Black Phoenix

Chapter 7: Downward Spiral

"So much for keeping your identity a secret… but truthfully I think its better this way. Your name and recognition are the main things fueling this mission's success." Overhaul s

Dropped the morning papers down on the table. All the headlines were of either her or of Hawks, covering his death and her shocking return to villainy. "What's done is done, so would you please stop blubbering like a child. It's annoying."

"Shut up! I didn't want to kill him… of all the things I've done in the past, this by far is the worst thing I have ever done." Izumi lay on the couch, her emotions flooding out in waves as tears spilled down her face and pain crippling her ability to move from her spot. "Why… Why does it hurt so much? Why the fuck do I care? I didn't even know the man!"

"You're only in pain because you're looking at Hawks like an innocent victim. He was cocky to be sure, but he was a good man in your eyes, and a hero people respected." Overhaul shrugged it off. "He's completely different from your usual M.O. so your body is probably in shock."

"He was innocent, and a real hero, that was the whole fucking point!" She cursed at him, gritting her teeth. "He was the most logical choice to put my plan into action. He was popular, with billions of fans who knew, KNOW, his name. He wasn't physically strong, or highly combative which made it easy for me to overpower him. Yet he also had the flashy quirk I needed to make my statement and sell the product." She rolled over so she could stay up at the ceiling. Her red puffy eyes drying out from the heat of the ceiling lights. "I knew exactly what I was doing… but I think a part of me expected something to go wrong... Like it always does."

"...but nothing did." Overhaul finished in plain speak.

"Yeah… nothing did." She concurred with a wry laugh. "Even when Tokoyami showed up I didn't feel an ounce of panic. I knew all his weaknesses, and took him down easily. Even those idiotic Reservoir Dogs acted precisely the way I planned I never lost focus or concentration. It was a flawless victory."

"There are hundreds, breaching close to a thousand buyers who want the product now thanks to you." He sat down on the couch across from her. "You'll get no thanks from hero society, but I'll be more than happy to sing your praises. You played your part as my stooge very well… and will soon reap the rewards of your success." To make her feel better, he began setting up a chess board, knowing she preferred it over shogi. "You made good on your promise, and soon I will make good on mine."

"You mean about Tomura?" She sighed heavily. "I suddenly don't have the energy to deal with him and his bullshit. All I wanna do is sleep… or maybe read a good book."

"I can help with that." He set the last piece on the board. "What kind of book would you like to read? Fiction or nonfiction?"

"I'll think about it..." She slung an over her face to block the light. She let herself take a moment to breathe, for her body and mind to settle after the long crying jag. During the silence, a curious thought came to mind. "Hey... tell me something Kai. Do you know what the difference between fiction and nonfiction is?"

"One's truthful, and the other is a farce?" He responded, eyeing the game board with a thoughtful frown, wondering if she was gonna play.

"Wrong." She pulled her arm back and slowly sat up to look him in the eye. "Nonfiction is a collection of data and facts about the world. There's no clear opinion, only logic, letting those that read it decide for themselves on whether or not the material inside is true or false: History, politics, even home economics. All of the material is subjective because humankind itself is subjective."

"That's an interesting take on it." Amused, Kai smirked from behind his mask.

"It's true though. From the moment Adam and Eve defied God, we humans were cursed with our own opinions and free will. We no longer had the luxury of god's authority, nor the bliss of ignorance and were left to our own devices and eventual destruction."

"Very well put, I couldn't agree more. It is humanity's very own free will that has doomed it to eventually collapse upon itself." Enjoying the conversation, Kai sat back and folded his hands. "It's only a matter of when and how."

"Yes… but fiction, on the other hand, isn't so much subjective as it is a declaration of someone's opinion. It is a clear dictation of right and wrong, and in order to make that distinction the author assigns labels to its characters." She picked up the white and black kings and lifted each up in tandem as if to weigh them. "The protagonist is good, the antagonist is bad and the conflict of the story is the clash of their opinions." She pushed the two together firmly as if to battle. "Whether through debate, violence, or self revelation the two opinions are put into some kind of climatic battle until one prevails...and 9.9 times out of ten... the protagonist, or rather the hero of the story, always wins." She dropped the black King onto the board, scattering the rest of the black pieces to finish her metaphor.

"I see…" Kai picked up the discarded black piece, eyeing it reverently before lifting his eyes back to hers. "So fiction is nothing but a depiction of right vs. wrong dictated by those who put it to print. As readers, we can only agree or disagree with their point of view. Thus the creation of popular opinion. It's a brilliant analogy, but I'm failing to understand the purpose of this conversation we're having."

"Just sharing my epiphany. I've been fighting against popular opinion since the day I was deemed quirkless. I tried so hard to change other people's perspectives either through sympathy or brute strength... but I see now that I can't just force them to change. It's rather pointless if you think about it."

"I agree…" Kai closed the piece in his fist, almost protectively. "... but most people can't resist the urge to try."

"That's because it's ingrained. Society is nothing but a set of rules created by the world's most popular opinions, and from the day we are born we're brought up to believe that what society wants is how things should be. Even though in our minds we know better, our hearts can't help but long for acceptance. After all, what's the point of being right when everyone else believes that you're wrong?"

"Agreed… it's a truly terrifying disease."

"Exactly!" She clenched the white piece in hand, anger and frustration bubbling inside her.. "My mind and my heart have constantly been at war with each other. My head knows that I would be better off if I just let go of my compassion for other people, but my heart won't let me go against what society has deemed the norm. It's my heart, and my feelings that are the very source of my sickness. I've been so wrapped up in how people perceive me, letting my sympathies dictate my actions, that I failed to see the flaws in my own plans." She slowly unclenched her hand and looked down at the white king with guilt and grief. "Yesterday was the first time I ever truly let my mind flourish. Everything went according to plan... Everything that was supposed to happen, happened because I didn't let my emotions get the best of me. I just let the facts speak for themselves, and..."

"And… what?" Kai tilted his head in curiosity.

"And…" Izumi's smile distorted her face, making her look truly sadistic. She held out her hand and let the white piece fall and crash atop the others spilling the game pieces everywhere. "...I won!"

~Meanwhile~

"She's completely lost it!" Tokoyami sat crumpled on the ground, his form having returned to normal, but the news of his mentor's death hit him hard. "You should have seen her, heard her. It was as if she'd lost all sense of her humanity! All I could feel from her was a sadistic desire to win at all costs."

"Tokoyami-kun." Filled with sympathy, Tsuyu knelt on the ground and hugged her friend and classmate. "I'm sorry you had to go through that alone… but there wasn't anything you could have done. She would have only killed you too."

"I know she would have, but it doesn't make the pain stop. I was left completely helpless, and dumbfounded. She took away my quirk, my dignity, and my resolve all in one go." He shut his eyes and swiped his arm over his beak at the memory of the kiss. "I'm sick just thinking about it. I don't deserve to call myself a hero."

"Don't say that!" Uraraka scowled, stepping up and clenching her fists "This isn't your fault, Tokoyami-kun. You said it yourself, Midori has completely lost it! She's gone off the deep end, and now it's up to us to stop her!"

"Pink cheeks is right. No more Mr. and Mrs. Nice Guy." Bakugou cracked his knuckles, his fury boiling over. "I saw for myself what Usagi is capable of. Her mind was already on the very edge of insanity, and it's clear that that Shigaraki bastard has finally pushed her over the edge."

"I don't think it's Shigaraki who's done the pushing." Tokoyami whispered. "She's playing a completely different game now… one involving that drug she used on me and Hawks."

"You're talking about the one that erased your quirk for a while?" Ojirou questioned from the couch.

"Yes, but it wasn't so much erased as it was damaged. According to the doctor-"

"That's enough sharing, Tokoyami." Aizawa interrupted, stepping into the room. "You're not at liberty to share any further information from that case."

"Yes… forgive me, sensei." Tokoyami bowed his head apologetically. "I just felt-"

"Doesn't matter how you feel, we can't have rumors of this drug spreading any further than it already has or we'll risk widespread panic." Aizawa eyed his students. "Is that understood? Anything you just heard is to be kept tight-lipped. Anyone who blabs will be expelled."

"Yes sir." Was the group consensus, though Bakugou looked irritated by the mute command.

"Good… now Todoroki, Bakugou, the two of you need to come with me." Aizawa crooked a finger. "All Might wants a word with both of you."

"With us?" The two boys eyed each other curiously. With reluctant obedience they followed Eraserhead back to the school, and to the small staff room where Mirio and All Might were having some tea.

"I've brought them here. If you're going to do something stupid like get them involved in a mess they have no business being in, I want no further part in it." Aizawa pushed the two in and shut the door behind him.

"Welcome." Oddly serious, All Might motioned the boys to the couch. "Have a seat Young Bakugou, Young Toodorki. There's much to discuss."

"Hello again, Bakugo-kun, Todoroki-kun." Mirio gave them each a warm and welcoming smile.

"Hello Senpai." Todoroki bowed politely.

"The hell are doing here, fish eyes?" Bakugo pointed accusingly, irritated just by the sight of him. He still held a major grudge for humiliating defeat a few days prior.

"I called him here, same as you." All Might told him and motioned for them to sit. Todoroki sat in the middle of the couch, keeping Bakugo a safe distance from Mirio. "The reason being is because I need all three of you to assist me on a case."

"Aren't you retired now?" Bakugou tsked.

"As an active hero, yes. However, I'm still acting as a person of interest in an active case as I know the person, and so do the three of you."

"You're talking about Usagi." Bakugo sneered. "Not that I wouldn't love the chance of bringing that psychotic bitch to her knees, why the hell do you want our help?"

"The four of us in this room, arguably knew her best, at least on the hero spectrum. Detective Tsukauchi was under the impression Izumi was ready to fold when he spoke to her in the hospital, but thinks someone new is pulling her strings, using her grief and anger to control her actions. After creating all the facts, I'm inclined to agree."

"What facts are those?" Todoroki was the guest to ask.

All Might picked up his tea, sipped at it, and sighed again.

"What I have to say cannot leave this room, so you understand? It is of the utmost importance that no one finds out what we're planning."

"You've my word, All Might." Mirio agreed, and the other two nodded their heads to agree.

"Very well…" he leaned in close and whispered. "The Pro Hero Hawks… is still alive."

"What!?" Todoroki gawked, Bakugou jerked up and Mirio held his heart.

"Oh thank God… but I don't understand, why the secrecy?"

"Yeah! Why hasn't anyone told Bird-brain? He's in the dorm right now blaming himself for Hawks' death."

"That's because there's still a chance that he may die. Hawks has spent his entire life training on how to fall in a way that would cause the least damage. While his injuries are very severe and he could die from the extensive surgeries he will need, he managed to protect his own life in order to pass on important information."

"How noble! That right there is why he's one of the best heroes around!" Mirio pulled out a tissue to dab at his eyes. "Hawks, your bravery will not be in vain."

"So what's this important information that Hawks wanted to pass on?"

All Might told them all in great detail about what Hawks had seen, what Tokoyami had heard, and what the interrogation from the Reservoir Dogs had uncovered.

"The world needs a cure?" Mirio frowned.

"Hawks' death was meant to be a demonstration for this supposed cure for this sickness?" Todoroki pondered.

"Nothing of what he said sounds anything like the Usagi we all knew." Bakugou sneered.

"Precisely, and it fits with Tsukauchi's theory of Karma, or rather Phoenix, being manipulated. She's changed her looks, her plans, and even her morals to appease her new ally. All so she could confront Shigaraki and make him pay for what he did to her…"

"...and to Toya." Todoroki pulled out something from his pocket and rubbed a thumb over the skin cylinder. Per Tsukauchi's request he'd taken some of Toya's ashes and placed them inside in order to give them to Izumi… but he never got the chance to. "You're right, it does fit."

"There's more, but I want to make sure you're on board before handing out any further information. I've broken down my reserves… and requested the help of someone I thought could really ask the right questions and lead to some answers."

"You mean," Mirio smiled as he finally understood what this meant. "You've talked to Sir?"

"I have," All Might nodded. "Sir Nighteye has agreed to take over Hawks' role and lead this investigation. He wants all four of us to go to his agency and give him all the information we can on Izumi. In return you two boys," he looked to Bakugo and Todoroki, "shall be accepted as interns for his agency same as Mirio, and will be allowed to help with this case."

"He's offering us an internship with him?" Todoroki questioned.

"Tch…" Bakugo clenched his fists. "I don't like it. It sounds like he's just using us for his own gain."

"That could very well be the case, but I trust Sir Nighteye to do whatever it takes to find Phoenix. He's always been the resourceful type, and does what he needs to in order to get the job done." His smile faded and the seriousness returned to his tone. "It's imperative we find her, boys."

All three of them tensed up as the mood shifted.

"Karma was more than just a potentially dangerous villain… she was a villain who had polarity. She was able to sway the opinions of the general public, and it had affected both sides of the hero/villain spectrum. As Phoenix, there's no telling what negative effects her current state of mind will cause. If we can't stop her downward spiral then we'll have no choice… but to kill her."

"So that's why you called us in…" Bakugo motioned to the three of them. "It's not because we know Usagi better… but because we're the ones she's got the closest connection to. We're the only ones who have any hope of knocking some sense into her."

"Precisely."

There was a long pause and Bakugou started to pace the floor anxiously. He couldn't help recalling the look on Izumi's face when she'd tried to stab him. That sadistic and desperate look in her eye that showed him just how close she was to breaking. In the end she had been unable to make the kill… because of her feelings for him.

"Damn you, Kacchan…" The sadistic and villainous facade she'd put on had melted away with her tears. She'd tried so hard to be just another villain, but she couldn't hide who she truly was: A kind, compassionate, and sympathetic girl who cared about others more than herself.

"Everytime I think I've given up on her… she pulls me back in." Bakugou held his chest as it ached then turned to his companions. "I'm in."

"Me too." Todoroki stood up.

"Count me in, All Might!" Mirio gave a thumbs up.

"Thank you, boys." All Might nodded in approval. "Now then, let's go catch ourselves a villain."

~Fight Club: Meeting Room~

"Excuse me, but how dare you try to give me orders! If you don't want my product then get lost, because you're wasting my precious time!"

"Now please, dear lady there's no need for violence." The buyer held his hands up defensively as Phoenix stood over him with a wicked look in her eyes. "I only asked for a sample of the formula so that we could create a more profitable partnership. I'm a weapons dealer, I could help you. I'm on your side, after all.."

"Which side?" She questioned and made the buyer go pale with fear.

"Uh, I beg your pardon?"

"I have multiple personalities each with their own views and opinions. There's Izumi, my more innocent and sensitive side though we rarely listen to her anymore. There's Karma, the Queen of villains who had a distinct sense of justice and hunger for violence… and then there's me, the psychotic business woman who just wants to make a surmountable profit… but you can just call me Phoenix."

"I...see…" the buyer laughed nervously. This woman was a loon!

"Quite confusing I know. All of these personalities are me, but we have a tendency to disagree which makes forming alliances quite complicated. It makes my actions hard to predict, and my morals askew, not to mention it throws my entire loyalty into question. Lucky for me my current team is strictly after money, and any one of my sides can easily comply with it. You on the other hand already have wealth and weapons at your disposal, so what could you possibly need my product for other than to copy it and sell it for yourself?"

She kicked the chair out from under him making him screech and scramble up to his feet.

"Stay back! You crazy bitch!" He pulled a gun from his pocket but was instantly knocked out by the same chair he'd fallen out of. The gun scattered to the ground, and Phoenix levitated the gun to her hand.

"Your request has been denied, Mr Ryuzaki," Izumi slapped the case of money closed. "However I will be keeping this as payment in exchange for not killing you in your foolish attempt at extortion. Now take your measly pathetic existence, and never show your face to me again!"

"Crazy bitch! I'll get you for this!" Ryuzaki snivelled and ran out the room swearing for revenge. She heard the amusing spubd odnhim tripping down the stairs and had to laugh.

"Pathetic." She handed the case off to Tengu who placed it with the others in the new vault. Byron clapped as he entered the room.

"Beautifully done, Miss Phoenix."

"I apologize for losing you a patron, Byron, but I don't take being conned lightly."

"Oh please, I've been trying for years to get rid of that con artist and you did so with little more than a flick of your wrist."

"Humph, well it was fun to watch him squirm first." She smirked and sat down behind her shiny new desk and eyed her surroundings. "Thank you, by the way, for providing me a place to work. It's more lavish than I expected to receive."

"Your profit is my profit, Phoenix." he rubbed his cigar between his fingers and offered her a puff, which she immediately dismissed.

"No thanks, I like to keep my lungs." She leaned forward and propped her head atop laced fingers. "Now then, as for my debut fight…"

"The date is set, I just need to find you a worthy opponent."

"Actually I already have one in mind… and it's gonna take place off site, but i'd like you to hold a viewing party for all your patrons. Simply tell them it's an exhibition match. They're more than welcome to bet amongst themselves but that there will be no house betting as it will be a broadcasted event rather than a live viewing."

"Sounds fair and reasonable. Looking to make another statement, my dear?"

"Oh yes…" Phoenix lifted her head and cracked her knuckles as her energy pitched and vibrated ominously around her. "My biggest and most personal one yet… it'll be a fight that will rival the one I had with All for One."

"Oooh now I'm intrigued. Who is your opponent going to be?" Byron rubbed his hands together excitedly.

"Make the tagline read…"

GRUDGE MATCH!

Black Phoenix vs. The League of Villains

~Ask BriRy~

Bri: *rubs hands together excitedly*

Next Chapter: Grudge Match