tbh, just read/review/kudos, whatever. Enjoy the healthy dose of my OTP KamiJirou and all the other angst. Prepare to simultaneously love and hate me. A fan-favourite has a shit time, lol - I won't say anything more than that.
chapter five: uncover.
...
Late night, May 21, 1864
In the bustling district of Shimabara, the night was on fire. The drinking, the music, the people, the general ambience all buzzing with cheer while three young men took to the shadows. The vice-captain of the Third Division, Hitoshi Shinsou was leading in Katsuki and Denki around to the side entrance of 'Yuga of Versailles'. The allusion to the iconic castle from France was completely lost on the likes of Denki and many others frequenting the establishment.
Hitoshi led the other two into a room where staff changed clothing and handed them outfits that would make them less conspicuous. "Here, wear these and take on new identities. My name while we're here is Satoshi Honda and Kyouka goes by Junko Katou. Pick names."
Katsuki and Denki mulled over their new names for the night while they changed into their respective outfits. "Fuck, I don't know. Sakugou… Kanda?"
"Uhh… Kenji… Tanaka?" Denki shrugged, tying the knot on his belt. "This is just in case someone asks our names, right?"
"That's right," Hitoshi nodded as he went through some drawers. "I'm going to run some quick colouring through your hair – you're far too recogniseable still."
"Aha!" a joyous voice burst into the room, making way for the eccentric Yuga Aoyama. He was dressed top to toe like a westerner, heavy French influences in his lavish attire. "Bonjour, welcome to Versailles! I am the owner, Yuga Aoyama!" His shining blue eyes laid upon Hitoshi, who remained neutral in his expression. "Honda-san, you have brought new companions? Here here, let me bring out their true sparkle!"
In a hurried manner, Katsuki backed off to the opposite end of the room from Yuga. There was no way he was going to let this damn freak lay a finger on him. Denki on the other hand was keen to see what the owner would do. Yuga had always been strongly supportive of the Yoikusa's cause, having been allowing members to come in and do spying missions amongst the patrons.
Hitoshi clamped his hands on Katsuki's shoulders and began shoving him in Yuga's direction while the sparkling owner worked on fixing Denki's hair. Katsuki found out very quickly that he had to suck it up when it came to disguising himself.
Soon enough, all three boys were changed so they looked less like Yoikusa and more like a bunch of young men wanting to have drinks and a laugh in the red district after a hard day's work. Denki and Katsuki had dye worked into their hair that would wash out after some baths, with the former's tied into a short ponytail and Katsuki's combed down very tightly. Hitoshi's hair was pulled into a topknot style, which kept his wilder locks in place. Content with his work, Yuga fluttered on out again.
"Pffft..!" Denki was trying to hold back his laughter as he ogled Katsuki's hair. "Th-that's amazing… you look like your old man! Just… flatter!"
"Shut the fuck up, I do not!" Katsuki protested, though he did rush to a mirror just in case. He let out a yell of frustration. "I look like my old man, what the fuck?!"
Denki cackled even louder.
Hitoshi sighed, shaking his head in exasperation. Why on earth did he agree to take them on again? Oh that's right, they weren't getting anywhere and now he's so desperate he's willing to try just about any new idea.
The Fourth Division Captain's laughter echoed through the room, while the Second Division Captain yelled at him to keep his voice down. This was despite the fact that Katsuki had the louder voice of the two. Eventually their noises attracted a newcomer to the room.
"I thought I heard some familiar idiots…" a low, but feminine voice broke through the noise.
The three young men all turned to the source of the voice. Standing before them was a beautiful young geiko, with dark hair pulled into an elaborate braided bun adorned with floral hair ornaments. Her detailed kimono was a deep purple with a golden butterfly pattern, with lace trimmings on the sleeves. The geiko's face was painted with white make-up, red lipstick and eyes lined to look bigger and brighter.
Immediately after taking in her appearance, Katsuki and Hitoshi turned to Denki expectantly.
He was too busy gawking at the geiko to even say anything. Katsuki expected him to at least use a stupid pick-up line. Hitoshi just wondered if Denki even knew who he was looking at.
She reached a kimono sleeve towards her face, trying to conceal herself a bit. Her cheeks were heated slightly under his eyeballing. "Don't stare, Kaminari."
"Kyouka, you look AMAZING!" he rushed over to her, full of excitement. "Man, your kunoichi look is super cool, but you can pull off geiko too! Wow!"
His praise only made the poor girl hide her face even more. As a kunoichi, Kyouka was never used to standing out or being noticed for appearances. If anything, she was used to slipping under the radar. Denki putting the spotlight on her was embarrassing for her. "Th-thanks, I guess… there's more beautiful geiko out there tonight though…" her voice was mumbly and shy, until she realised something. "A-And don't call me that! I'm Katou-san."
Denki simply grinned. "Don't sell yourself short, 'Katou-chan'!"
Hitoshi cleared his throat, especially now that he saw Katsuki growing increasingly impatient. "Katou-san, I have brought Kanda-san and Tanaka-san. They are important guests. Please lead them to sit with other guests of Versailles. It's time we really got started."
"Ah! Of course," Kyouka nodded, before springing into character. Her voice became lighter, more feminine and gentle as she spoke. She bowed to Katsuki and Denki deeply. "Kanda-sama, Tanaka-sama… Welcome to Versailles. Tonight you shall be treated like the royalty you are. It will be an honour to serve you. Please, follow me so that you can make yourselves comfortable in our most luxurious palace."
Katsuki nodded, following Kyouka as she led the way. Sure, he found this act fucking weird because it was her of all people. How could she manage to say such shitty dialogue with a straight face? He glanced to Denki – of course Droopy was eating it all up. His eyes were wide and his face was going redder than Kyouka's lipstick at this rate.
Hitoshi sighed – did Denki actually want to help with spying, or did he just want a solid excuse to come and see Kyouka in her geiko attire?
Kyouka led them down the hallway and slid a door across to a drinking party in one of the establishment's rooms. The group in there were enjoying a meal and lots of sake that the geiko was serving to them. However, they all looked up when Kyouka opened the door. She bowed to them deeply. "My esteemed guests. We have two more guests who would like to join you. This is Kanda-sama and Tanaka-sama. They are ronin from Kagoshima." A couple of them cheered – they declared themselves to be from nearby prefectures. Kyouka gestured to some available seats, though the only ones there weren't next to one another. "Please, make yourself comfortable. Serving this room is Tokage-san. Call on her if you need anything."
Denki's face fell when he saw that one, Kyouka was leaving, and two, he'd have to sit away from Katsuki. This wasn't good, though he supposed it was to be expected. He and Katsuki took their seats, finding themselves sitting directly opposite one another. The geiko referred to as Tokage served them cups of sake each, while the men had other ideas about Kyouka departing.
"But what if we need you, Katou-chan?" laughed one of the guests, others crowing in succession.
"Hey hey, you don't need him!" another guest chimed in. "Katou-chan, I bet you'd make a great wife!"
Katsuki heard a tiny crackle noise, before looking over and realising that Denki was not happy watching guests flirt with Kyouka. But Denki was restraining himself from reacting too angrily, something Katsuki was thankful for. They both trusted Kyouka to be able to handle this with grace.
She feigned a shy blush and smile. "Oh my… I am honoured that you would find me worthy of marriage," she began, gagging internally with disgust. Having these older men fawn over her truly wasn't her cup of tea. In fact, she was quite glad that entertaining others wasn't her main profession. "I wonder… how would my Danna feel?"
Some of the men's eyes went wide, others groaning slightly in disappointment – a Danna was usually a wealthy man, much wealthier than anyone in this group, who would form a partnership with a geiko and fund her training and other costs to maintain the lifestyle. And when any man with an average income heard that term, they knew they just couldn't compare. Katsuki was impressed at her save though – not disrespecting the customer advances, yet still making herself unavailable. She was good, he could admit that. The amount of relief on Denki's face was somewhat amusing to him as well, though he kept it to himself.
With that, Kyouka took her leave. Tokage offered to play some music while the men enjoyed their food and alcohol. She reached behind her to grab her shamisen, which she played beautiful melodies from. Such tunes gave Katsuki and Denki nostalgia.
Denki thought of April 1863, the sakura was beginning to bloom. He was getting used to Kyoto and decided to explore the city. What he ended up finding was the most beautiful blossom of all.
Beneath the trees, petals dancing around in the breeze, was a young woman on her lonesome. Her fingers were creating poetry upon the strings of the shamisen and her voice just as heavenly. There was something raw and low to her voice, but heartfelt with years of experience under her belt. She sung of melancholy, she sung of loss, she sung of all the truths to this world and Denki couldn't help but hang on to every verse.
When her music finished, eyelids fluttered open and dark eyes cast themselves on Denki. The way her cheeks went pink like the flowers as she told him to keep what he'd witnessed a secret. How she insisted that the only reason he let him listen for so long was just so she could ensure he'd promise her this.
He wanted to sign his entire life away to those melodies.
No matter how often he'd hear music playing in Shimabara or anywhere else, Denki couldn't find what he discovered that April. Music that bared the soul, that made him search within himself and uncover new depths.
If it wasn't Kyouka Jirou playing that shamisen, Denki could never truly engage with it.
Opposite Denki, Katsuki thought of Eijirou back when they were rowdy children, messing around with their parents' belongings. At Eijirou's home, Katsuki found a shamisen belonging to Eijirou's mother. Back then, they did not appreciate the traditional music that people would play with such a magnificent instrument. So the boys messed around, playing hideous tunes in mockery of the traditions. Katsuki broke the shamisen in two. That day, Eijirou covered for him.
The grip on his sake cup tightened. Eijirou always had his back. Whenever he got into trouble, it was Eijirou who pulled him out again. Katsuki saw an overwhelming debt he had to repay and yet he never asked for any of this. Not once.
Eijirou gave him everything so freely – he even signed his entire life away to the Ochimizu just so Katsuki wouldn't become the test subject.
At what point did it get to that? Katsuki couldn't understand. One moment they were just boys messing around, Eijirou got grounded for a while as he took blame for the broken shamisen. The next moment so much occurred and now they're here.
Tokage continued to play her shamisen and past longings and regrets took to the surface and threatened to lay themselves bare.
...
Beneath the moonlight, a lone samurai practised a one armed swing out in the open courtyard of the Yoikusa Headquarters. It was Fumikage Tokoyami, the captain of the Fifth Division. He knew it was only a matter of days until he would officially lose that title. Everyone in the compound knew of his situation and ever since he was able to step out of his room, all he was met with was pitying looks.
He hated it.
The only person who looked at him with genuine eyes was Mezo, but even he worried day in and day out. This was the first night he'd been able to get Mezo to step away from him and focus on their subordinates. That being said, he couldn't help but love Mezo all the more for being his pillar of support throughout all this. Tsuyu and Deku had been really helpful as well.
Blood of demons had been on his mind ever since that night. The way Deku's blood sped up his healing process when he consumed it and how Ochaco's calmed Eijirou down with the bloodlust faster than any regular human blood would.
More samples would help him in his research with the Ochimizu and caring for those in the Yoikusa already infected by it. But wanting it and actually asking for it were different stories. Still, Fumikage had a plan.
"Tokoyami-kumichou!" the increasingly familiar voice of Deku called out to him, lightly jogging over. "Shuzenji-sensei instructed that you well… you're risking yourself handling a katana."
Fumikage's dark eyes flickered to the concerned young man. With a turn of his heel, he lunged towards him, stopping only when the blade was inches from Deku's throat. Though his technique was impressive and Deku managed to stand strong against the sudden attack, Fumikage was left panting and sweating from the exertion of energy. He bit his lip, feeling a surge of pain from his arm that he tried not to let show.
Deku's brow furrowed as he observed Fumikage's movements. "I already know that you're strong, Tokoyami-kumichou. Please don't act as if you have to prove something to me, or anyone else."
"I still have my pride as the Fifth Division Captain, and as a samurai," Fumikage countered, swinging his blade out to the side again. "Even if my body were to deteriorate into nothing, I can never give up my blade."
The code of the samurai was a concept Deku had only recently familiarised himself with. He understood that they had their special set of morals, ethics, and rules to live by, rules to die by. But surely there had to be some kind of exception made. Deku remembered the wounds Fumikage suffered that night. The missing ear, flesh chewed out on his cheek, all on his arm… scars that would never fully heal. It was a sight that he would never forget, even if he wanted to.
He shook his head. "No one is making you put your blade down for good, it's just… your body will suffer if you try to wield it, if you try to fight with it again."
Fumikage sighed. "Then my body suffers."
"Please, Tokoyami-kumichou—"
"If there is no place for me in this world as a samurai, then there is no place for me at all."
A cool breeze blew through the courtyard, sweeping the words out of reach. Deku knew what Fumikage meant – if he truly felt like that, then he could be considering seppuku. That mustn't happen. But Shuzenji's instructions were absolute: Fumikage will never be able to truly handle a sword ever again. Yet if Fumikage is to give up the blade, he may just give up everything else that goes with it.
"Tokoyami-chan, that's enough!" A long tongue swept through and snatched the blade with perfect precision from Fumikage's grasp. The two turned to the source and there was Tsuyu, the handle of the katana between her teeth. Deku could never get used to her power, incredible as it was, but right now he was relieved to see her. Tsuyu reached to take the blade from her mouth, wiping off her saliva using a handkerchief. "If you ever wish to prove everyone wrong, then you must be a patient man! You are rushing your way back into your training and it's causing everyone to worry about you. Besides, you are more than a samurai, you always have been. You're our friend, our family, our great Ochimizu Researcher. We can't make progress without you. Shouji-chan needs you too, we all do."
Fumikage's eyes were wide as he listened to Tsuyu. She made valid points but… right now he wasn't himself without his katana, unable to use it the way he could before. If he desired to prove the doctor wrong and handle that blade again, he couldn't rush it. "Asui-dono…"
"It's Tsu," she corrected lightly, before continuing. "And if you decide that seppuku is your only option, then I will act as your Kaishakunin. I hope it does not come to that. If you hurt Shouji-chan by leaving him all too soon, I will not be a merciful Kaishakunin."
Deku gulped. While the act of seppuku involved cutting open the stomach, the role of the Kaishakunin was to behead the one committing the act just when they reached the point of agony. Usually the role was assigned to someone who was close to the one committing seppuku. In these recent weeks, Deku was aware of the incredibly close friendship they shared, but for Tsuyu to offer herself as the final executioner… it was horrifying to even think about.
"Very well," Fumikage nodded, bowing his head. "… Thank you, Tsu-dono. I accept your terms… and your words of wisdom. I shall retire for the night."
Tsuyu nodded, bringing his katana to return to him. She eyed him to ensure he was sheathing the blade again. He bid both Tsuyu and Deku goodnight and made for his quarters, leaving the pair alone.
Deku exhaled in relief. "Tsu-san, thank you… I wasn't sure what to say to him."
"I know," she responded frankly, but it didn't put him off this time. Tsuyu was right to step in just now. If it keeps Fumikage alive, then that's all that really matters. "Shouji-chan is in a troubled state. He understands Tokoyami-chan in so many different ways, but those ways are conflicting." She noticed Deku raising a brow, clearly wanting her to elaborate, so she continued, "As a samurai, he knows that Tokoyami-chan's pride is wounded in a way that is unrepairable – it is not uncommon for samurai to commit seppuku if they are unable to continue that life. As a researcher, he knows that Tokoyami-chan has uses beyond being a samurai. As a friend, he wants to be a pillar of support in which Tokoyami-chan can rely upon… and as a lover, he doesn't want to live in a world that doesn't have Tokoyami-chan in it. He's in a desperate situation."
"L-Lover..?!" Deku blushed, startled by her mentioning it so bluntly. He supposed it made sense, how private they were with one another, while presenting business only and comradery to the rest of the Yoikusa. "W-Wait, but if Tokoyami-kumichou and Shouji-dono are... well… Would he truly choose seppuku over Shouji-dono?"
The short vice-captain nodded sadly. "If he does not resonate with his current self, he believes that he isn't worthy of anybody. The only logic that truly resonates with him right now is the Ochimizu research, I believe… because it gives him purpose."
"Then…" Deku bit his lip, afraid of the answer. "If we reach the stage where the Ochimizu research is complete and the Yoikusa are no longer required… do you think he might…" He didn't want to finish his sentence. He couldn't.
"It's entirely possible."
...
Katsuki found himself growing impatient. Though the men certainly had strong political opinions, nothing they were saying could get them thrown in jail. Sometimes they asked him and Denki about Kagoshima and what brought them to Kyoto, but they didn't seem interested in their answers. Just obligatory small talk. Katsuki loathed small talk, but he saw that Denki was actually really brilliant at it.
He watched as Denki insisted on more sake, but was doing more filling of other people's cups than his own. It was a good idea to bring Denki here after all, Katsuki noted. While he couldn't praise Denki's intellect, there was something he had in spades that Katsuki lacked – social intelligence.
The longer he sat here, the more it dawned on him just how out of place he was for a mission like this. It was frustrating.
"You know…" the men beside him drawled, breathing out a disgusting stench of alcohol in Katsuki's face. "Kanda-san, you're not nearly as fun as your friend there. You barely say anything, not even smiling! Loosen up, c'mon..!" he chuckled, slapping Katsuki roughly on the shoulder.
As Katsuki turned to instinctively scold the man for various things such as breathing on him, touching him, telling him that he wasn't fun, something rose to the surface of his throat.
His skin paled and his body broke out into a sweat. Katsuki couldn't believe it. He wasn't a lightweight, but he felt nausea sweep his entire being.
"I have to go to the bathroom," Katsuki excused himself, hurrying on out of the room before anyone could question or protest him. He shuffled down the hallways quickly, even shoving other patrons aside as he eventually found the bathroom stall. Lurching over the hole, he prepared himself to vomit.
When his body lurched and he spat out the contents of his mouth, he saw the splatter of red. He choked on it and began a coughing fit. It wasn't vomit. Everything that came out was thick, tainted blood. He struggled to breathe, but he did his best to carry himself through the motions. What the fuck was happening to him? He never had symptoms like this before.
Sure, he might have been more breathless after fights in recent times, but he didn't see it as particularly hindering. He didn't feel as strong in his lungs, but never had he felt this weak.
His large hands grasped the edges of the seat roughly, dead nail edges chipping slightly on the wood. The smell in here was absolutely rotten. He smelled recent puke of some other patron who is in before him. The large buckets below needed to be emptied… but this blood. He wasn't sure what to do about that.
Catching his breath, Katsuki reached for the nearest fresh cloth to wipe around his mouth, his face and then at the blood that didn't go into the toilet hole. Of course, he couldn't just leave this in the basket of used cloths to the side, not with the stains of the red. Finally, he chose to drop the cloth down the hole – an accident on purpose. It was the best he could do at this stage.
But these new symptoms… Katsuki didn't know what to do. He wasn't someone who ever got sick before. In fact, he was proud of his amazing health. Katsuki loved being known as the Sword of the Yoikusa, the strongest warrior there is.
He shook his head. These symptoms would only be temporary. Nothing was going to get in the way. He won't become the next Fumikage.
...
Denki was surprised to see Katsuki leave so abruptly. Even more so at the fact he was taking ages in the bathroom. He didn't think that Katsuki drank all that much either – he was a heavy weight too. All those nights of partying with him, Eijirou and Hanta built up an incredible tolerance in the Second Division Captain. Maybe Katsuki wasn't comfortable being here with so many men who didn't support the shogunate? Or the fact he had to restrain himself from getting into a brawl or shouting match? Either way, Denki wasn't planning to give up on his mission.
They came to help Kyouka and Hitoshi and that's exactly what Denki planned to do. So he kept encouraging more drinking, trying to ask the right questions to get people talking. For once in Denki's life, he felt like his extroverted nature was a real bonus.
"Hey hey… you know what..? I heard a rumour, a big big rumour…" one of the men slurred, very close to the point of passing out.
"Oi oi, you're not gossiping over there, are ya?" another man laughed. "Go on then! Haha!"
The man who initially spoke downed the rest of the sake in his cup before continuing. "So there's a new merchant in town, y'know? Heh, he's actually in co-operation with Choshu. He's going by Masuya Kiemon for now…"
"What? Is he getting in on… you know?"
"Know what?"
"You know, you know!"
"Hmm… hah. That operation…" he chuckled under his breath.
Denki blinked, trying to catch onto what was being discussed. The mention of Choshu had him concerned – they were an enemy of the shogunate, with many of their samurai joining rebel groups. He made sure to remember the name that was mentioned, Masuya Kiemon, and the fact he was currently acting as a merchant.
To his disappointment, the man who seemed to be spilling out information was dozing off. One of the others offered to take him back home. That seemed to trigger a series of men deciding to make a move. They were getting away, and Denki realised they had so much more that they knew. So Denki got up and hurried ahead of the other men, searching for someone to try and help. The patron who slung that blabbermouth's arm around his shoulders was staggering through the hallway.
Almost as if the gods were smiling upon him, Denki spotted Hitoshi heading out of his room. He signalled for Hitoshi's attention, and the vice-captain of the Third Division made for him.
Hitoshi spoke to Denki in a low voice. "Found out something?"
Denki nodded, his voice a whisper. "That guy who's close to passing out… he knows something. He was running his mouth big time."
"Hmm… alright."
Just with that alone, Hitoshi made for the pair who were staggering through the corridors. He looked them in the eye and had their attentions almost instantly. Denki was always nervous about this power of Hitoshi's, watching as the young man successfully convinced the patron to hand his drunken friend into his care and head home without him. Before heading off with the man, Hitoshi shot a small smirk in Denki's direction and mouthed the words "Find the others. We're calling it a night."
With that, Denki turned on his heel to search for the bathroom. Why was Katsuki spending so much time there anyway? He couldn't think why.
It took him a while to figure out the way, but just as he was about to make the final turn towards the bathroom, he heard more chatter down another corridor. Denki glanced at the bathroom, but something made him change his mind. The chatter included a mention of a 'Katou' – that must be referring to Kyouka.
He didn't dash onto the scene immediately, only peering around the corner.
There was Kyouka, cornered by two much larger patrons, clearly tipsy but held themselves high. She maintained her persona, but Denki needed only a single glance to know that she was uncomfortable to be there.
"C'mon… I'll pay you double if you come back to mine…" slurred one of the two.
The other shoved his companion lightly. "Only double? Listen, Katou-chan. I'll pay triple."
Kyouka bowed a little. "Please forgive me, but I do not engage in the services I believe you are asking for. Yuga of Versailles does not allow for such conduct. Also my Danna does not pay for me to—"
One of the men slammed a hand against the wall, cornering her further. "Your Danna doesn't have to know. Let's have the night of our lives. You know you want to."
"I cannot," Kyouka replied, a little more firmly this time. "That is not part of my contract. I will not lie to my employers, nor my Danna."
"Oi, does the Danna give you a good time then? Is that why he forbids you engage with bigger, better men?"
Such implications from the second man made Kyouka want to hurl. Ugh, she hated when she got particularly persistent patrons to deal with. It was time to step it up in dealing with these people. She could drug them in an instant, slip away before they knew what happened. They were drunk enough that they'd likely believe it was that causing the confusion, not anything she'd done. After all, they believed her to be a fragile little geiko who couldn't say no to anything.
That was the plan, anyway.
Denki strode down the corridor, a confident strut in his step. "That's right! As her Danna, I can't accept the idea of her shacking up with anyone else!" he declared, Kyouka ready to kill him for interfering. The men turned away for her, about to snap back, but Denki wouldn't shut up. "Junko Katou is my geiko and I'll do anything for her future. She plays music better than anyone in the country and her voice… man, if you heard it, you'd think she was some kind of goddess! What makes you think you could ever be worthy of the most talented, beautiful geiko in the whole wide world?"
Kyouka opened her mouth to speak, but her face was so embarrassed and shocked that the words just wouldn't come out. She didn't want to presume anything though – Denki was just distracting them away from her, all his words were just part of that act. Still, she saw the opportunity to slip away and head to Denki's side, stepping behind him.
The other two men were pissed off though. "Fuck you! A poor piece of shit like you could never fund a geiko's lifestyle!" Denki gasped a little – he looked 'poor'? He supposed working for the Yoikusa didn't provide a great pay but… poor? No way..!
"You're no Danna, not looking like that!" Just more salt rubbed into the wound.
"Th-That's because he spends more on me than he spends on himself..!" Kyouka finally managed to get some words out. Denki already decided to play the role of danna and she wasn't going to let that slip away. "It really surprised me, how much he was putting on the line for my career… but I am most grateful to him. He is the reason I can serve amazing patrons such as yourselves and be the very best version of myself."
Denki's cheeks reddened at her words, but he was incredibly grateful. She pulled a great save and while the two men looked on in scrutiny, they eventually nodded in acceptance.
"Consider yourself lucky, scrub," one of them spoke up at last, "You got one of the best in the business. But when she retires, I'm proposing."
"Like she'd ever say yes to a brute like you!" laughed the other, nudging his elbow. "C'mon, let's go. Maybe one of the other geiko is keen?" Finally they went away, heading back to the room where the rest of their party were.
Kyouka grumbled under her breath, just enough for Denki to hear as soon as they were left alone. "Of course they changed their tune once another man staked their claim on me. I hate men, they don't take no for an answer from women until some other man steps in." Denki quirked a brow in her direction, reaching out to give her shoulder a squeeze.
"They weren't willing to believe me until you backed me up," he reminded her with a soft smile. "Who cares about those guys? You were brilliant."
She avoided meeting his gaze, but the faintest of smiles graced her features. "Well… they were right about one thing."
"And what's that?"
Finally, she turned to face him with the biggest smirk he'd ever seen her pull. "Like you could ever afford to be a Danna on your salary!" Then she burst into laughter at his protests – the look on his face was too funny for her. Even as his face turned red in humiliation, she couldn't stop. "They – they really needed to believe you turned poor from spending all your money on me..! You poor, poor man – I could just see you living in the gutters after emptying your wallet on some pretty face!"
"O-Oi, I wouldn't be that bad!" pouted Denki, taking a step towards her. "Anyway, aren't geikos supposed to be elegant and composed? You're belly-laughing like the rest of the drunkards here..!"
Kyouka's eyes widened, but she was still amused. "So why are you here, 'Tanaka-san'?" she asked, reminding them that they were here on a mission.
Denki blinked at first, forgetting the answer to her question. But he recalled it again after a couple of moments, especially as her expression grew impatient. "I found a guy who knows some really good information. Honda-san has taken him back to headquarters… so I came looking for you and Kanda-san."
"Huh? Kanda-san already left," she replied matter-of-factly, "I saw him leaving – I thought you'd have known that already."
"No? He just got up saying he needed the bathroom and that was the last I heard of him," his voice was sounding a little panicked. "Did he look okay to you? When he was leaving, I mean…"
Kyouka frowned. "Honestly, he didn't look very well at home. But I wasn't in a position to go after him." Seeing the distress emerging on Denki's face, she reached for his hand to give it a reassuring squeeze. "I'm sure he's gone back to headquarters. He can handle himself, even on an off day."
But Denki knew Katsuki better than her – Katsuki never ever got sick. Injured? Sure, plenty of times. He only ever got sick if he overdid the drinking, but he was far from tipsy tonight. While Denki wasn't always onto it, he at least paid attention to people. He may not understand Katsuki on the same level as Eijirou or maybe even Ochaco, but Denki knew a few things about the hot-headed captain of the second division.
Katsuki does not get sick.
Still, Kyouka's gesture was rare and more importantly, kind. She saw he was worried and her instinct to comfort him put Denki more at ease – even though she wasn't usually the type to pull such gestures at all. He saw the doubt in her eyes, wondering if she was doing the right thing. His warm smile in return shed the doubts away.
"Yeah, that's true. We're probably over-thinking it – hell, he might kick our asses for thinking he was sick or something!" he laughed it off. "C'mon, let's head back… and one last thing."
"Oh?" she cocked her head a little to one side.
"I wouldn't empty my wallet away for just any pretty face. My future wife however… oh yeah, I'd give her the world!" he squeezed her hand tightly, winking at her. If she thought his face earlier was hilarious, Denki could have doubled over at Kyouka's. She snatched her hand away, hurrying on ahead.
"Don't be an idiot. Your future wife doesn't want a broke husband!" she sped up to make sure she didn't have to listen to Denki's laughter. Why did he always have to be so amazing and yet pull out these dumb, infuriating lines and send her heart flying in all directions? First and foremost, Kyouka Jirou is a kunoichi for the Yaoyorozu and the Yoikusa. She need only play her part, nothing more. None of these extra emotions and outlandish thoughts that always seemed to come with being in the company of this idiot man.
Kyouka swore to herself that she wouldn't let Denki win.
Even so, Denki's grin widened. As thoughts of Katsuki eased away, all he could focus on as he followed Kyouka out was that expression back in April 1863.
Kyouka's heavenly singing breathed colours into his life, colours that he never knew existed. He thought he'd seen it all, heard it all and nothing could surprise him anymore. But this girl he initially presumed as antisocial and gloomy was so much more than what he believed. The rush of pink hues to her cheeks when paid a compliment that she struggled to accept. The laughter like music to his ears, a sound others didn't believe to even exist.
"You know… it's cool how you have all these amazing talents. After hearing you sing, I could probably die happy."
"… Don't be an idiot."
Hearts beat faster in the vortex of emotion when they're together, but these hearts were the biggest idiots of all.
...
Deku was surprised at how early some of the captains returned for the night. Even though it was extremely late, his mind was restless with worry over Fumikage. He couldn't bring himself to sleep a wink even if he willed it with his entire being. Eventually, laying wide awake in his futon doing nothing at all really got to the better of him. He decided to go and take a bath, hoping that some relaxation might put him at ease.
Gathering his belongings, Deku tiptoed through the hallways, hoping not to wake anyone in the process. The headquarters were dead quiet, though he could hear some voices in the interrogation section. He'd heard from Denki about the Shimabara Operation and that they managed to secure a suspect who may know some solid information. After spending at least five or ten minutes describing Kyouka's geiko attire in immaculate detail to him, Denki finally teetered off to get some sleep.
As for Katsuki, he came home way before all the other night shift captains. If looks could kill, Deku would have been slaughtered instantly if he dare got in the way. Deciding he preferred his life even if he always recovered anyway, Deku steered clear of Katsuki's path. He wasn't able to get close enough to truly confirm, but Deku was certain Katsuki was gasping for breath as he made for his room. Deku hoped that Katsuki would be feeling better tomorrow – he didn't seem injured at least.
When Deku made it to the bathroom, he was surprised that there was a heavy cloud of steam still prominent here. He'd assumed everyone had gone to bed or was busy right now. But he could see just enough to know that someone was in there - the shape of the shadowed, fog-obstructed figure wasn't recognisable either.
"H-Hello..?" he asked cautiously. "It's me, Deku…"
He heard the figure turn in amongst the bathwater to face him. It wasn't an abrupt turn, just a soft, unbothered movement that sent gentle waves across the surface of the water. "Ah, welcome. Don't let my being here stop you." Deku was relieved – it was Yagi-kyokuchou.
Wait. He'd never actually been alone with the head chief of the Yoikusa before. In fact, he hadn't seen him often at all – even other members of the Yoikusa worried about it. Katsuki's temper triggered at the mere asking of how the chief was doing. Yet a man he barely seen much of was here before him.
Carefully, Deku removed his clothing and placed it in a basket. Then he tiptoed over and sat on one of the stools, washing his body so that he wouldn't taint the bathwater getting in. But once he was there, he got a much clearer view of the chief. He didn't want to stare, but Yagi-kyokuchou was nothing like he expected.
The Yagi-kyokuchou he knew was a large, bulky temple of a man, someone who got depicted almost monstrously in paintings. He was viewed as one of the manliest men amongst all samurai in Japan. Katsuki idolised him as the strongest person in the world. Eijirou wanted to buff up his body to be just like him. Everyone saw their chief as aspirational for so many reasons. He wasn't just an amazingly powerful figure, but he would level himself and interact with the lowest ranked of his men. Everyone in the Yoikusa felt like a tight knit family – it wasn't perfect, but it was good. Yagi-kyokuchou was viewed as the reason the Yoikusa could function the way it does.
What Deku was met with wasn't the man he expected to see.
"Yagi-kyokuchou..?" he breathed out anxiously, unsure what to say or do.
His eyes weren't on the man who was the hero of the Yoikusa. This was a shell of him, skin and bone. Yagi-kyokuchou's face was gaunt, his expression lacking the vigour that Deku was first introduced to just a couple months ago. His body was host to lifelong scars that Deku had never seen on anyone before. These weren't the wounds you'd get from a regular ronin. Beyond that, he couldn't tell what they were from.
Yagi-kyokuchou's eyes flickered over to Deku. "We are not having an official discussion. You can drop the formalities."
Deku bit his lip. "Yagi-san… what… what happened to you?"
"Many things, young Deku," he replied, unable to hide the bitterness felt. "… You keep looking at my scars. They are unique… it's due to my power."
"The one gained from drinking Ochimizu..?" enquired Deku, remembering what Shouto had told him.
Yagi rested his arms on the bath's edge, allowing Deku to see them in greater detail. "I drank the Ochimizu not to gain power, but to properly harness the power I had inherited some years beforehand."
"Inherited..?" Deku was surprised to hear this. He'd never heard of power inheritance before, nothing that didn't already transfer through genetics.
"Yes. I think you are similar to me in that sense… some demons are not born with power, you see. They inherit," Yagi elaborated, seeing that Deku was unable to respond properly. His expression was focused and if it was one thing Yagi liked about the boy, it was that Deku was a keen listener and a great learner. "Since the beginning of demonkind, there were demons whose powers surpassed all others. Their bodies could not contain the power within, so those demons often had their lives shortened as the cost for being gifted such great power. When those demons reached the end of their life, a powerless demon would step forward and inherit the gift of power. For many powerless demons, it was seen as a way to regain honour and respect amongst demonkind. However, great power meant that wars would be fought to grasp that power for their own. Eventually such demons became spurned by their community… and some of these powers died out due to no inheritors who would take them."
Shaking his head, Deku protested Yagi's initial statements. "No, I… I'm not an Inheritor. I'd never heard of all this before – I think someone would have told me if I was an inheritor."
"It's a concept unknown to the majority of demonkind in the era we live in. Many who do know don't want to know," Yagi remarked, not entirely surprised at Deku dismissing the concept.
"It's not that I don't believe you!" Deku clarified. "It's just… I think if I were to inherit an amazing power like the Phoenix Heart, I'm certain that I'd remember all that. Nobody gave me this power… it's just a genetic transfer that I didn't know about until I actually died. That was when um… there was an attack on the village."
Yagi's eyes bore into Deku's, threatening to expose his entire being. "The Phoenix Heart is not classed among the powers that transfers through family genetics. And neither is my power 'One for All'. These scars of mine… they are scars that only my power could inflict… just like the faint burns on your own body." Deku instinctively leapt into the bathwater, trying to hide the scars that Yagi so easily pointed out. He chuckled a little. "These are scars only an Inheritor can obtain."
"I don't know, I really don't have memories of it happening… I'm trying to think but… nothing's there, Yagi-san. I don't even know who had the Phoenix Heart before me – if I inherited it directly, I'm sure that I'd know who I got it from…"
"It's something to think about, young Deku," replied Yagi, exhaling a little. Finally, he rose out of the water, getting out and reaching for his towel.
"Yagi-san..!" Deku called after him. It was rare to have a conversation that really fleshed out his knowledge of demons. Just when he thought he'd learned it all, Yagi introduced a concept he'd never even heard of. He realised that the other demons of the Yoikusa may not know of it either. Shouto would have told him if he knew. "… Yagi-san, you said that an Inheritor has a shorter lifespan once they inherit a power… how long do you have..?"
The Chief of the Yoikusa finished wrapping his towel around himself. With another towel he focused on drying his hair. He left the question hanging in the heavy silence as he sorted himself out. It was only when Deku was about to give up on receiving an answer that Yagi finally spoke, "You are forbidden from sharing this information with the others. Only two others know about this."
"Aizawa-souchou and Todoroki-fukuchou..?"
"Correct."
Another phase of quiet made itself known in the foggy atmosphere as Yagi finished redressing himself. It was a torturous pause in the conversation, but Deku refused to push him further.
Deku bowed his head. "I promise I won't tell anyone, Yagi-kyokuchou."
"Young Deku, I will hold you to that promise," he responded firmly. "My current prediction is that I have three more years to live."
He was almost too scared to ask, already stricken by the awful news he was just told. But there was one last thing that he had to know, even if the answer may break his heart. "Yagi-kyokuchou, who do you intend to be your inheritor?"
Yagi sighed a little. "He doesn't know it yet, but I think there is only one candidate who would be crazy enough to take on such a power and use it to bring the Yoikusa to victory… a candidate more passionate about championing my cause than anyone else. When the time comes and if he is ready for it, the leading candidate is Katsuki Bakugou."
next chapter: With the new information extracted from the Shimabara Operation, the Yoikusa are sent as back-up at Ikedaya. New foes make their presence known.