Strange Man
Akatani didn't waste time, quickly closing the distance between himself and Izuku.
This startled the boy, who lashed out with a quick punch, that was swiftly evaded.
"Sloppy, Midoriya-chan."
"Shut up."
He attempted to make some distance, jumping away from the man, but that idea was shot when Akatani reached forward and grabbed the boy by the collar of his jacket, dragging him closer and lifting him.
He smiled before saying, " Strike one" and tossing the boy into the wall to the side of him.
SLAM!
Izuku's back hit the brick wall so hard that he bounced off of it slightly, with the air knocked out completely out of his lungs.
When he hit the ground, he didn't even have time to breathe.
Instead, he was forced to roll to the side in order to avoid the axe kick that cracked the pavement where his head was.
Holy crap!
"Hahaha! Strike two, Midoriya-chan! Start doing better!"
This guy's really... annoying.
"What do you want from me?"
Woosh!
He had to duck incredibly quickly to avoid the round that sliced through the air above his head.
He hadn't felt danger like this before.
The man was skilled, quick. Nothing like the thugs he'd been fighting before.
No, this man reminded him of Kiryu-san or his uncle.
He couldn't even take time to think, he was running fully on instinct.
He could feel the Heat in his body rising with every strike he dodged, but it wasn't enough.
Maybe I could tire him out? No, this guy's definitely got more skill than Chinpoko-chan and the others.
Woosh!
Could I distract him? With what?
He dodged a punch coming towards his face.
Craaack!
It hit the wall behind him, smashing the area that it hit and spreading spider web cracks all around it.
My god…
"C'mon, Midoriya-chan. Considering who trained you, I expected a better fight than this."
What?
"I definitely expected a better fight… after all, I'm the one who shot Goro Majima."
He... what?
"You… shot Jiji?"
Akatani grinned, "That's right. I'm the man... who shot your uncle."
He raised his hands in a mocking shrug.
"Now, what are you going to do about it?"
Izuku saw red.
This man shot his uncle.
He's the one who shot Jiji.
This monster was going to pay.
In a rage, a crimson haze flooding his sight, Izuku charged straight at the man, poised and coiled for an attack.
Eyes straight ahead he cocked his fist back and punched forward.
Akatani dodged to the side.
"Unf-!"
And was hit by the spinning elbow that lodged itself into his side immediately after.
If he was put off by that, he didn't show it.
No, instead, the grin on his face got wider.
Nastier.
"Now that's the spirit! Show me more, Midoriya-chan!"
With that smile and those words, there seemed to be a wave of… foulness that permeated the air.
He took a step away and reached for the boy's neck slowly.
And Izuku... couldn't move. His body was trembling all over. He shook like a thin branch in the gusts of a harsh storm.
Is this his quirk?
He'd never felt like this before.
He'd been afraid before, but that fear wasn't like this.
No, this fear…
It was the fear of death.
I- I don't wanna die. Kiryu-san, Jiji, Mom, Dad, help… please.
Izuku couldn't even scream out for help, all he could do was tremble and stare as the man's gloved hands reached closer and closer, until…
BZZZZTTT!
Hands mere centimeters from Izuku's throat, Akatani rolled his eyes and pulled away.
Reaching into his pocket and pulling out a phone, he said to Izuku, "Just a second, Midoriya-chan. I have to take this."
Izuku couldn't respond even if he wanted to.
Akatani flipped his phone open, greeting the person on the other side, "Moshi Moshi. What's that? You're already done? Kuso… I was just starting to have some fun. Fine, I'll be right around. Hm?" He turned his eyes to Izuku, who still stood frozen in fear, and a conspiratorial smile curled upon his face while he lifted his finger in a shushing gesture, "No. I haven't caught the kid. Apparently, some of our intel was off. Yeah, I ran into a little punk. I took care of him, but he's not quite who we're looking for."
What?
"Are you doubting me? Oh, you're not? Sure as hell sounds like you are. Listen, be in the damn car and ready to go when I get there. Otherwise, we'll be having a little bit more than words. Bye."
Click!
Huffing and turning to Izuku with an exasperated grin, Akatani said, "Lackeys these days, am I right?"
"..."
"Okay, Midoriya-chan, so here's the deal. I was supposed to have you come with me and we were going to take a little trip. That was the plan. I'm changing that plan, because I was having such a great time before we were interrupted. So, we're gonna play a little game now. Yay!"
He gave a little clap with his cheer.
"Here's how the game's going to work. I" he pointed to himself here, "am going to take something of yours. With me so far?"
"..."
"Good. So you are going to find me. Do it quick enough, we'll have a rematch, and you'll get it back no problem. Well… that's under the assumption that you find it quick enough. Now, the game starts as soon as I leave, can't have you seeing my hiding place, after all. But don't worry, before I go, I'll give you a hint. Listen closely now. A-hem, Meet me at the place where the shogun rests under Hollyhock and Tamaryu."
Shogun? Hollyhock? Tamaryu? What does any of that have to do with anything?
Akatani got up and began to walk away, "So, you've got your clue and your time limit's two days. I'll be taking my leave. Make sure to count to a hundred before you come looking for me. Ja ne, Midoriya-chan."
He turned a corner and he was gone.
And as soon he was, Izuku fell to the ground, gasping for breath.
He wanted to puke.
He wanted to cry.
To cry and puke.
He'd never fought someone with a quirk before.
He hadn't felt helpless in years.
He'd certainly never felt helplessness like that. Kacchan had never been terrifying like that.
He didn't know how long he stayed like that. Only that he needed to get moving.
"Urk-!"
He forced down bile while pulling himself to his feet.
Home. Mom.
He had to get home.
Had to tell his mom about that man.
Had to go somewhere where things made sense again.
With his destination and thoughts all bouncing around in his mind, Izuku began to stumble back home.
Minutes later…
Izuku stopped in front of his apartment building.
There were police cars with red, flashing lights outside. People looking and trying to see what was going on, while being shooed away by the officers on the scene.
Izuku ignored them. He ignored the sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach as well.
He walked forward, past the officers and onlookers and towards the stairs.
As he began to walk up, one of the officers on the scene noticed the young boy and moved to stop him, rushing forward and reaching out to grab him.
"Hey, stop right there!"
Woosh!
When he pulled back, he was surprised to find no one there and the boy already halfway up the stairs.
Izuku just kept moving along.
Up the stairs.
Past Tsukauchi-san's apartment.
Past Dojima-san's.
And right to his.
There stood several police officers and men in suits. One of them was one he recognized.
It was Tsukauchi-san.
He was talking with the other men in suits and it seemed pretty grim.
But why are they here?
More importantly to him…
Where's mom?
He walked in through the door and looked around.
The place was a mess.
Things thrown around, broken, and…
Is that blood?
In several different places Izuku could see it.
Crimson red sanguine, dripping from the counter.
On the wall, falling from a knife embedded in it.
Pooled on the ground, with strands of… long, green hair…
Oh my god…
Izuku could feel the bile creeping up again, he covered his mouth.
He felt someone pulling him back. He let them.
His vision was swimming.
His ears were ringing.
He wasn't in the apartment anymore.
Tsukauchi-san was in front of him.
He was saying something, but Izuku couldn't hear what it was over the ringing.
He opened his mouth, likely to ask him it was he said.
All that came out was vomit.
And then...
Darkness.
Next chapter will likely be shorter, but I'll also be releasing another chapter next week to make up for it.
This is it, boys. We've hit the plot.