30/04/2022

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The Emperor's Dragon
Fledgling 68

Inko sat quietly as Shunin bickered with the Commissioner's Lawyer over some technicality in the contract. While they were doing that, it was easier to hold the other at bay because they were taking up the time in mediation and that led closer and closer to a court case, which is what the other wanted. She could feel the other watching the clock that was on one wall. It was an old fashioned clock with hands but it was, thankfully, silent as the second hand moved. Inko wasn't sure she could sit here if it was ticking.

Though she couldn't help but feel there was something else going on as well.

The mediation room they'd been taken to today was larger than the previous ones. Shunin had simply shrugged and said that they were most likely all booked. He wasn't concerned. He had, however, admitted to some surprise when the Commission's team was there, and it included the sidekick Sir Nighteye. Then her lawyer had huffed and whispered to her that he was probably the one who had made the call on Izuku and wanted to see how the case was going.

Despite not knowing that for sure, it did hold the feel of truth.

So she sat quietly, looking at the room. There was an AV set up on one side. The screen was inset with two speakers, one on each side. Inko supposed that not all mediation could be done face to face so the set up made sense. There were conference phones on the tables, which were arranged so that everyone could see the screen with an opening in the centre. The low fat shape of the phones made them look almost like small turtles but in the place of a head they had a keypad.

"Enough!"

The cry carried an undeniable note of authority and all eyes snapped to Sir Nighteye.

The sidekick's expression was studiously neutral and then he shook his head. Inko could tell he was frustrated. He gave the Commission's Lawyer a slight glare before he turned to Shunin.

"We accept your alteration," the sidekick announced, "on the grounds that an in principle agreement is reached and the matter is settled today."

There was a shocked silence from the room and Inko only just managed to keep the other from taking over. Her head pounded as it screamed and she felt a cold sweat break out over her body. Thankfully that didn't show on her face. If they broke up today without a resolution, Inko wasn't sure… She wasn't sure if she'd be able to hold back Hisashi's whore anyway but she was going to try.

She would see Izuku again, but it would be on her terms. Not his.

Never his.

Inko watched as Shunin composed his features. He cast a glance at his counterpart from the Commission. She was looking at Sir Nighteye like the man had a second head but he didn't appear moved. Eventually she huffed softly and then turned to Shunin to give him a small nod. Inko didn't think about it. If she didn't think about it, maybe Not Inko wouldn't figure it out.

Shunin turned to her, with a questioning look in his cat slit eyes. It was, after all, up to her and he knew she wanted this to go public. With the offer of closure coming like this, it would be that much harder to appear to be the reasonable party if this went to trial. In fact, it would be almost impossible. Inko closed her eyes. It wasn't hard to appear to be in pain from the weight of the decision. She was in pain.

You can't do this! Not Inko screamed.

She had figured it out.

Why not? Inko demanded. This was her mind and she was in control, not some hussy who would serve that bastard (she didn't care what he'd said) who called himself her husband. Sir Nighteye himself has offered to tell us, and I know he was the one to make the call. She didn't know that absolutely but with her studies of how All Might's missions went, those that were planned, she knew the sidekick was vitally important in planning. He understood All Might's abilities better than most so could properly accommodate them in whatever the plan may be.

It doesn't matter. This has to go to trial! Not Inko almost begged. Or I won't see Izuku again!

Despite the content, the statement actually made Inko feel a bit better. If Not Inko was begging, then maybe she did have more control than she believed, and she had an argument against the statement. If it goes to trial, and I am seen to be in the wrong, then that won't please him, will it? He wants it to go to trial with me being seen to be the perfectly reasonable, innocent wounded party. She didn't bother making that bit a question. She knew it was true.

It's for Izuku, Not Inko replied. Izuku! I know where he is. I know we can see him.

But we can't take him home, Inko objected before she opened her eyes.

Not Inko struck. Inko felt sick. She felt like she was about to void her bladder and the less said about the cold, nauseatingly heavy lump in her stomach that felt like it was reaching up her throat, the better. It was a battle to give Shunin her acknowledgement.

It's for Izuku! Not Inko screamed.

It is, Inko agreed as she nodded, using her agreement with Not Inko to allow her to move.

You bitch! Not Inko howled when she realised how Inko had subverted her. You have given up on Izuku! Came the accusation.

I have not! Inko retorted hotly. She would never give up on Izuku. I have just given up on Hisashi, she added. It might have been spiteful but Inko knew she had to win the internal battle and now she had another way of combating Not Inko. If she could somehow twist her thought to agree with her other self, while keeping her conviction it appeared Not Inko couldn't impact her.

She'd once made an agreement with herself that if her case went to court, then she'd give a performance worthy of multiple Oscars but she'd just changed professions. Now, she was a gymnast. She'd perform all sorts of mental contortions if that's what it took.

Shunin looked slightly surprised before he looked relieved and he turned away.

Inko almost sagged with relief but she tensed when she saw Sir Nighteye watching her. While his glasses didn't have a bottom rim, the narrowness of them served to hide his eyes unless he angled them, just right. Inko thought it no coincidence that she was allowed to see them now and she did her best to keep her expression bland. At least on this, Not Inko was silent. It recognised that this man was probably the one who had kept Izuku from her previously. Not Inko wouldn't exist if this man had done his job properly.

Shunin and the Commission's lawyer, who might also be representing All Might's agency, Inko realised, were talking quietly. They had a printed copy of the contract before them and were making notes on it. The man looked up. "Very well, Sir Nighteye," Shunin announced, sounding neutral but Inko could tell he was still a bit surprised. As much as he might have counselled her to accept a settlement today, Inko thought he had been somewhat looking forward to going to court. "We have decided on an acceptable wording," he said. "The terms are similar to what I have counselled my client to accept previously, so pending signatures, which we are all agreed may be subsequently added, you may now settle this RFI."

Oh, that was a nice touch. A none too subtle reminder that if All Might's agency and the Commission had just given her the requested information in the first place, they wouldn't be here.

"Excellent!"

Inko was surprised to hear the mediator speak. She'd forgotten they were not completely alone. "I'll record that an agreement has been reached in the record, and if you are settling this now, ensure you have the use of this facility for as long as is required today," the mediator said brightly.

The mediator was obviously happy about the agreement. Inko wondered if the mediator's got a bonus for keeping cases from the court? In which case, maybe they weren't as good as she thought or rather, were good at forcing agreement. But she didn't know and now wasn't the time to find out. The woman rose, and gave everyone a nod, and before there was any objection, she bustled out of the room, no doubt to fulfill her obligations.

After she left, Sir Nighteye narrowed his eyes and glanced at the Commission's lawyer who gave him a shallow nod. Then he took a deep breath. He held it for a moment before blowing out and lifting one hand to push up his glasses.

Inko realised it probably wasn't easy for him. He'd usually be the one in charge and now… While it might not be easy, she felt no sympathy. This man had potentially abandoned Izuku and she had no mercy for anyone like that.

Yet when Sir Nighteye spoke it wasn't to address her. "You may leave," he told the Commission's lawyer. The woman looked outraged but before she could say anything he added three more words. "Need to know."

Inko watched as she shook her head, rolling her eyes. "Right," the woman said. It was probably meant to be under her breath but the entire room heard it. She gathered some papers and rose before moving to the door.

"Shunin?" The name was enough of a question.

Inko wasn't sure what happened now. Did Shunin have to sign the confidentiality agreement or not? Was he allowed to know the information, whatever it was, too?

"He will be bound by normal client confidentiality," Sir Nighteye replied.

The woman looked like she might object that she'd also be bound by the same agreement. "The Commission already has lawyers who know the full details of this case," Sir Nighteye snapped before any complaint could be heard.

Shunin let out a small puff of air that Inko recognised as a laugh. She could add so many more statements to the sidekick's statement, and none were flattering. Sir Nighteye was obviously questioning why the Commission had chosen to send someone who wasn't fully informed. Still, that wasn't her problem. But the mere fact that the Commission had lawyers who did 'know the full details' told her that there was more at stake here than her Request for Information.

After the woman left, Inko braced herself both to hear what the sidekick said and against any further attempt from Not Inko to interrupt proceedings.

Sir Nighteye seemed to be bracing himself as well. He took several deep breaths and to Inko, his expression looked like he'd bitten into a sour plum when he'd been expecting something else. He reached up to push his glasses up and she realised then how long his fingers were. "You will not like the truth, Mrs Midoriya," he addressed her. "I've found that the more bitter the truth, the less civilians want to hear it," he added.

"My truth has been bitter for the last ten years," Inko countered. Ever since Izuku had been taken.

The sidekick had the good taste to acknowledge that slightly. "As you already knew, the operation in Tsu, Mie was multifaceted. The main operation involved All Might apprehending-"

"Toxic Chainsaw," Shunin interrupted.

"No," Sir Nighteye corrected with a glare to the lawyer. "All Might was facing Hisashi Riji, better known to villains as the Emperor of the Underworld, All For One."

There was something sinister in the way he said the name.

"All For One is a myth!" Shunin objected.

"You are familiar with the name?" Sir Nighteye asked.

"He's a myth," Shunin repeated. "It's a villain's boogie man!" he added.

The sidekick shook his head. "All For One is very real," he stated.

Inko sat there but all she could hear was the phrase 'All For One' echoing through her mind. She'd heard that before. She knew she had and it wasn't in relation to her work or anything else.

"Except All Might failed, didn't he? All For One survived," Inko felt Not Inko say. There was a certain amount of relish in her voice, as if she enjoyed the statement.

"That information is outside the terms of your agreement," the sidekick said stiffly,

Not Inko knew what that meant. So did Inko and Shunin and this time, Inko didn't mind that Not Inko had spoken.

Sir Nighteye took another deep breath. "The mission to retrieve Izuku was peripherally attached to All Might's mission. Given that your husband kidnapped your son when he instigated his disappearance, there was a very real possibility that he would have watchers on the boy. A man like All For One does not take something and then voluntarily let it go, at least not without a reason," the sidekick clarified his last statement.

Inko felt oddly insulted that he was referring to Izuku as an it. Her son was not an object and she didn't need the help from Not Inko to glare.

The sidekick returned her gaze calmly. "Mrs Midoriya, I can assure you that while you think of your son as a person, your husband does not. All For One does not think of other people, he thinks of only himself, and his gain. Your son is just a playing piece to him, though it has yet to be determined what rank."

While it hurt to hear that, she knew it was the truth. And that wasn't the point of today. Inko took her own breath, bracing for the answer to the question she was going to ask. "So why was Izuku not retrieved?" That was why she was here. That question. That lead.

Sir Nighteye looked uncomfortable and she watched as he actually closed his eyes. When he opened them they were determined. He rose. It was somewhat startling but Inko remained seated as the sidekick moved around the tables. He moved into the open space the horseshoe arrangement made and to the obvious shock of Inko and Shunin the sidekick went to his knees and bowed to them.

Even Not Inko was silent.

"I am sorry, Mrs Midoriya," Sir Nighteye said, still bowing. "It was my call to delay the Police's operation to intercept Izuku. I genuinely believed there would be watchers on him and could not risk anything alerting your husband."

Inko blinked. What did she say to that? Her heart ached but there was still more going on here. A sidekick of Sir Nighteye stature did not just bow to her. "You believe Izuku is a villain," she said coldly. She remembered him earlier, sitting there when they were trying to persuade her to drop the case.

She couldn't see Sir Nighteye's reaction but she knew his expression probably twisted slightly. "I believe Izuku will become a villain, yes," he admitted.

"He was nine and a half," she countered. Izuku had been that old then. Surely no nine and a half year old could be a villain.

Sir Nighteye's sigh was audible and he rose. He met her eyes. "Beyond the risk of watchers, bodyguards if you like, which were very real, there was also the chance your son would tell his father about the operation. We could not risk that. And-" He seemed to brace himself. "By that stage he had been with a man acknowledged as the Emperor of the Underworld for five years. That would leave an influence."

Inko didn't need the rage that Not Inko displayed at that sentence. Not Inko was loyal to Hisashi but was perhaps, even more loyal to Izuku. She clenched her teeth. "You denied him the chance to even try," she said softly.

The sidekick shook his head. "It would leave an insurmountable influence."

"You don't know that," Inko said each word forcefully.

Sir Nighteye gave her an odd smile. "I do know that," he replied in a self assured manner that was eerily reminiscent of Hisashi.

While Inko didn't follow heroes, she knew enough to know that Sir Nighteye had some sort of future sight quirk. "You saw that?" she demanded. If he'd seen her son…

He thought about it for a moment. It was the type of thought that indicated he was weighing up how much to tell her rather than trying to come up with a lie. "I have," Sir Nighteye said. "Standing at your husband's side," he added.

"When?"

"A few years into the future yet," he replied instantly.

"No," Inko shook her head. "When did you have that vision?"

"About a month ago."

"And the future is so immutable that there is no possibility to change it?" The statement was a question.

Unexpectedly the sidekick looked pained. "I have never been able to change any of my visions," he said matter of factly.

Inko sighed and glared. "And with your arrogance, you deny everyone else the chance to try," she told him fighting back tears. If she cried here, he'd never see her as anything more than an emotional female. She needed to be seen as strong. Inko pushed back her chair and rose. The movement startled Shunin but he followed suit. Sir Nighteye displayed a slight curiosity at the moment. "You will keep Detective Tsukauchi informed about any information you have about Izuku in your future searches for my soon to be ex-husband, and you will never make a decision about Izuku again based on your belief," she hissed the ultimatum. "Or I will see All Might bow for your failures," she added before storming out.

Shunin saw the way the sidekick paled at the last statement and he laughed softly. It brought Sir Nighteye's attention to him. Inko's lawyer returned the gaze of the man and nodded. "Yes, she's an emotional woman," he said softly, "but you have forgotten one thing about her."

At that Sir Nighteye cocked his head slightly, inviting the lawyer to continue speaking.

"She has access to money," he said simply. "Especially in a year or two." The implications were obvious. If Inko was the legal wife of the supposed Emperor of the Underworld, who was officially missing, then Inko would have claim on all his assets, regardless of how they were obtained. Life for the Commission and All Might's agency could get very difficult at that point if she wanted it to.

Sir Nighteye sighed. "I will make sure the Detective is informed," he allowed. "But in the thirty-two years that I have had my quirk, not once has a vision changed. I've seen her son as a villain," he added.

Shunin leaned forward. "But would you have seen that when he was nine?" He didn't wait for an answer as he followed Inko through the door, leaving Sir Nighteye alone in the room.

The sidekick closed his yellow eyes briefly as he again saw the image of All For One standing beside his son as All Might bowed to Inko. He felt sick.

"I hope not," he whispered to himself. It was a painful statement and one he wanted to be true at the same time as he didn't. If he'd looked into All Might's future before the battle in Tsu, would he have seen something different? He wanted that, because it would mean his vision could change but he didn't want that… Because now, it appeared his vision would still come to pass.

Had he simply perpetuated the future he'd seen? He'd grappled with that question when he was younger and then put it aside because he knew he couldn't change the future. Five years ago, he'd reconsidered when he'd promised himself he'd change one vision.

Yet… today, here and now… He couldn't bring himself to believe anything had changed.

-ted-

Inko is strong and... while she really wants to see Izuku, knowing what she does about Hisashi, both what she has been told (today) and what she has experienced, would you trust him to keep his word? She knows Izuku is out there, she knows there's hope... and... She really really wants to see Izuku, to have her son back but not on AFO's terms.

And now she knows that Hisashi wasn't Toxic Chainsaw's underling but Toxic Chainsaw's boss and... She really shouldn't be happy with that knowledge.

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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