Midori the Phoenix
Chapter 3: Tipping the Boxes
"Thank you for meeting me here Toshi." David huddled over the bar, playing with his drink and looking around nervously. "I didn't feel comfortable speaking about this over the phone."
"You said it was important and besides, old friend, I wanted to see how you were doing." He reached over patting his shoulder. "How is Melissa faring?"
"She's good, better than good. She's risen to the top of her class and is looking to transfer off the island to do some internships abroad."
"That's wonderful to hear." He smiled and waited for the bartender to move along before speaking again. "Now then, tell me what has you so jumpy."
"I saw her…" he stated simply not sure how safe they were from putting ears. "A week ago here in San Francisco."
All Might knew immediately of whom he spoke of.
"You're certain?"
"Yes… She approached me herself. She asked me if I wanted redemption for what I'd done."
"Did you call the police? Told them what you knew?" He huddled down now knowing why the secrecy was so important.
"No...She wasn't entirely herself, but she knew how to trap me and keep me quiet. She was still intimidating despite looking more frail and tired than the last time I'd seen her."
"Life on the run can do that even to someone as intelligent as Izumi." He sipped his drink.
"I think it's more than that. This is only conjecture right now but…" he looked around again and bent in close for All Might to hear. "I've found evidence that makes me believe that she's pregnant."
"PREGNANT!?" All Might had to slap his own mouth closed and huddle down to keep from being recognized. "Are you sure? She's still so young."
"She had intimate relations with Kai Chisaki and was planning to marry him wasn't she? She gave me copies of his research hoping I could help her make a support item from the information. Among the research there was a folder labeled the Karma project."
"The Karma project? Was Izumi the one being studied?"
"No… the research revolved around another girl's quirk, but I can't get into that. What I can tell you is that the Karma project was a special request Izumi put in asking Chisaki to change the conditions of his formula. Instead of destroying quirks, it destroys the mind through de-evolution. She requested only one to be made and Chisaki finished it shortly before they were married."
"All for One…" All Might lay a hand over his eyes as the puzzle pieces came together. "That explains why she went to Tartarus of her own free will. It was for revenge."
"Justice is how Chisaki put it. He wrote journals along with his research data and got pretty intimate with the details. There's no guarantee he succeeded, but there's a passage where he clearly states he wants to impregnate Izumi in order to claim ownership over her."
"That poor child, these villains just continue to use and abuse her. First All for One, then Shigaraki, now Overhaul."
"Poor child my ass," David muttered and took a long swig of beer. "She's plenty capable of handling herself Toshinori."
"She shouldn't have to." All Might sighed and folded his hands together. "Despite how she acts she's only 16 and she'll be a mother by age 17. She's always trying to take care of others when instead she should have others taking care of her. She should be living a normal life, going to school, making friends, and having fun."
"We are talking about the same Karma who held you hostage in a warehouse while the city burned, right?" David pointed out. "You've got to get this image of her innocence out of your head. She's a wanted criminal and for good reason. No matter what circumstances put her there she made the choice to follow the path of a villain."
"I know that...but I don't see the justice in locking up a smart and talented young woman who was manipulated by villains to get where she is. I wish I could go back in time to when we first met. I would have extended my hand to her instead of pulling away."
"You can't change the past Toshinori." David sighed into his drink and clenched it between both hands. "You can only look to the future, and ensure that others won't make the same mistakes."
"Mmmm I suppose you're right. It is my responsibility as a teacher, to instruct the future heroes of our society and guide them toward a better tomorrow." All Might downed his drink and sighed. "I should go, I've a long flight back to Japan, and I've class Monday morning."
"I'll walk out with you." David stands up with him and he pays the tab.
"What are you going to do with the information Karma has given you?" He asked once they were outside.
"I'm going through with it. If I deny her then there's a very real possibility she'll retaliate. More than that I don't want to lose contact with her. If I can somehow gather more information that I can pass along to you and the other heroes and ensure her capture, then I will."
"Can't say I approve of you making support items for a villain… but I see the strategy in it. Please be careful David, and if you can tell your local heroes and the police what you know. I don't want to lose my oldest friend."
"I will… and you won't." He shakes hands with Toshinori and smiles. "I'll be careful, I promise. You take care getting home, and I'll let you know if I find out anything else." He hails a cab and opens the door as Toshinori slid inside. "Be safe on your flight back."
"Ah… take care, David, and give Melissa my love."
"I'll do that." He closes the door and pats the top of the cab. As the cab drove off he took a deep breath and pulled out his cell phone. He dialed the number given to him by Karma and waited for someone to answer.
"David Shield?" The man on the other line spoke with a rich and gentlemanly tone. "Have you made your decision on my Queen's proposal?"
"I have…" David loosened the tie on his suit and takes another deep breath. "Please tell Karma that I accept. Have her send me any details she can about the girl so I can get a better understanding of my client."
"I shall pass on the message. Karma will be in contact soon." Gentle hung up, and scowled as he looked down at La Brava. The two of them could clearly see where David stood on the street and had seen him walk in and out of the bar with All Might. "Let's report, La Brava."
~Several Days Later: In England~
Izumi sat outside on the deck looking at the pictures from her sonogram. She had the smallest of smiles on her lips and she touched her fingers to it.
"Finnick…" she murmured and kissed the picture before setting it in the folds of a notebook. She turned the page and started writing down notes for her the next step in her plan. Her phone rang and she answered it without ever looking up from her page.
"Good Morning," she answered in English.
"Good Morning, your majesty." Gentle spoke on the other end. "I just wanted to inform you that La Brava and I have returned to Japan safely."
"That's good to hear. Thank you again for keeping tabs on David Shield for me." She pauses her writing. "Did you also get the information I requested?"
"Yes, your majesty. We tracked down one Melissa Shield. She is currently interning abroad and will make the rounds through America, parts of Europe, and then finally Japan."
"She's already made contact with All Might, and Mirio Togata letting them know of her itinerary." La Brava mentioned from the background.
"Excellent work, everything is moving forward as planned. Continue your objective, Gentle, and be sure when Melissa arrives in Japan that no one is to harm her. She's vital to the next stage."
"Yes, your majesty."
"Good, oh and one other thing." She closed her notebook and set it aside. "Dabi is currently sending out a care package for you two as a thanks for your hard work. I included several types of English tea that I think you will enjoy."
"Bless you, your majesty." Gentle held his heart, moved to tears. "I look forward to tasting it."
"My pleasure. From here on out you guys are to maintain a quiet presence. I know that's not really your style gentle, but I need someone I can trust to keep tabs on my allies in Japan, as well as someone I can trust to maintain a certain balance."
"You can count on me, your majesty. I live to serve you .It's thanks to you that I and La Brava have finally made headway in our villain careers and have cemented ourselves in history as the accomplices who helped you escape tartarus."
"A task which I greatly appreciate. Now the next time you make headlines it'll be your own victory, I promise."
"I look forward to it. Good day, your highness."
"Good day, Gentle." Izumi hung up. Instead of pulling her notebook back out she picked up the case next to her chair and unpacked the chessboard and game pieces onto the picnic table. She glanced up briefly when Eri made a squeal, but relaxed when she started laughing. Kota squirted her with a water gun and she ran around the tree house hoping to gain a breather, but he stayed close on her heels.
"Cuts kids if not a bit loud." Touya stepped outside and turned a chair around so he could sit across from her. He leaned forward over the chess board she had laid out. "It's been awhile since you broke this bad boy out." Dabi took up the white King and eyed it. "Contemplating on how to punish David Shield?"
"I'm not going to punish him." Izumi clarified and lounged back in her seat. "I would have thought Shield a fool had he remained silent about our encounter…" She tapped her fingers on the arm of the chair. "He doesn't know where I am, or of any other plans I have so the only thing he could have possibly told All Might was that he saw me, and that I want him to make a support item. There's also the slight possibility that he noticed I'm pregnant, but that means little to me."
"You sure about that?" He asked, starting the game by moving forward a white pawn.
"Unless the heroes know where to look for me they'll have to scour the entire planet for pregnant teenagers which I can guarantee I'm one of many. Trust me, love, we're safe." She flicked a hand out and moved her own black pawn forward.
"So then why did you come up with an emergency evacuation protocol?"
"I'm confident, but not stupid. I know that there's still a chance someone could find us. If and when that happens I expect you and the children to follow said protocol."
"So long as your pregnant that protocol includes you as well Izumi. You've our son cooking in there and that's far more important to me than my own safety."
"Fair enough." She touched his hand then laced their fingers. "Touya… are you really okay with this? Taking a back seat?"
"Hmmm? What do you mean?" He turned their hands around so he could stroke a thumb over her knuckles.
"Neither of us are gonna be at the forefront anymore. All of our work is gonna be from the background, passing on information and using people like tools. Are you sure you're okay with it?"
"I think the real question is are YOU okay with it, Karma." He kissed her fingers then made his next move. "It's your dream, your plan… but it's doubtless you'll receive any recognition for your part in it."
"I don't want exposure or fame, what I want are results. The only reason I catered to theatrics in the first place was so that my ideals could be recognized and sympathized with. Now the entire world knows my opinion on what society is like and even All Might has recognized it. I don't need to be at the forefront to get what I want. What I need is to stay alive, and active so that I can keep directing everyone where I want them to be." To emphasize her point she shifted her next piece and tapped the King. "I'm no longer the key piece in the game… but instead I'm the player that is moving the pieces."
"Makes sense… So tell me how Melissa Shield fits into all of this." He held up the white queen and moved it up three spaces behind his pawn.
"She's a testament to the world I want to build. She's quirkless, but has an impressive talent and mind. Ever since the incident at I-Island she's been a steeple of hope for the future. I want use her as a sort of catalyst."
"Ah, that's right, you had La Brava put her into that program in order to help her get exposure to the right scientists and inventors. You're building up her skill set and giving her the experience she needs."
"Exactly. Within time she'll have the potential to become a spokesmodel for all quirkless children. She can show them how hard work, and ingenuity can go far even in a superhero society."
"You're giving them an ideal role model." He smiled as she made her enxt move, trapping his queen and blocking two of his other pieces from attacking. "Sneaky."
"It's a start… there are several other key pieces. One of them being MIrio Togata, All Might's successor, and future number one hero."
"Your long standing rival…" He leaned forward on the table eyeing the board. "How do you want to handle him?"
"He can stay the number one hero. He doesn' have unrealistic goals like All Might does. His goal is to save a million people, and his training with Sir Nighteye has given him insight. He has a handle on his limitations and knows what he's capable of. He'll give that beacon of hope to those that still want and need it… but it won't be the kind that leave huge ugly shadows in its wake."
"How can you be so sure?" He frowned. "As you said he's All Might's protege. He could very well fall into that category."
"That's because I won't let him."
"You won't let him?" He raised a brow at this. "You're a pregnant 16 year old living in backwater England, raising two kids who aren't yours, entertaining a fifty something year old chatterbox, and giving orders to a handful of people from her backward. HOW?"
"Oh I have my ways." She smirked slyly and shifted her last piece into place. "Checkmate."
~U.A. High School~
"You two sure are feeling rambunctious today." Mirio laughed whole heartedly and dodged Bakugo and Todoroki's oncoming attacks. He remained on the defensive, today's training soully based on them keeping the offensive and landing at least one attack. They'd been at it for three hours, but neither of them had succeeded thus far.
"Kuso!" Bakugo wiped sweat from his brow. Though his explosions were getting stronger, this sensitivity to it was growing as well. At this rate he'd lose control of the output and put Icy Hot at risk. "I can't catch the damn clown off guard."
"Our normal form of attacking isn't working. We need to come up with a better strategy," Todoroki agreed, melting the ice that held build up on his right side.
"Shut up, I know that damn it. Do you think I've just been firing aimlessly this whole time?"
"No, I'm just saying we need a more effective strategy, you idiot." Todoroki scowled and grunted as Bakugo shoved him.
"Don't call me an idiot you loser!"
"Oi, oi, oi, calm down now. Your opponent is in front of you, afterall." Mirio motioned to himself. "Why don't we call it a day before you two get overheated?"
"No fucking way! We're just getting started!" Bakugo cracked his knuckles.
"He's right, please don't mind us, this is just our usual banter." Todoroki bowed in apology.
"Ah, in that case do whatever feels comfortable." He crossed his arms standing proud and confident. Bakugo prickled up, grinding his teeth in irritation.
"Damn it, he doesn't have to look so cocky about it."
"At least we can take solace in the fact that not even Midoriya was able to beat him." Todoroki rationalized.
"Like that really makes me feel any better!" Bakugo snapped, but mulled it over in his head. "Hey, phase boy."
"Hmmm? Yes Bakugo-kun?"
"You've sparred with Usagi in the past right?" He waited a beat, getting the confirming nod from Mirio. "How do we compare to her?"
"I'm curious about that as well." Todoroki admitted. "None of us have beaten you… but which of the three of us would you consider a more difficult opponent?"
"Ah, a comparison huh?" Mirio rubbed his chin. "Hmmmm well if we're comparing the sparring days you guy definitely edge her out in pure combat ability. That last fight with her though… she's gotten pretty impressive. Paired that with her tactical prowess, and raw instinct, and it's a deadly combination."
"So? If the two of us were to go up against her based on what you know… would we be able to beat her?"
Mirio looked at his two sparring partners and he uncrossed his arms. The time for jokes over, Mirio took the question seriously and soberly.
"Based on what I know… neither of you would stand a chance against her."
Bakugo and Todoroki tensed up, Bakugo's teeth gritting and Todoroki's gaze turning frosty.
"Izumi was already a formidable opponent. In the Sports Tournament she barely won against you guys by going all out and using her knowledge of your quirks and habits to catch you off guard. Now though, from the information All Might and the other heroes have collected, she's added more to her arsenal. All for One forced two more quirks into her, in an attempt to weaponize her. Not only does she have immense and literal firepower, but her body doesn't take the same amount of damage as it did before. I had to go all out in order to catch her off guard and get her unconscious."
"Tch that fucking figures. Just seems like every time we reach a new level… Usagi pushes past her own limitations and breaks them." Bakugo clenched his fists.
"I know you don't like to lose, Bakugo-kun, but there is one thing that Izumi doesn't that you and Todoroki have at your disposal."
"Which is?" Todoroki asked.
"Teamwork." He held his hands out. "The bond you share with each other, the trust you have in each other's abilities, is on a level Izumi couldn't possibly reach with those in her league."
"You sure about that?" Todoroki questioned. "What about that Dabi guy?"
"He's quirkless now… sure they could strategize together, but he's no threat in the combat area. All of the people she's allied herself with aside from him have betrayed her in some shape or form so she doesn't trust. She puts it all upon herself and that'll be her downfall. After all had she and Chisaki worked together to take me out, all of them could have easily escaped."
"That wasn't part of her plan though." Bakugo pointed out. "Izumi wanted to get captured in order to get to All for One."
"Hmmm true, but that wasn't Chisaki's plan." Mirio held up a finger. "Had he gone along with her idea, had trusted her enough to see it through, he probably would still have his quirk, and been given a chance to escape. He didn't, instead he knocked her out, tried to force her to run, and that ended up costing him."
"I get it… it's not so much the trust Izumi has in others, but the trust others have in her." Todoroki realized.
"Bingo." Mirio grinned. "Villains have a bad habit of distrusting their own people. It's a flaw that will eventually be the league's and Izumi's undoing." He clapped his hands together. "We as heroes can't be like that. We need to have faith in ourselves, and in our allies. It's our one saving grace against those that threaten to tear us down. Got it?"
Both Bakugo and Todoroki nodded affirmedly.
"Good.. now then if you're still up for it, let's try going one more hour and then call it a day. Afterwards I'll treat both my junior's to some ice cream."
"Screw ice cream, let's go have spicy ramen instead!" Bakugo smacked his fist into his open palm grinning.
"I prefer udon…" Todoroki took a fighting stance.
"Hahaha, alright then, whoever lands a hit on me first gets to decide where we go… and if neither of you do by the end of the timeline we'll go with my choice, deal?"
"Deal! Get ready pantless wonder, I'm about to go all out!" Bakugo launched and Todoroki turned the ground to ice, gliding across it at a super speed.
Mirio watched proudly as his two junior's came at him with quirks at the ready, and passion raging in their eyes. With his help, All Might's, and Sir Night Eye, these two would become the ultimate duo and will surely become an asset in finding and taking down the infamous Queen of Villains.
"Things are about to get interesting."
~Ask Briry~
Yay another chapter done! I just recently watched the new MHA Hero' Rising movie and it was AWESOME! I don't care what anyone else says about it, I enjoyed the heck out of that movie! Hope there are others who feel the same.
Next Chapter: The Awaited Birth