Midori the Phoenix
Chapter 32: The Villain Compromise
It was a brisky Friday morning when Karma and the league put operation "New World" into action. Broadcast, more than eager to help after finding out his son was amongst the kids that had been taken, sent out a world wide signal so that Karma could deliver her message.
"Greetings world… long time no see."
Time seemed to stop as people took the time to stall and stare at the familiar face of the Queen of Villains.
"She's making her move!" Tsukauchi ordered his men, taking action much like a general would with his troops. Police, heroes, and other officials hustled around each with a separate task in response to this. "Record every moment, I want this broadcast analyzed and picked apart. Find her!"
"Many of you might be confused. After all it was announced to everyone that I died in childbirth several years ago. Surprise! I'm alive and well… and I want to thank U.A. High School and the Japanese Heroics Committee for taking care of me all this time."
"What did she just say?" A random viewer gawked, many others sharing his confusion as Karma continued to smile into the camera.
"Is she saying that U.A. and the Heroics Committee have been harboring her all this time?"
"Why would they do that?"
"Damn that woman…" Eraserhead cursed as he and the UA staff watched the broadcast via computer screen.
"Please don't blame the heroes for keeping secrets… after all they weren't quite aware that it was me. Afterall I looked like this." She held the photograph up of her younger self and Class 3A. The entire world was in an uproar. Crowds of people discussing amongst themselves about this unexpected revelation.
"She's telling them everything." Midnight held her chin. "I see, so that's her game. Appealing to the masses and getting them on her side."
"So what are we just standing around here for!?" Present Mic waved his arms erratically. "We need to shut this girl up."
"By all means, how do you intend to shut the entire global internet down?" Aizawa glared at him.
"Uh well…"
"Just shut up and watch the screen you idiot. We need to pick up on anything we can use or pull from to get her location."
"Right!" Mic hunkered down again. Just as Karma shrugged and folded her hands in her lap. She continued to speak, giving highlights of her rebirth and skimming over anything unpleasant.
While Karma desperately wanted to blame the heroes, turn the entire world against them… it would defeat the true purpose of her plan. Instead she played it off, giving way to her more nurturing and sweet side.
"The heroes and I have been battling back and forth for years, but a woman's got to know when to settle down and think what's best for the future. Now that I'm back to my proper age, and reunited with my family, I've decided to show my gratitude to the heroes for the care they've shown me by extending a truce."
"You gotta be fucking kidding me!" Bakugo cursed holding his phone out as he and Todoroki sat in their kitchen, the food he'd prepared going cold on their plates.
"The following people are to gather together on Saturday Morning at 10am for a special conference inside the conference hall of the Committee building." On the screen, a list of names, and their photographs scroll across the screen. "There we will discuss the terms of the truce, and hopefully come to a mutual understanding. I look forward to seeing all of you there."
She waved her fingers and gave a wink.
"Ciao."
Bakugo threw his phone across the room as the screen went black. He let out a short pithy curse before getting up to pace.
"Damn that Usagi! She's leading us all into a trap, I can smell it!"
"Are we gonna take the bait?" Todoroki asked calmly, sipping tea.
"We don't have a choice." Bakugo picked up his phone from the floor as it started to ring. "This is the only chance we'll have to corner the bitch." He answered the phone with a fit of temper. "What do you want, Fish Eyes?"
"All Might and Eraser want all of us who were invited to the conference to meet up at U.A. to discuss what to do about this."
"I don't know what there is to discuss, we go to the conference, we corner the bitch, and take her down." Bakugo rationalized.
"Don't be hasty Bakugo. We don't know what Karma is actually planning for this meeting. It's not just heroes that she's invited… She's got policemen, Committee officials, company CEOs, and even Melissa is required to come. She's got something big planned, and we need to be prepared."
"Tch… I don't care what her big plan is. I'm not bowing to any conditions she's holding. She's had her way long enough."
"I agree… but it's not just our call to make, Bakugo. You've an hour to get down to U.A. I'll see you there.."
"Tch…" he hung up and looked at Todoroki. "Well what's your take on this, Icyhot?"
"I think you're letting Karma rile you up too much." He tapped his finger to his plate, reheating his meal. "Let's meet with the others, and figure out a game plan."
"Fine, but no matter what they decide, I'm keeping to my plan." Bakugo huffed and crossed his arms. "Time after time she's made a fool of me and every other hero that's tried to track her down. Mark my words... this time SHE'LL be the fool!"
~LOV Labratory~
"You're a damn fool." Shigaraki scolded Izumi as the two of them stood in front of Kai Chisaki's tank. "You not only want us to set him loose, but you want us to heal him? The first thing he'll do with that quirk is kill you."
"It's a risk, but I need him. The Yakuza are the perfect people to compete the next stage of our plan. I need Kai's connections to them." She insisted.
"Well he won't give them to you. We're better off killing him, or letting the Doc turn him into a new Nomu."
"No…" she waved her finger at Shigaraki. "I already agreed to do that with Muscular, but that's different because he's dead. Kai is still a living and breathing human with a mind of his own, and I need what little humanity he has left in him. Now wake him up."
"This is stupid!" Shigaraki waved his hands in the air then turned to Dabi who had remained quiet throughout the entire argument. "Tell your queen that she's crazy!"
"Okay…" Dabi replied after sipping at his coffee, and he sent her a sly smile. "My Queen… you're crazy."
Karma smirked triumphantly.
"You're no fucking help at all you know that?" Shigaraki shoved at him.
"Relax, Tomura, she may be crazy, but she ain't wrong. Kai Chisaki is just the man we need to help its rally our remaining allies."
"Fine… but don't come crying to your King when all hell breaks loose." Shigaraki threw his hands up and motioned to the doctor. "Release him."
"Alright… it's such a pity. He would have made a fine specimen." Tsubasa pushed the button on the pad and the water drained from Chisaki's tank. His scarred and deformed hands pressed on the glass as he stirred awake and glared through the glass.
"Filthy…" he coughed out and wheezed. "You trying to get me sick with all this filth lying around?" He eyed Dabi and Shigaraki.
"Oh relax Kai, you've been sick a long time." She approached him and offered her hand. As expected he slapped it away and stumbled upright on his feet pointing an accusing finger at her.
"It's your fault. How dare you drag me here after what you did to me, to the clan!?" He accused and sneered. "I ought to kill you."
"I'd like to see you try." She said smugly, her hair flicking with flame. "You couldn't do it when you had a quirk and were holding all the power in our relationship. Just what makes you think you could do so now that the tables have turned?" She lifted a hand stroking his face making him flinch.
"Fuck you."
"Hmmm…" Her eyes softened and she stroked a thumb over his cheek. "I'm sorry Kai… I lost my temper, and look at what it's cost you." She took his hands in hers and kissed them. "Let me make it up to you."
"Ha!" He laughed at her and turned glaring eyes to the other men in the room. "I'm not falling for that again, you slut. You ruined everything! The clan has lost focus, the man who raised me can't even look me in the eye anymore, and my plan of bringing the Yakuza back to power is in shambles. All because you were obsessed with your plot for revenge!"
"You're right, and like I said I'm here to make things right." She glanced back. "Touya."
"Touya…" Kai glared at him. "I thought this half wit abandoned you."
"Eh… let's just say I'm a very forgiving person." She pat Touya's shoulder, her ring glittering in the light and she kissed his cheek. "Darling, if you please."
"Enjoy being a widow, dear." Dabi replied smugly and he clasped his hands over Kai's making him jerk in response.
"The hell are you-"
"Hold still, this is gonna hurt." Dabi smirked and activated his second quirk.
"What? STOP! AHHHH!" The pain was severe and it brought him to his knees. His hands and arms elongated and stretched, the bones misshaping and reshaping as the skin healed over and turned fresh. Sweating bullets, Kai stared at them with disbelief.
"There now…" Karma knelt down, her body glowing sentient aura, just in case Kai decided to lash out against her. "Good as new."
"Why?" He asked raspily.
"...because I owe you, Kai." She grabbed his face and kissed him briefly. "Thanks to you I was able to regain my strength and determination after All for One beat me down. You reunited me with the man I love, and gave me an opportunity to reconcile with Tomura. Not only that but you provided me the tool I needed to take down All for One for good."
She smiled at him with affection and dropped the barrier to show the trust she had in him. She took his hand in hers and… with only a moment's hesitation… felt him grip it back in turn.
"Guess you do owe me then… but I don't see how you can." He glanced at their hands, and at the ring on her finger. "Our marriage never panned out."
"No it didn't." She sighed. "I don't love you, Kai. I never did… but I respected you and your ambition. I didn't much care how you were going about it, but you were trying to bring your family back into power and give them a better life. In truth that's all I want too. I want to give the people I love and care about a better life… I want to give you and the Hassaikai a better life too."
"Oh?" He stood up with her, his interest piquing at the look in her eyes. "...and just how do you propose to do that?"
"Well…" She smirked at him. "Let's just say, I've got a business meeting on Saturday that's gonna open a lot of doors for us."
"Alright, you win…" He let go of her hand and crossed his arms over his chest. The other two men came around so the three of them formed a circle around their queen. "What do you need from me?"
"I need you…" She clucked him under his chin with a fingertip and gave a wink. "To gather your clansmen, allies and any other interested parties and tell them the Queen of Villains has a proposition. One that will surely benefit us all in the long run."
~Saturday: 9:55am~
Bakugo and Todoroki walked into the large meeting room. All around were familiar faces… former classmates, other well known heroes, higher ups from the committee, Tsukauchi and a few other detectives, and the CEO of the Deternat Support Company, Rikiya Yotsubashi.
"Ground Zero, Endurance!" Melissa Shield walked up to the two of them looking both happy and nervous. "It's good to see you."
"You too, Melissa." Shoto offered a warm smile. "You look well. I'm sorry we've yet to find your father."
"I know," She glanced back as Mirio joined them, and the two linked hands. Their eyes met in an obvious look of infatuation before she continued her response. "I just hope that this meeting with Karma will finally give us some answers."
"Well we're about to find out." Bakugo nodded as the President of the Heroic Public Safety Commission stood at the front of the podium.
"Thank you for coming, everyone." She greeted casually, her blonde hair slicked back in its usual "no-nonsense" style. Even though her eyes stared firm at the crowd of people, there was an odd smile gracing her lips. "If we could all have a seat, our hostess is about ready to speak."
"You seem to be in an oddly chipper mood, madam president." Hawks teased putting his hands behind his head. "Is it because you're excited to meet Karma in person?"
"Oh… I've already met Karma." Her smile suddenly deepened, and eyes sharpened like a cat's. "She's a real doll."
All heroes suddenly went on alert, Eraser immediately wrapped the president in his scarf and his eyes shut down her quirk. The president's face melted and Toga laughed giddily.
"Whoops! I've been found out." She laughed.
"Himiko Toga!" Shoto looked around the room, something about their situation feeling strangely familiar.
"What's the messing of this? Where is the president!?" Aizawa interrogated.
"She's asleep… Queeny made me promise not to kill her so I only drank what I needed." Toga giggled and wriggled in the binds, her naked body making some shier men turn their eyes away.
"The deal was we would meet with Karma!" Mirio snagged her by the back of the neck. "So where is she?"
"Right here, Senpai." The projection screen turned on and Izumi's face appeared on all the monitor's. Everyone in the room erupted with accusations and panic. Izumi let them fire off accusation after accusation, looking at her nails in a bored expression. "Are you all quite done?"
"Well aren't you all high and mighty now that you're full grown." Bakugo sneered. "Well we're all here, so tell us what the hell you want, Karma."
"For now I want everyone to be silent, whilst I speak. Would you all please return to your seats… and for god's sake would someone give Toga a shirt or something. That's no way for a lady to be walking around."
"Your terms were to meet us in person. Are you just planning on holding us hostage, instead?" One of the committee board members shouted in response, while Mirio removed his cape to cover Toga properly but kept her restrained.
"Tch, hardly. I made no distinction about meeting you in person, and you mister vice president are hardly worth keeping for ransom money." She pointed out with a raised brow. "I merely said that we were to gather together to discuss business. All of you are more than free to leave whenever you like, but I should warn you that this little conference of ours is being broadcasted all over the internet right now." She tapped a finger in the air, smirking. "Back out now and it's not me that will look bad."
"Shit, she's right…" Hawks pulled out his phone seeing the dual screen shot of Karma and the board room. "It's on every major social media site and news page."
"Alright, Karma, you've got our attention." Mirio took front and center, crossing his arms. "What is all this? What do you want?"
"This, good sir, is an extension of peace." She explained coolly, lounging in her seat with her legs crossed.
"Peace?" Bakugo snorted and slapped a hand on the table. "Don't make me laugh!"
"Don't test my patience, Kacchan." Her eyes seemed to slit as a flash of temper rose in them. "You've already angered me quite a bit by arresting a bunch of harmless kids under my care, not to mention scaring the life out of my son."
That bit of information startled some board members, as well as several million viewers who were watching the broadcast.
"I'm not sure when or how you discovered my son's existence… but you can be damn certain I'm not going to let you throw him in some facility for disturbed youth, much like you did with me when "Midori" was going through certain changes." Her voice pitched at the end, her eyes giving a knowing and smug look.
"Your son played a factor in the murder of Grape Juice." Mirio reminded her. "I was there, he set him ablaze with clear intent and malice."
"Malice? You don't say?" Her voice dripped with anger and sarcasm. "He was a frightened five year old little boy, who ran away from the people that were invading his home and attacking his friends. He used his quirk to keep himself out of harm's way. I hardly see that as murder, Lemillion."
"Don't try and twist the truth… you've warped that kid's mind into thinking-"
"How could I have possibly warped him when I haven't been present long enough in his life. Which by the way was YOUR fault." She reminded them with a snap of temper, but then she calmed herself and folded her hands over her crossed legs. "Look... we can argue about semantics and our distaste for each other all day. That's not what I came here to discuss with you. Like I said this is an extension of peace. Toga..."
"Working on it…" Toga made squirming noises as she toed the briefcase she'd been carrying while under the guise of the president. "Hey you, mister hero, a little help here."
Lemillion grabbed the briefcase and hefted it up onto the table. He hesitated on opening it, but deduced there wasn't a bomb inside.
"Whoa, hey, careful…" one of the board members backed away hiding behind a bulky hero. The image was enough to make Karma chuckle.
Lemllion popped the case open, and inside was a large file, several USB drives, and a projector disc. Lemillion picked up the projector and turned it on.
"Blue prints? Is this I-Island?"
"Close…" Karma informed. "These blueprints stemmed from the original I-island documents, but I and several professions made a few modifications to them. This, my dear heroes, is what I'm dubbing "V-Island." It will be the new home for the League of Villains, and any other wayward souls that would like to apply for the program I've created."
"Program... New home… just what the hell are you suggesting, Karma?" All Might asked.
"It's not so much a suggestion as it is a demand, All Might. All members of the league, including the ones that are currently in your custody, shall be released and sent to live on this man made island. There we will begin a rehabilitation program helping to curve the violent and destructive personalities of all villains, and create a peaceful and care-free environment away from the suffocating rule of hero society."
"Wait wait wait… hold the phone…" The Vice President got to his feet and motioned to the others in the room. "Are you expecting us to build you and your insidious band of delinquents an entire island to live on?"
"That's precisely what I'm saying." She folded her hands in her lap. "I'm a fair woman, Mr. Vice President. I realize I do not have the favor or trust of anyone in that room, however that is why I'm merely negotiating terms. This island arrangement will be mutually beneficial, tit for tat if you will."
"I fail to see how this will benefit us at all." Aizawa chirped in with a grumble. "Just what's in it for us?"
"Peace of mind, for starters." Karma waved off the stand-offish tone. "My league, and all my associates will disband. During the construction of the island we promise to not commit any felony of any kind, or risk forfeiting the deal." She braced and elbow up and leaned on her knuckles. "The I-Island goods that I have in my possession will be returned, and I will also include the information I have on the items that we've already sold. My companions and I have clear and concise records of every transaction so you should be able to track them down fairly quickly."
"Is that it?" Bakugo scowled. "That's hardly-"
"No, but keep interrupting me Kacchan, and I'll just call off the whole thing. I'm more than content hiding away safe and sound while you imbeciles run around with your tails tucked between your legs." She sent him a sharp look. She waited for it to be silent again before speaking.
"As I've made this promise to keep my allies in check, naturally I'll need them all with me so I can monitor their actions and keep them in line. This includes the kids that you took from me."
"No deal…" Aizawa stood up tugging Toga with him as he walked closer to the screen. "Those kids are not yours to claim, Karma."
Izumi's eyes sharpened, but her smile remained.
"Those kids don't belong to anyone. Their own families abandoned them, thrust them into a facility where they were turned into lab rats and play things for those demented doctors and scientists."
"Those doctors and scientists were there to help them gain control of their powerful and dangerous quirks." Hawks explained, and Karma's eyes shifted to him in a way that brought back their interaction in her cell room.
"Oh? You really think so?" She slumped back in her seat and snapped her fingers. "Broadcast, play video feed JDC 12, 13, and 16."
"Rodger boss." the voice from off screen agreed and the feed on her screen blipped and changed to that of
The feed changed to one of Yuuichi, bent over and sweating bullets. He was only eight, but the pale and tired look on his face could have been that of an eighty year old.
"I can't… don't make me do it anymore. Just put the cuffs back on, please." He pleaded and shook his head as Tarken injected more serum into him. "No… no no… RAUUUGHHHH!" The transformation was painful and grotesque, his blue eyes going wild and angry as he proceeded to rage around the room to stop the pain.
"I think I'm gonna be sick." Melissa held her mouth and buried her face in Mirio's chest, the young hero holding him as he too looked on in shock.
The screen changed again, and this time it was Midori writhing and screaming in pain while Doctor Tarkin took notes on the side, the look in his eyes cold and almost cruel.
"Ah yes… quite a specimen indeed. Multiple quirks, all with their own unique signature and use." Tarkin turned to his assistants. "Increase the dosage. Let's see if we can't pull out a larger reaction."
"Karma… Karma please help me! Make him stop!" Midori sobbed out.
"Now, now, Midori…" Tarkin patted her head. "Karma is dead, remember? The only ones here are you, and me. I'm only here to help you gain control, and in order to do that I need to see just how much power is hiding in that tiny body of yours." He pulled back and reached in for another syringe. "Let's try a double dose this time…"
"No! Please! I don't wanna be here! I wanna go home! Baku-nii! Shoto-nii! Someone please!" Midori's scream pierced high before the feed cut out and shifted back to Karma who looked vexed.
"Is that enough, or shall I give your further examples?"
"Alright! Alright… you made your point!" Hawks shuddered, and his wings folded back.
"Oh I haven't even begun, Mr. Number One…" she growled at him through grit teeth and got to her feet. "I want you all to listen, and listen well. I don't think any of you truly understand what I'm offering. I'm giving you a sure fire way to bring an end to the violence, to the chaos, and to the madness all of you insist building your careers upon. I've had my fun and games, I've gotten my revenge on the man that destroyed my life, and now all I want is for it to end peacefully."
She folded her hands over her stomach, emotion bubbling out and causing her fire quirk to lash out.
"Those kids that you've taken and are treating like criminals aren't just friends and allies to me. They're my family. All for One took the only family I had, he manipulated me into destroying my dreams by following his insane and selfish ambitions and I do NOT want to do that to them or my own son. I do not want Finnick growing up in a society where the people around him will treat him differently just because I made a mistake. I do not want those kids who spent nearly their entire lives being poked and prodded to grow up shunned and feared because their quirks are too powerful. I cannot and will not trust the heroes that failed to realize that the real people who truly need saving are the villains themselves… because in truth we all start out the same. Every single person in the world is the same, but it is the actions and reactions of this quirk evolving, hero vs. villain, society that's turned scared frightened children into dangerous criminals."
There was a long silence. No one saw fit to respond to her accusations, because every single one of them knew that she was right.
"I'm doing my best to meet you guys half way… because despite all that's happened to me, despite what you've done, and the hurt you've caused me and the people I love… I know that what we've done is wrong. Killing isn't the answer, violence isn't the answer…" finding her calm again, Izumi took a deep breath and stood tall. "Forgiveness, and compromise are the answers."
"You may be right about that, Karma… but how can we trust you or your word?" Lemillion scowled. "No matter who've you made alliances with you've always found a way to burn those bridges. The League betrayed you because they saw you unfit to lead. The Hassaikai betrayed you, because you were too blinded by your own ambitions and goals. How do you expect us to trust you after everything you've done? "
"Burned bridges can be rebuilt, Lemillion." Karma smiled and she made a quick motion. The camera panned out to show the large group of people who congregated around her: the league, the Hassaikai, the eight precepts, other yakuza, the president of the underground fight club as well as most of his top fighters, not to mention a good chunk of the Liberation Army.
"You see, my good samaritans…" Izumi waved her arms out towards the people supporting her. "These people in my alliance didn't join me because I forced them, or tricked them into it. These people are standing behind me because they have faith in me. Every single one of these people know the lengths I will go to in order to protect my family and accomplish my goals… and I WILL accomplish them. V-Island will be built with or without your permission."
Her eyes go sharp and dangerous again.
"If you refuse my proposition… then I will merely do exactly what it is you all expect of me. I will become a true villain, and accomplish my goals by bulldozing my way through every person and every obstacle that gets in my way. The goods I would have graciously given back will instead be sold for profit, and be put into the hands of truly dangerous criminals who don't care about reform or rehabilitation. Instead of disbanding my league, I will instead use my influence over the villain community to unleash chaos, oh and I won't stop there. Breaking and entering into highly secure facilities is my specialty. I will find out where you're hiding my kids and I will break them out and give them the lives I promised them."
She motioned again to the people behind her.
"I've more than enough allies to unleash to do a substantial amount of damage, not to mention the thousands upon thousands of innocent that will get caught in the crossfire of this war that you could have prevented had you just put your egos and short sighted perspectives aside."
"Is this a threat, Karma?" The Vice President sneered and she returned it with twice the malice.
"It's a promise… because THAT my dears is the length I will go to, in order to protect the people I love." She stepped closer to the camera so they could plainly see the seriousness in her eyes. "I may be a fair woman… but each and every one of you know how dangerous I am. The Heroes won't be able stop me, every villain on the planet either fears me or respects me, and I've got the eye and ear of the people some of who actually agree with my philosophy. This is because I know how the game of life works... and I play it very well."
"Your game is nothing but All for One's influence on you. I don't know how he's done it, but he's warped your mind into thinking that what you're doing is how the world should work and it's-"
"You really ought to shut up about my father." Karma's eyes sharpened. "The man was a selfish scumbag, and I was more than happy to put him down… but at least he saw my potential. He saw how smart I was, saw how much I wanted to help other people, and he gave me the extra boost I needed to reach that potential. Everyone else either ignored me, belittled me, or pitied me."
"Izumi…" His voice was filled with sympathy.
"I don't want to talk about him, or about my past." She paced the room, the camera following her movement. "What's done is done, and I've accepted it. I'm where I belong, with my friends, my family, and everyone who supports me and my cause."
She took a moment to calm herself and ran fingers through her hair.
"At any rate… my point is, is that in order to truly protect those that can't protect themselves, you need to find a way to control the chaos. All this fighting, this good vs. evil crap, is nothing but an excuse for heroes and villains to show off their power. I'm looking at a far bigger picture."
Her eyes went warm as she shifted her attention to Lemillion.
"Senpai. You once told me that together you and I could accomplish anything, and that we should create a world we can be proud of. I think it's time we lived up to that sentiment. Let's stop relying on violence, and focus on a better solution."
"You forfeited that ideal a long time ago, Izumi. You've since murdered many people, and become someone unrecognizable to me."
"Yet you still call me, Izumi." She shrugged off his indifference. "Nevertheless, the offer stands. You and the rest of your merry band of heroes can either work with me to build the island and install a functioning form of peace… or you'll seal the world's fate by becoming my enemy. Keep in mind that I've had many enemies before you, and you've seen what I did to them." Her lips curve up in a confident smirk. "You've two weeks to think it over, heroes, or face an all out war. Just remember that the whole world is witnessing this debate, and they'll know I gave you a chance to make peace instead of forcing me to pursue a life of violence and chaos." She leaned forward into the camera. "The choice is yours."
The screen went black and everyone in the room went silent. No one had an automatic response to the conversation they'd just had.
"Well.. that was-"
"Oh I almost forgot…" Karma popped back in with a silly grin. "As a show of good faith, I'm returning something that belongs to you. I apologize for holding onto it so long."
"What now?" Bakugo grunted waiting for the next twist in the story.
There was a knock on the double doors. All heads turned towards it. Tsukauchi rose from his feet, opened it, and gawked at what was on the other side.
"PAPA!" Melissa shouted and raced through the crowd of people to hug her father who took her in his arms and squeezed. "You're alive! You're safe!"
"Melissa… oh I'm so happy to see you." He kissed the top of her forehead, tears forming at the corners of his eyes. From the projector Karma smiled and crossed her arms.
"Thank you for your help, professor. I apologize for the brash way my crew uprooted you, but I appreciate your assistance in my affairs. Your debt to me is paid."
"Thank you, Izumi." He kept his daughter cradled to his arm. "I may have been a hostage… but even I have to admit that I feel accomplished after the work I've put in."
"As you should… oh, and you're more than welcome to share any information you want with the heroes. They should know what your part in the game was." She looked at her watch. "Speaking of which, Toga, Tomura said to stop goofing off and get your ass home. He's got a project for you when you return."
"What?" Aizawa glanced down, his eyes looking down and seeing the vice president was now tied up in the binds his voice muffled and head nodding towards the door. Toga was already making a break for it. "DAMN IT."
"Aww, don't feel too bad Sensei…" Karma stuck out her tongue and winked. "She's just that good."
The feed cut out… and off screen Karma checked the air as if to add another point to her tally.
"Rook takes knight… your turn, dear heroes."
~Ask Briry~
Briry: Whew… long chapter. Hope you all enjoyed it! We're getting to the nitty gritty, just two chapters to go!
Next Chapter: To Build or not to Build?
