Disclaimer: I don't own jack!
Suggested Listening: Yakuza by Grillabeats
Contradiction
Kagome blinked once then twice.
There was no way this guy was supposed to be her training partner! He was huge!
She tried not to stare at his overwhelming stature. Okay, so the guy was tall and bulky but that meant that she would have the speed advantage.
Kagome sank into an offensive position.
She managed to hold back Dabi from the League of Villains when he'd attacked the summer camp. She hadn't had any back up then and he had been trying to at least do enough harm to her to subdue her. The man was physically weak but his quirk was nothing to sneeze at. Those blue flames just about did her in.
This guy would be no different.
"This is Houjo Yu." Kurono briefly introduced them. "You'll find that his quirk is quite similar to yours. Which is why we're having you two spar with one another. We need to test the limits of your power."
Kagome nodded once.
She knew that.
This was a benchmark. A test to see just how far she could take her quirk before her body broke down. Chisaki would be watching from a safe distance. He wouldn't run the risk of her overusing her quirk without being nearby to "fix" her if she developed the fevers again.
She'd have to showcase every skill and technique she'd learned thus far.
"Let's do this." Her gaze slid towards Houjo's imposing form. A small smirk curved her lips upwards. "I won't hold anything back. So come at me with all you've got!"
The man snorted through his nose, "You have fire in you, but don't let that make you cocky. That'll be a fatal mistake." He braced his arms as if to block an attack. "I won't be holding back just because you're a kid."
Her grin widened.
She liked his attitude.
It was rare to find someone who didn't look down their nose at her. Usually they brushed her off or insulted her. In this case he was keeping focus on her posture. His words were tough but she could sense the intent rolling off of him.
Houjo hadn't lied when he said he'd take her seriously.
The only other time someone had given her that same determined look was when she fought Dabi.
Kagome braced herself, "I'm getting excited."
Kurono stepped away and in the next instant Houjo charged at her.
She flexed her hands.
Show time.
Chisaki paused.
A faint tremor rumbled beneath his feet. Nemoto stopped behind him. The faint sound of glass shattering echoed through the halls before another tremor rocked the compound.
"Looks like they've already started." He was running late. They're already supposed to be in the observation room but he'd gotten side tracked.
Chisaki quickened his pace.
It hadn't taken long to traverse through the last set of twists and turns that led to the observation room. By the time they'd arrived, Houjo and Kagome were already locked in battle.
His gaze scanned her form critically.
Kagome crouched low to the ground. Crystals had formed over her fists and forearms to add extra weight to her attacks. Her brows were furrowed in concentration but a wide smirk pulled at her lips.
Was she enjoying this?
He tilted his head at the thought.
Now that was a strange notion.
Thus far Houjo kept his focus on defensive maneuvers. The man kept his body covered in crystals. He held his position as Kagome charged at him.
Chisaki observed the two closely.
She ducked out of the way of Houjo's fists, thrusting her own forward into his stomach. It wasn't enough to knock the man off his feet but he did recoil at the hit.
The young woman darted away just as quickly.
She wasn't going to give him an inch. She was going to use her speed to gain the upper hand, however Houjo would not be an easy opponent to defeat.
She shot forward once more. This time sliding behind him before he could react. Kagome opened her palm.
"Not fast enough!" She slammed her hand against his back. A wall of coral-colored crystals encased his body in an impenetrable shell.
The girl was a lot more skilled in closed-quarter combat that he'd anticipated. That must've been something Endeavor had taught her. She was quick on her feet and capable of deducing the best plan for success.
He scratched at his chin thoughtfully.
She was stronger than he gave her credit for.
Chisaki glanced at his colleague, "Stop the match for now. We'll need to get her blood results then we'll pick up where we left off."
Nemoto cocked his head to the side, "You want to push her until she's developed a fever?"
"Precisely." He turned his gaze back towards her grinning form. "We'll see just how strong she really is."
Bakugou waited at the top of the shrine steps.
He always found himself back here no matter what. In the past few days he'd been on this doorstep no less than three times. Once when they were searching for her, once when he'd gone with his mother into town to look for her as they'd finished their trek back at the Higurashi family home, and now here he was again.
His lips thinned at the thought.
It was so empty. Devoid of the life that it used to bear.
His fists clenched in his pocket.
This silence was so overwhelming. Had it been like this to Kagome as well when they weren't here with her? So quiet that it felt as if his very soul was being wrenched and torn apart?
He clutched at the fabric of his shirt.
His mind kept cycling through their phone call. What could he have done differently? Why hadn't he gone to her? If he'd just been then maybe she wouldn't have been taken in the first place.
"Bakugou," Todoroki's voice interrupted his train of thought.
He glanced up at him, "About time you showed up." He tucked his hands back into his pockets. "What do you already know?"
The other teen's eyes hardened, "Just that she was taken. Police listed her as a runaway. So there won't be much of a search effort for her."
His jaw clenched at the thought.
It was probably the school's way of covering their ass. Any more negative press and the public would descend down on the faculty. Kagome being stolen was a loss that none of them could afford. Not to mention the reason why she might've been stolen in the first place.
He'd been so damn useless when the League of Villains had attacked their summer camp. Everyone had been so tied up in protecting his ass. Yet Kagome had fought one of their own to a standstill. She battled it out until the very end; going so far as to try to sacrifice herself to protect him.
He'd only gotten in her way back then.
Now she was suffering the consequences.
Even when they'd been taken to the League's hideout, she'd thrown herself in front of his attacks and gotten herself burned. All just for the sake of giving him one of her quirk boosting shards.
"We need to figure out what the bastard wanted from her first." He gestured towards the shrine. "We didn't find a damn thing in the house except the fact that she'd been willing to sit down and have tea with the guy. That's not saying much given her inclination for trusting others but we can at least assume that they didn't come off as too threatening."
Todoroki continued for him, "Which marks the League off the list of possibililties."
Bakugou nodded, "The real problem is the fact that our fight was aired back in Kamino Ward. Anybody could've seen her quirk. Not to mention the Sports Festival."
They were at a serious disadvantage when it came to gathering intel. U.A. was always in the spotlight. People were eager to watch new generations of heroes. The school itself always profited off of this arrangement. From internships to work studies and finally financial investors—the connections were entrenched so deeply in their society that none of them had a shot of maintaining their privacy.
Then there was the fact that Shinigami was her father…
He shook his head.
"She asked Deku for help. Which means that sometime between when I called her and when she spoke to him that something had happened." His brows furrowed. "Something had changed in that six hour time span."
Todoroki cocked his head towards the forest, "So you want to search everything."
Bakugou allowed his lips to curve into a smirk, "What, you feelin' intimidated by that icy-hot? Didn't think you'd give up that easily."
He needed to push him.
He needed him to work beyond his limits to find what the police could not.
They had to.
For Kagome's sake, they would have to work together to find the key that they needed. It was the only way to save her.
He'd swallow his pride just this once.
Todoroki drew his hands from his pockets, "I'll help."
Bakugou's smirk widened, "Now that's what I wanted to hear."
For her sake, he'd do what he swore he never would before.
"Let's find her."
Chisaki observed as Kagome threw herself at Houjo one last time. Her face was flushed and her breathing had become ragged. It wouldn't be much longer now before she would collapse.
His lips dipped at the thought.
They needed to see just how far she could go. They needed to see what was happening inside her body when her quirk was pushed beyond its limitation. That was the only way they would find an acceptable answer.
He paused as her body lurched forward. Her eyes slid closed and she began to fall towards the floor. Houjo caught her before she could hit the ground. Chisaki pulled the gloves from his hands as he stepped out of the observation room
Just as he'd expected.
The girl was powerful. She had enough strength and skill to hold Houjo to a stand still and keep fighting at the same time. It was no wonder someone like Dabi had trouble with her. In the televised battle between Kagome, Bakugou and the League of Villains she'd countered Dabi strike for strike. She'd managed to push him back and hold him off of Bakugou—ultimately enabling their escape.
Chisaki wound one arm around her shoulders and the other beneath her knees. He should've known that she would've pushed herself far too hard. Even in the Sports Festival he'd seen just how much she'd put herself through to succeed. She had been the only student of Class 2-A but she'd competed as if her very life had depended on her victory.
The fact that they were intentionally attempting to inflict the fevers now was also part of the problem. She wouldn't stop until she'd gone far beyond what she could reasonably handle.
"I've already collected both samples but it looks like this one is going to be difficult to bring down." His colleague's gaze scanned her coolly. "If her temperature stays this high any longer then she might suffer permanent damage."
Chisaki pressed his palm to her forehead, "It's fine. Go ahead and get those results. I'll take her back and deal with her myself."
Her head rolled against his shoulder as he carried her off.
He had to admit that he was mildly surprised at how well she'd handled herself. He could hardly believe that Eraser ever told her that she had little potential.
It was strange how differently they saw her. As her teacher, Eraser had only viewed her as a risk; a liability that the school had to keep close tabs on. The man was cautious due to her connection to Shinigami. It was possible that he feared she'd follow along the same path as her father and kept her at a safe distance due to that.
Chisaki glanced down at her flushed features.
Conversely he only saw her strength. She was powerful, had an extraordinary amount of control over her quirk and was quite versatile in her usefulness. Healing, quirk boosting, financial gains. All of these were important. Training Eri had been the excuse he'd given her earlier but there was one more reason why he'd wanted her. One reason why he needed her.
Whether Kagone realized it or not, she had effectively become a catalyst to Stain's ideology. She was a child born to one of the worst villains to ever walk their land. Yet she strived to save people and reflect the ideology Stain represented. Her background had led her to face adversity as well as the darkest aspects of their society.
Every hero and villain alike would be watching her—waiting to see what path she would choose for herself.
The girl possessed a similar charisma to Stain's. People were inadvertently drawn to her for one reason or another. The League had hoped to capitalize on the growing interest swirling around her, but he simply couldn't allow that. He could never allow a group with no clear goals or strategy to snatch her up. Her potential would be wasted under their guidance.
Chisaki made the final turn. He stepped through the threshold of her temporary room. Golden eyes slid towards the shogi board he'd left in the corner.
Then there was her adaptability. Most people would've caved and started breaking down as the realization of their own kidnapping settled in. Yet she was striving to understand him; or at least understand his intentions towards her.
Chisaki laid her upon the mattress.
The young woman's expression twisted as another shiver wracked through her body.
Kagome held power in both her body and her words.
He would capitalize on both. Before the month was out the Shie Hassaikai would be the undisputed ruler over the underground.
He wouldn't give her up.
Not to the heroes nor the League of Villains.
Chisaki pressed his palm to her forehead, "I have high expectations of you, Kagome."
At the end of it all, she would be his tool. Not anyone else's.
Kagome sank onto her knees. She braced one arm over her mouth as the acrid stench of burning flesh filled it.
Dabi.
That was this man's name.
She flexed her fingers. The shards that covered her arm fissured before shattering.
She had to get in close. Otherwise those flames would burn her alive. He was a long distance fighter. He wouldn't want her getting near him.
Kagome steadied herself, "Let me guess, you're here because Shigaraki decided that Katsuki's strength was worth the risk of attacking us head on."
Dabi's lips curled, "He wasn't the only target. You're on that list too, Higurashi." A twisted smirk spread over his features, "Now play nice and come along quietly. I'd rather not have to burn you."
So that was it. The reason why he hadn't gone for a kill shot yet. He needed her alive. More than that, he needed her capable of using her quirk.
Her lips curved into a vicious smile, "Why don't you make me?"
His eyes narrowed at her.
There was a certain thrill in facing someone stronger than herself. More than that was the fact that he wasn't underestimating her. Right now his eyes were fixed on every move she made. He wasn't going to leave himself open to an attack.
To Dabi, she was a target. One that he couldn't afford to take lightly.
That was something she could appreciate. She'd gotten so used to the sneers and thumbed expressions. Heroes didn't trust her. Society disdained her. Which just left them.
She braced herself.
This was not a fight she was willing to lose. Not ever.
Kagome woke with a start.
How long had it been since she last remember that night? The night when the League had attacked their summer camp and stolen them. The night she'd first felt acknowledged by someone, if only briefly.
Her vision blurred but a warm hand pressed against her forehead.
Chisaki?
"Looks like you're finally awake." His smooth voice intoned from somewhere above her. "I apologize for pushing you so hard but there was something we needed to test."
Her vision cleared. She could make out the image of his stoic expression peering down at her. However unlike before he wore no mask over his face this time. She could see the thin line of his lips and the slight furrow of his brows.
She pressed her hands against the back of his own.
"You were looking into the fevers, right? Kurono mentioned it a little." Although she held his hand there, Chisaki made no attempt to move it just yet. There was a strange form of comfort to his touch. This place was odd. Just an array of empty corridors, white walls and freezing temperatures. There were no decorations or any signs of life. The shrine was bad enough with its tomb-like presence but the Hassaikai's labyrinth was on another scale.
She knew no one and understood so little. They needed her yet they were wary of her. Chisaki wasn't someone she could trust, however just having someone familiar near helped calm her nerves.
She felt like such a child for clinging to him. It was exactly what he wanted and she could only give it to him anyway.
He gave a noise of agreement, "You are correct. We'll need to do this a few more times to be certain of our result."
She gave a heavy sigh, "So I've gotta put myself out again?"
She spied the faint upward curve of his lips.
"Not today. Your body can only handle being broken down and restructured so many times. Too much and it'll break you." He took to his feet.
Her mouth dipped at the thought, "Sounds like something you learned first hand."
Chisaki didn't answer her that time.
Of course he wouldn't.
"Rest for tonight. We'll continue the tests tomorrow." He pushed onward as if he hadn't heard her.
She curled her fingers around his hand all the tighter.
"Chisaki," She took a second to straighten her thoughts. "Why do you really want me here? Because of my quirk or something else?" His explanation hadn't made much sense. Chisaki had just as much control over his own quirk. He could've easily trained Eri himself. So why did he need her?
She needed to know.
He fell silent. Only that time a contemplative expression overtook his features. He was considering his answer carefully. She'd expected that much but what she hadn't expected was the softness of his lips upon hers once more.
Kagome froze.
That was the third time he'd gotten her!
Her brows dipped at the thought. Still, she needed to earn his trust. He wouldn't give her any leeway without it. In order to save Eri she would have to do whatever was necessary to get him to lower his guard.
She relaxed beneath his weight. Kagome shifted her free hand to the base of his neck. She kept her touch light, hardly pressing upon his flesh at all.
Chisaki pinned her other hand to the bed reactively. His tongue pushed at the seam of her lips once more. She closed her eyes.
This was necessary.
She had to earn his trust.
Kagome held him closer to herself. His palm tightened over her hand as his weight started to bear down upon her.
She was suffocating.
In heat. In guilt. In a feeling she didn't quite understand.
The image of a familiar face hovered in her mind. Could she do this? Could she really break this part of herself?
The next instant he pulled back.
"Will that satisfy your curiosity?" He bore a spark of sarcasm in his tone.
Her fingers flexed, "No." She answered before she could stop. "I think I need something more than that."
She hadn't clarified what she'd meant but his golden eyes flashed for an instant. The promise of sex lit behind that gaze for a second before it dissipated.
"We'll get to that when the time's right." Chisaki disentangled himself from her. "For now focus on your rest. I'll give you the results after the training is complete."
Kagome felt her lips quirk upwards, "Plan on giving me special treatment afterwards too?" She had to play the part. She had to draw him in. She couldn't let anything get in the way. Not even her own feelings.
Chisaki was intelligent but he wasn't infallible. He had his own set of weaknesses. Ones that she would use to her advantage if it meant saving an innocent child.
The fire returned in his eyes. It was subtle but it was there; causing her own body to heat in response. If he noticed the sharp flush she was sure to be painted upon her face then he didn't mention it.
"We'll see." Chisaki responded.
That they would.
Endeavor snorted.
"Useless bunch of idiots!" He slammed his fist against the wooden slats of the wall.
A runaway.
What a damn joke.
Kagome had never run from a fight before. Adversity wasn't something that she'd cave to so easily. Her spirit had been one of the strongest he'd seen in a work study student. The only real reason he kept her off the battlefield was to keep the League off her trail. He hadn't wanted to flaunt her in front of dangerous enemies.
The police had taken the blood sample he'd given them but only told him about her status after he'd interrogated them. The idiots weren't even going to try searching for her. They viewed her as a lost cause.
A troubled teen that simply took to the streets to survive.
He slammed his fist against the wall once more.
"Like hell!"
He'd have to do something and fast. The trail that'd lead to her kidnapper would go cold if they couldn't catch any more leads.
Kagome had been fairly isolated as of late. Besides the students and staff of U.A. the only other people she'd be connected to were the ones from his agency.
None of them would've had the power necessary to subdue her so quickly. So it was likely the effect of some sort of drug. There was always the possibility of her having left of her own free will but her call to Midoriya said otherwise.
She'd been in danger. She'd realized her situation and had asked someone she trusted for help.
Her kidnapper likely was standing next to her at that moment so she wouldn't have been able to give too much information.
His brows furrowed.
Who would be able to get in that close and drop her guard? Who would've been able to slip her some sort of drug without her fighting back? The tea she'd made had tested negative for any substances which mean that it had to have been administered by another method.
He didn't like the implications that, that notion brought on.
"Endeavor," His secretary's voice interrupted his train of thought. "About Higurashi, the police asked us to list her as a low priority for now." Her lips thinned as she spoke, "However many of the others are concerned. What would you have us do?"
His eyes narrowed into thin slits.
That was right.
He had more options than to just simply wait here for a clue to drop on him.
"Make her rescue the top priority. Bring everyone in for this." He rose to his full height. "We'll separate everyone into teams and scour the city for anything that can lead us to her. Chances are it's a villain that hasn't made much of a name for themselves yet and wanted to use her to their advantage."
"Sir?" She cocked her head at him curiously.
"Higurashi is naïve but not stupid. If she didn't recognize the person then they couldn't have been too famous." He strode past her towards the exit. "Contact Nighteye as well. See about having him look into people who would've wanted her quirk and had the means to pull this off."
His fists tightened.
He wouldn't stand by like some helpless little fool. He hadn't clawed his way to the top by being passive.
He'd find that girl and bring her home.
That was his only job right now.
Midoriya glanced around his phone.
It'd been so quiet.
His arm twitched at the thought. Aizawa and All Might had asked them to keep the information regarding Kagome's disappearance quiet for now. They hadn't wanted the press to get wind of it. He could understand that much, but his heart kept twisting painfully in his chest. If this went public then the backlash both she and the school would face would be immeasurable. Any chance they'd have at rescuing her would dwindle into nothing. She likely wouldn't be willing to come forward if she felt as if society had completely given up on her.
His heart gave another hard squeeze at that thought. Had she started to think that way? Had she started to feel as if there wasn't any option left for her other than to disappear? He shook his head roughly.
No, that was wrong!
Kagome had asked for his help and he'd failed her.
If he'd only gotten there faster.
If he'd stopped by instead of calling.
If he'd just done something differently then maybe she would still be with them.
Midoriya buried his face against the back of his hands.
Some symbol of peace he was turning out to be. He couldn't even save one person begging for his help.
The teen paused as his phone began to vibrate.
Uraraka
He swallowed thickly. He couldn't talk to her. Not like this. Not when he knew that he could hardly speak at all.
Midoriya let it go to voicemail
"I can't sit here." He bit into his bottom lip. "I have to do something." The question was what. Going to the shrine wouldn't do him any good at this point. The police along with other heroes had already been by there. If there'd been evidence then they would've picked it up by now. He supposed that he could search the town but where would he start? Kagome didn't have too many places that she would frequent. Even then he doubted that the person who took her would willingly let her stray close to her typical hang out spots.
They'd have taken her somewhere secluded. Somewhere they would have complete control over her. Somewhere both pro heroes and the League of Villains would have little hope of reaching her.
He scratched at his chin.
"So if I think about it this way, there are only a handful of groups today who have enough power to obtain a secured area like that. Not to mention that even if they did take her, they'd have to be willing to face Endeavor, the League and an array of other heroes if she were ever to be found." The answer had to be here somewhere. The phone call. Her request for help. The very lack of evidence. There had to be something buried beneath the clues she'd left behind.
"I need more information." His eyes slid towards his computer. First he would research. He didn't quite have his provisional license yet but once he got it he'd be given access to the Hero Network. More information would be available then. Until that time he would have to make do.
Midoriya narrowed his eyes at the screen.
It was time to investigate.
Todoroki threw himself onto his bed.
Nothing.
They'd scoured the forest, searched every inch of the property and even tried looking through the shrine all over again. They hadn't found a damn thing.
It was as if Kagome had simply vanished.
One day she was here and the next she was gone without a trace. About the only thing they knew was that she'd been in danger. Todoroki rolled to his side.
He didn't like this.
He didn't like not knowing if she were in danger or hurt. Anyone could've taken her and they were simply sitting here on their hands with nothing to go on. If only they had something to point them in the right direction.
"I don't care what you have to do, just make sure you search every inch of the city!" His father's voice bellowed through the house.
He sat up.
Search?
Was he prioritizing Kagome's rescue? Todoroki shook his head. Of course he was. His father had hand-picked her to become his 'wife'. Although they'd both turned him down when he'd offered the suggestion, his father wouldn't give up that easily. That was one thing he was good at—being exceptionally stubborn. In this case that was probably what they would need the most.
Todoroki stepped out of his room. He made his way towards the sound of his father's harsh yelling.
"I don't give a damn if the police declined your request. Get in there and start figuring out what they know." Enji's tone grew sharp. "I hired you because you're good at that sort of thing now do your job!"
The sound of a phone being thrown against the wall echoed through the hallway.
Todoroki sighed.
This was also his greatest weakness. His temper.
The teen peered through the open doorway, "Did you find anything?"
Enji glanced up at him. His brows were set in a deep furrow and his eyes burned with righteous fury.
"No. We're being completely shut out by the police department. Any information on the girl is being sealed as we speak." He slammed his fist against the wall. "Damn it! Nighteye's agency is thorough but they take too long to gather information. We can't wait that long."
Todoroki paused.
Nighteye? As in All Might's former sidekick?
"Shouto, come with me." His father marched past him. "If we can't find any leads on her location then we'll start by investigating the people who'd want her."
His expression hardened, "You're talking about the League."
"They weren't involved in this one but it's possible someone connected to them realized the girl's worth and made a play for her on their own." He followed behind him as they made their way outside of their family estate. "Villains will stoop to anything to obtain power. Higurash is a walking source of energy that others can use for their own benefit. Figuring out who would have the power, money and strength to take her while the League was keeping tabs on her is our first goal."
"You think it was someone stronger than them?" That notion caused a tendril of ice to run down his spine. The League was powerful on their own. Shigaraki's decaying quirk along with Dabi's azure flames were nothing to sneeze at. Each of their members were highly ranked villains with individual kill lists longer than most organizations. If a group stronger than the League had taken her then they would have a great deal of difficulty getting her back. His lips dipped at the thought.
Where was she right now?
Was she terrified?
Was she hurt?
His chest clenched.
"Not necessarily. They'd just have to have the financial backing and a good strategy. As long as they have a place they can hide her indefinitely then it'll be hard for anyone to figure out who's taken her." His father snarled between gnashed teeth. "We need to narrow the list of suspects."
Todoroki blinked, "So we're canvassing people who'd want to use her quirk?"
The other male nodded, "Precisely."
He didn't like his father. He didn't agree with his methods nor his ideology. However there was one thing he couldn't deny.
Todoroki Enji hadn't clawed his way to the number two spot by being an idiot. If anyone could find Kagome, it would most likely be him.
His fists clenched at his side.
For her sake, he would do what he swore he never would.
It was his only option.
It was quiet.
Too damn quiet.
"You sure the kid's here?" Dabi cocked his head over his shoulder. "Toga and Twice were supposed to check the Todoroki Estate, weren't they?"
He didn't like this.
There was no way it'd be this damn silent if the girl was here. There'd be something. A light on, some music, maybe even the television blaring. Regardless he couldn't imagine her being here with the overwhelming silence that suffocated the entirety of the shrine.
"According to the others she was not at any of the other locations. It's possible the school moved her into a safe house as a precaution." Compress trailed his fingers along the brim of his hat.
Dabi snorted, "Fat chance. They've been looking for an excuse to drop her." He brushed the pad of his thumb beneath his eye. He could still recall the night they'd taken her to their hideout. There was something about the kid that had seemed so strong yet fragile. He hadn't been able to place it until afterwards.
The image of her fever-flushed features and worn down smile resurfaced in his mind.
"Remember, Eraser was the one who'd assumed that she left with us willingly." He'd seen the conference as it'd played out. The man had asserted that Bakugou would never waver in his convictions while simultaneously condemning Kagome's softer nature. He supposed that the man hadn't intended on it coming across that way but neither they nor the public were convinced by his words.
To them, he simply reaffirmed that the girl was liable to break. That she'd eventually give up on following the path to be a hero and fall into bitterness and despair.
To the public, he confirmed the notion that she was destined to align with villains like themselves. That she would turn her back on society as they'd done to her.
It was a cruel twist, but that wasn't his concern at this point.
His eyes narrowed into thin slits.
"I'm checking inside. You go around back to make sure she's not hiding out somewhere." Dabi tucked his hands into his pockets.
He doubted that to be the case.
It didn't seem likely.
"I'll double check local reports as well." Compress sighed. "Chances are that if something did happen then the heroes will likely try to suppress that information."
His fingers twitched at the thought.
Now that was something they couldn't allow.
They both stopped. Upon the doorstep was the all too familiar crisscross of caution tape—blocking off the shrine's living quarters.
"Compress!" He called to his colleague.
The other male froze. He glanced between the tape and his phone, as if in disbelief.
"Out with it, did you find something?" Dabi snapped. They couldn't have gotten here too late. It'd barely been a few days.
Compress passed the device into his hands, "She was labeled as a runaway early this morning. The police have listed her as a low priority." The male's voice turned serious. "I believe that we may have moved too late."
Dabi gnashed his teeth together.
Kagome was missing.
There were reports of her choosing to not attend U.A. this semester.
She was listed as a runaway by police this morning.
His eyes hardened, "The kid didn't run away. Someone stole her."
Someone had the balls to move in on the girl they'd targeted for recruiting. The ones responsible either had to be very stupid or very bold. At this point he was leaning towards the first option.
"Contact Shigaraki. Let him know that someone's got her, I'm going inside to see what I can find." He strolled towards the shrine. "Knowing the kid, she probably left something as a contingency plan."
He didn't wait for him to answer.
Dabi pushed his way into the home. As expected, it appeared abandoned. Dishes were left in the sink, two cups remained on the table where she would've sat and a feeling of death swelled through the house.
He glowered at the image of the two cups.
It wouldn't take much to get the girl to trust someone. Only a few words and a good enough disguise and she'd let just about anyone near her. That'd been evident by the way she'd spoken to him after they'd taken her.
He clicked his tongue at the thought.
Dabi made his way upstairs. The kid wouldn't have left anything out where just anyone could see. It'd be hidden. Somewhere only people she would have complete faith in could find. He stopped as he eyed the door he was sure to be hers. It was plastered with sketches and pictures all over its surface.
This had to be hers.
He stretched his hand out and opened it.
The young man took a moment to scan everything. Her sheets were freshly made yet books and drawing utensils were strewn about her bookcase and desk.
It couldn't have been too long since Kagome had disappeared. Since the report of her not attending U.A. had reached them, they'd known that something was happening with her. At first both he and Shigaraki simply assumed that she'd been on the verge of dropping out. Which would've made their job recruiting her that much easier. However that didn't appear to be the case.
Kagome wasn't here.
Toga and Twice both confirmed that she wasn't at any of her possible friends' houses either.
Which just meant one thing.
Someone else had taken her. That person most likely took her the night before news of her not attending U.A. hit the public. The school had to protect its reputation.
His lip curled at the thought.
"Figures," Dabi strolled towards her desk. Upon the surface was a simple sketchbook. Its cover and edges were well worn from use. Broken pieces of charcoal were scattered around everywhere and faint black smudges were smeared across the wooden surface. Had she been working on something before she'd been taken?
He flipped it open.
If they were lucky she'd have sketched an image of her kidnapper somewhere. Page after page, he observed the different images she'd drawn. Her friends, her mentors, even a few of her peers that she wasn't close to. Kagome had sketched them onto every page. Bakugou appeared to be her favorite person to draw. Nearly every other page had him on it. Moments when he was angry, moments when he was happy, even moments where he seemed content.
Dabi paused.
On the final page was a sketch he hadn't anticipated.
"Oh, it seems you left quite the impression." Compress peered over his shoulder. He hadn't noticed him enter in the house. The man continued, "To think she could draw you so well." His could practically picture his colleague's wide grin.
"Shut your mouth and keep searching." Dabi snorted. He glanced back at the picture she'd done of him. He was sitting on a windowsill, his head turned away and a slight downward turn of his lips. She'd drawn him with one of his legs propped up on the ledge of the window and his arm folded over his knee. There was something rather intimate about the image. Like a snapshot of his personal life had been drawn on the page.
He recognized this.
It was the night they'd brought her and Bakugou to the League's hideout. More specifically, when he'd taken her upstairs to be seen by their doctor. Her fever had been so high that it'd even concerned Shigaraki. She'd gained consciousness for a short time before their fight. During that time they had a simple conversation.
His jaw clenched at the thought.
She'd figured him out so damn quickly. It was kind of sickening how intelligent she could be. Provided that she didn't let her naive nature get in the way.
Dabi scratched at the skin beneath his eyes.
He needed to find her.
There were a few things he had to ask her. His eyes slid towards the image she'd drawn of him.
"Gotta give me something, kid." He spoke to himself.
There had to be something. He wouldn't walk away without a lead.
He couldn't.
The man paused at the sight of her slightly ajar drawer.
He pulled it open. Inside was just the typical supplies. Pencils, charcoal, erasers and a few scraps of paper she'd drawn on previously. His palm pressed at the bottom. The base tipped upward, revealing a hidden space beneath.
Dabi lifted it fully.
His gaze narrowed into thin slits.
This was it. This was the clue she'd left.
He withdrew the note. Unfolding it, a small coral-colored shard fell into his palm.
Was this from her Crystallize quirk?
Curious, he read over the letter she'd left behind.
If you're reading this then that means that I'm either dead, missing or worse. After the League attacked the summer camp, I knew that they wouldn't be the only ones to try something like that. U.A. will constantly be under attack so long as I'm there. I'm not willing to give up on becoming a hero just yet but I did want to leave something behind. Something that might help you when you need it most.
If anything ever happens to me then you can use that shard to detect trace amounts of my Crystallize quirk. It reacts to things that I've used it on. It only works within short range distances but you can use it as a beacon. If I ever do something stupid or get myself into trouble then you can use this to knock some sense back into me.
You're the only one I can trust with this.
If it ever fell into the League's hands then they would be able to find me no matter where I was. I'm trusting you, Tamaki. So have some faith in yourself. You're a lot stronger than you give yourself credit for.
Dabi paused.
Tamaki? As in Amajiki Tamaki? They had a bit of information on him due to his position as one of the top student's at U.A. He'd been unaware that they'd been acquainted with each other.
He tucked the shard into his pocket.
No matter. They would work with what they did have.
"Let's go Compress." The man turned on the ball of his heel. "We've got what we needed. Now it's time to hunt."
That girl was their priority. He had his orders to bring her to Shigaraki. No one and nothing was going to prevent him from completing his mission.
Not even Kagome herself.
His lips quirked upwards as his fingers trailed along the edge of the shard.
"She handed us everything we needed."
A/n: Okay now that we've got all the big players on the board, it's time to start winding things up a bit. Had to take a bit of time with this once since it kept leaning into harem territory which wasn't my intention. However I will make a few subtle changes here and there to the original plot.
For now, I want to showcase how Kagome affects the people around her. Her friends, her mentors, her peers and even her enemies.
Conversely I also want to highlight how their presence has changed Kagome in return. Bakugou inspires her desire to succeed. Todoroki and Midoriya both are invaluable friends that she relied on. Endeavor was that adult figure in her life that she desperately needed. Then Dabi filled the role of rival—someone who's pushing her to go beyond her current limitations.
They all have different intentions and parts to play but I wanted to at least get everyone on the board so to speak. There's still a few things I want to work out but in the end I've always wanted Kagome's true ability to be the way she inspires the people around her. Even the ones whom she sees as her enemies.