Heroes in the Dark chapter 36

By now Tokoyami should've figured that he'd be used to being at a loss, but this was unprecedented. Could he really believe that with mere insistence alone he could get through to the likes of Overhaul? He didn't even want to think about the frustrations he might be causing the yakuza, or what irritation the man might be harboring at this very moment. But despite his coldness and initial disdain at the idea that had been brought to him, Tokoyami had prevailed in the smallest of ways on Eri's behalf. Wasn't that something worth being grateful for?

He's only doing it because there might be something gained from it. Never let down your guard.

Tokoyami grimaced. He was no longer certain if this was what he wanted. Or rather, that much didn't matter. Because it's Eri who wants to go outside. I can't imagine that this will get me into any sort of trouble, but at this point there's truly no way of knowing.

They had been making their way through the halls for quite some time now. After Overhaul had briefed Chronostasis on what was happening, they'd wasted no time in leaving the room. The raincoat wearing yakuza had been confused by the abrupt turn of events, but followed orders all the same. He'd picked up Eri off the bed as though he'd done it a million times before and hoisted her into his arms with the intent of carrying her the whole way. Tokoyami wasn't sure if he was supposed to object to this – Eri didn't look like she was very comfortable, her eyebrows knitted in worry and small hands clutching the fabric of the coat. But there was no other way. It didn't appear as though she'd be able to walk any substantial distance in the condition she was in, let alone keep pace with the older figures had she been stubborn enough to walk anyway. But she'd made no indication that she was going to object, and upon catching sight of Tokoyami had relaxed.

And so it was like this that they traversed the halls, with Overhaul leading the way knowingly through the twists and turns. Tokoyami did his best not to drag his heels, but after having to follow people like this around for so long, he was growing awfully weary of it. At least this time maybe he didn't have to question if he was being led astray, or that just by following this individual the outcome would be inherently unpleasant.

As usual, he couldn't possibly have recognized anything as they walked. But then they reached a set of steps, possible the only one of its kind down here for all he knew. Overhaul did something – with his back turned, he wasn't sure what – and the ceiling above where the stairs led opened with a flourish, unveiling a different kind of light, warmer and softer than the fluorescent ones that lit the underground halls.

Climbing to the top of the stairs, it was just as he remembered – a minimalistic, pristinely cleaned Japanese style mansion on the inside. When they'd left the eerie underground behind, the trap door mechanism fell back into place, as though nothing at all had been there. Turning their backs to where their dark secrets lay hidden, they walked through the unnervingly typical home until they reached the main doors that would take them outside.

Overhaul glared down at him, hesitating before the gleaming doorknob. "No tricks or futile attempts at escape are to be had. This is your reward and if anything happens that puts you or Eri out of line, you will not get another. Instead you'll have to face the consequences without question. So play nice."

And then they were outside, stepping out into the courtyard. It was a warm autumn afternoon, and sunlight shined gently upon the immaculately trimmed hedges and undecorated marble structures that sparsely dappled the open area.

Tokoyami couldn't help but close his eyes and let his feathers soak in the warm rays. There was no knowing how long he'd be able to enjoy such luxuries.

A movement to his left snapped him back to attention, and he watched as Chrono gently set Eri down. She looked a bit dizzy, still holding onto his raincoat like second nature, but she was standing just fine.

"You are to stay in the open courtyard where I can see you," Overhaul said, giving his spiel of orders. "I don't want you even getting close to the front door, despite it being securely locked. Don't play too hard and don't dirty your bandages. You have one hour."

"What will you be doing during this time?" Tokoyami ventured to ask.

Overhaul's shoulders relaxed a bit. "I need to talk with Kurono, but don't think for a second that my attention will be diverted."

Tokoyami nodded in understanding, though somehow he got the impression that this was just as much a break for the yakuza boss. Whatever the case, as he walked away from the two with Eri dogging curiously at his heels, he could feel the penetrating glare on his back lessen after a moment. Regardless of what those two had to talk about, all that mattered is that they weren't following him now, and they were safely out of earshot.

Tokoyami was finally able to look down and appraise the young girl following at his side, more so now that there was nobody breathing down their necks. She looked uncertain, and her breathing was a bit ragged. But her eyes were shining with excitement.

"Are you doing alright?" It was a simple question, but she seemed surprised to hear it. She gave a small nod. Then, realizing something, decided to speak up.

"Y-yeah, I'm still just a bit tired is all," she mumbled.

"Then why don't we hold off on any playing and sit in the grass for a while," Tokoyami suggested.

She stopped to consider that option for a while. "Would that be okay?"

"It's whatever you want," Tokoyami encouraged patiently. "Why don't you pick out a good place where we may rest?"

Eri looked around at the open area in what might've been wonder, the choice given to her. She pointed towards a marble bench nestled next to one of the hedges. It was within Overhaul's line of sight, so it should be fine. Tokoyami nodded his head and let the young girl lead him there.

Instead of sitting on the bench, she made herself comfortable on the patch of grass next to it. Tokoyami noticed that the grass underneath it was taller than the rest of the lawn, and a few rare weeds stretched out from under it. In a place where everything was orderly and controlled, this one patch had been missed.

Tokoyami sat on the ground beside her and leaned his back against the bench. Just to be sure, he looked over to where Overhaul and Chrono were still standing. Overhaul took notice and stared back at him evenly. With their masks on, he couldn't be sure if they were actually talking about anything.

Tokoyami sighed and bowed his head, averting his gaze. This was fine. Nothing he could ever get used to, but for now it was acceptable. In the warmth of the sunlight, he could feel his aches and pains fading. Dark Shadow, he could feel, was more mellowed out than he'd been in days, idly whispering meaningless passing thoughts that he couldn't make out but probably didn't matter. Tokoyami wouldn't have minded if the next hour passed just like this. But this wasn't for him.

Tokoyami cracked an eye. Eri was absentmindedly plucking away at the grass. It didn't look like a very immersive game. He straightened up and tilted his head to the side like a curious bird. "So Eri, do they let you out here often?"

She watch a blade of grass flutter from her fingers. "I don't… usually think to ask. I would normally just stay in my room. I've been outside a few times, but it's not always for the best…"

Tokoyami plucked a little white flower from under the bench. "Has it always been this way, if you don't mind me asking?"

Eri shook her head. Her hands had stopped roaming the ground. "I used to live with my parents. Everything was fine for a while… until my quirk developed." She looked up at him, her expression sad, and Tokoyami decided that he wouldn't push this subject further. There was no point in bringing up old wounds just so that he could learn more about her.

Instead he dipped his beak. "I understand. Quirks aren't… always what you expect them to be. And when they materialize for the first time, it can be quite a surprise."

Dark Shadow snickered in his mind. I'm the best surprise you ever could've asked for, though. Right? There was no malice in those words, just an honest question, but still he didn't justify the quirk with an answer.

Eri's voice was small and shaky. "But what if you end up hurting people because of it?"

That put them both on alert. Fumikage…

Tokoyami picked another flower. "It's a dangerous world…" he began, not sure where his words would take him. "These things happen, and it's not going to come easily. The only way we can quell these fears is by conquering the darkness we hold within ourselves. It takes control, and learning. And that takes time and patience."

She was looking at him now with a mixture or uncertainty and fascination, and he felt compelled to continue. Well? Aren't you going to go on? Tokoyami breathed a weary sigh. "Eri, the reason why I'm here is because I hurt someone very important, because I wasn't able to control my quirk… and my emotions. I never intended for it to happen, but I did something unforgivable, and now I'm paying the consequences."

She scooted away from him a bit, which hurt him more than he thought it would. "Does that make you a dangerous person?"

Tokoyami fiddled with the flowers in his hands. "I don't think so. Although I guess that depends on who you are. I don't want to hurt innocent or good people. I'm trying to train my quirk, but it's hard because I'm no longer sure how much I truly understood it. But I still have to try. That way, the only people who will view me as a hazard are the people who decisively call themselves villains in this world and enact wrongdoings. Do you understand?"

"And that's what heroes are, right? People with amazing quirks that use their powers for good?" Eri asked. She exhaled a wistful breath. "That's amazing, that there's people like that." She looked past him, towards the wall that separated them from the rest of the city. They were so close to the outside world, it was agonizing. It made him wonder if anyone knew where he was, if the heroes – if Midoriya – was trying to find Eri so that she could be taken away from this place. Or maybe he was the only one here that had any chance of setting anything right.

"Eri, how did you ever escape a place like this?"

She scrunched up his dress worriedly. "I-it's not worth it. You shouldn't be trying anything. I don't want to see you get in trouble again because of me."

"You haven't put me in any sort of trouble. Everything I do is of my own intentions," Tokoyami assured, as though that was supposed to be any sort of comfort.

She looked around cautiously, as though fearful of someone overhearing, but the only ones visible were Overhaul and Chrono, still in the distance. "You've seen them be used, the master keycards. Overhaul and all the Precepts have one, and then you can access any door in the building, including the gates. I… I did something bad and stole mine from my last caretaker. It didn't end well for him."

"Every door in the building…" Tokoyami mused, repeating the simple words that held so much possibility.

"There's… there's a lot of doors that are better left closed. Too many things you shouldn't be trying to see. You don't have to do anything extra just for my sake. It'd be best if you just kept your head low and tried staying away from Overhaul," Eri warned, her voice deadly serious. She probably knew these words better than anyone.

"I think it's a bit too late for that," Tokoyami sighed dejectedly.

You'd be a lot better off if you just followed her advice, though.

And I'm aware of that. But I can't afford to do so, on what little pride as a hero I have left.

… … …

Eri was staring at him with that concerned expression again, and he found that he couldn't look away. "I'm sorry, Eri. You shouldn't have to hear that. I don't want you to be worried for my sake. I'd much rather prefer if you just looked out for yourself to the best of your ability. Can you do that for me?"

She nodded numbly, her eyes downcast, and Tokoyami felt a twinge in his chest.

"You're far too young to have to worry about such things," he lamented. She gave no response. "…Which is why I brought you something." She perked her head up this time.

Reaching into his pockets, Tokoyami produced an apple from under his cloak, brandishing it like a jewel that shined a bright red in the sunlight. Eri inhaled sharply, caught by surprise at the grandeur display, and her eyes gleamed when she recognized the ordinary fruit in his hand.

"An apple!" she exclaimed, almost a bit too happily for something so simple. "Thank you, Tsukoyomi!"

Hearing his hero name come from the mouth of another was jarring, and he wondered why she'd chosen to use that instead of his real name. Hm. Maybe she hadn't heard my introduction? I suppose there's no harm in her referring to me like this, though. "It is the best of life's simple pleasantries," Tokoyami agreed rather solemnly, depositing it into her outstretched hands. "I've kept two parts of my oath to you now, and within a timely matter no less. And I intend to accomplish the rest as well."

She looked at him quizzically as she bit into the apple. Tokoyami cleared his throat awkwardly, producing a second apple from his cloak for him to enjoy. "But that's hardly important right now. Truthfully, the most pressing matter right now is that this is a good day to be enjoying such things like this, regardless of the circumstances."

She hummed in content. He wasn't sure how much of that the young girl understood, but for now at least she was at peace, and that was all that mattered.

They relished in the sweetness of their apples in relative silence. After being with the League for so long, usually any sort of outing like this would've taken place within the forest. But now he had only to listen to the distant city sounds to understand where it was that he had found himself. He'd never considered this before, and still this place was more foreign to him than he ever would've liked, but there was a certain sense of familiarity involved with being surrounded by these types of manmade walls. He could clearly see the skyscrapers and larger buildings rising up beyond the walls of Overhaul's headquarters. And strange as it was, it offered a certain kind of comfort. As though he wasn't an unwilling party in all this. As though he wasn't involved in villainous schemes being spearheaded by a group of yakuza.

He finished his apple with a dejected sigh. As much as he enjoyed such things, at the moment the apple's taste felt heavy on his tongue. He set the well-picked core down beside him and went back to fiddling with the small flowers. Eri watched him curiously as she continued to nibble away at her own fruit.

"What are you doing?" she asked innocently, peering over at him.

"Nothing important, I suppose," he mumbled. But noticing the way she was looking at him, he couldn't just leave it at that. Squirming with embarrassment, he held up the start of his little project. "It's, ah, something the girls in my class would do. If you have enough flowers, you can make a chain like this by connecting them together."

Eri gazed upon it in wonder, so apparently he was doing something right.

"Is this something you would be interested in?" Tokoyami asked. "Besides sitting on the grass, of course. I fear there's not a whole lot we can accomplish out here."

He gently handed the small start of the flower chain to Eri for her to observe in detail. "Oh, I see. You put little holes in the stem, and then piece them together like that? Can I try?"

"By all means, carry on this legacy," Tokoyami agreed, watching her figure it out. She picked another one of the weeds from under the bench and fed it through the hole he'd made in preparation for the next flower. But when she tried to make a hole through the stem herself, it ended up splitting instead. Upset, she set the chain on the ground before him, relinquishing her possession of it for fear that she might ruin it further.

"I keep breaking things," she whimpered miserably.

Tokoyami picked up the chain and took out the flower she'd put in. "No you didn't, everything is fine," he said patiently, remembering her feelings when she'd "broken" his feather. "It was your first time trying this, so I'm not surprised. It takes practice and understanding, as does all things. And even if you may believe it to be broken, there is more to something than just appearances." He pinched off the ruined part of the stem and offered it back to Eri. But she looked confused, as though she wasn't sure what she'd do with such a thing. With a gentle sigh, he stretched his arm out further and placed the flower behind her ear. Little girls liked this sort of thing, right?

Apparently so, because Eri kept prodding at the flower in her hair with wonder, like it was the most amazing thing ever. And for some reason Tokoyami couldn't help but be frustrated by such a revelation. This little girl, she really didn't ask for much, and yet it seemed as though being miserable was the norm for her. These little times of wonder were but a passing period of joy that never seemed to last very long. So why? Why couldn't she hold onto these things and have more happiness in her life? He had to ask himself just what it was that had led her to these circumstances and the feeling of hopelessness he kept seeing in her when she wasn't distracted by such fleeting moments. He had to find the source of it all. He wouldn't be content until he did. That way, he could do something about it, and happiness can be the norm for her.

"Just keep trying and you'll get the hang of it. Practice making the holes in the stems with your fingernail," Tokoyami encouraged.

"I think it might be better if you do it…" she said dejectedly. But Tokoyami insisted, passing the unfinished chain back into her small yet capable hands.

"This is something you should learn so that you can do it again in the future."

She seemed to understand what he was saying, a frown tugging at the edges of her mouth as she considered those words. It was a reminder that this was all temporary. That one way or another, they weren't going to be able to do this for very long. Even now, this time was limited

Eri sighed as another flower became split down the stem. Instead of discarding it, though, she added it to her hair. Despite her feelings, she picked up on these things quicker than she gave herself credit for. But it seemed like she was the type to become quickly disheartened by repeated failures. "At this rate, won't we run out of flowers?" she asked. And Tokoyami had to admit, it was a pretty reasonable question.

"That would surely have occurred regardless," he said. "There isn't exactly a sustainable supply of flowers here. Perhaps we should try and find some more?"

"I don't think Overhaul would like it if I was wandering around too much…" she murmured.

Tokoyami didn't question this. "Then would it be alright if I left you for a moment to find some more? In the meantime, you can keep picking the flowers here. I'm sure you'll be able to make some progress on it in my absence."

"You're leaving me?"

"No. Or rather, not for very long, at least. But I'll still be in sight, and if you need me, just call out my name and I'll be at your side. Is that okay?"

Eri hesitated, but nodded in agreement all the same.

"Good. Now do your best, and I'll be right back."

Tokoyami got up in one fluid movement and began searching the area for flowers. It was obvious that his every move was still being monitored, but that made little difference for what he was trying to do.

His eyes scoured the area, on the lookout for the little white and yellow weeds that were needed for the chain.

I don't think Overhaul wanted you here just so that you could pick flowers for the little girl.

It's fine, isn't it? I haven't done anything wrong, and you know it. This is the least of anyone's worries.

I feel like I should disagree, Dark Shadow hummed knowingly.

So much for having a one-track mind, I suppose.

Since when has that ever truly been the case?

Tokoyami shut down the internal conversation much to Dark Shadow's dismay.

Oi! Don't ignore me!

But he was already back to searching for flowers, because right now he just wanted to do something useful for the girl. And Dark Shadow didn't prod his mind further, grumbling to a silence under the light of the sun.

He checked at the base of columns and under other benches, whatever place where the grass might not have been trimmed, and began gathering up flowers for Eri to use. Maybe that was why, focused on his task, he hadn't realized when he'd started to round the corner of the building on the far side of the courtyard, out of sight from Eri and the yakuza.

As he bent to investigate a promising looking spot, a voice that was unfortunately becoming increasingly familiar called out in his direction, and he felt his heart sink.

"Hey! Didn't think I'd be seein' you out here! Did someone let the bird out of the cage, or are you tryin' to escape?" At the sound, Tokoyami set down his collected flowers and rose from his position, facing the confrontation head-on. Who would've guessed he was so ready for this?

"Oh well, that doesn't really matter. You look as rarin' to go as I am!" Rappa snickered, coming towards him at a steady pace and closing the gap between them.

This fool again. I'm not sure how much longer I can stand to see his obnoxious self. Tokoyami couldn't help but think back fondly to the moment where he had destroyed his clone. Granted, those clones were only half of the original's strength, but if the Precept wanted to start another fight, he would be ready to deliver.

No… no I should be trying to avoid this! A confrontation like this isn't going to end well for any one of us. Overhaul's still nearby; I should just go to him.

He started it. He's the one that wants to fight. Shouldn't you deliver so that he won't be a problem in the future? He's an enemy to us and all heroes!

"Rappa, keep your foolishness at bay! You're much too eager to make my job all the more difficult," Tengai chided from where he was walking behind him, ever the voice of reason. "Ah, don't mind us, Tokoyami, young sir. We haven't been given any other orders today and—"

Before he could even finish that thought, Rappa unleashed a punch right towards him, having given no indication of a warning. With equal speed, twin claws comprised of darkness covered his arms and he crossed them together in a block, bracing his feet against the ground and shutting his eyes. He knew it wouldn't feel good, that it would hurt much more than last time, but it was all he could do in that short time frame. He really wants to crush me. Well, I won't give him that satisfaction.

But the impact never came. Only a resounding thud filled the air. He cracked his eyes open in confusion, never letting his guard down. And saw that a transparent dome had protected him from the blow.

"Rappa. What did I just tell you. Stop trying to engage with people who aren't the enemy! If you end up hurting our guest, not only will we be unable to send him to a proper care facility, but I'm the one who will get in the most trouble! Your violent tendencies won't do anyone any good at this rate," Tengai berated, stepping up to separate them. "Ah, do pardon the outburst, young Tokoyami, we didn't mean to bother you."

Another sensible one. "You made this shield around me?"

"That is my quirk, yes," Tengai confirmed. "It is a useful and necessary ability if I'm to continue keeping Rappa over here in check."

Annoyed, Rappa aimed another punch. This time its target wasn't Tokoyami, though, and judging by how half-hearted it was, assumed he was already aware that it wouldn't hit its target. Tengai sighed as he was forced to put up yet another barrier to fend off the blow.

"One of these days you're going to actually hit me. And what will you do then?"

"Celebrate," Rappa laughed from under his mask.

Tengai humphed at the injustice, offended by this declaration. "That will get you nowhere. Don't be such a callous brute!"

"You don't have to be my partner," Rappa argued.

"And who else, pray tell, would be willing to put up with you?"

"Well… probably the kid starin' me down with murderous intent," he said, excitement in his voice like he would get to have his fight after all. "He'd make a great punching bag!"

Even though the barrier had dispersed, Tokoyami hadn't put his own quirk away. It still covered his arms, claws flexing in anticipation. Don't let him taunt you like that again. He's smiling under that mask. Make sure he's not when you're done with him.

"A-ah, but maybe this isn't a good time for idle chit-chat. You came out here with the Boss, correct? It might be good if you head back to him. I wouldn't want to interrupt anything important…" Tengai said, backpedaling swiftly. He tugged at Rappa's arm. Not that it did anything to move him in any way.

"Too late, you're already interruptin' something important!" And Rappa let loose another punch. Tengai tried putting up another shield, but Tokoyami had jumped out of the way first, rolling into a crouch as he hit the ground. "It's not fair, ya' know?! Overhole lets you fight my shitty clone, but is too scared to pit you against the real deal!" Another punch, but this time Tengai puts up a barrier all around him, trapping the blood-thirsty individual inside.

"Enough of this, Rappa! I won't tolerate this any longer!" Tengai hissed. "You'll get your time to fight, but today is not that day! Do you understand this or do I have to keep my barrier up? And it's Overhaul. "

Rappa tested out another punch against the barrier, but he didn't seem interested in trying to break it. This must not be the first time that something like this had occurred. He let out an indignant huff. "Okay, yeah, I hear ya', dammit. Put that shit away, you're no fun."

He did so, releasing his quirk, but stayed vigilant just in case. There wasn't exactly any trust between them, but that was probably a good thing. Given their personalities and quirks, they were always bound to be at odds with each other. As a team, their quirks were amazing, but a clash of ideals would help nobody in any situation.

"Now come on Rappa. You're wasting my patience with these impulses of yours," Tengai said, already walking away. A mistake on his part, really.

"Fine, fine. It's not like anything I do will ever be worse than what Overhole does," Rappa said as he passed by him. But before he could follow Tengai, who was certainly watching him out of the corner of his eye, he bent down low to Tokoyami's height to whisper something only he could hear. "You know he tortures her, right?"

Tokoyami didn't have to ask what he meant by that, or even why he thought it important to mention such a thing. It was just a provocation. But it was so much more than that at the same time. His blood was boiling, and his mind went blank. Except for one thought. Of course I do, isn't it obvious?!

He shoved the hulking brute away from him with a growl, lashing out with the black claws that covered his arms. But as he stumbled away from the blow he was laughing. He finally got what he wanted: an invitation.

Rappa came at him with another punch, but Tokoyami was ready. An invisible wall from Tengai sprouted between them, absorbing the hit, and Tokoyami pushed off the ground, vaulting over it. Hands formed into fists, he bashed Rappa against this wall, producing a strangled grunt of annoyance. "Dammit, Tengai, you're always gettin' in my way!"

"I wouldn't have to if you just behaved yourself!" he said in clear exasperation.

Tokoyami landed behind Rappa and went in for a slash. But another wall stopped his attack. This was starting to get irritating. If he couldn't get another hit in, then what was the point?

And then a cold voice filled with venom rang out over all of them. "Just what the hell do you think you're doing?"

"Ah, Overhaul, Boss! I, well, Rappa was –"

The yakuza boss had finally rounded the corner to see what the commotion was. Chrono wasn't with him – he'd probably been left in charge of overseeing Eri – so it was just him standing alone, eying the three of them like disrespecting pawns that had inconvenienced him through their mere existence.

With Tengai's attention diverted, Rappa tried his best to get one last hit in, since he was already in trouble. Tokoyami had expected as much, though. And instead of stepping away from the blow, he swooped right under him, letting the fist pass harmlessly over him. He'd hoped to never be this close to the brute ever again, but it was almost inevitable at this point. Rappa looked down at him in surprise, not expecting the little bird to come almost underfoot of him.

Brandishing a claw, Tokoyami struck out as hard as he could, sweeping Rappa's legs out from under him and watching the large man topple to the ground with an unsuspecting grunt.

Tokoyami caught sight of a small white rectangle flutter to the ground. Without hesitation, he had Dark Shadow snatch it up and bring it to him, an action that surely would've gone unnoticed.

Tokoyami jumped back in retreat before Rappa could recover, coming to stand next to a dismayed Tengai. "Ah! Um, that… wasn't supposed to happen either. But. You're still alright, yes? Aha, no harm no foul, right Boss?" Tengai asked, looking frantically between the three of them, no longer certain where he was supposed to be diverting his attention.

"What a disappointment. I thought you'd be much too responsible to allow for something like this to occur," Overhaul sighed. And yet he didn't sound surprised. "And Rappa… you know it's really not much of a fight if your opponent is already tired. And really, I can't have you making a mess of my things." Tokoyami tensed at those words. "Just look at the havoc you've wreaked upon my courtyard. Have you no shame? We could hear your tantrum all the way from the front."

Rappa brushed the dirt off of him with a bitter laugh. "And you didn't think to check on this situation sooner? That's your own fault. I'm just making the most of the resources I'm given, I guess you could say. Ya got a lot of nerve, interruptin' my fun like that!"

"I can't see why Tokoyami would want to fight you again. Don't you ever stop to think that maybe your fights aren't always wanted?" Overhaul drawled.

"Nope!"

Overhaul glared at him, but the muscle-head wasn't backing down. So he directed his cold anger back to Tengai. "Do better to keep him in check. I don't want any more unnecessary damage emerging from your team, or there'll be hell to pay. You, of all people, should take these words to heart. Is this understood?"

"Yes, Boss, of course!" Tengai responded quickly.

"Now leave here."

"R-right…" And Tengai went straight for Rappa, doing his damnedest to herd him away from any possible conflict that could arise if he chooses to stay here any longer. As they turned their backs and began heading in the direction from whence they came, Tokoyami could overhear them not so discretely whispering between each other.

"I could've had him!"

"That's not the point, we're supposed to stay out of trouble with that one! I thought you knew?!"

"Well, yeah, but I'm not gonna let that stop me…" A pause, their voices growing fainter in the distance as Overhaul stepped towards Tokoyami, before Rappa's voice sounded again. "Shit, I think I lost my keycard.

Tengai sighed in exasperation. "Again? We can worry about that later. I don't want to give Overhaul a reason to be more annoyed than he already is. But seriously, Rappa, I don't know what I'm supposed to do with you…"

Just then, Overhaul's shadow fell over him. Tokoyami realized that he was still selectively using his quirk, and quickly dispersed it. But when he looked up to face the yakuza boss, there was no more anger in his expression. No, that had been reserved for the two Precepts only. "Still wanting to fight, are you? Not that I don't appreciate it, but you're creating a disturbance in an area that… isn't suitable for such things. I hadn't anticipated this happening, certainly, and you have only yourself to blame."

"I didn't think I had strayed that far," Tokoyami mumbled dejectedly. "You certainly took your time getting here."

"That can be chalked up to curiosity," he said.

"You were watching."

"More like supervising, really. From a distance. Count yourself lucky that Eri didn't see such an abhorrent display. Such acts of violence disturb her easily."

Tokoyami glared daggers at him, remembering what Rappa had said. Under his cloak, his hands were clenched into fists.

Overhaul leaned away ever so slightly, quirking an eyeball at him. "Did I say something off-putting? Far be it me to be the one causing an upset in all this. But no matter. Due to your actions, we're going to have to end this outing early. You can be the one to explain that to Eri, if you so desire."

Tokoyami nodded. He figured that would be the case, and now he felt guilt well up inside him. But something good had come out of this confrontation after all. Because feeling around in his pockets, he grasped onto the keycard that Rappa had dropped.

"Now come along. Playtime is over."