Shoko made it back home late her head was still swirling with what she'd heard. Izuku was not the same, but maybe this might bring back some of the boy she knew. Izuku was obsessed with causing pain to what he saw as evil people. Villains deserved death in his eyes. She could see how he'd gotten there after what happened with Katsuki. He'd taken a life to save a life and had been punished for it. Shoko couldn't say whether that decision was right. As a kid she believed that Izuku had been treated unfairly he'd saved Katsuki's life. He should have been rewarded for that not that Izuku was looking for praise but still.
Now, after the incident with Stain and what the police captain said to her, Katsuki, and Iida. They had taken things into their own hands and things had worked out, but that wasn't so black and white now. She sighed as she sat in the tub the steam and hot water failing to relax her as they usually did. Did Izuku have this wherever he was? A bath, someplace warm to sleep food to eat? As she thought of that her thoughts turned to Lady Nagant. She'd heard the heroine's name before most likely from Izuku when he went on one of his Hero rants. She smiled at the thought of that young Izuku telling her random facts about this hero or that.
His eyes would light up when he talked about them and that would make her whole body grow warm. She'd missed him so much. There was a lot she hadn't told him when she'd had the chance, and now even though he was alive she didn't know whether her words would reach him. That was why she'd given him the choice of whether to save that girl or kill Chisaki. He hadn't given her an answer but she preferred it that way. Izuku was always someone to speak with his actions more than words. Shoko got out of the bath, walked over to her towel, and dried off.
Her thoughts once again turned to Lady Nagant. The look in Izuku's eyes when he talked about her told her a lot. The reverence he held for her went beyond what he had for other heroes. She'd only seen that look on his face when he talked about All Might as a kid. As Shoko got dressed she wondered if Izuku felt something more than reverence for Lady Nagant. Could he have been in love with her? She hadn't gotten that impression, but she hadn't seen him in nearly a decade. She wasn't so arrogant as to think that she could still read him as well as when they were children. He'd changed in so many ways over the years maybe that was not because of Nagant, but for her.
Shoko walked out of the bathroom in a deep blue robe as she exited the bathroom nearly running into her older sister. "Fuyumi what are you doing?" She asked stepping back as Fuyumi floundered in front of her. Fuyumi adjusted her glasses and smoothed out the t-shirt and pajamas she wore before speaking.
"Oh um sorry, Shoko I was going to wait for you in your room, but you got out of the bath sooner than I expected." She said holding her arms under her bust. Shoko had never really taken the time to compare herself to her sister seeing as she was much older than her, but with these thoughts swirling around her head she couldn't help, but notice the differences between her and her sister. Fuyumi's figure was much softer than her own big breasts and wide hips. Shoko's eyes looked down at Fuyumi's figure making the older girl fidget under her sister's gaze.
"Shoko you're staring," Fuyumi said turning to the side to try and cover herself even though she was fully clothed. Shoko's eyes moved back to Fuyumi's.
"Fuyumi do guys like older girls more than girls their own age?" She asked completely stalling Fuyumi's train of thought. All the time they'd lived together Shoko had never really come to her for womanly advice. Sure there was the occasional shopping trip she, Shoko, and their mother went on when Shoko began coming into her own, but those trips were now far and few between.
"Umm Shoko what brought this on? Is there a…younger sidekick you like or something?" She asked, but if Shoko was considering herself older how much younger was this boy? Fuyumi's face began to flush at thoughts of her younger sister having an indecent relationship with a student or young sidekick. Shoko stared at her sister before taking her hand and practically dragging her into her room and setting her on the bed.
"Shoko what is going on with you? You've been quiet ever since you came home quieter than usual. You can talk to me about anything you know even if you are…doing things with a younger man. I just hope you know what you're getting into and how painful that path will be."
Shoko looked at Fuyumi a rare look of utter confusion on her face. "Fuyumi what are you talking about? I'm still a virgin I haven't had any relationships indecent or otherwise." Fuyumi looked at Shoko embarrassed that her sister would admit her sexual status so bluntly. Then again that was on brand for Shoko. She was never one to mince words.
"T-then why were you asking me about if boys like older women?" She asked looking just as confused as her sister as she adjusted her glasses. Shoko sat down on her bed next to Fuyumi. She'd never been good at opening up like this. She'd never really had to. Izuku knew her better than anyone and always seemed to know what she needed without her saying it. She supposed she was spoiled in that way. Yet another way Izuku had shielded her without her ever knowing.
"I was asking because there's a guy I know who was close with an older woman and he gets this look when he talks about her. I just wanted to know if maybe guys like older women. You're older than me so I thought I'd ask, but I can ask mom." Shoko said starting to rise from her bed only to have Fuyumi grab her hand and her pull her back down with more force than Shoko thought her sister could muster.
"No, that won't be necessary. Sorry, Shoko I was just shocked you'd ask me about such things. You're fiercely independent like dad so I never expected this of you, but I'm ready now." Fuyumi said giving a small cough before facing her sister. "Shoko from what you said this boy isn't with this older woman anymore right?" Fuyumi asked as Shoko nodded.
"He said she left him some years ago." Shoko felt a little bad lying to her sister, but she couldn't exactly tell Fuyumi that Izuku had come back and had been spending the last few years shacked up with a former heroine who was now missing if Izuku was to be believed.
"Then it doesn't matter anymore she doesn't matter anymore Shoko. The only thing you should be thinking of is how to get him to notice you." Fuyumi said mentally patting herself on the back for being a good big sister. She got so little time to actually do the sibling thing with Shoko, so she wasn't going to let this moment pass her by. "For instance, you could-" Fuyumi was cut off by Shoko's phone ringing. She looked at the ID to see it was Iida calling. She could already guess what he was calling to tell her given she had been present for Izuku's call to him.
Shoko picked up the phone before looking at Fuyumi. "Sorry, Fuyumi I have to take this."
Fuyumi hung her head crestfallen. Her moment to be an older sibling to Shoko had come and gone so fast. "I-I understand, but feel free to come by my room later if you want to continue this conversation." She said as she shuffled out of Shoko's room. The last thing she heard was Shoko answering the phone before she shut the door.
"Hello, Iida what is it?"
Katsuki was running on his treadmill. He'd been doing so since he got home from seeing Shoko to hers. He glanced down at the clock and saw it was sometime in the early morning. He'd been running for hours, but he couldn't stop while he had so much on his mind. It was a trait he and Izuku shared. When they were in thought deep in thought the only thing that helped them focus was an exercise they had to be moving or working themselves to focus. He was sure that Izuku was doing the same right now.
Izuku was probably running himself ragged telling himself it was ok everything was fine. Izuku had always been one to give one hundred percent no matter what. It was what made them best friends. Katsuki could always count on Izuku to give him the challenge to rise above where he was before. He'd missed that until he'd entered UA and found others who could push him as well. As he ran he looked at the tablet resting on the bars of the treadmill. On it were pictures and articles about Lady Nagant.
Katsuki wanted to see if what Izuku had said about her held up and for the most part it had. Most said she was killed in action but others mentioned her being missing and that a body was never recovered from her last sighting. The tabloids screamed of a cover-up and Katsuki was inclined to believe them. A hero like Nagant doesn't just disappear or get killed with no evidence. She was just gone.
The biggest question was who could have done it and why? Was it All for One had he may be taken her quirk and disposed of her after the fact? It was likely but still, something about it didn't track with Katsuki. All for One wasn't the type of guy to waste anything even if he did take her quirk there was still a body that could be used, transfigured into a Nomu, and implanted with other quirks. Ever since All for One's death, no new Nomu had been sighted so it's entirely possible that Lady Nagant was truly dead.
The heroes had never found where All for One was making the Nomu or if he was really the one to do so. So many questions were left in the wake of the Symbol of Evil's death. It was only now after seeing and hearing what Izuku said did Katsuki realize that heroes really hadn't been doing enough. Sure All for One was gone, but that didn't mean the fight was over. Overhaul and his plan to rule both heroes and villains proved that.
Katsuki growled and sped up the treadmill as if running faster would somehow force the answer he was looking for to appear. He has drenched in sweat his shirt plastered to his back and chest, but still, Katsuki persisted in his exercise. Suddenly his phone lit up on the treadmill. Katsuki quickly slotted his Bluetooth into place as he saw Iida's name appear on his screen. He knew what the Four Eyes would want as he slowed the treadmill to a stop. "What is it, Iida?" Katsuki asked grabbing a towel and wiping himself off. Immediately Iida told him about Ifrit's call having no idea that Katsuki was there when it was made.
"Alright, I understand I'll be there." He said before hanging up and looking down at his phone before sighing and heading to the bathroom for a shower hopefully he'd worn himself out enough to actually get some sleep.
A criminal held a knife to a young man's throat. "Listen freak fuck off or I'll gut this little fucker! His dad fired us so he's got this coming!" Ifrit dropped the now-dead kidnapper from his grip as he turned to the last one. On either side of him were the corpses of two other men. He'd been moving across Kamino unwilling to stop and rest his mind was whirling with thoughts. He'd seen Katsuki and Shoko for the first time in years just hours ago and his entire body was shaking from that reunion. He was filled with so many emotions he didn't know where to even start processing them.
There was joy at seeing them up close and speaking with them after so long. Katsuki's brash manner of speaking cut through any and all bullshit. Shoko's eloquent and firm voice that conveyed more than most would ever know in her succinct sentences. Then there was the guilt of having left them without a single word. They'd said they believed he was alive but there was no proof of that so they'd just had to believe while a small voice in the back of their head told them he was dead. He groaned at the pain they must have had to bury just to keep going and he was the cause of all that. He'd tried to remain aloof while speaking to them, but truthfully he wanted to hold them to hug them both and never let go. He couldn't though they were on different sides now, fighting for the same thing but in vastly different ways.
"Did you hear me man I said get back!" Izuku was jarred from his inner turmoil realizing that he was in the middle of something far simpler. It was easier for him to fight and kill this man than think about his relationship with his friends. His green eyes zeroed in on the kidnapper and would-be murderer. His hand was shaking he could barely hold the knife steady. He was scared.
"That doesn't matter kill him!" Izuku cocked his head at the return of his inner demon. Ifrit had been silent since Izuku had met up with Shoko and Katsuki, but in their absence, the demon returned in full force. Izuku harnessed Ifrit's frustration and sent a shot of flame searing across the man's hand making him drop the knife as Izuku jetted over to him catching the man by his burned hand and throwing him to the ground. The kid who had been held hostage fell to the ground grasping his throat. Izuku turned to him and narrowed his eyes before uttering one word.
"Leave." The kid needed no more insistence as he took off. Izuku stepped on the kidnapper's chest as he groaned under the weight. Realizing there was nothing left the kidnapper began to beg for his life.
"Please don't kill me. I-I didn't know what to do I just lost everything man! Someone should pay for that bastard firing me!" He shouted making excuses for what he'd done. Izuku glared down at the man as he gripped his boot pleading for his life. "Don't kill me! Have mercy please I-I'll go to the cops I'll turn myself in and everything just don't kill me." Izuku increased the pressure on the man's chest hearing him wheeze.
"Yes kill him! Do it do it now!" Izuku reared back with his flaming fist and drove it forward.
"PLEASE!" The man shouted as Izuku's fist slammed into the ground spraying the man in sparks and bits of concrete.
"This is your last chance don't waste it." He growled before standing up and looking down at him. The man had closed his eyes when he saw Izuku's fist coming for him. He kept them closed as he nodded his head.
"I understand I won't, I promise I won't. I won't tell them anything about you I promise." Izuku was already walking away as the man continued to swear and promise he'd keep his word. Izuku blasted onto the rooftops. Out of sight, but not far. Making sure that his quarry did what he said and made his way to the police. The would-be criminal stood up rubbing his face as he looked at his dead comrades before walking down the street. Izuku followed him along the rooftops.
"NOOOOO!" Izuku visibly flinched as Ifrit screamed in his head. "You let him live he should be dead and burning!" Izuku could feel the heat rising in his body as the voice in his head raged at him. Normally he'd be in complete agreement with the vengeful voice in his head, but now as he walked along the rooftops all he could think of were Shoko's words. "Are you protecting the innocent or punishing the guilty?" It should have been an easy enough question to answer. The blood on his hands was a necessary sacrifice for the good people of the world, but maybe that wasn't the case anymore.
"He was beaten." He said but that had never stopped him before. He'd killed men who'd proclaimed they'd give up their ways that they were desperate or had no choice, so what made this guy any different? He asked himself continuing to watch as the man shuffled along the street seemingly half dead already.
"Shoko has weakened us. Her voice saps our strength to do what's necessary. The girl will be saved by us killing Overhaul. We should go to him now and burn his sickness away." He could, after all, he hadn't told Shoko he agreed to her terms. He should head to Overhaul before he was able to raise his defenses. If he struck now he could get there before the heroes and save the girl. Izuku turned in the direction of Jaku. "Yes!" Ifrit whispered in his head before Izuku turned away continuing to watch his quarry.
The man stopped across the street from the police station. Izuku crouched down watching the man intently. If he did turn away Izuku would not spare him again. The Ifrit would get its wish to burn him to a crisp. He gripped the stone of the roof hard before watching the man walk up to the police station. Izuku watched for a moment before the man was cuffed and taken away. Izuku gave a smirk under his mask as he stood up and faced away from the direction of Jaku.
"No. Shoko's right I-I should go save that little girl. She needs saving more than vengeance." Izuku said as he began rushing off to the hospital that she was being held under. Apparently, Dr. Ujiko was the caretaker of the girl or more likely her torturer now that Chisaki couldn't deal with her himself. It had been a long time since he thought of protecting someone rather than eliminating the threats to their safety. Had he become so accustomed to the blood that he couldn't think of any other way to save someone? Izuku shook his head. "That's not the point. What I've done was necessary just like this nothing more nothing less." He said shaking his head as he headed to Ujiko's hospital. Once he was there he'd find a place to sleep and wait and watch.
Chisaki was certain to have put some security on the goal, but after sending that text to him he was no doubt expecting Ifrit to storm the Demon King's castle with all the fire he could muster. As Izuku leaped over to another building he couldn't help but smirk as he imagined the look on Chisaki's face when he was besieged by a swarm of heroes and not the vigilante that he was expecting.
Dr. Ujiko hung up the phone after speaking with Overhaul. "So it seems I may have been compromised," Ujiko said sitting in his chair and looking at the screens before him. Each screen showed the progress on the latest batch of Trigger and Erasure bullets. He sighed as he thought back to where things had taken a turn for him. He was one of two confidants of All for One. He was trusted with the ancient villain's care and took pride in that. He was honored All for One trusted him enough to let him operate on him. Of course, he could do no less. All for One had come to him at his lowest moment and brought him back from the brink.
Looking around Ujiko could see the plethora of quirks at his disposal, but the supply was dwindling every day. Without All for One he couldn't snatch quirks any longer so his research had practically stalled at this point. When All Might killed All for One the Doctor had wept openly at the loss of his benefactor. He would abide by All for One's plan going forward and raise up Tomura to be his successor. He never really cared for the boy. Dr. Ujiko found Tomura to be nothing more than All for One's rabid dog, but the villain saw something in him and so Ujiko was beholden to help raise the boy into the next Symbol of Evil. He didn't believe Tomura was capable of wearing the crown, but his feelings were irrelevant.
Irrelevant as they were proven true when Tomura was captured by the heroes after the majority of his League of Villains were killed or abandoned him. Ujiko had thought that was the end of the line for him. Without All for One or Tomura he'd have no choice but to work with his steadily dwindling reservoir of stolen quirks before eventually having to stop. It was at this time that he was found by one of Tomura's followers; Dabi. The flame villain had approached him with another option. Ujiko was curious and that curiosity led him to Overhaul.
The young Yakuza was perfectly poised to fill the vacuum left by All for One and even more so had a plan to go along with it. Objectively Overhaul was the better choice in his opinion. The young Yakuza was hungry enough to stand atop the underworld, but also had the intelligence to take things strategically. Tomura was all brute force and destruction whereas Chisaki was subtle, applying pressure where it was needed and the doctor could appreciate the delicate touch. Then there was what Overhaul had given him to work with. The girl, Eri was fascinating her quirk was the very definition of his Quirk Singularity theory. She could rewind a person or object's time reverting them to a younger state or to nothing at all.
When Ujiko saw the quirk he ground his teeth in frustration. If only he'd known about this girl before, before All for One had to step out of the shadows to face All Might. With this girl's quirk he could have undone all the damage the Symbol of Peace had inflicted on All for One. He could have restored him to his prime possibly even further back to when he still had the quirk that would become One for All. The loss was so heavy he found himself being rougher with the girl than he need be. Taking his frustration out on a child was not his highest moment, but he'd done far worse, and it wasn't like Chisaki was all that concerned. Whatever damage she suffered Chisaki would undo.
Now though he could actually be targeted, by some vigilante no less. Ujiko scoffed at the thought of dying to a vigilante. Not that he doubted it could happen, but it would be the greatest shame of his life. If he had a choice in who would kill him he'd rather die by Overhaul's hands. He sighed rubbing his eyes as he moved the chair along its path. Dabi would be here starting tomorrow so he best gets his rest now.
The now white-haired fire villain was an enigma even to him. All of Tomura's followers had some overt goal or at least were aligned with Tomura's own destructive impulses, but not Dabi. Sure he was murderous and took pleasure in killing, but Ujiko felt there was something more there some hidden goal Tomura hadn't known about not that he'd have cared to find out even if he did. Dr. Ujiko hopped out of his chair and began to walk to his bedroom passing by several tanks of High-end Nomu. He would bring them out of stasis starting tomorrow better safe than sorry he always thought.
A/N: Bit of a short chapter before things really kick off.