Kaoru Kazami sat outside, listening to the rustling of the trees and the singing of the birds. Koka has always been a peaceful environment, where one could go to relax, enjoy nature and simply drink their tea.
A scream of pain and anguish came from the inside of the house, causing Kaoru to grimace. "Saya, will you tell your father to keep our guest quiet?" she said with a soft smile.
A young girl with short black hair and green eyes halted her training, placing a kunai back in her belt, she nodded. Silently, she walked into the house, following the blood-curdling cries.
Entering a room, she saw a bloodied man pleading with the large figure of her father. Akihiko stood tall, his white hair glowing in the candlelight and a pleasant smile on his face.
Keeping her face neutral, Saya tried to ignore the bile rising in her throat at the sight of the bloodied man. Her father did not take kindly to trespassers, especially those who cry.
"Mother says to please keep our guest quiet, she is enjoying her tea outside," Saya said, maintaining a steady tone despite the smell of blood flooding her senses.
Her dad looked over to her, his green eyes piercing as a gentle smile formed on his face. "My dear! Why don't you join me, work on your interrogation skills!" he called out cheerily.
Keeping her composure as she had been taught to for many years, Saya simply shook her head, "I must get back to my training. Please do not let him disturb mother any more."
Turning to leave the room, she heard the man resume his pleading, begging for his life before all was silent, the air around her thinned, drying her throat. 'Father must have used his quirk.'
That evening, her family gathered for dinner. "He thought his camouflage quirk would keep him hidden from your mothers sight, but of course she caught him immediately," her father began.
Placing his cup on the table, he continued, "and then he said he was from the League of Villains or something to that extent and he was here to scout us," her mother broke into laughter at that, the Kazami clan was well known for their neutrality.
Saya's mind was racing, if the villains were scouting her family, what did that mean for the state of the heroes? Her parents continued to talk about the League, her father was adamant about hearing them out.
The Kazami clan had once served the Emperor as loyal shinobi, and that desire for purpose still flowed through their veins. Despite her family all developing air quirks, they rarely used them.
Afterall, what was a shinobi if they relied on superhuman abilities and not tireless training. Snapping out of her thoughts, Saya's eyes widened slightly at the discussion her parents were currently having.
"I'm interested to hear what the League of Villains have planned, this Shigaraki sounds interesting" her mother said softly, a quizzical look on her face and lilac eyes shining.
Her father nodded in agreement. Saya couldn't help the crease in her eyebrows as she thought about what this could mean. She was no hero, but to partner with villains? That seemed too far.
That night, Saya watched as her parents continued their discussion on the benefits of teaming up with the League of Villains.
That week, her parents met with Shigaraki, discussing goals and agendas. Within hours of that meeting, a Kazami family meeting was called for elders of the clan to discuss their role in the war between heroes and villains.
Saya lay under a tree, a sparrow resting on her finger, the companionship was appreciated as her stomach swam with anxieties. "I'm not afraid of a war, or death - whether it is my own or at my hand," she said softly to the little bird.
"And I've never wanted to be a hero," she whispered, "all I want is to preserve the shinobi way of life, to protect our legacy."
Her parents seemed excited as they exited the meeting, walking towards their daughter with smiles on their faces. "It's all about creating a new era, one with shinobi at the top!" Her father declared.
"We can only do this with the help of our daughter," her father said gently, his eyes filled with hope, her mother beside him had a smile on her face, eyebrows raised in anticipation.
Saya smiled back, masking her nerves, "how so?" she asked. It was then she was told that she would be going undercover at UA to report on All Might's whereabouts.
It was at that moment Saya decided she would do whatever it takes to keep her family safe. She was certain she could play both sides, she was a trained shinobi afterall.
She would set her sights forward and do whatever it takes to protect the Kazami name.