A BNHA fanfic.

My Hero Academia/BNHA is owned by Horikoshi-sama and all affiliated Media. I make no profit from playing in their universe.

I tried to stretch this chapter out and make it much longer than I had planned, but I just couldn't get the flow.

**WARNING, THERE IS A SMALL SECTION THAT GETS REALLY DARK. FEEL FREE TO SKIP IT IF YOU LIKE. THERE IS NO GRAPHIC DETAIL**

Constructive Reviews welcome. Flames will be flushed.

)_O_(

CHAPTER 18

Late evening, a private meeting room inside Might Tower…

"Good. It looks like everyone is finally here," Toshinori glanced around the table at the other members of the Top-ten.

"It's been six years since a meeting of the Top-ten has been called. What's so urgent?" Yoroi Musha, the third-ranked hero enquired, filling a mug with black coffee.

"A number of things, actually." Toshinori replied, "First I need to emphasize that what we discuss here tonight must NOT be repeated to anyone else, not even your most trusted sidekicks."

Two of the youngest top-ten, Edgeshot and Best Jeanist sat up a bit straighter, focusing their attention on All Might. It was rare to have a meeting where information was not disseminated to the sidekicks.

"The first thing all of you need to know is that I was not on leave for appendicitis. Some idiots at the agency came up with that excuse and by the time I found out, it was too late to come up with another reason."

"Reason?" the eighth-rank Wash asked.

Toshinori lifted his shirt to show the heavy bandaging beneath. "It will only scare the civilians if we tell them I was nearly killed by the worst villain Japan has ever known."

There were several gasps around the table at that comment and Yoroi Musha spoke up again, "shouldn't he be dead already?"
"I wish that were the case, but he seems to have taken a longevity quirk," Toshinori explained, sipping at his cup of green tea.

Endeavor spoke up, "All Might thought he'd killed him, but his body has been removed from the morgue, so we cannot confirm 100 percent that he is dead."

"That is only part of the issue, though." Toshinori turned his eyes to Wash, "We have to tighten security at all agencies. Either a hero agency has been infiltrated or a hero has been subverted. I am initiating Protocol 7. All agencies in Japan must undertake a thorough investigation of all sidekicks. Pass the word. All agencies have 90 days to complete their investigations."

The clamor that arose from that statement had Toshinori slamming a palm down on the table hard enough to nearly crack it. "Enough. I know that such a thing is unheard of, but we have no other explanation for how I was ambushed."

"Ambushed!?" Jeanist and Edgeshot both exclaimed, jumping to their feet. They dropped abruptly back into their seats at a gesture from All Might.

Crust swore. "How does that tie in with a hero agency being infiltrated?"

"I was called by one of Wash's sidekicks, Lite Bright, to assist in shutting down a turf war in Mukogawa. She informed me Endeavor was on his way, but he informed me he was never notified of anything going down and was, in fact, stuck in China dealing with the Qing Pin fiasco. There was nothing to hint at All-for-One's presence in the area. If it hadn't been for Best Jeanist's timely arrival, I would have died."

The younger pro spoke up. "The only reason I found out about what was going down was because my sister called to tell me about explosions a few blocks from the bar where she worked. I thought it odd that no message had come across the Hero line and went to investigate."

"Lite Bright took a leave of absence shortly before the announcement of your appendicitis. She was supposed to have returned to work last week but no one has seen or heard from her, and she is not answering her phone or emails," Wash responded, scratching the side of his face nervously.

"I will get some of my people investigating her disappearance," Endeavor offered, rubbing the side of his nose. He turned to Edgeshot, "I need you to research a doctor by the name of Daruma Ujiko. He is the person who either removed or authorized the removal of All-for-One's body from the morgue. I want to know who he is, where he is and why he took the body. Was he using it for experiments? Did he turn it over to the HPSC? Is, Buddha-forbid, All-for-One still alive?" He turned to Wash, "I want everything you have on Lite Brite." The washing machine hero nodded.

Edgeshot saluted the number-two hero. "I will get my team on that right away. I will send you a message on a secure line as soon I have any information." With that the meeting closed and the various heroes left to start their tasks.

"Enji, I have reached out to Nezu to see if any of his contacts with the HPSC can confirm the status of All-for-One's body," Toshinori addressed the number-two hero, deflating back to his regular form once the other heroes left. "Before you go, are you aware your youngest son is attending the Hero Hopefuls training sensei is running?"

"Yes, I'm hoping Torino-sensei will help him overcome his phobia of using his left side," Enji replied. "Your daughter is enrolled there too, isn't she?"

"Yes, she is, as is the youngest Iida boy and the Yaoyorozu heiress. How is your search for young Touya going?"

"I don't know if he died in that fire or if he survived. Everything was burnt so bad that if he did die, his body would have been rendered ash. Either way, there has been no trace of him since the incident. I want to hope he is still alive out there somewhere, but in some ways, I also dread the very thought," Enji's words were barely a whisper, thumb stroking the side of the gold wedding ring that would never leave his hand.

"I was sorry to hear about Rei," Toshinori's voice was somber. "I can't imagine how traumatizing that whole incident must have been for you and the children."

"I miss her every day. I've come to believe she would have been happy to know she died saving Shoto." Enji croaked out, trying not to sound weak in front of his superior. He dearly missed his wife, especially now that Fuyumi was a teenager.

)-O-(

Musutafu Prefecture, Tokyo Japan, Yamada-Aizawa residence…

It was late in the evening after Kiku, and Hitoshi had gone to bed that the adults gathered in the kitchen. Toshinori was no longer confined to his wheelchair, but Recovery Girl still monitored him with an eagle-eye as he settled into the kitchen chair, leaning his cane against the cabinet behind him. Sorahiko slid into the seat next to Chiyo and reached for the plate of Taiyaki. Shouta was sipping at a fruit smoothie, glowering at Chiyo who had denied him another espresso. Hizashi slid into the seat next to him and draped an arm around his shoulders.

"I want to start this meeting with an idea Torino, and I had," Toshinori stated, sipping at his steaming green tea. "Chiyo has confirmed that while I am healing, it will probably be another four months before it is safe for me to do any hero work. That being said, I plan to do a few appearances and school visits as a way to confirm All Might is still here. We are thinking of implementing a plan for training the next generation."

"Aren't we already training the kids?" Yamada asked taking a sip of Shouta's smoothie.

"I wanted to take it beyond that, give them an extra edge. Given my injuries, it is probable I will have to retire within the next five years; less if I push myself too hard. We need them ready to step into my shoes as soon when that happens. Hizashi, Shouta, keep an eye out for any potential candidates to promote." Toshinori scratched his head and leaned forward, "what I am about to tell you CANNOT leave this room," He whispered. "Todoroki went to the hospital to confirm All-for-One's death. His body has disappeared from the morgue, and it appears to have been checked out by a Doctor Daruma Ujiko. Todoroki-san investigated the man, and it turns out he was the hospital's board chairman and primary surgeon in 2059."

Swearing came from several voices. Toshinori continued, "that was over one-hundred years ago. Doctor Daruma was registered as quirkless, this was of course near the founding of quirks. The date on his death certificate is listed as April 14th, 2071."

"So, either an imposter is using his credentials or he's not as quirkless as he pretended to be," Sorahiko interjected.

"With this information, we have to assume the worst. I wonder how many other bodies have gone missing from that hospital over the years?" Shouta mused, finishing his smoothie and rinsing the empty cup.

Kiku and Hitoshi exchanged a glance as they sat together against the wall listening to the conversation of the adults in the kitchen. At the sound of chairs scraping against the floor, the two pre-teens tiptoed back to their rooms.

)-O-(

Early the next morning, Somewhere else in Japan…

Screams echoed down the dark hallway. Kurogiri attempted to tune out the sounds as he mopped up the blood from Tomura's last victim. The hallway was lined with doors and behind each door was a different 'guest.' Each one taken for a specific purpose. As he passed the door the screams were coming from, the scent of burning flesh and the screaming abruptly cut off. A few minutes later, the door opened, and a tall, lanky figure exited the room, pulling on a pair of dark gloves.

"When you are done there, cleanup is needed in room seven," The dark-haired man rasped out before sauntering down the hall toward the exit.

Kurogiri sighed as he turned back to his chore; sometimes he hated his job. It was a shame about the young heroine. She had been so easy to bribe. The promise of money and assistance with rising through the ranks had bought her loyalty with little effort. It wasn't until after the master had ambushed All Might that she'd begun to think about what she had done and begin to have second thoughts. Kurogiri moved to the room Dabi had just vacated, nose wrinkling at the smell of burnt flesh. He moved around the room, cleaning up the torn shreds of costume and soiled bedsheets, carefully avoiding the smoldering remains of the young sidekick. He piled the remains around the body and opened a portal to dispose of the mess.

A.U.T.H.O.R.S..N.O.T.E…

This is a short chapter, but I really fought with this one. I wanted to make it longer, but I hated everything I wrote. Updates may not be a frequent as they were in the past, but I have not abandoned this story. I will make sure the next chapter is much longer, and hopefully I won't have to fight with my muse over it.

I have been struggling where to go with the next few chapters. Please bear with me as I bring my Muse back online.

Thank you to TodoBakuDeku2108 for their help with names and quirks. I am your #1 fan.