Author's Note #1: Kept you waiting, huh? It's been a while. No, I'm not dead. Not now, is a story I've been working on. As some of you might've expected, it's a Kill la Kill crossover with My Hero Academia. As some of you on FFN might not expect, it's not my second crossover, but the third. The second was a Kingdom Hearts crossover - Don't Lose Your Heart - which you can find on spacebattles. As for this story, there's quite a bit to it. So, if you're interested, head on over to spacebattles for forty plus chapters plus interludes, omakes and general nonsense. I'll try to upload five or so chapters a day. Which is a lot. Alright, as for the background, it's My Hero Academia, which means Life Fibers don't exist. Just Quirks. Lots and lots of Quirks. Some Quirks that could (and do) put Life Fibers to shame. Like One for All. You think Senketsu turning Ryuko's skin as hard as steel would allow her tank a California Smash? Unlikely. I'm not going to say much about the plot, but Ryuko's 14 years old at the start of the story. Of course, just because we're not in Kill la Kill doesn't mean nothing familiar happens.


My Bloody Academia


A finger tapped against the metal table, its rhythm breaking the monotonous silence permeating the ten-by ten room. His right sleeve was rolled halfway up his arm. A pen, dark blue ink staining its nose, bounced between his fingers, leaving small dots on the pages strewn in front of him. The clock on the wall, bolted behind steel mesh, ticked relentlessly, seconds evolving into minutes until another quarter of an hour passed.

It was almost midnight.

Twelve hours, yet no close to getting answers.

Another minute passed before Tsumugu Kinagase rubbed the bridge of his nose. He was exhausted. And the tension headache building between his eyes wasn't helping. But slouched across the table, grooved pupils silhouetted against cerulean narrowing and showing no signs of relaxing, was a fourteen-year-old girl. He'd been on the force for ten years. He'd seen far too many crimes. Some nights he couldn't sleep. A lunatic who could shrink objects. An innocent-sounding Quirk? Maybe. Until the bastard tricked eleven people into swallowing knives, including a five-year-old boy. A sociopathic woman who could shatter glass with her voice. A husband who killed his wife by liquefying the ground beneath her feet.

His eyes returned to the portfolio.

Ryuko Matoi.

Third year student at Salty Banks Middle School.

Co-captain of the track and field team.

Last year's Aichi Prefecture's preteen poetry slam winner.

And last but not least, daughter of the late Isshin Matoi, world-renowned expert in Quirks.

With a discontent grumble on his lips, he once more compared the school photograph in the folder to the teenager glaring holes in the wall above his forehead. Weeks on the street hadn't been kind to Ryuko. Navy-blue hair lay matted against dirtied skin. Clothes costing more than his salary were torn. Her eyes were bloodshot. A backpack containing remnants of chocolate and just enough pocket change to last another day.

"Alright, let's start from the beginning."

When was the last time she'd slept?

"October third – you failed to show up for school. October fourth – your principal calls the police."

The bandage on his nose itched.

"This morning, Ichika Suzuki, ninety years old, saw someone sneaking into Seiai Academy. She informed the nearest officer, but by the time they arrived, your fight with Class 2-A had spilled into the academy's courtyard."

Quirks manifested in far too many shapes and sizes. Some were stronger than others. Some were combat-focused while others were more useful in search and rescue operations. Or support. He was certain someone with a higher pay grade made a catalogue. But an entire class of aspiring heroes-to-be overwhelmed by a sleep-deprived middle schooler? That was a little difficult to believe. And yet, "You knocked out ten students, including the class president and homeroom teacher, before Rumi Usagiyama subdued you."

Ryuko's eye twitched, "They started it!"

Tsumugu folded his arms.

Standard police procedure usually involved keeping a minor's name out of the papers. More often than not, eyewitnesses were wrong. Or confused. Or scared. And a teenager would inadvertently be blamed for a villain's actions. But this? This was a public relation's nightmare. And he resisted the urge to sigh. Two broken arms…a fractured scapula…seven broken noses…multiple bruises and concussion. There was no keeping this quiet. Parents were more than likely pressing charges. The chief wanted to know why Professor Matoi's daughter committed several felonies. And the ravenous press was scouring the landscape for information on the 'villain' who assaulted Seiai Academy in broad daylight.

"Alright," the chair shifted underneath his weight, "Why Seiai Academy?"

"Because I wanted to."

Ryuko shifted uncomfortably in her chair, "That good enough?"

"Let me give you two useful pieces of information," he unfolded his arms. He was trained to deal with villains. Not scared children. Because that was what Ryuko Matoi was. Beneath her anger and bloodied knuckles was a scared girl who recently lost her father, "First, I would seriously consider calling a –"

The door opened.

And he walked in.

Less of a person and more of a force of nature with boundless personality, charisma and enough enthusiasm to protect an entire city, All Might stepped into the room with almost an absence of sound. Seven feet of chiseled muscles anything but concealed beneath blue, red and yellow spandex. Yellow hair shining brighter than a summer's day. Pearly white teeth pulled into an infectious smile impossible to ignore. In ninety nine out of a hundred scenarios, the country's finest hero's arrival heralded hope. His appearance onto the scene meant nobody needed to be afraid. That there was no longer any reason to worry.

"Sergeant Kinagase!"

The sheer difference in size between Tsumugu Kinagase and the country's greatest hero was almost obnoxious.

"Forgive me, but I was passing through the neighborhood when I heard about this morning's unfortunate incident," nobody, not even All Might, believed the half-hearted excuse for barging into the room at the dead of night. Ryuko and Tsumugu reacted equally nonplussed, leaving the strongest hero grinning awkwardly, "Am I interrupting something?"

"Yeah, you kinda – "

"Not really," cutting off Ryuko's snark, Tsumugu reflexively reached for the pack of cigarette he'd tossed in the trash months ago, "I was getting ready to file Ryuko Matoi's paperwork."

"That won't be necessary!"

Perfectly equidistant from Sergeant Kinagase and Ryuko, the latter of whom appeared particularly annoyed at his timely arrival, All Might propped a hand on his waist while saluting with the other, "Rest assured – I don't condone young Ryuko's behavior. Vigilantism has no place in our society. No matter how unfair we believe the world to be, laws exist to protect those unable to protect themselves. If we allowed everyone to take matters into their own hands, society would quickly fall apart. That said, it seems Seiai Academy has decided not to press charges."

"What?"

In contrast to Ryuko's disbelief, the number one hero's boisterous voice didn't shift from its reassuring timber, "Surely you told Sergeant Kinagase what happened? No? Well, in that case, allow me," with a smile blinding in its brilliance, All Might did just that, "Yes. A funny thing. Everyone was so gung-ho on throwing the book at Ryuko until someone requisitioned their security footage. A noble request. And one that unraveled the true order of events. Not only did Ryuko not throw the first punch, she refrained from using her Quirk against the students. A significant difference from eye-witness accounts, wouldn't you agree?"

A moment of silence.

"Of course, she trespassed with intent to commit mischief on private property. No ignoring that," the hero shook his head, acting more like a disappointed parent than the symbol of peace, "Which is why she'll perform one hundred hours of community service and write an apology to Seiai Academy."

Ryuko almost choked.

But when All Might looked at her, she swallowed what she really wanted to tell him, "Fine. Whatever."

"Great!"

With another laugh, oblivious to Ryuko's train of thought, the hero attempted to diverge the conversation, "Now then, Ryuko, I think – "

"All Might, there are two things you need to know."

Steel scrapped against concrete like nails on a chalkboard as Tsumugu pushed himself onto his feet, "First, unless I'm mistaken, you're attempting to interfere with an ongoing police investigation."

"Well, actually…"

"Second – " cutting off All Might's defense, he stepped towards the stunned hero, " – you free Saturday? We need a judge for our costume contest. Gang Orca was supposed to do it, but something came up."

"Er…Saturday, you say?"

A dollop of sweat trickled down All Might's grinning visage, "I'll need to consult my schedule. The duties of a hero are never-ending, after all, but I don't see why not."

"Guess I'd better break the news to the chief," Tsumugu shrugged, half-turning towards the door while reaching into his pocket for the cigarettes he no longer smoked. An annoying force of habit, "Oh, right," one last piece of information remained. Something he couldn't ignore no matter how much the symbol of peace wanted him to, "Next time you pull a stunt like this I won't be so lenient."

"You don't need to worry about Ryuko! I'll take full responsibility for her rehabilitation!"

"Alright. I'll send your agency the paperwork," too tired for the hero's enthusiasm, Tsumugu kept walking.

Ryuko waited just long enough for the door to close.

"I didn't need help."

She didn't like silence. Not anymore. She didn't like the sound of blood rushing through her ears or the dull humming that reached every corner and shadow. She hated the feeling of being alone. Chewing her cheek, Ryuko tried glaring at All Might. But she couldn't, instead settling on a grumble. Because he was smiling. Because he was always smiling that familiar smile. Everywhere. When fighting villains. When giving interviews after stopping a bank robbery. It was enough to sap the anger from her heart, "Especially from you."

"Is that so?"

Mischievousness washed over All Might, "I suppose nothing I say will change your mind?"

"Nope."

"Alright, prison it is!"

"I didn't say that!"

A blush quickly spread across Ryuko's cheeks. Not from nervousness. Not entirely. All Might noticed it. He memorized every detail. If his persona were anything like the image everyone saw on television, he'd perhaps chuckle at her embarrassment. Or crack a friendly joke. But there was a time and place for everything. And while his smile remained vibrant, his voice softened, exposing far more vulnerability than one expected from the symbol of peace and justice, "It's a relief knowing you're alright. Everybody was worried when you disappeared."

"What the hell was I supposed to do?"

Ryuko's voice hitched.

"Nobody was doing anything! Not you! Not nobody!"

Memories of standing over a grave. Rain falling down her back. People she knew. Heroes she didn't know. Everybody talking and apologizing without saying anything. Heading home to an empty house. Waking up the next morning. Realizing it hadn't been a bad dream. Going to school like nothing changed. Sitting at her desk. Ignoring everyone trying to say they were sorry for her loss. Going back home. Ignoring the hero outside. Sitting alone in the kitchen. Remembering the blood – so much blood, none of it hers – as she shook her dad.

"That's why I had to do something!"

She'd never forget the villain.

"No matter what it takes, she's gonna pay!"

Blonde hair.

A school uniform.

And laughter like ground glass.

"Your heart is strong, Ryuko," Toshinori's smile never wavered, because he wasn't smiling for himself, but for Ryuko, "Far stronger than most," to smile despite the darkness was one of his teacher's greatest lessons, "No matter what you choose to do, I'm certain your father would be proud," the concrete was cold against his knee. Yet personal discomfort took a backseat, "And while it may sound somewhat cliché," when he spoke, one hand resting on Ryuko's shoulder and his smile genuine, it was not as All Might, but Toshinori Yagi, "There's no shame in asking for help. Even the strongest heroes can't do everything alone."

"Is she out there, tied up?" framing the hypothetical question as anything but hypothetical, Ryuko scoffed when All Might said less than nothing, "Thought so."

"I see…well, I suppose there's no point beating around the bush."

There was a time and place for platitudes. Some people demanded honesty. Others needed false hope so that they could sprint towards the light themselves. Beneath a smile which meant far more in the past, Toshinori recognized the darkness encompassing Ryuko's heart. He'd seen many times. Far too many.

"I seem to recall you shouting that nobody cared about your father," adding a bit of bravado to his voice, Toshinori rubbed his chin while angling his head ten degrees rightward, "An interesting accusation. One I'll have to discuss with Sir Nighteye when he's not working on your father's case. I'm certain he'll find that quite amusing."

"Say what!?"

"I won't lie, Ryuko. It will take time to find this villain," as much as Toshinori wished otherwise, he wasn't lying. Yet that was no excuse to not smile, "But rest assured – when Sir does find her, I'll personally bring her to justice."

"…fine."

It felt weird. Like a bad itch vanishing without being scratched. Ryuko didn't know what to say. Or even to say anything, "But if you're screwing with me, I'll kick your butt!"

She meant every word.

Yet All Might laughed.

"Whatever," scrapping her chair backwards, Ryuko grumbled. She was tired. Hungry. Exhausted. And seriously needed a long shower, "Just, ugh, whatever. Can I go home now?"

"Not yet."

All Might never physically try stopping her.

He didn't need to.

Thump!

What he dropped onto the table did.

"Your father wasn't a hero, but someone doesn't need overdeveloped muscles or heat vision to make a difference," the envelope appeared innocuous, at first glance. A boring shade of beige. A coffee stain on the upper right corner, almost hiding the insignia across the front, "Sometimes all it takes is a good education," Toshinori patted the suspiciously thick stack of pages drawing Ryuko's gaze like a five-car pileup, "Which is why I've taken the liberty of printing you an application for UA!"

"HELL NO!"

Her punches packed quite a bit of power. Those uptight morons at Seiai Academy learned that first-hand. Yet when her knuckles crashed against All Might's abdominal muscles with little more than a soft whump, Ryuko's eyes widened.

And then the pain came.

"Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!"

"The next entrance exam is in February! Plenty of time to finish your community service," as Ryuko nursed her fingers, All Might laughed, "But don't expect special favors. If you truly desire to get into UA, it must be on your own merits."

"LIKE HELL I'M GONNA APPLY TO UA JUST BECAUSE YOU ASKED!"

"That's the spirit, Ryuko! Now time to get you home," turning towards the door, the almost eight-foot-tall mass of muscles, charisma and heroism smirked, "So, hop on and let's go!"

Ryuko's eye twitched.

"…no."

"Come on, I'm faster than the train!"

"I said no!"

"Don't be childish!"

"Don't make me stick my Quirk straight up your – "

When the symbol of peace and justice grabbed her mid-threat, laughed, gathered his bearings and sprinted out of the police station while waving good night to Tsumugu Kinagase, a thought occurred to Ryuko. She was going to kill him. She didn't know how long it would take. Or when it would happen. But she was going to kill him.

Eventually.