Chapter 14
Home Base
When Kiralexia and the rest of everyone made it back to Japan after there visit to I-island, Kiralexia was already on the move of his next plan. He heard the whole story Midoriya said of the Shadowy figure that was there on I-island and knew who it was. Seems like the life of a mercenary never can leave someone huh? Kiralexia believed this was enough to go to the headquarters, or at least the old one he knew of. He always knew of the location but never went, all for one reason. Fear. He was afraid of what he would find there, he was afraid of being seen as a fraud of the man he once was, yet most of all, he was afraid to go to a place where he knew no one awaited him. However now, after hearing of the incident, he was going to go, and bring his daughter with her. He told her of this, and she was excited to go, bringing Twice and Dabi with her, as Kiralexia sneakily brought Eri with him. Thus they began there move.
After many hours of travel, the finally arrived at the site. It was a large building in basically nowhere, far outside of Kyoto, so it was a drives away. The building, actually looked well managed, and well maintained, even seeming to be still running, as lights were still on on some of the floors. Kiralexia and the others took and breath and entered the building. The main area was empty and dark, with the only light being the moonlight outside. Kiralexia moved forward and found a panel on the other side. He turned and noticed Dabi scoffing as Eri went to the front desk, and looked up at a candy bowl.
"Well, now this is it. Peak disappointment."
"Hey remember, sometimes not everything can be seen, at first glance." Kiralexia retorted pressing buttons on the panel behind him.
Soon enough, a hatch was opening below them and something above them was coming down. It was an elevator. A chain single platform elevator, but still an elevator. Once it reached there floor Kiralexia smiled as he walked over and grabbed a little lollipop for Eri. Everyone else got on and Kiralexia pressed buttons to make the elevator move and it began to move down. It was slow and going to take a while to Dabi decided to ask Kiralexia a question.
"So why have this installed anyways?"
"Well, if you want to run a Mercenary company, you need to blend in."
"It's in the middle of nowhere just outside of Kyoto."
"Well, it was nearby one of our warehouses and thus that was the excuse we made up. Plus no one really wanted to dive deeply into a place, known for an unsettling aura."
"Got it, and you know if anyone is even here?"
"That's the question of the night isn't it." Kiralexia responded looking a bit more solemn then before.
As the elevator began to move downwards, a bit of a commotion was heard from below. The lower they went the louder the voices and noises were becoming. Soon when they could see the floor below them, they could see soldiers, in different military clothing and gear, running around clearly looking confused and concerned. Kiralexia quickly realized what was going on as an officer, clad in an officers uniform was ordering people around and soon formations were being made. Once at the bottom and the elevator stopped, all of the soldiers, and about five officers had there weapons drawn and pointed at them, rifles, spears, even swords. Kiralexia and the rest decided, not to test fate, as well, they were outnumbered severely, and thus raised there arms upwards clearly showing surrender.
"Stay where you are villains, you are in the headquarters of the Anti-Hero Militia! Keep you hands up and don't do anything stupid." One of the officers, an older female, yelled out to them.
"Well shit, so much for a welcome party." Kiralexia said quietly with a bit of snark.
However it seemed that officer, and the others, heard him and looked surprised. They looked at each other and seemed confused on what to do next. The older female that first spoke, decided to walk up to Kiralexia and take a closer look to be sure. When she did, Kiralexia simply looked down at her not recognizing her until her looked at her eyes. One was clouded and a top of it was a faint burn mark. His eyes dilated as he figured out who she was. Second Lieutenant Naomi, she was apart of the elite branch of the Militia and actually helped Kiralexia out from time to time on military strategies. She seemed to piece it together to and looked back at everyone yelling out orders.
"Lower your weapons, this is one of us!" She yelled with the soldiers looked bewildered by this and keeping there weapons up.
The other officers looked at each other before realizing what she meant and ordered the soldiers the same. That was when the soldiers had lowered weapons and seemed more docile but still ready to strike. Naomi however simply smirked as she looked up at Kiralexia and saluted him. Kiralexia was confused at it but felt like it was a nice gesture so he returned it in kind. She then turned around, not even paying much mind to the villains and little girl with him, and addressed everyone.
"Attention everyone, today is a great day for the Militia. For today a great warrior long thought dead, has returned. Give our respect and greetings, to Kiralexia!" She yelled out as everyone then followed with applause's.
This was unexpected to Kiralexia, he didn't think anyone would even remember him. Afterall, it was the close circle of the elite group that would've remembered him the most yet other soldiers? Ya they would've heard about him and maybe met him but it would've been more acquaintances at most. Yet they were celebrating him returning even with barely knowing him, aside from Naomi. He walked off the elevator with Eri close to him clearly shaken by what just happened the other villains were also about to walk off but where cut off by some soldiers raising rifles at them. It wasn't until Toga said they were with him did they drop there weapons. Many in the Militia remembered Toga and one of the soldiers even shook her hand and said hello like an old friend.
Soon enough the soldiers and officers at the entrance all moved out of the way and allowed Kiralexia and the others to move forward. The hallways, looked clean and well kept, same with the rooms. Soldiers were walking around, idle chatting, or in some areas just leaning on the walls relaxing. Engineers worked on tanks and armor pieces, while it looked like some cooks were also preparing food in the cafeteria, or at least in one of them. As they walked Kiralexia finally felt at peace and like he was home again. He even saw some soldiers of a brigade he had commanded before and it felt good knowing they still worked here. Naomi then showed them to a more VIP esque cafeteria table and told them they had a lot of catching up to do.
…
"Lieutenant Captain?"
"Yep, after the war I was given a promotion and had to do a lot of clean up actions after that so called, last battle."
"Oh the battle of Emerald Harbor."
"Yep, the war was over on paper, but skirmishes still happened across the pacific, Japan especially. It wasn't until I killed a high ranking officer from the Empire did they stop completely."
"Good on you, I'm proud to see you so high."
"Well I don't deserve all the credit, many officers took part in the planning to keep them at bay. Plus the Elites still stayed and fought until the last Skirmish at Shirakawa or the area around Shirakawa if you want to be technical."
"Hm I did hear the radio chatter of that while I was gone so I guess that's why they went silent afterwards. How long after my death was that battle?"
"Hmmm, I'd say about a month or 2. it's been so long and I have gotten old so pardon my memories."
"No no it's fine I'm just glad to see you alive." Kiralexia and Naomi continued to talk while everyone ate high quality food.
Shocking considering this is a Mercenary company/ para-military organization. Military food isn't known to be high quality all the time, yet it was here, steak, tempura, and even crab and dumplings. It was nice to have considering what Dabi would usually have, and Eri was given a nice bowl of Udon. Kiralexia and Naomi where reminiscing about the past and felt like really comfortable there. Dabi was talking with an officer and he seemed friendly with Dabi and told him how he joined the Militia.
"Back before All Might showed up as the peak hero, my home country was facing a lot of internal strife."
"Wait were are you from?"
"Malaysia, it wasn't pretty being a man known to have claws on my heels."
"Huh, so you joined to help your country."
"Yes, My quirk wasn't good enough to be Pro Hero status but I didn't want to harm my country to save it, as the false hero had done. So the Militia gave me a choice and payed me well to stop the tyranny. After that I thought if I could save my country why not save others so I decided to stay."
"Hm that's good to here. I have to ask, are you married?"
"Yes, well twice, my first wife left me after finding some rich man instead of a local son of a shopkeeper. However my second one, well she's beautiful, and before you ask I have three children, two girls and a boy. All have grown up and are moving into careers of there own. I couldn't be more prouder."
"That's… that's nice to here sir."
"Ya, I may be old but I still have some fight left in me." The officer said flexing his arm as he did so.
The conversation between the two was nice if a bit strange for Dabi. Toga was just enjoying herself with the crab and made a soldier uncomfortable with how close she was getting to him. Overall though this meeting was going smoothly as Naomi was laughing as Kiralexia said some less then flattery things about Vanelis, including the incident as I-island. Yet now Kiralexia would now ask the one question she dreaded.
"So after my death, what happened to the main core of the Militia?"
"*sigh*, I don't know many details as I wasn't permitted to go to the main meeting but I do remember this. Rose Dawn had walked out looking teary eyed and showed me a device."
"What type of device?"
"She said it would track and monitor core Militia members as they could no longer be here after the war. She said all of them got one, and any officer or high ranking soldier that wanted to leave, since I had already wanted to stay before I guess they just didn't bother with me."
"Oh I'm sorry to hear that."
"No it's fine, she said her goodbyes as did everyone else and that was the last I ever saw of them. I don't know where they are Kiralexia, I'm sorry." Naomi said looking very sad about the situation.
Kiralexia was to but for different reasons. Here he was finally able to confront something that made him afraid for years, and now he's told that he has no location of there whereabouts. It hurt him knowing his friends were still out there only now, long gone. He took in a deep breath and spoke to Naomi.
"It isn't your fault it is mine. I believed I could find them again but it turns out to be wrong."
"Hey." Naomi said placing her hand onto Kiralexia's hand before he quickly moved it away.
"Eh it's fine all in past really. But now I must ask, what happened to there rooms?"
"We never touched them, there probably really dusty now with how long it's been."
"May I bring this one with me to show her?"
"You may but do watch yourself, those rooms aren't exactly clean."
"Ha ha I can get up if I fall." Kiralexia said before taking Eri with him and moving down into the elite rooms area. Naomi then sighed and looked at Toga.
"I worry for him ya know. He says he's okay but I can tell he isn't. He seems, frustrated."
"Well a lot went south for his supposed life I figured that is the reason."
"Just make sure he's okay Toga, I want him to be safe okay?" Naomi asked with Toga simply nodding as Kiralexia was already gone with Eri.
As they made it to the living quarters of the Elite Kiralexia began to feel mournful. Walking through essentially memory lane was rough for him. He stopped at a door that looked beaten up and worn down, the one he wanted to look at first. He opened it and a loud creaking came from it, flicked on the light and saw how the room now looked. Old worn down, a computer was now rusted and dusty. The bed had springs coming off of it, and the floors wood began to tear up. Eri looked confused but Kiralexia smiled as he saw an old beaten up punching bag in the middle of the room.
"Whose room is this?"
"This is rose dawns, she always liked it a bit rough." Kiralexia said as he moved into the room and felt around the desk.
He saw an old photo, it was him with Rose Dawn and her sister out in town shopping. He had a dopey smile on his face that day and the other two were just as happy. It made the Kiralexia of today feel sadness, as he realized that those days are now over and he began to tear up seeing her again. With her big summer hat, and nice dress, short tom boy like hair, and crimson eyes, he missed her. Yet he kept it in and decided to move out of the room with Eri following.
Next up was the room for Rasputin which was much simpler and had a few dents in the wall but that was it. On one corner was a piano?… huh well I'll be, the strong man can play piano. He had no computer in his room but he did have a TV and couch alongside empty cans and bottles. While yes many where alcohol, some where sports drinks, or even just soda. Eri saw a pack of Cola and looked thirsty. Kiralexia went to them and checked the date. Yep definitely expired by… SEVEN YEARS! He never bothered to open it even before the war? Well okay that actually makes sense but still it is weird. Eri then looked at Kiralexia who seemed a bit disgusted at that.
"Rasputin had a bit of a sweet tooth, but usually stuck to sports drinks or the occasional soda. Honestly I just wished he kept the cans and bottles out of the way more often."
"Could I have one?"
"Eh best you don't have it unless you want your stomach to ache little horn." Kiralexia said patting her head.
Thus the two left and went on to every Militia members rooms. Kai's was green and had a few incenses around, while Vanish was minimalist and only had a desk with a computer, bookshelf, drawers, and a bed plus bean bag chair. However with each room they entered Kiralexia decided to tell Eri about some of the people, and explained Rasputin and Rose Dawn for missing it before. Eri seemed entranced at how Ashido's Uncle was gentle but a bit of a jokester and had a heart of gold, and Rasputin while a fighter was also adamant on nerdy things like video games and even collected miniatures to play against his brother. It then that Kiralexia decided to visit the room he was most afraid of opening. He remembered when he would open the door, which was clean, albeit with a few nicks and a visible boot mark on the bottom of it. When he opened this door, he'd see his brother, either on bed relaxing, or doing something else in the size able room. Eri saw how Kiralexia looked while he stared at the door and tugged at his sleeve. He looked down and saw her worried face and smiled.
"Don't fret, it's just, when I open this door then that will be it. My past is officially gone and I can't return to it."
"Then the future is open like the door." Eri said with Kiralexia looking impressed by her maturity.
He then looked a bit more relieved and opened the door to his brothers room. When it opened it showed his room looked clean though it was still dusty and things seemed a bit worn down. His old desk and computer were dusty but well maintained, and another smaller desk showed scratch marks in on it. His bed was clean without dust and his old small TV with game console were next to the smaller desk only a couple inches apart. Kiralexia stepped foot into the room and felt overwhelmed as he looked at the walls. The showed scratch marks and even a few picture frames of himself with either family or Militia members. Such as the day he and Rasputin had a tabletop match, or the night he was about to go on a date with someone looking fancy in his suit. Yet the one picture that broke the floodgates inside Kiralexia's eyes was one on his nightstand. It was of himself hugging the back of his brother, both looking incredibly content and happy.
Kiralexia broke down and began to cry with Eri looking concerned as he knelt to the floor, with his hands over his eyes. Eri then did the best thing she could do, and hugged him to make him feel better. It helped, if only slightly as he embraced her tiny arms struggling to wrap around him. Soon he calmed down and sighed as he began to sit on his own brothers bed and put Eri on his knee. He still had tears on his cheeks but he seemed better now.
"Is it sad to be here?"
"Yes, but I guess life can be sad, but also happy. For I am happy to be here with you Little Horn." Kiralexia said booping Eri's nose as he spoke.
"Was your brother kind?"
"He was but had a short fuse like temper. When someone upset he it seemed the only thing that calmed was having a rant with someone."
"Did he do that a lot."
"Heh Like you wouldn't believe. One day he went into my room while I was talking with Rasputin and just ranted on how someone wouldn't listen with reason. That was one of his biggest peeves for him."
"Well did you find it bad?"
"Not really, it was nice seeing him have an outlet on his anger and stress. And before you ask no he's nowhere near as bad as Bakugou."
"Phew, would he like me?" Eri asked with Kiralexia giving a raised eyebrow.
"Where did that come from?"
"Well if I get to meet him one day I want to know if he'd even like me."
"Oh don't worry about that Little Horn. He may have been bad communicating his emotions, and was awkward around children, he always expressed his love to Little Toga. One night when Toga was having a nightmare and I was gone, he comforted her and taught her a story of the moon and the raven. When I came back I saw him singing a lullaby to her till she slept. So if he was calm and caring to even Toga, I'm sure he'd love you like his own." Kiralexia said with a calm look in his eyes.
Toga looked up at Kiralexia with a bit of a glint in her eyes. Kiralexia smiled back at her as he began to chuckle a bit at the awestruck look she was having. Perhaps one day his brother would sing lullabies to Eri but that would not be today. He then went one to speak about how his brother was and some, interesting interactions he had in life. He said he was calm and collective but ruthless and angered easily, however he never hit someone he was close to, such as himself or even Rose Dawn for that matter. The only time he'd hit or hurt them is if it was a spar, another means he would have by relieving stress for himself.
"Shadowsmith may have been a bit hard to handle when he got angry, but he was level headed. Although there was only one person that seemed to actively anger him and get a kick out of it."
"Is it Vanelis?"
"Wow spot on Little Horn. Ya, the two never got along no matter what it was, Shadowsmith always wanted to show he was good and above the rest only without being a total maniac about it."
"Like All Might?"
"Ya like All Might, however no matter what he did it always seemed Vanelis was better then him by miles, combat wise at least. One day during the war, I'd say a few months maybe a years before MY last battle, Vanelis and Shadowsmith were bickering on his involvement in the war. The two always argued, with Vanelis showing little care in it, the two where never exactly good to begin with, afterall one was anarchy the other order, things like that clash, and with the war it was no different. He only helped with information and a few battles here and there even then it wasn't exactly good, and reckless. Yet when Vanelis said ONE THING about Shadowsmith's family, out of spire probably I cannot remember, he snapped and the two fought across the base. Shadowsmith would win but injured his head and arm badly, while Vanelis went off with a mere warning while still being battered, ever since that moment, the two never saw eye to eye again even until the bitter end." Kiralexia said showing off an image of his brother and Vanelis facing apart from each other.
The look in Shadowsmith's eyes in the image showed a sense of great anger while Vanelis's seemed to be, remorse, if only slightly, most was irritation. Eri was confused as to why the two never got along with that reason but Kiralexia quickly explained that it was simply the fact that Vanelis never respected him as a higher up, as well he was compared to him. It was a bit of an explanation but Vanelis was a younger member only part time even, in the Militia while Shadowsmith was full time and had worked for a long time in it even before Vanelis showed up. Thus the lack of respect, along with insults or at least mockery to his family, along with Vanelis being absolutely insane on the field, those made it clear the two would not be friendly. The suddenly Kiralexia and Eri could hear footsteps from behind them and the looked outside the room to find a man. He wore shades with Neon lining the rims of them, his hair had a line of gray around both sides, and his clothes looked like a ravers clothing only with less holes. He had a big smile on his face and a chin strap on his chin. It took a second but Kiralexia recognized who they are after they began to speak.
"Well I'll be, if it ain't the devil himself risen from the dead. How's life treating you ya old war dog?" the man spoke sounding like a radio show host.
"K-Nine, you're alive? Better yet you still live in Japan?"
"Of course I do, when the old attendees of the show leave new ones take there place. I couldn't just leave the show to go on without this magnificent radio host OW. Now answer me man, how have you been?"
"Well I have been better, I have the heroes to thank for my resurrection."
"So I've heard, a little start up in the support course brought you back from deaths grip. How did you even get to UA though?"
"Long story, oh I have someone you should meet. K-Nine this is Eri." Kiralexia said having Eri be presented at his side. K-Nine looked down the went down to his knees and smiled at her.
"Hey little horn you doing good here?" K-Nine asked with Eri looking away a little nervously. K-Nine then sighed and took his shades off showing tired eyes. "I understand your worry Eri, many of us know your story and it isn't a pretty one. But I can assure you, you can trust me. Here I want you to have this." K-Nine said pulling something out of his pocket.
It was a small little pocket doll that had a small smile and big eyes. Eri was hesitant but grabbed it and looked at it with big eyes. Kiralexia knew what that meant, K-Nine never could have children of his own but he always wanted some, so stuff like that was his way of giving to things he couldn't have. Eri then gave a big smile and thanked K-Nine for the doll where he then patted her head and then stood up looking at Kiralexia again.
"So it's been sometime huh. Well I won't give you a hard time for now but I do hope this means you're returning home."
"About that, I have to stay a UA still."
"Wh- I, excuse me? I might've just misheard ya did you say you were staying at a Heroes school?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I have a debt to repay to them and if I left right now to this place then the world will just see me as a villain again!"
"But you lived with that last time didn't ya? Surely it's not that bad right?"
"I was fine back then because I had family but now I lost it, so this place while my home, is empty. So I shall stay at UA for a while longer, at least until I think of something the bring back the Elite."
"There it is." K-Nine said with a smile.
"Huh?" Kiralexia responded with a confused look.
"I know you mean good and so does everyone else here but most outside sees you as a villain. Sure you could save people but you don't have a license ergo, you are against the law. However if you did something big like, face a Nomu or take care of a big threat then people may view you differently. But I must say when you can, please send my Regards to Oceanus, he owes me for his friends wedding."
"Tch, I'll keep it in mind K-Nine, please take care now."
"You as well ya old devil. Farewell, the stage calls for it's master now and I must answer it." K-Nine said before putting on his shades again and leaving Kiralexia and Eri in the room.
Kiralexia smiled as he saw K-Nine walk away looking a bit happy. Even if it was only one member, it was nice to know not everyone moved on. However K-Nine was right on one thing, he had to plan for reuniting the Militia again. Sure he could rebuild with whats left but if the possibility that his old family and friends were still out there, then they should return as well. He didn't know what to do but he'd think of something for this. He felt that while he could stay at UA for at most about two months, he knew time was running thin, as were the Heroes patience. He had to find out a plan and fast before things escalated.
He sighed and decided to leave the rooms all together, however before leaving he decided to leave a flower outside one of the rooms a sort of memento. He came back and asked around to see how much of the Militia remained. As it turned out a lot remained, hundreds of thousands if not a few million, still fight and serve the Militia however, many have gone underground. Made sense, the Militia isn't exactly well liked by many and thus when the war ended, so to did there age of being above the rest. Well in Naomi's words, and Kiralexia understood and thanked her for the hospitality. She insisted that they stayed the night but he didn't want the heroes finding them so he went off back to home. Naomi decided to allow Dabi and the villains to stay, however only Dabi accepted for the night as Toga wanted to be with her dad and Twice just wanted to follow Toga. Naomi sighed and Dabi stood beside her as the rest parted for the night.
"You seem worried, don't be, they're safe now they're away from the League."
"For now but the Militia has been hearing rumors of Eternals coming back and something else. Do you know of any Nomu's going out for 'test rides' by any chance."
"No and if I did, I wouldn't say."
"then that means someone else is pulling the strings."
"Wait you mean?" Dabi asked with Naomi simply nodding. He took a second and looked back with some blood coming from his eye. "So could it be that doppelganger from the second base?"
"I don't know, but whatever is doing this WILL regret it. Just make sure to stay out of the way for a while okay. Hey if you really need it, this place is your home for the time being."
"Thanks but, actually I will take that offer. Now then see you in the morning miss."
"Sure thing." Naomi sighed before seeing Kiralexia in the distance one last time. "Kick there ass Kiralexia." she muttered before turning in for night shifts.
As the night crawled on so to did darkness from an unsettling thought. Someone wasn't watching nor hearing but had a hunch and decided to make it time. They went to a dark room as someone else worked on something else and there crimson eye glowed in the night. Both of them then looked at there creation and smiled. 'Kill them and put on a show.' they said as the eyes of the creature opened and a twisted smile had formed. Within morn a darkness would consume the light.
Author's Note, and with that that is the last reedit I will do for a while, unless something else comes up later on. now I had an authors note page explaining what had happened BUT, I had to get rid of it to prevent any, issues coming up. I will only say it here, the past character wasn't mine he was someone else's. we had a falling out and I had to remove mention of him in the story and thus my solution was replace him and so far it works. as I didn't realize until AFTERWARDS, that the later chapters had barely a mention of him and easy as hell to fix. now for this one person I will say this that they don't deny, they were an asshole and there character reflected that. many times I'd question if it was even worth writing them in however I would still a bit just FAR less after a while. again nothing serious but really irritating on some things. so to any veterans who've read my story I'm sorry that the past character was liked by you but I cannot control that anymore and I had to replace. and yes they don't care on that and as of now we can move on. so from here on out I will both be cautious when someone requests there character into my story, and will try to become better as a person from this. that is all, we can move on and never worry about this again. okay that is all, sorry for being long just had to clarify stuff, and as for in universe, well maybe but NOT now, and not by name, perhaps when things calm down more. but with this done I will finish the new chapter soon and most likely take a break from writing. okay that is all take care everyone