29/11/2022
Thank you to everyone who reviewed, you are the greatest!
The Emperor's Dragon
Emergence 29 - Mission
Yakuni knew he should have said no when Daruma told him to find out what the Shie Hassaikai wanted. They'd sent a messenger who was seeking Dragon but Kurogiri had determined that it was not worth bothering the man with their request. It was a nice piece of subterfuge to make Dragon seem far older than he was. Yakuni had been confused as to what Dragon's Father was setting up but Daruma had explained that it was a longer term strategy. Dragon's Father was creating a persona in the underworld. Once established, there were several options. It could remain a phantom to be used as necessary. It could be a persona that Dragon or his Father permanently stepped into.
He'd been a bit amused at that thought. What would people think when they found out Dragon was so young? Ujiko had chuckled at the question but hadn't answered. Yakuni realised he knew the answer already. Members of the underworld were not going to admit they'd been duped by a child. Instead they'd add to the mystic around Dragon, confirming his youth but also establishing that he was cunning and powerful.
The development of Dragon's reputation was probably why the Shie Hassaikai had sent a messenger. And Daruma pointing out that he technically worked for Dragon was why he was here. He'd been hoping to continue collecting genetic samples and developing clones from that to ensure Dragon had a good selection of quirks in the future. He wanted to get Dragon a quirk to ensure he could breathe underwater but he'd been interrupted on that, though Ujiko admitted that was a good idea so it was one he was currently looking for.
After the Police had finally taken note of his quirkless status, they'd given him a stern warning and then released him. They hadn't even checked up on him! In fact at least a few of the officers had given him looks which were mixed disgust and pity. One had said he should be thankful 'cos at least he'd been fed for a few days. He'd ignored all of that and had headed back to the lab, via an unnecessarily roundabout route but better to be careful. Then it had been back to the quirk cycle.
He had suggested that he could apply for a job at a medical facility that specialised in treating heroes and while Daruma had been supportive of the idea, they hadn't yet been able to fabricate an identity for him that would allow that. Officially, his highest qualification was graduating Middle School and while it was pretty easy to create a High School graduation certificate, he'd need a higher qualification for the job that might help. And he was only just old enough to have gotten that, which meant he had no experience.
Daruma was supportive of the idea of him getting a job in a facility but he would have to get more experience to be able to fake having the required qualifications. Then the messenger had arrived and… here he was.
He felt a bit under represented. The Shie Hassaikai's leader had several attendants and they all wore plague masks. They were different heights and their clothes were different so it was easy enough to tell who was who, but Yakuni had no idea who they really were. He didn't know their names or their importance to the leader, who Daruma had told him was named Overhaul. Ujiko didn't know anything more than that.
"You work for Dragon?" The question took him by surprise.
"I do," Yakuni confirmed for Overhaul.
"Why didn't Dragon come himself?" the demand followed.
Yakuni didn't know how to answer that. He couldn't say 'because Dragon had school!' That would ruin everything so what did he say? He racked his brain. There were two things he could do. Apologise or attack. He couldn't apologise. He wouldn't apologise. Not unless Dragon specifically told him to and attack… Daruma was interested in what they were doing but Yakuni wasn't sure that Dragon's father was. He may not have any protection here and even if he did… it wouldn't extend in the heat of the moment. Or… He settled on a third strategy, giving Overhaul a smile. He hoped the man understood the challenge. Why hadn't he come to see Dragon in the first place?
Kai snorted but Yakuni knew he understood his implication.
"So why is Dragon with that has been?" Overhaul instead demanded.
Yakuni didn't even both to try to control his expression. His lips curled back into a snarl. No one insulted Dragon or his Father!
The Shie Hassaikai tensed and Yakuni forced himself to take a deep breath. He flexed his hand a few times, working out his tension. It didn't work but at least he regained control. He'd been insulted far worse and- No, they didn't get to insult Dragon or his dad. "Dragon is learning," he gave an answer which approximated the truth. Daruma had told him that Dragon was in High School. He hadn't bothered to feel jealous at that. It was just what was going to happen and he had a purpose now.
"To take over?" Overhaul pressed.
This was another question he couldn't answer and so again he adopted a smile. "In due course," he said. It would not be unusual for a son to take over from his father. "I think you will find he has more-" he paused, seeking an appropriate word - "Influence than you believe," Yakuni settled on the statement.
The Yakuza gave him an unimpressed look but didn't challenge his assessment. "Did Dragon attack UA?"
Yakuni shook his head but didn't offer anything further.
"I suppose I can work with that," Overhaul sniffed.
"You can work with that?" Yakuni murmured loud enough to be heard.
"I'm willing to teach Dragon how to run a proper organisation," the Shie Hassaikai leader replied.
He managed not to laugh and instead schooled his features into something neutral. This man was deluded if he thought he could teach Dragon anything! Or anything more than his father could! He was just another over entitled quirked villain who had no vision. "In exchange for?" Yakuni forced himself to ask but he was beginning to be annoyed.
This man had sent an emissary to Dragon. While he may not be completely au fait with underworld protocols, he was pretty sure the person who asked for help was by definition in the weaker position. This Overhaul seemed to think he had the upper hand.
He watched Overhaul as his expression soured.
Internally, Yakuni smiled. The Shie Hassaikai needed help from Dragon and they didn't want to admit it, which put him in the position of power.
"The Old Man is known for his scientific endeavors. I'll teach Dragon how to run a proper organisation in exchange for some scientific advisors."
Yakuni blinked. "Which field?" he asked, but as soon as he did, he knew what the Shie Hassaikai wanted. They wanted a biology expert, specifically quirks.
"Quirk biology," Overhaul confirmed his suspicion.
Yakuni nodded graciously. He'd been told to find out what the Shie Hassaikai wanted and this was pretty clear but lacked definition. And he had no idea if Dragon or his father even wanted to have anything to do with them. But… No, it was not his place to make an enemy. At the same time, he wasn't going to let Dragon be subservient to this man.
"I don't think you have much to teach Dragon," he said softly. "The Old Man, as you put it," Yakuni continued, putting emphasis on the words to tell the upstart that he did not approve of the terminology, "is quite adept at running an organisation." Several organisations actually, given what he knew about Dragon's father's operations. And he didn't seek the information either but in the years he'd been employed he'd heard a thing or two. He knew Dragon's father ran a very successful criminal empire but he also ran at least one legitimate company. It was not a small company either. It was multinational and worth billions of yen.
Yakuni watched for Overhaul's reaction. It wasn't like he'd said anything untrue.
"I represent the future," Overhaul replied. "The Old Man is the past."
At that, Yakuni chuckled. "Or Dragon takes over, and you will be, once again, regulated to the past," he replied. The Yakuza had made a comeback in the chaos surrounding the emergence of quirks but much as they had been cast aside in the 20th and 21st centuries, they had again been cast aside now. Before they could take offense at that, Yakuni raised one hand. "Both the Old Man and Dragon have an interest in biology," he added, "so I believe they may be willing to help you."
He had no idea if that was true but if the Yakuza agreed to obey Dragon's Dad then he'd probably give them something. Or he'd wipe them out. Either way the Shie Hassaikai would be subservient.
"They?"
"Dragon," Yakuni corrected. "The Old Man, well-" he didn't finish, and just raised one eyebrow to indicate the ending. Dragon's dad wouldn't tolerate any insubordination from Overhaul and there had to be a reason that they weren't already allied.
"And what would it cost me?"
Yakuni gave a smile. Overhaul was beginning to see who held the high ground. "I think Dragon would have a lot to teach you," he said.
"What?" Overhaul snarled. He recognised the implications immediately. He'd have to be subservient to Dragon. "There is no way I will ever serve one of the diseased, quirk obsessed-" he actually shuddered, "-accursed who want to control the world. Quirk this, quirk that! They are sick-"
"Dragon is not quirk obsessed!" Yakuni interrupted.
Kai snorted. "Of course he is! I know what the Old Man can do. I know what Dragon can do! To them, the diseased, if you don't have a quirk, you are nothing!"
"I'm quirkless."
The silence was palpable.
"What?" Overhaul eventually demanded. He still seemed to be in shock and the small movements his attendants had been making had stopped entirely.
Yakuni cocked his head. "I'm quirkless."
"You lie!" One of Overhaul's attendants interrupted. The man, or at least the voice was masculine was dressed in a black cover all with a white plague mask sewn into it.
Yakuni simply raised his head in defiance. He'd introduced himself earlier so they should have looked him up, or had someone do it. One of the other members came forward, holding a tablet. He thrust it under Overhaul's mask. Yakuni watched as Overhaul's eyes flicked back and forth as he read.
"Name: Yakunita Tanaihito, Age: 22. Quirk: None. Highest education obtained: Middle School," Yakuni recited the information that was most likely there. Those facts were the sort of thing the government had easily on record and the Shie Hassaikai could no doubt access.
"I don't believe it," Overhaul growled.
Yakuni said nothing. It had been a while since he'd had that reaction but there was no point in arguing. Overhaul continued to read or reread the initial information.
"You don't work for Dragon! You work for the old man!" the Yakuza growled…. "And that's why you are following that accursed Old Man," the yakuza eventually muttered.
Yakuni cocked his head slightly.
"You want one of those accursed quirks, and think that if you are loyal enough he'll give you one," Overhaul announced.
He managed to keep his expression neutral and thought back to why he'd agreed to work for Daruma. "I work for him because he doesn't care about quirks," he said but his expression told them he had more to say. "Quirkless don't go to high school. Quirkless only get the most menial of jobs and even then there's too many quirkless for the jobs. I took the job with him, the Old Man, because he needed workers and it was the best opportunity I was going to get. Then I shifted to Dragon-" he shrugged. There was no need to explain his reasoning to this man.
There was something in Overhaul's eyes that indicated he understood. "But you'd take a quirk?" he demanded.
"In this world, of course I'd take one!" Yakuni declared. There was no point in denying that.
"So why not go for something to cure the accursed disease?" The question was oddly intent.
"The disease?"
"Quirks," Overhaul hissed from between clenched teeth.
Yakuni blinked. "Cure?" What did the man mean?
The Yakuza looked down upon him. The roll of his eyes spoke volumes. "Quirks are a disease. You are one of the few without their curse."
Yakuni couldn't see the smile Overhaul gave him because of the plague mask but he didn't like it.
"The world will be better without quirks."
Yakuni felt his breath hitch. That's what they wanted help with. They wanted a quirk biologist to help come up with a way of removing quirks. "You can make people like me?" he breathed the question. It was fantastic.
All through the years he'd hated those with quirks. He'd hated being called a throwback. Unevolved. Atavistic. Retrograde. Relapsed. Primitive. Prehistoric. Underdeveloped. Backward. The words went on…
"I can," Overhaul replied but Yakuni could hear the lie.
The immediate fantasy that he had of the past shattered. He didn't want it now. He had a purpose now but… growing up… Oh he'd have wanted to make others quirkless.
Especially Jaredu Weheryobosu. If he could be quirkless. Mentally Yakuni shivered happily, or Karena Kudaku… Oh that would be sweet, sweet vengeance. Except… He knew the thought was fantasy. A nice fantasy but not something that would happen… He glared.
"No, you can't," he replied coldly. "That's why you need Dragon's help," Yakuni told the Shie Hassaikai's leader.
The man smiled at him. Again he couldn't see it properly but he recognised it. "I think we can do it without that."
His expression must have reflected his question.
"We've always had trouble determining if our procedure works, so a quirkless asset will be good, and-" At that, Overhaul lowered his head slightly, "-I know the way the Old Man works. He would want to know what is going on. He wouldn't send someone he cares about but he would send someone who knows things. I don't need Dragon if I have you."
At that, Yakuni burst out laughing as he shook his head. "No. I will not betray Dragon," he announced with certainty. He'd betray Dragon's Dad before he'd betray Dragon. He knew that in his soul.
"They all say that," Overhaul said, holding out one hand.
Yakuni knew it was a bad sign but he wasn't sure what he could do about it. His quirk couldn't be used to fight and while he was more confident now, he wasn't the most physically able. "You don't want to do that," he said as he backed away, already knowing it was too late.
"Dragon can tell me to stop at any time," Overhaul announced, twisting his hand around.
Yakuni hissed and looked down at his arm. It was twisted and… that wasn't right. "What?" his eyes widened. This was the Shie Hassaikai's quirk but he had no idea what it was really doing.
"After I reconstruct you a few times, I think you'll be more willing to help," Overhaul told him.
"You'll pay for this," Yakuni growled, as his arm shifted again and he felt his stomach do something decidedly not natural.
He got the impression that the Shie Hassaikai laughed.
And then the pain really began.
-ted-
Poor Yakuni... The Doctor has a lot to answer for sending him here...
And as some of you know, I write ahead. A long way ahead and I have recently finished the Shie Hissaikai equivalent arc... Oh Kai... You really shouldn't be so bold.
My discord is on this code: ZX2R5h2cEm FFN will remove links but you should be able to figure that out. There's a heap of other authors there, so come along and chat to us all!
-ted-
Loved it? Hated it? Found a spelling mistake? Let me know please!
