I suspect this chapter will be devisive considering what happened last time Vongola went against the League of Villains.
I also may have decided to throw in an odd harmonisation-adjacent concept near the end very last minute, because I thought it worked well in the scenario. There is some basis in canon, but I'm definitely stretching the rules a bit.
All things considered, the boy doesn't look like him.
Then again, his dear Shigaraki doesn't look anything like his grandmother. Such is the way of genetics, and the lucky dip that is the concept of quirks.
From the safety of his room, All for One watches the screens in his room with abject fascination. They'd used contacts to hack into the security cameras in the streets, and have been watching the inhabitants of Takesushi walk to and from school for several days. But All For One's eyes - well, the quirks he's using in place of eyes - are only focused on Sawada Tsunayoshi. Small, unassuming, forgettable – unless you threaten what's his.
In that regard, he reminds him of his brother.
He really is such an unforgettable figure – walking between the tall dark haired youth and the silver haired teen. That one definitely looks like the type the cannon fodder would collect into their own, while the former appears the perfect Japanese school jock. Of course, those descriptions are equally misleading.
And if what he's gleaned from their several days of observation is true, they'll be quick to follow, should Sawada Tsunayoshi be lured under their wing. Though whether that is due to true friendship, or the nature of his quirk, is still to be answered.
All for One strokes where his chin once was. The way Tsunayoshi's quirk works is fascinating – and definitely closer to what his brother's mutated into than his own. Melding each quirk that joins his bloodline so that it appears like one multi-purpose quirk.
And, if his suspicions are correct, can pass the ones he deems unnecessary on to others, creating a group of loyalists to surround him. He's scanned the footage of the restaurant attack a dozen times, and the quirks of his 'siblings' are far too similar in appearance to have been anything but artificially acquired. If he'd suffered from that issue, All For One would never have stayed as underground as he had.
He wonders though – given how Harmonisation works – what would happen if he gave the young Tsunayoshi an additional quirk? Would Harmonisation absorb it into the collective? Or would the forcing of a new quirk turn him into the beginnings of a Nomu? And if he can transfer quirks to others, why hasn't he given one to the younger Sasagawa? Is there a limit on how many he can transfer at a time? Or is there another requirement? Some necessary aspect Kyoko is lacking?"
He does look forward to finding out. While Tomura presses his new 'explosive' project, All for One will spend some with this newfound relative.
On the screens, the trio are walking down a street they prefer to take as a route home. Ideally, they'd prefer to do this when Sawada is alone, but his family is the dictionary definition of 'overprotective,' so they'll settle for only two guards to drop.
He watches at their target tenses first, Gokudera following a moment later. Yamamoto is the last, but his hand is on the bag he carries his sword in before he's even fully stepped back.
Good instincts, even if Tsunayoshi has an upper hand. Too late though, they're already surrounded.
A man on the older side quickly walks past them, tapping the car on his other side without changing his stride.
On the outside, there's no evidence of what he's done, but seconds later, Yamamoto moves, grabbing both his companions and yanking them backwards. It's not quite fast enough, as the car suddenly explodes, throwing debris across the road and blocking their path.
Gokudera, not to All for One's surprise, is the first to recover, lit dynamite in his hand before he's even on his feet. As thorough as his record has been expunged, there's no hiding the instincts of a trained criminal – that one has a story, All for One would bet his organisation on it. He's muttering something, but it's impossible to hear over the background noise.
On the screens, civilians shriek and run away in a mass panic. Gokudera however, scans the streets, trying and failing to find the instigator, only to get distracted by another blast further up, blocking their avenue of escape. The man – whose quirk allows him to blow up anything composed of metal – has already fled out of the area, hiding amongst the screaming crowd. His only job was to keep them pinned – now it's time for the main act, and All for One adjusted the headphones connected to his allies earpieces to listen in.
Dynamite is flying through the air when the duo drop into the blocked street, but a wave of blue flames has the explosive setting off mid air, allowing Dabi and Tomura to saunter up. Both Sawada and Yamamoto are now on their feet, Yamamoto swinging the wooden sword in his hand, shifting to reveal a metal blade (there's a certain broker with fingers in the black market All for One knows would love to get his hands on that piece of work), and Sawada is pulling out a pair of mittens-
The duo quickly move, Dabi releasing another outpouring of blue flames while Tomura runs straight towards their target, hands outstretched. Gokudera is forced to jump out of the way of the fire, Dabi completely focused on him, while Yamamoto grabs Sawada and throws them both out of Tomura's reach. But the hasty retreat causes Sawada to drop one of the strange gloves, and Tomura's hand descends, clenching the mitten tight and letting his quirk shred it to fibres.
The look of horror on Sawada and Yamamoto's face would have All for One smiling if he was still capable of it. As Sawada's flames had only appeared after the older Sasagawa had given him those mittens, and he'd next been seen wearing gloves, suggests they have a similar transformative ability as the sword – and Sawada needs them to use his quirk at it's full power.
Given their faces? It's safe to say that suspicion was 100% accurate.
"Tsuna, stay behind me," Yamamoto says, eyes narrowing as he steps forward. All for One almost feels a shiver even from his safe haven. That's an impressive amount of killing intent to hide from polite society. Tomura and Dabi can clearly feel it, if the narrowed eyes and sharp smiles are anything to go by.
"Takeshi, the quirk rules…" Sawada starts, trailing off.
"I know," Yamamoto says. "But we don't have much choice."
Sawada glances down at his right hand for a moment, staring at the rings adorning two fingers, before pulling on his remaining mitten. Yamamoto's blade starts to glow blue, while his eyes focus entirely on Tomura.
Unfortunately for him, Tomura was not selected to be his opponent in this little event.
Sawada's head snaps up a brief moment before Yamamoto realises the same thing.
"Takeshi! Behind you!"
The teen moves with enviably swiftness, bringing his sword up to match Spinner's, the man grinning as Yamamoto grimaces and steps back. Tomura barely pays them any attention, half stepping out of the way and walking closer to Sawada. He in turn, has gone pale, and has stepped so his back is against the wall. Tomura stops for a brief moment, just as Sawada seems to catch his breath, that fascinating flame appearing on his forehead, and his eyes shifting. All for One hums as he sees the one remaining mitten shift as well, becoming a fingerless glove.
(He really does need to learn where this group got their support items. That is unlike anything he's ever seen, and that's saying something).
The flames also appear on his right hand, but almost instantly extinguish – though from here it's hard to tell if that was intentional.
"Tenth!"
Gokudera's scream is quickly followed by multiple blasts – the bomber throwing dynamite in Dabi's way to keep him back as he runs back towards Sawada. Unsurprising – every report they've filed has shown the teen has tunnel vision when he sees Sawada in any kind of danger. He's also no fool – a man clad in explosives has no chance against a man who can summon fire – his only option is to keep Dabi back, and try to switch opponents before he makes up the distance.
Interesting thing to yell though. Is it a title? Description?
Sawada seems to understand the issue, his own eyes narrowing, and half nodding as uses the one viable hand to move, summoning a burst of flame to move him away from Tomura and closer to Dabi, while Gokudera throws more dynamite Tomura's way.
Tomura however, just starts running towards Gokudera, the explosives going off above and around, while he reaches out with his hands. Gokudera starts grinning.
"You want round 2 asshole?" he yells, reaching out himself and catching Tomura's hands in his own, the red aura already active on his hands.
He's so focused on removing the threat from Sawada, he hasn't realised that doing so leaves his back completely exposed.
Dabi does indeed send flames towards Sawada on his left, but his right hand sends another wall of flame towards Gokudera, who feels the heat long before it arrives – and desperately tries to move. Tomura however, merely clamps down on his hands harder, forcing the two of them to remain in place. Sawada's own eyes widen, and he tries to change course, but with only one glove, he can't control the output and instead ends up tripping and crashing into the ground as the flames hit Gokudera's back.
The flames block the screens, but the scream is agonising even from All for One's position, and he frowns slightly. He'd warned Dabi to make sure to use his flames at a survivable level. They're rather hoping to recruit Gokudera at the end of the day, and that'll be difficult if the teen is nursing third degree burns. He should have realised Dabi's concepts of 'survivable' flames are slightly different from everyone else's.
Then again, perhaps it's less the flames, and more the explosions that follow – the screens clear to reveal that the heat has ignited the hidden dynamite in the bomber's jacket, even as he rips his hand's free to shed it and throw the clothing away before it blows. He doesn't have time to get a safe distance, and gets thrown to the ground much like Sawada and Tomura.
"Fuck...what the hell?" Gokudera mutters, when the sound starts to dim. "They're even taking out their own guys?"
Indeed. Tomura would never survive Gokudera's quirk on top of the flames and the resulting blast. Then again, he was never meant to.
"Gokudera, look!" Sawada shrieks, pointing at Tomura's body, and both gape as the prone form starts to disintegrate, returning to the liquid Twice creates all his duplicates from.
All for One nods in satisfaction. Yes, Gokudera would immediately go to Sawada's aid, and he wouldn't pass up the chance to put Tomura back in his place. Now, most of his weaponry is out of order, and the teen can barely move due to the first degree burns now littering his back and limbs.
And with the destruction of Fake-Tomura, Act 2 can begin.
From his spectators point, Tomura gives a signal to begin the second wave, and Magne slips out from an alley on the other side of the ruined cars from earlier, watching and waiting for Spinner to lure Yamamoto closer. None of them can really confirm how his quirk works, but Spinner's role was never to beat him, just to distract until Gokudera was down. Now the boy is both angry and distracted, and as he steps into Magne's range, she activates her quirk, targeting the swordsman and turning him into a human magnet.
The effects are instant. Yamamoto yelps as he suddenly loses control of his limbs, his body smashing into the car door closest to him.
It's clear he doesn't understand quite what's happened, the focus in his eyes bleeding out for panicked confusion. His body is pinned to the side of the car, while his sword is pressing to his chest. While he no doubt has the strength to fight the pull of the magnetism, succeeding while fighting an opponent is more than he can handle. Spinner isn't even trying – and simply holds one of his blades to the teens neck, making it clear the only thing keeping him letting go and letting the new magnetic attraction cut off his head is his own grip. The teen's eyes are furious, but become panicked as he sets his eyes behind Spinner, where Sawada is running towards them-
- Leaving Gokudera alone and unguarded.
Magne jumps over the wreckage of the car, mostly to keep Sawada distracted, while Tomura and Mr. Compress slip into their makeshift arena from the same direction Dabi and the fake Tomura had. Sawada has only just attempted to punch Magne down, when Mr. Compress reaches the distracted Gokudera, and activates his own quirk.
Yamamoto's scream and Tsuna's look of horror is more than enough distraction for Magne to punch Sawada back to the ground. He rolls – standing with a fist burning intensely, staring first at Spinner and his hostage, and then to Tomura, who is holding the marble that holds his friend tight between two fingers, Mr. Compress watching from his back while Dabi saunters away, hands behind his head and looking bored with the situation.
Force and speed, All for One thinks, was the deciding factor this time. Tomura had gone in lacking the manpower and tactical understanding of the group, and All for One didn't see any reason to hold back on the second attempt. With Yamamoto's tranquil aura and Sawada's general everything , getting them down quick is essential. Knowing that, and knowing exactly what they're going up against, had been key.
With both of his allies neutralised, and one far too close to Tomura's fingers for anyone's comfort, it's clear who won this round, and Sawada's shoulders tense. Given that nobody is attacking, he's realised the point of this beat down.
"What do you want from me?" Sawada asks, eyes locked on Tomura's hand. "I won't hand over Chrome."
"Oh don't worry, she's not as interesting as you are right now," Tomura almost croons. "Our Boss would very much like to meet you. If you come quietly, this little PvP event can end without any more bloodshed."
"You couldn't just ask?" Sawada snaps, anger dripping into his voice, and behind the hand, Tomura grins even wider.
"That didn't work out very well for us last time, now did it?" he says. "So, are you coming willingly? Or do we have to-"
He pauses to place another finger on the marble. "-Do this in hard mode?"
Sawada has reached out instinctively at the move, but forces his arm back down.
"You'll let both Takeshi and Hayato go?" he asks. "If I say yes, you'll leave them alone?"
"Tsuna..." Yamamoto coughs out, looking panicked. Tsuna flinches, but doesn't break eye contact with Tomura.
"Of course," Tomura replies. "Sensei wants to speak to you privately anyway."
Behind him, Dabi scoffs. "Though why we're bothering I don't know. They'll follow eventually."
Nobody reacts to his words.
"Tsuna, don't-"
"Say it again," Sawada orders, ignoring Yamamoto. "Look me in the eyes and promise me you won't hurt him. That if I come willingly, you'll release Hayato from whatever you've done and let both of them go."
"Oh...want it that specific, do you?" Tomura says almost humorously.
"I know when someone's lying to me," Tsuna says, eyes a molten gold. "So say it."
Tomura smiles. One of absolute victory.
"If you come willingly, I have no reason to hurt either of them. Neither myself or any of my companions will touch them once Mr. Compress releases your precious bomber."
Sawada just keeps staring, eyes flitting slightly between the group in front of him. But he soon comes to a decision, the flames dying on his left hand, and the glove returning to a mitten. Behind him, still pinned down by Magne and Spinner, Yamamoto screams his name again, but Sawada doesn't react, standing tall and raising his hands in surrender.
Mr. Compress walks forward, Tomura just a step behind him. Yamamoto is still trying to move, and screams something unintelligible when Sawada disappears, resulting in a marble that Mr. Compress starts to spin between his fingers. Tomura looks at the one held between his own, and Mr. Compress cocks his head.
"You want to take him too?"
"No, we'll leave him be,'' Tomura replies. "I'm a man of my word, and Sensei said not to bother with the support players for now. We'll have our hands full with Bakugo anyway. I'm sure he'll follow willingly enough at a later date."
He then walks over to a nearby sewer cover, uses his spare hand to destroy the manhole, and tosses the marble down the hole before giving his ally a nod. It's clear when Mr. Compress releases his hold, because profanity starts to echo up from below.
To the side, Yamamoto has stopped yelling, but is looking at Tomura like he's ready to rip him apart with his bare hands. Spinner meets Magne's eyes, and while he looks torn about the situation, slams the butt of one of his blades into the back of Yamamoto's head, knocking the teen out before Magne releases her quirk, dropping him to the floor. The two of them then join Tomura, and Mr. Compress tosses him the marble. He keeps it carefully clutched between his thumb and index finger, smiling at the prize.
"Great, got what we came for," Dabi says, strolling up and looking utterly bored with everything. "Can't believe you needed this much manpower for three brats that aren't even hero students."
Tomura rolls his eyes.
"Thank you for the valuable feedback. Now let's get out of here before the heroes decide to show up."
Given that the security cameras suggest that a small lower name hero is indeed seconds out, it's a good call, and the group vanish as Kurogiri's warp gate comes into play. From deep within the building, he can hear yells and commotion, confirming their return, and quickly shuts off the camera screens, and switches them to the camera's within the building.
As he'd requested, Tomura is taking him to a private room, rather than keeping him near Bakugo for now. The marble is dropped onto an enforced chair in the centre of the room, and Mr. Compress releases the quirk, Sawada Tsunayoshi half collapsing into the seat. Before he's got his bearings, the quirk dampening cuffs are clamped on his wrists, and he's staring up at a group of very smug villains.
From his room, All for One stands.
It's time for a family reunion.
He gives the boy a few moments to collect himself, once his group of abductees have left him be. All for One watches him, waiting to see if that flame and eye shift will appear, despite the cuffs, but there appears no change. Sawada merely sits, shivering, and breathing heavily, as if trying to fight off a panic attack.
Very well, he'll put the boy out of his misery.
He signals for Kurogiri, and the boy's head snaps up when the familiar black void appears. Wide eyes get even wider when All for One walks through, scanning his frame up and down in an almost manic fashion.
"Greetings, Sawada Tsunayoshi," he says, raising a hand in something resembling a wave. "You can call me All for One. Do you know the name?"
Sawada's eyes dim. "No. But I can guess. You're the one Mr. Yagi told me about. The dangerous super villain."
All for One huffs a little in amusement. "I'm not so arrogant as to consider myself 'super' – that's the work of heroes."
He was hoping the light conversation would clear the air, but Sawada merely seems to get more tense as All for One walks closer.
"Please relax, Sawada Tsunayoshi. I mean you no harm."
Sawada almost appears to shrink into himself at the words, and laughs nervously.
"He says, to the kid he has chained to a chair."
His hands flex, as if testing the cuffs, but he keeps his eyes low, as if afraid to look at All for One directly. All for One merely walks closer, assessing the boy.
"That is merely to keep manners civil. If you promise to behave, I could happily release you."
Sawada looks up, his wide eyes narrowing slightly, before his shoulders drop.
"You'll know if I lie won't you?" he asks – except it's not really a question. He already knows.
As it happens, he does have a few truth-related quirks in his repertoire, and chuckles at the conclusion.
"I see. Unlike the other aspects, the intuition aspect of your quirk is constantly active. The quirk dampening cuffs merely diminish the capabilities."
Sawada gives a long suffering sigh.
"Look, I don't want any trouble, I swear," he begs. "I'm not who, or what you think I am. Please just let me go."
That gives All for One pause. For all that Sawada is shaking, and looking like a frightened rabbit, his voice is less panicked and more...exasperated? Like this kidnapping is utterly run of the mill and bothersome, but no more so than a dental check up.
As if the only reason he's still here is because it's not polite to leave.
"And exactly who is it, I think you are?" All for One questions, genuinely curious. Sawada sighs again, and looks up, finally facing him head on.
"We're not related," he says, with conviction that almost gives All for One pause. "The similarities in our quirks are nothing but coincidence. If I'd known you existed I would have made sure the quirk was registered as something completely different to avoid all this! I'm not a villain, or an ex-villain or any other title you want to throw at me! I'm just Sawada Tsunayoshi! Nothing more or less!"
All for One stares at the boy, who looks like he's desperate to break eye contact but hanging on like a champ.
"Made sure it was registered as something different?" All for One repeats, a suspicion finally being confirmed. "So, you weren't registered when it first appeared? Whoever taught you about it kept you under wraps."
Sawada Tsunayoshi's face falls, and All for One presses the subject.
"It's impressive, to have an underground organisation exist without me knowing about it," he says. "Especially one that can hide someone like you, and your family line, so well. But I suspect it was intentional. If I knew anyone even distantly related to me had developed a quirk similar to my own, they would have been brought into the fold immediately."
"We're not related," Sawada insists.
"Maybe, maybe not," All for One counters. "It's not impossible for the same quirk to develop in two completely different bloodlines. But we're clearly not that different – we both draw people to us, loyalists to a fault, who can see the flaws of the world."
Ooh, that hit a nerve, if that full body flinch is anything to go by. "Tell me, Tsunayoshi. What exactly were you meant to be, if not a leader of those who don't agree with the path the world has taken?"
Now the boy averts his eyes, and his hands clench.
"Just because that's what everyone expected, doesn't mean that's what I have to be," he whispers. "Nobody ever asked if that's what I wanted. Because what I wanted didn't matter."
He looks up. "You can understand that, right? You're all about defying what people expect of you. Not following the rules, just being your own person. Why can't I have that too? Just...please, let me out of here, and forget I even exist."
The boy in the seat is still shaking, but the conviction in his eyes is on par with All Might at his most infuriating. Years of experience talking, recruiting, and even blackmailing people to his side are telling him this one won't be swayed. This one has been given power that can rival gods – and intends to act like one. To spend a life without choosing a side, selfishly living for himself and no one else.
It's almost admirable, in a warped sort of way. Most people don't realise the world doesn't owe them anything until at least their mid-thirties. Someone has put Sawada Tsunayoshi through his own personal crucible, and unfortunately forged a weapon that can't be used by anyone.
Well, if Sawada Tsunayoshi's greatest wish is to live as a nobody, he can certainly help with that...
"Pity," All for One tells him. "You could have found a home with us. But I can ensure your talents are not squandered."
He lifts a hand, and places it on the teen's spiky locks, gripping tight as the boy tries to shake him off. Deep inside, he summons forth his quirk, reaching out and tugging at Sawada Tsunayoshi's harmonisation. His eyes widen, that intuition clearly realising something is wrong.
"Wait, what are you doing?"
All for One ignores him, letting his quirk seep into the boy, seeking out Harmonisation and luring it into hims-
NO!
Tsunayoshi sucks in a breath through his teeth as All for One yanks his hand back, his quirk shutting off before it can complete the transition. Inwardly, he's reeling, feeling like he'd just yanked his hand away from a mousetrap seconds before it snapped.
Tsunayoshi is squeaking something, feeling just as off, and All for One can only stare at his hand, trying to shake off the effects.
Never, in all his years, has he felt anything quite like it. Not even the handful of times he'd tried to pry One for All loose from its vessel, had his quirk and body reacted in such a way. The second All for One had touched Harmonisation, he'd felt something glorious and terrifying. The more he'd tried to pull Harmonisation in, the further he'd sunk – as if Harmonisation was taking All for One into itself.
The conclusion is obvious. Harmonisation cannot be removed from its holder. And the more he tries, the deeper entangled he'll become, like the boy's so-called 'siblings' – drawn to this boy through the very nature of their gifted quirks.
Sawada Tsunayoshi really does hold the power of a god. A terrifying, powerful god.
Tsunayoshi however, seems oblivious to his realisation, still breathing heavily.
"I don't know what you just tried, but I will get on my knees and beg you not to try it again," he says, eyes almost tearing up. "You make Mukuro look well adjusted. Don't make me responsible for you too."
"Fascinating," All for One half whispers, quickly recovering. "Is that why your 'family' is so loyal? A side effect of giving them part of your quirk?"
Tsunayoshi gives a half hysterical laugh.
"I didn't. Give. Them. Quirks," he says. "I didn't give them anything they didn't give back to me just as much by the end. But that's why you need to let me go."
All for One cocks his head. "Oh?"
Tsunayoshi looks up, smiling slightly.
"I might want to live an ordinary life," he explains. "But they all settled for that to stay with me. They have never been anything but extraordinary, and we're used to taking care of ourselves. They're coming to rescue me."
"Won't they wait for heroes?" All for One asks him. "Like the good little civilians you've been trying to masquerade as? I can't imagine that will go down well, with all the suspicion already on your heads."
Tsunayoshi's smile fades a touch, and he looks away.
"It's not like I want them to throw away everything, but I'm not completely stupid. Before we came here, none of them ever even learned the concept of self restraint. And if it's me at risk?"
He laughs a little. "Trust me, you have no idea what you've unleashed, bringing me here. They'll be motivated to come with everything they have and then some to rescue me. I don't know where we are, but I promise, if you don't set me free? It's not going to exist this time next week."
Tsunayoshi believes it too. In his own, odd way, he's trying to save All for One from some unknown reckoning. Part of him, deep down, almost feels touched.
But All for One did not get where he is by letting teenagers, no matter how powerful, walk all over him. And he's still curious about where Sawada Tsunayoshi came from, and precisely how his quirk works. As determined as he is now, watching his friends fail, and listening to All for One over the next few days, will at least shake his beliefs.
Time is a wonderful balm to rub into even the strongest convictions.
"Thank you for the warning," he says. "I look forward to watching them try."
Tsunayoshi sags in his seat as All for One turns away, signalling for Kurogiri to return him to his own room. He'll give the boy some time alone, before he tries to question him again. Depending on how Tomura fares, perhaps he'll place the two stubborn recruits together, just to see how they react. Seeing a hero student turn might be the kick Tsunayoshi needs.
For now, he needs to prepare for the inevitable arrival of heroes in a few days.
LOV: Attack the restaurant with mooks - get crushed due to lack of planning and numbers on home turf
LOV: Attack with overwhelming manpower, in the street, with a strategy to take out 3 specific targets? No problem.
And to cut off the inevitable question - no, All for One didn't 'harmonise' with Tsuna (no harmonisation in this fic). But by allowing his quirk to get so close to Tsuna's flames, he essentially started to A) wake up his own will into flames, and B) do what Mukuro did, creating a sort of semi-link between them. Since Tsuna has already had to deal with Mukuro via that link, and Byakuran's connection thanks to the Tri-Ni-Settle, his flames took one look at yet another 'criminal-trying-to-destroy-the-world-that-needs-the-support-of-a-well-meaning-sky' and went 'nope, hard pass. This one is NOT on me!'
And of course, the flames can't be removed because they're literally Tsuna's life force. If he'd only tried to remove hyper intuition, he might have succeeded...but also wouldn't be able to use it as he doesn't have flames