Chapter 3 – Walked Through Hell
Tsukauchi kept his word and left the recorder off. He set it on the bed in full view of both of them and watched the woman as she told him things he already knew from her files. Her hazel eyes cautious and guarded as she spoke.
Aine Satterfield, 27 years old with dual citizenship in the British Isles and Japan. Her parents died when she was 6 years of age and she had been sent to Japan to live with a family friend, Hiruma Mashiro. Mashiro had worked as a janitor for a gymnastics school until it shut down shortly before all references to the child Aine in Japan ended. From the time she finished middle school, no records existed until a record of a University Entrance Qualification Examination taken when she was 21.
As for her guardian, the report stated Mashiro's body had been found in a river 2 years after the school had shut down, the coroner ruled the death as accidental, drowning after suffering a stroke.
"After the gymnastics school shut down, my uncle couldn't find work. He ended up going into debt with a local gang just to keep afloat. He resented the extra mouth to feed once things started to go south and blamed me for his luck turning sour." Her voice never wavered, other than a small piece of vitriol over the title "uncle".
"Lucky for him, they decided my quirk was useful for their operations, so they offered to wipe away his debt if he let them take me." a chill had found its way into her voice, "I don't think I need to explain the choice he made." Her eyes went back to her hands.
"I helped them with their grifting schemes, made people fall asleep so they could take their wallets, petty things like that. They saw me as nothing more than a tool, and I was treated as such. Then, they decided they needed to do something with a larger payout – a large scale robbery. When I got scared and refused to help, they tossed me out on the street and said they would deal with me when they got back." She chuckled and shook her head, "They never made it back, busted by pro-heroes."
She leaned back, "I can laugh about it now, but I was scared shitless back then. A few weeks away from turning 16 and completely on my own. That's when he came for me…the one they call All for One."
Tsukauchi's eyes widened at the mention of the name.
Aine could remember it like it was yesterday.
"You look awfully young to be out here all alone." the well-dressed man extended a hand towards her.
She looked at his hand and then back up to his face, "I'm not a fucking charity case. Move along, find someone else to make your rich ass feel better about yourself."
As she turned to walk away, she heard a low rumbling chuckle come from the man. It sent ice through her veins, but she refused to let him see that fear.
"How old are you, child?" he dropped his hand but still stood at the end of the alleyway.
"I'm 15."
The man put his hands into the pockets on his suit pants, "15? Shouldn't you be in school?"
"Shouldn't you be anywhere but bothering me?", she heard the chirp of her monitor in her pocket. Pulling it out to check it she saw the readout 'Blood sugar low, vitamin levels low'. She shoved the monitor back into her pocket.
"When was the last time you ate, child?"
"I'm fine, I don't need a fucking handout and stop calling me a goddamn child!" Aine sneered at the man.
"No handouts," He stepped closer, an almost feral smile played across his lips as he looked down on her, "What is your quirk?"
Aine crossed her arms, "Mental Manipulation. Nothing flashy. I can basically make people sleep at will or make them see things that aren't there. Why?"
The man regarded her for a moment, "What a coincidence. Seems I might have a job for you if you are interested of course. My son has been struggling to sleep and his current caretaker needs assistance with him while I am away. Would you be willing to help us, in exchange for room and board?" He held his hand out towards her again.
She regarded him for a moment, "No catch?"
"None."
She took his hand and shook it, "It's a deal then, Mr.?"
"Shigaraki. Come, let's introduce you to the family."
"I spent the next several years in the 'family'. He trained me to fight, fed me, gave me a roof over my head and in exchange I helped Tomura – his son – sleep and helped in the occasional mission. I thought I had it made."
Tsukauchi watched as she scooted herself further on the bed and laid her hands in her lap, "Where the ones who took you part of that group?" he asked
Aine shook her head, "Just him, we only worked together once or twice as he was just a grunt back then and worked more doing errands for the doctor that All for One himself." she pointed to the picture that had made her freeze.
He made a mental note before he gestured for her to continue.
"Little by little, Tomura needed less of my quirk to help him sleep. As he needed me less and less, All for One started to have me go on more and more missions. Mostly to capture people for their quirks. After several of my missions failed to bring in one of his targets, All for One started having people train me on using more my quirk. Expanding it, strengthening it, seeing what exactly it could do. At first, I was flattered. Until I overheard something I wasn't supposed to." She crossed her arms across her chest and sighed.
"I was almost 20 and had gained near mastery of my quirk but still couldn't catch my target. After training one day, I still had energy to burn off, so I decided to walk around outside. I heard their voices through one of the windows. Sitting underneath, I heard the man I had started to trust like a father – who I thought had SAVED me – talking with his doctor about quirks. Then, I heard my name."
Tsukauchi leaned forward, elbows on his knees and hands clasped as Aine closed her eyes.
"They were planning on taking my quirk and giving it to All for One. After failing so many times to bring him the latest target coupled with the fact that Tomura no longer needed my assistance, he told the doctor that it was time to 'take what is useful and get rid of the useless'. He said he believed the training and missions he had sent me on had 'done the trick' in strengthening my quirk to a level he found acceptable for assimilation."
Her eyes opened and Tsukauchi swore he saw fire behind them, "Without a second thought, I ran. Bouncing from place to place, joining different groups and then running again when they found me. When I heard he was finally defeated by All Might, I decided it was time to come home and we all know how that went."
Aine closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose, mental and physical exhaustion apparent on her face, "I don't mean to sound rude, Detective, but I think this interview is over."
Tsukauchi shook his head, smiling, "Thank you for your time, Miss Satterfield. As promised, everything you told me after the recorder was shut off is just between you and me. Is there anyone you want me to reach out to for you?" he placed the recorder back into his pocket.
A sad look flitted across her face before she gave him a smile that didn't reach her eyes, "No, there isn't anyone I can think of. Thank you."
He gave a small bow and exited the door, closing it gently behind him and pulling out his phone.
Sleep had come quickly. Thankfully, her nurse had tried his hardest to let her sleep as uninterrupted as possible. When she finally woke up fully, it was daylight again. A new nurse, this one was a woman with orange skin, black hair, and bright pink eyes, had been in to change her IV bag and check her vitals. Her nose smelled the breakfast tray before her eyes landed on it. As soon as the nurse left, Aine dug into the food. It wasn't the best, being hospital food what could she expect, but it was nice to have warm food.
She had just finished eating and had relaxed back in her bed when the nurse popped into the room.
"Miss Satterfield, you have a visitor."
"Thank you, send them in." Who could be coming to see me? Is it the Detective?
Her thoughts quieted as the person in question entered the room.
Her breath hitched in her throat and her eyes widened.
"Hizashi!"
He wasn't in his hero costume, just a sweatshirt and a pair of jeans. His bright yellow hair done in a half-bun.
Any happiness she had at seeing her old friend quickly fell as she took in his serious expression. His eyes burned into her from behind his glasses as he took a breath, "I'm not sure whether to be glad you are alive or angry for what you put Shou through. Hell, Nemuri and me too!"
Aine's face burned, she felt like a chastised child. "Please let me explain…"
"Explain what? Explain running away in the middle of the night? Explain disappearing for 3 years? We thought YOU WERE DEAD!" he paused to collect himself after almost accidentally activating his quirk. The nurse looked into the door and seeing everyone still standing, excused herself back out.
"Maybe explain why you didn't even say goodbye. Why you just left that note 'Don't follow me' knowing full well Shou wasn't going to leave it at that?! Did you know we chased every single possible lead to find you?"
Shell-shocked couldn't begin to describe how Aine was feeling. She couldn't argue with the angry blonde because she knew it was wrong. She had known back then it was wrong, after everything they had done for her to leave them just like that.
They all hate you, now they will turn their backs on you like the useless thing you are. All for One's voice hissed in her head, this time she didn't argue back.
Hizashi sighed, took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. "I could see it in his face, it was like losing Oborro all over again. Only this time there was no body, no memorial, just an empty space in the apartment."
"I'm sorry, just let me explain why…"
He scoffed, closing his eyes, and shaking his head.
"I don't know what prompted you to come back and right now, honestly, I don't care." He turned towards the door, stopping to look at her over his shoulder. "Don't expect forgiveness. If you are going to run again, just get it over with." With that, he stepped out of the door.
Aine let out a shaky breath, shaking her head to clear it, and staring with grim determination at the closing door.
I'll prove it to you, Hizashi…. I'm done running.
Shouta had just finished pouring his third cup of coffee when he heard the door to the teachers' dorm slam open.
He watched as Hizashi stormed across the common area towards the stairs. If he noticed Shouta, he didn't say anything.
Hizashi disappeared upstairs.
Should I check on him? A door slammed, he heard Vlad curse. Maybe after he has cooled off some.
The rest of the day passed uneventfully for Aine. Her levels were all coming up and holding steady so the doctor said she could be discharged within the next day or two.
As visiting hours were winding down the 4th day of her hospital stay, the kindly male nurse – Taketa – peaked in towards her.
"Miss Satterfield, are you feeling up to visitors?" he smiled his gentle smile as he asked.
"Yes," she smiled back, "It's alright, send them in."
Detective Tsukauchi walked in flanked by a very tired looking man with wild blonde hair and a small white creature that could be a rat-or maybe a dog – possibly a miniature polar bear?
"Good evening, Miss Satterfield! It's been a while!" the detective smiled.
Aine smiled back, "You nearly missed me! They say I might be discharged tomorrow."
Tsukauchi cleared his throat, "That's actually part of why we are here. This is Yokumiru Mera from the Hero Public Safety Commission…" The blonde gentleman bowed.
"And I am Principal Nedzu of UA High." the furry member of the trio introduced himself with a small bow.
Tsukauchi nodded at the principal, why would they bring a high school principal here?
"Miss Satterfield, I have been running the investigation into your abduction ever since we had our interview the other day. Unfortunately, none of the members there were willing to speak so whoever it was that ordered your kidnapping is still at large. Until we find them, we have to find someplace for you to stay while I continue my investigation. That's where Mr. Mera and Principal Nedzu come in."
The blonde man looked like he would rather be anyplace but here, "Miss Satterfield, the commission thinks it will be best for you to be placed under protective custody at one of our safehouses. You will be under constant supervision with round the clock guards. Your comings and goings will be escorted by them as well."
Aine crossed her arms, "So, house arrest basically? That sounds just delightful." The last word dripped with sarcasm.
The principal stepped forward with his paw raised, "I propose a different solution. You see, several years ago I had an application come across my desk for our counselor position with the name 'Aine Satterfield'. I believe that was you, wasn't it?"
Her thoughts drifted to the memory –
"Come on Aine! It could be fun! All 4 of us working together." Nemuri beamed at her.
Aine stared at the paper in her hand, an application.
"I haven't even finished my degree yet, what makes you think they would even hire me?" she chuckled.
"Your quirk is perfect for the job. Besides, I'm sure they would be willing to work with you while you finish your courses." Shouta sat across the table from her. "Couldn't hurt to try."
Hizashi slapped a hand on her shoulder, shaking it slightly, his eyes glinting with mischief, "I need my prank partner to help me keep these two on their toes!"
"In that case," Shouta reached over and plucked the application from her hand.
"HEY!" Aine laughed and lunged across the table to grab it back. "Just for that, I'm going to apply AND see if I can't get an office right next door to yours!" She grinned.
Laughter erupted through the room at the look of feigned horror on Shouta's face. The sound filled her with warmth.
She grabbed the pen, "Worst they can say is 'no', right?"
"Yes, that was over 3 years ago." Aine smiled sadly at the memory, Hizashi's anger from the previous morning still fresh on her mind and contrasting sharply with the shared laughter of friends in her memories.
The principal clapped his paws together, "Marvelous! Now, my proposal is that you come to UA to live and work as one of our counselors. No need to apply, I had accepted your application but since you were not in Japan at the time, we simply put your application on hold, in a state of limbo you could say."
Yokumiru looked at the small creature, "All due respect, Principal Nedzu but you already have Hound Dog as your counselor and adding her to the staff could…."
Nezu met Yokumiru's gaze, eyes flashing "Oh but she was already part of the staff, just unofficially. With all the events that have transpired this year, I believe it more than warrants adding a second counselor. Even if just to handle the PTSD issues. This would free up Hound Dog to focus on the upper-level students and security patrols while Miss Satterfield here would take over for incoming students as well as our first-years."
The principal turned back to Aine, "Miss Satterfield, we recently moved our entire staff and student body onto UA campus. In addition to patrols, we have extensive security measures in place. Not to mention with the number of pro-heroes on staff you would be well protected as well as providing a service we need to benefit our students."
So, my choices are be confined with 24/7 supervision, or live and work at a high school.
"How soon can I move in, Principal Nedzu?"
She swore the grin on his face towards Mr. Yokumiru was the smuggest and scariest thing she had ever seen.