The Okami Hero: Amaterasu
Arc 3: A Mind Divided
Chapter 10: Do No Evil
[Monday 28th March 2280]
[Konohana Manor, Hero Commission Branch, Darufu Ward, Musutafu]
"Don't forget; Jin Bubaigawara is also an S-Rank Villain. I believe he should turn himself in."
The group looked amongst themselves in shock and confusion. Jin looked a little nervous now, and Himiko was frowning angrily at Torikago. "Turn himself in!? What do you mean!? We've gotta help him, not put him in Jail!" she said angrily.
Torikago sighed; "I agree with the helping him part at least, but HOW are we going to help him?"
Himiko glared at the woman; "Don't be such a stick in the mud! Without Akuma-Hana inside him and with him knowing he's the real one now, all Jin-chan and Twicey need is a little therapy and someone to take care of him! He can stay here while he gets back on his feet, right Izumi?" she said, looking to her little sister.
"Of course. I'd like to think we can consider each other friends, right Jin? Obviously I'm not as close to you as Himiko, but we are still friends now I hope." Izumi said, smiling hopefully at Jin and Twice.
"Sure! Himiko's my bestie, but I'm always happy to have more friends! Being lonely all the time sucks." the man replied.
"Well then I don't see why he can't stay here with us until he gets better and decides what he wants to do next. Ooh! Maybe he can use his awesome quirk to become a Hero! If he was considered an S-Rank Villain, he'd make an amazing Hero!" Izumi beamed. Himiko nodded enthusiastically and looked over to Torikago again, expecting the matter to be decided now.
Unfortunately, Torikago just shook her head with regret, and both Hawks and Sakuya looked conflicted. Seeing those faces made Himiko's heart sink, and she quickly leapt to Jin's defence; "Come on guys, Jin's fine with it and Izumi's already agreed! What's the problem?"
"I hate to say this, especially considering my own past with Demon Possession, but we can't simply allow Jin to stay here with us. I'm all for getting him treatment and giving him all the help he needs to turn his life around, but there's a pretty major stumbling block, and Izumi touched on it when she talked about his Villain Ranking..." Torikago said, unable to look Jin, Himiko or Izumi in the eye.
Himiko glared angrily; "Jin-chan and Twicey aren't Villains! That was all the Akuma-Hana!"
"But it wasn't." Sakuya said gently, putting Himiko's cross hairs on her, "While he wasn't a Villain until the Akuma-Hana possessed him, Jin still committed crimes. They were minor crimes and only committed to ensure he survived, but they're crimes none the less."
"B-But-!" Himiko tried to argue, but Hawks cut her off.
"Plus, his name and face are known to most of Japan's Law Enforcement and even quite a few civilians. He's the S-Rank Villain; Twice! Sure he was possessed by a Demon to commit those crimes and become a Villain, but that doesn't change the fact that everyone in Japan knows him as a criminal." Keigo pointed out.
"So!? Torikago, Kacchan and I all did bad things while we were possessed! Akuma-Baku made Kacchan blow up his Elementary School! Akuma-Tachi made me bite into Izumi's throat! Akuma-Yomi made Torikago kill the old Vice President AND Keigo's parents! Are we going to be punished for those crimes now!?" Himiko demanded.
"It's not the same!" Torikago yelled, "My crimes were ruled accidents, your crime was never reported, and Young Bakugou was found to not be liable for his actions! We aren't being punished solely because we got lucky and the Demon's actions were never connected to us! But all of Japan knows Mr Bubaigawara's crimes! What do you suggest we do, Miss Midoriya; tell the whole country about the Demons? They'd never believe us without proof and only one in ten people are even able to see Demons! I truly hate to say this, but if we protect Mr Bubaigawara from the law, we will be committing crimes ourselves! Aiding and abetting a known S-Rank Villain would slap all of us in Prison for ten years, with yourself, your sister and Young Bakugou ending up in Juvenile Hall! All three of you would lose your chances at becoming Heroes, and with Amaterasu locked behind bars, she'd be easy pickings for any of the Evil One's servants."
Calming down from her tirade a bit, the Vice-President looked to Jin, who was sitting with contemplative look on his face, "I am truly sorry, Mr Bubaigawara, but if we help you, we'll be potentially risking the world's future. President Konohana has constantly stressed how important Amaterasu is to stopping the Evil One from conquering our world, and saving you from the consequences of the Akuma-Hana's actions would potentially stop her from doing that."
Silence filled the room. Most of the adults were looking down in either shame or sadness; none of them wanted to risk the world just for Jin's sake, and a more selfish part of themselves told them that they shouldn't risk their own freedom for him either, especially since he had actually committed some crimes without being possessed. Hawks in particular felt like a bad guy; he wasn't saying anything, but if Izumi and Himiko didn't accept what had to be done, he would knock them out and turn Jin in himself… he'd hate himself for it, and the girls would likely never forgive him, but he would do what he had to in order to protect the world. Katsuki was growling quietly to himself, clenching his knuckles until they went white; the whole thing was bullshit as far as he was concerned. Sure Jin had done bad stuff, but he didn't deserve to be locked up for it! But an insidious little voice in the back of his mind whispered that it would be bad to help the scarred man, as it would potentially cost Katsuki his dream.
Izumi was thinking hard, chewing on her lip as she twiddled her fingers nervously. There had to be a way out of this… some loophole or trick she could use to save Jin. Himiko had worked so hard to save the man, and Izumi was so proud of her! The younger girl didn't want Himiko's first heroic act ending like this! "Come on, think Izumi! I've had lessons on Law drilled into my head since I was five! There must be something I can do!" she thought furiously.
Himiko, on the other hand, was unable to stay silent. She kept spluttering out half formed arguments and excuses, hoping to find one that would work. But with each lame excuse after another, she began to realise the hopelessness of the situation, and that made her cry. It broke everyone's heart to see Himiko still trying to rattle off ideas while struggling to contain her sobs. In the end, those sobs broke Izumi.
"E-Everyone but Jin should leave now!" Izumi suddenly said, getting to her feet.
"What are you going to do?" Ishiko asked. She knew the powers of Amaterasu and the Brush Gods inside and out, and thus knew full well that Izumi had nothing that could help here.
Izumi averted her eyes; "I-I can't tell you! No one can know!"
Sakuya sighed and rubbed a hand over her face, while Keigo pinched the bridge of his nose. Plausible deniability; Izumi was going to do something stupid and was refusing to tell them so they wouldn't suffer the legal consequences if she was discovered.
"We aren't letting you leave unless you tell us." Keigo said sternly. Izumi flinched at the tone, but tried to stand strong. Unfortunately, she knew Keigo wouldn't back down and there was no way in hell she could escape the building with Jin before Keigo caught them.
"I-I was going to hide Jin in the woods where he met Himiko, then ask Doctor Tanaka if he was any good at plastic surgery..." Izumi admitted, poking her fingers together.
The Wing Hero (and most of the room) resisted the urge to face palm. "You were going to try and have his face changed, right? With a new face and a new name, you figure he'd be safe from the law." Keigo said.
Izumi, seeing the disapproval on her elder brother figure's face, simply nodded shyly. Keigo groaned tiredly; "Lil Pup, do you really think that's going to be enough? His quirk is well known, and his DNA is in the national criminal database. Even if you managed to find a Doctor willing to perform the procedure, and somehow get new documents for his new identity, anyone seeing his quirk would discover him! Plus, what if he needs to go to the Hospital for something? They'd immediately notice that his DNA is a match for a known wanted Criminal! Villains of Twice's infamy only remain free because they have a lot of money, some shady connections, and/or are willing to live in poverty like Jin has been. I'm sorry Izumi, but there's no way this is going to end with all of us happy. Either Jin goes down alone… or we all go down with him."
Izumi's eyes burned with tears, but also determination; "Then I'll go down with him! You all can claim you had no idea about it! Letting Jin suffer for crimes he didn't commit would mean I was a Hero in name only! There's no justice in that!"
"I'll do it too! Jin-chan and Twicey are my friends! I won't let Izumi sacrifice herself alone!" Himiko leapt to her feet, joining Izumi, "If I give up now, then all the effort I put into my new resolve will be worthless! We are saving them!"
Chaos roared up within the previously quiet manor. Katsuki was trying to decide if he was going to side with his friends or his dream, while Ishiko, Hawks and Sakuya were desperately trying to dissuade the girls from their reckless actions. The other adults were debating other solutions, such as smuggling Jin out of the country or trying to get him out of any charges with an insanity plea.
In the end, Jin and Twice came to an agreement, and silenced the room with a single sentence.
"I'm turning myself in."
Everyone froze and turned to look at him. Himiko shook her head in disbelief; "Jin-chan, Twicey… you don't have to do that!"
"Of course I do! My bestie and one of my new friends are talking about throwing their lives away for someone like me. How can I stand by and let them?" Jin grinned.
"You two brats have known me for less than 24 hours, yet you're stupid enough to risk your dreams on some homeless Villain? I tried to rob you, Himiko, and I almost got Himiko's sis turned evil like I was. For those crimes alone, I'm willing to turn myself in." Twice said.
"No! They'll lock you up in Tartarus!" Himiko cried, "You're supposed to be an S-Rank Villain right? Isn't that an automatic life sentence!?"
Sakuya nodded; "Ordinarily, yes. It's one of the reasons I have a problem with Villain Rankings. However… there may be a way to help Jin after all..." she said, a finger on her chin in thought.
"What is it!? I'll do anything!" Himiko declared, stopping just short of begging on her knees.
"This isn't something you can do, Himiko. Izumi, this is all you." Sakuya said, turning to the Wolf Girl, "Mr Bubaigawara cannot live freely because of the crimes he committed while possessed by the Akuma-Hana, but he isn't the only person to ever commit crimes while brainwashed or controlled. There are legal procedures to deal with such cases… I would have mentioned them earlier, but going this route has a risk."
"I don't care what the risk is; I won't let Jin be punished for things he didn't do!" Izumi said, voice full of conviction.
"Well, if Mr Bubaigawara shows up at a Police Station and claims to be brainwashed, they'll give him a full psyche examination as well as test him for signs of mental control, using the quirks of professionals within the Police. Demon Possession won't trigger a positive response from those quirks, so it'll be assumed Jin is lying… however there is a man; a detective working for the Tokyo Metropolitan Police, whose quirk allows him to know if someone is lying or not. He'd be able to confirm that Mr Bubaigawara really is telling the truth. But there are two important downsides..." Sakuya explained; "First, if we involve him, he will certainly ask about each individual crime, so Mr Bubaigawara will still be charged with his minor crimes before the possession. They'll likely be mitigated by his mental health, but the best result we can hope for will be him spending some time in a Mental Health Facility."
"T-That sounds way better than Tartarus at least." Himiko mumbled, "But what's the other downside? What does Izumi have to do with this?"
Izumi frowned, having worked it out already; "This Detective… we'll need to bring him in on the secret of what I am. If we lie at all, he'll just get suspicious."
"That's right." Sakuya nodded, "But the problem is; this Detective is unyieldingly loyal to law and justice, and may not agree to let us deal with the Demon problem ourselves. If he feels honour-bound to report us to his superiors, it will draw unwanted attention to all of us, particularly myself and Izumi, as we are not human… or at least not fully human in your case, Izumi."
Keigo frowned; "If the Government Big Shots find out about the Lil Pup's true identity, they might shine a spotlight on her, or try to control her the way Torikago did with me when she was possessed. With Izumi being a Foster Kid, and the legal situation surrounding Himiko and her blood relations, the Government would have a lot of sway over them; enough to make their lives difficult if they didn't play along."
No one was particularly happy about that particular situation… if they went with Sakuya's idea, Izumi could become a Government Pawn. If they went with Izumi's slapdash plan, they could all be implicated as a Villain's accomplices… and if they did nothing and let Jin turn himself in, he'd be thrown into Tartarus. There was no way out that led to all parties being happy; the only potentially happy ending they would get was if the Detective kept his mouth shut.
"We should go with Sakuya's plan." Izumi decided, "I'll put my trust in this Detective for Jin's sake. If he really is loyal to justice, then I'm sure we can come to an understanding."
"You don't have to do this. I'm willing to pay for what I've done." Jin tried to argue, but everyone shot him down. He had fought with them against the Akuma-Hana, and had become a friend to Himiko; like it or not, Jin Bubaigawara was now a comrade of the Konohana Household, and they would not allow a comrade to languish in Tartarus for unjust reasons.
In the end, the decision was made. Jin/Twice would remain at the Konohana Manor for one more day. He'd spend the rest of the current day getting to know his new friends and celebrating Izumi's successful Provisional License Exam, while Sakuya got in contact with the Tokyo Detective and arranged a meeting. The next day, he and the rest of the Household would speak with this Detective and explain the situation, after which Jin would turn himself in.
It was a major gamble, but one Izumi would be making for the sake of Jin and Himiko. She'd protect him, for his own sake and the sake of the sister who had worked so hard to save him. Izumi just prayed that she wasn't risking more than her own freedom on this wager…
The actual celebration party was a lot of fun for everyone, as Doi and the Maeda Sisters cooked up a huge spread that included all of Izumi's favourite foods as well as at least one of everyone else's favourites. This led to some hilarity as Jin unwittingly ate some curry that had been made for Katsuki and suddenly found himself virtually spitting fire due to the spiciness. Watching Jin run around like a mad man before dunking his head in the koi pond had everyone in stitches and distracted them all from the potential dangers facing them. After they'd eaten all the food and been left full and content, the Household gathered together to watch some movies and have a video game tournament, before finally gathering outside once it had gotten dark so they could set off some fireworks.
All in all, it was a fun day for everyone. Izumi thanked them all for holding the party for her, and as everyone began to wind down for the night, Sakuya pulled her, Himiko, and Jin off to the side.
"My contacts have successfully set up a meeting with the Detective. We're in luck; he is apparently already in Musutafu due to some business with a friend of his, so he is willing to stop by here tomorrow for a meeting. He'll be here at 10am. I've already asked Keigo, Torikago and the Bakugous to stay the night, and we'll hold a strategy meeting at breakfast tomorrow so we're all on the same page. Do you understand?" Sakuya asked.
"Yes Ma'am!" Izumi and Himiko said together, taking the situation seriously. Both Jin's freedom and Izumi's was potentially on the line here; they couldn't afford to make mistakes.
Sakuya nodded approvingly; "Good Girls. Granny Citrus has already laid out some of your best clothes for tomorrow, so be sure to wash up properly and put them on tomorrow. Image will be important." she turned to Jin; "Mr Bubaigawara, we have a business suit available for you to wear tomorrow, and Masaru has been kind enough to make some adjustments so it will fit you. Please put it on after you wash up tomorrow."
Jin nodded, while Twice made his face cringe; "Not a fan of the monkey suit, but I guess I can't mess this up since you're all doing it for my sake."
"No, you can't. Now you three get to bed. You're the MVPs for tomorrow's meeting, so we can't afford mistakes. Goodnight, and sleep well." the Tree Sprite said, hugging each girl and giving Jin a pat on the shoulder before heading off to speak with some of the others.
Not wanting to disobey Sakuya and risk making things worse for themselves at the meeting tomorrow morning, the trio said good night to each other and headed off to bed. With the sun having already set, it was easy for Izumi to fall asleep, but for Himiko and Jin, it would be a struggle as each lay in their futons, their minds full of worry for the next day…
Finally, they did manage to drop off to sleep and woke up on Tuesday morning, refreshed but anxious. Jin and Twice felt like they were condemned inmates waking up on the day of their executions, while Himiko could barely look at the food placed before her at breakfast.
The entire household had gathered together, and all were wearing some of their best clothes. The Servants of the Household (as well as Master Onigiri) were wearing the same fine kimonos they wore when serving important guests, while the Onikawa Brothers and Kabuto Nazo were dressed in their finest suits, the ones they wore when accompanying Sakuya to one of the Commission's Charity Galas. The Bakugous were wearing fine clothes too, the same ones they wore to Masaru's fashion events, with even Katsuki looking sharp in his red dress shirt, black pants and matching waistcoat. Torikago and Sakuya were wearing expertly tailored businesswoman's suits, and Keigo was in his full Hawks Costume. Even Jin himself was dressed to the nines in his borrowed business suit, though he did look a bit out of place.
Himiko had been dressed in a light yellow summer dress and matching shoes, while Izumi was wearing the same outfit but in dazzling white. They weren't dressed as finely as they would be if they were attending a Ball or Gala (of which Himiko had always refused to attend, and Izumi would rarely agree to for Sakuya's sake) but they were smartly dressed, almost as if going to a Sunday Mass.
Everyone ate their breakfast slowly so as not to mess up their clothes, and once they were done, Sakuya cleared her throat to get all attention on her.
"Okay everyone, we know what we're doing today. When the Detective gets here; Izumi, Himiko, Mr Bubaigawara and I will meet him and fill him in on the nature of Demons and the crimes Mr Bubaigawara committed while possessed. I suspect he'll also want to speak with Torikago and Katsuki, as they're also possession victims, and probably Hawks since he is both a Top 10 Hero AND a witness to the first Demon battle. I urge all of you to cooperate with him and answer any questions he has truthfully. The one thing we won't be telling him is the method by which Himiko came to be fostered into our family, as the method we used wasn't completely legal. If you are asked about it, and I doubt you will be, simply tell him that you were asked not to speak of it out of respect for Himiko's feelings. If he wants to speak to someone else, it'll likely be in private, so ensure you tell the complete truth to ensure our stories remain consistent. Does everyone understand?" Sakuya asked.
Everyone nodded in agreement, and Sakuya turned to Izumi; "This is the last chance Izumi. Are you sure you want to trust this Detective? I understand that sacrificing Mr Bubaigawara for your own sake is a taboo act for you, but if the Detective informs the government and they take command of the situation, it may lead to a much harder life for you."
Izumi nodded determinedly, "I know, but I'm doing this. Himiko worked so hard to save Jin, and he doesn't deserve to rot in prison for what few desperate crimes he committed himself. I couldn't call myself a Hero if I turned my back on him now."
Sakuya sighed and nodded; "Alright then. Everyone get ready. It's 9:35am and the Detective will be here by 10am. Let's all pray this works out."
The group agreed and began loitering around, trying to find something to do in the 25 minutes they had to wait. Everyone was nervous, especially Jin/Twice. Several times in that short period, one half of him would decide to just cancel the whole thing and turn himself in, only to be silenced by his other half, and then a few minutes later the same thing would happen again, but with Jin and Twice in opposite roles. The only person not panicking was Tenji Iida, and that was because, as Sakuya's Aide, he'd been sent down to the lobby to meet the Detective and escort him up.
When said Detective finally arrived, Tenji sent a warning text to let them all know that they were in the elevator, making everyone scramble to get in position to properly greet the man. All but Izumi, Himiko, Jin and Sakuya retreated to their rooms until they were called, leaving the quartet to meet the Detective at the elevator.
The elevator door slid open and out stepped Tenji and the Detective. After all the stress and worry surrounding this Detective and the potential risk involved in letting him know the truth of Amaterasu and the Demons, Izumi was surprised by just how normal he looked. The Detective was a man of average height and appearance for a Japanese Male, and had black hair in a short, neat style as well as vaguely rectangular shaped black eyes. He wore a simple suit with a green tie, and over it he wore a tan overcoat and a matching hat. All in all, he looked like the kind of man you wouldn't spare a second glance in any normal situation, which Izumi guessed was a useful trait for a Police Detective.
Tenji stepped forward to properly introduce him; "Detective, this is President Sakuya Konohana, Head of the Hero Public Safety Commission."
"It is wonderful to make your acquaintance, Detective." Sakuya smiled, bowing politely.
The Detective gave a friendly smile and returned the bow; "Likewise, President Konohana. Allow me to formally introduce myself; I am Detective Naomasa Tsukauchi with the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Force. It's not everyday I get asked to come to one of the Hero Commission's Branches, especially at the invitation of the President herself. I'm honoured." he said politely. Even his voice was fairly plain and forgettable.
"I find myself in desperate need of your services, for the sake of justice." Sakuya replied, making the Detective raise an eyebrow, "But first, allow me to introduce my Foster Daughters." she gestured to Izumi and Himiko, who both bowed politely, playing the role of demure and well-behaved young ladies.
"The elder with the blonde hair is Himiko Midoriya, and the younger with the green hair is Izumi Midoriya. Both are aspiring Heroes, with Izumi being a part of our experimental Junior Hero Program. She managed to attain a Provisional License just two days ago, at only 13 years old." Sakuya said, grinning proudly. She was framing it like a boast, but in reality she was trying to make Izumi seem more powerful and important, so the Detective would be less tempted to risk crossing her, as well as making her sound more credible for when they got to the truth of the situation.
Detective Tsukauchi gave a friendly smile to each girl and bowed to them, "Young Heroes huh? I'm always glad to see them! To think you already have a Provisional License Izumi, are you aiming to break Hawks' record?" he asked.
Izumi shook her head, "No, I will be around 15 before I get my final license, assuming I don't fail along the way. I simply want to use my quirk to help people even more." she said honestly.
That seemed to impress the Detective, so Himiko couldn't help adding; "You may have already heard of her! My Little Sis is well known around these parts as "The Kami of Musutafu"! Everyone in the city has heard of her!"
"The Kami of Musutafu? I confess to having heard a lot about her from some acquaintances in the Musutafu Police Force. But I was under the impression that the Kami had white hair." Tsukauchi said.
At that, Izumi activated her power and transformed into Demi-God Mode, turning her hair white and giving her wolf ears, a wolf tail and the signature red markings of the Brush Gods. Detective Tsukauchi smiled broadly and clapped, "Ah! So that's how it is. I'm very impressed." he said, offering Izumi his hand to shake. Izumi took it with a smile, but instead of simply shaking hands and letting go, the Detective gripped her hand gently, "So you're really the one they call the Kami of Musutafu?"
"Um, yes sir. I've been using my quirk to help people since it manifested when I was five. I've made sure not to use it to fight villains or criminals though, and I ask people before using it if I can, so I don't break the law." Izumi said, somewhat nervously.
The Detective smiled and released her hand; "I'm glad to hear that. Now, I think it's time you all told me why I'm here. From what I can guess, it has something to do with you." he pointed to Jin, who was silently and nervously watching from behind the ladies. "You're Jin Bubaigawara, an S-Rank Villain with the alias Twice. I'm guessing that, from the scar on your forehead, your noticeably new suit, and the fact your here with the Commission President and her Foster Daughters, you're trying to turn yourself in but can't for fear of the life sentence an S-Rank Villain usually gets. If that is the case, you were likely coerced into your crimes somehow, which explains the protective body language of these young ladies." he gestured to Izumi and Himiko, "It also no doubt involves the youngest Midoriya, as Young Izumi lied when she used the word "Quirk" in her last sentence, implying she helps people without her quirk. Knowing that she does in fact use her powers to help people, that combined with the lie implies her abilities aren't quirks which adds a layer of unbelievability to the story already."
Jin gaped at the man; "Holy shit..."
"This guy isn't a Detective for nothing…!" Himiko gasped in disbelief.
Sakuya and Izumi exchanged looks, then the former spoke; "So, what else has your deductive power revealed?"
"If Young Izumi's powers aren't quirks and her situation ties in with Jin Bubaigawara as I think it does, it means Jin was coerced into his criminal acts by a power other than Quirks, which the usual tests for brainwashing wouldn't detect. You've called me here to use my quirk: Human Lie Detector, to confirm that Jin Bubaigawara is innocent. Since you didn't come to the Police and ask for me, and instead summoned me to a private meeting, I'm guessing you plan on revealing other sensitive information that you don't want being publicly known. How am I doing so far?" the Detective grinned.
Izumi couldn't help but smile excitedly; "You're amazing! You got all that just from using your quirk on me for one sentence, and seeing Jin?"
"Well, your body language and the way this meeting was set up helped too. In Police Operations, my code name is "True Man", because one way or another, I always find the truth. So, shall we get more comfortable so we can deal with this whole affair? If Mr Bubaigawara really is innocent, I want to clear his name quickly." Tsukauchi said.
"That would be for the best, though I warn you; this is going to all sound very complicated and hard to believe. Let's go through to the lounge so we can get this resolved." Sakuya said. She and the Midoriya Sisters led Jin and the Detective to the lounge, leaving Tenji to return to his room in case he was needed. While Detective Tsukauchi was taking the attitude of Jin being innocent, he still noticeably kept an eye on the man, never letting him be behind him or out of his line of sight. The Detective also made sure neither Sakuya or the girls were between him and the Scarred Man, for fear one would be taken hostage if things went sour.
Once they were in the lounge, Sakuya called for some tea, and began the long story she'd brought the Detective in for. Through it all, Detective Tsukauchi gripped Sakuya's hand with a blank expression, using his other hand to touch any other person who cut in with a comment, just to make sure everything that was said was done so while his quirk was active. After an hour and more tea than Naomasa Tsukauchi had ever drunk in his life, the man finally let go of Sakuya's hand and sat back in his chair.
He was full up on tea, but he would have gladly gone for an Irish coffee right about then… or really anything with copious amounts of alcohol.
With a tired voice, the Detective began to speak; "So… just to be completely sure I've got everything right… Demons and Gods are real."
"That's correct." Sakuya nodded.
"This little girl, only 13 years old, is the third reincarnation of the Sun Goddess Amaterasu." Naomasa pointed to Izumi, who just nodded, "And every crime Jin Bubaigawara committed under the alias of Twice was only done because of a Demon possessing him. A Demon that took the form of three monkeys and has since been purified by the teenage Sun Goddess..."
"I had help from everyone." Izumi pointed out shyly.
The Detective just took a deep breath and exhaled slowly; "Okay. My quirk is confirming everything you've said to me today as true, which leads to two possibilities. You either have someone who has a quirk that can trick mine into giving false readings for some kind of conspiracy… or you're telling the truth in which case, the world just got a bit more terrifying."
"If we could trick your quirk, we would have told you that Jin-chan and Twicey were innocent of all their crimes, not just the ones they committed while possessed." Himiko pointed out.
Naomasa agreed; "That's true, plus the pure absurdity of your story actually makes it more believable. If you'd had a way to trick my quirk, it would have been much easier to simply say that Mr Bubaigawara was being controlled by a quirk that our normal tests wouldn't detect. With an ability like that, there'd be no point in making up such an outlandish story."
Izumi looked at him with eyes sparkling with hope; "S-So you believe us?"
"As much as I don't want to, I do. Both my quirk and my own gut feelings are telling me you're being honest. Now, if my detective reasoning hasn't been addled by shock and a frankly absurd amount of tea, then I deduce you want to keep this whole affair secret from the Government at large, which is why you had me come here alone." Tsukauchi said.
"That's right. We believe that certain elements within the Government would seek to control Izumi if they knew what she really was, and with the Evil One still at large, we can't afford for her freedom to be restricted. I've allowed Izumi to do pretty much anything she wants, and it has led to the purification of four Brush Demons so far. Even her somewhat harsh Hero Training was purely her own choice." Sakuya explained.
"I see. Then you took a huge risk involving me. You were lucky I was able to even come here; I was actually already in Musutafu to help out a friend who is moving into the area, and if I hadn't been, you'd have had to go through my superiors at Tokyo. As it stands, I was able to keep this meeting private since your contacts spoke with me directly." the Detective said, idly turning his hat over and over in his hands.
"Can we trust you not to tell anyone our secret?" Izumi asked. She was trying to sound serious and mature, but her fear was leaking into her tone a bit and it sounded more like she was begging.
The Detective gave her an appraising look for a moment, then offered his hand. Used to this by now, Izumi took it and prepared to tell the truth. "What kind of Hero do you plan on becoming, Young Izumi?"
Izumi blinked, mildly thrown off by the question. However, she still answered honestly; "When I was really little, I wanted to be a Hero because I thought helping people with a smile was really cool. I used to watch one of All-Might's early rescue videos over and over, admiring how he'd rush in and save hundreds of people with a smile and a laugh. Then, when I believed I was quirkless, I wanted to be a Hero because I thought it would prove to people that I deserved to be loved… I felt useless and alone, and my feelings became twisted. Once I awoke as Amaterasu and began living here, I finally came to my true reason..." Izumi smiled at the Detective, giving him a grin that reminded him of a sweeter, more innocent version of his closest friend; "I want to be a Hero because there are people in the world like Jin and Himiko… people who are suffering, and I have the power to help those people. With my powers, I could help people as a Doctor or a Police Officer, and I was once told my analysis skills were on par with a real Detective's, like you! But by being a Hero, I'm doing all that and more! As long as there are still people in the world that I can help, I will continue being a Hero."
Detective Tsukauchi's smile grew large and toothy as he listened. "Oh, Toshinori would love you..."
"Whose Toshinori?" Izumi asked, tilting her head cutely.
"Never mind. I've decided." Naomasa said; "I will keep your secret. On my honour, no one will hear what you've told me today."
Izumi beamed, "Thank you! I really appreciate it. But what about Jin? Can you help him?"
"I won't blame you if you can't. Don't get our hopes up, Shitty Detective!" the Divided Man replied.
The Detective was mildly surprised by Jin/Twice's dual speaking, but he quickly recovered. "I think I can help. I have enough clout that if I tell my colleagues that Jin Bubaigawara is the victim of a Mind Control Quirk that also caused him to develop Split Personality Disorder, they'll believe me and won't bother giving him the usual battery of psyche exams and quirk tests. With the crimes of Twice removed from his record, Mr Bubaigawara will only be guilty of minor pickpocketing and shoplifting offences, which can be resolved with a fine and community service. He'll likely be required to spend some time in either a Mental Hospital or another Secure Mental Health Facility. Is that acceptable?"
Izumi and Himiko immediately cheered; that was the best result they could hope for! Jin would get the mental help he needed, as well as a chance at a clean slate! They had done the right thing by bringing Detective Tsukauchi onto their side!
Jin and Twice discussed it in their head. Truth be told, the only part they were iffy about was the therapy at the Mental Facility. Jin and Twice had come to accept that the body they occupied was the real one, but neither personality knew if they were the true Jin Bubaigawara, or if the real Jin was a combination of the two. Therapy could make one of them disappear, potentially the wrong one, or it could result in them coming together again and becoming something completely new. It was a scary thought.
However, when the two looked at Himiko, who was so damn happy about it, neither could bear to voice their worries. They had seen such a massive improvement in their life because they'd trusted Himiko, so they would trust her in this too.
"I'll go along with this, but only under one condition; I want my "capture" and any credit for my case going to Himiko." the Divided Man said, coming together to speak. His voice flitted between Jin's gentle and playful tones and Twice's more aggressive ones with every word. "No offense to Himiko's Sis or Sakuya, but I'd never have been saved or ended my loneliness if it weren't for Himiko. Izumi's already got a few saves under her belt with the whole Kami thing; I want Himiko to have this one."
"Jin-chan, Twicey…" Himiko sniffled, happy tears beginning to build in her eyes.
Detective Tsukauchi nodded in agreement; "Of course. Now, we shouldn't delay this any further. Jin Bubaigawara, thank you for turning yourself in. I will insure you receive the justice you deserve. Young Himiko, I'll need you and your legal guardian to come too."
Himiko nodded, as did Sakuya. When they turned to Izumi to invite her along, Izumi just smiled and shook her head; "I'm staying here."
"But why? You helped in this too." Himiko pointed out.
The Wolf Girl, still in Demi-God Form, just grinned wider, showing off her pointed canines; "Because Jin is right; you were the one who saved him. You started this without me, now I want you to go and finish it without me. You're my big sister, and a Hero in your own right now; you don't need your dopey little sis following you around." Izumi joked. Izumi then hugged her Big Sister, whispering into her ear as she did so; "You're not the Doll your parents made you… you're not Himiko Toga any more. You're not me, either, just like you said. Be yourself Himiko, that's all anyone can want from you."
Himiko gasped quietly; "Y-You heard me? Back in the Astral Plain?"
Izumi nodded, her chin rubbing into Himiko's shoulder; "Wolf ears… they're kind of sensitive. Now go on; it's time for the Hero Himiko Midoriya to finish her first mission." she said, ending the hug.
Himiko sniffled, but maintained her smile as she turned back to the group. Izumi shared a brief goodbye hug with Jin, wishing him luck, and then received a card with Detective Tsukauchi's contact information on it, in case she needed a Police Officer that knew her secret sometime in the future.
With that, the Detective left with Jin, Himiko and Sakuya, while Izumi was left behind to tell everyone what had happened. As Izumi went to the West Wing to find Keigo and Katsuki, Ishiko (who'd only revealed herself briefly to the Detective) crawled out from Izumi's dress pocket and sat on her shoulder.
"That's another ally gained and another Brush God purified. We have five now, counting you, which leaves only eight in enemy hands; the Brush Gods of the Rooster, Ox, Snake, Horse, Cat, Tiger, Sheep, and Rabbit. Then there are the four Demon Generals, the God of Darkness: Yami, and the Evil One pulling their strings. We've still got a lot of work to do." the Poncle mused.
Izumi nodded; it had taken her eight years to get to where she was. She'd need to pick up the pace if she was going to rescue her remaining friends. Plus, according to Bakugami, with both Himiko and Jin purified, there were still two potential villains that had been possessed by Brush Demons.
Izumi idly looked down at her shiny new Provisional License. "Starting tomorrow, my training and Hero Work are getting doubled. No matter what, I won't allow the Demons to have their way!"
And with that, another chapter in Izumi's life ended… but a new one was right around the corner… a chapter filled with Ice and Fire.
END OF ARC 3: A MIND DIVIDED
NEXT ARC: SAND, SNOW, AND ASH
First Chapter: The Burned Man
To be Released: May 25th 2021
Three story arcs down already! Time has passed quickly! Izumi's a Provisionally licenced Hero now, Himiko has a hero mission under her belt, Jin and Twice will get the help they need, and another Brush God has been purified! Not bad for three days work!
Detective Tsukauchi will be a semi-reoccuring character from now, and will especially pop up on the few occasions Izumi's secret needs to be told. We'll also see exactly what happens to Jin at the beginning of the next arc, but don't worry; he'll be fine.
This chapter also goes into a bit of Izumi's character. She's still young and desperately wants to help people to the point that she'll do something stupid to achieve that goal if she has too. Sakuya and Hawks talked her down from her stupid plan this time, but they may not always succeed in the future.
I hope you enjoyed! Please Comment and Review; it really encourages me!