Chapter 3: To Break You
The scream wrenched from Marlya's throat was so guttural and fear filled, tears were pouring down her cheeks as she watched her Mother collapse in the genken. The man that was standing behind her Mother, his arm still up with a smoking handgun in his grasp, a malicious grin on his scarred, pocked face.
Marlya's fear filled glare settled on the giant man, she hated this man for what he did to her Mother, it was liquid fire running through her veins. Something just clicked in her mind, she screamed at the man again, willing him to go away. To just disappear. The limbus rings around her pupils began to glow the iridescent lilac.
In that moment the man realised that something wrong was happening to him, looking down at the hand holding the gun he saw purple cracks form on his skin. Felt his body inflating grotesquely, his skin expanding from the purple cracks. All in the span of a few seconds, he went to scream but instead he exploded into a shower of blood and gore. Covering the entry hallway in crimson, the unconscious form of Mariko and young Marlya. Who just stood there, her eyes wide in terror at what just occurred.
Lifting her hands to in front of her, shoulders heaving with fast breaths, Marlya was starting to hyperventilate. Going into shock form what just happened, with blood still dripping down her face. Her ears flattened against her head, tail firmly in between her legs. Marlya could taste the mans blood in her mouth as she swallowed before letting out a high pitched scream.
She was beyond tired, just witnessed her mother being shot, a man exploding in front of her and the possibility of her father being dead. Marlya's mind was in utter chaos.
"My, my, my." A gravelly voice called as they came down the stairs, their heavy footsteps drawing Marlya's attention from the spot where the man who shot her mother was, "This is quite the mess we have here. Isn't it?" Mirth filled his voice.
All Marlya could manage to do was stare at the man, she didn't know how much more fear she could take. He was a giant compared to her, a Goliath. One arm covered in blood, the scent told her, it was her fathers.
Her eyes widened a fraction, her vision started playing tricks on her. All she saw was the hulking shadow from her prophecy with that fiery grin. Marlya started shaking violently, her fear was overwhelming, almost tangible in the air surrounding her. The fierce glow of her limbus rings in her eyes, were glaring daggers into the goliaths form, but they started dimming as the exhaustion from making the man disappear before took over.
Torn asunder from hearth and home. The words kept repeating in her mind, she knew this is what it was warning about, what was to happen in this moment.
Marlya gripped her head hard, her small claws digging into the soft flesh causing her to bleed fresh blood over the top of the blood already covering her. Renewed tears flowing down her face, leaving tracks through the gore. She collapsed in on herself, crying and shaking as the terror of reality set in.
At five years old, she witnessed her mother be shot, she had killed a man and she could smell her fathers blood on the Goliath in front of her. Everything was crumbling around her and her mind just couldn't take another second of it. Her eyes glazed over and she just stopped.
"Well then." The apathy dripped from All For One's voice, "I think the asset is in shock."
He looked down at the small child, she was no longer present. The lights were on but no one was home. If he were a different man, he would feel sorry for the girl. But he wasn't a different man, in fact her being this way made it all the more easier for him to collect her.
Before All For One could move to grab the child, he heard Lamprict's limping steps down the stairs behind him.
"We may want to move this show along, old friend." The doctor informed him, "Our dear friend Hiroshi, managed to call someone before we made our grand entrance. The call was still going when I found the phone." Lamprict wet his lips before he continued, "Safe to say that heroes are inbound."
All For One felt annoyance at that, a slither of frustration and a hint of exasperation. Of course Hiroshi would have one of his hero friends on speed dial.
"That truly is a shame." All For One stepped forward, taking slow long strides towards Marlya on the ground, "I did want to drag this out a little. Contact Kurogiri, we are going to need to make a quick exit."
"Already done."
All For One took the final step, down into the genken. As he bent down, reaching for Marlya. Her eyes snapped to the hand invading her space, her immediate reaction was screaming and slapping the hand away.
"NOOOO!" She screeched, as she tried to back pedal away from the hand! "DON'T TOUCH ME!"
That did not deter All For One in the slightest, his hand engulfed the entirety of her upper arm. Marlya tried to thrash out of his hand, screaming incoherent words, using her bloodied claws trying to rend his flesh with her other hand. His grip tightened to almost bone crushing, another scream tore from her throat, the bloodied tears flowing down her face once again.
Marlya bared her teeth at the man that was gripping her, as she lunged forward with the intent to bite his arm, or anything that was within reach. All For Ones other hand snapped out, gripping her throat in a tight hold, stopping the air from reaching her lungs. A choking whimper escaped her mouth, immediately, desperately trying to breathe. Her eyes unfocused on the shadow Goliath in front of her, seeing the man for what he truly looked like instead, the mask that replaced the fiery grin, the blank stare of the eyeless face.
The dark crept in on her vision and she was out cold.
"She's a little fighter, ain't she?" He asked out loud to no one in particular, "I believe we will be able to hone her into a wonderful weapon against the heroes." He looked down at his newly bleeding arm, where her claws managed to connect. The flowing blood dripping down into the genken.
"I believe she will become a wonderful weapon." Lamprict agreed, he himself bent down to where Mariko was unconscious and picked her up, tossing her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
All For one now picked up the unconscious Marlya, laying her head roughly against his shoulder and setting her legs on his wounded arm. Almost like a cradle propping her up.
As he stood up, a dark purple mist came into existence just outside the front door of the Shiikage residence. A tall silhouette formed from the mist, of a man wearing a bar tenders fit, with a silver brace around his neck. Purple mist made up the mans body and the only features on his face were that of two golden slits that were his eyes.
"Master." The rich baritone voice greeted from the mist man.
"Ahhh, Kurogiri. Right on time." All For One responded, "We have got what we came for."
Kurogiri simply nodded and opened a portal back to their base. Stepping aside so the two men in front of him can pass through before he followed.
Just before he followed, he spied a shadow leaping over the property fence, not getting a proper look. He waited a moment, then seeing a disheveled man with golden goggles adorning his face, a scarf wrapped around his neck and wearing a black jumpsuit.
Kurogiri grimaced to himself seeing the hero, then stepped through the portal, following his Master and the Doctor.
"NOOOOOO!" A gravelly voice yelled, he tried activating his quirk to stop them from leaving, but he was mere seconds too late.
—tBtbaH—
Elsewhere
At the time Hiroshi called
A lanky man standing atop of a residence building in the shadier part of the city, watching, waiting for a villain to pop their head out and try something.
This man, is a Pro Hero, currently on patrol in the middle of the night.
He looked fairly disheveled for a Pro Hero, but that's how he looks, he isn't a daytime Pro. That's there for the reporters and fans. He was an underground hero, one that works in the shadows and catches some of the more nefarious Villains that grace the world with their presence.
The man in question, dressed in his hero gear. Gold goggles sat around his neck, on top of the bundled scarf. He was wearing a black jumpsuit as well with a utility belt that sat on his hips, that had many pockets to house various items.
As he stepped up to the edge of the building, his phone started vibrating in one of the many pockets. Reaching down the Hero grabbed his phone out of one of these many pockets, glancing at the screen. It displayed 'The Alchemist' a nickname for one of his closer friends from high school, Hiroshi Shiikage.
Pressing the accept button and lifting the phone up to his ear, going to greet his friend.
"Hel-" he begun, but was interrupted immediately,
"Potential Code Re—" his friend stammered out before he heard the sound of wood breaking in the background, then Hiroshi stammering out, "A-all For O-one…"
A squelch of flesh being rendered then a scream came from the phone, the hero heard the phone land on the ground.
His eyes widened as fear for his friend set in. He could hear a muffled conversation starting and screams from his friend.
He quickly looked down at his phone, not hanging up but switching to text, he texted his other best friend to immediately contact any heroes in the area and send them to the Shiikage residence ASAP.
Chucking the phone onto loud speaker, set it back into one of the pockets on his utility belt, then started running in the direction of his friends home. If he didn't stop, or get distracted he would be there in twenty minutes.
About ten minutes into the dead sprint, the hero could barely make out the sounds of a dying groan. Assuming the worst, he would arrive at the household with expectations of Hiroshi not being there to greet him.
His breath was coming in heavy, he hadn't had to run and traverse this hard in a while, he wasn't anywhere near tired. It was more of the fear for his friend affecting him.
Then he heard some rustling through the phone, a beep followed signifying that the call was ended.
The thoughts racing through his mind, begging for his friend to be okay and to not end up like Shirakumo, who had died during high school in one of his Work Studies.
He was running on auto pilot, whilst his thoughts were consuming him. Deciding to steel his heart, preparing for the worst possible situation. The property was in his sight now, and he could see a purple mist at the front door, covering it.
The hero cleared the fence and started running across the grass to the front door, lifting his goggles up across his eyes, he was ready to activate his quirk. But as he lifted his gaze, the portal was gone.
All that remained was the view into the entrance hallway.
"NOOOOOO!" His tired voice yelled out, his arm outstretched with his scarf ready to attack.
He was too late, just mere moments too late.
Pulling his goggles back down in frustration, he ripped his phone out of the pocket he left it in.
Bringing up the contact list, calling his best friend 'Squawker'.
The ringing only lasted all of a second before they answered.
"Shota!" A screech blasted from the speaker, Shota held it away from his ear, wincing at the loudness his friend screamed.
"Hizashi." Shota calmly spoke into the receiver, "It is unnecessary to blow my eardrums when I call you."
"Sho, seriously!" Hizashi said quieter, but still yelling all the same, "When I receive a text about a code red! I get kinda worried!" The pitch gradually climbed until he was screeching again at the end.
"Now, did you make it? Is Hiro-kun okay?" He continued much more levelled than the previous volumes,
Shota sighed heavily, "Honestly 'Zashi… I don't think I did. I got here as this purple portal thing closed and was gone." Shota pinched the bridge of his nose, willing for at least some kind of better outcome than what was being presented,
"Well.." Hizashi started slowly on the other end of the phone, "At least we have one thing going for us."
"And what's that?"
"It's a full moon." He stated, reminding his friend, "Mariko would be there, as well as Marlya, since she got her quirk."
Shota's eyes widened a bit, looking at the genken he stood in front of, just outside the door. Seeing the old gym bag to the side of the genken, one that he knew was Mariko's. Turning he looked at the stand alone garage, he could see her car from here.
"'Zashi…" he began slowly, "I don't think they were at the gathering. Mariko's car is here, so is her bag. But it's absolutely covered in blo-" Shota cut himself off, as he looked up from the entrance, looking at the rest of the entrance. It was absolutely covered in blood and gore. As he entered through the door, a piece of bone dropped from the ceiling and landed in one of the puddles of bloody mush on the floor.
Shota was at a loss for words, he couldn't even comprehend what could've made this kind of mess. Let alone think about if it was one of the Shiikage members. "Sho?" His eyes kept scanning further into the hall, taking careful steps. The gore covered most of the entrance and halfway up the staircase. "Sho?!" Looking down he saw a gun sitting there, off to the left of the epicentre in the gore. Squatting down, he grabbed one of the shoes from the genken and pushed it around.
"SHOTA!" Hizashi yelled, startling Shota from what he was inspecting,
"Sorry, sorry." Shota drawled apologetically,
"Just.." Shota sighed heavily, looking back up at the mess around him, "The entrance hall is covered in blood, amongst other things." Standing up from where he was, he looked up the stairs, "Found a hand gun too, that is seemingly at the centre of it."
Hizashi was silent on the other end of the line, apparently he too was at a loss for words. What could explain this kind of mess?
"I'm going to head upstairs, see what I can find up there." Shota informed his friend.
When he heard a grunt of acknowledgement in return from Hizashi, Shota started up the stairs carefully. Avoiding the bigger puddles of blood in attempts of not slipping. It was a slow journey but once he reached the part of the stairs that had no blood, he continued up normally.
Shota looks down briefly at his phone tapping the loud speaker icon, then settling it back into one of his many pockets.
Upon reaching the top, he immediately turned to the right, seeing a closed door with Marlya written on a wooden plate adorning it.
Shota opened the door a fraction, peering through the gap he created to see if there was anyone in the room and no one was in the darkened room. Opening the door fully and striding in, gazing around to see if anything was disturbed.
He had visited often enough to know that Marlya kept her room extremely tidy, everything had a place and there was order. Casting his gaze to the bed immediately, he noted it was made, then to the desk. The desk caught his eye immediately. The photo frames on the desk were laying face down, with their backs removed and photos missing.
"Hizashi?" Shota asked, making sure his friend was still on the other end,
"I'm still here. Just driving over to Hi-kuns' now." Hizashi answered,
"I'm in Marlya's room currently," he informed, "The only things disturbed from the looks of it, are her photos. They've been removed from their frames."
He could imagine Hizashi's eyebrows scrunching up in confusion, "That's odd."
"Mmm." He hummed in agreement.
Turning on his foot, Shota left Marlya's room. Heading down the hall to Hiroshi's study, he could already see there was forced entry on the door frame. Being that the frame was practically shattered. The door itself hanging from the hinges.
Once he got to the threshold of the room, he saw the carnage of Hiroshi's body on the far side of the room.
"Hiroshi…" he breathed in sharply, not believing what he saw, but he knew it was real.
"What is it Sho?" He could hear the concern in Hizashi's voice,
"I found Hiroshi's body." He stated coldly, he had to steel his emotions.
"Fuck." Hizashi growled, "Look I'll be there soon Sho. Hang up and make sure police are on there way if they're not there yet."
Shota grunted an agreement, fishing his phone out the pockets to hang up whilst walking over to the none bloodied side of the room by the window. Looking out he could see that no heroes, nor any police were there.
Looking back down at the phone, he speed dialed the police.
"We have a break and enter, murder and possible kidnapping situation." Shota relayed to the person on the other end, giving the Shiikage residence address as well.
Hanging up on the phone with the assurance police will be there shortly. Knowing the Hizashi would be here before them. He turned back to Hiroshi's body.
He could see there were puncture wounds on his left shoulder, one of them tearing up and through the bone. His eyes travelled across his deceased friends body, seeing the hole through his chest. Blood still dripping sluggishly through the hole.
His friend would've been dead for all of ten minutes, minimum.
Kicking himself mentally for not getting here quickly enough, Shota looked form the body, eyes crossing the room to see if anything else was disturbed.
Again he noticed that all the photo frames were face down, backs missing and photos taken.
What logical reason would they have, to take the photos from their frames? He questioned himself.
Turning from the frames on the bookshelves, he walked back out of the study, inspecting the other rooms for any signs of forced entry.
But he could almost assume that they used the portal that he saw when he arrived, to get into the house without alerting anyone.
The big question was, where was Marlya and Mariko?
Walking back down the stairs, being careful once he reached the blood soaked parts. He went out to go out the front, but accidentally kicked the gym bag that was sitting in the genken.
Looking down at the bag, Shota noticed that Mariko's keys were resting on top of the bag, although they were covered in blood as well.
So Mariko was home, Shota thought, That would mean Marlya would've been home too.
Shota walked away from the bag, out the front door and towards the stand alone garage. To the car that was parked in front of the roller door.
The fact that Mariko didn't take the time to park the car in the garage itself, stood out to Shota.
Walking round the front of the car, he put his hand out to the hood of the engine. Feeling that the engine was still cooling down, they literally only got home five minutes before he got there.
Why would they kill Hiroshi? Shota thought deeply, a hand raising to scratch at his stubble, But take Mariko and Marlya. What did Hiroshi hide from us? We know Marlya got her quirk, taking after her mother.
Turning back to the house, Shota came to the conclusion that something may be on Hiroshi's phone.
Stopping before even taking a step, he turned to the sound of crunching gravel and a quiet engine.
Hizashi was here.
—tBtbaH—
Somewhere Underground
Through the Portal
Kurogiri exited out the other side of himself, into the darkened room behind the Doctor and his Master. A young boy was sitting in the room, waiting where Kurogiri had left him, for them.
The young boy in question, had a shaggy head of white blue hair, that looked like he had dry skin. The wide eyed boy was just staring at the group, he truly hadn't settled into the place yet but he listened to Kurogiri. Whom was his caretaker.
"Nee," The boy started, "Kurogiri?"
"Yes Tomura?" His smooth voice asked gently,
"Who's that?" Tomura pointed at the unconscious girl in All For Ones' grasp,
Kurogiri raised his gaze from Tomura, turning his head looking at his Master. Eyes dropping the the black haired girl.
"That's the new asset. Her civilian name was Marlya." Kurogiri informed his charge, "Her new name will be given to her in time, as was done with you Tomura."
Tomura's eyes glittered as he looked at the girl and the new prospects he thought of.
"Will she be my friend?" He asked his carer excitedly,
Kurogiri looked down to Tomura almost fondly, this was the reason he was made for, "I believe we can make some arrangements with the Master." He said softly.
"Kurogiri." All For One commanded, "Take us to the laboratory."
Kurogiri simply nodded and opened a portal next to them, that they walked through promptly. He turned to his charge, "Wait here Tomura. We will return shortly."
The small boy nodded his head at Kurogiri, remaining where he was waiting previously.
Kurogiri nodded back at the boy, and let himself be taken through his own portal. He would wait for All For One and Lamprict, until they wanted to return to the headquarters.
Lamprict had thrown Mariko's unconscious body haphazardly onto the medical table to one side of the room, whilst All For One was placing Marlya on another table that was in the centre of the room. Adjusting straps for her small body, he cuffed her arms out to the sides and above her head tightly. As well as cuffing her ankles to the table as well, to minimise her movement for when she woke up. An additional strap was over her head
He was planning to wake her up soon, so she could watch was to occur. The table itself was able to be moved vertically, with a perfect view of where her Mother would be presented.
Although what he didn't expect to hear, was the rasping groan from the previously unconscious form of Mariko. Her hands began moving to her head, rubbing her eyes and massaging her temples. Then moving to prop herself up on the table that she was left on.
Turning her heavy head towards the rest of the room, she observed that they were in some kind of laboratory. But as her eyes travelled further, they settled on her daughter, that was strapped down. And the man in front of Marlya, with his head turned towards Mariko. Watching her, even though the man had no eyes.
Her mind flashed back to after high school, when her best friend Toshinori confided in her where he got his quirk and what that entailed.
"All For One." Her voice was like steel, although she was terrified, her glare settled on him,
"What a fiery gaze Mariko." His velvet voice chuckled, "It truly has been a long time since we have been acquainted."
Her muscles tensed, preparing to launch at the vile man.
"I wouldn't do that Mariko." Another voice announced to the right, her eyes darted over to the other man in the room. The voice was vaguely familiar.
"Lamprict?!" She growled, her claws piercing her palms as she clenched her fists, "You. This is all your fault!"
Her sights now set on the man she once knew, one of Hiroshi's old workmates that was fired a long time ago due to his unorthodox experimentations. The whole reason they kept Marlya's second quirk a secret. It hadn't even been 24 hours since Marlya's second quirk awakened. Was Lamprict watching the house that closely?
A deadly growl that started in Mariko's chest, she was furious at this man in front of her. Forget All For One, Lamprict was truly diabolical. Holding that grudge for years. Was he truly banking on Marlya awakening a quirk similar to Hiroshi's?
Unbeknownst to Mariko as she launched towards Lamprict, All For One had picked up a scalpel from a nearby tray and started cutting down from Marlya's eyebrow straight across her right eye, down to the top of her cheekbone. The pain from that awoke Marlya, a guttural scream wrenching from her stomach. Her immediate reaction was to turn her head, but that just made the cut worse, it tore across the bridge of her nose to the other side of her face. Tears were pouring from her eyes, mixing in with the thick blood, as another scream tore from her mouth.
Mariko stopped in her blind rage, turning to where Marlya was crying and bleeding. Seeing the open wound upon her daughters face, she froze.
"As you see Mariko." All For One begun calmly, "We do have the means for you to cooperate with us." He turned from Marlya to look at her Mother.
He could see Mariko was still frozen in horror at what happened to her daughter, that her fists were clenched and shaking at her side.
Just behind Mariko he could see that Lamprict had a feral grin on his face, knowing that he had succeeded in his plans.
"If you don't want your daughter to hurt more, then come." He gestured to the table in front of Marlya, "Make yourself comfortable on this table for Marlya."
At her name, Marlya attempted to open her eyes to see what was happening. She managed to open her left a bit, but her right was searing with white hot pain. She didn't understand what was happening, why she was hurting, just that she was here and her mother as well.
As she focused with her blurry left eye, she saw the Goliath from before she passed out. Marlya could feel her body start to tremble at the sight of him, her eye going wide with fear and new tears sprung from them. Stinging when they leaked from her cut closed eye.
Mariko stiffly walked up to the table in front of Marlya, she couldn't help stealing a glance at her daughter. She stopped for a moment, seeing the fear filled gaze of Marlya's one eye that was set upon All For One. Her ears were pinned against her head and tail was trembling on the surface of the table she was strapped against. Fresh blood coating the already dried blood from before Mariko awoke.
Turning towards the table, she lifted herself on it and started softly, "Mar-chan…" Mariko looked over to her daughter, her own tears springing to her eyes.
Marlya's eye snapped towards her Mothers', seeing the tears leaking from her eyes, the fear in them.
"Everything will be okay Mar-chan." A watery smile graced Marikos face, in hopes of soothing her daughter.
"Okaa…san…" a croaky voice responded, Marlya's tears renewed at her mother's soft voice.
"That is too sweet Mariko." All For One started, "Now lay down with your head towards your child." The tone in his voice left no room for argument.
Mariko complied, her eyes leaving Marlya's for just a moment as she laid down on the table. She turned her gaze back up to Marlya, knowing that these were her last few moments with her daughter.
In that moment, All For One stepped between the two sharing the right last gaze. Marlya felt his large hand sit on her head, she couldn't help but look up at him in fear of what he was planning to do. His hand engulfed the top of her head, making her feel smaller than ever. Feeling her ears twitch against his giant hand as he pressed them down slightly, All For One gazed down to Marlya, meeting her fear filled gaze. He smiled beneath his mask, relishing the fear he was bringing forth from the girl.
He reached forth grasping Marikos head, his hand fitting between her ears, again feeling the twitch of fur from her ears similarly to Marlya.
That's when he started using his quirk, electric light engulfed his hand that was on Mariko's head. Instead of pulling her quirk straight into himself, he was just a mere conduit between Mariko and Marlya. He could feel that Mariko was fighting, and could see it on her pain filled face.
As her quirk started entering Marlya, her cacophony of screams bounced off the walls of the room they were within.
This went on for another ten minutes, before the only noise heard from Marlya was rasping and groans. Even though she was in the most pain she'd ever been in her life, she was still conscious.
On the other hand, Mariko was now out cold and her quirk was no longer being held as tightly, which in turn was making it all the more easier for All For One to extract it.
Extracting it from someone who had put up a fight, there was a higher chance of the person dying. But that truly didn't matter to him. The only one that matters out of the two is Marlya.
His new plaything.
"The brand is ready Old Friend." Lamprict then stated to All For One,
"Excellent," He chuckled, "We shall wait until the transfer is over, then we will brand it."
Lamprict nodded and turned back to the open flame in front of him, where the iron that was twisted into a set of numbers was currently sitting. Even though the Dr was the one to bring this child to All For Ones attention, he's only allowed to observe how her quirk handles being forced to house more than what was born with. All For One had control over everything else about the child.
All Lamprict truly wanted to do, was his own experiments on her. But that's the way it is, he would've been more likely to kill her with the experiments he had planned and All For One didn't want to waste such a valuable resource in his war against the heroes.
It also helped that the child has a close relationship with his arch nemesis; All Might, the current wielder of One For All.
As All For One finished the transfer, Mariko's body was deathly pale, her lips turning blue and her eyes half lidded and vacant. Marlya on the other hand was a much healthier shade, although she was covered in blood and still crying. She looked much more alive than her mother.
She was panting hard with sweat pouring down her brow, she was barely aware of anything else other than how hot she felt. She prayed and prayed to the kami, for some sort of release from this immense, internal pain she was experiencing in her body. It felt like a war was waging within the confines of her body. The sensation of searing hot needles beneath her skin, the way her muscles twitched and made everything hurt ten times more.
She felt her head fall further forward, as the strap across her forehead was released. The blood rushing to the spot where the strap rested, renewed her tears pouring from her eyes. The cut she received earlier no longer hurt because in the perspective of the pain she was feeling currently, was nothing in comparison.
The strap across her chest was released next to be released, Marlya's body slumped forward only so far before her arms that were still strapped against the table, held her up. She could feel the pressure in her shoulders from holding her dead weight, the burn slowly climbing. Still nothing in comparison to the whole body pain from what All For One did to her. But the climbing pain in her shoulders was being amplified by her muscles being stretched, a grimace was building on her face.
She vaguely felt her hair being brushed to the sides of her neck, revealing the nape. It was then, Marlya knew she was in unbearable pain. White hot searing began, she opened her mouth in a silent rasping scream. Eyes wide, with her limbus rings glowing fuzzily.
"There." All For One stated, satisfied with his work, "Now it's official. You're mine now."
Her brain didn't even catch the words he said, black spots were crawling across her vision as she slipped from consciousness.
"You are not longer Marlya child." He continued, "You will be known from now on as…0119."
—tBtbaH—
9 Years Later
Hosu District
It was raining heavily as a hooded, robe clad figure walked through the backstreets of the Hosu district. This was the red light district, soft red and yellow hues filled the misty street. Some blue mixed in to from the neon signs.
Their pitch black robe absorbed the lights around them, the rain wasn't soaking in since it had been treated to repel water. The top of the hooded robe had ear hoods too, with a hole cut out at the front, to enable the hearing of whoever is wearing it to work to their full capacity as well as keeping the water out.
Maan, the figure thought to themselves, what a dreary night.
They pulled the hood down, revealing a pure white canine face of a wolf. They turned their snout up to the sky, and closed their eyes. The rain immediately soaking into their fur. Breathing in the surrounding scents, majority of them were masked heavily by the rain. The most prominent was the mating musk that humans would reek of in the area.
They closed their muted mauve eyes, savouring the cool water running down through their fur.
The canine had a harsh scar running down across their right eye, then travelling at a harsh angle across the snout. Another scar running down the right side of their snout down into the fluff of fur on their neck.
They had been taking their time making their way to the mission location. Lifting a clawed hand, they played with a pendant that hung around their neck like a collar. Running a claw along the circle, tracing the lines that intersected. L-O-V. The letters all on top of one another, creating the symbol in the pendant.
The smell of males invaded their sense, they wanted to get out of the Red District in Hosu as soon as possible.
It's no wonders Master wants this gang dealt with… they thought to themselves, chuffing out their nose to clear the filthy scent away as quickly as they could.
They thought back…
"Kemono."
It looked up, their dull mauve eyes cast downwards, but their scarred ears pricked in the direction of the one that called. They were in a quadrupedal form of a panther, laying down at the edge of the darkened room, currently stripping the meat off a bone with their barbed tongue.
"Yes, Master." Even though Beast spoke in return to their Masters voice, it was more projected from their mind.
"I have a new task for you to do for me tonight." Master started, "There's a gang in Hosu that I want you to deal with. They are more trouble than they are worth."
Beast had stopped licking the bone between their giant paws and turned their eyes towards their Master, "How would you like for me to deal with them Master? Publicly or discreetly?" They asked.
"Efficiently." Master answered shortly, "Whatever way you deem necessary Beast."
It was a rare occasion for them to be surprised, and they masked it well. They could tell their Master wasn't going to continue and he didn't specifically tell them to make sure they return.
Could this truly be my one chance? They thought to themselves, I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth and take this chance.
They rose to their full height, 5ft5 at the shoulder. The sleek fur only partially marred by the stains of blood from the meat they were eating. Turning to pad out the room, they smoothly shifted from the form of a panther, to that of a bipedal wolf. Their fluffy chest puffed out with maturing fur covered breasts, still having the blood stains from before the shift. The long fluffy fur of their cascaded as the tail lashed in muted excitement.
"I'll make sure it is dealt with promptly," The started with a toothy grinning, turning their head back, "Master."
Coming back to themselves as they finished remembering, a quick glance around Beast noticed they were on auto pilot just walking to their destination.
A quick sniff of the air told Beast they were close to the gangs hideout. But another scent caught their attention. Multiple other scents, strategically placed around the warehouse that was the location of the gang.
They pinpointed the nearest scent to be on the roof of the building next to them. A male at that.
Turning towards the building, Beast crouched down and leapt silently up the wall. Their claws barely marring the surface with each powerful stride. Even though the wall was slick with water, they never lost a step and made it to the roof without alerting the male that was up there.
Beast turned their head, ears atop flicking back and forth listening intently, they could hear chatter on the ear piece the person was wearing.
If they were anyone else, they would of missed the person hidden in the shadows of the roof, he was dressed in a full black jumpsuit with an off white scarf hanging around his neck.
"Excuse me." Beast said softly, sure he would hear them.
He tensed up, not expecting someone to be so close behind them. They could see that the mans body was preparing to launch an attack at them.
"Please." Beast continued, their voice sterner, "Don't attack, or try to use your quirk. I'll smell it before you can even activate it and I don't want to make an enemy out of you." They cocked their head to the side, dull mauve met the black irises of the man.
He still hadn't sent anything, but Beast could hear the chatter on the earpiece.
"Are you a Hero?" Beast asked apathetically,
The man didn't speak, but he slightly inclined his head after hearing their question. Even though it was minor, Beast took this as a confirmation that he indeed was a hero.
"Are you hear to raid the gang that's in that warehouse over there?" Beast asked as they pointed to the offending building a few streets across.
Beast took another sniff of the air, watching his body language carefully. Since he was intent on not answering Beast verbally, they had to use other means to garner an answer from him.
They saw his hand tense slightly, then a twitch in his left eyebrow.
"You are." Beast confirmed, at those words another twitch in the heroes left brow happened again.
They flashed a sharp toothy grin at the hero, "Then allow me to help you." Beast started, yes. This way I can make sure I don't have to return to him. "You see.." they strode to the edge of the building, stopping only a few feet away from the hero. Their mauve eyes ignited with hope, no longer as dull as they were when Beast made their way up, "My Master." Beast spat the words out with disgust and venom, tail lashing with their anger. "He sent me here to deal with this particular gang. I guess you may have heard of me Hero, I tend to be the talk of the underground. And garnering from your.." Beast gestured with their clawed hands towards his attire, "Outfit. That you are an underground hero. I don't busy myself with the names of heroes unless I am dispatched to kill one."
At this the man stiffened further, Beast could smell the sweat gathering on his forehead.
"I would tell you to relax Hero." They laughed hollowly, sadly, "But I can easily understand your tenseness. For if you have an inkling of who I am, you are right to be afraid. But," Beast raised a clawed finger to the side of the snout and tapped twice, "I did say I didn't want to make an enemy of you."
Beast then turned their full body towards the hero, Beast was shorter than the hero by a head or so. Even in their shifted form, even shorter in their human form more than likely.
"I am The Beast." They growled slightly at the end of their label, their scarred eye closed and the other one ablaze as their limbus rings lit up. The glow from the ring on their left eye, reflecting off of the rain that was still coming down.
The Hero's body lowered in a guarded stance, completely and utterly tense.
"And that's another reason in of itself. Why I want to help you." Beast slowly opened their closed eye, feeling the hope in their chest ignite once more, "Will you save me?" The softness of their voice made the Hero falter ever so slightly.
He straightened himself, still being guarded at how the Wolf in front of him seemed so familiar. He certainly did not expect to be asked to save them. It was indeed true that he had heard of The Beast in his time in the underground, he never expected to actually meet the famed assassin.
To see that they had an almost childlike quality to them, he observed the Beast's body once again and garnered from the slight protrude of their chest they were female.
The droning chatter in his ear, asking him to check in since he had gone silent when the girl had arrived. They had heard her talking and were concerned.
He tapped the piece to signal that yes he was still there, and that he was otherwise preoccupied currently.
The hero turned back to the girl, watching her stand there with such hope in her eyes made his heart break just a little more. They seemed so familiar yet he couldn't quite place his finger on it. He sighed heavily, deciding to talk to the girl. Get the information he needed.
He had to navigate this carefully, if it was true that she could smell the activation of his quirk before he could use it… it spelled his demise.
"Why would you need me to save you?" His scratchy voice graced Beast ears.
Beast couldn't help but smile, even though it was a sad smile.
"I can't save myself from my Master." Beast growled, they were mad with themselves about that, "Every time I've tried to escape of my own volition.. he always finds me, brings me back and punishes me.." Their clawed hand reached for their throat, caressing one of the many scars that graced their body. Although this one was easily hidden under the fur.
The lifted their other hand and parted the fur to show the scar around their throat to the Hero.
"This is just one of many his…as I could say, his prodigy gave me." Beast saw the Hero stiffen at seeing the scar, "They're the ones that gave me the name Beast. To them I'm just an animal to control, a weapon to point and shoot…" lowering their hands and clenching them so much so that their claws pierced their palms, blood mixing with the rain dripping onto the roofs surface. Beast could feel their quirk healing the damage they dealt to themselves as soon as the claws left their palms.
"I don't want to be used anymore." The conviction in their voice radiated in their aura, "All I remember is never ending pain. I don't even know who I was before this… it's been so long.."
The chatter had grown silent as those on the other end listened to Beasts plight. All the heroes felt that twinge in their gut, the need to save whoever this was from their tortured existence.
As quickly we it stopped, a couple voices called out for 'Eraserhead' to see how they could help with this raid.
Eraserhead sighed looking at the she wolf in front of him, seeing the scar around her neck and the mention of it was one of many. He couldn't feel more disgusted at this so called 'Master' of hers.
"How is it you intend to help with this raid Beast?" He asked looking at her, he could feel the conviction in her eyes, the way she spoke. Truly she wanted to be saved from the nightmare. For a brief moment he saw tears well up in those mauve eyes, the glow of her limbus rings highlighting them before they disappeared.
"They are expecting me." Beast explained, "My Master contacted them and said that he would 'loan' me to them. It was after that he tasked me with dealing with them. Since they are more trouble than they are worth. He left it up to me to decide how to deal with them. Seeing as you Heroes are ready and prepared to raid them, I see this as an adequate way of dealing with them."
Before Eraserhead could reply, Beast stood up on the ledge and sprouted large snow white wings from their back through the robe they were wearing. Turning back to look at their Hero, they grinned a toothy closed eyed smile.
"Don't worry. I won't interfere with the raid," there was mirth in their voice for the first time in a long time, "I'll play my part and be arrested too. That's how you can save me."
With that, a strong beat of their wings lifted them straight into the air and soared over to the warehouse with a few more beats of their strong wings. The smell of the other heroes reaching Beasts' senses, although the rain still muted their scents. Beast could pinpoint where each of them were located, knowing that they would of seen Beast soaring through the air and down to land in front of the door.
Beast retracted their wings, not bothering to repair the holes in the back of their robe with their quirk. Stepping forward to the iron door, they lifted their clawed hands and knocked three times, then twice, then three more. A slider on the door slid open, revealing a set of yellow eyes.
"Password."
Beast tsked, "Don't you fucking recognise me scum?" Venom laced their voice, falling back into the role of villain so easily,
"Aaaaaah?! The fuck did you say runt?!" The man yelled from the other side of the door,
Beast lifted their eyes to stare directly at the man, releasing a menacing growl and stomach dropping killing intent. Sweat beaded on the mans forehead as he realised his mistake.
The door opened immediately then, Beast didn't stop their growl, they were extremely insulted that the man didn't recognise them. Padding through the door, side eyeing the doorman the entire time, causing him to shake with fear of the Lupine in front of him.
As Beast passed into the foyer of the hideout, they waited for the door to be shut behind them. All the while continuing their growl, the insult burned deeper than they thought.
Beast turned to the doorman, "What's the quickest route to your boss, roach." Their voice seethed.
The man hastily gave them directions and Beast left the room, reigning in their killing intent. The growl subsiding to a low rumble.
They made their way past other members. All of them whispering about Beast, at least some people recognised who they were, not just some gaki.
Walking up a flight of stairs, Beast reached an overseeing room of the warehouse floor. There the gangs Boss was drinking, laughing with ladies of the night.
"Aaahhhh." The Boss drawled, light red dusting his cheeks from the drink, "It's here."
That damned term cause Beast to immediately pick up their growl again. The ladies surrounding the Boss eeped in fear, Beasts killing intent was barely released and the women were trembling.
"I'd prefer you don't insult me you filth." The growl punctuated every word, gaining in volume as their temper flared, "It's by the grace of my Master that you aren't bleeding out on the floor like the pig you are!" Beast then released the tangible killing intent, deep purple tendrils lashed around them in anger and hate. Their lilac limbus rings glowing in the darkened room.
"Show your respect for my Master scum." Beast demanded, still playing their role of weapon and pet perfectly.
The Boss was shaking in his seat, immediately sobered by the nightmare in front of him.
"No harm meant, Beast." He waved his hands in front of him, "I am grateful for your Master lending you to us." He chuckled nervously, hoping to sate the creature in front of him.
The killing intent reigned in somewhat, the tangible killing intent dispersed and the distinct smell of urine permeated through the room. A couple of the women had been terrified to the extent they soiled themselves. Thinking they would die in this room.
"I'd suggest dismissing your companions." Beast stated with a bored drone, turning away from the crowd in front of them.
Looking out over the warehouse where the gang members meandered around, moving boxes of stolen wares around with shaking hands. The killing intent affected the whole building and some.
—tBtbaH—
Meanwhile
Outside Gang Warehouse
Eraserhead felt the shiver go up his spine as the killing intent from the warehouse unfurled, he knew in his gut that it was that of the girl he was speaking to just minutes before.
The familiarity panged through his heart again, reminding him of Mariko's famous temper and rage. He remembered feeling it during the sports festival of their third year at U.A. when she won the Sports Festival, proving that even kids in the general course, could compete with those from the Hero Course.
Then the thought occurred, It couldn't be, could it? His eyes widened at the implication his own mind gave him, Is the Beast…actually.. Marlya?
It had been nine years since her disappearance, the ultimate cold case if there ever was one. Even Mariko's disappearance as well, they never found a body of his dead friends spouse.
Back then they had surmised that they true target was Marlya the entire time, not just a random break in. But a planned abduction.
They gleaned information from Hiroshi's locked safe, that Eraserhead and Present knew existed. For the exact reason of a 'Code Red'. Within the safe was daily written journals about Hiroshi himself and Marlya, speculation of if she would have her mothers quirk or her fathers. Another journal itself, that looked entirely new, written in length on the day he died about Marlya's second quirk manifesting.
The quirk dubbed 'Matter Manipulation', as Hiroshi called it, a perfect version of his Equivalent Exchange. He explained in length his theories about her new quirk, the morning he died, Marlya had created life. A bird because she wanted more friends around her.
That in of itself was more than enough cause for her to be kidnapped by someone. But how they knew about her second quirk when not even their closest friends were told? He would never guess how. And to coordinate an abduction that quickly?
Eraserhead shook his head from the those thoughts. Then started thinking about Beast herself, she was in a bipedal wolf form, but Marlya's first quirk was 'Werefox'. As the name implied, her form was that of a snow white...snow white. The wolf was white, but it had striking resemblance to Mariko's wolf from what he could remember. The tail though, the tail was different. It was longer and had more fur than that of a wolfs tail. Like a foxes…tail.
Going back over every small detail from Beast, from what he saw of her. Ignoring the scars, ignoring that he didn't see her human form. Her eyes, her eyes were mauve, just like lil Marlya's were.
The more he thought about it, the more similar in his mind that Beast and Marlya were. And that broke his heart even further, they way she talked about all she could remember was pain.
He failed her that night by not getting there quick enough, but her won't fail her this night. He will rescue her.
Eraserhead then decided to announce his suspicions to the rest of the raid group.
"I have some suspicions about Beasts true identity." He stated,
The chatter quieted immediately, "I believe that she is Shiikage Marlya. She was abducted nine years ago by an unknown. There had been no clue of her whereabouts at all and the case turned cold as quickly as it popped up." He explained, then continued, "After being in close proximity to Beast, ignoring the fact I didn't see her human form, they have the same eyes and similar tail whilst in the animal form. As well as fur colour. It may be a stretch, but if this is Marlya. I want us to proceed with the assumption that this is the lost child, and we will rescue her when we arrest these criminals."
The conviction in his voice resonated with the other heroes on the line.
They all had known of the Shiikage murder, many of them had support gear that had come from the Shiikage company. Then there was the cold case of the missing heiress, any hero worth their mettle, guts twisted at the thought of the child being tortured and manipulated into being a weapon at a mere five years old. They couldn't stand by when someone asked for help. All they heroes in the group, with renewed conviction, wanted to rescue her. To save her like she asked.
Another voice came in over the comms, the number five pro hero, Edgeshot. Who was in charge of the raid this night.
"Be prepared to commence the operation!" The calm voice called, "Let rescuing Marlya be our top priority once all the villains are detained!"
Agreement was sounded over the comms, the police were at the ready more than a few blocks away with wagons for the arrested villains.
All the heroes on the team readied themselves for the signal to storm the warehouse.
It was then, that Edgeshot called over the comms again.
"Now!"
From all directions around the warehouse, Heroes launched from their stakeout positions. Converging on the warehouse, breaking through doors, windows. Making their way inside to beat and capture the villains that were holed up in there.
The Erasure hero himself went for the aerial assault, going in through one of the windows on the roof, straight into the warehouse itself.
The cascading glass around him surprised the villains below him, he's trained eyes quickly flashed around, taking in account how many were there in the room. As he was passing the observation room, he caught sight of Marlya, she currently was holding the leader by the throat with her clawed hands. A vicious smile plastered on her face.
His fall continued past the observation room, his first priority was capturing the six villains that were on the warehouse floor, all readying their quirks to fight him.
Pulling his golden goggles up over his eyes, the Erasure hero's eyes zoned in on his first villain he would fight this night. Activating his quirk, the villains quirk stopped mid charge at where the hero would land.
Eraserhead was already a step ahead of the foolish villain, throwing out his capture scarf to wrap around the villain. Then snapping the scarf taut, still mid air, the Erasure hero kicked his foot into the now solid scarf causing the villain to be thrown into another nearby one. Both were knocked out cold from the collision causing them to smash their skulls together.
Two down, Eraserhead blinked.
Whipping his weapon again, gathering back up and landing on one of the many crates around the room. The Erasure hero opened his eyes again, zeroing in on the next Villain he activated his quirk once again. Erasing the mans weapon based quirk, cause it to flicker out of existence.
Again flicking his scarf forward, capturing another villain, this time he pulled the villain towards himself. Planting a solid axe kick to the mans face, another yank of his scarf pulling the man in a different direction. Whilst using the momentum from pulling the villain, he delivered another devastating kick to the mans head, causing him to crack his head against the concrete ground.
That's three. He blinked, flicking his scarf to unwrap from the villain, the directing it above him to the beam. Feeling it wrap around it, pulling it taut and launching himself up to the safety of the rafters whilst he recovered from using his quirk.
Opening his eyes to scan the remaining three villains, seeing where they had moved in the time he fought.
It was at that moment that he heard the glass shattering from the observation room, he turned his sight immediately to the source of the noise. His eyes widened slightly behind his goggles, seeing the Boss now sailing through the air. He then noticed that the man was bleeding profusely from his torso, looking from the man to where he was launched from. He saw Marlya, a wing outstretched with blood dripping from the primary feathers. The feathers were different from the rest, they looked like shining, sharp blades. Glinting with crimson rubies, as the blood dripped down them.
Then seeing her face, a snarl marred the previously soft features he saw when she had confronted him on the roof. Her face looked completely feral, the fur around her neck was bristling with unbridled fury.
That was when he felt the fury, her killing intent slowly leaked from the room, as a tangible shadow seeking out its victim. The previous villains he was fighting, the last three, were shell shocked with fear.
She's directing her killing intent so precisely? The Erasure Hero thought to himself.
It wasn't affecting him at all, at least not in the way it was the villains, she had all this hatred bottled up inside of her. No wonder she was a renowned assassin, being able to incapacitate her targets with her mere intent to kill, the volumes of hatred.
Then she disappeared, the speed she moved towards the Boss that was on the ground, if he had blinked he would of missed it. She reappeared with her wings posed to spear the man through and into the cement.
"MARLYA-AAAAA" The Erasure hero yelled, in hopes to stop her from killing.
He then did the next thing that she had precisely warned him not to do with her. He activated his quirk on her.
Her wings dissipated from the bottom up, then it was her wolf form. Leaving behind a shell shocked child. She had shrunk in size dramatically compared to her wolf form, just a tiny 13 year old girl. She would be 14 soon if Eraserhead remembered correctly.
As he focused more on her form, he started noticing more and more scars. Scars upon scars. The only clothes she was wearing were the signature shifter undergarments. Usually just a body suit, but hers was a crop top and shorts. Showing her toned and muscled body. The body of a weapon.
Her hair that she inherited from both her mother and father, cascaded down her back. It seemed it was never cut in the years she was gone, Eraserhead garnered that it was because she was in her shifted form instead of her human form, there was no reason to cut it.
Her ears atop her head were pressed down, either in anger or fear, he couldn't tell. Her tail would be more telling, it lashed about, long and flowing like that of a foxes. It was in anger.
Then she snapped, her limbus rings glowing furiously, glaring at the man who dared to erase her quirk, to make her weak, disgusting, frail human body appear.
"Marlya!" He called again, hoping to spark something from her life before the abduction.
Marlya's eyes twitched, the snarl on her face still present. The limbus rings flickered slightly. Her hands flying to her head as her screams started. The cacophony of the shrill sound, bounced through the warehouse, through the building and beyond. It echoed for only the heroes and the police to hear.
"NO!" She screamed, claws digging into her scalp, causing blood to start cascading down her face and dripping onto the warehouse floor, "NO! NO! NOO! NO! NO!" Her screams continued.
With each cry that sounded like begging, the Erasure Hero's heart broke a little more.
The noise through the comms, everyone demanding what was happening. As the heroes started converging to the warehouse floor. Eraserhead lowered himself to the ground from the rafters with his scarf.
Her cries still echoing through the building, tears now joined the blood that was cascading down her face.
She stilled for a moment, eyes frantically flicking around at the gathering heroes, as each of the bigger taller heroes got nearer to her. She became more frantic. As if the taller the person triggered more fear in her.
"Anyone over the height of six feet back away from her now!" Eraserhead commanded quickly,
The heroes in question complied immediately, as they were majority underground heroes, they dealt with trauma victims more often than the daytime heroes.
All of them were worried, wanting to do something but they didn't want to corner her. Cause like a cornered animal she would lash out, and she wasn't just any cornered animal. She was a renowned assassin within the underground, a boogeyman to villains.
They all could see the mountains of scars on her body, the evidence of torture and plain sadistic nature of them all. She had scars wrapping around her wrists and ankles, suggesting the she was chained or cuffed for so long that they had worn and split her skin.
Eraserhead blinked.
All at once it happened as soon as he blinked. Marlya's body shifted, fire sprouting over her body as a giant panther took form. She brandished her claws, arched her back, fluffed out the short fur on her body to seem more intimidating. Marlya was in fight or flight. Her ears flicking back and forth between the talking heroes, tail long and fluffy, not at all like that of a panthers but a foxes.
Her growls were so deep and menacing, the heroes could feel it in their bones.
At that moment Edgeshot entered the room, his eyes immediately taking in the scene in front of him.
Eraserhead opened his eyes again then activated his quirk, forcing her back into her human form. Tears flooded her eyes, the begging began again. Screams echoed through the warehouse and at that the heroes could all see how traumatised she was. Just at the loss of her animal form.
It was then that Edgeshot slid into his quirk 'Foldabody' using his super move 'Thousand Sheet Pierce'. Immediately going into the base of her skull and out the other side. Knocking her immediately unconscious.
It was all to quiet then, all these seasoned heroes quite shaken to their core at mess of a child she was. Her screams will forever be branded in their minds, her begging, her sheer terror at losing her animal form.
Edgeshot was standing by her head, looking down at the small girls prone form. Marlya was on her stomach and they could see the extent of the scarring on her back as well. As her hair splayed out from falling. The Ninja Hero then saw the edges of numbers at the base of her neck, he squatted down and every so gently moved the hair away.
His eyes widened, now seeing the branded scar of 0119. He was disgusted, not at her, but whoever her 'Master' was. The person who could do this to a child, was the most heinous and evil villain in existence in his professional opinion.
"Get an ambulance on the way also. We need to get her to a hospital immediately." Edgeshot commanded, many of the heroes went to their phones immediately.
"Already done." Eraserhead stated, his eyes still glued on Marlya as he moved forward, his emotions were turbulent. His best friends daughter was in front of him, after nine years of being missing. She was alive.