05/02/2022
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The Emperor's Dragon
Fledgling 44
"That is most unlike you," All For One said softly.
The Doctor stood before him. The man was distressed. They were in the prototype warehouse, standing before a tube where Garaki's Grandson was.
All For One hadn't seen him when he came in but with his limited sight he could see that the teen was floating gently. He was lean and that was all he could tell now. The wings that were his quirk were absent but then the Doctor had said they were transformable wings.
Supposedly the boy was no longer independent.
"How could I have done this?" Kyudai asked.
All For One knew the question wasn't directed towards him but he couldn't help but answer. "Did you do anything? Did you make a mistake?" He didn't ask anything more. The man would pick up the implication.
Garaki trembled. He shook his head slightly. He knew what Sensei was implying. If he hadn't made a mistake, then the starting material must have been subpar. His grandson wasn't that weak, was he?
Except…
The fact remained that he brought his grandson in to make him stronger. That said without even needing to answer any question that he had considered Tsubasa weak. He thought he had an application for his research. He did have applications for his research but he thought he could use it this way as well. The results spoke for themselves.
Although… Kyudai realised there was a connection between Tsubasa and some of the earlier Nomu's he'd created. They were… barely functional was a nice way of putting it and for the most part their bases had been-
No. It couldn't be that, could it? It couldn't be that simple? Except it might be. With the earlier Nomu he hadn't been testing for mental function, he'd wanted physical enhancement so… Could it be that an immature mind was doomed to fail as a Nomu? Maybe not mentally immature, because many of the quirkless teens he'd used were adult like in their reactions, even if the accepted age for actual maturity was 25. Regardless, their physical brain development was… That was less understood. 18 was the accepted age for physical development but… Or it could be a combination of both.
Children could behave like adults but that was merely an act, or circumstance. Even in desperate times, a child couldn't think beyond what happened in the next few hours, or days, or sometimes a season or two but an adult could think in terms of years.
The potential answer didn't make him feel any better but it did contribute to his knowledge.
"There is no way to reverse it?" Sensei asked when he didn't answer.
The man already knew there was no way to change someone back. "There isn't, Sensei. You know that," Kyudai told him. Maybe if Tsubasa had been an adult but with an immature brain, if that theory was true then… no. There was no way.
The ancient man gave him a look. There was no smile on his face as the Doctor expected. "This is distressing for you," he said. It wasn't a question. "But it has happened," he continued. "If there is nothing that can be done to change things, then you must make a decision," All For One told him.
Garaki sighed. He knew that, he just didn't want to make it because in the end there was really only one decision to make about Nomu's like Tsubasa. "He can be your personal Nomu," All For One murmured.
It wasn't a comfort but… If Tsubasa was his personal Nomu then it would mean that he wouldn't be used in combat. Or at least, they'd have to ask his permission and … There really wasn't any and that went with that statement. There is very little comfort in the choice.
He sighed. "Thank you," the Doctor said. He meant it but… He just wished he wasn't in this situation.
"How are the others?" All For One asked, moving away from the tube Tsubasa was in.
Kyudai followed. "They are going well," he announced. It was the truth. They were going well and with Yakuni's method for copying quirks they were able to duplicate multiple quirks for multiple Nomu. He'd even isolated regeneration for them and that quirk was going to form a base for many.
"Even your theory for an intelligent one?" Sensei pressed.
He thought for a few moments before he answered. With the developments that he'd made creating the others, he knew he could make a Nomu quickly. However, making one that kept its mind… Physically he thought the changes could be made quickly but he wasn't sure about the mental ones. "I believe I can do it," he replied. "However, the ability to think will come with the ability to disobey. I'm researching how to counter that aspect," he reported.
Sensei nodded thoughtfully. He would, no doubt, appreciate the necessity for obedience to be unfailing. "How is Mr Tanaihito?" the older man asked.
A cough echoed through the warehouse as if in response to the question.
"He remains loyal," Kyudai replied.
"We will see," All For One announced as he made his way towards the quirk copying tubes.
"Sir!" the teen hurried up to them when he noticed them approaching.
Kyudai looked at him. He wouldn't be a teen for much longer. He'd joined them when he was fifteen, almost three years ago. He'd aged since then, and grown as a person. His dedication to the job remained unchanged, though his loyalty… Well, as the ancient villain said, they would see.
The Doctor watched as All For One examined the tubes. There were small ones where they were mass producing quirks and they were stacked against each other. For those they had worked out a formula to accelerate growth and then let them grow naturally so that the quirk developed. It didn't matter too much if the quirk was active for a few weeks before they used it in a Nomu. There were other tubes though, which were copying quirks for All For One. They were tended to with a bit more care, though the same formula applied.
"It's ready."
"Sir?" Yakuni said.
"Call me Sensei, Mr Tanaihito," All For One murmured, even as he looked up at the quirk tube. "This one is ready," he repeated.
"Oh," Yakuni said, "it's come in early." He didn't sound completely happy about it.
"Prepare it now," All For One instructed. He really wanted that quirk.
"Yes, Se-" Yakuni broke out in a coughing fit.
"Are you ill?" All For One asked, with every appearance of care.
Garaki kept his face straight at the question. Yakuni was not ill.
"No, Sensei," the teen replied. "I'll prepare the clone now," he added, as he tapped several buttons.
There was a cloud of bubbles released as the nutrient liquid began draining. The clone dropped with the liquid and was soon on the floor of the tube. It didn't need to live long now. Just long enough for All For One to touch it.
Yakuni was visibly gasping for air and was supporting himself on the control panel.
"Mr Tanaihito?" All For One questioned.
The teen didn't reply. He instead fell, clutching at his throat as he struggled to breathe.
"Sen… Sen… sei."
All For One watched. This was the first time he was seeing the results from the quirk he'd gotten from Russia. It was one that ensured loyalty. It only worked if they had loyalty to him to start with. If that then changed... then the target had… well, this was the effect. The quirk couldn't keep people loyal but it made sure they weren't around to betray him. Combined with the quirk he was about to get- The applications were endless.
"Who are you loyal to, Mr Tanaihito?" All For One asked.
The question apparently allowed the teen to take a breath and he gasped, drawing in air fervently. "I'm sorry, Sir. I'm so sorry," Yakuni cried. Tears actually tracked down his face and he looked genuinely sorry. Since he didn't actually answer the question he began choking again.
That was an interesting effect from the quirk.
"Who are you loyal to, Mr Tanaihito?" Sensei pressed.
That allowed the teen to take another breath. "I'm sorry Sir, " he said again. "Dragon." He managed to say the name.
All For One actually jerked slightly in surprise. Garaki was also surprised. He'd known Yakuni was still dedicated to the cause but was having some doubts. He didn't expect this answer. This was- Actually the Doctor wasn't sure if this was better or worse. Sensei demanded loyalty to himself.
Without most of his face it was difficult to tell what Sensei's expression was though Kyudai thought he was fully surprised. The teen was still choking.
"Dragon," All For One mused. "You are loyal to my son," he said. It was a question.
"Yes." Yakuni said in a small voice. "I'm sorry," he cried again. "I want to be loyal to you but… if there was a choice, I would pick him." He managed the sentence on the gasp of air he was allowed with Sensei's question.
"Hmm," Sensei almost hummed as he thought.
Yakuni's hands were at his throat. It was instinctive. He was trying to do something to clear it except he couldn't. He writhed. Tears streamed down his face, and the force of his attempts to breathe were causing his eyes to become bloodshot. Snot was coming from his nose as he tried to take in air.
All For One ignored that. He seemed to be thinking. As Yakuni's attempts to breathe became weaker, the older man nodded to himself. "Very well," he murmured finally. "Release," he added the word.
It was obvious what the command did. Yakuni immediately gasped, and drew in a huge lungful of air, before he coughed. He stilled, though his hands were still at his throat. But he could breathe now and Garaki watched as he took several short, shallow breaths before taking a deep one. Despite the bodily fluids on this face, he actually looked at peace with that breath.
"I'm sorry, Sir. I'm so sorry," he whispered.
"I should have anticipated this," Sensei dismissed the apology. "Very well," he added. "You may be loyal to my son."
All For One made an odd gesture then. Garaki figured it had something to do with reapplying the quirk before he jerked his head towards him. "You had better get the clone ready," he instructed.
Kyudai nodded and moved to the controls. Yakuni was still hauling in air but as the Doctor approached the controls, the teen managed to get to his feet. He staggered slightly, steadying himself on the control panel. "Thank you, Sir," he managed to say. His voice was hoarse.
"Give him some medical attention later," All For One instructed. He was apparently at peace with his decision.
The teen moved out of the way as Garaki hit the commands to raise the glass. All For One reached forward as soon as it was out of the way, placing his hand on the clone. A moment later he drew back with a smile on his features.
"Mr Tanaihito," Sensei said the name carefully, looking towards the teen.
"Yes, Sensei." The teens voice was curious.
All Kyudai knew about the new quirk was that it was some sort of control quirk. He looked at Yakuni and was surprised to see that his expression was peaceful. It was almost blank. Was that an effect of the new quirk Sensei had?
"You will be loyal to my son," All For One said, placing particular emphasis on the words. "Your second loyalty will be to me," he continued.
"Yes, Sensei," Yakuni replied. There was no emotion in his voice.
There was a pleased smile on Sensei's face. "Now, there is no need to worry about today. You will simply remember that you were nervous about discussing your loyalties to me, but that I was happy for you to be loyal to my Little Dragon."
"Yes, Sensei." Again there was no emotion in his voice.
"Good," All For One said and Kyudai could see the exact moment he released the quirk. Expression came back to the teen and he blinked.
"Thank you, Sensei," he said immediately.
Garaki was surprised when All For One waved away the thanks. "Mr Tanaihito, you will most likely deal with my son more than me in the future. The fact that you are loyal to him is a good sign," he said, dismissing the problem.
"Ujiko, dispose of this," Sensei gave the instruction, this time waving vaguely towards the clone that was lying in the last of the liquid, breathing with a blank expression. It's purple hair was long and tangled.
"Of course, Sensei," Kyudai replied. "I'll be with you shortly, Yakuni," he added. The teen had probably scratched his throat and would need something for it.
All For One looked at his hand. Garaki wasn't sure what he was looking at, but he appeared to be pleased. "Keep up the good work," he said as he departed.
The two scientists nodded and went back to their work. There was really nothing else they could do.
-ted-
Inko looked around. It was one thing to know that other places were the same but it was another to see it. It was more complicated than that. Tsu was different from Mustafa. It wasn't in the buildings and architecture. It wasn't like Tsu was a different country. It was more in the feel. Mustafa was on the outskirts of Tokyo and just felt more lively. Or maybe more citish? Tsu felt more laid back.
It was actually quite nice. But she was down here because the Detective had visited her with information. He'd told her about Hisashi, about how the man she had married was a fiction. Hisashi Riji was a villain. He wasn't a typical villain who randomly attacked. He was one of the dangerous ones, one who organised others, who moved in the shadows.
The information had made her feel sick.
Izuku was with him. She'd thrown up when she realised that.
The Detective had been kind. He gave her some records he had from the Elementary School Izuku had been known to attend. He wasn't sure what Middle School Izuku would be attending now, or even if Izuku would be still in the area but he had provided her with a list of Middle Schools in the area. The ones were people from Izuku's Elementary School went.
It was… It was a long shot. A very long shot.
If Hisashi was as bad a villain as the Detective told her, and she had no doubt that he was, then it didn't really make sense for Izuku to still be in the area. Except arrogance.
And… She'd had years to search through her memories. Whether she wanted to or not, she had spent hours going over every interaction she'd ever had with Hisashi, searching for what she'd missed.
There was an arrogance in Hisashi. He was self assured in a way few men were. She'd thought it was confidence. She'd been attracted to it as well. But… it was based in arrogance.
Tsukauchi had given her Izuku's education history. She didn't need to know much about it. Her boy was smart and his results were good. What she had noticed, as the Detective had, was that her son had moved schools a lot. Tsu, Niigata, Saitama and then back to Tsu.
The back to Tsu was the key.
She hoped Izuku would still be here.
He wouldn't be here today. Today was his birthday. But once school went back, she was going to try to come down to Tsu more frequently.
Maybe she could find something.
She hoped. She prayed to gods she no longer believed in but would if they gave her back her son. Maybe she could find something.
Because, what else did she have but hope?
-ted-
AFO is a suspicious tyke. Way back in chapter 6 I think I mentioned a quirk from Russia and now you've seen the effects. AFO is not going to just employ people to help Garaki without some sort of insurance. Yakuni has found a loophole but the others aren't even questioning what they are doing, or if they did... well, he wasn't that merciful or around to stop the consequences. When they felt some gratitude to AFO for employing them, he hit them with that quirk. If the loyalty fades to the point where they will betray him, that happens. Yakuni didn't want to betray Dragon by giving AFO the quirk without his knowledge but since AFO has a special relationship with Dragon he got away with it... Just.
And now Inko is on the hunt for her son. She's in Tsu but since she lives and works elsewhere, she can't be there that often so won't be there... and we will see what happens with that 'cos it's not like she can just yoink Izuku, on the very, very slim chance she even recognises him. But for the moment it's summer, so no school.
My discord is on this code: ZX2R5h2cEm FFN will remove links but you should be able to figure that out.
-ted-
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