This My Life Now

by Lucifer S Moringstar

All Roberto Rodrigo Robles wanted to be since he was 13 was a hero. Now he is attending UA Academy, this is the story of how he achieved his goal!

4. I am Wrath

A/N: Ok, this is not the strongest chapter I have written, a bit filler-ish. but I promise the next one will be better it's actually my favorite. Thanks for reading and please comment/review. Tra La for now!

~Lucifer S. Morningstar

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I am Wrath

She was my world. My light. My savior. My mom.

31

Outside The Shie Hassaikai compound, my world ended and all that was left was a crimson stain on a broken cement wall. I fell to my knees, shock was preventing my mind from registering what I just witnessed. I crawl towards the wall still unbelieving- even after touching the splattered still warm liquid. It was a deep red and covered my gauntlet hands. What is this? What just happened? We have to save her! My mind was working overtime to keep me from realizing the truth in front of me and in my hands. "Mom." My eyes were violently shaking side-to-side, "We both will come back, mom." My cowl retracted and I place my hands on the sides of my head. "Mom." The red liquid now flowing down my cheeks as tears and into my neck armor. "Mom, we both were suppose to come back, mom."

I could hear Deku battling him on the ground, in the air, the compound was shaking but it seemed just like white noise. "Mom." I could hear my heart in my ears pounding. "Mom." My mind had done all it could, "You're." all the barriers my mind tried to put up to protect me shook. "You're."

A gun shot.

Flashes of my father protecting me at 6.

The bullet ricocheting off of my mind's barrier creates a crack. "Mom you're…"

The crack travels up the wall creating a chain reaction. "Dead."

The crack stops and I close my eyes. I breath as a deathly calm comes over me as I slow my breathing.

"Listen, I love you more than anything in this world, keep that in here."

I hear her voice as I focus my mind and I rise.

"Keep this clear."

My cowl returns clicking then sealing into place, "Its your greatest weapon of all of your arsenal."

Now I'm standing, "…a sharp mind prevails." I finally look up and see my target.

"Now let's go kick some Yakuza ass."

"Yes mom." I look behind me and see Rock Lock, he sees me then the wall.

"Roble…" I cut him off.

"Get me up there." I say directly, he simple nods grabbing slates of cement tossing them into the air. His quirk locks them into place like stairs, I run up them then leap off the top. Igniting my flight pack making a beeline for Overhaul. 'Aftershock Level Max.' I fly upwards past him, he looks around then up, I dive, flip, and send both boots into his neck releasing both levels of my aftershock attack. His neck lets out a sicking snap and we both hit the ground. Deku is in shock, "SAVE HER DEKU!" He snaps out of his daze and charges towards Eri. I look back at my target blood leaking out of his mouth. I dust off my gauntlet and touch the crimson liquid 'Sample received, human DNA, blood.' I know I don't have much time, "Mei." I tap my commlink.

"Robb…" I cut he off.

"No time, analyze the sample I sent." She complies.

"Its…" I hate cutting her off but I needed her to focus.

"Chiaski Kai's DNA I know, start working on a defense for his quirk now." Maybe not now but I will NEVER be caught off guard again.

"Why…" I drop a bomb on her.

"HE KILLED MY MOTHER MEI!" I hear a gasp on the other end, she acknowledges, "I don't care, what strings you have to pull, what price I will have to pay, I want his got damn genome broken down." I see Overhaul reconstructing himself as I gather a physical sample of his blood and place it in my belt. "I love you Mei." I hear her stop tapping, I accept that this might be my last time I talk to her.

I see him get up as I blast away cutting the commlink. He spots me and now wants revenge, he begins pulling up debris and launching them at me, my shield takes most of the impacts from his assault. I take a hit being launched back into the compound, he follows me in, good. However, he spots Deku going for Eri, "SHIT!" the yakuza leader shifts his attention towards him. "No! No! No! No!" Suddenly Kai is hit in the back of the head with a familiar seal. Nighteye comes through and engages him.

"Spectre, I got this help Deku!" I nod and launch past him.

"No," Overhaul catches me by my flight pack."Eject!" It releases and explodes in his hand obliterating his arm. He roars but Nighteye hits him with another seal. I launch my grapnel and get closer to Deku, Eri is within reach. "DEKU GET UP THERE!" I scream and see him disappear in a blue flash then reappear next to Eri. He grabs her and leaps off, I land behind the column and use my aftershock ability to send it crashing down on Overhaul. I hear Deku cry out in pain and drops Eri. I catch her, as a sharp pain shoots through me like lightning in a bottle. I put her down and tell her to run to outside quickly, I fall to my knees gripping my stomach, my hips are on fire as is the rest of my body. Just as quickly as the pain came it leaves. Suddenly I feel refreshed and lighter. "What the hell?"

No time for that now as I see Overhaul burst through the pillar with the body of the eighth Bullet in hand, the body is disassembled and merged with him. This transforms him, suddenly he is now in black with two extra arms. I see Mirio behind him, he's injured so I fire my grapnel launching myself into the air and activate my wing suit. The bastard is too occupied with his new power to see me. I land Nighteye sees me grab Mirio but Overhaul follows his eyes. "There you are." I slam a flashbang down blinding him.

"Mirio time to go." He's seriously injured but I need his help, "Warp us."

"I can't, someone shot me with some sort of Quirk-Killer round."

"Mom got the bastard too and he got her." my voice cracks and Lemillion looks up, "Please -Lemillion help me." I am begging him at this point, "Please Mirio, get up." My voice is shaking this helps him find the strength to move. I see a barrage of rubble heading towards us and pull Lemillion behind me.

"ROBLES!" I take the blunt of the force and my shields fry.

"I'm still alive." Most of my chest armor is gone and the shields' small explosion have clipped my wings. "I will not let you die here!" I shout out pulling him to his feet.

Overhaul and Nighteye battle it out but the bastard impales him on a stone spike. With most of my armor destroyed I still manage to keep Lemillion behind me, Overhaul just stares me down, mocking me, challenging me, but I wasn't going to flee, I going to stand my ground. He charges but then erupts into two people one of which was just a corpse. Before we can react Deku scoops us up and out quicker than I have ever seen him do.

"Robert, I figured out her quirk." he states confidently.

"Do tell." I say in between breaths.

"She can reverse physical damage." He grits his teeth, as I see her wrapped in Lemillion's cape on his back. "One for all full cowling!" His body surges with blue like energy, "100%" He charges Overhaul, "Delaware SMASH!" sending him launching into the air. I look at the dead Bullet and see something. I hop back in and pick up a sort of red bullet-like dart. I turn to Lemillion and hold it up.

"Lemillion this what hit you?" He looks at it and remembers the red casing and confirms. "I got an idea." I hear another explosion, I look out and I see Kai has transformed again. "Shit, Rikiya Katsukame." I remove my grapnel's hook and line, my launcher used compressed gas to launch them. So I replace it with the Quirk-Killer round, then pulled out my old grapnel gun from the compartment in my leg. "Stay here Mirio."

"Robles!" He himself is begging me not to go.

"You're injured and bleeding out. " He starts to protest further, "Deku will save her." his eyes tremble, "I'll make sure of it." I see Aizawa coming out of the tunnel with another member of the Eight Bullets. I grapnel to him.

"I need you." He looks at me like I'm a stranger, taking a moment he then realizes who's talking to him. I then point at the broken cement wall with the red splatter. "He did that to her." His eyes widen as it hits him, "I watched her die."

"What do you need?" I point at Chisaki Kai.

"Give me a clear shot."I cock my grapnel as Deku and Overhaul come crashing down, we run to him standing on either side of him. Overhaul begins to roar as he leaps into the air.

"Deku throw me at him then Aziawa." Deku nods and he cups his hands I run and step on his hands. He then launches me followed by sensei at Overhaul. He greets me with open arms staring directly at my eyes, I tuck in and Aizawa cancels his quirk! I untuck and fire the bullet just before he regains his abilities. I then grab hold of him, deck him, followed by tossing him down. He splits from Rikiya Katsukame before he lands in a heap.

32

Just outside The Shie Hassaikai Compound, Chisaki Kai hit the ground hard, with the playing field leveled, now was the time to end this. My armor was pretty much torn to shreds save for my gauntlets and boots. I tapped my chest three times as I made my way to the yakuza leader. All the armor that was still functioning stayed on me, I was now partially in my civilian clothes and with each step I am ripping off pieces of the damage armor that lingered. "You disgusting brat, just who the hell do you think you are!" His voice sickens me to the core, I pull off the red diamond from my chest as I reach my target. I block a right cross and nail him with quick strikes up his center mass in stacked succession, then parry a jab nailing him with the back of my fist to his temple.

"An akuma." Three powerful blocks, "I will show you no mercy." two strikes to his sternum then a strike to his throat. He kicks me but I catch his leg taking the hit, "RAGH!" I come down with an elbow followed by kicking out his support leg forcing him to split.

"ROBLES!" I hear a voice calling to me but I ignore it. Chisaki Kai had to pay for his crimes. More officers had arrived on the scene from my mother's district. Rock Lock had told them what happened. The three officers that were with my mother now joined the line of newly arrived ones that blocked the heroes entry.

Kai was more flexible than I thought as he spun around with a leg sweep knocking me off my feet. I landed on my back then sprung up dodging the follow up kick. I used my momentum to nail him with a right cross making him take a knee. "I AM…" I sent a kick to the side of his shin breaking his tibia causing him to let out a howl. He leaps back but I fire my grapnel gun wrapping around one of his arms.

I pull him back towards me, "YOU ARE NOTHING!" I silence his howl with another right cross breaking his jaw. The line releases retracting into the gun as I toss it behind me. He goes for an uppercut but I catch his arm and snapping his ulna and fracturing the radius. I then pull him up by the same arm, he screams as I hyper-extend it. "YOU TOOK EVERYTHING FROM ME!" I release him then send several strikes to his ribs. "YOU KILLED HER!" I hear a loud crunch following blood shooting from him mouth.

"ROBLES DON'T DO THIS!" I could not tell you who was speaking, I was too busy destroying this man to care. Strikes to the collar, his face and chest, he was no longer fighting back. I grab his jacket and shirt flipping him over my shoulder and unto the ground.

"Destroying your own wasn't enough." I was now on top of the man, the sounds of bones cracking and my fists going numb from each impact pounding in my ears. "A little girl for a drug." More pounding, "YOU CREATURE IN HUMAN SKIN!" my hands gripped his throat as I began to squeeze, "IT WASN'T ENOUGH WAS IT CHISAKI KAI." I pulled his head up and banged it on the ground. "NO WAS IT, YOU HAD TO TAKE HER TOO!"

"Wh..o…" His voice only fueled my rage. I saw a piece of rebar and grabbed it raising it above his head.

" Zeniya Phavion, my mother!" I screamed about to come down on his head and rid this world of this monster.

"RIBBIT STOP!" She was in front of me with tears in her eyes holding my forearms. "Stop, Robert please." She was begging me, "Don't do this, he's defeated." I break past her hold, "NOOOOO!" and I embed it inches from his skull.

Once again so cliché, so cliché.

Tsu looks down as I rise and make my way through the crowd. I walk past Deku, Lemillion, Red Riot, Real Steel, Suneater only to be blocked by my boss Fat Gum. I don't even fight it and fall to my knees as Tsu runs in front of me taking me in her arms.

"I knew she would reach you." He whispers

"I couldn't save her." I hold on to her, "We were both suppose to come back." Fat Gum and Tsu are at a loss for words, what could he say. "Now there's nothing to bring back." My team gathers around me, "He stole everything."

"THEY ESCAPED!" I suddenly snap out of it, "Hōjō Yū, Katsukame Rikiya, and Rappa Kendō." Police and any other able bodied heroes load up and roll out. I push off my Tsu and suddenly, in my mind, my team turns on me.

"Roberto stop." Suneater had me in a full nelson, Tsu grabbing my legs.

"Traitors!" I scream.

"No Roberto." Fat Gum was now pushing me down.

"I won't let them escape!" I was lost in my own fury.

"With what Roberto?" I pause and see my reflection in a puddle of water. "Let them handle this." I relent-for now. I push them off of me, Tsu catches up to me.

I look at her, I wanted to tell her I was alright. That would be a lie, and I swore I would never do that again. "Ribbit…" I turned away from her, "Take some time."

"I will." She holds my hands, but I break away, "After I bring these bastards back." My voice brought more tears to my Tsu's eyes. I had changed, I had to for now. Now was not the time to grieve, I had work ahead of me. For now I was not Robert Rodrigo Robles, Spectre for now I am fury incarnate, I am wrath.

I left Kai in shambles as the police place him in stretcher, barely conscious strapping him down in shackles. I push past my team and Tsu, the officers salute me and let me through. They knew my relation to my mom and line up behind me. Fat Gum and the heroes with him look on with fear, praying I don't reconsider and finish the job. I look down at him my eyes filled every ounce of hatred within my being. He was still wearing his now cracked plague mask, I grab it ripping it off his face. "Listen and remember my words, remember them well you vile monstrosity." Kai eyes shake with various emotions from hate to fear. "My name is Roberto Rodrigo Robles, when you escape, there will nowhere to hide, no dark alley to disappear to. No rock to crawl under or sewer to seek refuge in that I WILL not find you." I grip his mouth drilling my words into his mind as his screams are muffled. "In your most private moments, remember my words, my face, imprint it into your mind's eye and let it haunt your dreams. How I bested you, again and again, let it drive you to madness." I rip my hand away in a streak of crimson. "On that day I will finish what I started today, heroism be damned." I turn my back on him walking away.

I see my team and Tsu but I just shake my head walking past them. I see Tsu in tears, Fat Gum holds her back. "Let him go." She tries to resist but surrenders, "He needs to process, it hurts, but he's hurting himself." I walk down the hill not looking back, I had no reason to rush home now. Nobody was there waiting for me, I hear a car honking at me. I close my eyes gritting my teeth, the honking continues and I look up.

"Roberto." It was the chief, he stopped the car and got out. I run to him and he embraces me. "Somethings you just cannot stop." I scream into his chest, "You will overcome this Roberto, I know you will." We stand there with me screaming my lungs out for what seems like ages. "School or home kid." I couldn't bare going back, so I told him school. There was work that needed to be done, this was not over.

He drops me off at the school and I am met by UA staff. They heard what happened and no doubt the aftermath. I breathed a heavy sigh, but nothing came of it, no disciplinary action on how I dealt with Overhaul. Just their condolences for my mother. "Robles you don't have to come back yet, if you need to grieve."

"With respect Nezu sensei, I will grieve when I get them." I made no false pretense, I let them all know my full intentions. "If this does not fall in line with UA policies and standards then I will humbly take my leave." The staff are not really shocked with my answer, given my growing reputation.

"I cannot recall such a policy, can any of you all." Now I was shocked, the staff wasn't. As a result of abuse and mistreatment by humans in the past, Nezu's true character reveals itself whenever certain conditions arise. This was one of those times, he still held a grudge over the many experiments he went through, apparently he could relate to me. The staff looked away, "Looks like we are all in agreement, I am deeply sorry for your loss dear boy. Come by to my office if you ever need to talk to someone. I do have peppermint tea in stock perhaps we could do so over a pot." I nod and they let me through.

33

I could not sleep, I looked at my mobile, 0300hrs. I get up putting on my gym uniform, I wince my wounds though stitched still hurt like hell. I refused Recovery Girl's further treatments and could move like I use to thanks to Eri's quirk. I wince again then exited my room. Walking to the bathroom I cleaned up brushing my teeth, etc. then head to the common area, Tsu was there.

"Tsu." She just looked at me and my eyes go soft holding out my arms.

"Ribbit." I wrap my arms around her, "I'm so sorry Ribbit." I pull her close and place my chin atop her head.

"I will overcome." She lifts her head and remove my chin and look into her eyes, "Mom taught me that."

"You are not going to change your mind are you?" Tsu knew there was no stopping me. "You're going after them."

"I have to, all of them will pay mi amor." She knew this was coming, whither she liked it or not. How could she blame me, these bastards helped that monster and were just as guilty.

"Do it." I look at her, "Remember, you are not alone."

"Tsu." Her eyes were sad, she knew I could die, but that was the life of a hero.

"Keep that and me in here." She then kissed me touching my chest, was she breaking up with me? "Come back to me my heart." I smile casting the thought away and lifting her up. She wrapped her legs around me, I kissed her neck with one arm supporting her. I wince, then blood begins to soak through my right sleeve. I chuckle but was in pain.

"Why hell didn't you just let Recovery Girl do her work." I look at her dumbfounded. She croaks and punches my arm, I yelp dropping her. "Ow. Dammit Roberto!" I pull off my uniform as Tsu's eyes narrow and licks her lips. I shake my head then get the First Aid kit from the kitchen drawer.

"Patch me up." Tsu rolls her eyes, washes her hands, then puts on gloves. At the same time Bakagō comes out.

"What's all this…" He sees me and Tsu. "Should of known." He looks at my arm then at Tsu. "Move." He does the same thing as Tsu except with no gloves, "I can sterilize the needle with my quirk" The needle goes red hot then cools, and he then quickly restitches me. It burned but it was a damn good job. "Feed me." I laugh shaking my head, I ask him what he wants, "Food." Tsu helps me make tortillas as I open the fridge and pull out a rotisserie chicken and salsa. I oil up an iron skillet then fire it up and start cooking. Tsu is beside me heating up the tortillas, I end up making us chicken tacos, and Bakagō inhales his. "You better take down those bastards Robles." I look at him, "I won't expect anything less." I put down my food, he had no tact but in way I found it comforting "No one deserves what happened to her, call me if you need me." He finished without another word or waiting for my response then went back to his room.

"That was oddly sweet of him." Tsu breaks the silence, I just nod. "See you are not alone."

"I know my love, I do." I wash the dishes we dirty and put away any leftovers and attach a note saying 'Bakagō' then place it back in the fridge. I kiss Tsu again then leave the dorm. She follows me out.

"I've never seen her lab."I shake my head and tell her my last words to Mei, "Think she understood their meaning?"

"Probably, here." I pull out another ear bud.

"Why am I just now getting this?" her voice was more accusation than inquiry.

"Well she just made them and we both have been busy with work stu…" She caves me. "Okay I'm sorry." I squeak and she gives me a humph. We then make our way to the support dept. I see a light flickering telling me she was there. We enter and hear crying, I run towards the sound with Tsu in my wake. I get to her and I see a big holo-screen, I try to turn Tsu away but its too late. She falls to her knees and tears flow down her cheeks. I close my eyes slowly and relive what's on the screen- my mom's death. Mei had been watching it on repeat, my holo-visor recorded the whole thing. It was to help her make improvements to my suit every time I went out and did hero work.

I work up my courage and steel my emotions as I walked towards her. I tap a key and end her self torment. She looks up at me, "Oh Robert." She grabs me and I hold her, slowly Tsu comes to and embraces me as well. "I failed you." She wept bitterly, "I got her…"

"No, you did not fail Mei, nor did you." I hold her tightly, "Some things we cannot prevent no matter what."

"Robert." I quiet her, "I'm.."

"Help me then, both of you." I look at both of them, "Let's get these bastards." My words bring them back, Mei wipes her eyes as does Tsu.

"I do love you." I smile and she looks at Tsu, "He's a good man, take care of him." Tsu holds me nodding her head.

Mei perks up again in between sniffs and sees me in my gym uniform, "I compiled all the data from Spectre V4.2." I look at her intrigued, "Spectre V5 isn't done yet."

"The blood?" I inquire hoping to hear some good news.

"I am not a biologist Robert." Dammit.

"Obviously but." I take a breath and release it.

"The gauntlets can only can only analyze what is in a sample." She rubs her head, "Oxygen, potassium, etc, what its made of."

"The poison." I point out quite proud of myself.

"It can replicate and weaponize, all your suit will do with the blood sample is create more blood." I took a breath in frustration. "However, that's not necessarily a bad thing."

"Explain." She had my attention.

"We have his DNA, if he escapes we can track him, I will have to talk to a classmate in the science dept so that shouldn't be too hard. We can get started there but its going to be years before we can actually be able create something to combat the Overhaul Quirk." I understood, "Also there's a factor of capital. Patience, Robert I will not fail." I had no doubts in my mind she wouldn't.

"I have something else for you." I give her a piece of the crystal that broke off Hōjō Yū.

"This is light, now this, this something I can use, where did you get it?" It seemed to excite her immensely.

"Hōjō Yū pretty sure you saw the footage." I cross my arms.

"Yes, I remember, shall I redo Specter V5?" She inquires, I could see her mind running a thousand miles an hour.

"No. Find out everything you can about this before application." She shines a light through it and her eyes sparkle. "What?"

"This is perfect! I can apply this to one of my new babies!" She looks at me, "I can also add it to Spectre V5 right away." She tells me that my new suit will take another week. "I know you want to get them right away."

"By now they probably have gone underground," Tsu adds I look at her then nod in agreement begrudgingly. "Take advantage of this, Fat Gum and the school are understanding right now."

"Take a break?" I look at her in disbelief.

"No gather intel baka, come on baby you know this." Her logic was sound, I could go out in my first costume I still had my gauntlets, helmet, and boots. Suddenly Mei wrapped a new belt around my waist from behind. Tsu shot her daggers.

"Easy, this is part of V5, it should link easily with what you have now and give you access to your aftershock abilities."

"Mei I could kiss you." Tsu hits my non injured arm, I look at her grinning.

"Fine." she huffs, "Baka." Mei grabs me and pins me down as she kisses me. Tsu's eyes flare-up, "HEY!" She then releases me.

"I missed that, no one can measure up to you." Tsu croaks and hisses at her. "So worth it." I get up and Tsu slaps me, I deserved that. "Next time you come bring Deku and Uraraka, I need them before you go out hunting these bastards." I nod, "Seriously Robby, do not go hunting them till Spectre V5 is ready. Only intel, I'll see you back here in a week."

"I swear." offering her my pinky, she links it with hers and we shake. With that Tsu and I leave her lab.

"Got damn harem protagonist!" Tsu hisses at me, "Why must I battle all these tramps." I silence her with a kiss and she gives in to it.

"I am not a harem protagonist, I am yours and yours alone." She still pouts, "I just live like one, I cannot help that both sexes want me." I wasn't helping the situation. "You are my one and only my love." I was sincere, I was going be with this beautifully jealous frog till the day I die. She punched my chest then kissed me again, peppermint.

34

I went to class as usual, as for my work-study, Fat Gum said it was okay if I wanted to take some time off. Knowing the boss he already came to the conclusion of my true intentions. Aizawa kept a closer eye on me, not because he knew what I was capable of, but to make sure I didn't do anything too stupid along the way. "Mr. Robles see me after class." I rolled my eyes. "You are not in trouble, just see me after class." Well that was a relief, our homeroom seemed more empty as of late due to the other students having work studies. The bell rang and what little students we had were dismissed.

I walk over to sensei, "So what can I help you with Aizawa sensei."

"How do you win a battle after suffering loss?" He looked up at me from his orange sleeping bag.

"Depends on what led to the loss and what was lost." He nodded, "No beating around the bush sensei?" Sensei knew I was not one to be subtle.

"So be it, where are you going to start digging Robles?" He got out of his sleeping bag.

"Through my connection at the police station," I responded as he slowly rolled up his nap ware.

"If that doesn't work?" He then folded it up and set it aside on a desk.

"Then the old fashion way." Meaning I was going interrogate every lowlife that lurked in every dark alleyway I could find. The look in sensei's eyes told me everything, he knew what I meant by old fashioned.

"You are one of my most talented students, Robles please don't lose yourself in this." This made me take a step back, a compliment from my sensei? "If I were in your position nobody would stop me. I want to help you find these animals."

"But." I was expecting some big speech about the nobility on being a hero or some other nonsense.

"No buts Robles, I would like to help you, no lesson to be learned, however never stop learning." Real subtle sensei.

"Are you saying you want mentor me in information gathering?" My question did not surprise him. At this point with me nothing really did anymore, he just looked at me his steely gaze. His normal deadpan eyes were gone, this was the hero Aizawa speaking to me. The guy who I followed growing up in foster care, then with my mom.

"I am saying never stop learning, if you accept, it does not mean you can't learn or ask me questions in the process." Honestly I was fanboying inside, he wanted to work with me.

"I want to be Erasure Head's sidekick!" I remembered telling my mom at 14.

"Why him Roberto?" Mom and I were watching a video of a very young Aizawa and some flamboyant guy in purple take down a villain.

"Because he's like me." I was now 15 and just finished the police academy.

"But he has a quirk." Now mom and I were sparring holding nothing back on each other in the backyard. She then knocks me on my ass.

"Not that, he levels the the playing field achieving victory through skill and tactics." I take her hand and she pulls me in for a hug before I enter UA. My mind then returns to the present.

"I might just take you up on that, but honestly I need to do this alone." I most diffidently was, just not now. I enjoyed my work study at Fat Gum, they saved my mom and all. However, to be honest I was going to have to settle with them. Originally I wanted to join The Purple Revolution Agency run by His Purple Highness, quirk: Chest Hair, I still to this day have no idea what it does. However the agency hasn't had any work studies or accepted any since its founder vanished.

"I can respect that, open invitation Robles if you so choose." With that sensei wrote me a pass then dismissed me to my next class.

School ended and I was getting ready to head to mom's precinct, I got dressed and ate a light supper before heading out. Tsu was still out and nobody was really around. I tapped my chest, nothing, only to remember I had to manually put on my outfit for now. I headed back to my dorm room and put on the pieces I had. I grunted when I realized I no longer could fly or glide for that matter. I had my grapnels though so they would have to do. I left campus then grapnel to the top of a building. It had been awhile since I had to do this, I timed my landings and began my trek to the police precinct.

I landed in front of the precinct entrance, I was a little winded, but I made it. 'Man I miss my flight gear.' I go in and was greeted warmly by all, I deactivate my cowl and I am let into the bull pen. The officers were all wearing black bans over their badges, as I passed them they gave me their condolences. I see the chief's office, he sees me and beckons me to come in.

"Welcome back Roberto, how you holding up son?"

"Barely sleeping and pissed off."

"We'll find them son."

"Exactly why I am here sir."

"If you want an update."

"No sir, I trust the work your officers do, to question that would be an embarrassment on my mother and this unit." The chief was pleased with my answer but saw right through me.

"You're going after them yourself." I nod, "Roberto when I first saw you I thought of you as a burden on Officer Zeniya. " He leaned back on his chair, "I was wrong, you made her strong, you filled her with a joy I never seen before." I was wanting to know the point of this. "Then you solved a case that went through my whole unit, do you know how embarrassing that was?"

"Chief I..." He raises his hand cutting me off.

"You have great instincts, a sharp mind, excelled in every challenge the academy threw at you." He then set a stack of folders on his desk along with a key card. "I cannot in good judgment, let you just waltz in here and take these files to computer room 6 and just do as you please."

I looked at him as he got up. "I cannot risk them leaving this precinct, nope I cannot have that son." He then walks to his office window and looked out into the bull pen. I turned around to see every officer at attention saluting, "You see Robles, these officers are working tirelessly to do right by their fallen comrade, understand son?"

I nodded then stood up, went to attention, and saluted back holding my emotions in check, "Welp, its time for me to go to lunch, be sure one of the officers gets those son. By the way you hungry? My treat."

"Coffee, black, leave the pot and maybe some ramen." He smiled at me and left his office. I watched him leave the bull pen before I snatched the items on his desk. I take them with me and made my way to the pen. The officers had returned to their duties. "Officer Hoshi where is Officer…" He stops me and points me to computer room 6, "Thank you sir."

I get to my destination and swipe the card, the computer is all set up and I see a mini fridge filled with food and caffeinated drinks. I set the files down and look at the computer. I know my mother's username and password, but if I use them, someone higher-up than the chief will notice the log-in and the suspicious date. I cannot bring them that kind of trouble, but how else could I gain the access I need?

"Come on," I shout to no one in particular. That was when I noticed a sticky-note attached to the desk, but hidden by the mouse-pad. I quietly pull it out and found it had Officer Hoshi's username and password. The officer who was watching the hallway. Anyone could pinpoint him at this location and since my mom worked with him, his brief access would not be deemed suspicious, putting me in the clear for at least one look, but I needed more.

That was when I noticed there was an arrow pointing me to flip the note. On the back, there were instructions on how to create a 'ghost' account that would give me access to a single case. That was no problem since there was only one case I needed to look over.

After logging into the computer, I created the 'ghost' account, disguising it as a department records unit. My mom had told me there were so many of those that the department often lost track of them. I quickly erased the history I put on Officer Hoshi's profile and logged on with my new DR private account. It worked with no problem.

"Thank you, thank you all," I said.

An hour later the chief sets a pot of coffee down with my ramen. He doesn't interrupt me as I pour into the case files and cross reference them with the computer record system.

I don't return to school for the rest of the week, living in computer room 6. I barely slept maybe three- four hours at most. They gave me old uniforms to wear and I showered in the locker rooms. Day and night I poured over the files gleaning everything I could on The Shie Hassaikai. Apparently the compound was fairly new, "Most likely they returned to their original HQ, I'll start there tomorrow." I hear the door chime open, it was the chief.

"Sorry to interrupt your… work son, but I have a hard question for you."

"The funeral?" He nods, "Chief, I …"

"Its already been arranged, will you do the eulogy or do you have someone in mind?" I shake my head no, I couldn't not yet anyways.

"Chief you have done so much for me I couldn't." He raises his hand.

"It would be my honor."

"Thank you chief, really thank you." I hug him, "I have what I need." He nods as I walk out of the room and to the locker room.

I see my mom's locker and dress blues in my size. I put them on, shining the shoes to a mirror level, then place ivory gloves on my hands. I then return to the bull pen to awaiting officers. "I will be brief. Everyone of you honor my mother standing here today. You honor me with your tireless efforts in bringing those responsible to justice. I cannot thank you each and every one of you enough. Justice will be served, I know this to be true, for I see it even now as I stare out at this unit, this precinct, this family. Keep fighting, keep honoring those we have all lost and never forget them in here," I point at my temple, "and protect their legacy in here." I bring my fist to my chest. "Thank you all again." I then walk down and the bull pen separates like The Red Sea. They move to attention with a resounding click saluting me, I reach the end do an about face and return the gesture. I take off my hat turn again and exit the bull pen. I exit the precinct and see the Sargent that took me to see my mother in the hospital. I hug him then get in the car he brought. He asks me where to? I tell him UA, I had a new outfit to break in.

35

There was no time to waste, I had what I needed now it was time for an upgrade. I see Deku and Uraraka and I run towards them, "Where have you been Robles?" I catch my breath. "Easy what's up?" I looked at her then at Deku.

"Follow me." They look at each other and shrug. I lead them back to the support dept.

"Robert why are we here?" Deku was trying to wrap his head around my actions.

"What and ruin the surprise.?" I smile then tap my commlink, "Tsu."

"Ribbit?" I hear her chime in along with someone else.

"Robby!" Mei, Mei, my little mad scientist.

"I'm outside the support dept with Deku and his girlfriend Uraraka."

"WHAT!" Deku and Uraraka scream.

"Get over yourselves and just ship already we all can see it." This sends Deku and Uraraka into fits of muttering. Mei and Tsu laugh on the other end of the commlink.

"On my way." Tsu and Mei say over the commlink. It doesn't take them long to get to us. They laugh at the happy muttering couple as Tsu leaps into my arms.

"Take it you missed me mi amor." She nods happy as can be.

"So what's up Ribbit?" I smile at them, "And why are you dressed so formally?" She examined my clothing, "The uniform looks great on you." She gives a suggestive croak. Mei and the others snap out of it now notice my dress blues as well. "Aw crap!" She croaks, "Did you just come from your mom's funeral?" I shake my head and blink my eyes. Mei and the others gasp as well.

"No, I would have told you guys." I say calming them down, "I have some good intel, by the way I am dressed you can figure out from where."

"Just in time too!" Mei slaps a gold disk on my shoulder and my dress blues are sucked into it, leaving me in my boxers. "Niiiccee." Mei giggles, Tsu is torn between desire and wanting to kill Mei. Uraraka eyes widen as Deku just sighs, he was use to this by now.

"Stop you will only encourage him Ochako." He suddenly regrets his words covering his mouth. Uraraka breaks her gaze and looks at him smiling. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" She shakes her head and draws closer to him. Deku is nervous.

"I don't mind, please say it again." Before Deku can say it Tsu nails Uraraka in the back with her tongue pushing her to kiss him. Both are surprised but don't stop as Deku takes her in his arms.

He breaks the kiss, "Ochako, will you go out with me?" She smiles shaking her head yes.

"Finally!" I applaud them as Mei and Tsu cheer them on! "Cheez why do Japanese people take so got damn long to hook up when there is a mutual attraction, ya'll are worse than a romcom, slice of life, school anime. Dammit!" Mei and Tsu nail me in the ribs, I deserved that. I then tap my shoulder, black titanium weaved fabric and armor shoot out. Its thinner than before, the class 7 Kevlar is still there but seems lighter. My gauntlets and boots seem lighter as well but I know Mei. "What is this?"

"Spectre V5.4-Wraith armor." An evil smirk begins in the corner of my mouth. "The crystal turned out to be easier to reconstruct as thin plates than I originally thought, great find." I could tell she wanted me to get her more, with pleasure Mei. "Everything was rebuilt from the ground up, gauntlets, boots, cowl, everything." My new uniform had no cool glowing cooling tubes, instead vents that acted like mini air conditioning units where the connection ports were, "Sorry Robby, I know you liked the tubes, but this was more efficient, the vents use the seams of the plates to redistribute the air throughout the user." I sighed, but the tech was cool, haha, I made a pun. My visor had the four settings as before, normal, thermal, tech, and night vision, and a fifth mode, structure, it basically was a real-time blueprint map of where I was in a given building. I could use my gauntlets to send out a sonar pulse or pull up blueprints if I had them. I also saw a new icon but when I clicked it I only got static.

"You're curious to what that is huh?" I nod, "That's the reason I need Deku and Uraraka." She motioned us to follow her into her lab. She then pulled out a device and hit a button. The floor began to open up and a huge round ball rose to meet us. "Meet Hermes." I looked at her, "No UA doesn't know about this, I've been working on it since my first year. I need it launched into orbit."

"Orbit?" Deku and I said. The girls had sent her some are-you-crazy type looks.

"Uraraka's zero gravity and Deku's whatever his quirk thing is can do it." I start laughing, from a low chuckle to a flat out insane roar.

"You insane, beautiful, creature!" I grab her lifting her into the air, "You mad lass I FREAKING LOVE YOU!" Tsu and the rest look at me as if I snapped, "She made her own freaking satellite!" I continue to spin her then hug her, "Got dammit Hatsume Mei and that beautiful, beautiful big brain of yours!" The revelation finally hits the others as their collective jaws drop. She laughs we glee as I lift her up again then place her on the ground.

"I just need it to get past the stratosphere, the rockets will do the rest." Uraraka smiles in agreement as Deku goes Full Cowlling. She touches Hermes and holds her breath. Deku takes it and runs outside, "ONE FOR ALL…"

"Deku wait." he pauses, "Use 8% first then, at the last minute, give it your all in an instant." Deku smiles.

"ONE FOR ALL FULL COWLLING 8%" He wines up, "Detroit!" Right before he throws he releases 100% "SMASH!" Hermes shoots past the stratosphere as Uraraka releases. The rockets kick in and stop it mid orbit, Mei makes her adjustments setting it into its permanent orbit.

"Hermes is online!" I check the new icon which now has a scepter with wings and a snake around it. "Welcome to the Olympus Database."

"Mei link to the Tokyo Police Database, sending username credentials now." I type a few commands on my gauntlet and leave the rest to Mei. She then merges it with Hermes' data files and becoming a ghost in the machine.

"We now know what they know Spectre." Mei says smugly and proud of herself.

"No Mei, as of right now, till justice has been done, call me Wraith." Deku and the others swallow hard at my declaration. "Thank you all, but now I have work to do."

"Found the layout of the original compound Wraith, uploading relevant data to your HUD now." Mei didn't like the new code name, it didn't feel right for me, the armor yes, just not me.

"Mei." was all I could say.

"You are not alone Roberto." her voice was solemn, "Let me help you, I can be your support, your eyes in the sky." I smile no way she was gonna back down, "Now let's get these bastards!" I look at Tsu, Deku and Uraraka, their faces said it all.

"Fine. I have to check this place out, here Uraraka." I toss an ear bud to her, "Deku and Tsu have one already, be on stand by. You'll know if I'm in danger." I then activate my flight gear and take off.

"One more thing remember my new baby?" Mei says over the commlink.

"Yeah?" I look towards my left arm and it vanishes, my eyes widen, I can still feel it, "Cloaking?"

"Light refraction." Mei was irked.

"So cloaking."I was being a smart ass.

"Light, rrr, fine cloaking." she mutters I thank her as I make my way to The Shie Hassaikai HQ. I land in a near by forest.

"How long does it last and its recharge time?" I can see the outer walls and guards making rounds atop them.

"5 minutes with a 10 minute recharge." Welp, I better use that sparingly, "I modified your darts, you can use them like you normally do or fill them with tranquilizer, poison, or pretty much any substance the Replication Analysis & Weaponization [RAW] has at its disposal." Nice, "Stealth is the name of the game with this armor, so your aftershock ability can only store one level." Lame, "Recharge is 20% faster so ideally if you time it right you can use the ability twice before a cool down is needed." Not so lame. "I'm sure you noticed your flight gear is quiet."I raised an eye brow it was, "Trade secret, your gauntlets have the shock power I know you missed." True. "They also been upgraded with field dampeners, so say you face the complex's living security system, Overwatch, he or she won't know where say- you inject him or her with poison." I swear I heard a sadistic cackle at that last part. "Impact dampeners have been added to the boots so you can land and run silently." I was already running, I shot out my grapnel and zipped on to the wall.

I snuck behind a guard choking him out, gagged him with his own belt , then tossed him over the wall attached to a line. I see another one a few yards ahead of me, took aim and nailed him with a tranqdart. I run towards him, a guard spots me but I tackle him putting my hand to his mouth then slammed his head into a wall. "One last thing, I modified the suit to enhance your strength, its not overpowered, but just enough, to well, knock the average thug out in one go." I figure this out when I bodied the last wall guard in one hit. "Good luck toots."

I flipped on the tech visor and overlapped it with the structure vision. "They don't match." I returned to normal mode, I look down and see a guard walking the inner perimeter. I switch on a burning oni mask along with my voice modulator "Peek-a-boo." The guard looks up in horror, "I SEE YOU!" as I leap down upon him. He shits a brick as he tries to scream but nothing comes out. I engulf him with my cape/wing suit and switch to night vision. He's silently screaming, "Your soul is mine." I make like I am trying to eat him and he blacks out. "He is the building, so that means…" I take one step and activate poison coating on my left gauntlet. Plates that are sharp enough to break skin come down in a flash of purple. I lightly scrape a wall, I see it visibly ripple then return normal. Overwatch, real name unknown, quirk: Overlap. His or her quirk allowed her/him to become a top layer over what ever he/she could touch,no matter its size. This made her/him a living security system to any building, car, etc. With pin point accuracy to any intruders' location within the structure. I see the building become distorted, vomit seems to be spewing from various places suddenly a body falls from the ceiling. Its female and nude, "Nice." I walk towards her and inject her with the antidote with a mild sedative.

I grapnel to the upper rafters of the building and send out a sonar pulse. My structure vision updates the blueprints, then I overlap it with the tech vision. "Huh all have a gun save this one in the complex's center." I see guns moving up and down hallways searching for me. "No internet servers, hell not even a freaking modem."I keep searching, "Seems the only power in the complex is in the center and its a generator attached to medical equipment." The weaponless man steadily taps his foot giving me his silhouette. "I think he's challenging me."

I see a vent and toss several knock out pellets in flooding the floors. The center room has its own separate ventilation system, confirming my suspicions, "That's where I'll find the real Head of The Shie Hassaikai." My cowl covers my face leaving only lenses to see out of, no need for a re-breather now. I hop down and make my way to the center, by now what little guards they had left were out cold.

36

Before me was a door, I could see the man still tapping in my structure vision. His tapping quickened like he could feel me from behind the door. I took a breath then matched his tapping with my knocking on the door. He suddenly stopped as did I, the door slid open, I didn't see any other sources of electricity.

"No I do not have a quirk controlling the door, Roberto Rodrigo Robles." He knew my name, "You are infamous among our family, so do not wrap your brain around finding the answers." He also knew how to speak English and very well with a slight posh and refined tone.

"Alright I can understand that." I looked at him cautiously, noticing three blades, a short tantō on his right hip, a medium tachi, and a long jin tachi on his left hip. He was dressed in a white and black kimono with white pants, his salt and pepper hair was medium length and was wearing traditional white tabi socks with his shins wrapped in red bandages. He was cut muscle wise, light skin tanned by the sun, his eyes were covered with a head ban. "Can you see or are you blind and please be straight forward, this first meeting is cliché enough." He chuckled at that jib.

"I agree, and no I can see, I just honestly wanted to look cool."

"Mission accomplished, can I clap now or would that ruin the moment."

"Too late," his blade stopped as my shield flashed green, "Huh, that unexpected." I didn't flinch, but I nearly shat myself. 'Aftershock Ready.'

"Bro! Not cool." He sheathed his tachi, "Seriously, I didn't…" He reached for his Jin Tachi and I kicked his hand sending the sword back in its hilt. I blast forward and strike him dead in his chest unleashing the aftershock. He took it like a champ only sliding away towards the door he was guarding. His eyes flickered, he wasn't expecting that as he grabs his chest in pain. He then hit a panel on the wall behind him causing the door behind me to shut tight.

"Impressive," said Mr. Samurai. "You are well trained, but you have not learned everything." Right before my eyes, his sword grows into a katana. Could this be his quirk?

I reply, "We'll see." I blast forward, with my rockets, planning to impact him through the wall if I have to, but he suddenly jumps into the air, swinging his sword so fast that my mask could barely detect it. The blade collides to the back of my armor cutting off the jets and sending them sliding off onto the floor. I crash to the front of the room into a large pillar. I lift up my hands preparing to blast him, but he spins around throwing two shuriken, each hitting my gloves and pinning me to the pillar. Odd, he managed to avoid skin.

He prepares to stab me with katana, but I suppress a chuckle knowing that a sword could not pierce, but he stabs perfectly, right between the plates where the armor is weakest, slicing my side.

"What," I ask. "How?" As he pulls out the sword.

Mr. Samurai replies, "My quirk is seeing weakness in everything."

"I have no weakness."

"Oh, you think because you have no quirk that you have no weakness, boy?"

"How did you?"

"I told you, I detect weakness in everything," Mr. Samurai explained. "Including your toys. The only reason you are not dead now is because I wanted to humble. You charge in like some American comic book hero thinking nothing can stop you. Just remember, a man with nothing but a sword beat you and now you die for nothing."

He raised his sword and I whispered, "It's not for nothing, it's for my mother."

Mr. Samurai stopped. "What was that?"

"These bastards killed my mother. I'm here to put an end to their reign of terror."

Mr. Samurai lowered his sword. It turned back into a Jin Tachi. I realized it was a tech-sword, not a quirk. He sheathed it and said, "I see." He turned around and pointed to his neck where there was a tiny circular plate on his neck. "I'm not a part of this gang," he said as he pulled the shuriken out of the pillar, allowing me to fall to the floor. "They use this to keep me as their guard dog. If I let you avenge your loved one, will you vow to set me free?"

"My best friend is an inventor," I reply. "You have my word." I raise my gauntlet and scan the circular plate. I then tap my commlink, "Mei."

"Good, you're not dead." I can her sigh in relief.

"Sending you something." I tap a few commands on the gauntlet and send the data.

"Data received its… Jesus Robby its a bomb!" Mei does not hide her fear in her voice.

I look at him and motion him to walk away, he complies. "Break it down, find a way."

"You got it Robby." I cut the link and look at Mr. Samurai, who nods.

I was breathing hard, Mr. Samurai just looked at me then allowed me to pass. I stepped in and saw the true Head of The Shie Hassaikai laying in a bed in a sort of a coma. I take a picture with my phone and hear a sword unsheathe, "I have a plan that can help us both." I turned around and faced him, "Will you trust me?" His face was that of a stone cold killer, "Please if it wo…does not work, well you know where to find me." He smirks then sheathes his sword. He hits a panel and the guards that were neutralized flooded the room. They pull out their firearms but Mr. Samurai steps forward.

"Let him pass unharmed." They go to attention then form two rows letting me pass between them. "One shot, Roberto." at my name I hear them give a collective growl. I gather up my flight gear and sigh. Mei was not going to like this. "My sword just disconnected them Robles." He takes them in his hands and reattaches them. I hear a few whirls and clicks before they seal in place. I make it outside and see Overwatch standing in front of me clothed, her face was exposed revealing, long purple hair. Was she blushing?

"YOU! YOU! YOU!" She was fuming, her gold eyes shooting daggers at me, she wasn't tall by no means, just a bit taller than Tsu and a bit more cut as well. Her skin was pale like a porcelain doll. She wasn't bad looking by no means, and the simple grey pant suit she was wearing complimented her figure nicely.

"Poisoned you, yes." I respond, but she shakes her head.

"I CAN NEVER GET MARRIED NOW!" her voice was not high, nor was it deep, but somewhere in between, as if she was the badass antihero in a shonen anime.

"Seriously!" I had no time for this stupid cliché.

"Take responsibility you asshole!" I look at her like she lost her damn mind, what the hell did she think this was? The Edo Era?

"I just saw you naked, big whoop, nothing I ha….have not seen." She covers herself, "Lady please, whatever you think happened di.. did not happen." Now she looked like I offended her. "Seriously what the hell do you take me for, you know what bye." I pushed past her and took off I could hear her cussing me out as I flew into the night.

I entered my dorm through my window, I tapped my right shoulder three times, my dress blues shot out onto my bed, I grabbed a hanger and then put them away. My body ached, Mr. Samurai did a number on me, however he was an honorable opponent. I had to yield, this man was my better, he humbled me and I was grateful for it. I grabbed a towel from my closet where I hung my dress blues. Buried my face in it and took a deep breath, peppermint, then made my way to the showers. It was after midnight now as I soaked in the tub. I was alone, I needed this as I dipped a wash cloth in the hot water then placed it over my face. There silently I began to cry, I was trying to hold back the tears but they just came. "Madré mía."

The next day I could not remember when I got back to my room. I started to put on some clothes, suddenly I stopped, "What time is it?" I checked my mobile and my eyes widened "CRAP!" I slept through my first and second classes, crap, crap, crap, crap! I arrived late to my third class, business management. I had decided that if I was going to start my own hero agency I should learn how to run a business. The class ran longer than usual, and some of my fellow classmates gave me their notes to copy. The bell rang for lunch, then for my next class from there I kind of dazed through my last class. My mind was going through how I was going to pull my plan off.

By and bye I ended up in my homeroom class, I saw Aizawa sensei asleep in the corner. I kicked the bottom of his bag, "Gusano, avanté." He looked up at me then flipped over, "Really sensei."

"School is done for the day, Robles." He said sleepily.

"Fine, Erasure Head, get up." He continued to ignore me.

"Beat it." I pull out my mobile, crouch down and place it in front of him, "What the hell?" That got his attention, he flipped towards me and then noticed my bruises, "Well you've been busy."

"Yeah infiltrating The Shie Hassaikai HQ does that." Now he looked at me like I lost my damn mind. He then slapped me upside my head, "What the hell?" He smacked me again, "One more ti.." He slapped me again, slapped him back, then he punched me. For the next fifteen minutes, we trade blows and spar.

"DO YOU HAVE A DEATH WISH OR SOMETHING ROBLES!" The sparring ended in a draw and both of us breathed hard. Not many could go toe to toe with my sensei, "Seriously Roberto." His face was now that of concern, "I know…"

"Stop sensei, you do not, you really do. Not." He then bowed his head, "Its been a week and there isn't heads or tails of them."

"So you think you should just walk into The Shie Hassaikai HQ, take out a bunch of lowlifes, and will the answers into existence, are you really that stupid?" He was more scared that I pulled this stunt off than pissed.

"I got the pic and his status didn't I?" I barked back.

"That's not the point Roberto!" He growled in response.

"Then what is Shota Aizawa?" I never said his full name out loud like that before, "They are all responsible for her death, I am." I looked away, "I watched that monster kill the only mother I ever knew, I put him down yes, but I have this, this…"

"Wrath that cannot be quelled, burning up everything in its wake?" He looked at me placing his hand on my shoulders, "You are not responsible for her death kid." I clenched my fist, "She died fulfilling her duties as an officer of the law, you can do everything right, by the book and to the letter, and the fact is you'll still lose sometimes. Sometimes small, sometimes at the cost of your own life."

"I have to make this right, or I'll." I was fighting back my grief with everything I had, keeping it at bay till I could finally put this thing to rest.

"Lose her again?" I look up at him tears running down my face, "Is that why you changed your name, Wraith." He looked at me and then pointed to his ear, Mei, you sneaky snake, "Good play on words, Rob.."

"I think we are past using last names." This was the man I looked up to since I was 13.

"Not during class, Roberto. Don't do this again." I tighten my neck and look away, "Got dammit, Roberto."

"I have a plan."I begin, his eyes going wild.

"No." His irises seem to shrink as if he was going mad.

"However it's a bit quid pro quo." I heard his knuckles crack.

"Son of a…." He was getting furious.

"Hear me out, it will prove to be highly rewarding for us." His eyes suddenly narrowed, he was not liking what I was serving.

"Us?" I shake my head yes rapidly.

"Well you, Deku, Bakagō, and Tenya." If I could get him to back me the rest would be easy as pie.

"This has to do with the photo doesn't it?" I tighten my neck again. "Oh, this has to be rich." I then tell him my plan to use Eri to revive The Head of Shie Hassaikai, press him for information. Aizawa would serve to cancel Eri's quirk before she can do anyone or herself any harm. Deku, Bakagō, and Tenya will serve as backup with Tenya getting Eri the hell outta there if it all goes south. Deku, Bakagō, and myself can handle the guards. The only one we really would have to worry about will be Mr. Samurai.

"You really see us all as pawns in your little game of chess." He crossed his arms, believing every word he said.

"Deku and Bakagō are pawns, Tenya is a bishop."My response seemed sarcastic, which only infuriated Aizawa again.

"Shut up now." I could see the red vessels in the whites of his eyes almost pulse.

"You, my dear Sensei." I give him my best bow, "Are my queen."

"I hate you." it was flat and emotionless.

"Aww love you to Mr. Aizawa." I blew him a kiss, he then smacks me, I deserve that.

"You said quid pro quo." I guess he wanted me to continue.

"I did, Eri is our target's granddaughter." He crossed his arms and stared at me with amusement.

"So this is a suicide mission." again, flat and emotionless.

"Big risk makes for even bigger rewards." I point out and now seemed to be giving him a headache.

"You are insane." His eyes narrow, "You would risk everyone's life, force a little girl…"

"Do you see me a monster?" I look at him like he lost his mind, "I would never do that."

"Show that little girl that photo and you will manipulate her to." Aizawa could not believe what he was hearing.

"No, I will explain to her the importance of this mission, but not force her against her will." Arguing would not get us anywhere, this was the most direct approach. It was not the most pleasant, and probably not the most ethical, but we were running out of time.

"Sounds like manipulation with extra steps." Aizawa was still not budging.

"No, if I cannot do it this way I will find another way, this." It would take more time, time that I could not afford to waste.

"Is just easier." He just shook his head.

"Efficient." my voice is like a steel trap, honestly I knew this will leave a bad taste in everyone's mouth. However, it was the quickest way to get what I need.

"Cold." We debate further but he sees my point, hates it, but sees it.

I approached Bakagō with my idea, he had no qualms about it, Tenya took some convincing thought. Deku decked me, and we ended up fighting for several hours. Literally fighting, not arguing, but long, drawn out, fists flying, knocking each other block off. Deku could not believe what the hell I was purposing. "Defeat me and we'll find another way." Deku eyes widened, he felt betrayed, "Midoryia, sometimes you have to get your hands dirty."

"AT WHAT COST ROBERTO!" his eyes teared up as he engaged me, "WHAT MAKES YOU ANY BETTER THAN CHISKAI KAI?" At that name, I dodged and nailed a nerve bundle in his side taking him down. "DON'T DO THIS!"

"I don't want to Deku, I will not force her, not as Kai did." Deku rose up his right arm was dead. He charged me and I parried a jab, then nailed another bundle in his left deltoid, he dropped to his knees. Both of us had tears in our eyes, "She will not be taken, you will make sure of that along with everyone else."

"What have you become, where is my friend?" He jumps forward but I bring him down with a front kick and pin him to the ground. "You are not him, Roberto would never let it come down to this, he would find another way."

"I'm sorry my friend, the trail has gone cold." This was killing me, but I had tunnel vision with only my prime objective ahead of me.

"Roberto, are you even human?" Deku was pleading to my humanity, but I had closed it off. I had to if I wanted to complete my mission.

"It's because I am human." was my only response, I could not tell you if it was a lie or not.

"No, you are blinded by sorrow, and given into the vengeful creature birthed from it." His eyes burned, what he saw looking down on him frightened him.

"A wraith." As I replied he looked away in submission.

"I'll do it." he was crying sorrowful tears, "You are not my friend Wraith." His words destroyed me as I stood over him, looking down on him with emotionless eyes.

"So be it." I released him as Bakagō and Tenya helped him up. Surprisingly Bakagō did something completely out of character for him, he embraced Deku and whispered something in his ear. He then looked at me his eyes haunted me, as I turned away.

The next day was the most horrible day of my life. I went through with my plan, and just like Aizawa said. I thought I could stomach my own actions, what I'd done. I could hear my mother screaming at me, telling me how I dishonored her memory. Eri agreed.

I played on this little girl's want and need to help her grandfather, what have I done? I could not look at the others in the room, I wanted to vomit. I excused myself from the room, I went down the hallway into a bathroom. I then expelled all of my stomach's contents into the toilet. I rinsed my mouth out in the sink, as I looked up into the mirror I punched it distorting the reflective metal and my image. Bakagō came in.

"Don't like what you see do you?" I did not respond. "You made a choice, now you have to live with that guilt and all." I took a breath. "Not all aspects of being a hero are easy or pleasant to look at. Did you make the right choice, no, not really, so live with it."

"I forced a little girl…" He punched me knocking me into a wall.

"You gave her, for the first time in her life a choice Robles." He got in close, "Don't misinterpret me, I do not condone what you did, but you felt it was the most efficient route."

"Did I?" My self-doubt only infuriated him and he punched me again.

"You just got hurt, she's been hurting, enslaved to a mad man, treated no better than a rat in a lab." I rose up, "You, Deku, Lemillion, rescued her from a life filled with more dehumanizing bullshit than anyone should endure. It's amazing that she can even still speak, much less retain the humanity she has." He moves to strike but I block, "I cannot even begin to imagine what you went through, seeing your mother killed right in front of your eyes. So I ask. How far are you willing to go?"

"As needed."

37

I met up with my team along with Eri just outside the road that lead to The Shie Hassaikai HQ. I told them most likely we would not encounter resistance, but if we did show them no mercy. I wasn't here to play games, be heroic, or some other non-sense, I was here to get the information I needed one way or another. I felt a tug on my hand, it was Eri. "What if they take me?" I looked down then knelt to her eye level.

"That will not happen." I gently took her shoulders and turned her around. "You are surrounded by the best." Her eyes widened, "None of us will dare let that happen. Each one of these men will rip, crush, and blow away all who would be foolish enough to pull such a thing." My team clenched a fist and grunted in agreement. "I won't let them." She seemed to take comfort in my words. Aizawa took Eri placing her in the side cart of his motorcycle, I took to the air along with Bakagō. Deku started to glow and spark then suddenly disappeared, Tenya ran into the forest with blazing speed.

I could hear Aizawa's bike scream up the road, Bakagō and I play escort from the air. The road was calm, I knew they saw us coming but we made it to the front gates. Deku reappeared as we touched down, as Aizawa's bike came to a halt. We all surrounded it and waited, tensions were high then we saw a row of guards pop up on the wall weapons drawn. "I recommend you stand down and get Mr. Samurai here."

"How ab…" Tenya blasted through savagely taking down all but one of the guards. He grabbed the remaining guard's weapon and tossed it down to me. I caught it and placed it in my leg storage.

"Tell Mr. Samurai, I am waiting." Tenya gestured with his head and the guard went to relay the message. "Great job Ingenium, now make yourself scarce." He did not say a word, just nodded, and ran off. Aizawa eyed me, he wasn't taking charge, he was letting me take the lead. The gates opened, Eri was about to take her helmet off but Aizawa motioned for her not to.

We walked past several yakuza soldiers all dressed in the finest black suits, it was so cliché. I rolled my eyes as we walked into the complex where we were met by Overwatch who just seemed to come out of the wall. "This way Wraith." She did not acknowledge the others just motioned them to follow. We were led into the center of the complex, Eri spotted him, Mr. Samurai, she pulled off her helmet and broke rank! "UNCLE ROC!" I stopped dead in my tracks at his name, Aizawa ran ahead of me as Roc pulled Eri behind him. He was about to strike when Aizawa cancel his quirk. Roc instantly grabbed his head falling to his knees in pain. The cancellation was so sudden it sort of gave Roc a brain freeze. I snap out of it and charge only for Eri to step in front of him. "Please don't hurt him." I stand down and she then returns to my side.

"So you are him." I said directly, he looks at me, the brain freeze gone.

"What do you mean?" He was confused, then shrugged.

"Later, let us in." he nods as Aizawa releases him then puts eye drops in. The doors open to our target. Eri sees him and starts to cry, "Eri calm down see he is alive." I comfort her, "Eri you want to save him right?" She shakes her head yes through tears. "Now listen to me." I say as softly as I can, "Close your eyes little one." She does so, "Do you believe you can save him?"

"Yes."

"You are brave little one, the strongest girl I have ever met." I see her smile, "Yes good, Eri you are the most powerful person out of all of us here." Her breathing slows, "That's it Eri. Eri do you know where you are?"

"Home with…" I see a tear.

"Grandpa is alive you know that right Eri?" She nods, "Good, he needs your help, call out to him." I see her horn glow as she says his name, "Eri you are safe, can I touch you?" I see her nod, "Do you know who I am Eri?"

"Robertt, Spectre, the man who helped save me."

"Exactly, I am here to help you save your Grandpa." I touch her shoulders, I feel warm but it goes away. "Very good Eri, I need you to picture your Grandpa and your happiest moment with him then take my hand." I see her smiling bigger and she takes my hand. "Do you see him, ignore everything else?" She nods, "Eri hold on to that memory with your Grandpa, hold on to it with everything you have." I place her hand on her Grandpa. He glows and suddenly has black hair and seems to have returned to his early 50s. His eyes open and he sees Eri, I lift my hand and tell him not to speak. "Eri, it's okay now, he's safe you can release that memory." I see her horn shrink and stop glowing. "Eri do you still know who I am?"

"Spectre."

"I have a surprise for you but you have to calm down first." I see her breathing normally. "Eri you are an amazing girl, open your eyes." She does and sees her Grandpa she runs into his arms. He lifts her up then hugs her tightly. "Good job Eri."

"Give Eri a moment." I look at Aizawa and Roc gesturing them to back up a bit. I join them and watch this happy reunion unfold. I didn't see the man who lead this vile yakuza organization, The Shie Hassaikai, the ones who spawned the monster Overhaul. No, at this moment I only saw a grandfather who was finally reunited with his beloved grandchild. If I wasn't so hellbent on dismembering them, The Shie Hassaikai, I would have called this a day, almost. After thirty minutes or so this grandfather caught my gaze. He hugged his granddaughter tightly then told her to go to Aizawa. She obeys and they exit the inner room, he motions to Roc and he enters standing behind me. Aizawa looks at me and I shake my head no, Eri was the most important one to protect, not me. The door behind us closed and now it was just the three of us in the room.

"I don't know if you are extremely brave or extremely stupid." His eyes were stern, like two silver bullets that could bring down even the mightiest of men or heroes. "You are obliviously not here to gain favor from me, I know that was Erasure Head, a hero." He cracked his neck then realized what had happened to him. "My granddaughter has given me a gift, one that I don't deserve." He maintained his steely gaze but I could tell his words were sincere and heavyhearted. "So what is the name of my daughter's savior?"

"Roberto Rodrigo Robles, your monster destroyed everything I held dear,"

"Have you come for revenge?" His eyes were cold like that of a lizard.

"No, I got that when I took down Chisaki Kai." The man's eyes drew back then narrowed, Roc looked at him then nodded in confirmation. "Three of his underlings have gone dark."

"You're not stupid, good, so tell me if you have taken down Chisaki, why do you still pursue?" I raise my gauntlet projecting my nightmare on a holo-screen with full audio, they watch in horror as an officer is suddenly wiped off the face of the Earth. Roc is barely holding it together, praying that what he was seeing was not true.

"Your monster took her from me." I was infuriated as I pulled down my gauntlet, "The only mother I have ever known." Now I was inches from his face, my eyes piercing his, "Her name was Officer Zeniya, Phavion" at her name I snapped my fingers, the circular bomb attached to Roc's neck shorted out then dropped to the floor. Roc didn't even feel the burn as he grabbed his tachi drawing the blade. The Head of The Shie Hassaikai turned pale, he had not trapped me, he trapped himself.

"Roc stop!" He suddenly halted his attack, "He's not yours."

"Phavion." He whispered, "I'm so sorry." He dropped his weapon. Shie Hassaikai's Boss was at a loss, he looked at the dropped Tachi then went for it. I fired my gauntlet snatching it away. He simply knelt there defeated.

"You are not going to be taking the easy way out." He looked at me as I put the tachi into another compartment in my belt. I then walked over to him and got to his eye level. "Everything." His eyes met mine, raising my gauntlet and opening up an encrypted vpn browser. "Where they could be hiding, people that could be housing them, names, places, accounts, everything." His eyes suddenly changed, his demeanor transformed, like a quiet peace flooded him.

"Are you sure about this Mr. Robles?" I was trying to read him, "You might find out more than you want to know." He wasn't afraid anymore, "I carry with me a great burden, the knowledge I alone know would very much break the average person." Suddenly he looked like he was assessing me, the steel in his eyes returned and he got up, me following his actions. "You are strong young man, I see a fire in you that I only witnessed in myself."

"We are nothing alike." I said it like a curse.

"On the contrary, we are, it's just you are the other side of the coin." He smiled, "You have no quirk, just like me, from your actions and strategy when you mentioned your mom and released Roc over there. You must have been raised on the streets- no- foster system, just like me. A keen mind of that of a seasoned tactician or in our case- a survivor of a system that systematically breaks us down to our bare parts." I breathed deeply, "What I would have given to have met you before Chisaki." At the monster's name, my fists clenched and popped, only serving to make him smile more. "Mr. Robles you are me, you did not let that break you, but now you are- broken, I warn you again Roberto Rodrigo Robles are you sure?"

"You are stalling." He laughs at my response then closes the gap between us quicker than I could react.

"You do not understand do you boy?" I snarl at him, he does not react. "I am about to give you The Shie Hassaikai." My eyes narrow as I reply, "I do not want you to take over Mr. Robles, I want you to destroy it."My eyes return to normal, "Yes you heard that correctly Roberto Rodrigo Robles."

"Why."

"Our honor, Chisaki Kai destroyed that along with your dear mother, I could not save my dear Eri, despite my efforts." He looked away then back to me, "You, however, saved her, took down that creature after experiencing something I cannot even begin to fathom." He placed his hand on my shoulder like he was about to pass the torch to another, "The Shie Hassaikai's time has come to a close." I then raise my gauntlet.

"Mei, prepare for incoming credentials." I say after I tapped my ear.

"On it Wraith." She says loud enough for The Shie Hassaikai Boss to hear.

"I thought it was Spectre, from what I heard from Eri."

"It will be once I get them." I reply.

"Last chance young man." He finished typing in the login to a dark website, "This will be a burden you might regret taking."

"Worse if I don't." At my response, he hit enter and walked back to his bed. Mei had her work cut out for her as she received the complete bible on The Shie Hassaikai. She then told me to tap my ear bud four times, I complied.

"Roberto." She had my attention, "I have you on an encrypted line no one else is listening in."

"Should we talk in person?" She sounded serious.

"No, the world probably thinks I am located on Mars or something, we are safe."

"How bad?" I was bracing myself for the worst.

"I got the information on several possible locations, but Roberto there is data in here that reaches into the very infrastructure of our country's government." I could hear her clicking away. Olympus had a progress bar slowly filling up, now I had more intel than that of most government agencies.

"Mei I hate that I have." I suddenly realize what I had done, I had brought her in against her will.

"No, don't say that Roberto, I am more than happy and capable of handling this burden with you. To think this man kept this all to himself? There are no words."

"Suggestions?" I tilted my neck popping it.

"Delete everything and walk away?" she said half sarcastically.

"Not going to lie, that sounds like the most logical action." I mirror her reply we pause a moment.

Mei broke the silence, "No need for capital now, we got more than enough, and clean, every bit of it."

"Don't do anything yet, keep this line open but do not reply till I tell you." I was formulating a plan as quickly as I could.

"Roger." She then went silent and I pulled out the tachi.

I walk over to the former boss, then toss the weapon on his lap. He takes it and unsheathes it, "You have a choice to make, listen before you make it."

"I am already gone. Betrayed everything my organization stands for,"

"Would you also betray her?" I hear a sharp snap as he places the blade in its sheathe. "Has she experienced enough loss? Must she endure more?"

"I failed as a grandfather, I could not protect her."

"So a man of your stature decides to go out like a coward?" He is on me but I remain unfazed. "Failure is the foundation of new beginnings, you failed once, do not continue to do so. She needs you, now more than ever, is The Shie Hassaikai worth the price of destroying her life? We both know what is like to be alone."

"What should I do then disband The Shie Hassaikai and retire in mountains somewhere waiting for an assassin?"

"You forget I own everything now, you think I won't use every resource at my disposal?"

"He will not be alone." Roc finally snapped back to reality, "Chisaki Kai is gone, he took my ex-wife, he will not take anything more from that little girl much less any of these bastards." I look at Roc.

"I am not calling you pops." I cross my arms, "Fucking deadbeat dad." He shakes his head with a chuckle.

"Eri you save me again." He looks at both of us, "Do you have a plan?"

"An ultimatum, retire or be retired." The former boss tosses the tachi back to Roc, then crosses his arms with approval.

38

The doors open and the three us exit the room Eri runs back to her grandfather hugging him tightly. He embraces her closing his eyes as a single tear rolls down his cheek. The second door opens and the room fills with yazkuza soldiers, they see the former boss instantly kneel. "Listen and listen well this is my last command." They look up as he motions me to his side, I nod then take my place. "This young man here returned my granddaughter to me, that is a debt I cannot repay." He looks at me than the confused soldiers, "This is the end of The Shie Hassaikai." A collective gasp resounds, "Times have changed, honor holds no meaning in this new era, our code has weathered the new dawn and now dusk is setting for us."

They look on in horror but know this to be true in their heart of hearts. "Chisaki Kai destroyed everything turning his back on all we held dear, made a mockery of our code, our creed, our very lifestyle in which we live." Several of them gnash their teeth in disgust, "I can see the sunset, it's magnificent, its beauty, glorious." He chokes up as do his loyal men. "Though our name was disgraced, we still live on even in death." I see the soldiers pull out swords, "I do not know what the future holds and it terrifies me with utter joy." He sees his men awaiting the command, "This is not the end men, join me and face it bravely as you all have done in the past." He then motions me to address them.

"Noble words, take them to heart and hide them, keep them safe deep within you." They bow their heads in agreement. "I offer you this, with your boss' blessing." They look up unsure what to make of this, "Retire." They gasp gnarling their teeth at me, "You will be compensated enough to begin anew, however you can never return to Japan. I implore you once more, retire." At my words they were on their feet, Aizawa and Roc leapt in front of me, I snap my fingers, Bakagō and Deku come from behind at the ready.

"Listen to him men."

"Sir!"

"No, take the offer."

"But our families."

"Will continue on living here, you all will not." The soldiers looked at one another, "Take your spouses and children with you. Retire."

"Or what!"

"BE RETIRED!" A soldier breaks rank coming for me gun drawn. Tenya blazes past him scooping up Eri and leaving. The soldier fires unloading a clip, the bullets fall losing their kinetic force. 'Aftershock ready.' I rush him nailing him in the throat, he falls to his knee, I spin kicking him in the back knocking him face down. I raise my leg and come down with an axe kick activating the ability upon impact. The sound of his spine snapping echos throughout, he stops moving, but is alive. I look at the rest of them, "Take the deal." I hear the soldier whimpering, muttering to himself that he cannot move. Everyone in the room is stunned to silence, I hear vomiting in the back. "You have six days to get your affairs in order, the money has already been wired to your accounts." Aizawa, Roc, Bakagō, and Deku stare at me with fear, I was done playing nice to these pieces of human excrement.

"You still believe we are not the same." The former boss was not fazed by my actions, it only affirmed his assessment of me.

"No, I am more." I kneel down and lift the soldier's head, he looks at me like I am the devil himself. "Take this fool with you when you leave." I release his face.

"Mei."

"160,770,750.00 Yen already transferred to each yakuza member, man that didn't even put a dent in our capital."

"Wire half of it to The Former Head of The Shie Hassaikai."

"What!"

"Give him access to a fourth of it, the rest in a trust fund for Eri when she comes of age."

"Done. Anymore? Don't make me cry boss."

"Boss, no we are equal partners."

"Good to know." The comm went silent for a moment "Roberto."

"I had to make a point."

"It was inhuman."

"It's what I had to be to them."

"You permanently and purposely destroyed that man, this is not you." I could hear her voice cracking, "What would Tsu say, what would your…" Her words strike my core, I did not respond, she was right.

"Mei."

"Roberto, do not go down this path, save your humanity before it's too late or you will lose it all."I hear her crying, "Including me." My heart drops, I could not lose her. "Anger is justifiable, but this, this is not. You have become wrath. Roberto, you are becoming him." She did not say his name, but I knew who she was referring to. "What purpose would you serve? Everything, avenging her, bringing down The Shie Hassaikai, finding all who were responsible." She was reading me the riot act, "Your mother's death isn't just linked to Chisaki, he was just the bullet, I know the person who pulled the trigger." My eyes widen, I tried to access Olympus but was denied. "From now on I will give you the information you need, or it will disappear with me." My suit then locked up and shocked me in place. "This is my ultimatum, Roberto." She shocked me again, "If you dare come after me I will bring you a war you cannot and will not win." She shocked me again, "You're a brilliant tactician, but you are no more than a simple troglodyte in comparison to me."

She had me, I knew that I had no chance against her. My allies would not take my side, how could I blame them? I had no choice, "I surrender, senpai." I heard her sob at my words. Mei viewed me as an equal, but she had to do this. "I'm sorry Hatsume." She was breaking down now, I had no hidden motive, not with her. She brought me back, pulling me from the abyss with every tear. She was… is my best friend, she had my back willing to go to hell and back for me or to get me. I broke down crying, how could I have hurt her like that. "I am… disgusting, senpai."

"Roberto."She knew what she had to do. Limiting my access, hurt her, but she knew what I would be capable of if she didn't. "I will follow you to the ends of the Earth, but."

"You have to save me from myself." I closed my tear-filled eyes, "Take the lead on this Mei." I was not going to let the abyss take me, I had failed my mission. This was why officers were told to stay away from cases that were personal. I had to trust my closest, most powerful ally and cast aside my pride. We had the information now, the power to find those responsible. Suddenly I could move again, she released the lock.

"Just trust in me Roberto, our goals are aligned." She then sent me the dossier on the location of Katsukame Rikiya. "He's the greatest flight risk, and the others I am still working on." I acknowledged, "Roberto, you are not alone, but you fucked up, badly." I knew what she was telling me to do.

I saw Aizawa, Roc, Bakagō, and Deku still standing there. I walked to them then humbled myself. I kneel down then bow my face to the ground, "I have been unbecoming as a student, a friend, and a hero." I could not face them, "I have let my emotions dictate my actions, instead of patience, stubbornness, rather than humility, wrath. Please forgive me." I felt something strike my back, I look up and Aizawa has a kendo stick in his hand. Another strike, my back is on fire but I take it. Four more strikes and I am laid out. Two more and I pass out. I awaken to three more strikes and pass out again. I awaken again and I cannot move, everyone is gone save Roc.

"It's midnight, your friends are gone." He takes a sip of sake. "Do not speak, listen." I could not even if I tried. "The girl, Mei, was crying with each blow Erasure Head gave you." I groan, "Trust me, kid, do not even try." I give, "I have been The Shie Hassaikai's puppet for a long time." I did not want to hear this, "What you did, was the right choice." My eyes widened, "Your friends would not admit it, especially Erasure, but they knew it too. You saved them, I guess you knew that already." Honestly, that was not true, I had to make an example out of one of them, no that's a lie. I wanted to do it every fiber of my being demanded it.

"Judging by your shaking, I take that back. How can I blame you, despite what you might think, I loved Phavion." I roared as I propped myself up on my forearms, "My past is not pretty and it caught up to me. I was a human trafficker, a pimp." I was on my knee, "Got damn kid. I pimp'd the wrong girl, but was too cocky in my abilities to give two red fucks about The Shie Hassaikai." I was breathing hard, "The girl was the daughter of one of The Shie Hassaikai's underbosses, that underboss was my sensei's son, but by this time he had longed passed." I was on my feet, Roc was impressed, "He found me out, waited til I got out of the game. I was smart like you kid, my record was clean, never left bruises and indoctrinated my product to the point of that I was their very breath." I made my way to him step-by-step, "I was in my second year as a rookie, when I met the light of my life. I thought marriage was a joke until my beloved Phavion." I stopped.

"We were partners for several years, we fell in love and that was that." He had my attention, "That's when this bastard struck, he had been following my turn to the light. Lying in wait, till I became useful to The Shie Hassaikai, the bastard was grooming me to be the perfect inside man. Every bust, every arrest were all apart of his plan." He met me where I was struggling to stand and poured sake in my mouth to drink. It burned but I needed it, "You are one tough son of a…. He blackmailed me and to make sure I complied planted that bomb, to which I am grateful to you for removing." I gave him weak thumbs up. "Phavion found out I was a mole, I still remember her face, the betrayal, my world gone in an instant." I found myself relating to this guy. "I served the better part of 2 years, 2 years waiting for my head to explode." Damn, "Turns out the underboss thought he was hot shit, so our mighty leader snapped his neck like a twig. I was bailed out, till he found out about the bomb and my skills decided to keep me as his personal guard dog."

I hadn't the heart to tell him that the bomb was a dud from the start. "Not a day, a week, a month, or year went by that I stopped loving her. Phavion completed me, as she did you. I understand your rage, a wrath that forcibly compels you to completely burn them all, I have lived with it this whole time." I could see the honesty in his words, his eyes, "I would give anything to go back in time and kill that man, but by the same token, he was not in the wrong for what he did." I motioned for more sake, he complied, "I loved Phavion, so if you wish."

"I'll take it." He chuckled along with me, "For the love of god. Do you have anything to numb these injuries besides sake?"

"He beat your ass even after you passed out."

"Where the fuck did he get a kendo stick?"

"Guilty."

"MOTHER…"

39

I recovered about three days later, and for the first time since her death, I stayed at my mother's home. The house wasn't big by any means, 2 story, 3 bed, 2.5 bath, the master was on the first floor with its own bathroom, the others on the second along with my bathroom. The half bath was attached to the laundry room that lead to the small walled backyard. The home was 1310 sq ft. I tried during my time there to gather my mother's belongings, but I still could not deal. On the fourth day, I called Roc.

"I need your help."

"Lay it on me."

"I've tried but cannot go into her room."

"Did she move?" I gave him the address, "Damn, guess not, on my way."

I hung up then called Tsu.

"Hey beautiful."

"Ribbit."

"I'm sorry."

"For what?" I then caught her up on everything expecting the worse, to my surprise she replied calmly. "You're an asshole doing that to Eri Ribbit."

"Trust me I've been punishing myself for it everyday mi amor."

"As for the yazuka soldier, I agree with Roc." This threw me for a loop I thought she would be horrified. She continued on, "If you didn't those guys would have never let you or everyone live to tell the tale." I then told her what sensei did to me, this also didn't faze her. "Ribbit, he's justified."

"I agree still sucked though."

"I love you, I miss you." Her voice was gentle, it broke my heart, but then again I was longing for her just as bad.

"Well if you want to meet my deadbeat stepdad."

"On my way." She hung up and I shook my head, I truly loved her.

I gathered myself up and took a shower, the hot water soothed my aching back, and before I knew it the doorbell rang. I quickly changed and let Roc in, surprisingly he had brought dinner. Korean BBQ, lots of it.

"Hey kid."

"Deadbeat."

"I'm actually thinking of taking that as my vigilante name." he chuckled, at this point, the name was a term of endearment. I laughed as we set up the table, he noticed the arrangement. "Who's joining us?" He said it with a sly smirk.

"Hopefully my future wife."

"No hope about it Ribbit." We both looked behind us, I smiled and ran towards her. At that moment when I took her in my arms, the dark clouds broke and I could see the light again. I kissed her like I just come back from some unknown war secretly fought.

"She's beautiful Roberto, good job son." Tsu broke the kiss upon hearing his voice. He smiled as he continued, "Hello little lady I am Roc."

"Asui Tsuya, you're handsome." I rolled my eyes, that was my Tsu, not one mince words. I took her hand and led her to the table.

"Deadbeat…" Tsu punched my shoulder.

"Ha, never mind that Ms. Asui, I actually kind of like the name." Tsu looked at him with confusion. He smiled, "If you don't know my relationship with Roberto, wouldn't you think it was kinda cool?" She thought about it for a moment.

"Roc is also a cool name."

"It's also my real name, short for Zeniya Rokurō" Tsu smiles, "Yes I am the ex-husband." There was a moment of silence then we sat down and ate.

"Why are you dressed like you just stepped out of an Edo period samurai movie?" I nearly choked on my BBQ as did Roc.

"To be honest, I like to be comfortable." Tsu already knew he was now ex-yakuza. He laughed and explained further, "Given my skills The Boss, gave me a level of freedom. I took it as an excuse to wear pajamas to work, no body questioned the badass with a sword who is on his knees 'meditating'" the last part Roc made air quotes, and we just lost our shit.

"Were you ever really meditating?" I had to ask.

"Sometimes, but when you are nursing a hangover and have a long jin tachi that you wield with unparalleled skill, everyone tends to leave well the fuck alone." Tsu and I slammed our heads on the table, we were just done. Roc continued to regale us with his smart-witted repertory humor. He was growing on me, he then looked at me, his face turned serious.

"What?" He just shook his head with a smile.

"You know I knew Phavion would be a great mother, you are proof of that." He popped his neck, "Thank you Roberto for giving her that joy." I smiled along with Tsu. He didn't say much after that as he helped clean up the dishes.

All three of us walked to my mother's room, Tsu took my hand and squeezed. This did not feel right for either of us, Roc or me. Roc's and my hand both reached for the door at the same time, our hands naturally retreating making the way for the other. We stood there a moment and looked at each other then Tsu got in between us and opened the door. A flash of rage swept both our faces at her actions, it seemed like disrespect to her memory. It passed as quickly as it came, she had to do it or it would not be done. It was still the same, mom, in truth, was a slob, I saw Roc cry but laugh at the same time, I was right there with him. Honestly, I would end up being the one who cleaned her room, I didn't care though- I loved her very deeply.

"How many times Roberto?" The memories came flooding back to me, "How many times have I told you not to do this?" I remembered how she could not keep a straight face, her acting skills sucked.

"Just once more mom." I wiped away a tear, Roc put his arm over me and I instinctively grabbed his arm. I saw the half-filled bags, she would try but just give up, he grabbed one and I another. Tsu had gloves on and we all cleaned mom's mess to a spotless shine.

"Thanks, kiddo." I heard her say in my mind.

"Love you too mom." I smiled to myself and walk towards her closet and miss stepped knocking a tatami mat out. "What the hell?" Roc and Tsu saw it too, so I removed the mat. There were several files and a thumb drive, I snapped my fingers bringing up my gauntlet, a little panel slid up revealing a usb port. I plugged it in, my holo screen popped up and an autoplay video started to play.

"9 January 2010." It was my mom, we all fell back, Roc just looked on his eyes wide.

"That's the day we settled our divorce."

"I knew about the blackmail by The Shie Hassaikai had on my dear husband." Roc was on his knees, "I wish I could tell him the real reason, but I am on to something big."

"13 March 2010, Roc is gone, last time I saw him he couldn't look me in the eyes. Baby, I wish I could tell you the truth, but I have to free you first." Roc grabbed his neck instinctively as she continued, "Shit happens Roc, I know you are no longer that man. I miss you dearly, but I have reason to suspect how they found out and I cannot even believe where this leads." I look down and see files labeled Precinct 21 Roc and Mom's home base.

"17 April 2010. I spotted Roc, The Shie Hassaikai have him playing body guard to the old man, got damn bastards. I will save you Roc, I'll tell you everything then." Tears rolled down Roc's cheeks.

"She never gave up on me."

"I've dug deeper into this conspiracy, The Shie Hassaikai, that underboss didn't even know how he was being used, today confirmed that Roc was being headhunted. Much worse is that I know who the mole is, rather, moles in the precinct are, they are being run by…" Gun fire is heard in the background, "Shit!" Mom fired back, she yelps and I can see she was shot.

"That explains the scar on her left hip." I mused.

"28 May 2012. I had to put my investigation on hold, that was too close. I think the dept. knows I'm on to something." We saw her pause a moment as a smile comes to her face, "You won't believe this Roc, I'm gonna be a mom. Don't…I forget you really hate contractions, I am sorry. I did not cheat on you but rather I have a foster kid coming soon." I see my mother cry and I shed my own tears, Tsu holds my hand as Roc reaches for the screen. We see her gather herself together, "We talked about this before, then we lost her, then I became a high-risk case." Roc swallowed hard, we were seeing my mother baring herself completely armorless. "He's had it rough, like us, lost his mom at birth, his dad right in front of him, then we both know how the system is. I wish you could meet him, his name is Roberto Rodrigo Robles, I think I have fallen in love for the second time and have been given a second chance to be a mother." Dammit mom, so cliché, I love you too.

"4 July 2014. You won't believe it Roc! My Roberto solved a case no one, least in the whole fucking precinct, couldn't solve! I told that old fool he was special! Now he's going to the academy next week, God I couldn't be more proud!" I released a holo projector and covered my head and cried. Tsu just held me as I let it all out.

"5 July 2014. It's confirmed, The chief is bought, Kiemeri, Ojimia, Naraku, are in it too." I sober up real quick, those where on her team, my sadness turned to rage.

"Roberto, you know them?"

"They were there when mom was murdered." Roc's eyes filled with hatred, "Chief why?"

"Chief turns out to be an illegitimate son of The Head The Shie Hassaikai, he wants into the family business. I have to bring him down, not only for your sake Roc but my… our son's."

"Got dammit now I have to call you pops."

"Just when I have gotten use to being called deadbeat, well son."

"Can you get me a car?"

"I am not teaching you how to hotwire one."

"Ha, learned that early on."

"Mom?"

"Mom."

"15 January 2015. My Roberto graduated today from the academy along with middle school. Our precinct could not be prouder, nor could I. The ceremony was short but intimate, I am scared for our son Roc. The chief is dangerous, he's planning something I know it. Now I have more to worry about, our son wants to be a hero, he's quirkless, but what scares me, even more, is that he might pull it off."

"20 March 2015. Roc he passed! I am amazed, petrified, awestruck, GOD, so many emotions, I'm a happy nervous wreck!" We all start laughing at mom's breakdown. "I have this feeling Roc, our son is going to change history, hell he's making it as we speak! I love him so much if you only knew dear husband." Roc pulled me in for a side hug.

"He's one tuff sonuvabitch, Phavion."

"14 April 2015. I had to bring the rest of my files home, Naraku 'went to the wrong desk.' He didn't find anything and he never will. Roberto came home today, you won't believe who he brought, his hero, I got to meet Erasure Head." Tsu looked at me.

"I kicked his ass and was a disrespectful shit. Plus side I was fanboying all the way home."

"I swear we saw Erasure's highlight reel on repeat after Roberto discovered him. I have to say, he wasn't bad looking, in a sort of goth living dead kinda way." I cringed as she continued. "I made dinner… Roberto did I can't cook for shit, turns out our son, disrespected him, whooped his ass, and proved he wasn't shit. I was expecting expulsion, turns out Roberto impressed him and told him his secret just to destroy his ego." Roc looked at me, he just saw four days ago, Aizawa giving me the business end of a kendo stick of a lifetime. "So, I, while Roberto was cleaning up, I told him, his little secret. He wanted to be his sidekick." I turned pale and it all made sense to me now.

"That bastard."

"He's grooming you, Ribbit"

"HA!"

"He was suppressing a smile, but his eyes gave him away. I then showed him his first superhero notebook." My eyes rolled to the back of my head, Roc hit pause and Tsu jetted out of the room. I was fighting to get back before I knew it they ran to my room. Shit! No! No! No! NO!

"This it? No that's #4." I could not tell who that was.

"NOOOO!" I screamed to the sound of laughter!

"Found it Tsu!" My face went pale.

"Oh. My. God! HE DREW A COSTUME!" I looked at my wrists.

"Rubless, I'm dead!" That was Roc.

"Contraction!" Tsu.

"Fuck you that was worth it!" Roc again.

"Good point, I'll allow it." Would I be truly missed?

They came back soon after they had their fill of my shame, and I wanted to die.

"19 May 2016. I had to put my investigation on hold due to this new quirk steroid drug. However, this might be linked to it, Roc I'm scared, for both of us. Roberto is so headstrong, fearless, with a strong sense of right and wrong. He's also short-tempered, brash, and a bit of an asshole, especially when he knows he's right. It's like looking in a mirror, I guess that's what you dealt with in our marriage. He put the third year in the hospital, from what he told me I get it, the bastard had it coming, still, just because its just doesn't necessarily make him right. He's gonna be a damn tough hero to break, I fear for any villain who acquires his full attention. This case and the link to the chief is going to send him over the edge if he doesn't quell his zeal. I wish you could meet him, you were always better at handling your emotions, the things you could teach him, dear husband."

"Baby, I wish I could right now, but my emotions are not in check with what I know now." Roc was talking to mom I felt the same way.

"21 November 2015. After 6 months of recovery and physical therapy Roberto can go back to school. You think he would be behind, but no, he kept up with his studies, so he didn't lose his PHL. He's a little stiff and the third year fully recovered. I think I just met our new daughter Roc. Asui Tsuya, my Roberto's beloved Tsu. He loves that girl with every fiber of his being." Tsu seemed to blush as I held her near me as mom laughed. "She's so cute, I can tell she loves him just as much back and she smells like peppermint. I finally understand is an obsession with it now, they remind me of us, how we use to be Roc. I am so sorry I made you go through that-but had they discovered everything I now know, I could not risk them hurting you or worse. I love you more now than I did then dear husband and I hope you will eventually find it in your heart to forgive me."

"There was nothing to forgive, I felt like I betrayed you, I love you as I did then and even more now." I looked at pops this was killing him. Mom was doing everything she could to save him, if that was not love I have no idea what is.

"5 January 2016. Roberto joined Officer Toyomitsu's agency, Fat Gum. A while back one of their trainees saved my ass when this whole quirk steroid case first began. Red Riot was his hero name, apparently, I found out later from Roberto he was from his class! I admit I was surprised. I shared Roberto's disappointment a while back though, The Purple Revolution Agency has been missing its founder His Purple Highness, because of this it's pretty much defunct now. He really wanted to work-study at his hero's agency, poor guy. I am glad though he found Toyomitsu though, he'll be good for him."

"1 July 2016. This will be my last log for a while, we are about to engage The Shie Hassaikai. Roberto, I love you, always remember that never let that go. Do as I have always taught you, breath, take in every little detail of your surroundings. A clear picture and a sharp mind win wars, brute force only wins battles. Stay ahead of the curve and you will be fine. Never give up, save just one more, always keep that mindset til you finish. Save those who cannot save themselves, they are priority one, and always remember you are never truly alone especially now. I love you, my dear sweet precious boy, you will change the world, you've already started to. Roc, my dear husband, I will always love you, you are my heart." The messages finished and we were left in tears.

"Pops, do you trust me?" I gathered myself with newfound resolve.

"Hold off on the precinct?" He met me with his own newfound strength.

"Yes, The Boss has kept them in the dark, so long as we hold our arrangement with Eri."

"Yeah, Aizawa was not too fond of that deal."

"Quid pro quo, he knew what he was getting into."

"He's more upset with your actions than the deal, make it right before you go for Katsukame Rikiya." I nod in agreement.

"Leave me the chief, I do not care what you do to the others, but wait till we get these three bastards."

"Agreed, we will bring the roof down atop them all son." We shook on it, Tsu looked at us both we had the same eyes. The eyes that have finalized an action and would not be changed. Focused on what needed to be done, it turned her on.

It did not take take us long after that to gather mom's things boxing them up. Tsu went to the living room and came back with three frames. "Ribbit, mom and dad wanted to give these to you." They were for me to put mom's dress blues in and any other article I deemed special enough to memorialize. I held back my tears and kissed my beloved Tsu, then told her to thank her parents for me. Roc smiled at us then helped me seal her dress blues in the frame. I chose mom's rookie uniform for the second and gave pops the third. He put in his favorite undercover uniform of her, the one in the picture, short shorts, black tank top and her spare dual holsters. He then placed the picture of them in it, mom was dressed in the clothes smoking a cigarette along with him. "Damn she's hot." Tsu said flatly, pops bursts out laughing. He really like her.

Roc left soon after, Tsu stayed over, surprisingly enough her parents were almost as liberal as mom was. "I have a proposal for you."

"Yes."

"You don't even know what it is."

"Don't care it's about us is it not?"

"Yes, can I at least say it?" She nods and I pull out a key, "Move in with me." She took the key and kissed me. "Think your parents would mind?"

"Honestly they told me they were shocked I hadn't yet."

"What?" I did not think it would be that easy.

"Mom and dad aren't dumb, they know we've been intimate, they knew that when you first met them." I took a deep breath, that didn't surprise me, but still made me feel awkward.

"Huh." I mused.

"They have been really worried about you, they keep their distance but."

"They consider me family, I promise I will see them."

"My little brother and sister miss their oni-chan." I smile, I had to admit I missed them too. She smiled at me,"Where's oni chan, is all I hear." We spent the rest of the night, well, not getting much sleep.

The next day I went to see Tsu's parents. After being tackled by the little ones, I was dragged inside the house by them. Strong kids, I adored them and they me, we played video games for a bit. Tsu's parents literally had to pull me away from them, they wanted me all for themselves. I told them we would come back and play but I had something to ask all of them. That seemed to resonate with them.

"You and nee-chan are going to live together?" That was her little brother, he threw me for a loop.

"Only if everyone gives me permission." He smiled at me, I had lunch with Tsu's family. They really did miss me and sympathized with me, I had to admit I felt their genuine love for me.

"So you want to take the next step with my Tsuya?"

"Yes sir, I love her."

"We know that Roberto, so please ask."

"Can she move in with me?" For the first time, I saw her dad smile, followed by everyone else. I received their blessing and I was once again the happiest man alive.

From there, I was contacted by mom's lawyer, I apologized and told them I was requested. They understood, Tsu had the spare key so she told me to go. I tapped my shoulder changing into my hero uniform. The little ones loved it, and I was soon out the door then in the air. I knew mom left me the house, and I was her only beneficiary, when I got there it was pretty much straightforward. Mom left some of her assets to a local foster care charity and the rest to me. After taxes and fees, I was left with a paid-off house due to her life insurance policy. Her funeral arrangements were paid for by the local government since she was KIA. The equivalence of $1,259,439 USD in stock, properties in Okinawa prefecture, and cash. Mom may have been shitty in housework but a Queen Midas with money. I sat there a moment.

"She wanted to make sure money was never an issue for you." I looked at the lawyer with a 'no-shit-Sherlock' expression on my face. I signed and everything was turned over to me.

"I'd like to talk to her accountant at a later date, for now, I won't touch her stock and other non-cash assets." The lawyer agreed to set it up at a time of my choosing. "Anything else, or am I good to go." The lawyer straightened the files and placed them in very expensive leather and armor briefcase. He offered his hand and I shook it then took the briefcase. I thanked him once again and went to her bank. I sat down with a banker for even more paperwork, he was very kind. I saw it was getting close to closing but we concluded our business promptly.

It was close to the evening when I had returned home and placed everything in mom's safe in her room. The lawyer had given me the combination, it was my birthday. Now I was on a building overlooking The Purple Revolution Agency. I knew he would be here, I suddenly dodged a kick only to be knocked off the building. I fired my grapnel and my attacker cut my line. I ignited my flight gear the fired my backup grapnel gun tangling my attacker's legs and pulled sending him on his ass. I dived towards him, he escaped his entrapment and I slammed my fist cracking the roof where he once was.

"You know I had to do it." I finally shouted at him, "We would have been killed." He threw caltrops at me like shurikens, I knocked them away. He then launched his scarf at me, I grab it.

"You don't think I knew that."

"Then why the kendo stick sensei?"

"You took pleasure in your actions." Aizawa's words struck me, he pulled me in I blocked best I could but he gave me a beating. "You let your emotions get the better of you, you're better than that." I snapped out of it and attacked knocking him away with a headbutt. I fired my grapnel caught him and pulled him in, I kicked him in the side, then the stomach, somersaulting sending a kick to his chin, I released him then fired again wrapping him up.

"I admit it I did, I took advantage of the situation." I saw him cut through the line and he was on me in a flash. I did not move as I met with his knife to my throat. My eyes were cold as were his. "So how do I make this right with you sensei?" My eyes went soft, my words sincere, honestly it was killing me, I didn't want to fight him in the first place. Aizawa was different than the other teachers, he was someone more than me, Deku had All Might, I had Erasure Head. I wanted to more than anything to make it right with him, but how?

He put down his knife, I was not going to attack, I refused, "This is really killing you isn't it." A single tear rolled down my cheek, more than he could ever know. He was there for me when I needed him the most. He suffered too in Overhaul's aftermath. When I was able to I went to his room after Mirio. This was my hero, the one I wanted more than anything to be like. To fail him hurt worse than any kendo stick.

"Tell me I'll do it, I don't care what it is sensei." I fell to my knees humbled before him. "Whatever the cost I will pay it."

"Even if it means giving up your one-man crusade?" His words crushed my heart, give up getting justice for my mom? I squeezed my eyes as the tears flowed then forced them open. I could barely see him through my watery eyes.

"If it's your wish, I will." I died there, mom, I failed you. "Poison." Aizawa looked at me confused and ready himself. I pulled my kunai it glowed purple then faded, Aizawa flipped his knife on the back of the blade which was now against his arm. "I'm sorry mom." I flipped the kunai towards myself. Aizawa then realized what I was going to do. His scarf instantly wrapped around my arm, he pulled sending it flying away. I was infuriated but he yanked me to himself, "You fucking bastard!" Suddenly he embraced me, "Let go of me, I did what you asked." My strength left me causing limp, he held me up. It began to rain, so cliché.

"Dear boy, I won't let you go." He saved me from myself, "I never will, that abyss will never have you, so long as I have breath in my body." Aizawa didn't care about what was necessary. He wasn't angry with me, he saw what I was going through. Darkness was consuming me, I was falling into an abyss that would have destroyed me.

"You're such an asshole."

"Takes one to know one kid." He let me go, "You're more than just my student Roberto."

"So you were grooming me." He took a breath, then I showed him the video, "I discovered this when I…" I trailed off.

"I remember that day, but please don't call yourself Rubless." We collectively cringed. "So partners?" He offers his hand and I take it.

40

My first year at UA was coming to an end, I put my work-study on hold. Fat Gum understood and could not blame me, he said for me to heal then we'll pick up where I left off. I stop seeing Midoryia for a while, what I did to Eri, he just could not forgive. At least for right now, I missed him but I respected his decision, Bakagō and Iida remained neutral on the subject but had my back if I needed them. I still attended my ballet club, but at night I would train with Erasure Head as his partner. Aizawa never liked the term sidekick, that was a move not a title. He treated me like an equal that was in training, showing me how to go deeper into investigations. I was learning more each night, he told me about trust and how separate my emotions from the problem. "Save those as fuel to push you beyond your limits, but do not be led by them."

I kept my mother's files from Hermes and Mei, I know she knew about them but never pressed the matter. Those were off-limits to her, I was going to make sure of that. Though I violated our trust I was slowly building it back up, I warned her that I was not stupid. I respected my limits with Hermes, but I knew more about following leads than her. "Troglodyte," I said to myself, the word pissed me off. Mei could indeed bring a war I could not win, but she would lose more than she could ever imagine for the victory.

Hatsume Mei

"Troglodyte." I heard him say this a lot when the commlink was on. Each time it shook me to my core. Roberto could be a very scary man if you crossed him, The Shie Hassaikai did, god has mercy on them for he had none. I still could hear the soldier's spine just snap like a branch breaking from a tree. I hated it, he used my babies to do it, I hated him for it! I hated myself that I wasn't strong enough to take it. Was I naive? A hero has to make tough calls, was this necessary? I hated Roberto for making me doubt myself. I am a scientist first and foremost, a student in the support dept. My babies are to save people, to make the world a better place, have I failed?

Roberto is out there on the front lines, facing monsters like the one who murdered his mom. The Shie Hassaikai had taken everything from him, he was a man with nothing to lose. How could I face a man like that, I am smarter than him by a long shot, but he thinks laterally, which makes him dangerous. He sees the world in 360 degrees, I see a problem and hit it at its center destroying it. He scares me, could I make good on my threat, yes, but at what cost, in the end, there really wouldn't be a victory.

"Troglodyte." It's like a mantra to him, he's turning it into a weapon. Its super effective, critically so. Roberto is Deku without the mumbling delay, his fight with Aizawa sensei, Midnight, Mirio, and even with Overhaul only certifies his tactical intelligence. Any hero, pro or not, can see the advantage to having him on their side. I could come up with a plan, but he would have already made six others to counter it and the talent to switch them in an instant.

I replayed the encounter with the soldier over and over, what scares me the most is- he made the right choice. The Shie Hassaikai soldiers were not just going to stand there and take the bullshit they were force-fed- ESPECIALLY NOT FROM A 16 YEAR OLD HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT! They were all in danger, I knew that, but I saw the way he retired the guy. I saw his eyes in the reflection of his visor, cold, like that of a killer. Aizawa and the others saw it first hand and we all felt it. Its one thing to talk a big game, people can smell bullshit a mile way, however, its something totally different to back it up. Roberto did just that, and that's what terrifies me at night. What's even scarier that it turns me on just as much, what the fuck is wrong with me!

Roberto has always been open and honest with me, he's never lied to me once. He tells you what he wants, no more no less. Most of the people I have encountered have always had hidden agendas, it's why I have trust issues. I don't have those with him, he doesn't judge, even when we first met. He saw me for what I was a genius, he was upfront with what he wanted. I had heard about his reputation, how he challenged Aizawa sensei and won. My latest baby at the time picked up his words to Aizawa sensei and I was floored. It was then I told myself I would help this guy out if he came to me.

Not everyone was as accepting to my eccentricities, and tended to shy away from me or just straight up ignore me. Roberto wasn't put off by this, it excited him. Our friendship was born because of it. When Tsu broke up with him the first time, due to Jirō Kyōka ratting him out I was pissed. He came to me and I took advantage lending him a kind ear. I understood the reasoning, he didn't lie to her, he just was afraid to trust her. I couldn't help myself and he turn me on with his honesty. Right there in that lab, with school and clubs have done for the day, I cashed in my V-card.

It tears me up inside that our friendship has changed, I can see him changing, my best friend. I am still not leaving him, I love him too much for that. I want him to succeed, I want justice for his mom just as much… no that soldier proved that. Roberto, forgive my weakness, I promise I'll be stronger.

End…

We were radio silent the whole way there, a casino just off the pier west of our prefecture. I was in a junk boat not too far from the casino, which was nothing more than a large barge. I looked up and saw my partner on the roof of a shipping building, he already had his goggles on. My mobile vibrated once signaling that Mei had masked our comms. "What do you see Wraith?"

"I count at least twenty, no sign of target…" He seemed to come out of the floor, "Target identified."

"Olympus confirms facial recognition, Katsukame Rikiya." That was Mei with the eye in the sky.

"Roger." Aizawa confirmed, "You have a plan, partner?"

"Can you swim?" I heard him groan, confirming. "You're the one with the quirk boss." My plan was to have Aizawa cancel his quirk from the water. I would then glide over the barge and drop knockout gas taking out his goons. Aizawa would the board the barge hit me with a high caliber round and I would come down and take him out with my aftershock ability. Quick in and out. That. Did. Not. Happen.

The goons were ready for us with masks, one of the soldiers from the HQ tipped them off. The plan went to shit, what was worse, THEY WERE ALL THERE! Katsukame Rikiya held us off while, within minutes, Hōjō Yū and
Rappa Kendō were in the wind. Katsukame gave up as soon as he knew they were safe. He made us look like fools. He looked at me and I could swear, I knew he was smiling behind his plague mask. The bastard even gave up the soldier who tipped them off for good measure. He had no loyalty to The Shie Hassaikai's old boss, to him they forfeited their lives when they turned on Chisaki Kai.

I couldn't even strike this man, no matter how much he completely and utterly pissed me off. "Troglodyte," I said to myself. Erasure Head simply bow his head, he understood my pain.

"Go home Wraith I'll take care of the police."

"Cute name little boy, now go home to mommy." He started to laugh, "Oh wait, The Boss already erased her!"

"FUCK HIM UP WRAITH!" Mei shouted over the com, Aizawa canceled his quirk, I shattered his mask and nose then activated my aftershock shattering all of his upper teeth and maxilla in a spray of crimson. He went down in a heap passing out from the impact.

I then took off when my visor beeped. "You warned them, 3, 2, 1." The clock struck midnight, suddenly bells tolled throughout the prefecture. Mei had highlighted my target, I ignored the rest, a professional courtesy, mercy. I blasted towards my destination, he was moving fast. He was trying to get inside buildings but Mei had locked them all remotely. To say I was livid would be a gross understatement. I saw him highlighted in orange, I could see his pulse was racing. I switched to a demonic mask without horns, but gave the appearance of molten skin burning in the night. He spotted me, he was terrified, I landed, he fell back.

"Run." my voice modulator only enhanced my vengeful wrath, He quickly got up and I gave chase. "I warned you what would happen." He was screaming for help, my voice overpowered his as windows closed and curtains were drawn from buildings. "Gave you plenty of time to get out of Japan." He was begging for his life, "Even gave you a severance pay to retire." I only kept my pace to be just enough to torture him. "Retire or be retired was what I said." I then let out a roar and leapt upon him engulfing him in my wingsuit. "YOU LET THEM KNOW WE WERE COMING!" He screamed for dear life as flames filled the small area. He screamed like he was burning but the flames were just for show. They then cut out and I released him into a dark alley. It reeked of piss, rats, and trash, he turned around only to see a demon. His cries for mercy rang out but no one was coming, all that was heard were the impacts of fresh meat getting hit and bones shattering.

I passed out at home on the couch around 0900 hrs, with the news on the TV with a breaking report, former yazuka soldier hung on a makeshift cross. If that would not do the trick I was going to have more work to do on top of all this.

End Part 6