Chapter Ten: Reigen IV

"Are you the one who brought me here?"

"We've been over this. You came through my quirk on your own."

Reigen rotates his hand in the air. "That I get, but I mean here." He extends his arms out. "I don't know what to call it. Pocket dimension? World?"

"You picked up a crazy, Kurogiri."

Reigen gaps, stands taller, and pointed to himself. "I'll have you know I'm the world's greatest psychic."

"Yeah? What can you do?" asked Shigaraki.

"Spirits and Such Consultation Office offers various psychic-related services, including exorcisms and seances. You interested?" Because he may be on the run but he could really use some more money.

"Sounds shady." A lousy con-man. Shigaraki assumes his quirk isn't impressive if he has to result to such tactics. Better than a hero showing up here, but if he had been a hero at least Shigaraki could have blown a little steam.

"Shady?! I'll let you know it's a legitimate business." There's a tug at Reigen's pants. He looks down and is reminded he has a child with him. Right. They may have miraculously gotten away, but there was things to do. "Is this where you meant when you said out?"

Not only a con artist, but a kidnapper. Not the help he wanted, but he can't be worse than all the other losers Shigaraki is acquiring.

Reigen pats her shoulders over his suit jacket, something he really should take back but she clings to it so tightly. "Somewhere even safer." Reigen doesn't want to panic her more than the chaos they've already been thrown into. "We'll just be leaving now."

"But where? Overhaul has people everywhere. There's nowhere I can go that he can't find me," says Eri looking completely lost. Reigen to dragged her along and he wisped her away. She was used to doing what people expected of her.

"You don't say." Reigen is realizing how he didn't have an after plan. He hadn't planned on bringing Eri. They likely had agents within the police, in which case bringing her to the police would do nothing. What's next? Hunting down some big-time hero to help and use as a shield?

Eri hesitantly walks over to Shigaraki who narrows his eyes at her. He's scary, but she's used to scary. She grabs the chocolate and reaches out towards him. "If I give you this chocolate, can we stay here?" She really wants the chocolate but she doesn't want to go back more, even if it's for only a few days, a few hours.

Reigen doesn't have anything to say to the proposal. He's tapped out. Emotionally exhausted, mentally drained, and knows they have no where to go. The Shigaraki guy looks rough, so this might not be the best place but apparently no where is the best place.

"It's just chocolate." Kurogiri can fetch Shigaraki chocolate if he wants some but he wonders whether the kid would cry if he actually took it. She's looking at it rather sadly even as she offers it. He's not a hero. He should take the chocolate and kick them out.

Shigaraki took the chocolate and ate the whole thing in a few bites. Eri didn't cry. Instead she looks up at him with lingering hope. "Thank you!" What the hell?

Shigaraki did notice her flinch when he roughly grabbed the chocolate. She should have stayed scared. So oblivious. His quirk could kill her.

"Why are you burrowing?"

"Burrow?"

He wants to rip the hair from her head. Stupid! "Hiding under that thing."

Now she looks scared like she should be. "It's best if I don't touch people."

"Why? Think someone will disappear?"

"Yes."

Shigaraki hears Reigen start coughing, but his eyes stay on Eri. The other might be a lost cause, but if stupid here is telling the truth there might be use for her. "Your quirk, what is it?" His eyes narrow like a predator ready to catch a rabbit.

Eri takes a few steps back and wraps herself further as she tries to convince herself that Shigaraki is a good person. He accepted the chocolate so he's letting them stay. Staying means away from Overhaul and less pain. Less pain is good which means people helping her stay away are good. "Rewind."

"And that can make someone disappear?"

Eri vividly remembers the people she rewound out of existence. She did that. It was her fault. People using her was her punishment. Even with her self-disgusts she wants to be free.

"My disciple was scared of his powers too. It's normal to be scared, but you can't let them control you," said Reigen as a last attempt at comfort. A lot of moisture has left his body making Shigaraki view him as a sack of bones.

"Disciple?"

"Like a student."

"What happened to him?" Eri looks at Reigen hoping he'll have an answer that will make everything better.

Reigen stumbles. Under normal conditions he wouldn't be able to say most things. Admitting the truth would be a liability. It's not worth it. His lips are sealed forever. Though, this place definitely isn't home so it's not like anyone can do anything about it. He takes a sip of the mocktail Kurogiri kindly made him for free. "He held his emotions in worried it would hurt people, but that only hurt him more. That being said, I'm pleased to say he's come to accept himself, come to control his powers, and is making a life of his own." He's happy for Mob, but Reigen feels like he's falling behind. An inspiration to find out more about himself and seize his life too.

Speaking of disciples, Serizawa has come a long way too. At this rate he might be surpassed again.

"So take it one day at a time and do your best."

Shigaraki feels nauseated at the attempt for support. The disciple thing probably isn't even true. It's not whatever Reigen's weak quirk that's threatening, but his smooth words. He should be using that skill for recruitment and convincing people society is ill.

"Fine, you can stay. Do what you want. Don't get in my way. Do so, and you'll be out of here." Shigaraki storms off to his room.

"Is he always that cranky?" Reigen asks Kurogiri who doesn't have the best feeling about all this, but doesn't say anything because Shigaraki really could use some more company.