10/05/2022
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The Emperor's Dragon
Fledgling 71
"I trust you slept well," All For One greeted Inko as Kurogiri led her into the mezzanine viewing area. He couldn't tell exactly but he thought the barman had found her a simple skirt and shirt to wear. The misty man was efficient like that. The sound of her shoes scuffing on the floor told him they were simple indoor slippers.
"If one can sleep well as a prisoner," Inko retorted.
"I wanted to make sure you were here in time for this," he said, gesturing towards the window.
Inko moved forward, ignoring the doctor in the corner, though All For One saw the way she glared at the man. She was no doubt remembering that he had said Izuku was quirkless.
In the warehouse below, Izuku was sparring with Gigantomachia, and from the sounds of things, neither were holding back. His son wasn't quite up to taking Gigantomachia but he was very skilled and against most other opponents the fight would be over, especially if Izuku fought viciously.
He heard Inko gasp.
"What is it, my dear?" All For One asked solicitously.
"He's hitting him so hard!" She gasped looking down at the combatants.
There came the sounds of several very hard thunks.
"Well I should hope so," All For One answered with a half laugh. "People tend not to fight with you after you've shattered a few bones," he added the explanation, knowing Inko would think the worst.
"You've made him a villain!" She accused, not taking her eyes from Izuku.
"No. I've taught him how to survive in this world," he replied.
Izuku was jumping around Gigantomachia, mostly dodging his blows and redirecting them when he couldn't. It looked quite impressive and took quite a bit of physical fitness.
As they watched, Izuku mistimed a dodge and Gigantomachia's punch clipped him. It sent him tumbling to sprawl on the mat several meters away. Inko gasped again, the worry evident in her tone but Izuku simply rolled once more and jumped to his feet. He spat blood before charging back at Gigantomachia.
"He'll be killed!"
"Izuku will be fine. Gigantomachia knows what he's doing." As if to illustrate his point, his bodyguard matched Izuku's charge and again sent the teen tumbling.
Inko gasped and pressed herself against the glass. At least she knew better than to try to get down there. The glass would not break and she would not be heard.
All For One glanced at the Doctor who gave him a shallow nod, answering the question that wasn't asked. Things were prepared.
He waited a few more minutes, allowing Inko to see how skilled Izuku was, though he doubted she saw anything more than her son getting beaten. He wasn't, Izuku was doing well but a mother was sometimes blind to the truth.
"Now, I think it's time we discuss your future interactions with Izuku," he announced.
"What do you mean?" Inko asked, turning slightly, her voice laced with suspicion.
"Exactly what I said."
"No!" Inko said. "You can't d-"
"Silence," he ordered. Inko stopped mid sentence, cutting off the histeronics that would no doubt have followed. He might need to work on his orders but that one was simple. He took a deep breath in the silence. It was nice. "You will send a message to your co-workers, and anyone else you feel necessary telling them that you are taking a leave of absence in the aftermath of the case. You will return in a week," he instructed clearly.
Kurogiri moved forward, producing Inko's phone to hold it out to her. They waited while she sent several messages.
"Now, Doctor, you may take her," All For One instructed.
"Sensei," there was a slightly disapproving note to the Doctor's voice.
He turned slightly, fixing his quirk sight on the man.
"The pre-conditions?" the Doctor said as his explanation.
All For One frowned. "Inko has signed custody of Izuku over to me," he began listing the necessary legal arrangements that had already been made. The fact that Inko had forgotten signing was beside the point, it was her signature and Watanabe had the video of her agreeing saved. "She has filed for divorce from Hisashi Midoriya or Riji, the instant my old identity is officially declared dead, though that hardly matters since Watanabe can find papers from Hisashi Riji indicating his intent to divorce her, with a generous settlement for her. So what other conditions are there?" The settlement would go a long way to convincing a judge or other legal officials that the divorce was in good stead. Providing for one's spouse, even soon to be ex-spouse did help the proceedings go more smoothly.
"This procedure requires a non living candidate," the Doctor said, cocking his head towards Inko who still stood in the room.
"Ah," All For One understood now and he sighed. Garaki was not usually so squeamish. He rose and turned to Inko. She was still staring blankly but as he took a step towards her, understanding flooded her features. "There are limits to that quirk," he murmured. That was good to know.
"No!" Inko screamed, holding up her arms. She threw her phone at him. He caught it and used a touch of a quirk on it to let it hover in the air. They would need it again and it would be best to use her phone rather than provide another.
He could see the way Inko was pulling at things in the room but it was a simple thing to deflect them. There wasn't much kept here and he advanced on her.
"No!" She screamed again, attempting to hit him when he was closer. All For One caught the punch and did not let go of her hand. Inko strained against him but while she had to know he was physically stronger, she'd never known exactly how strong he was.
"Inko, you have been an adequate wife," he told her. "And you have given me a fine son, so this will be quick," he said.
"Please no! I won't tell them," Inko begged, tears streaming down her face.
She looked somewhat pathetic begging but it was not unexpected. She would not have foreseen this so he could not expect her to bear it with the stoicness he saw with some. He made a quick movement, faster than she could follow and Inko gave out a half gasp as a crack reverberated through the room. She collapsed, but he was ready for that and supported her body.
"I trust that takes care of the problem?" All For One asked the Doctor.
"Yes, Sensei. Thank you," Kyudai replied as the Nomu that was his grandson entered the room. His wings were folded tightly against his back and he took Inko's body at his grandfather's direction.
"Do not let Izuku see her," All For One instructed firmly. "Take her to one of the alternative facilities," he added.
Garaki nodded and then looked at Kurogiri. The misty man nodded and opened. The Nomu carried Inko's body through and the Doctor followed. Kurogiri reformed as All For One took position back at the viewing window to watch as Izuku swung a kick at Gigantomachia's arm. He recognised the move. Against a normal opponent, it would likely shatter their arm. Against his bodyguard, it did nothing but the purpose of these battles was not to win against Gigantomachia but to develop techniques and strength that would win against others.
And in that, Izuku was doing well.
All For One smiled. He hadn't expected Inko's case against the Commission and while it hadn't gone completely to plan, it had gone well enough. But Inko had poked her nose into things she would be far better off not knowing, and she'd now paid the price.
Even so, she would be useful. And… If necessary, he was sure Izuku would like the opportunity to reconnect with his mother.
Once the appropriate modifications were made, of course. Never again would Inko doubt her son. Never again would she be able to hurt him.
She would be a good mother.
-ted-
Doctor Kyudai was familiar with Hisashi's moods. After working with the Emperor of the Underworld for so long, he had seen him in all states, including almost dead and bleeding. But a pensive Hisashi was not one Garaki had seen often.
The man was not one to overthink things. He preferred action. Yet for the past few days, every spare moment Kyudai saw All For One, his expression was thoughtful. On anyone else, the Doctor would say they were grappling with a difficult decision, one that would have life altering consequences and for which there was no definitively correct answer.
"Is something wrong?" He asked, as he continued to work on one of the forming Nomu.
"Hmm?" All For One responded. The fact that he hadn't answered outright just confirmed to the Doctor that something was definitely wrong.
"Is something wrong?" Garaki asked again.
"No, nothing's wrong," All For One replied. The answer was a bit distant, but Kyudai knew it would be the truth. The Emperor of the Underworld didn't bother to lie. "Just-" Hisashi didn't finish, but instead tapped one finger against the arm of the chair he was sitting in.
The Doctor sighed internally. He didn't sign up for psychology! "Do you want to tell me about it?" He asked, trying to sound as supporting as he could.
"No," All For One said slowly. "It's something I have to decide for myself," he added.
That was an admission that almost flawed the Doctor. Ultimately every decision was made by Hisashi but he was wise and delegated to people who he knew would make decisions as he'd want. It was an unspoken thing. The fact that he was now saying it aloud was surprising.
Garaki nodded and deliberately turned back to his work. Obviously the Emperor of the Underworld needed to brood for a while. It might be unusual, but far be it for him to get in the way. Besides which, no matter what mood Sensei was in, he'd want this Nomu finished. It was quite challenging. Physically, the original form had to be unaltered, and mentally it had to be functional to the same level the original subject had maintained. Her colleagues could not notice a difference. But mentally, she had to be absolutely loyal.
This was more like reanimation than nomuification but it's what Sensei wanted. He was managing to put in some strength and other enhancements which would only activate when this particular nomu was active. That was quite challenging, especially with the time frame associated with this creation. He only had a day or so left but that was enough.
The improved version of Inko Midoriya would be back at work after her week long sabbatical and no one would notice a difference. His work was that good.
Hisashi - though he was Fukahi Desuwa now that Watanabe had completed the paperwork and seen to it that his assets were legally moved - saw the way the Doctor turned away. In another time and place he'd be amused but not now. He wasn't lying when he had a decision to make, and it had been bothering him for the last few days. Years actually, but he'd been able to ignore it for a while. There was no particular reason he couldn't ignore it further, yet he had the feeling that he needed to make a decision soon.
Despite what many people thought, he learned from his mistakes. The main thing he learned was how to control events so that they came out in his favour. He was proud to say he'd never made the same mistake twice. And when he did make mistakes, he rectified them with the appropriate amount of force. It usually meant he had to sacrifice an outcome but… Sacrifices did have to be made to make proper corrections.
There was only one mistake that still haunted him today.
His brother.
And the quirk that was born from that decision. One For All.
Which was why he was pensive now, why he was thoughtful. Izuku would not betray him. But yet… Yet… He had thought that about his brother. The brother that he loved. The brother that he protected. The brother that he would have provided everything for.
The brother who betrayed him.
Izuku would not…
Yet.
The doubt remained. The evidence of the past was there.
And if there was one person who could defeat him, once and for all, it was his son.
All Might and whoever the ninth holder would be had nothing on what his son could do.
Against the power Izuku could accumulate and hold, the power of One For All would be a mere footnote in history.
He couldn't afford a mistake with his son. And so he wondered… Was he making the same mistake as he had with his brother?
He had given his brother everything! In the uncertain times then, he had given his brother safety and security! He had given his brother a quirk! He had given him everything he would have ever wanted, and in the end, his brother had still turned away.
He had given Izuku everything. Safety and security, support and love. Quirks. He had given Izuku everything he needed to be independent and strong.
And now, would he turn away?
That was his concern. He had tried to show Izuku the way of the world, the way it really worked, not the fantasy most believed, but would that be enough? He'd thought his brother knew reality yet in the end, his brother had chosen fantasy over reality. He had chosen to believe that things could be different from what they were.
All For One agreed with that. Things could be different, but they weren't going to change simply because you hoped and believed. They'd change when you controlled them, when you forced the change to happen. His brother wanted to believe it would happen voluntarily.
And Izuku was so very like his brother. His brother would have loved his nephew, would have cherished Izuku above all others, as he did. But Sensei knew that it wasn't enough.
It hadn't been enough for his brother.
He sighed, timing his breath with the respirator. So how did he make sure Izuku would not betray him?
The immediate answer was one that left him feeling sick. A few moments with Hitoshi's quirk would do it. Even the Russian quirk he used to condition the Doctor's assistants would do. That option was rejected. Izuku might never know but he would. He didn't want forced agreement from his son. From others, he didn't care. They agreed with him or they suffered the consequences. Izuku was… He needed Izuku to be more than that.
He needed Izuku to agree with him because that was what his son wanted. He needed it to be what his son believed.
So how did he achieve that? How did he make sure Izuku saw the world as he did, when his brother refused?
I want to be a hero.
His son's voice echoed in his ears, the innocent voice of a boy almost seven years old. It was one of the few times he'd wanted to protect innocence but he'd known that in the long run, that would only cause more pain.
His son had persisted in that desire for a while. He didn't care what Tomura had said. Izuku hadn't cared what Kurogiri had said, or the Doctor. Or him. Izuku had known what people were like. All For One could remember questioning him before they moved to Niigata. Izuku had the same beliefs as his brother. People were cruel because they didn't know better.
Izuku's faith in him was touching and even now he felt warm with the memory. They didn't know him so they did not understand. They didn't know better, so they were cruel. His brother believed the same.
He knew differently. He'd lived the reality. People knew better, they just chose not to act.
His Little Dragon had only begun to care when he'd experienced what people were like. When he'd learned that unless you agreed with what society deemed best, then society was cruel. Hisashi still remembered watching over Izuku as he slept with one rib broken. It was a hard lesson for his son but a necessary one.
The three boys responsible had been punished appropriately. A Nomu had been made from Atsushi Ueno. The boy's quirk had indeed been interesting, and had been copied into several Nomu's. The ability to fit anything into a pocket was something useful and the assistant who had refined the improved copying technique, Mr Tanaihito, was now the proud owner of a copy of Atsushi's quirk. The other two boys had simply been disposed of and then recycled into the lowest Nomu forms after their quirks were awakened. They had such feeble quirks that even awoken they were close to useless. Suffice to say that none of them would be bothering his son again.
All For One sighed again, glancing up towards the Nomu being made from Inko Midoriya. Physically, she remained unchanged and the new personality was based on her. They had done nothing to change that. The Doctor had explained but all he really understood was that it had something to do with the way the brain was at the point of death and reawakening it in the same state.
He noticed the Doctor stiffen at his sigh before he relaxed again. Mentally, All For One shook his head. He didn't watch movies. He didn't read trite stories of fiction but there was one thing those make believe worlds got right. If he wanted to be sure of Izuku then…
He didn't want to do it. He wanted to hold his son close. He wanted to have Izuku trust him enough to believe him…
But if he wanted that, then Izuku had to come to him. Izuku had to see that his way was the truth, and Izuku had to see that for himself.
It made him feel… He took a breath against the respirators rhythmic pumping. The pressure felt good. It was something he could fight against, something he could challenge. This was… He hated knowing that there was nothing else he could do, nothing else he could change.
All For One relaxed, and breathed again in time with the respirator.
He had to trust that his son was wise enough, intelligent enough, was strong enough to see the truth of the world, and to go against society. At any other time, All For One would have laughed and dismissed the doubt. Izuku was his son, there was no way a false reality would seduce him. Now he couldn't. He couldn't afford to.
He was going to have to steel himself to let Izuku go out into the world. He was going to have to hold his tongue and let his son have his own experiences, and draw his own conclusions.
He was going to have to hope.
And it had been a very long time since All For One had hoped.
-ted-
So AFO will kill his wife without a twitch but when thinking of his son... then he hesitates. But a wrong decision with Izuku will have consequences and doesn't he know that :D Experience with his brother says that he better get this decision right or this time... well, AFO knows Izuku could end him in a way that All Might never can.
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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