, named after a first generational Animal Quirk Pro Hero: Zodiac. The very law and rules your 'granddaughter' follows, for being in the same category as any other Animal Quirk User. -With quick speed, he opened the book and flipped through the pages, before placing his paw down on one the pages. He didn't bother seeing which page he landed on... For he knew the whole book, by heart.- Article Twelve, of Zodiac's Law: A family member, blood or viewed/imprinted as family, attempts to claim to a child of an Animal Quirk User or a relative who is an Animal Quirk User that they'd relinquished all rights to as family, resulting the child or relative on becoming a Cast Young, under the eyes of the law, have no legal rights to take such actions and are forbidden from ever reinstating their status and cannot make contact with the Animal Quirk User they abandoned and made into a Cast Young."
Ayano was caught off guard by the law the mammal read the her, though was irritated and confused with the word 'Cast Young'.
"What the hell does that even mean?" She replied, turning her cold eyes at Tsukauchi. "What is a Cast Young?"
...
...
...Hound Dog let out a low snarl... Followed by a low whimper, as he sent Shōta a look of an apology.
"...In your term, it means 'Mistake'."
Some of the Pro Heroes lowered their heads to his words, either having the look of sadness or anger, even a few having to clench their hands into tight fists.
Very few of them remained calm and still... Though, their eyes showed the rage and hatred they harbor towards the fifty year-old woman.
Shōta's eyes flashed in red for a moment, his hair slowly rising in the air, before he controlled himself to turn it off.
Nemuri went to her friend, laying a comforting hand on his shoulder, giving him a calm, supportive look.
...Hizashi was receiving the same comfort from Snipe, who patted him on the back, as the Voice Hero was trembling where he stood to fight away the tears.
With his smile still on his face, Nezu beamed at the woman.
"Every Animal Quirk User knows how precious children are, and are viewed as their most sacred treasure and purpose to life. Zodiac was no exception, especially since he ended up losing three of his four children, from the three being stillborn and, while taken care of a wanted villain, thought to have lost both his wife and fourth child in a hit and run. -His tail thumped harshly against his desk... His smile turning back into a frown.- Five years later, he found his child, chained to a post, forced to sit on the porch outside of his mother's relatives' house, in the middle of Winter... That's when Zodiac learnt, that the family that was supposed to care and love him, was going to send him to an orphanage to help 'groom' him to be a model citizen and then, after he grew out of his trauma, will they consider welcoming him back into the family. -He sightly hunched over.- ...Doesn't that sound very familiar, Kemuri-san?"
Ayano, never bothering to know anything about Animal Quirk Users or learn how their society works, was completely startled to hear that a family before her own, basically, did something similar to what she and her own family did to her daughter's child.
...Still, she desperately tries to fight to take a child she despises for existing back into her family.
"If you're hinting that I'm going to abandon her, like that family tried to do, then you're mistaken." She growled out. "Also, you all claim that I won't ever regain any claim on that brat, when that stupid rule book haven't provided any answer to how and why I won't be able to reinstate myself as her grandmother... How can you be so certain, that she won't want to rejoin my family? After all, she still bares the name of my late-husband's clan's name."
Shōta glared angrily at her... He knew that she never loved Souza Arashi... Cindy told him of her mother's betrayal by committing adultery behind her father's back, long before he ended up dead.
...She even went as far as to change her last name, on the very same day she was told that he died, while performing his duties as Angarika.
"...It's true," he agreed. "She did bare Souza's last name, since her birth, before Cindy and I planned to change her and Cici's last name, along with Jeremy, Joshua and Mikyla's last name, when we get married... You, however, stopped taking that name, for over twenty-five years."
"And before you argue about her keeping her name, which you aren't very much aware, she has taken up her father's name, during the weekend after the Sports Festival took place... And, after visiting her family from her father's side if the family, she has no reason to reconnect with a family that has no intention to love and care for." Nezu, cheerfully, informed a baffled Ayano. "As for the question to how and why you aren't able to reinstate yourself as her grandmother, Article Thirty-One can answer that question. -He flipped through the pages, then cleared his throat.- Should a family member sign away their rights and position as an Animal Quirk User's family and/or guardian, are hereby viewed as threats and an endangerment to said Animal Quirk User, for the action on causing them to become Cast Young. Therefore, for the safety of the Animal Quirk User, the deserter is to never make contact with the Animal Quirk User. And, should the deserter try to regain their position as their family member, without the council's approval and the blessings of the Animal Quirk User, are to be fined for attempted kidnapping."
Hearing the rules and the punishment that had been written for the laws of the Animal Quirk Users, Midnight smiled big at the startled woman.
She leaned against Shōta, a hand resting on her hip.
"It seems you won't be taking our niece, anytime soon, you ungrateful witch. -She turned to Detective Tsukauchi and Ectoplasm.- Gentlemen, please take our unwanted guest out of here. And Tsukauchi, make sure she gets the exact sort of treatment at the police station that she deserves."
Tsukauchi smirked at the R-rated Hero.
"It'll be my pleasure." He responded, hauling the fifty year-old to follow him out of the room.
Even as Tsukauchi and Ectoplasm both grabbed her by the arm and lifted her off her feet to make it easier to get her out of the school, Ayano still tries to fight for release.
"This isn't over, you filthy street rat!" She bellowed out to the Eraser Hero, craning her head back to glare at the thirty-one year-old. "I'll get what, rightfully, belongs to me! She will be mine!"
Shōta wasn't in the least intimidated by her threat.
"You had this coming, for a long time." He replied. "And if you dare make an attempt on kidnapping my daughter, I'll make sure to sue you, for every penny you have... The money that you stolen, from Josh, Kyla and Moo and their grandparents, as hush money for your silence of their father's rape towards Cici. -He turned his back to the woman, as she's forced towards the elevator with Tsukauchi and Ectoplasm, as they both grabbed for the two doors to close behind them.- May we never cross paths, again... Kemuri."
Once the doors closed, the dark atmosphere started to lift, making it easier for most to finally breathe a lot more easily... And, also, for some, to finally let out the emotions they've been holding back the entire time.
"THAT SELFISH BITCH!" Present Mic screamed, his Quirk triggering and echoing off in the room.
Nezu let out a tiring sigh of relief, closing the Law Book and handing that back to Cementoss to put away, not in the least effected by Hizashi's choice to scream. He wasn't worried of the possibility of damages. Ken and Higari made certain that the walls would be sturdy enough to not crumble from Mic's Quirk... And, as an added bonus, are completely soundproof.
Snipe tried to get the raging Voice Hero to calm down.
"Easy there, Mic!" He called out, reaching a hand out. "We know how you're feeling right now! Hell, all of us are just as pissed off by that Uppish Yack-!"
"AND WHY WOULDN'T WE ALL BE PISSED OFF BY WHAT SHE SAID?!" Hizashi interrupted, stomping his foot onto the ground.
He sent an angry gaze to his friend, who activated his Quirk to cancel out his Voice Quirk... Giving him the right to rant on, without any possibilty on destroying the others' eardrums.
"How dare that witch?!" He yelled, glaring at the window to wait and see Tsukauchi and Ectoplasm drag Ayano off of U.A.'s ground. "How dare she expects us to obey her, as if we were nothing but common servants?! Did she, actually, think that we would just hand Ra Ra over to her, on a platter?! Fuck no! -He turned his gaze to Aizawa.- How are you able to stay calm, after she called you out like that and threatened to take Sierra away from you?!"
Shōta raised an eyebrow to his friend's words, before he deactivated his Quirk.
"Because, Mic, if you were listening to what Nezu just informed her from the Law Book, if she does make an attempt to kidnap my child, she'll not only be fined, but, should word get out about her action, will end up risking her image to being tarnished. And nothing's more important, than to keep her image and to not risk losing money over something that's insignificant to her... However -He let out a tiring sigh, running a hand through his hair.- There's always that possibility that greed will cloud her judgment and will make another attempt to taking her away from me."
"From how you described her to be and, after revealing her mistreatment towards her own daughter, which she didn't make any statement to deny that she said those exact words you repeated to her or that the money she has doesn't rightfully belong to her, it's very likely that she'll do just that." Vlad King replied, his voice gruff and irritated by Ayano's rudeness towards them, especially towards Nezu and Hound Dog.
As much as Eraser Head didn't like to agree with the Blood Hero, he couldn't find any reason to heed his own concern on what his would-be mother-in-law would probably end up doing.
He turned to Nezu, who already had the phone in his paws. His smile returning to normal
"No need for concern, Aizawa." The mammal reassured. "I'll inform Strictly Legal of the issue. -He turned to Toshinori.- All Might, it would be best if you have Tsukauchi get ahold of Night Wind. He'll want to present evidence that his and Eraser Head's sister, Hitomi, gathered, to better present to Strictly Legal the true nature Kemuri-san and her family truly possess."
"Right." Toshinori replied, sending the message through text, in case his friend is still busy hauling the banshee to his car to take down to the station.
Hound Dog stepped up.
"The council will, no doubt, know what transpired. But, I'll still inform them that the human's will ignore the law and needs to be watched, should she follow through with her threat and try to take her from us." He growled at Nezu, before leaving the office to go inform the council.
Hizashi, eyes back to the window, smirked in satisfaction when he finally sees both Tsukauchi and Ectoplasm dragging the fifty year-old woman through the gate... Though, nothing could make the sight much more pleasing, when Tsukauchi pulled out a pair of handcuff from his jacket and, with Ectoplasm keeping her still, cuffed her behind her back and forced her into his car.
'That's what you get, you ungrateful bitch.' He thought, watching the car drive away before it vanished from making a turn.
He let out a deep sigh of relief, pushing his shades back in its spot, as he stared up at the sky.
'From the way she's dressed and, from how Shō described her as being a woman who focuses her attention on keeping her wealth, she'll be able to pay the fine and avoid being locked up... Still, I do hope that she gets the message and leave Ra Ra alone. Otherwise, she'll have to deal with a bunch of Pro Heroes to stand in her way.'
Eraser Head let out a breathe he didn't realized to have held in, finally able to relax... For the time being.
'I had a feeling that she would try to get her hands on Honey, just to boost her image, if she'd seen the Sports Festival to witness Sierra's victory... I had hoped she would leave her alone, the moment she learnt that she's my blood... Guess, in some way, that would've been the only good thing that Hizashi blurted out that information, when Nemuri announced Nezu's decision.'
Nemuri, remaining at his side, patted him on the back. She gave him a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry so much, Shō." She gently assured. "We won't let that psychotic bitch take Sweetie away from you. -She gave him a playful wink. Not in a seductive way to flirt with him, but a way to get him irritated enough to become his grumpy, collective self.- Though, it would be best if you informed Midoriya's mother about Ayano's 'visit'... Also, you better tell Ra Ra's siblings about this, too; wouldn't want to keep them in the dark. even if one of them is in a wheelchair, I don't have any doubt that Jeremy will beat the crap out of you, if you don't tell them about their ungrateful grandmother wanting to take their sister away."
He glared at the R-rated Hero's words... But, didn't say anything to deny or oppose her advice, as he pulled out his phone and immediately dialed Inko's number.
'I better tell Mom, Dad and the Old Man about this. If Ayano does find a loophole to take Sierra away from me, I'm gonna need all the help I can get... After all, Aizawas don't fight on their own, when a loved one is being threatened by an enemy to the family.'
Hours Later; Nighttime: At Kuzuryu-sha...
She sat on a bench for a long time... Waiting.
...
...
...The voice told her to wait, and she listens to the voice.
It's been nearly two hours since the last tourist came to the Kuzuryu-sha shrine, leaving the girl to be out on her own.
Sierra took the time to meditate, which is to let her body rest up from the long walking she did, today. Which, to her, wasn't so bad or minded.
She enjoyed visiting the Five Shrines of Togakushi Shrine. She even took the time to take pictures of the shrines, the forests and even the rivers on her phone, sending them to Izuku, Inko and her siblings.
So, while she had been lead a long trail by the voice in her head, that would seem to leader as if she's being led astray to nowhere, it turned out to being a solo expedition for her to enjoy.
But, now that it's nighttime and she has yet to meet somebody from the Night Flower Hero Agency, she's beginning to think that the voice in her head could've been some form of hallucination and had misled her.
...
...
...
...It was one of the warning signs that Recovery Girl told her to be aware of, on Wednesday, when she had her come to her office. If she starts to hear things, as if somebody is talking and/or calling out to her, it means the strain will take it's toll on her mind... Fearing, it'll start to effect her emotions and behavior, whether as a human and/or animal.
...
...
Her heart slammed harshly against her chest, forcing her out of her meditation to hunch over, wincing at the painful beating against her chest.
She let out a small-whimper that a wounded dog would make... Then, the sixth time her heart beat at her chest, it turned into a snarl of a wolf, the moment her body chose to morph on its own accord, becoming her white-wolf form.
Her vision started to blur. She shook her head to rid it away.
Her heart kept slamming down on her, resulting another whimper out of her, before she forced herself to quiet down. Even if she knows that nobody is around, she knows that anything could happen... And, after the U.S.J. Incident, that taught her to always be silent and cautious, whenever she's outside of home and separated from Izuku or anybody she knows.
'Chiyo did warn me about different changes to take place, even to the point that my body may start attacking itself... So, I didn't think it would end up being something so painful, like this.'
"Come into the forest... It is time..."
She lifted her head, eyes widening when she heard the voice that told her to wait.
Her body trembled, as her ears flattened, letting out a snarl.
'It's not real,' she thought to herself. 'I'm hallucinating, just as Recovery Girl warned me would happen, when the symptoms from the poisoning worsens. Don't listen to it.'
"I am not a hallucination, Daughter of Shōta Aizawa." The voice replied, startling the fourteen year-old to let out a yelp from the title the voice called her by. "I am a member of the Night Flower Hero Agency. I am Nobu (Trust/Prolong, Stretch)... But, you'd probably know me, as my Hero Name: Omoikane (Serving one's thoughts)."
Sierra was more than stunned to hear that name... Nobody had ever seen, nor heard, from the Omopu Hero, since Eight-Four AP.
She lowered herself to the ground, glancing around her surroundings. She can't smell anything that tells her that a human is nearby.
'...Many believe that you're dead,' she thought. 'Some of the animals said that you're in hiding, but even they didn't know where you're taken refuge at... They claim that you would vanish into a shadow.'
A gentle brush of wind gently stroked her fur.
"...You truly are what He said you would be... Now, come. Head straight into the forest... He awaits for you."
She didn't know who this 'he' person the voice of the Omopu Hero speaks of, but she knew that she'll get answers by going into the forest.
Her heart still pounded against her chest, but it was slowly calming down.
She forced herself to turn back into a human and, grabbing for her backpack and case, she walked towards the back of the shrine and proceed into the forest.
Sierra beamed up at the trees around her, smelling the faint scent of water and hearing the gentle cries of crickets and the animals that are active at night. If she didn't have her Hero-suit and some of her belongings to tag along with her, she would've allowed herself to morph into an animal and embrace her baser instinct to run underneath the half-moon.
Any normal human would get nervous, even scared, at walking in the woods, alone... But not her.
Five minutes of walking through the woods, and her heart, finally, stopped slamming against her chest, leaving a dull pulse of pain.
She hummed a small-tune that came in her head... Then, she started to sing.
"Are you going to Scarborough Fair?
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme.
Remember me to one who lives there.
He once was a true love of mine.
Tell him to make me a cambric shirt.
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme.
Without no seams nor needle work.
Then he'll be a true love of mine.
Tell him to find me an acre of land.
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme.
Between the salt water and the sea strands.
Then he'll be a true love of mine.
Tell him to reap it with a sickle of leather.
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme.
And gather it all in a bunch of heather.
Then he'll be a true love of mine.
Are you going to Scarborough Fair?
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme.
Remember me to one who lives there.
He once was a true love of mine."
By the time she finished the Scarborough Fair Song, she stopped when she found herself nearing standing in front of a clearing.
...
...
...And, standing in the center of the clearing... A figure she couldn't make out, hunched over, with its back turned to her.
...
...
...
...
...
...Slowly, she walked towards the figure. The grass beneath her shoes, softly swayed and crunched beneath her gentle footsteps.
When she reached halfway towards the figure, it seemed to have raised it head... Then, it slowly stood up at its full height.
...
...
...
...
...
...When she stood a foot away from the figure, it turned to her...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...Staring up to meet it's face... She found herself staring at the skull of a wolf, with antlers from a fully mature red-deer stag, which were oddly black.
...
...
...If not for the black-robe with sleeves, waving in the wind, revealing a smaller black-robe that looks to be an Imperial Judge Robe, belong to a body of human, she would've thought she's met with a mythical creature that brings nightmares and death from the joy of cannibalism.
...
...
...A Wendigo.
The person, their face hidden underneath the wolf-skull with antlers, stared down at the small-child that stared back at them.
Neither of the two spoke a single word, as they simply just stared at one another.
...
...
...Then, a hand, as black as night, from one of the sleeves, reached out and laid itself on top of her head.
Sierra knew then, without a single thought of concern, that this is the one who Omoikane referred to as 'he'... The one that was waiting for her.
After a few gentle patting on the head, as if a parent was welcoming their child back home, the person pulled away.
...
...
...Then, clapping both of his hands together, a black-cane, that's really a cane-sword, appeared before the wolf-skull figure.
He gently tapped the end of his cane to the ground... Then, rising from the grass, a blob of ink and shadow rose before the person and Sierra.
...
...
...They took the form of black-thorns, as they curled around the two.
...
...
...
...Sierra realized who this mystery person is, as he reached with his left-hand and pulled her against him.
...
...
...The leader of the Night Flower Hero Agency, himself...
...
...
...The Shadow Weaver Hero...
...
...Night Thorn.
TBC
R&R