Queen Karma
Summary: This is the Shigaraki Arc of my "Midori the Villain" series. The words "I love you" are three of the most powerful known to man. It was because of these three words that Karma was born, but it was also these three words that ultimately were the death of her.
Chapter 1: Loyalty
"Karma, I love you."
She had waited so long to hear those words from him. So many doubts and fears had weighed heavily on her heart… but to finally hear him say It aloud… Izumi couldn't contain her relief and her joy.
"I love you!" She cried it out as she raced to Tomura and clung onto him. "I love you so much, my King."
He'd chosen her, she thought with a smile. He'd chosen her over All for One. She was so happy, and so elated that she just clung onto him and cried.
"Sensei…" she heard him speak and felt his arms wrap tighter around her. "Kill him."
The happiness drained and she felt the cold truth of his words. She lifted her head, fear written all over her face.
"Tomura no!"
"As you wish…" All for One laughed and gave a little bow before turning towards his prey. "King Tomura."
"NO!" Karma screamed, fighting off Tomura's possessive hold. "TOUYA!"
"To hell with that!" Dabi sneered and raised his hand, literally fighting fire with fire as his own blast pushed up against All for One's and negated it. Smoke rose and embers sizzled on the ground adding a charred scent to the air. Dabi's blue eyes seemed to glow through them, and he spoke directly to Shigaraki "I'm not gonna die because of your petty jealousy! You wanna fight? Fine, then let's do it, but don't make this creep do all your work for you!"
He gave Shigaraki a come hither motion with his hands. Tomura sneered and he started to shove Izumi behind him.
"Stop it! Stop it right now, both of you!" Afraid, and angry, she gripped onto Shigaraki and held her free hand out towards Dabi "This is stupid! Why the hell are we fighting each other?" Hearing the fear in her own voice she lifted her head, refusing to let the tears welling up fall. "There's no need for it."
"Like hell there isn't!" Tomura shoved her arm away. "I don't trust him, Karma."
"You don't trust me, you mean." She scowled, and reached out to stroke his face. "Just like I didn't trust you." She stepped closer to him and gripped a fist into his shirt. "Even though I should have."
Shigaraki looked down at the hand on his shirt then back at her face. He clasped a gloved hand over hers, felt her trembling.
"Why didn't you?"
Karma questioned what to say to him...and just let the words in her own heart spill out.
"Because I was stupid, that's why. I'm young, Tomura. I may act like I know everything, but I don't. I'm still learning, still growing, and everything I feel for you is so huge and big and frankly… I was afraid."
"Um is now really the best time for you two to be getting into this?" Twice pointed out but then pulled out kleenex, tossing them at the other members. "So emotional! Pass the tissues."
"Shut up, Twice!" Shigaraki warned with a quick glare then turned back to his queen. "What are you afraid of Karma?"
When she didn't answer right away he gripped her shoulders and shook her.
"Tell me! What could possibly scare you to the point you'd seek another man for comfort?" He demanded.
"Him!" She motioned to All for One. All heads turned to the crime lord. "You idiot, can't you see how scared I am of him?"
"Oh ho…" All for One slow clapped. "You finally admit it."
"I know you hate him," Tomura spoke with a deadly calm. "...but why would that make you stray from my side? We thought he was dead, so explain."
"I strayed because you love him more than you love me." She sobbed it out, lowering her head as she couldn't hold the tears back any longer.
"What?" Tomura glared. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"Don't pretend you don't know!" She snapped back at him and clasped her hands over mouth as her emotions went wild. "Even after he was dead you still held his ideals over mine! Even after everything I did to help you gain power and allies, you still clung onto the image he created for you!"
Were the words she spoke truth or lies? Karma didn't know anymore. All she knew was that her heart was being torn apart, and it was All for One's fault. Shr had to find away to pry off the leash, she had to free Tomura from his grasp of any of then had any chance of surviving. Her mind whirled, and she tried hard to keep the panic under control but could feel it slipping away due to her fear and desperation.
"I was naive and selfish enough to believe that killing him would break his hold on you. I'd hoped that by helping you take control of the league that you'd come to see the world through my eyes. Foolish…" she clenched her fists and lifted her head again showing her tears. "That man's like a father to you. He's someone you relied on since you were just a kid, how could I possibly erase all those years with him? It doesn't matter how much I love you, because the respect and love you have for him is stronger."
"Karma…" Tomura's voice softened.
"It didn't surprise me at all when you started to hurt me. I'd taken the only real father You loved and spent most of my time with the heroes you'd been taught to despise. You slapped me, beat me, screamed and yelled at me for the smallest of things, and I accepted it because deep inside I knew I deserved to be punished."
Oh she was good, All for One thought with a smirk. Her brain had akways impressed him, but what was truly remarkable was her ability to assess and understand many different ties of personalities and people. Still she would have to do better. The years he spent manipulating and enforcing his bag habits were not just gonna disappear with a few pretty words.
"The longer we stayed together, the more I realized I was manipulating you just like he was. I'd become the monster I tried to save you from and I was afraid all over again. I was afraid that one day you'd realize what I was fling and either kill me or toss me aside. I began to question my own feelings, my choices, and it left me broken and unstable."
She glanced over at Dabi. Her eyes warning him not to interfere or interject what she was saying.
"Dabi knew that I was suffering… so he offered to comfort me, to help me regain control… and like the weak, and pathetic woman that I am, I accepted it. Even though I knew I was adding onto my list of betrayals I desperately grabbed onto him, because I was afraid of exactly what's happening now." She lowered her head. "...but it needs to stop. I won't have Dabi be punished for my lack of trust and loyalty. I don't love him, I never did. He was merely someone I used to cover my weaknesses."
Dabi grit his teeth and clutched a hand over his heart that twisted in his chest. Even if Izumi was lying, the words she spoke were like daggers in his heart.
"You're saying the only reason you slept with him was because you thought I didn't love you, and I resented you for killing sensei?" Tomura questioned, earning a nod from izumi.
"Yes… you may not believe me but-"
"I do believe you..." He told her simply and had her gasping and slowly lifting her head to meet his gaze. His gloved fingers gently wiped away her tears. "...but where do your loyalties lie now that I've told you that I love you?"
"With you…" she let out a shaky breath of relief. "Always with you. I'll never doubt your love again. I swear to it."
"Good. Now the question is what to do with him?" He eyed Dabi.
"A valid point, King Tomura. For if Dabi's nothing more than a tool to Karma, then what difference does it make if he's dead?" All for One questioned, putting doubt on Izumi's claim.
"He's a powerful ally… it'd be foolish and stupid to lose such an important piece to the game simply because I felt weak and insecure." Karma followed up, doing her best to keep the spite out of her voice. To emphasize her words, Karma went to her knees and bowed Dogeza style at Tomura's feet. "If anyone should be punished it's me. I take full responsibility for my misdeeds against the Master, and to you My King."
"Well now…" All eyes turned to All for One as he stepped in closer and placed a hand over the kneeling girl. "I'm glad to see that you finally realize your mistake, Karma. It is indeed foolish to pry a father away from his son, and betray his trust like that." All for One looked to Tomura. "Now then, Shigaraki Tomura… how shall we punish your queen?"
Tomura stayed silent for a long moment as he contemplated that very thing. Someone needed to be held responsible for their actions and be punished. While his head screamed to follow through his original order… his heart said differently.
He didn't want to punish Karma. Despite all she'd done and said he didn't take any real satisfaction in hurting the woman he loved. Every time he'd beat her, yelled at her… it wasn't because he'd wanted to. He'd done it, because it was the only way he knew how to force someone to his submission.
His father did the same thing, and Tomura hated him for it.
He didn't want Karma to hate him. She was his everything. His strength, his courage… he'd learned so much being by her side. She gave him clarity and salvation, and he wanted to be with her always. Which was why he'd been so bitter about sharing her with Dabi and felt threatened by those that could take her away from him.
It was because of his jealousy and bitterness that Karma doubted his feelings for her. It was his disobedience, and selfish acts that broke Karma's trust and made her seek comfort in the arms of another man who treated her like the queen she was.
Well no more… He wouldn't let Dabi, or anyone else take what belonged to him.
"Stand, Karma." He held his hand out for hers. Hesitantly she took it and stumbled to her feet. Immediately Tomura pulled her against him and whispered into her ear. "Let's go home."
"Yeah…" Relieved, tired, and sedated from the excitement and emotional roller coaster they'd just been on, Karma sighed. "Okay."
"Lets go Dabi…" Tomura glanced back at his subordinate. "We're done here."
"Uh…" Dabi gave a wary look to All for One before following. "Okay."
All for One stood stunned for a moment. These weren't the actions he'd expected Tomura to take. Confused, he slowly turned his body as Tomura and the other grouped together.
"Where are you going, Tomura? You don't have to worry about any hero reinforcements." He motioned around them. "I can handle any distractions that may present themselves."
"No doubt you can, but I've decided to take Karma home. She has wounds that need to be treated." Tomura explained.
"Do you plan to publicize it later then? The world should witness Karma's punishment." All for One started to feel an uncomfortable itch between his shoulder blades. Something was off, something was wrong? What did this child have in mind?
"I'm not punishing her, Master." Tomura stopped and turned his head back to All for One. "I'm forgiving her."
"What?" The question came out slow, confused, and irritable.
"I see no need to punish her, when you've already beat her half to death." Wary of his master's actions, Tomura motioned Toga to take Karma. Toga obliged, resisting the urge to lick at Karma's bleeding wounds. "I'm forgiving her for her actions, and taking her home to heal."
"You're forgiving her after everything she's done to you; Betraying your trust, usurping your power, manipulating you and your allies?"
"Yes I am… because without Karma I would have no allies. In fact I doubt I would have any power at all. It was her hard work and influence that-"
"Do not believe the lies she's told you. That girl has no power without you! She's manipulating you, Tomura Shigaraki."
"Just as you have done all my life?" Tomura could see it now, see the selfishness and control in his master's words. Karma had been right all along.
"Our goals are the same: to make All Might suffer, and to kill him. Unlike her I can give you power and you'd have full control of it all. You wouldn't have to subdue to a woman's rule, or be dragged down by her weakness."
"Weakness is it?" He scoffed. "She killed Endeavor, not by plan or design, but by sheer rage and power. She killed Stain who was a notorious murderer, and someone far more experienced and tenacious than she is. She is the first villain to ever infiltrate I-Island and walk away with billions of dollars worth of stolen goods. Finally it was her who brought All Might to his knees and showed the world his true face. It took her months to accomplish what you couldn't do with years of planning!"
"Watch your tongue boy… you may be a son to me but-"
"I'm not your son!" He snapped at him cutting an arm through the air. "I had a father… a father I despised but a father nonetheless. He's dead, my whole family is dead because I let my anger, fear and rage control me…" he glanced back at his band of misfit members and cracked an awkward smile. "...but now i've got a new family; people who actually accept me for who I am. I won't tear it apart by killing Karma just because you feel threatened by her."
"You're being foolish Tomura." All for One warned in a low dangerous tone. "There is no place for you and your broken family in this world. That kind of ideology is farce."
"Not yet there's not… but that's precisely why we're working so hard to change that. My so-called broken family and I will change the world, and find our place in it. Mark my words, I will make that a reality."
He bowed to him.
"Thank you for all that you've done… but this is where we must say goodbye."
"She's corrupted you far worse than I could have ever imagined." He waited a beat before speaking again. "... What of All Might? Are you going to forgive him as well?"
Tomura glanced at the crumpled hero… his grin spread a little too wide and too happy.
"He's right where I want him… trapped and suffering under his own helplessness just as we were. Giving him death would only relieve that suffering." He tilted his head as the sounds of reinforcements ring in his ears. "I hear sirens… I suggest you leave too Master. Would want you to wind up in Tartarus."
"You're making a mistake in letting him go, Tomura. His reign will not end with him. Someone will rise in his place and you'll have to start all over again."
"If you're so anxious to kill him, than do it yourself." He turned his back to him. "Let's go Kurogiri."
"Yes Shigaraki…" Kurogiri opened his warp gate and one by one the League of Villains entered. Karma stalled and ushered Toga ahead of her. She waited until she was the last one to step through before turning to All for One. The man stood still like a Statue between the warp and All Might.
"You should be happy, All for One." She wheezed out and smirked. "He's finally becoming his own man, making his own decisions. A pity that his goals don't match yours."
"For now… but I have confidence that he'll soon see through your facade. You don't love him, you never did."
"You're wrong about that." She smiled. "After what he did tonight… I don't see how I could possibly love anyone but him." She bowed slow and careful. "Thank you for your lesson, Sensei. I'll be sure to take it to heart."
She stepped through the warp, leaving All for One alone with All Might and Tsukauchi. The villain sighed as he heard rocks shift and All Might stand tall and mighty, the remote to the bindings in his hands.
"How long have you had that?" All for One wondered.
"Since Karma's confession. She was stalling, giving me ample time to get free. That girl has the heart of a hero after all." He dropped it and crushed it under foot. "Now then, All for One… I believe we have unfinished business."
"In your pathetic state? I doubt there's anything you can do to me." He raised a hand, gathering power into his arm.
"We shall see about that." All Might raised his fists… and for the last time, the two arch-nemesis clashed.
~Ask Briry~
Bri: Sorry took so long for me to get this out, but I'm happy how it turned out! Hope you're looking forward to more!
Next Chapter: A New Plan