Devil horns jut out from the top of the cardinal red mask in Uta's hand. It's his most recent work of art, a wood carved masterpiece painted to perfection. Tiny details like the number of fangs in its artificial mouth are accounted for the same as pointed elf ears. The craftsman takes a second longer to admire his own work before placing it on a shelf with some of his other finished designs.
Then, he hears the chime of his shop's door opening. He expects a customer to walk in and discover his latest tour de force, but instead finds himself face to face with two police officers. One of which he's familiar with. Uta unenthusiastically greets the man in a futile attempt to hide his disappointment, "Detective. I can't say it's too good to see you again."
Detective Tsukauchi takes the cold welcome to heart, brandishing a document that he prepared just in case the shopkeeper tries turning him away. "Which is why I brought a warrant.", he holds the paper up to the store's nyan lights for the mask maker to see clearly.
But Uta is looking past the form, his eyes instead on the officer that Tsukauchi brought with him. The store owner nods in the cop's direction, "And backup."
But when the detective turns around to also acknowledge his partner, he finds Tamakawa trying on a kitsune mask. The oblivious officer turns his attention towards them, tabby head barely concealed by a similar cat covering, "Huh?"
Tsukauchi rolls his eyes at his partner's antics, intimidation clearly off the table now. "Not exactly.", the detective sighs while returning his focus to the shopkeeper, "More like moral support."
"What can I do for you?", Uta skips past the pleasantries and keeps his guard up anyways. He doesn't doubt there's a reason that the law is paying him a visit afterall.
"Izuku Midoriya.", Tsukauchi throws the name out to test Uta. When the store owner doesn't react, he uses the boy's alias, "Akatani Mikumo." The detective gets the reaction he was expecting, the mask masker's eyes widening. Those same eyes narrow when Tsukauchi uses the boy's nickname, "The Tokyo Ghoul." Tsukauchi shakes his head before also getting straight to the point, "Whatever you refer to him as personally, he's gone awol."
Uta looks away, trying to act natural as he asks, "And what makes you think he'd come here?"
It's Tsukauchi's turn to glare. He crosses his arms while stating the obvious, "It seemed to me that he was making quite a fashion statement during his public debut on the news."
The strobe lights either switch to a shade of red or Uta blushes under the lamp's heat. Either way, he sheepishly rubs the back of his neck with his single hand. "I made that for him a long time ago.", he recalls the leather mask that Akatani now wears clearly.
Tsukauchi raises a brow, his quirk registering that what Uta said is the truth. However, the detective isn't ready to give up a potential lead just yet. This also serves as the perfect opportunity to ask, "He hasn't come by to pay you a visit since then?"
"No.", Uta immediately shoots down the question with as much feigned bravo that he can muster.
However, no amount of confidence can trick Tsukauchi's lie detection. He levels his gaze with Uta's upon registering the answer to his question as a lie, "You do remember what my quirk is, don't you?"
Much to Uta's credit, he doesn't break eye contact this time. He hardens his stare and swallows before also hardening his tone, "Unfortunately, I do." A moment passes before Uta tries giving validation for the reason that he's putting his foot down, "He's just a kid."
Tsukauchi exchanges a look with Tamakawa who's finally put down the kitsune mask and joined him in his own stance. The officer motions to the handcuffs attached to his belt, but Tsukauchi shakes his head. The detective tries breaking through Uta's rough exterior with compassion before taking such measures,"Which is exactly why we need to find him. Kids require guidance or they can wind up running with the wrong crowds."
Which those words seem to do the trick, judging by how big Uta's eyes get and his open mouthed audible reaction, "Oh shit.."
"What?", Tsukauchi isn't sure whether that's a good thing or a bad thing though.
"He was with a group.. They were all buying masks..", Uta staggers back like he's about to lose his footing and faint. Tsukauchi almost believes the mask maker actually will pass out when he presses a palm against his head.
Tamakawa realizes why first, hair standing on end over the same revelation. "They're planning something.", he turns towards his fellow officer with mild panic starting to set in.
Tsukauchi feels that same anxiety, pushing Uta for more information, "Can you identify any members of the group for us?"
Uta shakes his head, face turning pale. Whether he's sweating from the heat of the store's lights or if he's just that disturbed by what's happening, nobody knows, but it may as well be both. "There were too many to go over.", Uta recalls the number of people in the group was high.
And that's enough to plunge Tsukauchi into action. The detective grabs ahold of his partner by the shoulders, grip tight as he orders, "Tamakawa. Call Aizawa."
"I don't think he's gonna get reception from where he is–", Tamakawa fumbles with his cellphone as he tries pulling it out of his pocket.
"Call him!", but Tsukauchi is already running to get in his vehicle.
Unfortunately for both the detective and his partner, they won't be able to contact or reach anybody in time for a proper warning. The League Of Villains has already deposited its latest members on a mountain via Kurogiri's warpgate. The team stands right at the tip of a bluff, overlooking a vast stretch of forestry. Behind them is the open mouth of a cave, the moonlight hitting it just right that they're able to see through the shadows but nobody can see them if anyone were to try.
"Are we going on a camping trip now?", the reptilian Stain fanboy glances around the environment with mild interest. He's got the same attire he had on when visiting Uta's shop, but now carries a massive mish mosh of blades bound together with belts. It stabs the ground as though he's pitching it like a tent.
"Is this another bonding exercise?", the more gentlemanly member of the bunch removes his top hat so that it doesn't blow away in the breeze that brushes against his overcoat.
And then there's the chaotic member with a bipolar personality, "If the outdoors is so good, then how come all the bugs are always trying to get inside?", asking the real questions.
"Shut up, the whole lot of you, and I'll explain.", Dabi snaps at them before pulling out a flask from his coat pocket. The constant bickering has driven him to take up drinking, having a swig every now and then the only way for him to stay the only sane member. Booze runs down his scarred chin as he discloses the reason for their dropoff, "Our 'honorable leader' confided in me that this is where our first mission is going to take place."
"Really?", Akatani looks at Dabi with wide eyes. He wasn't expecting Tomura to give Dabi exclusive details, nor Dabi to keep those things a secret. The burned villain shrugs as though it's no big deal to have kept it hidden, but Akatani still can't cope with the slight feeling of betrayal.
"Flesh?", the crazed cannibal is still among them occasionally providing his less than helpful input too. Luckily, he's also still got on a leather straightjacket with straps restraining him.
"What are we supposed to do out in the middle of nowhere?", the villain wearing shades raises a skeptical brow and places their hands on their hips while questioning the integrity of Dabi's claim.
To which Dabi rolls his eyes, "It's not just the wilderness.", and points towards the horizon of the treeline, "Look." Everyone follows the villain's finger to find it aiming towards a collection of cabins in the distance. "We have a target. They should be somewhere there.", and the group comes to the same conclusion that they're supposed to raid whoever occupies the residence.
"Well, what are we waiting for? I'm itching to go. Let's hurry up and move!", the muscular member of the villains stomps forward eagerly. Since Uta's mask shop, he's adopted a look combining the hockey mask he bought with a hooded cloak to cover his body.
"Wait! It's too soon. We need to scope the place out first. Bide our time.", the boy who bought a gas mask chimes in while trying to step in front of his much more imposing comrade. He nearly gets trampled, but sighs in relief when the muscular villain stops short.
"Who died and made you boss?", Dabi shoots a quick glance over his shoulder with an expression of disdain.
But Akatani stands up for the boy by agreeing, "He's right. We don't know anything." He's sporting his own annoyed look behind his mask as he directs his next statement at Dabi, "You didn't even tell us who our target would be."
"I usually like surprises, but we're supposed to be friends!", Himiko sides with her boyfriend while giving an exaggerated demonstrative pout. Though the exaggerated movement and gestures do help convey her disappointment better than her facial expression considering she's got on her own mask now. A loose black tube wraps around her neck like a scarf, decorated with pieces of pale metal to form the shape of a carnivorous grin.
"Our shadowy orchestrator has planned everything. There is sure to be sound reasoning behind it all.", the elegant villain returns his hat to his head now that the wind has stopped blowing as hard. He seems to be siding with Dabi.
"Who the hell cares? Let us get down there. My blood's pumping over here.", and the muscular villain is still as eager as ever to get the mission underway as well.
"Job!", the crazed cannibal is drooling like a dog now, "A job!" However, his new word replacing 'flesh' makes his standpoint clear.
"Shut up, you whackjobs.", but Dabi disregards them all regardless of who they agree or disagree with. The only two he bothers acknowledging are Akatani and Himiko. He pulls out a photo of none other than Katsuki Bakugo, showing it to them first. "No wonder I was the only one entrusted to know what we're doing here until now.", but not without muttering under his breath how exasperated he is by the group's consistent commotion.
"Kacchan..", Akatani instantly recognizes his childhood friend in the picture presented.
"He's that guy from the Sports Festival.", as does Himiko. She grabs onto Akatani's arm in an attempt to comfort him, already understanding the impact the revelation must be having on him.
Dabi moves on from them to address the others, "We're gonna retrieve this angry pomeranian and keep em as a pet. Do NOT kill him. He's a potential recruit. Not a bounty.", showing them the same photo.
"Buzzkill..", the hulkish hooded villain grumbles over the order not allowing him to murder the target.
But Akatani is still too busy processing the order himself to notice or care, "This'll never work. What a stupid fucking plan."
"You don't think he'll join us?", Himiko and he start to have a private whispered conversation separate from the main group.
"Kacchan would never.", he shakes his head at the mere thought that Kacchan would become a villain for any reason whatsoever.
But he also falters when Himiko asks him, "Not even if he sees you?"
Akatani and Himiko stare at one another, gauging each of their emotions despite the masks concealing their facial expressions. Akatani doesn't have an answer for the question he was just asked. He finds himself looking down at the rest of his outfit. Much like the large margin of others, he's adopted a full costume appearance. The form fitting black makes up a combat suit, covered by a buttoned high collar jacket. The sleeves are short, stopping at his elbows, the same as his pants legs cut off at the knees; however, tactical dark leather continues and covers what would have been otherwise exposed skin. He's not sure how Bakugo would react to seeing him like this, fully embracing the ghoulish persona.
"Whatcha two talking about? Don't be flirting on the job!", Akatani is suddenly startled by an arm being slung over his shoulder. He finds himself being jostled by the black and gray suited villain, much to his displeasure.
"Enough!", Dabi barks for the deadpool knockoff to quit goofing around before turning his attention to the youngest of the team. "Oi, kid, think you can hit the forest with your mustard gas?", he asks for support as a plan of attack begins to formulate.
"Huh? O- Oh! Yeah!", the boy's gas mask bobs up and down in confirmation when he realizes that he's being acknowledged.
"Then let's start a signal fire together.", Dabi grins as much as his stapled cheeks will allow and emits a blue flame from one of his equally marred hands, "We'll begin putting them in their places."
"NOW we're talking!", the muscular villain cackles with glee before playfully slapping Akatani on the back, "How about it, Ghoul?" He's shocked to see Akatani doesn't stumble from the push.
But he's even more surprised when Akatani doesn't respond with the same enthusiasm to get in on some action, "I'm staying behind. We're mobilizing too early and everyone here is a loose canon."
Dabi doesn't care, not bothering to read into it. He shrugs before sliding down the slope, "Suit yourself."
"Akatani.. ?", but Himiko does pause to express an amount of concern. She looks her boyfriend imploringly in the eyes. The gaze he returns to her is soft and she's soothed by his nod that it's okay for her to go, or rather, she feels it's a nonverbal request that she does go. So she nods back and does.
"Shall we?", the gentleman of the group gestures for everyone to mobilize and they begin to disperse one by one. Pretty soon, the only ones left at the mouth of the cave are Akatani and the brutish muscular villain.
"What's the big idea? Is it cause we're not allowed to kill that blonde kid?", the hooded hulk cocks his head to the side as he tries to guess the reason for Akatani staying behind.
Akatani frowns but tries not to show his annoyance otherwise as he responds, "No–"
"Nobody said anything about the others! Come on, we can still have a good ol' fashioned massacre!", though it's proven much more difficult than one would imagine when he's interrupted by an enthusiastically carefree desire to kill.
"You..", Akatani growls as he struggles to contain his own bloodlust. Though the muscular villain would probably be surprised to learn who that murderous urge is being directed towards.
But before either villain can act upon the wafting aura, they're drawn to the sound of nonrhythmic taps. The source is a small pebble that bounces on the dirt of the hill when it reaches them. Akatani follows the direction that it fell from, spotting a boy that looks about Eri's age staring down at them with a terrified look.
"Well, well, well!", Akatani redirects his gaze with worry when the muscular villain stomps past him to get a view of the boy too, "A face that isn't on the list!"
The small child is paralyzed with fear, and that's only knowing half the danger that he's in. Akatani starts to move for the boy too, "What are you doing out here.. ?", muttering under his breath in disbelief.
"Hey, that hat is pretty slick, kid. Why don't you trade me for this lame mask?", the muscular villain towers over the child as he removes his faceplate to unveil his one eyed monstrosity of a face. When Akatani catches a glimpse of the manic grin that's plastered there, his legs move on their own.
"Wah!", the kid turns to run but there's no chance of him escaping the muscular villain's raised fist. Not without Akatani swooping in to rescue him. The boy is transported in nearly an instant, wrapped in Akatani's protective arms. A crater is left in place of where the kid once was, his life saved.
"Eh? What are ya doing?", the one eyed menace pulls his fist back from the indention he left in the ground while staring at Akatani incredulously.
Tendrils sprout from the ghoul's back, one of the limbs slashing the rock and creating a mark much deeper than the one that the other villain made. "Cross that line..", the ghoul's single exposed eye now glows red as it meets the other one eyed monster's gaze, "And I'll kill you."
The muscular villain's perturbed features last for only a second, replaced by the same earlier manic grin he had when attacking the young boy Akatani is swearing to now protect. "Oh. I'm gonna have fun with you.", he rips his cloak off to expose his huge physique and muscle fibers begin to triple the size of those muscles, "I hope the gang doesn't mind a small internal conflict between two powerhouses."
"Powerhouse? Fun?", watching the villain display his quirk gives the ghoul a different conception though, "You're an all you can eat buffet."
Before engaging his opponent, Akatani takes care to safely place the boy he rescued in a tree with one of his tendrils. He can't have the child getting in harm's way or hindering his combat abilities. He also doesn't want to risk losing control of himself during the indulgence he's about to have when feasting on the muscular villain, not with a kid cradled in his arms.
The one eyed tank charges, no longer waiting for Akatani to safely distribute the child. The ghoul meets the attack head on, unzipping his mouth covering and unleashing his Kagune. They collide with one another, full force put into their rushes.
It takes all of his tentacles to stop the pressure of the muscular villain's punches, two at a time wrapping each arm by the wrist. With all four limbs occupied, Akatani grinds his feet into the ground to try and push forward himself. The dirt and rock crumble, the earth uplifting. A huge draft of dust envelopes the two villains as they struggle with one another.
Akatani pulls downwards with his tentacles, forcing his enemy to the ground. That same tugging launches him skybound, resulting in a cartwheel kick aerial maneuver that connects with the back of the muscular villain's skull. Closing the distance, the ghoul takes the opportunity to sink his teeth in.
The ghoul rips a chunk of flesh out from the villain's muscle fibers, slurping it down and swallowing it whole. The villain roars in a mixture of rage and pain, twisting in an attempt to knock Akatani off his back. The brute backs into the cave's wall, trying to use it as a means to crush his opponent. He's met with opposition, Akatani planting his feet and pushing back.
Akatani then ducks under a heavy swipe, taking a quick bite from the outstretched arm as he does. He rolls between the bigger villain's legs, getting behind him again. The ghoul goes for the calve muscles next, tearing into them. Another furious shout erupts from the hulking menace as he tries to bring a fist down on the ghoul cannibalizing him.
Akatani leaps over the punch and lands on the villain's shoulder, chomping down. The villain shrieks, spiraling as he tries to grab the ghoul and throw him off. The two slam into the already dented cave wall, pebbles and dirt showering them. Akatani rips out another piece of flesh with his hands before finally getting flung off.
He lands with an arm poised and the other cocked back, legs spread. Tentacles whipping around frantically like wagging tails, he moves along the ledge of the cliff with haste. The muscular villain is barely able to keep track of the speeding blur, almost missing a last second block by raising his arms to deflect a tentacle whip lashing. The force of the blow does manage to knock him back though. He nearly trips over himself as he tries to defend against a second strike.
Akatani flips backwards to avoid a counter strike and follows up with a third swipe of his tentacles. The muscular villain snatches one of the limbs, ignoring the other three that slash open his chest. Then he uses the single tentacle as a pulley to hoist Akatani up and fling him across the mountain. The air pressure does more damage to the cliff, causing it to crack, than to the thrown. Akatani spears the dirt with his limbs, planting them into the ground and stopping his momentum.
But that's what the muscular villain wanted. He clears the distance with a punch primed to obliterate Akatani who now has his body exposed. Akatani hadn't expected the big lunkhead to actually have half a brain cell. He raises his arms, doing his best to absorb the critical hit without taking too much damage, but finds himself being launched into a tree.
The base of the trunk shatters into splinters and Akatani spirals out of control before crashing through three more. The blowback only stops when he collides with another mountain wall. The force causes a miniature landslide, dirt pouring across the peak. He'd have been buried alive if it weren't for his survival instincts to grapple from there back into the trees.
The muscular villain huffs as he shoves a robotic eye into his empty socket, "Guess I'll have to take you seriously." Though he appears to clearly enjoy the thrill of the fight, judging by the grin that's returned to his face.
Akatani growls as he darts from one tree to the next, utilizing the branches and their leaves as cover. He severs a few of them to carry with him as he goes along, coming up with a new plan. The rustling of the treetops draws the muscular villain's gaze, his eyes enhanced by the animatronic one. Since the ghoul is out of reach, he tries chucking a boulder instead.
Akatani springs from his current tree to another, dodging the rock barreling towards him. Pieces of bark spray from where he once had been. The muscular villain laughs as he boasts, "Come back down here and fight like a man!"
Twigs snap and fall. The muscular villain's grin grows and he throws another rock. Except, he doesn't see the ghoul move to avoid the assault. Instead, dead tree limbs fall in his place. Having lost track of his opponent, he quickly turns to search another side of the cliff. More dead branches rain down from where leaves had been shaking. A diversion. A trick.
The ghoul comes out behind him, able to get another bite in with his back turned. The muscular villain screeches, royally pissed off. The ghoul just continues his assault, tentacles ripping into the exposed muscle fibers as much as his nails do. Gnashing teeth destroy the makeshift armor of flesh easily. Blood flies left and right as the muscular villain gets torn into.
The ghoul shows no mercy, bringing the villain to his knees as he pleads with agonizing cries for the torture to stop. Every new layer applied is just another platter set out to be eaten. Eventually, the villain would rather stop trying to shield his real body than to continue enduring his suffering. His screams are silenced once his throat gets torn out and eaten like the rest of him. What remains of the carcass slumps over once the ghoul is finished, now a lifeless husk of shredded meat.
Akatani wipes his mouth with the back of his hand as he turns around to face the blue flames behind him. A rising inferno has overtaken the forest, burning it to the ground. Thick black smoke rises into the night sky, blending with a purple cloud that snakes through ashes. He can see the cabins in the distance are burning too, also shrouded in a colored fog.
He remembers that The League Of Villains are targeting Kacchan. He remembers Todoroki is in that same class. He remembers Aizawa teaches that class. He worries that Aizawa may have thought it was safe enough to bring Eri along. Akatani pulls the zipper on his mask, covering his mouth. Then, he gives the boy that he rescued a parting look, ensuring that the kid will at least be safe out of harm's way.
And he dives into the hell below.