Note: Remember, female Ujiko, because I didn't know about the ugly mug of the real Ujiko when I was writing and I thought the League needed more women.

Chapter 6

There were reasons Aizawa preferred drinking alone, at home. He just didn't enjoy sitting with others who were being rowdy in a bad part of town. He didn't understand how they could get drunk here. They knew what they did to people in that state! Did they not think they could be prey?

Even so, Shouta knew how to dress to look the part. He knew how to act to look the part, but he didn't like it. He knew how to hide that too, to look the part.

Even in Osaka. Which is where he currently was. He wasn't entirely sure why Bakugou had said to come here but they could hold this conversation anywhere.

"His finances are clean," the former underground hero told Katsuki.

"What do you fucking mean clean?" Bakugou spat.

"They are clean," Aizawa repeated. Unlike the glasses here. He ran his thumb over the rim of the schooner he was drinking, removing the lipstick smudge. He really hated that his mind provided an image of the League's former bars. The glasses there, even with the dust caused by the destruction, had been clean. What did it say when he thought that the League's stronghold was better than this bar?

It meant that the warp villain was a good bartender. He sighed.

Bakugou didn't appear to be having any such problem. The blond was happily drinking his beer. He looked at home here. "There has to be something."

Shouta looked at Bakugou, raising one eyebrow, questioning his assertion. He should know better.

"Shitty Deku is fucking funnelling money. There has to be gaps," the vigilante corrected.

"There are two ways for his finances to be that clean," Aizawa mused. Bakugou might not have his experience but Shouta had to admit that the young man had a sense for these things. And a will to take down Representative Kakurete that no one else seemed to possess. Plenty former heroes, or students didn't like the man but they lacked the will to do anything about it. Bakugou had never lacked that.

"One, they really are that clean, but since you assure me that they can't be, we will consider the second option."

"Which is?"

"That he's the best forger I've ever seen," Shouta told him. "Which-" he sighed, "-might actually be the truth."

Katsuki gave him a look, before taking pull from his pint.

"He never claims government expenses on travel," Aizawa told him.

"The bastard uses a chopper!" Bakugou objected. Shouta didn't deny it. Representative Kakurete was known to use a helicopter for short hops. It was his business helicopter, Aizawa knew a couple of journalists who had salivated when they'd found out. They'd never actually published, because there was no scandal.

"Business," Shouta told him. Tripping up politicians on expense claims was the easy way to create scandal. Representative Kakurete had apparently paid attention to the past. He was scrupulous in his dealings there. He was on record as saying that the use of his helicopter for government business was something he did for the public good. He didn't even make it a donation so there was no tax deduction there either.

"Food, entertainment?"

"Nothing. When he's at the Parliament building, he eats at the cafeteria. And the few expense claims he's put in for food have been verified very carefully. And he doesn't put in entertainment claims." All of that was public record. Junior reporters looked at those records every day hoping for a miss-step from any politician they could scandalise.

Bakugou shook his head. "Not claims. Has Deku received anything he shouldn't have?"

Shouta shook his head. It was possible Kakurete had been given gifts but if he had been, he wasn't flaunting them. "There's a few minor things that he declared." A moderately priced sake from the Indonesian Ambassador. A high precision magnetic trinket from a business associate. Things like that. None of the amounts were outrageous, and they were all correct. Aizawa had verified the prices himself.

On paper, Representative Imoku Kakurete was clean. It just confirmed the thought he was knee deep in the League. Except they couldn't prove it. And Aizawa was sure that even if he got unfettered access to Kakurete's finances, there wouldn't be much to find. The man seemed to be one of those villains who was meticulous, careful and didn't like to brag.

Except he did. Just with the right circumstances.

"Shitty Deku is not a saint," Bakugou growled.

"He's not, but he's very careful," Aizawa agreed, looking sharply at the vigilante. "Do you think you could get another meeting with him?"

The question might appear sudden but Katsuki understood what he was asking.

"Not likely," he snorted, before swallowing the last of his beer. "His bodyguards would probably restrain me on sight."

Shouta couldn't help the amused look he gave Bakugou. "What about privately?"

"His apartment building has security."

That was an interesting statement. Aizawa implied that Katsuki had already been caught by the security for him to reply that way.

"He wouldn't meet with you?" Bakugou turned the question around.

"Not after last time," Shouta was forced to admit.

Katsuki snorted, slamming his empty glass down. "If I could get five min… no two minutes alone with him, I'd have that Deku begging to tell me everything."

"And he would have anything he said suppressed in thirty seconds, and you in Tartarus in another thirty." It was a flippant statement but the Representative's legal team probably was that good.

Bakugou growled at the rejoiner, but didn't dispute it. He pushed back his chair suddenly, and after a glare stalked over the bar.

Aizawa heaved a mental sigh. The boy was still touchy but had a good grasp on reality because that was the reality of Katsuki's desire. If he so much as touched Imoku without proof, then the Representative would bring the law down on the vigilante, and it wouldn't be a slap on the wrist. Shouta could guarantee, Kakurete would not show mercy.

And once Bakugou was in Tartarus, or even in remand, he as good, but the League simply had more people. The League would think nothing of sacrificing pawns to get rid of the vigilante. The explosive vigilante seemed to forget they were the underdog here. They had to be careful.

Even if he didn't like it. Especially if he didn't like it.

Shouta drank another mouthful of beer.

Bakugou would be sensible.

-afop-

Ujiko enjoyed the privileges her quirk gave her. Sure, it wasn't the same as Kurogiri's but it was still a warp quirk and in her society, that made her practically untouchable. In a fight, everyone knew she'd just warp you away, probably straight into the fighting den Dabi ran. No one wanted to face the Noumu's. And you didn't want to upset her for other reasons, simply because warp quirks were so valuable.

Add in the fact she was a member of the League of Villains and in the underworld, she was practically a Queen. She never felt bad about accepting drinks from people wanting favours. She did her part. Even if that part wasn't strictly speaking combat. She also kept the League's secrets. She helped keep the League safe.

Imoku thought he was completely hidden. Their unknown boss. There were plenty of people out there who suspected him. She'd had to keep him safe more than once, especially early on, when people saw him profiting from the League's actions. She'd insinuated that he was paying them - which he was - and that had settled them. But those who she'd settled, knew about him.

Maybe that's how Overhaul had found him? Ujiko shrugged. Eh, that had turned out okay, and she still followed Imoku, even when he killed Tomura. So she was a good member.

But she did like to ensure she had contingencies.

That's why, even though she helped Kurogiri with the delivery business, and helped Dabi with other things, she kept a few private interests. It wasn't that hard. All she had to do was make sure she wasn't caught and with a warp quirk, she had people willing to be her lackeys. And she made sure to keep things separate from the League. Dabi was in Tokyo, so she took Osaka. It wasn't like the commute was bad.

"Your usual?" Tsukisoi, the bartender asked.

Ujiko nodded and strutted to the back corner. That was her place. Everyone here knew it and the table was empty. A few times it hadn't been and that had been unfortunate.

She sat down, leaning against the wall. No one would approach until her drink arrived. Ujiko looked around. There was a few new people in tonight. Ujiko liked this bar because it had a reasonably large itinerant turn over. That meant her activities were hidden and if someone came too often, it was noticed unless they were one of the regulars.

She let her eyes examine the newbies. One was blond. His hair was slicked back. Young. Early twenties with red eyes. He was sitting at the bar, nursing a beer. The other was older. Black hair, and squinty eyes with large bags underneath. He was dressed in black, which in the relative gloom of the bar made it hard to discern him. She didn't like him but… he hadn't done anything yet.

Tsukisoi brought her drink. He sat down briefly. "Long night?" He always asked. It was a ritual and Ujiko had gotten used to it. If there was any expected trouble, he told her then but usually there was nothing.

"Maybe," she told him, reaching out for the glass. It would depend on business. "Depends on if I get someone new." Despite how her quirk worked, she had a steady stream of customers who needed discreet transportation. She had kept a low profile over the years. Sure the cops knew that she was a member of the League of Villains but she hadn't actually done that much stuff. As a result, she was relatively free to travel and provided transport to others.

"They are having a bit of a tiff," Tsukisoi told her about the bar and the newcomers she had noted earlier.

Ujiko took a sip but her expression relayed her question.

"They came in together," he explained, his eyes flickering, as if to indicate the people behind him.

"Ah," she said, putting down the glass. Ujiko shrugged. "No trouble?"

He considered it. "I don't think so," he said, rising. The bartender couldn't leave the bar unattended for too long and she nodded as he left. Ujiko already knew by the time she finished her drink the next one would be waiting.

She took another sip and watched as the blond picked up his beer and stomped back to the table the other newbie was sitting at. He appeared angry but resigned. The black haired man appeared… Wasn't that interesting? He was controlled but she thought she detected the slightest hint of a smug smile.

Having the blond return to the table was probably his victory. Ujiko sat back. The two of them might just be here for the night, but at least they'd make the night interesting.

-afop-

It took Aizawa a moment to realise Katsuki wasn't actually glaring at him when the blond returned. The vigilante slammed his pint down, sloshing beer over the rim on to the table. He kept glaring. To anyone watching it would seem as if Bakugou was glaring at him, but Shouta could see the focus of his former student's eyes. He was watching something, someone behind him.

"Are you going to be reasonable?" the former underground hero asked, knowing that if anyone was watching, some sort of conversation was expected.

"Not about Deku," Katsuki spat.

Aizawa nodded but he flicked his eyes to indicate he'd caught on to Bakugou's interest, even if he didn't know exactly what it was.

"But we should focus on the others," Bakugou continued.

Shouta felt excitement stir at the statement. His back suddenly itched. There was no one really looking, he knew that, but there was someone behind him. He hadn't got to pick the table. Bakugou had. It was near the centre of the bar. He would have taken one against a wall. He had though managed to ensure he was sitting facing the door. Maybe that wasn't such a good choice.

"You have a plan for them?" he asked, fishing for an answer as to who Bakugou had spotted.

"Working on it," the vigilante replied, lifting his pint. He took a few gulps. It was all very normal. Shouta felt somewhat proud. He couldn't, and didn't want to claim all of Bakugou's skills as taught by him, but he had given the boy a foundation. And Katsuki learned his lessons well.

Aizawa forced himself to gulp another slug of his drink as he waited for Bakugou to tell him something relevant.

"You know the one I said was new?" Bakugou asked suddenly.

He thought back over the conversations they'd had over the last little bit. When had Katsuki mentioned a new member of the League. Right at the beginning. In his storage shed. He cocked his head at the memory.

Bakugou grinned.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"You planned this," Aizawa accused. Bakugou was fighting in Dabi's Osaka ring but it wasn't just to avoid notice in Tokyo!

Katsuki didn't even look guilty but Shouta knew his statement was the truth. He could leave. That would throw Bakugou's plan out the window but this was a chance. And they needed a chance. He sighed. If it was the one he thought it was, then he needed to be sitting where Bakugou was.

"Gonna piss," he announced, rising.

Bakugou was good but it was still amusing to see the faint look of shock on his face. It was as if he thought he'd have to nurse Shouta through this entire affair. He was almost insulted. He'd been taking down villains since before Katsuki was in diapers!

Shouta made his way to the lav, and in case anyone was watching he did urinate. He half expected Katsuki to follow him but he hadn't and after washing his hands, Aizawa returned, stopping at the bar to order another drink. He wasn't planning on actually drinking it but it would keep up the act. He glanced to his table. Katsuki had moved to where he had been sitting, and was now drinking what was left of the drink Shouta had left.

He huffed theatrically, looking to the bartender, who simply nodded at him and poured another pint. Shouta took them back to the table, taking the opportunity to examine the tables he hadn't been looking at.

It was obvious who Bakugou was paying attention to. The woman was ensconced in the corner. She didn't look to be anything special but that wasn't the point. If this was Ujiko then it was an opportunity to capture one of the key League members. He assessed the rest of the bar. She was sitting alone but he wasn't green enough to trust that was the truth. On the other hand, no one looked like they were her lackies. Even so, he had to give Katsuki props for turning his back on her.

"Thanks," Bakugou said, taking the pint as he slouched back into the chair.

"So, do we want to continue as we have been?" Aizawa asked. "I'll look into things and you do the legwork?"

Katsuki grinned. He understood the code. "Then let's do this!"

-afop-

Ujiko watched the two newbies as she sipped at her drink but they were kind of boring. The only amusement was when the black haired man went to the lav and came back, only to find that his companion had stolen the last of his drink. He appeared resigned as he bought another. It was a petty form of argument but it was fun to watch.

He sat back down, now facing her but she couldn't see much as the blond was shielding him. She took a sip of her drink and looked around the bar. It would be a quiet night.

At least, that's what she thought, until there was a shout. It accompanied a crash and Ujiko looked up to see the blond barrelling towards her. There were explosions coming from his palms.

She knew him. ExplodoKill. Ujiko's face twisted into a smile and she activated her quirk…

At least, she tried to. She saw a second set of red eyes before ExplodoKill barrelled into her. No one had ever accused the vigilante of being stupid. His went for the throat, and she was slammed into the wall, his hand tightly gripping her. The implication was obvious. If she tried to activate her quirk, he would squeeze.

Ujiko looked around him. The black haired man was rising. His eyes looked raw but they were black again. She hissed. She knew who he had to be now. Eraser Head. Imoku was not going to be pleased.

"You're slow, Bitch," ExplodoKill mocked. "And far too reliant on your shitty quirk."

She glared at him. It hurt to realise it was true.

"You are coming with us, Bitch," ExplodoKill growled at her.

No one in the bar moved.

"You think you can hold me?" she challenged.

ExplodoKill squeezed. It was hard to breathe but Ujiko made sure her face was blank. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction.

"Oh, I think so. I'm not the police," he chuckled. He set off explosions in his free hand.

Eraser Head stood. "Let's go," he told the vigilante.

"Moonlighting is very much frowned upon," Ujiko told him.

Imoku had assured that. Vigilantism had harsh penalties, and they were applied and they were more heavily applied to former heroes. The law had to be maintained.

One of the bar regulars jumped towards them. ExplodoKill didn't even glance away. An explosion caught the man, sending him flying back into the wall.

"Who wants some?" ExplodoKill laughed.

"Let's go," Eraser Head repeated, holding out something.

ExplodoKill took whatever it was and grinned at her. His teeth caught on his lips giving him a sinister look. He carefully took his hand from her throat to grab at her hands.

"Tsukisoi!" She cried.

The barman looked at her. He cocked his head. Ujiko hissed! After all the things she'd done for him! This was the gratitude she got!

ExplodoKill laughed, and Ujiko felt something locked around her hands. She tried to activate her quirk again but nothing happened. She knew what that felt like. Her eyes widened.

"Idiot," ExplodoKill told her, and began dragging her.

Ujiko looked down at her hands. She recognised the cuffs. Quirk suppressant.

She pulled back. ExplodoKill was stronger. He didn't even look back at her.

Fuck! She'd really fucked this up. But Ujiko remained stoic. All she needed was a chance. A few seconds. That's all she needed to get away.

She could turn this around. She would turn this around.

She just needed the chance.

-afop-

Ujiko stared at the officers. They were looking at her with flat eyes. ExplodoKill had given her over to Eraser Head, who had called someone from the Police. They had come up with some story about how the off duty officer had arrested her. The man, Kirishima, had grinned at her, and dragged her back to the station. It wasn't his regular station. He was on leave but the Police were the Police.

She'd been here for hours. Surely the League knew she was here. Couldn't Kurogiri do something? And now she was in interrogation.

"We know when you are lying," an older officer told her. His eyes were unnaturally opened wide and grey was touching his temples.

She huffed. "All right," Ujiko spat. If the League wasn't going to do anything, then she'd have to get herself out of here. And if that cost Imoku a bit to cover up, well so be it. She'd just lost her businesses!

Given that Dabi had told her to stop them, indicating it was Imoku's order, he owed her already! And maybe… Imoku had ordered them to get rid of ExplodoKill but what if he just wanted ExplodoKill to get rid of them? Imoku wasn't a proper villain anyway. Not like Sensei. It would serve him right for her to cause him trouble. "What do you want to know?"

"Everything," the Officer told her. "Start at the top."

"What, at Dabi?"

"Not Dabi. We want to know the real leader."

Ujiko worried one lip slightly. "Okay," she said slowly. She couldn't be too eager. No doubt Imoku would get the transcripts.

"I think you've said enough."

The voice came from the door.

Ujiko wasn't the only one who looked over. A woman stood there in a sharp suit. The blazer was fitted over a tight red dress. It should look slutty but it was classy. The suit screamed money. This wasn't a woman who was going to be messed with.

"Who are you?" the Officer demanded.

"Detective Tsukauchi," the woman nodded at the officer with a small smile. "You are quite a ways from Tokyo, but the procedures are the same, even in the sticks. I'm her lawyer. Hikokuno Bengoshi."

Ujiko had never heard of her. Not surprising. Imoku would have called the closest Lawyer in and told them exactly what to do. Finally.

"I would like to speak with my client," Hikokuno said in that tone all lawyers could take. It said without words that the Police had better obey or she would make their lives miserable.

"Of course, Bengoshi."

The officers looked disappointed. Ujiko smiled viciously at them as they left the room.

The woman took their place, looking over at Ujiko. The warp villain examined her. The woman was thin. She had brown hair styled in curls down to her shoulder blades. It looked artfully messy without a single strand being out of place. Her makeup was similarly perfect. This was a woman who knew she looked good and used that as just another weapon. She put a small leather bound pocket on the interrogation table.

"You can get me out?" Ujiko didn't bother with pleasantries.

Hikokuno smiled at her. It was surprisingly warm and real. She opened the satchel of papers. "How did you get taken?" she asked.

"That fucking vigilante, ExplodoKill."

Her lawyer nodded. "Wrongful arrest by vigilante," she murmured, "though the Police will fight that."

"That's what happened!" Ujiko objected.

"That's not what their records say happened," Hikokuno told her. "Arresting officer: Eijiro Kirishima."

"Only after ExplodoKill."

"You can prove that? There are witnesses?"

Ujiko thought back to the bar and the way Tsukisoi had looked at her. She remembered the way the others had looked. She bit her lip. She didn't like the answer. "Maybe not," she had to admit.

Hikokuno sighed. "I'll work on that," she promised.

"You can still get me out, right?" Ujiko pressed.

"Of course," the woman said. "It's just a matter of finding the right reason," she added comfortingly. "Who else was there?"

"Eraser Head." Ujiko spat. If he hadn't been there, ExplodoKill wouldn't have been a problem. The vigilante would be somewhere far away at the moment.

"Interesting, except again the Police haven't noted him," Hikokuno said.

"They are liars."

"That may be, but for the moment you are in their system."

"Well he was there. That has to mean something."

"Oh, it does," Bengoshi allowed with a smile. She took a few notes. "The penalties for former heroes engaging in vigilantism are quite high."

Ujiko nodded her agreement, but that wasn't the real issue here. "When can I get out?" She asked. She really didn't like the walls.

Hikokuno looked at her. "When we find the right reason." She held up one perfectly manicured hand. Her nail polish was the exact same shade of red as her dress. "The law is simply a series of procedures and technicalities. The Police have to stick to procedures, and to get you out, it's just a matter of finding the procedure they didn't follow."

Ujiko nodded. She wasn't familiar with the procedures, but the explanation made sense.

"But I am curious," Hikokuno continued. "I didn't hear the entire conversation with Detective Tsukauchi but he was asking about the real leader."

Again Ujiko nodded. The officer had asked.

"What were you about to tell him?"

She thought back the few minutes to then. Ujiko was controlled enough not to flinch. Hikokuno would have heard her say 'Okay'. "I wasn't going to say anything," she said defensively.

"Really?" There was a note of mocking doubt in the woman's tone.

"I wasn't!" Ujiko defended.

"The boss sent me to get you out," Hikokuno said. "So I will get you out. I'm asking for my curiosity."

The statement was meant to make Ujiko feel at ease. It didn't. Sure the lawyer might have been sent by the boss but the villain wasn't about to get all buddy buddy.

"I was going to tell them Kurogiri," Ujiko lied. "Technically, he's my boss, right?"

The woman gave a small chuckle. "Technically," she nodded her agreement.

Ujiko resisted the urge to frown. There was something wrong with that chuckle, and while the lawyer had been sent by the League how much did she know? The internal workings weren't meant to be that open, and knowing that Kurogiri was technically the Manager of the League's transport business was not something others were meant to know. They could infer it. It was ridiculously easy to infer, especially given knowledge of the League's quirks, but they weren't meant to know it. Hikokuno knew it.

Bengoshi leaned forward, putting one elbow on the table and leaning into it, resting her head on her hand. "I don't believe you."

The statement was cold.

Ujiko snorted, recognising the tactic. If she wasn't going to be friendly, then the woman was going to try to threaten her. It was a power play. This wasn't the lawyer's job. "You don't have to believe me," she snapped, cocking her head to make it plain that, despite the cuffs, she was the one in control. This woman was just working for the League. She was just some uppity lawyer and she'd better do her job. "You just have to get me out of here."

Hikokuno waved one perfectly manicured hand. "I'll get you out of here, but I have to report to the boss as well, and I think you were about to say his name."

"I'm not that stupid," Ujiko retorted. "That's why I haven't needed personal supervision, like Toga! She'll blab the instant anyone looks at her funny!" Sheesh. Toga was the one Imoku had kept close and it sure as hell wasn't for her charming personality. It was because she was dumb. She thought her ability was perfect but Ujiko knew Imoku was keeping her close to ensure she didn't blab. Of all the League Toga was a weak link.

The lawyer smiled thinly. She pulled a tablet out of her document pocket. "That's not what the transcript indicates," she said, holding up the tablet to display a screen. These days, transcripts of interrogations were simply digitised from the mics in the room. They were virtually instantaneous. And since it was all automatic, there was no question about what happened. Her nails highlighted the words.

DNT: We know when you are lying.

PERP: All right. What do you want to know?

DNT: Everything. Start at the top.

PERP: What, at Dabi?

DNT: Not Dabi. We want to know the real leader.

PERP: Okay.

Hikokuno tapped at the final word. Okay.

Ujiko winced. Laid out in text it looked bad. "I had to say something!" she growled.

There was a ping. Hikokuno put the tablet down and reached into her jacket pocket. She pulled out a small phone. She read the message. "That's what I thought," she murmured, before putting the phone back into her pocket.

Hikokuno looked up, and smiled. It was not a nice smile. She raised one hand, and scratched at her neck, just behind her ear, before she flipped her hand forward.

Ujiko had braced at the smile but she hadn't expected the knife. Her eyes widened as it thunked into her shoulder. "Huh?"

There was a commotion from outside. The Police couldn't record the encounter, but they could watch. Another knife followed as Hikokuno rose. Ujiko couldn't defend herself. Her hands were chained to the table and she couldn't move. Ujiko's breath left her and she tasted blood.

"The boss is tired of your side businesses," Hikokuno said and Ujiko's eyes widened as her form melted.

"Toga…" she managed to say. Her eyes fixed on the other member of the League of Villains but her vision was narrowing. Toga might be a moron but she knew her way around a knife.

The vicious smile with a melting face was haunting. "And since you were about to blab, you are a liability," she added, her voice changing from the sophisticated woman into Toga's usual high pitched babble. Toga turned her grin to the door. "Bye bye."

A swirl of darkness appeared behind Toga and enveloped her, vanishing just as the bullets hit the wall.

Ujiko stared at the spot as her breathing became wet. The cops were yelling at her. Someone pushed her chest. There was nothing sexual about the motion. They were trying to stem the blood flow. It didn't matter. Blood loss wasn't the problem. The steel in her heart was.

A thousand things flowed through her mind but one stayed with clarity.

He'd planned this. Ujiko choked on blood. She tried to say his name but couldn't. Her vision was dark but she could see Imoku in her mind's eye. He was watching her with those sharp green eyes that saw so much. He had been chosen by Sensei and even dying she felt an absurd thankfulness that he hadn't taken her quirk even if he had killed her.

He had planned this, and as she breathed her last, Ujiko had the final thought, what else had he planned?

-afop-

"God damn fucking worthless arseholes!"

It was fair to say Bakugou was in a bad mood. He was raging on a beach which was strewn with rubbish.

"We had him!" he raged.

Aizawa couldn't agree with that. They had Ujiko, not Imoku. She had confirmed that the real boss of the League wasn't Dabi and according to the transcript, she had been about to reveal who that was when her lawyer arrived.

That was probably what was pissing off Katsuki. Police were meant to check that no one was using a quirk when they went into those rooms. Especially when they presented as a lawyer. The station was insisting the checks had been done but that this Hikokuno Bengoshi came up clean!

Please, even the name was suspect! How could they not have noticed?

And now Ujiko was dead, they knew Kurogiri was alive and well, and active, and Toga had gotten away.

And they had nothing on Imoku.

Again.

If he was the boss of the League, he was very, very good at ensuring no one knew it.

Aizawa hissed as watched Bakugou rage. At least the vigilante's frustration was cleaning up a part of the beach, even if it was just detonating the garbage.

Most villains made mistakes. They liked to brag. It was what made them villains.

He thought about the cases he'd had as an underground hero. There was always something the villain did wrong. Even the most frustrating cases, even the most clever of them. He refused to believe that Imoku was not making a mistake somewhere.

They just had to find it.

But he wasn't making it easy. He'd had the horrible thought that maybe Imoku Kakurete was exactly who he appeared to be. It was not an easy thought but it was logical. Maybe the real villain was just making them think he was Kakurete.

Except…

No! Aizawa refused to dwell on that. No villain was that smart. And there were simply too many questions about Kakurete. Bakugou was also positive that Imoku was the bad guy. While as a teen he had been assessed out of the Hero program, that didn't change his instinct. Katsuki was brash but he had good skills.

And Imoku had apparently spoken to him. It had taken a while but Shouta had gotten a bad vid feed from that encounter. It was wobbly and blurred and taken from a phone, but there was something in the way Imoku had moved. It was more than confidence, it was something that told Aizawa that the politician had never been in doubt as to the outcome. And then afterwards, when Bakugou was on the ground, it was hard to see but Kakurete had just radiated smugness. For a politician, it wasn't unusual but after confronting someone that young, it wasn't right.

There was a footfall from behind him. Shouta turned. Kirishima stood there. His head was bowed.

"I'm sorry," the special forces member said.

Shouta gave his acknowledgement but turned back to Bakugou. He was still swearing and while he was generally quite repetitive, once he got going, he displayed the breadth of his vocabulary in that particular aspect of speech.

"It's not your fault," Aizawa told Kirishima.

"We should have put her under better guard, especially once it became clear she was going to talk."

Aizawa nodded. He'd had this type of thought before. In hindsight it was always easy to see what should have been done. "You couldn't have stopped Toga," he reminded the other man as they both watched Bakugou work out his anger. Microwaves, ovens, refrigerators. It didn't matter what it was. It was all being blasted to pieces.

"We should have picked up her quirk," Kirishima objected.

That was true but they'd already gone through that. "No, what I mean was that you couldn't have stopped the lawyer," he clarified. The police had to let Ujiko's lawyer see her. And while it had been Toga this time, Aizawa was certain the League would have been able to find someone else, a real lawyer who'd do their dirty work.

They already had them, just that those lawyers didn't actually kill. They would have worked something out.

"I don't know why they killed her," Kirishima said, moving on.

Aizawa gave his former student a look. One that told Enjiro he was being stupid.

"Not that, Sensei!" He held up his hands defensively. Over the years, Kirishima had learned to think faster. "Kurogiri pulled out Toga. They could have done the same to Ujiko. Sending in Toga gives us information since we now know they can circumvent the quirk check."

That was true.

"That's what I don't understand," Kirishima finished.

"Because that fucking Deku is showing off!" Bakugou growled, stomping up to them.

Shouta blinked. Was that the mistake Imoku was making? Was he actually showing off with these events? Except, how did they trap him in the act? That was the question.

"He's fucking rubbing our faces in the fact we can't do anything to him!"

That might be true but there was still nothing Shouta could see to leverage. He sighed. "This is not your failure," he told Katsuki.

"I'm fucking killing that bitch next time I see her!" Bakugou snarled, explosions popping on his hands.

"Questioning her might be better," Kirishima suggested.

Aizawa noted he had his quirk active. Kirishima had definitely learned a lot since UA.

"I'll fucking question her! She'll be begging me to sing!" He was breathing hard.

"Then how do we find her?"

"We?" Katsuki snapped. "There is no fucking we! I'll do the work, as usual."

Kirishima gave his friend a look. "Ujiko was only taken in because I agreed to pretend, but if even one person from the bar spoke up, you know it would have all fallen apart. Ujiko isn't that well known as a League member."

"Toga is though," Bakugou countered.

"Yes, but you still have to follow process."

At that Katsuki laughed. "I'm a vigilante," he announced proudly. "There is no fucking process beyond beat the shit out of them until they talk."

Kirishima looked to Aizawa, as if in appeal. The former underground hero just stared blankly back. Bakugou had put it crudely but that was the limit of his process. He didn't have to play by the rules and he was coming to believe that in this case… maybe that was the only way to win since the rules did seem to be protecting Kakurete. And even more than that, he was in a position to make the rules favour him.

"You still have to find her," Kirishima eventually countered.

"Oh, I will," Katsuki muttered, gritting his teeth. "The only way that shitty Deku wins is over my dead body."

Aizawa nodded. Kirishima did as well. They knew Bakugou. Others might think the statement merely rhetoric. The vigilante would make it true, if that's what it took.

And that's why they would succeed. Eventually.

-afop-

Notes (Because I'm lazy with names)

被告の弁護士 Hikoku no bengoshi translates defendant's lawyer

-afop-