I am here with a new story. This story here is replacing my other story 'Hitokori'. I wasn't really passionate about that story. I thought it'd be a fun idea at the time but couldn't think of any thing beyond the first chapter. And before anyone comments yes the cover art is the just a recoloring of Hitokori's cover art with some small changes. Without further ado, let's get on with the chapter.
Chapter 1: Changes
All for One stared at the pod like cylinder before him in one of his many facilities across Japan. Many scientists diligently working around the clock. On it was a plaque written 'Subject Nine'.
"How is she coming along Ujiko?" He inquired.
"Very good, very good indeed hmhmhmhm… she's coming along quite nicely, All for One sir." Ujiko gleefully expressed as he checked on his clipboard. "Along with all our other various projects things are looking up."
"Good to hear." All for One replied.
He walked to the tank to peer inside. Suspended in an unknown liquid was a naked young girl around the ages of three or four. Her hair was short the left half being a dark red, the right half being an ocean blue. Various tubes and wires were connected to her as she floated there in a deep sleep.
"What do the estimations show for her in regards to combat." He inquired as he looked to the doctor, who was currently working at one of the various computer monitors.
"Well, based off our estimations she's likely the weakest of the nine Destroyers we've made so far. She's still stronger and more versatile than any of our current Nomu's. However, in comparison to the other's she quite weak." Ujiko explained.
"I see, well it's still something we can work with. She'll be a powerful asset no matter what." All for One expressed. "How soon till she awakes?"
"Any day now. I'd prefer to be here myself for it but some problems have arisen with Subject Six. On top of this I need to check on our newest batch of Nomus so unfortunately I won't be around." Ujiko answered. "Her quirks should manifest in a few months."
"I see carry on then, I have things to take care of myself." All for One stated before taking his leave.
As everyone went about their business, no one noticed the slight twitch the child made.
Later, at All for One's main base…
With a groan of annoyance All for One paced about his office. He slammed his fist down onto his desk.
"Damn that All Might, forcing me to resort to such methods. To think I All for One, the man who once ruled Japan from the shadows, now has to make super soldiers just to deal with a simpleton like him! Had I gotten him before he escaped to America none of this would be happening!" He shouted.
As he began to calm down his phone suddenly began to ring. Took it and saw it was from Ujiko.
"Good evening doctor, did something come up?" He asked.
"That's one way of putting it." The doctor expressed in annoyance. "There's no easy way to say this but we've lost two of the Destroyers to raids from heroes."
"WHAT?!" All for One shouted in anger. "How?"
"I don't know. But I was able to mitigate the overall damage by disconnecting the labs' access to our network. With this they shouldn't be able to find out anymore." Ujiko replied. "Unfortunately Subject One's and Subject Seven's status is unknown."
"Do you know if they got away or were they captured?" All for One asked.
"As far as I know they escaped." Ujiko answered.
"That's good that means we can still…" All for One began.
"Wait… what's going on?!" Ujiko exclaimed.
"Doctor, DOCTOR! What's happening!?" All for One demanded.
"I don't know how but we must have traitors in our ranks. Multiple facilities are being raided." Ujiko exclaimed.
"WHAT?!" All for One shouted as he smashed his desk to pieces. "What facilities. Are any of them the Destroyer or Nomu labs?"
"The Nomus are something I decided to keep to myself personally as they're something I can handle with little help. They all are fine." Ujiko assured him. "However, the Destroyers required far more people to work on. And it looks like all the facilities raided housed Destroyers. Any attempt to finish subject 10 through 14 has gone up in smoke. What's worse is that despite their being no raids, Subject Two, and Subject Five facilities has gone silent. I fear They may have broken free on their own somehow."
"Curses, of all the times for things to go wrong." All for One declared. "At least we still have Subject Nine."
"Indeed, assuming nothing goes wrong there as well. Though I do have some more good news. All the Destroyers from the raids haven't been captured. Their still the possibility of reclaiming them before they become any real threat or the heroes find them." Ujiko stated.
"Ah yes I'll just…" He began.
Suddenly the ceiling caved in causing dust to fly up all around. All for One shielded his eyes. From the dust, emerged the towering muscular figure of All Might.
"Hey there All for One thought I'd drop in." All Might stated.
"Should have known it be you who'd cause me all this trouble." All for One stated as he hung up the phone.
"What's that? Seems my colleagues and I have caused you some trouble care to tell me what little project you were working on?" All Might questioned.
"I think you already know the answer to that one." All for One replied as he charged up a multitude of quirks.
All Might's smile faded as the two charged one another.
Meanwhile, with Ujiko…
"This is bad, very bad, very very very bad." Rapidly expressed as he worked to try and get the situation under control. "Of all the times for All Might to launch an attack. Damn these heroes messing with my work."
He slammed his fist down on his desk.
"Okay calm down, I need to focus. First make sure 10 through 14 are destroyed." He told himself.
With the push of a few buttons, Ujiko activated the self destruct sequence for each of the aforementioned subjects.
"Good there gone. Now the heroes won't have anything major to go off of." He muttered. "Now I need to see if I can find out where any of the escaped subjects have gone."
Tirelessly he worked to find any clues as to where they could have gone. Suddenly an alert popped up on of his devices. His face paled as he went into a cold sweat.
"Not her as well." He muttered.
Earlier, Subject 9's lab…
Scientist paced about the room going about their normal routine, blissfully unaware of the chaos going on at the other facilities. One of the scientists was looking into the container on the little girl who resided inside. As he did, he saw the girl's eyes slowly open. Wide wondering eyes stared back at him. Her eyes were a piercing bright green and a light brownish yellow.
"She's awake, she's awake, someone contact the doctor!" The scientist shouted in his excitement.
However the little girl was far from excited. Met with unfamiliar surroundings, suspended in some sort of fluid, and various tubes and wires connected to her, fear and panic quickly set in. Realizing this, the scientist acted immediately.
"Calm her down NOW!" One shouted.
"Working on it!" A scientist at on the monitors replied.
Quick the scientist had sedative injected directly into her bloodstream. However instead of calming down she grew more violent. Struggling in the fluid wires tubes and the like were being ripped off of her.
"What's going on she's not calming down!" One scientist shouted.
"Did one of her quirks activate. But none of the others have awoken theirs this soon how could this be." Another one pointed out.
"I don't know, someone just contact the doctor or All for One before…" The first scientist began.
However before he could finish his sentence a loud crack rang throughout the room. The container had a large crack around it. The fluid inside was being churned up violently as it spun around the girl. Soon more cracks began to form in the pod.
"Everyone take cover!" The scientist shouted as he ran to do so.
Following his lead, all the other scientists rushed to cover as the tank exploded. A powerful gust of wind shot out all around destroying equipment left and right. As it did pillars of earth erupted out of the floor and went out from the epicenter. Following the wind gust was a ring a fire going out in all directions. It all ended with a violent torrent of water whipping around the room. The lab was in ruins. Scientists who weren't killed by the explosion of power were left unconscious.
Out of the destroyed pod stepped the girl. The water coalesced around her forming a dress before freezing over. Despite this, the ice dress flowed and behaved like a normal dress made out of fabric. Slowly she step through the room. She timorously looked around the now dimly lit room. Quickly she rushed out of the lab. Heading down the various corridors the little girl ran as fast as her legs would take her. Which, much to her own surprise, was quite fast, as if the wind itself was carrying her.
Eventually she found her way onto the streets, by bursting out of the building. It was a warm summer evening, though her ice dress didn't melt and actually kept her cool. The sun was getting low in the sky. The part of the city she found herself in was run down and in slight disarray. There weren't many people around. She nervously looked around as she took slow steps down the street. Unsure of where to go, she just starting running in a direction. As she did, the streets gradually grew more crowded. As they did, her steps became more cautious as she nervously tried to avoid people. She stopped and looked around frantically. Her fear and nervousness finally reached a boiling point. She began to sniffle as tears built up in her eyes. Then she cried, like the scared lost child she was.
"Oh my goodness!" A woman exclaimed.
The little girl looked to see a young woman running up to her. The woman had long green hair tied in a half bun. She wore a plain white blouse and blue skirt. The woman bent down to check on the girl.
"What's a little girl like you doing out here all by yourself?" She asked.
"I… *sniff* I'm… lost." The girl answered.
"Oh you poor thing do you know where your parents are?" The woman asked.
"Pawants?" The girl asked.
"Yes Parents like your mom or dad. The people who take care of you." The woman explained.
"I… *sniff* I don't have pawants. *sniff* I'm all alone." The girl answered.
"No parents, then where are you from?" The woman asked.
"I don't *sniff* I don't know. I woke up. *sniff* And I was in a weird room. *sniff* And I was float. *sniff* And then I got really scared. And then I got out. And then I ran. And now I'm here and I don't know where to go." The girl cried.
"Oh you poor thing." The woman expressed as she pulled the girl into a comforting hug. "Let's get you to the police. They should be able to help you, alright?"
"Alwight." The girl replied.
Standing back up, the woman got out her phone and made a call to the police. After a few minutes a police car pulled up. With a gasp the little girl hid behind the legs of the woman.
"Don't worry, they're here to help." The woman assured the girl.
Two police officers came out of the vehicle and went up to them. One was a male with long white hair who appeared normal looking save for a set of wings on his back. The other was a female with short red hair cat ears, tail. Her eyes were also golden and cat like.
"You must be Mrs. Inko Midoriya." The officer greeted.
"Yes it's good to meet you officer…" Inko expressed.
"Jin Tsubasa, and this is my partner… *sighs* Akane Neko." Jin reluctantly stated.
"Nyace to meotcha." Akane playfully greeted with a salute.
"Please don't talk like that the whole time." Jin expressed.
"Don't worry I'm just playing around." Akane waved him off.
With a cheshire cat like grin she bent down to eye leave with the little girl. Her tail wagging back and forth. The little girl to continued to nervously hid behind Inko.
"You must be the little girl she mentioned. My, my your quite the cutie pie. What's your name little cutie?" Akane complimented.
The little girl blushed at the compliment.
"Name?" The girl questioned.
"Yeah, a name, what your call. Surely you have one. I bet it's cute just like you." Akane explained.
"Uhm… I remember hearing the scary people call me Subject 9." The girl answered.
This caused Akane to frown. Her tail dropped and ears flattened. She stood up and put her hands on her hips.
"Subject 9? That's not a name. I don't know who these scary people are but I already don't like them." She declared
She leaned in to be face to face with the little girl.
"A cute girl like you needs a cute name." Akane declared. "Hmm… how about… Izumi."
"I-I-Izumi?" The girl questioned.
"A perfect name if I do say so myself. What do you think?" Akane asked.
"I-I think it's nice." The now named Izumi expressed.
"Great!" Akane cheered as she as she leaned back, her tail wagging happily. "Now where are those scary people so I can teach them a lesson in naming cute girls."
Izumi pointed down where she came from.
"Down that way?" Akane questioned.
"Mhm…" Izumi answered with a nod. "I-I can out of a big building. It should have a big hole from when I flew out."
"A big hole you say. You must have a really powerful quirk." Akane complimented.
"Umm mm… I have a lot of quirks." Izumi corrected.
"A lot of quirks? You must be very special then." Akane complimented. "Is one of them the reason you have such a pretty dress?"
Izumi nodded.
"I-I froze water to make it." She answered.
"Now that's impressive. Welp let's go JinJin." Akane stated before heading back in the car.
Jin, who had been taking notes the whole time, finished up the last bit of notes.
"Wait… did she just…" Inko began.
"Yep, I don't know how she does it either. It's not a quirk and that's all I can say." Jin answered. "If you don't mind could you look after her till we investigate more? I'll also need your phone number."
"Oh uhm… I don't mind. My cell number is (237)806-6600." Inko answered.
"Alright good, I'd rather not be the one to try and pry her from you." Jin expressed as he finished writing down her phone number. "I get the feeling she wouldn't like that."
"Y-yeah…" Inko expressed as Jin put away his notepad and pencil away.
"Now then, have a good day miss. We'll look into things and get back to you soon." Jin stated before heading into the car and driving off.
The now very confused Inko only looked as the car drove off. Snapping her out of her confusion was the rumble of Izumi's stomach. She looked down at the now blushing girl.
"Let's get you something to eat shall we." Inko stated with a smile before leading the girl to her home.
Meanwhile…
Jin and Akane drove down the road. They had contacted the station about the situation and were en route to the area Izumi had mention to begin investigating. Jin kept himself professional while Akane, much to his annoyance, was bouncing with excitement.
"You know what that little girl said means right?" Jin questioned.
"Of course, why do you think I'm so excited." She expressed as her tail wagged back and forth.
A mischievous grin appeared on her face.
"We weren't able to go on that mission since we thought none of those labs were near us. To think one was right under our noses this whole time." She stated.
"We still don't know if it's related to that. For all we know this could be something else entirely." Jin reminded her. "Just remember to be on guard. We've no idea the state of the lab, assuming that's what it was, or the people inside. Given that Izumi, as you've decided to call her, broke free herself, I'd imagine pretty bad."
As he said this, he noticed an old abandoned warehouse up a little ways on his left.
"I think I found it." Jin expressed.
"REALLY, WHERE?!" Akane expressed as he looked around for it. "I don't see any buildings with really big holes in them."
"If I had to guess, I'd say the big hole she referred to was the broken down doors of that old warehouse." Jin pointed out.
Akane looked to where Jin had pointed. She looked to see that the warehouse door had been blown down from where it was held, but not into the street somehow. Her head turned to keep her eyes on it as they pulled up to a stop. Neither got out and just stared at the large doors which had been blown out.
"Damn," Was all Akane could say.
"And now I'm even more glad I decided to not try and take the child away from Mrs. Midoriya." Jin stated.
"I wondered why no one made a call about this?" Akane questioned.
"Attention all officers." They heard over the comms. "We've received reports of a broken down warehouse door and a little girl running out of it. It's likely related to the little girl we recently received a call about. Any available units meet at these coordinates."
Jin and Akane looked to each other.
"Looks like someone did." Jin stated.
"Yeah," Akane expressed as they looked away from each other. "Wanna go in and investigate awhile?"
"Ah sure, I'll call command just to make sure…" Jin began.
"Sweet let's go!" Akane exclaimed as she rushed out of the car.
"Wait I still need to… oh I know the drill by now." Jin told himself as he picked up his communicator.
He was about to talk.
"Follow Akane inside and make sure she doesn't get in trouble." He heard over the comms.
"Yes sir…" Jin sighed as he put the communicator away and got out of the car.
And that brings chapter one to a close. Leave a review and let me know what you thing. Til next time...