NOTES: A couple of things about Rikiya. After studying his character between the anime and manga, I realized that the anime left out something important about his character. There's a panel in the manga when Twice and Toga are introducing themselves to Overhaul, the Eight Bullets, Mimic, and Kurono, and you can see Katsukame on the far right and you can see his full body (unlike the anime) and he's a normal size! Blew my mind when I found that panel. He's sitting down and looking away from the League members. Anyway, I headcanon him to stand at just under 7 feet without the use of his quirk, based on his body proportions in that panel.

Also, from what I can tell about his quirk, he kind of has two parts to it. I'm differentiating them as "full activation" and "partial activation." Isane will explain this in more detail in the chapter, but wanted to give a quick summary. Essentially, Partial Activation is like when he bursts out of the Hassaikai gates to find the heroes and police outside. He's already brushing probably fifteen feet, but he's able to enhance his strength even without touching anyone AND it's before he takes Trigger. The Full Activation, of course, is his ability to touch a person and inhale someone's Life Energy to increase his size, strength, and stamina while weakening his opponent.

I do not own, in any way, the characters, places, or ideas of the My Hero Academia universe created by Kohei Horikoshi. I only own my own characters and plot. No money is made off of this story.

Chapter Six

The Silence Between Seconds

Overhaul didn't allow his gaze to linger on Isane for any longer than he had the others and turned back to Shigaraki without preamble. Whether Shigaraki had caught the moment of recognition from Overhaul remained to be seen, but with the disembodied hand covering half of his face, only time could tell.

"What gives? Is this guy famous or something?" Magne chirped before Shigaraki or Overhaul could begin their conversation. The league was spread out over the few crates and machinery that had been left at the back of the warehouse. Magne sat perched on top of one crate with Spinner leaning against the wall behind her. Shigaraki had stayed on the floor, who also casually leaned against the back wall. Toga sat on the floor with her back against the crates on Shigaraki's other side, and Compress sat above her with his legs crossed at the knees. Isane stayed on the floor as well, leaning against the crates somewhat casually, but ready to move if need be. Twice had led Overhaul close, but they still stayed maybe twenty-five or thirty feet away. It was enough of a respectable distance.

"My master showed me a picture of him," Shigaraki replied easily. "He's what you'd call, Yakuza. The young head of the Shie Hassaikai." Overhaul didn't flinch as they measured each other up. "To what do we owe the pleasure?"

Before Overhaul could respond, Magne said, "He's the number two of the whole gang?" She squealed. "I've never met anyone like him before. He smells so dangerous! How exciting!"

Toga didn't seem to catch on nearly as quickly as Magne, and she tilted her head back to look at Compress above her. "What's the deal? We're all criminals here, so how is this guy different?" Isane watched and listened in silence. Perhaps it was Toga's age. For awhile, anyone who saw the Shie Hassaikai symbol knew exactly what it was and what it represented. And Toga had definitely seen it on her skin that morning.

"Ah," Compress spoke, as if he was spinning a tale. "Allow me to tell you a story: in the past, there were many different scary troops that ran the underworld. After the heroes starting thriving, though, they slowly but surely began to disband. When All Might took the stage, their era was over. The Yakuza survivors who weren't caught became rent-a-thugs for villain groups. In other words, they were the lowest form of criminal. Barely scraping by to make a living. Frankly, they're obsolete. An endangered species."

"Endangered species, huh?" Overhaul chuckled dryly. "I guess that's true."

"Yeah, what's a Yakuza thug from the slums doing here?" The visceral reaction of anger that swelled in Isane's chest hearing Magne use the word slums to describe her childhood home and the place she'd found her closest friends set her teeth on edge and her blood pressure rising, but she forced herself to take a breath. She wasn't part of that world anymore. The insult should just roll off her back, and she was there with the League now, anyway.

Isane missed the rest of what Magne had said and picked back up on the conversation as Overhaul replied, "It's good that he's gone, sure, but I'm more interested in All for One's absence." That was not what anyone in the room expected him to say. "The dark emperor who ruled over the shadows; the old-timers always feared him, even after rumors of his death. Honestly, though, most people my age thought he was an urban legend. You can imagine the shock when he showed up in the flesh. But in the end, the Big Bad was thrown into Tartarus, and the Symbol of Peace retired." Overhaul glanced down to the ground, briefly, before raising his gaze back to Shigaraki's. "Which means that those of in the shadows and those in the light are both leaderless. So, who will step up to take their places?"

Like a switch flipping, the tension in the room increased. Shigaraki shoved off the wall he was leaning against and stepped closer to Overhaul. "You know who my master is, but you've still got the nerve to ask that? Sounds like a challenge. I'm the next leader." Shigaraki's emotions were bleeding through his words, as he continued, "Even now, I'm gathering my troops. Our numbers continue to increase." Isane, who was watching the power play as these two leaders tested each other, caught the glance Overhaul threw back in her direction as Shigaraki said, 'our numbers continue to increase.' Had Shigaraki caught it? Surely he had, but he continued without pause. "With our combined powers, I'll turn hero society to dust."

"You have an actual plan?" He sounded surprised; patronizing, almost.

"Watch your tongue," Shigaraki spit. "And your tone. I thought you came here to join up with us?"

"A goal without a plan is just a wish," Overhaul quoted as he stepped closer to Shigaraki as well. "If that's what you're offering, why should I join you? What happens after you increase your forces? Do you have any idea how you'd even organize your League? You had the Hero Killer, Stain, at your side. Muscular. Moonfish. Now Reaper." Overhaul nodded toward Isane, briefly, but it was enough of a movement to obviously catch Shigaraki's attention, who glanced over his shoulder as well at her. The blood drained from her. Overhaul had kept up with her feats?

Overhaul didn't wait for Shigaraki to catch up and continued. "All first-class game pieces, and you've so far lost three of the four. Maybe you just don't know how to play the game? You can't even manage a few people, but you want to build an army?" The idea was so out-there to him, that he stifled a laugh. "What happens when that power spirals out of control? You need direction to achieve your goals, and I have a plan. I didn't come here today because I wanted to join you."

Barely concealed anger rolled off Shigaraki in waves. It was clear Overhaul had offended him, and Twice by association. "You brought this idiot here without knowing his intentions, Twice."

Twice visibly flinched. The tension was rising and Isane shifted both with the discomfort of being dragged into a conversation she didn't want to be, and with the possibility that someone was going to cross an invisible line and this entire meeting would end in bloodshed. She stepped half a step away from Toga and the crates, arms crossed over her chest.

No matter who these two men thought they were, she wasn't about to be dragged into their drama. Out of the corner of her eye, Toga also shifted.

Overhaul continued, not bothering to acknowledge the tension or back down. "In order to execute my design, I need money. Unfortunately, there aren't many people looking to invest in some obsolete, small-time Yakuza. Now, your group on the other hand, has wide-spread name recognition. Put yourself under me," From the corner of her eye, Magne obviously shifted. Spinner, too. Tension rolled off them both. "Make me your new leader, and I'll show you exactly how to use the right tools."

Shigaraki was unflinching and absolutely done. "Leave."

At the same time, Magne jumped up to take action. Spurred by Overhaul's words, she activated her quirk, yanking Overhaul toward her at the same time that she leapt off the crate she had been sitting on. Spinner followed, hot on her heels.

This was bad - very bad! She knew Overhaul's quirk intimately and he wouldn't hesitate to defend himself.

Isane reacted without thought, reaching for her two kanzashi to knock them both out. They flew from her hands. Oneflew true and buried itself in the arm of one of her teammates, dropping Magne to the ground. The other kanzashi missed as Spinner feinted left, away from Overhaul's outstretched hand. Dread pooled as Isane watched.

Overhaul reacted, dodging Spinner's sweeping attack with his swords, and drew a finger down his closest limb.

Spinner's body exploded from where Overhaul touched him.

Half a beat passed as the rest of the League caught up to what had just transpired.

The whole ordeal had taken place in under ten seconds - it was before anyone could react who hadn't been trained to react. Overhaul was rubbing furiously at his jacket, muttering to himself.

Isane felt the cool metal of a blade pressing itself to her skin before she could react. Hands went up to show Toga she had nothing in her hands, but the girl didn't seem to care.

Toga pulled Isane back until Isane was pressed against the crate they had just been leaning against and Toga was standing in front of Isane. Her blade still hovered in front of Isane's neck, the threat clear: If you move I will bleed you out.

"What is this? Are you with them?" Toga hissed, anger flashing in her gaze. Toga was great at using a blade from what Isane had seen, but her ability to corner someone was full of holes.

"She's just passed out-" Isane tried to say, but Compress' anguished cries cut her off.

Both girls' attention snapped up in time to see Compress fall to the ground, clutching his arm and Shigaraki leap to defend him.

A shot rang out, loud and clear, and before anyone had a chance to flinch, Overhaul called, "Shield!"

A masked man dropped from the rafters to take Shigaraki's outstretched hand in his abdomen.

The effect was immediate, and the man crumpled to ash as Shigaraki leapt away, getting distance between himself and Overhaul.

"Now I get it," Shigaraki said, the pieces falling into place. "You should have just started with this. Saved us all some time." The building rumbled like it threatened to collapse, and in an instant rubble and metal were flying everywhere. Toga shielded her face, and Isane turned hers to the side, not worried about the rubble hitting her. Realization dawned as the person who had smashed a giant hole through the concrete wall stepped through, and not for the first time that night the floor dropped out from under her.

Time stretched out infinitely, as the world descended into silence.

"Oh my fucking Christ," she whispered, barely audible. Toga didn't hear her, even as close as she was. Disbelief and raw emotion held her in place as her eyes locked on the one person she didn't think she would see for at least another year: Rikiya.

He was just the same as she remembered him, and his height was brushing the top of his limit without the full activation of his quirk - he stood nearly fifteen feet. Shoulders broad, muscles bulging, Rikiya was the epitome of strength and power. When was the last time she had stood next to him? When was the last time she had heard his voice or touched his face? Why did they have to face each other now as enemies while they were still secretly together?

And on his shoulders rode Mimic. Ojichan. his usual black cloak attire. The one that made him stand no more than two feet tall and look more like a stuffed animal than Yakuza.

And Nemoto jumped down from somewhere, possibly the rafters above, at the same time as Kurono who held a gun. Nemoto, who always acted like he had a stick up his ass and was awkward as fuck with making friends.

Isane was reminded of long days working with Nemoto to re-task half of the Hassaikai after Overhaul took over, and Irinaka coming over for dinner with Uncle Kenji as she grew up, and easy mornings lounging in bed with Rikiya and cuddling into his chest as he held her close.

Barely a handful of seconds had passed, but Isane held and felt each second personally. Each memory, and every emotion as she recognized these men she had shared her life with and had wished every day to see again.

"You're late," Overhaul said toward Kurono as the dust settled.

Isane refused to take her gaze off the three in front of her. All wore the usual full-face masks, so it was nearly impossible to tell where they were looking. It was very obvious when Irinaka pointedly turned toward what Overhaul and Kurono were discussing, and Nemoto kept his head down and listening to Kurono's reply to Overhaul.

Rikiya made no move toward her, but no move to ignore her, either. However, Isane was very aware of the fact that they were enemies in this enounter. He was still a servant to Overhaul, and she was currently being held at knifepoint by Toga. Toga was doing a piss-poor job of it, and Isane could very well break away, but that would only increase the suspicion on her, and at that moment she really didn't need any more.

"Where'd they come from?" Twice cried, snapping Isane out of her memories. He had moved to Compress, and the man was being supported by Twice's body. "We weren't followed, I swear!"

"One of them probably has a tracking quirk," Shigaraki replied taking in the newest faces.

It was probably whoever had just been turned to ash, Isane knew but didn't say. She knew each of their quirks except for the nameless Eight Bullet who had just been decayed, and none of them had tracking capabilities.

The Shie Hassaikai clearly had the upper hand, especially as the League had so obviously divided since Spinner's death. The blatant distrust that exuded over Isane's actions were palpable, and whether Overhaul put an end to the meeting for that or because he understood where the emotions they were all feeling would lead, but he said, "It's hard to be objective in this situation. Besides, killing each other isn't productive. A death on both sides. Let's take a breather. We'll cool our heads and try again later." He turned, walking away. "I owe your side an arm."

"Bastard!" Twice yelled, rage and grief combining. "I'll eviscerate you!"

"No!" Shigaraki was quick to stop it.

Twice turned on him. "It's my responsibility!"

"No."

"Smart decision, hand guy," Mimic spoke up from where he stood on Rikiya's shoulders, his tone mocking.

Mimic wasn't wrong. Toga and Isane were locked in their own standoff, which meant that only Shigaraki and Twice could reasonably take on Overhaul, his two lieutenants, Kurono and Mimic, and the two living Bullets that he'd brought with him, Rikiya and Nemoto. Even knowing their quirks, Isane knew that wouldn't be a fair fight and it'd be over relatively quickly.

"I don't want to rush you," Overhaul continued, reaching into his jacket's pocket and pulling out a small white business card. Without turning, he flicked it over his shoulder so that it landed at Shigaraki's feet. "But the sooner we talk, the better. Think things over carefully. Consider how your organization should be run. Then, when you've calmed down, call me."

The Hassaikai was filing out after Overhaul. There was no way she could speak to any of them. There was no way to cross the expanse between them. There was no way to end the silence that had threatened to deafen her and shatter her emotionally for eighteen months. There was no way to approach her family.

She could only let them go.

Rikiya paused, so briefly that she was sure only she caught it and maybe Mimic. His fist clenched, and she understood the simple action, before he followed Overhaul out as well.

No one moved until they were sure that the Hassaikai were gone.

"You need to turn Magne on her side so she can breathe," Isane broke it, voice unwavering and loud enough that everyone could hear. Even if she just wanted to cry. "I'd say she's got another minute or two until she comes around."

"What the hell was that?" Shigaraki hissed, crossing the room to crowd into Toga and Isane's space. Toga stepped away now that she could see Shigaraki was taking over and ran over to where Magne lay.

"That was me trying to save Magne's and Spinner's life. Unfortunately, it only worked for one of them." She didn't even know Spinner, not that well, at least. But he hadn't deserved that death. No one did.

Shigaraki didn't back down. "How did you know he was going to do that?"

She had two options. Stay silent or tell what she knew. The first would probably have her join the nameless Eight Bullet member as a pile of ash. "I've known Overhaul since we were kids," she said. "We used to train together after school. We've fought together more times than I can count."

"Magne's breathing, Tomura!" Toga's voice carried through the room.

Even with the hand in front of his face, Shigaraki and Isane stared each other down. Isane stood unflinching in her resolve. "You don't seem to like me much."

"You haven't given me a reason to trust you yet. Especially not after tonight," Shigaraki spat, his tone matching his words. "Sure, you saved Magne's life, but it looked like all of them knew you. Not just Overhaul. And you haven't been entirely honest with your crimes, Reaper."

She didn't flinch. "I'm a former member of the Shie Hassaikai," she said, the name of the Yakuza organization sparking bittersweet nostalgia on her tongue. How long had it been since she'd spoken the name of her family aloud? "Specifically, the Eight Bullets."

"Eight Bullets?"

"The Eight Bullets of the Hassaikai," Isane replied as if it was common knowledge. "We were tasked to protect Overhaul if it came down to it."

"Former."

"Yes, former. I left."

"When?"

"Eighteen months ago."

"Why?"

She might be a former member, but as soon as he asked that, every instinct told her to shut down. Keep the Hassaikai a secret. Protect the Boss.

But she wasn't Hassaikai anymore. She would always have a soft spot for them, but she'd made her choice. Though, she could be careful in what she told.

"I discovered that Overhaul was doing things I didn't agree with. I couldn't continue to put myself under him knowing that."

"Which were?" It was the question she was most dreading him to ask. It conjured all the memories she wished she could forget. But as she hesitated, Shigaraki continued, "You're not building a strong case for yourself."

She couldn't afford to have them distrust her. Not with nowhere else to go.

"Something with human experimentation. I didn't stick around long enough to find out the details." Shigaraki was silent. Whether he accepted that answer or not was unclear, so she continued. "There are somethings you don't mess with. Human life is one of them."

"Leaving the Yakuza is nearly impossible, and it's obvious they hold you in high regard. If you're such an important piece, why would he let you leave?"

"I was part of the Eight Bullets, not the Shie Hassaikai itself. Women can't become Yakuza," she said, the words burning her tongue, even after all this time. "And because I was just part of the Bullets, I was able to leave easier. I beat Overhaul in Quirk Combat. No rules, but it was a fair fight. I beat him, and a deal is a deal. He let me leave." What she could see of his eyes from behind the hand told her everything she needed to know. Eyes widened, then narrowed, as he put it together: she was strong.

"Do you hold any loyalty for them still?"

She held her tongue.

It was the question she had asked herself a thousand times since that day. Since the day she walked away.

The Hassaikai had been her family since day one. Her father had been Hassaikai. Her grandfather, Uncle Kenji, and Irinaka, all who had a hand in raising her had also been Hassaikai. She'd wanted to join the Hassaikai for as long as she could remember. Even when she found out that women couldn't join, she worked to train herself; to be an asset to the Hassaikai and serve them any way she could, even if she couldn't directly join. She served with the others as a member of the Eight Bullets. Even after everything she found out, and she made the difficult decision to walk away, did she still hold loyalty for them?

Not for Overhaul, no. For her family, yes.

But there was no way to express that so that her life would be kept intact. Besides, she was a League member now, not Hassaikai. If things had broken into an all-out fight that night would she have been able to draw her sword against her old brothers? Against Rikiya?

She didn't know, and didn't think she would be able to, but she needed to say yes.

"Nakamoto," Shigaraki began, reminding her by her name alone that he was still waiting for an answer. She didn't give him the chance to finish his sentence.

"I am a League member now, not Hassaikai." The words sharp on her tongue. A reminder to herself as well as a declaration to Shigaraki.

A very colorful curse brought them out of their discussion. Shigaraki broke eye contact first, turning to where Magne was sitting up. She was drenched in blood from Spinner and bracing her hand against her head in either shock or because she'd actually hit it, but she was alive.

"You're on my watch list. Don't think this gets you off," Shigaraki said, sparing her another glance. "We'll discuss your nickname tomorrow."

Isane nodded. For now, she was safe. "Understood." They needed to get both Magne and Compress to a Doctor.

Magne was cleared from possibly having a concussion, and all traces of the poison Isane had put in the kanzashi was determined wouldn't have any lingering effect in Magne's system. It had worked for what it was designed to, and Magne got to keep her life.

She had embraced Isane once they were in the hallway. Toga watched, unconvinced of Isane's blamelessness, which she couldn't blame her. Isane had gathered her kanzashi before they left the building and helped Twice get Compress and Magne to their feet, but it would likely be awhile before Toga trusted her again. If she had to begin with at all.

The rest of the night stretched into the early morning hours. The doctor they took Compress to was one of those underground types. The doctor stopped Compress' bleeding and sewed him up in such a way that he would be able to use a prosthetic. Shigaraki was on the phone with Yuki at some point, and Yuki cleared him to get a prosthetic for Compress. She'd pay, no questions asked.

The Doctor kept Compress overnight, and the rest were allowed to go home. The car ride back was silent and awkward, and as soon as they were home and the others disappeared into their own bedrooms, Isane disappeared to the terrace to collect her letters. Toga and Magne stayed up talking in the living room, but Isane wanted another shower, and some time alone.

She shared a bathroom with Toga, so if the girl came up to use the toilet, she would likely hear Isane crying. Somehow she kept it bottled up inside until she was in her bedroom and the doors were locked.

Two letters.

Rikiya.

She'd seen him tonight. She wasn't able to talk to him, but she'd seen him. And she'd seen Ojichan. Irinaka had become as close as a father to her over the years, and she'd lost him, too, by walking away.

Honestly, she had half a mind to call them both, but that wouldn't accomplish anything, and would piss off Overhaul if he caught on. No, the silence needed to continue for now.

But for now, she had the letters, and she'd write him another tomorrow when it wasn't - she glanced at the clock - two-thirty in the morning. She had two and a half hours before she needed to be up and hitting the gym. She'd probably collapse again after that, but she definitely needed a gym session after tonight.

She opened the one that looked like it was a little more weathered. It had likely been outside for longer.

Rikiya had never been a man of many words, but his message got across clear enough.

At some point I'm going to spend your actual birthday with you.

She clapped a hand over her mouth to stifle the laugh that burst out of her.

It might not be next birthday, either, but I will see you on your actual birthday one day.

Happy Birthday. I love you, stay safe. Rikiya.

She touched the words gently, before placing the paper aside and opening the next letter.

This one was a page or so long, detailing some of the things that the Eight Bullets had been up to without going into too much detail. Pranks that Rappa had pulled, things that Ojichan did, things that Rikiya wanted to do to her. Rikiya had never liked his handwriting, but she'd assured him again and again that she loved it. His handwriting was as much an extension of him as anything else.

Hers was all over the place. She'd never really practiced her handwriting, even though she probably should have at some point. Rikiya's was practiced and compact, which was completely opposite of how people thought his handwriting would be. But his quirk being what it was, he had often been teased growing up, leaving him with plenty of time to focus on his interests.

He closed the letter with his usual: Rappa says hi. Irinaka would if he knew. I love you, stay safe. Rikiya.

Isane had slouched into her bed as she'd read his letter, covers pulled up close to her chin, and didn't even try to stop the tears that flowed from her eyes and clogged her nose until she couldn't breathe. Her eyes lingered over his last words, even though his handwriting swam through the tears. I love you, stay safe.

All of her memories of him were moments she had collected. Collected and tied together and prayed she would never forget.

Lying in bed, clutching his letter, she remembered her twenty fourth birthday. She'd woken at five am, as she usually did, but Rikiya had been next to her when he hadn't been the night before when she went to sleep.

Rather than pulling herself from the bed like she would any other morning, she shifted closer to him. Even in sleep he felt her move closer and shifted so that they could embrace. She breathed in his scent and fell back asleep.

By the time she awoke later that morning, the sun lamp he'd installed in his room was fully on and lighting up the room. She was vaguely aware of his hand cupping the back of her head, thumb drawing small circles on her face.

Sleepily, she smiled, seeing him next to her, head propped up on one hand. "You made it back," she whispered, blinking away sleep.

"I did," he leaned close and pressed a kiss to her lips. Briefly, he pulled back but talked against her mouth. "And when I did I found a mouse in my bed." She laughed into his mouth, and kissed him again.

Rikiya was built. He was all muscle and sinew and strength and power. His quirk, Vitality Stealing, had two parts to it, in a way. The main part that always seemed to get the most attention was that when he touched another person's skin, he could suck their life energy from them, which would increase his strength, size, and stamina. Without fully activating his quirk, he could still increase his size and strength to a point. When his quirk wasn't activated at all, he stood just under seven feet. Which meant that he still dwarfed her, but his size wasn't overwhelming.

He pulled away, taking her in. "I missed your birthday."

"Today can be my birthday," she replied, trailing her fingers down his chest suggestively. He always ran hot, so he only slept in his boxers. Neither of them had anywhere to be that day. They'd tried to get Irinaka to change their schedules the day before, but then Hojo got sick and they needed Rikiya to go on the mission and fill in for him instead.

By the way his lips quirked up and the way his eyes moved over her, she knew he liked that idea, but before she could move her fingers to his waist to slip his boxers off, he kissed her, then broke away, reaching behind him and off the bed for something.

The box he presented her with was long and gray and tied with a white ribbon.

Isane sat up in bed so she could see it better. It was light in her hands. "What-?"

"Just something I wanted to do for you." He said, shifting so that as she sat up he could lay against her legs. His arms shifted under her, and he pressed a light kiss to her stomach, lifting her t-shirt to reach the skin.

His five o'clock shadow scratched at her exposed skin, but it was nice. One of her hands moved to the side of his face as she glanced from the box to meet his eyes.

"Can I open it?"

"I'm waiting for you to." He pressed another kiss to her stomach, this time slightly lower.

Isane pulled at the ribbon, and the bow fell away. Lifting the lid of the box, her breath caught as she realized what he had gotten her.

"Happy Birthday," he said, watching her reaction.

Two perfect red-tasseled kanzashi were in the box. No way had he spent this much money on her. "Rikiya-"

"You lost your last pair during Implant's assault," he said aloud what was going through her mind. "I wanted to."

Which meant that they were hollow inside. Which meant that she could still use them as a secret technique. She'd been feeling slightly off ever since her first pair were lost.

His generosity had tears streaming down her cheeks as she placed the box aside and kissed him. He rose, catching her as she knew he would. One hand cupped the side of her face as the other shifted her body below him. "Now for the second half of my gift," he rumbled into her neck as he trailed kisses along her jaw.