Authors Note:
First of all: I'm giving trigger warnings here: This story contains blood, violence and physical/emotional/psychological abuse of children and adults.
Second: I had already uploaded the story once, but the translation was still very faulty at that time. Hopefully it's not anymore xD I also decided to make a yaoi story out of it ฅ^•ﻌ•^ฅ
It could be that you still find strange phrases/sentences, since I'm a German author and this is the first time I translate one of my stories. Proverbs are the worst btw ◉w◉
So if you find anything odd, let me know ~
The genre is mainly drama, that includes yaoi romance. However, it is quite a slow burn. After all – it's Overhaul (that rhymes, neat O:), who isn't exactly known for his romantic streak.
Special thanks to HellsGate for proofreading my story. You're the best :3
Overhaul
Chapter 1 - Time of change
The air on Hosu's streets was muggy and oppressive. The city was bustling and the traffic was continuous. Under normal circumstances, Overhaul would have been annoyed by the noise, but he was only peripherally aware of it.
Three days had passed since he had seized control of the Shie Hassaikai and sent the boss into a coma. Since then, he had avoided the headquarters as best he could, and instead of worrying about the looming internal dispute, he was looking for potential henchmen for his Eight Bullets. Overhaul had instructed Chrono to monitor the situation in his stead. Hojo, Setsuno, and Tabe were at Chronos side.
Knowingly, Overhaul closed his eyes, letting his hands wander into his jacket pockets. It had been more than shameful for him to turn tail and run, and he was all too aware of what it had caused: his conscience had sent him fleeing. Overhaul snorted. No one would probably give him any credit for a moral compass, and he had always borne the consequences of his actions without hesitation or remorse, and yet it plagued him - at least in relation to the old man.
Overhaul had set up the Boss's own sickroom and taken care of medical and technical needs, but from then on he had not visited him again. What Overhaul had done to him – the fact that it was for the sake of the Hassaikai and thus for the boss, did not change the fact that Overhaul had betrayed and hurt the only person who was important to him. No, not merely important ... the old man - he was his whole world and Overhaul lived only to repay his debt towards him. That his conscience came forward had, in reverse, probably been an entirely normal reaction, he thought.
He raised his head. Passers-by passed him and he distracted himself. It had not escaped his notice that most people gave him a wide berth. After all, they knew the members of the Hassaikai.
In the nineteen years that Overhaul had been part of the yakuza, the boss's chivalrous code had been law. But despite all their efforts and time spent doing good and helping people, they were still met with ingratitude. Nothing had changed and they continued to be seen as criminals ... as Villains. The image of the yakuza was irreparably damaged and could not be saved. The kindness and charity that the old man had always been preaching did not, in the end, bring them a more positive reputation.
Overhaul had warned him. Constantly. He had prophesied to the boss that the way of chivalry would one day destroy their yakuza, over and over again, while Overhaul himself had searched non-stop for alternatives to save them - but the old man wouldn't hear any of it. Overhaul's ideas, his suggestions and sound plans ... the boss had dismissed them all without exception. Even his current one, to create a serum through Eri's DNA that would destroy and restore Quirks, thus creating a monopoly and dominating the market ... it had been the chance.
„Chisaki. I told you to stop this." The old man's words intruded on his thoughts. „That girl is a person. Does that mean nothing to you?"
He clenched his fists. To save the Shie Hassaikai, he had to pass over the boss - even though Overhaul was the one who respects his will the most, but he had no other option left. This chance, which he owed Eri ... there was no way he would let it pass.
While he tried to decide the fight with his conscience for himself, he noticed far too late how the young man who crossed his path stumbled. Overhaul could not avoid the collision.
His mysophobia reacted immediately and an itchy rash broke out on his left arm, which the man had grazed during his fall. Sheer bloodlust spread through Overhauls innermost being, dominating his thoughts, and his hand darted in the man's direction in the first instant. However, he stopped himself in the same breath, restrained this insane impulse with all the willpower he could bring up. To kill a passers-by on the open street - he could not do that. They would put him in the slammer right away for that.
Only now did he realize the rain of paper sailing down the cobblestone path. In addition to a shopping bag and camera, the man had also dragged a stack of photos with him.
The wretched sight of Hawks, Ryukyu and Gang Orca had stifled his murder fantasies. Still - the rash and itch persisted and he couldn't help but scratch his arm uncontrollably. He hated it, he hated being touched. All this filth, it was so disgusting ...! Hastily, he pulled his white tissue out of his jacket pocket, rubbed it over his burning skin, but it brought him no relief.
„I'm really sorry," it came to his ears and he reflected, watching the man. He gestured over his shoulder. „That pothole there knocked me out cold."
„... please don't worry about it," he replied, annoyed, still struggling to keep his composure. „These things happen."
„Oh." He fixed his gaze on Overhauls arm. „You suffer from mysophobia?"
Overhaul gave him a cutting glance, and when he looked into his icy blue eyes, his instincts instantly sounded the alarm. Though the man seemed more than relaxed, Overhaul could tell - for a split second he had been able to make out the same sharpness that was inherent in his eyes. But there was something else. Something was stirring deep inside him - but he couldn't put a name to this feeling. At least not exactly. If he had to guess into the blue, he would choose the word ‚familiarity'? Kinda weird ... and of course completely far-fetched.
Instantly, the tearing of paper reached Overhauls ears and his attention turned to the tear that spread further and further into the mans shopping bag. Finally, it tore open completely, and Overhaul immediately stepped back, dodging the rain of cans that crashed to the sidewalk.
„...sometimes, I hate my life," the man said and sighed quietly.
Awkward silence spread over them and Overhaul looked at him, waiting, as he let his handkerchief disappear into his jacket pocket again. „Misfortune rarely comes alone, does it?" Overhaul smiled, friendly, if feigned and even knowing that he couldn't see it through his mask anyway. He had to preserve the peaceful appearance of the Hassaikai in public.
Overhaul eyed the man. Androgynous was the first word that popped into his head. Some might have taken him for a woman. The man's features were soft, his stature graceful. Black strands had come off his loose side braid. This serene posture and the gawky smile - the overall picture could not have seemed more harmless and Overhaul wondered if his instincts had just abandoned him.
The man bent down to collect his photos and the purchase, and the passers-by observed the scene, but above all they regarded Overhaul with skeptical looks. He may even have been under surveillance by the cops, since the yakuza were generally considered the Villain ‚reserves'. Ridiculous.
„So you're medically trained?" Overhaul asked as he bent down as well. He helped him with picking up the cans. Not so wild in the end, he thought, as he accurately stacked the few cans and photos in front of him – he was wearing gloves, after all.
„Nah. I was just looking into the matter because of a friend. She also suffers from mysophobia, though it's not as severe as yours is."
„I see," it escaped him. Could he believe him? Overhaul brooded. The man's fall earlier ... had he been a Hero, or at least possessed some combat experience, he would have cushioned himself out of reflex. Instead, however, he had simply fallen over like a wet sack. Thoughtfully, he turned a can in his hand, read the label, and raised an eyebrow in response. „You have cats?"
„They're not really mine," the man replied. „They're strays that I've nursed back to health, but most of them still visit me almost daily." He blinked up at him. „What about you? I guess you're not much of an animal lover? Due to your mysophobia, I mean."
„No, not really." His answer was curt. Thoughts about pets had never occurred to him. What for? They were filthy germ catchers, not to mention their hair. Moreover, he couldn't stand cats.
„That's a waste," the man said. „Yet animals can give you so much."
„I think that's just not my world." Overhaul pushed the can tower with the photos toward him, which the man then stacked in his hand. He tucked the photos between the can tower and his chest, and the necklace he was wearing caught Overhaul's attention. „Seems to me that one's pretty unlucky for you." He pointed to the pendant - a deep green four-leaf clover.
The man smiled bitterly. „Oh, I know," he said, „but hope dies last." Then he rose.
Overhaul did the same. „By the way, the photos," he noted casually, pointing a finger at them. „Skilled perspectives."
„Aww, thank you! Those are mine. I'm a photographer for the Hero Times." A grin curled his lips. „But of course, if you have an interesting Hero story to tell, I wouldn't be averse."
Protectively, Overhaul raised his hands in front of his body. „Sorry, but I'm not really interested in this topic." Heroes and Villains ... they were a disease that had infected this world. But he kept that opinion to himself. After all, it was none of this man's business.
„Oh, really?" The man tilted his head. „Your mask tells a different story, though. The design is really extraordinary. May I ask where you got them?"
Overhauls gaze sharpened. This man had a little too much interest in him for his taste. Was he a hero or a cop after all, and was he just checking him out?
„The design is mine," he replied. „So it's unique."
„That's really impressive. You sure do have talent."
Although this man more than puzzled Overhaul, something quite different occurred to him: unlike Hosu's residents, he had not met Overhaul with suspicion for a second. Instead, the man had treated him with kindness. Could he have been a resident of Hosu too? Or was he from another part of Tokyo and didn't know Overhaul belonged to the Shie Hassaikai?
„Sorry if I offended you," the man said. „I have a talent for that."
„Oh, no." Overhaul shrugged. „Don't worry. You haven't."
„Anyway ... thanks for helping me out." He bowed to him. „Well then, I've got to go. It's been a pleasure - despite the circumstances." He then strode past Overhaul, walking down the street.
Overhauls gaze did not leave the man's back, even when his silhouette had disappeared in the distance. This situation had been more than weird, as had the meaningless small talk and the doubts that had ebbed and flowed within him.
Overhaul contorted his face at this thought. This was not like him at all and he was sure that this man could only throw him off track because of his current state. This couldn't go on like this, he silently decided to himself and his hands went back into his jacket pockets. He had to finally accept his guilty conscience, because only then he had been in a position to be able to override it in the end. Like hell he would drive the Hassaikai against the wall because of his own feelings of guilt.
· ┈┈┈┈┈┈ · ❖ · ┈┈┈┈┈┈ ·
„I'm truly sorry ... Boss." Overhaul paused at the old man's bedside. The monitor's beeping was rhythmic, stoic. Insistent.
„Chisaki," the old man's voice echoed in his mind. „I appreciate that you're just trying to repay me for taking you in."
„Chisaki is no more," he said. His protective mask had given way to a more distinctive trademark during his gradual transformation into Overhaul: the red plague mask. After all, the Hassaikai needed a new image.
„Still, you always go too far."
Affected, he closed his eyes. „Why can't you just understand that this is all for your own sake?"
„Stop straying from my path."
The old man's heartbeat, that perpetual rhythm - it remained unchanged, no matter what Overhaul had said to him. Shouldn't the boss have gotten angry? Shouldn't he have actually contradicted him? Why didn't his pulse rise at Overhauls words? The boss ... he had to be able to hear him, didn't he?
„What you did was bad, but ... thanks for trying to protect ..."
It hurt - the certainty of having been responsible for the boss's condition.
„... our honor, Chisaki."
Overhaul clenched his fists and stifled his conscience. He did what had to be done - for the good of the Shie Hassaikai, and thus for the sake of the Boss. As long as his actions benefited them in the end, he hadn't cared at all about the consequences. No more regrets.
„Soon everything will be better again," it escaped Overhaul gently. „I will realize your greatest wish, so please sit back ... and watch."
The restrained creaking of the room door disturbed the silence.
„Boss," it came to Overhaul in a deliberate tone. It had been Chrono who remained in the door frame. By now, his protective mask had also given way to a white plague mask. „Two members have deserted. I was able to capture one, but the other escaped. I sent Setsuno and Tabe after him."
Unmoved, Overhaul looked toward his aide. This problem was foreseeable. Except for Chrono and his three Bullets, no one followed him. The members of the Hassaikai were too attached to the old man's ideals, revered him, and detested Overhaul for it. As long as Overhaul continued to be inactive, nothing would change.
„If they will not acknowledge us, then they must learn to fear us," he said. „We have to set an example, or it won't be just two deserters."
„And what should we do about the fugitive if the others don't find him?" Chrono asked.
„Nothing." Overhaul snorted. „It bugs me, but in the end he doesn't possess any problematic information about us, and he won't talk to the cops either. After all, I'm the only one who can help the boss. He knows that."
Pondering, Overhaul put his head back. It had its advantages that he and the members had coexisted more than actually ‚lived' together over the years. He had never taken an interest in them, which in turn meant they had never really taken an interest in Overhaul. They knew only roughly about his Quirk, because he had always used it judiciously. He had never left any evidence. And the members knew he was dealing Triggers through his handful of henchmen, but he had been fastidious about keeping the middlemen and their distribution channels hidden. With the absence of the boss, the profits from the Triggers were now what kept their Shie Hassaikai from ruin. The cops, on the other hand, were another matter, but he was all too aware that they underestimated their obsolete small-time yakuza because of their powerlessness. Their observations had been half-hearted in nature, and Overhaul took advantage of that fact.
„Where do you keep the deserter?", Overhaul asked and strode past Chrono, left the room.
Chrono closed the door behind him. „In the boss's office. My stasis will affect him for a good half hour yet."
„Take him to the meeting room and make sure most of the members are present. And see that you release your stasis in due course."
„Very good, sir." He bowed and turned down the next hallway.
Overhaul looked after him for a moment. They had to consolidate their position within the Hassaikai at all costs - preferably already yesterday. Making an example was only a small first step, but it was essential and would play into Overhauls hands in time. Surely he would be able to break one or the other will with it. The second step was to recruit more henchmen. Chrono had grown up with him and had always been at his side. His skills were invaluable, and Hojo, Setsuno, and Tabe were useful game pieces, but they alone were not enough. Overhaul needed more of them. Game pieces like his subordinates who had nothing to lose and who Overhaul knew they would give their lives for him without hesitation. Capable, trustworthy men who were not in thrall to him out of fear, like the Hassaikai peasants who would soon submit to him. No, what he needed were silver and gold generals, horses, lances and dragons.
„Hey ... Kurono is calling for us." A member's voice filtered through the narrow corridors. Uncertainty accompanied his pitch and unease gradually spread through the main building of the gigantic office complex that the yakuza clan called their home.
It was about time, Overhaul though and took his first step, walking towards the meeting room. On the way, the disapproving looks of some members brushed him. He ignored them, was used to them, because the older he had become, the more often his views had clashed with those of the old man. This had not gone unnoticed by the members of the Hassaikai, and over the years they had begun to treat Overhaul with contempt for it. His refusal to heal the boss from his pitiful state only reinforced that contempt, and in their eyes was a silent reproach: „You are responsible for his coma," it said. „We know it." They could not prove it, however, and the accusation remained unspoken. Nevertheless, this line of thought exacerbated an already tense situation.
„Kurono ...! You can't be serious about that?!" The deserter's frightened voice came through the open door, mingling with tangled whispers. „I've known you since you were a child! I've known Chisaki since he was a child! You can't really be serious!"
„It' s Overhaul and Chronostasis." Overhaul entered the room and the conversation died instantly as he raised his voice. Dead silence entered every hidden corner of the building.
Mortal fear spread across the man's face as Overhaul headed toward him. His footsteps seemed like a silent countdown, fading into space. The traitor tossed and turned desperately, trying to free himself from Chrono's iron grip - unsuccessfully. Overhaul could feel the members' gazes fixing on him, and the air was filled with the stench of their very own dread.
A quiet cough escaped him. The sight before Overhaul could not have been more pathetic, yet not an ounce of pity stirred in his heart. Killing the deserter was a necessary evil that he had to eliminate. He would not risk the Shie Hassaikai falling apart because of an internal dispute. This virus - he had to wipe it out, directly eradicate this disease before it spread.
„Why are you forcing me to get my hands dirty? Couldn't you have just kept your feet still and waited?" asked Overhaul, removing his white glove.
„I-I'm sorry ... I'm sorry! Please ... please, Overhaul, don't do this!" the man pleaded, twisting in his panic as Overhaul's hand came unstoppably closer to his sternum. „It was a mistake! A stupid mistake! I ... I wasn't thinking! Really! Forgive me... Boss! Please!"
Overhaul could feel it. The onset of itching on his arm and forehead. His mysophobia was reacting just from the thought of having to touch that scum.
„Please! Don't do this! ... Chisaki!"
Anger instantly boiled up inside him at the mention of his dead name. „That name ..." he growled. „... I have abandoned it!"
His mere touch tore the man apart. His torso exploded. Blood rained down and a red mist settled on the ground. It was like a disgusting downpour that had set in for a few seconds, and only the traitor's lower body remained in one piece.
„... I hate it," Overhaul muttered. Drops of blood had found their way onto his forearm and his body reacted with an immediate rash. It itched. It itched so much, it was so repulsive! „It disgusts me ...!"
„Overhaul." Chrono's voice cut through the shocked silence.
At the mention of his name, he looked up and reflected. Now he was freaked out again without having wanted to. The second time that day. It was only good that Chrono knew about the importance of the situation, because Overhaul's phobia had no place here on this scale.
His thoughts sorted themselves out again and he scanned the situation, making sure that what he had done had really the intended impact. The members' faces were marked by shock and fear in equal measure, and retching reached his ears several times, followed by vomiting. A cold shiver ran down Overhaul's spine and gave him goosebumps. It had been truly disgusting. But despite all his disgust, a certain satisfaction spread through him. His plan had worked and his power would grow soon.
„Clean that up," he then ordered Chrono and made his way to the door.
„Yes."
„The next of you who defies me will be killed in the same manner." On his way, he did not dignify the members with a glance, finally stopping in the doorway and pausing there without turning to face those present. „Just sit back and watch," he said. „I will revive the Shie Hassaikai."
